Jalapeno Fashion

Will loves to walk with me thought the produce isles. I think its because he likes to sneak the vegetables. He usually grabs a cucumber or a green pepper, but yesterday he got more than he bargained for. I was loading up on tomatoes, when I turned around I saw Will with his mouth open, full of tiny seeds. I looked over at the end cap and saw a basket full of Jalapenos! "Spit it out!" We went running with my hand full of peppers to the check outs in search of water. "Water, Water, Water" I repeated as I pulled Will and our cart behind me. I frantically opened the water and told him to drink at much as he wanted. His eyes were full of tears and shock, but he wasn't crying. I asked him if he was okay and he nodded as he gulped down the cooling liquid. A few employees had gathered around by then and asked if we were okay. I told them he bit into a jalapeno and said everything would be fine. As we walked away I kept asking him if he was okay, he said "A cookie will make it better." We opted for bread since it was on the grocery list anyway.

I remember as a child my sister was in LOVE with a bright green skirt and an obnoxious plaid one. I thought it was the strangest thing, and we still tease her to this day. But I think Jack has one up on her. For the last few weeks his fashion sense has kicked in. His black, red, and yellow Travis Pastrana motorcross shirt and a pair of brown and tan camo pants have become his favorite. He wears them together every time its clean; I need to stop doing laundry so much. He looks so goofy; but I'm so captivated by his creativity I just can't tell him no. Eventually the pants will wear out and He'll move on and this will all be a great memory. For now, I'll just enjoy his vision.

We had family pictures last night and little miss serious was at her finest. I promise, she does smile, just not at a camera. I do have a few pictures of her grin, but they are few and far between. A combonation of nap time and stranger anxiety had her on the verge of crying all night. But we got through it and I'm excited to see the results.

Bribery, Behavior, and Banana's

Early last week I received a call from the school counselor, Mrs. Paulson. She left a message on my phone informing me she was creating a group for some Kindergartners who were having trouble listening and following directions in class. My heart sank a little wondering what Jack must have been doing in school that he now needed to attend this group. The last meeting with his teacher, Mr. Mortland said he was behaving angelically. She continued to inform me that she was needing a few students who were proficient in this area to be good examples, and Mr. Mortland said Jack would be perfect. Oh what a relief! Mine is the GOOD kid!



After six months of bribery Will has finally earned his Chick Hicks mac! It felt like we would never get to this spot. But on Friday night we brought it out since he had been taking himself potty for the last week and had only been damp. We told him if he peed his pants we would take it away. So saturday morning he woke up at 4:30 to go pee. I could hear him awake for a long while so at 4:45 I finally went downstairs to see what was going on. He looked at me and said "I went pee so you can't take Chick Hicks Mac away." Good Job, but he never went back to sleep. Needless to say, he went to bed quite early.

Ella has been so messy to feed latley. She really likes eating her babyfood and hasn't really rejected any flavor, but she seems very torn between eating food and sucking on her fingers. As soon as I get a bite in, her fingers are right in after. Sometimes I can't even get the spoon in her mouth because she doesn't even want to take them out. She will pull them out for half a second and if I can't get that spoon in her mouth, manuverd around the hand that is still there waiting to be pushed back in, then I've lost the chance. I'm in the process of finding a time when she isn't so suck happy so she might actually eat. I'm thinking this finger sucking is going to be a bigger problem down the road. I better start praying about this now.

Ella Bella

Our little Eleanor is six months old today. Time has gone so fast. Somedays I find myself just wishing time away since I'm bored or having a bad day. But lately I feel like I'm just trying to hold on tighter to time as it slips through my fingers. Ella has been such a blessing to our family. The boys love her so much, and of course so do Lewis and I. I would just sit and rock her all night if my body would allow and if I knew no bad habit would come of it. Happy Half Birthday Baby Girl!

Icky Sickies and Hippy Hair

The kids are still coughing away. Poor Ella has her first cold, was incredibly constipated earlier this week, has no voice left after coughing, and is still teething. The poor thing just breaks my heart.

Will and Jack seem to be getting better so I think we dodged a doctor trip. I really hate taking them only to be told its a virus and will go away. I'm trying to listen to my gut more. No one tells you how hard it is to make that call. I've learned its one of the hardest things as a parent. You don't want to be the mom who is constantly taking your kid to the doctor, but you hate to be the one who refuses to take them and then when you finally bring them in they have a double ear infection, sinus infection and their left lung collapsed. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little but you get the drift.

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I love my boys in fresh hair cuts. They just look so much better. Jack's hair gets very fuzzy and doesn't lay very nice as it grows, but particularly hates getting it cut. We've learned to take his shirt off during the cut and to wipe his back off well before getting dressed or we end up with a meltdown. Will's hair looks cute as it grows, but it becomes quite unruly in the back and becomes more of a pain to untangle than the cuteness is worth. He doesn't complain about it itching, but isn't very good about sitting still. Jen keeps telling him she'll cut off his ear if he doesn't sit still. And once she almost did.

I give them about a week warning before haircuts. I told them their hair was getting fuzzy, Will told me he wanted to have fuzzy hair. After his cut I commented on how handsome he looked. "No Mom, I look awesome." he said very matter of factly. Okay, pardon me, you look "awesome". This has become a new word he goes to often.

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Ella seems to have blossomed the last few weeks. She is getting so strong. When she is on her belly she is pushes up on her side and can almost roll over to her belly, but that arm just gets in the way. She plays pretty well on her belly and can usually flip herself over before she gets to angry. She has began eating all sorts of foods. Today I was getting her lunch ready and as I was warming up her green beans she began breathing faster and kicking her legs. Its so fun to see her get excited about things she likes. She hasn't really not liked any foods she has tried. So far her menu has included green beans, avocado, sweet potatoes, squash, pears, apples, bananas and most recently prunes; to aid in her constipation. Which has since resolved the situation, they work quite well.

Coffee Buzz

Wow! I'm typing faster than ever. I never really got much into the whole coffee scene and thought caffiene was just a wast of time. But with three kids who wake me up at six sharp and no nap in sight I've seen how coffee might just help.

Lewis has become increasingly dependant on it all these years and in an attempt to tame the coffee budget we've began buying coffee and trying to make our own slice of starbucks in our kitchen. After all these wonderful aromas have filled the house I had to see what it was all about. Its fun to mix your own beans, the smell of the fresh ground coffee, the invention of your own syrup blends, not to mention the momentary burst of energy making you feel almost super human. Coffee, I think you are my friend.

Cabin Fever

Its only Jauary 11 and I have spring fever. Actually, I'm probably doing better than most years. I only became increasingly sick of winter after this last cold spell, which was so bad the called off school thursday and friday, and after Will has been sick the last 4 days rendering me house bound playing doctor.

Poor little guy was really bad off yesterday. I had to keep the shades closed all day and at nap had his bed coverd with blankets on 3 sides, and the other had the wall. Last night we just left him in the tub for well over an hour, since that was the only place he seemed to get some comfort. His eyes were so wattery and swollen he could barley open them. But this morning he awoke much better , with only slightly baggy eyes, and no fever. I'm so glad we doged a trip to the doctor.

I could tell Jack was really sick of being in the house, he was asking to go back to school on Saturday. Thankfully Lewis was home and they were gone almost all day Saturday and Sunday. As much as I like some peace and quiet, I was sure beginning to miss my husband. And with a sick Will, and a teething Ella, my arms were always hugging someone. But Ella's teeth are about to erupt and Will is better, the sun is out, and the tempuratures are improving so there is a light. I know it won't be winter forever and it will only make me appreciate spring that much more.

More from Will

Will loves his bananas. I've had to limit him to one a day or he'd eat the whole bunch in one morning. My reasoning to him is if he eats to many bananas he won't be able to go poop. Well they are constipating and he won't eat any other fruit unless I explain it to him.

So the other day he was sitting on the toilet and apparently he was a little clogged up because he told me "my poop hurts, that must be my banana poop". A few moments later he announced "this poop is smooth, this must be my vegetable poop".


On an entirely different note, I made some crunchy granola on Saturday with yummy raisins, nuts, and chocolate. The kids love it. I brought some to church for Will to have as a snack. As we were driving to church he was holding the container filled with the granola. "I love my crochy nola". "Its crunchy Granola" I quickly corrected, I didn't really want him going to church saying croch. But then he said "I know, I just want to say crochy nola".

Christmas 2009

So the Christmas Storm of 2009 was everything they promised. It took a while to get started but by Christmas Eve the snow was falling and blowing everywhere. By Saturday afternoon when the snow had ceased we had 18 inches and up to 5 foot drifts! Lewis was so excited, he had been wanting a storm like that for years. Well, he got it. I'm not sure if he had wanted to be stuck at his in laws house while it happened, but that's what he got. It was actually pretty fun, but I was ready to leave by Saturday evening, but we didn't get home until Sunday afternoon. And even then some of the roads weren't very travelable.





Lewis had the whole week after Christmas off. It was so nice to not have to be anywhere at any specific time. It was very relaxing. On Monday Lewis took the boys to Chuck E. Cheese, they had a great time. Does any little kid not enjoy a high energy over stimulating array of games? I stayed home and enjoyed my Christmas present. A morning of Gilmore Girls is as good as a spa day.



Tuesday we all packed up and went to the open play gym and after lunch we drove over to Sioux Center, IA to go swimming in their All Seasons center. The boys loved it. This was Ella's first time in the pool, she was very quiet with the exception of a few Ooo Ooo grunts. She only lasted about 30 minutes. She looked so cute in her swim suit Aunt Becca bought for her in Phoenix.



Wednesday the boys went tubing at Great Bear while I took Ella to the Dr. to try and pinpoint the cause of her grouchies. Turns out she had Fifths Disease, sounds worse than it is. The boys returned around 2 and were little Popsicles, but had tons of fun.



Thursday Grandpa and Grandma Berendsen came and took us out for lunch. We had a lay low day. It was needed after the busy week we had had. Our New Year's Eve celebration was very low key with some pizza in the living room while we watched the 3 stooges marathon. The boys really got a kick out of it. Its truly male humor, I don't find it nearly as entertaining.



Friday, New Years Day, the boys again left me alone for a quiet morning. They got coffee, went back to Chuck E. Cheese to use the rest of their tokens, and see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. Our week was so wonderfully relaxing. But now back to real life. Its actually almost more relaxing to know we are back on schedule. I live for the predictable. Lewis often calls me the nap Nazi, but it keeps me sane.