5 weeks of Meg.

She's getting cheeky, don't you think?

Henry the cyclist.

Henry and I have been taking his bike (and Meg's stroller) over to the bike trail in Rockford to get our exercise while the weather is still un-frozen. It's a nicely-paved trail that has playgrounds (with restrooms!) along the way that we can stop at. It even goes by a coffee shop so I can get my caffiene fix, and a cookie for Henry. As you can see, he typically zooms up ahead of us (but stops when I yell, "Henry, wait up!" or "Don't run into that nice lady!") And when there is a stop-sign, he always obeys, unlike many licensed Michigan drivers.

Its really cool to spend time with the kids like this. (Just thought you'd like to know.)

Kathy's visit: Before and After

subtitle: Chicks with saws.

Okay, My very best friend Kathy came to visit this weekend. I love her for many reasons. One of them being that she'll fly across Lake Michigan just to play with my kids and hang-out with me for three days. The other is that she always lends her expert advice (and labor) on home improvement/repairs and remodeling.

On Friday, when she arrived, I was saying to her "Hey Kath, I have an idea of how I can get a bigger refrigerator into my kitchen, how much do you think it will cost me?"

And Kathy's answer was "$10 and a case of Diet Coke".

Yes, for $10 in plywood and the correct amount of caffeine, Kathy was able to remove the top cabinet above our old fridge (because, how useless is that cabinet anyways?), slide the remaining cabinetry over to the left, and re-cut the crown moulding. This will allow us to put in a new, larger fridge on the right, which we could desprately use, and which never would have fit in the old, miniscule space otherwise.

Moving the refrigerator also solves a traffic-pattern problem in my kitchen, because if someone is standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, then nobody can get in or out of the doorway to the living room.

So, props out to Kathy, already back home by noon on Monday. (mmm, when will she return to Rockford, and I wonder which project will "pop up" then?)

And now, I get to go appliance shopping! (also, I'm totally motivated to finally remove the old wallpaper border and repaint the kitchen now that there is a void where the cabinet used to be.)

p.s. - the $10 in plywood was used to level out the gap in the hardwood flooring, since they laid the hardwood around the cabinet base that we moved. We also borrowed my neighbor's compound-miter saw for cutting the angles in the crown moulding and base trim.

The middle child.

And then there's Henry. (You'd think that we didn't have another kid with the latest blogs being about the girls.) Trust me, we wouldn't forget Henry.

He's becoming the typical middle child. Sweet and sassy. Small, yet big. "Mom, I AM a BIG BOY... I don't want to get dressed by myself!" And still very charismatic and charming. He just began soccer, and does a very good job at listening and participating, so far. And he's doing great with Meg. No real outward jealousy, he usually just runs by and says "Hi, baby Meg!" and does his own thing.

"Awww", you're thinking. Right. Don't let his cute ways fool you. He's devising many tactics to make himself known around the house, one which includes him taking off ALL of his clothes. Yes, ALL of them. And he just stands there in the middle of the room. (its really hard not to laugh!)

Its the full Henry.
(sigh)
Really, laughing is the only thing to do. ;-)

To Libby Lu hell and back.

Ok. Let's just say that overall, the trip to Libby Lu was entertaining and fun for Maddie.

But not for her mother.

There were several moments where you had to tell yourself that "I love my kid, and this is fun for her." And just wonder to yourself what could happen next.

Case in point:
1. Guest arriving at our house 30 min. late... which dominoed into me picking up other girls late. I hate being late. This is an omen.

2. Being stuck in traffic on the way to the mall isn't fun for the driver, but fun for the party-goers reencacting High School Musical and Hannah Montana episodes. (what should have been a 45 min. drive took and hour and a half because of the construction on the highway.)

3. Arriving late to our Libby Lu "scheduled appointment" was a nearly a disaster since they were booked for the entire day. We were "squeezed-in" for a 1 p.m. and I was given a stern look of utter distain from the platinum blonde behind the counter.

4. After completing their makeovers, Chelsea says "Mrs. Ripple, I don't feel so good" and pukes right there in the store.

5. Deciding to take Chelsea home (after giving her a Younker's bag to barf in for the car) became the longest car ride ever. The poor girl was still getting sick (yet remained glittery). I called the other parents saying that we'd be late since the other girls still needed to eat lunch, it was already 2:30.

6. Although it wasn't Maddie's first choice, we went to Corner Bar in Rockford for lunch. (who wouldn't take a bunch of 8 & 9 year-olds to a bar?) Afterward we strolled around and got some ice-cream. This was pleasant except for the fact that while goofing around, Maddie dropped her bracelet into the river, and retrieved it, so now she's wet and cold.

7. I call it a wrap and take everyone home. Please, no more for Mrs. Ripple.

We finally get home by 5:20. I announce that I'm going to take a nap.
And I didn't wake up until 1:00 a.m. to feed Meg.

Turning 9.

Maddie turned 9 this week on the 12th. "Her last year in the single digits." as Greg puts it. Of course she has been nine since she's been 4, so next year she'll probably turn 15. We had a cozy, family celebration on Wednesday, with cupcakes and shrimp-poppers. Gourmet, I know. But kids don't want gourmet, they want what they like. Could that be the true definition of gourmet?

On Saturday, I'm taking her to Club Libby Lu with 4 of her girlfriends for obnoxiously-cute makeovers into cheerleaders, divas and princesses. And afterwards we are going to walk the mall and get lunch. "You gotta show off your new look mom!"

I'm taking Tylenol in advance for this one.

more Meg...

I thought I'd post some photos showing all her long, dark hair... since I'm sure it will fall out soon.

1st day of school.

Ahh.. the first day of school. And this time with a uniform! (Which I am so glad that we have again. Its just so much easier and cheaper (yes, even uglier...) it must be that good Catholic thing, keeping you humble or something)

Maddie started at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School last week or just "Assumption", in the 3rd grade. Her teacher is Mrs. Westman, also a Notre Dame Alum, so that's pretty cool. And she's already gone on a GirlScout overnight with her new brownie troop... so Maddie is back in the swing of things.

And Henry started in the Purple Room at his daycare, which is 3-4 year olds. More like a pre-school setting. But he didn't want me to take his picture. He doesn't wear a uniform, except for when he wears one of his football jerseies. Which is actually just about every other day.

Announcing Baby...

(click photo to enlarge)

Well, here she is, our little Meg.

Margaret Kathryn
Born on August 20, 2007
at 3:02 p.m.
7 lbs, 2 oz, 20 inches

After a relatively easy labor and 5 days in the hospital for jaundice, we came home to two excited kids and our own nanny (my mom). The last two weeks we've been working hard to get some meat on her bones (since she wasn't eating too well from being lethargic from the jaundice) and basically taking it easy while I've got the chance (my Mom is here).

I'll upload more pictures when I can....