California

Justin and I were crazy enough to take all the kiddos down to California to visit his family. It was serious chaos, but we're sooo glad we went. Here is a brief synopsis of our trip to SoCal--in no particular order. Disclaimer: I got up at 4:30 to go to the airport this morning. Please excuse all miss-spellings, grammar errors, and non-sensical sentences.

Newport Beach/Balboa Island

We had a blast in Orange county going to the swap meet, Newport beach, and Balboa Island. We didn't find much at the swap meet--but I did get a Bob's hand dipped ice cream bar--might be familiar to a few of you old time vancouverites. In Newport we rode the ferris wheel--James' first, and got Balboa bars. The girls dove right into the bars, but James had a melt down because he only wanted the sprinkles. Daddy, our hero, saved the day by going back and getting a cup of just sprinkles.

Hollywood/Beverly Hills

Our first day in California we joined up with Justin's parents and sisters, and toured Hollywod and Beverly Hills. Justin's sister, Tawny saw one of the male stars from the reality show "the Hills", and Justin saved the day again by getting him to take a photo with Tawny. We got sprinkles cupcakes--our favorite, and pink's hotdogs. James was just overjoyed to be off the plane. The real highlight of the day was just as we were leaving. A theater had the real Optimus Prime car out front. They also had the corvette and mustang from the show.

Oceanside Beach

Our second day there we had a great day at the beach. All the kiddos loved it! I even got wet up to my knees. Justin body boarded. All in all a fun day with family. Mommy ended up with a serious sunburn. Ouch.

Hanging out with family at Larry & Susie's, Grandma & Grandpa's, and Tracy & Christine's

Here is just a compliation of random photos from different days of us hanging out with family. Grandma Hughes and Kate, The kiddos snacking, Morgan playing "baby" with baby Clara, Kate checking out Ben's entertainment center, James checking out his new cousin Eli, James jumping off the diving board and Uncle Larry's, Kate & Clara found this basket on their own and decided it was made just for them.

Mommy Juice

OK, so many of you know about my on going saga trying to give up caffeine--more specifically--Diet Mt. Dew--better known as "mommy juice" in our house. Problem is--I LOVE MY MOMMY JUICE. I know I SHOULD give it up, but man is it hard to give up something you love. I figure now that I am not getting up and nursing twins 4+ times a night, I really have no excuses left. Well, no excuses as good as that one. So, I was browsing online about how to cut caffeine and I found this little list of things to do. It took all my effort not to laugh too hard. I'll add my own thoughts in purple.

Be patient and use the following ten tips to rediscover and to reconnect with life and living.

1. Get more sleep, rest, and relaxation. Make time to fulfill emotional, physical and mental needs. Perfect! Who's coming to watch the kids. Last time I left James unattended to take a shower he hosed the kitchen cabinets down with the sprayer.
2. Enjoy wake up time and change morning routines even in small ways. Breathe fresh air, walk, and drink room temperature water adding a twist of lemon. Tense and stretch each part of your body slowly. Ha! Ha! Ha! Nice illusion. Real wake up routine: two girls crying in the other room-hungry & with pee up to their armpits, and James bouncing on my head "wake UP mommy!" You must admire my tenacity because I still try to sleep through all this.
3. Use positive affirmations to kick start your day, your mind and your life. "I am a free and powerful being, ""I love myself completely without condition," "My body clears, heals, and balances itself," "I always have enough time." " I will not lose it today." "I will not lose it today." I will not lose it today."
4. Switch to decaffeinated beverages. Say "no" to colas and other carbonated drinks. Well, I don't drink coffee or tea, so carbonated drinks are the real problem here.
5. Upon waking, ask yourself: "How am I right now?" Accept how you feel. Deal with what you can in those moments and put the rest firmly aside until later. Refuse to be overwhelmed. Remember depressed actually means suppressed. Oh, I do this everyday. I am really, really good at accepting how I feel. Doesn't mean I want to continue feeling that way. I deal with how I feel by getting myself a Mt. Dew and snack on my kids left over breakfast or last nights cookies.
6. When that voice inside you demands caffeine, simply break the habit of responding. Drink or do something entirely different instead. Say "no" to the myth that you need caffeine to get you going. Um, does that go for chocolate too? We might have serious trouble.
7. If you feel tired, stressed or need a lift, tense your body, breathe deeply and clap your hands above your head four times. Ask yourself what you need right now and fulfill your needs.
Make time to relax and enjoy simple natural highs. Get comfortable with feeling good and stress free. Does clapping your hands at your kids count? Honestly, I'm pretty sure who ever wrote this has never had 3 kids crying at them, all trying to sit in THEIR lap at the SAME TIME while they were trying to give up caffeine. The nature high of the day is going to bed-- and well, caffeine's not really a problem then, is it?
8. To stop the craving for caffeine or unhealthy comfort foods, repeat firmly in your mind: "I am letting go easily of everything I no longer need." Place your open hand firmly on your chest and rub backwards and forwards then around and around in slow circles. Rock your body backwards and forwards. Keep breathing deeply with the mouth open. You will feel comforted, calmed, and soothed, and will have bypassed the craving. Um, I've been living with my parents for over a year now. I got rid of everything I don't need a long time ago. I'd actually like to get back some of those superfluous things "I no longer need"-- like my own bedroom.
9. Be a leader and not a follower. Make healthy choices while alone, with family, friends, and colleagues. Don't over-consume caffeine because everyone else does. Make conscious and healthy choices. Well, not really a problem here. I think I'm the problem for others. ;)


So, I'm just going to go out on a limb here and suggest that it's my attitude that's in the way---that and the pounding headaches I've had for the last 17 years since a few car accidents--eh-hem, not ALL my fault--I had when I was in high school. Excuses aside--the point of my little mini-confessional is to ask those of you who have given up caffeine for tips on how you did it. I'll do really good for a few days--and then I'll have kids up till 3:30 am and . . . So what it you do to cut caffeine out of you life? I'd love suggestions--or if you have none of those--just encouragment!!

Just call me Penny . . . pincher

I thought that garage saleing was a thing of yester-year, but OOOOH NO! I made the biggest find last Saturday. I got these 2 girlie chairs for $2.00 a piece. They're knocked over in the picture below. The girls just love them. Kate especially. She's always just kickin' back, lounging in her princess chair. Keeping James out is another problem--actually he doesn't want to sit in them, but use them for his forts.

Ok, so ever since I saw on the TV show "18 Kids and Counting" the Duggars making their own laundry detergent the idea has been hatching in my little o' noggin. I figure if they can find the time to make their own, so can I. So today I gave it my first go. The first round, I had the wrong stuff--baking soda not washing soda. They're actually different things. I used Ivory soap. And well--it didn't really work out. It was sort of white, watery, sludge. Not the slimey goo I was supposed to have according to the website--don't remember the name-something about tips. Then, since I had to go to Winco anyway, I decided to see if they had the right stuff, which they did. So I gave it another go--this time using the right stuff--washing soda, and I used Fels Naptha soap as well. I must say, the first round of laundry turned out just fine. I purposefully put in a dress with red jello stains (fresh-not set it) and some dirty towels. Everything came out clean and smelled sorta like nothing--which is the goal for doing laundry--I guess. I made a 60-80 load batch of detergent for $1.36. Pretty good deal I'd say.

OK, so to be honest I'm not sure if this is something to be proud of, or if I should start seeing a therapist. But . . . Wal-mart on Mill Plain is closing their fabric department and everything was 1/2 off!!!! I'm pretty sure I have enough pink and purple fancy fabrics to make fairy princess costumes for the next six years--but at $1.00 a yard how could I resist??? I got stuff for 8 sets of pj's, 4 dresses, MULTIPLE Halloween costumes/dress-up boxes, 2 fleece blankets, 2 sets of faux silk curtains, and 1/2 the fabric needed to recover the couch my sister Jeny gave me. I got the rest later for $1.24 a yard!

NOW--HERE'S THE RUB. I HAVE TO DO THE SEWING! I guess that'll be another post--but for the record I have 2 sets of pj's done for James and we'll definitely be getting our money's worth--they should fit until he's 8. ;) Here he is posing in his new choo-choo pj's--complete with milk spilled down the front. He looks distressed because I asked him to look at the camera. Apparently James is still under the delusion that camera's steal your soul, and therefore should not be looked at EVER, especially when mom wants your photo.

If the hat fits . . .

Just some cute pics of Kate and her daddy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA & KATE!!

Wow! My babies turned 1 year old yesterday. There are many things to be said about how I made it through the past year, but that's another post. Right now I just have to say to Kate and Clara that you are my two little angels. You make me so happy I feel so blessed to be your mother. Thank you for bringing joy and sunshine into my every day . . . even on days you keep me up all night.

Run cake! Run for your life.

Kate and Clara are after you.

Here are the birthday cakes. Since I figure we'll be doing princesses for the next 6 years, we went with bugs this year. A bumble bee for James (who actually slept through the party, so he'll get his cake later) a butterfly for Kate and a ladybug--yes, that's a ladybug, sorta a princess leia ladybug--for Clara. And a flower cake with ants for everyone. The flowers are for the girls and the ants for James.

I just couldn't be prouder of you son

The scene: Mom is talking to grown ups up stairs. James is playing downstairs . . . quietly. Be suspicious. Very suspicious.

Mom: James? How are you doing?

James: I did it! I did it! I did it! . . .

I made a mess!

What can I say? Who wouldn't be proud of an accomplishment such as this?

Lazy summer days

The kids and I have enjoyed a beautiful week in my mothers gorgeous back yard. Luckily I haven't had to fish any kids out of the pond this week ;) I've gotten into serving lunch outside on a blanket. Which might explain the second half of this post . . . But as for these pics--here are a few cute ones of Clara & Kate. James is 2 going on 14 and refuses to look at a camera, so he is mostly absent from all my latest pics. You might catch him in the background. Here's Clara climbing on Mt. Mommy. Notice the dirt on her chin--leftovers from the snack that ended the photo op with her sister below.

Here's my little sick girl Kate. She lost about a pound with some kind of stomach bug this past week. Doesn't she look stressed? You should see the tantrums this girl can throw. I'll get one on tape soon and post it. Really, they're Oscar worthy.

Here is the only pic I got of the girls posing together. Clara promptly picked up a chunk of dirt and started munching away just after this was taken.

Picnic Table

Last Saturday as I was getting ready I had a sudden "Sarah Athay" moment. For those of you who don't know my mom, a "Sarah Athay" moment usually involves sudden whims to start large and random projects at any given time. I once woke up to the sound of a sledge hammer going through a wall. My mom decided she just didn't want a wall between the dining room and kitchen anymore. Luckily it wasn't a baring wall.

So, as I was getting ready last Saturday I decided that the kids needed a picnic table so I could serve snacks and lunches outside. Justin--always up for a project that includes drills and saws, was game. He found some instructions online and I headed off to home depot with James. The kids are now the proud owners of a picnic table. They love it! We eat snacks there every afternoon. In fact, sometimes the only place we can get James to eat at all is at the picnic table! FYI--you can down load the instructions from www.buildeazy.com We built it from 2x4's instead of 1x6's to make it sturdier. It took just an afternoon to build. Definitely worth it.

Generic or Brand Name???

Ok, so I am a split decision when it comes to buying the generic version vs. brand name. Sometimes I can see a definite difference in quality and go for the brand name--i.e. green beans. Other times I don't and go for the generic version--i.e. ibuprophen. So, I thought I'd throw this out there for the rest of you who are still sitting on the fence. These are two pairs of shoes I have used for the girls for the same amount of time. The top pair is the target version I bought brand new--retail $13.99. The bottom are the brand name Robeez I got used at a twins sale--original retail $29.99. As you can see the target brand is wearing down MUCH faster than the Robeez. I still don't know that I would pay $30 for infant shoes--especially since I don't pay $30 for my own shoes. But it sure makes me realize you get what you pay for!! I'd love to hear your take on the issue. When does it pay off to fork over the extra bucks for the brand name?

Playing in the pool!

Here are the girls and James playing in the pool. James takes his job as toy guardian very seriously.

Ah! Our first otter pops!

Oh, what joy! Otter pops! We'll discuss the fact that Dad is feeding them GRAPE otter pops on BEIGE carpet while the girls are wearing WHITE shirts, later. ;)

Fun in the sun!

Important & Life Changing Things I have Learned Since I became a Mom

Ok, so I've had some things rumbling around my head lately that I just have to get out. There are a few life lessons I have learned since becoming a mother of 3. Here they are:

1) There are not 4 food groups. There are 2. Food that sweeps up easily and food that does not. Cheerios, dry pancakes & Goldfish crackers belong to the former group. Macaroni & Cheese, rice and bananas belong to the latter group, Unless--as my sister Jeny pointed out--you let the macaroni and rice dry over night, then they become extremely sweepable.

2) Babies are not born with 20/20 vision. It is actually much better than that. They use this vision to find all the itsy-bitsy things you failed to pick up off the floor. They also have perfect night vision--so you may thing you're being all stealthy sneaking in on them in the dark, when in fact, you're the only one who can't see a thing. They can see you perfectly well and are happy to let you know it.

3) Ok, this one was an idiot moment. But--it is IN FACT IMPOSSIBLE for 3 kids to share a snack cup. This is a proven, scientific fact. 3 kids = 1 snack cup = tantrums and flying cheerios. 3 kids = 3 snack cups = happy everybody. Ditto for sippy cups.

4) Toes are amazing instruments. They can open doors while you're holding 2 kids, entertain fussy kids while you're breastfeeding the happy one--especially when the toes are painted hot pink with sparklies on them :), pick up blankets, sippy cups, toys . . . Toes can rock car seats, tickle bellies . . . What amazing toes we all have. Who knew?!

5) It's perfectly ok, and in fact expected, and part of the divine plan for mothers, that they will have partial amnesia for the first 6 months post-partum. Otherwise, we'd all be only kids. I came to this realization after I was checking up on a gal from my mission who just had twins. All sorts of memories came back--you know the up till 2:30 with one child only to have the other wake up at 3 . . . You can refer to the boppy bashing incident from last fall for more details :) I had conveniently forgotten how hard it was for the first 6 months. As someone said--a good memory is unpardonable. Or something like that.

Well, that's all the epiphanies I've had for this week. I'm sure many more have occurred, which I would remember if I had any sort of memory at all. Remember, I'm claiming preggie brain until the girls are 1 year, so I still have a few weeks to go.

Happy 40th Birthday Jeny!

To celebrate my eldest sister Jeny turning 40 we had a girls' day at the spa! Not really at a spa, but we did our best to turn my cousin Jessie's house into a girls' retreat. We hired a masseuse to do mini-massages, we had foot soaks, paraffin dipping, painted our toe nails and finger nails, and ATE! It was a beautiful day (an incident we never take for granted here in the PNW).

Grandma Sarah, Birthday girl Jeny, and grand daughter Lauren

Cousin Jessie

Emily paints her toes prettyCousin Grace, Aunt Katie, & Jeny
The lobster claws are for the paraffin dip!

Me hard at work on chocolate truffles for the party. Look at that mess! Jeny can never say I don't love her!

The girls keeping an eye on the party preparations

James is helping out by whipping the whip cream. Sans bowl.

Happy 30th Birthday Justin!

Happy Birthday Justin!

Ok, so we're going with the better late than never theme--Justin's birthday was 5 days ago, but to my defense it's been a whirlwind weekend. For Justin's birthday I surprised him by flying up his brother Aaron from Utah so they could escape for a guy-getaway. Justin has been an 8 cow husband all year as he has moved up here to the NW, lived with his in-laws, and even admits that the "Northwest isn't so bad" for my sake. ;) So, i figured he needed some time with some of his own family, away from dirty diapers and a tired wife. I told Justin wednesday night that Aaron was coming up. To tell him, I made up a "travel brochure" advertising a guy get-away to my mom's family's cabin by Mt.St. Helen's. I included two "tickets" to the trip--one for Justin and one for Aaron. At first Justin totally didn't get it. When I finally explained that his brother was coming up for the weekend he still didn't believe I had arranged it all behind his back. He had to call his boss to check that I had really gotten him Friday off. :)
Aaron flew in Thursday night. Friday they went to the cabin and hiked. Saturday they went to Seattle to Pike Place market and a Mariners/Angels game. Sunday we all went to Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast. It was a great weekend weather wise, and I hope they had fun! Thanks Lu for lending us your hubby for the weekend. Happy Birthday Justin!!!

Aaron & James in the tidal pools at haystack rock

Justin with his 6 layer red velvet cake--just as he requested. ;)

The girls at the beach

Justin and & Aaron at Haystack Rock

Justin & Aaron posing with Mt. St. Helens

To the Zoo

The other day Justin got off work early so we packed up the kids and headed to the zoo. I go with the kids quite often, but we never get to ride the train since I can't really manage with all 3 kids by myself. We had a great time. The weather was beautiful and the kids were semi-cooperative. ;) What else can you ask for?

Trip down memory lane!

The other day Justin downloaded some pics off his cell phone and this was one of them. I had never seen it before and I just fell in love. I think this may be the first picture I had with Clara. I still have my hospital gown on so this must be before the girls went to the NICU? I can't believe how huge my hand looks compared to hers!

A day in the garden

Well, we've just pasted the 1 year mark that we've been living with my parents. So much has gone on during the last year, I don't think any post could ever do it justice. I never thought we'd still be here when the girls were crawling! Now it looks like we'll still be here into the toddler stages. We're still waiting for the FDIC to sign off on our lot so we can get started building. We actually contacted the local newspaper and they're going to come do a story on us--you know because we're soooo crowded living in this huge house waiting for the Federal government to allow us to buy a lot so we can put some construction workers in business. :)

Anyway, here are some pictures from yesterday. It was a rare sunny day in April so we made the most of it. Here are some pictures:

So symbolic, in so many ways. It was only last October that I actually went 6 days without leaving the house because I was so overwhelmed at the thought of taking all 3 kids out alone. When I say I didn't leave the house, I mean not even to the mail box!!!

James and Grandma Sarah redoing the garden. Again. Only those of you who know my mom and her garden will understand that comment. ;)
Mommy and Kate self portrait

Mommy and Clara self portrait

The girls in their cage.

Moments I’ll treasure/remember/need therapy for

So, there I am playing peek-a-boo with the girls while they chomp on pears and Vienna sausages, thinking to myself how life is moving along nicely. The girls are big enough to entertain each other, themselves, and their brother. James is progressing nicely in his developmental skills. He as learned the concept of ownership. I get to hear him demonstrate it often. NO Kate! (remember, both girls are Kate) That’s MINE. So I am thinking to myself how easy and fun life is getting. Does anyone see the huge, billboard size, glowing in neon, red flag coming?!?

Well, just then, James dumps the can of pears and pear juice he’s working on down his naked belly. Not on purpose, just an accident. So, I—the quick thinking and multi-tasking mom that I am, think, “easy” We’ll just put him in the kitchen sink and spray him down with the nozzle. All goes well, except I realize his diaper is now full of water. Ok, I take off the diaper. Towel-towel, where’s a towel? OH, YEAH, I decided to watch American Idol last night instead of folding the Himalayan size mountain of laundry down stairs. So, I dash down stairs to grab a towel. Hum, naked little boy in the kitchen with no diaper on. Can you see it coming?

Yep, I get back upstairs just in him to here him declare delightfully—“PEEEEE!” as he does precisely that all over the kitchen floor. So proud of himself, how do you stay angry? Mind, this is after he has already flooded the bathroom (I can’t get mad about that one, I was standing right there cutting my hair, not paying attention) and spilled powdered sugar all over the kitchen floor.

So a life lesson is learned . . . Don’t get to hard on yourself for not emptying out the floor cleaner the night before—you might just need it the next day to clean up pee and you’ll be so glad it’s already full of Lysol and ready to go!! Now on to more pertinent matters: Do I really have to go grocery shopping or is there a way to make dinner out of ketchup, relish, mayo, stale bread, and 8 salad dressings. I might even have some week old cheerios in the bottom of my diaper bag to throw in . . . hum, my creative wheels are churning.

A sunnier day

By the Salmon Creek with Dad and sis
Ahhh! The forbidden fruits! Or, a brother's forgotten PB&J. Either way, what a happy girl.

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!!!