Rub a dub dub, my baby in the tub: Avery style

She may scream, she may hit, she may pout, she may spit. She is loud, she is tough, she is spirited, she is rough. But she is my Avery. She is sweet, she is funny. She is loving, she is my honey. I love her spirit. I love her smile. I love her sense of humor all the while.

I love you Aves!

My favorite time of year

Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of year. I love the weather, the leaves, the start of school, the end of hot days, the smell, the memories, the upcoming holidays.

The best part: Halloween. I love celebrating this spooktacular holiday. Now, I know what they say about ghost and goblins and yada yada yada, but I love it anyway. And not for the spook part. I can't stand haunted houses and I've never summoned a spirit, well except for that one sleepover at Lisa's house in 5th grade, but no spirits were listening that night. No, what I love is the season. The dressing up and running around outside eating candy and having a grand time. What other time of year do we do that. What other holiday allows me, no requires me, to buy candy by the pound? Yes, Halloween is the holiday for me.

Enjoy our pics from this year's trip to Living History Farms, one of our favorite Halloween traditions.

I'm sorry, who are you???

There are moments, when I am doing something with one of my kids, or I'm watching them play and I think, "who is this child? Where did my little girl go?" Today was one of those moments.

The Rousehouse was busy, as usual. Showering the two little girls, and mom and dad. Making beds, flipping pancakes, reading books (Ella read an entire book on her own today for the first time, Clifford at the Farm boardbook, we are so proud!!).

During the hustle and bustle, Claire is snapping pictures of the family on her DSi and making them look all funny, thanks a lot for that feature Nintendo, no help needed to make my bedhead look funny. Anyway, I sat down for a breather, or more honestly, I hid under my covers for a few minutes of peace. However, during my brief escape Claire comes over to show me a funny pictures and says to me, "hey Mom, check this picture out. Let's post it on Facebook!"

"What?" I say not sure I understood her.

"Let's post it on Facebook, mom" she answers.

"Facebook? What do you mean?" I ask. Still not understanding this teenage talk from my 7 3/4 year old.

"Facebook, mom. On the computer. You can just click on this F here and go straight to it. We can post it on your page." Answers my daughter like that's a totally normal thing for a second grader to say.

"How do you know about Facebook!" I ask. Ready to call the school and complain.

"Mom, everyone knows about Facebook. You know, you're on it all the time on your Blackberry!"

"Oh ,that Facebook" I say. Busted!!

They just don't miss a thing. So, I punched in my parental code to access the internet on her DSi, thanking those great people at Nintendo for that handy feature, and we, my daughter and me, uploaded our first picture together on FB.

"I'm sorry, but who are you??? Where has my baby gone!"

Tradition.....tradition, dum du du du du du du

"Who day and night must scramble for a living, feed his wife and children, say the daily prayer? And who has the right as master of the house, to have the final word at home?
Tradition.....tradition!"

Okay, Okay! I'll stop. I would just like to go on record saying that Fiddler on the Roof is my all time favorite musical performance!

But, that's not what this post is about. It's about tradition, as in family tradition. As in the that thing that guide my house, my daily happenings, my weekly happenings and, more importantly, equality amongst my children.

As is tradition in our family, Avery got her first haircut right after her 2nd birthday, whether she needed it or not! She loved it! As you can see from the pictures....

Here's the thing about Traditions though. They help me parent. They help me remember what to do next, in the big scheme of things. For example: first haircuts, Halloween pictures, Birthday muffins, School pictures in front of the same door every year, our Easter Party, Friday nights at Grandma's, Tuesday Night Family night, the homework chairs.... the list could go on and on.

Sometimes I think, "why do I do this? Every year the same thing." But then I remember my family traditions growing up and it still give me a warm feeling inside, a small smile on my face and a renewed vigor to haul out those decorations and prepare for the holiday, or whatever Tradition faces me next.

The best part? Not only am I creating those warm memories for my kids (well, hopefully. As long as they can overlook my sometimes demanding, perfectionist way of making those traditions happen. Come on people, move!) I am also providing some stability, some peace of mind in knowing what comes next. In the crazy world we live in, with things changing around us sometimes too quickly and too often, it's nice to know that when you wake up on your birthday, you get muffins!

To all of my friends, who stick my those Traditions with the same zeal as me, fiddles off to you!

Happy Day Indeed

Yes, I'm smiling again. A big, fat, happy smile. I'm home with my babies again!
First, I want to say thank you to my friends and family who helped me so much in my transition into the workforce, and then back out again!
Second, I want to say thank you to all of my dear friends who go to work everyday and then come home and do a rock star job of taking care of their little ones. You are great examples of all we can do.
Third, I want to thank my dear, dear hubby for helping me realize my priorities and my needs.
Lessons learned. Hearts revealed. Experience gained. Enough said about that. On to better things!



I am very fortunate to be back at DMACC, doing some part time work. I really love it here. I love what I do! What a great feeling!
The best part... Avery gets to come with me 2 days a week. She gets to go to "school" at the DMACC child development center. She loves it! She is so cute!! She takes a nap on a cot, serves her own food, drinks out of a big girl cup, hangs her own coat up and puts her lovey in her cubby.
She washes her hands, often! I love watching her. They have one-way mirrored observation booths so you can go and watch, unnoticed. It is hilarious what kids do when they don't know they're being watched! Priceless!!


The other new highlight of my day is "homework time". When my girls get home from school they each grab their "homework chair", which is one of the stools at the kitchen island, and we do homework together. It is such a great time for the 3 of us to bond. I love hearing about their day, their friends, lunch and the always exciting bus ride!


Finally, I get to pick up my house every night, then head upstairs to snuggle with my husband and look forward to another day. What a great feeling!


Lessons learned this last year:
Budget shopping
I don't know God's plan
I don't know what's best for me or my family all of the time
I have to walk through the crap to appreciate the beauty
I have to be reminded sometimes of what matters most to me
Life isn't always easy or fair or good, but God is!
Just because things aren't going they way I think they should doesn't me I can't be happy. I can be as happy as I choose to be at any time.


Lessons I hope to learn this year:
How to be an awesome Aunt.... I can't wait!!!
How to slow down and enjoy the moment
How to cook

2 down, 1 to go....

"The bus is here, the bus is here!"

Claire and Ella headed off to school for the 09-10 school year.

I absolutely cannot believe that I have 2 kids in grade school.

And more than that, I can't believe my baby Ella is out on her own, in school, as we speak.

Where does the time go?

Claire was excited to start 2nd grade.

She enjoys school so much and I think she'll have a great year.

She know a lot of kids in her class this year, unlike years past, so that's fun.

Claire has a great teacher, Mrs. Julseth.

I'm excited to watch Claire grow this year!

Ella started Kindergarten this year. She is definitely ready! I was not so ready, but it's not about me! Ella was so excited to go to school she was up and dressed before I even made it to the shower. She couldn't ride the bus with the big kids the first 2 days because Kindergarteners do transition days, but she got to go all day today.

Ella is going to do great! I can't wait to post all the cute things she says and does and all the amazing discoveries she's going to make along the way.

As for Avery, she has a few more years. But in the meantime, she gets to play, tumble, sing, swim and nap. Not a bad gig!

As for mom, I'm just putting one foot in front of the other. I'm excited about the school year starting, fall coming and life continuing to change.

I thank God today for opening my eyes to the things that matter the most to me. I plan to spend this school year watching for and finding all the great things happening around me. I am truly blessed.

I hope you and your kids all have a great year and I promise to get back to posting the ups, downs and all-around fun times happening at the Rouse House!

The exciting days of our lives.....

Wow! So much has happened since I last posted.

Where to begin:

* Janelle has finally adjusted to full-time work. Apologies to all of those who had to work through that with me. It was not the easiest adjustment, but they never are. I'm glad to say I now get up every morning by 6:45 without too much trouble. I am now able to come home every afternoon and not complain the entire evening about having to go back. I have even learned how to run errands and go to kid's activities in the evening and still find time for house chores and hubby time. Who knew there was so much more time in the evening when you don't spend it complaining and wishing for more!

* Ella Grace graduated from Preschool. Yes, my baby #2 is heading off to Kindergarten this fall, just one day after she turns 5!

I have a very hard time believing that my little baby, my red-headed little spitfire, my snuggle bug, the light of my life, is going off to the big K.

Claire completed 1st grade with flying colors. She is such a kind and

caring girl. We are very proud of her. I wish I could have the empathy I see in her.

She is also our most sensitive. Of the three girls, she had the hardest time adjusting to me going back to work. I think that because she has

had me home all her life, and is old enough to know the difference, she

really struggled with me being gone in the morning. I usually get home

soon after her, but it was the mornings that she struggled with the most.

I also had to learn to balance work and volunteering at her school. As

home room mom I had responsibilities, but as Claire's mom I had to

"be there". She wanted to see me in the classroom, laminating and cutting, like I used to. I learned that taking 2 hours out of my day to "volunteer" in her classroom was well worth the cost to make her feel better, and me too!

And Avery, well, Avery is Avery. Sweet, funny as can be, TROUBLE, cuddly, daring, brave, smart, curious, couragous,

tricky, talented, hilarious, vibrant, a blessing from God.

She definitely completes our family... Yes, I am NOT having any more kids!

Avery makes the world a better and place and to be able to be a part of that, to watch that happen as she grows, is truly something this working mom does not deserve!

Blessings to you all.

Love,

j