Good Clean Fun

As you may (or may not - it wasn't your washer) remember, the washing machine broke in early November. It took 10 days, but the part showed up and the guy fixed it. When he fixed it, he found a bearing going bad. He told Mike about the bearing, but said that the bearing could last 6 months or 6 years - hard to tell with bearing. Six.Loads.

I was working from home on a complex project and decided to throw a load of the kids' clothes in - just to run in the background. And the belt broke again. I called Mike to deliver the bad news and we quickly decided to cut our losses on the current machine and order a new one. When Mike ordered it, they said it would be delivered the day before Thanksgiving. Perfect - I was on vacation that day and we'd have a new machine before the holidays. [Spoiler alert: Nothing in this process was perfect!]

When I got the call to schedule the delivery, they said that with the holiday, the machine couldn't be delivered until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Bummer - but our awesome neighbors were out of town for the holiday, so gave us full access to their house and laundry room. We were feeling good that we could ride this out with minimal trips across the yard to the neighbors - and to the laundromat.

December 1 rolled around and I again found myself working at home, awaiting my new best friends - the washing machine delivery guys. They came, life was grand, and then they unboxed the new machine. The whole front panel was crushed in. Sob! So away they went with the broken new machine, while the broken old machine continued to sit in the basement.

After calling Whirlpool for several days (argh), I finally got an answer as to when the new machine would arrive. December 22! WHAT!?!?! There were multiple calls, one decidedly unhelpful customer service person whom I wanted to strangle through the phone, a few tears on my part and a few cuss words on Mike's, but December 22 held firm. We debated cancelling and going to Sears, but we had gotten such a good deal that we hung in there. With repeated trips to the neighbors and the laundromat. For many weeks.

I got a call the week before Christmas to schedule the new delivery. The guy started out by mentioning how busy they were with the holidays. I was about to throw a fit to rival Q, when he told me that he was authorized to offer us Saturday delivery ... meaning December 20. Glad I didn't yell at the nice man ;-)

The delivery truck didn't get here on Saturday until almost dinner time. Something happened with the installation where there was water spraying all over our laundry room. So Mike didn't get to enjoy the birthday dinner we made for him and got to spend his evening doing plumbing (not his favorite thing). BUT, by 9:00 that night, the new washer was washing clothes. Hallelujah!!!

We spent Sunday washing everything that we'd touched for the last two months and enjoying the luxury of doing laundry in our own home. And grandma was happy that we arrived north for Christmas without pulling a college freshman move and bringing our baskets of dirty clothes.

Three cheers for a new washer!

Declan - 6 Months

Well, Declan is [over] halfway through his first year. We blinked. It happened. He’s the final baby and I am equal parts okay with the kinda needy baby stage being firmly in our past (until MANY years from now when there are grandbabies) and super sad that my days of snuggling an infant to sleep are flying by at breakneck speed. It helps that Mr. Man is seriously the happiest baby in the universe. Until he’s not.

As we prepare for a busy week of Daddy’s birthday, traveling north, and CHRISTMAS, I want to be sure to reflect on what the new half-year-old is doing these days.

• Sitting. He can. It’s fun. But crazy blondes assault you. And when you are the third baby, mom doesn’t surround you by pillows anymore. Motivation to stay upright has never been higher. 
• Crawling. So yeah. He can crawl. It’s still a work in progress but once he gets a little more control over the arms and legs working together, watch out world.
• Toys. D’s goal in life is to bite everything. Or hug it. And then bite it!
• Teeth. Two teeth complete the adorableness of seriously the best smile ever. He is a charmer and we are so totally wrapped up in that charm. I love how he can be mad and if someone makes eye contact with him, he stops yelling to smile.
• Eating. He loves his food and is working very hard to figure out that pincher grasp so he can get those silly puffs in his mouth.
• Talking. He loves to babble along with the gang. His volume level is robust.
• Giggling. He’s such a little giggler. He loves being scared and laughs non-stop when people yell “boo” in his face. He’s also a daredevil and will giggle when you toss him in the air and catch him. He is very much like his oldest sister in that respect.
• Relocating? Hopefully after the holidays, he will relocate from our bedroom to his crib in the kid room.

Please I Can

Please I can sit with Declan?

We work hard on manners here. One of my very least favorite stages is when the babies start to talk and every request sounds like a mini-Marine order. “Milk. Cracker. More.” It’s not that they are purposefully rude, but the constant battery of commands with no please or thank you can get to even the most patient parent (and we all know I’m not the most patient). So as soon as small Vs start barking the orders, I start repeating back as I’m getting the request: “Milk please. Cracker please. More please.”

Then, they learn to string words together. “Milk please” becomes the new en vogue barking order. So we take it to the next step. I repeat back, “Please can I have xxx?” Except two-year-olds do funny things with words. Quinn has clearly been listening as I parrot the polite way to ask for stuff – but then her brain twisted it just a bit. So she says “Please I can xxxx?” but her inflection is always a question. It’s really the cutest thing.

Please I can go to Disney on Ice?

Our days are filled with “Please I can sit on the counter? Please I can have milk? Please I can play with Buggy’s baby? Please I can you read me a book?” [no – I didn't put a typo in there. That’s how she asks] Because I’m so used to parroting at this point, I usually answer (not as a question) “Please you can sit on the counter.” The best thing about Quinn is that she also takes "no" as an answer fairly well - even when she has asked nicely. At least 75% of the time, there is little to no fuss when we say no. I'm bragging her up because that's pretty good odds for a toddler!

But a word of advice. She is asking a question using her best manners and she knows it. Do NOT ignore a Q asking a question. She will go on robot repeat if you don’t respond. And a simple “yes” or “mmm-hmmm” is NOT a response. Look her in the eye and acknowledge. Or that cute little voice will repeat “Please I can” until your eyes fall out and your head explodes.

Anyone we will be seeing over the holidays, listen closely. Acknowledge the question. Please you can!

Please I can sing Jingle Bells?

Pancakes and Santa

All three with Santa

We were driving home last night from J&C's big 4th birthday party when a sign at the Jr. High caught my eye. Breakfast with Santa tomorrow at the KC Hall. Hmmm ...

We've been chatting about when to brave the mall and go see the jolly guy. It's getting close to being too busy already. And we all know Q's affinity for strangers - based on the success of last year's picture (still a favorite picture). I was thinking if it was going to be a huge failure, at least I could get some breakfast out of it.

Mike was greatly concerned that a pancake breakfast at the KC Hall would be as crazy busy as the mall. So we did a quick consult with a buddy who told us to just make sure we were there early - before the after church rush. We have a baby, so no problem on that! 

Two smiling girls

Totally a new tradition. It was so delightfully fun and much more relaxing than schlepping through the mall. Santa was so kind, there was no line, the girls got to see him twice, and there were pancakes. All Vannestes were pleased with the outcome.

Quinn was willing to sit on Santa's lap the first time. The second time she and Bugs went up, she chatted from afar. Which was just fine. AND since it was the KC Hall, there was also a nativity scene. So the ladies spent a little time chatting with Baby Jesus as well. 

I was also glad to finally hear what Fiona asked Santa for ... as she wouldn't tell me. It was a secret, she said. Sneaky four-year-old!

The Queen Came

Our day care provider's gift to her families is that she keeps the kiddos late one evening in December for a fun-filled movie night ... and the moms and dads can have a date night. It's wonderful for us and the kids love it too.

This year was even more magical than usual. Because ... Queen Elsa from the Frozen movie showed up!!! She came to read books and sing songs with the crew. Ms. A told us that Fiona knew every word to every song. Yep - so do Mike and I. It's on repeat here by blonde popular demand. Also, we think Declan is trying to say "let it go." Mike and I thought it at dinner one night, but attributed it to Frozen delirium. But just a couple days later, Ms. A told Mike that she also thought he was trying to say it. Silly boy!

We enjoyed our pizza date and especially enjoyed seeing the pictures of the girls meeting the Queen.

She sat on a stranger's lap. And smiled.
Powerful Queen!

How convenient that she was wearing her favorite
dress - that she thinks looks like Elsa's dress.

Need a Laugh?

We needed a laugh around this joint. Remember the sinking ship post about the washer breaking and then how it got fixed. Psych! The washer rebroke itself. LONG LONG story that I will share later (when I have the strength) - but no working washing machine at Chez Vanneste until December 22 (Lord willing). Dear Heavens!

Luckily, oldest baby has the greatest belly laugh in the history of the world. And she was willing to share her smile with her mama and daddy - who really needed it. Enjoy!

She was watching this YouTube clip with Sven and Olaf from Frozen. It is as funny as Bugs makes it look. Watch it. You'll thank us!