Tell me how you do it. . .a.k.a. I'm a total snob.

Ok, so I have a question for you all. How on earth do you keep a house clean when you have more kids than hands??????? I admit I am a full on mom-of-more-than-1-kid snob. I remember the days when I only had 1 kid and I thought--big deal--keeping a clean house isn't that hard. You just clean once a week and tidy up now and then. HAHAHAHAHA. Now I look down my nose on those who "only have 1 kid." Keeping a clean house is SOOOO easy. (Please don't take this too seriously--I don't really look down on you. I'm just mocking myself and my naive pre-twins ways) ;)

I swear I clean constantly. While I'm loading the dishwasher, James is unloading the pots and pans. While I'm sweeping the dining room floor, James is emptying a box of noodles/crackers/raisins--you take your pick--onto the kitchen floor. I'm cleaning up the floor after feeding the girls, they're spitting up/throwing up on the living room carpet. While I'm putting away one box of itsy-bitsy little blocks, James is demanding to unload it, and dump out another 3 boxes of similar size toys. (Do I allow him to dump them all out and avoid a temper tantrum, or insist that he only unload one at a time?)

So, I've gotta know. Those of you with neat-nick houses--HOW DO YOU DO IT????? GRRRR. I'm so sick of cleaning up after kids and I have at least anther 18 years of it go! Off my soap box now. Venting done. Tell me how you do it!

A calm moment jumping on the trampoline.

Ahh--so cute--But I think they've started to develop their own secret language. I often hear them "talking" in their cribs. I think someday they'll conspire against me. ;) Wait, some day, I'm pretty sure they do that now.

An eventful, or not really, week

At the Zoo--The girls experience grass for the first time.

Clara wasn't too sure about that green spikey stuff.

After seeing mom freak out when the birds landed on her, James eyes this lorikeet sp? with skepticism

Well, this week has passed with many mundane and unexciting events. Compared to the past month of stressing over work, class, putting bids out on houses and not getting them--all the while stressing that interest rates will rise and investors will flood the market (that's what happened in Sacramento last year when we were trying to buy there. One house had 21 offers on it!) a very boring week is very welcome. We enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL day at the zoo with grandma looking at the hippos, rhinos, and parrots. We discovered that I'm a total wuss when it comes to touching animals. The birds landed on me and I freaked!!! Other big events--Clara went on a nursing strike. I'm still nursing the girls full time and all I can say is OUCH! anymore might be TMI. ;) I had my final last night. Now I can have my evenings free to . . . DO Laundry! Yippee.

ON the good news, we ordered our house plans and interest rates went DOWN! So, I'm having a life lesson in not stressing and learning to trust the Lord to guide to guide our lives for good. He's been very good at not answering certain prayers to our benefit (like not getting the last 6 houses we thought were perfect for us!) So quit stressing Jessica and get a little faith!!!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Ahh, a new stage of life has begun. Sibling Rivalry. A few weeks ago a momentous occasion passed. I had to sit between Kate (the toy thief) and James (the toy hoarder) at church! Since then we have had many shrieking experiences "NO! NO! Kate!" "MY TOY Kate!" BTW--both girls are Kate. I guess Clara is too hard to say. I've tried to explain to James that the girls just love him and want to be big like him, but that doesn't work too well. Nor does the reasoning that some of these toys ARE actually their toys. He's the thief if you want to get technical. Same with their sippy cups.
On the other hand, James has found new built in playmates. The day he insisted on "wake up Kate" from their nap so he could "play Kate." He wanted to play "night,night" with them in their cribs. Too precious. He also likes to "hide" with them under the table and such. The screaming game I'm not such a fan of, but hey, nobody's complaining if they're happy! Ahh, the days when they can entertain each other! Yippee!

Gold Mine!

James dropped his cheerios on the ground and the girls found them.

Two very happy girls.

Playing hide and seek
Playing "night, night"
the girls have hand-me-downs from their brother on. I almost don't recognize them in anything but pink or purple. They're both chewing on their new shoes.

Our little lot . . .of land

At my sister Debbie's request, here are some pictures of the lot we purchased and a nearby duck pond. Not very interesting yet! We should start building in 6-8 weeks if all goes timely. Hopefully we'll move in in 5-6 months. For those of you in Vancouver, we'll be in the St. Johns ward.

Here I am standing at the North west corner of our lot. OUr house will face this little farm. See our minivan. Or the mommy-missile as Justin calls it.

Duck pond. Notice how close the water comes the road!! The ducks come right up to the car to be fed.

Here I am standing at the south west corner of our lot. Our lot basically goes up to the corner of that other house's fence.

We DO have fun

Here are some pics to remind myself that despite all the stress of buying a house and whatnot--we do find time for fun! Off to 9 month checkups I go!! Take care

Soo busy. Soooo stressed.

So, my excuse for not blogging lately. 3 kids under 3. Going to school in the evenings. Working for my dad on the other evenings. Trying to buy a house. We lost out on the 3rd house we offered on because the other buyers went and begged the sellers to give them the house. But, just after that we found some cute little lots in town and a builder who will let you do as much work as you can to keep costs down. So, hopefully we're building. We offered on the lot last night and ordered our house today. If you would like to see the house plans go to www.hilinehomes.com. We are building house plan 1768 if all goes well. Think good thoughts for us!!

Also, hint, hint, hint, anyone here in the 'Couv looking to buy/build/get out from renting/living in mom and dad's house, they still have tons of lots for only $40,000-$45,000. And the house plans start around $60,000+ and about $20-30,000 in over permits/fees . . . I would really love to have you as my neighbor!!!! Let me know if you want more information! I would like to have good neighbors. I know it's silly, but with the developer gone (it was with Bank of Clark County--so now the government owns the remaining lots), there's no control over what is built. So, come build a cute little house with me! I want good neighbors!

Anyway, I get back to blogging later.