Pre-Party Pic

I'm Baaaaaccccck! (See THIS post for the highlights from my trip)The birthday party is tomorrow!!!!

Here is one outfit Bear tested for the event. The whole effect is just so pretty, I thought I'd share.

MANY more pics after the main event! I mean - you don't want to miss pics of birthday pudding, do you?

Happy Birthday Baby!

The Comedian is 4 today! To quote Martha, (with a gender pronoun switch) "Sometimes I look at her and I can't believe she's mine." Seriously, just look at her. She looks NOTHING like me. (Um - if you've never seen her before - and you didn't figure it out - she's on the left!)And her personality? It might be fair to say there are traits she inherited from who-knows-where that I am acutally jealous of.

She is kind, fair and always willing to share. She is funny, yet able to laugh at herself. The wind blows to the left - she goes to the left. The breeze shifts to the right and she follows. She is a happy, healthy, secure in her choices little girl. She amazes me.

She approached her birthday with her typical , lay-se-fair attitude.

"Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to you..." - I woke her with song this morning. "Oh, it's today? I'm hungry" was her birthday response.

"How old are you today?" Her Nana and Papa asked over the phone. "I don't know" she said. She's said this for days as people inquire. She's convincing everytime. It seems the number doesn't matter to her.

She "Oooooooo'ed" and "Aaaaaaahhh'ed" at every piece of her present, even the wrapping paper. And the look on her face was a perfect mix of joy and appreciation.

The combined party is Saturday. She struggled to create a guest list. "Do you have any close friends at pre-school?" I asked, a few times in different ways. "Naw" she replied with a huge grin, "I'm just friends with everybody". It's true. It's delightful to watch her grow.

I marvel at this gorgeous soul we created who takes the world for what it is and nothing more.
I gawk at her ability to shrug off her birthday like a old man who mutters, "Eh - it's just another day, isnt it?

It is adorable and endearing. It shows her strength of heart. Seriously - she's mine?

Enjoy the show! And be sure to click the video at the end for a guaranteed smile!

Making Strawberry Cupcakes for Preschool

Licking the beater - of course!

Making PINK icing!

Um - testing the pink icing. Who wouldn't?

Taking care of her hunger issue while not being concerned with the gifts right in front of her!

The look of joy and gratitude. The one that melts my heart!

Even at recycled gifts from her sister!

Here's to you baby. May you never change!

Show and Tell - The Top Bottom of the List

Hey All! Happy Sunday! Do you recall the "top 5 activites demanding great chunks of my time" post from BHB? Well, an honorable mention went to laundry, but now - it's time to REALLY TALK ABOUT IT.

It is an issue. I do it. Really - I do. But, when it's washed, dried and clean...it looks like... this. Not sorted by person or even by small person vs big person. Nope - just a heap of clean clothes in baskets. It stays like that as we pick through morning after morning, on a sock hunt - an underwear mission or searching for that fancy dress we just must wear today.

So, my Show and Tell is ....da da ta da...Laundry Transformation*! (Rhebus Style)

Once upon time there were baskets of

all over the house. In the living room, bedrooms and even in the bathroom. Piles of

signified an empty linen closet. And dressers bursted with

Alas - one Saturday - dear Mama had had enough. Enlisting the help of her two child laborer's they sorted, stacked, donated and ironed (well Mama did the ironing). When they were through, the transformation was impressive. Daddy's

was filled to the brim and the drawers...closed! Mama's

was shiny again, sporting a clean surface and nearly closed drawers. (ignore the rouge blanket - but take note of the donation bag!) And Bear's

looked like this! (for the day anyway - tomorrow all bets are off as she does a great 80's movie imitation when getting dresses - throwing clothes over her shoulder as she picks the right outfit!)

Closets were

and

and

But before you find yourself too impressed or convinced that the system has changed for all of eternity - The Comedian's

still looks like this!

One Mama can only do so much in one day, right? Now go check out what everyone else is Showing and Telling today.

Child Labor - Part Duex

A very loud - Heloooo to all you ILCWers. Lest you feel like you walked in on the second half a conversation or can't decode a private joke, here is Child Labor - the original.

A handful of comments later - I wrote of their miminal work that afternoon, but creative construction of a snow-fairy house, for the snow fairies - of course.

And so - the promised pics. Fairy Trails (made using the shovels)The Fairy House (from the backside as I didn't have snowpants on)

"Snow Fairy River" - obviously

And so - today - Bear cheerily hummed some version of "Hi Ho - Hi Ho - it's off to move snow with a shovel I go", while a certain sister is very clearly shovelless!

But don't despair. As I knocked on DH's workshop door this evening, I heard these words a very serious - nearly 4 year old voice, "Very busy working in here!"

Clearly.

The Picture of Child Labor

Show and Tell - Our Family Gets Smaller

Hey to all you Show and Teller's this week!

Although we are done having children (and yes - I know that is the first time I've ever said that out loud here - and please...don't hold it against me!) our family has done a nice immitation of a rubber band in past few years.

The additions and subtractions have all been animal related, but lately they have been coming and going at a rapid rate. Check the status reports as you go!

Backstory:

When Bear was a baby (4 mo. old-ish), we agreed to take a kitten - one - but, "Oh, just take the last two! They are brother and sister and the boy is the runt" is what an appealing face said to us at the kitchen door.

Ok - (suckers, right?) - Tigger and Shadow joined our family. (Status: +2 cats)

(NOTE: this is Comedian, not Bear...but the best pic I could find)

They grew and that runt, wasn't really runtish at all. He thrived here! In fact, four years later we had to say goodbye to his sister, after she was hit by a car, but hobbled home. "Wow!" the vet exclaimed, "Her entire hip is diplaced and broken in countless places. She should be in unbearable pain, but she's ...not. It's a miracle." And so, we left that day with an empty cat carrier and sad hearts. (Status +1 cat)

Tigger moaned and searched for about a month. Then seemed to accept that he was alone, the king of the old farm house, and settled in for a loooong reign. His bliss was unattested until last Spring, when our semi-farm existance seemed to shift into an "animal shelter / safe place to live your last years" feel.

Let me couch this by saying, I'm not really an animal person. I have had two cats in my whole life (before all this anyway). The first I inherited by being born into the house. Her name was Lady. She died when I was six, froze under the side porch. I still remember my father pulling her stiff body out. It haunted me for years.

Flash-forward. I'm 10. And then, there was Butterscotch. The kitten I BEG.GED for, for years. He was adorable, orangish, cuddly, but just a bit too friendly! Although I still attest to this day that I locked him in the house on Halloween night, it appears he got out and followed some other, cooler, obviousy-loved-kitties more kid home that night. He never came back. I was devestated. I gave up.

No more pets for me!

But - aha - the pet God's had their revenge on me! I marred the BIGGEST pet lover, not to mention animal tamer, of them all. Seriously, this man is not just a horse-whisperer (although he is quite good at that), he can mentally communicate with ALL animals. They innately trust him. The Comedian received that gift too.

So - last spring a co-worker said how her MIL's dog was going to be "put down" becuause they were just getting too old to care for her. I can't explain my heart-pounding reaction to that news. I was aghast. I asked for a picture. I showed it to my husband. We went to visit the house and meet the dog. We brought Ginger home. (+ 1 cat - + 1 very-old dog)
Summer's here, I'm back waitressing. I come home one night and DH says to me, "Hey! Did you let the cat in?" "Um, yeah - why?" - "Oh, " he said rather matter-of-factly, "He's not getting along with the kitten so well."

THE WHAT?

Short version? He rescued a starving kitten someone dropped off in the barn thinking she would be allright. Sally joined our family. (Status +2 cats - who DON'T get along - + 1 very old-inconntinent dog)

Animal House came to an abrupt halt about three weeks ago.

Tigger had been taking small road trips for a while, 1 or 2 days, then coming home to eat and rest. Three weeks ago he left. Just decided, apparantly, "That house is not big enough for the both of us!" (Status +1 empathetic kitten - + 1 barely moving dog)

One week later, Ginger died. I think you can do the math.

And so - we are back to our original plan - 1 cat. Just not the one we thought we'd have.

Miss you Tigger. You were a good and loyal cat.

Oh - but lest we discount the 10 chickens growing at a rapid pace...here's a current pic. (And - YES - that means the little one made it!!)We sure do love our runts!

It's WAY too quite in there!

The Comedian arrived home from pre-school, happy and VERY energetic!

"Ready to rest?" I asked

"NOOOOOOOOOO! she replied, "I noooooot want to rest today!!!!!!"

"OK" I shrugged. No biggie - she is almost 4, you know.

"What would you like to do?"

"Color"

"Great." (I exit to the office to check a few things and get stuck looking at a business card design... - in due time - I realize... IT'S WAY TOO QUITE IN THERE!)

Woah! That CAN'T be comfortable!

I do so love this Comedian of mine!

Wordless Wednesday

"Stop Riding Your Sister!"

Is not a metaphor in our house.

Show and Tell - Personality "tells"****

Has anyone ever told you have one?

Well - my kids certainly do! Recall, my post about how DIFFERENT they are! And - yes - I know all parents feel this differential between their children, even twins, so I am by no means claiming to have anything novel here. But, I do thing it is worth demonstrating for a good laugh! And read all the way to the bottom to see what I predict their future jobs to be based on their most current behavior.

Two nights ago I came downstairs from putting the kids to bed. I casually walked into the kitchen mildly dreading the dishes waiting for me. Much to my surprise my cousin was standing there, towering over me, with a "SURPRISE" smile. He is 18, totally cool, and from out of state. "Just up with some buddies for an impromtu snowboarding trip" he said. I, invited them all to dinner the next night.

(Yes - you read that right. I fed three 18 year old boys.)

So, yesterday evening as I was making more food than the infintary could eat because they were not just three 18 year old boys, but three 18-year-old-boys-who-had-been-snowboarding-all-day, I gave my eager to help kids two directions. Well - The comedian's was more of a demand in kind language.

"Oh Comedian, did you make this mess? Please stack everything back up that you knocked off the chair in the office" (she was trying to get another chair for the table)

and

"Bear" (who can handle the breakable things) "Please set the table for seven people. Here is the list of what we need on the table."

This is what happened next in "This is the House that Jack Built" style.

THE TALE OF THE COMEDIAN

THIS IS THE MESS UPON THE FLOOR

LEFT BY THE COMEDIAN

THIS IS THE CHAIR - SITTING BARE. THAT FORMERLY HELD...

THE MESS UPON THE FLOOR

LEFT BY THE COMEDIAN

THIS IS THE MESS - "STACKED" FOR ME - COMPLETE WITH A PROUD SMILE

NOT ON THE CHAIR - WHICH STILL SITS BARE - BUT ON THE FLOOR...

AARGH - I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE THIS MUCH MORE!*

THE TALE OF BEAR

THIS IS THE GRAPH SHE HAD ME MAKE TO KEEP GOOD TRACK OF ALL THE PLATES...AND BOWLS AND SPOONS AND NAPKINS** TOO

WITHOUT IT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

SHE MADE PLACE-SETTINGS FOR US ALL - COMPLETE WITH DECORATIONS

WHEN SHE WAS DONE, THERE WAS NO DOUBT - THE TABLE WAS SET LIKE A PRO!

READ YOUR NAME - AND SIT RIGHT THERE -FOR BEAR ORGANIZED IT JUST SO!***

*I'm sticking with - stand-up comedian as her future career! I mean, did you see that grin?

**Yes, those are the same napkins that Santa brought!

***A future wedding planner, perhaps?

**** I apologize for the recycled post for S&T. Time was of the essence after playing, feeding, and lulling five kids to sleep today. To those of you who do it everyday - I'm wildly impressed.

Show and Tell - Sledding...The Next Generation

I don't really like sledding. In truth, I get petrified just looking at the sled preparing to move down the hill at what looks like WARP speed. (FYI - I don't like rollercoasters, 3-D movies or things that spin either.)

I do have a reason....

When I was 4 years old my parents got a phone call to "get to the hospital" because I "had an accident sledding." I was on a flying saucer. (remember those?) I was going-down-the-big-hill-at-warp-speed-AND-spinning! Seriously, who that that would be a good combination?

I hit a tree. I bit nearly all the way through my tongue. (Medical note for the curious: they don't put stiches in your tongue - it just heals but remains disconnected.)

*******
When I was 11 years old I was stupid enough to try sledding again. This time I was riding in a 2-person sled with handles. Safe, right? Um - no. The snow that day look innocuous enough, but a light layer of ice/snow had formed on the suface. I was in the back. When we hit mock 12, my passenger bailed. I froze with fear, gripping the handles alot tighter. The sled did a 180, effectively leaving ME going going-down-a-big-hill-at-warp-speed-backwards-and-screaming.

I hit a tree. I blacked out. The last thing I remember hearing was my friend climbing back up the hill screaming, "Cara's dead! Cara's dead!". Good times.

Do you see a pattern? SLEDDING + CARA = HIT TREE.

So, you can see why I have a minor trepidation about sledding. My kids - L.O.V.E. it. So does my husband. He ups the anti by creating jumps and bends in the track. I, try and control the inordinate amount of fear for my children's lives and the bark of a tree or two -- and take the pictures.

Bear is in the middle (the safest spot I reasoned) between her cousins. They sled together all afternoon.

But, my Comedian wouldn't be worth her salt if she didn't give me at least three mini-heart attacks that day. YES - she went down ALL BY HERSELF!


And attempted to climb up by herself too. She had an assist about half way there.

She thought it would be worth trying to go down on her stomach. (um- did you SEE that hill?) I couldn't watch, but I did capture the smug look on her face afterwards!


"Did you have fun sledding girls?" I asked in an animated voice. They stared up at me with red cheeks and big smiles. "Yup!" They answered in unison.

"Mom" Bear said, "I was going to ask you to go down with me, one time."
"Oh" I replied conversationally, "What did you think I was going to say?" "AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH" she answered, shrugged her shoulders and went in the house.