Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is SOOOO AWESOME! I wish it would fit me!!!

NEW HOUSE!!!

It's been THREE whole nights that we've slept in our own place!!! 

There is a calm...

         a peace....

    it's WONDERFUL!!!

How I wish we were closer...

                            closer to home. 

    But for now we will struggle...

 with the wind...

the snow...

           the unknown...

and a reality of a visit...

                                          a visit HOME!

my little fashionista!

My daughters got a SERIOUS problem....

   It's a REAL BAD problem...

 she loves clothes...

   AND now it's gone beyond that....

            she's got to MATCH...

it isn't just her shirt, pants, and shoes that have to match....

IT'S HER UNDIES TOO!!!!!

oh BUFFER!!!!!

It was a great, fun, and exciting day! The store is closed...until Friday. We will have our GRAND opening then. 10-6. SOOOOO...we are busily getting the store ready for this glorious event!!! Our floors are NASTY so we decided to get down on our hands and knees and bust out with the green scrubbies and fix the problem! 

After a MAJOR workout last night with my first belly dancing class I just couldn't hang today! I called around town looking for ANYTHING to help fix that floor so I didn't have to be on my hands and knees scrubbing away! HURRAY, Kodiak (everything in this town is KODIAK something, just incase we forget where we are since we aren't stranded here anyway!) rentals!! Those boys are lifesavers or just PLAIN dumb 'cause they totally rented a floor buffer to us WITHOUT a manual. But we MASTERED that thing!! It takes a bit to figure that buckin' horse out, but now I can so ROCK the rodeo!!!! Mel busted the heater cover and I almost blew us to the moon when I tried to knock over the helium tank! No worries, we are SAFE and the floors are WONDERFULLY beautiful (please take note next time you visit the store!)!!!

Our trip to town ended with only ONE trip to the Mall-mart and TWO pairs of wet pants (one being MINE!). Note to self...when Emily says "oops Aunt Rach, I had an accident" and she's out of her chair, don't just plop down in the drivers seat 'cause you'll totally have potty pants ALL over you! Mel thought it was F-U-N-N-Y until I pointed out that her cookies were ruined also! THANKS EM!!! 

GREAT DAY!

darlin' child-rannies!

A glimpse at perfection...

thanks Amy~

Happy happy birthday!

Happy birthday my precious angel...

happy birthday!!!

A day in the life of a preschooler!

Conny had a GREAT fun day at school. The FIRST thing she told me when we got back in the car was that she doesn't like boys...or Carston (oops!). We will have to work on being friends, since he's in nursery with her too!!! She learned lots of songs...FIVE. She even learned about JESUS, just ask her! *giggles* She's such a silly girl! Thursday they are going to learn their names. Don't worry she has her's down pat...CONTANTS WEEZE GRIPIN. I just hope she's being Constance Louise Griffin, 'cause sometimes it's PARKERS turn to be Parker Weeze Gripin and she gets to be Constance James Gripin!

The mom of a school-aged daughter...

WOW! My little girl is in school...preschool that is! I am excited and horrified. She isn't even THREE yet...What was I thinking!? I guess that I needed a break...or that she might meet some new friends (I guess nursery isn't enough for us!?)...or that I needed to spend money on her EVERY month? I don't know. But I will be thankful for this chance and  hope she remembers how to be kind.... 

"Mommy WOW, I'm a big girl now!!!"

We are now OPEN!!!!!!!

The store is open...it's still a little unorganized, but the doors are open for all to see. We have more things to order...we will be COMPLETELY ready when we have our GRAND OPENING in a few weeks!!!

It's an exciting adventure. Even with a HUGE lack of sleep (thanks Parker and Conny)! I have faith...a knowledge that this is where we need to be, we can learn and grow living in Kodiak. We'll have fun and enjoy our stay!

TON OF FUN parties and more...

1614 Mill Bay Avenue

Tuesday - Saturday

10:30am - 5:30pm

come check us out!

You can NEVER have enough lipgloss...

Tomorrow is the first day of school. HURRAY!!! The kids are excited. We have changed things around a little. Emily and Conny are both sleeping on crib materesses on the floor. Matilda, Hanna, and Emily are in one room while Chloe and Conny are in another (this JUST happened tonight). 

After 15 minutes of visiting I decided to pay the girls a visit. Of COURSE Tuda was talking up a storm and Hanna was pretending to be asleep since "MEAN Aunt Rach" walked into the room. I gave them both a little thump and told them it was TIME TO GO TO BED...Emily was missing....She wasn't in my room so I figured her and Conny were having a yipee new bed party so I opened the door...NO Emily. Chloe was quietly singing the primary songs that were playing and Conny was passed out with SOMETHING in her mouth. I thought it was a tampon (she's a FAN of unwrapping those and shooting that magic little cotton out). When I got close enough to RIP it out of her mouth I saw it was the top to a lipgloss...and there in her hand was the lipgloss container. She had a TIGHT grip on it...so tight, it woke her up when I tried to PRY it out of her sweet little hand! 

NO worries, Em just needed to use the potty!!!

the streaker!

Yesterday we were workin' at the store, it was great fun but a L O N G day. (notice all the progress! *giggles*) It's coming along great, we've even received some of our stuff!!! 

Conny and Em disappeared into the potty for a bit and I KNEW it was bad news when Em came out smiling... "Conny wet her pants and is naked in the bathroom!" It was NO surprise to me, she has to change if she spills water on her shirt. I didn't have any extra clothes so I ran out to the van to get one of Parkers diapers (thankfully she's a skinny minnie and still fits in a size three when need be!) and the next thing I hear is Crystal yelling Connys name. I couldn't figure out WHAT the problem was...until.............I looked down and there beside me was a naked booty, naked tummy, a COMPLETELY naked child....out in public...on the main road....right there for the WORLD to see!!! I jumped her into the car, strapped that diaper around her and THANKFULLY had one of my shirts (left over from the Anchorage trip) I put on her "mommy, it's too big, it no fit". We had to come home for dry tiny hiney clothes. It was a GOOD happy day! *giggles*

*rants*

The store takes up a lot of time...

    but it gives us time for bonding...

 time for ignoring...

     togetherness...

It's been a GOOD day, the sun was bright, we've spent the day with many a friend, the kids are bathed and SO AM I!!!! But as I read my email a ting of sadness swells within my heart. There is this lady...a lady I'm so lucky to have in my life...a lady I know has had it rough....this lady has taken me in with open arms, loved me...ALL of me and yet I begged my husband to bring me so far from her. So far from the support she's given us, the love she's granted us, the ease of life she's let us live. 

As I listen to the fussy baby bouncing by my side, begging me to hold him, I think of her....right now SHE would LOVE to have him in her arms...to watch him grow...to see that naughty sister of his even with all of her mischief. Tears run down my face. Tears of sorrow, tears of the unknown, tears of joy. I am thankful to this woman for sharing the best thing in life she could with me...her WONDERFUL, TERRIFIC, CLOSE TO PERFECT son. I want nothing more than to squeeze her tight and tell her how much I LOVE her, but for now I will hold my baby tight and sob thanking my Father above for the sweet miracles he's given me....

Staying or going....

It looks like we're STAYING in Kodiak for now. We have a good job here and lots of potential. Brand told me to get a place...Guess we'll be here for a while. The job in Texas got pushed back 'til who knows when. I'd better get upstairs and make some calls... There will be tears, lots of them. But I'll try to make most of them happy. 

Brands new schedule is 3 day weekends and 4 10 hours days! It's getting better!!!!

It was a fun adventure....

but we're glad to be home! The best part is being able to snuggle up close to Brand...the worst is listening to Chloe and Hanna bicker. Don't worry, I'm gunna FIX that!

Get ready....we've signed the lease, gotten the keys, and started to move in! Ton of FUN is on it's way!!!!!! 

POOP.

The fear of a young mother! 

Yesterday Chloe came running downstairs yelling "Conny is pooping on a towel in the laundry room!!!!!". Of course being the BAD mom that I am I casually took my time (seeing as how I'm SURE she was already finished with this LOVELY task of hers, and I was kinda excited she wasn't pooping in her pants!) up the stairs. When I got there Melanie, Chloe, Emily, and Conny were all giving eachother weird looks. 

Conny proceeded to inform me that she had poop on her bottom..."get it off mommy". 

I didn't see a pile of brown on the floor so the questions started rolling......."where is the poop, who would let you just poop on the floor, OHHHH you pooped in the potty but there was some still on your bottom so you just used the towel to get the rest off?" 

Hurray for mom lingo, she DID remember how to use the potty and sometimes you just can't get that nasty stuff off of you fast enough so you opt for a dirty towel. Of course the GOOD mom came out and praised the wonderful POTTY time!!!!!!!!!!

Why'd ya do that Aunt Rach?!?

When you give Parker a mohawk, Hanna will need to know why. When you tell her it's to make Uncle Brandon laugh she will inform you that..."Uncle Brandon doesn't laugh, I haven't ever heard him, I don't think he even knows how. I HAVEN'T ever even seen him SMILE!"  

Uncle Brandon chuckled a little under his breath when I informed him of his unhappy-ness! And Hanna still hasn't ever seen him smile!!!

YUMMY!!!

WOW! Who knew eating mashed potatoes could be so GOOD (okay I TOTALLY did, but I won't post THOSE pictures of me! *giggles*)

It's been a while...

It's a SISTER sort of night! The boy is sick...won't sleep unless he's sitting up. HURRAY for SNOT BUBBLES! *giggles* I rented some girlie movies...Mel's makin' popcorn. OH YEAH!! It's a late night sissy party. Too bad our Sea-star isn't here. *tears* We'll have as much fun as we can without her! Brang on the silliness!!!!!!

Late night PARTY!

I'm the fill in the for the Sunbeams and OF COURSE I wait until the last possible minute to do my lesson. Conny snuck downstairs tonight so I let her help me...Well I ran off to do something and she continued to help me! She's such a stinkin' cutie I couldn't get upset with her, I'm just thankful she's so HELPFUL!!!! 

A day with DADDY!!!

Brandon is AMAZING!!! He's such a good dad and a WONDERFUL, TERRIFIC, PERFECT (and YES I can say that...I've tested the waters), LOVING, SILLY husband!!! We had such fun checking out Kodiak today. We didn't go from one end to the other but there were LOTS of adventures!!!

I'm the luckiest girl in the world....I'm the LUCKIEST girl in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what to do...

I think it's an outdoorsy day....fishin' anyone? I REALLY hope we don't catch any thing! YUCKY!!!!! I just want the sunshine!!!!

Pie anyone!?

After the parade was MORE Fourth of July FUN!!!! There was a BBQ put on my the American Legion and THEN a pie eating contest. OF COURSE... Our girls WON!!!

water balloons...

While Matilda and Chloe were having a bath I took Hanna, Emily, and Conny outside on a HOT HOT HOT Alaskan day to toss water balloons... It was a good time UNTIL...

Emily's popped on the way outside, Hanna's wouldn't pop, and Conny just wanted to LOVE on hers! *smiles* 

Ton of FUN!!!

We were in the FOURTH OF JULY parade!!!!! It was soooo much fun! Mel's girls helped pass out candy and trinkets, my kids sat in the stroller while Uncle Marky pushed! Brandon passed up on the fun, ya know...he's WAY too cool for that sort of thing! *giggles* (or maybe he just wanted a few hours piece at home!). 

Mel wants to start a party store, she's even got a business license!!! Be ready for months and months of CRAZINESS!! Ton of Fun will be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun in the GARDEN...

I've already blogged about this...BUT here are some pictures!

                                                

WOW. We need an update!

It's been a WEEK...a WHOLE WEEK since I wrote last. So much for "daily" updates. Last week was CRAZY. It was beautiful outside and so we didn't stay home, not even one little bit. It's still WAAAAAAAY nice out but I'm taking time away from the beauty to catch you folks up! *giggles*

late night...

I'm slacking on the posts...I totally neglected yesterday. Hmmm... we'll pretend I don't "BLOG" on the Sabbath! Deal!? DEAL!

It's been a fun day. Filled with....a late WIC appointment, so late...they CANCELLED(!!!), planting veggies, playing in poop (while PLANTING VEGGIES), visiting the tiny playground at the fairgrounds, and short naps instead of BED TIME! The kids are still up. They've been to bed ONCE and we'll try AGAIN in a bit. Conny has itchy eyes, but we found drops...hopefully she will be able to sleep now. Parker...well he stinks, guess he KNEW that was going to happen and didn't want dirty pants all night!? Hmmm...who knows. Mostly I think they know it's supposed to be an early day tomorrow. Hopefully I remember to have a happy face tomorrow! Wish me luck! 

Nighty bye~ *hopeful*

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear BROTHER!! Happy birthday to YOU!

WOW, it's been 26 years!!! I enjoyed the start of this journey with a cute bald fattie by my side, and now we're miles and miles and MILES apart, but he's still a cute BALDING fattie! 

To Sammy: I LOVE YOU Brother, I always have and I always will!! Today I miss all those silly childhood traditions...heading to Aunties to get our BIRTHDAY fireworks, chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, always having to SHARE our special day. 

I won't be having fireworks today, but I am at our kids Aunties, I WILL have chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, but YOU won't be here...*tears* All of those times you wanted your OWN day, I guess now you get it... *giggles* Thanks for all you've done! Best of all thanks for letting me hold onto your heels so I wouldn't have to face this scary world alone. I'll always be thankful for YOU. I love you Brother!

I think about all the things we've gone through, we've alllllllllways been close...even when he hurts my feelings or when I say MEAN things. I guess it's just kinda a twinner thing! Now....he is lucky enough to pass the "twinner" on! I hope he remembers all the fun things... especially how lucky I am and how much I LOVE him!!!

ewww...

There is NOTHING like waking up to a sleeping baby...until you move and your foot swipes POOP! ewww... It's been a GREAT adventure today. Conny's revisited a bottle and a diaper lifestyle. Much to my dismay she TOTALLY didn't mind. GRRR...If her daddy had done it OF COURSE there would have been tears. But who fears the Momma!? Surely not little Miss can't be WRONG! RARRR!!! My foot is clean, so are the sheets, the floor, and I think the red spot it gone from Conny girls BOOTY~

He's got TWO teeth, he's got two teeth, he's got two teeth...hurray, HURray, HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parker had TWO teeth poke through today! All the kids had to wash hands and feel how sharp they are! I don't look forward to nursing him now, but we're ready for this fun adventure in our lives!!!

Conny needed some attention today so she decided to regress and forget how to use the potty! After her daddy made her carry a bottle around for a while HOPEFULLY *fingers crossed* we'll do better tomorrow!

Brandon sliced his thumb pretty bad at work yesterday...the glue (nail glue...we couldn't find the super glue) didn't stick very well so today it had a nice conversation with Conny. There are lots of aluminum shards in it so we can pretend it has teeth when it talks!?

I had a girls (and Parker) night out! It was fun. Let the GAMES begin. Bowling ALWAYS brings out the best in me! *giggles*

A fresh start...a DAILY blog!

I'm tired...

                         of a teething boy who won't sleep through the night
                             a little girl who can't remember to sleep in her own bed

                      two little girls who can't figure out WHAT the potty is when they poop
                           Kids that can't get along
                        a messy house
                   the unknown
                        a husband that hides from the world

                           playing catchup                       

                    but MOSTLY I'm tired of not keeping people "in the know" about our lives!!!

It's time for a C H A N G E!!!!

Here's the scoop...from 11:40am

           I've changed TWO poopy diapers. One of them NOT being Conny! *HURRAY*

      We've ALL managed to eat breakfast

    Mark and Mel have gone on an adventure

          Chloe and Hanna can't get along so they are TIED together

 (and YES I'm being serious!)

       I've almost drank 32oz. of water!!

    Hunter has tried to eat two DVDS

         I've started a new blog

    Parkers ready for a nap!!

            I haven't text Brandon

  Conny is dresses and has her hair combed...ALL the kids are dressed!

       My hair is all "did" up

            I've put my face on

     We'd better go and do something FUN!

toodles~

Sand between my toes!

   

Easter candy

Parker LOVES tulip ring pops! The Easter Bunny is SUPER smart with baby candy lingo!


Sometimes the Easter Bunny is SOOOOOO excited for Easter he gives you enough CANDY to open up a store!!!

EASTER!!!

We had SOOO much fun for Easter. The little girls helped me make pudding and the big girls and myself made Jello (that we forgot about in the fridge!), Then we dyed eggs and hopped like bunnies, and hid eggs. You know ALL the fun Easter happenings. We have a tradition in our family (that my husband passed on...) that we hide plastic eggs with change in them and a dollar in one. It was FUN and we can't wait for more fun next year and maybe even our own house! *giggles*