Procrastination

Ok. Instead of finishing my quilt, I am playing at my Mother's house. Eating cinnamon rolls. Watching other people make strawberry "preserves". Enjoying the laziness that is $1 happy meal day. It's a lot like being a kid again - but with more diaper-changing.

Too Bad!

As happy as it makes me that everyone want to see my quilt, that's just too bad for you guys! I just can't post a picture of it until I wash it - which means I have to finish it...just a little blind stitching that I haven't got around to yet.

In the mean time, you get a peek at my latest cool find - a row of old theater seats! Yes, my husband does think I'm certifiable, but he has the good sense not to voice those opinions. I just adore the wood grain and the cracked leather. They're actually pretty comfy too. Tony thinks it's only a matter of time until the kids knock them back into the wall - doing irreparable damamges. We'll see! :)

When children invade...

And this is why I have a king-sized bed.

it's over...time to clean....and breath

Some people run marathons - others live them. Why do they do it? ....because it's so dang fun.
This was one of those very fun intense weeks. The Kangs came over for sewing camp (put on by the WSU Extension Clothing & Textile folks - Oregon isn't cool enough to have sewing camp). The various girls made pillow cases, purses, patchwork pillows, animal pillow shams, place mats, coasters, and Sofi made a sleep shirt.
Five of the girls were able to go this year. It was so fun to see a big class room full of girls, all busy with their various projects.
I got lots of feedback on Sofia this year. Very talented and quick. Not very careful. Yes, I already knew that. She got to take out several seams.
I didn't get any feedback on Annika. No news is good news. She thought "camp was very cool".

Between Sarah and I, we had twelve children in the house (until Grandma took 3 off our hands on Wednesday). Well, that still wasn't crazy enough for us, so we each made a twin-sized quilt. It was my very first, and Sarah walked me through the unfamiliar parts without touching my project. She's so smart. You know what they say. Give a chic a quilt and she's warm for a day; teach a chic to quilt and she has an expensive hobby that can last a lifetime.
Of course, today we were both thinking it was not very smart of us to take on such a big quilt in such a busy week. ...but it is almost done. I just have to blind stitch the binding and wash it - then I'll show it off. I love it!

Sewing Camp

The Kangs have come to visit for Sewing Camp (part I - they love it so much, that they'll also be joining us for the next session). It's party time at our house!

When the kids aren't sewing their little hearts out at camp, they're running to the park, playing games, or...in Anthony's case, playing on the computer. (Although, I know a few girls who have joined me in my Jewel Quest Solitaire addiction.)

Moms partying looks a bit different. For us, it pretty much involves going to Joanne's every stinking day, and sewing every second we aren't cooking, cleaning, or baby-holding. I know, we're pretty dang cool. Sarah made the Mom Party even awesomer by bringing her serger. Love at first sight for me! Check out that beautiful seam!

I'll post some wonderful pics of all of our (hopefully!) finished projects later this week.

The Dangers of Doing Coke

..vanilla coke, that is. I know it's not good for me - I don't know how I let myself get addicted again! I know it's asking for type2 diabetes, more extra pounds, osteoporosis, and all of that jazz...I was reconciled to it ruining my body. I didn't know it would turn on my sewing too. I spilt vanilla coke all over the sashing (a new word for me) of my very first quilt. So bummed.

Energy Efficient

We were happy to see Jonny putting his toes to good use. It reminded me of a picture I took of Anthony in 2005. I have to say I'm partial to the reading picture - it makes me feel like a better parent than the "gaming" one. Tony and I are probably responsible for both pastimes being so popular in our household. Oh, well. It could be worse.

I may have to abandon Costco

...that would probably be a very good thing for my finances anyhow....but that's not why I may have to stop going there. It's just where all (ok - some) of my craziness happens!

Today, Cozette and I were making a quick Costco run to pick up a Father's Day gift, since Tony is supposed to be home for said event. By the time we got to the store, she was a little cranky. I get out of the van, shutting the door behind me, to get the baby out of the back. I try to open her door. It's locked. I try to open my door. It's also locked. I just went through that door, how can it be locked!? I can see my keys through the window, tucked safely in my purse. Panic sets in.

Two lucky things: it was a cool, cloudy day, and I had Tony's cell phone in my pocket...wait, a third lucky thing - at least 6 families from my church live in my neighborhood! I called Sofia. She ran a set of spare keys over to a neighbor (who used to be our home teacher). He rescued me. I'm taking them brownies...and whatever else I can think of.

Anyhow, while I was waiting to be rescued, Cozette was peacefully napping in her seat. I was peering through the tinted windows to monitor her breathing, crying, and trying to resist the temptation to break my car window. (Glad I did, because it rained most of the way home.) At least two ladies stopped to make sure I was ok and assured me that the same thing happened to them. Comforting, but I still think Toyota needs to rethink their design. Doors that open, shouldn't be locked.

Romero Quotes of the Day

I wish we were a family of turtles, so we would have more time together. -Jonathan

I'm not lazy, I'm energy-efficient, like those energy star appliances. -Anthony

The last one is more like a dialogue between Sofia and myself, as we were discussing Cozette's experience with shots and baby Tylenol.

Mom: I think Cozette hated the tylenol more than the shots.

Sofia: Bleeh! Tylenol is disgusting...but I'm more afraid of shots..and coral snakes..and the dark...and spiders...especially tarantulas...and mosquitos...and malaria...and snapping turtles...and ticks...and manticores (which I'm pretty sure are real)...and chimeras...and sharks...and harpy eagles...

Mom: Are harpy eagles real like manticores or real like coral snakes?

Sofia:...real like coral snakes. A harpy eagle can carry off a whole howler monkey - or a kid! And I'm afraid of cobras...and Romans...and...

Mom: Romans? Grandma and Grandpa went to Rome. You can ask them if you need to be afraid of Romans.

Sofia: Just the ancient kind, Mom!

Sofia: And I'm afraid of boars...and fighting bulls...lions...and tigers...

Mom: You probably should be afraid of those - they want to eat you.

and floods...and tornados...and volcanoes...and tsunamis...and molasses...

Mom: Molasses?

Sofia: Yes! Molasses is dangerous. A molasses factory exploded once and 6 people were drowned - that's why the Mythbusters were afraid to swim in syrup.

Well, now you can tell that Sofia is definitely my daughter, as I have to make a conscious effort not to sit around worrying about half of those things (but not the Manticores or Molasses).

James, Why are you so evil? - Part Deux

As I was doing the dishes this morning (and, yes, we use the term morning very loosly at our house. I think it was 11am), I was suddenly hit in the back of the head by something very wet. Startling and weird. I turned around to find that most of my kitchen had also been hit by something wet..and bright red. James had invaded the pantry and ripped open an unfrozen otterpop. The funny part was that, as I was prying the still-leeking otterpop from his naughty little hands, he was screaming like I was the evil one! No, I did not stop to take a picture. Maybe next time.

Basket-O-Chicks

Isn't this little box sweet! It reminds me of the Hummel my Mom bought at a garage sale. (Hummels - amazing that something that looks so nice alone seems diminished in a collection. I think I'm against homogenous collections in general. Pokemon might be an exception.) The best thing about this box is that it plays a lovely, unfamiliar tune when you open it. Where did I get this find? Rachel and Beth know - Goodwill. Yes, I know I'm sadly, sadly addicted, but isn't it ok if I donate at least as much stuff as I buy there?

Doctors are BIG Liars

*WARNING* This post is highly personal and about girl stuff, so if you can't handle it - turn back now!
Every time I get a pap smear, they tell me, "With this kind of pap, you won't need another one for the next 2-3 years."
Then it's, "Oh, you're pregnant, you need a pap smear." "You just had a baby, you need a pap smear."
Seriously, does childbirth cause cervical cancer or something? Do doctors get their annual bonuses based on the number of pap smears they perform? Irritating.

Clickety-Clack

...that's what the newest toy at our house says, as the kids type along at break-neck speeds. Actually, it's hunt and peck, but this garage sale find has been the center of a new game at our house. Pokemon court. The following is a "court document" that I found laying around the house.

"mr.jo anathan we gat er here this day to talk about the crime of stealing tabasco sauce. the jury call hoot to the stand. hoot, lease describe the theft. w hoo hoo, hoo, hoo th jury calls azelf to the stand.as azel laa a, laa rainbows. laa, laala a butterflies.the jury calls rexy to the stand. rooar, roar, roar. i nn other words..im not guilty hahahaha i win. 6/12/09hi."

Some of those typing errors are not their fault. Type writers are totally unforgiving. If you don't press pretty hard on the keys, you get nothing! Still, I love to listen to the clickety-clack of the court proceedings, with every line punctuated by a - DING!

Anyone know where to buy typewriter tape?

Coming Home

This is the part I don't like about travelling - the actual travelling. It's a day full of unpleasant deadlines. Pack bag by 9am. Check out by 10am. Return car at 11am. Board plane at 1:40pm. Board shuttle at 11:30pm. It's a long day of doing nothing at all. Tony was awesome and skipped out of work to take me to the airport. I sat by a Japanese-American Mormon on the flight home. We discussed, among other things, cultural differences in breakfast food and the Japanese economy.
It was a nice trip, but I can't wait until Tony is back for a while, and I can enjoy my husband in the comfort of my own home!
Rachel had the house clean when I got home, and she did all of the digging for my path (which is totally NOT the fun part). I owe her big time. The kids say Aunt Rachel is the adventure queen. How am I going to live up to their new expectations? Maybe we can do an occasional explor-a-day, but I don't think I have Rachel energy for daily outings.

Hawaii - Day 3

Sitting around my hotel room for the second day...I had to get out. Sight seeing was off the list. I've already done everything touristy in Oahu (except for swimming with dolphins - ever since watching "when dolphins attack", I just can't do it), and, while I'd love to do them again with my family, I wasn't anxious to do them alone.
So, what's way more fun without children?....Shopping! We got in the little Yaris and drove until we found Old Navy. Out of the squillion shirts I tried on, I found 2 that fit. Then, off to Goodwill, where all of my shopping dreams came true. Cute, vintage-looking dresses, new (Old Navy) jeans for me, shirts for Boo. I love thrifting. It's like a treasure hunt. So glad I packed light on the way there, because I had some extra luggage for my return trip.
When Tony finished work, we induldged in our routine of Korean food, ice cream, and a movie. Land of the Lost. Silly and inappropriate, but very funny.

Hawaii - Day 2

This is Cozette's dream vacation. She gets her Mom's (mostly) undivided attention. No one puts her down to do dishes or laundry. Plus, I was a little tired of watching tv, so the baby and I had a lot of lovely conversations.
Tony and I did make it to one Hawaiian hot-spot - Dave's Ice Cream, otherwise known as the best ice cream in these United States. I had Haupia. Tony had Kulolo.

Hawaii - Day 1

Let me just start by saying that this trip would never have happened without cool Aunt Rachel. She didn't just watch my lovely hooligans, she held Cozette while I finally packed my bag at midnight (before my 8am flight). I was just too busy trying to stock my fridge and do laundry to pack sooner...oh, and I didn't want to go.
Seriously. Tony did a really poor job selling me on this trip. It went something like, "I hate this stupid job and might quit any day now, but will you come visit me in Hawaii, while I'm working too much to actually spend time with you?" Not very enticing. It is the "cultivate low expectations, so people will be impressed when you deliver" approach. A very good strategy for Navy families.
Anyhow, I packed light (almost too light - I remembered to pack underwear at the very last second!)and got up early. Rachel drove me to the Kitsap Airporter. Cozette loved the Airporter and the plane ride. Any transportation method where she can be held by Mom is ok by her.
Hawaiian airlines: they charge too much for checking luggage, but at least they feed you! I read a great book on the way there - The Guernsey Island Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I was so excited to find an author I liked (especially since it was a random airport bookstore purchase)...until I read that she was dead...and that was her first book. How depressing.
Tony met me at my gate. I think he prides himself on being able to charm his way past security. He played the military card, and I suspect he played the "my wife is travelling alone with an infant" card as well. It's always so nice to see him! He smiles affectionately and listens to me prattle about books and kids and other inconsequentials.
We got all of our tourist activities out of the way on the very first day. After addicting me to the aptly named "Yummy Korean BBQ", we rushed to the flea market for Hawaiian honey and dresses. Then, I squeezed in a short nap before heading to the "Paradise Cove" Luau.
We drank fruity drinks, made leis, watched the hula show. It was right on the beach, by Ko Olina, so there was a gorgeous sunset out over the water. Sadly, all I could think about was how much Sofia would love making animals out of palm leaves, that Annika would have volunteered to learn the hula on stage, that Anthony would have blushed his way through the hula show...that we'd be pulling Jonny down from palm trees. It's so hard to enjoy anything when you can't share it with the people you love. (Not that Tony doesn't count - he's just lacking in child-like enthusiasm)! Tony said he feels that way every time he travels alone. The San Diego Zoo must have been really depressing. Lovely. Tiring. Collapsed into bed.

Momma #2

Sofia is turning into a baby pro. She knows exactly how to get the smiles, soothe the cries, and rock the baby to sleep. Once she gets diaper-changing down, she'll be good to go!

Who did we forget this time?

..not really eventful, just busy.

I finally managed to tear the kids away from the Wii, so we could start our trip to Snohomish for a cousin birthday party. We made it all the way to Silverdale, when I realized we had left someone at home...my debit card. And, sadly, my two dollars wasn't going to get us on the ferry. Home again, home again.

Retrieved card. Decided to drive around. Lucky for me, Sofia can get Cozette to sleep with a pacifier. Unlucky for me, the other kids are so dang loud, they kept waking her up again!

We did eventually make it. Cozette survived. The girl had a rockin' time at Maddy's party (thanks to her super-cool Aunts). I was invited to Beth and James' house for yum-yums. Beth's rocking chair (she's jumped on the spray paint band-wagon) is beyond cute! ..and awesome Rachel let me dump some of my unwanted dirt on her 5 acres. 10 brownie points for Rachel! She's about to score about 50 more by watching my kids (baby not included) while I go to Hawaii. I should probably start packing.

Those pictures I promised.

Have I mentioned that we're doing swim lessons right now? Our trip to the lake made me overly enthusiastic about swimming, and, in my fit of enthusiasm, I signed the kids up for swim lessons. Our first day of swim made me question my judgement. I won't go into detail about the insanity. Today, things improved. James actually got into the pool for a while (to take a ride on one of those huge mats) and was, if not "good", at least less naughty. Honestly, I feel like swim lessons are recreational at his age. I just didn't want to exclude him. I'm really hoping that Jonny and Annika can improve - two less drowners would be nice!

Adventures in Shopping

We had some shopping adventures today. Shopping with my children is always interesting, for one reason or another.

First of all, it puts us in the public eye, so we get to field all kinds of questions about the size of our family. When the kids are being good, I get good comments - about what wonderful big helpers I have, and how important it must make them feel. When the kids are rowdy, I mainly just get interesting looks than silently say how crazy people think I am. They're probably right, but when you are a little crazy, you just have to go with it and make it work for you.

Anyhow, I had a Target gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket...I had to go. I bought diapers, socks, and tiny (6-12 mo.)shoes for Cozette, since it was a baby gift. Sofia talked me into a "Tide on the go" pen to remove some unsightly stains from her Pokemon. (I'm hoping that conscientious "Poke-Mom" will translated to conscientious Mom someday.) Then I bought some gifts and thank-you cards. James and Cozette slept most of the time, so it was very uneventful.

Costco...where all of my real shopping adventures take place. No, I didn't leave my car running again. (In case you where wondering)

Some background information: I told the kids over a year ago that I would buy a Wii when they finished reading the Book of Mormon. (Just for the record, they chose the task - not me.) Since then, whenever someone asks if we have a Wii, I say, "No, my kids don't want one." The kids yell, "Yes we do!", to which I reply, "If you really wanted one, we would have one by now." A couple of them finally got serious, and today we went to purchase the Wii.

Back to Costco! Here I am at Costco, buying my Wii (and some danish pull-aparts...and some licorice), minding my own business, when the kids see the "Converta-benches" I've been eyeing. They're actually pretty cool - if you get two of them, they turn can turn into a picnic table! It's like having less complicated, more useful transformers in your back yard. The only reason I hadn't bought them yet, was that I was positive I couldn't fit them in a van that's already quite full of children.

Before I know it, Anthony is back with a flat-bed cart, loading up 2 converta-benches. I'm still sure they won't fit in the car. The kids are more optimistic. To make a long story at least slightly shorter, I set a new personal (high) spending record for Costco and drove home with the kids in a converta-bench fort.

Sofia even made me put them together tonight, by trying (unsuccessfully) to do it without me. Having older children is certainly interesting. Sometimes it's less clear who is running the show, but I'm happy to be raising such independent little people.

Sorry about the long, boring story. Tomorrow there will be boring pictures to go with it. :)

Something I got done this week - and something that I didn't

Yes, these are pictures of what I did get done. What I didn't? The dishes. Part of the problem is that my dishwasher (Sofia) was broken. We had a glue gun incident. Sofia shoved in a fresh glue stick, and a big, hot lump of glue came out, landing on her knee. It's still there. We didn't want to pull it off and take skin with it. Anyhow, when she instinctively tried to brush off the hot glue, it also stuck to and burned her hand. It was a sad, sad day, and Sofia's only consolation was that, in light of her injuries, I gave her the week off from hated dish duty. She has a new-found respect for the dangerous nature of glue guns.

Even though I gave Sofia the week off, I didn't exactly pick up the slack. I'm too obsessed with my flagstone path. I spent the morning going to Morrison Gravel for...gravel. Duh! ...and sand, if you want to get technical. A long morning of labor for a 3-foot section. I'm thinking about contracting out the next 17 feet. I don't think I can go that long without doing the dishes.