Life as a mom

Well, the kids were playing outside in the North 40 and Mike wants me to let them have fun out there because it's fun to play in the dirt/mud/wet sand and not worry about getting dirty. So, when it was time for them to come in for naps and Clayton had a line of dirt down the middle of his shirt and his pants and shoes were caked with sand, too, I just stripped him down outside and brought him inside to change him. No big deal. I was pretty calm about it. After I put him down for his nap, I washed and soaked his clothes. Jenelle was taking a potty break before her nap and came out the bathroom crying that her socks got wet. I didn't understand, so I asked for clarification. "They got wet from the toilet? How did that happen?" I was about to find out. Jenelle's cry was a cry of fear. She said, "I used too much toilet paper." Yes, she did. The toilet overflowed and I heard water going down the vent! I was still calm. I just couldn't think of the best way to clean things up. I got a mop (that works well for cleaning, but not sponging up water). After that, I just grabbed a burp rag and a big towel and start sopping and squeezing. I had needed to clean the bathroom floor, but never got around to it. Well, here was my opportunity. Since the rugs were wet anyway, I put them in the washer (along with Clay's clothes) and the burp rag and towel and cleaned the bathroom floor. When the clothes were all cleaned and dry, the rugs out on the deck drying, I folded and put away some formerly white items now a nice shade of light blue--his socks and the burp rag. All in a day's work. We're all still alive, mostly calm and the bathroom floor is clean.:)

Duplos and a Song

Jenelle built this tower all by herself. Wow! We're proud.

Mike's huge Duplo tower! Notice his worried expression.

Jenelle singing, "Jesus, Name Above All Names". One time she inserted the word, "God" instead of "Jesus". Mike and I got a chuckle out of that.

Look at this beautiful plate of food!

While watching "The Biggest Loser" on Tuesday night, we saw something to try--Ziplock's Zip n Steam bags. We bought some colorful veggies and put in some barbecued chicken with them in the special bag. After 6 minutes in the microwave we pulled them out and Mike piled them on a plate. I surprised us both by liking them. I wasn't wild about the red peppers, but the red potatoes, carrots, celery, frozen corn, snow peas, yellow and green squash mushrooms, and red pepper. I also made some of the new Lipton Veggie noodles. Those were yummy, too. I think that's all that Clay ate. Jenelle did better with the veggies and chicken.
I think this picture is funny. It looks like I was trying to keep the food down. Actually I was trying to smile with a bit in my mouth. It wasn't as bad as it looks. :)

The remotes are found!

I was walking around the house opening drawers and cabinets looking at Clayton's level and found no remotes. Then I decided to put Wally's tennis ball out the doggy door and for some strange reason I decided to see how far it had gone out onto the deck. ( I had asked God to help me find the remotes--so I'll give Him the credit for that idea). Anyway, I looked out and found the 3 remotes--cold, but not damaged. Yeah, thank You, God! This is a dangerous time when Clay is capable of many things, but speech isn't really one of them!:)

Where's the remote?

I have a dilemma. Clayton has put the remotes somewhere in our house. Things to be thankful for: the trash was already out to the street before the remotes went missing, we have a small house, and Jenelle already watched her morning movie. The real problem is that Clayton pushed "mute" on the remote before he hid it. Otherwise, it wouldn't be such a big deal because I still remember how to get up and do things manually, but the "mute" button is just on the remote. Any ideas on where I should look?

Playing together

Playing with their Doodle Pros

I came into the front room and saw this. I am so proud of them setting up the chairs and playing together peacefully. It warms my heart.

My Family

Mike and Jenelle enjoying the Daytona 500.

Mike, Jenelle and Clay in a happy moment.

Here are Jenelle and Clayton walking to the van from church. I think they are so cute holding hands.

Lunch with Denise

For my birthday (in December), Denise told me she would take me out to eat. Well, we finally were able to figure out a time when we were available--and more importantly, the grandmas were available AND willing to watch the kids. Yesterday, we went to Olive Garden and had a delicious lasagna type chicken alfredo dish and dessert. I had a black tie dessert and Denise had a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake piece. We were full and happy. What a nice time of good food and company. Thank you Denise, Mom H, and Grandma Nordquist for making this possible.

Two Dates

I was hoping to take Mike to see National Treasure and out to eat this past Saturday (as an early Valentine's Day date), but when I checked, National Treasure stopped showing the Thursday before. So, Mike's parents graciously said they would watch the kids and we got to attend the second to last showing of National Treasure: Book of Secrets on Thursday night. Then, my parents who had already agreed to watch the kids the following Saturday still watched them and we got a second date--two in one week! We had a relaxed lunch up at Oak Glen taking in God's beautiful creation. From there we went to a few stores ending with going to See's to use one of my gift cards from Christmas. How nice to spend time together.

Some Recent Pictures of Clay

This is how we found Clayton sleeping a couple of nights ago. It took him a bit to get comfortable again after the right flash.:(


I thought Clay was just playing the piano nicely and this is what I saw. Actually he was higher than this when I first saw him! No fear.
Eating his first churro when we got to have lunch at Del Taco with Mike and Tony
Clayton and Mike playing

Where's Jenelle?

Clayton 18 month photo shoot

Kids

Clayton's 18 month picture--when he was 19 months 1 day old. So I'm off a bit. :)

Clayton has been doing a lot of cute things lately. This morning, I gave him two mini pancakes and Jenelle said, "I want one." He handed her one. I was amazed that he understood and that he shared. I am proud of him.

On Thursday, we started letting Clay have his "me" (his pacifier) only in his crib. He seems to understand it and doesn't whine about it.

Clayton brings me his slippers, sits on my lap for me to put them on him and then puts up his other shoes. Cute.

We have three things going for Jenelle right now.
1) If she goes potty, wipes, and washes without whining, she gets a sticker. That has improved greatly in just three days.
2) If she answers us with "Okay, Mommy/Daddy" when we ask her to do something, we mark it down on a tally chart. She is answering us the correct way without whining a lot more often.
3) If she makes it all day without waiting too long to go potty (keeping her panties dry) she gets a nickel at the end of the day. She does well on that off and on. It depends how distracted she is, but the sticker chart is helping with that, too.

Clay and Jenelle have started to play nicely together and it's so nice. We are very blessed.

We watched Groundhog Day in honor of this day. Does anyone know if the groundhog saw his shadow today?

Mike's projects and the kids

First Mike had painted a blue oval on the ceiling, which looked neat, but not nice. So Mike and I decided a rectangle would look better. The scalloped (is that the correct word?) corners make it look great.


Mike trimmed around the door and the window and painted the ceiling, too. The room is looking very finished.Today, Saturday, Mike is adding a small wall between our China cabinet and the kitchen--to make it match the wall between the kitchen and the window room. He is also adding electrical for the can lights he will be putting above our table so we have adequate light there. While he is working, the kids needed a place to eat.

Clatyon sounds so cute saying "hello". It's one of his 5 or 6 words.

Jenelle said, "I can fit." Taking advantage of the building going on.