A Quickie

Just a couple of pictures to tide you over til I get some spare time. School starts tomorrow and Travis had the last 4 days off (which always means computer time is very limited for me), so here's a shot of my cutie patootie and also a shot of us with Travis's mom. We took her for a drive Saturday to Gig Harbor. The kids played at a cool park and we ate at a Dairy Queen that had Elvis everywhere!

We Went to Seattle...

...again. (o: We love going to Seattle. It's been a little while since Travis's new job started. It was beautiful evening. We had lots of fun and got stopped by a man that our boys had run by and said "excuse me" when they ran by him. He stopped me to tell me that my baby was beautiful and he had never seen 3 little boys be so polite to a complete stranger. He thanked me for doing such a good job as a parent in teaching my child common respect for people and said our family was refreshing. (o: Nice, eh? (Travis was in the bathroom or else he would have been complimented too, I'm sure)

Kinda just went by...

Last Sunday was our Anniversary. Travis worked, I stayed home from church with sick kids. It wasn't a very thrilling anniversary. But, that's okay because it was still our anniversary. 15 years. That's a long time. Our marriage is a teenager. (o: We did go and see the new Harry Potter movie...finally...on Friday. It was an awesome movie! I cried. Like...a...baby!!! Embarrassing, I know, but I thought that they did a beautiful job at cramming the book into such a short time span. (yes, it was 2 1/2 hours...I coulda sat there for 5 hours if I had to) I especially was impressed with how Alan Rickman portrayed Snape in the end. He did such an excellent job of expressing the torment that you know he was feeling...without saying a word. It was just fabulous. I hope that it will be out in time for Christmas, and I've already told my mom that's all I want. (o: I know, I am a hopeless addict. But, Harry Potter has gotten me through some tough times and made me happy. I'm going to have to get a new set...maybe the set of all paperbacks...for the kids to read, cause I've pretty much worn the ones I have out. My kids are just now asking to see the first movie and I am allowing it. But only the first. I told them we would start reading the books once we finish with the Boxcar Children series. *sigh* It makes me happy.

(I do not know why I have started the habit of using all these dots .... but I have so I hope I don't annoy anyone out there with them.)

Yesterday we went to visit Travis at his new home store. They transferred him to a store that is not open 24 hours!!! It's a really nice store with really nice people. I really love the Walgreens company so far. Well, since Travis got "paid up" as Connor said, I told them I would buy them a treat. They each got a sell inflating whoopee cushion.


Looks just like the yellow one. Yep, I wish you could have heard them. Laughing so hard tear were rolling down their faces. Of course, after about 6 hours of CONTINUOUS use, they started to tear and the fart sounds are weak, but they really had a spectacular time with those things. They were kinda pricey, so I was bummed that they didn't hold up better. The reason they are so into whoopee cushions is because of this chick...

Don't ask. You can go to http://respectthepouch.com/ if you really wanna know. It's a Capri Sun thing. We don't even have cable, but they saw the commercials and we have internet...that's all it took.

Anyway...to finish off my rather long and rambling post, here is a picture I took of my children because I love them so much...
Wait...here's another...just because. I tried to be clever and put them on different steps, but I'm not a photographer and they really wanted to leave to go buy their little fart bags, so...
Oh, and ps...Little Lizbet is 90% ready to crawl. She's almost got it. She's 6 month old! Crawling?! Isn't that kinda sad? I'm crying again. I need to go read me some HP.

Our Healthy Lizbet

(This picture was taken at the doc's while we waited for the nurse to come in with the shots!)

Elizabeth went to the doctors for her 6 month check up. She was declared very healthy and extremely cute! She is also really tiny! Well, really tiny compared to all of her brothers. I'm used to my boys being in the 95% for height and weight. She's 50% for height and 25% for weight! (of course her giant Nelson pumpkin head is at 75%) She's almost crawling already and loves to copy things that her brothers are doing.

Nothing else really new to report. I'm still up to my elbows in my Home Education stuff. I've just about got Science done. It's a lot of work customizing my lessons, but worth it because I have more attentive children. Someday I dream of the day that I can just buy a program all packaged together and the kids be thrilled with it, but if it never happens, that's okay, because in all my researching I learn a lot too.

I have guinea pig cages to clean now.

August? Already? How did that happen?

First of all...some important business. ***Rachael Olson*** I tried emailing you and my email came back. And since you can't make up your mind on facebook...my email address is dawnie3@att.net. Get me on your list. I'm having serious withdrawls!!!

Okay. I can not believe that it is August! And it's almost the middle of August even! Hello! My little baby girl is 6 MONTHS old!! Time...you are not my friend these days. So, the last few days I have been reorganizing my apartment. Isn't that what most women need to do once in a while. Move stuff around. I'm not as crazy as Shauna who not only moves things around, but strips them all and paints them! But, I have been reworking our Education areas. We totally outgrew our little laundry room classroom and have been working in the living room. So, I installed some shelves and moved the desk and did a bunch of stuff like that. It feels good to move stuff around cause then you are forced to clean certain areas that otherwise wouldn't be touched. I'll post photos after it's all done.

Speaking of education...I have also been planning school. Only we are going to try not to call it school. Thomas Jefferson Ed people...at least the people that I have interacted with recently (I need to re-read that book!) call it Home Education. Not Home Schooling. I like the sound of that, and my kids seem to think that it sounds cool too...so, I have been planning this years education. I'm beginning to feel more like I know what I'm doing, but at the same time having a panic attack cause the boys are getting older and also Connor is thrown into the mix this year. BUT...I'll be okay. Like my dad ALWAYS used to ask me...how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Got it! (o:

It's been some weird times lately. The heat threw us all off. Then, Travis worked his first week of over night shifts. They do a week every 5 weeks, I believe. He left home at midnight and returned home at 9am. Then, he locked himself in the bedroom until 7pm and slept. Seven days he did this. Then, he was given 4 days off to try and recover. That's what he did all weekend. Tried to get his head back on straight. So, it's been a strange the past couple of weeks. (but, let me say...over night shift or not....he LOVES working at Walgreens!!!) So, I have lots more to say but not the energy, nor the time to say it, so here are a few pictures because everyone loves pictures!
Little Miss is now sleeping part time in her new crib. She sleeps in it for a couple of hours...wakes up...wants to be held for an hour or so...then goes back in her crib. Repeat. It makes for a long night, but she'll come around eventually and all will be well. (they all did) I'm tired, but I remind myself that she is my last and what is a few months of sleepiness in my long lifetime. It's so worth it when you see this cute little face.

This was during the day. I was putting away laundry and stuck her in here. I couldn't decide which picture to post, so I put them all on.We called her our little Princess when she was born, but she has been promoted to Queen Elizabeth in our house now.

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We took Travis's mom down to Tacoma and Federal Way just for fun on Friday. Went over the Narrows bridge and hit a couple of malls. Here is Travis and Lizbet at the Tacoma Mall. See where she gets her beautiful blue eyes?

Travee said, "My two girls." Awww

Our cute boys having a burger with Grandma D. They love going out with her!

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I know this is fuzzy, but I love it and since it's my blog, I can share it if I want...blurry stuff and all. Isn't she the sweetest?

It's Just Too Hot!

I know! I haven't blogged for a while. You have to admit that the last blog was one of the cutest ever though. It's just been too hot to be sitting at the computer lately. Yesterday we not only smashed the record high, but it was also the hottest day EVER recorded in Western Washington history. And nobody...well VERY few...has air conditioning here. We could have driven around in our van that has a/c BUT it was in the shop being repaired! So, we went to Travis's parents house while we waited for the car to be fixed and played for a while...then ran through the sprinkler and just got very wet. That includes Travis and I!

Here are a couple of pictures to prove what I say is true.

Actually, first of all, here is a picture of the carrots I pulled from our garden. I was thinning them out a bit. These 'baby' carrots were awesome! Peas are gone...they were yummy too. Cucumbers never grew. They grew last year so I'm not sure what I did wrong this year, but it's ok. We'll do better next year.

This is at his folks. That says 103! Plus, in Seattle there's humidity. Not too much, but enough we could feel it.

Spencer spent a lot of his time inside making 'food' for his dogs. Then he took them outside and let them have a picnic. (notice the brown grass)
A close up of the food he made.

Notice the time? That's when the boys are supposed to be in bed. The top # is outside, middle # humidity in the house, and bottom temp # is inside the house. It got down to 86 this morning.

We put all 4 kids on the living room floor with all the fans we own (4) turned onto them. Yep, even Elizabeth slept on the floor. I was on the couch and Travis was at work in the air conditioned bldg. (he has the night shift for the next week) They didn't go to sleep until 1:30am and woke up at 9:30. Well, Elizabeth woke up at 8, which is why she isn't in the picture. I turned off my flash to snap this one, so it's kinda fuzzy, but you get the idea.

So, that's the summary of "adventures in we think we are going to die of heat in Seattle". It's not supposed to get this hot here. Average temp for yesterday was 79. That's what we are used to, so this is big news to us. Thanks for letting me vent and complain and whine. I know all the people in Texas and Nevada think we are whimps, but how many of them have a/c in their homes? I thought so. (o:

Ice Cream Anyone?

Covington Days! 2009

Yesterday I took the kids to Covington Days. (Covington is the next town over...it's where Kohl's and Walmart are) It's a nice little town. Travis was originally planning on coming, but they changed his work schedule on Friday, so he had to go to work instead. But...since we promised a parade...I took 'em myself! They were very well behaved and we had a lot of fun. We watched the parade go by (which comprised of people walking and waving, a couple of clowns, a bunch of tractors, a garbage truck and a fire truck...pretty much) Then we went over to the little fair part...just like last year. The kids thought it was "awesome"! We collected some little prizes from the booths, played on a fire truck, shared an elephant ear, and watched some fancy drummers. It was a really good time. Although, I have learned that paying special attention to my children and slathering them with sunscreen is the right thing to do...just don't forget myself! I hurriedly put some on my arms, but missed my chest and face and now look very lobster-ish.
Waiting for the parade to start. Elizabeth was asleep. I put the blanket over her the entire time so don't worry, she wasn't in the sun.

We'd just arrived and she was looking cute!

Connor, his blanket, and his thumb. This is classic Connor. He really enjoyed the parade.

Joseph likes to pose. He was standing under the great big tree to get some shade. Notice the parade behind him?

After the parade we went to the fair part. Here the boys are meeting Sparky the fire dog. That dude must have been so hot!

Checking out the inside of the truck!

I froze some Roaring Waters Capri Suns the night before, so by the time we got really hot...they were melted to perfection. Spencer ws enjoying our little break in the shade.

Then...last night, the boys were getting ready to go to bed. They stopped to tell Elizabeth good night and ended up playing with her for a while. This made us very happy to see how much they love their little sister!

Dear Mr. Thrift Store Man...

Dear Mr. Thrift Store Inventor Man,

I wanted to write you a note and tell you how much I am in love with you and all that you have done for me and my family. We have gained so much from your invention. I love my new chair...my kids love their new books and toys...Travis loves his new ties. I just wanted you to know that there is a special place in heaven for you...right next to Mr. Inventor of the Epidural.

Thanks again,


A grateful Thrift Store shopper.

(and no...this doesn't count for the Mrs. Yard Sale Inventor woman~yes..she's a woman cause she's just trying to get rid of all the junk in her house right away. Thrift stores are air conditioned and have carts!)

Just had to say it. (o:

Oh, and here are a couple of pictures just because she's too stinkin cute for words.

This is what she looked like for church Sunday.
This is at G & G Nelson's house. I was showing them the hat she wears when I take her on my morning walks. Too cute!

Her first taste of rice cereal. She really liked it and couldn't get enough.

This video is for Mom. (that deep Hi Grandma Teese at the end was Connor Being silly) Love ya!

Fun Stuff!

First of all...Joseph and Spencer are totally into these books...
Joseph isn't the kind of kid that enjoys sitting down and reading a book. BUT, he really enjoys these. We've been snatching them up at the thrift stores. I think we have 12 now. There are 42 in the series so far. We are getting the compnion study guides and are using them as history lessons. We also printed out and put together passports from the website http://magictreehouse.com. They answer questions about the books they've read and then get the stamp for that book. They love it!

Anyway, yesterday we went to the D.I. (it's a thrift store). We had a blast and made out like bandits! Check out what we got!
They were practicing their balancing so I snapped this cause it was just too cute of them all lined up.

Here they are with their loot. We were waiting for Travis to bring the van over to pick us all up. Connor got a vehicle, Joseph got a McDonalds, and Spencer got an ATM machine. They were very happy and it cost us I think $9 for all that.

Lizbet got a Baby Genius book. She loves it!

This was my prize. I got this sweet chair! It swivels. I don't know why, but it reminds me of Grandma Rose. I just love it. It's in mint condition and I got it for practically nothing! SWEET!

Baby girl got a Little People castle. If you look closely, you can see she has a little people person in her right hand. She was up on her elbows playing until I snapped the photo.

That's it for the thrift store pictures, but here are a couple of misc. ones. Spencer has been really interested in weather maps, so we bought him a USA Today and he carried the weather page around the whole day, studying it. I taught him how to read it and what the legends meant and all that good stuff. We bought him another one the next day and he compared them. It was very exciting for his dad who loves loves loves weather.

Of course, no blog entry is complete without cute pictures of Elizabeth. She can sit up on her own now for about 10 seconds or so before falling over. Not bad for a 5 month old. Can you tell it's been a tad cooler lately? Gave me a chance to hurry and put on a couple of long sleeve outfits she has.

I LOVE the lilac and brown!!!!!