Hear That?

My house, well two floors of it, is sparkling clean. I didn't leave the house for two days. Last week I had a breakdown and it showed me that my inner soul must have clean and order at least SOME of the time in order for me to feel refreshed. I have been able to live with a certain amount of chaos, oh my have we had a bit of uncertain chaos in the last few years, but I will inevitably hit a wall and crave order. The wall came last week. Too much dirt and clutter and that we-have-lived-here-a-year-and-I-don't-know-where-to-put-band-aids unsettled feeling, it clung to me and I felt a bit trapped.

Friday night Greg took the kids camping and to hang out with Chris and Lilli. I have never had overnight time in my house to myself without the kids. I *almost* wish I didn't have projects up the wah-zoo! I did spend some time reading a book club book so that was a few hours of total rest after hours and hours of cleaning and scrubbing and laundry and organizing.

I wish I could say it's done but we live in this UN-finished house still with dirt instead of lawn. Oh and we have two adorable littles so the reality is mess is here to stay! But for now, I feel much more calm and able to approach messy life.

So every now and again, this girl just needs some quiet, Norwex, her machines (washer/dryer/vacuum), sharpies and post-its, a plan, a book, and a weekend. Happy sigh.

-Heather

PS - I am excited for my three to come home, make it loud and (slightly) messy again around here. Life with them is so much more full.

Quote Board.

Greg and I want to start a quote board for life with the kids. Because they are hilarious. Without meaning to be... which is the best type of hilariousness.

"You can't lick the trident." -Greg to Eli with the glow trident Grandma bought for the 4th (which he slept with for two nights thereafter)

"Annalee, stop using your eggs as a phone." -Heather to Annalee at the dinner table

"Moon. Moon. Moon. Moon." -Annalee to Greg so he'll do fly to the moon with her

And let's just say when Greg was at Lowes with Eli for the Build and Grow event... Eli said some innocent but inappropriate things about his, um, private areas. They left early to finish their project at home. Kids!

-Heather

4th.

We had a fun week with family! But up late and snacks and spoiling made for a few interesting moments. Oi. 

Here they are Saturday, our talkative boy explaining the scenario for the race they were about to start. Oh and Eli got his first nerf gun from Uncle Chris and Annalee was a big fan. 

 

Life with these two is awesome. Hard but awesome. 

-Heather

Life In The Last Week:

1. Our lawn. Eli repeated the phrase “muddy, money pit” with some laughs after hearing us bemoan the never-ending project. It has had many hiccups in the process. There will be much rejoicing when the stupid sprinkler system is in and grass arrives. 
2. We went to the waterpark in Mandan! Convincing Eli to float the moat river took over an hour but after he made his mind up to do it, he loved it! Annalee fell asleep while I held her as we floated together. We will go back in five years when they know it's cool. And I can float lazily by myself. 
3. Eli jumped off the bed Friday night and screamed. He hurt his foot. He limped all weekend and when I pushed the 5th metatarsal area (same I broke), he winced. X-rays Monday showed he most likely didn’t break it, but with his growth plates right there, it made diagnosis a bit tough. We could have booted him (!) but decided to just wait it out. If he’s still limping by next Monday, we have issues. I’m so happy he didn’t break it as mine still hurts and I’d hate for that to be his story too. #mykid 
4. On way to said x-ray appt, my car battery died. 
5. We rode a trolley with friends! Another Mandan adventure and very cool.
6. Something wacky is up with my washing machine. My beloved washing machine. Gulp. 
7. The pearl in one of the earrings Greg gave me and I’ve worn almost daily for nine years fell off. I have it, at least, but when one wears the same earrings every single day, you get attached. Change is hard. 
8. Annalee tried on more shoes than any 20-month old should. 
9. We have a camper in our driveway. We need to sell it for my parents. Until then, we look like campy people.
10. Our daycare lady has bronchitis. Grandma to the rescue while I worked today! She’s got a house full already with family in town for the 4th, so she’s going to be tired! Last year over the 4th we were so anxious to move into our house, then we had the bird mites infestation of 2015 saga, stressed to the MAX. This year seems stressful as well, but not quite the same, thankfully! We are hoping for a lovely time in Bismarck with family together… and a finished, working sprinkler system for the week ahead!

-Heather

FD 2015.

Father's Day 2015. I woke up next to Greg (crabby and earlier than I wanted, but it's not about me). He's a stellar daddy. Eli and Annalee are blessed with his heritage in their lives. He cares about them, their whole little beings. It shows. Every.Single.Day.

What a treat!

And then my dad arrived today, too! So glad to give him a hug in person. He was such a positive, loving, and affirming dad growing up. What a gift. He's here just until Tuesday but we made a few sweet memories. Like dessert at McDonald's. Watching him laugh with delight at Annalee being silly. Seeing him nap while Eli and Annalee (who should have been napping) tried to wake him up. Smiling at them all doing "these are grammy's glasses.... just like that!" together. 

Specialness.

This is Eli's face when he first saw Grandpa Lloyd walk up when he arrived today.

Loved being able to give him a hug on Father's Day plus share on facebook about his Alzheimer's on The Longest Day (awareness about Alzheimer's on 'the longest day' of the year (which here is CRAZY long with sunrise at 5+am and sunset well, it's 10:10pm right now and I can still see down the block)). Fitting day. 

If only there were more solid men in the world.

-Heather 

Flag Day Y'all.

Yesterday Grandma had a birthday. We gave her a gift of quiet but we did see her Friday night and today. We all adore her. She's fun and resourceful and kind and energetic and tidy and joyful and talented and giving and friendly and we can go on and on!

So much fun!

Annalee has just been loving Grandma these days. Choosing her over me or Grandpa or Daddy. Considering Annalee wasn't a fan of her early on, we all knew this day would come! Grandma did so much for her in her first year, she deserves some snuggles and loving!

Helpers ALL wanting to water the flowers!

-Heather

Originals.

Here's my side, the originals before we up and got hitched and produced darling littles:

Ali was taking pics while Eli and Ava tried making us laugh and doing a bang up job of it!

-Heather

Us in MN.

The kids and I have been in MN a week and we plan on leaving Sunday. It's been a lovely time together!

Just today:

Driving range with my Dad!

Story time with Gpa:

This girl, trying to sit on a toy chair! Her spatial understanding may be off. Hilarious!

-Heather