IV Real

Baby number four is due in March! Yeah!

Hannah-isms

Last night we were talking with Hannah and she said, "When I grow up, I'm going to marry Bridger."
I said "Oh, really?"
"Yes," she said," 'Cause he's not a brother and when you have a favorite boy, you marry him."

Potty Training

We are finally working on potty training Ivan. I know he's only 2 and a half so the "finally" isn't really necessary but sometimes I feel way behind Rolana. : )
Yesterday I got home from the store and Erik asked if I had seen Ivan outside, I said, "No, don't you know where he is?" So we proceeded to search and call his name and then we heard a tiny voice from the bathroom say, "Poop." He had of his own will and choice gone into the bathroom and pooped in the toilet! We were quite shocked and elated. (Imagine being elated over poop!) Alas he did not do that today but we are still learning.

Housebound

I'm feeling sort of housebound without my suburban parked out front, even though it's hardly true that I am housebound. We just had the fuel filter and pump replaced on the suburban and I got it back from Scovel's only to discover that every time I take my foot off of the gas it dies. So it is back at Scovel's awaiting Rick's genius to figure it out. Thus no large vehicle in my driveway. My ever so kind sister-in-law Michelle, has been very generous with her car and with watching Clayton a few mornings this last week so I could take Hannah and Ivan into VBS for a little while and Maggie was wonderful to allow me to use her Geo (which was our Geo once upon a time) to go to Tillamook on Wednesday. But alas the feeling remains. I wish there were more places to which I could walk; I would prefer that even over driving but again I am confined to around the block and down the street with no destination but home again.

Tennis Anyone?

Last night I picked up a tennis racket (and actually used it) for the first time in over 3 1/2 years. We all went to the park last night and while Aunt Michelle looked after the kiddos, Erik and I got to play tennis. It wasn't pretty but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be and I still won 6-1, 6-2, even though I had eaten way too much pizza before we went. The last time we played tennis was when Hannah was still young enough to sit in the stroller and not complain too much. Hopefully we can play again soon...sooner than 3 1/2 years!

Really for Truly

On my way home from cleaning the church I stopped and got the mail, all that was in there was a hunting magazine for Erik. I figured he'd be thrilled and it would give him something to look through tonight. But I got home and found him already hard at work on something else. I think he just got tired of asking me to patch his pants.

Come for Coffee!

I've finally finished my adirondack chairs for my gazebo and it was actually warm enough this morning to sit outside and drink my tea while the kiddos were watching a movie. Lovely. You are invited to come join me sometime! (That's why there are two chairs).

I've got Artists!

Hannah and Ivan painted for me today and then Hannah drew with her sidewalk chalk (thanks Nana!) on the stairs in the backyard. It's a self portrait of her as a mermaid.

4th of July

This year we skipped the 4th of July parade. We made it to the pancake breakfast and watched the fireworks and had a garage sale. And it rained...
Oh, we also slept in a tent in our front yard. Hannah and Ivan wanted to go to bed at about 4pm simply because we were going to sleep in the tent.
Hannah and Ivan loved the fireworks but Clayton was more interested in the glow-stick someone gave him. We got to sit on top of the firetruck behind where they were lighting them off, so it was really loud and really fun, best seats there are.
I know this picture is from today...but the tent is still up so I thought I would "illustrate" my blog.

Oh Dear...

It's been awhile and I must say that it's not complete laziness or lack of desire and it's definitely not my fault. Our Internet (that we "share" with our neighbors) has been finicky lately.
I did get to try out for "Our Town" and I'll probably get called to call-backs for the reason that there was no one else there at the same time to read with me.
In other news...Clayton pulled his feeding tube out a few days ago and we thought we'd just leave it out and see how he did. He's been eating all his food and on a few days a little more than the required 38 ounces. Yeah. As long as he keeps this up we can leave the feeding tube out.
Hannah turned 4. She proudly told Grandma on the phone that "I'm not 3 and 11/12 anymore, it's my birthday, I'm 4!" It is very strange to have a four year old; it makes me feel old and I'm not that old. When she was 3 it wasn't so bad, but 4...
I made strawberry jam and 2 strawberry pies yesterday and the kiddos were awful. Hannah and Ivan wanted to touch everything and didn't listen to me at all and Clayton screamed every time I put him down. But I still got the jam done and they shaped up later in the day.
We are headed to MOB here in a few minutes and I can't tell you how much I look forward to Wednesdays each week!