Hello!

I'm still here! Life is moving along quickly with lots of exciting things happening.  The kids went back to school this past week, Chloe started fourth grade and Cooper started kindergarten.  We had an amazing summer with lots of fun activities, experiences, outings, and even some camping!  A goal that we've been working towards for quite a while is coming to fruition and I can't wait to share it... but you'll have to be patient!

The part of my heart that walks around, outside of me.

Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's

Monday Morning

Justin works late on Mondays, so he goes in a bit later than usual. This means that our Mondays are slow to get going and it is a nice way to ease into the busy week!  The little kids have been working hard, doing their kid job (playing) this morning and I've been trying to pick up the house a bit.

btw, I'm loving this blogger app... Maybe it is just what I need to get blogging again!  Oh, and Instagram?! Love that one too! I'm meloneeb on there, find me!  Can you tell I got a new phone that is much better than my old one (which met the fate of the washing machine)?

Blogger App

Just downloaded the Blogger app onto my phone... Testing it out!

And a pic of Justin, we've had a wild and crazy Saturday evening, watching The Vow and folding laundry.

Its no wonder...

that I feel like I can never keep my house clean.  This is what I'm competing against: 

Toys, toys, toys everywhere... and she is playing with the dvds!

Nom Nom Nom

Strawberries were on sale last week and we were all out of freezer jam, so I took advantage of the sales and made some!

So easy and so delicious!!

Be My Valentine

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day!

We had a great one and hope you did too!

ps- I love cute, simple Valentine-y decorations! The "kiss me" and "Be my Valentine" ones were new this year... and my new love is using scrabble tiles for cute seasonal messages!

The folks.

The kiddos and I spent Thursday evening over at my parent's house.  It was a fun, relaxing evening... with yummy dinner!  Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us crash your house and hang out!

Five Year Check-up

Cooper had his five year check up this morning.  He is very healthy and almost square, weighing in at 39 pounds and 41 inches tall.  He had fun pumping up the blood pressure cuff himself and listening to his heart beat through the stethescope.  He had one immunization today and was very brave, but broke down afterwards.  He doesn't handle pain well :(  I tried to cheer him up by telling him that most kids get 3-4 shots at one time (we delay and selectively immunize), but that didn't help.  So, we hit Target afterwards and a new Cars race car for his collection seemed to help put the pain behind him.

He actually took his Cars collection to school this past Wednesday to share with his class.  It has been fun to see what all the kids have brought in on their "collection day".  Everything from crystals to Barbies!

On my own.

I know there are lots of strong women out there whose husbands travel for work often.  These women amaze me.  Fortunately for me, my husband does not have to travel for work more than once or twice a year.  When he does, he is gone for 5-6 days at the most and then he returns home to us.

I used to really stress out about him leaving.  Justin and I co-parent and share all the responsibilities, so when he is gone, it adds a lot to my work load with the kids.  Last week was a really rough week for me, I was PMS'ing, Piper wasn't feeling well, so she wasn't sleeping well at night, and I was just stressed out.  Justin was apprehensive about flying to Atlanta this week.  I think he feared for my emotional well being.  Of course, he had to go anyways and leave his unstable wife behind to fend for herself with the kids :-)

This week, while it would have been nice to get a break (especially since I've been sick), has gone really smooth.  Children (and mom) were fed, bathed, and where they needed to be- on time!  The dishes have been done, the garbage has been taken out, and homework has been completed.  I've survived.  I've come out alive.  And, I'm not even stressed.  I've missed Justin, don't get me wrong.  He is my best friend, my partner, my lover, but I've realized that I'm stronger and better at this parenting thing than I give myself credit for. It feels nice to know, for myself, that I'm capable. I guess it is time to stop doubting myself.

Five!!

Cooper turned FIVE last week!

 We had a small party at Chuck E Cheese for his birthday.  Just cousins and family friends.  It was very laid back and relaxed... just my style!

 Piper and her BFF Keri saying "cheese!"

 Fun for the whole Duncan Family! 

Cooper with all his loot!  It looks like a small toy store!

The progression of a popsicle

Chloe's Bakery

We gave Chloe a donut maker for Christmas and she has been putting it to good use! Last night, she made about 40 mini donuts to sell at her third grade student market*.  They were glazed Funfetti (cake mix) donuts-- so yummy!! This is the recipe we used- although we decided not to frost them, they were already a total sugar rush! http://cookiesandcups.com/double-glazed-funfetti-donuts/

*All the third graders at her school earn "money" from their teachers for doing different things.  They have a school bank that they can make deposits and withdrawals from and on the last day of each month, they can bring in homemade items that they've made and sell them to other students, to earn more money.  They seem to have lots of fun shopping from their peers!  It is a good lesson in money management and business.

Treat night!

We don't have many days, especially Saturdays, when there is NOTHING on the calendar.  Today happened to be one of those gloriously relaxing days!  It was so nice to have nowhere that we needed to be or be needing to watch the clock to make sure we get a kid off to their scheduled activity.  We had a relaxing day together, ran a few errands, played outside for a bit, had yummy meatloaf for dinner (made in my new Perfect Meatloaf pan that I got for Christmas), and then went out for a special treat of dessert at Dairy Queen!  Everything was half off for "Customer Appreciation Day," which made the treats even better!

Two of the cutest!

My week hasn't been all bad...

Cooper goes to preschool Monday through Thursday in the the afternoon.  Chloe is also in school at this time, so that means that I get to have one on one time with my fabulous Miss Piper!  I know that both she and I enjoy our alone time to hang out with no other kids around. Some days, we even luck out and get to go out to lunch with Justin, just the three of us!  She revels in her alone time with us, walking between us, holding both of our hands and having our undivided attention.  It is fun to watch her be her own person, without her siblings around. I'm so grateful for her and her gigantic personality!

Hanging out, chatting with me, in the front seat of the van while we waited for Cooper to get out of school yesterday!

Argh.

Last weekend, I developed a cold sore.  Now when it comes to cold sores, I don't get them like a typical person. Mine explode into a huge nasty sore within a day.  Normally, I can sense them coming and ward them off with L-Lysine supplements and Abreva before they manifest, but every once in a while I get one that is resistant to my cold sore fighting efforts.  When this happens, I have to go to the doctor and get a prescription for an oral anti-viral medicine... Valtrax.  Yup, the same thing you'd take for the OTHER kind of Herpes.  Lucky me, right?!  So, I have a lovely cold sore healing on my face.  On Monday, I slipped in the snow at Cooper's preschool and ended up with a nice stiff neck and sore upper back muscles.  Thankfully I have a husband that is willing to rub my back and help me take it easy (as easy as a stay at home parent of three can take it without interrupting life).  Today, Wednesday, I broke a tooth.  I have major anxiety about going to the dentist and now I can't put it off. While the tooth break is a whole corner of one molar, the upside is that it doesn't hurt, but the downside is that the break looks severe enough that I'll probably need a root canal on the tooth plus a crown and not just a crown alone.  

It just isn't my week.  It can only get better from here, right?!

Day 5 of snow!

We are onto day five of snow and the third cancelled day of school for the week. Fortunately, Monday was a school holiday and Tuesday, Chloe had a two-hour late start (many districts canceled that day), but they sent the kids home at 1pm because of the snow that was coming down so quickly. So while they were only at school for two hours, it means they won't have to make it up! AND, school has just been cancelled for tomorrow too. That means Chloe had two hours of school this week and Cooper had none. Lucky for us, Justin worked short days on Monday and Tuesday and had snow-days of his own yesterday and today (all paid!). Maybe we'll luck out and he'll get to be home tomorrow too, but I think that might be pushing my luck!

The kids are still loving the snow and are definitely not tired of yet. I guess that is an upside to only getting severe winter like this once every 2 years or so. Today has been filled with sledding, video games, hot chocolate, homework (gotta keep the kids busy!), and even donut making! I love having the kids home but I'm sure I'll be happy to have them off to school when Monday rolls around!

Important! End piracy, not liberty!

We need to do something about internet piracy, but these two bills don't fit. From Google: Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA. The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late. Go here to sign the petition: https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Phone Dump!

I've seen this done on other blogs and have always thought it was a great idea, so here I go...  I snap lots of pictures on my phone and I find that cell phone pics give a fun glimpse into everyday life!  Here are some from the past month!

Chloe with the paper doll that she had to design and dress in traditional Swedish clothing for her school cultural/heritage report.  She dressed hers for Lucia Day! 12/06/11

Piper restyled her shirt into a tube top while dining at Taco Bell! 12/13/11

Seeing the thousands of Christmas lights at our annual trek out to Woodinville Wonderland! 12/18/11 

The new stockings that I finally splurged on this year! 12/24/11

Piper, on her 2nd birthday, having a pre-bed tea party at her new table! 12/27/11 

Cooper ready to head to the swimming pool this past Saturday, despite the 32 degree weather! 01/14/12

The on-ramp onto 405 that we passed on our way home from church on Sunday.  All those cars were stopped/sliding/stuck! 01/15/12

Cookie Time!

Chloe and a troopmate selling cookies last year!

It is that time of year again- Chloe is once again selling Girl Scout Cookies! She loves being a Brownie and says that her favorite parts of being a Brownie are "helping other people, making friends, and selling cookies!"

Chloe is currently taking preorders and will have the cookies in hand, for delivery, in the middle of February! If you're local, she'll personally deliver them to you or we can mail them to you if you're out of the area! You can view the cookie selection at http://littlebrowniebakers.com/cookies/ . Chloe's personal favorite is the Do-si-dos! Cookies are $4.00 a box and Chloe will collect the money when she delivers your cookies.

Last year, she worked really hard and was able to sell enough boxes of cookies to pay part of the cost of Girl Scout day camp at Camp River Ranch in Carnation. It was her first time at camp and she LOVED it! She hopes to sell enough boxes this year to be able to attend again this summer.

Email me if you'd like to pre-order!Heading off to Girl Scout day camp, this past July!

Snow Day take two!

Chloe and Cooper are not tired of the snow yet! This is good news, since there is more in the forecast! We're loving it!!

Snowy Sunday

Today has been a wonderful day! It snowed a little bit last night and then while we were at church this morning, it snowed about three more inches! As soon as we got home from church, the kids were stripping off their church clothes and putting on their snow gear. The snow continued to come down, it was just dumping! Piper came in after playing for about two and a half hours and Chloe and Cooper, other than taking a very quick lunch break, are still playing outside, now in the dark, and it has been well over five hours! I baked cookies and there is currently a roast in the oven... such a lovely Sunday!


Water and food coloring in spray bottles makes for fun snow art! I have green, red, blue, and purple snow through out the entire yard!


Cooper and the snowman he built with Justin. According to Cooper it just needed "a hula hoop and arms to hug me."


Piper's first snow! She loved it!!