Ramblings from our house

We haven't been up to much lately. Maemae has 8 teeth now, runs after Peanut, and continues to change her napping schedule constantly so I have no idea from week to week when her ideal nap time is. She has a few words she used often and loudly - Hi, Byebye, Dada, something that sounds like the sylabols of Elliot and Brother, and here. And she knows when I saw get in you chair, it's meal time. This girl loves to eat. And it happened overnight. One day was pureed everything, then bam! only food from our plates. Makes it easier for me at meal time. If only Peanut was that easy when it came to food. Instead, he's a grazer and will only eat from a limited menu. He did finally said "I love you" to Mike and then me last night. Melted both our hearts and of course, now he refuses to say it. Typical of him. He is using new words regularly, just not very many or enough to keep me from being 100% worry free about his lack of talking. Or lack of desire to talk.

I haven't been too busy lately. Been reading (always reading something), sewing and finishing up projects I've started before starting new ones. I do have an etsy shop now, but have to wait to see if the CPSIA laws will be amended to allow me to continue and expand what I have there. Basically the law is going to require everything marketed for children 12 and younger to be tested for lead and phthalates. EVERYTHING. Even if the materials I use have already been tested, because I'm altering and creating a new product, the finished item is still suppose to be tested. If not amended, it's going to put the majority of small businesses for children's items out of business. It has been amended once already to allow second-hand and consignment stores to keep selling clothing and toys at their descretion, but it doesn't allow me to sell my clothing, blankets, and burp rags without testing for lead and there's no way I can afford that.

On a good note about sewing, I finally got my machine back from the shop and it's heaven to work with. Sews beautifully and I'm still kicking myself for not taking it in a year ago when it first started having problems. Next time, I know not to hobble it along until I'm so frustrated I want to shoot it and by a new one.

Another thing I do is torture myself and look at real estate listings. And found one that has everything we desire - great location, acreage, nice sized house with minor updating needed, a shop, a yard that would be nice if it was mowed, even a pasture for a cow and eventually a horse. But we're still paying off debt, are in our current lease until September, and don't really want to stretch our budget that tight even though my heart aches knowing that it won't be there when it is our turn. We've even suggested to each other going to look at it, but I don't think I can. I know myself too well. It has the basic requirements that we want and I would fall in love. Then I would fall into a depression because it isn't financially our time to be looking for real estate. But deep down, I really really want to go look at it hoping there will be a huge flaw that I couldn't get over to turn me off from dreaming about moving my little family there. But I'm not going to. To torture myself a little more, I did email the listing agent with a couple questions, but don't have the heart to go through the process knowing we aren't quite there yet to be home owners again. Times like this make me really wish I kept my little old Neon car that was paid off instead of getting my mothership with the decent sized monthly payment. That free and clear title was so worth the compact size of it.

Enough about my woes and wants. Evenutally, we'll be home owners again. It might not be the blue house I'm currently in love with, but something will be there when we're ready to plop down our (Mike's) hard earned money for. Hell, maybe our taxes will be heavenly and we can pay off a few bills and have some left over for a very very small down payment. Maybe?! Puh-leeze!

TTFN ~C

Speed reading week is over

I finished Breaking Dawn, the last Twilight book, on Saturday night. 11:50 to be exact. No use in stopping during the big climactic scene to try to sleep even when my eyes are burning. I would of woke up super early, thinking about it. Then I would of had to finish it and be mad that I didn't finish it the night before and sleep in until the kiddos woke up.

So, 4 huge books in a week. Approximately 2300 pages in those 4 books. Thankfully I don't read like this on a weekly basis. Nothing would get done besides the very basic cooking and cleaning and the kiddos would be running around in their diapers (or naked as Peanut likes to do when he doesn't have clothes on. Or even when he has clothes on for that matter.) because I can't be bothered to do laundry.

I can admit I understand the frenzy and love people have shown for this series. I'm not going to name my next child after a character in the book like some fanatics have, but I understand it. I'm pretty happy with how the series ended. Sometimes when reading a series, I'm not ready for the end or the end should of ended a book or 2 ago. This one felt right. And even knowing it was wrote for a young adult audience, I was still captivated (duh!) until the very end.

I read yesterday that the movie, Twilight, is going to be out on DVD on March 21. You know I'll be at Target first thing after breakfast, snatching my copy off their shelves. Then turning it once nap time hits so I can watch it uninterrupted. This gives me enough time to read the series another 2 or 3 times. :) I already have a start with finishing Twilight yesterday and broke open New Moon this morning.

Well, Peanut's wanting to get out of bed, nap time is over. Off to be the regular Mama that I am. Until they're in bed and I can read again like a normal person. You know, for an hour or so until my normal bedtime. Not until the wee hours of the morning.

TTFN ~ Crys

Still Obsessed

I'm forcing myself to take a quick break from the Twilight series.

I did get books 3 and 4 yesterday. Thank you Target, for having them in stock and not making me try to keep my toddler from causing mayhem through Borders. Started the third book yesterday around lunchtime, finished it this morning about 9:30. I would of finished it last night (or very early this morning), but Maemae is teething again and was very restless so I figured 12:30 was late enough for me to be reading in case she didn't sleep well.

Book 4 is right next to me, all ready to suck me into it. But my little Peanut is telling me he pooped pooped so I'm off to my Mama duties.

Is it nap time yet?

TTFN ~ Crys

P.S. I'll post a normal post later this week when I'm back to normal and not possessed by Edward and Bella's lives. :)

My latest obsession

Mike bought me a new book for Christmas. One that has been on my list to read but last I looked, the library had 64 holds on it and I wasn't going to buy anymore books if I can help it. I hadn't really read what this book was about beyond it had great reviews, is now a movie, and is the first of four. A book out of my normal genre of reading, but one that I think I'd like since it's basically a romance and I'm all about the romantic-happily-ever-after-he-loves-her-she-loves-him books. This first book is a healthy sized book, 498 pages. I figured the length of it and my will power to not blow through it would make it last at least 4 days.

So I ran out of things to read last week and picked up this new book while nursing Maemae before her nap. I sat, rocking her, long after she was asleep and could be put in bed....reading. The book I wasn't going to get sucked into and whip through in 2 days. This book:
To be honest, I think it took me 3 days. The first day I was reading another book and wanted to finish that one first. So I was up for the next 2 nights, reading way past this Mama's bedtime, sucked in, wondering what's going to happen to everyone. I finished it at 1:08 am, Saturday night. Really Sunday morning. Whatever. I finished it. And almost cried because I didn't have the second one to start as soon as the kids had breakfast.

I am weak. But know I know I have no willpower from letting a book suck me into it. Books and good chocolate do NOT last in my house.

I wasn't able to get the second book until late Monday morning. Had to go to 3 different stores to find it. Saw it there next to the first, third, and fourth ones, but only got the 2nd one since the last 2 are hardback and a little more expensive than what I like to spend on books I'll go through in about 36 hours.

Whipped through the 2nd book in 2 days. Almost cried again when I finished because I didn't buy the 3rd and 4th one when I saw them. Ordered them through my book club. All 4, good price, and hardback - will stand up to the multiple readings I'll give them. Started re-reading the first book again since I'm sure there are little things I missed in my haste to know if Edward and Bella are still in love with each other at the end. Read the author's website top to bottom to kill time - seriously, I read everything on there.

So, I checked my order status tonight, thinking I'll have my new beloved books in a couple days because they ship quickly. And almost cried when I saw the words BACK ORDERED. NOOOOOO! They can't do this to me. So, tomorrow, after I call and cancel my order, the kiddos and I will load up in the mother ship, go to Target, get books 3 and 4 in the Saga, then go to the gym if I can control my obsession long enough to start on a New Year's resolution (and give the kiddos play time in their child watch area). Maybe I'll even have enough will power to leave book 3 in the car and actually do a workout while the kids are playing.

Or maybe I'll grab a chair outside the child watch area and start reading, uninterrupted for 90 minutes. The maximum time they can be in the child watch area without having to pay for more time. Or I wonder if the indoor track will be empty enough to walk and read at the same time.

I do have to add the disclosure that Mike was home each day of his weekend to take care of the kids. You know, the feeding, changing, playing, not ignoring them like Mama was with her new book kind of care they deserve. If he hadn't been home, I would of been up each night much later than I was, making up for the time during day I was doing all of that. So thanks lovey. Thanks for the book and thanks for understanding I NEEDED to read. XOXO

TTFN ~ Crys

Snow

It's snowy, icy, and frickin' cold around here. So glad I didn't have to go anywhere last night or earlier today. Mike had to work but put the chains on the truck and trucked on into Portland to save the city from itself. Chains were required on the freeways and all Portland roads. Luckily he bought some last year for a drive to Moses Lake WA and didn't return them. Here's a picture from last night before Mike moved the truck to the street and got to putting them on.

That's all for now. I haven't been in the chatty blogging mood lately. Maybe after the holidays, I'll be able to get back to regular updates. Or maybe tomorrow. Who knows.

I'll try to put up a picture of the kiddos in their Christmas tree shirts, but if I don't, Merry Christmas. Stay safe out there.

TTFN ~Crys

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl

Happy first birthday little MaeMae. You are loved more than you'll ever know. XOXO Mama and Daddy and Brother.

Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone's turkey day was a nice one. Our Thanksgiving was very low key. Mike started his workweek on Wednesday night so we were home all day. I cooked a turkey for dinner and Mom and Dad came in to help us eat it. I wasn't very happy with my stuffing, but it's been so long since I've made it, I'm not too upset about it. The awesomely delicious apple pie makes up for it. We're going to their house on Sunday for the big family dinner. I think I'll get to try making stuffing again since mom's recovering from being sick again.

I made the kiddos turkey bird shirts and they turned out pretty cute. It's impossible to get a nice picture of them together and none of us were in the mood for a long photo shoot to get really good pictures so here's what we have. We'll try again Sunday.
Maemae has a cold so she's still tired, was beginning to yawn, and just wanted Mama to hold and snuggle with her.

The kids and I ventured out for some shopping this morning. None of the 5am craziness since there was nothing on sale worth getting out of bed that early for. We left at 10:3o and got back at 1 and only went to 2 stores. But about 1/3 of my Christmas shopping is done, some in the closet and some on the way from amazon.com and I have a list for the others. I'll be able to finish it next week when Mike can stay home with the kids.

I'm off to sew and to figure out what I want Clella's 1st birthday invites to look like. Can't believe in 19 days my baby girl is turning 1.

TTFN ~ Crys

more pics

At Mom and Dads.

Mom and Dad's - walking with Peanut while Dad and Mike work on firewood.

Yummm bananas.

What Peanut does if the baking cabinet is unlocked and Mama's taking a time-out to read a blog.

TTFN for real now.

a few pics

Playing with legos.

Peanut's super sweet smile.

Maemae's hill billy smile, but only for a few more days as that last front top tooth is cut through and working down to join the others....FINALLY! It's been a rough week for sleep for us all.

That's all. A few pics for Mike as he's a work tonight. I'm back to sewing. I'm making a few gifts for Christmas this year and I'm using new patterns so I get to make mine first to see if I like it enough to make a few more. So far, I do but I'm only in the cutting out stage. Going to thread the serger to begin the sewing together stage.

TTFN ~ Crys

Here Mom, let me help you pick out some thread to use.

Crystal decided to re-arrange her sewing area this week (oddly enough it looks exactly how I had imagined it when we moved in...weird), her new configuration gives her alot more room and really opens up the space in our office/sewing area. With the open room, we were both working on things at our computers and Clella was playing in the new open space, then we heard the rustling of zip lock bags and DVD's coming down off the shelf. Then we knew it was little Mrs. Mae doing her shelf clearing act. She loves to get into Elliots room and clear off the shelves of his bookcase...in reality, this is how Elliot gets a good mixture of books read each night cause she always comes in and rearranges them, shes a helper, its what she does. As you can see from the moving boxes in the background, there are still a couple unpacked boxes, but they have Crystals stuff in them, so I really don't care. We are putting up some new shelves this week which should make room for those last couple to get unpacked then we really will be "moved in". I gotta go glue up some shelves for some DVD's to go on in the living room for Elliots movies, and Crystal is putting Clella down to bed, Elliot went down like a champ right at 8 o'clock, you could set your watch to his night night time...or as he calls it...nye nye

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Please stop leaving your chicken shit messages in our comment section. If you don't have the guts to leave your name and be addressed in conversational matter about your views and opinions about "our" lives, please don't bother posting things. No where in the Gretchen post does it say anything about our children being near guns. Not that I have to explain anything to you, but we have a gun safe, its always kept locked, they are not allowed to touch them, they usually don't even get to look at them. So again, do us both a favor and STFU about things you clearly have no clue about.

If this offended you while reading it, well, that's too bad. Crawl back into your perfect world and leave us alone, we don't come post crap on your blog, so don't litter ours with yours.

Good day.

huge pics

I know the pics are huge. I'm too tired and lazy busy with the kiddos to resize them smaller.

Happy Halloween!

One costume still on, another lasted about 3 minutes.

We have a cold in our house so Peanut is not feeling well. But looking super cute in his mama made costume.
Maemae isn't a big fan of her mama made tutu. It catches on her knees when she crawls and really pisses her off. So it lasted long enough for a few pictures and then was put back into sweats that help facilitate quick getaways.
Maemae and I ran to Fred Meyers yesterday during Peanut's nap time and picked out pumpkins for carving. He didn't want anything to do with gutting the pumpkins, so I did that, Mike carved his (and Peanut's), and Peanut drew all over his and the counter.
Maemae admiring Mama's carving job on her pumpkin.And since it's raining and chilly here, we're trick or treating our chiropractor's office and then handing out candy. We better be handing out candy; I've never done it and I'm excited to. I grew up where no one trick or treated us, we went trick or treating in AZ so we missed handing it out there, and had 3 people visit last year at our old house because it's on a flag lot. This house is right on the street, in an awesome neighborhood that is well lit and safe. I really hope to hand out candy or we have 9 bags to eat. When did a bag of candy get so little?

TTFN ~ Crys

Choo Choo!

Yesterday we took the kiddos on the Pumpkin Patch Express railroad ride out of Hood River. We all had a great time despite having to get up early and drive out there. The weather was a cool 48 when we arrived at 9:00, but the sun was out and it warmed up to low 60's by noon. Peanut LOVED it. Then Mike bought him a Thomas the trail whistle and he LOVED it even more.

Loving that they don't have to be in carseats while going for a ride.

Trekking across the big field where a very small pumpkin patch was set up behind us.

How Maemae and I enjoyed our time here. She eventually fell asleep and I had my own personal heater to keep me warm.We got back to the car at 1:30, stopped for ice cream, and got home just before 3. It was well worth the early morning wakeups and the skipped naps to enjoy a new adventure for our little family.

Later, I tried to get a good picture where both kids are looking at me, or smiling, or just not looking goofy. This is the best of what I got. I'll keep trying when they're both not so tired.

Maemae got her first dolly last week from a gal on my forum who sews super cute stuff for sale. I know I can make her one, but I don't have a pattern or the time right now to start. And this one is done and ready for loves. And it has blond hair and blue eyes to match Maemae.

That's all for our quick update. Maemae is napping, Peanut is watching a movie and I need to work on his Halloween costume. I should be done in an hour, hour 10 at the most. :)

TTFN ~ Crys

A new toy for Mikey....

I've been wanting one of these for some time now, and finally decided to treat myself to alittle something special. It's an early Christmas present to me! I felt terrible after buying it, stupid buyers remorse! But Crystal quickly helped me get over it by telling me I work hard for what we have (want) and that I deserve to treat myself now and then...I'll still have alittle guilt about it, but guessing it will melt away quickly the first time I pull the trigger with one in the chamber. I went to the gun store today with a print out of the one I wanted to order from a company back east, and the gun store had one on the shelf with the exact options I wanted...but $70 cheaper than the one I was looking at, and this one comes from one of the top names in the AR game...so I was pretty happy with that. I wanted a flat top rail, and as you can see, I got it. A chrome-alloy barrel and bolt, got those too. The one I wanted only came with 1-30 round magazine, but this one came with 2...take that Clinton! So, now all I have to do is decide what kind of optic I want to have on the top rail and she's ready to go. I'm going to order a standard sight for the top for now, so at least I can go play with it. Thankfully we have lots of gun shows that roll through, wonder if I'll be able to convince Ernie to go to the shows with me so I can get a good optic for it....hmmmmmmmmmm he has been known to like him some gun shows in the past. The only other thing I need to do now...is name her....



Meet...Gretchen:

New bag and a couple pix

I finally had some time to sew for myself. I've wanted a Halloween purse for the last couple years so I finally made one. Turned out pretty cute. I know I shouldn't sew when I'm really tired, but I did anyway last night and paid for it by getting to know my seam ripper a little too much this morning.

Finished.

Thankfully Halloween is just 3 weeks away. It's too small to be used for long. No way I can get our stuff in there, you know, the wallet, keys, phone, lip gloss, pen, sippy cup, a wad of fruit leathers, crackers, pacifier or 2, baby toys, and Peanut's baby when she goes on field trips.

And a few more pix from tonight and yesterday.

My boys.

Be scared of Maemae when she makes this face as she lunges to you. It's her "I just saw my Mama's boob (or arm, neck, leg, basically any skin with no clothes) and I'm starving for some milk" look.

I love the 80's!

Bed time.
TTFN ~ Crys

No longer ONLY 30

I've been in my early thirties for 10 days now. And I'm ok with it. My birthday came and went a few days ago and I had a good day. Got to pick out my present from Mike. And I picked this.

It's a Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD (fancy sounding!) and I'm loving it. A whole lot fancier than the one I've been using. Now I have to read the basic manual and then the real operating manual that is too big to print so they put it on a disk. So far I'm mastering the auto function which is just press the button while holding still.

I also had donuts for breakfast (and lunch) and got a gorgeous purply-pink bouquet of minicarnations from my husband, I mean kiddos. Mike had to work that night (that sucked) so we had a quiet dinner (that I cooked while he got to nap) and put our kidlets to bed together. This new shift still sucks since he's gone at night, but it's nice having him home to help with bedtime.

Here's a few of my favorites with my new camera.

Handsome man patiently waiting for breakfast.

Just after naptime and NOT going to smile for Mama.
One of many Maemae expressions.

Little hands

This hangs over our backyard fence from the neighbors. Any idea wth it is? And do I need to worry about the berries dropping into our lawn?

We're settling in nicely. Mike has been organizing the garage and I unpacked the last box in the kitchen today. My sewing area is a disaster, but in an organized way. I still need to unpack and sort my fabric and unpack our office supplies and find a spot for all that stuff, but for the most part, we are done. Until the next time, which going by our latest history, is 11-12 months away.

TTFN ~ Crys.

Maemae giggles

One of the most precious sound a baby can make is the uncontrollable belly laugh and giggles. Here's Maemae's latest. Turn your sound up and laugh with my sweet baby girl.



Mike is snapping a receiving blanket against the toy tub and it's hilarious when you're 9 1/2 months old. And it's a little shaky because I'm laughing while trying to record.

TTFN ~ Crys

Ellie Mae Baby

What is Ellie Mae Baby? My new online boutique that will be open at 6 am, eastern time! I'm so excited and a little nervous. I don't think I would of done it without all of Mike's support and encouragement. Its a little scary to create something and put it out there for anyone to see and maybe (gasp!) criticize . I'm so used to sewing for pleasure and while it's still pleasure, it just won't be for my kids or for gifts. It's just a different feeling, but I'm really hoping that I do well at it.

Sooo, if you know any babies or toddlers or even adults who need something special on their clothes, bibs, blankies, towels, you name it, I'm your gal.

TTFN ~ Crys

Sometimes its the little things in life....

So you just worked 10 hours, and its 7 in the morning as you start your commute home. You get on the freeway on ramp which has one of those stupid good for nothing metered lights at the top....or are they good for something? As you approach the top, if you are like me, you count how many cars are in the 2 lanes...and make your decision based on the mathematics of which lane to get into. Low and behold, the moron in front of you, can't grasp this basic concept of "the line with less cars is the one to get in", they just based their lane choice on which one looked shorter. The fact that their lane was shorter, had nothing to do with getting on the freeway faster. The fact that my lane had 1 bus, and 2 cars, was still shorter than their line with 6 cars in it...mathematically anyway...visually, I'll admit, their line looked more appealing. But when I got to get on the freeway before them, I just laughed and laughed and laughed. I'd say it had a smile on my face for at least 10 of the 20 minute drive home :)

I'm exhausted, so sorry if I rambled a little :)