Laundry Day

So we do a lot of laundry.  A lot.  With four people usually going through two outfits a day on average (what with play clothes, work clothes, cleaning clothes)  it all adds up.  I kept reading little blurbs that said to save energy, save the world, save the dolphins (okay I made that up) you should hang your laundry every once in a while and enjoy some free energy from the sun.  Made sense to me, and I was mulling over the idea and even mentioned it to the whole family while we were in Big Bear and decided, yeah, when I get back, I'll buy a little rack and dry the clothes at least once a week on there.  And then we got back from Big Bear.  With at least three loads of laundry.  Dirty dirty laundry.  It involved a lot of dirt, some sand and even some car sickness.  So I did a load of laundry.  Popped it in the dryer.  Went to take it out of the dryer.  And found my laundry as cold and damp as when I had thrown it in there.  No heat.  My hallway piled thigh high with laundry and my dryer has no heat.  Well thats annoying, but its happened before and my handy Pops fixed it in fifteen minutes.  So we'll wait for Papa.  We still had clean clothes.  So Papa made it over to the house on Saturday and we replaced the part we replaced before, and...no heat.  Papa declared it out of his realm of knowledge and time to head to the Home Depot for a new dryer.   But the problem with our dryer being broke is that we are too.  So a drying rack and some clothes pins it is till next payday or two.   Today was my first attempt at life without a dryer.  Now I know some of you reading this are thinking you had to do this all the time, you had no other option.  But for spoiled lil' me, hanging laundry is one of those quaint "roughing it" things you do when you're camping.  Like showering under a bag of water and peeing under a pine tree.  Not completely foreign to me, but definitely a change of pace.  Here's what I learned about au natural laundry today:  Unless I go back to Target for two more racks or figure out a way to hook up a line to my vinyl fencing, I need to seriously decrease the amount of clothing in each load.  I loaded up that little rack ("27' of hanging space!" the box proclaims) for all its worth and still was not able to hang half of my load of the kid's laundry (I shudder to think how long a load of towels is going to take me).  Also decided socks are the most annoying things in the world.  In the world.  Especially tiny ones balled up into damp little knots of cotton.  Impossible to detangle and ridiculously time consuming to hang.  Also, never try to hang laundry while both kids are awake and have nothing better to do than pester you with a million requests and try their hardest to step in dog poop, try to get bitten by a black widow or trip you as you reach for more laundry.  I'm seriously contemplating asking my across the way neighbor if I can hook up a line between my house and his on a pulley, so I can go Italian alleyway style.  That seems so much more romantic.  Wonder how the association would feel about that...  

It might be time to invest in a doggy door

Since officially adopting Tammie we have been reluctant to invest in a doggy door for a house that isn't ours.  This means that we have to leave the back door slightly ajar, because while she's pretty good at letting us know when she needs out, sometimes she just gives up and pees right next to the door instead.  Can't really blame her, we're probably pretty distracted most of the time, and she's not a scratch at the door, bark and whine kind of dog.  She's mostly a stare at you intently and leap at the door when you ask "potty?" kind of dog.  And in a house dominated by a preschooler and a toddler the silent stare can go under the radar.  Tonight though, we are questioning wether it just might be worth shelling out some money for a doggy door.  One that preferable only lets in and out Tammie and Tammie alone.  I just got home from work, and Josh said, well I've been trying to call you.  Oh?  Why?  Did you need something?  No, no, I was just calling to tell you while I was sitting at the computer (which is about three feet away from our back door) A SKUNK WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN.  

Now, let me tell you a little bit about my darling husband.  He's absolutely certain we will be eaten by mountain lions while walking to the Dairy Queen at twilight.  Once we saw a skunk across both a creek and a ravine, and he nervously started walking quicker, barking at me that we needed to get home, because LOOK ALL THE ANIMALS ARE COMING OUT.  When we went camping in Big Bear he spent the entire weekend sure that every snapping twig was a grizzly out stalking adorable toddlers.  The idea that a wild animal would just saunter into his kitchen less than three feet away from him is probably right up there in his greatest fear list with armed robbery and his computer crashing.  

What did you do? I asked.  I yelled "OH CRAP!"  and then he starts to do a headstand so I bolted to the living room, where I yelled at it.  And did he walk out?  Yeah I only went back in when I noticed Tammie came out from under the table, so I was yelling at her to stay away, so then I snuck back into the kitchen and he was gone.  

All the fun stuff happens when I'm at work.

To Josh

I just want to thank you for the dad you are to our kids.  Thank you for being the dad whose there for every doctor's visit, every first day, every last day.  Thank you for never having to be asked to be there.  Thank you for being the dad who still gets misty eyed when you watch them sleeping.  Thank you for being the dad who will always be on their side.  Thank you for being the dad who isn't afraid to be alone with them.  Thank you for being the dad who goes to work early, works at night while their sleeping, but still takes the time off when their sick, when they want you there, when it's important, and even when its not.  Thank you for being the dad who wants to show them everything, who wants to take them everywhere.  Thank you for being the dad who writes the email about the bully (even when fully aware that it may all be a fabrication).  Thank you for being the dad who coos about how cute your children are, who melts when they look deep into your eyes, who every once in a while cries when you have to discipline them.  Thank you for being the dad who rolls his eyes, but goes along with the mom who wants to feed them organic, shampoo them organic, clothe them organic.  Thank you for being the dad who promises great bodily harm to whoever hurts them.  Thank you for being the dad whose heart stops whenever they jump off the slide, roll down the hill, bike just a little too fast.  Thank you for being the dad who loved them heart and soul the second they came into this world.  Thank you for being the dad who allows me to be the mom that I am.  I love you more than I can say.

Love, 

Lauren

Our Week in Review

This past week was Fin's "summer" as he starts summer school on Monday, and I was mildly apprehensive that I was going to go crazy with the two of them home all day, all week.  But we fell into a pattern pretty early on (and it definitely helps that Fin is taking naps again!) and I found the days went quickly.  We did a lot of reading (this week its all about "Monster Hug" and "There's a Bird on Your Head" by one of our favs Mo Willems), had a "picnic" lunch everyday in their room, dressed up, rocked out, went for "nature" walks and more general silliness.  And it also helped that we had Thursday to look forward to.  Thursday Gammie and Papa came down and we went to the science museum to look at the insides of dinosaurs, throw balls down a funnel, and make giant marble mazes.  It was madness till all the school groups left, but once they did we were able to really look around and enjoy it.   Parker was alternately terrified and enthused about the dinosaurs, wanting to see everything, but not willing to do it on her own two feet (Mama or Papa had to hold her).  Fin loved every minute of it, though he's still not to keen on that smoke ring machine (the first time he went to the museum he absolutely refused to go near the "ghost").   What I really came away with from this week with the two beans is how much they do love each other, and how good they are together.  When I was pregnant with Parker all I heard was how much they would fight, how they would be jealous, blah blah blah.  But they are so good to each other.  Not that they don't fight, tease, and in general behave badly towards each other every once in a while.  But I have to say the majority of the time this week they played together more than they did on their own, without me needed to intercede for any reason (except for the occasional, "DO NOT FLIP OVER THE ARMCHAIR PLEASE!!!!!!").  My hope for them is that they remain close, especially into their adult lives because as my folks always said, "you're sister is always going to be your sister" and I cherish the relationships I have with my lil sisters, and always wished I had a big brother.    

Here's some moments from our week

Monday I washed Parker's face with a washcloth, and she was cracking Fin up by holding it in her mouth and spitting it out.  This led to Fin wanting his own washcloth, and they played merrily with each other for a good hour making each other laugh with their washcloth antics.

Tuesday we went to the park down the street and practiced rolling down hills.  

Wednesday we were rock stars and strummed our guitars along to songs:

Thursday was pirate day as we anxiously awaited Gammie and Papa to come and take us to the Science Museum ("Diiinnnooosauuurrrsss!!!")  While we waited Parker and Fin dueled all over the house ("I'm a pirate and Sissy is a..ah...a giant squid!") only pausing when they accidentally hit each other to apologize.  I'd hear "Hiii-ya! Hiii-ya! OW!"  "Sowry Pippin!"  "That's okay.  Hiiii-ya!":

And today, inspired by the dinosaurs we saw with Papa and Gammie, Fin was a "tie-ron-a-sauras rex!" and Parker was alternately either a dinosaur herself, a baby dinosaur, or a damsel in distress.  This clip shows her in all three roles:

Just Married! (well sort of)

OKAY! So I finally got these to upload! Yeah! Jessica Lynn is officially a married woman, gone and come back from her honeymoon already. Her wedding was loverly. The flowers were beautiful, the cake was yummy, the food (the food!) was to die for, and she was gorgeous. And it was so...Jessie. Parker made it down the aisle, thanks to the lure of bubbles (the whole way down the aisle she asked everyone, "bubbles? bubbles?" and when she got to the end she squealed "BUUUUBBBBBLLLLLEEESSS!" upon seeing Daddy with those oh so precious bubbles) Fin fell in love with and did not leave the side of one of the girl's old friends, even making her carry him as she caught the bouquet (the ribbon around the bouquet said "you will marry a much younger man" so I think they may technically be engaged). When we left Fin said goodbye to Aunt Kathy, "Bye Auntie Kathy! It was fun habing a wedding at your house!"

Here's some pics, in no particular order. Since I was in most of the group shots, I don't have a lot of pics of people, but I got some good ones of all the little details that made it so pretty.

Here's the baskets that were scattered around the garden and lined the aisle:
A close up of the centerpieces:
Sarah and Jessie with one of the kiddy crafts:
Her adorable favors (inside were lemon drops):
Best pic of a bride ever (isn't her headband cute?! Those daisies are actually a vintage earring I wore to my prom, aren't we clever?):
The classic "back of the heads of the bride and groom" shot:
My handsome Papa:
Parker doing what she does best (clearing my plate):
The cake (too cute! lemon filling, yum!):
A wide view:

Ma and me:
The cake from afar:
Cake topper, vintage (Jessie fought long and hard on ebay for one of these):
Once I get some actual people shots, I'll stick those up too! Enjoy, and Congrats Jessie and Chris!! We love you!!

Apparently...

This is what happens while I'm at work:

Conversations with a three year old

"Mom, this helicopter is a darn helicopter."

"What do you mean its a darn helicopter?"

"It's just not working. Darn helicopter."

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"Are you going to go with Dad to get those shoes for Jessi's wedding?"

"Yeah, I fink I'm just gonna get those heaby ones."

"Fin, I already told you they are waaaay too heavy. They'll hurt your feet."

"Yeah, but I fink it'll be fine. I fink I have pretty big muscles in my feet and it'd be fine."

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I put a Nina Simone cd in the car. A sigh comes from the back seat.

"Ugh. I don't wanna wisten to Mommy music. I want to wisten to cool guy music!"

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Fin is convinced I did not make his cinnamon toast exactly the same way Daddy did (even though it was). I'm frustrated to no end, because we have to leave for preschool and he hasn't eaten anything. He says something naughty and I say,

"Fin, you don't need to talk to me like that. If you keep talking like that I'm going to have to put you in time out."

"No Mommy. I'm mad at you. You're mad at me. Its just what's happening."

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"Momma, I want to go to Tarbuks and get special milk."

"I know buddy, but Sissy needs to go home and take a nap."

"No she doesn't!"

"Yeah, Fin, she does, look she's already falling asleep."

"But I don't want her to fall asleep!! I WUUUVVV HER!!"