a natural consequence

Vacuuming is a task that I perform every other day, if not more, especially when I have a crawling baby on the loose. A while back I got a new vacuum that has a hard surface setting and so I have taken to just vacuuming my whole downstairs, tile and all. Saves me time and energy and I don't have to mess with that pesky dust pan.

A couple of years ago, I picked up the floor and then began to vacuum. There was a baby doll dress just poking out of the playroom and I thought I could just edge right up to it and leave the dress alone. Lazy, I know. But like I said before, I do this task multiple times a week, I'm allowed lazy once in a while. Anyway, I grossly underestimated the suction capabilities of my vacuum and WHOOSH, up the dress went. Screeching and moaning ensued as Stella watched the vacuum EAT her toys! The horror!!

A natural consequence.

I couldn't have had better results if I had masterminded the whole thing myself (instead of the accident that it really was). She came to realize the vacuum would eat the toys if they were left out.

Now days, I simply pull the vacuum out of the closet and say, "Mom's going to vacuum, make sure the floor is clean." They scramble like mice for a crumb of cheese. Grabbing toys and running to the playroom. I start in the front of the house, and by the time I get back to the family room they have usually taken care of their task.

Could I ask for more?

I'm thinking of naming my vacuum THE MOTIVATOR.

What do you think?

weekend

Labor Day weekend found as visiting Grandparents Williams.
I took along my camera and didn't even get it out of the bag, not even once.
What?
Can we have a fun weekend without my camera along?

Without it, I couldn't document any of the following:

4 cousins running wildly around the yard, entertaining each other

KC and his brothers enjoying a game of golf

The 4 siblings together laughing and remembering good times

Aunt Kelley giving Evelyn lots of attention and loves

Sam falling asleep sitting up on the couch at 10pm because he didn't want to miss a minute of the fun

Stella and "E-livia" giggling like school girls (oh yeah, they are)

Sunday dinner that had as many desserts as main dishes--yum

A rousing Sunday night game of "No Bears Out Tonight"

A girl shopping trip for me, with Kelley and two Aunts

Cousin Rachel being a super babysitter for Evelyn

Cousin Allison leading all the kids in skits put on for the adults

Sam palling around with his Reece (the two Williams boys)

Lots of relaxing in the sun

Riding the mini bike around the lawn--over and over

No documentation, but nonetheless, all these things did happen.

Glad we were there to enjoy.

Ev

Baby girl,

must you grow so fast?

I squeeze you tight

and cuddle you with all my might.

Trying to make good, strong memories--

the feel of your cuddly little body,

the smell of your hair,

the precious dimples in your cheeks and

the way you rub my arm while you nurse...

I am yours and you are mine.

This month you have accomplished:

two new teeth

crawling

pulling up on furniture

some more dimples in those legs

being the tallest 10 month old baby in our family

22 lbs. of cute

still holding on strong to a very happy disposition

eating anything you can gather with your two little hands

p.s.

Yes, these last posts have been rather sentimental, but after all, in one week I have had a son turn 3, a baby 10 months and my oldest start kindergarten. A mother needs a week now and then to wallow in sentiment and eat a lot of chocolate...

a day

I knew five and half years ago, when I held a tiny bundle of baby girl in my arms that there would come a day when she was going to go to school.

I was a little weepy at the time, with the baby blues.

But, I also realized in those early days with my sweet Stella, that with her birth a piece of my heart was now living outside of my own body. A realization that was both thrilling and terrifying all at once.

Today I loaded her backpack, fixed her silky hair and calmed my fluttering heart.

Then I took her to school.

She was thrilledThe first to line up at the door and be greeted by her teacher.

She headed right in and settled down to her business.

I smiled at her and left, returning home to my business.

I had a peaceful lunch, while my little ones slept--which was nice...

I made some calls, did some laundry and then I paced--and watched for the bus to pull up at the corner.

It finally did.

A very happy Stella was the first one off and we headed home so that she could tell me about her day.

A wonderful, happy, fun day!

My heart feels calmer now, my nerves are settled. She can hardly wait for another day of school.

No matter where she goes, she will always have a piece of my heart with her...

my boy

My sweet baby boy...

Is 3 today!

He enjoys:

:: digging and building in dirt(but he likes clean clothes when he's finished)

:: being outside

:: swimming

:: jumping off everything

:: camping/campfires

:: hugs and kisses

:: reading books

:: Curious George

:: talking and talking and talking

:: going for bike rides

:: any motorized toy (4 wheelers, motorcycles)

Sam has great enthusiasm for the things he loves.

He can really inspire the rest of us to be excited too!

His happiness and excitement is contagious in our family.

beach review

Sam and Stella enjoying their first run in the ocean.

We explored tide pools, saw sea lion cubs and found sea glass at the Devil's Punchbowl.

The kids had fun being pulled around on the boogie boards.

Evelyn really enjoyed the sand, as though it were edible.

The three little boys, William, Sam and Mitchell, ran around like a little pack of wild things all week long.
Chloe and Stella enjoyed the surf.
They tried a little boogie boarding themselves, never actually encountering any water...

but they sure look cute riding that board!

Evelyn spent much of her time cuddled with mom or on dad's back so that she didn't eat the entire beach or pack it all home in her diaper.

William, Sam, Chloe and Stella

We had hot dogs, popcorn and smore's on the beach one night.

Nana brought shirts and we all "tye-died". All the grand kids in their shirts.

The "big boys" boogie boarding.

On our way home through Portland we stopped by to visit Ginny, my grandpa's cousin and walk down to the river and pick blackberries. It was fun to make the walk to the river with my kids just as I, my mom and my grandfather did as kids.

And our last stop on the journey was at Multnomah Falls.

A very fun and exciting trip. The day after we arrived home my kids asked, "How soon until we go again?"

what?

The first week of August was our annual Andros family reunion at the Oregon Coast.

The weekend we were leaving found KC, Sam and I in the ER. We were there 7 hours on Saturday and then 3 more on Sunday while the doctors tried to figure out why Sam had swollen joints, bruising and bumps all over his lower body. After a priesthood blessing, many vials of blood and finally a pediatric specialist, it was determined that he had HSP (Henoch-Schonlein purpura). It is not common and thus the difficulty in diagnosis.

He is recovering already.

It was an exciting way to start a vacation. I had a little different perspective going on this trip, not worrying about all the little things, but instead being extremely grateful that we were all there together.

Sam's legs on Tuesday.

The doctor gave us the "go ahead" to take him to the beach. We were told he might be sore and uncomfortable. He is a tough little guy and he only complained once or twice about sore joints. His poor little legs looked the worst and his ankles, knees and hands swelled up but he just kept running and jumping and enjoying his time with his family.