game boy

I don't know if it is because we talk about football games, soccer games, basketball games, or what, but two days ago Ian woke up with some kind of game switch flipped in his talking. He has begun talking a lot more (finally) though when he is excited it is mostly gibberish. Anyways, most things he labels end with game now. I am "mama-game." We change his "diaper-game." He drinks his "water-game." He reads a book about a "kitty-game." You name it, it's a game. It probably only will last another day or two, these things usually do. Ian has been so funny lately. I believe he is starting to pay us back for not giving him away in the first two years.

terrific two

Here are a few moments from Ian's birthday.

He still doesn't like to rip the paper off of presents, but his sisters were happy to help. We got him a golf set so I could have my kitchen spoons back.
When I saw this at the store I knew it had been waiting for me. Especially when I saw it was on clearance. Its his "football bike." By the way, the way Ian says "football" sort-of sounds like "poopball." That's really not relevant, I just think its funny.
After blowing out the candles on his cake, (I made a post about the cake below) he was ready to eat. Scott grabbed it just in time.

That's definitely my boy.

icing on the cake

Okay, so its not the prettiest cake I've ever made, but for some reason I am more proud of this than any wedding cake I've ever made. Here's how we did it.

I made a banana cake. For the recipe head over to our food blog. After baking the cake and making the frosting (some plain, some chocolate) I got my helpers and we layered the cakes.Then we measured 2 inches in the center of the cakes and cut it out. This is what we were left with.
Then we took a break to eat some of the cake we just cut out. If you're pressed for time I guess you could skip this step. (if you are that pressed for time maybe you should prioritize)

We frosted the cake with chocolate frosting.
Last, I piped the lacing and other white stripes onto the cake. Here is my very high-tech decorators bag. This was the final product. Ian loved it and Scott wanted to know why I have never made him one.

Flashback Friday: that's my boy

Here's a glimpse at what happened two years ago today:Here's the family. (Kimi was looking a little rock-starish, I must say.)Happy Birthday, Ian!

how's the weather?

I've got three words for you.

Saturday:

Today:

Nice.

Flashback Friday: Banned from Bangs

I have decided to start making some posts from pre-blog years. I see so many pictures with stories that haven't been told on my computer slideshow, and blogging has become such a good outlet for me, that I hope the rest of you don't mind the trip down my memory lane. Here's what started it:

I just chopped off some bangs for myself yesterday. Seems like whenever I have a baby, my hair takes the brunt of my mood swings. Anyways, in a conversation with Tino about it I mentioned how I had been banned from cutting bangs on Kimi.

This is why. (Imagine the wavy flashback lines now)

Kimi was 17 months old. It started out as just evening her bangs out, but then one side got a little higher, so I had to even it out again. . .and again. . . until I finally realized I had just better stop before there was no hair left. Scott was a little surprised by the new "do" and thus came the ban. When we went places I hoped people would think Cali, who was three, had done it to her. Thank goodness, it grew out within few months.

Look at this cutie-patootie.

Oh, and don't worry about how I look now. I don't have these problems cutting my own bangs.

top o' the mornin' to ya

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Natalie is one month old today, and this bonny wee lass slept for 6 hours straight last night. My other kids better watch out because she is putting in a serious bid for favorite child status. Just kidding, kids, I love you all the same. (But I may be open to bribes.)
And speaking of St. Patrick's day, as I was picking out my clothes and everyone else's clothes this morning I wondered if maybe having a fear of not having something green on today was a little irrational. I am not sure who would be pinching us should we fail to look festive. I am wearing green though, in case you wonder. Somethings you just have to do.

daylight schmavings

As someone who has recently lost many hours of sleep, I would like to thank the government for taking away one more hour. It is always so fun every six months to readjust all of our children's sleeping and eating schedules. I should have expected it, but everyone was quietly sleeping-in this morning and I had to drag myself out of bed to go get Cali off to school. Someday my sleep will come.

keep scrolling

I had a few posts to catch up on so make sure to keep scrolling down.

Natalie at two weeks old

Six and sick

It's hard for me to believe, but Cali is six! Last week was a pretty miserable week for the three oldest kids with high fevers and terrible coughs. Luckily the fevers broke on Friday in time for Cali's birthday. Cali was feeling good enough to go out to eat with Grandma Colton and get a "Tini Puppini" (I didn't know what it was either: see picture below.) After these pictures and a tiny bit of cake and ice cream they were back downstairs curled up under blankets. Thank goodness we had Grandma McCracken here to take care of everyone while I have been keeping Natalie away from them in my bedroom.

bucket brigade

I was working in the kitchen and heard Kimi talking and saying "Roger that." in a robot voice. I turned around and found this. Kimi told me that they were being astronauts. It was pretty entertaining.

5 days old

Here's the new little lady after bath time today in her outfit she came home in.

Natalie Hope

Welcome to Natalie Hope! She came on Tuesday at 3:38 pm after a short labor. You can ask me for details if you want but I will say one thing: epidurals are a glorious thing. She weighed in at 7lbs 4oz, and was 18 1/2 inches long.

A content and quiet girl.

A very happy Mommy.A comfy cuddle with Daddy.Meeting the sisters.A new family photo.

windows of heaven

Okay, so the title may seem like a bit of an exaggeration, but not to me. Friday was the day that I had been wishing for since moving into this house. WE GOT NEW WINDOWS! We didn't really expect to notice an immediate difference, but we have. It no longer feels like a breeze is blowing through the room. I got up this morning to a blustery rainy day and didn't know it until I looked outside, it is SOO much quieter. Here are some before and after pics.

After: (I didn't take a "before" inside picture because I didn't realize how different it would look.)

BEFORE:

AFTER:BEFORE:AFTER: BEFORE:AFTER: