H.A.P.P.Y.

Just so you know, I do feel guilty about not blogging. I do think about it often. I should really blog today. I should upload my photos some day. Well, dear friends, that day is today. My kids are currently in their rooms bouncing on their beds while they should be napping. But I will get my blogging done. So, to catch you up to speed in the life and times of Russell, party of 4....

We celebrated birthdays

by eating cake,
naturally.

Oh, and 500 ball pit balls (great idea by Chris- Andy loved it!)

*
*
*

He learned to peddle.
Fast.

He learned to walk.
I miss the bear crawl already.


He passed the bar exam.
And wrote chapter one of his novel.



I reupholstered a chair (all by myself!) this week
Next project: paint my kitchen chairs.


*
*
*

We are so happy.

I am not sure if it's the fact that we are done with school,

putting down roots
and planning to be somewhere long term,that I am done nursing,


or that we just got these amazing bookshelves.



No matter the reason, we feel truly blessed.

*
*
*

1st day of preschool

My Fave

Mom, Dad, anyone else who still reads this blog. Sorry to lead you on and get your hopes up that I had become an amazing blogger. I just can't commit to that. Hopefully, tonight or one day soon I will upload pictures off of my camera and blog a few. In the mean time. I found this amazing website. Hayley C. and Mom- you will love this if you haven't already come across this!

http://www.thepartydress.net/?cat=69

Mondays

It's Monday. And I am cleaning. In a skirt. After the chaos that is Saturday and Sunday around here, my house is trashed by Monday morning. As I was scrubbing the floor this morning in a skirt (too hot for pants and no clean shorts deemed it a skirt day) I couldn't help but feel like Cinderella. Come on, I am sure you do too.

Cinderelly, Cinderelly
Night and day it's Cinderelly
Make the fire, fix the breakfast
Wash the dishes, do the mopping
And the sweeping and the dusting
They always keep her hopping
She goes around in circles
Till she's very, very dizzy
Still they holler

Keep a-busy Cinderelly!

Worth EVERY penny

Andy is sick. Still. My aid in sanity, Boogie Wipes. They are made with saline so they dissolve the mucus. No more scrubbing boogers off a screaming baby's face! It gets better. They are alcohol free and moisturize with vitamin E, aloe and chamomile. It is so heart breaking to have to take a tissue to your baby's bright red (some times cracked or bleeding) nose. Andy honestly starts to cry the minute he sees me reach for the tissue box. He still fights getting his nose wiped, but at least I know that it isn't actually causing him pain with these Boogie Wipes.

I first tried these when we went to Mall of America for the New Years' Eve bash. Andy got really sick on the drive up. Being the bad mom that I am, we went along with plans as normal since he was only 4 months old and was going to (hopefully) sleep in his infant carrier most of the night. We made a pit stop on the drive up to Minneapolis and I sent Chris in to buy every medication that was available for a baby this age (which, as you know, is not saying much). He came back to the car with these. I asked how much they were. I think he said like $4. I scoffed and said that was ridiculous. I eat my words, friends. They have saved all of us many tears each time Andy gets a bad cold. Sanity, now available, for $4 at your local Walmart.


No, I do not receive a commission for any purchases generated by this blog post. Yes, I am aware that this post did sound like a advertisement. What can I say? They really work:)

My randomness

We are sick around here. Andy first on Monday, then me on Tuesday. I was better by Friday just in time- Nate woke up sick (and Andy is STILL sick!) Currently he is lying in my bed while I am birthday gift shopping for Andy (this Thursday, yay!) I am pretty sure Nate is delusional from the fever as he just asked what that basket was on my head and if it was Brynn's..... anyway, point of this post was that I came across these little gems while looking for a play tunnel on Ikea's website.

Flatware made of stainless steel for $6!!

10 pc set made of stoneware for $10!!

So... if you are like me and start thinking about Christmas shopping when everyone else is thinking back to school shopping (no, I don't finish by September, yes I do like to start brainstorming and start looking- really, I just can't resist) here is the link to check out all of their digs:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/childrens_ikea/10401/

My Boys

(4th of July Fireworks at Klode Park)

(new beach we just found down the street on Saturday)

I love this guy because he never complains when I put my cold feet on his warm ones in bed at night. And on Saturday when I ran a stop sign and then stopped when there wasn't a stop sign he just smiled. Didn't say a word. That's love.






(Youngblut Farm on Thursday)(Bay something park aka the new park on Saturday)
I love this guy because he says things like, "Momma, that lady must drink a whole lotta milk. She's HUGE! Lookather. See that lady, Momma? Yep. She drinks a laaaah-da milk. Haha HUGE!" (we were outside grilling as the woman walked by, in our apartment complex which means she is probably a neighbor which means I will probably see her again which means when we do Nate will say, "hey, there's the lady that drinks a laaaah-da milk")








I love this guy because he is weaned and sleeping through the night!! And he is fearless! Chris was in the kitchen with him Sunday morning and was pulling bacon out of the oven (yes, we bake it. Thanks to Brooke O. teaching me that nifty trick I have not been burned by bacon grease splatter in years). He has his back turn for literally 30 seconds. When he turned back around Andy was on the table, with the kitten... probably both licking the syrup bottle, I don't know I wasn't there but it's a good guess around my house. And every time we are at the beach he crawls full speed ahead into the water. I swear if I didn't jump up and catch him right before he hit the water he would probably just start to doggy paddle and keep going... but I don't want to test it.






I have a good life.

Next weekend we will be celebrating anniversary #6 in Nauvoo.

Sweet Corn

It's ready!

Every summer for the last 8 years my parents have grown their own sweet corn. The first crop (stalks have multiple ears of corn that ripen at different times) is usually ready at the end of July and then we harvest for 2 or so weeks after that. When I lived at home,I pretty much hated it, but we got to keep 1/2 of whatever we sold each day. Typical morning: get up around 6, eat breakfast, put on jeans, long sleeves and "corn picking shoes" (aka old sneekers that can get nice and muddy), and get out in the field. First we would pick for the truck. Fill the entire back of a pick-up. One brother would push the wheel barrow and one person would pick on each side. The way I remember it, the corn was so wet with dew that I would be soaked by the time we were done. The field so muddy my shoe would come off because it was stuck in the mud. I could wring out my dew-filled shirt if I wanted to take it off and risk getting cut by the corn leave (like paper cuts all over your arms) and it's Iowa so it's insanely hot and humid. I hated it. Then after we picked for the truck we had to pick anything that my mom wanted to freeze that day. If I was selling I would have to come in the house and shower quickly and get out the door to drive 20 minutes into town where I would park the truck, set up signs and sit until I sold out.

I have been out of the corn picking rotation for a few years for pregnancies and living out of state but I made the trek back to do my familial duty once again. Honestly, I can't figure out what the big deal was. It is such a quiet, simple work. I would walk and talk with my dad and brothers as we picked. Then, by myself, I shucked and cleaned all the corn my mom needed for 2 days and then helped her cut it off the cob while she cut, cooked and bagged it (oh and watched my kids so I could help out). I could almost say it was relaxing, peaceful. Maybe that is what motherhood has done to me. Anything where I can sit down for an hour, even if I am shucking corn the entire time, seems pretty nice to me! It's also pretty gratifiying to learn another self sufficiency tool. Thanks for letting me help and teaching me how to freeze corn, Mom. My children too will never be able to eat corn out of a can or from a store because they have tasted the candy that is your freezer corn.

Mom's Freezer Corn

20 cups corn (cut it off the cob uncooked)
1/2 cup butter
"a bit" of water

Bring to a boil for 5 minutes
** Add sugar if desired.... and it's always desired around our house :)

Mom, you will have to chime in and say how much sugar because my recipe card doesn't say.

I really should have seen this coming......


Yesterday morning I did my errands on my run. I loaded up the stroller with dry cleaning, and FHE lesson I need laminated, and my stuff for the post office. I had never tried to do this while running before. It was a success! I was at my last stop. The post office.
I was frantically trying to get my stuff shoved into a flat rate box and get it addressed. The kids are screaming, throwing snacks. One of the post office workers came to my aid. He was talking with Nate ("do you know what a stomach looks like? How long are intestines?"- Nate) and then Nate asked the male clerk, for obvious reasons, "Are you going to have a baby?"
I just pretended that I didn't hear and continued writing the address on the box, proceeded to the clerk, and got out of there! Fastforward 8 hours to last night. We love to go to the zoo Wednesday nights. Nate's favorite things at the zoo: rocking out to the live band, the dairy barn (where they have a milk truck he can play in) and the domestic house cat. I am ready to go. We decide to make one last stop at the Bird House. Chris is pointing to a bird in a nest trying to get Nate's attention, but Nate was looking at a woman behind us. He stared at her for a second then said, loudly,
"Is she going to have a baby?"
"Nate, look at this bird!"
"Dad! Is she going to have a baby?"
Without looking, but very aware who Nate was speaking of, Chris answers, "No, Nate. See that bird up there?"
" DAD! That momma right there. Is SHE going to have a baby?"
At that point we just booked in out of the exhibit, humiliated but trying to hold in laughter. I think I have reached the point of no return. It is no longer safe to go in public.

Thank you, Mom!

Last weekend my family was here for the 4th and my mom stayed for an extra week to do projects with me. How lucky am I? Well, the week got to a slow start... we did some shopping at fun places I have spotted since I moved here, but wanted a girlfriend to go with, but we got the one main big project done that I could not do- reupholster my garage sale chair. This summer we went to a couple of garage sales in search for a cheap chair to reupholster. We struck out and then right before calling it quits my mom said, let's try one more. We did and found this cute chair for $15. The fabric was ugly, but the frame was in good shape and the foam was like new. Sold. I bought the fabric from Jo Ann's.... (after moving to Milwaukee I would call my mom every few days and beg her to check and see if my fabric was on sale and when it finally went on sale we bought everything they had- which wasn't enough so I had to track more down).
So she worked like crazy at night and while the boys were napping so that she could play good grandma during the day. She's amazing. I am so lucky to have her has a friend and mom. We had such a good time. One night at 11pm while working on it she said, "Let's quit and watch Confessions of a Shopaholic". So we did! And then just got right back up and worked again the next day. I love you mom! I wish you lived closer. I do love when you come do my projects for me:) and teach me how to do things (I think I will be able to do the next one....) but I really just love spending time with you! Thank you for an amazing, beautiful chair. I just love it and every time I look at it I think of you!

Birthday Boy

Today is Nate's birthday. The last year of his life we have moved 3 times (to Milwaukee, back to Iowa City, and back to Milwaukee), had a baby, got a cat (more on that to come). He too survived all 3 years of law school with me. He's my buddy. He is the one who is helping me get through this move. Last night he hugged me and said, "mom, you're my bestest friend". He immediately went and hugged the cat and said the same thing, but I won't let it phase me. I love this little boy through and through and had loved having him in my life the last 3 years. What a Birth DAY is for a 3 year old:
Wake up to decorations and mom making homemade cinn rolls (ask for recipe- SO GOOD! Thanks Aunt Shelley!!)
Go to the Children's Museum with Gaga (Chris's mom came in town last night to spend the day with us)
Go get lunch at BK so that he could get "a toddler toy"
Nap, yes even BD boys need naps
We were suppose to go to the pool next, but it was too cold so we played with his new super soakers instead. Best water gun for a toddler! You put the gun on this base that fills the water in 15 seconds then you push a button to release it and pull the trigger, not over and over again like some of the water guns that are hard for kids his age to work.

We had planned to go out to dinner, but Nate wanted Spaghettios. Can't argue with the birthday boy! So he did and then we had cake and ice cream. I am finally finding time to blog while Nate is doing "movie night" with Chris.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers, emails, phone calls and text messages the last month. We were a bit overwhelmed with traveling a lot (state soccer tourney, visit Dazi when she returned to the US, Caden's baptism) while trying to unpack, marathon train (SO time consuming!) and get settled and now we are gearing up for all of my family minus Brian (tear) coming here for the 4th of July weekend, then one more trip back to Iowa, the Bar exam and things should slow down.. by then we will be in to August and getting ready for Nate to start preschool. WHERE DID SUMMER GO?! So that is what my deal has been. I am not falling apart, it is just crazy busy around here! Love you guys!

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

-Helen Keller

I have heard that by last blog post has bummed some people out, even brought some to tears. I want you to know, we survived the move. We miss our friends and family, but Milwaukee is starting to feel like home. So.... I'm back.

We moved.
We are adjusting.
It's hard.

We did it!

Mom

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. You are fabulous!

I love to swing

Really. I do. I love to swing. I can remember swinging on a rope swing at my grandparent's house (that my grandpa made- a flat board drilled with two holes for the ropes to attach). The swinging path was perpendicular to the driveway and I often would swing and my feet would hit our car and I would push off of it. The only people that can probably understand what I am talking about are the few that have done it-my cousins. I would going on dates with Chris and we often ended up at a park or elementary school and would swing and talk. Now that I think about this, I really miss doing this... After we were married, Chris's parents put up a porch swing which is where I am usually found every Sunday afternoon from May- October. My favorite place at my parent's house is their swing under the tree. I love to swing high. Feel the wind in my face on the downswing. Close my eyes on the upswing pull. Enjoy feeling weightless. Carefree.

If my kids got only one thing from me,

I am glad it is my love for swinging.

Guilt

Dear friends,
I know you love me and mean well, but please, please stop giving me delightful goodies like these (homemade Oreos- award winning- by MIL Trudy). I have no willpower. I eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner until they are gone. NO MORE GOODIES. Okay, maybe one or two, but not a hole Tupperware container full!
Love,
Your marathon-training friend

Happy May Day

Recently I read it a book that May baskets were decorated and made extra special as a sign of affection and delivered secretly to your crush. If your crush caught you delivering the basket, he got to kiss you. This was news to me. Maybe that is why I didn't get my first kiss until I was 16...

I am going to risk jinxing it and declare that Spring is here! While walking to the movie store (we walk there so often Nate thinks ever time we go for a walk we are going to the movie store) I spotted a 3 headed Dandelion. Freak of nature, indeed.














Chris finished law school this week. I told him the night before it felt like Christmas Eve. The next day I picked him up from his last final. When we were walking into the house it feel very much like bringing a new baby home from the hospital- the start of something new, a new beginning. Or, to take a line from Bride Wars, it was like I was dead and graduation was the start of my life. So I guess technically right now I am dead (as we really don't graduate until the 16th). Okay, so I am being a little dramatic but I know you know what I am talking about. We have had fun the last 6 years of marriage, but we have talked so much about what we would do when we are done with school, making plans and dreams- and now we get to start living them! Goodbye, giant R2D2 that is the Iowa Law School. You will probably not be missed.....
Chris and Nate camped out that night to celebrate. Who is this guy? At the end of semesters past, Chris would have played Halo all night with his buddies in celebration. Now he takes his son camping for the first time even though rain is forecasted. What a guy. We are so lucky.
Next adventure is back up to Waterloo/Hudson ( I was there all last week with BRIAN! That needs a whole post dedicated to that) Mike is coming home and the infamous Hudson garage sales are this weekend. I really want to find some accent chair to reupholster for our new apartment.

Happy May Day!