We had to postpone Stella's Birthday

We were all looking forward to somebody's 4th birthday...and then...vomit got in the way. Well, vomit, and diarrhea, and sickness. And lots of it. In fact, all three kids were sick. At.the.same.time! I often wondered what would happen if all three were throwing up at the same time. Something that would put my mom skills to the test. And would I pass? Would there be vomit all over my house? How does one "manage" all the outflows and limp bodies, I would wonder.

Well, I have lived it. I survived. And our house stunk for a few days. Honestly, it might still stink and I just don't know because I am used to it. Floors were fine, but beds were made and washed and remade and washed many, many times. (To our future home buyers: no one threw up on our carpets, promise!) I won't get into the details, because they were really gross. All I can say is poor Stella. She got it the worst.

But, I will say that having all three sick in that way, at once is much better (dare I say "easier" too) than stringing it over weeks. There was no worry of keeping sick ones away from well ones. Or making food for one while denying others because they can't even hold down water. It was something that I dreaded, but now I have survived it. And, yes, I realize I am not the only one with sick kids..blah, blah, blah... But when you are not a supermom, you never know if these events are going to break you.

So having shared that, you can understand why Stella's birthday was postponed and where I have been all week. Despite her feeling so bad, she insisted on opening presents that night. I don't know why- she didn't really enjoy it.

Woo hoo! Presents Time!

Grrreeeaaat...a Sttraaaawberrrry Shoooorrtcaaaake dooollll...juuuussst whhhaat Iiiii wwaaantted...thhaannkssss.

Yes, she is really making that face of pure disgust after opening a box full of headbands and hairclips. (that sick)

Isn't this the saddest face you have ever seen. She looks like a hostage.

Nick couldn't keep up.

A quick wardrobe change after an "accident" in her pants (yes, that sick).

This is what I got when I asked her to give me a smile. I was sorry I put her through the trouble!


And finally...


Happy 4th birthday, my dear, Stella!
We'll do this right when everyone is better.
--Kate

Who's who?

I do this a lot. Compare pictures of Henry to pictures of Nick. They look a lot alike so I love to search for their subtle differences. They are there. It is fun because Henry wears Nick's hand-me-downs too. But yesterday's post reminded me of another little someone's first "real" haircut.



They are almost the exact same age, too.


Nick is 19 months, 11 days.
Henry is 19 months, 21 days.
Almost exact!!
I didn't plan this...must be the same time when I figure they don't need to have a crooked haircut by their mom.

Almost exact reaction!


And, the sucker...


--Kate

Henry's First Real Haircut

I finally caved and took Henry to Snipitz (a kids hair salon) on Friday. He and Stella needed a new haircut and I just didn't feel like wrestling him in the bathroom this time. I wasn't sure how he would react, but he seemed just fine.



A little unsure, but that is to be expected.


Doing GREAT! Better than I imagined.



Even watched the Snipitz cartoon!


Uh-oh. Is that a look of uncertainty...


Oh, yep, there it is!



Poor guy


Nothing that a sucker can't fix though!



And big sis was there for moral support...and a haircut.


Can you believe she turns 4 on Tuesday? FOUR?!?!?

--Kate

Seriously, I am a PTO mom.

Technically, it is not a "PTO" because the kids are at a Lutheran school and they call it PALS (Parents and Lutheran Schools). Why does that just sound gay to me?! Anyway, I am not just a PALS parent, I am the Secretary of the whole thing! What!?

I knOW! But the school has been having some trouble this year. I don't even have enough time to discuss it with you! But let's just say we are applying at another school for next year. The applications were sent out to wait list families on Monday...still nothing today. Trying to be patient. Even though I sprinted sauntered to the mailbox as soon as I heard that diesel jeep pull away. But I want to get our info in as soon as we can. This school will set the standard, I believe, for the rest of their educational years. N and S don't know about it yet. And we just hope there is room for us and the kids pass their interviews (assuming they get one)...anyways.

Back to their current school. Currently they do not have a parent/teacher organization and have not had functioning in the past three years we have been there! (I know right!) So I am so glad to help their current school set up a parent/teacher organization and get it running and ready for next year. It is the least I can do to support the teachers whom we just adore and utterly appreciate! So at least for the next few months, I will be able to help raise funds and ensure they go back to the teachers and classrooms where we parents believe the money should be. Lotsa work ahead of us and I will be able to learn a lot. Our new president has a high-schooler (oooh) so she like, practically knows like, everything about PTOs. : )

But that's what I have been tied up at the computer working on for the past few weeks. It is just a lot of work upfront- writing bylaws and budgets, but it will be at a more normal pace now.

--Kate

Testing a 50mm lens on a cold day

These are some cute pictures I took one day (December 5th, to be exact!). I was just playing around with my 50mm lens outside. It was cold, but I had some great light and the kids were running around outside having fun so I got lots of (cold) smiles. I probably cropped many of these pictures, but they are unedited pictures...they'll do. Not great.



I do not know what they were thinking with these safari hats!!


These next two are just cropped out of the the one above.


Did you see her grey tooth? She banged it on a pogo stick. The dentist gave us three options with it and the only one that didn't involve surgery was to leave it alone, so we chose that one. And you know what? It looks normal again! Which is amazing, since that was not what her pediatric dentist-who-you-have-to-wait-four-months-to-get-an-appointment-with told me.

There is H in his "beater". Bought this sweet car at the Just Between Friends Consignment sale for $10. I will probably sell it for $10 one day, too.











OH she is ALWAYS singing! I need to sneak and record some of her "original" songs! They are great!!!





--Kate

Look out HGTV...in twenty years!

So you think I watched too much HGTV today? The kids have renovated my living room!



Measuring.

Anywhooooo....

K, can we just pretend like no time has elapsed and I don't suck at blogging? We can? Great! Phew. I was afraid you'd be mad.

So since we are all on the same page here- agreeing that I can just pick up the blog at "now" and back-blog when our life is usually boring- then I will show you what we are doing here.

I suppose I just needed three snow-days to get back to blogging. (Oh, thaaat's all? riiiiight.)

So we are experiencing unprecedented snow and cold here in OKC. Kids have been home three days and counting. All four of us. Here. Oh, you think I mean "five"? Nope. Shawn is in Florida. I won't say it a again. Smart of those boys to plan a trip to the Sunshine State and leave their families trapped under snow and ice. Awesome idea, really. No, seriously, it's not been bad hanging out with the kids scattering toys everywhere, constantly asking for food, begging to go outside...in fact here comes S asking me to open a granola bar. And here comes H crying and N tackling him as he cries more. Awesome.

Ok. Surrender. Here's the pics:
Looked at this.

Scooped this.
(the snow that blew in our door)

Shoveled this.

Van trapped in garage by this (ice).

N and S proving that it is ice.


Kids played outside for hours. N and neighbor boy built this tunnel/fort.


Excavating the tunnel


Playing in a snow drift.

--Kate