Max!

We have a new cousin!

Puget Sound

Bewitching hour

Have you ever hit the five o'clock bewitching hour and by five thirty you're sitting on the couch holding three crying children? Or else the mood is generally low and children are listlessly lying around looking bored?  Do you want to spice things up? Do you want to get dinner on the table? Here's something practically guaranteed to work (if you have kids under the age of five or so): crank up the music and yell "Nakey Time!" While the kids are stripping to their underwear (or diaper), open the wine; this will help you cope with the ensuing noise. If desired, you may barricade them in the living room for all nakey dancing and chasing activities. You may also give a special dispensation for jumping wildly on the couches. Result, your children will behave like hoodlums in the other room while you work alone in the kitchen. You should have time to either make dinner or clean it up before someone is injured. 

Note: An added benefit is the children realize there are designated times for being wild animals. Not, for instance, when you have that nice new family over for dinner. Further instruction may be necessary.

Waiting for cousins!!

Going to the dentist is a snap

Spring

Hi there.

Every once in a while I will be posting to a new category called Lessons I Have Learned. Pretty much you will only want to read these if a) you are a family member or b) you have small children. In the first case, you will naturally be interested, and in the second, perhaps you can find some tips to add to your ever growing pile of internet motherhood research. So here goes. First off, we have the problem of The Mall.

Beware of making a spur of the moment decision to go to the mall with three children under the age of five. First contemplate what they have eaten and drunk and when. Because even though you can command them all to pee in one trip before you leave, and then again when you get there, you have no control over The Other Bathroom Need. Add into the mix a newly potty trained two year old, with whom you Cannot Take Risks, and your fifteen month old with a bad rash requiring Immediate Dirty Diaper Attention, and you will have no less than five trips to the public restroom in two hours. This results in many logistical issues of navigating, apologizing, keeping snacks and hands off various dirty surfaces, etc., all of which generally Use Mommy's Brain Up. Not that this takes the fun out of the mall outing, I'm just warning you that you may be a little more tired than usual when you get home.

In case you're wondering, it does rain here a lot, so we like the mall. Especially the quarter rides.

I AM KING!

Meeting baby Dayton!

Getting really excited about Easter

Strawberry blonde and blue eyes

What I love about having a baby in the house is that the novelty does not wear off. They absolutely adore him.

Neighborhood Tea Party

Lily and her friend Karly set up a tea party...complete with tablecloth, flowers, lemonade, and lots of snacks. We really enjoy those springy 60 degree days!