A Catastrophe of Epic Proportions

So, on top of many, many other things this terrible morning, I had a catastrophe of epic proportions.
I try, whenever my patience will allow, to include Olivia in my 'chores' and teach her how to do things for herself. Her favorite things are setting the table, sometimes clearing the table, mopping/vacuuming, putting things away, laundry, dusting...blah blah blah the simple things.
So this weekend we were picking up and sorting all of the laundry around the house. I asked her to gather all of the pink things (considering 95% of the child's wardrobe is pink, it's easy). So she got everything loaded into the basket and placed in the hall outside of the laundry room. Great:) What a help, right?
Well, not so much. So I did a dark load, then loaded the pink load. Yes, it sat there in the washing machine waiting to go into the dryer all night. This morning I went to switch out the loads and opened the washer to see the grossest thing I might have seen as a parent (well, maybe this week anyway).
There were little clear gel pellets all over EVERYTHING in the washer. What the heck is that?...yeah, that's what I was thinking. Odd and Gross. So I fished around and pulled out a few things, and then I found it....
A PULL UP HAD GONE THROUGH THE WASHING MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! It must have been wrapped up in a pair of her PJ's and she didn't see it. I sure didn't see it. And it was nasty.
If you've had kids in the last ten years or so, you know the gel pellets I'm talking about. When I diaper gets super-soaker full it dissinegrates into these little tiny pellet-like things.
Well, never had I washed one in the washing machine. It's the biggest mess I've ever seen. It's all over everything. Inside and Out. I had to wash the clothes again, dry them and then wash them again. Nasty!

The FOUR letter word of toddlerhood

"Mine"..."MINE"...."MINE!!!!!!!!"
It's an evil word, and I hate it with a passion. A terrible passion. I remember when Olivia learned it for the first time. Sorry Angie, but it was with Delaney and Maddy. And I was full of resentment, but at that time I just couldn't understand. Well, now I do. Olivia has passed the torch to her baby brother. Very early! I don't think Olivia learned it this early, she was closer to two years old. Deagan is 16 months, just 16 months. And now he knows that terrible four letter word and uses it in the right context. Terrible. Just terrible. I can't blame it all on Olivia...Poppie helped facilitate it as well...helping Deagan learn to stick up for himself. But it's not as cute as one might think. The little guy will grab something (of his) with avengence(sp?), pull his arm back as to guard it, bend those eyebrows down viciously and say, "MY!" That's right, he doesn't quite say MINE, he says MY. It's adorable. It's terrible. It's a fact of life, and all you new mothers out there....just wait, it's coming.

Sweet Boy

Cutie Pies

Little Pink Snow Princess

22 Swans at one time!

Yesterday, we were driving home from our gymboree class and saw an amazing sight on our lake. The ice had just started forming and still did not span the entire lake, just patches. There were 22 swans alltogether, at one time, on our lake! It was amazing!!! I ran home, grabbed the camera and ran out to take pictures. (I wish I had a better lens, I couldn't get any closer). I thought they always traveled in two's, or four's, but NEVER that many at one time! And by this morning, the lake was frozen and they were all gone:( What a moment!

I love how they can be less than a foot from each other, and one is standing on very thin ice while another is in the water!

January Swans

Ice Storm Pictures

Birds Nest
Fence
Ann Arbor
Huron River
Ice

Just a few words

Snow Storms = FUN
Ice Storms= NOT SO FUN:(

Grey's Anatomy won:)

Kids are sick. School is long, but worth it. I miss Lindsey, she's too far away. I miss Jeff, and can't wait for him to be done with the military.

Wedding Planning is stressful:(

While the parents are away....the children will play!

While Jeff and I took a little vacation to Vermont over New Year's, my parents kept the kids and took a little vacation of their own. They took them to Frankenmuth and stayed at a hotel that is a virtual wonderland for kids! They got to go swimming, play games, climb on things, go shopping and go out to eat. All that fun= happy campters and happy mom and dad on vacation;)
Here are some of the pictures that my mom took while they were there.

With MiMaw in Frankemuth on their little new years get away 

Apres pool 

I guess Deagan's favorite part of the pool was shooting everyone else with this big water gun...gee I wonder who gave him that idea POPPIE!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!! 

Got H2O? 

In Frankenmuth 

Aren't they cute in their "Camp Grandma" shirts!!!! My parents took them to the indoor playgroud one day while Jeff and I were in Vermont. 

That's little miss scaredy cat olivia going to the top of the indoor play structure! 

Deagan and his sesame street tool belt 

Olivia and her ice skating lesson gift certificate from GiGi:) 

Sniff.....sniff

Jeff went home today:(
It was a fantastic three weeks, but now it's over! We were talking tonight on his way home from the airport about just how much we did in that three weeks. We talked about all of the things we wanted to do, but never did because we were just gone all the time. We love seeing everyone and taking our own vacation (for the first time since kids!), but I think most of all this time made us miss our own time. We miss having our own house- vedging in jammies from sunrise to sunset, drinking just coffee for breakfast and lunch, cooking (well jeff cooks and I bake), decorating for the holidays, entertaining people- all of the things we did in our own house. My parents have been more than generous to us, but nothing is the same as being home in your own home!
So now our family is apart again. Jeff has two months- that's right TWO months (not even) left in the military. And trust me, they're going to take what they can from him during that two months! They've already told him to expect to leave next week for a training trip in Kentucky. He has to help train the next wave of guys leaving to go over next month. So much for job hunting...
As for me, I start school again on Tuesday. This semester I'm actually going FULL TIME. Well, technically full time. Thirteen credits. Not like the "full time" at State where I would do seventeen or more, but then I was crazy and didn't have two kids! HA! This time I'm taking my first Studio class, a B&W digital class, and digital II. I cannot wait:)
We are not sure when we'll see Jeff next, maybe end of january, maybe february, we have to figure that out.
Let's just hope the time goes fast.

Our self portrait