Just Ducky!

One of the joys of having grandparents is that they let you do all sorts of things that your parents never would: eat cake for breakfast, go days without changing your clothes (given - there was camping involved), buy a box full of ducklings... Thank goodness for Grandmas and Grandpas!

Before we left my Mom and Dad's house, Dad and I took all of the kids to get this year's ducklings at the feed store. (I could actually use a duck to eat some of my slugs, but I'm pretty sure my neighborhood has a restriction against poultry.) The older kids had fun grabbing the aptly named "runner ducks" for Grandpa, and James and Britton just enjoyed looking at all of the chicks, goslings, and ducklings. For the record - baby turkeys are surprisingly cute.

While Grandpa was paying for the poultry, I got drawn into a conversation with a very pregnant woman sitting on a bench nearby. She asked about the baby and (the usual) whether or not all of the children belonged to me. One of them actually didn't this time (my little niece, Britton)! Once she had figured out that I had six children, I asked how many children this baby would make for her...eleven. Yea! I love meeting people who have more children than me for a change, because then I know they aren't thinking I'm totally crazy for having such a big family. Although, if they spend enough time with me, they might find other reasons for thinking I'm nuts! :)

Tromping Thru the Tulips 2

On Friday, we woke up to the beautiful sunshine and decided that it was much too nice outside to sit around doing school work. Field trip time! Where could we go that would keep us out in the lovely warm sun? I decided to take my cue from Sarah and make the trek to the tulip fields...but not the ones in Oregon. The kids each packed an overnight bag and we headed over to Mt. Vernon.

When we made a nursing/diaper-changing pit stop at Grandma and Grandpa's house, the children scattered. Between the new hammock, lots of fun cousins, and the tree house, everyone found something fun to do. The tulip fields were long forgotten. I eventually mustered to energy to herd the hooligans to the car. We are going to the tulip fields - whether you want to or not!

Once we got there, they were all amazed by the huge fields of colorful blooms. Cozette got her first ride in the sling, and Anthony had fun racing up and down the paths, pushing the stroller at top speeds. Jonathan and Anthony kicked up massive amounts of dirt into billowing clouds (which does wonderful things to your feet when you're wearing flip-flops). Annika and I each bought a bouquet of tulips as we were leaving. Mission accomplished. After five (although not consecutive) years of living in Washington, I've finally made it to the tulip fields! Every April, it seems like we're either moving or having a baby, but this year we didn't let it stop us!

Sorry, Sarah!

I finally added a link to my lovely sister's photography site - really the least I could do when she drove up here to take Cozette's pictures for me. If you click on Smiling Eyes Photography, you can see a few more of the cute photos she took. The bad news is that I can't seem to get the button to look as nice as it did when it was sent to me. :( Sorry, Sarah. If you have any advice on fixing that, I'm all ears.

James, Why are your naps so evil?

...they could be such a force for good, but your naps have somehow been twisted and corrupted. Instead of giving your Mom a mid-day break and waking up a refreshed and happy, James, you postpone your sleeping until 6pm. What good does that do anyone? Waking up at 8pm...cranky...and then staying up until midnight? It's a good thing I can still get you into bed before Daddy gets home, or you'd really be in trouble.

An Update

Wow. For some reason, I'm not getting a ton done lately. Actually, I'm getting a lot of baby-holding, nursing, diaper-changing, and cuddling done...it's just the other stuff that is challenging.

Today I made it to Costco (brought my keys in with me this time) and felt like that was a major accomplishment. Sadly, I spent about a billion dollars on food, diapers, sadly addictive cucumber-scented baby wipes...and...no, that's all. How did that add up a billion dollars anyhow?

The kids and I also managed to clean one room in the house - the loft, where we spend most of our time. I also cleared a path in Sofi and Annika's room. Sofia was very suspicious when I left her room with a big trash bag. (She knows I think her toy collection is insane.) But, no, it was really full of trash...all from their room.

The kids and I are reading Anne of Green Gables, and I think they are finally getting into it. At least they seemed very relieved that Marilla decided Anne could stay at Green Gables...for now. (I'm surprised they were in suspense at all - I thought the title gave that away.)

So, here I am, wishing James wasn't so refreshed by his 3-hour nap and wondering when my dear husband will finally make it home for the night. At least I got to blog about it.

Our Very Eventful Saturday

The dishes are done and my baby won't wake up to nurse, so I thought I might as well post. We had such a lovely/busy day yesterday. Sofia and my Mom both had their birthdays. I made Sofi an ultra-cute purse, which she didn't like...she loved!(That's a quote from Sofia.) Mom's present got procrastinated a little too long, so all she got for her birthday (from me) was a glimpse at the pattern and the fabric (pictured above) for her apron.

Annika was baptized. Why is it so hard to pull something like that together? It probably just is for me. I'm planning impaired. Still, it was beautiful to see her so excited to make that special covenant with Heavenly Father. Our family aren't super reverent when you put them all together. It comes from having a bunch of cousins who have way too much fun together. My little brother had a good point. He thinks they were so loud because they're usually interspersed among more reverent people. Undiluted Tunnells make a lot of noise.

Tony was also able to bless Cozette. I'll have to ask him what he said, because she started crying as soon as he took her out of her carseat. ...something about loving the gospel and being an example to her brothers and sisters? I'm sure someone took a picture of Grandma Cozette holding her namesake, and I will put it up as soon as I get my hands on it.

Thank you to everyone who helped with the whole affair...which I think was pretty much everyone...the Kangs for making the drive and Chris in particular for speaking...Rachel for playing the piano..Jana for leading the music...Allicia for making the program...Mike for filling the font and doing handyman stuff at my house...Bishop Meeker for conducting...I could go on, but I'm just going to say THANK YOU EVERYONE!

I love having family over. There's nothing better than having 30+ people (all of whom you love) filling up your house! I'll have to think up another occasion really soon. :)

My Sadly Un-updated Blog

We are all enjoying Cozette so much. Instead of getting in bed with me and cuddling in the morning, now James runs into my room yelling, "I hold it the baby! I hold it the baby!" There's always a line for baby-holding, and it's sweet and heart-warming to see the same look of love and fascination on their faces, as they craddle her and examine her tiny features. It may even be a little sweeter to see your eleven-year-old son cooing to the baby.
Amidst the baby furvor Cozette has created, my blog is definitely being neglected. My mother's blog, Grandma Linda's House is a better update of our lives right now. Maybe I'll be able to squeeze out a post tonight?