Artistic Genius....a shameless brag.....

Let me tell you about this picture....Marinne loves this sketch toy. She had a baby version when she turned 2, then last year we upgraded her to this bigger one. She draws on it nearly every single day. So much so, that it's falling apart. (see the weird black splotchies above the letters MZ.

Now, as a person who has a degree in Early Childhood Education, I was FLOORED when the Princess brought me this picture she had drawn. The only reason she brought it to me was that she asked me to draw a picture of our doggie, Barclay. (which I did...it's the 3rd figure from the left....and that was hard in such a small space!)

So, why was I surprised? Well, if you know about art and child development, there are many things about this picture that are remarkable for a child of only 3 years old to accomplish.

First, she has included a "ground line" in her picture by actually scribbling to indicate where the ground is. Then, she included a "sky line" in her picture, provided by drawing the sun and placing it in the proper location in relation to what she drew.

In addition, her people have more than just a basic circle and dots. She has provided faces, bodies, arms and hair (on the adults.)

When she brought it to me, she told me that this was our "Family" and she drew Daddy, Momma, L, J, G and herself, but she needed me to draw our dog. I was impressed to see that she actually drew the right number of people (6) and that her 3 older brothers are actually "above" her. Like she is littler than them. She "gets" that. (although, she is known for calling them her "friends" as much as she calls them her "brothers.") And that's ok with me!

And lastly, she said that the MZ was her name. She recognizes that her name begins with a "M" and she is quick to point out "that's my name" anywhere she sees the "M." Such as the Macy's sign or at McDonalds. She recognizes that her name starts with an "M." I think that's pretty smart!

So what does all this mean? Well, if you look here, you can see that some of what she is doing is in the Schematic Stage of Art Development. And the typical age for that is between 5 and 8 years old. (and she's not yet Four at the time she drew this!) I'm telling you, she a genius!!

And I'm not a big prejudiced!! (ha ha ha!)

A MIRACLE HAS OCCURED IN OUR HOUSEHOLD!!!!

I'd like to announce that after 12 years of changing diapers nearly NON-STOP...

(about a 6 month break between Jensen and Griffin, way back in 2002!!)

WE HAVE A DIAPER FREE HOUSEHOLD!!!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!

WAY TO GO, MARINNE!!!!

Overheard in my house......

So, Ike was playing with our puppy, Barclay, tonight.

He's playing with him, getting him all wired and riled up. It's hilarious to watch, because Barclay thinks he's so much "bigger" than he is!

Well, they are playing tug of war with a mitten found abandoned on the floor. And once Barclay finds something we want him to give to us, he thinks it's great fun to play "keep away" or "tug of war" with us!! Sometimes, he gets so excited, he'll growl when we try to take it.

So, Ike says, " Oh, Barclay...your so vicious!!"To which Marinne replies, "Momma, Barclay is so DELICIOUS!!!!!!"


No, my darling daughter...
...YOU are the one who is DELICIOUS!!!!!

That's NEWS to ME!!

So, Marinne informed me today that she was going to school to see her teacher, Miss Mary.

Ummm....that's news to me!!

I.M.A.G.I.N.A.T.I.O.N.!

Too Cute!

So, we are sitting at the table and Marinne says,

"Mommy, when I get big I want to be a bean-a-reena!"

Me: "You want to be a ballerina?"

Marinne: "Yes. A pink ballerina."


Oh...to know she has dreams......what a gift. (and so cute!)

(remember she just turned three at the end of December...)

Can't you just tell she feels like crud?!?!

My poor sick baby girl......
...she wanted to cover up with my sweater!! Isn't that so sweet?!?!
And I gladly took it off and gave it to her.
Whatever makes you feel better, my Princess.....

Explore your world, my darling.....

...and I hope you find all your looking for!

I love my daughter, you know I do...but she's gonna be the death of me......

....seriously!


Have you ever had a day like this one?


So, today is payday. I have to pay the bills. Especially the ones that are due Monday. With online bill-pay, there is a one-business day wait to get the bill paid, sometimes more.

So, I sit down w/ the pile of bills, my computer and the checkbook to get the job done. My princess is next to me and wants to draw. I give her some scratch paper and she draws contentedly on it. As time passes, I look at her and instead of drawing on her paper, she's drawn her version of "smiley face" on the middle of my bill book.........
Although, I'm happy she's a genius and can draw a smiley face at just over 2 1/2 years old. I'm still a little upset with her, but not mad. No biggie. I take her pen and tell her to go watch tv with brother while momma finishes the bills.....

(crucial mistake on mommy's part, assuming 2 1/2 year old will watch tv with brother and not get bored and not get into trouble........
I even checked on her and she was watching the show....but alas, she had already colored all over herself, I just couldn't see it because she had her back to me......)



The next thing I know, it's awfully quiet in my house........
this is NEVER A GOOD SIGN!!!!



I go to check on her and find her....covered from head to toe in a mess of hot pink, dark green, pink, red, purple and peanut butter.
Yes, I did say peanut butter.
And she had a poopy diaper to top it all off with.


I immediately put her in the bathtub. Honestly, at this point, I am so used to her doing this kind of thing I almost found it to be humorous and I am sure I would have, if she hadn't had the peanut butter. (this girl will color on the wall, her bed, the floor, the furniture, pretty much wherever she can....any time she gets a marker or pen or pencil or crayon she knows she's not supposed to have!!! The boys would do this, but after once doing it and being disciplined, they pretty much didn't do it. But Marinne, no Marinne just keeps on going.......)


When I found her with the peanut butter, I was very upset. Good luck getting that grease out of the carpet!
(and I'm sure you are asking how she got the peanut butter, well...her brothers had eaten it on toast for breakfast and left it out when they went to school. And somehow, I had not noticed it. Don't ask me how I didn't. And they left the lid off with a butter knife in it.)


Immediately after the bath, I fed M and G lunch. And Big Daddy came home to eat lunch. He say Marinne's stained belly and said, "Well, I see she's been busy today!"


Well, the more I thought about it....the only marker she had was red.....and now we have all these "unaccounted for" colors on her body.


And all of a sudden it hit me.......MY SCRAPBOOK DESK!!!!

OH, CRAP!!!!!


So, I ran downstairs and found the BIGGEST MESS!!


Big daddy came downstairs when I screamed. I was so furious and upset and furious and upset!!! I know she's only 2 and I know I wasn't watching her as closely as I should have....but she KNOWS she is not allowed to be in my scrapbook area. She knows she's not allowed!


I literally laid on the couch downstairs and sobbed.

Sobbed for the mistake I had made.

Sobbed for not watching better.

Thankful she didn't get hurt.

Sobbed for the products I love, now ruined.

Sobbed for the things I love, wasted.

Sobbed for all my hard work, destroyed.

Sobbed for the HUGE mess to clean up.

Sobbed for a reallllllly bad day.


Big Daddy really tried to comfort me. He was very sweet.
Then, he started cleaning up for me.
(therefore, I didn't get a good picture of some of the mess....)


******************

So, here's the best I can piece together what she did.....


#1- TRASHED this brand new Stampin' Up! stamp.

(so very.......devastating!!!)



#2 - RUINED my beloved Color Box cat's eye chalk ink.

Hunter green shown here.....this is the ink that was ALL OVER her body!!!!! Apparently, when she pulled it apart....she just got it EVERYWHERE!!!!!

.....I later found Warm Red and Pink, ruined as well!!


As bad as that is, that was not the worst part....

The worst part is #3- She RUINED the 3 1/2 hours of work, I had done on this custom altered frame for a client. I was only lacking a ribbon, a stamped word and gluing some pearls on it. It was seriously almost done, now completely ruined....

The entire thing would need to be completely re-done, including being repainted to cover the pink and green fingerprints all over it!!! Argh!!! (It took 5 coats to cover it!)


Along the way, she found this scrapbooking marker that belongs to Logan. (Thank goodness, because Logan's marker is water-based, if it had been mine, it would be archival.)


After finding it, she colored on the ceramic tile, the grout, the carpet and eventually, all over her self, including both hands!!!!!


How do I know this, you ask?!


Because I found THESEhot pink handprints all the way up the stairs!!!!


Each stair had at least one, sometimes 2 handprints on each stair. That's 12 stairs x 1 or 2 hand prints = 15 hand prints!!

(It took me an 1 1/2 hours on my hands and knees, scrubbing these little hand prints off each and every stair!)


Big Daddy pointed out to me that it looked kinda artsy, with all the pink handprints everywhere. Kinda like a hot pink Monkey went nuts in our house. (well, someone was going nuts...and I think it was ME!!!!)



Here are the pics from the Purple embossing powder mess........my scrapbook table w/ all the purple powder that was stuck into adhesive residue and wouldn't vacuum up.


My kick booty Dyson, which my darling hubby used to suck up my BRAND NEW jar of embossing powder that was everywhere!

----------->
Super THANKFUL to have this Dyson!!

Check out what it sucked up off the table, my chair and the carpet!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, she eventually made her way upstairs....leaving the HOT PINK MONKEY HAND PRINTS behind.......and went to the kitchen......

<--------and
found this!

<------See the green
ink on the counter!!!

She took this peanut butter and the knife and went to this Princess chair.....

(see the peanut butter and ink stains!)

....and she began to smear peanut butter down her legs and on her feet.


What in the world would possess a child to do this!?!?!?!


Here is where the peanut butter go into the carpet.....it still has a stained look to me......but we won't be replacing it.
This carpet is ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD!!!!!


And while I did clean up, I had put Marinne to bed for her nap. She knew she was in trouble....and she cried herself to sleep. That's why she's all sweaty!


Then, when I went back upstairs when I was finished I found these Diet Coke's from our lunch. One was mine, one was Big Daddy's. Both were full.

It probably sounds dumb, but these Diet Coke's reminded me....I am not alone. Although, I do spend a lot of time alone (meaning without adult interaction.) But, I am not alone. I need to always remember that I am lucky to have a partner by my side. Trying to comfort me. {hugs} Trying to cheer me up. {pink monkey} Helping me pick up the pieces. {read: vacuuming up a million tiny pieces of powder} But most of all, being sensitive to what happened and not lecturing me for not watching her more closely. I am lucky.

CAN YOU BELIEVE SHE DID ALL THIS IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES!?!?!?!?

3 cat's eye chalk inks $5.97

1 jar of Ranger eggplant embossing powder $4.99

1 frame, 3 papers, lots of ribbons, paint, adhesive $10.65

Stampin' Up! Stamp set $15.00

Cleaners for carpet, table $7.99

Entire box of Baby Wipes to get ink off stairs $4.97

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser $2.99

Previously purchased Dyson Vacuum $499.00

This entire experience........PRICELESS!

Momma! I miss a bus!!


Every single morning this little Angel "misses" the bus. It's so innocent and somewhat pitiful. I feel so bad for her. She wants to go to school so badly.


When her 2 big brothers go out to the bus stop in front of our house, she watches them from the door or window. And when they get on the bus and begin to drive away,
she turns and says, "Oh, NO! Momma! I miss a bus!!!!"

And, she's so serious. At first it was hard not to laugh, but now, well now it's just sad.

Our Morning Ritual....

When our little Princess started getting up at 7am, even on the weekends, we started bringing her into our bed. Well, 6 months later, this is our everyday ritual. Now that school is back in session, it's hard to spend as much time doing this. But, especially on the weekends, we are able to really be lazy and slow about getting up. And we love it!

We share a lot of silliness, tickles, love and laughter.

And sometimes Griff will join us, too!!!



After all these years, there's still a lot of love here!

{My Little Student}




So, Griffin started Pre-K this week. Here he is w/ his
backpack in tow, ready to head to the preschool.

Here my big boy is in front of his school. It's a private school. It was the best I could find.....it's a NAEYC Accredited school. (this is like Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa that I used to teach at --and like Savannah Country Day) I was teaching at Riverfield while we were going thru the accreditation process. As a teacher, I remember exactly how strict and stringent the requirements were to receive this accreditation. So, I feel certain that this Pre-K program will be able to provide Griffin with an excellent environment for
his learning and educational and social growth this year. (I only wish we could afford to send Marinne, as well.
She really wants to go to school, too!!
So much so, she beat Griffin to the door!!!)


Once he was in the door, he headed straight down
the hallway to his classroom.

I was so proud of how "big" he was! He went straight to the door and after a final kiss and a hug from Mommy, he went right in. If he hadn't been to school before, this one final look would have sent me running to this.....

I thought this was a very nice touch! (man, I love this school!)


But, alas, I was too worried about getting home in a hurry to get THIS PRINCESS

home for her nap!! Due to the Pre-K schedule, it's throwing a monkey wrench into Marinne's very long napping schedule. (She's used to taking a 3+ hour nap, from like 1pm till after 4pm every day!) And now we don't get her in bed till about 1:15pm and I have to wake her at 3:15pm to run back to the preschool and pick up Honey. (Have I ever told you that's what she calls Griffin? She almost never calls him Griffin, it's always Honey.)

Poor baby girl is so disoriented when I rush in and wake her, but she actually seems to be taking it all in stride. She will take her paci and throw it in her bed and smile and say,
"Go get Honey now?"


And, we do.

PEACE and QUIET

That's what we have at our house.....
PEACE and QUIET!

The big boys went to church camp with their cousins and uncle Randy in Arkansas. Griff went home with Gramma and Grampa. The only child we have here is Marinne, who seems to be having some anxiety about being here alone. She is GLUED to me....freaking out if I walk out of the room and especially losing it when I went to my appointment earlier, while daddy came home to watch her. She is shunning daddy in favor of me. As much as I love that she wants/needs me....it is stressing me just a little and I hate it that she's hurting daddies feelings. Luckily, he takes it all in stride. She is such a 2yr old!

We go to Tulsa this weekend to pick them up....
...so until then....
PEACE and QUIET!!!!

Signs of Spring....

Caterpiller!

Looooove this pic!

--------->

Isn't this sweet?

This is our Redbud tree from in front of our house. Isn't it beautiful?

I've really enjoyed being able to look at it from our formal living room. It's directly out our big front window.

And look what we found while studying the tree....

A Robin's nest......
so Jensen climbed the tree and discovered we had 3 eggs. (yes, I made sure he didn't touch!)

And just this week........
we have 3 BABIES!!!

(photo by Jensen.... sorry the pic isn't great, but in his defense, he was hanging 7 feet off the ground and trying to take the pic!!)

Lookee what we did yesterday....

What do you get when you take 2 parents, throw them into 80 degree weather w/ 4 kids hovering underfoot, working for almost 11 hours straight on an $750 apperatus that says in the instructions, estimated time for assembly 3-6 hours?

Our rockin' new playset for the kids!!!!

This thing is AWESOME!!! It has 2 swings, a disc swing, a pirate ladder, a sandbox, 2 rock walls, a slide, a periscope, a steering wheel and a clubhouse w/ the sunshade!! It looks so fun, shoot, I wanna play on it!!!!

Griff and Marinne had to try it out!!!

While Ike and I were building, we realized that the entire time we lived in Savannah, we never, ever sat in our back yard. Not once. The mosquitoes are just tooooo bad!!!

(Editor's Note: I think the instructions were meant to say 3-6 days.... 'cause that's how long it felt like it took to built that thing!!!!)

And, while I was taking the pictures....I realized I hadn't really shown much of our new house. So here ya go.....

Here is a shot from out near the swing set.....showing our tri-level deck/patio off the back of the house. The top level has a built-in gas grill and a beautiful view (see later pics...) Then, you go down the stairs to the pool deck, then finally down the stairs to the covered patio.

Looking from the upper deck down to the pool.


Another view off the top deck....beautiful!

Looking from the bottom patio, out to the swingset and to the left, up to the pool. In case you can't tell, our yard is HUGE!!! And, this is only one half of the backyard. (the other side is a little smaller, but still sizable.)