Kudos to Uncle Chris

Our 4th of July tradition is to go camping with Josh's family to the lake in Cottage Grove. The Edmiston/Dooley clan is there in it's entirety for a weekend full of fun bonding. (well, mostly fun. I'm not much of a camper and definitely only an Edmiston by marriage). Every year, Josh's cousin Chris has a new favorite song which we get to listen to over and over on the boat. While I have a pretty high tolerance for music repetition, this year's pick has tested my sanity. My girls remembered that song, made me download it, and now listen to it an average of five times a day (more if we are driving anywhere). Seriously, it's become an epidemic around here. Please note that it is now September 19th and we have been listening to it for over two months. This is not a fad and I fear it will never end!

The song is by the Christian rock band Kutless. They are from Portland and Chris's wife Dana manages their online sales and website. They just came out with a new album this spring titled "To Know That You're Alive". I think it's pretty good and I'm not even a big Christian rock band fan.

I tried to find a way to let you listen to the song via my itunes, but can't. So I went to YouTube and found a video of it. I am assuming that this is not exactly legal, so Dana I apologize in advance. Listen on my site and then head to itunes to purchase "The Feeling" by Kutless (only $.99). Your kids will love you and your neighbors will ask you to turn it down! By the way, Sydney knows all the words and Annie has this cool head bang she does every time it comes on.



My post wouldn't be complete without a picture of Sydney and Chris together. I couldn't find a recent one, so this is from last summer's camping adventure.

I couldn't resist adding the picture of Uncle Nick and Annie. So cute together. =)

Life with a boy-crazy pre-schooler, potty training baby, and a husband who works nights

They're driving me nuts . . . all of them!

My dear, sweet little Sydney Rae has developed into a boy-crazy almost four year old. She comes out of her classroom each day telling me all about "B" and how much she loves him. I still have hope that when she uses the L word, it means great friend, but I'm not so sure. To make matters worse (in my opinion anyway), this is the kid whose dad was freaking out about snacks at the parent night. Seriously, he asked the teacher about 20 questions on exactly what he should bring in for his snack week. Come on, it's snacks for preschoolers - half of them probably still eat dirt! I just keep reminding her that she's too little to have a boyfriend and get married, and that she needs to be friends with ALL the kids, not just "B". Next week I'm going in to help them make applesauce so I'll be able to check the whole situation out a little more. I thought I had at least two more years before we hit this stage!

Annie has decided at the age of 17 months, that she is ready to be potty trained. Every time she goes potty, she comes running out yelling "sit on the potty real quick mommy". Of course, by the time we get to the little potty and pull off her diaper, the deed has been done. Since Syd was 2 1/2 before she was really potty trained, I'm not really sure what to do here.

As if I couldn't have any more issues, Josh finally started his graveyard shift last week. He is finally solo and on his own, yay! The downside is that he works four nights a week, leaving the girls and I alone at night. While I don't freak out anymore when I'm alone, I am not anywhere close to sleeping soundly. The girls are the same way which makes for some long nights because we are all restless. I don't know how people manage to maintain sanity living like this! We have to tiptoe around all day and I don't get to shower until late afternoon when Josh wakes up. The saving grace should be that he has three day weekends, but he's had to stay home with the kiddos while I work on his days off and also has court some mornings. Last night started week two of his schedule and I am really praying that it goes more smoothly than the first week. I think I probably just need an attitude adjustment.

Thank God for vacation which is only a week away! I think I need it this year.


My bed on a typical night Josh is at work!

Our Weekend in Pictures

Syd & I making BBQ Chicken Pizza - Thanks Janine, the fam LOVED your recipe!

We planted Fall Cabbage & Mums in the front yard - The girls got bored and pulled out their life jackets for fun.

We put our house on the market . . . So exciting & scary at the same time!

Nina & Annie on the train at Enchanted Forest

Sydney and Chipmunk, also at Enchanted Forest

Annie - "I'm done Nina" Seriously, that's what she said. =)

Josh & I went on a date to Kylo's in Lincoln City, our fav date place

A self portrait, I know, we're amazing photographers

Pumpkin Spice Latte after dinner - Woohoo for fall, I love Pumpkin Spice & Eggnog Lattes!

My banana cream pie. Josh's parents ate it before I took a picture. It was so good!

Pictures

I spent yesterday at my mom's helping her cook for yet another huge dinner party she's having tonight. My mom really is a wonderful entertainer and it's always fun to help since we both enjoy cooking so much.

After baking the afternoon away, I took a few minutes to check out the recent pictures on her computer and realized that she had great pictures of some of our fun summer events. So just what I am sure you are dying to see . . . more pictures of the fam! Sorry, gotta post them since they are too cute.

I should have brought my camera to capture our projects, but forgot. Let's just say that we had a huge mess (Annie's raisins scattered across the kitchen didn't help either).

Syd and Poppa after her ballet recital


Sydney's ballet class


Making Cookies with Gigi


Annie at the beach in Seaside


Annie's First Birthday

Our Annie

Since Sydney is now at pre-school two mornings a week, we get to enjoy time with Annie. While we all miss Syd dearly, it has been fun to cuddle our little munchkin up and play "Annie" style. We had a fun morning with her, snuggling on the couch and dancing to Carly Simon while we picked up our daily hurricane of a house. Josh was home with us, making it extra special (although he's not the best Carly singer and complains whenever we turn her on). Having him home with us on a weekday is still a new experience and one that we all treasure.

After school and lunch, we headed off to get her wild and crazy hair trimmed, her very first haircut! All we did was trim her bangs and little mullet growing on the back, but it was special nonetheless. My girls adore Rachel, their hairdresser, and it's fun to take them for "girl time" every month. I still can't believe she's old enough for haircuts and Carly . . . where does the time go??

Anti-Blogger

So it's been a week since I've blogged and while we've been busy and have fun stories to tell, I just can't seem to get a post published. In a nutshell, my mom and I had a great time shopping in Portland Friday with no kids, and then spent the rest of the weekend at home. It's been a long time since I've shopped kidless and we had a blast exploring the fun little neighborhoods and had the best lunch at this little hole-in-the-wall mexican restaurant. Josh took a taser class on Thursday and I've been trying to get my video uploaded to the computer, but I have come to the conclusion that I'm brain dead when it comes to techy stuff. I thought our dvd camcorder would be simple to upload . . . but it's not. Too bad, I really thought it was funny to watch him flailing around and want to get my own taser for when he's driving me nuts.

Mom & I at Saks with our "bling". We asked them to take a picture and the guy pulled out a Cartier Estate Ring and this gold/diamond necklace. It was 100k of jewelry . . . incredible!

Oh, and we had to give the doggy back to my cousin. So sad! I seem to be the only one who misses the little guy, Josh & the girls could care less that he's gone.

Sydney Goes to School

Yesterday was Syd's first day of preschool and she LOVED it. She tends to sleep in every morning so it was a bit challenging to get her out of bed, dressed, and fed before 8am, but we managed to make it to school early. With her backpack on and stuffed giraffe in tow for show and tell, she was ready to go conquer the world! She ditched us the second we reached her classroom and happily chatted away with her teacher until we left. It amazes me how outgoing and confident she is in nearly every situation, especially since I tend to be the opposite. I am very proud to be her mom. Annie loved having mommy all to herself for a few hours and I am looking forward to more time alone with her over the next few months.


Today was back to work for me as I switched my work days around to be home for Syd's school. We're still trying to get a grip on our fall schedule and thought we had it all worked out until Josh's mom let us know that she won't be able to watch the girls anymore unless we make the trek to Albany each week (which would make for a long day for me). I wonder if it's because I broke the wheel off her prized vacuum cleaner this weekend while trying to shampoo my rug? Or maybe it's because I inadvertantly forgot that today was her 50th birthday and asked her to babysit (which she did and I attempted to make it up to her by making cupcakes and bringing home sunflowers from the garden). Actually, she has to start taking care of her mom's medication twice a day and will get paid to help out. I would probably choose a sweet old lady who pays you over two rambuctious toddlers who don't any day so I can't really blame her. I just hope she won't be mad for the next 50 years about the vacuum . . . it really was an accident! Thankfully we have a few "back up" options with the babysitting thing, so hopefully it all works out.

Our Sweetie!

Yes, I need photography lessons. This one's blurry, I know.