Watering

We planted some basil and cilantro today. Herbs are the only thing worth planting in pots, I've decided. 

And flowers. We'll get some of those tomorrow I think. 

Of course we could have watered with the hose, but this way is much more fun.

This skirt is my favorite and it is the funnest and easiest to make. I particularly love this fabric. 

Here is the pattern. 

Another Reason to Dress Up

 It's Evie's birthday!

 "I love your dress!"

"No I love your dress!"

Chickens

I buy my eggs from my neighbor/friend who has a mini farm in her backyard. One time there was a large egg in my carton she said was probably a twin- that chicken always lays twins. Sure enough there were two yellow yolks inside. It kind of creeped me out for some reason.

We had a playgroup in her backyard the other day, but Avery wasn't feeling well, so we left early. I am just going to take her with me next time I go buy eggs.

Come On.

 You know what makes me want to cry sometimes?

This. 

When Evan throws his food on the floor. I work so hard choosing a meal that is suitable for him, easy to eat and healthy too. I cut the vegetables specific to little fingers and little teeth. I blow on it to make sure it doesn't burn his mouth...and he throws it all over the house.

I know he's just a baby, but the thanklessness of this job is killing me today.

 My saving grace is Piper swooping in to clean the mess. That's thoughtful of her.

Plus my friend Tiffany brought me her laptop today to borrow while Jimi's gone. Mommies of the world got to stick together.

Is This a Boy Thing?

Last night I was sewing. It sounded like Evan was entertaining himself quietly. I look over and he is excavating the cupboard.

He acted like it was a very important job he had been assigned.

Do all boys do this? I swear he leaves a pile of upturned dirt in his wake. There is no organized box, tub, or cupboard he can't empty.

taking a break

One Last Kick to the Stomach

So when Jimi told his boss that he got a new job, the guy says, "Well, congrats! Alright, we need one last big push from you." It just never ends.

Long story short, Jimi took the airplane to Florida and will be there until Wednesday. He told them he will work until the end of the month, then call it good. Good riddance you crazy company. 

Why doesn't he just quit on the spot? We don't want to burn that bridge even though the bridge has burned us many times. Plus the joke's on them because this is all overtime now, which means: Disneyland money!

Some other answers:

1. We don't know where we will be based yet. It will be a while before we find out.

2. Ground school (to learn how to fly their airplanes, etc.) begins April 11, and lasts for two months. So we will be here in Vegas for two more months for sure.

Our New Employer

Starting April 11, Jimi will go into ground school and start working for Allegiant Air.

Good bye, Vision Airlines!

I can't even contain how happy and relieved I am. I have been shaking with adrenaline and joy for 24 hours.

When we found out they were hiring, we applied, fasted, prayed, hoped, begged to get an interview. I was upstairs putting Evan to bed, and Jimi came bounding up the stairs, smiled and told me he got the interview.

Not only did we really want to work for Allegiant because they offer the lifestyle we love (home every night), it started to become imperative that we get out of Vision. Jimi - literally - has had NO scheduled days off since January. That means when he goes to look at his schedule, it's just blocked off - every day he is on. 12 hours days usually. Do we live in some third world sweat shop? I ask you! Through finagling and some snow days, he has had a handful of days off this year.

He studied and practiced the flight simulator and studied and prayed and fasted and studied. The evening before the interview I took the kids down to the park so he could have a quiet house to study. My friend Lindsay was there and I spilled our secret Allegiant interview. I just needed to give my stress some room to expand.

The next morning he was off to the interview. I kept getting surges of adrenaline and prayed all day that it would go well. Me and the kids went to my friend Natalie's, and I accidentally spilled the secret to her too. More expanding.

When it was over, he called and just seemed really relieved, but unsure. "I will be really surprised if I get the job". And we just had to wait to hear. We had to wait a week. Wait, wait wait.

Then a few days ago, there was a rumor around Vision that they were pulling the plug on the Vegas base. Jimi would have to fly out of Florida or Kentucky. The base change would take place Thursday (today). They give us so much time to plan and prepare for a huge change. I love it. (no i don't). We kept saying "come on Allegiant!" My heart was so set on getting this job.

So yesterday I was getting the kids ready, and Jimi called me. He sounded nonchalant and said, "now guess what the rumor is?"

"now what?" - sick to my stomach

"I start ground school April 11 at Allegiant" !!

I freaked out. Jumped up and down, screaming, shaking, blood pumping, crying...I am so thankful.

Yipppeeeee!

Finger Puppets

This is what we did all day today...

I am a sunbeam teacher and I love it. Here's why:

First of all the lessons are so fun. "I am thankful for water"? That was a few weeks ago.

Second of all, I have Avery try out all the projects and crafts to see if three year olds will like it. It's fun.

Third of all, I have always wanted to be a "crafts with your kids" mom, but I didn't really know how. This gives me an idea.

Fourth of all: I have the cutest class.

Anyway, this week's lesson is "I am thankful for animals". So I decided to see if making finger puppets is something I feel like spending time on. I do. I couldn't stop. They are so fun, and Avery has been playing with them all day.

Here's a tip: felt glue.

favorite: the hippo or the doggy or the penguin

least favorite: the chicken or the sheep or the frog

Sunday

Avery pretty much picked out her outfit for church yesterday.

Evan, if you learn how to walk we'll go to Disneyland...!

Birthday Party

Nolan and Ryan (Dana's kids) were born on the same day.

So they had a big, fun birthday party to celebrate...

Avery loves birthday parties. She clapped after we sang happy birthday.

She likes to be the one who sits next to the birthday girl.

Curls

Evan's curls are so cute.

I have the straightest hair in the world, so these little curls are new territory for me.

He has sprouted his top teeth finally.

I just want to gobble him up. He puts his blanket over his head and giggles. He walks a little while holding onto our fingers. He loves toilets, stairs, dishwashers, rocks, and laying his head on my shoulder. He babbles and acts like I can understand his important information.

gobble gobble gobble

Purple Dress

Why do my babies look so old in this picture?

Avery loves her "purple dress" that Gma Larsen made for her. She watches it go into the washer and is standing by when it comes out of the dryer. I mentioned this to Grandma and two days later there was another purple dress in the mail. Two purple dresses!

Every once in a while, Avery calls us by our real names. Out of nowhere she'll call out, "Jim?!"

You can tell she is imitating me when I am calling for him.

She also calls out "Kel?!"

I am Mommy Kelli and Jimi is Daddy Jim. She is so fun and helpful.

Last night after Evan had been asleep for two hours, he woke up crying. I went to investigate and found he had a two hour old poopy diaper.

I changed him, scrubbed off the dry poop, put some ointment on the rash, and put his jammies back on.

Then we cuddled for a while until he was good and sleepy. I love being able to fix the problem and soothe the helpless little dear back to sleep.

Princess Birthday Party

We had a princess birthday to attend today.

...heavy plastic heels, two braids, yellow dress like Belle...

and we are ready.

Wait...twirl.

Now we are ready.

Callie the birthday girl!

Now I really can't wait for Avery's birthday.

Climber

Day 30

a picture of me today and 3 good things that happened to me this month...

(this was actually yesterday)

One month later, I still love my haircut.

good thing #1

 We had a two woman baby shower which meant hanging with my best girls until 11pm. 

I am taking them all with me if/when we move. They are the best mommy support system ever.

good thing #2.

Jamie and Sammy came and played all day long.

Here we are in post bath larder. Sammy got to wear Avery's "unisex" jammies, and Avery assumes anarchy is rule when she doesn't have any clothes on.

Jamie's lap is the place to be; four babies vying for real estate.

really good thing #3.

 There was actually room for us to go hang out with Jimi at work!

 

We are always the minority on these tours, but today we were the only white kids on the flight. The Asian passengers love to stare and stare at Evan (and take pictures). The white wispy hair mesmerizes.

I love to stare and stare at their unique and brave fashion sense.

The undisputed highlight of the trip was seeing Zulu (or Zuzu as Avery calls her) the cat. We have been talking for days about going to see Zulu at daddy's work.

We chased her around all day.

sidenote:  i am so sad the 30 days is over. this was the perfect month for me to do it, with jimi working so much. it was such a great way to document events - pre-blogging era (pbe).