May 2007 Archives

They're yummy!  You'd love them ... until you saw that Carter helped make them!  

We washed our hands, we swear!

Carter helps press down the bar mixture.  Let's hope she's better at this than I am!

If your day sucks (like mine - with 3 days of school left, 2 consisting solely of finals), then this will put a smile on your face!

"I'm cute, I know it!"

"And ... I'm a spoiled-rotten, little cheeser!  And you love me for it!"

It's the little things ... that will drive you crazy!  If I have to "touch up" one more area in this joint, I will scream!  And the carpets - you dirty them, you clean them!

All clean!

Yes ... we have boxes packed!  Our walls are bare ... and boring!

Andy & Carter fix a drawer

CLEANING SUCKS!

Daddy's Little Helper, going for the camera!

We've been doing a lot of home things that Carter hasn't been able to help with, so today was designated as Carter Day ... which really isn't unlike other days ...

We wanted to go to the Science Center, but it didn't open until late.  So, instead, we went to the zoo.  The fish were a hit, and the lion roared at us!   

Carter, rollin' with her homie!

The bridge is cool, but horribly inconvenient with Carter!

Gawd!  We're cute!!

My monkey clan!

Just for Gramma - GREEN BEANIES & KETCHUP!  Just like Mommy!

Rory made the big move to A-town this week.  He's able to work in the Iowa City area "from home," but no one specified where "home" had to be, so now it's Ankeny!  And we're happy to have him!

He and Andy have been making trip after trip after trip for a few weeks, and the final items arrived Thursday.  This evening, they swapped out Andy's washer and dryer with Rory's ... on the second floor ... no fun!  I don't know that it was no fun, I don't move washers!, but it looked like it sucked!!  Andy, Rory and Andy also moved a couple chairs to the loft and some other items were put into place, also.

And Carter got a monstrous goose-egg on her noggin while horsing around on the stairs.  They were pretty cool, with the plastic laid to protect the carpet.  She was sliding on her bottom from step two to step one, and she slipped too far right and wacked her head on the wood trim.  It was not a pretty experience!  Goose-egg photos to come!

Everyone helps lay plastic: Andy, Andy, Carter, and Rory

 Yeah, see ... not fun!  Rory rolls it down one step at a time, while the Andy's brace it from squashing Carter and I at the landing!

And this is how the goose-egg incident occurred!  Until impact, she was having such a good time!

Carter and I packed up for a visit to Brighton. 

She cried all the way from Pella to Brighton.  That's nearly 90 minutes.

Then she fell asleep at city limits!  

But she was fine when we got home!  She schmoozed and smiled her way around Gramma & Poppy's house.  If they didn't adore her before, they sure do now!  And who can blame them?  You know you can't resist her!

Drink, 'Mo and the shades - Let's roll, Mom!

Only Andy can truly appreciate my $1.30 gas!  Jealous?!!

I've managed to get electronic copies of our new house plans!  I know that some of you have been waiting to see what our new home will look like.  Well here you go! 

Take a look here 

The basement plans aren't completed yet, so you'll have to continue your wait for those. 

 Horsin' around with Mommy & Daddy is great!

Smoochin' Pooh!

"I love him!"

This is what we wake up to, each and every day!

And it couldn't be cuter or sweeter ... or have bigger hair!

Good morning, Sunshine!

It's a wonder none of us have died from food poisoning yet!  

I made Carter supper this evening.  I wanted to try something new, as she's getting finicky, so I bought little pizza's.  I swear to goodness I followed the directions.  There were 12 little pizzas total, and I microwaved 2 for her.  All 12 were to be microwaved on medium for 6 minutes; I microwaved the two on medium for 1 minute.  While they nuked, we changed Carter.  I smelled something funky, but figured it must be safe, it's the microwave.  We come back to the kitchen, and the microwave is black and the pizzas have molded into the plate!

We did not have pizzas for supper! 

It's the Chalupa Special!

This evening, Mackenzie had a to shoot a family (not literally "shoot" them!  They don't run that kind of a business!) with last minute's notice, so I happily volunteered to watch Natalie.  She came prepared: with toys, barbies, Band-Aids and "muffin cookie" snacks to share!

We played outside, rode in the wagon and car, blew bubbles, shared snack, and made/ate Sugary-Sweet Play Dough.  By the time Mackenzie and John were back, around 7:15, Carter was exhausted ... and I kinda am to!

Carter and Natalie playing with Sugary-Sweet Play Dough.  Well ... Natalie mostly played, but soon caught onto Carter's eating tactic!  "Sugary-Sweet" anything = wound up children!

Goop: it's could kick PlayDo's butt any day!

Carter and I concocted a batch this morning to play with.  She had a ball helping, but was unsure of our product initially.  But after testing it some, she quickly decided she was a fan! 

Squeezing the glue.  It was a hoot to see her strain - gritting and showing teeth, tiny hands shaking with her mighty strength!  Cute!

"What is this stuff, Mommy?!"

Goopy Goo

1 cup all-purpose, white glue
1 cup water, divided
food coloring
1 TBSP Borax

1.  Blend together glue and 3/4 cup water until smooth
2.  Add desired food coloring; blend well and set aside
3.  Blend remaining water with Borax in a bowl, stirring well
4.  Add Borax/water mixture to glue mix, stirring until "goopy goo" begins to form.  There will be some remaining liquid in the bowl.
5.  To make another batch, blend 1/4 cup water with 1 TBSP Borax in a small bowl and add to remaining glue mixture.
6.  Store Goopy Goo in plastic zip bag.

Technically, it's all yard right now, but while I was in class (all stinkin' day!!) Andy and Carter played in the new yard!  It will be awesome for Carter to have free reign over the development .. kinda like cattle, roaming wild!

"Oww!  Everything about the new yard is cool!"

Already, she's off exploring along the property line!

When the wind blew the stake's orange ribbons, Carter would mimic by waving her arms!  The stake - our first "neighbor"?!?

THIS is what I got to come home to!  AND cleaned carpets!  Thanks, Andy!

100% honest: this was not posed!  We just gave her cow, and this is how she landed!

I LOVE COW!!!

Today is our 4 year anniversary.  Andy says with 4 under his belt, he can "hang in" for a few more!  And I don't have the time to find me another cute boy!

It has been 4 wonderful years - sometimes long, sometimes trying, but always full of unconditional love, fun, and the occasional naughty word.  I adore Andy, and I'm so happy that he's prepared to "hang in" with me for the long haul!  

Blessed. 

Me and the Turd, circa 2001

2002: Loco Joe's, playing in the quarter truck - see ... always fun! 

2003: Andy has always said he loves my curly, red hair most - and it's on fire at the Seattle carousel

2004: In Mexico, with Andy's family and Katie's family for Kevin and Katie's wedding.  Even there, we're goofballs!

2005: Going to CATS at the Civic Center.  Contrary to popular belief, we are civilized ... nerdy, but mildly-civilized ... at times!

April 2005 (5 months pregnant): our little family, preparing to expand

August 2005: my newly updated adorable family

December 2006: Ice skating with the cutest skaters in the world!

2007: Andy pulls off the best and sweetest, most meaningful Valentine's Day gift: tickets to Wicked - and manages to keep it secret!

2007: Happy Mother's Day, followed by the perfect anniversary.  Dinner with the man of my dreams, then back to our old, before baby Wednesday ritual: the movies. 
I couldn't ask for anything more

Tonight was a Triad night ... on top of Andy taking Andy to Pier 1 to pick up chairs, me having to stay late to mentor/babysit a kid and getting some groceries, then coming home to throw together Carter's dinner and update my resume while Andy fed her.  Chalupa Craziness!  

But we do love Triad!  Being a Busy Body is a good thing, but it sure is tiring!

The slide looks like the top of Mt. Everest!

Movin' on up in the little house

Where did Carter go?!?

After Triad, we had dinner - and some smoochies! - with Andy.  He thinks she "doesn't love" him, but she's learned to say his name and she lights up whenever he's around.  And, she doesn't go around just kissing any guy named Andy, after all!

Too cute!  It's just makes you smile!

She may be a "big girl," but she's got that same baby-cute smile and round tummy we fell in love with!

This evening, we finished up our Mother's Day planting.  My favorite part was being outdoors with my family, but Carter's favorite part was playing in the dirt!  Big surprise, huh?!?

Mommy gets the rows of flowers started

Ohhh!  Pretty "ink" flower!

First, Mommy digs the hole, and then Carter puts them in!

Pretty flower!

So big!  Planting all by herself!

Carter and Mommy showing off our green thumbs!

You'd think that with all we do, we'd get more than a day!  But, we hope your day was fantastic!

For all the mommy's that do double duty (like Kelsey) or those who go on their own (like Mackenzie).  For the mama's that have to take special care, with med's and extra TLC (like Stephanie) or mama's that simply get to enjoy (like Carrie).  For mommy's that are aunt's, too (like Anna) and for all of the mommy's that put up with up and made us good people, thank you!  

We love you, Mom's!!!

Not all Mama Moments are good!

But some are great!

And others are just too cute!

For my Mother's Day, I got breakfast at iHop with my family (yummmy!) and help choosing garden flowers.  We're only half done planting (it was too sunny for sensitive arms), so we'll share photos tomorrow when we're done!

Happy Mother's Day!
Remember - this is what it's all about!

Andy's still chipping (literally, at times!) the bad siding and replacing it.  We are no help outside and it's too nice to be inside, so Carter and I packed up for a day with friends!

We went to see Mama Bumsted and the Twins.

Kelsey, Carter and I checked out the city-wide garage sale (rad, except it was mostly over by 1pm - what?!?), then returned home for some babyx3 action.  Babies were everywhere!  We fed and changed the lot, while Carter entertained (shocker, I know!).

Then we packed up for the mall to find some shorts.  Now, I must admit, I've always been very optimistic that Kelsey and I could handle Carter, Grant and Collin.  Three little guy's between the two of us.  No worries!  It's actually a lot harder than you'd imagine!  Carter wanted to run, and because I was trying to corral her, I left her shoes at Kelsey's, making her look like a poor, starving, homeless child at the mall, who's bad mother can't even cloth her properly!  And the boys are pro's at tugging on sleeves of items in stores.  

... but aren't they adorable?!?  It totally makes up for it all!!!

I'm a cowboy, baby.  Ridin' all night and shootin' all day!

Our "Triad of Trouble."  Adorable, yes, but capable of much damage!

100% completely and totally out!

 MEANWHILE ...

Andy finishes the siding.  This was the "easy" and "clean" side.  The east side of the house looked like a demolition zone, and the back didn't stay much cleaner.  Next, the painter comes to paint it, Andy moves inside to install new door locks on the interior doors, and we buy a FOR SALE sign!

After a long day of work and school, nothing beats a Daddy Hug (except for some Mommy-lovin' of course!) 

They're looking more alike, at least to me, day by day!

"Ohhh's!!!" all around!

We drove by Northeast Elementary today and noticed the awesome park ... for little guys!  

At an elementary ... who would have thought?!? 

The look: 1/2 of excitement, 1/2 of fear!

Too cute!

Crocodile kisses!

Baby on the Move!

"Mom ... seriously ... can we just go down the slide already?!?"

It's a Carter-monkey!

What is that number you ask?  That is the size (in acres) of the lot where the new Chalupa house will be built (otherwise known as 15,354 square feet).  Today the developer and I came to a verbal agreement for the cost of the lot.  With any luck we will break ground by the end of May.  We have our plans for the house mostly figured out, but you all will have to wait for another day for me to post those. 

We have some work to finish up on our current house before it goes on the market.  I have been replacing some bad pieces of siding which I hope to finish up this weekend.  If it stops raining long enough I have a painter lined up to come repaint the outside of the house.  Kelly is finishing up some painting on the inside this week.  Hopefully this house will have a for-sale sign later this month.  I have to say I wish I didn't procrastinate so long on some of the repairs.  When I think back to how this house looked when we bought it, it has come a long way.  Quite a bit of that has just been over the last couple of months.

Our future house location. 

 The view behind our lot is a pond that sits about 100 yards away

 The view from the back of the lot towards the street

 A view from the street

Do you suppose Van Gogh's mother let him marker on his face?!?

Work of Art!

... and there's art on our forehead!  She's an artist of many mediums!

Today, the Za-Ga-Zig Shriners of Des Moines hosted the International Circus.  They were awesome!  It blows my mind that someone would willing enter a cage with a dozen lions, or hang by their neck 100 feet off the ground ... and then twirl!  Insanity!  But I guess it makes for a really cool resume!

"COOL!  The lions are neat!"  They totally caught Carter's attention!

... and ours, too!

But Moe, the Elephant, was probably my favorite!  And now Carter what an elephant is when she sees one!

Mommy & Carter, leaving at intermission ... too sleepy!

Carter & Daddy ... both looking like they could use a nap!

After a long day of boring class, I decided to take my "free time" to organize some baby clothing ...  

Why did I think I'd be able to organize baby clothing for our upcoming garage sale while Carter "helped"?!?

I really should have known better!

"Clothes to keep, baby to give away, clothes for the sale, clothes for Goodwill.  That pretty much covers it all!"

It's hard to pay it forward and give it away when Precious Angle keeps dragging it back out!

I finally resorted to this: memorizing my child by Joe and Blue!  

So, like everything else I've ever done, I'm going overboard with this house thing!  I'm planning (Andy's love it, too!) and plotting out all the "necessities."  

Translation bar:
Andy ["NECESSITY" = the lot, the house itself, basic safeguards and, if we're frivolous, window treatments]
Kelly ["NECESSITY" = living room, cozy room, and bedroom - for us and Carter - furniture, new bedding for everyone, new dishes, and, if we're frivolous, window treatments]

Knowing that we have this varying perception of "necessary," I've been looking and gathering ideas (oh yeah, I can't paint for "10 years!").  I had class tonight from 5pm - 10pm, and had some time to kill, so I checked out Homemaker's Furniture Store.

Bad idea!  I suppose it's too early to order, right?  But I can choose!  Here are my favorites:

In our "formal living room," I am looking for a big mission-style coffee table, and either a love seat and two chairs, or two love seats.  If I had to buy right now, I think I'd go with the brown love seat (#4) or the overstuffed velvety chairs (#2).  Bring on game night and good eats!

I also found this adorable big girl bedroom set for Carter (she'll say goodbye to the house and her crib when we move), and fabulous mission-style set that matches our existing headboard.  And, did I mention that I want to make the "formal dining room" Carter's play room?  Yeah, and I want to paint each wall one of these colors, and use the 1/2 wall - with the stairs going up - to paint a dozen polka dots on, and paint the bottom 1/2 with chalkboard paint!  WEEE!  Good times ahead on that one!

... or something like that!

We've been doing the little things around the house to finish it up and get outta here!  Carter, as always, has been a delightful help to us both!

"Here!  Use my Flathead!"

Where our doorknobs go to die?!?  We replaced 10  of them this week!

I found this at Natalie Dee's website, www.nataliedee.com, and had to laugh!  Isn't it funny that the smell of our farts can be so great to us, but so horrid to others???  Haning knows what I'm talking about!

When we do move, it'll be strange not having our pretty lawn to play in.  So, we're getting it out now, and rolling, crawling, running, sitting and playing in our grassy outdoor paradise while we can!

Silly, adorable, CHEESER!

"Baaaaa-www-lll!"  She sings it like it's her favorite song!

Picking dandy-flowers!