When to mop your floors...

I decided it was time to mop my kitchen/dining room floor and scrub my cupboard doors.  They are beautiful hard wood floors and my cupboards are cherry.  How'd I know it was time?  Let my share my theory:
1.  When the number of unknown things stuck to the floor are greater than known spots.
2.  When the chairs stop sliding around the kitchen table
3.  When the dog stops licking things off the floor
4.  When the upper cupboards no longer match the lower cupboards
5.  When the sugar that you spilled a while ago started growing crystals
6.  When you want something for Christmas that you may have already ordered...I'll ask after he sees the floors ;)
7.  Lastly, it's the Survivor finale tonight!!!  If I want 3 hrs of uninterrupted TV time, a little buttering up doesn't hurt.

Just kidding, but in all seriousness, with 3 littles, a dog and winter in full swing, I could mop every day.

Happy Wednesday!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Doesn't it look great!  We had such a blast setting it up, going through all my special ornaments that I've gotten over that last 20+ Christmas'.  In fact, the movie Cheaper by the Dozen has a scene that reminds me of this special night...the whole scene is great, but the best part is around 1:35...

The line they cut off at the end is, "even the special tea cup?"  or something close to that.  

Let's be honest, decorating a tree with 2 - 3year olds and an almost 2 year old isn't as pretty as the end result, but we made memories.  I'd guess that I used half a bottle of tacky glue repairing dropped ornaments.  I will be creating ornaments with little tyke company that are super cute but also unbreakable and keeping mine in a box for another 10 years.  I thought about putting them on the top foot of the tree, but I can only imagine them stacking boxes/chairs/stools etc to get to them.  

Merry Christmas to all!  

New favorite place...

We passed this park this summer a gazillion times as it was being built.  Wish we hadn't waited until now to check it out...

Looks like I'm going to need some "goose patrol" back up...

They called in the dog too, she just didn't make the picture.
And since getting home, she hasn't gotten up off her memory foam ;)

Care free and loving it!

Wanna see how fast I can go!?

I promised a few 'seasoned' riders that they would know
which side to ride on by next summer.  Sorry

Wait for it...wait for it...

...quick, try and catch it on the other side

1...2...3...4...yup, got them all!

Mom, take me up here!  And of course Kayla won't be outdone.

As long as the weather stays nice, we'll be here after dinner if anyone is bored!  Guaranteed a good time and a few laughs.

Hayrides!

Almost every fall my cousin puts on a hayride and potluck...we love it!!!  Thanks Becky!  And now for the next 17 days...give a take a few...I will hear the question of when are we going back and Kenzie piping in with, "I cried when the tractor started."

Kayla, can you say...

I took about 5 pictures...in each one a different kid was looking away.
If I had photo shop, it would be perfect.  Instead, you get real life.

Love!  

Boys will be boys...

...then again I have all girls.  That didn't seem to matter tonight.  Khloe lasted about 4 jumps, and that was only after I promised a bath and she'd be good as new.

You've got to jump like this Kayla...

She tried following Kenzie's directions, but landed on her bottom instead

No, look closer.  I mean like this, now watch.

Maybe that was a little too close.

Thank goodness I have stock in Oxi-clean!

Before...After...part 1

I want to brag a little on what we've done to our 'move-in' ready house.  Not that we couldn't have moved in and been fine, we may have even stayed sane had we gone that route.  But we saw potential...A LOT of potential.  We still see a lot of potential ;)

old...we found that the bulk heads were not necessary, there was a
faux ceiling a foot lower than the original

see...same window.  Tore out wall on left.  added a wall on the right to create a mudroom
raised the ceiling a foot, changed the floor.  just a few minor changes

New!

old...4 x 6 ft. main floor bath

almost finished...minus the painted wall :)

see, the potty is in the original bathroom.  The vanity is where a closet used to be.
Door needs to be refinished as well

Mudroom will come tomorrow, camera ran out of battery.

Mommy's going to be so happy...

I can hear a lot of whispering coming from the kitchen right now.  I set the girls up to paint and sat down to watch a chapel from a local high school.  Paint shirts, old table, extra paper, 7 cups of paint, and 15 paint brushes.  Enough supplies to squelch a few fights for 2 minutes or so.  I can see them, so I know they're still in their seats and not painting the rest of my house...which has happened with paintbrushes they've found from on going projects.  Anyways, I hope to post some before and after pictures of the house later today, but until then...

Who, me?  Never.

And just like that....they all grew up!

We said good bye to all our cribs today.  Kayla was crawling in and out of hers, everyone had the rail taken down like a toddler bed, so I thought, why not.  All 3 got big girl beds today!!!!

To top it off, I only had 1 accident today and stayed dry my whole nap!

I don't need 'big blankie anymore...what?!
I'll put it over there, just in case.

We've had so much going on since we bought our house, I don't have time to keep up with the blog, but I promise to do better.  Kayla is 21 months.  She is starting to talk more and more and I can usually decipher what she's saying.  She can run as fast as her sister, jumps on the full size trampoline, rides a tricycle, is potty training...and doing great!  She's my best eater, my imitator and wins the gold everyday for calling, mom, momma, mommy.  

Khloe is so sweet and tender hearted.  She makes sure her sisters have what they want, even if it means trading her toys so they can have it.  But that doesn't mean she doesn't throw a fit if someone takes something she might be playing with now or in the near future.  She's shy, loves her daddy, her neighbors and her bike.  She loves to sing and make up her own songs.  Don't be fooled by her size, she's my pickiest eater right now. 

Kenzie is a spit fire.  She's quick witted, smart, athletic and loves questions.  She flies up and down the street on her bike or Violet's scooter.  She loves to jump on the trampoline with Molly and can do a front flip...yes, in the air.  She is incredibly inquisitive and loves to learn new things...as long as it doesn't take too long.  She can pump on the swings, jump on and get started by herself and will try anything once.  She's sneaky and is working on not taking things home that aren't hers :)  

Even with the fights and hits and screams, at the end of the day, they're best friends.
Always have one another's back...and pipey.  Love you girls.

Eye opener!

This morning we read the story of Jesus on the cross.  We talked about it for just a minute.  Well, more the tear, the wound, and the 'owies'.  Then after a LONG day...I love my girls...I passed out a few pieces of paper and pencils to the girls and had them draw while I was desperately searching for something to make for dinner.  Khloe surprised me with this...

I draw a circle...

She even added pupils!!!

I am going to miss the arms coming out of the head with this one ;)

I all done momma.

I drew my Jesus...sure enough baby, you did.  I love it.

She has a heart of gold.  She waits or comes back for Kayla, shares her toys, and is full of hugs and kisses.  Thank you Jesus for bearing our owies.

Kayla...sweet, sweet Kayla

Also known as 'Little Monster' by her sisters, parents and neighbors.  She can be an absolute doll...

...seriously, just look at the joy on that girls face!  She can also be an absolute terror...

I know what you're all thinking...don't worry,
I found the chocolate frosting tub when Khloe opened the fridge.

She just went in for her 18 month check up and she is 24 1/2lbs and 31 1/2" of pure joy!  What she lacks in height (37th percentile) she makes up in spunk...like her momma!

 She is becoming more and more interested in the bathroom.  Hates wet diapers, loves to wear big girl panties like her sisters and could get on and off her potty for days!  

So here's to you little monster!  We love you as much as you love to wait for the last syllable of one to follow directions.  And no matter where you go in life...we know you'll go far and we'll be with you every step of the way, making sure you stay our 'little monster'.