i'm making cupcakes today

Hey Robert Thomas - Yes, I sent Haley out to the curb in 30 degree weather to wait for a school bus that was not coming.  Why is it that she gets the proverbial short end of every stick?  She waited there for a solid 18 minutes before a kind neighbor informed her that there was a school delay.  We missed the phone call this morning.  I didn't take the phone with me on our way to seminary at 6:00am.  The call came at 6:01am.  Her patience for the bus is incredible!  I wonder how long she would actually stay out there if no one intervened?  

We'll see if I can match her patience in regard to her suitcase.  We are going on day five of "Has the Suitcase Found a New Home?" saga.  I had such high hopes.  She came home, emptied it (yay!), then left it (boo!).

 I don't know why I am adding these pictures, except I think they are funny.  When she says her room is clean she always leaves this . . .  

You would think I would notice missing cups from the cupboard, but I don't.

I think we have different definitions of clean.

    By the way, her grades are fine (I'm so proud of her) and she has a 'Coffee House Concert' tonight I am attending.  She is playing the piano and singing.   I am going to see if Robyn wants to go with me.  Eric agreed to babysit kids 4&5.  

I hope your day is going well.  I may not get a chance to talk to you later, so here's a query from Quinn to ponder.  I was at a loss as to how to answer.  "Mom, can I open my poop?"

Love, Kim

"frankly, my dear . . ."

 I'm not sure what is up with these dresses.  Maybe Mimi is just channeling her inner Scarlet-O'Hara-I-Don't-Give-a-#@^! attitude.  We all know how well she has worked on that tude!  Whatever the case, the girls have been obsessed with these dresses.  They have been wearing them - a lot.  Mia's tudey has seemed to have rubbed off on #5.  I was told at the gym today that Q was put in time-out because she was "too busy" to help pick up the toys.  Nice.  I found her here sneaking candy before dinner.  I told her to get down.  She said, "I can't get down.  I'm busy.  Don't talk to me."

Mia was sharing some peanut butter pretzels.  It's nice to know they love each other.

I love the addition of the crown!  I am sure Scarlet would have loved it as well.

In Quinny's defense, she has had a pretty rough day.  She woke up coughing and has a pretty nasty nose.  When I was getting her ready for bed she wanted to sleep in her birthday suit.

 She keeps picking at the scab.  It continues to bleed.

In other news . . . I am trying to give a $#^&, so I made some bread today.  I used your mom's recipe.  It turned out yummy.  Not to toot my own horn (toot toot).

I told Haley that she looked like Pigpen walking out of school today with all her papers flying about.  She didn't know who Pigpen was.  I had to educate her.  She laughed.  I also reminded her, I think for the 5th time, to clean her room.  Her suitcase is still at the foot of her bed from her trip.

And at dinner tonight . . . 

Eric:  "Robyn, does this sound like a buzzer in basketball?  errrrrrr"

(Yes, he made a loud buzzer sound.  Very accurate, and very funny.  He said he was joking, kinda.)

Quinn:  "Is it yummy food, Mom?"

Me:  "Why don't you eat it and find out."

Quinn:  "OK, I'll watch a movie."

P.S.  I threatened Mia today that if she ever cut her own hair I would ground her for a month.  To be specific, for the entire month of March.

home again, home again, jiggety jig

As you know, we are home again.  I don't even know how many days the kids have had off of school this year.  It is really adding up.  So, here we are, day two of ICE!  Eric and his friends are out shoveling.  Mimi is playing.  She wanted to play with Sienna, but that was nixed because she yelled at me (tsk, tsk).  Robyn is hangin' with Kylie, and Haley is watching her HOURS of recorded TV.  Q, for the moment, is napping.  Here are the ice pics (get it, haha) from today!

Here's Mimi playing outside.  She got dressed and ready to go - all by herself.

So did Addi-Q!  She was very proud of herself, and ready for F-U-N!!!

 I think she lasted less than one minute!  Everyone was laughing! She came running in and went straight to the bath.  By the way, the temp, about 18 degrees.

our icy monday

Q keeps picking at her scab, therefore, she gets to don this beauty.  She loves it - really, she does.  You know how she is with band-aids.

Eric, Cole, and Ethan are delighted it is cold, snowy, icy, windy, etc.  They had a blast outside.

Haley is back from her 3-day debate tournament.  This is the view I see the most.  She did take a nice long nap today.  She decided to switch to the other side of the couch for the nap.

Robyn spent most of the day in her room.  She worked on reading her book for school (Uncle Tom's Cabin) and researching new phones.  I am sure there was some texting going on as well.

H, R, & M got haircuts.  R got a trim.  H got store bought bangs (vs. the homemade version she has been sporting for the past few weeks).

M got it "to the chin".  That's what she has been asking for for a while.  Super sassy, Miss Sassy Pants!

Q-bear made her own chicken fajita tonight, sans chicken fajita.  She opted for sour cream only.  Delish!  She ate most of it.

I took a really hot shower today.  I could have stood there all day.  Remember when you asked me what I like?  That is, without a doubt, one of my favorite things!  I wanted to stay there until the hot water ran out.  I LOVE it!  I look forward to it!  I don't want it to end.  I am disappointed when I have to rush it.  Ahhh, hot, hot water - there's nothing better.

Now, I am going to enjoy a Family Home Evening prepared by our very own kid #3.  Then we are going to indulge in some homemade oreos.  I sure wish you were here to do all of this with us.  Miss you!

it's an ice day

This is what we woke up to this morning.  Good thing it was already a holiday, otherwise school would have been cancelled.  They don't have any snow days left, so any cancellations mean more days added at the end.  We don't want that!!!!

Jack's almost 10

Hi everyone! I went to Paul and Erin's tonight for dinner with Grandma Thomas. It was a good dinner. There was turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, a yam, kale, beet greens, apples, tomatoes, strawberries, celery, carrots, apple pie and ice cream served. A veritable cornucopia! What? Was it Thanksgiving? Is it already November? Nope, just Sunday, and Grandma T. gone wild. LOL. Anyway, it is going to be Jack's 10th birthday on Tuesday, so he got a card and a fairly stale rice crispy treat from Grandma. I picked her up and drove her home. It was a nice night. I missed my own family though!! I had a good picture of Grandma and Jack, but my phone froze right after I took it and it didn't save. And there was no getting Jack to pose for another picture! So, Jack's turning 10 on Tuesday, and 10 is his favorite number!!! He gets to be his favorite number for a whole year now. How cool.

5:00pm Sunday

Eric is telling me all about a computer program he found where you can create your own computer games.  Pretty cool.

 Mimi and Quinn are running around the house finding things to play with.  I found them on the stairs.

 I'm taking pictures of everyone.  Right here I am saying "Hey ya!" to Robynie.  This was after I got the potatoes in the oven for din din.

 Robyn is holding a flower and Skyping with some friends in her bedroom.

 Haley is preparing to watch a movie and getting 'very, very angry' with me for taking her picture.  

What are you doing at 5:00pm on Sunday?

mia's song

title:  "I Just Can't Stop Lovin' You"

by Mia

Sunday morning

quote #1:  "I'm really good at making songs up." 9:35am

quote #2:  "I didn't make it all up today."  9:36am

quote #3:  "It's a really long song."  9:37am

quote #4:  "I'm writing some more."  9:39am

picnik

So, I'm up late waiting for Haley to get back from her debate tournament in Gahanna Lincoln (wherever that is).  I have NO idea when they are supposed to be rolling in.  I am really tired - it's 11:00pm and she still hasn't called.  In an attempt to stay awake, I am playing around with Picnik.  It is very addictive.