Elly came up to be with a weird look on her face and said, "Hello." I said, "Hi. What are you doing?" She looked at me awkwardly and said "I pooped." Uh oh. She is usually pretty good but I hadn't really asked her all day. "Elly! You have to tell mommy before you do that!" She said, "Mommy, I pooped." Timing really is everything. So I shooed her into the bathroom and while we were going I couldn't help but say frustratedly, "Elly, you have to do that in the potty!" And she said, "You are right Mom!"

Materialism Rears Its Ugly Head

Today as Eden and I were playing, she said, "I just need one more Pet Shop and then I will be happy!" Realizing that she was about to get a lecture, she added, "I know that there aren't Pet Shops in Hawaii or other countries but still I have them here in my town so I want them."

We Have ANOTHER New Cousin!

Angie, Dan's older sis, delivered her second baby girl Wednesday--

Layla Marie Giancola
8 lbs 1 oz
20.5 inches
12:21 pm

Congratulations to Angie, Dave, and Gianna!

This pic is not the one I thought I was downloading, but anyway it has Gianna in it too, so it is cute! Pretty girls with some pretty names!! :)

One Lump or Two?

Eden invited all of her four-legged friends to a fancy tea party today. She stacked books on the chairs so they could reach the table and poured them all apple juice while they waited for the Cherry Cake I was baking (which totally flopped, btw). As you can see, she enjoyed herself thoroughly.





(giving me some of that sugar!)

My Beauties

Just Some of the Random Stuff My Kids Do

This is Baby Obadiah. He now sleeps each night on his own little "down bed" which is the Grimes word for "a bed on the floor." Elly makes it up for him at night.

This is a weird pile of blankets and towels that Eden made on her floor. She likes them to be arranged a certain way.

Here is Eden's "baby" Rainbow Dash, or something like that. She tucks her in at night too. And you'd better not touch the bed during the day, lest you get a tongue lashing from a particular 5 year old :) Elly found that out the hard way.

Baby Daddy

Oh, Eden!

Today Eden and I were cuddling with her on my lap. We were having a fun time giggling and tickling each other (well, there was a little licking but that got the kabash put on it by Yours Truly). Anyway, we started going back and forth saying, "I like..." to each other. Like, I said, "I like that your eyes are blue." And she said, "I like when you won't stop tickling me." Eden said, "I like...your teeth are dirty." I made a sad face, just playing with her, and she said, "They just need brushed...um, that came out wrong. Your breath smells." Nice save, E.

Leggings, Pictures, and Being a Hippy Mom

Today I had the ingenious idea to take the kids to Walmart and get their portraits taken. We don't do this very often, first because Dan is a pretty good photog and we like more natural shots. But the guilt of not having any youth-commemorating portraits of Elly to got the best of me, and I had a coupon, so I announced to the girls this morning, over bowls of oatmeal and Sesame Street, "After this song, we are going to get dressed. We are going to Walmart to get our pictures taken!" My little obedient creatures turned the tv off after that song and we went to pick out our outfits. Now, if you've never encountered me with my kids on a normal day, you might not know that I am one of those hippy moms who lets my kids pick out their own outfits each day, be it a pair of red leggings over a pink ballerina tutu with purple socks and cowboy boots. I blame it on my artistic nature but I never want to squelch their creativity by making them dress the way I want them to. There are two exceptions to this rule: 1. They must be weather-appropriate outfits (shoes included, the right length of pant and sleeve, etc.) and 2. If you want to wear leggings outside of the house, your bum must be at lease a little bit covered by your shirt (no crop top-legging combos).

But today was a different day. I was spending money to capture my precious kiddos, attire and all. So, I state matter-of-factly that I would be picking out the outfits. Elly didn't care, she rarely can pay attention long enough to pick out an outfit anyway and she is still in the phase where you can act really excited and she'll go along with it. My eldest was a different story. She said, "Well I can help you pick it out." So I said, "Yes, you can help, but this time, I get final say." So we agreed on a shirt but the pants (like brown cords) were not her idea of comfort (ie, leggings). Stalemate. I had to flex my "I'm the mom and I said so" muscle. She resisted. Repeat. Leggings were discussed. Pouting occurred briefly. Finally, I said to her, in a stern voice, the one that gets their attention but doesn't require an Mom-pology later: "Eden, most moms pick out their kids' outfits every day. They never get to pick out their own. I let you choose your clothes every day and I very rarely make you wear something I choose. Today, I choose and you have to deal with it."
Silence. And then,

Elly: "You got it, Mom!"

Eden looked precious in her brown cords, brown shirt and pink cardigan, and Elly looked so cute in her pink sweater, white shirt and jeans. And I have the pictures to prove it. :)

Random Updates

The kids and Dan have been getting over a nasty cough and cold. Elly was diagnosed with pneumonia and Dan is on his second diagnosis of pneumonia in two months. Poor babies! Dan was able to take this afternoon off and get some rest. Maybe he can even take a little time off tomorrow...oh now that's crazy talk..but I think him not taking it seriously and getting rest is the whole reason he's got pneumonia again :)

Anyway, there's my lecture for the day. There's not much to blog right now, I can't remember half of the funny things that Eden has been saying lately...I have been terrible about writing it down. She has been really ornery lately--I do remember that part! We have been saying alot of these phrases:

"Eden, you're not the mom."
"Eden, you're not in charge."
"Eden, you don't need to worry about grown up things. Let us worry about that."
"Eden, calm down!" (that one is normal)

She definitely likes to be the boss. I think that is normal for a five year old, but it sure gets on my nerves at times :) She is not anything like this at school, so I guess it is just us that have to put up with it!

Quite Ellyquent, Part 9

Today Eden and Elly were staring out the window (it was freezing cold today) watching a squirrel run around in my hostas. Elly looked up and said, "That squirrel is not our neighbor because he's not a fodder [father]."

Ames Weekend

We spent some time in Ames Sunday meeting up with my mom's side from Michigan (Ann Arbor area for my MI peeps:) We had a good time and managed to get a family picture...though it was a little wild and a few people's head got cut off...oops...we ate at Hickory Park, played a little wiffle ball in the hotel parking lot and swam in the hotel pool! Good times!!

The Cavner Family- Diane's kids and their kids, Dennis and his family, and Dorothy and Lloyd who started it all!

Grandma Dort, Cathy and Will

I hope I look this beautiful and feisty at 78 :)

Who's this handsome man? He was the Most Feared Lineman in the state, back in the 40's-- Lloyd!!

Goofing Around

I found Elly in her birthday suit under the swing on Monday...

Eden's pose to appease Momma...

Below is Eden's layering at its best...Emily With The Curly Hair would be proud...athletic type tee under a bohemian sweater with a knit skort, leggings, socks and shoes!

Meet Eden and Elly's New Cousin!

Alivia Marie Higgins was born yesterday (shown here with proud Grandpa Lee!)

Beautiful Mommy with her new love!

8 lbs 12 oz (bless Trish's heart!!)

Congratulations to Dan's littlest sis Trish, Chris, and Big Sister Hannah (2)!

Dan's older sis Angie is due next week with another girl! 11 out of 14 grandkids are girls (on the Grimes-Hughes side) and the last 8 babies born have been girls (or will be born soon). Lots of girls around here! Maybe our little Ethiopian bundle will be a boy :)

Elly and Her Grandma

Is it just wishful thinking on my part, or does Elly Lyn look just like her precious grandma Dian Lyn?

MOMentary Insanity

Today at our house, one might have heard:

"Ok, let's find some more pieces of poo."

When in actuality, the sentence was:
"Ok, let's find some more [puzzle] pieces of Pooh."

Baby Elly

Edenisms, Part 20

Eden, after stepping on some toys in the hall (to me):

OWW! Geez! Sometimes you guys gotta pick up toys around here!



[oh boy.]

One Way Ticket to Naughtytown

This was the conversation between my precious ones this morning:

Eden: Elly, your naughtiness and your saying, 'no!' is for the Official of Naughtytown!

Elly: Don't say 'Naughtytown.' It makes my eyes wild.

Eden: Well, you are wild.

Elly: No I'm not! I'm just Elly!

Save the Drama for Your Mama (or better yet, someone else)

Lately Eden has been a bit challenging. She's been reverting back to tantrums (these haven't been around for YEARS) and outbursts of crying at the smallest things. The other day she told me she was having "the worst day of her life" because I had gotten after her for a couple of things in a row (which were quite justified, I might add). I have found her several times crying into her pillow after being told "no" about something!! It's getting on my nerves to be honest. Any time I correct her for some behavior (usually attitude), she cries and asks why I am not "treating her nicely." Oh boy. Drama. Tonight she fell down outside and by the sound of her shrieks you would have thought her leg came off!

I have to say though, she's got a bad cold, so she might not feel well, though that is not what she's complaining about! Today she had her Kindergarten physical and had to get one poke in the finger (hemoglobin), four shots, and a splinter removed from her foot with really pokey tweezers! She actually did pretty well, save the 5 minute lapse in time between the time I told her about the shots and the time the nurse actually came to administer them!

While I am at it, Elly has been quite a pickle lately as well. She's been throwing full-blown fits (these are a first for her) though it is easier to chalk them up to her age. We've had to pull out the old tricks from Eden's twos--turning yes or no questions into questions with only acceptable answers ("Elly, do you want to go potty first or brush your teeth first?" instead of "Can you brush your teeth now?") or better yet ditracting her in general as you nonchalantly do whatever it is needs doing.

Edenisms, Part 19

A few days ago, just after our neighbor Ray died, we were on a walk and we walked in front of his house. Eden said, "Let's just stop right here for a second and think about how good it was to see Ray. I think about him sometimes."

Today Eden was talking with my niece, Sam, and said, "My mom's mom cooks the delici-est meals. Have you ever tasted her meals?"

Then later, we were at Great Clips getting our hair cut and she was sitting with the stylist just chatting away while she worked. From my chair, I heard her say, "I have some sweet, sweet grandmas. One of my grandmas, her name is Grandma Dort, is sweet as a rose! She makes the best food, like one time she made peach pie and it was sooo good! "

"My other grandma, my cousin and my sister call her Mimi, but I call her Grammy, but her real name is Diane, like my other grandma was named Dian, but she died. And my neighbor died. It was my favorite neighbor too, I always liked to go talk to him, and I would ask my mom if I could go over and talk to him and I LOVED it when she said yes!"

Well, that explains it...

So I guess I am not the world's worst parent after all...Elly has been extremely irritable and whiny (we thought because of the nukie issue, but no). Elly has (and has had for some time) a secondary infection from Influenza...she's had a persistent cough for weeks but I thought it was just a virus...then today she woke up sounding croupy and we took her in-- sure enough, she's sick. So I don't feel so bad about giving her nukie back! Actually, I wasn't losing sleep over it (quite the contrary :) but it is good to know what is wrong with her. She is on Zithromax for a week. Elly and antibiotics...we can't seem to keep them apart!

Cute Stuff by Elly Belly

"I" (pointing to her eye)
"yuf" (hand over her heart)
"you" (pointing at me)
"too!" (holding up two fingers)

Running to and hugging Eden when we pick her up from school, yelling, "ee-en, I MISS YOU!"

Giving us the thumbs up sign.

Acting out scenes from Barbie in the Princess and the Pauper--word for word, in character, opposite whatever character Eden is playing.

I Heart My Girls!

Playing in the Dirt

I did it.

I stink at this. I gave in. I gave Elly a nukie. I couldn't take it. The look of sheer panic and distress on her face. It was not healthy. I will sacrifice my child's teeth for her happiness. Dentists are cheaper than psychiatrists.

I'm gonna cave!!!

I'm having second thoughts about this nukie weaning...she is a wreck!!!

Nukie Progress

Elly has been slowly progressing with the nukie weaning. Dan took most of them away when I was in Albuquerque so when I got home, she only had one left. Today she decided she wanted to send the last one away to the babies that need them! We decorated an envelope and put it in the mailbox (where Daddy retrieved it over his lunch break) and we are all set to go to Chuck E. Cheese's tonight to reinforce her Big Girl decision! I will have to post the cutest video of her giving it one last suck and putting it in the envelope.

The other day, she was upset about something and said, "I need my nukie!" Knowing we were trying to contain the nuk for bedtime only I said, "Let's think of something that would make us feel better." Elly said, "My nukie!" and I said, "But what else would make us feel better?" and Elly replied, "My other nukies!"

These are a few of my favorite things...

Hey Batta Batta Batta Batta

Eden's got her game face on and she's ready to play. Despite the frigid temps, she's been sluggin' a few over the fence with her sweet George Brett swing. This one's for you, Papa.

More Pics from Em's Camera...

Seriously this trip was one of the best things I've ever done.

Sheer silliness.

Shadley didn't get to have a margarita...

How cute are we?

Who wouldn't like waking up to this every morning?