Off with their heads

Forget the poison apple or getting pricked with a pin. Those lousy stepsisters have nothing on Wilbur our basset hound.  These are not maladies that can be fixed with love's first kiss.  I don't think even super glue can help.  Next to the poor headless ladies are their mangled heads.  Do you think I am scarring my daughter for life?  Our littlest princess lover is only 2 after all.  She doesn't seem to mind.  Several days ago she simply grabbed her brothers bionicle and blamed him for the losses.  

She plays with her headless friends just as much as those with beautiful faces.  She told me "Cinderella has no head, but I love her mom".  She also told me recently that "I love my new vaporizer mom. "  Simple pleasures, I guess.  

Last night was our second dance class.  It went as to be expected.  The twins take over the class, and Harper gets right into it with her cousins.  I am quite sure that the other women in the class can't stand our kids.  Daphne ran around that room yelling "woof woof" and I think Penelope latched onto "yee haw" for a while after we galloped.  Harper thinks dance class is only for spinning.  She's practically green by the end of class from all of the turning.   They still have quite a way to go until they make it out of SE.  

On a side note, I would like to mention not posting here in a timely way. It seems whenever I want to put up a little picture with a note, I can't.  I do not understand why the cord that connects my camera to the computer is not the same color as the camera?  How the hell am I supposed to find it every time in a sea of other cords, earbuds and phone chargers? I can't remember I am looking for  a white cord until I am 10 minutes into it.  I get pissed each and every time. I can't leave it connected to the back of the computer or my kids would tie it in 100 knots.  They have an obsession with taking long strings, and cords and making impossible knots.  Don't tell me to clean the drawer- it is.  Honestly.  

Twirl

Two weeks ago I mentioned a mommy and me dance class to Julia.  I thought her girls would love it.  They really know how to tear up a dance floor, those two.  Little did I know that I would be prodded to bring Harper.  #3 taking a class of any kind had never really crossed my radar.  Too busy with #1 and #2  I guess.  I had no interest really, in another dance class.  I already had to quit the creative movement class I had been teaching due to schedule conflict.  Why would I want to go to one and be taught?  Well, its Harper being taught but you get my drift.  I told Julia no and then Pru slathered on some pressure.  Something about kids deserving chances in life etc.  I thought that was stretching it.  Harper is not even 3 yet.  Her grandmother intimates I keep her locked in a closet with no outside stimuli.  Anyone reading this blog probably knows something about Julia and Pru.  When they want something, they are relentless. It was my own fault for mentioning it.  So, dance class it is, for all 3 girls. 

After signing up for class, came wardrobe.  Julia was a house of fire on this.  I admit, I was kind of ready to delve in myself.  Once the decision was made, it was time to get the girls outfitted.  I hold some very traditional ideas regarding dancewear.  Having started dance when I was just a wee one, I was always always impressed with the instructors and dancers who wore the "uniform".  It spoke volumes to me.  Black leo, pink tights, black skirt and ballet shoes perfectly molded to their beautiful arched feet.  Of course, there were variations on the theme. Leg warmers added for actual function vs. form, different styles of leotards, maybe an errant pair of sweatpants. However, NEVER NEVER was there much derivation in color.  My own mother always encouraged a splash of raspberry tights, electric blue shiny lycra unitard or maybe a sparkly leotard to augment my dance wardrobe.  When I started dancing in college, that changed!  I put on my uniform and got to work. 

When Julia asked me about dance clothes I gave her a checklist.  She followed it dutifully. No lame Target crap.  She skipped the silly princess leotard and the ballet slippers that looked more like cardboard on feet than an actual ballet slipper.  The ladies came to class bedecked in black leos with sweet as can be black tulle skirts, ballet pink tights and lovely form fitting ballet slippers.  Their laces were hanging out but that was easily remedied.  Who was that little girl next to them?  The one in the chalk blue princess leotard, white (!) tights and cardboard dance slippers.  Holy crap, that was Harper!! And she looked darling, I must say.  Harper let me know when we visited Target earlier in the week, that there would be no black and pink and certainly nothing without silk screening on it.  I hemmed and hawed, I cringed, closed my eyes and bought the stuff.  It was perfect.  

Seeing those 3 little girls in an old school dance studio in SE Portland would warm anyone's heart.  No matter what they were wearing, it was so fun.  They pranced, they danced, they rolled and they marched.  Harper wanted to be nervous, but her compassionate aunt swooped right in, grabbed her small hand and danced away with her until she was comfortable. Once she got her footing, she tiptoed to her hearts delight.  She twirled with great enthusiasm.  Daphne followed the rules.  She did exactly what the instructor asked of her with a little help from grandma Jean. When the Barney songs started, Daph was in 7th heaven.  A happy smile spread across her face.  Penelope, well, she was Penelope. She took that class on full throttle.  She didn't just march, she really marched.  She threw her whole body into it.  

By the end of the class, the little girls were running the tumbling mat.  I expected Penelope, the yard boss, to start taking money from the other little girls.  There wasn't really going to be any standing in line or waiting for turns  with the twins.  Certainly, not from being naughty.  Far from it..... they were just loving the experience of dance class.  They wanted more more more.  I think Harper would have stayed and flounced for another hour as well.  

When it was over, and time to leave, I knew the girls would be happy to be back next week.  Its a one  hour roundtrip commute to a dingy dance studio for a 1/2 hour class.  Its worth it though.  It was fun to see, no matter how small the step, that the littles are growing up. Sooner than I think, it won't be mommy and me anymore.  That's a sad thought! So, for the time being I will just enjoy the heck out of our cousins and our funny little class.

 

 

Cookies

My friend Abby is always making cookies with her 3 girls and she posts such lovely pictures of the cookies, the girls and the good time they had. We are in a bit of a lockdown situation over here as our Bailey is not feeling so hot and I just can't stand to be away from him... so, I thought to myself (as the ladies were standing on the back of the chair taking the leaves off the tree on wall) we need a COP and I need something to blog about this is going to be so perfect... Ladies let's make some cookies. They were so excited. They love cookies.

After last weeks episode with Katrina and the chairs I purchased this step stool thing called a learning tower. It brings the Ladies to counter level while keeping them contained. And let me tell you it worked great with the cookie making. The babies were easily able to handle the bowls, spatulas, measuring cups and spoons.

Our first step in the cookie making process was to measure out the 2 1/4 cups of flour, we added the tsp of baking soda next, and then the phone rang. It was the vet calling so I had to answer it. While I was talking to the nice lady on the phone Penelope added a little more baking soda to the bowl and Daphne moved half the flour to another bowl and by the time I had Bailey's appt scheduled I wasn't quite sure if we had the first 2 ingredients quite right because there was so much flour on the counter. As I stood there dialing my mom to see if she could watch the Ladies tomorrow I realized that we didn't actually need to make cookies because flour is so much fun!

I have a feeling Christian would not have thought the flour situation was very fun, but it's all cleaned up now. Also, if you are wondering it kept them busy for 45 min, they didn't fight over the cooking tools, I believe we engaged all 5 senses, and it took 7 minutes to clean up.

Terror Abounds

I think we can all see that THIS is not supposed to be happening!!  Especially on my watch. These little girls will steal your heart but they are such naughty little monkeys.  It was my morning to watch the twinnies for 1 hour while Julia was off volunteering.  I think I failed miserably. While it looks a little dangerous, rest assured, as soon as I got the photo I jumped into action.  However, I didn't make it to Penelope before she looked directly at me while sweeping every single item off of the desk.  There were a lot of things on there but I was most worried about the Guccis.  A broken pair would simply not do.  Thankfully, they survived the fall unscathed.  

I was at a total loss to discipline the little dumplings.  I mean, these girls are really cute......I don't know how the hell their parents take care of them 24/7 . I'm pretty sure there must be some daily drinking going on.  Its actually pretty fun to watch them get into mayhem and know that I don't really have to do anything about it except keep them safe. That is their parents job!   My 3 have caused problems alright but this doubling up on craziness is too much for this aunt to handle. I plopped them into the high chair in no time and thats where we spent the rest of our morning.  

Now, as I write, my two wee ones are yelling - no shrieking - over who gets to hold the bowl full of cheetos I gave them.  Honestly,  its amazing that my kids don't have migraines every single night, secondary to yelling. I am sure with any modicum of luck, there will be cheesy fingerprints all over the craft room and ground in crumbs clinging to the carpet. I do love cheetos myself so I better get in there and see if I can score some before they eat them all.   

 

Boxed up

Christmas back in boxes, high on garage shelves.  I should be happy with my organization but instead I am a little misty eyed for the holiday.  Several years in a row, I have been known to take down the tree before we head up to my mom's for Christmas morning.  The kids have always been little enough to not really care where the tree was headed at 8:00am after present opening from Santa.  I have always felt like leaving the holiday stuff up after the actual day leaves its own sadness.  The tree always looks less sparkly, under the tree is bare and I can see the needles that have fallen.  I notice that the paper chains are askew over the windows and the puffy snow under the village is torn and flat.  So, I usually bundle it up and box it up. 

This year was different, as I started taking ornaments off at the end of Christmas day, the kids looked at me horrified and said "What are you doing?  Where is that tree going? I turned and thought ??? Are they crazy? This tree is going right where all the others have gone.  The side of our house to be picked up by boy scouts next week.  I had been foiled and I felt terrible.  I left the barren tree there and skulked away to go and try to sneak down paper chains.  Instead of yanking down stuff, I just started to organize Christmas presents the kids had received that were all over the house.  Funny, here came some twinkling little voices again.  "Moooommmm, where did you put my new Jon and Kate book and where is my green rubber watch? They were right here.  I know Finn stole them." I hated admitting it was I, the mother, who had already whisked it all away and was putting it where I thought it belonged.  So, I left that task as well.  I promised myself I would really try next year, to enjoy the moment and let the kids help dictate when Christmas was over.  

Dan removed the tree eventually, after the kids had some more time with it. However, we did leave up the very large, wide flocked tree we saved from oblivion.  It was a tree that no one would have taken home and we felt sorry for the ol' girl.  She was damn near impossible to get into the house and took up most of our living room.  So much so, that we had to move a chair and a coffee table out to give her wide berth.  It was my most favorite tree we have ever had!  Getting it out was not easy and I have been mopping up white flocking material for a week.  I will miss both trees. I am already  looking  forward to Julia and I heading out as early as the husbands will let us to get more next year.  

The kids are back at school.  They are thrilled and so am I.  Daisy tells me that everyone, absolutely everyone got Uggs for Christmas.  How does she know this?  Seems that "the lady from Nordstrom told Grandma Pru"  I like that scientific research.  Also, she is now the only girl in her class without pierced ears.  We had a long discussion about piercing at Icing vs. Claires.  She has no interest in her own ears being pierced but she is fascinated by the process.  

Apparently, the boys in the class all got boring video games.  I heard all about the petrified carrots found in her desk due to sitting there 3 (!!) weeks and the stinky water in her water bottle.  I wonder if she actually did any class work yesterday? 

Finn came home beaming, with a jingle bell tied to a red ribbon around his neck. A Christmas gift from his teacher.  I can't imagine why the kindy teacher would hand out 24 bells to the little children.  Finn clarified that they weren't allowed to wear them until it was time to go.  I had to go in his room about 8:30 last night and tell him to take the bell off as every time he moved, he jingled and it was making the dogs nervous.  It was back on at 6:30 this morning when he headed to the bathroom.  

Hmmm, Wilbur is alternately licking Harper in the face and running around with her stuffed rubber ducky she got for Christmas from her Uncle Cody. I think its time to mother again. 

Hope your Christmas was as lovely as ours and that 2009 is the best year yet.  I can't believe its almost time to swear in another president, but that's another post..... 

snow

It has been quite sometime since we posted anything. It has been hard to see straight through all the snow. In fact it is hard for me to even think about snow after almost 2 weeks of being stuck at home. Here are a few things that happened during the storm:

-We went to Sunriver the weekend of the snow storm and had the best time. The first snowfall of the season was lovely and I wondered to myself why people complain about bundling their kids up. If you have not been to Sunriver during December you should really consider it, they have really great Christmas activities for kids.

- Hannah came home for Christmas!

- Christian took my car with the traction devices to work everyday. I realize that his employment is more important than my trip to the JoAnns, but when I look in the garage and the escape vehicle is missing I get a little tense.

- One morning with the help of our dear Mackenzie (who walked to my house), we loaded the ladies into the sled and pulled them up the vineyard to Grandma Pru's. We love to go visit my inlaws but I must be honest and say that I only walk there when the weather is above 80. I really hate being cold.

- Katrina and I sewed 6 quilts, barely getting them finished for Christmas. Twice Katrina was dropped off at my house and trapped here for several hours while we finished things up. I was also able to finish up the camping playhouse for my nephew Vincent with just a minute to spare.

- Christmas Eve morning my parents and brothers were able to make it to our house for breakfast and gifts and Christmas day all the Stavigs made it to celebrate at my inlaws.

As I reread my list I'm noting that things weren't all that bad despite the snow. I accomplished something almost everyday and the most important part... we were able to spend the holidays with our family.

NINE

Question: How many trees does one need to get inorder for the nice man at the tree lot to recognize you???

Answer: 9

Between Katrina, Pru and myself, we managed to purchase 9 trees last year at Alices on 212 at the Carver exit. Kat and I each had 2 and then there were 5 at the big house. I really love Christmas trees, they smell so good and there is just nothing like the feeling of driving around town with a couple trees on top of the car. Kind of like taking your new handbag out for a spin!

This year the Roths got their trees up first and I could hardly stand it. If I hadn't been hosting Thanksgiving and a babyshower within 48 hours of each other I would have had mine up too. So, first thing (11am) Monday morning Katrina arrived so that I could go get my trees. Finn volunteered to be my tree expert as he had already practiced over the weekend. We looked at about every tree on the lot and finally decided on "the tree" and then the smaller one I like to have in my bedroom.

The man helping us was so friendly and I wondered if he remembered the scene from last year. As we went inside to pay Finn asked, "Auntie, how will the man know what car is ours?" and as I'm turning around to give the man a little direction I notice that indeed he is already standing on my back bumper.

In the two years I have lived in my neighborhood I have met 2 neighbors. I don't know anyone at the grocery store, or the starbucks but I now feel confident in saying that I know the tree guys. And I suppose if I'm being honest I might also know my safeway.com delivery man. :-)