What and why????

In complete 3-year-old-dom Whitney has been driving me c.r.a.z.y. After everything I say she says What or Why and repeats the last word that I had said. Every TIME!


"Whitney, please stop."
"What stop?"
"Whitney, don't do that anymore."
"Anymore what?"
"Whit, why do you have to repeat every last word?"
"What last word?"


Ugh.


Also, these are questions that I'm asked at least 4-5 times a day.
"Why do I need my gloves?"
"Because it's cold."
"Why is it cold?"
"Because it's wintertime."
"Why is it wintertime?"
"It just is." (I'm done with the "Heavenly Father made it that way." phrase.)
"Why is the sun in my eyes?"
"Just look out the other window."
"Why my backpack?"
"Because it's time for preschool."
"Why am I going to preschool?"
"Because. . .(mommy needs a break.)"
"Why is Simon crying like that?"
"Babe, if I knew I'd be rich (and more rested.)"
"Why are you making that face Mom?"
heavy sigh from me.
"Why you go "huuuuuuuuuh?"

The Chopping Block, by Molly

Ah, the famous "fall party" at school. . .Molly brought home her fabulously decorated Turkey complete with a story written to share. . .(I typed it just as she had written it, you know, sometimes quotations, sometimes not, but always funny.)

"It was the night before Thanksgiving but my mom was just kidding that is was Christmas, well, that's what she told me. But I knew that it was Thanksgiving because I saw thousands of turkeys going to the chopping block. I hope I don't go there because all my friends go there and then I never see them again. It's sad. Maybe they go there to eat, sleep and play. Should I go or not? What do you think? Maybe I will. . hum? I will! I am going to bring all of my friends so we can all have fun. I am calling my friends. But wait. Who should I invite? I know, Brooke, Catherine, Tillie, Anna, Katie, Mrs. Stoltenberg, Mrs. Dougless, Mrs. Bucher, Elyssa, Olivia and Kylie. Okay I'll just yell out their names, Brooke, Catherine, Tillie, Anna, Katie, Mrs. Stoltenberg, Mrs. Dougless, Mrs. Bucher, Elyssa, Olivia and Kylie! Come here! Alright I've got big huge news to tell. We're all going to the chopping block! "Oh NO!" everyone said. "the chopping block is a very bad place," said Brooke. No, it's not like that. I heard that it's where we eat, sleep and play. "Still we're not going." Pretty please? Okay, we'll come. So they went walking. "Okay, everyone, we're here." wow! This is so cool. "Well, who wants to go in first?" "I will" Everyone shouted really loudly. "Single file, single file" I shouted, but no one did it. So everyone rushed in and a really mean dude put everyone in a dark bag. "It's squishy in here" shouted Kylie. "I'm hungry" said Catherine. "Really, because I'm hyper." said Katie. Olivia said "I love to talk fast. Do you like to talk fast? Should we go to the mall to buy shoes, because I just love shoes." QUIET! I said, "we can't go to the mall, we can't eat because we're trapped in here." We need to make a plan, said Mrs. Stoltenberg. Okay, so this bag is only paper right? So maybe we can all peck with our beaks. On the count of three. Ready? One, two, three. Peck, peck, peck! We're free! Run everyone, run! So they all ran away into the woods and no one could ever find them. The End."

My favorite parts were "single file, single file" and Olivia talking fast about going shopping at the mall to buy shoes while they're all in the bag. . .so cute. Good thing Mrs. Stoltenberg was there to straighten them all out.

Too much tv?

We had our Primary Sacrament Meeting Program a couple of weeks ago. Whitney is a little anxious that she will get to participate next year and felt free to sing along with all the songs AND direct the kids from her little pew.

One of the little boys got up and said his part about prayer "I can pray to Heavenly Father, any time, any place."

Whitney piped right up and said all excited, "Any time! Any place! The super-sleuths are on the case!!!" (in full action with the little arm swing and everything.)

Thanks "My friends, Tigger and Pooh"

True Thanksgiving.

Please visit this link to be witness to a miracle.

http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanksgiving.html

I'm adding my Thanksgiving wishes to the wonderful Nielson family and the Clark family.

My animal lover

Molly is my little animal lover. Apparently ALL animals. We had some "evidence" of a "little friend" in our basement storage room. After a couple of days the little mouse must have taken a leap and ended up in my washing machine. . .dead. Dun, dun dun. Anyway, I figured he was a loner, but we got some traps anyway, just to make sure. As Matt was assembling the trap Molly sat furiously writing and writing at the table. I walked over and she swiped it away. I asked for it and she made a sad face and gave it to me. . .here's what it said.

(I don't know why blogger wants to flip my picture, but oh well.)

"Keep out! Danger up ahead! Mice. . ps. . I love you! Don't die."

Don't worry, she AND I are both very happy that we haven't caught any more friends.

make 'em with butter, sugar and flour. . .

One of my favorite memories of growing up was making cookies with my mom. That house ALWAYS had cookies. We would sit around a big bowl of dough and use our little spoons to place the cookies on the sheets and always eat WAY too much dough and end up with tummy aches. But it was all for a good cause. Whitney and I made cookies today ("I'm a good cooker"). Mainly for Madison. . . she's going to "Heritage school" tomorrow and I wanted to make some snickerdoodles (and choc. chip for us) for her to take. I'll post about that later with her cute picture.

Anyway, Whitney was my little "helper" today. Even though it took longer (letting her measure things out, completely smooshing the eggs--so a lot of extra time spent retrieving the shells, and counting each cookie as it was put on the sheet, she (and I) had a fabulous time. But Whitney and I agree the best part about making cookies is licking the beater.

Don't you love my apron?? I didn't ever work there, but my sis-in-law did and she snagged it for me when she quit. . thanks Tiff!!!

Did anyone else sing this song when they were little??

Chocolate chip cookies, you'll always have more, you can bake 'em in the oven or buy them at the store but whatever you do, have 'em waitin' at the door and I'll love you forevermore.

Make 'em with butter, sugar and flour, bake 'em in the oven 'bout a quarter of an hour, and whatever you do have 'em waitin' at the door and I'll love you forevermore. . .

Little Leo Lost

As promised here is the story of when we lost "swimming Leo" (see previous post. . )

We, of course, have to take "soft" rocket and any number of Whitney's "friends" when we're out and about. On one such Saturday, somewhere between Lowes, Home Depot and Menards (another hardware store), swimming Leo was lost. I had no clue where, so we decided oh, well, he was gone.

Fast forward about 3 weeks later.

We are shopping (again!) at Menards and wander over by the tiles/grout, etc. She mentions something about "swimming" and I say, "Oh, you want to go swimming??", I'm only half listening and go on looking at tile. Eventually it dawns on me, as she is leaning over the side of the cart willing herself toward the "information desk" about 20 feet away for this area and is pointing, pointing, pointing!!! I push her over there and sure enough, amongst some random lost McDonalds happy meal toys, there is a smiling Swimming Leo waiting patiently for Whitney to come back and get him.

She had the biggest grin on her face all the way home.

The World According to Whitney

Just a little look into Whitney's world of Little Einsteins. It all makes perfect sense. . .(to her.) Here's the crew. We have Leo, Leo, Quincy, June, Annie, Annie, Quincy, Leo, June, Annie, June and Leo again. We are however missing "Golden Harp Quincy" that goes with her little Egypt playset. Whitney says "He's a good hider." Because some of her "friends" have been lost from time to time, we have 2 of some of the characters, it was worth every penny to avoid the drama.

This is Leo, Whitney's favorite. Because of him, anything with a stick instantly is a baton for her. As Whitney says, "he loves to conduct."

In our house we have "scratched Leo", and "regular Leo". Can you tell which is which??

Obviously, scratched Leo is the one on the bottom, because he has a little scratch on his left eye. Not that the other one is totally scratched from head to toe.

This is Annie, she's Leo's little sister. She loves to sing. Any number of Whitney's "batons" will turn into microphones for her to sing like Annie.

In our house, we have "clean Annie" and "dirty Annie". I try not to laugh everytime Whitney is tearful and says, "I can't find Dirty Annie."

So, Which is which, can you guess??

Dirty Annie is the one on the left.
Because she has that little red mark on the back of her head. These are her "car friends", because they go. . .

In her car. I know, I know, we're feeding her little addiction.These are the latest additions to her crew. It's Pirate June and Pirate Leo. It's really cute when Whitney shows everyone that Leo has a treble clef on his hat.

Here's the crew with her rockets. "soft rocket" is on the left, and "pat-pat rocket" is on the right. Every night begins the trauma of finding "all my friends!" and stuffing them into soft rocket to go to sleep with her.

Oh, and don't forget "swimming Leo and submarine Rocket."

Phew. Maybe I should've made some type of bar graph or chart of some sort. But at least you are all knowledgable enough now to babysit her and get her to bed at night with all the right friends.

P.S. Swimming Leo and submarine rocket stay in the tub. Thanks.

Coming soon: her new addiction to Mario, Luigi and all the Mario Party characters.

Even Superheroes. . .

From last night at "Boo at the Zoo". . . .

Sometimes even superheroes need to catch a ride.


Even superheroes have cute sisters posing by pumpkins.

And posing by the tree.

Even superheroes have supercute big sisters dressed up as June from Little Einsteins. Even superheroes need to eat.

Even superheroes have super cool "hip hop" girl big sisters.

Even superheroes need a little nap.

Halloween past. . .

Here are some pictures of our Halloweens past. .


Here's Madison and her cousin Hannah at "Boo at the Zoo", little cutie butterflies. . .Fall 1999.

I'm missing a couple of years in here. . .Fall 2000 Madison was Minnie mouse (see Whitney's picture below)

2001: Madison was a ladybug, Molly was the butterfly costume Madison's in above.

2002: Two Cinderella girls.
2003: Molly was Minnie, and Madison was a Minnie cheerleader

2004: Sleeping Beauty girls, complete with wigs. When Molly got out of the car at preschool, they didn't even recognize her!!We also were expecting Whitney so check out our pregnant pumpkin. Funny story: We had left the pumpkins out a little too long, for two many frosty nights and they were mush. When I tried to pick up the "momma" pumpkin, the baby kind of fell out the side where it had broken and Madison screamed: "It's having a c-section!!"
2005: One of my favorite ones. . .Madison is a rock star, Whitney a punk rock baby, and Molly is Belle.


2006: Molly is Ariel, Whitney is a chicken (another one of my favs), and Madison is wearing my old Shirette (high school dance team) uniform.

2007: Madison is a disco gal/hippy gal (in my MOM's real vintage outfit!!), Whitney is Minnie, and Molly is Dorothy (really, it's all about the dog.)

This years Halloween pictures will be up tomorrow!!

SuperDad

Matt and Simon reading the Sunday Sports section together.

I'm heading out for almost 24 hours away from my home. Some friends and I are attending "Time Out for Women". It's only 45 minutes away, in Omaha, but several gals are going up tonight to eat/shop/"get away", and spend the night at a hotel (a REAL time-out) and go to the program tomorrow. I knew I wanted to go to at least the program tomorrow and that Matt would be fine having Simon and the girls for the day, but I really wanted to go up tonight for that girl time. I love my husband, for lots of reasons, but today I especially love him for being SuperDad.

Ever since we brought home our first little bundle (almost 10 years ago!) Matt has always been willing and able to take over when I needed him to. We have fussy babies, or I just stress out too much, but whatever the case, he's always been willing to say, "just let me take the baby and you go. Do whatever you need to do for yourself." I really love my children, but every mom needs some time away. I think every husband/father needs to be left alone with their newborn for at least an hour or so within that first week of life. It's bonding time right??

We've been lucky that our kids have all taken to the bottle well, so I could pump and leave, to have at least a couple of hours alone, or out with the girls when I needed it. I recieved a complement on Matt's behalf just a month or so ago. I have a new calling in the Stake YW (serving with the "young women" ages 12-18 in our church), so we as a presidency were going out to meet with a small group/branch. That night Matt's aunt said how impressed she was that Matt was there at our regular meetings with all 3 girls, and baby Simon for all 3 hours of our meeting block, and that she knew few men that would do that. I love that Matt allows me to serve without having to worry about traveling with Simon (not fun, but getting better), and dealing with him while I'm trying to help others. He's not always able to take Simon, but if he is, he's always willing.

So, when the question came up a couple of months ago about me going up tonight to eat/play and spend the night and attend the women's conference tomorrow he said, "Sure!". Thanks honey. Not only will he be on his own tonight for "Simon duty" and have all the kids tomorrow, but here's what's on our schedule for tomorrow.

8am: Matt is an early morning seminary teacher and has a meeting tomorrow morning. He's taking the girls (they'll be fine to play in the other room) and having Simon with him.
10am: Molly's soccer game
12:30pm: Madison's soccer game
after that he needs to help Madison get ready for an overnight Halloween camp that she's going to with a few friends.

OH, and just to top off the SuperDad weekend, he got prepurchased tickets to take the girls (Grandma is watching Simon--thank you!!), to go see High School Musical 3 tonight! It's a surprise for them, and they will F.R.E.A.K. out. I told them we wouldn't be able to see it until next week. Thanks babe! I love you bunches and bunches.

Smarty Pants.

Whitney was over-tired and not listening, so I sent her to time out. . .

Me: "Whitney, I said No."

Whitney (fussing, and crying): "No starts with N!!!!"

stinker.

Thanks for the kicks

Hey, look how happy I am!! I got some sweet new shoes in the mail today! They have some awesome guitars on them, and they're gonna keep my toesies warm in these Nebraska winters.
The only thing is I have no one to thank! There was no name on the shipping papers. . .SO, Thanks someone out there!!

Stock Market funny

My Dad was talking about starting up an investment account for the grandkids and my brother made a "suggestion" for one of the stocks we could look at. . .

"Hey What about the all time great (very conservative and Blue Chip) General Motors? Now trading at a 46+ year low, and only down 94% from its high in 2000, $90 down to $6. Their cars don't even depreciate that fast."

Good one Todd.

Embarassing!!

I think the bad thing about Corelle dishes never breaking is that. . .

Maybe, just maybe, they SHOULD break. That would necessitate buying NEW dishes. You know, like getting rid of the ones you got for your wedding shower oh, like, 14 YEARS AGO!!

It's time. Here are a few I'm looking at, and now that I'm finally looking, what the heck took me so long. It's not like dishes cost as much as getting a new car!! (Well, I guess some could, but the ones I'm considering certainly don't).

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=3024&f=26635

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=30&f=11019

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p9698/index.cfm?pkey=ff090

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p4259/index.cfm?pkey=cdinnerware%2Dwhite

I just want something simple, actually I'll probably go with the catering plates (really, they're only like $50 for 12 plates!), then I can change things up with cool bowls and cups now and then, or at least more often then every 14 years.

Most of all, any of you out there with your country kitchen in country blue with mauve hearts, with cows and cute little farm animals and a hand painted scripture display that you made in "Homemaking", just send me your address, and I'll gladly pack up your dishes!!

And look here. . .I found the perfect place mats and napkins on ebay to match!!

Please see the school secretary.

Do you think one of these would look funny on my Motorola Razor cell phone? No, really, because I think I have caused a pinched nerve. Don't you totally remember every one of your school secretaries (yes, that's what they called them ALL back then) having one of these??

I guess it's time I find my bluetooth headset.

One Moment More

Ever since I first heard this song, I've been addicted. Such a tender expression of love. At first, it immediately made me think of the Nielsons and Clarks. The pain that they are enduring as they patiently wait for recovery. It makes me think of their sweet children and how they long to be together as a family again soon. It makes me think of my sweet husband and my dear, dear children. It makes me want to plead with them to stay young and little. It also makes me so thankful for the Gospel in my life. Thankful that although our life here on earth may seem short, we will be together for eternity.

p.s. just a reminder to pause my playlist music on the right side before you watch the video.

It's my party. . .

This will be another pity-party of sorts, but I think every new mom is entitled.

I'm fully convinced that Matt and I have beautiful babies. . .and that they are total stinkers. I love them like crazy, but it's true.

Simon was a great baby for the first 3 weeks. He was always kind of a fussy eater, but he did fine. He pooped, he slept, he ate, etc. Then Matt and the girls left me and went to Maryland for a week. I figured, it'll be great, I'll just sleep when he sleeps, I won't have to pick up after the kids, fix meals, etc. GREAT! Yeah, then Simon turned on me. One night he totally refused to nurse, no matter what I tried he just screamed. I even put him down because I couldn't hold him anymore and came downstairs and called Matt (3 am Baltimore time--thanks honey!). Several times I would have to just let him cry so I could pump a bottle to try and feed him. He usually took those okay, then we could both sleep for a bit. Basically, if he was awake, he was mad, and even when he slept, he was really restless.

Off to the Dr. . .I actually was able to meet the lacation consultant PA, so she watched what would happen when I nursed him. . .fine for a minute or so, then he would pull off and s.c.r.e.a.m. I was in tears, she was in tears, not knowing how to help me or him. Hmm, maybe reflux? He wasn't a total spitter, but he was definitely in pain. Oh, and maybe that whole milk/soy protein intolerance thing that Whitney had. (Oh, NOOOOOOO.) She tested his "stool". . .(there really just isn't a good word for it. . .), neg. for blood---yeah, so maybe he's not allergic. We'll try the meds for reflux and see, and probably start the no dairy/soy diet again (can I really be crazy enough to do that again?)

Oh, and "does he sleep in the car ok?, some reflux babies hate it because of the positioning".

Me: "Oh, he usually does fine in the car."

I shouldn't have said that. . .he screamed from the Dr to the pharmacy and back home (35 minutes).

Long story short (too late), here's the rundown. . .

About a week later, still not better. Matt finally arrived back home and gave me a much needed break. He had become a terrible nurser (it was like I was fighting with him!), would sometimes take a bottle, but if you stopped 1/2 way through for whatever reason, forget it, it was over. Called Dr. to go back in, now the "stool" check was positive, so definitely diet and I decide I'm also going to get him on the hypo-allergenic formula ($$$$$, he only will drink down the ready to feed kind, $$$$). Phone call back to the Dr a couple of days later (I'm sure the nurses on the phone line thought I was totally losing it--maybe I was--I was crying so badly I could hardly talk to leave a message. . .), so, now a different med for the reflux (oh, thank goodness for insurance b/c AFTER insurance it's still $50 for a month supply). It was beginning to take it's toll on Matt and I, one night I was headed out to the store, he smiled at me and said

"If they have some sanity, go ahead and buy that too."

I said, "I'm not sure we can afford it. . ."

He said, "I'm sure the Grandpa Gary fund would gladly pitch in for some sanity!".

In the beginning of September I decide we need to try just straight formula to see if he could actually ever be a happy baby. Still pumping, and dieting, and saving it (just in case. . .). I nursed him for the last time (I was a little sad about this but I realized that it was just like a wrestling match that he wanted no part of--the milk would be pouring into his little mouth and he would just pull away and fight and scream.)

Somedays he's better, somedays he's not. We still have no idea what the problem is, not sure if he really has reflux, not sure if it's milk/soy intolerance allergy, or if it's just colic. We gave him a month of just formula and this week tried some breastmilk in with the formula. Again, somedays he's fussy, some he's fine. I'm convinced he's just a boy. . .can't decide what he wants. I tried to nurse him once again, he looked at me like I was crazy. I can't believe he'd rather want the nastiest smelling formula but oh, well, I'm over it.

I've also decided that I can't do that ridiculous diet anymore, I have about 2 months worth of saved pumped milk, and I'll keep pumping this milk to try later, but I can't starve myself anymore. What goes best with a screaming baby? Triple fudge brownie ice cream!!

So here's what keeps me going. . .

well, this AND that he's actually sleeping through the night, and I mean like 11pm-7:30am!! Can I get a AMEN??

I'm here to PUMP you up!

Ahh, sweet freedom.

The day your kid learns to pump themselves on the swing. . .almost as good as the day they can tie their own shoes!!

Oh, and Molly insisted she needed a picture too. . .hey, surfer girl!

Growing pains. . .

Hey, look at these cute shoes, they look just a little bit too big. .

I wonder why?

Maybe because they are MY shoes on my 9 year old daughter!!

Just in time for Halloween.

The other night I heard a little "scratch-scratch" coming from inside the fire-place. Hmm. A mouse? IN the fireplace? How would it get in there?



"Matt"



"What?"



"Come down here. . ."



"There's something making noise in the fireplace? I think it's a mouse"



He grabs our videocamera to use the light on it.



"Um, yeah, NOT a mouse."



"What is it?"



"It's a bat."



"WHAT??" As he begins to OPEN the fireplace doors, and I quickly leave the living room "I'm NOT watching this."

He grabbed his gloves and took the bat back outside (my HERO!). The bat was making some great cries and Matt said it was trying to bite through the gloves.

I have no idea how or why it was in there. . .does it prefer to eat ashes? We also have a nice grate/cover on top, I guess it was small enough to sneak inside.

Now fastforward to last night. . .Matt has his big flashlight out for something else and decides to take a peek up the fireplace. . . .check it out.

Here's what he saw. . .

Now, I promise the thing was NOT that big (maybe the size of the small part of your palm). Apparently my husband is an expert on bats, because he quickly said. . ."It's dead, hanging on the damper." I however, was not convinced and left the room again when he got out his 9-iron to knock it down. I did stay close enough to listen for him to scream like a girl when it flew out. . .but I stood corrected. Dead. Eww.

p.s. When he first came and showed me a picture, I smiled at him and said "could you get a better picture for my blog??" thanks honey, it's all for the bloggers.

Road trip!

Just a couple of weeks after Simon was born, Matt and the girls loaded up in a 15 passenger van with 15 passengers (no empty seats!!) with his family and road-tripped to Maryland to see his grandparents. I humbly volunteered to stay home (post coming soon about how crazy of an idea THAT was). Let's see. . . .15 people, 6 kids, 9 adults, and about a 22-24 hour drive--both ways. Matt said it best. . "well, it'll be an adventure." His sister even designed shirts for the crew. I had told her about my idea for a new reality show, Family Vacation Survivor, so she designed the shirts after the Survivor logo.
I think the "Stop Touching Me" was particularly a nice touch.




They did have a good time, but I'm sure no one will want to make that trip again for a LONG long time.

These next pictures probably deserve their own post but I'm too tired, so I'll entitle them

"SOMEONE PLEASE HELP MY HUSBAND AT THE BEACH!!"
Alternate title: "A lesson on skin cancer."


Matt had sunscreened up the girls when they hit the beach at Ocean City, but then was all by his lonesome to get it on his back, and he thought "Well, that should be good enough."


I present to you PROOF that sunscreen works. . you can even see how far his fingers could reach.







And this is even a good week after the "incident". Ouch babe.