Bailey Family

Daddy got a tool belt – finally – wonder how long it will take to get something hung now? Snowed the day after Christmas (the kids thought that meant then it was Christmas…the twins didn’t think it was Christmas Eve on the 24th because there was no snow.) more…coming…soon…

Went to Jacob/Brittany’s and Grandma/Gramps’ (gave Mom and Grandma a stomach bug and Carolyn convinced Grandma to get out the fine china – just for her) sorry – few pictures of this weekend…it didn’t go as planned and Alee was attached to my hip most of it Went to the Venus’ for Christmas (Rob’s family) sang songs, got pillow pets, jumped in leaves, well, you can see the photos! Came home just in time for Santa…to be continued – too many pictures for one post!

On the way back from my parents this weekend, we finally got off the interstate near home and Rob says, "we're so close to home, I can smell it." [conversation about the above idiom and its meaning] The Natalie says, "Our house smells like diapers." (Thank you Natalie...I feel great about my housekeeping efforts now.) Today, Natalie and Kaitlyn open their cards from Grandma and pull out some cash. Kaitlyn runs over to me, "Look Mom! :) ...What is it?" I'll post all of January later today or this week, but one birthday picture - Natalie doesn't like this picture she just told me (which is funny - she's not the one with the squished up chin) - she says she doesn't like the hugging part. Kaitlyn likes the picture...for the same reason Natalie doesn't like it, I think.

Last week, Kaitlyn was brushing my hair while I was reading Natalie a book. (They like to brush my hair and as long as they are gentle, I don’t mind. It kind of feels relaxing…except sometimes!) While she was brushing, it began to hurt, so I stopped her and went to take the brush away – it was STUCK and TWISTED in my hair. (The baby was asleep.) I stood up, told her to stay there and walked to my back door neighbor’s house (my friend – and hairdresser). After a few minutes, she got it out without me losing hair. I had forgotten about it until this morning when Kaitlyn was drawing at the table. “Look Mom – it’s you with a brush stuck in your hair!” :)

I do plan to post again one day...just not frequently...maybe at the end of each month. House and Kids (and other priorities keep me too busy right now)... News of Today Seth learned to make a fart noise under his arm at school today. woo hoo for school! right? (b/c I certainly couldn't have taught him that) 

Kaitlyn and Natalie talking...I overheard: Where is the playroom said the little child. I interrupted the conversation: The playroom is going to be cleaned today said the mother. Kaitlyn reported to Natalie: My mother is going to clean the playroom today. (The mother corrected the subject of that sentence!) I wish I could record some of their conversations...they said the funniest, weirdest, sometimes confusing-est things. But when I try to record them (video), they see me and run where I can't see them or they stop all together. So, I just have to write down what I hear. They often play and call each other "Dear". One time recently, one of the twins came to me, "She won't let me be the dear!" Yesterday's quote (I sent to our mothers in email...): Kaitlyn’s ramblings while walking to school (well, riding in the stroller while I pushed 100 lbs up a hill): “I wish Jesus could walk with me and talk with me ...

I can still hear my brothers shouting that, even when we’re not with them on Dec 24th. Today, Rob said, Kaitlyn, it’s Christmas Eve. She quickly looked out the window and reported that it didn’t look like it was Christmas Eve because there was no snow. She wanted snow on Christmas (Eve). Natalie agreed that she didn’t think it looked like Christmas Eve either. Later today, I asked Kaitlyn if she knew what tomorrow was.  She guessed, “Friday?” Clearly, my brothers’ announcement is needed around here. Seth, being “raider” and not cooperating for the picture. Funny, she spelled her name wrong (amidst other things) – but Carolyn wrote this, no prompting or help…and she forgot to leave Santa cookies and milk. Fortunately, Santa’s bold and helped himself. I’d better get to bed so I have the energy to get up with the early birds and see the presents, all set up and waiting!

"You permanant marker!" (twins at each other) "I am a penguin." (Natalie) "I'm not Rob Jr. I'm Seth the first." (Will there be a Seth jr.?) "Yes" (What if your wife doesn't want that?) "Then, I'll get a new wife." (Seth) "You little buddy buddy" (Kaitlyn) "Mom, Kaitlyn called me a potty word." (Natalie) "You're not a princess. You have pants and shirts with long sleeves." (Kaitlyn) "I'm a girl, you know, Kaitlyn." (Natalie)

In response to some odd outfits…let me explain…I do attempt to encourage matching clothes, weather appropriate outfits, and outfits that will not bring embarrassment upon my children from scrapbook viewings with future spouses one day….however, I don’t MAKE any of my artistically gifted children (I mean Carolyn) change clothes…well except for 10% of the time when I just have to insist…and sometimes we have a reason for our crazy clothes! Carolyn’s birthday was also Dress up as your favorite character day at Kindergarten…she chose Trixie, the little girl from the Knuffle Bunny Series by Mo Willems (she chose the 2nd book in the series for her outfit inspiration). How’d we do?

…at least in the music room – which is really the only room we have room to decorate in (or places to put decorations on) Alee hasn’t taken apart the tree as much as I expected – honestly, the twins mess with it more than she does – they’ve already broken two ornaments this year. I want to beat them with switches or give them coal. Seth played his Christmas recital song for us while we finished decorating. Carolyn thinks she is Mrs. Claus or something with her tiara-topped Santa hat.

Carolyn made this super cute turkey at her friend’s house….she had a really hard time letting it go – but we convinced her (mostly b/c the pumpkin was rotting inside, not because thanksgiving was over) that it was time to let it go. (oh, and just another picture of her crafting…she LOVES crafts…can’t help herself – it’s in her genes!) Me cooking (try not to be in shock that there’s actually a picture of me posted) After dinner fun - The real guitar (we sang songs) The ‘fake’ guitars (yes, Rob convinced his parents to play the wii…I think we have bandhero (I might have the wrong band game…so many names) And some normal memere activities (Alee’s still thinking about liking her grandmothers…she’s getting better with each visit – she’s a little more willing to go to Rob’s mom lately over mine) Natalie finally grew to like them all…Alee will too.

(meaning the girls that aren’t the twins) Carolyn turned 6 and Alee turned 1 on the same day (which Carolyn still thinks as cool – that she got a baby for her 5th birthday and she now shares a birthday with her – I hope she keeps thinking that is cool forever). Carolyn got two invite two friends from the neighborhood over for a sleepver the Friday night before. I hope she enjoyed it because that “ain’t” happening again for a while. They weren’t bad…I just don’t know that I’m cut out to have 7 kids to put to bed…esp if three of them are best friends. (glad I didn’t have a ‘real’ sleepover with the rest of her friends from church!) The birthday girls share some sweets that afternoon (which happened to be a half day too at school – so I got to craft with Carolyn during naptime). that frosting face looks drunk with sugar! both of them! I had plans to make Alee a separate cake, but that didn’t happen – I’ve never been big on doing anything for the first birthday – ...

We walk to pick up Seth and Carolyn from school (partly b/c the car line takes as long as walking if you want to be at the front and still takes 20 minutes if you're at the back, and partly...mostly, so that I can make sure exercise happens!) It's about 1 1/2 miles round trip...mostly uphill the way there and mostly downhill the way back. On the way back yesterday, they were running way ahead of me (I hate when they do that - esp Kaitlyn - she should have been blonde - she is so clueless about what is going on around her - like cars driving by) - so when I saw Kaitlyn fall/SPLAT! several houses in front of me I thought, great, another fall....and I fussed at her for ignoring my instructions to stay close and not run...and told her she probably deserved to fall... ....just not quite this hard! (Yes, bad mother of the year moment...) She freaked out when she saw blood. By the time we were home, she calmed a little, but kept worrying about the doctor giving her a poke. W...

We are so proud of Seth – he was so ready for his special day – and was so good for it! His grandparents were proud too – this was the first of the next generation on all sides. And a fun party afterwards…probably some of my best cakes (cakes aren’t really my thing!), but these looked pretty decent! He really could have cared less about the cakes…he just wanted to play!