Orange Fur Pants

Stephen wanted orange pants. I think they don't make orange pants. Maybe in the Florida Gator section, but we don't go in that section.

So I decided to take him to the fabric store to pick something for me to make them. He picked this:

Brothers

So today they are playing a game with toy trucks where they get at either ends of our long hall and push them at each other. Apparently you then block the oncoming truck. Then start over sending the truck back at your brother.

Stephen says: If the truck gets past you then you loose one life (phraseing tells me too many video games are being played around here)

Ethan replies: *Bursts into tears, real fat tears* Nooooooo Stephen! Don't take my life! Just play with me!!!!!!!!

Ethan is ok now, we told him it was just pretend. He still seemed confused that we would joke around about taking lives, but he's ok now.

Christmas

Brian was the photographer for Christmas this year.

Spoiled silly again! It seems like every year we want to do less and it never works that way. I mean we had a BLAST and I don't think we overspent or anything, but sheesh! It's all good, the kids are only this young once and they are all about the magic of Christmas and the fun, so we just are going with it.

Here is Stephen with his Gator Golf. He's been asking for this game for... oh about two years. I'm not sure why we never got it, but this year he asked his Grammy (my mom) if she thought he would get it and she ran right out and picked it up for him. He was overjoyed! He sang us a song about how much he had been wanting it and how much he loves it and then he played it all day. Ethan had a heart desire this year too. You may remember the hot toy last year Spike the Ultrasaur? It's a HUGE dinosaur that has a remote control. Well the boys like him, but he's over $100 and also he's downright scary. This year thought they put out a Spike Jr, or as Ethan calls him, "Baby Spike!" You gotta shout it like that. He fell in LOVE. He loves the baby version of anything. Well his Gramma Sue (my step-mom) got that for him. You can see here he loves it.

Stephen also wanted "Zoo Spires" Which he means "expire" but he really means "membership". I'm not sure when or how he started calling memberships "expires", probably when one of ours expired, but look! he got one! (We went to the zoo yesterday by the way, it's a family membership.) This is one of the most exciting presents of the year because we all can enjoy it again and again.

I got an unexpected suprise too! Ages ago I mentioned to my mom that Kitchenaid made a PINK food chopper/processor. I've been wanting one for a while. And PINK. Did I mention it is Pink? So now I have one! Thanks mom! She got me tons actually, this, the swiffer wetjet mop I wanted (I know totally sexy Christmas gift right? But I love it) An octopus broach, a bunch of vintage dishtowels... I can't remember what else. Tons.

Brian was there. He got mostly gift cards to Toys R Us, which is what he always asks for. He got a calendar from my Dad and Sue that he's showed me several times. I'm not sure if I'm not admireing it correctly or what, but he REALLY likes it. I think Brian's favorite thing is the food. I cooked a 12lb ham. It was awesome. I think though that I could go months without eating ham again. haha.

Marcia and Gram were also here. (maybe next year I'll make a list of photos I really want us to take.) Gram loved the pillows I made her that match the quilt I made her last year. Marcia got some seek and find picture books. She loves doing those things. It was a really nice Christmas.

Brian was off work from Wednesday. We went to several parks and hiked and such. Very fun stuff. Stephen took photos there. Tomorrow or Tuesday I will have him blog what he has to say. I'm going to load his pictures and then let him dictate what to say about them. So look forward to that. :)

Eventful Year

Several things happened this year that I could have done without.

I'm making this list mostly because it's almost funny now. It was a weird year, but I still feel lucky and blessed.

So here goes with the the list of things Erin Could Have Done Without:
Giving Blood then fainting and almost dieing at the Ren Festival
Breaking my arm in the mountains at Gatlinburg and not getting it treated for 5 days.
Ripping my left toenail off (which happened in January and is just not healed)
Pneumonia... twice
Thinking my step-mom was going to die (she's ok now, thank God and The Clevland Clinic)
False pregnancy
Miscarriage (seperate from the false pregnancy)
Gained 20lbs. :(
Brian's change in work keeping him from getting home before 7 most nights. (And yes we ARE very thankful he has a job, I just miss him is all)
Air Conditioner for our house died and had to be replaced
Pool motor died and had to be replaced
AC in car died and had to be replaced
Door handles on car broke off (apparently this is not uncommon!) and had to be replaced

Not all of that was major. Some of it was horribly terrible. The thing is I never had a feeling of helplessness all year. I never felt like the terrible dark was going to eat me alive. My family is amazing. I have fantastic, supportive friends. This may have been a year filled with unfortunate events, but I've never been in a better place in my life.

I also this year:
Feel I did a good job magnifying my calling at church
Joined the choir which has been very fun and fulfilling
Had two aquantances move up to good friends
Had a good friend move up to rock solid best friend, you know the kind you know you will have forever.
Sent Stephen to school, knowing that I truly had valued and made the best out of the time I had him before school. Then found out that school was great and not an end to the special bond S and I have at all.
Grew closer to Ethan, who is painfully adorable.
Grew closer to Christ
Made several very lovely quilts.
Made hundreds of cards that were fun to make.
Got published several times.
Discovered the depth of the support my friends and church family have for me.
Probably more things I can't even think of.

All in all, it was an ok year. I'll try not to break anything next year though. I want to say I will get pregnant and have a great baby, but I'm afraid to hinge my happiness on something that I've learned I don't have that much control over. So I will say that I'll enjoy any and all children I have next year. Either these two perfect ones, or another as well. :)

Get Ready for the Cuteness!

You cannot stand it. Just look at these kids.

All these images are copyrighted by Lea Mayo Photography.

Getting Better

Well I'm feeling lots better. It has been terribly hard. I've had great support though so that is fantastic. I think I'm pretty much done with the random crying and stuff.

And family is what matters most right now. Like this adorable Mr.Potato Head Family Ethan and my mom made today. Of course then Ethan got very serious and asked Grammy for a "baby potato" because he feels like the family isn't done until it gets a baby. (He REALLY wants a baby.) But how cute? I think I'm pretty much on track for Christmas. I have one small sewing project to finish up. All storebought presents are done. I heard Santa still needs help wrapping his stuff so I might help him with some of that. All my stuff is under the tree. Today was Stephen's Christmas Party at school and he doesn't go back until Jan 4th. I'm looking forward to having him all day. I really like his school, but I like spending my days with him even more.

Bad news

Well bad news everyone.
Turns out my pregnancy is not well. I have what is called a blighted ovum. Basicly an egg gets fertalized, implants, and grows a sac. Then nothing. I mean the sac is growing and I will grow a placenta, but no baby in there. When the placenta tries to attach to the baby and finds there is not one I will have a miscarriage. In about two weeks.
It pretty much sucks. I don't know what else to say about that.
I'm kinda pissed that I have HORRIBLE morning sickness (all day) and that won't be ending right away. It doesn't seem fair to be this sick and not have a baby. Of course what is fair about miscarriage?
Ok, thanks for listening.

Horse Day

So today was Horse Day at Stephen's school. The first and third Friday of each month his class all walks to the back of the school where there is a barn full of horses and a nice lady Sandy who takes care of them. Sandy was nice enough to offer Ethan a ride but he didn't want to. This horse is a teddybear of a thing, loved attention, and totally gentle.

Here is Stephen riding in his smart helmit. That's Sandy guideing the horse.

More riding.

And more riding.

While they wait they sit on these huge logs. You would think this was part of the event, they all love sitting on logs. This close kid I think is worried about internet safety and didn't want his picture taken.

So this is cool, for some reason I'm crazy popular at S's school. With kids I mean. The adults like me fine, I'm involved but not overbearing, so they like me. But the kids, I mean I walk in and they are all, "Stephen's MOMMY!!" And they had a little mini argument about who got to sit next to me on the log and all. The little girl who won was so happy and snuggled up to me and all.

That little girl by the way is popular. You'd not think they had that in preschool? And another little girl who is also popular is a bit bossy. This is confusing and even a bit distressing for Stephen. For months this bossy girl has been running "Follow the Leader". Apparently she never lets anyone else be the leader. Ever. So Stephen tried to start up his own game and no one will jump ship and play with Stephen taking turns of being leaders, they all stay following this one girl! I get an update every day on his progress overthrowing this girl but I think it's not ment to be.

Now if you know me really well you may know about MY experience in preschool. Yes, the pencil girl. What you don't know? Ok I accidentally scratched this girl with a pencil. Not a big deal, didn't leave a mark. Well she threatened me that if I didin't do everything she said forever that she would sue my family for "every last penny you have" and we would loose our house and my parents would go to jail. I was TERRIFIED of this girl. So for an entire school year I did everything she said. Even when my dad's friend Ricky Wildman, who I WORSHIPED gave me a stuffed animal and I took it to nap time she made me give it to her! And she kept it. Well when there was just a few weeks left she said my time serving her was up. But wouldn't you know within two days I DID IT AGAIN! Scratched the same girl with a pencil again! What the heck? So I finished the year in terror, then we moved and that was the end of it. Thank heavens we moved or I'd probably be doing this heffer's taxes right now or something.

My point is that none of the kids at Stephen's school are that mean. They are actually all pretty sweet and fun. I'm glad he has a great school.

Pregnancy update: I'm very sick. I mean horrible sick. I hate it. And wouldn't you know Thanksgiving is next week. I can barely eat anything, the idea of all those food smells in one location? I have gotten sick like 5 times just thinking about it. Stupid all day food holiday. I'm also in the middle of a bit of a problem. I won't go into it but it's a bit scary. It SHOULD be all figured out Monday. I hope so, I'm tired of being sick AND scared.

Very Tired

And you can see why:That's all I have to say. I'm tired, I'm pregnant, I'm glad I'm pregnant. Mostly what I feel right now is tired though. VERY tired. Like I took five vicoden tired. (I did not take any vicoden, thanks for your concern)

Another new haircut

Get a load of Stephen's new hair. He LOVES it. I love it. Strangers all love it. School loves it.



Brian does not love it.

New Haircut.

So today I got a new haircut. I think I like it. Maybe it needs more layers? I dunno. I never can tell until I style it myself. If anything I just want more layers in it. But it is exactly what I asked for. :)

Overheard

Stephen is singing:

it's dangerous
You better watch out for your tentacle
it's dangerous
ruff, ruff, ru uff uff uff
I know I told you already
that it's dangerous
for you and us
dangerous


Did you know that when I grow up my museum is going to be in Canada
It's cold but not as dangerous
dangerous
watch out for your tentacle

So many colors
but it's dangerous
watch out for your tentacle.

(Hold on he might be done...)

Ok it's over.

First Day of School

It's official. Stephen is a school kid. I'm sad and happy at the same time. I'm mostly happy, he was SO proud and happy to be going to school. In this first picture he's showing you his "homework". He had breakfast there at the school, ceral, fruit and toast. We took a first day of school picture, then he went to his class. Like all seperations he's faced he didn't even look back. He found a spot on the circle rug and started doing exercises with the other kids. I won't lie to you guys, I can't wait for 11:30 when I pick him up. I'm going to take Ethan to the children's museum in a few minutes, try to distract us both. But I miss my Teeny. I know he's having fun though, so it's all good.

School Orientation.

Today we walked over to the school for Preschool Orientation. Just Stephen is going, but Ethan walked over too because I wasn't going to just leave him at home of course! haha.

While we waited for it to start the kids could play at tables.

Stephen did actually play with lots of kids but I wanted mostly pics of just him as I knew I'd be putting them on the blog.

After we played for a while in this room (which is where the breakfast will be), he went to his class. His teacher is Miss Australia. She has been teaching 4 year old preschool at this school for over 30 years. The classroom is bright and sunny and there is a fishtank with a fish in it.

Well we already have homework. So I'd better go.

Very Serious

Here is Stephen with some huge Jaguar. He and Brian were going to go to the game last Saturday but didn't get tickets. So they gave up and went to Diary Queen for Sundays instead.

So the boys come up to me yesterday. They had been watching some TV.

S: we need to talk to you mommy

E: *looks very serious*

Me: Ok baby, what's wrong?

S: Do you use Dove Soap?

Me: no

S: Well then you have a layer of soap scum on your skin all the time. I think you need to switch to Dove, it's the only one that does not leave a layer of scum.

Ethan: *nods very seriously*

Me: You guys watch too much TV.

Funny story.

Tonight was our friend Ed's Eagle Court of Honor. Brian went early as he is the Scoutmaster and had some getting ready to do. Me and the boys went later.

I was running late. I HATE to be late for things. It's totally unacceptable to me. So I was speeding on this one stretch of road in the neighborhood. I rarely speed.

I knew he was going to pull me over as soon as the cop car turned a corner in front of me. The lights came on and I was already pulling over. He pulled his car up to me and we both rolled down windows. Stephen asked if I was going to jail and if he would live with just Daddy. The cop said, "Two beautiful children in the car and going 10 over the speed limit?" I apologized. I mean I WAS speeding. In a neighborhood no less! MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I felt terrible. I tend to feel terrible. He was very nice to me though, did not give me a ticket and told me to have a good day but slow down.

We got to the Court of Honor in plenty of time, of course. Our friend Ed is pretty cool. Cool enough that the Mayor of our city was at the Court of Honor. I got to meet him, he's related to my friend and his family. My boys and the Mayor's kids played. Fun stuff. We also got to meet Mark, the police officer who travels with the mayor. He was introduced as "works in my office and travels with me". I think that means "security". He had the security look to him. But was super friendly.

Mark was friendly enough that when he was in our row (seated right behind the mayor of course) my boys wanted to sit right next to him. I had to get up to hand out some programs. (I made the programs, they were cool looking, I just got Publisher.) As I walk by I hear my kids grilling Mark, "Are you the policeman who pulled Mommy over?" "No, I'm not, I would not pull your mommy over" "will she go to jail?" "No she will not go to jail" And then Ethan, "You DID put us mommy in jail!" "Nope, your mommy will not be going to jail"

Oh children! I do love them so.

Mark was concerned, being a super cool officer type. He wanted to make sure I didn't get a ticket and that the officer who pulled me over was nice. He told me that it was probably my attitude that kept me from a ticket. Apparently lots of people are rude to the cops. That totally confuses me. But my cop didn't look like he was ever planning on giving me a ticket. It did make me wonder though, could the mayor get me out of a ticket?


In other news:
We saw Ponyo today. It was crazy good. The artwork was stunning. Interestingly my favorite art was in the opening credits. But it was all really good. I highly recomend it. It's not like other Disney movies.

Stephen starts school next week. Everyone else went back this week. He's very confused about that, why he didn't start with all his friends. It's going to be fine of course.

Epcot

We went to Epcot on Saturday with my Dad and Stepmom. It was awesome. The park was REALLY empty. For the first time in my life we parked at a Disney park walking distance from the entrance. I mean in that first lot. Like how close you would park at Costco or something! It was hot, but then there were some afternoon showers and it cooled off. We had a blast.

Ethan

Here is Ethan looking all adorable. He can barely stand it. He has this new smile I have to get a pic of. I'm telling you I'd give him a million dollars if he smiled that smile at me and asked. It's dangerous to have someone in your home this cute.

Ethan is 100% potty trained. Hurray Ethan. I know I tell you this almost every day, but it's still amazing to me.

Hair Cutting Day

So Saturday I cut everyone's hair. I even cut my own hair! I wanted to do a chin lenght cut, but Brian just wasn't on board. So this is what I did:

It's kinda similar to the hair I always have but several inches shorter. (about 6 inches shorter) Here is the kicker though. NO ONE noticed! I guess that's good, no one attacked me and said, "What the heck happened to your hair" so I must have done an ok job on the cut. But I cut a TON of hair off and no one notices? I mean even people who KNEW I was going to cut my hair didn't notice.

The more dramatic hair cut was Stephen. He has wanted a mohawk for some time now. I decided he could have one. This first pic is beautiful to me and I think I'm going to frame it.

He loves it. Every day he asks if he still has a mohawk. He likes it best "up" but he is ok with it down too. Actually down it looks fairly conservative. I was obsessive about making it look even and straight in either position.

Ethan and Brian got haircuts too. Brian is not here and Ethan won't let me take a photo of him. He is totally potty trained now! For the first week he was afraid of going when we were out, like wouldn't use a public restroom, but he's over that now.

Ethan

Ethan has gone a week now with no potty accidents! He's even making it through the night. It's official! No diapers at the Kellogg House!

Also here are some pictures of a cool SkyWay public transportation we took to the library with our friends the other day.

Oh my HECK.

Woke up to this Saturday morning.

It's 15lbs each of brown and white sugar. 10lbs of powdered sugar, 10lbs of baking soda and 5lbs of cornstarch. Also almost an entire bottle of dish detergent is mixed in. Those are all my utencils as well. Just for good measure.

This particular mixture is heck to wash out of children's hair, clothes, the floor, all your cabinets, the slats in the pantry door, all small appliances in the kitchen, most food in the pantry... I think you get the picture.

Stephen and Ethan's reasoning? "We wanted to make breakfast"

Mom, if you tell me that is cute it's entirely possible we won't be friends anymore.

Bread

Look, I made perfect bread. It was delicious. What's that? You don't come here to look at perfect bread? Well fine here you go:

That's more like it! And also this:

No wait, I try NOT to see that face! haha.

Let's try this one:

Aww that's cute. Ethan loves that photo of Brian. Hmmm, do I have any great pics of Stephen?

Awww Yeah, there you go. He's a ROCKSTAR. *this was actually supposed to be showing his super smart looking church outfit on Sunday. He and Brian put it together. With no regards to my "elastic pants and tucking in shirts can't coexist" rule. But he did look stinking adorable.

Also at church this Sunday Stephen stood in front of our whole church and shared his testimony. That's something we do once a month, have the opportunity for anyone to do that. So he did and it was so sweet that I memorized it:

I know that Jesus created everything in the whole wide world. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Now how's that for the testimony of a 4 year old? I think it's perfection.

Ethan Turns Three

We didn't have a real party.

We did get a huge thing of cupcakes but Ethan broke into them and ate all the frosting and made a mess of the cakes. Which stinks because I want cupcakes.

But we had fun anyhow. He got a memebership to a local Children's Museum, which he loves. We have already gone twice. He got some toys, but not tons of them, which I like.

He told me he feels like he's a big boy now that he's three.

The video is of him getting a very special card from my mom. He got this same card last year and loved it until it was dead. It lasted a good ten months though. So Mom, being brilliant, got him the same one! He did a super happy dance/song, but I didn't catch that on video.


ETA Try the video again, I linked the wrong one. hugs!

Ethan's Birthday

Well we didn't take any photos or have a party.

We did get a huge thing of cupcakes from Costco but Ethan broke into them and ate all the frosting and made a huge mess of the rest. Which really stinks because since then I've been really wanting a cupcake.

But we did have a nice time. He got a membership to a local Children's Museum which he loves and we have already been twice. Also I watched two kids who are friends of theirs. So we made baked apples and served them with ice cream.

And here is Ethan getting a special card: