Chase's girlfriend and her little brother are over today--it is a snow day. I'm not as productive as I thought I'd be, I didn't even get Cass down for her am nap until 11am and Jamie said she was up early! But she was waaaaay too distracted by the big kids to sleep! The pic is Chase's girlfriend bonding w/her future SIL...

I figure if I can get the laundry done and keep the house presentable while juggling 4 kids under 6 today, I'm doing alright. Small goals...

ETA: Yeah--I didn't even get the laundry done. But the house is back together. And it appears I managed to sell the van w/o leaving the house...Dad let someone test drive it today and

they want it. So I'm driving it up to them as soon as I pick it up from Dobbs tomorrow. Hopefully it will get a new thermostat and be out of my life forever...

So this is why having a girl scared the crap out of me...

I suck at doing hair. The reason I've had some sort of variation of a bob since 8th grade (w/the exception of a few forays into layered 'dos that always result in me going back to a bob and swearing off layers for a few years) is because I royally suck at doing hair. This is not secret. So while many women (like my sister) are thrilled when their daughter has enough hair for bows and whatnot, I was making plans for Cassie's bob when she was in uetero. In fact, I kind of dug the "Brenda Warner circa 2002" short and spiky 'do that she was sporting upon her arrival. Because God, having a sense of humor, has given me a daughter with lots of hair.

Tonight, I attemped pigtails. And while we definitely need more practice, I think it turned out kind of cute! Cass also had her first bath w/Daddy and Chase tonight--and the resulting pics are quite funny.

We've had a bit more interest in the van the last couple of days, please pray it is sold by the weekend. I'm getting so tired of dealing w/it, I can't imagine how tired my Dad is of sharing his space w/it...speaking of my Dad, props again to Grandpa Bill who came over to reprogram the homelink on his car for our garage door and ended up babysitting for an hour and a half while I went to HIS house to show the car today. My dad is the best! Thanks to him, Cassie stayed on her nap schedule and all is right w/my world. My Dad is the BEST!

I'm off to feed my girl...

District Manager of the Year

So Jamie got the District Manager of the Year award tonight at his awards banquet. YAY Jamie! He gave a perfectly lovely (and brief) speech in which he thanked me for my support (you know, b/c I put up w/his long hours), thanked his Axa mentor Coach (who hired him), thanked his team, thanked his admin. assistant, and then talked about how the market tanking is a great opportunity to build client relationships and steal clients from other companies NOT building those relationships. I love how his mind works.... The pic is courtesy of Dad--Cass is laughing and Chase is holding is eyes open b/c he's a blinker like me. I love it.

So I'm adding adorable pics of Chase and Cassie. Chase made the Lego Fire Station pictured all by himself! And Cassie is actually smiling, and I can almost never get her to smile for the camera. I actually didn't in this pic, either. Chase did. But I love the fact that she's laughing at her big brother even more! Plus, I think the resemblance to her big brother is just flat out creepy-crazy in this pic.

Jamie's annual awards banquet is tonight, so I should have the usual formal wear shot posted in the next few days. I'm wearing a bridesmaid's dress from 2000--I decided to creatively recycle. Quite honestly, if anyone actually remembers that I wore the dress 8 years ago, props to them. Seriously. I got a pedi Wednesday night and am good to go. My feet will be frozen, but my toes are looking good!

We've still got a lovely '02 Chrysler T&C for sale if anyone is interested! Anyone? Anyone?

.

Happy Fat SUPER Tuesday

I'm giving up soda for Lent. Jamie is BEGGING me not to...

Today I happened to vote around Chase's lunchtime. As our polling place is also his school, I had lunch w/him. One of the kids in his class asked why I voted and I said that we were determining who would run for President. He said, "Barack Obama is going to be the next President." I said, "Gee, I hope not. We're rooting for the other side." Chase said, "Barack Obama SUCKS!" And even though I had to tell him, "Chase, please don't say the word 'sucks' at school..." I was really very proud of my little Alex P. Keaton.;)

So I don't have any pics of Chase's Jump 4 Fun party on my PC b/c I left my camera at home. Fortunately, Aunt Mikki saved the day w/hers.

The pic to the left is Bennett, Ryan, and Chase just after Chase blew out the candles on his Spider-Man cookie cake at the "family party" after the Jump 4 Fun party. Mikki has a few pics of the Jump 4 Fun party on her blog www.hodgefamilyhappenings.blogspot.com .

Saturday was a great day--Dad watched Cassie during the party (and got her to nap in her crib for the first time all week--WTG, Grandpa)! Post-party, Mik, Bud and the kids came over for lunch and played a bit. Hayden and Brady were so good, we really had a nice time. Hayden kept telling Mikki and Bud that they could leave, but she was staying. I think she likes the Backyardigans On Demand.... Shortly after Mik and all departed, Todd, Jenny, Sarah, Ryan and Bennett arrived. Todd and Jamie took the boys to the common ground to sled and I put Cassie down for nap 2. Sarah enjoyed having the bounce house to herself for a while...then the grandparents arrived, we ordered a few pizzas, and had party #2.

Chase got so many wonderful gifts, he is in Lego heaven right now. He's spent just about every waking minute since Saturday putting together his new Legos and is very forgiving when Jamie or I mess something up trying to "help." Right now the kitchen table is ground zero for his fire station...

Well, Chase visited our ped on his bday (both kids had ear infections) but he (and his cookie cake) made it to school after the dr. As Jamie and I had Mr. K's visitation that evening, Grandpa came over and took him for a special bday dinner. He asked for Denny's and had breakfast. When he walked in and announced "It's MY BIRTHDAY!" the waitresses fawned all over him and he ended up getting grown up pancakes w/his kids meal--he was quite excited. All day he would look at me and ask, "Mom--am I six yet?" And all day I would say, "Nope. Not until 10:05pm." Poor kid. We've got the party at Jump 4 Fun this morning and I know he's looking forward to it. I need to get the remainder of his presents wrapped, although I've already given him a few "early."

So yesterday while we're at the car dealer completing the paperwork, I was holding Cassie. She kept grabbing at Chase's hair and ears. I thought it was cute. Chase didn't. So like an hour later while we're doing all the finance paperwork, Chase is between Jamie and me (I'm still holding Cass) and he buries his face on the baby, who promptly screams. I looked at him and said, "What did you do?" And he said, "I didn't MEAN to bite her..."

We're at the Toyota dealer, filling out paperwork and he BIT his baby sister. Rage filled me. I looked at the finance guy (a father of five himself, so it's not like he hasn't BTDT) and said, "Excuse me." Then I grabbed the little terrorist by the scruff of his neck and said, "Bathroom. Now." And we went to the bathroom. I gave that child the lecture of his life, then we went back into finance guy's office and he sat in a time out the rest of the time we were there. Jamie was stunned when he found out I hadn't spanked him--but I don't think spanking the kid for biting sends the right message. I don't think it will happen again--Chase was appropriately horrified. And if it does happen again, I'll do to him what my mom did to my sister to get her to quit biting me...b/c I was her teething ring for a few months.

On a happier note--the new car is A-MAZING. The heated leather seats make my butt happy and Chase is thrilled by the sunroof + DVD player. He's also thrilled b/c the DVD controls are in back, by him. That's a change from the T&C, which is still FOR SALE, btw. The T&C is visiting Grandpa's driveway--have I said thank God for my dad lately? I really don't know what I'd do w/o him. B/c the logistics of us owning four cars right now are significantly less complicated when we can park one over there. Anyway, back to the Sienna--I love everything about it. Which is a good thing since Jamie told me last night it's going to be a while (like our six year old may be driving) before I can replace it...it has 25 miles on it right now. That sort of blows my mind.

I'll leave you on this note: reason #565 I love my husband (and no, Mikki--it isn't the car)--last night he and the finance manager spent more time talking about the finance manager's personal finances than our stuff. He is Jamie's newest client. And he even though his hours drive me batshit crazy, I do love/admire that he's so passionate about what he does that nearly everyone he talks to asks for his card b/c they want HIM to look at their finances and help them retire, send the kids to college, whatever. That makes me proud. But don't tell Jamie, or he'll think the crazy hours are okay. And they aren't...