Never a good sign

We were on our way out to grab some lunch with a friend when the kids came back in to tell me Kaitlynn was standing in some warm water. I immediately thought she had pee'd her pants and was getting ready to change her clothes so we could get on our way. It wasn't pee, and it was HOT water.

Yep, that's the Fire & Water Cleanup and Restoration truck! Nope, no fire, just a busted water heater (I guess it's time, ours is about 12 years old if put in when the house was built). Time or not it wasn't convenient for us, but is any disaster? So, we are seriously thinking it is time to get one of those home warranty programs. We've already replaced the dishwasher, now the water heater. With our luck the next thing to go is the A/C, which would not be a pretty thing for me and the kids here in HOT Vegas! Does anyone know of a good company they could recommend?
It did some water damage (could only have been leaking for about 2-3 hours). But, we will have a new water heater that we can add to the great new amenities of our house when we sell. Plus, if I have it my way, a home warranty to sweeten the deal.

Basket Fun

I recently found out Elizabeth can put things into baskets, I was so excited to have another hand to help out around the house with all the toys that seem to find their way onto the floor.

Today I found her taking a few toys out of the basket to replace them with a bigger toy.

My children never cease to entertain me.

Out and about

This is from our outing to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum with the Clement girls. Joe and Brianna read enough books to receive a free pass each from the Aliante Library. Got to love the summer reading programs at the library(s)!! They ran out of the swimming passes, but hopefully they'll get more in soon.

Crafty, yes, sometimes.

A few years (about 4 to be exact) a friend told me about this sling she had bought. She showed me how it worked and gave it to me (it was too small for me, but I used it for a pattern). All of my girls have been slinglings (great website!). I have tried to spread the word and even given some to family members.

Recently another friend asked if she could borrow mine for a trip she was taking, she was going to be flying and now the airlines are charging extra to check on strollers. She came over to try it on. I decided to make her one. Long story shorter, we discussed how cool it would be with a pocket for carrying cell phones so she could really be hands free. Only we discussed it AFTER the sling was made. Life would have been easier if I had just put one in to begin with!!

But, it is done, pocket put in and all. Here are the pictures to prove how successful I was. Got to toot your own horn every now and again.

Cute baby M!

Almost There

Little Liz is working hard at standing on her own, she even is able to squat and sometimes get back to full standing position. We are having fun cheering her on at every turn (and fall) and everyone takes part in helping her in her quest to become a "big girl".

Happy Little Window Cleaners

I decided to put my two older girls to work cleaning windows to help ease the LOAD of housework. Brianna did a pretty good job, just lost steam. Kaitlynn, though, she is going to be a good worker-bee, and happy to boot. Elizabeth wanted to help...eat paper towels.

Not only am I breaking child labor laws, I think I could get in trouble for having 1/2 dressed window cleaners too.

To believe or not to believe

Last night when Joe went to bed I talked him into putting his tooth in the treasure bag and then keeping it under his pillow while he slept. He complied, the whole time saying,
"Mom, there is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy! I know it is really you."

This morning, bright and early (earlier than I wanted!), Joe came to my room and thanked me. When I asked him what for, he said "for his gold dollar." I asked what he was talking about. So he showed me his Sacagawea dollar. Along with the dollar he got a note and a shark tooth! He was pretty excited but still claimed it was me. Guess one can't fool a smarty pants.

"Why would the Tooth Fairy give me a shark's tooth?"

"Maybe she thought you'd feel better if you had a replacement tooth."

"Nah, I know it was you, what does the Tooth Fairy do with teeth?"

"I'm not sure, but what would I do with your teeth?"

"Put them in your mouth."

"Right, cuz I don't have enough teeth of my own."

After our little conversation on the existence of the Tooth Fairy he left and promptly came back saying his light had gone out in his room when he turned it on. I worked a little spin on it claiming that was proof it was the tooth fairy who came into his room and not his mom.

"What!!??"

"Yeah, the tooth fairy is so beautiful and bright the light knew he couldn't compete anymore and just went out."

"Hmmm."

Maybe some fairy dust would have helped him 'believe'. I've never wanted to trick my kids into believing in things that aren't real. But, this time I couldn't resist, mom's need a little fun too!

Joe's other tooth came out this morning at breakfast. I wonder if he'll put it under his bed.

Update

Yeah, so most of you may be wondering, did she get the iPhone or not? I did, and should have said something right away, but alas I was too busy playing with it. Not that I need anything else to distract me from things I should be doing...

We used the navigation application today (not that we really needed it, but to check it out) when we went to dinner. I have plenty of "keep your kids busy" applications now and have to wonder who's phone it is. Everyone loves it even Elizabeth, there is a bubble popping application that keeps her mesmerized. Kaitlynn will take it first thing in the morning or anytime it's on the charger, she likes to hide it from me. What can I say about Joseph, he has been asking for a phone for a long time, now he wants an iPhone. So, I put on an application that turns the phone into a light-saber (you can pick the color of the little light-saber on the screen, and it makes light-saber noises when you move it around). That with a few other applications keep him happy enough to just hold mine.

OH, and some more news...we have finally joined the "lost tooth" club. All my friend's kids are loosing their teeth left and right, I think we were the last in line.
Joe's two bottom front teeth have been wiggling for a while now, at least a month. He already has his adult teeth growing in toward his tongue since the baby teeth have been stubborn and not giving way, until today!!
Tonight at dinner he didn't eat all his pizza saying his teeth were hurting, we got home and he said it just popped out. We had been offering to pull them for him, to which he constantly refused. I'll be glad when we get rid of his four front teeth! And I really hope his adult teeth are more healthy than his baby teeth. I have a strong feeling we will be having to do something for crowded teeth though, the dentist has already mentioned it once or twice. His daddy had braces, Momma had braces (although for a different reason), sorry Joe, it looks like you'll get braces.

If he doesn't believe in the Tooth Fairy should he get any money??

Step'n Up

I can't believe I caught her climbing already. I actually watched her use the dinosaur as a step to climb up onto the music stand. Unbelievable! As you can see she was mightily pleased with her new found ability. Just wait till the falling down starts, that smile will turn into tears.

My own firecracker

The other day I went to my friend Stacey's house to take pictures of our kids for 4th of July pictures. I took a ton of Elizabeth because she was just so darn cute, trying to catch her with her hands clasped from clapping. Every picture only caught her with her arms open just before the clap. She is going through the stage where any amount of praise she'll start clapping, she is so pleased with herself and what she can do. I decided to video it. Enjoy. I especially love the way she folds and intertwines her legs in the sitting position. It is pretty graceful.