Sugar Pine Place

Second story walls and the view down the valley
Placing the second story floor.
Insulating the foundation.
Initial stages. Hmmmm, can anyone say snow
Sunset view from the basement floor.

True definition of being a parent- highs and lows

Oh my gosh-- if I couldn't have gotten any more 'real life' today then I don't know what is. After working out and Gracyn throwing a tantrum at the Y (low) we went to our new house and I stood where the 2nd floor would be and I saw the amazing view I would have and I got the biggest smile on my face!! (high)

Gracyn throwing a temper tantrum at the post office mailing packages to Mark's family (low) (ya, people were seriously giving me the evil eye and I was like, "Hey! this is my good one!!!!) Then the girls wake up from their nap and I am prepared and ready to fight the weather and while I am excitedly talking to my brother-in-law who almost had a baby today (high) Raleigh sprays an entire bottle of baby powder in her room (low). Then while I'm trying to clean it up they destroy the rest of the house and spread my folded laundry throughout (low-pictures to follow).

Then the Christmas pageant that my adorable Raleigh participated in for her preschool--(high) and our celebration at a restaurant afterward (high).She's just tap dancing after the show was over. I mean, who wouldn't with a hardwood floor and some heels???

You who are parents can appreciate. And here's a picture of Raleigh ordering her celebration dessert....
That is so me right there. If only my parent's had a picture to compare....

Finally, Christmas

I finally found my partner in crime for my favorite holiday....

The finished product. Raleigh stuck with me the entire way.... And we sit everyday and talk about how beautiful the tree is.

Then we went sledding. On our property, in Lolo....




Keep in mind-- this is 12 o'clock in the afternoon. This is how overcast it has been for weeks!

SugarPine Drive

Ok, ok, here's pictures of the house. where the tractors and suburban are parked-- that's where the house will be. We poured footings today. Mark is stressed about the weather cooperating. Raleigh ran the excavators and scooped dirt last Monday. She thought she was pretty awesome.


A little bit of dirt that was left. We had to remove a lot of dirt-- not very 'green' if you ask Mark. This is the turn about for the driveway and additional parking.


Driving down our driveway.
Ooops, how did that one get in there???? Just checking to see if anyone actually reads this.

Snow!

Ok, quick story about our first snow and then I will share pictures of our house that you all have been begging to see.

Last night we went for a walk and when we set out at 8:30 it was dark, cold and drizzly-- but not snowing!! When we got about a mile out this beautiful snow storm came with BIG fluffy flakes so Raleigh and I were talking about it and what it may look like outside the next day.

This morning when she woke up I said, "Raaaaleeigh, loooook outside!" She said, "WOW, snow! Look Dad, Look!" Then she said, "I don't have school today." To which Mark and I chuckled because it takes a lot more that a sprinkling of snow to cancel school -- fortunately. Then she said, "Dad, will you hold my bee's (pacifiers) so they don't get lost in the snow!" Here is a picture of her running through her first snow, that she can remember, at 7 a.m. this morning

Last day of fall

This was our last day of fall. Raleigh and her two bestest friends Rosie and Audrey got together to play in the leaves... It was still 40 degrees out but they didn't seem to mind. It has now turned COLDer and WET. If anyone has fun indoor activities to do with toddlers please, please, please give me ideas! Especially because mine have not napped in the last two days. Ideas for play please!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween was fun this year. I made Gracy a tutu to wear to church, we took naps, then set off to show off our costumes. Raleigh was a "Princess Pirate" and Gracyn was supposed to be her parrot. But I wasn't sure if Raleigh would keep her costume on or not so I dressed up like a pirate too just in case. We went to our friends' Amanda and Rodney who LOVE Halloween. Gracy didn't get into it for about an hour. Then I asked her if she wanted to try some after observing. She shook her head yes. The first couple of houses-- as soon as the owner opened the door Gracyn walked right into the house. Then she started to get the hang of it and would hold her bag out to fill. By the end she was saying, "Tankooooooo". Which was thank you for those of you who don't speak baby. Her tail was saggin' by the end of the night which was pretty stinkin' cute.

Raleigh of course ran all over the neighborhood yelling, "Let's go to another house, let's go to another house!"

Garnett Wedding

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Boys vs Girls

Raleigh is certainly getting the boys vs girls concept. Today on the way to swimming lessons I said, "How come you don't get in the hot tub with the other kids after the lesson?" She said, "Because I'm scared and there's monsters in there." I said, "Vincent goes in and he doesn't get hurt by any monsters." She said, "Ya, and Vincent's my boyfriend" (she calls him that everyday). Then she said, "And Vincent's brother goes in there too." I said, "I know and Draven's a big boy and he likes you very much and he would never let a monster get you in the hot tub." She said, "Ya, Draven will GET those monsters for me because he's a boy. I can't get the monster's though because I'm a girl."

I laughed.

She stayed in the hot tub for over a half an hour.

Hail the Conquering Hero!

For all the working moms

I got to work Thursday, sat down at my desk, closed my eyes and wondered-- "Why am I doing this? Am I just a glutton for punishment?" And when I say 'doing this' I am referring to being a working mother.

So, some background and then I will share what my heart told me.

Raliegh threw two of her BIGGEST and probably only (maybe I'm blocking one or two out but this is not a regular occurrence at our house) temper tantrums this week. Mark is away hunting. Normally when I tell her, "Ok, let's go to school. Or let's go to the Y" etc she is gun-ho. Here's a piece of a family email I wrote this week....

So, this morning Raleigh wanted a kid's tums (she likes the taste) and I told her no-- we don't take medicine everyday just to take it. She threw a fit on the floor and I told her she needed to go to her room to throw the fit. WEll, I had to carry her into her room and I heard her making a ruckus. I peeked in on her and she was punching her bed saying, "I'm not happy. I'm punching the bed!" Later she came out to me and was hitting her leg in exasperation saying "I want a little boy medicine and you won't give it to me." I said, "I'm not talking about the medicine until you apologize to me for being grumpy." She said, "I'm not grumpy I'm sad!!!" I kind of laughed inside because she had me-- I was thinking, 'well I can't tell her she's not allowed to be sad'. So I said her behavior was inappropriate even though she was sad and she said she was sorry. Then she said, "You need to say you're sorry to me because you won't give me medicine." I said, "I AM sorry I can't give you any medicine today. I"m soooo sorry it has made you so upset but that's no way to treat mommy, etc."

Then yesterday I won't even get into because it was a BRUTAL tantrum and I really think she was just tired. But, I had to get to a conference and get them over to the neighbors and of course was late. My mood was good however because Wednesday at bible study we read Acts 16. This is the passage where the apostles were redirected from their mission many times and eventually thrown in jail and beaten. All the while they had a great attitude. Well, I've heard this story since I was a little kid. But this time I was convicted as my life is not a FRACTION of how difficult it was for them and yet I cry in frustration (like Raleigh) saying, "I'm angry. I'm hitting the bed."

One year, shortly after Mark and I got married, Amy sent me these pajama pants that said, "It's all about me." I used to believe that WHOLEheartedly. At least those who loved me and surrounded me made me feel special and loved. This year, however, I have become a bit more tempered. I put the pants on and laugh. If I can think like the apostles, "This is not about us. This is about God's plan and his purpose for me." Then I can be a mom, do my job, be a wife, etc etc with less frustration.

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that Mark shot a beautiful bull and is on his way home with a truck full of meat and won't be needing to hunt for the rest of the season!! :)

Godparents

Last weekend we hung out with Mark's Godparents-- Knute and Annie Lee from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They were in Coeur d' Alene, close enough drive, and we wanted to spend some time with them. Although I never doubted all the HYPE Mark portrayed about these people I had never experienced it for myself as we were busy getting married the first interaction I had with them. Well, the hype is true. I had two VERY unruly/obnoxious children to interfere with the relational aspect but when I had the opportunity I just soaked it in. They are sooooo RELATIONAL! I was so happy to just listen to stories about their lives and about their knowledge/experience with "Mark Marvelous" (that's what they called him). Knute is EXACTLY how Mark will be when he gets a little older. He's just a brute of a man but oh-- such a softy! And what struck me the most is that he loved his wife and KNEW her-- strengths and weaknesses. I loved this family. Mom is strong and squared-away and Dad is.... Well, he's the perfect man because he is so much like my husband so why wouldn't I call him the perfect father/husband.

Ok, I can't rave about this family any longer as Gracyn is huffing a helium balloon so I need to go take it away from her.

We had a happy reunion with Daddy. Raleigh kicked and beat him until she was sweaty. I really think she needs to wrestle daily!!




When did someone decide 3 1/2 was old enough for school?? And who was that person?? I'd like to personally thank them.

Raleigh started school today. She fought and argued me into the car and I was pretty nervous that she would be resistant and the whole process would be more stress than it was worth. But when we got there, she sat down, and didn't even acknowledge my departure. Since I picked her up four hours ago she hasn't said more than 10 words. She's exhausted! It makes me wonder what she was like at school as I haven't seen her this worn out in a LONG time. Not since swim lessons last winter.

God bless pre school.

A Rose by Any Other Name Is A... Wildflower?

I hate the label "crazy". I've had that label all my life and it annoys me when people say someone is crazy. These last few days, however, I've been struggling to find another appropriate name for Raleigh.

Last night, 10 pm, I told her it was time to go to bed. She started jumping on the mini-trampoline in our living room and said, "Mom I want some juice." I said, "No juice Raleigh." She said, "How about some candy?" I said, "No Raleigh, no more sugar you've had enough today." She said, "How about a cookie?" And we carry on like this for a few minutes all the while she's boing, boing, boinging on the trampoline until she starts chanting, "I want sugar. I want sugar." Jump, jump, jump. I just started laughing at the insanity.

Tonight we got done from dinner and I said, "Raleigh please go in the bathroom and wash your hands." She starts whispering and bowing herself out of the kitchen saying, "yesss massser, yessss masser mommy (yes master mommy)." What made it even funnier was that she was wearing little mermaid underwear, plastic high-heel shoes and a t-shirt that said 'cuter than most'.

Ahhh, are three year olds supposed to be this funny? She is such a sassifrass. So much personality. I wonder where she gets it from. Her crazy mother????

Rolling into the fall

Sadness that summer is coming to a close! We did SO much this summer. Mark and I went to Whitefish last weekend and rafted The North Fork (river in Glacier). We saw 5 black bear along the river and one of the cubs was an albino -- she looked JUST like a polar bear.

Raleigh starts preschool Monday and Wednesdays next week. She's excited, we went to an open house last week.

The weather is settling in for fall and I'm not going to lie, I experienced some grief last weekend when I knew summer was coming to a close. Here are some fun pics of the girls.

I think we're going to start our house next weekend. I will post pictures of the progress as we make it. I'm pretty stinkin' excited to finally have one of Mark's houses!

Folly Beach, South Carolina

Ahhh, the beach. We spent 5 days with my parent s at Folly Beach before Tyler and Lica's wedding. The girls had a blast!!! I can't wait to do it again! We ate seafood, flew a kite, went to the aquarium, boogie-boarded, collected shells, and went for walks! More pics to come!