What we've been up to

SOOOOO.....Long time, no blog, huh? I really do check my computer everyday, since no one comments on me not blogging, people have either stopped reading, or never started...?? I honestly get on the computer everyday, I check my friends' sites, email, and a few regular blogs written by complete strangers, but...since it's been something like 13 days since I've last taken the time to post,I feel it's time! But, I'm going to cheat a little...See, I keep an ongoing list of things I want to remember to blog about...instead of going in to great detail, like I usually would, (you're thinkin, "thank goodness!") I'm going to share what my list looks like, (kind of) and get people up to speed with the gang here at the Luiken home... Ready?

Starting WAAAYYYY back on Saturday the 16th..

*Dig's party was fun. It was nice out so the guys got to be on the deck, and us girls visited indoors. Dig got so many nice gifts, clothes, money, building blocks, balls, diapers, and Uncle Shawn made him a measuring board, well, a thing for us to stand Lane up to every so often and measure him on, in the shape and painted like a farm silo...to go with his farm scene my Mom and Dad had painted on his wall as a "welcome to the world" present last Oct. after he was born. He and Kelly painted it and it is so neat. Ryan grilled hamburgers, I made a potatoe salad and a grape salad...We had Ryan's cousin and my friend, Caryn make the cake, it was adorable, had a football, soccer, basketball and baseball on it and in big red letters said, 'Happy Birthday Digga!" Drue told me what to have put on it. ONE THING though...I FORGOT to offer everyone ice-cream! I had it in the freezer and completely spaced it off...sorry to those of you who were here!

*Saturday the 23rd,(this past Sat.) Ryan and I went shopping in Waterloo for his friend Travis, he's getting married this weekend. We didn't find what we wanted but Ry did find a new outfit. We ended up ordering Trav a Terry Redlin print from Cabelas. (don't worry, he's not computer literate!) Ry and I went to Carlos O'Kelly's and ate like there was no tomorrow. Yum!

*Sunday 24th, we went to church, then to my parents' for roast and potatoes and all the fixin's, then Ryan and I took the kids on a nature walk around Pine Lake. It was a beautiful afternoon. DD didn't ride in the stroller at all. She was busy picking up pretty leaves and acorns and playing in the sand. We had a really nice time. The kids were very good and the weather was perfect.

*Monday 25th Dig had his one year pictures taken...he is usually a very smiley boy, but not this day! He was freaked out by the lady taking the pictures, and quite honestly, so was I. She wasn't very good at all and only took 7 pictures. Oh well, He's a cutie anyway. He wore a Hawkeye football jersey onesie. We pick them up on Oct. 10th. Monday, was a long day. We left home at 9:30 and got home about 5:30. Mom was on vacation this week and went shopping with us. Drue had ice-cream after Dig's pics. and again before leaving W'loo. First, rainbow in the mall, the second time, watermelon sorbet at Cold Stone...they didn't have my oatmeal cookie that day...bummer! So I had the Lite Cake batter...yikes! Too sweet! Tastes just like cake batter though...Drue loved it! I found an outfit to wear to T's wedding and the kids each got some things. AND...Dig slept through the night that night! Shopping isn't for boys!

*Tues. 26th We went to Kim's for coffee. We're all sad because she will be moving to Indiana shortly. She is such a neat girl. We'll miss her a lot. After coffee, we went to my folks' for lunch. Mom brought down the old suitcases full of my old dance recital outfits and old jewelry for DD to play with. We decided that since it was nice, we'd walk to Eldora and get an iced coffee at the coffee house. Get this...Drue wore my pink and green tutu, a hot pink, sequin headband, her sunglasses and a red bead necklace...all the way uptown! It was hilarious. She even had my Mom wear a blue sequin headband...she did...all the way! She said I'd understand when I'm a grandma! =)

* Wed. the 20th...(this is out of order) It was cool out, but sunny and very 'autumn like,' so the kids and I put on our sweatshirts and went on a wagon ride down our long drive to get the mail. We played outside and had a wonderful afternoon. Ryan and I love Fall. That afternoon really got me in the mood for pumpkin bars and hot cocoa!

* I forgot to mention in previous posts, (I think) that Lane started saying "ball" on Sept. 11. It's so stinkin' cute...he'll wake up and the first thing I hear over the monitor is "ba...ba...ba..." when I go up to get him, he's standing in his crib reaching for a baseball my Uncle Jim and Aunt Antoinette gave him when he was born.

*At that week's coffee group, Drue was bit on the finger (pretty badly) by her best friend, Campbell. After she left I asked Drue what she did to Campbell, either to make her bite her or after she bit her, Drue told me quite frankly, "DD pinched her real hard!" At least she didn't lie to me! =) That night I made a yummy Amish hamburger soup and apple crisp. Grandma Mary gave us a bunch of apples...more on that later!

*The next night I made Grandma Margaret's All at Once spaghetti and Beer bread. Drue was so excited to help...she kept asking, "are we making beer pie yet?"

*Friday the 22nd, Dig had his one year Dr. appt. He weighed 21 lbs 13 oz. and is 30 inches tall.

Ok...I just realize that some how, I started typing in the wrong space and now this post is no longer in chronological order...sorry, try to figure it out... ;)

Try this again...I tried to cut & paste but it didn't let me...sorry.
Yesterday, Wed the 27th...We went to Grandma Mary's at 10:00 am and started our APPLE PIE BAKING! Grandma has a gazillion apples and we cut, cored, peeled, sliced tons of them. My feet are so sore today! Mom came too and we learned how to make grandma's crust. We made 10 regular sized pies and 2 'pot -pie' sized for Drue and Lane. Then we sliced/prepared 12 quart bags of apples so they are ready to use when we want to make something. My Dad and brother were at grandma's working on a water line, Kelly stopped by to give grandma a little gift for letting her put her big swimming pool on grandma's tennis court and Ryan stopped by on his way through for a pop and just in time to carry the big bucket full of scraps out to Shawn's calves! It was special learning from grandma and we talked alot about her growing up, I will post more on that another day. We left 1 pie for grandma (that's all she wanted) 2 with my Mom, one for a friend who had a recent surgery and the remaing 6 are in our deep freeze along with all the bags of sliced apples. Kind of fun stocking up for winter...makes me feel a little more Amish! =)

Today, Thurs. the 28th, we went in to my parents' then,we ran to grandma's to pick up our pies, we had let them freeze over night at her house so they'd be easier to transport, then to the store, then home to wait for Todd and Pam and the girls to come for supper. Pam made a spaghetti pie, I had the garlic bread and lettuce salads...and of course...apple pie. After we ate, Todd, Ryan and the 3 older girls took our car to look for geese. DD had been looking forward to it for a week now! She was so excited. We packed a juice and puffed popcorn for everyone and they were off! Pam and I enjoyed some quiet time with eachother and Lane and Madeline. 2 hours later, I hear crying as the door opens, DD had cried for the last 20 mins. because she didn't have her blanket. (Campbell did have hers.) They had a good time but were tired. The girls didn't see the geese but they did see some deer. It may be a while before Drue wants to do that again.

*BIG NEWS...Dig is sleeping through the night! He did it Mon, Tues and Wed...hope we keep it up! But, I'm sleeping so hard now, that my neck is killing me.

Well, now I think you're up to date...although, your head may be spinning because I screwed up the order...Anyway, we're here...we're all healthy, we're happy and busy! We have a wedding this weekend, the Iowa game the next and want to get to the pumpkin patch that weekend,too. Would love to hear from some of you! God's blessings to you all! ~kabl

LANE IS ONE!!

Happy 1st Birthday to my "Little Man!" Can't believe he is already a year old. What amazing things he's learned in the last 12 months! He is such a joy...tonight, I had to work at the chicken and biscuit dinner, but when I went to get the kids from Mom and Dad's he was in such a FUNNY mood! It could have been the bright, blue Gatorade someone was giving him! Anyway, I guess he, Drue, Nanny and Pa were all crawling around on the floor, listening to "Three Blind Mice" on the CD player, pretending to be mice...Dad said he crawled for a good half hour...full throttle! His little knees are probably sore. When I got there he showed me how he "danced" to the music and then did a funny face thing...wrinkled up his entire face, closed his eyes and sniffed in and out through his little nose...we'd laugh, he'd do it more... What a kid! He has no idea what's in store for him tomorrow! Party time...

Drue came to 'help' Nanny get the carry our chick/biscuits...as they were walking in, Ryan's family was walking out...I watched and Drue and Cade both kind of ignored eachother...they were out of place...couldn't figure out why eachother was there, but Drue sure did talk about him when I got to Mom's...Hopefully, the rain holds off and the two of them can play outside for a little bit.

Well, I am off to bed...I'm tired. Last night I slept so hard that I had NO idea that DD had jumped in bed with us sometime in the night. I woke up and she was there...Ryan even brought Lane in because I didn't hear him...ok, I did...I was going to wait and see if fell back asleep, then remembered it was his birthday and didn't want him to cry on his big day! =) I am getting up to make potatoe salad and a grape salad...maybe that's too much 'salad.?' Oh well, that's all I have the 'stuff' for, so that's what we'll have...with grilled burgers, cake and ice-cream. We're excited to have everyone here... I think I counted and there will be 20 people here...we'll be missing Uncle Steve and his girlfriend, Lisa and my Grandpa Harold, I don't think he'll come. It is a lot of work for Grandma and Grandpa gets nervous about having an accident or being in the way.

One year ago tonight, God blessed Ryan and I and Drue with a healthy, beautiful baby boy...We couldn't imagine our life without him...such a perfect little family! Praise God!

Ty...Move That Bus!!!

So... have you heard??? The Extreme Home Makeover show is building a house just outside Grundy Center/ Gladbrook?! Mom and Dad stopped by the build site last night after shopping in Waterloo...Dad told me about it this morning and I asked Mom to take me there this afternoon. I love that show! However, I usually try NOT to watch the beginning, the part when they tell the family's story on why they deserve the new house. I USED to watch that part but got way too emotional...plus it was when I was pregnant with Lane, adding to my hormonal mess! I was very impressed by the organization. We parked a good "country section" away from the actual site. Then walked on a path cut through a bean field. We ended up just across the road from the house. It's beautiful. Looks kind of like a plantation home. I guess Tuesday they had dug a hole and demolished what remained of the original home and when Mom and the kids and I visited about 6:00 Thurs. night, the house was up, sided, roofed, a pole barn built, some windows installed, I could see through the windows that were unfinished, that the inside was sheet rocked, possibly painted...can you believe how fast they work!? I'd love to go Sunday afternoon and tell Ty to "move that bus," but they don't know an exact time the family will return for the reveal. I guess it's a family of 6. Both parents disabled, and around Christmas of last year, their home was lost to fire. When the Home Makeover Team arrived to surprise them on Sunday, the family was living in a fifth wheel camper and two tents. A pastor recommended them for the project. We took some pictures and are anxiously awaiting the show sometime in November.

The kids had a wonderful day. Our friend, Pam, brought Dig his first birthday gifts...he received 3 new balls, all of different sizes. He was so excited! Can't believe he'll be 1 tomorrow! I was to go in for a routine checkup, when my midwife checked me she said, "I don't feel comfortable sending you all the way home, unless your husband is willing to come in for a crash course in delivering babies!" So, I went to Target and shopped for a while then went back to the hospital that afternoon and had my water broke...Little Lane Ryan was born about 5 hrs. later...at 7:23 or was it 7:34...yikes...well, it's one of the two...Drue was born at 4:24 so Lane must have been born at 7:34...yup, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! :) What an exciting day for us! He came over 3 weeks early, but healthy and gorgeous!

Drue has a new 'thing.' A few days ago I asked her to "please babysit Dig while I run upstairs to get him a pair of socks." I promised her that if she did I'd give her a piece of her parade candy... Ok...it was a trick, I just wanted her to stay down stairs so I could run up, run down...make it a quick trip, not lolly-gaggling around like we do sometimes...Wellllll....now when she wants a piece of candy she'll ask, "Mommy, want me to babysit Digga?" What a girl! Today she wore a sleevless Cinderella scort/ dress-up outfit all day...she says she's gonna' wear it to her brother's birthday party, too...we'll have to see what the weather's like. On the other hand, she and Dig received some new long sleeve shirts from my folks today and she was so excited that she tried on a new outfit and wore it to bed, stretch pants and all!

Well, I've already been up once with Lane, last night was good...he woke up about 4:30 then again at 7:15... I can live with that! (for a while!)

Better get to bed, I have another busy day ahead, I have to make a dessert for the TTT chicken and biscuit meal, go to the grocery store, pick up some birthday balloons and be at the school to work my shift at the meal...oh, and pick up a birthday cake!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY DIGGA DEAN!!

I love you kids so much, you are my world and I thank God everyday for choosing me to be your Mommy!!

Black and Blue

Ahhhh....time to sit. I am proud with what I have accomplished today. Not alot to some, but major for me. We made it to our coffee/ play group at Pam's this morning. This afternoon, I dusted the computer room and our room, I cleaned all the floors upstairs. After supper, I scrubbed the kitchen, laundry and bathroom floors. Mind you...there are four little feet and four little hands grabbing, chasing, reaching, climbing, pulling, dripping, running, poking, digging, balancing, etc... all the while...

While I was in the kitchen, I heard sobbing. You see, Lane has a new favorite thing to do. He crawls really fast and climbs into Drue's little pink, overstuffed rocking chair. Some times I catch him sitting in it with his little arms stretched out on the arms of the chair with his fingers tapping. Other times I catch him standing up, bouncing, being silly...EVERY time he sees me look at him, he starts to giggle, like.."I'm such a stud muffin! I am getting to be such a big kid! Mom, isn't this cool?!" Well, one time tonight, it wasn't so 'cool.' Evidentally, I say this because only DD saw exactly what happened, he stood up and fell off the side of the chair and hit who knows what. There were toys everywhere and Dad was in the living room...don't ask. Anyway, he has a bump and is black and blue between his eyes, right at the top of his nose. He was pretty upset...for a while, then he was right back at his chair trick!

Lane is continuing to practice walking. He'll be walking before we know it, can't believe my baby is growing up so quickly! I can't believe it has already been a year since we brought that tiny little boy home...

Drue had a wonderful time at play group. I caught her and Campbell pushing eachother...I heard DD say, "Don't push, Campa!" (Campbell) AS she was pushing Campbell back! =) We're going to have to watch those two... I foresee many challenges in that relationship, I can bet there will be times when Ryan and I will have to ask Drue, "are you friends with Campbell this week or not?" one of those types, especially being only 6 weeks apart and having parents that are such good friends...and being GIRLS! Drue watched Charolette's Web today...She also helped me scrub the floors for a while. We put a little scarf on her head, like Cinderella wore. She looked so cute scrubbing in her scarf...then she slipped and fell, that ended the fun. So she went to watch Cinderella in the toy room. She's way into the Princesses right now...better start saving for that trip to Disney before the magic is gone!

Ryan continues to love his job and the responsibilities that come with it. He works a little longer than he used to, about like a farmer now. Gone at dark, home around dark. I'm so thankful he enjoys it...now we both LOVE our JOBS!! =) His and Shawn's lease is about up for the cattle operation. THANK GOD! That was a big joke. The guy they leased them from really ripped them off. He didn't stay out of the decision making, as promised, he demanded they use certain medications, charged things to their vet account, sprayed pastures unneccesarily, made the guys move or work cows/calves, when he wanted, charged them for preg checking, on and on and on...It was definitely a learning experience, thankfully, it's over on Sept. 30th...Shawn and Kelly, Ryan and I are planning on celebrating at Travis's wedding, which is that same day...Phew!!!

Well...everyone is in bed...their own, I might add! Better go give my kisses to the kids and get my covers from the 'hog!' :)

Just like her Daddy

So... I forgot a funny story from a week or so ago...

Drue and Ryan were on the couch watching the "Deer movie," aka..."Bambi." DD wanted her Dad to watch it with her, well, they both fell asleep. I was in the kitchen doing dishes, Lane was already in bed. I heard a thud and turned and say Ryan leaning towards the ground, still in a stupor. Drue had fallen off the couch...don't really know how since Ryan had his arm around her...but she woke up for only a few seconds, then fell back asleep. When we quizzed her about it the next day, she said, "that was at Coke's house." So, I don't know if she remembers it or not.

Yesterday, obviously bored...Drue came running into the kitchen and asked, "Mommy, want to go around looking for geese?" We had gone driving, looking for potential hunting spots Fri. night and Drue must have thought it was fun...although, she fell asleep about 15 minutes into the ride. I thought it was so funny that she initiated the trip this time. I couldn't wait to tell Ryan and when he got home, I had Drue tell her Daddy what she wanted to do earlier in the day. He was SOO excited that he may have a fellow hunter in the family. Drue was determined to go "NOW." It was rainy and already too dark to search last night, but Ryan promised they'd go the night before opening geese...which, I just remembered, is his best friends wedding rehearsal night...ok, they'll have to drive around on the 28th instead of 29th, anyway...Drue wants so badly to have Todd, Campbell, Ryan and herself...to drive around. She loves being in the back seat with Campbell...Ryan was so serious about making sure Drue knew they WOULD do it, that they wrote it on the calendar.

Lane took about 8 or 9 steps to his sister today. He takes a gasping breath as if to say..."Ready, I'm gonna' do it...!" I'm not sure he breathes the entire time he's attempting to walk...He even will try and walk without being asked, he'll pull himself up to something and then turn, gasp, lift up a foot, place it down, think about it, lift up the other foot, put it down, think about it...He's so determined. Oh my...so cute, too! He's going to have the girls chasing him! Drue will have her fair share of boys knocking, too! Such beautiful, healthy children we have! Praise God!

Drue was pretty wound up today...could be the parade candy she had for breakfast! =) She didn't take her usual afternoon nap. After she was done with supper, she asked to sit in Lane's high chair, we let her while we finished. All of a sudden we noticed it was very quiet...she had fallen asleep! I took her to her room and she has been sleeping since 7pm! Lane is in his bed, in too small of pajamas! They are the footie ones, it's chilly upstairs, but he's probably thinking they are too tight in the feet...we need to do some major shopping, he has no pants or long sleeve shirts that fit him and Fall has all of a sudden appeared, with little transition time. Drue is in the same boat for shirts...we need to make a "back to school" shopping trip some weekend after Dig's party.

I didn't sleep too well last night, Drue was wiggly...she's in her own room...so far...so I better go stake my ground incase she comes in later! =) Lane has been waking up a few times a night still, but I've noticed he sleeps pretty well when it's so cool up here.

Can't wait to see alot of you for Dig's party! Hope it's nice...at least not raining!

Blessings to you all!

Remember me???

Well...a lot has changed since the last time I've posted...including the MONTH!! Wow... I haven't written since Aug. 29th...There's a lot to catch up on...I'll randomly get you back up to speed with what's going on with the Luikens...I don't promise this will be in chronological order...bear with!

We watched Campbell and Aubrey the Friday before Labor Day...Their Mommy had to run some errands and we had fun destroying our home! Saturday we went into Steamboat Rock for Rainsbarger Days. We watched the parade and got a TON of candy. Afterwards, we let DD play in the sand and the duck pond...she got several prizes, her favorite, a purple squishy ball, yo-yo thing...was also a favorite of Cash's...he took a snap at it and popped it...DD said, "DD loved that purple thing, so bad!" Drue also saw clowns...we had to go back to the Expedition for my checkbook and we walked right by the clowns...Drue was petrified. She jumped right in the truck and said she'd stay in there while I went back to make my purchase, of course, I didn't let her, but we made sure we took the LONNNNG way around the clowns. As I type this, Drue is reminding me, "DD like clowns..." as she shakes her head no! Saturday night we went to Jim and Jane Kramer's for dinner. We've done this every Labor Day weekend since we've been married, (I think?) it's fun getting all the families together. Sunday we went to Ryan's grandma Margaret's for snacks in the afteroon. Monday, we went to my grandma and pa Larson's. My uncle Mike and aunt Aimee, their daughter Lindsay, her friend Ally and my uncle Jim were home. We went to the parade for yet more candy, then home for dinner. We made it out to the rodeo just as it started to rain, that didn't keep Drue from getting out though! She was pumped, rain or not! My folks had promised her a cowgirl hat... I was expecting one of those cheap, spray painted one, but she came back with a 'real' hat! She looked so stinking cute! It's pink, of course. The rain stopped and Drue got to enjoy all the rides, had some cotton candy, a corn dog and pop.

Hmmm... What else...Oh, Dig is sleeping in his own room. He actually likes his crib, I think. He still wakes up 2 or 3 times a night. Two times, though, he's slept from 9:30 to 2:30, one night he slept until 5:30am!! I felt terrible one night, I told DD to be quiet so we wouldn't wake him, I put him in his crib and he woke up, cried and stood up, I kind of got after Drue and then she started to cry, "DD was quiet, not loud!" She was right, Dig woke up because of changing positions, not because she was loud, I felt like such a bad mom. I kissed her and squeezed her an apologized for being grumpy.

One night the last week, Drue talked her Dad into putting on one of his cowboy hats, while she wore hers and they each rode the singing stick horses around the house...both in their underwear! =) What a sight! That same night Drue was in our bed and saw the moon, it was especially beautiful and we just snuggled while I sang the, "I see the moon, the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me song." It was neat. We love our kids so much!

Dig had a fever Labor Day weekend. Often, when he has a fever, the next day, he'll get tiny pin pricked spots all over his little body. I thought he was getting a new tooth, ends up it was probably a virus, because DD had the spots one day, too.

I just asked Drue "what else has been going on this week?" She replied, "remember, we had coffee at Coke's has that day." ?? I should add...she's sticking her finger in the chapstick and rubbing it on her cheeks...????

Ryan's been working a lot...He works very hard. Luckily, he loves his job. I've been trying to get the house cleaned and preparing for Lane's birthday party. We can't believe that he'll be ONE on Friday!! Our baby isn't a baby anymore! We're having family over on Saturday....no...the Iowa/ISU game will be over by then....=) I have a busy week, Tues. is coffee..ok, that's not busy, that's fun... Wed. I have a TTT meeting, Friday night I work at the TTT Chicken and Biscuit dinner, then Ryan and the kids and I may go to the football game, haven't decided yet. Saturday it's PARTY TIME! Drue is excited, too...Her cousin Cade will be here!! Hopefully, the weather is nice and the two of them will be able to play in the kids' play yard.

BIG NEWS>>>> Dig is taking steps! He's taken about 4 or 5 at a time. He gets so proud of himself and even attempts to walk when no one is asking him to! Won't be long now!

This weekend, was nice...absolutely nothing going on. Friday night we drove around looking for geese, didn't see anything, so Ryan didn't even go hunting. Saturday afternoon, we met the James' at McDonalds so the kids could play. DD didn't want to go down the big slide, but Ryan thought he'd try it out. He asked Drue if she'd go with him, she said, "DD just watch." And she did...he went down it by himself...such a big boy! =) We all made a quick run to Wal-Mart. We put Campbell's car seat in our car and she rode home with us. The girls get the biggest kick out of being in the way back seat, they pretend their alone? Drue's been watching alot of the "princess" movies...She loves Cinderella and Snow White, especially!

Well...you're kind of up to date with us...I'm sure I left stuff out, I'll try and be better about blogging...I love doing it, but some nights I have to make the decision...BLOG or BED? Blog or bed? We just watched a special on 9/11. Brings back a lot of emotions...and we're hundreds of miles away, makes you really want to keep your family close and cherish every little moment. It's weird thinking our kids will never know what the world was like before Sept. 11, 2001.

Well, gotta take DD potty...Blessings to all...kl

TORNADO!!

I think one hit our house! Oh my! Not only are the usual toys all strung (is that a word?) all over the house, but we've added more. See, every...yes...EVERY time we see my grandma and grandpa Larson, they send BUNCHES of toys with the kids! I'm talking big Rubbermaid tubs...full! This visit it was a 2 ft. tall talking Barney, a play guitar, 3 different types of doll houses, a (I swear) life size fire truck...complete with siren and "this is engine 99, we're in pursuit." Hmmm, what else...oh, a container full of match box cars, a Cookie Monster game...maybe that's it...?? PLUS...I don't know if I mentioned this in previous posts, but, we brought home my tub full of Cabbage Patch kids and all of the clothes grandma Ilene made for them, from Mom and Dad's house. SO...we've added 16...yes, 16 Cabbage Patch kids to our family...Things are getting crazy around here. I know I was spoiled, I had all sorts of toys, too many, I'm sure... but these little children of mine...???Heaven's to Betsy!!!! They sure love imagining and playing in their toy room, though.

We had coffee this morning at Caryn's in Grundy. We had a good time, Drue's friends Campbell and Aubrey didn't make it, so she was kind of bored with the boys. Libby and her did eventually get out the babies and had fun being 'mommies.'

After coffee, we ran to Fareway. Then home for a late lunch. We had just enough time to put groceries away, feed the kids, change a diaper, go potty before getting back on the road to Wellsburg. I got my haircut. The kids were angels. Drue sat in the dryer chair, read a book and played with a My Little Pony. Dig was asleep in his stroller. After my cut, DD picked out a sucker and we headed to my parents'. Ryan and Shawn had to move cows, so we stayed at Mom's and the boys met us for supper. My uncle Jim came over today and is spending the night. He loves helping Dad with farm stuff when he's here. I think Jim was 10 or 11 when Mom and Dad started dating, so Dad is like a big brother to him...ok, he says Dad's like a "Dad" to him...don't tell my Dad that though! He'd feel really old! It was so nice and cool here today that we ate outside under the Christmas lights. Then we had a little fire in the chiminea. So beautiful out! SO....that's why the house looks like a tornado hit...we weren't even here today and it looks like we had a ton of friends over! But looking around makes me realize how much we have to be thankful for...at least we have a home to GET dirty! =) At least my kids have toys to leave all over the house, at least we have laundry to wash, at least we have groceries to put away...etc...

Tonight, I'm trying Dig in the crib in his own room. I was up 6 or 7 times last night...from 12:07 to 12:41, I was up 3 times! We'll try this...I don't know what to do. Any hints...leave me a comment...I'm not ready to stop breastfeeding, yet. But come on already! He is going to be one in a couple of weeks and he's still not sleeping through the night. We'll see if being in a room alone helps or makes it worse. I have feeling he'll wake up petrified, not knowing where he is and will be harder to get back to sleep...any of you Mom's out there...help me out!? I'm open to suggestions! =)

Have a beautiful...tomorrow...I guess I don't know what day tomorrow is...??? I lose track of my days being home. I know that our 'regular' PBS shows were on, so it's not a weekend, that's about as good as it gets from me! (Ok, tomorrow will be Wed...smarty pants!)