Why I should buy stock in Windex:

And yes, I did lock her out. I don't feel bad about it, either.

Oh, that face!

I have to admit, I'm a sucker for this face. I just can't help it...could you?? Oh, and this face it pretty sweet too :) Queen Alexandra This video disturbs me on many levels. First is the state of disarray that is my house, second is that my daughter has inherited my Elaine-Benice-like dance moves. Third and most importantly is Alex's fascination with her bottom.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried

So my parents are getting remarried this week. No, silly, not to each other. It's just a really...odd...coincidence.

Anyway, if you had asked me on Monday how many siblings I have I could have answered 1. If you asked me on Monday night, I would have said 5. Ask me again on Saturday and the number will jump to 8.


Here is a picture of my new family:

Oops, wrong picture-- that's actually the Duggar family. But give my new moms and dads some time and maybe we'll have that many too. Nothing suprises me anymore!

Baths for Everyone

I just had to post this picture of Alex in mommy mode. When she's not too busy running her brother over, pushing him away, or placing objects on his head (her most favorite pastime), she occasionally has a sweet moment. I've caught her instructing her brother on what is or is not for eating, telling him to "Be careful, little boy" or finding a toy just for him. Here she is making sure he doesn't fall while he waits for his bath water to be ready. That boy can hear the bath water starting from the other side of the house. He may not be walking yet, but it doesn't stop him from throwing that leg up onto the side of the tub and doing everything he can to get in.

And here's one more, this time displaying purple panties ;)

Oh, and the not-walking-yet thing may be my fault. In an effort to keep daddy from missing yet another "first", I've been hiding his walking toy and doing nothing to encourage those first steps. Sorry Derek, mama's holding you back.

We accidentally let Grandma find out about Alex's love for receiving mail. Now she gets more packages than a 3-year-old has any right to. Oh, and Derek too of course lest he feel left out (according to Grandma, naturally).

So today I mowed the back yard for what is the VERY LAST time before Josh returns. I refuse to do it again. Josh, let me just say for the record that you were right, I should have hired somebody. And no, those brown patches weren't there when Josh left. And no, I'm not going to sweep the patio, thank you very much. But what I might do is buy a bee-bee gun and shoot that darn cat that keeps pooping in my yard. Black and white cat, beware! So not cool to mow over your piles. Do you think a bee-bee gun would just scare the cat or kill it?? Hmmmm....


Alright, I'm done. If you need me I'll be here:

Until I prune.

Watch me grow...and shrink

In light of Derek's one year checkup where we were told to return for a weight check in 3 months, let's take a stroll down memory lane...

Here is my sweet newborn baby boy. He was born an average 7lbs 5oz (or was is 7lbs 3 oz?? Gosh, they're not kidding when it comes to the second baby getting the raw end of the deal). He was about the size of his daddy's forearm.

But it was only a matter of weeks before the chins and rolls started to appear.

He got to looking quite...robust.

Alright, let's just call a spade a spade, my boy was fat. I mean look at that huge fat head on that huge fat body. Honestly, horizontal stripes? What was I thinking?

But then something happened-- Derek started moving. My little linebacker stopped gaining weight. Actually, he hasn't gained weight for at least 6 months. Which I think is quite appropriate considering his bulk; my back sure is thankful. And even though the doctor agrees that he's probably just getting down to where he is genetically supposed to be, we still have to go back 3 months sooner than usual to see how he's growing.
This is him now. At one year, he weighs just a few ounces shy of 21lbs.

I just have to shake my head at the whole turn of events. God likes to keep me on my toes ;)

The kids in action

Because the noise pollution in my house apparently isn't loud enough...

The little man having fun. Disregard the diaper hanging out of his crotch.

School, Sleep, & Song

Last week our baby girl started preschool! She goes 3 days a week and loves it. Here she is ready for her first day.


I swear each time she goes it's the fastest 2 hours and 45 minutes of my life! Then when I pick her up I spend about that amount of time trying to get her to tell me what she did at school.

We're into the final month of the deployment (YEA!) and we've been working hard at staying busy. We made a couple of trips to Boise over the long weekend and both times the kids fell asleep on the drive home. I love seeing their sweet (and dirty) faces sleeping in the rear view mirror.





I think I love them a little more when they're asleep...is that wrong??

To wrap things up, I'll leave you with a stirring rendition of "Sing the Rainbow" starring Alexandra Kate...