Inside Joke

Bo: "Mush! Mush! Robot!"

[all children, including Jack, laugh hysterically]

I think I'm out of the loop!

Little Moments

These are the little moments that made my day today...

This morning, Bo came running over to me and looked me in the eyes, "I love you, mom!"

This afternoon, Jack was scooting all over the den. It was precious to see him working and grunting and only moving backwards; he'll figure it out eventually.

Tonight, Ella was entertaining Jack with teething rings and finding ways to turn the rings into jewelry. She suddenly exclaimed, "twothreefourfivesixseveneightnineten!" I'd never heard that one from her before. I guess she can count to ten!

Love it!

Chilly!

I think that fall is officially here. The high today is around 60; nevermind that it's supposed to be in the seventies again later this week! There is a definite chill in the air. Dinner is simmering away in the crock pot, and we're enjoying the brisk change. I already miss shoes that simply slide on and single layers of clothing, but I do LOVE the fall!

Jack enjoyed hanging out in the garage while the kids ran around outside!

Busted

Lately, Bo has chosen to discuss certain personal issues [read: poo-poo] at the dinner table. We've been talking about the fact that it's really only appropriate to talk about using the bathroom when we're actually in the bathroom!

Today during lunch, Jack took a break from eating to take care of some business. As I was getting up to change him, I reassured him that we would come back to the table once we got his poopy diaper taken care of.

Bo quickly reminded me, "Mom, we should not talk about poo-poo at the table!"

Beware, poo-poo patrol on the loose!

Daylight Savings

Did the time change last night, and I just missed it?

Bo and Ella are still sleeping! I keep going in there to check on them, thinking I'll rouse them from their slumber. I've checked them both and they both seem to be fever free, but I just can't believe they haven't gotten out of bed yet!

I know Ella hasn't felt well, and it's been a couple of days since Bo fell asleep during his afternoon rest time. I guess I should just enjoy the fact that it's 9:20 and they are both out.

Oh, and I had to wake Jack up at 8:30. He was sleeping so soundly, but I needed to give him a dose of medicine and get him going for the morning...

So now I'm wondering if it's at all possible that Bo will not wet the bed...hey, a girl can dream!

**Updated: Okay now, seriously, it's 10 AM!! Did my kids turn into teenagers overnight?**

Sick Day

What a day!

We were stuck inside all day, but I think it was actually just what we all needed. I was super productive, and managed to have some fun with the kids as well!

I'm still in shock that Jack has double ear infections. This was him this morning...

Yeah, he really seems sick, doesn't he?

Irritable? Nope.

Trouble sleeping? Nope.

Fever? Nope.

Tugging on ears? Nope.

Trouble nursing? Nope.

He is one seriously chill kid!

Ella, on the other hand, has not enjoyed being sick quite as much. She has been able to eat and drink though, so that is good.

But she's mostly done a lot of this...

I'm not going to lie; there's been a decent amount of whining too. She's been fever free since about noon, so I'm hoping that this is it! Looks like we may be in the house again tomorrow, but there's still a possibility we'll all feel up to at least running a few errands!

Mine is hot!

Long day.

Part of me wishes I could just end the post here, but I'll give you a few details before I crawl off to bed...

Ella woke up yesterday from her nap with a fever. No other problems to complain about, but I could tell she was feeling off. She keeps telling me "mine is hot" and she often refers to herself in the third person. It's too precious, and J's mom talks about the fact that he did that as a kid as well so I guess she comes by it honestly!

This morning, Jack had his well child check, so we all headed up to the doctor's office. The big kids were supposed to get flu shots as well. After our last visit to the doctor's office, I certainly prepared myself for the worst!

It really ended up being an extremely successful trip.

Jack is growing like a little weed and now weighs 16 pounds, 12 ounces! He was laughing during the exam and having so much fun. I was certainly surprised when the doctor announced that he had ear infections in both ears. What, huh? I couldn't believe it!

Bo had to get his flu shot first. I told him that it would hurt, but only for a second, and his request was that I snuggle with him during the shot. He cried as he actually got the shot, but then immediately stopped when I told him it was over. Then, he sat and put his Diego sticker on his shirt. Big fun!

Ella was next, and she cried a little harder and a little longer. The funny thing is that her cry was just so different, so emotional. At first, she cried because it hurt, but then she was just sad. She kept looking at the nurse like why did you hurt me? She did manage to get it together pretty quickly so that I could console Jack during his shots.

So now I've got two sick kids and one who is not excited about the prospect of spending a day in the house tomorrow...

It's been an emotional day. Seeing my kids hurt, even if it's just for a flu shot, is just hard! Then, I got a call from a friend as she was on her way to the hospital with her husband. She was crying; I was crying. It was terrible. I know that we are not guaranteed even tomorrow, but it's easy to live as if the days will only end when we're ready.

J reminded me of this parable in Luke.
Jesus talks about a wealthy man says to himself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry."
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
[it's Luke 12: 13-21]

I'm out, and I'm praying all the sick babes sleep well tonight!

How is it even possible?

Six months ago, I was doing this...

...recovering at the hospital the day after Jack's delivery.
It is almost impossible to comprehend that he was six months old yesterday.
What an amazing addition he has been to our family!

20 years

As I was picking up the toys littered all over the den at about 9 PM, I couldn't help but think about the day.

Typically, the kids help me clean up their toys before bed, but tonight I was at a crossroads. It was 7:37 PM, and I knew I only had the energy to do one of the following: call J at work on skype and let the kids say goodnight and tell him about their day, or have them help me clean up.

I did not have the patience to do both!

They love talking to dad on the computer when he has to work at night. I know it is something J treasures as well.

So, off we went to the computer and then we made our way through the messy den to bed.

Lately, I find I often ask myself, "what will I think about this in 20 years? What will the kids think about this in 20 years?"

I like to think, and hope, that the conversation with daddy on the computer is much more meaningful in the long run than me guiding and directing them around the den picking up toys. I do think it's important that they learn to pick up after themselves, but for me, the relationships typically trump the tasks.

This is kind of a new place for me. I love the task. I love making lists of tasks and crossing them off. I love feeling productive.

But my small children are teaching me that the relationships are the heart of the matter. In 20 years, I hope they will talk about how much fun it was to talk to daddy on the computer when he had to be at work during bedtime.

I know I will miss them, all warm, clean, and squiggly in my lap. I will treasure their energy, enthusiasm, and excitement when they see daddy appear on the computer.

Those sounds and smells and smiles are much more meaningful than help cleaning up the den.

Specificity

I guess this is what I get for telling Ella to take her diaper into the den and lay down so I could change her.
I forgot to mention that she should not lay on the table...

Cheese! Is this a problem, mom?

Mum-Mum, anyone?

Jack's been attempting to eat a mum-mum for a while now. He's finally starting to get the hang of it!

How about that lovely pink tint the camera adds?
It makes me so sad :(

In-home daycare?

At 9 AM on the dot, the pest control guy was here ready to spray. He told me the kids should get their shoes on until the solution dries, so I ushered them off to the laundry room.

Once they had their shoes on, they raced back to the den to watch Rodney work. They were so fascinated. I'm sure we were a sight, all four of us, just staring at him while he sprayed the den!

As he finished in the den, we began a brief discussion:

Rodney: "Did we have a discussion about the in-home daycare the last time I was here?"

Me: "Uh..." [I was a little confused and unsure of how to answer for a moment]

Rodney: "Wait, [motioning to the crowd of onlookers] are they all yours?"

Me: [beginning to giggle] "Yes, they are all ours!"

I think he was a little embarassed because he started to mutter something about how he just assumed because they were all so young, etc. I reassured him that it was no big deal and we both had a good laugh.

I've been chuckling about it all day!

It's official...

...it's time to call the exterminator!

Updated: Yes, it is a black widow.

Turns out they are pretty common around here. Thankfully this one was out near our trash cans, unlike the last one that was creeping around the kitchen! I noticed the webs the other day and thought they looked mighty "disorganized" which is a common for black widow webs. Then, I found this gal under one of the trash cans. She was already dead, belly up, but I still rushed to call Rodney. He'll be here at 9 AM!

Knock, Knock

Bo told me this joke this morning:

"Mom, is the water walking?"

"I don't know Bo, is it?"

"No, the water is running!"

He passed!

J got his Physics boards scores today.

He PASSED!

Yay. I just wish he wasn't working tonight so he could be home to celebrate with me!

Politics

I've attempted to avoid the topic of politics being that this is our family blog, but I couldn't resist these shots of Bo...

He got sick the other night and I needed a place to put him while I was cleaning up. I had the presidential debate on, so he was watching it while I scrubbed the bathroom down. Apparently he's not that interested in the upcoming elections. All that talk about the economy and taxes lulled him right to sleep!

Empty

We spent the weekend with Jason while he was moonlighting. Sounds glamorous, right?

Yeah, not so much.

It was 48 hours of humble pie.

I love being a mom, and for the most part, I feel like I do it pretty well. Enter the star of my show: PRIDE. Ugh, it's ugly and yucky and I got a nice dose of reality this weekend that gave my pride a run for it's money!

At home, I feel like I am patient with my kids and creative and fun. When I think about my childhood, there are two things that instantly come to mind: peace and laughter. My childhood experience is largely defined by those two words. When my husband and I talk about our past experiences, I know that his situation was a lot like mine! We pray that our kids will have a similar experience.

Cut to this weekend. We're in an apartment that is small and cramped and has lots of unsafe things to play with. Jason leaves [with the car and the stroller] for the day, make that two days, and I'm on my own. Saturday, we managed to have fun exploring the inside of the apartment and watching a little bit of Qubo on NBC. The kids were tired after a late night of laughter Friday night so they all took good naps. Now, at home, I typically have an hour or so when everyone is asleep. Saturday, it didn't quite work out that way, so I didn't have even a moment to just sit, and be. Something I love. I need!

By Sunday morning at 9:30 AM. I was empty. Empty of patience, and creativity. I was frustrated that we were stuck inside once again, and I had not had a moment to myself. After a morning of whining and mischief, I was ready for naptime. Once again, the kids slept, but in shifts. That meant I had someone I was in charge of every second.

I felt myself withering! And almost as suddenly, I found myself so empathetic. I talk to women, young mothers, all the time who feel overextended and exhausted. Their kids do not sleep well at night or do not nap. Oh, how easy it is for me to judge them or to attempt to offer a quick and easy solution, "well, my kids..."

Ooooh, it was like salt on a wound. In that moment, I just wanted some understanding, some sympathy, some encouragement. I was loosing myself amidst the chaos of it all.

It was this verse that immediately came to me:
Psalm 23:5b
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

When I try to do it out of my own strength and my own pride, it all falls apart!

I wish I could say that in that moment I felt instantly refreshed and invigorated and recharged. Not exactly, but I did feel a little bit of that peace in my heart, and we did manage to have [some] laughter for the last hour of our time in that apartment.

Bo is already asking when we're going to be going back, so I think the kids had fun! Hopefully they will remember the excitement of it all instead of memories of a grumpy mom!

We enjoyed all of our meals at this table. The chairs with armrests was a huge plus!

The indoor basketball goal provided some entertainment as well.

Ella needed a little help to make her shots!

We also spent a lot of time carrying around our new baby [thanks Jill!], but she did not want to have her picture taken!

Jack hung out on his mat or in my arms...

Oh, and he's started rockin' on those knees. Is it possible he's going to be crawling soon? I don't think I'm ready for it!

My camera has started adding a nice pink tint to pictures here and there, so I'm hoping it can hang on for a little bit longer. We made glasses out of wikki sticks and drove the toy around the apartment quite a bit as well!

The other hit game...Thomas the Train. We spent a loooong time on the "tracks' [sidewalk] outside the apartment. The neighbors must have thought I was crazy walking around in circles and making train noises with three small children attached to my body in one form or another. The apartment was the station, and Bo's been asking all day today when we're going back to the station?

Soon, sigh, soon.

Hmmmm

J is at the hospital, we're watching Veggie Tales and enjoying a little snack. I'm working on some creative plans for the rest of the day...

Naptime, anyone?

Road trip, take two!

Yep, my bags are packed once again!

J has a moonlighting gig out of town one weekend a month, so we're all going to join him for a[nother] weekend away. I know he has to work the whole time, but I'm looking forward to at least being there with him.

I brought a few DVDs because I'm anticipating that two days in a non-childproof apartment may require a bit more television than usual. I also plan to hang out at Wal-mart because I'm pretty sure that's the only place in town to shop.

We will have the computer with us, so hopefully I'll be able to update throughout the weekend!

Games

We always played a lot of games growing up. I remember counting McDonald's restaurants on road trips or guessing the exact time we would arrive at a specific location.

I think my favorite road trip game was the one where we got to pose family members for a photograph. At each stop, a new family member set up the pose and took the shot. Once we reached our destination we had the film developed and our hosts determined the winner. Big fun.



I also remember playing games around the house. My parents would frequently get big packages from my grandparents. My grandpa worked for Kraft, so we always loved receiving boxes of caramel and marshmallow creme. We would frequently have "caramel hunts" around the house for a little treat.



All that to say, that my sister and I have recently started a new game of sorts. We will often talk to each other throughout the day and compare our current status...

Me: nursing and refereeing some game between Bo and Ella that inevitably results in tears
Her: dashing into a clients office with a fancy popcorn snack in an effort to recruit clients

Me: heading to the library with the kids and wrestling three little ones into and out of carseats Her: sitting in a coffee shop drinking a latte while she waits for her "coffee conference" to show up

It's always interesting to see the differences in our day-to-day lives.

This afternoon, I gave her a call as I was making a quick trip to the post office sans kiddos...

Me: Greeting J at the door, package in hand so I can get to the post office and back in time to get dinner together. I've got baby food on my shirt in various places; I'm wearing a minimal amount of mascara, and my choice in footwear: flip-flops.
Her: Shopping at Banana Republic in her power suit and heels.

So different.

And yet, as we were talking, I joked that I would so enjoy being at the mall shopping in that moment. She quickly replied that she would give just about anything to be out of the uncomfortable heels she'd been in all day. I think it was a long one for her.

I love the perspective she gives me. I so often realize that if I don't enjoy the moments, even the ones with food stained shirts, minimal mascara, and flip-flops, then they will be gone. Even though the days often seem to drag on with little glamour or excitement, the months and years sift through my fingers in an instant.

Nap time?

Bo just informed me that he really can't rest today because his feet are wide awake instead of asleep.

Nice try.

She really does love him...

But then again, who could resist this?

Not enough words

There are not enough words to convey how refreshing this weekend was. It's funny that I can say that after a weekend with six kids at four and under, but we seriously had a great time! I love getting together with great friends and enjoying great fellowship.





We had the privilege of getting to know this couple as newlyweds, and then we've managed to have kids together as well. Our oldest boys are about six months apart. The girls are about 10 months apart, and the baby boys are only 3 months apart. So. Much. Fun.

The big boys were thick as thieves. They had a blast playing in the backyard.

The tandem swing was a big hit.

Then, the boys decided to fill the pool one cup of water at a time. That made for hours of soggy entertainment. After all the hard work with the water, we cooled off with some popsicles!

Bo also got to enjoy his first attempt at the Wii. It was hysterical just to watch him figure out the whole system. At first, he just kept running all over the house trying to steer, but he eventually figured it out.

The last night we were there, we put the girls and baby boys to bed and had fun roasting marshmallows. Super cool!

Our girls immediately bonded over baby dolls. They also enjoyed playing outside and posing for pictures.

Again, the swings were a big hit!

The girls didn't get to roast marshmallows, but they did have a great time playing in the tub. They enjoyed splashing around and playing with some shaving cream!

The little boys mostly hung out with the mommas! Thankfully we got a little time away from all the kids to enjoy some shopping and chit-chat.

The men had some guy time as well.

AND we were able to hire a team of sitters so that we could enjoy an adult's evening. That was awesome! It was such a blessing to watch our kids play and enjoy catching up with good friends!