garage sale

This morning I held my very first garage sale. It was the best people watching ever! At 7:20 I put out my signs and had a band of cars following me back to the house. I swear 7 cars were behind me. The first 30 minutes was crazy. I swear 50 cars came and went with hardly anybody buying anything. They would just come and look at everything and then leave. It was the strangest thing. Around 7:45 people finally started buying and people just kept coming. A few were hard core hagglers. One lady kept asking me how much and I'd say and then she would come back with half of what I said. After the last one which was a little Dora doll she asked, I said "twenty five cents," she said "a dime," I said " no, twenty five cents." She then said "what's it for anyways?" and put it down. One lady came and saw all my baby clothes and asked how much. I was selling them five dollars a bag. she then asked how much for all of it. I said $30. Then she wanted all the shoes which I was selling for a buck a piece. She tried to get it in with the $30. I said no that's another $10. Then her husband said no all of it for $30. I was sticking to my guns and said no $40 for all of it. She started rummuging through the bins and filling up the bags and said yes I'll take it all for $40! The even spent another $17 on other things too!. I made a total of about $230. Pretty good for stuff I would have probably just given to goodwill! There was one jacket that I swear 7 ladies asked how much and I said $3 (it was some name brand light weight zip up jacket) and not one person took it. Looks like that will be going to goodwill tomorrow! None of my big items (recliner, couch or TV w entertainment center) sold though which I was really bummed about. The girls were great. I told them that if they didnt come outside once during the whole sale that I would take them to McD's for lunch. They didnt...a lot of opening the door or talking to me through their bedroom windows but stayed inside. They did take out every toy though and make a trail through the house but they are in the midst of cleaning because everything that is left on the floor tonight is going to goodwill tomorrow! So at McDs this afternoon I paid the bill with all ones. I tell the cashier that the ones are from my garage sale and her quick response was "I figured it was something like that, I didn't take you for a stripper!"

Courtney

Yesterday Courtney had a [piece of banana bed for breakfast, refused to eat her lunch (so did Sydney) it was cheese filled ravioli with Parmesan cheese and olive oil. Sydney wouldnt touch it and Courtney had one bite but didnt eat any more. So for dinner Namy made spaghetti and broccoli. Sydney was so hungry she ate 2 plate fulls, all of her broccoli then ate an orange and banana. Courtney on the other hand wouldnt eat because she was mad I turned the TV off so we could eat. (A rule in our house, no TV while we eat.) We did eat around 4:45 a little early since I figured the twinks were going to hungry since they didnt eat lunch. Courtney finally ate a piece of her broccoli around 7:30 and then went to bed. Courtney woke up at 6:30 yelling for me....I get in her room and the first thing is "I'm hungry" so downstairs we went and she ate some cereal but only half the bowl and then she said she was full. I was so expecting to make her cereal, eggs, toast and she was going to eat a banana and blueberries but only half the bowl of cereal. I hope she's OK and she eats a little more today.

Sydney is still Sydney

She has her moments where she is just an angel but then all hell can break loose. Monday she got sent home from preschool. I got a phone call around 10:20 and it was the teacher saying she just wont settle down. Center time was over and she didnt want it to be and just freaked out. She even had to take her to the office to call me. I felt bad but I have no idea how to stop this behavior. If something doesnt go her way she will literally wait for 2 hours until something better happens. She has sat in her room that long waiting for me to come home because she doesnt want Jon to get her out of bed. She will sit at the top of the stairs screaming for me to hold her hand down the stairs. Or sit naked on her bed until I pick out the right clothes that she has in her mind but wont tell me. It's absolutely ridiculous! But then she is the most affectionate one. She will hold my hand and kiss it for no reason. Come up and hug me and tell me I'm the best for no reason. She is my shadow at all times...

Saturday

wasn't the best day around here. I had a fun afternoon planned. The white tanks library, hike through the park and a picnic. All they had to do was pick up all the toys on the floor in the loft and their rooms. They started at 8:15 and Sydney and Samantha were done by 3. Courtney on the other hand just sat in her room and cried and made more of a mess by taking every dress she owned and threw them on the floor. I tried to help but she wouldn't help me so I just left her there in her room crying. I took Samantha to the local library so she could pick out a few books and videos. Sydney decided she just wanted to stay and watch Elmo w Namy and Papa. When I got back Papa had helped Courtney and he even said that she helped him. We were going to go out to dinner at Denny's (kids eat free on Saturday nights -Tuesdays too) Courtney wasnt looking to good and she felt hot. Sure enough she had a fever so Namy stayed home w her while Papa and I took Syd and Sam. Courtney ended up falling asleep around 6:30 and slept until 7:30 this morning- woke up hungry and looks healthy. Sydney and Samantha slept in Sam's room last night. Another great night. I didnt have to really go in and tell them to go asleep. I think we finally turned a corner on them sleeping together which is good since they all want to share a room in WA! The threat of making them sleep by themselves works...the sleepover that never happened last month was the best thing that could have happened!

Crash

The girls went to bed so good last night and this morning they got up and started playing without bugging me. It was kinda nice until CRASH. I came running and Syds was standing on Courtneys dresser with the shelf and all her stuff on the ground and her piggyback shattered all over the floor. Courtney was standing there too and both blamed Sam who was hiding in the closet. Sam said Syd did it so I started to get mad at her which made her really cry and she was adamant that Sam did it. I looked at Sam again and asked her what happened and she said she that she was trying to get the piggy bank down when it all came falling down but it was Syds idea so it's her fault. Well they all got in trouble but mostly Sam for lying to me in the first place. Skip ahead about 30 minutes and Sam I telling Syd that she doesn't like any of her dresses and I tell her don't say that just lie and tell her you do! once it came out of my mouth I said "no, don't lie just don't say anything. If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all!" hopefully today is going to get better!

grapefruit

My dad picked all the grapefruit from our tree today. The kids dont really like them and I like them juiced with vodka or cut up with sugar. The kids thought they were fun to play with though and this is where I found them at bed time all tucked in

By the way today was an awesome day. My parents came down to help out but the twinks got along and played together all day that my parents got to enjoy the day too. I only yelled this morning when Samantha didnt listen to me. If everyday was like today this parenting thing would be sooo easy! They all ate their dinner and got a homemade peanut butter cookie. Courtney was sad that she didnt help make them but they were playing so well together that I whipped up the dough and let them smash them with the fork. We watched "Harry and the Hendersons" for the first time. They were a little scared at the beginning and sorta freaked out when I told them it was in WA but by the end they are now excited to hiking in the woods! Now they all are having a sleepover in Sydneys room!

Coyotes

Monday was kids day at the Coyotes game. One of the twinks classmates moms hooked us up for some cheap tickets on the 2nd level. The kids were pretty good as long as they were eating something! Courtney would jump up her sign and yell "I love the Coyotes" all the time. It was cute the first few times...They lost but it was a great time. We did get wristbands to hit the puck on the ice but by the time we got down to where the line was it was like 2 hours long so we passed. The girls were a little bummed but they got over it quickly! We sure are going to miss being so close to the Coyotes but I bet we'll make it to a few Canucks games....

crafty dad

Jon came home for a quick 3 days. The girls were so excited to see him (and so was I!) We mostly hung out around the house and played. He had the girls pretty much all day on Sunday while I was rock n rolling I felt bad because I went to bed by 8:30 both Saturday and Sunday. Monday morning they did some crafts! Good times...we wont see him now until Feb 11. to pack and move...

Rock n Roll Marathon

and the crazy ones are off...the guy in the dark blue and yellow Josh Cox won the whole marathon in 2 hours 17 minutes...

3 feet...one step at a time!

before the long walk!

the beginning...there was some like 30 corrals (we were in number 23) they started us 2 minutes apart...

over halfway there...

Kimba doing the water run!

rock n roll!

13.1 and we are done in 3 hours 57 minutes!

the tasty beer afterwards....cheers!

never say never

This is a blog that I never thought I would write. In September of 1993 I packed up my little s10 chevy pick up and headed to the San Francisco Bay Area for a 6 month job as a nanny. The job lasted 11 years. During that time I worked as a waitress, graduated from college, traveled and lived well . I met the man and I got married in 2004. I had 2 pregnancies that gave me 3 kids. We moved to Phoenix in March of 2008. Now 3 years later we are packing up and making a big move again... to the Pacific Northwest! Yep that's right Liz Ludtke Howe is moving back to Bellingham (well technically Everson but close enough) Crazy! I never in a million years did I think I'd be raising my kids in the rain!

leftovers

The other night was leftover night. I gave the kids 3 choices Quesadilla, taco or noodles. Courtney folds her hands looks up at me and says "Candy, I'll be your best daughter!" Needlessly said but she had a taco.

The girls

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excellent day

Today turned out to be a great day with very little whining! Most of the whining was from Samantha at dinner...not about the food, it's Tuesday--TACOS but about the seating arrangement! Oh well. The twins were great today. They played really well together. I mean really well. I think maybe one little twin fight but they figured it out themselves. It was a day where we didnt do anything but just play. The twinks through a little party while I went and ran an errand. When I came back I sat down next to Namy and Courtney told me to leave because I wasn't invited! So I left them room but Sydney followed and then she invited me..yay!

Yesterday we went to the library and and checked out "Ribsy" by Beverley Cleary along with 9 other books and 9 dvds. I love the library! "Ribsy"is my first attempt at a "chapter book" with the twinks. Yesterday we got through chapter one but tonight they just couldnt sit still so we read half of chapter two. They seem to like it though but they just dont understand why there isnt loots of pictures like all the other books we read.

more complaing...

This morning was horrible with Sydney. She woke up happy and smiley but that's it. From the minute she got in the tub the whining started and just wouldn't stop. Thankfully my mom is here so she got Courtney dressed (and Courtney only wanted Namy to help so that worked out!) I was trying to get Sydney dressed and I picked out the wrong shirt. She wanted a specific shirt and wanted me to get it. I had no idea what shirt she wanted. She got up points to the one she wants and tells me to get this one. I said can you just grab it. And then all hell broke loose. I left the room and for 20 minutes she screamed (all because I asked her to get and put her shirt on) She finally did after I had to stand next to her so I could help her pick the shirt out of the drawer. She then said "I don't want to go to school. I will cry the whole time." Friday she didn't get her sticker so I figured she was telling the truth and I didnt want the teachers to deal with this. I am now thinking this is all happening because she really misses her dad. She is the only one who wants to know where he is at and when is he coming home? She even called him this weekend. I think it's funny that when Jon first started talking about this job and if it's the right thing to do for our family I suggested he go try it out for a bit before we move up. I was like "why not go up there for 4 or 5 months and we'll come up at the end of school. You can come down every couple weeks or so for a long weekend. It will be great." Then when he thought that was a good idea my tune changed to "ok let's give this a month and then you can make up your mind if this is what you want to do and then we'll move at the end of February/ beginning of March" now I am like "is this what you want to do because if it is we can move now!" I have been completely spoiled for the last 3 years having Jon working from home and always around to help me out when it gets bad. He hasn't even been gone a full week and I am ready to pack up the house this week and be there next week! Thankfully he will be here this weekend for a long weekend. I have more respect for single parents. I don't know how they do it! I am so grateful that my mom is here to help I would have completely broken down already if she wasn't.

The blog where I complain about Sydney

Sydney whines.
She whines pretty much 24/7 with an occasional smile or laugh but then it's back to the whine. If it isnt her way she whines. This morning I was trying to make Sam and Courtney some toast and Sydney didnt want me downstairs AT ALL. She just screamed and cried the whole time. I lost it. I screamed. I picked her up and made her leave the room. I screamed some more. I just don't know what to do. Even now she is lying on the couch watching a movie (that the volume is up high because she breaks out in screams and cries WHILE SHE IS WATCHING THE MOVIE!) She is so stubborn and just won't let anything go. We could be doing something really fun and having a great time and then she remembers something where she didnt get her way and starts crying about that. It's really hard to deal with and I dont know what to do about it. I have tried everything from yelling, spanking, ignoring, taking her away from the situation but nothing seems to work except her "getting her way." (which isn't going to happen) I want her to be happy, heck I want to be happy but man she is driving me nuts!

Haircuts

Kids got their hair cut today. Courtney wanted hers short to her chin (4 inches). Samantha wanted hers to her shoulders (3 inches). Sydney just wanted a trim. She wanted to keep her haor long!

Even though Courtney looks sad she really loves her newdo! She really wanted me to cut it so it was the same as her bangs but I thought that would have been a little to short!

No sticker

Sydney got into one of her stubborn moods at school today. As the teacher put it "she got something stuck in her head and wouldn't let it go." they tried to get her to do something else and then threaten that she wouldn't get a sticker at the end of school. She didnt let it go so she didnt get a sticker. In other words she kicked and screamed the whole way to the car! Oh what a joy! But ever since we have gotten home se has been sweet as can be (even though her sister and her took out a dozen play dresses and threw them all over her bedroom!)

Wing Mountain Snow Play

On New Year's Day we headed north for some snow play...it took us forever to get there with both Samantha and Jessica needing snow boots. We went to Target and they only haid rain boots so we went to Walmart and they only had Sams size of snowboot and bow rain boots...so back to Target to get rainboots for Jessica. We finally got in the snow after being in the car for 4 hours! It was a great time...

love the fact that the girls can bring their own sleds back up with them!

Samantha the snow angel

Courtney loves the snow...I dont think she let the smile off her face the whole time we were there. She was so bummed that we had to leave!

Sydney the snow angel

Samantha going off the jump!

The girls really wanted to go down the "big" hill where the teenagers and adults were...it was. They went down and started walking up in front of the fast sledders. Both Courtney and sydney (who took off by herself with out Jon and I watching) got saved by strangers...picking them up and taking them off the course! We didnt go down that one again! Despite the long time spent in the traffic on the way there and the way back...2 hours of fun 7 hours in the car...it was so worth it!

the girls love to jump!

here's Jessica on the same jump

Build-a-bear

Auntie Leah and Incle Lex sent the girls some "bear" bucks for Build-a-Bear! They were so excited...

Introducing Sola (Courtney's dog,) Ari (Samantha's bunny,) Kalinda (Sydney's dog.)

My Artists

The kids love to paint and I hate the clean up so they dont get to do it that much but they sure made an awesome picture~

It's a picture of our neighborhood!

Estrella Mountain Regional Park

On Christmas eve day, Kim and I went to Estrella Mountain regional park for a morning hike and I said I was going to take the kids back there and I did on Dec. 28th. we packed a picnic and headed down. What a great park

the play structure area was one of the biggest I have ever been on. The kids were in heaven!

We went on a 1/2 mile hike that was pretty boring but the next size loop hike was 1.8 miles and the kids were pretty tired from playing at the playground.

the Howe shadow's!