life in pictures

oh, just some pictures.

adeline smiling this morning after #1 seeing her new kitchen & #2 after mommy did everything sergeant adeline requested during hair-do time. i think she looks like a rather spunky princess leia. & thursdays are one of her favorite clothing days at school...this shirt is from the pta & every thursday she *has* to wear this tye-died shirt...& loves it.

amelia sporting her team AND real shoes (they are nearly 1.5 sizes too big but she is GA-GA over them).

what i see after amelia's nap time every day. about 20 minutes after amelia goes to sleep, adeline is asking me constantly: baby awake yet, mommy? can i wake baby up yet? {can you ever wake amelia up? NO!} so when amelia does wake up there's a sister-love-fest in the crib.

just to show everyone what we mean when we say 'adeline made a nest today of all the pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, & all known soft things in the house'. she loves to burrow in this nest & hide, popping out to say PEEK A BOO! just as i'm about to squish her head with my foot.

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amelia 1/1/09 (16 months)

adeline2/9/08 (16 months)

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kid-kitchen-project, finished!

pottery barn, eat your heart out. so far, this kitchen set has been the biggest hit since introducing them to the indoor slide.

and didn't wes do a lovely job?

optimism thwarted

this morning as i'm driving home after dropping adeline off at preschool, i see wes at the stop sign at the end of our street, turning left onto the main road. shocked that he still hadn't left for work, i stopped to talk to him. when i ask him why he's just leaving for work he gives me this laugh & says, "i left right after you. i've been sitting here since then. the clutch went out."

now folks, wes grew up around cars (son of a car dealer) & he knows a good deal about them in general. so when wes is sitting at a stop sign waiting for a tow truck...i know it's *bad*. ARGH. a bit later, after wes walked home (b/c the tow truck gave a 4 hour arrival time window. what?!) we joked that last year may have been the year we gave all our extra money to the medical professionals. 2010, it seems will be the year we help the car people stay afloat. not only is the prizm on the fritz (the car wes drives, my car from high school that is now 15 years old & still gets nearly 40 mpg!) our other car (the AZ-TEC. you must say it loudly & with emphasis & in a deep voice. it makes it seem so much heftier. really, it's not much bigger than a sudan & it's not an suv, although some may say it is the ugliest car out there...). at any rate, the AZ-TEC is also in need of some repair worth a large sum of money. yes, it's now6 years old, so i guess some maintenance repair is necessary.

BUT! why at the same time? & in our year of lowering finances? ugh. somehow wes & i have been able to still put aside some money each month. we are squirreling away money for new flooring & hopefully a new kitchen. but now, it appears we will have a new (or new to us) car. i would much rather keep the cars we have & introduce some lovely new flooring & cabinets to our home. you know, 'hello wood floors, meet heidi, your long lost friend & amelia, your nemesis'. OR 'hello new cabinets; meet our colorful array of plastic plates.'

to top the car situation off, our dishwasher is literally falling apart (the prongs that hold dishes are just coming off!), we need a few new doors...ugh. heidi is no longer lounging in optimism world. this sucks! & it's reality.

short stories

adeline: first out loud prayer

last night mid-dinner adeline suddenly grabbed my hand & said 'pay, mommy-daddy, pay'. in this instance, pay means pray & wes & i looked sheepish about forgetting to pray (again) & annoyed that this was going to interrupt eating (let's be honest, here, right?). so i then asked adeline, as we nearly always do when we actually remember to pray before dinner: do you want to pray for us? & she will usually hang her head in some curious shyness & say no. *well* last night she said 'yea, okay, close your eyes!' & i so i did as i was told. then i said a line & she would repeat & i said a few more short line prayers & she repeated them. after the 'amen' she looked so proud of herself. like she had accomplished something major. which it is pretty major, eh? i mean, i had tears in my eyes & was also very proud of her. nothing is better than seeing one of our kids get to know the big J.C. so in this huge, proud moment i look over to wes hoping to connect our tearful gaze & have a wee smile about it all.

but. i look over to wes & he's busily eating. the kind of eating that means he never even *stopped* eating to give adeline the respect that saying a prayer requires (yea, i'm just beefing up the accusations just a bit here, roll with it). he looked completely oblivious to what has just happened. & here i will say it: smite you, wesley!

i'm kidding, i really don't hope god sends something or someone to smite my dear wesley, but COME ON! our daughter just said her first prayer out loud & you sit there eating & don't bat an eye? geesh.

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adeline: entertainer

minutes later, after adeline had quickly finished eating the beloved dinner of her first prayer out loud, she got out of her chair to then become the entertainment for the evening...as all 3 year olds seem to excel in this area of expertise. but last night was the night of twirling & singing. the two go so well together, as we could clearly see. she broke into her version of the wheels on the bus, on top of spaghetti, & then jingle bells. by the time jingle bells rolled around she was twirling at a very quick pace for anyone...then she gave the last 'HEY!' at the end of the song & promptly crumpled into a ball on the floor. over the next minute she attempted to stand up, but continued to run into walls & the high chair & such...she kept trying to sing, but kept getting the words mixed up. i think we saw our first glimpse of adeline as the possible drunk teenager. (i'm not going to assume she'll be a drinker in high school, but odds are we will witness it at least once). if & when that does happen i think that my humor will far outweigh my anger b/c it is hilarious to see her walk into things.

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amelia: unimpressed

today i decided we should all take a walk around the block. yes, yes, yes; it's about 14 degrees out. but remember that i love winter, cold walks. so i convinced wes by sheer eye power to agree to this walk so we could take amelia in the toddler sled (i can't pull her that long...i wouldn't be able to move tomorrow). so we bundle everyone up but amelia especially looks like ralphie's younger brother in the christmas story, yelling out 'i can't put my arms down' & then to top that off we piled a fleece blanket on top of her in the sled. just in case. wes was very worried she would somehow get frostbite on our walk around the block, me not so worried.

so we finally make it outside about 45 minutes later. why does it take so long to go somewhere with kids?! gah, ready to pull the plug on myself a few times...

so wes is pulling amelia & doing some crazy spins & ups & downs on our tiny snow covered ice pack hills beside driveways. & amelia just sits there with the same look on her face that she had while we were at the zoo christmas lights: total disinterest. again, i felt like i was seeing a glimpse of the teenage years to come. there will be amelia, giving us the bored look, telling us with her eyes 'my parents are such losers, this is *so* not rad' or whatever word will be hip then.

the walk around the block took nearly another 45 minutes b/c adeline was walking--err--falling & i had to entice her to walk a bit faster by getting her to chase a stick, yes, like a dog. but amelia still sat stoically in her sled, totally absorbed in her hatred for the fun family activity.

but, i need to mention that we failed to get a picture. we did get a video though! but, this was my point: when we bundled amelia up in the same coat, snowpants, & boots as adeline had at that age...they looked so much alike. it amazes me that they look so similar. i guess some sisters do, but still.

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parents: score 2

both girls were in bed, asleep by 7:35 p.m. tonight. bathed & fed. need i say more?

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parents: score 3

today we took down AND put away the christmas decorations. then...i cleaned. as in, wiped dust off of something. actually, wiped dust off of many things. we vacuumed. this week i also cleaned & wiped out our fridge (so nasty. oh my) & yesterday i also cleaned out 4 kitchen drawers that were previously filled with goop & crumbs. then griswold decides to sneak in a vomit on the carpet sometime between bathtime with the girls & 7:50 p.m. it was a nice clean feeling while it lasted...

winter

what is it about winter that i love so much?! come on, why? with all the cold & the lingering possibility of being frozen if your car dies in the middle of nowhere (not exactly a possibility here in cow-town-columbus, but...still!). i don't know what has brought me to this conclusion that i love winter, but! no worries, autumn is still my main squeeze.

hhmmmm, maybe it's all the snuggly clothes. you know, like fleece & sweatpants (well, yoga pants technically anymore, right? & i highly recommend these pants. not even kidding: you.will.not.take.them.off...). or maybe that warm fleece scarf i wear from morning until night most days. not just b/c my hubby is uber cheap & keeps the thermostat at significant low temp (i have him talked up to 69 on most days! 70 when i just can't get warm, but that's IT, he says.). i especially love these new slipper-boots & i am contemplating wearing them outside when the snow is gone. when i found them *on clearance* at dsw i thought i would somehow finagle a way to cut the tassels (or is it toggles?) off (wes firmly agreed) but i have grown to think of them endearingly. as in, when i sit down cross-legged & have this ginormous lump in my foot, i think 'oh those silly tassels-toggles are in the way again' *chop chop*.

or! is it the food? when summer rolls around & everyone is eating salads for dinner & i have this look of panic on my face i think to myself, 'self, what would you do for a nice hot chowder soup about now?' food that fills the belly, you know. i'm not just talking about the standard meat & potatoes stuff but the range of possibilities when the oven is involved. {for all you salad lovers out there in shock: it is important to note that i actually do like salads finally, which only came to pass when i was pregnant with amelia. but for some reason unknown to me, my gut has a hard time processing salad pieces & parts & thus giving me some serious belly aches. note taken? *smile*}. so then there's also hot puddings & soups & yes, even some casseroles...or it's probably the hot cocoa.

and maybe it could be that i don't feel guilty when we just stay at home, lounging around the house hoping to catch a movie somehow on tv (much better odds this winter with cable). during the summer, when it's light out forever, i sorta feel compelled to hang out & be sociable...but not so much in the winter. we can be homebodies & the guilt is gone in the blustery wind.

okay. snow falling. as adeline would say 'how good is that?!' & really, snow can turn nearly anything into a beautiful sight. such as our compost bin or a dead shrub. i mean, talk about turning a walk into a winter wonderland stroll. PLUS. snowflakes can be so different & that just totally mystifies me. is every snowflake really different?! *SERIOUSLY?!* & then playing in snow is just a lot of fun...skiing (even though i'm not so great, still fun), sledding, snowballs, snow forts, snow-everything!

now, i realize there are such things as frostbite (ya-ouch!) & seasonal depression & other such travesties. and just plain being cold, which i am most of the summer also so that's just not a winter problem to me. but do you see what i'm saying? i love living in a place that gives me 4 seasons...even though i don't so much *love* ohio, i really enjoy the changes. & i just really love fleece. & layered clothing, did i mention that?

does this post reek optimism or what? goal 2010; accomplished. (i really do like winter, even minus optimism goal).

jammies

adeline has this wonderful way of picking out things that are cute & pretty & just plain wonderful in her world. the other morning i walked downstairs in my pj's--so not unusual--& adeline says to me "wow mommy, cute jammies. penguins & hearts! oh wow"... i thought it was so sweet & laughed about it b/c i've never really thought much about them. functional.

so last night my parents were here watching our girls while wes & i went off to a party. yes! you just read that correctly: we went to a party. alone. without kids! & we had a great time, friends who were there. i lasted much longer than anticipated (we got home around 11:40 p.m.).

anyway, so my parents spent the night & are staying today b/c my family (sister & her hubby, brother & his wife & twin girls) is coming over for the traditional afternoon dinner of 'kraut, pork & kielbasa, caramelized onion mashed potatoes, homemade apple sauce, & some steamed veggies. plus appetizers from my parents, salad from my sister, & dessert from my brother & sis-in-law.

oh my goodness, sorry for that tangent. it was about food! (justified). *anyway* adeline went in with my mom to wake up my dad & saw his soft flannel pj bottoms that my mom bought for him to wear when in the hospital last year. they have some really super cute white sheep on them with a dark blue background. each sheep has a number on it. (get it, counting sheep pj's?). & adeline walked up to him in awe & told him "cute jammies, pop-pop".

just a cute story.

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for whatever reason i have had a near constant headache which turns to migraine nearly daily for the past 4 or 5 days. i have no clue why (except menstrual-hormonal-related)...so i'm trying to do everything possible to keep these headaches at bay. i have drank so much water already this morning...before i went to bed i drank a glass, i woke up last night at 3 & guzzled another entire glass. before my shower this morning i drank another glass. mix with coffee & wow have i peed nearly every 30 minutes. it's like i'm pregnant. WHICH THANK SWEET JESUS I'M NOT.

i'm trying to think of a goal for this year & all i can think of is to stay optimistic about nearly everything. the more stressed out i get over things, the worse my hormonal situation & fibromyalgia becomes. so, goal it is: stay calm, be optimistic (this does not come naturally to me, this thing called optimism). whether it be financial strain or illness or simply daily things not working out.

i'll let you know how this goes *smile*. i really don't want to turn this into some annoying, introspective year. just simply to be like a duck, as a special-ed teacher used to tell the kids we worked with. (get it? be like a duck, let the waves & water life throws at you just roll off you. sandra boynton even has a song about this. of course she does!).

maybe wes' goal this year is to complete home projects b/c he's already finishing the play kitchen set...he's even doing it right now, as i type, amelia sleeps, & adeline talks my dad into changing the tv from football to dora (you should see her trying to schmooze my dad, all smiles & 'pop pop, watch dora, pop pop?').

so now i'm off to take a mid-day snooze. i hope your day involves a snooze.

christmas

maybe i said i would post a movie. did i? (yes). sorry, that's not going to happen...b/c it's already wednesday night! where do the days go? i was hoping-thinking-wishing i would have more time to do things like a movie since wes is home. but i don't, somehow. the days are filled with random & daily errands & visits. but i will come through with a synopsis of our christmas.

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christmas eve

we, meaning *me* (heidi) really wanted to attend our christmas eve service (they had 4 of them, the least we could do was go to one of them, eh?). somehow we picked the one without childcare. (or maybe they all didn't have childcare?) so amelia spent 40 minutes on wes' shoulders & adeline spent the 40 minutes splaying herself along our 4 chairs, attempting to crawl under the seats, annoying the very old & grumpy woman sitting next to us, & then also turned around interacting with the 4 college age guys behind us. i spent the 40 minutes trying to keep adeline from disappearing in a crowd of 2,000, trying to sing along, etc.

but the service was amazing. it was complete with the candles, choir, solos, & bunches of kids looking very cute & antsy in their christmas outfits. i'm not quite sure who leads worship yet b/c there is nearly always a different person each time we go--which hasn't been so often these past few months--but this person deserves quite a pat on the back. there was this one solo of oh holy night...if you watch this video, she's the white lady in a white shirt to the left. amazing. i think even the college boys behind us had tears in their eyes. or maybe that was b/c adeline threw a pencil at one of them & their laughing lead to crying. hard to tell.

after 40 minutes & 10 minutes trying our darnedest to sit through the service we decided to go out into the atrium & let the kiddos run wild...stepping out into the atrium was like stepping into the wilds, holy night for sure. there were dozens of kids going crazy, running around in packs up & down the steps, chasing each other, dancing, de-clothing (not one of mine this time!). so we let them do the run-wild for another 10 minutes then it was time to jet home to plop them in their beds. i think amelia was asleep by the time we arrived home 10 minutes later.

a picture of the kids before the service

i just think this picture *adorable*
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christmas morning

adeline woke up a bit later than normal, nearly 7:20 a.m.! we had closed the top gate hoping to keep her upstairs to wake us up...but somehow wes & i were both already awake & we waited a few grueling minutes with adeline until amelia woke up.

then. it was the best moment of addy's life. oh it seemed that way. she saw the presents & was all 'oh my. oh wow' in some awed whisper voice. she picked through the presents giving amelia her gifts & then ripping her own open with gusto. i really don't think we had time to get a decent picture of her opening her gifts.

adeline then moved on to helping sleepy amelia open her gifts...which was taking forever. i'm not quite sure if it was b/c she was so tired or we just didn't get what amelia was hoping to get. so adeline finished opening amelia's gifts. (i'm sure next year the situation will be so different).

adeline going through her stocking

amelia yawning through her gifts. this is about as excited as she was the entire time.

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miraculous drive

so after breakfast we loaded the car up & off we went, driving to avon lake for 3+ days. i was prepared for the crying & whining & packed a very substantial 'fun' bag for the 2 1/2 hour journey. BUT WE DIDN'T NEED IT. the girls watched the curious george movie & laughed. they played with each other. they only went through one snack bowl each. amelia slept for a wee bit. adeline would happily start to sing jingle bells randomly. it was amazing. (is this how other people's kids have always behaved in the car?!) somehow we made the 2 1/2 hour drive into a 2 hour 3 minute drive. wes & i just looked at each other as we pulled into the driveway: brilliant christmas gift, a quiet & pleasant car ride.

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christmas afternoon & evening at the gerbicks

my in-laws totally rocked the doll situation, folks. our girls now each have an oak doll cradle, share an oak doll bunk bed, have an oak doll high chair, an oak doll stroller, an oak doll ironing board...seriously. if you want to get some serious doll playing action in, come to our house. these doll toys will live longer than me!

the girls in front of their tree (i think this is actually the 26th of december. my foul.)

sorry for the sorta boring post. i'm pretty tired & have had headaches & migraines for the past 2 days, so...(& no, i don't think it's b/c wes is home. i fear what our house would have become over the past 2 days if he wasn't home. maybe rubble?).

it still shocks me that tomorrow is thursday already. how? where have i been?

another story!

this IS the year my oldest daughter's technology intelligence surpasses my own. here is a glimpse:

we're in the car. i am somehow doing a cirque-du-soleil contortionist move with half my body in the front seat, belted in, while the other half is turned, reaching & looking behind the driver's side seat, trying to re-start the car dvd player. amelia is asleep. it is snowing cats & dogs outside. wes is fully concentrating on driving through the snow & ice on i-71 with heavy, post-christmas traffic. i whisper loudly so wes can hear me: HOW DO YOU GET THIS THING TO REPLAY?!

wes *& adeline* respond simultaneously.

wes: hit stop & then play. {with an air of 'why don't you know this already, wife?}

adeline: I KNOW, MOMMY, I KNOW! STOP & then GO! {her version of stop & play?}

wes: {laughing} what addy said. she just told you, dear.

me: enough, you two. i get it.

i then follow my 3 year old's instructions & the movie is playing again. i feel so stupid.