in pictures: sisters

5 days

five days out of seven this is how Mason spent his afternoons last week. Poor little man. I am crossing my fingers that we are at the tail end of this nasty bug.

currently

time: 9:18 a.m.
location: computer nook
eating: pretzels
drinking: water
thinking about: lauching my website
wondering: when that will actually happen (goal by the end of Feb.)
wanting: to snuggle up by a warm fire and finish reading The Uglies
needing: to turn up the thermostat
creating: a more organized home (ongoing. With many steps backward...)
listening to: the washing machine rattling the house and strawberry shortcake coming from the other room.
wishing: I wasn't missing the boat on this instagram rage! Love these images, Lew! Thanks!




feeling: grateful

what January looked like...

Brittain loves playing with her "magnagat dolls" she got for Christmas. After she dressed her doll she said, "Mama, look at me! I'm going to church to be a star rocker!" Because that is what we do on Sundays.



What is the fascination with laundry baskets? I think I have a picture of each of my kids playing in one. And the movie was much more exciting on the small screen. Hmmm...

What turning 4 looks like...

Brittain could not wait to turn 4. "Only two more birthdays and I can go to school!"

Brittain chose chocolate doughnuts over cake. (Thank you, Krispy Kremes!) And she got to spend the whole day with all her siblings who were home sick with the flu (but not too sick for doughnuts.) She watched lots of Strawberry Shortcake, played musical chairs (not a hit), and chutes and ladders (too long). Brittain loved the heart pillow that Avery sewed for her, and has had lots of fun building and decorating her toy cupcakes. Overall, I think it was a success.

I hope this next year and a half goes by more slowly than the last four years have. I love having Brittain home with me. She is fun and absolutely full of life! She bounces everywhere she goes. She is a wonderful sister to Chapel. They play together so well and are constantly hugging on each other.

The other day Brittain informed me they were playing "grandma and the little kid. I'm the kid and Chapel is pretending she's the grandma."

We were playing Conncet 4 and Brittain blocked my win. "Aah, you blocked my plan." I told her. On my next move she sighed and said, "aah, you blocked my planet."

It's been a big year for Brittain so far. She had her tonsils and adenoids removed because they were giving her so many problems. She was super brave and loved riding around in the wagon at the surgery center. While she was doped up she kept picking at the air, trying to catch something. I asked her what she saw and she said ladybugs. So I reached in the air and "caught" one for her. When I opened my hand to show her she looked at me like I was the only crazy one in the room and laughed, "nothing," she said.
She was back to standing on her head before the day was even over. Eventually the fact that she had just had surgery caught up to her and she slowed down a bit.

While she's four, she hopes to play bingo, do school with mom, and eat at McDonald's.

in pictures: love

The Invisible Wishing Tree

Today was the first day back at school for the older kids. We had a skiff of snow yesterday giving them an extra long holiday. It was a gift. One last lazy day spent in pajamas, eating pancakes with buttermilk syrup, closer to lunch time than to breakfast!

Fast forward to this morning,over cold cereal in a cold kitchen Mason was fussing that he had to go back to school while I kept wetting his head with cold water trying to slick down the rooster hair that refused to acknowledge that it was indeed a school day. "Maybe Miss. B won't be there today." He said.

At 2:30 I rushed to get out of my pajamas(I was totally in denial) and rushed up the hill to pick the kids up from school. Mason greeted me with a big smile and an even bigger hug. "Mom, I think there must be an invisible wishing tree in our kitchen!" he exclaimed. "This morning I wished Miss B wouldn't be at school today and she wasn't!"



And now, I'm off to the kitchen to wish for some freshly baked cookies, a cleaner house, and a school schedule that doesn't start until, say, 10:30 a.m.

New Year's Goal

So... I have a goal to post more than 7 times to this ol' blog this year. And look, I updated my header to include the baby (before she even turned two!)
Off to a good start I think.

Christmas cookies. Check!

The cookies are made...

My kids love to bake goodies. They (argue) negotiate who gets to put in which ingredient. "But you did the sugar last time." "Mom, can I put in the flour?" "It's my turn to mix it first." The list goes on. And on. Until at last we're down to the chocolate chips. Then everyone is more concerned with getting a handful of chocolate than whose turn it is to put them in the bowl.

The last time we made cookies of the chocolate chip variety, I was fumbling through the messy cupboard that is congested with cookbooks, spices, and prescriptions (that are most likely expired), not finding the ingredient I needed, I said, "Oh Kay- rap!!"

That's when Brittain, who is happy to help with any job, piped in, "can I put the Kay- rap in Mama?"

She's funny. We've been laughing about that one for a while now.

Merry Christmas! I hope it is peaceful, bright, and full of love!

(on a side note. What happened to my header?! Oh well. It's slightly outdated as I now have 4 children and new baby is closer to 2 yrs. than 1. Yikes!)

Ahem...

This blog is giving me an anxiety attack, sitting here in it's neglected state. I'm organizing images. And thoughts. And I hope to share some of them here. Shortly.

How to fold towels

Mason's take on folding laundry.

More pictures of Chapel. Seriously.

More pictures of this monkey at destineeblau.com.

Chapel's favorite time of day

I guess it's fair that every other post (if not more) has pictures of Chapel. Since she's not even in the banner.

This kid melts my heart

(and also, someone besides Chapel needs some face time on the blog!)

Mason will be starting kindergarten this fall. This is the thought that keeps popping into my mind at odd times throughout the days, sending me into a panic. That's not enough time. Not enough time to teach him, and to play, and to snuggle up with stories on the couch. I'm thankful for the reminders, before he's gone most of the day. I need to spend more time playing.

This boy is obsessed with all things Mario. Grandma and Grandpa gave us a Wii for Christmas. It's a total blast. But... we've had to limit playing days to Friday and Saturday (and special family time) but even when it's turned off he runs and jumps around the house, shouting he got "a big" (mushroom) or star power. He's renamed Brittain "Baby Peach". In the car, every time he sees a flag it means he passed a level. Sometimes he'll take a break and just draw pictures of Mario and Luigi. It's insane. Really.

Soccer starts this week! I'm looking forward to the distraction!

Hope

When the world says, "give up,"

Hope whispers, "try it one more time."

~Author Unknown

Roll with it

I am so, so far behind on blogging. For example, my baby is almost 10 months old. I know! I haven't even recorded the story of her birth and here it is almost her one year old birthday. Grandparents and Christmas have come and gone, along with 3 other birthdays. Not to mention funny things people have said and done. Ay yay yay!

I am hopeful that some day I will be able to make more time for the journaling. For now, juggling 4 kids, shooting birth sessions, working on my new website, and working out (6 flippin' days a week) with Ryan have consumed my waking hours. And I'm just going to roll with that. For now.

Speaking of rolls...



look at this little chubber.

Please Help Me!

I need your vote! Kelli France is giving away one seat in her 6 week online mentoring program. I really, really, really want to win. All you have to do is go to Francephotography.com, scroll down to Destinee Blau and place your vote! And please tell all of your friends. And cousins, and well, everyone you can think of. It would be an incredible business opportunity for me. Thank you!

(A real post coming in the foreseeable future.)

No Words. No time.

Just this.

(Loved the b&w version too.)

Better than turkey

Can I still blog about Thanksgiving if I've already jumped ahead to Christmas?

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving with some of our favorite people from the branch. The food was fab. I can say that because everyone brought something to share. Turkey- slightly dry but nothin' my neighbors amazing cranberry salsa couldn't fix. Ryan made a jalapeno popper dip that was Out of this World!

I splurged on Claussen pickles for the veggie tray. I'm not the only one who appreciated that little detail. We thought it would be funny to give Chapel a taste and watch her reaction. The joke was on us though because she loved that thing! She gnawed it down to nothing.


I just love this next one. This is our grandma away from home.

Wishing you a... Disco Christmas

Apparently.


I've been wanting colored lights for the tree for a couple of years. This year we splurged. On 4 boxes. (I'm not sure it was enough! Ha!) These little gems weren't quite what I had in mind, but boy are they fun! I've never seen the likes of it. Seriously, I feel like I should put on some bowling shoes or something.


Mason- with his beloved Nutcracker from last Christmas. Chapel didn't feel at all gypped that she didn't get to help with the actual decorating.


I'm so grateful for this time of year, to remember and reflect on the life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yesterday church was canceled. Snow day. So we watched this Christmas Devotional with our kids and my uncle James who was visiting. It was a wonderful way to spend the Sabbath. Tonight some close friends came by, caroling and delivering goodies! It definitely feels and looks like Christmas.

I'm in love...

Spoiled Rotten: Round 2

So, I'm thinking about renaming this blog to "What is that smell!?" (You only think I'm kidding.)

Yesterday I was cleaning the disaster which was my kitchen. It was still cluttered with Halloween paraphernalia (minus the good candy- that stuff is long gone!) including real pumpkins that we never got around to carving but the kids did enjoy painting. They were still on the counter top claiming most of the space, for no other reason than I had not taken any pictures and it was/is on my to do list. It occurred to me (13 days post Halloween) that the pumpkins could wait for pictures just as easily on the deck. Two were moved successfully. The third? Apparently that was the smell. When I tried to lift it, the bottom just gooped into my hand and ran all over the place. At least now I'm not feeling the pressure to clean out the fridge. It doesn't smell nearly as bad now that the pumpkin has been exiled from the kitchen.

I'd just give up on the pictures but it is the only evidence that Mason and Avery even celebrated Halloween this year. Well, if you don't count the extra squishy around my middle, a direct result of sneaking and eating part of their stash. What? I learned my lesson.

I did manage to throw Chapel's costume on a few days after Halloween to snap some pictures. Brittain thought it looked like fun and was happy to re-ladybug up. The older kids were not interested. Mason was a "little" Darth Vader, just like last year. Avery was a scary vampire. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Looking for an amazing suzuki piano teacher?

My friend Sara is an incredible pianist and an amazing teacher! She's relocating to Nashville early 2011 and currently accepting new students! You can check out her site here: http://nashvillesuzukipiano.wordpress.com/.

Please help spread the word if you are so inclined!

Thanks!

P.S. I have a post in the works. For some reason I cannot upload any pictures at the moment. So I think I'll sleep on it.

Spoiled Rotten

I've been noticing a stench around these parts the last few days. Especially first thing in the morning. As the day wears on it would become barely noticeable.

Until today. No, today I ran errands, which involved leaving the house and breathing fresh air. When I returned home I was nearly knocked off my feet by the putrid smell that enveloped me upon opening the front door. WHAM!

I looked around at the mess that surrounded me and decided I had better get to work. First things first, out with the garbage. Dishes washed. Laundry started. Nothing seemed to be helping. (Nine times out of ten the old sniff test leads me to a bag of rotting potatoes in the pantry. No such luck today.) I considered mopping. In fact, I was ready to bring in the hose and just go to town. Except I had kids that needed me for other things.

Eventually Ryan got home from work and I told him I just could not find where the horrid smell was coming from. That is when he confessed.

"I poured milk in the planters. For nourishment. You know?"

Oh, of course! (Are you Crazy?!!)

I promptly moved the plants outside. Problem solved.

And to think, I almost mopped my floors.

Ten

1. My baby is growing way too fast. These pictures are from several weeks ago. She's only gotten bigger. She now wears that dress as a shirt. (Thanks to my wonderful sis-in-laws who keep her so well dressed!)

2. I wish she could stay little for longer. She's learning and growing. I love to see her excitement and determination, but my arms ache at the thought of being empty. I know that's down the road a bit. Right? But life really does move so quickly.

3. Brittain, in her own words, is "so glad to have me". She has more personality crammed into her petite little body than you would imagine possible. I am so glad to have her too!

4.I'm thinking about printing this one on canvas. It is so Brittain:

5. Mason started soccer. He loves it! So I am an official soccer Mom. And I love it too! (Loved this post!)Also, I'm co-coaching his team and it is such a blast.

6.

7. Avery is not loving second grade. "Eh, it's fine." Recess has been nearly non-existent, filled instead with laps around the track until her class can learn to be quiet while the teacher is talking. Plus, her table hasn't earned Popsicles one. single. time. Life is rough.

8. She really enjoyed doing her North Carolina Geography project though:

9. I took the kids to the Health Adventure last week. The first exhibit had a chair of the spinning variety. When you pull your arms and legs in it spins faster, then extend them to slow down. I knew better. I should have known better. But Avery looked like she was having so much fun and she gets motion sick too. So I tried it. I was so SICK! Literally. Me and all four of the babes made a mad dash for the restrooms and crammed inside. I felt a little better afterwards, enough so that I could drag myself from one exhibit to the next and fall promptly into a non-spinning chair. It was super lame. And then Brittain had an accident. Of the poo variety. In her big girl underwear. Not good for an already weak stomach. Somehow we managed to clean that mess up and stayed 'til closing time. Some days are like that. No pictures for this one. You're welcome.

10. And some days are like this:
Whispers and giggles while little surprises are thought up and carried out. Melt my heart.