Anne Marie

Do you ever blink and then realize 8 years has gone by?

That happened to me yesterday. I blinked, and then a second later Anne Marie turned 8.

Tell me how that is possible when I am still 18? Well, inside at least.

It really was a birthday weekend for her. On Saturday Kate and Julia and I took her to the American Girl store that just opened here in Washington!! We were very excited!

Kate and Julia also love American Girl. They got to visit the Chicago store 5 years ago, so we were so thrilled to have one open here.

Here they are getting ready to leave.

Anne Marie in front of the store. Isn't she sooo dang cute? How do you like her new pixie cut? Pretty fab if you ask me.

This picture makes me cry. What mother wouldn't want three wholesome girls who love American girl and each other?

Kate tried to pretend she wasn't as excited, but then when she saw Addy's trunk, she became more animated than I've seen her in a while. And some outfits for Addy may have been added to her birthday list.

After the American Girl Doll Store, we headed over to Claires for another rite of passage. When our daughters turn 8 they get their ears pierced!!!

After such a great day, I only hoped that her actual birthday would measure up!

I tried. With pink frosting.

Grandma Granger was the lone grandparent. Thanks for coming Grandma!!

Anne Marie was more than a little excited about her presents. Clothes as presents! What a way to make a dollar stretch. Give them school clothes as presents.

Kate and Julia gave Anne Marie presents without any help from me. I love those girls.

But the highlight present? The present that got her more excited than any other? The box of 2500 sheets of paper from Grandma and Grandpa Granger. No. You don't understand. We constantly run out of printer paper because Anne Marie steals it all to draw, write notes, and whatever. She is obsessed with paper and all it's possibilities. I mean, just look at her face!

What a great girl she is. We appreciate how much she loves her siblings, how attentive she is to Henry and Nora. How willing she is to help. She is sassy wrapped in sweet wrapped in pink girly feathers with a tiara. She is awesome and we love her.

Happy Birthday sweet Anne Marie!!

All at once.

I had the opportunity over the past couple of weeks to see two old friends.

One from high school, and one of my old roommates from college.

It was super fun to catch up, to hear about their lives, to hug them and to feel so happy at seeing them.

Even though it had been twenty years since I'd seen Frances, and about 12 since I'd seen Chawntelle, their blogs have helped me feel caught up on their lives to some degree.

While talking with one friend, she lamented that the people that she knows now don't know her the way she was, ie; cute little dancer girl with lovely, curly red hair. Instead of the occasionally tired mom of 4 that she is now.

And my other friend, while she didn't say it, I think doesn't mind being thought of the way she was, but prefers who she is now.

This all got me thinking about how people see us. About everything that is behind who we are. We aren't simply just a mom or a dad, or an employee or boss. We aren't just our physical features.

There is so much more to all of God's creations than just what you get on a first glance.

When I see Chawtelle and Frances, I see them in my mind from the moment I first met them up until now. They are all those things-the dancer, the artist, the one with the fire-y spirit, the widow with wisdom and grace, the mum of 4 small children, the new girl in 4th grade, the girl who has no idea how beautiful she really is. They are all these things and more.

My in-laws have said that this is how they see their children. They don't just see them as the adults they are today, they see them from the time they were born all the way until who they are now. There almost isn't a beginning or an end, there is just love and happiness at who they were, and all that has lead to who they ARE. And as parents, we see it, all at once.

And I know this will be true, is true, of my own children as well. But sometimes I want to freeze frame their lives, so that I never forget the moments. The moments like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

You didn't know we were so street at our house, did ya? Kate and Julia and Charlie weren't there for the pictures cuz they were at a break dancing competition. Ok, not really. But they weren't really interested in posing for me. So I get to show you these instead:

Life is short. Love who you are. Be who you are. Embrace all the experiences that have made you who you are.

The end.

Repost

As I told a friend this last week, I haven't blogged in a while because I'm trying to spend time with my kids more and be on the computer less. That's working out, um, ok.

But I think maybe a bigger reason I haven't posted, if I'm being completely honest with myself, is that I just can't act like everything is great and low stress for me right now.

I have a hard time hiding my feelings, and posting about some cute little thing would feel like a lie when in fact I can't stop thinking about where the money for multiple car repairs and a new car payment is going to come from, or where the money for school clothes is going to come from, or the fact that we have 4 children's birthdays coming up and still haven't figured out the afore mentioned where is all the money coming from problem. Or there is why my back hurts all the time lately leaving me unable to do much of what I want and need to get done or why as hard as I try I can't seem to get on top of my messy house.

But it's no fun to read about me feeling sorry for myself. Even though you just did. My apologies. So instead I'm reposting something that made me laugh. Because, today, that is what I really need.

Sassy mouth

*Post Edit*: I am not actually worried about Nora saying butt. I don't like the word, I think it sounds kind of crass. But I don't think it's pepper in the mouth kind of language. I just found it super funny that her teasing Henry sounded more like hairy butt. Sorry if you thought I was worried about this. I'm totally not.*


I was supposed to show you pictures of other things I've been working on.


But instead I have chosen to share with you my 2 year old's new found ability to torment her brother.


Yesterday, for some unknown reason, Nora started saying "butt, butt, butt, butt".


Now, we don't use that word in our house. We really don't. Well, sometimes I do, but I'm working on it, ok?! And I try not to let anyone hear me when I say it.


Anyway, Nora continued with her recitation of this "naughty" word.


It bothered Henry to no end.


In fact he tattled on her.


"Mommmmm, Nora is saying butt."


Me. "Nora, we don't say butt."


Nora. "Butt, butt, butt, butt"


But then she took it to new heights once she figured out that it caused a reaction. She started getting Henry's attention first by saying his name, followed by saying butt. Trying super hard to irritate him.


However, she does not pronounce Henry correctly yet.(she leaves out the N)


So it came out sounding more like "hery! butt! hery! butt! hery! butt!"


I could not make this stuff up if I tried!

What do you do when it is a two year old saying this stuff?

I didn't want to bring more attention to by making a big deal out of it, and laughing certainly wasn't helping.

So I just walked away, and Hery seemed to realize that ignoring it was the best bet as well.

And then I took their picture, which will always make the center of attention baby of the family completely forget everything else.

:

Childhood 101

Climbing trees is a necessary part of any childhood.

Of course, I prefer the trees that are barely above the size of the children climbing it, but they don't know I'm paranoid, now do they

They just know they're climbing a tree!

He's back, for a little while

We have a visitor at our house for a few weeks.

He used to actually live here, until my hubby decided it wasn't going to work between the two of them.

So my sister and her family took him. Allowing us visitation, but with the stipulation that we watch him when they go on vacation.

Well, they are on vacation, and we have the awesome job of babysitting....Lucky!

Yes, I'm vacuuming him. He is the hairiest dog in existence I've decided. Nothing a little vacuum wand can't handle.

But he misses his family. How can I tell? Because he follows me everywhere! If I move into another room, so does Lucky.

Obviously the guy isn't sure what's going on, so he's keeping the "Alpha dog" of the house in eyesight at all times.

And I vacuumed him. So he may just be keeping an eye on me so that I don't try anything else!

The best part about having Lucky here though (because obviously the worst part is all the hair) is taking him on walks with me in the morning. I feel so much safer with a big dog with me. Not that he would actually protect me. The guy is a big softy. But still, no one else knows that, now do they? So other dogs and creepos beware! Lucky will lick you to death if you're not careful!

And sorry Maile, I was not able to cure him of the aforementioned licking. Seems that nasty little habit is here to stay.

Nerves

Years ago, in high school, I was a small town actress. School plays, one community theatre play.

I don't think I was very good, but I enjoyed it.

After high school, I have not acted. I have been part of a few vocal groups and such and I have encouraged my children, and so far Kate and Julia have carried on my love of performing.

But as for myself, I left it all behind me so to speak.

Until now.

There are auditions, tonight, for a musical put on by a bunch of talented people in our area.

It's for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. And guess what?

I'm auditioning. Along with Kate and Julia.

And guess what else? I've had a constant stomach ache from the nerves, all week.

I've almost emailed the gal a couple of times cancelling my audition.

But I decided that I can't let myself down. I've wanted to do this for a long time.

And you know what? If I'm no good, it's fine. I know I can sing. I have no idea if I can act at all anymore, but I will be mad at myself if I don't try.

So don't wish me luck, tell me to break a leg. Our auditions are tonight, and I'm preeeetty sure I won't be eating anything between now and then.

Ragnar 2011

Ragnar this year was awesome!! And by all accounts, it really shouldn't have been.

For me personally the road leading up to it was super annoying. I thought I was running, then my knees were giving me problems. So I bowed out and a friend of ours was going to take my place.

Then she couldn't run because she was coughing up blood during her runs. Yikes!!

Then I discovered that if I ran with two huge knee braces (to keep my knee caps from sliding out of their groove), I could do it. But I had been out of training for 8 weeks so I was super nervous about the mileage I had to run-15.8 miles to be exact.

Then a week before Ragnar I hurt my back. I called our team captain to tell her what was going on and we discussed trying to find a replacement. Then I called her back to tell her I had prayed about it and felt that everything was going to be ok. This girl is an angel, let me just say, so have put up with my back and forthing with nothing but kindness. Love you Alexis!!

Anyhoo, so I had felt that everything was going to be ok, but I still hurt and I was still nervous. So then we decided, with some prayerful consideration on Kate's part, for me and Kate to switch running positions. That way I would have less running and she would have more, by about 4 miles.

So now she was way more nervous since she hadn't been training for that. But nobody else was worried given that she is 13 and her body could probably handle waaay more than she thought.

So the day of the race came. My dear friend Trisha had offered, yes offered, to watch the other kids for us. Saint that she is.

Everyone of my kids love her, but Nora was having some separation from Mommy issues.

It was so hard to drive away with her looking like that. She kept asking to come with me. And as much as my mother's heart wanted to say yes, I just couldn't imagine a 3 year old being in the van for practically 24 hours with no sleep. So I wisely said no:)

So with the new arrangement of Kate trading positions with me, Jeff would be handing off to Kate.

You can't tell from this picture, but trouble was already brewing for the Allen's.

At this point Kate then handed off to my brother Keno. I know right? How awesome is it to run with my husband, my daughter AND my brother? The wonderfulness of it was never lost on my, I'll have you know.

So I must tell you. When Jeff first handed off to Kate and she took off, I was totally fine. Then when we drove past her the first time to find a place to stop and hand her water and cheer her on, I totally got that "I can't believe my daughter is so big and grown up and running Ragnar with me" choked up moment. I promised the rest of our van I wouldn't cry about it again. I didn't mean to lie, really.

So here is how it works. After all six runners in your van run, then you pass off to the other half of your team. Then they run for 4 or 5 hours while we headed off to the hotel to shower, get fresh clothes, and try and take an hour nap.

And then when we run our next leg (we run 3 legs total) they are resting and all that. And when I say resting, I really mean trying to grab any sleep that you can. I think you get a total of maybe 2 or 3 hours if you're lucky. And that's not at one time, mind you. As our team captain Alexis put it, Ragnar is really for the outer fringe of runners. Most people are not crazy enough to do this.

So after we had rested up, we headed out to run our second leg. And this is when the Allen families trouble began. Jeff and Kate had woken up at the hotel both feeling ill. Kate had a massive headache and was feeling nauseous, and Jeff was sick to his stomach as well. It was hard to get out of the hotel in time and we were 5 minutes late to the hand off from van 1. Not awesome.

About 15 minutes into Jeff's run, we stopped the van to wait for him with water and Kate goes rushing out the side door so that she can rid her body of everything she had eaten. She gets back in looking a little better, but still feeling awful.

So here I sit, her mother, knowing that she is supposed to run in about an hour. There is no way. I also know that her next leg is 7.8 miles, which I haven't trained for. And I also know that Ragnar has rules about runners switching legs mid way. IT's a no no. It can disqualify your team. If someone gets injured and stops running, the rest of the team has to finish their legs for them and they can't run again.

But I know that Kate is in no position to run. So I made the call, and her and I switched back. (Upon further review of the rules, it only mentions injury, not stomach flu)

So when we see Jeff running up, I tell him that he will be passing off to me, not Kate, because she threw up. And he says, "So did I. Around mile two. I feel much better now." But he still had about 4 miles to go at this point. What a trooper.

So I start getting ready to run. I'm already taking 5 ibuprofen and 1 vicodin to keep the back pain at bay. But I hook up my little portable stim machine (It send little electrical shocks into your muscles) just to loosen me up a bit more.

Kate is still looking pale and sick, so I know there is no going back. So Jeff hands off to me and I go. Terrified at this long distance I have to run.

And let me tell you, it was not a problem. It couldn't have hurt that I had a constant prayer in my heart as I ran. But I hardly felt the miles. I walked about half a mile of it, walking rests, but other than that I ran the whole thing. Jeff told me later that he was so surprised to see that every time they waited for me, I would come around the corner still running. It honestly was a miracle folks. My back didn't hurt, and I was able to finish it, despite the growing nausea in my own stomach. I ran a little slower than my normal pace, but I did it. It was the middle of the night, hence the glow in the dark accessories.

By the time Keno ran, and it was now Kate's turn again, she was feeling much better and was able to run the next leg, 4.2 miles. And then in the middle of her run, while we waited with water in front of someone's house, I puked. Hard core. So sorry to the poor fellow who owned that house!

By this time, I'm sure that Keno and our other two van mates were quite ready to not be near us. And no it wasn't anything that we ate or just from running. Jeff and I have never puked from running before. But remember Henry falling asleep in the bowl last week, and then throwing up later? Yeah, we had whatever that was.

So after losing my dinner, I felt a little better. But I didn't really feel that great for an hour or two. The rest back at the hotel helped. But I'm not sure any of us felt that great. Jeff threw up again after his final run, but I just felt nauseous on my final run. It was crazy. We later had several Ragnar runners tell us that would have been a deal breaker for them. And it might have been if we were laid out completely, or couldn't stop throwing up. But fortune smiled upon us and it was a mostly one time thing.

Our team was 12 south. That represent 12 runners, our team, running south. Cuz you run from blaine, wa, south down to Whidbey Island.

Here we are at the end in our team shirts, waiting for our last runner.

And here is our awesome team!! By the way, our team captains, Derek and Alexis, were amazing. Super organized, on top of everything. There were a few airheaded moments on my part that I couldn't have made it through without Alexis.

Pay attention to the right of the picture. Yeah, there were a few people like that. Speedo guy and one guy dressed as an indian chief were the, um, "highlights". The indian chief, which I would never have taken a picture of, had a headdress and a loin cloth. And that's it! I don't know how he ran like that, and I'm glad I didn't witness it. Yech.

This team was awesome. They were the Lord of the Ragnar. I don't know how they ran in that gear. But they did it. Someone said they were a Mormon crew. I'd like to think so since they were so awesome.

Van two. We rocked it!

So, again, this was was sooo awesome. Puking and all. It just felt like a blip on the radar screen of what was a stupendous two day running event.

The highlights:

Running with my family. I cannot describe how great it was to spend two days with my brother and Jeff and Kate.

Watching Kate do something so hard. In her words, the hardest thing she's ever done. True that Kate.

Actually running 15.8 miles. So proud of myself, you don't even know.

Laughing with the other two gals in our van, Laura and Rachel. We ran with Laura last year, and I know Rachel from our little mommy co-op preschool we did. They're both awesome. Truly.

Having cooler weather. Being in van 2 you run in the heat of the day, so having it not go above 70 degrees was actually super awesome.

Throwing up on the side of the road. I know this should be a negative, which it is, but it also felt so good. I know, I'm weird.

Lowlights:

Speedo guy. Not only did we see him at the finish, but his twin passed me on my middle of the night run. So I had a Speedo bum view for a few moments. Yikes.

The guy who totally gassed as he passed me. Like not discreet little toots that you can try and pass off as squeaky shoes. I'm talking full on, no shame, cutting the cheese. It would have been comical if I wasn't already feeling kind of sick.

Getting killed by about 100 people. You get a kill by passing someone. You get killed by being passed. I passed no one. And got passed about 100 times, no joke. I'm probably the slowest person to ever run Ragnar. But next year, I vow not to be.

And finally, having the stomach flu. It wasn't fun. But, it also made us proud that we ran anyway. I know, we're weird.

So there you have it. Ragnar 2011. It was such a great experience. And Kate still wants to do it again. And Julia wants to do it next year too. You have to be 12. Keno wants his boys to run it too. So maybe we'll have a family team next year, who knows.

Also, my cousin Mandy and her husband ran it too! I saw their van at one exchange, but couldn't find them. She wrote about her experience here.

I can't wait for next year. Why? Because obviously I love running with no sleep, weird food, and stomach issues. I told you, I'm weird!

Nora is three

The thought of six children always scared me. I felt competent enough with five, sometimes barely getting it all done, but still accomplishing what I needed to.

I felt that six would just put me over, and I was terrified of that prospect.

So when I found out that I was pregnant I actually only had one thought:gratitude.

You see, at that moment, when the two little lines showed up, I felt that Heavenly Father trusted me. I knew that He thought I could do it. And that sustained me at that moment and ever since.

Plus, Nora has been a gift to our family. We all adore her. She was an easy baby, is an easy toddler (for the most part) and we cannot imagine our home without her.

Is my house messier? Yes. Is my life more hectic? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.

The amazing thing is that 3 years have passed since she was born. And my mind just can't wrap around that. How is it possible that so many events in life drag by at such a slow pace, and yet the life of this beloved child (as are all my children) just speeds by at such a fast rate?

I feel so much joy that this little goose (my knickname for her) is here, is ours, and that Heavenly Father knew me better than I did myself.

My friend Heidi made the cake for me. We were gone for Ragnar the two days before her birthday, so I'm forever grateful for her delivering such a beautiful and YUMMY confection.

Nora loves everything Tangled. 'punzel is her favorite, so of course cake and presents had to represent miss goose's love.

It seems everyone we know was either out of town or unavailable, so my brother Keno was our one and only guest.

But the kids made him feel at home I think.

She was so big, and sat waiting for that perfect moment to blow out her candles.

We love that little girl, so much. Happy Birthday Nora baby!!!

A tale of two sickies

As you know from last week, my car broke down. The day that I got it back from the shop, Jeff's car died. Like, engine seized, gave up the ghost, died.

So we began our search for a new-er car for Jeff. In 15 years of marriage Jeff has driven less than dream-able cars. He drove an 88 maroon cadillac for a long time. And then a 94 escort wagon. And then an 89 (I think) white cadillac, and then finally the 94 Saturn.

So when we went to the car lot and the salesman showed him the blue car, he honestly shut the idea out because he has never had anything really nice that was his own.

But I told him, this is not a brand new car. It's not a huge amount of money, get the darn thing already.

So he got it!




And he loves it. On Monday, he was out of town for work so I took the blueberry(my brother's family nicknamed it and now my kids call it that) to a doctor's appt. for one of my children. I promised this child I wouldn't name names. You'll understand why in a sec.

Well, they had to take blood from the child to test for allergies. This kid was a trooper, not even flinching when the needle went in. No crying, nothing.

Everything was fine until we were driving home. This child kept saying things like,"Did they take a lot of blood mom? I didn't know my blood was so dark. Boy, I think they took a lot of blood."

Pretty soon I hear "I don't feel very good." I look back and my child is white. I say, "Are you going to throw up?"

So I rolled down a window, advised the kid to breathe through the nose, to please, PLEASE hold on until I could find a safe place to pull over.

No such luck. Poor kid let it fly. All over clothing, seat and floor. Luckily breakfast had just been a piece of toast. But still. And me, in a not so good mothering moment, said, "NO!!! Not in dad's new car!"

Poor child kept saying over and over, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm soooo sorry mom." It was pathetic really.

I told the child that it was ok, and when I could finally pull over we stopped at a gas station and bought baby wipes to semi clean everything up. It really wasn't that bad, but I dreaded telling Jeff that his car had been christened in such a nasty way. AND on the second day of ownership.

The next sick story occurred last night. Henry kept saying he didn't feel good and wanted a bowl. So I'm got him a bowl and took him up to bed. When I left him he was on his stomach with his legs and stomach on the bed, and he was supporting himself with his arms, head over the bowl on the floor. Whatever makes you feel better.

When I went to check on him after I put Nora to bed, this is what I found.

Poor little man fell asleep face down in a bowl! He hadn't thrown up yet, thankfully, just drooled in the bottom of the bowl.

When I picked him up to put him in his bed, his mouth looked like it was stuck in open position. I had to force it closed. Sad, sad, sad.

He did end up throwing up later and wouldn't go back to sleep. It was awesome.

So there you have it, my tale of two sickies. I'll tell ya, there is really never a dull moment around here. Ever.

10 students and counting

The grandkids with grandma after the recital.

When we first moved into this house, I did not have a piano. I wanted a piano so that my kids could take the piano lessons I so desperately wanted them to take.

But not having a piano gave me an excuse, because I knew I didn't have the money to pay for lessons for 4 kids.

Then the first little bit of awesomeness happened. My aunt Cathy(my mom's sister) told me that she wasn't using her piano so I could have it.

And this wasn't some broken, run down thing in need of a makeover and a good tuning. This was/is a NICE piano.

Then she made the brilliant suggestion that I get my mom to teach the kids piano. She was a music teacher and a piano teacher years ago, so why not?

Well, I asked, and she said yes. A happy yes. Not a "sure I will since I feel guilty saying no" yes.

So piano lessons began. Free piano lessons where she and my dad drive an hour to my house every week. Do I have it good or what? Or better yet, do my kids have it good or what?

And I'm not the only one who's lucky. She teaches my brother and sister's children as well.

And it was so fun to watch them all perform their recital pieces. My two oldest children now play the piano better than I do. Like, waaay better.

But I know that if I wanted lessons too, I would just have to ask and I'm pretty sure she would say yes.

While I was going to tell you about the fun way that Jeff and I spent our anniversary yesterday, that will have to wait.

Instead, I'm slightly stranded at my sister's house. She graciously watched my children over night, and when I came to pick them up today, my car had a break down. Literally.

So I'm an hour from home, my car is in the shop, and I hope to return to normal life by tomorrow.

But on the positive side: My car broke down in town instead of on the freeway, instead of with my kids in the car with me. Instead of during our Ragnar relay race next weekend. So I am thankful, and getting to spend the night with my sister is always a bonus.

How was your day?

Boo hoo! Baby got a hair cut!

I had decided to pretty much never give Nora a haircut. Her long, lovely, fluffy blonde hair was just too wonderful for me to let anyone take scissors to. I didn't care if it got in her eyes, I didn't care if syrup got in it. I just loved seeing it bounce on her shoulders as she ran off.

Well, Thursday at exactly 1:40 pm, lil' miss decided to do something about that.

She came into Kate and Julia's room where I was chatting to Kate, and of course I gave her a big hug. When I pulled away, I had a bunch of fluffy blonde hair on my face.

It took about 5 seconds for me to realize what it was, and then the frantic search of her hair began; to see what damage she had done.

Her bangs were chopped, and there were chunks missing from different locations on her head. Such as the following one that I combed out.

Needless to say, I cried and cried. She is two weeks away from her third birthday. I had such high hopes that we would skip this.

When I started crying, Nora started crying. "I berry sowwy, Mommy". Me,"I know Nora, I'm just so sad that you cut your hair." Nora, "But I say sowwy, you happy now!"

No. Not happy. She led me to the laundry room where she had been hiding with the round tipped kid scissors that she found who knows where. Amazing the cutting abilities of those little safety scissors.

I decided to not cut her hair short or try to fix it. Honestly, you can't tell unless you really look for it, or unless you try to put her hair in two ponytails. It will grow out and hopefully we can just pretend this little episode never happened. Yeah right.

When I went into Anne Marie and Nora's room to take a picture of Nora's hair for this here blog, I discovered that instead of going to sleep last night, Nora had chosen instead to yet again find some obscure item to change her appearance with:

Why is it only my children that cut their hair and write on themselves?

Everyone always said to be careful of the terrible twos. In our house it's the thrilling three's. Because I'm always "thrilled" to see what they get into next.

Oh well, I still love her, choppy hair, green skin and all.

Can anyone out there PLEASE tell me that their children did this too? Please?!!!