A Silent House and a Clicking Keyboard

I'll have ya'll know that my boys are still sleeping. {It's 10:50 a.m!}
And I didn't crawl back into bed after getting up at 7:15.

If only I had.

eta: Cart woke up at 11, at which time Aapo decided he was finished snoozing on the living room floor.

A Beach in my Tub & Antsy Pants

If I had one of those cameras that could make the sand at the bottom of my bathtub look pretty, I would've taken a picture for you. I've never in my entire life seen that much sand in a tub before!

As I'm washing Carter and saying how he had so much sand in his hair, Aapo volunteers,"I was putting sand on Carter's head."

{I believe he was putting plenty on his own, as well, it took forever to get it out. Carter's was nothing compared to his head!}

*********

The kid's were in bed by about 8:20 p.m. It's now 9:05 and 'George' is still up! I put them to bed and held my breath. After about 20 minutes, I tiptoed to peek and the boy's were sound asleep but she was laying there swinging around and talking to herself.

I'm thinking she's just a little bit excited.
(Sense my sarcasm?) ;)

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Hoping we can make it another couple of hours. It's 5:30 p.m. I've got some tired kids around here because they got up so early. Aapo fell asleep as I was making supper, only to be woken up to me shouting,"Aapo! No! You can't fall asleep!! Aapo!! Wake up!! Wake up!!" Lol! :)

He did and is playing with Nikayda now. They both layed around all afternoon. Carter napped for a few minutes at lunchtime, in the car, on the way to the grocery store. I'm trying to get him to hold out until at least 7 or 7:30.

It's so hot here, again. I should've said we all layed around today. ;) {I sorted a little-tiny-bit in the kitchen. Nothing to write home about.} The thermometer says 96 but the computer says 86. I'd say it's almost 90. At least.

Tomorrow's suppose to be a high of 90. Too hot for her first day of school. I'm trying to figure out what to wear on her. I've not heard of any dress codes...it's a small town, there may not be too many. But I'm not sure if she can wear sleeveless or not...

I Don't Get Over Things Like Fly Legs

It's hot today.
I don't do hot. We don't have air. I'm not working. I sweat too easily. And I hate sweating.
Hence the many posts.
It was almost 90.

Cool, fall weather where have you gone?
I want you back.

Tomorrow's suppose to be in the high 70's. Much better.

We have a fly problem. Every night, I sit in the chair with Country Living after everyone else is in bed. After a few minutes of blissful silence, I always hear, "bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz". So, I get up, grab the flyswat, wander around the house searching for the mysteriously disappearing fly, eventually finding it. And Slap!

It's dead. Gone.

And I sit down once again. I get so much joy killing each one of these pesky flies that Mark says I'm a cold-blooded killer. ;)

As I saw a few buzzing around, I was reminded of how I don't get over things like fly legs.

When we lived in Michigan, we'd get flies like crazy {who doesn't?} at different times of the year. Well, one day I was sitting there eating Reese's Puffs - one of my favorite snacks. This was before Cart's allergy. Probably before Cart was even born. I'm sitting there eating and as I'd finished the cereal in my bowl, I went to drink the rest of the milk when I spotted a fly leg. Floating in the milk.

Now, I don't gag very easily.

Really. I don't.

But I gagged! And gagged. {Maybe I was pregnant even (for Carter), I can't remember}. But I gagged.

And I've never touched Reese's Puffs. Again.

The Battle Cry of the Construction Queen

Don't throw that on the floor. I just vacuumed!~

{The cry that's echoed throughout our house lately}.

Don't throw that cereal on the floor. I just vacuumed!
Don't walk on the floor. I just vacuumed!

And even an occassional: Don't throw that frog on the floor. I just vacuumed!

{Thank goodness it was only a toy frog.}

Come to think of it, I believe I'm the Vacuum Queen rather than the Construction Queen.

******************

I made pizza bagels for lunch today (at 3 p.m. - we're still on a late schedule). I'd just gotten off the phone with mom, and was trying to figure out where the remainder of the block of mozzarella had disappeared to.

So. I asked each of the kids if they'd eaten it. I went down my short little row and ended at number 3, Carter. The guilty party by far.

He was standing there watching me as I asked the other two. Although {at 23 months} he is much too young to have a guilty look on his face, he looked at me and right away, pointed to his mouth, "Cheeeee!!!".

Oh the honesty of the innocent.

Super Trouper

Ha! Sue ~ ya got me. Lol! ;) Here I am posting...

A partial smile from the little chicken pox boy.

I know chicken pox pictures aren't the prettiest for everyone to look at so I'll just post this one. (More. - I did one below when he first broke-out). This isn't the one I had wanted. (It wasn't posting - but he had his hands folded and was looking down. I had the perfect caption for it too.)

He has been such a super-trouper. I'm amazed at how well he's been doing with these. He was more miserable and fussy the week prior to getting them. :) And for being such a fussy little guy (whom we love so much) I'm pretty proud of him for handling these so well! They're drying up, so hopefully not more than a few days of discomfort left for him. (Crossing my fingers).

Chicken Pops!

My kids call them "Chicken Pops".

Carter has them.

Nikayda and Aapo had them a couple of years ago already. I have NO IDEA where he picked them up! I was shocked to wake up this morning to the tell-tale red, blistered spots. Let me tell you. And as the day progresses, they're spreading like wildfire. I don't know of a single person who's had them in the past few months. I've been apprehensive about him getting them because of all of his other allergies and yet, at the same time, I've wanted him to get them. Now that he has them, it's kind of a relief. Or it will be, once it's over. We need to make it through a couple of days of constant crying first.

In my highly opinionated mind, :) I would never give my kids the chicken pox vaccine and it has nothing to do with natural medicine. Well, maybe it does. I don't know. But I wouldn't because there is not enough research to show the long-term effects of it. I have too many questions about it and I feel that chicken pox is a common childhood disease. Not to mention that I know too many kids who have had the vaccine and still contracted the disease. Out of all of the big families that I know, I'm not aware of any major complications either. (That's not to say that there aren't any). That's just my take on it and I don't expect everyone to agree. There is such a huge debate about the vaccine, and every parent must make that choice on their own.

Edited to add: I added this in the comments, but I'm putting it here...that there would definitely be a necessity to give the vaccine if a child hasn't had the chicken pox, as they got older, as it can be deadly and there are far more complications were they to contract the disease as an adult. Never say never. Right? Lol! ;) I guess I was trying to say that I've no intention to avoid the chicken pox and get the vaccine. (I wouldn't automatically give it to my kids - and now I don't have to worry as they've all gotten them. - until the next kids come along). :) There are always exceptions. end of eta.

Is it wrong, then, for me to feel happy?! :) I'm not happy that he's sick but I'm thrilled that he's finally gotten them.

I was so worried that he had been extra crabby for the past week because of food allergies. He's been an extremely fussy little person since he was born. I say that with much affection, as we love him to pieces in spite of this crabbiness. ;) He's a peach when he is happy but he's usually fussing. Because of his excessive crabbiness, I've begun to wonder if he has other food allergies besides peanuts. I've absolutely no idea but I know that constant fussiness can be a sign.

We've been spending much more time with Mark in the past couple of weeks, as he's been working on our house, and he's taken a notice to Carter's excessive fussiness. Mark's always suspected that it was just 'me'. It's very gratifying to have him say that there our little guy is really fussy and that it's not just 'me'.

I constantly worry about what is wrong with him. We're planning to visit an allergist within the next year and I'm looking forward to finding some answers.

We missed the family reunion, this weekend. Mom said it would be a better idea to stay home.

But I wanted to go, so bad!

I know I would've been so much fun to hang out with! I love playing outside and I know it would've been fun to keep mom on her toes all weekend at the campground. What's a campground anyway? I've never been to one.

Is that one of those places where kids can run free and play outside all day long? Where the grown ups just sit around and visit all weekend? Oh, my mom just told me to tell you to try not to pay too much attention to the mess around me. We're packing so we can move to a new house.

Do you like my teeth?

Hey Mamma (pronounced like Grandma) & Papa and aunties and uncles, I miss you!! So do Nikayda and Aapo and we wanted to go camping so bad!

Uhyooooo!! :)

(Love you)

Sunday Afternoon

Being that we didn't go camping, we spent Sunday afternoon together. As a family. Just us. It was so nice. We rarely are together lately - for the sake of being together. A family. So that was such a treat. We've been so busy with the house and all so when we're together, we're working. It was such a treat to just enjoy each other's company for the day and have fun. :)

We went out to eat for lunch. Then we headed over to a park so the kid's could enjoy some play time and we could relax. A little. They keep you on your feet when you're in a park, running from one jungle gym to the next. ;) But it was fun. Then we went out to our property for the late afternoon/evening and explored. This has been our usual routine as of late. We really enjoy strolling around the property. It's so relaxing and such a treat! Notice Nikayda's bucket, she and I rock hunt while we're exploring. We both love to find pretty rocks. (We'll use them in the house and in the gardens when they begin to take shape).

This place is going to be so good for me. It's soothing. When I'm there, I notice things like trees and rocks and leaves. Things I haven't paid attention to in years. It has a calming effect on me to be outside, in the woods. I never knew that. I haven't spent time in the woods since I was a young kid running around at mom & dad's house; running around in the great outdoors and taking time to explore the fields and ponds too. I was appreciating how I'll be able to explore and relax. Outside. Every Sunday, from now on, if I want!

Aapo decided it was "hot" out - hence the lack of shirt. Lol. :) It was in the high 70's. Beautiful but definitely not hot. ;)

While they were out for a walk (on our driveway), Carter just stopped all of a sudden and burst into tears. Possibly because he was trailing behind. Possibly because he missed his nap. And possibly because he's Carter. ;)

So, everyone turned around and went back for him.

And everything was right in his world. Once again.

Workin' Boy's

We're just about ready to paint! So, today was a good day to look at paint colors. (We rarely {try to} stay two steps ahead of ourselves here. It's our thing). In our usual custom, Mark told me, at lunch, that I need to let him know the paint colors. So off to the hardware store I ran. Well. I could've run but I drove.

It wasn't that hard. Really. There were only about two hundred and five shades of white. But luckily for me, only about five of them were a bluish/greenish white w/ more blue than green. And I already knew the color for Nikayda's room. (Still need to buy a sample to test it out though...) I don't want a million different shades around my house (although, I do like that), so it should be much easier. And I'm planning an accent wall. I never wanted one before (only because a lot of people have them), until a few weeks ago, when I decided it'd be fun. What the heck. Fun is good! So the wall along the steps leading upstairs and the whole loft will be one accent color.

I think.

We'll see...

You know, a while back (this past winter) the girls went out for coffee and I was talking about having everything white in my house. The walls, decor, furniture. Everything. And one of my friends was shocked. "Really?! You always wear such colorful stuff!"

Lol! I was laughing. And I keep thinking about that. I'd never thought of it before. I love colorful purses, scarves, costume jewelry, accessories. But I wanted a white and pale blue tone, overall, inside my house. It's soothing. Calming. Just what an anxious, frazzled chick needs for a nice comforting home environment. ;) But I'm laughing again, as I'm getting closer to moving in because I'm slowly incorporating more color into the scheme. It just may end up pretty colorful, after all. Maybe I just wasn't cut out for white. Time will tell. I'm going to let the color scheme unfurl on it's own. Let it take shape as it will and see what happens. I'm going to let it be me because it's my home. And most importantly, I want it to *feel* like home.

And switching subjects here, the boy's love to help out at the new house.

Mark's already got a couple of carpenters-in-waiting. ;) So far, there's definitely an interest! Lol! :) (We're crossing our fingers. ;)

Rice Dream. What a Dream!

After seeing Sharyn talk about Rice Dream on her blog, Elizabeth mention it and my sister-in-law Peggy was just here for a visit and she uses it for Anders, I decided to pick up a carton. I never even heard of the stuff before! Well, not before the past year anyway. Wow.

Carter's allergic to milk and I suspect other dairy... So, naturally, I don't give him milk. And I worry. I'm a worrier when it comes to calcium, or the lack thereof. I've always been a big milk person. My kid's drink it all the time. The irony here, is that I don't. I barely drink it anymore. I say 'anymore' because I used to guzzle it. There was nothing like an ice cold glass of skim milk on a hot day. I need to work on that again.

Anyway, I'm sidetracking here. So, I bought the Rice Dream, went home, poured it into a cup and masking my tentativeness, handed it to Carter. I stepped back and waited...

He drank it! He can be a little fussy when it comes to new stuff. But he drank it! I was thrilled. Although, the next day, he had one of those messes again. (Out the diaper)! It was not pleasant. I had to wash my sheets again (I had just done so two days before) and toss him in the bath. But I suspect that was from the two (very small) pieces of cheese that I relented and gave to him the same day he tried Rice Dream.

He always asks for "Cheeeeee!!!". That kid would love to eat "Cheeee" 'til the cows come home but he can't. (And, yes. He shouts it at the top of his voice every time). ;) Then, yesterday, I was reading about milk allergies and discovered there is non-dairy cheese. Ok. That sounds all well and fine...but...what's it made from?! Anyone know? I don't want to start feeding him more chemicals and processed unknowns than we already eat. The very stuff that may be causing all of these peculiar food allergies.

But, for now, we'll take the Rice Dream. And calcium!

Sunshine

I've driven by the sunflower field several times since taking pictures the other day. Every time there are at least one or two cars pulled over with passengers getting out, cameras in hand. And, every time, I think I should do the same! It's so pretty when you're driving by. It looks just like a bright field of sunshine! (These pictures have nothing to do with this post. Really. :) Well. I mean, he is my sunshine but... well... he's not really a sunflower. Ok. Maybe I think he is...sometimes. ;) Lol!

Carter

This and That

Random thoughts...

• I was assuming that we'd try to put in a yard next year. The reality is it will be more like a good four five years before we get all of the trees cleared out...maybe longer...which means mud, mud and more mud! Ah well. The bathroom is right inside the front door. A little dirt don't hurt. ;)
• Carter doesn't talk much. He jibber jabbers and babbles like crazy. (I love that.) But he knows how to say the word property pretty well! (He says,"propirtee").
• I've begun organizing the basement of our new house. If anyone has previously wondered whether or not I was crazy, they would wonder no longer after seeing all of the old junk piled in the corner! (It occurred to me that I don't believe that I have a single new piece of decor for our home. And I'm thrilled about this).
• Our current dwelling is sailing and that is (to be said in the most blunt terms ;) exasperating! A few more weeks...a few more weeks...a few more weeks...a few more...YEARS?! (I need to unpack and settle-in once the move actually takes place. But at least, on that end, the fun will begin. (Decorating. For the first time in my whole life I can decorate like there's no tomorrow)).
• I'm itching like crazy to get my hands on some projects! And I'm incredibly inspired to sew upon viewing various fun and creative craft blogs. But mostly, I can't wait to start refinishing the aforementioned junk in my basement. A few coats of paint and we're good to go!
• Life is a merry-go-round and it never stops. (Can't argue with that, now, can you?)
• In the past week, I recently read every one of the Dottie Angel archives and enjoyed every minute of it! I'm tellin' ya, I want to sew. In bad way! I'll definitely be doing some this fall. (Carter still needs a Christmas stocking).
• The kids are standing by the door, in their flip-flops, patiently waiting to go to the "propirtee". (Ok. That was weird. As I was typing that, Carter resumed saying it over and over. It's his new favorite word).
• Time to head out the door. Stop at the local grocer. Grab some supper. Head to Sara's. Pick up more junk from her barn. Head to the property. Start a fire and cook us some supper. Spend the evening burning more scrap lumber. Organize more of the basement and making sure the kids get nice and grubby and tired before heading back home for the night. ;)

Supper Time

I brought pizza out to the house and stayed there for the evening. Carter finished before everyone else and took off.

We have only one chair. Carter was using it for a highchair of sorts. I'm planning to hit the garage sales, next year. Maybe I'll find more. This table and chair were 5 or 10 bucks. I always forget which. Either way - it was a steal!

Watching Daddy

They were all intently watching Mark, Saturday, as he drove his truck with a load of drywall in the trailer. (We had just gotten to the property).

Nikayda's hat - my latest garage sale special. I love it. And it's funny, I bought it with the thought that next time we have a girl, I could use it (thinking it was a baby hat). Well, Nikayda, asked me,"Mommy is that hat mine?" (She had seen it in the laundry basket and tried it on). Needless to say it was a girl's size and not a baby's. :)

Auntie Jeanie ~ Remember your old shirt? Nikayda loves it!

Nikayda

(Mark and Carter in the background.)

Carter

Just a couple of days ago this little guy was terrified of the water. Hard to believe! He loves it now. But he does get nervous if I carry him into deeper water. I'm slowly trying to get him used to it. Although, that's not such a bad thing because then he stays by the shore. I'm a little worried that if he gets used to going out further, he may attempt it on his own. They aren't allowed to sit in floatie toys at this beach. And he doesn't have a life jacket yet.

Oh yeah. They aren't allowed to wear floaties on their arms either (like Nikayda in her picture) but we took advantage of the lifeguards being off-duty. ;)

Aapo

Carter

I was going for one with Carter peeking at me but he doesn't sit still - not even for a sec. so this is what I got. ;)

Peanut Allergy

I just posted a few really informative sites under Peanut Allergy Info. (over there to the left). Each one has a lot of information in their respective articles.

I wanted to post this particularly for our families to read. :)

(And to be honest, because of all of the reactions Carter has had thus far, and after reading more about it, I'm even more fearful of going out with him. Anywhere. I'm planning to order some information from Allergic Child.com unless I come across similar info. that's posted on the web...)