Wennon

From the time that Tyson could talk, he's always called Brennon "Wennon."  This last few months he's had such a jump in his vocabulary, that it's made me kind of sad to see him growing so much so fast.  We went in for his Well Child Checkup as soon as we could after the move and insurance and all that jazz, so it ended up being on Wednesday.  The Dr. made a comment that he has such clear speech, much better to understand than most his age.  I couldn't agree more!  Last night as we were praying as a family, it was Tyson's turn.  He likes to ask "What's next?" all the time, so Randy started thanking Heavenly Father for each child by name.  When he came to Brennon, we all assumed he'd say "Wennon," but to my surprise said it correct.  And again my heart broke at how quickly the time is going.  No diapers and better speech all in the same week.  Stop growing, babies!!!!

Game Night

Jamie and Cameron are the first friends we've made here.  When we lived in the rental, we lived 7 houses away.  Now that we've moved, we're only 4 away.  It's a mere 40 steps from my front door to hers.  Not that I've counted:)  Since first meeting them, Jamie and I have painted her powder room, crafted, shopped, done lunches, done some "book clubs," decorated, and just hung out.  It has been so much fun having a friend SO close.  Randy and Cameron have built shelves in the garage (with more on the way) and gone shooting.  Last night they made an ammo run at 9:30PM since everywhere is running out the moment it gets placed on the shelves.  All of this has been fun, but the most fun that we have happens after the kids are in bed.  Since you can see our home so easily from theirs (and vice-verse) we each put our kids to bed and get together for games.  We've played Settlers of Catan- Cities & Knights three times now after 8:30PM.  It's kind of funny, because we're the ones that introduced Cities and Knights to them, but they're the ones that have won all three times.  We've also played Quelf, Acquire, and Wits & Wagers with them.  This is fun!  We kind of always have a Saturday Night Date in a way.  One where I hope to win at least once:)  One more reason I know we were lead to the Tri-Cities!

Done!

With Tyson potty training himself so early, we never really worried about nighttime diapers.  We continued to just put him in a diaper at night after the first two nights of pee.  With the move from Wyoming to Washington, and then renting while we were here, I didn't worry about trying him out without a diaper because I didn't want the house to stink while we were trying to sell it, or the rental to stink because he was having accidents.  So, now that we're in our own home and things are settling down (knock on wood,) we tried him without one three nights ago.  And we're done!  :)  No more diapers in the Dirks' home.  Ever. Again!  Wow, that feels so nice.  I can't believe we're past that stage after 11 years.  Lovely.  The weird thing is, on Tyson's second night going commando, Brennon actually peed his bed.  First night ever!!  He was so confused about it, too.  He was telling us (in his cute way of telling stories) that he woke up wet.  His eyebrows were pulled down low, his arms were flailing, and his voice was one of awe.  He had actually peed his bed and couldn't remember doing it and didn't know why he woke up wet.  It was so weird.  That just made Tyson's wet-free night even better!  The next milestone we'll come up on is when Tyson goes to Kindergarten.  My babies are growing up:(

Early Morning Breakfast

So, we've moved over into our new house. It was so nice only having to move 5 houses away!!  Not to say that it is all done, but it was easier than the move we made from Wyoming to Washington just 3 months ago.  I love that we were able to roll the metal garage shelving on our furniture dollies down the street so we didn't have to take them apart:)  Randy is a genius!  Since we didn't get our keys until it was almost dark on Valentine's day, we made an initial haul that night and then made the big push on Friday.  Saturday morning we didn't have a clue where anything was, so I packed up the kids and headed to Winco for doughnuts.  While in line at 7:15 AM with a dozen doughnuts, a man asked me in an incredulous voice, "Who eats doughnuts this early in the morning?"  With eyes raised at his weird questions, I said, "Um... my kids!"  wondering "who doesn't eat doughnuts in the morning?"  And, if they don't, when do they think it's acceptable?  Then my eyes traveled to his grocery load.  BEER!  He was buying a case of BEER at 7:15 AM and thought my purchase was weird.  And then I realized, he must have already been drunk:)  For the record, I think any purchase of beer is too early!

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

This year we got a house for Valentine's Day!  After a week of trial after trial trying to close, it finally because official today at 4:00 PM.  We are moving in!  Happy Valentine's Day 2013:)  PS. Randy will never be able to top this year's gift!

Marriage

I've heard a lot recently about how sometimes a girl will marry a man just like her Dad.  Well, yesterday we were telling our kids that Randy and my Dad were born in the same hospital, went to the same Elementary, Jr. High, High school, College graduating with the same degree.  I guess my Dad is just so awesome I didn't stray from a single detail:)  My parents have been married for 33 years this July.  I know we won't stray from that detail either!

Egg Whites

I found out a few years ago that if you use egg whites as a mouse while your hair is damp and ready to dry, it will make it curly.  I just brush my wet hair, use one egg white almost like a gel, and then crimp while I dry.  Next thing I know, curly hair that lasts all day and washes out the next.  It doesn't smell either.  There was actually a girl that sniffed my hair one time when I told her how I did it:)  Anyway, Ty was snuggling with me tonight, kind of crimping my hair in his cute little hands.  "Mom, why is your hair so spokey?"  Um... I don't even understand a word you just said!  Who knows what "spokey" means?  Not me!

Frames

Shelby's glasses age 3-5

Shelby's glasses age 5

 

With the move and new insurance, Shelby's eye appointment this year got pushed back a few weeks.  She has needed some new glasses for a few weeks because her last pair got chewed by Bella.  The weird thing is that those glasses that she had from 3-5 didn't get ruined once.  Can you imagine that?  Not once!!  She got them the week she turned three!  I can NOT imagine Tyson having glasses and not having them get messed up once.  Then she turns five and gets some pretty cute glasses and then has to get another pair because of the dog.  When we moved to Richland, she actually found the first pair and wore those for a few weeks before a pin came out and lost a lens.  Today, as she was picking out frames for her new glasses, she tried on about 10 pairs before choosing the ones I had her try on very first.  They are so cute!!  The funny thing is, when we were checking out, the Doctor actually said that our insurance pays up to $139.  Her frames only cost $9!  So, when we could have the most expensive frames in the store, we got the least expensive.  The 5 year old glasses cost us $150 a piece.  YIKES!!  Talk about bad luck!!  Let's hope we have good luck with these frames.  No dog might be a great thing for her vision!

Grown Up

Keilie 2005  Man, I love those eyes and flawless skin.  And psycho pigtails:)

Every time I pick up Keilie from Sylvan Learning Center, without fail, she asks me what we're having for dinner.  Tonight I told her we were having leftovers.  A couple minutes later she made the comment that she couldn't wait to grow up.  I asked her why, curious to hear what she had to say.  "Because, when I'm older I can have Ice Cream even if I don't finish my dinner."  Sad that she knew she wouldn't like dinner tonight because she hadn't loved dinner the last three nights.  Better get some new recipes:)  For the record, she's right.  There are even times when I have ice cream for dinner!  Being grown up is awesome!!!

Upcycle

I got the idea to make these storage containers on Pinterest.  Since we use about 2-3 cans each month of our food storage, I can't wait to line my linen closet shelves with them.  Can you imagine the clean look of identical storage containers?  *Swoon*  The cans are free and the twine only cost $5.00 and will last for three cans.  Careful, I'm feeling crafty again!  I just need to find a cute project to lable these bad-boys!

Warts

Remember the episode in my life where I had planter warts on the bottom of my foot that plagued me for 6 months?  Each night I took an hour pealing off the layer of acid I put on the night before, plus some of my actual foot.  It was quite painful!  And embarrasing.  And painful!  A couple months later, Caden complained about one on the ball of his foot. We went in and had the most simple procedure of them painting on some "beetlejuice" on the wart and then it took care of itself.  I promised myself that I would always go that route when one "popped up" in our family (had to show my lame side there, didn't I?)  It was so easy.  Painless!  Well, a week ago, Brennon complained about his big toe hurting.  It was a HUGE wart!!  So, I made an appointment with a dermatologist hoping to convince them to do the same thing.  They have "other procedures."  Either they scrape off the top and inject meds or they cut it out.  Um, why don't they have the easy way?  So, they put a little numbing gel on his toe while we waited in the small room with expensive equipment every.where for an HOUR while it numbed.  The kids were good, but BORED!  Brennon asked why they didn't have toys.  Um, yeah, why don't you have a few at least?  Then the doctor came in and tried to be funny, but his assistant just made it uncomfortable.  They did not have a good relationship, so she'd roll her eyes at everything and pretty much mock him while he worked.  They they started to scrape the wart.  Brennon was saying that it hurt, to which their reply was, "No it doesn't.  This doesn't hurt."  I wanted to scream, "HECK YES that hurts!!"  I was trying to comfort him without saying out loud that these psychos were trying to help.  Then, the arguing began between Dr. and assistant about which size bandaid they should put on.  HELLO!  Get me out of here.  I don't care about that stupid bandaid.  Just let me leave so I can find a new Dr.  Hopefully one that will have beetlejuice!  What a nightmare.  Brennon asked for us to never go back.  I was glad to say, "That's one promise I can make that I have no chance of breaking!!"  There's something to be said about working relationships.  Maybe that's why Randy and I work so well.  We just don't argue!  Or I just do it all:)  Just kidding!