Home again, home again, jiggity-jig!

We flew home yesterday from a 11-day trip to the Midwest. More on the trip to come, but the kids were so exhausted they actually took naps while we were there. We got in yesterday at about 2:00, but by the time we retrieved our luggage, discovered a missing bag, reported the missing bag, walked all the way to the back of the long-term parking, and drove home it was 3:00.

We put the kids down for a nap as soon as we got home, but it didn't seem like they were going to go to sleep. I went in to get them up, but discovered that they had fallen asleep. At six, I decided we needed to get them up to eat dinner so that they wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night.

I got Nick out of bed, carried him to the bed where we change their diapers, and discovered that we didn't have any. I left him there with his eyes open. While I was searching for diapers, the doorbell rang. The pizza was here and I had no idea where our cash was. Thus, the five-minute search for something to pay him with commenced. I wrote him a check. Finally, I got back upstairs and discovered Nick snoring away on the changing bed. I changed his diaper, which woke him up, and then told him that I was going to get Sissy. Catie was literally still sleeping while I changed her poopy diaper. In the meantime, I saw Nicky pass by, and I figured he was going downstairs to play. I decided to peak in, though, and I saw that he had gone back to bed. So, I placed a sleeping Catie back in bed for another half an hour.

To make a long story a little shorter, we got them back out of bed, but never succeeded in waking Catie up for more than a couple seconds. Nick woke up and played for a half an hour, but happily went back to bed without eating dinner.

This morning, Catie is wondering when we're going on an airplane again....

Busy, busy, busy

There are quails all over the place here. They're such funny little birds. They walk instead of hopping, and they can move fast. They are also excellent hiders.

I heard a quail making funny noises in the irises, and was surprised to find little baby quail chicks. We tried all weekend to get a good picture, but, like I said, they are really good at hiding. At one point, we saw them parading back into the bushes and counted over ten chicks.
Our main project last weekend (Mothers' Day weekend) was landscaping the front yard. It was my birthday present.

Here is a before photo:

We headed to Lowe's and spent a chunk of change on plants.

Then, we got to work. Well, Brad got to work shoveling up the sod.

We stopped in the middle for a science lesson on worms.

"Mommy, are you picturing me?"

At the end of the weekend, this is what it looked like:

Monday was my birthday.

I got a pedicure. :)

Andy and Jenny sent flowers.

Ta-da! The irises are in full bloom now.

The rose bush is also in bloom.

This weekend we ordered rock for the beds. Brad hauled it over and I spread it out.

We'll get some kind of edging at some point, but we can't decide what we want.

She had to get in on the picturing. Excuse her greasy hair. Someone thought it would be really fun to squeeze desitin all over the place and spread it all over her body, including her hair. We shampood her hair twice last night and it still isn't out. Hoping it will work it's way out before we have pictures taken on Friday.

Here's my long-legged boy enjoying some tv. We spent quite a bit of time on the couch this week. About mid-week they both caught colds. There's been a lot of whining around here. Nothing a little Sing Along Songs with Mickey can't fix.

On Wednesday we're heading to St. Louis for 10 days. We're looking forward to a little vacation and seeing family!

Can't pull one over on my three and a half year-old girly

Okay, confession time. I didn't feel like making and cleaning up lunch after running errands yesterday morning. So, we stopped by McDonald's, picked up some happy meals and ate in the car. The car is the only place I can virtually guarantee that the kids will eat a whole meal. There's something about being strapped in with no toys around. :)

Catie was finished with her nuggets and she was ready to get serious about eating her apple slices. So, she asked me to hold her nugget box. Here's the conversation that followed:

Catie: Mommy, hold this.

Me: Catie, Mommy is driving right now.

Catie: Mommy, don't say you're driving.

Me: But I am driving, and I need to use my hands right now.

Catie: But, Mommy, that one hand is on your leg.

I couldn't argue, so I took the box from her and set it on the front seat. I like to think of it as sharpening her reasoning skills, not giving in to her demands. :)

A P-R-K* in our backyard!

While I was garage saling, Daddy worked hard this weekend to build a swing set. We couldn't be happier.

* Spelling words in front of the kids only works if it isn't a word that you spell all the time and you don't spell it every time you talk about it.

Garage Sale Season!

The neighborhood across the street from ours has a neighborhood garage sale going on this weekend. So, I got up early this morning, brushed my teeth, threw on a hat, and drove over there.

Here are my finds:

A healthy hen and chicks plant: $1
Decent looking crocs for Nicky: $2

Luau fabric for the upcoming ladies Bible study brunch from a retired event planner: $2
Seriously, she had 20 sets of everything: vases, candle holders, easels, table cloths, etc.

15 sets of glass drop ornaments: $12
(Brad and I were wanting some ornaments like these for our front tree and this was a great price.)

Quality time with the man I love: $2

Barbie cars: $1 for both

Bag of dress-up clothes: $2

Books and puzzle: $2.50

A cute Christmas shirt and 2 nice dresses for Catie: $5
These prices were a little steep for my garage sale taste, but they were name-brand, barely used. I think all three of these are Gymboree.

Two awesome shirts and a pair of shorts: $6

Crafter's Heaven: $10

Seriously. This lady used to sell craft supplies. I had so much fun going through her books and supplies. They aren't all in the picture, but I got 5 packages of elastic for 10 cents each.

Not pictured:

Booster seat so that we can have a place for our friends' kids when they come over: $2

I had so much fun today. Tomorrow I'm going to be on the other side of the table. Our small group is having a sale to benefit Royal Family Kids Camp (a camp for foster kids.)

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the rest of our trip to Portland

On Saturday morning we went to OMSI. Our first stop was the real submarine docked in the river outside the museum. Catie and Nick were fascinated by all the buttons. Brad was fascinated too. Hunt for Red October was filmed on this sub.
Looking through the periscope.

Piloting the submarine. :)

Trying on an oxygen mask.

Inside the museum, we checked out the preschool play area first. Nicky loved the sandbox.

Catie had fun looking at the animal exhibits.

Then, both of them got their sleeves and pants soaking wet at the water table.

We spent a little time looking at the other exhibits, but it was difficult to keep Catie and Nick's attention for very long.

Catie is testing her hearing.

Catie and Nick weren't so sure if they liked the big dinosaur up close or not.

Photo ops:

We ate lunch at the cafeteria and then watched an Omnimax film about the ocean. It was really interesting, and both of the kids were enraptured (and a little frightened) the whole hour.

We went back to the hotel and tried unsuccessfully to get the kids to take a nap. At about 4, we took a walk down to the Saturday Market. We weren't there very long before it was closing time, but we got to see the majority of the vendors and it was fun. Next time we'll get there earlier.

Brad and I couldn't decide on dinner. So, I called down to the concierge and asked for a family friendly restaurant within walking distance. She recommended Mother's Bistro and made reservations for us. Oh my goodness. Delicious. Brad had chicken and dumplings and I had a greek salad. Catie and Nick had the most yummy, gourmet PB&J I've ever seen. And the rolls and biscuits? Heavenly. Even though we were full, we couldn't resist a slice of cake. Yum.

After dinner we went swimming again. (Swimming with the twins is so much fun right now! They love it. I'm thinking swimming lessons will be part of our summer plans.)

On Sunday morning before we headed back home we stopped at IKEA. Not everything there is our style, but I love that store.

So, that was our trip. What a fun weekend!