Laundry Party

I finally found a way to stay on top of my laundry.
We have a laundry/American Idol "party" every tues. It goes like this if I let them stay up and watch they have to fold all the towels and their clothes while they watch. During commercials they run up and put them away--IN THE RIGHT PLACE--and get back in time before it comes on. So I just wash and wash throughout the week and then bust it all out that night and we sort and we fold. The Mt. Laundry is intimidating at first but it goes by quick and we are always done with time to spare before American Idol is over.
Ben never makes it very long he still has to go to bed because he is just to counter productive. He just knocks everyones piles over. Which makes Colin almost have a nervous breakdown.
Kristen on the other hand is just way to busy to be bothered with folding or bed. She thinks she is a SuperStar! She usually bows after each performance. Like every diva she has unreasonable demands and will not cooperate for the photo ops I had in mind. So this is the best I could get.


I don't know what I'm going to do when the season's over. I'll have to come up with a new plan or be drowned in laundry.

Princess and the Pee..

No there is no typo here this is a new version of a classic fairytale that I get the joy of playing out.
Once upon a time there was a baby girl born in a home full of testosterone, love, and of course "the force". From day one-actually that's not true we got real excited about how mellow and how much she slept the 1st two days-it was a miracle we finally got a baby that was going to not be so high maintainced the heavens have looked down and smiled upon us at last!! This joy remained just long enough to realize it was just the Vicoden she was getting through nursing. So from the time we brought her home and I was detoxed she decided sleep was really an unnecessary and annoying practice that kept her from her plotting domination in our home. Her plan was really quite brilliant. Make the 2 supposed leaders so sleep deprived that it would be easy to overthrow them. She has mixed up her techniques over the past 18 months with waking up just once at night, then letting you get used to sleep for almost a month and just when you think you have conquered all she decides to remind you who really is in charge here. She will then punish your futile hope by getting up every night for the next week. This cycle continues but the new twist is and explanation of the title of this post is:

Princess Kristen has decided that her bottom can never be bothered by moisture when she is to sleep. The promise of the diaper to pull away all moisture is false advertising as far as her now "sensitive cheeks" are concerned. I change her right before bed and then like 3 or 4 hours later she wakes up-yes she is a little wet but I know for a fact and much research(which was mostly conducted by neglecting to change a diaper out of laziness or Kevin and I holding out until the other caved and did it) that there is way more absorption that can go on before there is any leaking. She then goes back to bed dry and happy. So I suspect either I have purchased a defective batch of diapers or the much more likely answer is that this is a new ploy to continue her rule. I think she can feel a tremor in the force that another baby is coming and she is going to have to kick it up a notch to make sure we realize this is her Empire and we are her minions. The boys have already accepted their fate and let her walk all over them(quite literally sometimes) but I have not given up all hope. I will continue my own plotting. Luke and the boys came up with that in our house daddy was the King, I'm the queen, Luke is the prince, Ryan the duke, Kristen is the princess and poor Colin they made the servant. I tried to explain that there can be 3 princes but they all(mostly Luke) were happy what they came up with. Maybe this baby will bring balance to the force and provide a happily ever after to this not so fun fairy tale. The other option is they join together to bring us all down-- I will have to monitor them closely. They will have plenty of time for planning when they both are up half the night.

Popcorn Popping

Here is a fun video. As we have already established she's not a very verbal child(that is actual words, she screams and grunts quite well) . Popcorn Popping is her favorite song and even though she never actually attempts to sing the words she has the actions down. So well actually, that she is always a couple of seconds ahead of everyone that is being slowed down by actually singing the words that she can't be bothered with.

Another 'Mere Meltdown

I really shouldn't be complaining about this situation but I am going to anyway. I say I shouldn't because Kristen just had her checkup and the doctor told me she was advanced in her motor skills but she was behind in her verbal skills. Which she then proceeded to tell me was very typical for little boys!! The doctor's not concerned because she says since she's surrounded by boys that is why she probably has these traits. So basically I have a really pretty nonverbal BOY! Blast if they haven't corrupted my little girl again!

So I should be happy Kristen does say a few words . They include More, Mom, Dad, Ball, Uh-Oh, NO, and of course the favorite 'Mere. In case you aren't aware of this word it is her version of Come Here. This is one word I wish I could delete from her limited vocabulary. This is also where my complaining comes in and the explanation of this title.

I know many of you are not familiar with the 'Mere Meltdown but it is a common occurrence in our home. It is a condition that Kristen has developed. Quite tragic really. At least for all those that live with her. It begins with an arm gently urging you to follow her and saying "Mere". Well, if you choose not to obey her demands that's when it gets interesting. Her arms both begin to flap frantically about like a new bird trying to take flight. Which would be amusing if it weren't for the noise that accompanies it. It is like a rapid fire gun, but much more high pitched and annoying-"MERE! MERE! MERE!. The shrieking continues until someone breaks and follows her. This pattern repeats countless times throughout my day. By the end of day I am ready to have my own 'Mere Meltdown.

I tried really hard to get the whole scenario on video but when she noticed the camera taping her she suddenly would stop so I never could get to the true meltdown. Just like her to not let me get evidence to prove my plight. However, I have found a great new use for my camera(meltdown stopper). I think most of the Richards' have witnessed this at Grandma and Grandpa's house and they can corroborate my story. Anyway, I do have a couple of beginnings of the 'Mere Meltdown' that you can at least kind of get the picture. It would help to understand better if you turn up your speakers as loud as possible and then play the video over and over throughout your day. Preferably just as you sit down to finally rest a moment.

WARNING: Continued viewing may cause headache, severe agitation, and/or the sudden urge to go lock yourself in your room.