The long weekend...

ended short. We did great and were surprised when Stephen arrived home a whole day early! I know it's been a couple of weeks so is this information really pertinent? Yes. Yes it is because I want you to know how great of a guy Stephen is. Stephen surprised us by coming home early and then he took us out to dinner and took the girls to Toys R Us to get a toy. We are loved!

a long weekend

Life is good. Stephen is such a wonderful husband and I love him soooo much! I have three healthy, happy, beautiful children who make life fun (and crazy). And I have my God who loves me and blesses and forgives me. Now that we have those constants out in the open, let me just say that this is going to be a long weekend. Stephen went hiking. He will be gone for 3 whole days. I know, I'm a big baby. Military wives have to go months and I am complaining about 3 days! This "man-hike" is well deserved on Stephen's part. He has been working his tail off remodeling our house, being a dad and husband and all of this on top of his day job which he is doing very well at. As much as it is deserved for him, it is still going to be a long weekend for me. It's not that I can't handle the kids by myself. I can. It's just that 3 full 24 hour shifts with a 3 1/2 year old, 22 month old and 3 month old, really wears one out. You see, I have to answer ALL of the questions. I have to change ALL of the diapers. I have to cook ALL of the meals, do ALL of the dishes, wash ALL of the faces- you get the point. And all of this with very little adult communication or interaction. I can't really go anywhere with all three kids. Well, I can but it's really not worth it. By the time I get everyone dressed, hair brushed, fed, etc. it's probably nap time or maybe one has to go potty and then while that one was going potty the other pooped their pants and then by the time I get the diaper changed the other spit up all over his clothes and therefore we start the cycle all over again. If we are lucky to even make it out of the house, by the time we reach the destination, one may have fallen asleep in the car, the other cries because now we can't get out at the said destination thus waking the other child up and then we have 2, 3 or maybe even 4 (including me) crying babies in the car! Or there's the instance like I had this morning when I actually got all of the kids ready, buckled in their seats and then found out that not only is the car on empty but the tire pressure is low as well. So on top of all of the things mentioned above, tack on an extra 30 minutes to take care of the car. Yeah. I think I'll just stay home tomorrow.

Day 1 complete. We are all alive and well. I am happy and thankful. I didn't cry. I am exhausted. I am looking forward to tomorrow. I did just eat 2 enormous chocolate chip cookies...because I deserved them.

life as I know it....

I sit down to nurse Pike. Pear begins to pant in panic because she has to go potty. Pear yells, "mom I went poop!" I ask, "in the potty?" She replies, "no, in my panties!" I set Pike down. He cries because he was in the middle of eating his lunch. I head toward the bathroom. I hear a crash and Jovie begins screaming. Yep. She fell off the dresser in the closet. I comfort Jovie. I go into the bathroom and take care of Pear's mess. I retrieve Pike. I sit down to nurse Pike. Two minutes of my life. Want to hear more?

comparing faces at 2 months...

Pike

Jovie

Pear

Our little dude is 2 months old.

"How can this be?" you may ask. Well, I don't exactly know. Evidently a day begins with the rising of the sun and ends with the setting. One month contains 30-31 days which means that approximately 61 days have elapsed since his birth but what I can't figure out is why it seems like it's been no more than 2 weeks. Why is it that time seems to disappear in thin air when I'm wanting to savor it? Ah, well, I can't change the way time passes, only how I use it. I think I'm using it pretty well loving on my little Pike and his adorable sisters.Do you like Pike's pants? I followed this tutorial for the Knee Pad Pants. How about the shirt? I used a Gerber onesie and inkjet transfer paper along with this clip-art image.

I am blessed!

A trip over the mountains...

Stephen's sister, Claire, just so happens to be engaged to a farm boy. And, not just any farm boy but one from a wonderful family who runs a cherry, apple and blueberry farm. On July 3rd Bill's Berry Farm held their first ever Blueberry Daze Festival. The festival sounded like so much fun that my family decided to take the 4 hour drive and make a mini vacation out of it.

We stayed in a hotel in Yakima on Friday night. Pear was so excited to see the pool upon our arrival. We immediately went to our room to put our suits on and headed down to the pool. The girls swam, and swam and swam some more. They were also very excited to sleep in a big bed. "This is the best room ever! They've never had kids here before because they don't have kids beds," Pear said with excitement. I think Pear's highlight was "making" her own waffle at the continental breakfast in the morning. She has been telling people ever since that morning that she made her own waffle at the hotel.

Jovie sittin' pretty in the pool.

Isn't my mom beautiful? She's blesses me.

Aspen.

Libbi.

Racer.

Stephen and Jovie.

Pear.

The Blueberry Daze festival was so much fun! There were pony rides, train rides pulled by a tractor, they had tire swings hung from big trees and the best tree fort. Wonderful antique vendors from all over Washington set up camp to display their beautiful treasures. They grilled tasty burgers and hot dogs, sold ice cold lemonade and mochas, ice cream bars and sodas. It was a blast! It reminds me of something you'd see in a Country Living magazine.The menu.

Some of the antique vendors.

Stephen's mom, Therese, and Pike.

Taffi, Pear and Libbi. Do you like Libbi's dress? I made it with recycled t-shirts!

Stephen's brother Warren with the J-Jove.

She really was having fun.

Need I say anything?

Yes, she really is as sweet as she looks.

Real life: overall, this first mini vacation with all three kids was a success. Sure, the girls fought for an hour or two in the bed before going to sleep. Sure, all three kids were awake at one point in the night and it took another 45 minutes to get them back to sleep but that's life with kids, right? The drive both there and back was fairly pleasant. Pike decided he didn't want to be in the car for some of it and we had to pull over a few times to console him but overall, I was very happy and deemed this trip a success. Oh, did I mention that having my parents and siblings there was a HUGE help? Yeah, that probably contributed to the success of the trip. And then at the festival, Stephen's family was also there. Family is WONDERFUL!

Woodland Park Zoo

My grandma Memee took us to the zoo on occasion growing up. Just recently, a few of us grand-kids got the bug to walk down memory lane and go to the zoo again. Although not everyone was able to make it, it was still a blast. I am so glad that my girls are getting to experience the fun Memee that I know and love.

The youngest of the cousins from left to right: Rallye, Jaden, Aspen, Libbi, Taffi, Pear, Racer and Jovie.

My Aunt, Debbie, with Pike.

My sister, Tara, with Pear.

My brother, Hutton.

My sister, Aspen.

Jovie with Libbi Lu.