SNOW!!

Chloe and Max in the background.  Aftyn, Teagan and Piper closer.

Aftyn is shoveling.

Chloe and Max playing in the snow.

Teagan, Piper and Aftyn.

Piper throwing snow at me.

Today was the first REAL day of snow we've had.  I think it snowed once already but we either didn't have a chance to play in it before it melted or whatever.  Chloe wanted more snow so she could sled down the steps of the deck.  No such luck with only 1-2 inches.  Piper and Teagan were happy with whatever we got and Taffy--hmmm, not so impressed!!  She really wanted to like it and she tried but she didn't like it at all.  She didn't want to walk in it and I gave her a shovel and that kind of worked but she was ready to go in the house.  It wasn't that cold out so I don't think it was that.  She's a barefoot, flip-flop kind of girl.  Our trip to the beach later this week will be right up her alley!!  (and mine!!)  I'm gonna be off line for about a week or more--we are having some work done in the basement and we have to take the computer apart :-( and then we are off on vaca for a few days, so for now...Have a great week!!  Hopefully I'll be able to check my email from the neighbors, the library or work.  Enough for now...-AS

ps. Shane moved my computer upstairs for now.  He knows how grouchy I get when I can't surf!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

I'm going to post about some things I'm thankful for in NO particular order:

1.  My Husband, who provides for us and works ALOT so that I can be home with the kids as much as I want to be.  He also sacrifices alot of things he may want (big screen tv, iPhone, New Jeep) so that the kids have stuff that they need and want.  Thank you, Shane, for your hard work!!  I love you!! :-)

2.  My Health.  I am thankful that I'm able to wake up in the morning and carry on a full day of whatever it is I need to do and be able to do it without pain or physical assistance.

3. My Kids.  I can't imagine life without them.  They are at their Grandparents until Saturday and I do have a FULL list of things to get done but I'll be ready and more appreciative of them when I get them back on Saturday.

4.  My Family--both extended and immediate.  For everything they do and all the love and support we get from all of them.  Thanks for all you do!!

5.  My Job and my boss, Emily.  I'm glad I have a job to go to once a week to break up the monotony of the week and it helps me appreciate being home with the kids and also have a responsibility other then the kids.  Thanks to Emily for working to make my one day a week happen after I had Taffy.  I think I have the best of both worlds!!

6.  My friends and co-workers.  Both near and far, friends now and in the past.  You have made me who I am today and I believe  you have made me a better person by being the person you are to me.  Thank you!!

That's all the specific one that I can think of right now but I know that there is more I'm thankful for.  Thanks and have a GREAT Thanksgiving!!  Enough...-AS

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Teagan's turn on the Xylophone.

Teagan listening to the teacher and Aftyn running wild, of course!!

Piper's turkey hat.

Now Aftyn has it on--it's a LITTLE big, huh??

Piper sitting down to dinner with her friends.

Teagan's music teacher invited the parents into the classroom this week to observe since they don't have a concert until May.  I took Taffy and Piper in to school for that on Monday.  Her teacher, Mrs O, is a pretty fun teacher who really captures the kindergartners attention!!  Even though she has a masters degree in theory and composition, she really has a way with making it fun for the kids!!  I know Teagan loves going to music class.

Also, Piper had a "feast" at preschool on Monday so Taffy and I showed up for that.  They wore Turkey hats that they made (Piper didn't want to wear hers so Taffy did for a while) and they had place cards with their names on it and what they were thankful for.  Piper said she was thankful for her family.  (I was pleasantly surprised by that because we've had a TOUGH week!!)  They ate Turkey, corn, green beans and a pumpkin muffin.  She was very excited about it ALL weekend!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Enough for now...-AS

Baby Drue and her Daddy, Tim...

Teagan (climbing) and Taffy (jumping)

Piper (jumping) and Taffy (falling)

Teagan (falling) and Piper (climbing)

We met Angie, Tim, Baby Drue and Seth at Jumpin' Jacks last night.  My girls love that place!!  (Chloe didn't go, I guess she's too cool)  They came to town for a birthday party but it's not far for us so we showed up to see them.  I got to snuggle with baby Drue (even though she's not much for snuggling--she's too busy).  Aftyn didn't mind that I was holding baby Drue, she kind of likes babies.  She's soo cute!! (Aftyn and Baby Dru-Drue)  It took a bit for Taffy to warm up to jumping in the inflatables but once she got in, she DID NOT want to get out.  She didn't even care if she was being tossed around by bigger kids jumping in there.  That made it all the more fun, I guess.  Piper and Teagan were gone like a shot as soon as we walked in.  (except for drinks and pizza)  We'll have to stop back again sometime soon.  That's a good place to burn some extra energy.  Thanks for calling, Ang!!  ...Enough for now...-AS

Wordless Wednesday...11/19/08

Random Thoughts...

She has my shoes on but it looks like she tried on Shane's too.

Mmm, Pickle.  Want a bite??

Lauren, Chloe, Taffy and Jensen at recess.

Sorry I haven't blogged lately, we just haven't been doing anything too exciting lately.  Piper, Taffy and I had lunch with Chloe last week.  Guess what the meal was...Give up??  Walking Tacos!!  Whenever Piper hears that is what is being served, we have to eat with one of the girls.  Teagan ate cold lunch that day, so we ate with Chloe.  Taffy didn't even get MOBBED!!

Have I told you how stinkin' cute Taffy is lately??  Currently, she's good at throwing fits and pouting (we'll thank TEAGAN for both of those behaviors!!)  She's also OBSESSED with shoes.  She runs upstairs without anyone with her and goes through my closet and tries on all my shoes.  If she only knew enough, she'd go to Teagan and Piper's closet--they have 5 times the shoes that I have!!  But as soon as we get in the van to take the kids to school, off come the shoes and the socks--she doesn't care if it's freezing cold out!!  She also goes to the fridge and wants dill pickles.  She LOVES them!!  She makes her funny face but keeps going back for more!

Piper got her first ear infection (of this winter) this week.  I took her to the Doctor on Wednesday and then back again today because her meds weren't working.  Oh, I love winter.  It's gonna turn into the Sindlinger Cesspool of germs soon!!  A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Dr for TMJ issues and Luann, the clerk, said, "I haven't seen you for a while.  How have you been?"  Thanks, Luann!!  You Jinxed us!  I said, "oh you just wait.  You'll be seeing us every week coming up."  With 4 kids and 1 of them with CHRONIC ear infection, we are seriously there EVERY WEEK!!  We have to save all summer just to afford co-pays all winter--lol.

Chloe and Teagan both have conferences this week.  I'm not expecting anything too shocking from either one of them.  They are both pretty smart and good at school so it will be uneventful, I'm sure.

Our house is still FOR SALE.   (or "our house is ON SALE" as Piper states it.)  It's only been since 10/29 but it's turning me CRAZY!!  Chloe had a break down today and said she didn't want to move because all her friends are here.  OK, we are moving 2 miles away.  Yes, she will have to start a new elementary school next year (providing we sell anytime soon) but it's not like she'll NEVER see these people again!!  She'll only be at this school a year before she sees them again at middle school.  I think she was OVERLY tired--she had a busy weekend!  I wish it would sell--I DON'T do well with suspense!!  Enough for now, I'm tired...-AS

Man is it QUIET!!

I sent Shane to Fort Dodge with the girls so I could do some cleaning for open house tomorrow.  It is SOOO QUIET around here--I can actually think!!  I haven't even taken a nap--which for anyone that knows me, you KNOW that is AMAZING!!  I am the Number 1 napper!!  Anyway, while Shane and the girls are gone, I have been cleaning out closets, I put down contact paper under the bathroom sinks, packed up 2 boxes of Chloe's books (along with the other 3 or 4 that I had already packed--that girl has ALOT of books!!)  I've dusted light fixtures, just alot of oddball things that make me feel better to have done.  And we had a showing this afternoon too.  I hope all this work makes for a QUICK sale!!  Shane worked on the storage room last night before he went to bed.  I don't know when that was because I slept with Piper is Chloe's bed.  Chloe has an AWESOME heating blanket--nice and TOASTY!! (Chloe stayed at Max's house)  Oh yeah, I'm practicing for my new house's whirlpool bath tub.  I took a HOT bath tonight--my favorite thing to do in the winter.  I love it and I'm gonna LOVE it even more in my new BIG tub!!  Enough for now, I need to make my game plan for tomorrow.  We have open house at 1 pm.  (I wonder how many nosey neighbors will show up??) -AS

The Craziness Continues...

Me and Teresa, the birthday girl.  We were roommates in Xray school.

Piper and Chloe look THRILLED!!

Teagan's either jumping or falling.

Piper's helping Taffy up the piano hill.

Taffy and Piper with Perky.  The other two are already at the Dip-n-Dots counter.

This weekend, we went out of town.  Shane and I were invited to a friend of mine's 40th birthday party.  So I recruited my cousin, Pam, to watch all my kids.  She met us at the Iowa City Mall.   I can't really think of a better place for them to go.  The have a farm and tractors and cows and kitties.  What could be better then that??  I wasn't there so I don't know the actual details but it sounded like the girls had a great time and no one really missed me--I guess that's good, right??  Not even Taffy, who is my right hip 24/6 (I have to work that one day, remember?)  Teagan and Piper showed up in dresses and they even scooped corn in dresses--such city girls!!

Shane and I shopped ALOT this weekend!!  I was still on my quest to find some decent jeans and I finally SUCCEEDED!!  Shane said, 'You're going to spend $69 on ONE pair of jeans??"  (I married my dad, by the way)  I said, "Yes, and I'm buying TWO pair.  The last time I bought jeans was before Piper so I get my money's worth out of them."  I just bring his clothes home so he has NO idea what I pay for his stuff. (usually not $69) and I think I've gotten him 2 or 3 pair of new jeans this year.  We went to the party and surprised Teresa!!  She had NO idea we were coming-I didn't tell her.  I haven't seen her for atleast 5 or more years I think.  It was GREAT to see her!!

Sunday morning, Shane and I were up early due to the time change and sleeping in a hotel.  We went out for breakfast and enjoyed some quiet time.  It was kind of nice to not have to eat with one hand and hold a kid with the other or cut up someone's food.  Then we went to Walmart to buy Piper's snacks for Preschool so we didn't COMPLETELY forget we have children. Then back to the mall to kill some time.  Pam was taking the kids to see my grandma that morning and we weren't sure how long that would take.  We shopped a little more, read books in Barnes and Noble, went out for lunch at Bennigans.  We were sure they would be getting here sooner then later so we went and got gas, then shopped in the nearby strip malls.  Finally, Shane said he was shopped out so he waited for me in the car while I continued to shop.  Didn't buy too much stuff since we are trying to sell the house but I like to look around too.  By the time, they got there, I was ready to have them back.  They didn't seem to care either way.  Even Taffy!!  Of course, she was a sleep in the car so she didn't know what to think when she woke up.

Speaking of selling the house, we have a showing tomorrow so I better get upstairs and help Shane clean up.  I'd rather have 10 kids then sell a house!!  This STINKS!  I Hope it sells quick!  Enough for now...-AS