Arriving

So Tuesday night I stayed up late sending emails to renters asking them for a much lower price on their rental home. I woke up Wednesday to many no way emails. But one nice renter said sure. So Wednesday we decided we'd leave on Friday and check into the condo on Saturday.

We left nc in the afternoon and got to the condo around 9pm. I was excited to get settled (put the kids to bed). When we got inside we found an awesome condo with sheets on the floor and dirty towels in the tub. It hadn't been cleaned so I washed and dried the sheets and vacuumed the barrels of popcorn off the floor. Finally we put the kids to bed and relaxed.

The next day I emailed the owner to tell him we love the place but were a bit surprised to find it hadn't been cleaned. He very graciously told me that was because we weren't supposed to check in until Sunday. Oops..sometimes my spontaneity overwhelms my ability to read dates.

Trip to Georgia

The kids got themselves loaded into the car an hour before we were ready to leave.

Within 20 minutes of driving Melia was out.

Addie got to listen to music on my iPod which I thought would keep her quiet but instead she told us each song she was listening to. Good quote 'the Beatles are actually pretty good.'. Of course everything she says is super loud because of the headphone.

The boys are so easy to travel with. Books on tape and ds. I love it.

We made it to my sister's house in nc. With only taking two short stops. It's so crazy how quickly my kiddos are growing up and how each new stage is easier.

My Girls

I love listening to my girls converse. This morning while I was trying to get a few more minutes of shut eye, the girls were cuddling in bed with me.
Melia: Addie, you are my best sister ever.
Addie: Melia, you are my best friend ever. Sisters can behest friends, too.
Melt my heart!!

Of course there are the other conversations that I'm not so excited to overhear.
From the basement (muffled) 'haircut'.
15 minutes later 2 girls come running up stairs with Addie smiling "Mommy, look Melia cut my hair."
Addie was so proud of her new haircut and Melia was pretty smitten with herself. After I Tried to fix it, it looks cute.
She seems like a new kid with her new 'do. Much older and more mature. Still super cute, though.

Now Daddy's Turn....

1. What is something Daddy always says to you?

Caleb:  Clean this up.

Nathan: Let's go to this place. 

Addie:  That's cute, little Billy.

Melia:  Melia go sit in time out.

2. What makes Daddy happy?

Caleb:  When we do what he says

Nathan:  When Michigan State wins 

Addie:  Doing Karate

Melia:  Dancing

3. What makes Daddy sad?

Caleb: He was sad when his grandpa died.

Nathan:  When Michigan State loses

Addie:  Because we won't let him help us clean.

Melia:  Um, like,  wahahaha

4. How does Daddy make you laugh?

Caleb:  When I make him laugh.

Nathan:  I don't know

Addie:  Tickling me right here (pointing to neck)

Melia:  Tickle

5. What was Daddy like as a child? 

Caleb:  Me

Nathan:  Happy

Addie:  Um like being naked

Melia:  He was like me like when I was a mom.

6. How old is Daddy?

Caleb: He's 33 turning 34

Nathan:  Umm 34 I mean 33

Addie:  33 - Mom: How did you know that?  Addie:  He said he needed 33 m & m's

Melia:  3

7. How tall is Daddy? 

Caleb: 5 feet tall

Nathan: 10 feet

Addie:  30 inches

Melia:  Bigger than mommy

8. What is Daddy’s favorite thing to do?

Caleb: Go on bike rides with us

Nathan:  Watch Michigan State games

Addie:  Helping us clean our room

Melia:  Laughing with me

9. What does Daddy do when you’re not around?

Caleb: Works

Nathan: Watch Michigan State games

Addie:  Do the computer

Melia:  He just cleans up our room

10. If Daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?

Caleb:  Being Funny

Nathan:  Becoming part of Michigan State games.  He really likes Michigan State.

Addie:  A castle

Melia:  Tortilla

11. What is Daddy really good at?

Caleb:  Soccer

Nathan:  Legos .... kind of.

Addie:  Doing the computer

Melia:  Preschool

12. What is Daddy not very good at?

Caleb: Baseball

Nathan:  The Krakan on Pirates

Addie:  Making our bed

Melia:  Doing his lunch

13. What does Daddy do for his job?

Caleb:  He's a teacher.

Nathan:  Teach at school

Addie: Doing the computer

Melia: He works every day and I play

14. What is Daddy's favorite food?

Caleb:  My famous recipe

Nathan:  Chicken

Addie:  Chicken

Melia:  Peanut Butter and Jelly

 15. What makes you proud of Daddy?
Caleb:  How he works

Nathan:  When he tells us Michigan State won.

Addie:  Driving around in the car

Melia: Tickling his arm like (wiggles fingers)

16. If Daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?

Caleb:  A Jedi Knight.

Nathan:  Patrick

Addie:  Sponge Bob

Melia:  Sponge Bob

17. What do you and Daddy do together?

Caleb:  Practice soccer a lot.

Nathan:  Sometimes we watch Michigan state games together

Addie:  Start a show... hmmm what kind of show... hmmm

Melia:  Tickle ourself

*You can tell it's bedtime.  They are a bit delirious.*

18. How are you and Daddy the same?

Caleb:  Our DNA is the same.

Nathan:  We are both boys

Addie:  Because of our eyes 

Melia:  Good, good, good

19. How are you and Daddy different?

Caleb:  He's darker than me... a little bit.

Nathan:  He's taller and I'm shorter

Addie:  Our faces

Melia:  Good, like, all of our families

18.  How do you know Daddy loves you?
Caleb:  He takes me to work with him sometimes.

Nathan:  Bednight kiss

Addie:  Because of God

Melia:  So much.

21. Where is Daddy’s favorite place to go?

Caleb:  Soccer games

Nathan:  I don't know... A Michigan State store

Addie:  Michigan Adventure.

Melia:  At American I mean Michigan

Wow- That's what they think of me?

It's been a while since I posted anything.   I saw these cute questions on Peas and Thank You and thought I needed a good laugh so I interviewed my kids.   I asked them questions separately so they won't be swayed by each other's opinions of me.   

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?

Addie: You're so cute.

Nathan: Don't do that.


Melia: Melia Serawit


Caleb:  Clean up your room.
*I just told him 2 minutes earlier to clean his room*

2. What makes Mommy happy?

Addie: Me.

Nathan: Doing the right thing.

Melia:  Kidalee


Caleb:  When we clean our bedroom and do things without you telling us to.

3. What makes Mommy sad?

Addie:  Me not letting you think that I'm cute.

Nathan: When I do the wrong thing.


Melia: Um like stepping on your toe.


Caleb:  When we don't do what you tell us to.

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?

Addie: Tickling me.

Nathan: When I scare you.

*I'm a bit jumpy and just might scream when I walk into a room I thought was empty.  Unfortunately, this happens more than I'd like to admit.  Do I need therapy?*

Melia:  Like tickle me.


Caleb:  You don't.
*That's not true.  He really thinks I'm funny.  He just forgot.*

5. What was Mommy like as a child? 

Addie:  A baby

Nathan:  You were a kid who looked like me.

Melia:  Me


Caleb:  Like Nathan.

6. How old is Mommy?

Addie: What does it start with.... come on give me hint, just give me a hint.... what number does it start with? 

Nathan: 31

Melia: 6


Caleb:  Turning 33
*I ask Caleb often how old I am because I can't remember.*

7. How tall is Mommy? 

Addie: 3 inches

Nathan: 9 feet


Melia:  Taller than Daddy


Caleb:  A little shorter than Daddy.

8. What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do?

Addie: Tickle me

Nathan: Doing the computer.

Melia:  Do computer


Caleb:  I don't know.

*Apparently, I'm on the computer a lot.*

9. What does Mommy do when you’re not around?

Addie:  Just play 

Nathan:  Sit around


Melia:  Play with me.


Caleb:  I don't know, I'm not here.

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?

Addie: Going to a pretend castle that's not real.

Nathan:  Being a general and make them win the war.

Melia:  If you can dance.


Caleb: Having fun.

11. What is Mommy really good at?

Addie:  Tickling me

Nathan:  Talking and doing the computer

Caleb:  Field Hockey
Melia:  Preschool

12. What is Mommy not very good at?

Addie:  

Nathan: Playing wii.


Caleb:  Mario Cart Wii

Melia:  You know how to pee but you don't know how to poop.

13. What does Mommy do for her job?

Addie:  Fixing Daddy

Nathan: Take care of us.


Caleb:  She's in charge of the library at CHUP and teaches at ACE

Melia:  With the boys

14. What is Mommy’s favorite food?

Addie:  Chicken

Nathan:  Rice and Chicken Caleb's recipe


Caleb:  My special recipe.

Melia:  Salad

 15. What makes you proud of Mommy?

Addie:  Your eyebrows
Nathan:  When you give us grace.
Caleb:  How much work she does.
Melia:  You're arm.  (as she hugs me)

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Addie:  Quincy on Little Einstiens
Nathan: Sponge Bob

Caleb:  The main character.
Melia:  Addie or Melia

17. What do you and Mommy do together?

Addie:  Tickle your chothers.
Nathan:  Read together.

Caleb:  Go on mommy dates

Melia:  Tickle your chothers.

*the girls came up with the same answer one their own. word for word.*

18. How are you and Mommy the same?

Addie:  Because our eyebrows are the same
Nathan:  I think the same color of hair

Caleb:  We have a lot of the same DNA
Melia:  Very much.  Our hair is black.

19. How are you and Mommy different?

Addie: Our hair is different
Nathan:  I'm a boy and you're a girl
Caleb:  We like different sports
Melia:  Like nothing

18.  How do you know mommy loves you?
Addie:  Because you say 'you're so cute.'
Nathan:  Because you give us bednight kisses.
Caleb:  By giving us grace.
Melia:  So much, really.  Very much.

21. Where is Mommy’s favorite place to go?

Addie:  To West Virginia.
Nathan:  Java Jungle because you get alone time.
Caleb:  Flying kites in the summer.
Melia:  At Michigan

I love my funny kids.  

The Count of Monte Cristo

I started this book months ago.  I was stubborn and didn't heed my momma's advice to read the abridged.  I'm still not done.  I've run out of steam. I've started another long read, Atlas Shrugged.  Hopefully, I'll finish it.  One day, I'll read the rest of The Count.  There are many quotes from what I did read.  Enjoy this one....

There is neither happiness or misery in the world;

there is only the comparison of the one state with another,

nothing more.

He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to 

experience supreme happiness.

We must have felt what it is to die,

that we may appreciate the enjoyments of living.

'Live then, and be happy, beloved children

of my heart, and never forget that until the day

when God shall deign to reveal the future to man,

all human wisdom is summed up in these two words

   Wait and Hope.'

Christmas decorating for the underachiever

My family used to call me the elf because I've always loved everything about Christmas.  I like to go other peoples house and help them decorate.... some years I've maybe even been pushy about other people getting their tree up.  I just love it.  

So this year I was shocked when I had no desire to get our Christmas stuff out.  We finally did it today.  Yes, I'm well aware that normal people have not put up their tree yet, but as stated before, I'm usually an elf. Anyway, Michael made Blinna for breakfast and we got to it.  So, this year I let everything go and let the kids have at it.  As you can tell from the picture below.....

Here's our Nativity play area...

and another Nativity scene (this one a much nicer)

Here's the one thing I did work on....

our Jesse Tree

I bought burlap and felt at Hobby Lobby and went to work cutting randomly.

I think it looks like a tree.  It has some issues but who doesn't? 

Addie's sporting her favorite shirt - Go State!

Then I cut green felt into leaves and glued the Jesse Tree ornaments on them.

You can get it here.

Being Pinterest obsessed like I am I found this site. 

The names of Jesus on a paper chain.  If you'll notice, again I'm

letting the kids take over in the decorating department.  

The most embarrassing part is that I wrote CHIRST for Addie to copy

and didn't notice for a few days that it was spelled wrong. 

She turned the R into a B further changing the name and then Nathan

with his perfectionist/Monk-like tendencies circled her mistake.  

Good times.

The point is each morning we take another ring off and read 

the verse about Christ's name.
Maybe someday we'll fix it, maybe not.