Boating on the Sound

We were lucky to have our Uncle A come visit for a few days. While he was here we were able to rent a boat and go boating on the Sound. The little bees had a great time seeing the local wildlife: crabs, sand dollars, seals, and flounders...okay, okay so maybe they enjoyed seeing some of the local aquatic life more than others. They also enjoyed stopping at many of the islands in the Sound to throw rocks into the water and explore. We had such a great time that Hubbee and I are determined that we get a few more boating adventures in before the rainy season arrives.

Whats Going On

I'm back, I'm back!

As way of explanation for my lack of blogging, Hubbee returned from 14+ months in Iraq this June.

Since his return, we've been busy, busy, BUSY...

We traveled to the WA coast for three days of a beach experience that only the Pacific Northwest offer.

Caution: pictures may be shocking for those who have never worn coats to the beach in the summer!!

We ripped out the old carpet and put new wood floors in our hallway, kitchen, living and dining rooms.

Made Bella bee her first Big Girl Bed!

And found a few times to leave the little bees home at the hive giving us some nights out to ourselves.

Basically, life at the hive couldn't be better.

Retrieving the Moon

Yesterday we were eating dinner outside and I pointed out the crescent moon to the kids.

Busy bee asked, "Mom, can you get the "present" moon out of the sky for me."

I told him that I couldn't reach that high.

He then told me, "It's alright mom, my daddy can use a ladder and get it down."

I'm sure he thinks his daddy hung the stars too...I can't say I blame him.
It's always good to have someone around who can retrieve the moon.

Photo Ordeal

As any good scrapbooking mother does, I try valiantly to take pictures of my kids. Despite my best intentions, you can see below what an ordeal getting the "perfect" picture is.

Attempt #1

Attempt #2

Attempt #3

Attempt #4

Attempt #5

And finally...Attempt #6

At some point "perfect" gets thrown out the window and you learn to find the joy in "perfectly adorable."

Easter Cookies

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

The Easter cookies were a BIG hit!

Can't you tell?!?

Toliet Fishing

I have sunk to a personal all-time low. I recently toilet fished in the worst possible conditions.

Bella dropped a plastic doll comb in a bowl-full of upset stomach and before I even had the time to contemplate the repercussions, I went a fishin'.

I remember a time in the not too distant past, when I was grossed out watching mothers spit-wash their kids. Now, I not only spit-wash my kids but I also pick up half-chewed food, wipe snotty noses, sometimes even pick boogies out of snotty noses...and now apparently, I also fish toys out of piles of bile.

Where have my standards gone?!? My best guess is down the drain.

Sickie Ickies

As previously mentioned, the hive is currently a nest of "sickie ickies."

We went to the Emergency room a few days ago only to be told that both kids have a virus and that there is no medicine they can give to us. No medicine?!? For heaven's sake, give us a placebo. At least then I'd feel like there was a light at the end of this tunnel. You'd think by now that doctors dealing with the parents of small children would have this figured out. Parents with sick toddlers are in DESPERATE need of hope. Fake hope is much better than no hope (especially when we don't know its fake.)

With that said, this mom votes for the wide-spread use of placebos!

*Disclaimer -I claim all rights to change this opinion at any point in the future*

I thought it was pretty funny that the RN in the Emergency room put a mask on Bella bee. It stayed on about as long as it took to take this picture.

Hive Bytes

Its been a little crazy around here. Bella bee has had a raging viral infection for over a week and thus, I have accomplished little concerning this blog (or anything else for that matter.) So in an attempt to catch everyone up, here are a few recent "sound bytes" from the hive!

Hive Bytes

said Busy bee - "Momma, does God shoot animals too?"

said Bella bee (while sitting on my lap) - "Momma, I miss you. Do you miss me too? You are my best friend."

said Busy bee (while naked and getting his hair trimed) - "Aack! Get that hair off my privates. I am still a little boy."

said Bella bee (after Busy bee told her "No!") - "Busy no me"

said Busy bee (during his nighttime prayer) - "Thank you for my house, my family, my race cars, my hot rods, my sedans, my suvs, and my monster trucks."

said Bella bee - "Jesus loves me." (patting my hand while shaking her head knowingly) "Oh, he loves you too."

Bella bee's Princess Panties

Bella Bee

We were able to watch and enjoy the stunning lunar eclipse last night. I tried to explain to the little bees how a lunar eclipse happens. When that didn't sink in, I told them that the Earth was tucking in the Moon with our shadow.

Baby Bee thought this whole experience was amazing. She made me take her out to watch it's progression many times throughout the evening. She would lay back in my arms and in a breathy voice claim that it was, "boo-tiful." And then proceed to tell the Moon, "night, night Moon" and blow the moon a kiss.

Thus in honor of my own beautiful Baby bee's progress from baby to toddler, a seemingly overnight progression, I am changing her blog name to Bella bee. Bella, the Italian word for beautiful, aptly describes this little bee. She consistantly sees the beauty in the world around her. She not only brighten's my day with her radiating self but also manages that task in those who cross her path.

We are truly lucky to have Bella bee as a member of our family. Her presence alone seems to make not only our days but ourselves and our actions more beautiful.

Bo-bo's

In our house when someone gets hurt, we call the site of their injury a "bo-bo." We pronounce bo-bo with long o's - as in BOws and arrows. Most people I know use the more common "boo-boo." The different pronounciations of this word have recently caused Busy bee some confusion.

Just the other day, we took Baby bee to her 2yrs. old well-child doctor appointment. Due to some horsing around the day before, she had a big goose-egg on her forehead. When the doctor came into the examining room she looked at Baby bee's head and said, "Wow, you've got a big boo-boo!" Busy bee looked at the doctor in shock and exclaimed, "Baby bee doesn't have boobs yet. She won't get those until she is bigger."

After a quick blush, the pediatrician looked at me and said knowingly, "I can only guess at the coversations you've been having lately."

If only she really knew...

How'd that happen?

Yesterday Busy bee was happily playing with a few of his diecast cars, when he looked up at me and posed the question, "Mommy, are you a big kid?"

"Technically, I am no longer a big kid. I am what is called an adult." said I.

To which he replied with all the sadness and shock a 3yrs old can muster, "Oh no! How'd that happen?"

He is right...
How did that happen?!?

Little Bees

Buzzing Off

It appears that I have been "buzzing off" the past 9 months and have not added to my blog. I can honestly say that I have on many occasions said to myself, "Self, you must post something today." But "self" just doesn't seem to listen or obey...maybe "self" is the one who is "buzzing off"?!?

Wow, well 9 months!!! Where to start? Maybe a list would be the best and fastest way to get us all back up to date.

The Summer Months
- With Hubbee gone, I revamped our whole backyard during WA's lovely summer. I hauled over 50 wheelbarrow loads of dirt and 30 wheelbarrow loads of rock to make two large raised beds that line 3 lengths of our backyard. In the raised beds, I planted 20 arborvitae trees and over 40 other varying types of plants. I also layed a stone patio and path along one side of the house with plans to plant a cutting garden and install a watering fountain this spring. Hopefully when Hubbee returns home this summer, he is impressed by his worker bee's house/yard improvments.

-We were lucky enough to criss-cross the United States a few times during the summer to visit family and friends. Grandpa, Grandma, the little bees and I all drove to UT to visit our Edwards cousins and see their new house. Later, I was able to travel to CT to visit my dear friend's graduation from hygentistry school and tromp around on my old high school stomping grounds. The little bees had a wonderful time staying with Grandpa and Grandma in WA. Then, we all traveled to OK to stay with our Granna and Da for a good chunk of the summer. While in OK, I was able to skip town yet again to go to a college friend's wedding in PA.

The Fall Months
- Busy bee had his 3rd birthday. With 4 little boys and over 75 balls, one might say it was a "ball" of a good time. I still can't believe my busy bee is turning into such a little man.

-Busy bee and Baby bee trick-or-treated this year as Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. All Hallows Eve has never seen anything cuter. I can honestly say that this was the starting point for Baby bee's infatuation with everything "princess" and/or "fairy."

- Hubbee had a hernia surgery performed in a tented hospital in Kuwait. The good - he was out of Iraq for 4 weeks, the bad - it was a tented hospital in Kuwait, the ugly - the doctor performed the surgery on the wrong side!!!

- Due to a soccer injury during the spring, I had my fourth knee surgery to repair a serverly torn mcl. Soccer is now the newest activity added to my list of "No, Nos"

- Thanksgiving was spent in Eastern WA visiting Grandpa and Grandma and all of our Elison cousins.

The Winter Months
- We spent Christmas with our Peacock family in UT. We had a lovely time playing in the snow and being with our family. The little bees are finally starting to understand the whole role of Santa and are fully appreciative of his kindly deeds. As of this Christmas, our little bees are begining to have dreams of "sugarplum faries dancing in their heads."

- We rung in the New Year with our Queen family in OK. I got a well-deserved night out with Hubbee's siblings while the little bees celebrated with Da and Granna.

- Hubbee flew to OK for his 18 days of leave! We were so excited to see him after 9 long months! The little bees flocked to him like pollen on spring flowers. As R&R (aka "leave") goes, the time was bittersweet - the 18 days were sweet but saying "goodbye" was bitter. Luckily we are more than halfway done!

- Baby bee celebrated her 2nd birthday while Hubbe was visiting. We had a Princess party and an "Inker Bell" cake (Tinker Bell for all the rest of us.) She is truly turning into our little toddling princess. I guess at some point in the near future I will need to "update" her blog name as she is no longer a "baby".

...I will be sure to keep you all posted.

3 in the bed

Since Hubbee's departure, I have found myself in the midst of a "bed" situation. Though my little bee's intentions are sweet, I have come to decide that three in the bed is most oftentimes one too many (and in the case of toddlers, two too many)!

Baby bee has recently taken up a midnight nightcap. She has figured out that she can effectively use all of her 23 pounds to "bump" her crib into the wall. If this tactic doesn't quickly produce the results which she wants (i.e. a sippee cup of milk and some quality time in Mama bee's bed) she then somehow manages to fart a smell so potent that an unassuming house guest would conclude that she has an upset tummy and a poopy diaper. Once Baby bee is saved from her "nightly cage of turmoil" she gleefully giggles and runs into Mama's bedroom with her chubby hands clasped around her sippee cup. Then she pats the bed with the previously said chubby hand and says, "Mama, up." After being lifted into the bed, Baby bee chooses her pillow, pulls back the covers in her desired location and lays down. Laying down might not be the correct descriptive word, however wallow would be. After she has finalized her wallowing ritual she then pulls up the comforter so it rests right under her chin. It is imperative that the comforter is bunched up under her chin or the whole ritual begins again. But if her "snuggling" and "swaddling" goes as desired she then takes back up her sippee cup and drinks sips intermixed with jabbering and the occasional real word. Sometimes, I think she wakes up only because she figures she has something to say.

Once Baby bee has had her fill of both milk and conversation and has successfully been put back into bed, it is only a few short hours until Busy bee makes his appearance.

Busy bee's approach to receiving a bed invite is a little bit different than Baby bee's. Busy bee can be heard at first by a low whine which quickly turns into a pitiful fake cry. If he isn't answered within the first few minutes of such theatrics he then chooses the more direct route of calling out "MOM" over and over. Once, I have given the verbal invite for him to leave his bed, Busy comes running into mine with his bear blanket and as many cars as he can hold in his little grasp. He then tells me to "Wake up" and climbs into bed. He lays down so our faces are a mere inch away from each other and then says, "Milk, Mama. Movie please" in his most plaintive voice. After this, my day has begun whether I wanted it to or not.

Lately, one might say of our hive, "There were three in the bed and the little one says, 'Nite, nite'." And they'd be right.

Getting Comfortable

There have been quite a few changes at our hive recently and we are all learning to adjust to them...one could say we are trying to "get comfortable."

As part of the Operation Iraqi Freedom surge, Hubbee, has ventured from our humble hive to a hive buzzing with turmoil. All the while, the little bees and I are trying to make the best of a situation completely out of our hands. We are trying to convert to our new roles and regain a semblance of structure and schedule. Our journey to "Comfortable" has seen us cry, act out in fits of rage, felt our sorrow, but more importantly has taught us of our strength. We have learned about world geography (Busy bee can point out Iraq on a map) and exotic animals (camels.) We have learned new skills (vehicle maintenance and a sundry of small home improvements/repairs.) We have learned to trust one another and more importantly in God and his will. We have learned to enjoy the small moments. And we have learned to respect the many men and women who put their lives on the line and leave their families to support our nation in a cause, whether they believe in the same course of action or not.

I can't say that we have reached Comfortable yet but we are on our way. Every day will find us at a fork in the road. Every day has the potential for smooth roads or mountainous trails. Every day will show us what we are made of, but who ever enjoyed comfort without first knowing it's other extreme.

2 years old and all MAN

I didn't fully realize how much my little Busy bee would change after turning two, but it was as if one day he became an actual person (and by that I mean MAN) and no longer simply just my baby. Hubbee and I don't push him to be manly, and in all honesty we don't as of yet, raise him differently than we do Baby bee. He was just born to be a man and is currently growing into one. I am sure that Hubbee and I, as parents, will in the future have to help mold him into a strong man who will be confident in his god-given attributes but as of right now God's gift of manhood is blooming in Busy bee all on its own.

Here is a prime example...

I, Busy bee and Baby bee were in the mall running a few errands. I stopped in Victoria Secrets to pick up a few (and much needed) push-up bras to reverse what time, pregnancies, and breast feeding have done. Quickly upon entering the store Busy bee got very excited and started patting my leg. I looked to what he was pointing at...it was a body form with a frilly pink piece of lingerie on it. Busy bee then said in the most reverent tone I have ever heard leave his mouth, "Mama, pretty...so pretty!" Some might be naive enough to say he liked the color pink but he doesn't...when given a choice he never picks pink. Some might even be dumb enough to say likes the fabric, texture, or whatever excuse they could think of to stray from the facts. But the truth is that he liked the way it looked. It appealed to his male nature. He may not know why he thinks it is "pretty" yet, but one day (and probably sooner than I would guess) he will.

I just hope that Hubbee and I are ready for our 2 years old MAN because like it or not, here he comes!

Sick and Tired

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

This past week, the usual frenzied hum in our hive has slowed to an almost catatonic state. It all started with Busy bee, followed by myself and Baby bee and is finalizing with Hubbee. We have each in turn coughed, sneezed, wheezed, spit-up phelm, blew out "boogies", and whined.

This is the first family-wide sickness our hive has endured and I sure wish it would be the last. I never realized how trying it is as a mother to care for a sick family. I can handle the constant nose dripage but I can't handle the whining. Everything seemed to make Busy bee sad, mad or frustrated. He spent the majority of the past week crying and I spent the majority of the last week consoling him, all the while trying not to think "bad" thoughts. It is so frustrating to deal with a sick and mopey child. I can only imagine how frustrating it is to be sick, not be able to describe what hurts, and to deal with a grumpy mom.

This week has blatantly showed my downfalls as a mother. Not only am I impatient but I quickly lose all sense of compassion. And that which I most despised in the sick Busy bee's character, the whining, I myself am prone to do. I hope to learn and improve in these areas but I sure hope that the good Lord doesn't have any plans in the near future to "teach" me in the same manner which I have been thus taught.

Birthday Shoes

Our house was bursting at the seams this Saturday as our many friends so kindly came to wish Baby bee a Happy 1st Birthday. Everyone piled into our small living room/kitchen/dining room area that was decorated like a Winter Wonderland complete with snowflakes, balloons, crepe paper, and an igloo cake. Baby bee, who was decked out in her birthday party outfit, was a little cautious and stayed clung to my side for a few minutes until she felt confident enough to play with her nine little party guests. It was nostalgic to think back to Busy bee's 1st birthday when none of those little ones were even alive!

Though we had practiced, for the last two weeks, blowing out her birthday candle, Baby bee insistently tried to touch the flames throughout the "Happy Birthday" song. She did however thank everyone for our melodic attempt by clapping. With frosting covering her mouth, cheeks, hands and clothing one could only assume she thought her cake tasted delicious. Much to everyone's' surprise she was most excited about the presents pertaining to her attire. She cooed, clapped, and grinned at the beautiful outfits. A pair of shoes elicited the most exciting of responses as she demanded Hubbee promptly put them on her. Due to the pleasurable responses displayed upon opening her gifts, Hubbee is a little worried that this love of apparel will span for many long years and be a drain on our bank account...I was just excited at the thought that someone might eventually like to shop with me. And not to be left out, Busy bee has since commandeered a few of Baby bee's gifts but will grudgingly share when commanded. Needless to say, he has not thought of touching her shoes...she has yet to take them off!

We are so grateful for our friends and family who traveled many miles just to share and participate in this special event with us. We thank you for your kindness and generosity...we are all truly blessed to know you.

And to Baby bee, we are so lucky to have been given such a beautiful, intelligent, and loving gift from our Heavenly Father. We couldn't have asked for a sweeter spirit to live in our home and become a member of our family. We love you dearly.

Baby bee is ONE!!!

Its hard to believe it but our "littles" (the affectionate nickname given to her during her birthing hospital stay...We couldn't decide upon a name until the day we took her home), "Chubby Delicious" (as she is known to many of her aunts and uncles), or Baby bee (as I refer to her here) has turned ONE.

Its sad to admit as a parent, but we almost forgot it was her birthday...We had our dates (not her actual birthdate) mixed up and thought her birthday was one day later. Luckily, we have been practicing "Happy Birthday" because it is Busy bee's new favorite song and she had been sung "Happy Birthday" many times on her actual birthday. Phew!

As any parent knows a child's birthday is accompanied with the oh-so-fun doctor's check-up. In the Army they refer to them as "Well Child" appointments. Ironic that the child goes in well but does not always leave that way... Anyway, Baby bee had hers today and it was quite the experience. I mistakenly thought we were going to have a great experience as we had made it a) on time, b) through the doctor's poking/prodding with minimal issues, and c) everyone was waiting patiently in the immunization waiting room.

That was until Baby bee, who had been chewing on the rubber tip of the infant tylenol bottle managed to open and spill all of its contents on her white shirt and my pants. The other moms in the waiting room were trying to hide their "glad that's not me" chuckles...Bless them!

I frantically searched the diaper bag for wipes only to realize that I hadn't remember to put them in this morning as I had told myself to "remind myself" last night. A nursing student took pity on me and brought me wet towels. They managed to remove most of the stickiness but the staining damage was already done.

Eventually, Baby bee's name was called and Busy bee, the stroller, all of our bags, Baby bee and her now bright orange shirt, and I all went into to the "shot" room. Baby bee did a great job getting the three shots in her legs but she almost managed to make the poor technician cry when he tried unsuccessfully three times to bandage her finger after taking a blood prick. He was trying to wrap two of her fingers together (wearing latex gloves) all the while Baby bee was moving her fingers, her hands, her arms...And once he would get it on she would promptly pull it off...all the while she was giggling and smirking what I can only describe as a "devilish smirk." He confided in me that giving shots to babies was the least favorite part of his job. I am sure Baby bee didn't help him change his mind.

So with the doctor's appointment and the shots done, I was certain we were in the clear...I mean we only had to make it to the car and drive home, right!?!

Well, Busy bee decided he didn't want to walk like a "big boy" and promptly threw a full-blown tantrum in the hospital halls when I gave him the boot out of the stroller so Baby bee could take a ride. His crying only worsened when opening the car door I accidentally hit him in the head which caused him to fall into the wet, slushy snow and ice covering the parking lot. So with newly drenched pants and an orange-stained shirt we loaded into the car. The whole ride home I consoled myself saying that they would sleep for hours after all this trauma.

It's now three hours later and I am the one who needs a nap...they are still fully charged and raring to go...maybe the Army should change the name from "Well Child" check-ups to "Well Child, Frazzled Parent" appointments.