Why Haven't I Been Posting Much?

On top of all the cord dying business and the leaf pile craziness, David and I have spent the last couple of weeks anxiously waiting and phoning and signing. For what you ask?

For this! That's right, we bought a house! This is our very first house. It's a beautiful little 4 bedroom, 2 bath home. And, it has a GARAGE! No more shoveling snow off of our cars before we leave. Now we just have to shovel the driveway. It needs some serious painting. The old owners? They really had a thing for accent walls. The walls in the kitchen are a terrible red. They used masking tape as their border. It's stuck to everything. They also managed to get paint on a few of the cabinets. But, there are two things I love in this kitchen that take it all away. A DISHWASHER!! I haven't had a dishwasher in 5 years! I don't even know if I remember how to use it. And, a glass top stove. I have wanted a glass top stove FOREVER.

I'll have to update my profile because we are no longer going to be living in a tiny Wisconsin town. We will now be living in a tiny Minnesota town. We're moving about an hour and twenty minutes from "home". From a village of just over 1,000 to a town of just over 5,000. I'll also miss that beautiful park. I'll have to take a drive around the new town to see if they have a replica. I hope they do.

While all of this is extremely exciting, I'm also feeling sad. This has been our home for 5 years. Ethan's started school here. He's grown up with these kids. His best friend lives right across the street. We brought Claire and Grayson home here. We've celebrated so many firsts here, it's a little sad to leave it all behind. I know this town like the back of my hand. I guess it's time to learn a new one.

I'm Still Here!

Well, it's been 13 days since my last post. The power cord on our laptop decided to take a nap...Permanently. We were without laptop power while we waited for our new cord to arrive. This gave me time at night after the small ones were asleep to lay face first on the couch and think about how bored I was. And I was...Bored. Except on Sunday when my favorite grown up show, The Walking Dead, premiered. That took away an hour and a half of grown up time boredom. So, now I'm back and catching up on you, but here's something fun that happened with me while I was away...Or, Ethan, but I live vicariously, so...

Last week after Ethan came home from school, he asked to play outside. I told him he could, and that he better enjoy it because it was going to be the last warm day for awhile (and wouldn't you know it, the weatherman was actually right this time!). He ran outdoors and I could hear he and his friends giggling outside the front door. I peeked out the window and there were arm exaggerations and heavy planning happening. I figured it was probably another Nerf gun war. They happen often and feverishly in the summer, with lots of dramatic planning. I've seen a map or two drawn.

After about 20 minutes, Ethan came in the door and cried excitedly, "Mom, you have GOT to come and see this cool thing we made!" Well if I've just GOT to see it, I guess I will. I put down my book and slipped on my shoes and headed out the door, where Ethan immediately fell to his left and into this.

After he popped back up out of the leafy abyss, he said, "This has got to be the biggest leaf pile you've ever seen? I bet even you and Uncle Justin haven't made things like this!" This was true. Uncle Justin and I have't made anything like this. But, I grew up in Arizona and the only thing to build piled like this were rocks, and I wasn't planning to fall into that. Even with the few years I lived in California, there were no leaves for us to build piles from. I ran in to grab my camera and snap a picture. He repeated his falling process just for me.

He and his friend rushed up the steps to tell me of their leaf pile building adventures, before taking the plunge together.

And, after a long day of building piles, it was time to say goodbye. We can't leave the pile there, because it never blows away and in the spring, there's a big brown spot where the pile sat and melted away into the snow. They set to spreading it out over the yard. For Ethan, that meant a snowfall of leaves.

It was really fun to watch. I also hope it's fun to read. Good to be back!

Why A Futon Mattress Is Not Good For A Toddler

When we switched Claire from crib to big girl bed, we needed a new mattress for the captain's bed we have. The old mattress belonged to Ethan, who used it as a trampoline. He pretty much showed that mattress he was there to jump, and he meant business. The result? Springs. Springs poking out everywhere.

David and I discussed out mattress budget, and one day the local furniture store (Slumberland) was having an incredible sale. Seventy dollars for a twin mattress. David called his dad for help to pick it up and away they went. I excitedly got Claire's brand new sheet set out and got things ready for her new big girl bed.

Thirty minutes later, David came through the door.....Carrying a futon mattress. I looked at the mattress. I looked at David. I looked at the mattress. I looked at David, who was kind of beaming with pride. I looked at the mattress. I said, "Uhhh..." and David said, "Yeah, I know, it's awesome. It was a great deal. Only $40!" I said, "Well, 'awesome' isn't really the word I was going for. Crazy and not a good idea are more my speed." He said he couldn't take it back because it was a final sale. "Awesome..." I said, in the most sarcastic way possible. Apparently, awesome was a word for me.

I got it all set up and she was SO excited. She went to bed happily in her brand new bed. It was a much easier transition than Ethan's transition from crib to bed. And then we all lived happily ever after.....Until....

About a week ago, Claire discovered that the bed rail she has on the side of the bed, moves. Then she discovered that if she moved the mattress a little bit, she could take the bed rail off. Then she discovered that her mattress was light. So, what does she do? She completely strips the bed of all it's linens. Pillows are thrown across the room. Then there is giggling, and that's when I know it's happening. She takes the mattress completely off the bed, and dances on the platform it sits on. Then she rushes out into the living room (as fast as a three year old with tiny legs can over a mattress rolled at the foot of the bed) runs to Grayson and shouts, "Grayson! Grayson! Come on! Come on!" and they go bounding together over the mattress and dance on the platform. It's a unison of tiny feet hitting wood and fits of giggles.

And then I have to go in and break up the party. Put the bed back together. Walk past two crestfallen faces after having broken up their fun.

It doesn't last long though. I can guarantee that within two hours (sometimes even within 30 minutes) the process repeats itself. Unless, of course, Grayson is napping. Then she waits.