Thursdays thirteen...

1- Time for a new blog look. If I see winter another minute, I'll scream. I have spring fever. We had a peek of warm weather and spring and its amazing. Stay tuned for a change soon.
2-Spring reminds me of Jacob's birth. He was born on April 11th. I left the house to go to the hospital and it was cold and when I came home I remember so clearly flowers and sunshine. Every time spring peeks I think of Jacob and his birth. What and amazing memory it all creates.
3- Hailey returned from being downstairs yesterday. I asked her what she was doing and she said she was watching a show. A show where "the lady smiled real big and lots and they have lots of 2's and 4's and they jumped and clapped". I guess she experienced her first game show. LOL.
4-Do not rent The boy in the striped pajama's. The ending, awful.
5-Soccer is officially back on. See spring is coming I can feel it.
6-I volunteered at the hospital today. I was taking pictures of tiny babies. 25 weekers kind of tiny. Thinking what miracles. What is their journey going to be like? So amazing to see life so fragile yet fighting so strong. It can put things in perspective to see that. It's beautiful and complex.
7-Stayed up till 2am and got up at 7am. Not fun. Girls night was apparently too much fun.
8-Finished two good books to share.
9-Hole still in my ceiling. Need to get working on repair (stopped my post to call for a bid).
10-Life is so busy. Somehow with sports, cleaning, and everything I just never stop going.
11-Birthday season coming up around here. We have Jacob in April (as mentioned), Lindsey in May and Alan in the end of May.
12-Finishing last of ebay. Doesn't it seem like I have been ebaying for the last month straight. Lol.
13-More vacation posts tomorrow.

So what are all of you up to?

Thursday's thirteen.........

1-Water stopped leaking Monday in the morning, thanks for our plumber and a fat check. We are now sporting a big hole in our kitchen ceiling and some fans hoping to dry it out.
2-Officially unpacked (now just HUGE laundry piles).
3-Sore teeth from my ortho appt this week but braces seem to be going well and working.
4-Girls night out tonight (WOO HOO).
5-Feeling sore from the gym (this feels good to me right now).
6-Two days of successful movie naps for the twins.
7-Great report cards and parent teacher conferences.
8-Buying cute clothes from Gap, Janie and Jack, and Gymboree with Ebay money.
9-Thinking about buying bare minerals (any testimonials out there)?
10- Cafe Rio for lunch yesterday. I decided if authentic mexican means a dirty restaurant, scary ice, and questionable everything I would rather avoid it forever. Glad to be home where I can indulge and not starve myself till I am back on my ship.
11-Downloading pictures and editing them for sharing.
12-Adobe CS4 has come and should be here soon!
13- Comments comments comments, love them!

Thursday's Thirteen......

1-I have the kind of job when I go on vacation my work piles up. My week has been busy playing catch up.
2-Sydney decided that her new name is "Laura". Flattering huh. Except she was serious. She was sad when her preschool teacher would not call her that.
3-We got a new garage door, that actually closes. Nice feature eh?
4-Coming home to freezing temps, snow and thick ice is hard. After being in warm weather for the weekend. It made me covet spring.
5-Thank goodness we are going on a cruise to Mexico in just a few weeks!
6-Ironing,photographing and preparing to list all my twins spring/summer clothing.
7-Saw Taken and New Kid in town while on vacation. Loved Taken. Liked New kid in town.
8-Got a new cell phone. Love it. Now I have been working on getting people on verizon (lol) so I have more people that are free.
9- I am loving the text keyboard.
10-I have never been so happy to be sleeping in my own bed.
11- or to snuggle my little girlies.
12- or to just be home.
13- Really appreciating Alan these days. I think a "girls weekend" will do that to you.

Thursday's thirteen.....

1-Looking at preschool's this week for the girls next year.
2-Working on Christmas cards steps... photoshop it, print it, assemble, and mail. I am on the needing to assemble stage. After 3 trips to Costco it finally looks right.
3-Visit to the orthodontist. I am getting braces come January.
4-Trip to Nordstrom's. A pair of my most expensive jeans got a hole in the inner thigh. How does that happen there anyway? Of course I was horrified. All is good- because Nordstroms is amazing. I now have $200 to spend on new jeans (probably from the Nordstrom Rack to optimize my money).
5-Getting ready to buy tickets to Wicked tomorrow at 6am. They are coming this spring.
6-Got a haircut and color this week and the world feels brighter and I look better too.
7-Piles of laundry and cleaning still screaming for my attention. Slowly I will get to it. If I did not have those darn Christmas cards needing me too.
8-Last week I read three books in one week. The Hunger games, My sister's keeper, and The adoration of Jenna Fox. That was more than I read in a year last year.
9- Saw Four Christmas's and found it funny and enjoyable. Loved Australia too totally recommend it.
10-Getting Photoshop CS4 because of a great miracle.
11-Got a new toaster. How a family of six lived without a four slice toaster this long is beyond me. Seriously wonderful. We are easily pleased.
12-Need a dinner plan. Something that requires no work and everyone will love. Oh that doesn't exist. I am SO tired of someone, and sometimes everyone, not liking the dinner I worked on. UGH!
13-Wondering where all my commenters have gone?

Would you get braces at my age? Do you hate cooking too? Are your Christmas cards mailed? If you are waiting for my Christmas card it looks an awful lot like my header so enjoy that in the meantime. Your's will arrive in due time.

Thursday's Thirteen...

1-Back to school night tonight. Left feeling totally happy. Teachers both seem great and homework seems reasonable. After last year with Lindsey is was like a breath of fresh air (although no one could argue that she learned a lot for all that pressure and homework but it took over all our family time).
2-Sydney told me she wanted to marry me today. I told her that would not be possible. So she said she would just marry her favorite boy then, Jacob.
3-Made it through my first week with Swim team (3 times a week), Ballet, soccer, and BMX. WOW! Thank goodness for my sister in law and Grandpa who help out and can carpool with me.
4- Saw Traitor on girls night. Loved it.
5-I am finally unpacked from last weekend (me and the kids). Yeah it took four days.
6- Washed the twins sheets today. When Hailey came home from preschool she was confused as to why her sheets were gone. She asked me, "Mom did you throw up on my sheets"? I suppose she doesn't see another reason to wash sheets. After all throw happens so often it is the main reason sheets get washed.
7-I used to think life would get easier (or less busy) as my kids got older. This week with Activities and stuff it feels like the opposite.
8- Missed the gym a lot this week with a head cold.
9-Jacob is still adjusting to lunch at school. Yesterday he said he was first out on the playground and had the most time to play. I asked him how much he ate of his lunch and he told that he ate none. I asked him where it all was and he said he threw it all away. I had told him to stop bringing home the trash. Hmmm.
10- I received the cutest backpacks with the twins names on them from my cousin. So cute. I bought them and sent them to her to put their names on them (thus the HUGE ones on the first day). Second day of preschool...
11-My new favorite color is green. Not dark green. I tend to like one color for a while and buy it more. I never have a favorite for that long.
12-I am dying getting up early and getting every one going. The twins just like to relax in the morning (they were always very early risers). Getting them dressed and out the door is so tiring. When I catch one the other runs off.
13. Getting girls ready is 10 times longer than boys (if you are me and obsessed with hair and grooming). Problem is I have only one boy and three girls.

Second day at preschool.

Thursdays 13 The upside...

Before I begin. I must say this week has been tough. It all began Sunday night with Hailey coming down with a fever. Throw up and all nighters followed. Two days of clinging and screaming too. Wednesday morning I was needing to get out of the house and get some groceries. It was busy and I was getting everyone ready to go and then I noticed Sydney was missing. I got to get her dressed to and find her asleep on my bed burning up. Then follows two days of crying and whining and misery from her. My ebay closed and I had tons of stuff to ship. A Daddy daughter thing to plan and carry out tonight. Groceries needing to be bought and a house screaming for my attention. Speaking of screaming that is all I hear ALL.DAY.LONG. Every time I need to interact with my children I find myself having to take a deep breath and count so I don't just totally lose control. A few times more than I would like I have lost control but when someone is crying because their sister is looking at them it gets to be a little too much!

So Thursdays thirteen is dedicated to finding the upside... because if I don't I will just loose it.
1-Sydney always goes to the bathroom in the middle of my meal. Sometimes I get the joy of wiping while finishing to swallow my food. The other night she went (on her own) upon her return she had her hands cupping Alan's cheeks. I then asked, "Did you wash your hands"? Her response was a quick run back the bathroom. Lovely huh.
2-This week when one twin was out of commission the other twin was totally bored. On Tuesday when Hailey's motrin took affect she got off the couch and began to play. Sydney ran across the room and began dancing with her. "Your better, your better you can play again, I love you".
3- Lots of heartfelt love and sympathy has been had between the twins when the other is down. Drinks being delivered. Toys retrieved.
4-Every night when I am dog tired and should be sleeping I stay up crazy late watching the Olympics. I.LOVE.EVERY.MINUTE!
5-Today at Costco. The girls had to go even if they were not totally better. We have to have food. Hailey told me (I was moving on from a place we were stopped) that lady in the pink shirt wants to meet the twins. I was like what twins. She said us. She wants to meet us. I asked her how she knew that and she said that the lady pointed at her and said, "look twins". I guess Hailey is used to getting twin attention, huh? So nice she wants to accommodate her fans. Costco seriously loves the twins. All people love on them. Some twins mom's hate that stuff but not me. I am so grateful they are here healthy, happy.

It's getting hard to find 13 good things about this week I am wanting to add. Late work nights for Alan . NO girls night. Opps back to the upside...

6-Daddy daughter (invitations pictured here- A tag attached to popcorn) over and done. Success.
7.Soccer season started first practice tonight. Jacob is beyond thrilled.
8. Tomorrow is our 11th anniversary.
9.I made TONS of money on ebay. I am enjoying shopping for my twins totally guilt free.
10.Breaking dawn is over. I loved it.
11.A vacation is coming very soon.
12.School starts in less than two weeks (sometimes I can't wait for this other times I want to cry at the thought).
13.Last but most important I made it through the week. Who will get the fever next... let's hope its not me.

Oh and sorry for my absence on your blog. I have not had any time.

Thursdays thirteen...

I realized in reading over my blog that I rarely post about my husband Alan. Most of my blog is dedicated to my children and my own thoughts. Which is normal because its my blog but still... since he is the most important person in my life. I think I better take a moment to talk about him and share him with you.

Thirteen things about Alan
1-makes friends easy and would go out of his way to help anyone.
2-Tells the best stories (he has a million crazy things he did growing up most dangerous).
3-Is an amazing Dad always supporting them in their activities and plays with them every minute he is home.
4-Loves politics and is very well educated on current events. My kids always refer to his shows as the "daddy news".
5-Is a heavy sleeper which works out nicely because I like to stay up late watching a strobe light in our room (oh thats the t.v).
6-Is a very hard worker.
7-Is very handy around the house. It always amazes me how he can figure out how to fix something that I would have no clue how to do. He wires lights, builds rooms in our basement, put in our wood floor. All is his spare time. Oh wait... he never has any of that.
8-Love motorcycles and plans to teach Jacob all about that (ahh).
9-Is very dedicated to our church. Alan spends so much time at church it really is a great example to me. He gets up every single Sunday at 6:30am for meetings and does not get home till after 2pm (if he's lucky). He often has mid week meetings for church too.
10-He supports me. Even when he is tired or stressed he takes the kids once a week. He encourages me to help others and do my volunteering. Even when I am often typing away on the computer while he is trying watch t.v or out at night instead of home with him and the kids.
11-He always is willing to help my his/my parents out, my Grandparents (when they were here), my siblings. He has made friends with them as well.
12- He has a good sense of humor and knows how to laugh (something I am not great at).
13-He is always trying to be a better person. To try harder. I need to do that more too.

I could go on but this is thursday's thirteen. Alan I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. I am so proud of you. We have missed you so much this last week.

Thursday's Thirteen

Thirteen reasons why our summer has been anything but lazy.
1-Swim lessons and free swimming from 10am-1:30pm.

2-Water parks

3-Arts in the park. A program my bigger kids go two twice a week from 10-12pm. It's actually very nice.
4-Jet Skiing with twins? Enough said?



5-Church meetings and activities to plan and hold.
6-Four kids home ALL.THE.TIME.
7-Fitting in the gym, girls nights, and hospital volunteering.
8-Later bedtimes and early risers.
9-More places to go as a family (Park City)
10-Pool towels to wash, swimsuits to wash, two outfits per child almost everyday.
11-Green hair. Any tips? Baths needed every single night (not always given).
12-Summer Movies
13- House that needs cleaning (desperately) even though we never seem to be home.

I just need a day to just be home with deadlines gone.

Thursday's Thirteen...

1-It's 63 in my house right now. Brrr.
2-It's pouring rain and cold and we need new rain gutters bad.
3-Schools out for summer. Day 1( it does not feel a bit like summer).
4-Jacob tried to pay me a dollar to skip his daily reading this summer. Ha ha.
5-I drew a 50% off everything coupon (including sale) at the Gymboree peel a prize sale! There is like 3 given out the whole day. I am plotting how to use that.
6-Girls night out last night. Dinner and the home show.
7-Beef strogonauf for dinner tonight. Thanks to Angie and this recipe. Yummy.
8-Cleaning and laundry all day today.
9-Apparently doing my own hair and three little girls hair is not enough. The twins demand the ponies have hair do's too.
10- A confession... all you private bloggers need to know I love you. I just cannot use bloglines to read and be notified of a new post. That makes it impossible for me to keep up the way I want to. Please know its not on purpose. I will get to you I promise.
11-Alan is almost always home by 5pm now. It's amazing. He used to get home at 7:30.
12-Staying up way to late reading my book and writing this.
13-Gas was $3.98 a gallon at my fill up today. OUCH!

There you have it thirteen totally random things...