i spy

I spy with my little eye...a piece of chewed gum in jar of animal crackers:


(Exactly what you would expect to find when you get out the snack, right?)

party time. almost.

We're getting ready for the big It's a Birthday Party! It's a Halloween Party on Sunday. We've invited a lot of people. A lot. And a lot of people are coming. A lot. (And you can't blame them, really, because it's going to be quite a shindig.) So, you would think in preparation for this big party, to which a lot of people are coming, we would be cleaning. But no. We're not. In fact, the house is getting messier. I like to believe there is a reason for this. I have come to the conclusion that we work best under pressure. Sure, you might say we are procrastinators. Maybe that is true. But truly, give us a deadline of oh, say, 24 hours and we can get things accomplished you couldn't begin to imagine. There's the enormous pile on the desk, and on the floor next to the desk, and under the desk. By tomorrow it will be all tidied up and put away. There is the half-painted magnetic wall by the desk. By tomorrow night it will be finished and nicely decorated. There's the pile of random things that had been piled up in the living room, that is now piled up in our bedroom. By tomorrow it will be safely hidden in the basement. There's the dining room floor that hasn't been mopped in, oh...a long time. By Sunday morning it will be sparkling. And we'll be ready with soup, and a cheese platter, and crafts, and goodies for the kiddies.

I thought about posting pictures, but it's probably best if you don't see what the house really looks like. So, I'm off to Bunco night, Joel and the boys are getting ready for a "camp out" in the living room, and Annie is having a sleepover at her best friend's house. And the mess will wait until tomorrow when we will become cleaning machines and get everything ready.

Or hidden.

funniest thing ever

Seriously. It is. In fact, you should go use the bathroom before you watch this because you might pee your pants laughing. Don't say I didn't warn you.

things found and other news

Found in Zeke's diaper this morning (besides the obvious):
- The letters "e" and "g" (both on beads).
- 2 water balloons

In related news, we have begun throwing away anything the kids leave on the floor.

Speaking of Zeke...
- He now has 4 teeth (his first top one came in last week) and has 3 more coming in on the top.
- He has mastered the word "dada" and chants it at all times. He does use it appropriately, though, namely when yelling after Joel when he leaves the room or squealing it when he comes home. (Video to come as soon as we find the cables.)
- He accidentally took his first step a couple weeks ago. He is standing on his own but is still worried about picking his feet up. He did manage 2 steps last night when Joel was pretending to hold his waist. Still, not entirely purposeful.
- His favorite food is Shepherd's Pie. He devours it and screams until we give him more.
- He is fascinated with the bathroom and particularly likes flushing the toilet and unrolling the toilet paper.
- He crawls really, really fast.
- His hair has turned strawberry blond. His eyes are almost completely brown now.
- When he is tired or needs comforting he plays with our teeth.
- He loves baths in the tub with his brother and sister and splashes like crazy the whole time, soaking whoever is trying to wash him. (Again, video to follow soon.)

signs

busy

We've been too busy to post anything lately...

Annie is finishing up 1st grade which means all-school BBQ...and Field Day.
Zeke is crawling...and pulling up...and cruising...and climbing stairs...and bumping his head 6 times a day...and getting into everything.
Jonah is busy riding his bike...and playing in the pool...and having play dates.
Joel is working...and working...and working.
I am trying to keep up with Zeke...and settle back into reality after a weekend away with girlfriends...and paint the kitchen cabinets (I don't know what I was thinking when I started that project)...and volunteer at school...and sleep (last night I fell asleep at 8).

Pics and videos to follow soon. Right now we're off to the Save Our Teachers march & rally...then the farmer's market...then a birthday party...then to the library to sign up for summer reading...then cleaning and painting.

sleep deprivation

Who knew it was possible to be this tired? We have had the longest week...Joel was in Toronto from Monday until Thursday. The 3-hour difference in time zones wiped him out. The kids were on spring break which meant that I didn't get one this week. Jonah has been waking up at 5:30 - and not going back to sleep. Zeke has a double ear infection and is getting a tooth which makes for a very unhappy baby. Oh yeah, he's been waking up at 4:30.

Whine, whine, whine.

We were supposed to go to Portland this weekend but at this point are very happy to just be staying home. And hopefully sleeping.

friends, park, ponies

This week is spring break and we're trying to keep busy so we don't all drive each other crazy. Andrea, Dylan and Luka came and yesterday and spent the night which was great fun. The older 3 kids had a slumber party in Jonah's room and actually managed to sleep. When we woke up this morning the sky was finally blue so we headed to the park before it disappears behind clouds for weeks without end again. Just to prove it, we have a few pictures and a couple movies:


Zeke got to play on the swing for the first time and was extra cute!


All 5 of them are actually looking at the camera!


He loved, loved, loved the swing.


Yes, this is what you think you are seeing. A woman came walking out of the bathroom with a horse and a dog. Most random thing ever. My video skills are a bit shaky as I was trying to be a little stealthy with the camera.