Look a likes...

I've listened to my mom say to Adri, for the past 3 years, "You're so much like your mother."  Sadly, it's not usually when she's doing something phenomenal.

Adri tries to zip her coat and I offer to help.  Adri stomps her foot and says, "NO I WANNA DO IT BY MYSELF!"  My mom says, "You're so much like your mother."

Adri throws a fit and hits the floor because she wants to do something her way and we've told her no.  My mom says, "You're so much like your mother."

Adri thinks she has to eat almost every minute of everyday and my mom's response to that is, "She's so much like her mother."

Adri INSISTS on wearing a dress most days and argues with me profusely about how she won't be cold.  My mom says, "You're so much like your mother."

She's also done a few ornery things, as well, and upon relaying Adri's mischief to my mother, she reminds me that Adri is "so much like her mother."

Now, I've cautioned my mom, several times.  "Please don't say that in front of her.  I don't want her to think it's a bad thing to be like me.  After all, I'd consider it an honor if someone said I was like my mom (I've got a big favor to ask you later...just kidding).  But, overall, she's right (Wow, that's two HUGE compliments in one day...you're welcome, Mom).

There's the time I put panty liners in my shoes because I thought they'd make me run faster and I once left our miniature poodle, Shelly, in the refrigerator because she was in my arms and I saw something in there I'd rather have more (food).  I used to cry and scream when I didn't get my way and admittedly, threw a coffee mug through the screen of our TV when I was little because things weren't going 'Mandy's way."

It's scary, isn't it...thinking about your kids turning out just like you?  But, overall, I think I was a good kid.  I never did anything too terrible (other than the TV thing...and I may or may not have tore up the back seats of my mom and dad's mini van because I stole a grocery cart from Payless), and as a teenager, rarely gave my parents much worry.  I've made pretty good choices as an adult and haven't tortured my parents by moving their grandkids to the other side of the world or anything (which I've threatened to do).  So, I guess if Adri turns out like me, it's not such a bad thing.  But, God, please don't let her talk to me as a teenager the way I talked to my mother! That is all...thank you and Amen!

 We do look a little alike, don't we?  You're right...she's cuter!

The 'rocking' chair

It's MLK day and we've been waiting for a day of no school and lounging with NO AGENDA since Christmas!  I NEED lazy days every once in a while to rejuvenate myself.  So far today, we made a big breakfast, played Memory, Guess Who, read a few books and Adri and I have colored and painted while Gabe and Nate played Nate's new computer game.  He's been anxious to play after a week of video game fasting for school.  And yes, I'm a bad mom...they've FAR EXCEEDED their video game time allotment for the day.  In fact, they may be reaching their weekly max!  Oh well, it's a holiday and we're celebrating MLK's commitment to equality :) 

The morning and early afternoon has went exactly as planned and instead of napping while Adri napped, I decided to spend the afternoon paying a few bills, journaling, and watching HGTV.  I was sitting in my favorite living room chair with my feet reclined, a cup of coffee next to me, Love it or List it on TV and the sound of two routy boys playing a computer game.  I paused from my journaling and I noticed that my chair was slightly rocking.  I turned off the TV, hushed the boys and started listening to the wind.  It was blowing quite strongly and even the trees in the fence row, some very large, were swaying.  But, come on...was the house moving?  We've only lived here for 2 years and it's a new house!  Seriously?  All of these things started going through my mind.  Was the house going to start falling apart?  Would I have Matt call the contractor?  Nah, he'd be too nice and a swaying house was serious business...Ross needed a phone call from an assertive, strong personality, won't take any excuses kind of woman!    The more I thought about what I would say, the madder I got...the pot was boiling by this point and it had only been a whole 30 seconds!  I decided that instead of taking the mad and frustrated approach, I'd call him and calmly explain that this was our family's house and we needed to feel safe.  How could I feel safe in a house that rocked with a strong breeze? 

I then heard Keely having a bad dream.  She was whimpering and when I discovered where she was, I felt a ton of bricks lifted from my shoulders...she was right beside my chair...rocking it!  I woke her up and the rocking stopped!

I realized threethings...
1.  I get worked up WAY TOO EASILY and...
2.  Keely has some pretty intense dreams and...
3.  I should have taken a nap!

Christmas Catch Up!

We'll start with Bernice...she made her last appearance on Christmas Eve and revealed to us that she had been hunting for Jesus during her visit...He was the special gift!  She found him in the nativity and followed up with a letter about how pleased she was to find that we included Christ in our Christmas celebrations.  The kids LOVED celebrating with Bernice this year and I'm sure she'll return again.  She set the bar pretty high...I hope next year is just as fun!

Santa visits our house on Christmas Eve and brings the kids one present to open as a 'teaser.'  My uncle Tim used to to this when I was a kid and I love that we have continued the tradition.  Luckily, my kids don't run the other way when he walks in the front door, like I did as a child!

It's so hard to get a picture of all 5 of us looking the same direction and NOT MOVING!  You can't even see Santa or Nate!  

Leaving out cookies and milk and getting ready to head to bed wearing their new jammies from Santa.  There are a few things that our family rarely takes for granted...having a reason to wear jammies instead of real clothes and the opportunity to eat ice cream for no reason!  We did a lot of both over Christmas break (thanks Roper family)!

AND HE CAME!

The stockings were hung...

Santa had a special gift for the kids that couldn't be wrapped and he wanted to assemble early, so he left a yarn maze all over the kitchen and living room.  Each kid had their own color of yarn to follow, which lead them to Santa's present to them (not an idea that I came up with on my own...I stole it)!

Santa gifted the boys an air hockey table! 

And he left Adri a bag full of dress ups (including the most coveted fairy wings) and a doodle bear!

Merry Christmas, kids!  As a parent, doesn't the holiday have an entirely different meaning than when you were a kid and getting all of the gifts?  

The last few years, Nate has stressed over what to get his brother and sister.  He loves giving them gifts and makes sure that he has the money set aside to purchase them something, LONG before Christmas (he gets that from Daddy).  This year, he chose some books from the Scholastic book orders that came home with Gabe.  He really loves reading to Gabe and Adri and he LOVES, even more, that he can remind them that he picked out those books just for them.  Adri only had a few dollars in her piggy bank, but carefully choose an eraser for each of her brothers from the toy dispenser at Meijer :)  Daddy took Gabe out to help him choose gifts for Adri and Nate.  He picked a whoopi (how do you spell that word?) cushion for Nate and a tea set for Adri.  Nothing beats the look on their faces when they open up gifts from one another!  Just another reason I heart Christmas!

I don't think our TV was on for at least a week after Christmas.  Our table, however, was unusable because it was covered in Legos!  The boys spent hours and hours building helicopters, tractors, castles and dinosaurs with their new Lego sets.

 This was the 4th year that instead of gifts for our 20 + nieces and nephews (I lost count), we take them out for an evening together!  We visited Snapperz this year and I think everyone enjoyed the games, tunnels, slides, and company!

The Snapperz employee that took this picture probably shouldn't consider photography as a profession :) 

So, there it is...2 1/2 weeks of family outings, sleeping in, not wearing makeup or real clothes, no homework, cinnamon rolls for breakfast (thanks, Clark), falling asleep on the couch and waking up at 3 a.m. to sleeping babes on the floor at my feet, visiting with family, and soaking up every minute with my family.  I DID NOT want to send them back to school last week!  Is it summer break yet?