Seriously...

I need to get my hands on some good rainboots. I just came home from running errands and my pants are soaking, sopping wet half way up my calves. Ugh. Welcome to Oregon winters folks!

Libby Boom

I just bought this book for Maryn for Christmas and I am certifiably in love with it! I love everything about it! The verse, the awesome illustrations, even the texture of the cover and the attention to detail. I thought to myself, "Man, if I ever had my own book, this is the 'feel' I would want it to have! On top of that I've decided I love the author just as much as the book. She loved writing and wanted to be an author, so she started her own publishing company and did just that! Lovin' the gumption on that girl!

Airhead

It's official, I'm a total airhead. Last night I braved the cold, wet weather to get out to the grocery store to get some ingredients at about 9:30 at night. Our Christmas Party at church this year is a Polar Express theme and I signed up to bring a breakfast casserole and fruit since they are serving breakfast for dinner. First thing this morning when I woke up I browned my sausage, whisked my eggs, grated my cheese, got everything ready to go for tonight. Resisted eating all the cut fruit I had bought to go with it. Put it in the fridge to mingle before baking it tonight before the party. I was ready, I was set. Bathed the girls, picked out Christmasy outfits to wear. I had a couple hours before I had to bake the breakfast casserole and went over to my folks to hang out since my brother Jesse and his sweet wife, Michele, is in town. I sat down to feed Devyn and asked my mom if she had made her breakfast casserole for the party yet. To which she replied "It's not tonight, it's on the 11th, Sarah."....quick math in my head...today is the 4th. I AM SUCH AN AIRHEAD!!! So it is 8:45 at night and I am not sure if these things can over-mingle, soooo looks like I'll be having a sausagey, cheesy late night snack and as much fruit as my belly can hold! Seriously, am I an airhead or what?!

Letter Words

This morning Brynna went into the bathroom and yelled "Maryn! Why does it smell like a big fart in here?!" I don't necessarily think fart is a bad word, but it's not the nicest, so I have asked the girls not to use it. So after I heard her yelling at Maryn I gave her back a disapproving "Brynna, don't use rude words!" Then Brynna, who is learning how to spell and sound out words, hollered back down the hall "Oh sorry Mom, I used the F-word! I just have a hard time remembering not to use the F-word all the time! Because, the F-word is not a nice word, so I shouldn't use it!" She continued on about F-word this and F-word that...I sat there chuckling to myself hoping that a conversation about her problems with remembering not to say the F-word came up at school!

Better Late Than Never!

So I'm a few days late getting this up, but here is my big 4-month-old girl Miss Devyn Ryan! I took her to the doctor on Monday and she is 13 lbs. and 24 inches of pure sweetness! I just love this nugget!

One-on-One

Mom, get back over here and play with me!

This morning after Devy, Lu and I walked the big girls to the bus stop we went for a walk, came home started a fire and warmed our toes and cheeks and read Berenstain Bear books together. Then Devy went down for a nap and Lauryn and I played dollhouse, which she's never done without her big sisters around telling her to buzz off or stop touching things. It's funny to see her one-on-one when there is no one egging her on. She's probably developed her lovable yet beastly personality out of sheer survival! She loves to boss us all around, shoot off orders, give you gorilla eyes and then smile and say "I HAPPY!" I guess you have to be a strong-willed girl when you are trying to keep up with and not get trampled by two older sisters! It's been cute watching her though. That little nugget just makes my heart all squeezy with love. She especially had fun driving the babies around in the minivan and when Polly Pocket rang the doorbell and asked what was for breakfast. I just love that kid.

So Nice!

Raindrops on windows and whiskers on kittens... Okay, so my favorite things list may not exactly match Maria's from 'The Sound of Music', but I have had some simple favorites this weekend!

Last night the kids and I had an impromptu slumber party at my parent's house. Justin was calling a football game and I knew he would be out super, super late. So my Dad took me, my mom, my brother, Matt, and my Little Women all out for pizza. We went back to my folks' house afterwards and watched a movie with the kids. It was around bedtime and the kids were getting sleepy, but we decided why should I go home to an empty house?! So we threw some t-shirts on the kids and put them in the guest bedroom while my mom and I watched HGTV 'House Hunters International' for about three hours! It was divine! You're probably thinking what's the big deal? When we moved into our place in May though, I decided not to get the cable hooked up. Which means NO TV! Justin and I will watch episodes of shows on hulu and stuff, but there is no mindless vegging out in front of a TV around here. So it was kind of nice to be lazy and just watch TV all night.

This morning when we got up my Mom made blueberry pancakes. Which made me happy because A.) I never met anything blueberry I didn't like and B.) Being a mom is a lot of dang work. It was nice to wake up and just be able to sit up at the table and talk to my mom while she made breakfast, rather than me being the one to wrangle everything. It was just very nice.

Justin has been working a lot this Football season, six days a week most weeks and long days. Which means that I fly solo with the kids quite a bit. Time to myself is kind of unheard of and most days the sheer noise and energy of our house leaves me pretty pooped. Justin had today off from covering games though. So after breakfast the kids and I came home, I showered and then left Justin with all the girls so I could go offer service by cleaning the church building. After that I did something I can never do when I have my crew with me...I went into Real Deals, which is a home decor store, with my Mom. I browsed as long as I wanted, I didn't have to say "Look with your eyes, not your hands." a bazillion times. I didn't have to worry about the fact that I was surrounded by a million little breakables. I was only in charge of ME and it was just so NICE!

Then we hooked back up with my Dad and brother and went out to Mexican for lunch. I didn't have to wipe up spills or remind bottoms to stay in their seats or say "Close your mouth while you're chewing!" After that I went to the grocery store by myself. Which may not seem exciting, but if you've done it with four squirrelly kids, you would not question the value of a solo expedition to the grocery store! It's all about the little things folks!
On the way home it was cold and wet and dreary. Bah! Then I remembered Justin had given me a Dutch Bros. coupon for a free drink that was bouncing around in my purse. I hadn't used it because I always have the kids with me and I knew I couldn't just get something for me without a verbal assault of "What are you getting for me?!!" So I took advantage of my aloneness and ordered a Pumpkin Pie Steamer! Mmmmmm! For those of you who don't drink coffee like me, the Steamer is the way to go! It's just warmed milk with any flavoring you like and they are delicious! So that made me very happy and like a good Mommy I even shared some sips with the kids when I got home.

Then I snuggled Devy in front of the fireplace and dozed off a bit. I told Justin that today was EXACTLY what I've been needing. A little 'me' time, to be unproductive and just take a breather. I could totally make this an every Saturday tradition! ;)