Can you guess what the balloons mean????

YUP! ITS A BOY!!!!!!

They look sweet, don't they.

So Tuesday, my two youngest were stolen by aliens and replaced with two look-a-likes with an evil design. This is the only explanation I can come up with to explain the events of that day. Now don't get me wrong, anyone who spends even a little time with them will find that the are (to put it nicely) independent, spirited women. Tuesday, they were strangers to me.

The day started out normally. They did their chores nicely and began to play while we got ready to begin school. They were, however, a little rowdy as they always are when the barometer swings. And then it got worse. They became wild creatures that could not and would not be tamed. After an hour of them running insanely through the livingroom, while the older two were trying to study, I banished them to their room. The frustration and irritation was beginning to build.

All seemed calm. Maybe that should have been my warning of what was to come. Riley came to me and said 'Mom they are making a mess in their room with their lotion!' This statement sent me over the edge. I can barely keep up with the day to day task without big messes to clean up. I went in to find pink, glittery lotion smeared on the ceiling above their bunk bed, on the comforter and all over the bed. Claire had pink stained hands. {Of course, it was a kind that stains!} I was so angry, I just started crying and yelling {the kind when you expect the cops to show at your door any moment}. I cleaned it up the best I could and sent them and myself to a time out. I had to lie down because I was so mad that I was having some contractions.

While we were in our time outs- supposedly- they continued on in the reign of terror. (With no help from their big sisters of course) they they played some kind of war game that hairspray was the weapon of choice. I was locked in my room telling on them to dad. When I found out about it Riley had broken into my room followed by a cloud of hairspray. I went out to find the house cloudy and unbearable to breathe in. ( I didn't find out till that night that they also during this battle squirted hair gel all over the unfinished part of our basement floor and three coolers as well as a bag of fish rocks!)

Now they were in for it! I kept my cool as best I could because my sanity level was already in the red. I sent them to timeout again and no lunch. After much screaming, fit throwing, and 'You're the meanest Mom" s I sent them to their room. the big girls went to their room and I had a hour of quiet time. During my quiet time, my little darling devils flooded their bedroom floor with water. It is still damp.

I have no idea what to do at this point but to continue to fight with them to stay in their room while they try sneak out and steal gum out of my purse or pester their sisters or just try to sneak around. At that point Garin had me take all of their stuff away. All they had left was a mattress. They did not like this at all. Olivia was so worried that everyone was going to laugh at her because she had to be naked. That night they cleaned and cleaned so they could have pj's, a blanket and a pillow.

The next morning they returned to me and an empty room which they have been slowly earning back. I hope the aliens got all they needed, I don't think I could survive another day with the replacements they would give me!

Olivia decided that purple marker makes a great shade of lipstick. Thank goodness for washables!

Gift idea...

This is a tile cutting board/ trivet. This is a project I like to make for wedding gifts. It is quick to put together, looks nice and very useful. I love the one I made for myself.

What you need is:
1 - 12 inch granite or marble tile
4 -oak buttons
hot glue or liquid nails

Glue each oak button to the four corners of the unfinished side of the tile.

When the glue is dried, flip it over and add any other items you'd like. It doesn't wrap well so I prefer to just decorate it with a bow.

This weekend Gretchen and I threw a baby shower for our friend Ashley. We had lots of fun preparing it, hanging out with friends and eating yummy food. My favorite part was making a diaper cake. I had always thought they were so cute as a gift. I didn't realize how easy they are to make and the possiblities are endless when you decorate them.

How to make a diaper cake.

Ps - Ashley, I'll get the pictures for you on CD.

A Friendly Challenge

The first five people to respond to this post will get something from me!
My choice.
For you.
Handmade.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be (nor do I at this point).

The catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they want to receive a homemade gift from me will indeed receive one. Be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!!!