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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
New news!
Well, of course it is new news- especially since I haven't been on here in ummmmm over a year! yikes. Time sure has flown by.
Anyway, I wanted to write about this morning. Leslie LOVES to wash the dishes. If I wash my hands in the morning she comes to find out if I am doing the dishes yet. So I get her set up and then "enter Jordan". He of course is an avid helper. He loooooves to help with the dishes and usually is great at making a mess with the water. He fights his way in to get his little hands in the water (which he can barely reach). So today I thought up something better to keep his hands out of the dishwater. I handed him the clean silverware (er, flatware that is. didn't use our fine china &silver for oatmeal this morning). One by one. After a couple mistakes he got the hang of putting the forks with the forks, spoons with the spoons....etc. Then I pulled all the bowls and cups to the side of the table so he could reach them without having to climb on something. He ferried everything over and hopped up on the stood to set it on the counter next to Leslie. Then I gave him 5 tea bags to peel the paper off of and stick in the pot. Then he emptied the washer for me (love those front loaders!). He thought he was done after that and left to play. But alas, the appeal of work is just too wonderful and he was back again. By this time Leslie and I had finished the dishes and I was sorting the laundry to hang it outside. Jordan helped himself to the dishrag and washed the counters (the edge where he could reach), scrubbed a square on the table and washed the walls randomly.
What a great helper.
Tonight I volunteered Abe to help Leslie with the dishes. (yes, meanie me). While the boys and I played Money Money. Abe was about to whisk outside when Leslie caught him and said "where are you going?" Abe said "to work on the generator". Leslie put her little hands on her littler hips and said "But then WHO would stay and help me with the dishes?"
Now tell me, WHO can say no to that??
In that same line of thought..... You know the best way to have great kids is to have them helping you and working with you as much as possible. Yea! sounds easy. HAH! Have YOU ever tried to think up four different jobs at the same time for four willing helpers (2 of which need a lot of help themselves)!! I have been practicing for these past 4 years (yes, Nathan was worked deprived his first years, poor sweetie!) and I am happy to say I am starting to get the hang of it. It still leaves me a little dizzy though after a session of school or making pizza.
"Yes that is the right dot to color, which number is bigger, is that red? where is your coloring book? Wow, nice writing there! Jordan, you are going to fall off that chair if you stand like that.. Make sure you write this line first. Potty- OK quick, let's go! Who is kicking my leg? No, you have to cross out the E when you are adding ING. Yes, 2+6 is 8. Quit eating your pencil................."
If you are wondering where we got the cool bike. It was given to us. Abe got it running and took us all for rides, but now it is just sitting because they haven't given us the title yet (ah- you knew that was coming, didn't you?). I have been trying to convince Abe to custom build a side car for me that seats 3. But he isn't convinced. rats.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
End of January
Abe brought home two crates from work and has started making them into a play house for the kids. THis one already has the upstairs built.
Some pictures of our happy Jordan
More pictures of our happy Jordan- he is starting to sit up now by himself.
Nathan and Stephen under the banana trees
Jordan and Danna under the banana trees
Sunday, January 29, 2006
House Renovations
JULY
The first thing the contractor did was to bring in a back hoe. The kids loves sitting and watching....
Next came the cement truck
The floor is poured
AUGUST
Front and back view of the walls going up and the kids enjoying the sand pile
Walls all the way up and view of front (through the neighbors yard)
Laundry room make over and Stephen fascinated with our new front loading washer
Pouring the new roof. Jordan and I missed this day as we were in the hospital!
Inside view of new walls
Outside view of new walls
Tile scrapers
The workers plastering the window
SEPTEMBER
Living room demolition. YES, everything was a HUGE mess
The window on the left is the same, but one foot smaller. The window on the right is new- it was where our original front door was.
OCTOBER
What do my kids do during all these renovations? Well, they work and play!
Living room windows being put in and a good view for those of you who have been in our house but are still confused about how we did the living room expansion.
I am quite impressed with what a great help the kids were. After Uncle Jim did the whole living room (THANKS!) the kids scraped up all the rest of the tile in the house. A big job!! Leslie got her turn too...
The start to our massive tiling project
Heather Thompson came over one day and helped us finish off the dining room demolition.
More dining demolition
The kitchen and dining room tiling job
The living room is now tiled and all the furniture that was in the dining room is temp placed in there.
Threshold- we did a threshold tile for all the rooms
Professional painters Painting the master bedroom more pics
Office is painted, but it isn't this color. :) Our neighbors just painted their house this color, the real color can be seen in the living room pic that was half yellow half green. :)
Hallway view
NOVEMBER
Mom and Dad helped a LOT while they were here visiting in Nov. Here the kids are helping sort the screws for Papa
Dad enclosing our closet
New hallway view
DECEMBER
Kids painting master bathroom (Stephen was so funny on the ladder- he thought he was HOT stuff being that high up and painting). Nathan is showing off his arm because he is almost as messy as Mommy is.
Master bath progress and decorative tile detail
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Nathan had his first soccor practice and had a grand time playing.
Four munchkins. This is also Jordan's favorite position on the floor- his hands and feet up off the floor (we call it flying) :)
Leslie loves chocolate....all over the place. Here is she is when I told her to clean her mouth. Guess I should have said AROUND your mouth.
Sweet moments with Nathan and Jordan
Where did all those feet come from
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Leslie black and white pictures
The boys having fun with the bags they painted
Nathan had a fall and landed wrong. He had to wear a cast for 8 weeks (what a drag!) here are pictures on the day of celebration- getting the cast off!
Happy baby Jordan
Do you want to know what it is like trying to get a picture with four little kids smiling and looking at the camera? It is like this!
Jordan isn't content to sit back anymore. He won't even sit back to snooze.
Leslie's curly hair and the boys playing with their barn
