I feel so beautiful today!

After a "touching" moment in the bathroom this morning, I feel like I have been stripped of whatever pride I once had.

And it's Rollin I get to thank for this one.

I was bathing all the kids today. On the days I wash their hair, it's easier just to get in with them. I was in and out fast because it's Sunday and that equals being in a hurry for our family. We have afternoon church but we usually take it easy way too long in the morning and then rush like crazy.

I had already dried Sela's hair and I was busily trying to dry Nina's (it's kind of like a little assembly line), when Rollin decided he wanted to get out. I dried him off and he was just playing in the bathroom waiting for his hair to be dried. I was still in the buff, naturally, and focusing intently on Nina's hair (she has THE most sensitive head on the planet) when I felt a little poke from behind. Rollin poked my bum (to use one of their words). Big deal, I wish I could say it was the first time. HOWEVER; the disturbing part was that it jiggled this time. I felt it and I did not like it, but even Rollin noticed!

I had to pause and say to myself "did that really just happen?!!" When the giggling began, I knew that it was in fact my body that produced such roars of laughter. Then he poked it again and just laughed and laughed. It was seriously like the biggest belly laugh I've heard from him in a long time. Next thing I knew they were all laughing hysterically and asking for a turn (it's appalling, I know). The final straw was when they wanted to run and get dad so he could see! What the ****?

As much as I just love to entertain my children, I decided to get dressed and end the freak show that my pregnant body has become around here!

All pride is gone.

Bring on Christmas!

The girls were begging to wear their Christmas dresses today so we began the season a little early. Only a few days till Christmas music. It's all very exciting.

It's cracked!

There's nothing like waiting 7 months for a kitchen table and when it finally arrives, discovering it is cracked. The whole table situation has become a big joke with the interior decorator and I. There had been so many delays that anytime she had a shipping update for me, I just laughed and said "I'll believe it when I see it." I tried to stop caring so much. It had been promised two months ago and was really the only item I indicated was a huge priority when we started the furniture shopping for this place, meaning I wanted it soon. We have been eating on my desk for over a year with a few random chairs. We sold our other casual dining room table and chairs with the other house. Anyway, I was dying for this table to come. Meal times are such a big part of our days and I love to sit down comfortably and have a table that's pretty and functional. Kind of small of me I know, but I became mildly obsessed with getting my table.

When the table finally came, it was the chairs that I was a bit surprised by....they are exactly what I ordered...the poppy color was just so bright at first glance. It's different going from a swatch to eight chairs, but I do love them. I was even suprised when Zig came home from his trip and thought they looked great. The kids love the fun color and it's all very comfortable.

About four hours after I signed off that everything was perfect, no damage, no problem, absolving the delivery company of any blame for damages, I was wiping the table and discovered a 2 inch crack on the side. The table was clearly dropped somewhere along the way. And it's HEAVY. It's hard to say where as there were many stops and checks coming from Italy. I just sat there and stared...NO WAY! I immediately called Louise and the delivery company in a panic. Louise was great and took care of it and another table top is being "rushed." That's kind of a joke, but whatever. The most important thing though is we get to keep this one until the new one comes. That's all I cared. The crack is not visible at all and is on the side. I think I was so desperate to get this table that I would have almost taken the cracked one if it meant sending it back and having to wait who knows how long for another.

So all is well. Zig is happy he doesn't have to hear about the table anymore, though he is confident I will move on to my next thing (the kids rooms! ;) My desk is now a desk again and we have been enjoying having a real table. Having the infusion of color in the kitchen, where I spend so much time, really makes me happy! The sun is always shining in our kitchen, trust me...haha!

16 weeks

It appears that on baby #4, you just think about being pregnant and your belly pops out. The baby is only about as big as a finger. There's something very wrong with this picture!
























Seeing the above photo puts a damper on my excitement about the return of these....

Quiche, anyone?

On Sunday night, Zig discovered the highly anticipated first EGG!

Now that we have power and the chickens have the extra hours of light they require in the winter, one of the chickens finally laid an egg. The kids (and myself) were truly ecstatic. We all got our boots on and ran out to the coup to eheck it out. Then Sela and Zig cleaned out their laying boxes and put the straw in with hopes of getting the chickens to lay in the proper place. The first egg was pretty small and a bit dirty since the chicken just laid it right in the middle of the floor. Zig had some fake eggs he put in the laying boxes that are supposed to help the chickens learn where to lay. Lo and behold, the next morning, another egg, right next to the fake egg, just like it should be! And today we had our third. It's so much fun to go and open up the little boxes from the outside and see an egg. I love it.

Time to help Sela get going on her marketing plan!

Future Mother of the Year....

I was just chatting with Nina last night in the bathtub and I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up.

Without pause she said, "I want to be a mommy. And I will take my kids to Jamba Juice everyday. And when we get home, Sela will watch my kids so I can watch TV and have treats. If the kids act up, I will put them in the crib so I can watch my movie again. I'll be a fun mom."

Sela and I just looked at each other and laughed. That is so Nina. I can't wait to remind her of her words when she becomes a mother!

Meal Planning

Well, I decided to get back in gear this week on my meal planning. Trying to avoid the ten trips to the grocery store and still nothing for dinner problem!

Monday: Turkey Meatloaf, Vanilla Smashed Sweet Potatoes, Salad
Tuesday: Rosemary White Bean Soup, Parmesan Crostini, Salad
Wednesday: Grilled Lemon Chicken with Peanut Satay Sauce, Green Beans, Cole Slaw
Thursday: Mushroom Tart, Salad
Friday: Homemade Pizza, Salad
Saturday: Salmon and Veggies en Papillote, Rice
Sunday: No Hurry Vegetable Curry (crockpot), rice