rainbow stripes

While sifting through some old photos, I came across this gem.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it.  We have laughed about how much Quinny loves her stripes.  Well maybe it's genetic.  The funny thing about this picture is I remember very well the day it was taken.  We didn't take very many pictures in our family and for some reason my dad was in a picture taking mood.  I think he took an entire roll of film of just Ricky and me.  We were outside doing whatever:  standing next to the lawnmower, swinging, chasing the rabbits, posing by the VW bug.  The important thing to note is that I was hugely proud of my attire.  I distinctly recall matching the shirt to the puffy flip flops.  I also thought the colors in the top perfectly blended with the pants.  Maybe Quinny and I have more in common than I thought!!

I think there is hope for Quinn.  Eventually I did outgrow this phase, but not before I went through a  blue eyeshadow phase or wearing boys jeans phase.  Let's just hope she doesn't take after Bob and go through a soccer shorts phase.  That lasted approximately four years of just soccer shorts.  Or worse, Shelle's Madonna phase!  Oh Shelle, what were you thinking?  It may take awhile, but Quinn will get there.  

14 things we love about robyn

It was a small celebration, but it had big heart!  Here are just a few of the things about Robynie that we love!

1.  She plays outside with me.

2.  She is my T.V. partner.  "Hey Mom, do you want to watch a show?"

3.  If you need help on the computer, she'll help you.

4.  She plays hangman with me.

5.  She is helpful.

6.  She lets me wear her makeup.

7.  She plays with me a lot.

8.  I like how she randomly starts counting in a foreign language.

9.  She is studious.

10.  She draws on the dry-erase board with me.

11.  I like the funny videos she shows me and stuff.

12.  She laughs a lot.

13.  She jumps on the trampoline with me.

14.  I like her sense of humor.

**Note:  This list was made by her loving brother, Eric, her adorable sister, Mimi, and her devoted Mother.  It is in no particular order.**

zoo reflection

Look at me,

chimpanzee!

The zoo was wonderful today!  This chimp came right up to the window to check us out.  You can tell by Mimi's smile that she was enjoying the encounter.  Our friends Donald and Joshua were in our little group.  Joshua informed us that he has been to the zoo one hundred times and that this was his "one hundred and oneth" time.  I think he really has been that many times because he was an incredible tour guide.  Thanks for a "roaring" day 1st graders!!

Weary Traveler

Our weary traveler has arrived! She made it safe and sound and got all tucked into her room. I was very happy to have ANYONE from my family in our AZ home. Welcome H.T. I hope you have a great stay. She's off to visit Gateway Academy this morning. I've gotta get making her lunch!

fashion

Quinny was very excited this morning when she announced that she once again had dressed herself.  She discarded last evening's nightgown for a clean pair of pjs.  Of course her main goal was to wear stripes and rainbows.  The headband is a colorful touch!

 The one part of this getup that I would like to eliminate is the diaper, which by the way, she put on herself.  I'm kinda thinking that if you can change your own diaper it's time to say farewell.

Robyn is sporting a lovely boot which has given her the nicknames of transformer and robot. Nice!

This morning I walked into the kitchen to find the easel void of any dry erase markers.  I asked Robyn where they all went.  She  didn't know.  It didn't take me too long to find out.

Mystery solved!

lunch and a show

 Eric was home 'sick' today.  The entertainment he provided at lunchtime was worth his truancy.  Not only was Eric joining us for lunch, but the Monson kids were here as well.  Addi was in heaven.

Talking about cars,

Baylor asked Eric, "How big is your engine?"

Eric being the 'burpee monster' brought on peals of laughter.

Baylor even delivered a joke.

How did the firefly start the race?

I don't know.  How did the firefly start the race?

Ready, set, glow!

posing and a letter (or two)

 I asked them to get dressed.  

They did.

They were very proud of their ensembles, especially Q.

She wears the Christmas (kimkims) socks every time they are clean.

 Dear Daddy,

Hi!  I love you, Dad!

Love, Quinny

 Dear Daddy,

Today I am going go to school on a rainy rainy rainy rainy rainy rainy rainy rainy rainy rainy day!  And I am going to bring my project to school.  I made a computer out of a cardboard box.  It has designs on it, and it has "love" and the peace sign on the back.  It has a little keyboard, screen, and mouse.  I am learning about recycling.  We are going to the zoo on a bus.  Mom is going with me on the bus.  We get to stay there for lunch.  We will get to see a lot of the animals.  I love you, Dad.  How are you doing?  What is the temperature?  

Your Daughter,

Mia

P.S.  Today is a special day for me.  It's a surprise.  I'll tell you later.

P.P.S.  Everybody is going to bring their project today.

no, haley, I don't think so

"This year has gone by so fast.  Don't you think so?"

q-tips and a bag

Mia was having a complete breakdown last night while trying to fall asleep.  She doesn't want to move.  She suggested that sometimes parents move and kids stay...hmm.  I found these Q-tips under her pillow this morning.  Maybe they were there to catch her tears.  That, or she has really dirty ears.

Here are the kiddos before the egg hunt.  Robyn opted out.  I didn't have the heart to tell Mimi that her basket was most likely in a dump somewhere - I found it in pieces awhile back.  Being the fabulous mother that I am, I let her search for it in vain.  She finally settled on using a sad Meijer grocery bag to do her egg gathering.  Like she really cares.  She's all about the candy!

easter

 Happy Easter!  This is the fun Peeps Sunflower Cake we made last night.  It was so easy!  We were all laughing saying that the peeps laid the eggs that fell to the bottom of the cake.  

 We went to "Maumee's Biggest Easter Egg Hunt" yesterday.  It was sponsored by Toledo's Calvary church.  It was insane!  The event was free, so people came out in droves.  It boasted over 60,000 eggs, face painting, inflatables, huge giveaways, pony rides, etc.  We were there about 2 hours.  We took away some fun memories, a little sunburn as well as a tiger and a butterfly - very cute.

 While waiting in line for the face painting, the kids ran to the wall and back several times to keep themselves entertained.

april showers

 It's Friday morning, the kids are home from school, and it's raining.  Quite a start to a long weekend.  I see them standing at the window and they remind me of the kids in The Cat in the Hat with nothing to do.  However, as I look around the room I see they have found a few things to do, like take every book off the shelves and bring down their pillows and blankets from their room to use as sleds on the stairs - oh, the giggles went on for quite some time during that adventure.  I think I am going to need a little help soon to get this place clean again.  Where is the Cat in the Hat and his fancy cleaning machine when I need him?  Soccer has been somewhat of a wash this season.  Their first two games were canceled because of rain.  I don't think I have ever looked forward to warm weather so much in my life as I do this year.  With it will bring new beginnings in many different ways, and I am welcoming all of it.  It has been a rather cold and dreary winter and I feel myself yearning for the changes like the kids yearn for their outdoor play.

 A superhero doing her reading.

Quinny found the toilet paper - dang it!  She used it do decorate the basement.

Luckily she just came and asked me if she could cut Mimi's hair.  She received a resounding NO! for an answer.  At least she asked me and didn't just do it!!

**Note:  It may look like I am biased with the pictures.  I am not.  The older kids are a little camera shy and not around as much.  I love them, even if they don't want to hear it all the time!  They are fantastic kids - I couldn't ask for better.  And they are the BEST older siblings to M and Q EVER!!

Still funny!!

Functionally-single-mother-of-five lag?

Robert - 
Again, for whatever reason, the computer won't let me leave a comment.  
You do know this is Haley, right?  I know it looks like me, but it is her sweater and her eyeshadow.  Honestly, do you really think I get to sleep while watching Q?  In my dreams...

-Kim

broadway, hitler, & popcorn pop

 Here's Eric at Fairfield's Spring Concert last night.  Of course the entire evening was fantastic, but I do think the 5th graders steal the show when they parade in through the aisles with their headdresses on.  I find the whole thing to be so enjoyable.  They sing and dance as well as do a little tinikling, a type of dance done with large bamboo sticks and set to music.  Mia and Quinny were my dates.  I would love to say Quinny was an angel, but let's face it, she's not.  I think she sat in her seat a total of 30 seconds.  Luckily we sat in the back and there weren't too many people around us.  She kept her constant jabbering to a loud whisper.

 Mia did one of my favorite things that kids do.  She gave herself a 'Hitler' hickey.  She sucked on a water bottle and now she looks like she has a red Hitler mustache.  It is not nearly at good as the one Haley gave herself in 7th grade (can anyone beat that one?), but it is still a good one.  These pictures don't show it very well, and she REALLY did not want me to take a picture of it.

 She was totally faking sleep.  She burst out laughing after 5 seconds of this.

 Haley was on the couch laughing the whole time we were talking about mustaches and water bottle hickeys.  She really did have the last laugh of the night, too.

 After I got the younger kids to bed, I had some popcorn and in my total laziness I asked Haley to get me a pop from the garage.  I heard a little commotion while she was getting it, but I didn't think anything of it.  She handed me the soda and I thanked her.  Oh, you're welcome, Mom.  I then opened it to a shower of coke.  Apparently she had dropped the can in the garage.  She thought this was extremely funny!  Luckily I still had my popcorn bowl with me to catch most of the pop.  In her defense, I don't think she knew this would happen.  It was kinda funny and I probably deserved it.  Next time I will get off my lazy rear end and get my own snacks.   

8:30am

Addi-Q:  Mom, can I have dessert?

Me:  Right now?  After breakfast?

Addi-Q:  Yes.

Me:  Uh, no.

Her reaction.

 Addi-Q:  I want dessert!

My day (about 2 weeks ago)

I woke up tired.

  

I had only gotten about _(number)_ hours of sleep.  

My friend _(famous person)_ took the snack I was supposed to bring into school (I wasn't feeling well).  

I went to _(place) _ and played monopoly on the i_(noun)_ 

After that I watched the _(random object)_ for a while.  

Then I played monopoly for _(number)_ more hours.  

At the end of the day, I read a(n) _(adjective)_ biography about _(person in room)_.   

Finally, I showered and went to _ (place)_.

--Eric--

                                                                                                      




                                                                                                 

a mimi memoir

Hi Dad!
It is Mia and I come in peace, and I am a space ranger.  (giggle giggle)  I like to change my face orange on pictures.  Are you a space ranger?  I'm just kidding.  (more giggling)  I like Harry Potter.  We went to church.  We watched movies at home.  Addi picked flowers that she was not supposed to.  They were purple that were in the backyard by the tree.  I got to wear hang-down earrings to church and I got to wear makeup too.  I FaceTimed with you and you got sleepy while we were FaceTiming.  I pretended the purple flowers were roses.  I told Mom and Robyn to smell them.  They smell good.  I used them as decorations.  The stems are falling off - seriously, all of them!?  Actually I am serious.  I am learning about energy in school.  I am learning about what things make energy and that energy is not free.  You have to pay for it to go in your house.  There are meters in your house that help you know how much energy you are using.  Coal can be used for energy.  Your body uses food for energy, just like animals.  Eric - I don't know what he is learning at school.  He still has the blocks at school, the blocks he got at Christmas, the 600 blocks.  He uses them at inside recess.  Mom is a space ranger.  I'm a space ranger.  We are all space rangers.  (he he) We come in peace.  At night we fly into the sky into space.  (he he)  We find aliens.  We say to people We come in peace, because we are space rangers.  We use pencils and paper, just like humans, to write.  We like to swim and we do a lot of exercise.  What are you doing?  Are you a space ranger?  I love you and goodnight!
Love, Mia

mom's lesson #9

Always use your own toothbrush.

If you cannot locate your own toothbrush, just ask for help!  I would be delighted to turn on my "mom" compass and help you out.  Under no circumstances do I want you using mine (Quinny)!  I am willing to share many things, but this is not one of them!

grocery store success = $1.03

You may be wondering HOW?  How did you do it, Kim?  I will tell you!  It was super-couponing!  It has changed my life.  Let me tell you all about the good news...  I jest, of course.  I tried couponing in 1993 with Karen - it didn't stick.  I even bought a cute little expandable wallet/organizer to hold all my wonderful coupons.  Wah-wah, I was a failure.  I'm a full price payer/shopper, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  Okay, maybe a little embarrassed at times, but certainly not ashamed.  I do look for sales, but if I need something, I just get it.  Okay, enough about that.

Back to the topic at hand.  Every time we go shopping Q wants to ride in the movie carts.

I don't like those carts for two reasons.  1.  Your kid(s) can climb out the front.  It's not cool when you don't see them get out and your first clue is hitting a kid-sized speed bump.  2.  They don't hold enough food.  Yeah, we buy that much food.  Well, today we didn't need that much food, so I told Quinny she could get one of those carts, IF she remained INSIDE!!!!  I thought this was going to be a disaster.  She doesn't remain inside anything (unless she is stuck, trapped, tied down, locked in, buckled, so on and so forth, you get the idea...)  Like I said, we didn't need that much food, let me tell you why.  We are in the process of eating everything in the house before we move.  So this week, instead of making our regular meal plans, I took a pad of paper and pen and headed to the basement.  Our menu for the next couple weeks looks a little like this:

Sunday - stir fry (frozen)

Monday - stir fry (leftover)

Tuesday - hot pockets

Wednesday - garden vege soup (canned)

Thursday - orzo salad

Friday - black bean burgers (from the freezer)

Saturday - penne pasta

Sunday - lasagna (frozen)

You get the idea.  It goes on like this for a solid two and a half weeks.  I also told the kids, much to their delight (yeah right), that I was not going to buy anymore cold cereal until all the instant oatmeal was eaten.  (Let the loud huffies and groaning commence!)  

So, there we were.  Quinny happily 'driving' her blue movie car and occasionally yelling things at me loud enough for the store to hear.  The speakers inside the car must be a little louder for her than they seem outside.  I was speedy.  I don't like grocery shopping.  I had a list.  I was focused.  I did get one strange look from a lady in the cheese section.  In my head, I said what are you looking at?  Out loud, I smiled.  Then I realized Q was grabbing cheeses and breadsticks and loading up the driver's seat.  Okay, maybe I should have been paying more attention to what she was doing and spending less time telling people off in my head.

We got to the checkout aisle and Quinn hadn't gotten out of the car once!  I was shocked.  It took everything she had at this point to stay in the cart, however, because right in front of us was Sandy, Meijer's mechanical horse.  If there is one thing Quinn asks for more than the movie carts, it's to ride the horse!  I couldn't believe it, but she waited until we were done paying and it was her turn to ride the horse.  I know this is silly, but I don't normally let her ride it.  I am usually spent (emotionally, physically, and monetarily) by this time and all I want to do is go home, so this was a real treat for her.  Not only did she get to ride, she got three pennies to put in it!!  Our successful outing was punctuated by Quinny riding the horse while waving her burpee around in the air and leaning back like she was doing horse tricks. This was our exchange...

Quinn:  He Ha

Me:  Ye Ha

Quinn:  No, it's HE HA

Me:  Are you riding Sandy?

Quinn:  I'm riding Sammy the llama, and she's a horse.

The cart cost me $1.00 and the llama/horse ride was $0.03.  It may not have been super-couponing, but it was super-successful and super-fun!

mom's lesson #8

If you feel the need to whisper because I am in the room, you should probably think about what you are conniving and not do it.

This mostly happens when neighbor kids are around, so in an effort to protect the not-so-innocent, I am not including any of the other fellow whisperers in the photo or what may or may not have happened.  However, even as I write this, I hear the hushed tones of plotting going on behind me.

she woke up with five...

....baby teeth, and now she is down to three!

I wasn't sure what the dentist would do yesterday when I took Robyn to be evaluated.  I should have known from past experience that Dr. Pero was just going to gas her up and pop out the teeth lickety-split!  Check out those baby teeth!  They had roots a mile long and they weren't budging.  They were really starting to perturb her adult teeth that were trying their best to make their debut.  Congratulations Robyn, two more baby teeth steps to adulthood!

spring

Better late than never.....

By this time last year spring had definitely srpung.

It is a little reluctant this year, but it is determined and we are patient.

We are finally seeing and feeling the first signs that maybe at long last our dreary winter has come to an end.

It is not a second too early.  

We have track meets and soccer games galore!  Some nice mild weather would be welcomed by a grateful mother who has to spend countless hours on the sidelines....

treasures

Each morning as I make the bed

I lift the pillow and am greeted by treasures

What will they be today?

A marvelous rock,

A favorite book,

A beloved doll or piece of jewelry?

All placed lovingly, securely by a cherubic little hand

Items that are gently lulling her into slumber

Goodnight

What all did we swim with?

Water park soup. What's in it? Who knows, pass the chlorine!!! OK, I have to admit, I think water parks are on the disgusting side. I mean, there are a lot of people in that water who either don't have control over their bodily functions, or who don't care to control them. And there are many cracks and crevasses which probably don't have the best regular hygiene, but are nonetheless bathed in the common water park soup. I just try to forget the little microbiology I remember and have a good time. Usually, it works, and I haven't gotten sick that I know of from any of our many trips to water parks. But, for your viewing pleasure, I've included a little photo I snapped of what was seen on our hotel room toilet seat after returning from the water park. The carrier? Kim's leg!!! A random bandaid stuck to it and was left on the toilet seat as a little reminder of the fact that we all swim in scary waters!! Aside from all that, the trip was awesome!!

{Dear Robert,}

Since the computer won't let me comment on this post for some reason, I am adding my comment here.  This was one of the most disgusting things that has happened to me at a water park.  

Okay, not as gross as having to catch Mimi's poop in my bare hand, but that's a story for a different post...

And maybe not as embarrassing as having Haley vomit in a Ziploc while standing poolside, also a story for another day...

And it was pretty sick having to dodge puke on the stairs of one of the slides one time...

Anyway, I thought we agreed when the band-aid incident happened that we would never speak of it again??? 

By the way, I think I saw no less than ten band-aids in the pools at Kalahari.
{From, Kim}