For Sale!

Our house is officially on the market. This decision was made rather quickly (for Carson and I). As excited as I am to think that maybe we will sell this house and move to one with more space, I'm terrified daily thinking the phone may ring saying that someone wants to set up a showing. This thought scares me because it is so hard to get the house "show" ready, especially with four kids. I know in order to sell the house people will want to see it first. Showings are my catch 22. We have been fortunate in that we put the house on the market officially at 1pm last Thursday and we had two showings that afternoon. Talk about me being frantic. Not only was I trying to get the house cleaned for the showings, but I was also getting ready for company and changing our evening plans all while wrangling the kids and dog.
Poor Wimpy! She's all out of sorts. House showings have really put a damper on her daily routine which consists of her sleeping for 23.5 of the 24 hours of the day. We have all suffered since that for sale sign has been posted in the front yard. I didn't realize how hard, time consuming and frustrating this whole process would be. Yes, dumb me! Moving was much easier nine years ago when we were just renting...and had no kids or a dog...and less crap in general.
Wish us luck!

Michael Jackson

This is the conversation I had with two three year olds this morning while watching yet another story on Micheal Jackson.

Carson: Mommy, is Michael Jackson a boy or a girl?
Me: He's a boy.

Various images of Michael Jackson over his singing career are flashing over the television screen.

Carson: Who's that, Mommy?
Me: That's Michael Jackson, too.
Carson: Oh.
Owen: Yeah, there's lots of Michael Jacksons.

Owen couldn't be more right!

Sunscreen

Sunday Carson asked Carson and Owen if they wanted to go swimming with him. Before going in the pool Daddy told the boys he was going to run inside to get the radio. (Don't worry the gate was locked.) When Carson returned he found the boys like this.


Owen and Carson decided to put their sunscreen on all by themselves. It makes me proud that they know they can't swim unless they have their sunscreen on.

Only Two

Can you guess who my only two kids are at home with me this week?



Carson and Owen have been spending the week in Holdrege, NE with Papa and Mimi (my parents). This is the first time they have ever been away from home (without at least me.) From the reports I've gotten they are having a fantastic time and it sounds like they are wearing their poor grandparents out! The boys seem too busy to even talk to mom and dad on the phone when we call. This is a good thing, though.

This leaves me at home with Stella and Isaac. Who knew how easy only two kids are? Does anyone else realize how fast you can run errands when you only have two children in tow rather than four? Easy breezy!

The poor babies don't know what to think of having their big brothers gone. They keep looking for Carson and Owen, especially when it's time to wake from naps or in the mornings. Carson and Owen always rush into the babies' room to wake them up ... and to jump in the cribs. This is the first true time I've had one on one time with Stella and Isaac. It's been fun. However, we all miss Carson and Owen. It's a little more quiet around here (not that I'm complaining.)

I do feel like I can get a lot of things done around the house now that my two big helpers are gone. The first day when it was just the babies and myself I stripped wallpaper in the kitchen and painted. I've cleaned, washed walls, windows, tubs, and etc. until I've worn myself out. I have been keeping myself very busy but feel like my poor neglected house needs so much more attention that I will not be able to give it with just one day left.

This picture was taken right after Stella woke up on Wednesday morning. Her hair is a fright and she attempted to take her diaper off all by herself. I'm sure she thought she was doing me a favor by doing so. Before she got her diaper changed she, of course, thought she had to throw Isaac's diaper out for me. What a little helper!

Fourth of July

Owen and Isaac

Carson, Owen, Stella and Isaac



Carson and Stella

This Fourth of July we took our annual trip to Carson's parents' cabin just outside Lexington, NE. We had a great weekend. Carson's parents always have a huge party at the lake that includes lots and lots of food, drinks, a volleyball game, swimming, going down the super slide, a fireworks show, lots and lots of people and t-shirts for everyone.
This was the first year Carson and Owen have stayed up for the fireworks show. (They are usually fast asleep by the time the real fun begins.) Carson and Owen weren't sure what to think of the fireworks and the loud noises they make. Whenever Carson would see a firework lit he would immediately cover his ears, even for smoke bombs. He didn't want to be caught off guard. Carson and Owen took full advantage of the day and all the festivities. They played hard and ate lots and lots of cupcakes, rice crispy treats, cookies, and whatever else that had sugar. They knew that the Fourth was a special day because they got to eat all the stuff that I usually don't let them touch with a ten foot pole! Carson and Owen also enjoyed the glow suckers, glow necklaces and glow bracelets that all the kids get to wear after dark.
The day proved to be a bit much for them, though. Neither Carson nor Owen made it through the fireworks show. Both fell asleep in lounge chairs as they were watching the big show. Carson of course fell asleep covering his ears.

Carson





Owen asleep during firework show





Stella and Isaac in Fourth of July gear




Boom, Owen and Carson watching little fireworks

A little stink before noon.

This morning I walk to the babies room to get them up for the day. I am greeted outside their bedroom door with a fowl smell. I know when I open the door to prepare myself for a wicked smell that has filled the room. Stella and Isaac are very happy to see me and appear to be oblivious to the odor that filled the room. I notice that Stella is holding and playing with a diaper. I think to myself, "oh no!" I bet there's poo in the diaper and she's playing in it. It must be smeared everywhere. Much to my surprise there is no poo in her diaper (that she is holding.) No poo anywhere in her crib! Yea! The odd thing about her holding her diaper is that her jammie shorts were still on yet she was diaperless. I have no clue as to how she got her diaper off.
I go to pick Isaac up from his crib, knowing that he's the culprit. As I inspect his crib I see brown all over his sheets. Poor Isaac. His diaper had leaked. Liquid poo was everywhere. Gross! I get him changed and treat the awful rash that he now has and we move on.
I begin to make breakfast for my four children when I hear "uh-oh!" This comes from all three boys. I go to the room where the kids are playing to find that Isaac has pulled a shelf down. He managed to pull the supporting brackets out and all. He was not hurt in the incident, in fact he thought it was all pretty funny.
We continue to go on about our morning. The big boys play with Kayla, the babies nap, I clean, and etc. When I get the babies up from their morning nap I see Stella patting her diaper and saying "tee kee, tee kee." I can smell that someone has gone stinky in their diaper and sure enough Stella did. Stella was telling me she has stinky in her diaper. What a girl!
I am pleased to report there were no more diaper issues for the rest of the day. Whew!