Get your guess on

Maybe you remember playing our guessing game when I was pregnant with Natalie? Or maybe you don't?.
Doesn't really matter.
What matters most is the game is BACK!
It's always pure entertainment to go through guesses. Especially the weight.
Like the person that guessed 11 pounds 1 ounce for Natalie?
I was giving birth to a human, not an elephant.
For Natty Kat's game, out of 24 guesses I came in 14th.
That whole 'Mother's Instinct' thing completely missed me. I guessed December 1, 2009, 4:50 pm, 7 lbs 3 oz, 20 inches and boy. How wrong I was considering she was born December 3 at 12:53 pm, weighed in at 8 lbs 7 oz, 21 inches long and perhaps the wrongest of the wrong; Natty's obviously a girl!
A dear friend, Jill, was the overall winner, scoring only 92.08 points. I wonder if she can pull off a back-to-back victory?
So what's it gonna be this time? Who's gonna come out the big winner?
In case you didn't already know, I'll give you a hint: I'm due September 8, 2012 but we already know I won't make it that long. So keep that in mind as you're making your guesses.
Got an opinion on little Thirdling? Take a stab. Click on the Expect Net link to the right and enter your guess. I'm anxious to see what you have to say.
And remember, my bucket list does not included birthing a 12 pounder. So keep those guesses lite! Ha ha ha!!

Worldess Wednesday

Spring Fling

While Jake cruised around and took care of business, I corraled the minis. There was still a definite winter bite in the air, but the sun was shining and the sky was blue and that was all the invitation we needed. After all, that's what they make coats for, no?

Good thing Jake's around - someone has to keep this place in order
How quickly nice sister cuddles can go from this...
...to this
No cuter Midget has there ever been
Our little Spunky
Bubble time
Bloooooooooooooooooooooooow!
"A present for you, Mommy"
She was so proud of herself!
Been a while since I did a Mommy check-in
Our resident rock climber
Look closely and you'll see that on this particular blow, the bubbles came from her mouth and not the bubble wand
I just can't get enough of these cheeks and that little nose

Wordless Wednesday

Another one bites the dust

Welcome to your 30's, Katie.
Truly they aren't *that* bad. :)
The whole crew gathered at Danny and Kathy's to prepare for the big surprise. Ashley and Natalie were so excited to see cousins Maddi, Hannah and Christopher that they were GONE the second we walked through the doors. Playing tag outside, watching videos on You Tube and causing general mayhem. It's so much fun as a parent to stand back and watch your children interact with family. What made it even better is that I know the girls are in good hands with Hannah is around. I wonder if she wants to visit for a few weeks this summer....

In true fashion, an Olive Salute was in order to get the party officially kicked off
Maddi, just taking in the craziness
Tag! You're it!
Run, run as fast as you can!
The cousins, minus the wee ones that can't be trusted balancing on a board
Surprise!!! Check out Wyatt's face - not entirely sure what to make of all the commotion
Too bad the maker of this forced smile...
...taught this mini the exact same forced smile
But they're both still adorable, regardless of their less-than sincere grins
Cake time!
One excited birthday girl
So thankful God gave me this guy
Responsible parenting :)
Blue frosting is only good for 1 thing:
So excited to see Ang and Chris!
Wasn't too long before we were all crowded around the TV for some good ol' fashioned home movies. Notice Natty Kat all snuggled into her Aunt Jean's lap? That's one happy halfling.

Chillin'

Just a little trim

It was time.
I avoided it at long as possible, but it was time.
Ashley needed a trim.
About a year ago I snipped close to 3'' off of the ends and for some reason, it made me all anxious and even a little sad.
Let's face it; Midget's got luscious locks. Scissors don't belong anywhere near them!
But it was *time*.
I tried to recruit Mom and even Kathy to do the dirty little deed, but neither one seemed all that anxious to go all Edward Scissors Hands, so I made Ash an appointment with my hair dresser. We made a girls afternoon of it, which was probably more for my benefit than for hers.
But does that even matter? :)
After was all said and done, I think Julie took about an inch off of the bottom. I can certainly tell it's gone, but most people can't.
What can I say? I've spent a lot of time tending to her golden maine.
She was so proud to get to sit in the adult chair, wear a cape and afterward Julie even treated her to pink sparkles in her hair.
You just can't go wrong with sparkles.
There's no denying Ashley is growing up. Seriously, where did our little Midget go?

Ready to do this thing!Is she 4 or 14? I just can't tell.
The first cuts (((gulp)))
When Julie put the same product in Ashley's hair that Midget has seen me use every morning for years, I thought her face was going to crack from her extra-grande grin!
Time for some hair bling!
Sparkly Midget
The before...
...the after.
Can you tell?
Afterward it was lunch at The Sage which included a raspberry and white chocolate chip cupcake - Midget's choice
Note to self...
Never, under any circumstance, serve a ham sandwich with lemonade, followed by a decadent cupcake, topped with a hot chocolate. Apparently such combinations are a sure-fire recipe for a major upset tummy roughly 17 minutes post consumption.
Take it from me, folks.

Only 1 more sleep

As I type this, watching the rains fall and the winds blow, Jake and Isaiah are enjoying the nearly 80 degree weather in Vegas with Sam.
I'm trying hard to keep my thoughts positive.
I feel I owe thanks to the following devices and people for helping me through my stint as a single-parent:
Nana and Papa for visiting Midget and Spunky on Wednesday
Grandma and Grandpa for watching the minis on Thursday
Amberger for having a sleep-over Thursday night
Goofy, animated kids movies and popcorn for filling our Friday night
And lastly, FaceTime on the iPhone, without which the girls would be even more inconsolable than they already are.
As I keep tell Ash, it's only "1 more sleep" until we get to go to the airport and pick up Daddy and Uncle Isaiah.
Oh man. I hope we make it.

According to Ashley

Here's what Midget told me the other day...
"Mommy, today's gonna be a good day because I have my Rocket Doughnut shirt and Natty Kat FINALLY has pants that fit."
Well if THAT'S all it takes to have a good day...
PS I feel I owe it to myself and my parenting to offer an explanation - Natalie has PLENTY of pairs of pants that fit her, however until recently her jeans were either high-waters or too big in the rear and long in the leg. I finally found some jeans that fit both her waist and her mini legs. I'd hate for you to think these kiddos don't have clothes that fit!

Wordless Wednesday

You be the judge

If you're around Natalie enough, you quickly learn her little quirks and 'specialties'.
If you're around Natalie enough, you quickly learn one of her little 'specialties' is how speedy she is when it comes to stripping out of her diaper.
Only after she's made a, er, uh, let's call it a deposit.
Shall I remind you of the time Elmo pooped in her bed?
Jake and I have become experts at racing across the house the *instant* we hear the familiar tear of diaper velcro.
Trust me, folks. It's best we get to her before she has the chance to tear, strip and sprinkle.
Yeah. I just said that.
So the other day when I heard that "strrrrrup" of velcro, I quickly rushed to her.
But not quickly enough.
Ashley was shouting "Natalie pooped! Natalie's poop is ALL over the floor, Mommy! MOM-EEEEEE! POOP!!"
Meanwhile Natalie stood there, half naked, without a care in the world.
Why should she?
As I was cleaning up the landmines I came across a rock.
Yes, a rock.
Which came from her diaper.
At this point I don't know which I should be more upset about: the tear, strip and sprinkle or the fact that she's got rocks amongst the turds.
I just don't know.
Go ahead; you be the judge.

Well played, Jake...

...well played.
Recently Jake sent the mini's and I to Wilco for parts.
Turns out he knew what I did not.
And he chose not to share.
It's chick time at Wilco. Which means bins and bins and bins of every breed of chick imaginable.
And yes I can accurately say bins and bins and bins being that we had to visit every.single.one.
Well played, Jake. Well played.

"Aren't they ca-ute, Mommy?"Super excited
At least one person's excited Daddy needed parts

Here's what happens...

...when Midget gets a hold of my phone. Would you believe I deleted 187 pictures off of my phone, very similar to the 2 listed below?
No? You wouldn't?
Well you should. Because I did.
But not before I saved a few to share here.
Naturally.

Expedition

On our final day of snow back in January, the girls BADLY wanted to go exploring around the property. I admit it was fun to bundle them up and cruise around with no agenda. Of course on the walk home, nearly an hour later, they both attempted to peter out on me. Ash was begging for a piggy-back ride while Natty was insisting I carry her.
So what choice did I have?
I declared it a foot-race back to the house.
Nothing like appealing to their competitive sides.
Did you actually think I was going to go all pack-mule?

Dressed in my snow best
Let's do this thing!
First things first, gotta make a mini-sized Frosty
Let's MOVE people
Taking a stroll
Sister shot
Frosty little Spunky
HEY! Wait for me!
The view from here
Love those little bundles
Naturally it was hot cocoa time when we got back to the house - complete with red cheeks thanks to our little foot-race
Nom! Nom! Nom!
PS Check out those cheeks!
I'm guessing this is how she felt about the race?