My little helpers

Yes, I know that Jesse is not quite "little" but emptying the dishwasher sure helps out. Especially due to the extra help provided by the munchkins.
Karist will hand you one piece of silverware at a time "herego" "herego" and Elli jumps in to help too. It is a job I don't like and since I have to load it with the above "Help" it is nice to have a break.
Note that some of the dishes get thrown out of the dishwasher and end up in the floor.
To those who are concerned about the kids eating off the dishes in the floor don't worry. The dishes have been washed twice...and no I don't pre-rise them when loading that is why we bought a good dishwasher for. The kids remove them as I load them and lick them...yes, it is very gross. So I am trying to out pace the kids while I load, smacking hands that approach items that I know will kill them if they ingest the aging remains of goo or whatever is on the dish. Speed and distraction is the key. Go fast, super fast, drop a semi clean item in the floor so they can hand it back to you meanwhile get the rest of it loaded in 2 minutes flat or they will die from poisonous goo.

Karist loves to "help" me vaccum too. She stands in front of the vaccume while the filtered air blows her hair. Let's just say that progress is slow and at times I seriously thing about running her over. This happens while all the kids are screaming at the tops of their lungs and all but the immobile Karist who is modeling in front of the vaccume while the wind blow through her hair are running around like crazy people.

Progress truly is made by 2 steps forward one step back... just have to be careful not to run over anyone, or back into Karist who probably has a knife she stole from the dishwasher.

Silly Giggles

This pic was taken by the kids...

This pic was put on the rotating screen saver by Jesse...

Giggles ensue every time it appears on the monitor...

Ok even though I am embarrassed by a non flattering photo of my tush It is amusing.

The time it came on bouncing all over the screen was funny.

The time when we walked in and Karist was on my desk with both hands on my Butt was funny.

Who knew a Butt could be so much fun.

I plan on deleting it some day so now is your chance of getting in on the fun :)

Picture day

I thought I would try to get a pic of all the kids together but 4 just seems to be an impossible number.
Perhaps I should say that #4 was impossible... she is fine for the solo pic but tends to wander off during group sessions.

Best of the group just missing the escapee...

This picture summerizes it all

Karist poised to run....

Elli putting her head close to Danny so it fits in the pic... but facing the wrong way.

Wouldn't you know it the camera batteries died...

Bumper Cars

We seem to have a problem in my family with bumping cars.

This problem is accompanied by a hit and run problem.

.

It all began several months ago when my Grandma Purtell bumped into my mom's car on the way to a wedding. After the wedding my mom noticed new damage to her new-to-her car.

The next day Grandma told her her vehicle was involved in an accident , Grandma backing into it.

.

No biggie. Or so we thought.

.

It appears that bumping cars runs in the family.

.

So mom gets a call from the police (hence the above pic)

"Bad boys, bad boys what you gonna do when they come for you"

.

Leaving a meeting she bumped another car then drove off. For shame.

She did not feel the bump so she was a bit surprised to find out she was wanted by the local sheriff.

.

No biggie insurance will cover the damage, she wasn't hauled of to jail, and more importantly HER NAME WILL NOT APPEAR IN THE PAPER.

.

In time this would have been forgotten until this post has immortalized it forever in blog land.

.

Good thing I live so far away I can sense the impending death threats. (which are against the law like leaving the scene of an accident, Mom)

.

Here is the biggie.

.

Am I next? Is it my generations turn. Should I put my keys away forever for fear of bumping another vehicle and then giving in to the urge to run?

.

No biggie. It was not bumper cars it was a game of Tag your it. Grandma tagged Mom's car.

Mom's car is IT not Mom.

Mom's car tags mystery persons car... Mystery person's car is IT.

.

Hmmmmm..... Drivers beware a Mystery IT is driving around Galesburg, Il preying on unsuspecting vehicles....

Kid Pic Day

You all know how talented my kids are with the camera so here is a blog posting of some of thier more recent work. Girl in the Bathroom....neutral tones

Bear and a Butt

This is how Devonae appears to herself without her glasses... really.. look she has no glasses on

The wet look... hmmmm in a bathroom.... wonder if the lid is down

Danny as he appears to Devonae without glasses.... see he is not wearing glasses :)

Room Evolution

So Jesse was gone for a week and I cleaned out the Library/Junk room.

Devonae promptly claimed it as her room.

Room cost Free.

So red was just not working so we did a bit of changing.

Room cost 20.00

Devonae is such a wonderful help to her mommy so I decide to let her help choose decorations for her new room. After tears about painting walls bright purple, caution yellow , and barbie pink we settled on green. Hey I may be selling this house in 6 months.

So here is what we ended up with for about 120.00

While I was on a room changing spree I painted my Living room. I LOVE the color.

Crappy Day

It has been one of those days....

.

Cast: Ellianna... Young toddler aspiring nudist with some potty issues

Karist ..... Younger toddler with an abundance of curiosity

Mom... Stressed, Tired, seems to always be in lose/ lose situations

.

Scene: hallway with fresh poop on the floor. Ellianna has stepped in it and is making the mess bigger.

.

Dilemma: What to clean first? Poop in floor or Poop on Elli

.

Choice: Elli because she is wiping it all over her and the floor. Move Elli to the bathroom and put her in the tub.(Devonae is watching her) Grab toilet paper and go to pick up poop mess in the hall.

.

Disaster: Karist is finger painting. Don't read this next part. Karist true to form has tasted the stuff on the floor. I told you not to read it.

.

Grossed out mommy puts the younger toddler in the tub too. Cleans up the even bigger mess.

.

Everything is clean everyone seems to have survived.

.

5 minutes later mommy picks up her freshly cleaned Karist only to find her decorated with chocolate brownie... At least she smells yummy.