photobucket is cool!

Chicki: Photobucket is cool!

You: Where have you been?

Chicki: Over the edge washing diapers, playing pirates and cowboys, and painting finger nails for the 73rd time today.

You: Oh...yeah, photobucket rocks!

Chicki: Sweet. Check back for some cool stuff created with photobucket.

You: I will. Can't wait!

Chicki: See you then then.

Pumpkin!

We had a crazy busy week last week! I'm sure everyone else did too! This is apicture of the pumpkin Hottie carved for the pumpkin carving contest at our church's event. He didn't get 1st place there but we (the kids and I)still think it is amazing! It took over 3 hours to do! I would have quit at about 30 minutes. Oh, wait...that's why HE carved it!Gigi is ready to eat again. Post more later...over the edge!

It's raining..literally!

Everyone is entertaining themselves right now and the internet connection is "very good" too...something is really weird! That rarely happens and when it does..it's not for long! I walked into Gigi's room the other day and this is what I caught her doing:

Not cool.

I told her to sit down and she laughed at me. I should be used to that by now, huh? I'm not sure what to do about that one. If you have and suggestions I'd gladly listen!

Goldilocks received some "night light glasses" from a good friend for his birthday. He loves to wear them to bed and we have shadow puppet plays. Great fun. Looks really cool on film too!


Punka is expressing her disapproval about doctor's visits and birthday parties in a way only she can do. About birthdays: "It's not fair Goldilocks gets to get a lot of presents. I'm the oldest. My birthday should be first." About doctor visits: "I want to get my shots too. It's not fair he gets all the attention." What? Hottie took her to Goldilocks appointment and she screamed and cried the whole time because she did not want to hear him cry about his shots. Whatever.

The natives are no longer entertaining themselves.

Gotta get back to my life over the edge.

Kid stuff!

This is Gigi in her tutu I made.
"There are just so many ways to wear them mommy!"

PRETTY GIRL!

We get a kick out of most of the things the kids do.
Here are 2 videos Hottie keeps on his camera to get a laugh.

First up, Goldilocks and his "Body Dance".
Watch for the jig (looks like the shivers).

Second, Punka getting her tooth pulled.
Watch what Goldilocks does before wiggling Punka's tooth.

HA, HA, HA, HA! We usually watch these 7 or 8 times in a row!
They are so funny!

Gotta laugh when you are living life over the edge!

Baking, Baking, Baking!

I don't know what it is about the fall, but when the air starts to turn cool I get the hunkering to bake. Don't get me wrong...it is still 85 degrees here! I just needed to get this train moving...ready for some cooler air!

So..the kids and I baked these cookies yesterday. The recipe said it would yeild 36 cookies. We were able to squeeze 20 out of the batter! Oh, well. I made then with wheat flour and turbinado sugar. Of course, we had to put candy corn on them or they would not be called Candy Corn Cookies! They were still good. We also made Pumpkin Brownies. I would show you a picture but they were too good to last!

Next on the menu...Chicken Pot Pie, Salad with Apples and Monster Cookies.

Life over the edge isn't too bad when you throw in some home cooked meals!

Hello there.

I've been gone a while. Well, not really gone..just gone from here. It seems that life takes over and by the time I can stop to breath I'm too tired. Anyone else know what i mean? Hottie starts school in about a week and a half. It seems as though internally I am ramping up to "take over" some of the responsibilities. Not that I don't have any mind you (although that would be nice some days), but mentally I am preparing for not being able to tag team as much as we do. Also, the kids sense a change and they HAVE TO test their boundaries...AGAIN! It will all be worth it when this road merges with the next, I'm sure.

Goldilocks turned 4 on Saturday! Arrgh...not ready...can we have a "do over" please!? He is too big. Had to have a "dress up party." His words not mine! Hey, he has 2 sisters and we got away without having a Pirate party again this year. YES! Goldilocks really has a funny personality. He just says what he thinks and that's it. Very open to letting you know how he feels! "I'm just cranky" when he is coming off a sugar high and is tired. "This eye wants to go to sleep" when he is really tired. "My tummy says it NEEDS chocolate" when he is really trying hard to convince me to give him chocolate. He is going to marry Paige-y, they're going to have fried fish at their wedding 'cause she loves him. When he puts on his "bones" pjs, you can see his bones and they glow in the dark. Some nights this is the blame for him not able to go to sleep..."My bones won't go to sleep." Right. Just a few one liners from our Goldilocks this past week:
1) Hottie was taking him to school and there was a dump truck in front of them.
Goldilocks: What's that smells in my nose?
Hottie: Exhaust, buddy.
Goldilocks: cough, cough I need some country air.
We don't live in a metropolis, in fact they were driving by a farm at the time!
2) Hottie had taken Goldilocks to school and picked him up one day. They spent the day together at work and got home late. Goldilocks was already asleep when they got home, so I didn't get to talk to him ALL day. The conversation that took place at breakfast the next morning:
Mommy: Goldilocks, I didn't get to see you all day yesterday and it made me sad.
Goldilocks: Well, I'm here now.
Yes, he was!
3) Hottie was taking Goldilocks to school (are you seeing a pattern here?) and they were eating bananas. Yes, they were ripe..perhaps a little bruised.
Goldilocks: Daddy, you know what these spots are called?
Hottie: What buddy?
Goldilocks: DECAY. It's DECAY!
Where does he get this stuff from?
4) I have been giving him a hard time about getting older..you know telling him I was so excited about him turning 3 (really 4) and I couldn't believe he was getting sooo big like a 3 year old. This had been going on for about 4 days. Goldilocks telling me that he was 4, he's big, now he can make good choices (who know?), etc. Well, my bubble was burst when during his bath time this went down:
Mommy: I'm so happy you are 3 now, Goldilocks. You are getting so big.
Goldilocks: Mommy, I wish you'd be happy that I'm 4.
Bummer. I really thought I'd be able to convince him. I don't want to be happy my baby boy is 4. Next year he probably won't want to have anything to do with me.
So, my baby is 4 and he had a blast at his party. We were looking at pictures (thanks, Krista) after the party and he told me it was his best party ever! Thanks to everyone for coming and helping us make it a very special day to celebrate Goldilocks's life.

Gigi is crawling. Why do they have to do everything all at once? Can't children get together and plan these things out? She's eating solids and really wants nothing to do with the bottle. If I'm eating she wants to eat. Her favorite thing to do is press her face against the side of the pack-n-play and lick it! The other 2 didn't discover how much fun they missed. Gigi loves her brother and sister. Smiles every time they walk into the room. How sweet. Could just eat her up!

Punka is cruising through school. So much so that she is bored for the most part. She has declared her desire to be a mommy. "And it is going to take forever to get out of school so I can't be a mommy until forever." Oh, the drama! I turned on the t.v. yesterday and Ellen was on (which I usually don't watch). She was talking about what people wear to bed. Nighties, t shirts, etc. Then she said, "Some people wear their socks to bed. You know..because their feet get cold. I wear my dancing shoes so when I get up in the morning I can say 'Tony, give me that beat.'" Punka was standing there looking very confused. She said,"Is she going to kick herself? Does she wear her ballet shoes?" It reminded me that she is still my little girl. Most of the time she acts so old. Like an old spirit stuck in her little sweet self. Love much.

The dogs drive me nuts.

God has been so good. He is blessing us in this time of uncertainty and we just praise him for it. Placing our trust in him, and knowing in our hearts he will be with us always is the best feeling although sometimes scary. But it is good. He takes care of the sparrows and He will take care of us.

Here I am!

WOW! Have I been AWOL for a while or what?!
We went to JAARS in NC for a week to help remodel a house on their property. It was great and we went with some awesome people. One family is getting ready to go into the mission field. They will be going to a non-disclosed country to do church planting. We are very excited for them...they have been patiently waiting on the Lord for 2 years!
Getting back into the routine when we got back was challenging. Punka decided she might want to go to school instead of home school. and then just as fast as the idea entered her pretty blonde head it disappeared! She is in such a hurry to grow up. Yesterday she said,"Mommy, I want to be a momma NOW!" She will only be 6 for another month and a half. Then she will be 26 and on her way to being a "momma". I'll hope for the days to go slower.
Goldilocks just can't stop entertaining people. He loves his dance class, especially Ms. Mindy! Very much an actor and drama king. He can produce some big alligator tears at the drop of a hat! He has a new pirate costume and wanted to wear it to bed. Hottie convinced him to wear pj's so the pirate costume would be clean for him to wear tomorrow. Gee, thanks...the belt is going to cause problems when the potty calls!
Gigi thinks it is great fun to roll over while getting her diaper changed. How is this funny? Especially when she needs "scumscreen" as Goldilocks calls it. She is rolling over, sitting up, scooting, low crawling, and is getting too big too fast. She will be 7 months tomorrow. So sad. She is a squealer too! Loves to laugh and get this, can pull herself up from lying down to sitting up if I'm holding her legs. Also makes diaper changing time challenging! Any suggestions for keeping them this age?
Hottie is going back to school! I think he is excited...can't really tell. I'm sure he is stressing with the economy since we own a service business. It isn't a luxury service so to say but people are cutting back and we are starting to feel it. I have been after him for almost 11 years to do what he is going to school for. It will take a few years to complete but, hey, that's okay. What a journey it will be! He is asleep in his regular spot (the sofa) at the regular time (after praying with the kids)...gotta go move him to his side of the bed.
Just loving life over the edge!