My Monkey

Lilie is such a funny child.

She is my picker.

Anytime I set Violet down within Lilie's reach, she magnetically rushes to her side and starts picking through her fingers and toes for those ever-present baby fuzzies.

I'm often shooing her out of my way as I'm trying to navigate around the house - cleaning up, while holding Violet - because I remained still long enough for Lilie to start checking through Vi's toes.

If Violet's in her swing, Lilie MUST give her a good once over. She's a very meticulous groomer.

What a funny little monkey she is. Thankfully Violet doesn't seem to mind. Yet. 

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Speaking of monkey. Lilie has always been my daredevil. Since she was just the tiniest baby (literally. she was crawling at five months and walking at eight AND she was SO little) she has been on the go. She constantly had bruises on her little forehead from falling down or off of things she had climbed up on. It was stressful to me and a testament to the resilience of children and the human body. :) She has definitely been my climber and really has pretty good balance. - Notwithstanding the bruises and the split chin (from balancing on the side of the tub). 

I thought when it came time for her to ride a bike, she would just take off. With no hesitation and with minimal accidents. It's her style. However, last Fall when I tried to convince her to ride a two-wheeler, she was insistent that she needed to be FIVE before she could ride it. Fine. I let it lie. 

This Spring I thought she would be ready to go. I encouraged and bribed and coaxed for weeks to no avail. Even though she was five. :) She would not do it. Even though she already could. Last fall she had been able to do it. She'd ridden by herself for about 20 feet and then decided that she couldn't do it and refused to continue. She did the same thing this March. She did it and then decided that she couldn't. So she wouldn't.

You may ask why I really cared. Well, I've really been wanting to go for a bike ride as a family, but a bike with training wheels just doesn't go as fast and just is NOT as safe as riding a two-wheeler. Plus, she loves riding bikes with the other kids in our neighborhood and I knew that she would have more fun. Plus, I'm anal and pushy. It was really a battle of wills. So there.

Anyway. She refused. And I lost every time.

You see, she's also a thinker. And she HATES to get hurt. Not like a normal child, but is petrified of blood. Hers or anyone else's. "Is it a bleed??!!!" is a common question around our house. She realized that she could get hurt --- even bloodied! --- when riding a two-wheeler. She over thought it to death.

So one day, we got home from an outing, I rushed her out to her bike, sat her on it, without any hype and without giving her time to think about it, and she finally decided that she could ---- even though she already could. Off she went and spent a great deal of the afternoon practicing and practicing. Stopping, starting, turning.

She's awesome. And oh! so cute.

A Little Randomness

I love the engrossed look on each of the girls' faces - well, except Violet's. 

She didn't much care for it.

Must have been a good book, huh? :)

Such busy weeks we've had around here. Every summer seems to feel that way and blogging drops off severely. And every summer, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking of all the things that I want to have recorded. It gets put off and either doesn't happen at all or is so vague that it's really not any fun anymore. I hope that doesn't happen this summer. Not because it breaks my little heart when my posts are so few and far between that I don't get any comments :) or because I feel bad for that no one knows what's going on in our lives, but because I genuinely love my blog. I LOVE going through old posts and seeing the antics, the accomplishments, and the random little moments that we've had and captured. 

My memory is sporadic and can remember all the words to a thousand different songs or information from an eighth grade geology lesson, but important events and memories? Nah. I think it's some lingering brain damage from childhood or something. If I don't write it down, it's gone. I also want my children to be able to remember it too. To know a little about what they were like as children and what I was like. Why would I want them to remember such things??? Well, I guess so that when they act like retards while raising their own children, they'll know where they get it from. :) 

I also want them to remember that while I sometimes screamed and yelled and generally lost it, I really, really, really love them. They bring me so much joy.

Chickmas 2010

Each year Nels's family gets together for their annual reunion. Each sibling + the parents are taking turns being in charge. This year was our year. We were geared up and ready to go . . . . then Kendall called us and said that she was just dying to do it this year --- so we graciously consented. :) (Next year was her turn and she was worried about her husband being deployed and therefore needing to do it all herself.) Nels's oldest nephew graduated from high school this year. (So crazy! I could swear that he was still 10.) So we'd been planning on heading up to Colfax, WA for the big event. Apparently the rest of the siblings had been planning the same, so to save on cost (and also to free up another of our precious summer weekends) Kendall decided that we should just combine the events.

We decided to make a vacation of the trip and packed our van to the brim, heading out bright and early Thursday morning. Our sweet little children are the best travelers ever and we made the seven or so hours to Coeur d'Alene in high spirits. No DVDs, they didn't even listen to their iPods. Give those sweet girls some coloring books, crayons, notebooks, and stencils and they had themselves a grand old time! Violet even decided to sleep most of the time. Blessed child. As did Nels. - Okay, only half of the time. :) It was a beautiful sunny morning, interspersed with just enough sprinkles to give us some spectacular rainbows through the mountains and valleys of Montana.

After hauling four little ragamuffins and a duffle bag into the C. d'A. visitor's information center and reemerging as real people we had some fun. We got there with enough time to walk the boardwalk,

enjoy the frigid water at the beach,

and play at the castle park - which Elsie insisted was her new princess home.  (Why on earth do we not have any cool park like this in Idaho Falls???) 

The girls were ecstatic to eat at Denny's that night, so we tracked one down before checking into our hotel for the night. 

The girls had been looking forward to swimming in the hotel pool all day, so as soon as we got there, off we went. Lilie took the first plunge . . . plunging straight into the middle of the hot tub . . . which is about the same depth as she is tall. All I could see was her little head bobbing up and down as she jumped off the bottom to get breaths! Darn child. Scared the begeezes out of me as I rushed to get her to the side. And poor Elsie. Wanted so badly to swim, but when you're only about 27 pounds, extreme temperatures are hard on a little body. The big pool was too cold for her to want to stay in and the hot tub was too hot for me to let her stay in for more than a few minutes at a time. Her little body would get all flushed and sweaty . . . . I finally convinced her to come back to the room and swim with Violet in the big bath tub while Nels and the big girls stayed at the pool.

What could be more exciting than staying in a hotel? You get to swim for as long as you want, watch tv in bed, and eat as much as you want, of anything you want, at the hotel buffet in the morning. They even had a cool machine - that looked like a copier - that would make fresh pancakes for you! :) I didn't have to make any beds or wash any of the tramillion towels we used. We all had a wonderful time. :)

After checking out, we headed down to Tracy's in Colfax. Tracy (Nels's oldest sister) and Tom have an amazing old farmhouse, set in the middle of beautiful rolling wheat fields - that are all green and gorgeous this time of year, several acres of lovely mowed lawn, a little stream running through the property, and a great big old, red barn decked out with a game room on the ground level and a basketball court above. Needless to say, the children were in heaven! Happy, filthy heaven - with lots of filthy cousins. :)

Tracy was gracious enough to house us all within the walls of her home - which is not only a testament to the awesome space she has, but of also her sweet hospitality. Thank you, Tracy! It was so nice to have a bed for the weekend. I'm sure getting all the sheets and towels washed and your house put back together was quite the chore. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Aside from the graduation (which made me all nostalgic-like) the weekend was spent with bonfires around the fire pit, Cribbage, Settlers, and horseshoe games, and lots and lots of good food and better company. All three of Nels' grandparents were able to make it - I always love spending time with them - as well as all of his siblings and their children, minus Katie (as she just had a new baby a couple weeks before and wasn't feeling well enough to make it).

Somehow or another, we didn't seem to wind up with any pictures of the entire weekend. I don't know how that happened, considering the fact that Nels was toting around his camera the whole time . . . . oh yeah, it's because he's a videographer not a photo-grapher. :) Oh well, I'm sure that he's got some great interviews. :) 

- Plus, Kendall, Melyni, and Tracy caught a few, which I'm happy to steal. :)

Good ol' Keaton. What a great sport he is . . . LOL!

The kids had egg hunts, tug-o-wars, and sack races. Have you watched children attempt three-legged races? You should. It's good fun.

We headed out Monday morning, stopping in Coeur d'Alene to again play at the castle before our long, long drive home (why is the drive home always longer than the one there??). Elsie and Violet, in particular, had a rough time. Vi didn't think being strapped in to her seat, during the part of the day when she's typically very awake, was much fun and Elsie was just D-O-N-E. 

About an hour from home, amid the "how-much-longers" and "I'm-hungries" we were graced with a few more beautiful rainbows, followed by an amazing thunderstorm.

It was such a great little vacation - with lots and lots of fun family time. I love Nels's family so much. I'm so thankful to have them in my life. Thank you - all of you - for being so incredible!

My Dad

I love my dad so much.

I'm so thankful to have been blessed with the father I have. He is truly one of my very best friends.

I can remember sitting on the driveway or in the garage with him as he worked on the car or welded. I loved riding with him in his old brown Chevy. The seat was bouncy. It was awesome. I remember riding with him to Phoenix and playing "I Spy".

He seems to always have an answer for any question I ask. It's amazing. As if he's already thought of all the questions I could ever think of . . . :)

To this day, I love the smell of welding. I don't know how to describe that metallic smell, but it will forever remind me of my dad.

My dad knows how to work. Hard. Such a good example to me.

He also knows how to have fun. Such a good example to me. :)

As I was watching through some home videos recently, I realized that, as a child - and a teenager, I most often called him Daddy or Daddy-O. As an adult, I unconsciously still do it. I'd never noticed before.

One of the defining phrases in my relationship with my dad is, "You can do it."
A FEW examples:

     - Making wooden "treasure" boxes and other awesome things with my brother (out of his probably-useful lumber and with his nice tools)

     - Driving a stick (he tricked me into it)

     - Changing the oil with only verbal instructions over the phone (in which I almost became a felon, but the oil got changed perfectly, thank you very much)

     - Changing brake pads and rotors

     - Cutting and laying tile (seriously, how many dads lend their tile saw to their daughter???)

     - Driving home through mountain passes covered in snow

     - Snowmobiling in deep snow (and never getting mad when I get it stuck :) and 4-wheeling up steep hills

     - Teaching me how to shoot a gun, throw a baseball, use a knife (although numerous scars may prove me a poor student :)

Such a wonderful teacher. I genuinely believe that in my dad's eyes, there is nothing I can't do. And because of his faith in me, I believe him.

My dad loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My dad lives the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In simple, unassuming, everyday living, he has shown me what it means to follow the Savior. He is so willing to serve and to give. It seems to come so natural to him.

So many things that I love about my dad, I'd never be able to share them all. So much that I've learned from conversations he's shared with me and also just by watching him throughout my life. I could never have asked for a more wonderful father.

One of the most amazing things to me, is that through my relationship with my dad - I've learned more about my Heavenly Father and the relationship that I have with Him as well.

Thank you, Dad. Thank you for your example. Thank you for your sacrifices for me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my friend. I love you more than words can say.

I Ain't Gonna Paint No MORE!

Grandma Chick bought this book for my girls last year. It is SO cute! and I laugh every time we read/sing it. The whole book is to the tune of "It ain't gonna rain, no more, no more . . . "
It's cute. And it fits my kids . . .

Sidewalk chalk + gutter water makes amazing paint.

Over and out.

Princess Marie Chick . . .

. . . or so she calls herself.

She used to be Baby, but that role got confiscated three months ago. I was worried that the Baby would have a hard time giving up her spot. Much to my delight, she didn't! She absolutely adores her new roommate and sister. She loves being one of the Big Sisters.

In being hustled out of her previous spot, she quickly found a new one that fits her just as well. One that, even with four daughters, has amazingly never been claimed before.
A wonderful title that has no age or birth order prerequisites. 

~Princess~

Like any true princess, she is insistent that she wear her royal dress and shoes 90% of all waking hours. At nighttime, her dress is deftly confiscated retired to her mother's bedroom, awaiting Sleeping Beauty's rising. Alas, when her beautiful dress remains in her own bedroom, it is so irresistible that she can't help but undress from her nightclothes and adorn herself in it again. At which point she begins knocking on the door and royally declaring, 

"The Princess, is done now. The Princess, is done."

Hence the need to remove it from her presence.

Like the Princess she is, she is also expert at getting her way. Especially with her daddy --- I mean Prince. She loves her Prince. (When he's not around, Lilie makes a good substitute.) When the Mother informs the Princess that she needs to do something, she sweetly responds,

"I won't."

M: "Elsie, you need to put the marbles away now."

Elsie, batting her eyes and smiling: "I won't."

When the Prince takes the Princess to the store with him, he decides that they need a treat. Walking down the candy aisle, she points to the dinner mints saying: "Dose is hot for my troat." As they keep walking, they pass some chocolates. "Dose is yummy for my troat." They come home with the chocolates.

My Princess is fun.

She has invented her own dance.

It goes a little something like this.

"Dancey,"

"Dancey,"

"Dance!"

My little Elsie is such a fun girl. She brings so much joy to her family with her SPICE. We all love our little sassy Princess.

This picture is titled,

"Elsie Marie Chick, will you please go NOW!"

{Is my reference lost on you? Then you should read more Dr. Seuss.}

Hail the GRADUATE!

My sweet Hazel finished Kindergarten last month. What a fast year.

First off, I think Kindergarten graduation is a little silly --- considering that in the state of Idaho they still don't even require kindergarten. Besides, what are we celebrating? Twelve more years of the public school system???

Nah. They're celebrating the fact that our daughter is adorable. :)

She was so funny to watch throughout their little program. She just really has the hardest time sitting still and paying attention during these types of things. :) 

Totally cracks me up!

What? What's that you say? Who's the mom who forgot to dress her daughter in anything but pants and a t-shirt??? 

Oh. That would be this lady . . . 

See? She's got her hands full . . . give 'er a break, eh?

{And before you ask, Yes. I did change my hair. Several months ago. It just looks a lot better different and lighter when I've actually showered groomed done my hair. It also looks vastly better different when I can stop myself from my compulsive ear-tucking.}

What?! They have cookies here, too?!

Makes dragging three extra kids and making Nels late for work all worth it. :)

Well, that and Hazel's life would never be complete 

without getting to tell Mrs. Rigby goodbye.

Hazel absolutely LOVED her teacher this year. Mrs. Rigby was so kind and loving and you can tell that she truly enjoys teaching these sweet little people. Whenever I ran into her or helped her in the classroom, she'd always say what a good student Hazel was. How she wished all her students were just like her. When I'd talk to Mrs. Rigby about how Hazel was doing, she was always doing awesome. She would say, "Her only problem is that she's . . . " I would then fill in - with a smile on my face, "Distractable?" She'd always correct me, "Friendly." :)

Hazel loved the kids in her class and got along so well with everyone. She loved everything about school -- except getting up in the morning. What can I say, she's like her parents. She doesn't like to be rushed in the morning. :) Thank goodness in kindergarten it doesn't really matter how many tardies they have! :) LOL!

Playing Catch-Up . . . again.

Wow. Time goes by so quickly in the summer. I feel like there is something always going on ---- and when there's not, we're making dinner and cleaning up the endless messes of summer (dirty, muddy floors, stinking children, and the ever-present current project {or ten}).

I really don't know what's wrong with me, but sometimes my mind just goes into hyperdrive. All I can think about is the next project I want to tackle. Maybe that's why I go through times where I don't do any. Once I start, I can't stop. Seems to be a bit of a theme in my life. Do nothing or go overboard. I should make it a t-shirt. I'm planning on posting pictures of my basement, but I can't do that until I finish painting the doors and the trim. And maybe until I finish cleaning up Nels's workspace (that he doesn't want me to clean up. -- Where else would he put the 5 boxes and random papers that he's slowly built into a precarious pile of crap behind his monitor??? *What?*) However, I can't start cleaning up his desk until I also clean out our file cabinet. And why clean out the file cabinet until I can put all the stuff in to the "new" file cabinet that I picked up --- that also needs repainted --- and that I'm going to do this cool design on the front of --- that Nels thinks is girly. -- Should I do the girly design that I love??? Should I do something else? Should I keep over thinking this and putting it off while I DON'T make a decision and the file cabinet sits outside in the rain getting rusty and re-dirty??? Yep. That seems like a fantastic course of action. --- As it is apparently the course I've chosen.

Maybe I can't make a decision because my brain is plugged up. I think blogging is my outlet. I need to blog. I'm going to take some time and play catch-up. It's like verbal fiber for my mental constipation. (Did I just write that?? I hate potty humor.)

Wednesday Writing Fix

Sometimes I just feel like writing, you know?

I'm so excited about leaving on vacation tomorrow morning! I love going on vacation with my little family. I don't know how it happens, but we always end up going somewhere fairly chilly (one of these days, we're GOING to take a vacation to somewhere warm!), but I'm still excited even if it rains the whole time. Nels' oldest nephew is graduating from high school Friday and we're driving up to Colfax, Wa to attend, with the rest of his family. It will be a fun weekend filled with a lot of Chicks that I totally love! :) We're leaving in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow to drive up to Coeur d'Alene to spend some fun time together. Hopefully it won't be pouring and we can rent a paddle boat and play in the freezing lake water, but even if it is, I'm sure that we can find a fun bowling alley somewhere and play in the hotel swimming pool.

Although driving is always an adventure with children (last year heading to Washington, I think all three kids puked and peed their pants -- fun, huh?), I still really love going on road trips with my kids. They've had enough experience driving that they're all real troopers and I love the undivided time that I get to spend with Nels. It's gonna be great!

I spend Memorial Day weekend painting! Hooray!!! My basement has been waiting for three years to get a coat of paint to cover up the primer-coated panel walls. It isn't quite the color I was envisioning, but I really like it anyway. I'll be sure to post some pictures as soon as I get the trim and doors painted next week. I love the smell of paint. Is that weird?

I also love brown rice. Just so you know. I thought I didn't. I thought it tasted and had the texture of cardboard. Turns out, you just have to cook it right. I love brown rice.

On Monday:
Nels: "Lilie, did you hit Elsie with a stick?"
Lilie: "Well, I didn't want her to get hurt on the trampoline while we were bouncing high."
Nels: " . . . Lilie, come with me. I think I need to explain something to you . . . "

I think my children are beautiful and I think Nels looks hot with a goatee.