Snug as a Bug

Nothing makes this quilt makin' mama happier than seeing my kiddos bundled up in things I've made. We've had some sickies around here for the past week, or so, and so the girls were hangin' out watching TV one morning (don't you love Addie's hair - it looks like that every morning!), both wrapped up in their favorite quilts.

You Know It's DIY Saturday when...

Your family room looks like this:


Your daughter is dressed like this (in a diaper, winter jacket, and Sunday shoes):


Your husband is dressed like this:


Newly tiled/painted/paneled laundry room coming soon!

Immense Satisfaction

What does it say about me that at 33 years old, I find such joy and satisfaction in a sparkly clean oven/stove? Am I really that old?

It took me several hours yesterday to finish, in between naps, playdates, birthday parties, and feeding my little ones, but I oh how I love it! It's almost as much fun as having a clean diamond.

And, yes, you'd better believe we ate out last night, only to prolong the satisfaction! So, let's hear it...what simple thing gives you immense satisfaction?

Number 1 or Number 2?

Something funny happened yesterday. It was one of those days that I wished was over almost before it began. It was terribly unproductive, aside from a few loads of laundry.

There is a little girl who lives down the street from us. She and Delaney have gone to school together for 4 years. They have been in the same class since they were two. Well, every other Thursday, either her mom or I, volunteer in our daughters' kindergarten class. We both have younger kiddos, so I watch Thomas while she is there and she watches Addie while I am there. Works perfect.

So, yesterday Thomas was at our house. He and I were playing Hess trucks in between me doing loads of laundry. He had gone to the bathroom, twice, at our house already. I'd helped him the first time, but he seemed to have everything under control, so he managed it alone the second time. The third time nature called, I was in the laundry room (right next to the bathroom). He called out, "Kelli, I have to go potty." "Okay, great, go ahead" was my response as I was up to my elbows in stain remover. Not 30 seconds later, I walk past the bathroom and there is my little 3 year old friend, pants down around his ankles, toilet seat up, peeing all over my floor. A nice big puddle in the only spot I don't have a rug. "No, no, no!" I yelped, but then I saw that reaction made him nervous, so I told him it was fine and proceeded to clean it up. It had literally splashed onto every surface. But, soon enough, the bathroom was clean and he had on new underwear and pants.

I walk back into the laundry room to keep spotting clothes (does Addison own a bib???) and not 5 minutes later, he comes in to tell me he has to go #2. Not wanting a repeat of last time, I hurry him in, help him hop on the seat, and leave him for a minute or two to take care of business. He yells to me that he is done, I help him finish up, get dressed, etc. I flush the toilet. What happens???

It's clogged

So, at this point I'm racing out the door to pick up kids from school, I have to wake Addie up to leave, Thomas' mom comes, and I explain to her, in 20 seconds why her son is wearing different clothes, etc. She mentions that sometimes he waits too long, and that was probably the problem. I completely understand...I've had a little boy who still continues to wait too long! But, as I am driving to school, I'm smiling thinking how now that my big kids are older, we haven't had an accident in a long time.

So, we get home, I unclog the toilet, Jackson has a friend over, we take Delaney to gymnastics, I start dinner, Jeff picks up Delaney on his way home from work, we have a pregnant single-mother and her children over for dinner, Jackson's friend stays for dinner, and the night is drawing to a close. Delaney then comes running to me saying,

"Mom, I had an accident. I need new pants".

Only 496 Days Late (to be exact)

Psst...Abby...look what I finally finished. Look for it in your mailbox within the week.

Please know how much I love you and how happy I am that you joined our family. I know I'm a slacker that it took me 16+ months to make you your quilt. (To be honest, yours got done before Addie's.) Just look at it as your almost 17 month old birthday gift.

Love you much!
Aunt Kelli

Daddy Love

Addison has decided to participate in the great Clark tradition of being a daddy's girl. Delaney was one, too, and Jackson was the ultimate daddy's boy. So, should I be surprised that Addison loves Jeff more than I?

When Jeff left an hour and a half ago (and he's still not to work yet, thanks to a big snow storm outside), Addison was in full tantrum mode, screaming and hanging onto the door knob. She then had to have her coat and hat on, over her jammies. I think she wanted to be ready for when he came back for her (wishful thinking!).

So, here she stands, and hour and a half later, still in her coat and hat, worn over her huggie-bear jammies.

And don't touch the zipper...she's keeping it on!

For Me?

Have you ever gotten a gift from your spouse, one you thought he/she actually got so they could own it? Have you ever given one? I'm guilty of it. I'm sure Jeff wasn't dying for the edger/trimmer I bought him for Father's Day two years ago. However, I love how neat and clean the line where the grass meets the sidewalk looks! So, yes, there was definitely a little something in there for me.

My birthday was in October. What did I ask for? An ipod home. A portable one that could go with me wherever I was in the house. What did I get? An ipod. I already have an ipod. I was starting to suspect that this was one of those, Jeff-wants-to-own-it-so-I-get-it-for-my-birthday things. When I asked why I would need another ipod, he begins telling me all the cool new features, none of which my dinosaur (circa 2007) ipod possesses. All I use it for is to listen to music, so the features were lost on me and so I assume it's mostly for him.

However, I have to admit I have loved it. I adopted it as my own (it is pink after all) and I love all the new things about it. One of my favorites? The video camera. It's been fun taking video when I haven't done it in years. Before this ipod, we had no video of Addie. Sad, I know. So, I know the blog is video heavy these days, I just can't help it. So, I eat my words and thank my husband for a gift I love - one he's rarely used.

Addison's latest obsession is Yo Gabba Gabba. This one is for her equally obsessed cousin Marc. For you parents who are familiar with it, you'll recognize her dancing to the opening sequence. It makes me laugh every time she does it, but then again, she's my kid, so I think everything she does is cute. (Except the temper tantrums I also have on video...they're not cute, but sure are funny...)





Oh, and for those who have asked, we are not headed to Utah this Christmas. We are home through Christmas morning and then we are headed to Charlotte to see our Clark family. Addie has never been down there, so we're excited to introduce her to all things fun at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We're driving, which is a first for us, but I think it'll be great. I feel like traveling during the holidays is an all day ordeal anyways, so why not drive all day?

Merry Christmas!