To Sleep, perchance to dream-

Ay, there's the rub.

So while I finally feel (mostly) like a human being again, the girls have been coughing and snotty and I seem to be picking that up... mur... and Bob had a rough few days of illness last week. Woot. I'm already longing for spring. 

It snowed last Saturday!  It was very pretty.  The girls were so excited.  Emmy kept pointing out the window with big eyes, "Ook, ook!"  Cecily wanted to go out in it buuut I didn't want to and Bob was sick so we didn't.  They got to go to the farm during testimonies so I think that made up for it.  I mean, driving Barbie cars down the stairs is way better than playing in wet snow.

Fred and Dianne came for the baptism... and some elevator people that I vaguely remember from when Dad was on the board... I was very glad Dianne was there because Bob was home sick and there's no way I would have been able to stay in with both girls alone, so it ended up being a pretty good Sunday.

I did let them go out in the snow after church.  Cecily loves it... Emmy doesn't want to get snow on her boots.  And Cecily insists I stay within 10 feet of her at all times.  *sigh*  So I did a lot of carrying Emmy around the yard while Cecily made snow angels.  Then we had to hurry and head to Gridley for our last Christmas!

I didn't take any pictures but we had fun.  We always have soup, which is amazing.  And the California box made it in time.  The girls got to play with Cristina's toys.... and we got home kind of late.  Oh well.

Our new mattresses came bright and early Monday morning!  Woot woot!  So, Bob has not really been a fan of our full sized bed.... that was my Grandparent's... that my Grandpa died in... (my dad should really blog about it and then you would realize why that fact doesn't bother me in the least.) 

Anyway, for Christmas, I got him full-to-queen conversion rails so we can use the headboard and footboard with bigger mattresses.  They're marketed for antique beds and are designed to sit lower to the floor because mattresses are much thicker than they used to be; I was also really hoping that we might end up with not so tall of a bed.   I looked into just buying a new queen headboard and frame but it was way more expensive and I'm not sure what style would go well with our 50's bedroom set. 

The girls thought the empty frame was the best thing ever.

 And new mattresses.  Notice that it's still really tall.  Boo.  Even with the lower side rails its about 3 inches taller than our other mattresses.  Sadness.  You should have seen Bob's face when I sat on the bed and said, "I don't like it."  Ha. Woe is me.  He says they aren't going back so I will just have to 'deal about it.'

It was about that point that we discovered that there is such a thing as "new mattress smell."  I don't like it.  So we haven't even slept on them yet, we've been camping on the couch bed in the living room which is NOT comfortable.  At all.  It was warm today so I shut the door and cracked the window and it seems to be dissipating finally...

Oh well.  I should not complain.  I get to keep my solid cherry bed with the spot on the headboard where the finish is worn from a humidifier when my mom was sick as a kid.... and Bob gets three extra inches of mattress on his side. 

Tuesday was pretty cold so I didn't want to go outside.  One of my HS friends is a nanny and posted pictures of her charges playing with snow in the bath tub.... so we tried it.  They were very unsure at first.  "Why is there snow in the house?"  "What is it doing in the tub?"

 But then they warmed up to the idea. 

 Enough that I felt like I was winning at parenting for once.  Ha.  It was worth it to not have to get bundled up to go outside with the temperature in the teens.

That evening I got to go out to eat with my Washington girls.  It was really good to see them... I have lots of great friends of all ages, but there's something about spending time with people who have known you forever and through so many stages in life... and where pretty much no topic is taboo.  *grin*  We laughed a lot.

So yeah, other than all that and a hilarious (after the fact) incident involving Emmy getting mad that we wouldn't let her have a can of ginger ale and her throwing it on the bathroom floor and it exploding, it's been quiet around here.  I'm ready for all of us to not be under the weather and for spring.  And I'm ready to sleep in a real bed again. 

Oh and Emmy is happy as a clam outside if she's being pulled in a sled.  That way she doesn't get snow on her boots.  Or gloves. 
Blessings. 

Operation Save the Potatoes!

I despise desprouting potatoes... and since we've had a warm fall and winter so far our basement hasn't really been cold enough to store potatoes.  After all the work it takes to grow weed them and dig them I am not giving up the fight to save them and eat them!  Anyway, optimum temperature for potato storage is 45-50 degrees with 90-95% humidity.  Sooooo... my friend just happened to be selling a mini fridge and we just happened to be in need of a cold storage option for what's left of our potato crop.  It's on the warmest setting and we stuck a couple of open containers of water in there and we should be good to go.   Ha.  I feel so crunchy or something.

Anyway, Christmas number 5 ended up getting postponed due to the ice storm... probably a good thing in the long run because Emmy came down with a fever that afternoon.  Boo.  It only lasted about a day though, so not too bad.

The rest of the week was pretty quiet.  Cecily got sick at 3am on the 31st.  Woot.  It's a good thing Bob got up with me because my poor stomach could hardly handle the cleanup...  so we all sat on the couch the next day.  Yes, Emmy is only wearing legwarmers with her diaper.  Her choice. 

"When you're sick you can watch whatever you want."  *Ahem.* 



 Emmy and I made it to New Years Eve service but then we came home and sat on the couch with our poor sick girl.  She refused to take any medicine and she wouldn't even drink the Dr. Pepper I laced with Tylenol.... *sigh* 

"Oook, Oook"  This time it was more Mom-doesn't-feel-good than sick kids.... you don't want to know how many times we've watched Robin Hood over the last two weeks...

She was acting well enough the next afternoon that we let her go to Bob's parent's for Christmas.  My camera didn't make it out of my purse, but I think Bob took a few pictures... we skyped Matt, which was nice.
Cecily got this ironing board but Emmy was pretty sure she needed it.  "Cheeese!"

The rest of Bob's time off work was spent relaxing and playing with all their new toys.  And Legos.

 "Cheese!"  She likes to line the horses up and say, "ook, ook!"

 A new dollhouse just for her! 

'What's on your shirt, Emmy?'  "Duck!" 

Slowly, slowly I am feeling better.  Yesterday I gagged on my toothbrush but didn't throw up!  Yay!  It's the little things...  

Blessings.

Christmas (thus far...)

Starting things off and the first of six....  we spent last Sunday evening with the Beutels.  This year they borrowed costumes and had the kids do a nativity play.  Cecily was an angel... 

I think she's trying to adjust her costume, and not actually putting her hands over her heart or talking to Tirzah, but it looks awfully sweet. 

Emmy grabbed a book while we were singing and climbed up by Grandma. 

Monday was the day of days at Grandpa and Grandma Wyss's....  we actually skipped breakfast so that the girls could sort of stay on their usual sleeping and eating schedule.... ok, and I need sleep too.  We showed up in time for lunch and presents.  I wasn't feeling the greatest, but it was an enjoyable day anyway. 

Cecily got a Mermaid dress from "Grandma Lydiann at the condos" (and Grandpa).  It's intentionally too big but she wore it for quite a while. 

Ned got this sweet hat.  I think he can probably pull it off. 

Emmy got this little doll high chair.... the doll belongs at the condos and I personally think it looks super creepy, but she carried it around all day and fed it many meals in her high chair. 

And they both got a train set from the Kellenberger girls.

Grandma and Aunt Pearl...

Supper was delicious as always, even though nothing really tastes quite like it should right now. mur.  The girls ate... Cecily mostly ate broccoli, strange child.  Emmy eats everything unless it's green.
Emmy thought she needed to sit in her new little chair, but then she gets stuck and almost tips herself over. 

 At least she's feeding her baby fruits.

We had a few days of a break between Christmases.  On Wednesday we decided to open gifts at our house.  Little Bee was very excited.

As was little miss.

Ook!  Ook!  Kaek! Kaek!  She's fond of cake and her new cupcakes.

Cecily got ballet slippers.  She's been wearing them constantly.

Emmy loves soft things and her new blanket is now a favorite.

I got a globe!  I think Bob is showing her where Uncle Matt is.

We have a pirate princess now too. 

Christmas Eve the Kochs got together.  I didn't take any pictures but the girls got to make sparkly boxes covered in stickers- they loved it.  I didn't feel very good.  Which was disheartening since for a few days there had been some breaks in the constant nausea and I was seeing a light at the end of a very long dark tunnel.... not so much. 

Christmas morning the girls opened their stockings.

Sleepy baby was pretty happy.

We went to church in W-ton.  The girls were good, I felt awful.  My cold had gotten worse and the sinus drainage was making me gag.  So I spent the morning sucking on mints and trying not throw up.  ugh.  We had lunch at the farm and then presents!  Packages!  Emmy would start giggling and saying "Oooh, Ook!" before she even got the paper off.

Cecily got a toy sewing machine that actually works!  We'll see how long it lasts.   

Jakey's list was as vague as ever.  "Gear." "Useful things." "Clothes."  So we got him a box of useful things: string, Band-Aids, tape, rubber gloves, etc. 

Matt and Lena gave Emmy a toy trumpet.  She can't get quite enough air through it so now she will bring it to Bob or me and shove it in our faces for us to play.  It's got four notes... tuned so we can play bugle calls and that's about it.  *grin*  Much taps and reveille around here. 

Some Messiah singing, Cornish hens for supper (Cecily only ate carrots...), games, and we headed home probably later than we should have. 
The girls slept well.  I was super stuffed up and didn't feel good and barely slept.  Even cold meds at 4am didn't help much.  *sigh*  So Saturday was a sit on the couch and referee the girls playing with their new toys day.  And then Bob started feeling under the weather.  Woot.  This morning I woke up feeling about the same with a sinus headache on top of everything... and Bob has a sore throat... so we listened to church.  Cecily was sad to miss Sunday school, poor kid. "Sandikoch will be sad I'm not there!"  I'm just glad she and Emmy have been healthy so far!
Blessings.   

Sewing projects

So I got the sewing bug this fall... and when it hits I must go with it because when it's over there's no finishing things...

From the top:  Quilt squares for a bedspread for Emmy when she moves to a regular bed.  I discovered strip piecing for log cabin squares and it's rocking my world!  They're not perfect- Grandma Koch's old sheets are not exactly like sewing with nice stable quilters cotton, but they're cute.  And they'll match Cecily's. 

I made two skirts!  With pockets and a zipper and a real waistband!  The pink was my "muslin" for the green... but I think I like the way it fits better, somehow.  The pockets have contrasting lining, which I love. 
The green is a back view, made with the same pattern but with belt loops on it.  Both skirts have a cool back yoke and flat felled seams (double top stitched like denim).  I think they turned out pretty well, and no one has asked me if I made them which I consider a compliment. 

I said I was not going to stress myself out and sew the girls Christmas dresses this year.  So instead I fell in love with this dress at woodensoldier.com and made them Winter dresses.  Fairly close copy and much cheaper.  They are knit fabric...  That was a first and an experience.  I also modified a t-shirt pattern so yeah.  About halfway through I was kicking myself for not just making them out of something woven.  But, now I know how to sew knits without a serger, and use stretch thread, and double needles.  Woot woot. 

The girls got two little peasant dresses with hobbit aprons out of the deal... although they won't wear them.  *sigh* 

They love their capes!  I like to see them in their capes. 

Baby Jack has no hope for a normal life in our family.  He will be indoctrinated into our nerdy ways... starting with his Middle Earth tag blanket.  He will know the way to Mordor.  And Mirkwood.  And the last Homely House. 

I made a basket liner with handles so we can keep our library books in there and then when it's time to return them the liner becomes our book bag.  It's been very handy. 

Why am I boring you with all this? 

1. So Dad can feel vindicated for making me take sewing in 4H.
2. So Mom can feel like all the hours and tears at the sewing machine for 4H were worth it.
3. So Grandma can be proud.... :) 
4. So someday I can look back and be amazed at all the stuff I got done before I had three kids.

I made it through everybody-finds-out Sunday.  Ugh.  I know people mean well, but seriously.  I feel awful all day every day.  And maybe I'm old fashioned, but I'm not rejoicing yet.... I know way too many people who have lost babies after 20 weeks....30 weeks...practically 40 weeks... so it feels really awkward to be congratulated... I mean, I didn't put anything on our Christmas card because, would we have a funeral at this point?  No, so I'm not putting it on the card.  Sorry if that's morbid, but I haven't felt well in 7 weeks and I probably have at least 3 more of constant nausea so I'm losing my grip on being pleasant.  So much for enjoying Thanksgiving, and my Birthday, and Christmas... (you can pray for my poor family.)

But then there are the angels who offer babysitting, and food, and show up with supper. I just want to hug them. And it makes the months of awkward/intrusive comments and the months of awkward/inappropriate nursing comments seem almost bearable.  Almost.  Oh and it got me out of jury duty, so there's that.

woot.
Blessings.

Go tell it on the Mountain!

Oh my busy little bee... she moves things from one place to another all day long.  

 And she loves to play with the "bay-bee." 

 Cecily went to her first Christmas program practice last Tuesday night.  I helped serve the snack to her class.  She was so funny up on the risers- both hands up by her mouth all nervous and she and the girl next to her were rocking side to side.  And she saw me and waved.... ha. 

Playing in the basement on a dreary day.  Cecily freaks out if Emmy comes anywhere near her legos.  And Emmy does it just to get a rise out of her.  *sigh* 

 Enjoying a snack on the porch on a nicer day.  It's been so strangely warm.  I don't like it.  If it's winter it should be winter.

Sunday evening was the Christmas program.  Cecily did great.  I was so proud.  Haha.  Actually, I was just glad she kept her hands out of her mouth and there was no lifting of skirts... she knew all the words to 'Go tell it on the Mountain!'  and sang out.  Emmy did great too, probably because Mom let her play with a pen, chapstick, and mints.  So spoiled. 

Tuesday Mom picked up the girls and took them to the farm and I went Christmas shopping.  I'm so glad for online shopping, although I don't like picking out toys online.  But the visual overload.  And all the choices.  It made me weary.  I did get done though.  Hooray!   Dang came over for supper so the girls had fun seeing him.

We finally got our Christmas cards out!  My helpers at the post office...

 Today was my birthday.  Woot woot.  Kelly tore out a page from family fun magazine last year with molecule cupcakes on them... and since no one needs a whole cake sitting around in December...  my caffeine molecule cake!  Minus one hydrogen since I couldn't resist taste testing.  It makes me smile.

 This little bee has been demanding "GAKE!" every time she saw it.  Finally, finally she got a cupcake. 

 Cecily's pretty sure that I need to let her have my new Lego set.  It's a pretty cool camper and canoe... I'm not sure I can give it up. 

Blessings.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We got a Christmas tree!  The girls and I were out shopping and Cecily was begging to get a tree... we called my mom and she was game to meet us and get hers... so we brought home a tree too.  I made them wait to decorate it until Bob got home.  I thought I put all the breakable ornaments up high, but we've already had one casualty.  Cecily wanted all the lights off in the whole house so she could admire it.  

 

Elsie finished the girl's pictures!  They turned out great considering what she had to work with... I think they inherited my un-photogenicness.  Getting them both looking in the same direction is a small miracle. 

Emmy had her 18 month doctor appointment on Friday- she's suddenly in the 40th percentile for weight.  Craziness!  She used to be high 90's.... what happened to my fat baby??

Christmas caroling was that evening.  We went to sing at a nursing home, but not Beulah's nursing home so Cecily was a little disappointed.  Which means we'll have to stop at Restmor soon... it's been awhile.  We almost made it through without singing the Babe of Bethlehem... and then one of the kids gave it off..... gaaahhh.  That song is not a Christmas carol.  And we should not be singing it at nursing homes to non-apostolics.  They aren't going to get all the words, and they are really only going to respond to songs that stir memories... Silent Night. Joy to the World. Hark the Herald Angels Sing.  Wastes so much good caroling time....  Anyway, I'll get off my soap box.  Be glad our group didn't sing "The babe, the son of Maud" this year.  *grin*

Bob took Cecily with him on Saturday to shop for my birthday and Christmas.  They came home with all kinds of non-birthday treasures, including a pirate hook.  She can't keep a secret so I'll probably know what they got by then... oh well.  

 Baby Jack arrived this week so I made a last minute baby gift...  every little boy needs a map of middle earth tag blanket!  Hehe.  Emmy loves the soft minky fabric so she didn't want to give it up. 

 We went to meet him after church today.  Cecily wanted to hold him twice.  She did pretty good, other than trying to poke him awake... aaaah. 

 Emmy was more interested in Charlotte (thankfully!).

 Awww. Baby Jack.  I have a nephew!  *grin*

 
Blessings.