A Happy Mother's Day to All and to All a Good Night

Mother's Day is coming to a close but it was a good one. Here's what went down:

1-Went to church and received three different gifts of chocolate.

2-Came home. Took a 1 1/2 hour nap. Awesome.

3-Woke up to the smell of dinner my husband prepared. Double Awesome.

4-Was serenaded by my kids singing "Happy Mother's Day" to the tune of "Happy Birthday." (The best part was Ruby kept singing "Birrrth Daaay" at the top of her lungs instead of "Mother's Day" and Abe sang a steady monotone note just to make sure he wasn't left out.) Triple Awesome.


I'm grateful for a great husband and these three little adorable scoundrels who made this day a reality for me...

One Year Older and Cuter Too

Yesterday was my baby's second birthday. I'm not going to get into all this "oh how the time flies!" or "it seems like he was born yesterday" because the truth is it seems like he's been here all along. And our "all along" is going on eight years now so it feels like little Baberam has been a part of this crew for YEARS! (And I do mean this in a good way.)

Going with the theme of two, I can't give you only TWO reasons why I love this little rascal (small tangent: a handicapped 20-ish looking kid in the Costco pharmacy line said to me the other day, "Is he yours? Wow, he sure is a cute rascally rabbit." Holy crap, it was funny!), because honestly, look at him...

I could give you TWO THOUSAND and TWO reasons to love him but for brevity's sake I'll just give you a few of my faves:

*He's got awesome hair.

*He loves his mama. Seriously, he'll rest put his cheek next to mine and just sit there, either drinking his milk or watching what's going on around him but he lets me cuddle all up to him and I love it.

*He's very reverent during prayers.

(Sometimes he'll even stop eating his chicken nugget long enough for us to 

say the prayer. But hold on a second, why doesn't the boy have a plate?)

*He's the biggest ham. He knows he's the funniest person in this family. He puts on a show for anyone who comes to the door. And he thinks my friends are HIS friends. (One of his favorite ways to show off for people/his BFFs is running. He'll back up to the front door, wait a second to make sure we're all watching, and then TAKE OFF running as fast he can for the back door. The best part is though, he doesn't run fast. Not at all. In fact, he runs like he weighs 400 lbs. It appears to be a fairly laborious endeavor actually.) 

*Sometimes when he gets tired opening presents, he lays down on them. Exhibit A:

(Little Randy, Christmas 2010)

*He rarely throws tantrums but when he does, he does it for important things (like when I wouldn't let him play with his Geo Trax trains first thing one morning before changing his totally peed out diaper and clothes. I mean, really, where were my priorities that day?).

*He loves his blanket. (I've never had a blanket baby before so this just melts my already weak heart.)

*He's so happy to see me when he wakes up from his nap and of course ... my heart melts.

9) He is a good sharer. With animals and people alike...

10) He takes time out like a man ... except for when he doesn't and then it's actually really sad.

*He LOVES his brother and sister.

*Is it weird that I love that he still can't talk? (The other night at dinner Henry and Ruby said, "Let's count all the words that Abe can say. 'Ow' and 'uh-oh' and 'da-da' and ... Mom, what else CAN he say?") I suspect my love for his lack of speech has something to do with me wanting him to stay small (and small he is--4th percentile to be exact but like I've said before, don't tell my mom because she has this irrational phobia that her daughters and daughters-in-law like it when their kids are tiny, but I digress...).

I could go on forever (and I'm pretty sure you believe me, what with my God-given gab skillzzz) but this last one, him being small and my wanting him to stay small probably has everything to do with the fact that he could be my last one. 

Of course I don't WANT him to be but Scott feels like we should end on a high note, with our sweet little Baberam. But seriously, look at him...

How could you look at that face and not want another one?

So since Scott's a democrat, I think he would truly appreciate this -- I'm calling for a democratic vote. Majority wins. So here goes...

(Just to be clear, you're voting on Scott and I adding another adorable, sweet, purely entertaining kid to our clan.)

All in favor ... say aye.

Any opposed ... keep your opinion to yourself.

One Year Older and Fatter Too

People. I turned 33 last week. Since I was born on March 3rd does that mean that it was my Double Golden Birthday? (I had never even heard of golden birthdays until last year. I called my sister Adrienne and asked her if she had ever heard about them and she said, "No, that sounds stupid." Maybe my mom never dared breath a word about them because she knew Adrienne harbored such strong, negative feelings.)

Anyhoo, my Double Golden Awesome Fantastical Birthday was chill and relaxed. A few friends surprised me with lunch and then another friend, who also happens to be my unofficial clutter coach, totally cleaned and organized my kitchen while I taught her kids piano lessons, and then we just had a little family dinner and went to bed. It was awesome.

The next night (because I can't let my birthday be just ONE day) we had some friends over for pizza and I made a "Giant Ding Dong Cake." 

Not kidding. 

Behold...

Disclaimer: This was not the actual cake I made (which explains why the cake is wishing "Christopher" 

a happy birthday. So you can stop wondering who he is -- I have no idea who the heck 

Christopher is). Mine actually looked a hot mess because I didn't let it cool long enough before 

cutting it into layers to add the marshmallow-y goodness.

The funny thing is, it's not actually a Ding Dong at all. It looks and tastes way more like the Hostess cupcakes, hence the frosting curlicues. I think they just called it that because really, what sounds better -- Giant Cupcake Cake or Giant Ding Dong Cake? Kind of a no-brainer. 

And seriously, it was gooooooood. 

What's that you say? You don't like Hostess cupcakes?

Well fine ... you're dead to me!

....

{awkward silence continues}

...

However, if you ever decide to come back into the Hostess cupcake fold, here's where you can find the recipe:

Giant Ding Dong Cake (aka Fattening Heaven on a Plate)

The Piano Man

 Guess who started piano lessons?

(Disclaimer: The author of this post, who also happens to be the strict and professional teacher of this 

young lad, does not condone the stick-straight fingers technique demonstrated in this picture.)

Guess who's tickling the ivories like he's been working 10 years at a dueling piano bar in Vegas?

With crazy double-jointed fingers no less (sorry Henry, that was my genetic bad)...

 

He's my prized pupil...but don't tell any of the my other students (especially Ruby, por favor).

I'm BaaaaaAAAACK!

Umm ... hello? 

I hesitate to even ask but ... is anyone still out there? 

If you ARE still around ... GOOD NEWS! My super creative friend Halsey is having a giveaway on her cute blog Spunky Junky for my jane henry hats! 

I guess it's true -- good things come to those who wait!!!

So get over there and win yourself a hat!!! 

Just a little FYI -- Halsey makes and sells super cute headbands, modeled here by my Ruby girl. Check out all her adorable stuff here!

First Days

So it's been three months since my last post and two months since this event actually occurred ... but whatever.

Although I failed to blog about my kids' first day at school in a timely fashion, I did NOT fail to take pictures of the blessed event.

I still can't believe I have a kindergartner ... so bizarre:

What the? How can he look so grown up one minute ...

... but only 15 minutes later look so small?

It was seriously mad chaos that morning. Kids and parents everywhere, crying, clinging to one another. Am I an insensitive mother if I didn't cry? I mean, I thought I would. I even tried to get a little verklempt, feeling like it was an appropriate response to one's oldest "leaving the nest." But after about twenty seconds, I realized I was perfectly okay with it. I guess because he was okay with it.


A few days later, we got to experience Ruby's first day of preschool. She's always been our more "reserved" child so I wasn't quite sure how she would respond. Luckily, she's going to the preschool where Henry went so it only took us two years to warm her up to the idea.

 

 She sure was excited about being the main figure behind the lens. It was {FINALLY} her big day!

Roughing up her little brother one last time ...

Yes, that is a plastic croissant in his mouth. Don't ask ....

Look at my little people. Aren't they adorable?

I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as I took this picture. Two years ago, Ruby was the little one on the right, clutching all her precious crap she couldn't leave home without, while Henry was ready to venture off and blaze his own preschool trail.  

2008

Anyhoo, here's my little lady making her way in the big, wide world (with the prerequisite ginormous backpack):

That's odd. I'm suddenly feeling a little verklempt.

On the Road ... Again

I don't even know how many days we've spent away from home this summer, and still it continues. We're currently in Utah staying with Scott's family for a few days before heading out on our annual river trip down the South Fork of the Boise River. 

I figured before I post about that (if I actually ever get around to it) I should probably (finally!) upload posts from our day float a few weeks ago.

We got a sitter for Abram and took Henry and Ruby for a short float down the Gallatin River near our house.

The Launch (I sure hope this craft is seaworthy):

Starting off the float like any respectable person does: with lunch and cold Diet Coke.

"It's a helluva day at sea, Sir!" (Name that movie)

 She was a little nervous at first and clutched my knee for the first half of the trip:

 Reaction to the first small set of rapids:

Ruby finally loosened up with the help of some not-so-liquid courage. We discovered her artificial courage comes in the shape of an Oreo:

 (She was saying, "MORE!")

 Poor kids:

My turn at the helm. Don't mean to brag, but I'm kind of a big deal:

Wish us luck on our next adventure -- the kids are staying home as the water gets MUCH bigger. Cross your fingers no one flips their boat!

It's Now or Never

Just to remind you -- the fabulous Lindsay at Just My Blog is doing a giveaway for one of my hats and it ends TODAY (@ 11:59 p.m. to be precise)! 

So if you haven't entered yet, get over there and enter! 

Do it!

Now!

Don't make me count! 

Fine, have it your way...

5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 

(Please don't feel like I'm patronizing you by using my formidable counting threat that I use with my children. It works for them, figured I might as well try it on you.)

7 Years Today

Not only is it Norwegian Independence Day and Scott's brother's birthday -- it's my anniversary.

And I can't think of anyone I'd like to share it with more than the guy who wears a "Wildlife Matters" pin on his jacket.

Because really, like Metallica once said, "Nothing else matters ... besides wildlife." (Okay, maybe they didn't actually say that and maybe a few other things matter but just go with it.)

Here's to 70 more. Bring on the wildlife.

Summer in Montana is Like the Little Engine that Could

It's supposed to hit 70 degrees here today! Woot woot!

Even though that little tidbit alone is cause enough for serious celebration, I have even BIGGER NEWS!!!!!

(No, I'm not pregnant so stop spreading rumors.) 

The talented and funny blogger, Lindsay @ Just My Blog is doing a GIVEAWAY for one of my jane henry hats!

So get on over there and win yourself a hat!!!!

It could be this one ...

 Or this one ...

 (Isn't my nephew the cutest?! The mischievous cheesy grin on that boy gets him out of so much trouble!)

So go win yourself something awesome!!!

Motherhood

Here's one of the best things about being a mother ... (and I'm pretty sure God made my children sign a waiver before coming to Earth, relinquishing all rights to this part of their body):

(See how he's so nonplussed at the pinching? He was seriously concentrating on a game yet my cheek pinching is a simple fact of life around here. He's so used to it he could probably win the Scripps National Spelling Bee with me hanging off his face.)

I could do this all day. And sometimes I do. 

West Coast Gangster

Although she's neither from the coast nor an initiated gangster, she certainly looked like one the other day while playing outside.

Sweet tat...

(See what I mean? Total gangsta)

Graffiti artist-in-training...

(Remind me, are sky blue, pretty pink, sunshine yellow,

and light green colors for the Crips or the Bloods?)

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go help Ruby lay down some rhymes for her debut gangsta rap album. Trust me, it's gonna be off the hook.

West SiiiiiiiIIIIIIIDE!

A Happy Birth/Earth Day

Today is my one and only's birthday. 

Like I said last year, and like I say every year, Earth Day was created for him ... or he was created for Earth Day.

My favorite environmentalist ... born on Earth Day. Truly, the stars aligned that day.

This is one of my favorite pictures of him ... just caught in the moment ... just being his natural hot self. (Disclaimer: I actually dry heave a little it when girls blog about how hot/gorgeous/perfect/stunning their husbands are ... but somehow I can't help myself when looking at this picture.)

Happy Birthday Babe. We love you!

Mini Mozart

So he's a musical genius apparently.

I can't say that I'm surprised ... 

I mean he's just so cute ...

And funny ... 

And those are the only two qualifying criteria for musical prodigies, right?

Babyzilla

This is all Abe does now.

Throw things.

Sometimes it's funny.

Sometimes it's not.

Like when it's food ... or my clean laundry ... or the dog's water bowl ....