This is a test....just put blogger on my phone.

Last week we visited Enchanted Forrest with Claire's class for her year-end field trip. It took some wrangling but I managed 2 hours with just my big girl for the first time since Ingrid's birth. It's strange how a goofy amusement park with 16 pre schoolers could feel like freedom.

saturday tour of homes.

Claire was not at all disappointed when I vetoed my original plan of having her share a room with Mister Baby. I believe her response was "WOO-HOO! Can it be the girliest room in the universe, Mom?"
Welcome to my room. It is the girliest room in the universe. Ingrid's art was mostly found around our house, except for the subliminal baby art print which I found here and think is funny. The tiny pink square canvas was made by the big sister, it's a picture of the two of them and a soccer ball. The picture in the bottom corner was from the Nikki McClure calendar that hangs in our kitchen and that I stared at all through the month of March.
When I hung Ingrid's art, Claire immediately counted the pieces above the crib and declared that she needed more above her own bed. Let the competition begin, sisters! The art above Claire's bed was entirely found in our house one late night while the kiddos slept. Total cost: zero dollars. The green striped frame was a gift from my sister-in-law (thanks, Mel) with a page from an old Dick and Jane book tucked inside. The pink one was found in our basement, spray painted and filled with photos that Claire loves. The silver frame has a broach that I twisted from left over fabric (from Ingrid's hoop) and the nest sign and white dress were gifts from when Claire was tiny. She wore that dress when she was about nine months old.
This is what you see when you walk into the room. The dresser and changing table were both from the As-is section of Ikea. Side note: are you looking in the As-is section of Ikea? They assemble the furniture for you and it's priced less than the rest of the store. Hooray for Sweedes! Confession: when I thought I was putting Evie into this room the only thing I did was paint the room gray and have Nate spray paint the pink shelf above this dresser. He painted it turquoise at my request. Later, he painted again, this time he went back to the original pink. This is a good quality in a man: handiness and willing to repaint your shelves with minimal mockery. Shelves contain Claire's art stuff. Changing table is full of baby sweetness. You can't see it, but this print sits on the bottom shelf. Love. Curtains were made by the very wonderful Hollie Miller. Pom-poms were left over from Claire's birthday party.
I cleared off all evidence of my five year old's growing collections in the above picture, but this is how it looks in real life.
Three cheers for the girliest room in the universe.

straight up.

We spent the entire day trying to get outside: for a walk, to the park, something. Between naptimes and torrential downpours, this was the best we could do for exercise:

Yep, that's my girl, dancing it up with Paula. True fact: when I was teaching English in China, I went to what I thought was an interview for a part time side job as a dance teacher (stop laughing) and ended up teaching a group of ten year olds on the spot. The choreography was a combination of old dance routines from middle and high school and Paula Abdul's Get Up and Dance video.

matchy match.

Somebody graduated from preschool yesterday. A wee small girl in her Easter dress snoozed while the big girl in the same dress stood on the stage and sang her heart out with her class one last time. One great thing about having another girl is I get to buy tiny versions of big kid dresses and only one of them insists on cowgirl boots or rainbow leggings or sparkly headbands.

master of the obvious.

When I was still adjusting to life with two littles, I asked a trusted friend when I was supposed to shower. She told me that I might need to "lower my standards of hygiene." My standards of hygiene aren't all that high, but I need a shower in the morning. For me, every single bad parenting day can be traced to the decision to skip my shower.

We've been in survival mode around here the past several days with a sick Dada and two sick "big kids." And Sunday I'm pretty sure my standards of hygiene reached an all time low.

What you can't see in this photo: nursing tank (probably unstrapped on at least one side), giant floral pj pants and bare feet. Awesomesauce.

you grow girl.

2 weeks.

2 months.

everett: noun. meaning herd of wild boars.

I took The Mister and the littlest sister shopping on Friday while Claire was at school. Body image is always a problem post-partum, even if my huge babies help me loose 25 pounds in a day, things just don't fit right and it takes a while to bounce back. So, we visited Old Navy and the Goodwill to find mama some bigger nonmaternity shirts. I wheeled the sleeping babe and a very wide awake big guy into the dressing room with a stack of shirts. I pulled the first one on, glaring at my spare tire. He looks up at me and says, "You're beautiful, Mama."

Crazy? Yes. Busy? Yes. Sweet as pie. That's my guy.

blue.

When I was pregnant with Ingrid the debate in our house was about eye color. Claire thought for sure Ingrid's eyes would be blue. Mister's eyes are brown (deep brown eyes that pierce your soul), and Claire's are blue (the exact blue of the Dada's eyes, the color that I saw in a dream before any of them were born). Nate and I thought it would be neat if one of our kids had my (hazel) eyes.

As usual, Claire was correct.

on mother's day.

Sometimes I don't feel like being a mom. I don't want to put them first. I don't want to get up in the night. I don't want to be the one with the answers. Nate gave me the best gift ever for Mother's Day. He gave me a day off. I spent the day sleeping, reading and lounging with my littlest babe. He took the big kids to the carwash and finished planting my garden. Claire lovingly created zillions of handmade cards and pictures for me. My favorite reads, Mom Love Claire.

I could use a picture that reads Mom Love Ingrid when she is waking me in the night to nurse and I'd rather sleep. Or Mom Love Everett when he is struggling with getting to the potty in time to avoid a messy accident.
Mom Love Them. No matter what.

hunca munca at rest.

five pictures from her 5th birthday party.

So many things about a pancake breakfast party are brilliant. Kids are best in the morning and there's no need for cake. Plus you can prep the night before, roll out of bed and into the party. Papa flipped the cakes, Oma did not let go of the baby.
The extremely crafty Hollie helped me make these easy decorations in a rainbow of colors. The party hats were perfect. I commissioned the Oma and Papa to make them.
For a craft we did shrinky dinks and beaded necklaces. The highlight for me though, was seeing these two faces.

Oh, and seeing little chocolate milk mustaches on faces that don't normally get such treats.

I loved this party. Sadly, I forgot to take a photo of the delicious crustless quiche I made for the grown ups...but here's the recipe. You're welcome.