You know you have done good when . . .

Last night Zoie and Vance were suppose to sleep at my mom's since I had dance class. When I came to get Arya, Vance wanted to come home. OK. During the night, he was wet. I changed him & he slept next to me. Blah Blah Blah. . . I pulled the sheet of this morning to remind myself to change the sheets.

Tonight, as I was feeding and rocking Arya, Zoie and Vance were in their rooms playing. After I put Arya done, I come in their room and discover that Vance's bed is all made. Zoie had got the sheets out from under the bed, put on the fitted sheet, put on the flat sheet, arranged Vance's pillows and was getting ready to put on the comforter. I was thrilled and gave her a big hug and thank you. She was so proud of herself. Vance was happy too as he was jumping on the bed reeping the benefits of his hard working sister. I love Zoie!

In the picture above, Zoie is showing off her freshly made bed that she did by herself.

26 years ago . . . .

Melody Skating Rink, Auburn WA. 1983. If you could see my skates, you'd see my blue wheels. This was just the beginning of many ribbons, trophies, & plaques, trips with my mom, brother, & grandpa throughout WA, OR, CA and Lincoln NE. These were the best times of my life growing up. Skating was all I knew. Roller Frolic was my second home and my friends were my sisters.

The Bus

Even though the bus says it'll be to our house by 3:10, it is never on time. So Tuesday afternoon I grabbed Zoie's small camp chair and had a seat next to the road at the end of the driveway. Soon Vance grabbed his chair & together we sat waiting for the bus. Shortly, bus 14 pulled up & Zoie hopped off. I left the chairs at the end of the driveway so they could be used this morning. It is a great was to mark how far Z & V can stand while waiting for the bus.

Today Zoie was all dressed in pink -- pink pants, shirt, socks, & hair barretts.

Backyard fun

Tuesday after school Zoie & Vance played outside together for nearly 2 hours. Each one asks about the other when they are apart. It is great to watch them interact. On this occassion,they raced large dumptrucks down the slide into a small pool of water.

Zoie & Vance and Arya

Zoie at school

Zoie's first day of Kindergarten!

Baby Arya

In early August, I took the 3 a kids to visit a long time friend , Rebecca, on her family's farm on Anderson Island. We took the ferry & spent the night. Zoie loved playing with all the farm animals and Heidi and Elsa. Rebecca & I first met as camp counselors at Camp Kirby in 1995.

Cooking with Zoie

My neighbor is submitting a video to the Food Network for a show. She invited Zoie to do the video with her. The "cooking project", as Zoie called it, was a hoot! Zoie is so funny in her own little way.

Still away . . .

Although I am still away in Olympia, I am not as miserable as Monday night. Probably because it took me nearly 2 1/2 hours to walk 6 blocks from work back to the hotel. Now, I was not drunk. I was SHOPPING!!!

There is a great toy store here I thought I'd visit. But I had to stop in a scrapbook store and get a "mystery" bag of paper for my Christmas calendars and more. Then at the toy store I had to look at everything 2 or 3 times before I left. I bought several birthday and Christmas gifts. As I headed back to the hotel, I had to visit a few more little shops in the downtown area. It was such a great time to just LOOK and LOOK without small kiddos. I got more great unique holiday gifts. Now, I just have to remember that I have them in my "secret" spot when December comes along.

Once I finally arrived back at the hotel, I was hungry. Since there is no food service here, I thought I'd headed out and get a little dinner. Well, I ran into a Goodwill store. Again, another great stop to just look at everything. It was more expensive than other thrift stores, but so much cheaper than brand new items. I found a few work shirts, clothes for Zoie, and a Fisher Price baby stroller for Arya for Christmas for only $2.99 rather than the $25 new. It is really cute and just needs a quick cleaning.

I get paid quite well working down here but I spent a lot of my stipend tonight. Oh well, IT WAS FUN!!

I'll be home soon to squeeze my babies and Ty!Yeah!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZOIE!!! #5

My baby girl turns 5 on Tuesday. But I won't be there :( She will be with both grandparents, enjoy an afternoon at Jungleland with Arya, Vance & Breanna, and a dinner with Ty.

I can't believe it has been 5 years since I was suffering through back labor, 3 trips to the birth center, a morphine shot to make me loopy, many many doctors in the delievery room without any idea what was happening to my baby, then telling me that they didn't want the baby to breath, Zoie with breathing tubes in the baby ICU, Ty visiting after he finished his shifts at Draft Pics & helping Zoie learning to breath, taking her home to meet the puppies, and so much more.

Zoie is a wonderful daughter! And a great big sister to Vance and Arya. She is so helpful even though she can be snotty with bossy pants. She loves to snuggle in our bed. I can't imagine one day without her which makes this work trip even harder.

I love you Zoie!!!

Pictures from 2007 (Her baby pictures were on the laptop stolen in 2006)

A sleeping princess!

Alone . . .

I am currently on a business work trip in Olympia staying alone in a hotel for a week. Now, a normal person would be overjoyed by the freedom of . . . . no crying, no poopy butts, no messes, no mouths to feed, a 24hour pool & spa, dinner at my own time & what I want, . . .

Instead, I am surrounded by silence with no baby in my arms, no one asking me to lay with them in bed, no one kicking me in bed or taking my pillow . . .

I anticipate a LONG week of 8am-5pm work and getting my brain wrapped about work again.
So here some of my favorites pictures of each baby.

Sylvan Pass -- East Yellowstone

So cute!