Friends

It has been a wonderful blessing to be in our new neighborhood in lots of ways.  One of them is this network of friends (I think I can call them that) that I've developed.  I've met several ladies from church, all different ages, whom I can depend on.  There are plenty of safe places in the neighborhood for my kids to be.  There are so many women who have offered help in all sorts of forms, more help than I can even use...at least for now...and I love it.  Visiting Teaching has been a huge blessing because my partner and the ladies we visit allow for real conversation about real life and it's good to be able to laugh, mourn (just a little) and feel comfortable discussing most anything together.

Then, just our neighbors are great.  Hubs and I challenged ourselves to actually go and visit neighbors this past holiday season.  I know, should be no big deal, but though we are quiet neighbors, we are also shy neighbors, so it was a big deal.  We were able to visit 2 neighbors and actually went in, sat down and learned about them and told them about us.  On Christmas Eve, I took Judy M and Quiet Man with me to drop off a goody plate to a lady who had dropped off one to us last year while we were gone.  We had the nicest visit with her and her husband.  They were good awesome people.  Many of the people in our neighborhood are empty nesters and many are retired.  They are a great bunch of people, so friendly, respectful, and understanding.

I am a quiet person around new people.  I feel socially awkward sometimes most always.  Could be being country raised, could be the very chatty mom, could be just my genetic makeup or some long ago trauma, but I am no butterfly.  So having so many friendly, fun, understanding, kind, engaging, and dependable people around makes me feel very happy.  I hope I can be as good of a neighbor and friend as these people have been to me.

Random...I am Good at This

Weird day...mostly okay but some weird.  The weird started this afternoon and it involves Judy Moody being really, really MOODY.  Not sure where it's coming from, hoping it is some fluke, maybe a side effect of some rhinovirus strain.  Basically, I've learned that I can't successfully logically reason with my 10 year old, at least not when I'm tired.

I watched some Studio C today while doing KP duty.  Season 2 is so FUNNY.  I love humor, mostly just the clean variety, so it is amazing to have a whole show of it.

I am huge.  I laugh because in public or at church people say oh wow you haven't gained anywhere but your belly, but the scale and I have some seriously dirty secrets, and I know my bum and thighs and face did not start out these sizes.  Oh well, if some nice hearted people think I look slim with that lovely large baby bump only, I should just go with it.

I feel like a parenting fail this week.  It's hard.  Why do moms have so much guilt?  My husband never seems to feel guilty about parenting or husband matters.  I am wrapped in guilt about my wifeness and mothering most days.  I put up a fair fight trying to do my best, so it's not like I feel horrible and weighed down all the time, but it's always there inside of me.  My kids are smart.  They often seem happy, but IDK if they are resilient.  The older ones (maybe all of them) are really over sensitive.  Now I always assumed that's my bad because I am a fairly sensitive person, was more so growing up, but I held it in a lot and just worked through it on my own.  Not so for them.  I just hope it's normal, for them.  I really do try to provide fun, spend time with them, but I definitely use tech babysitting to shower or prepare dinner.  I lock myself in the bathroom sometimes, even as they breathe at the door.  Heck, even the dog follows me to the bathroom and waits outside.  And hopefully, and maybe, right now not only am I feeling a bit more high strung because our family is soon to change.  Maybe they are feeling that way too.  Every time I've had a child I've managed to still make everyone feel loved, included, and secure, so why would they even worry or question?  Is it instinctual.  Deep breath.  I will not ever know.  Well, I better work and worry while I work instead of just worry.  Hopefully some happy will come into tomorrow because tonight I feel bleh and bad, like I've done something wrong but am just really trying to do my best at all the things I'm supposed to be doing.

Quiet Man's Hyper

So very, very hyper.  He had a great birthday though.  His cute star birthday crown from preschool has his name on it, so no pic of that to protect the identify of the innocent.  He bounced off walls and had fun all day (only a little fighting with Hulk who couldn't understand why the fuss over his frenemy).

As I was trying to capture photos of the crazy bouncing wonder, he started posing.  Here is one of my favs, though a bit blurry.  He was so excited he blew out his candles halfway through the birthday song.  I have seriously never had a kid so excited for his birthday.

 And here we have his cake...via Dad's skills.  It is Hotdog from Skylanders for all those who haven't been introduced to the popular, fun, though moneysucking enterprise.

I am VERY happy to have my not so quiet anymore but sometimes hard to understand boy in my life.  This morning right after he woke up and sat him in my lap and had to tell him his birth story.  That was always my favorite thing about my birthday...mom reciting the events of my entrance into the world.  I remember when Quiet arrived I was SO WORRIED because he was 7 pounds and looked so different from my more cherubic newborns.  My midwife said my placenta was small too, which can mean something or nothing.  Seven pounds is ittle bittle in my family.  I remember looking into his eyes and thinking I don't care if there is anything wrong with you or not.  You are perfect to me and I will love you and take care of you forever and ever.  Turns out, as far as I can tell, he is a perfectly intelligent and regular kid who has a heck of a time with his language.  I think Hubby and I have worried and prayed more about this than any of other parenting challenges we've had so far.  But as I felt 5 years ago, I feel now, no matter what happens or how quickly his speech does or doesn't come along, I will love him and teach him the best I can and protect him and try to get all the things for him that he needs to succeed.  My dream is for him to have a "normal" life in the next few years.  I thought he would surely be doing well by kindergarten, and now I don't know.  He has no problems having a good attitude and working hard and playing well with others and soaking up all the learning he can.  He just launches into fast almost gibberish sounding sentences sometimes and then I wonder what is going on.

BUT, BUT, BUT he has the bluest eyes, gives the sweetest cuddles and is so good to his mom.  He is patient with me, rubs my tummy and loves his soon to be sister.  He actually looks forward to our calm before the storm Friday mornings when he is home from preschool and he, Hulk and I cuddle and watch a movie.  He styles and brushes (ouch!) my hair.  He spent a long time rearranging and "cleaning" my room and making my bed yesterday.  He gladly takes care of Enzo when I ask him.  I could go on and on.  He is very service oriented and VERY, VERY devoted to his mom.  I am so glad that God gave him to us.  His spirit is so sweet.  I know he feels loved and secure in this family and that he is where he needs to be!  Happy Birthday, little 5-year-old guy.

Pack Meeting One

Dragon completed his Bobcat Trail and who knew you got a mom pin each time you rank in Scouts?  Again, I am amazed how much Dragon likes Scouts.  I'm still not all "into it" like the cool parents, but I will get there...if he keeps loving it and Quiet Man and Hulk do too.  The leaders seem awesome.

My belly is big, and I felt awkward in case you couldn't tell.  A good night despite a sleep deprived Hulk and a bonkers because his bday is tomorrow Quiet Man.

Monday, Not Manic

In my unintentional attempt to use the word NOT in post titles (day 3)...

My "little" bambino is apparently around 7 pounds now.  I am desperately fearful of a 9 pounder by the time all is said and done, but, hey, Hulk was 8 11 and Judy 8 9.  What's a few more ounces?  Wait, lemon-watermelon, never mind, bad idea.  It's just that feels big or at least lanky, and of all the absurd things, at her 20-week ultrasound (20 weeks-when they are all basically the same size), the rad tech was exclaiming over her long femurs.  Everything else measured to size but she had incredibly long femurs.  IDK.  You just never know what's going to come out until it comes out.  She will either be my beautiful, long femured babe, or another 6 foot girl in the making like Judy.  I'll take her and love her with every part of my being regardless.

AND the reason it wasn't a manic Monday beside hearing precious heartbeats and head down and GBS negative?  We recovered every public and school library book that was due this morning...and that was with waking up the kids only 30 minutes before liftoff.  It was poetic.

Why 30 minutes before liftoff?  My Body is T-I-R-E-D.  It can sleep lots, in between the middle of the night romps, and in the morning, it doesn't want to wake up, so I get up around 8 and then have a few minutes' peace and then boom, we are rushing around and shooting out the door.  It's not the glamorous lifestyle (read-lovely, organized, peaceful, slow paced) that I dream of, but I am in survival mode for the next few weeks or months...or years (ok, it won't be that bad), so we just count the getting where everyone needs to go on time as a blessing.  Forget about the sometimes wonky hair.  God still loves us all!!!

Not Beethoven

It's been 13 months since Judy Moody started piano lessons.  I think it's a very useful (and valued) skill.  Judy has a love/hate relationship with piano.  I'm not the type of parent who's going to force and fight her through years of lessons.  I hope though.  I do remind her many days about practice but don't force her.  Some weeks I let her be, and she is unable to pass off her songs for the week.  She's played at several recitals, and we've had so e very proud moments and less proud ones.  Her current passion is The Sleeping Beauty Waltz, which coincidentally I love.

A Not So Quiet Day

....would be every day at our house, but today was particularly lively as we had friends here to celebrate Quiet's upcoming bday.  He was VERY PLEASED to finally have a friend party, and his dad was VERY PLEASED to go a little loco at Zurchers to make for a fun party.

1)Leftover pizza after a very good day. 2) with friends during the madness.  3) hulk, very attached to balloons.  He has carried them every where, collecting more and more all day, and pleaded for their rescue when they get stuck.  In fact, Hulk is currently sleeping w/ 5 of them in his room.

Fridays That Never End

Hi, I'm Anna, and Friday used to be my favorite day.  It's OK now, but it's the day I work 9+ hours besides my motherly and household duties.  I am exhausted by the end.  I hope it doesn't go on forever, but for now, this is the best solution for my family's situation.

In happy news, tomorrow is Quiet Man's birthday party.  We have been doing a daily countdown to his birthday on the drive to preschool for about 2 months.  I love his enthusiasm!  So only 4 more days until his birthday but only 1 day until his party with a few friends.  We are attempting a Jake and the Neverland Pirates party.  Thankfully, Hubby and I follow a philosophy of keeping parties very simple, and kids seem to like that.  They don't seem to need all the brouhaha that can go along with a birthday-they just want to play...and eat...and have a sweet treat to finish with.

P.S.  I want to remember Hulk's total sweetness (amidst the tantrums and disagreements).  He blows kisses to everyone and when I tell him I love him, he says, "Lub Oo" right back to me.  only 21+ days as my baby and then he becomes a middle child...but at least he has company, fun company.

37 weeks

Tomorrow is the day that Baby Girl is no longer considered a preemie when she's born.  I'm guessing she is at least 7.5 pounds right now and not preemie status anyway, but dates make the rules, not the fact that I am probably growing a little giant.

Despite my Gigantica state (and my sad little hairdo for the day), I've had a productive week.  I am so crazy tired, so much pep talking is involved, but Monday I was able to paint Judy's closet for a project Hubs is doing and I also got laundry done AND I did a massive kids' clothes sort, which I know all you moms of many out there can appreciate the mundaneness of that task.  It is so funny because in fall my kids were short on clothes and now they have a few too many (at least for them to keep cleaned up instead of strewn everywhere and then thrown (clean or dirty) into the laundry for me to wash yet again).

Today, (oh yes, I know this gets more and more exciting), I thoroughly cleaned the upstairs bathrooms, swept and hand scrubbed all the non carpeted areas of the house except the laundry room.  Sure, it sounds like nesting, but really it is me trying to make the house look decent before anyone comes around and also trying to occupy my time and feel useful while my head is just day dreaming and night dreaming about how childbirth will be, what Baby will look like, etc.  Um, yep, I get a little preoccupied.  SQUIRREL!  (think UP)

Oh, and miracle of miracles, I walked Enzo today to go pick up Judy Moody and Dragon Master, after getting some expert psychological advice from watching The Dog Whisperer.  Oy, Netflix.  It was a lot of work being patient and positive, but I think it was productive...after he stopped trying to choke himself for the first 2 blocks.  Walk proud pretty pup, walk proud, not with your head to the ground.

Now LOOK at those 2 pictures.  LOOK!!!!  Tell me that at 37 weeks with Baby Girl I don't look way huger than at 40+1 with Hulk.  What cruel joke is this?  I weigh the sameish, maybe even a couple pounds less and I'm ginormous.  People say, "You carry each one differently," but in the words of Grover, "Oh, I am so scared!"  I just must tell myself this is what I got these hips for.  They don't do a whole lot of good otherwise, at least not for aesthetics...at least not in America.

Hehe, in the first pic I love my camera hand, speaking of ginormous.  It's all about perspective, right?

It is so nice even though this is #5 to feel loved.  Ja's package yesterday was so awesome, and then I got this today:

It's a sweet little card/note from my oh so amazing college friend/suite mate (we shared a suite but all got our own rooms, thus suite mates and not roommates), Melissa, wishing me well with baby and a Happy New Year, etc.  It is good to feel loved, especially when you feel a bit blimpie/exhausted/excited/frenetic most of the time.

Press Forward Saints, and Preggos!

General Grievous and St. Paddy's Cuteness

Nope, not related, at all, those 2 title themes.

Dragon Master is a fairly bright young chap, so he gets done with his school work quickly, and then his teacher let's him read or do art.  This boy's mind is full of creative ideas.  Yesterday, it was R2D2 cutout origami figures (yes, I know origami means no scissors, but it is often best to not argue with his logic).  Today, he made what I would describe as a hand puppet of General Grievous.  He will not allow us to call it a puppet though, so I suppose I better not.  Cute, though, and he has done all sorts of imaginative stuff with it since he got home.

 And then, you have NO IDEA how little girl clothes affect me these days!  And this one, so cute and teeny and I realized, yes, she will finally be here and maybe settled in by St. Patrick's Day.  I love babies, especially mine.  Thanks, Ja, for the fun surprise today.  Love it!

Bat Boy and Other Misadventures

Now that I am a) finding it crazy to take pictures every day, b) finding old pictures I love and c) a fan of remembering things that have happened, I have to take the time to document what I remember of Halloween.

First of all, I LOVE thrift stores for inexpensive costumes.  That's where we got Hulk's costume.  And would you believe the ever harried mom missed getting The Quiet Man in his Jake Pirate costume.  It was awesome.  We didn't have a lot of money to work with, so he looked half pirate/half biker to the untrained eye, but HE loved it and was so proud of the getup.  Dragon Master was VERY happy with a simple Iron Man getup, and his "chest light" came in very handy.  Judy Moody actually took off after the trunk-or-treat to go with a friend.  It all happens so young.

So after we ate some hot dogs at trunk-or-treat, Mom (who is a hard core trick or treater) was left with 3 boys so Dad could hand out candy.  Now keep in mind I was 5 months pregnant.  We did great for awhile, but my boys just aren't as serious about candy collection as their mama was/is, so soon the little bat was having me carry him between driveways and poor pirate boy was limping and said his foot hurt.  All the up and down was a bit exhausting for me, but we held out for several streets before heading home to drop of the 2 youngest.  Bat Boy had a great experience though.  He was VERY polite...and couldn't believe all these people were handing out candy.  It melted my heart-these sweet boys and me out in the neighborhood, filled with excitement.  It was a precious night...and a workout.  True, a minor episode of tears and terror was experienced by Dragon Master thanks to a stealthy gorilla, but it was worth it for us all in the end.

Memory Lane

How did I ever say no to that face?

 Or that one?

 Or that sweet girl?

Oh how my heart hurts to see these pictures.  I want desperately to raise self sufficient children, so I am not a big enabler.  I don't baby them.  I have expectations.  But when I see how they all looked, I have a million questions of if I really, truly embraced every stage and phase they went through (at least the cute ones; I am not near godly enough to appreciate their sassafras stages).  Why does time have to go so quickly?  

Even though they don't look quite like this anymore, they are still mine.

Even though my heart hurts at how quickly childhood rockets by, I am so thankful that I did get to grow each of them in my belly, hold them in my arms first thing, and be there for everything and to teach them many things.  Above all, I am most thankful that these precious little souls are mine, given to me by God forever.  With how quickly this lifetime flies, I could not stand having only 1 short lifetime to watch them grow.  

Restful Sabbath at Last

I loved today because I:
Didn't have to wake up early.
Had no extra meetings.
Didn't have to get up in front of people.
Got a nap (albeit brief).
Got to read for fun.
Talked with family.
Watched my Hubster and Kids be silly.
Watched a cute movie.
Got 1 day closer to getting my baby here.

This guy

How do I say it?  The Quiet Man is an artist-with my camera phone.  Most of the time when I see the massive amount of pictures he's taken, many of them black or of the carpet or the wall or of the TV screen, I wonder what he is thinking.  But sometimes I feel like the pics he takes give me a rare look into how he sees/frames the world.

 BEST SELFIE EVER

 PRISTINE SOCKS ON CUTE LITTLE FEET

 ONE FOOT-TWO FOOT

RIGHT FOOT-LEFT FOOT

I end up deleting a lot of random pics because he shoots hundreds in a week or 2, but my favorites from this week were when he took my phone on our quick trip to get Judy and Dragon.  It was like he got a photo of every house along the road and some pretty amazing ones of trees and some of his brother next to him looking very post nap disoriented.  His own little feet pics are my favorites though.  I had to keep those...they'll be honking size 12's before I know it...if I can get the boy to eat.

Orange You Laughing

Because, well, just because...

I love my little bugs!

Babies don't keep

My mother-in-law sent me this poem yesterday.  I'd never seen it in its complete form before, nor did I know anything about the author until I did some investigating today.  This poem seems so special to me now that I've read the whole thing and the title and that the baby in this poem is a girl and I'm having a girl.  Yes, preggo lady burst out crying.  

Time flies by, though, and though I marvel at seeing all my kids' personalities and stages and phases, that baby period (the time when you are exhausted and have cleaned a million blowouts and are just getting to know this little being) is equivalent to the blink of an eye.  And maybe because you are so tired, you just don't fully embrace each little moment.  I will say I was much better at it with my last little guy.  Just taking it easy and enjoying things BUT I always knew, even if Hubby did not, that another one would be along.  This time, I don't know.  This could be my last little one, and it breaks my heart (feels a relief in many ways), but I just don't even want to think about being done with babies and wonderful squirmy wiggles in my belly forever.  If Little Miss Baby is my grand finale, I want to soak it all in and take a million pictures. 

 Anyway, so, you can imagine with all these thoughts flying around and with me being so excited to meet my fifth child and with her being a surprise (which has been very different for our marriage, etc., than all the not so surprising arrivals), and with me being a fifth child surprise for my mom...well, let's just say lots of emotions.  

Mark my word, though, I will make all the time count, even as I juggle the many demands on my time, because babies DO NOT keep!

Song for a Fifth Child

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton (1921- )

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.

Mmmmm

Had a little escape tonight with the husband to Sub Zero Ice Cream.  It is so cool to watch them freeze the ice cream and to try out all the fun flavors.

Also, had a dreamy (minus the 2 boys and cat crawling on me and chatting with me) nap this afternoon in our sunny babies' room.  That's right, Hulk is still sort of a baby...for now.

Oh yeah? Well there's no rest for the good people either

No rest for the wicked.  Cliche but what I always tell myself when it's a crazy day, but you know what?  I'm not a bad person, and here I am with no rest.  Go, go, go.  Carpool, carpool, clean, kitty litter.  Crap!  We've had this Redbox for 3 days.  What's it doing on the closet floor?  And that ain't the half of it honey.

And now, my ever so kind supervisor, who is so flexible with our schedules, is asking for some OT.  Can I do it tonight?  I hope so because I don't want to let her down.  So pray for me and that Buddy Valastro can keep this chick going until midnight.

Sampson and Stress Savers

Hehe, my picture angle makes little Hulk look like his head is extra ginormous.  I promise he is a normally proportioned child.  Regardless, as promised, look at his hair.  It's all gone.  As I mentioned earlier, I felt the need to cut his baby locks again to remind myself that he won't by my BABY baby much longer.  Husband and I love him with his baby looking hair, but boy hair can get so wonky once it's reached a certain length, especially with the mean cow licks mommy has bestowed on her children.  He has been great about haircuts since his first one.  He is a little wiggle and not totally impressed with the itchy hair, but he doesn't cry and he is really an easy client to work with.

Welcome to our daily routine in the afternoon.  Judy and Dragon's school parking lot is madness.  Unfortunately, people who can make and raise children sometimes seem barely able to drive, and I hate the after school pickup in the parking lot, so I make my 2 superstars traipse across their school grounds and the nearby park and pick them up on the other side.  Traffic problem/stupid people problem solved.  It cuts down on so much stress for me and exercises their little bodies.  When Baby Girl arrives and it is springy I am hoping to do more walking to come and get them.  We live only about half a mile from the school, but winter weather makes me a wimp.  

I love seeing their bright smiley faces every afternoon.  They are normally super excited to tell me about their day.  Granted, today, Judy was wondering what in the heck is mom doing driving up and taking pictures, thus the silly face, but I'm all about throwing them off with my weirdness.  If Judy can have the quirkiest cat EVER, why not the quirkiest mom ever?

Choose the Left

My man!  The Quiet Man.  His primary teacher made him an origami bird nest, bird, and egg.  It went with a story she told where some kids were destroying a bird's nest.  TQM told me his lesson was on choosing the right.  I asked if the kids in the story were choosing the right.  "No!" Said TQM.   "They were choosing the left."

Saturday

There's no such thing as a flattering angle right now.

Stromboli

Sunday prep

Family movie night

Sore ribs thanks to little ninja

It's about consistency

So today here is my post!  Must show a pic of Sampson (AKA Hulkie) soon.

Super Brief from Super Tired

Today...I bought a bunch of fruit at a sweet 13-hour sale.  Today...I sent out a slough of emails to take care of a ton of calling housekeeping.  Whew!  Today...I got to take a nap with my sick husband while my 2.5 year old went bananas pulling toys out and bringing them into our bedroom, even as my almost 5 year old used me as a chaise lounge of sorts.  Today...I made 3 chicken pot pies, 2 to freeze.  Today...will hopefully end on a high note of working fast and sleeping hard.

S-N-O-W

It was a weird night, as many are when one is expecting, but what made it especially weird last night was that Husband was feeling sick and up all night, so every time I woke up and he wasn't there I had to reorient myself to the situation.  However, I did notice it was light outside all night and was surprised to realize that the under an inch of snow we were promised was more like 4 inches.  The kids, especially Judy and Dragon, were in heaven.  Lots of giant snowballs created on the playground, I hear.  I had a go-go-go kind of day, which is really challenging lately.  I am starting to fall behind on housework and am hoping I get some nesting energy somewhere in here, because a clean house is essential for bringing home My Precious, hehe.

My adventure of the day?  Even though I was going very...quite...slow, I did a 180 when turning down the street to Quiet Man's school.  I reacted fairly well, especially considering Hulkie managed to continue his tantrum threw the spin.  I mean, could have paused in awe or fear for a second?  Nope.

Speaking of Hulkie, in my continued efforts of helping me realize he is not going to be my baby anymore (read big boy bed for the last week officially), I gave him a shorter haircut.  Husband and I realized we like him with a more babyish look/slightly longer hair than the usual buzz cut we do, but his hair had gotten so wild (cow lick baby!) that I felt it my civic duty to get it well under control.

Adios.

So Stinkin Cute

So, I have spent a whole lot of moula on this kid in the last month, like a whole lot.  Birthday, baptism, starting Cub Scouts.  Yes, all our choice, but it hurts a little.  And the Scout Shop, they are blood suckers, helpful blood suckers but blood suckers nonetheless.

I've been so surprised how excited he has been about Cub Scouts.  I was an Assistant Cub Master when he was 3 or 4 and I drug him and his 2 siblings to every single meeting pretty much.  I was not and am not in love with Cub Scouts, but when this guy put on his shirt and neckerchief...awwwwww!  I am glad he has a good attitude and is loving Scouts, at least 2 meetings in.

The Quiet Man is Awesome

A flurry of a day...but what was I to expect from the first day back from a school break?  The morning started off great though.  Waking up...stunk, but then I was getting ready, and The Quiet Man was shadowing me.  I came out of the bathroom, and he was asking me all sorts of questions.  Then I started lotioning my itchy swollen belly, and he got this totally amused look on his face and said, "That's your belly?  I've never seen your baby belly!"  He rubbed my tummy, traced some of my numerous stretch marks and said, "That's awesome!  Your baby belly is awesome!"  He even went to tell Dragon Master how awesome my baby belly was.  It just made my morning because, you know, I am not a glowing perfectly proportioned preggo babe, but my body is doing an amazing job growing our baby girl, and even an almost 5-year-old can plainly appreciate that.  Bless that little guy.

The day after that, too crazy, though Hulk and I had a very good time at my CNM appointment (baby's heart is so fast, 160 two appointments in a row because I grow them hyper and lively) and afterward and, well, Hulkie is in a crazy cute stage.  I could gush, but I need to get to work, so no gushing.

I LOVE MY KIDS!  

Six weeks Sunday

I don't know why, but I feel obligated to attempt what I consider clever titles sometimes for posts.  I started calling this 6 weeks Sunday because I taught Sharing Time to our primary children for the sixth time in a row today.  Keep in mind, getting up in front of people, even 3 year olds, scares me and I've had 6 weeks (December had 5 Sundays plus my counselor caught a flu bug of some sort at Legoland-yay for Legos, boo for contagious illness) in a  row of it, so I am feeling pretty relieved by now.  BUT, it is also around 6 weeks until I get to hold the little alien/stranger/BFF that now has taken over my body in my arms.  I can't wait!!!

We did have a special guest at our house overnight, quite a rarity, and the kids had a blast with her!!!

Sure, these may look like the same kids as yesterday, but they look a bit more bright eyed I think.

Hulkie-decided after over a year of going to nursery flawlessly from day 1 that he would do the I'm scared to be separated from mom.  Thank goodness there are some awesome guys and ladies in there because I left home flopping on the floor and pretending that he was traumatized when I knew within 1 minute he'd be playing away.

 The Quiet Man-arm pictured with what he has dubbed his "church bag" above and charming blue eyes below.  He thinks his so sneaky because he has a few fun things in his church bags, but I'm not a new cowboy to this rodeo.  Oh the contraband kids have tried to pull on me as we go to church.  Still, he carried his bag all day and felt quite special and only brought out his kitty LoveLove? once.

 Dragon Master-he insisted on ONE MORE PICTURE while still feeling super special about being baptized, this time with his CTR ring from Grandma A.  Look really close on his hand if you want to see it.  It is a spinner ring, a bit big, so I'm hoping he will keep it safe until it will stay firm on his growing fingers.  You can also see his brand new scripture case with engraved scriptures in it (you can't see that part).  He feels pretty proud of that and has been reading and marking last night and today.  The more good word they get the better, I guess.

 Then we have Judy Moody, who was bound and determined that Aunt Ja go to class with her and sit with her all through church.  It didn't go as planned perfectly, but they all do love Ja.  Me too.  And each of the 3 oldest are excited about their new classes (mostly just meaning they each got new teachers).  Should be a good year in primary, though I will be distracted in another month or so for a bit.

A Baptism

Wow!  Today was a great day...eventually.  My morning was ridiculous because we had a very important afternoon ahead.  My dad and Karen came for Dragon Master's baptism, and his fabulous Aunt Ja came even though she's been fighting a rotten cold.  We visited for a couple hours (Dad had to get home right after the baptism), and then after we were all ready it was time to go celebrate an awesome choice that this guy made.

 He asked Elder Lammi, a missionary from Australia, to be a witness, and I asked my dad to witness as well.  For the opening with the 5 children getting baptized, I gave my first talk at a baptism (at Judy Moody's I offered a prayer).  I spoke on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was wonderful seeing those 5 eager and innocent faces watching and trying to take in the talk and their feelings, and it was equally beautiful to see each of their dads with their arms around them.  Dragon Master has been looking forward to this day, and I think he felt good about it after the fact too.  It's overwhelming, as I recall, but he is ready.  And it only took his dad 1 dunk to get him completely immersed, so that the witnesses could declare it official.

Here we have the lovely sister in her red sweater dress.  Her friend Rachel came so she had fun.

 A slightly wiggly but well behaved brother.  His face in this pic looks a little intense, bless him.

 And the little squirt, of course.  Hulkie kept me and Aunt Ja busy, had a little scuffle with a girl his age about some hymn book thievery, but he didn't cry and ran around fairly quietly.  Grandma L got all of the boys new Sunday clothes for Christmas, so they were looking VERY SHARP.

 Here's handsome dad and equally handsome Dragon Master.  They both did great, and I am so thankful Heavenly Father gave us a plan and steps to take so that we can return to him.  So happy that I now have 2 children who have been able to make covenants with Heavenly Father and try to live each day as followers of Christ.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!

crazy morning hair but at least they show they care!

You know, my favorite song/hymn to sing when my kids are going crazy in mean ways is Love at Home.  I have mixed feelings about that song because on one particularly rough Sunday when I was little and we were singing it in church, my mom had alternate words to sing to it since she was having a bad day.  

And now, when my house feels contentious out of my mouth pop the first few lines of the song.  The kids are used to it, and for some reason, even if it doesn't help them, it calms me and helps me see the ironic humor in that moment rather than just yell at them or go hide.

BUT THIS MORNING was NOT one of those mornings.  I was attempting to clean kitchen and cook them a late breakfast (I am SO going to miss vacation sleeping in...snnf...snff).  Of their own accord, I found them like this.

Dragon Master told Hulk he would read him a book and below is how Hulk looked the whole time.  Such a warm, peaceful feeling to see them like this.  Even my 2.5 year old likes comic strip books.  It's contagious in this house.  

But once Hulk saw I had a camera...

He was pulling as many goofy faces as he could.

Dragon Master tries to make Hulk's head cooperative while reading (because he is sweet and cooperative for me like that), but Hulk could only hear the Siren song of my point and shoot.

 And then, in another room, Judy Moody was helping The Quiet Man build a lovely virtual Webkinz house and explaining it all to him so patiently.  There is always hope!

PS.  Ignore the desk.  I use it for work, but it is the dumping ground for all school items, paperwork, and creative center for the prolific little men in my life.  Someday, I hope that is not the case, but for now, I will take several blissful minutes this morning when I could feel the love in our home as older brother and sister gave positive attention to little brothers and all was still and quiet.  Probably my last little miracle at the end of the Christmas season.  There have been many this year!

Day 2

Today is kind of our last play day before the kids go back to school and we get ready for Dragon Master's (he and I decided to upgrade from Obi Wan) baptism on Saturday, so I desperately wanted to take the kids swimming.  I want all my kids to excel at swimming since I didn't have my first swim lesson until I was 31 and am still terrified of deep water, and yet when they aren't doing swim lessons in the summer, it is hard to work up enthusiasm to go to the YMCA and swim.  Four kids plus 1 mom equals chaos between changing rooms and keeping track of everyone.  BUT off we went because doing all of this plus being super pregnant makes it a real adventure.  

It was actually really fun.  I am very floaty with the big belly, so it took some weighing down from the Quiet Man and The Hulk to keep me from being too buoyant.  Judy Moody and Dragon Master are pretty good at holding their own by now, and so all in all it was great.  They even, miracle of miracles, got the slide and the high dive up and running while we were there.  Our YMCA is crowded, disorganized and unpredictable, but I have no idea where else to go in the winter, so you deal with what your dealt right?

We went right before lunch, having had only a mild snack, so The Quiet Man and Hulk went right to fridge pillaging when we got home.

The Hulk managed to have no major tantrums and did pretty well except for refusing to let anyone but me help him get dressed afterward.

 Stealthy Dragon Master managed to pull a string cheese out of his mouth to be attempt to be photogenic for me.  I'll catch him candid yet!!!

 My lovely lady had to go straight to cat cuddling when she got home as she is patient enough to wait for me to make an actual lunch.

 And, of course, the pillagers at work.  Children can really work through string cheese and raisins at an alarming rate, I tell you.

It has been a good day.  I took down all our Christmas except tree lights, and I don't envy the husband because getting the lights off that dried out tree is going to be like prying a ring from the clutches of a corpse with rigor mortise.  He wraps those puppies in there expertly, in his own unique way, and I normally take them out/off (never easy but this year will be particularly bad.  You see, I am the glue that holds this joint together, and the glue is a bit extra tired and only watered the tree for 5 days before giving up, so she is Ezekiel cried them dry bones dry), but even though the language might get a bit colorful, I have no problem leaving it up to my man this year.

Now I am making a double batch of lasagna, 1 to freeze, and if I'm very fast, maybe I will have time to lie down before Hulkie wakes up from his nap in his big boy bed...maybe.

I love these kids of mine so much, and I am a bit sad it is back to school on Monday, but all good things (cliche-o-rama) do indeed come to an end, at least in this life.

365

Okay, must get this posted.  I tried to do pics that were fresh for this New Years' day, but the computer and I are fighting and I need to get to work.  SO, day 1 can be a picture from about 14 days ago.  These are, of course, my beautiful kids.  This year, I want to take lots of pics, even though Judy Moody hardly ever has perfect hair (what 10 year energetic kid does, I ask you?), even though The Quiet Man was so unhappy that morning, even though The Hulk is in the make weirdo funny faces when I smile, I want to remember it all.  So here is day 1.

Today, honestly, the kids played a ton of the Wipeout and Just Dance 2014 games we rented last night.  The Hottie Man and I went on a long walk with Enzo.  We also bought scriptures for Obi Won who is getting baptized Saturday.  I wracked my brain with what I really want to accomplished this year and what is reasonable and what will make me happy.  Still working on that.  Asking some tough questions to self.  And, I'm out, must earn money to support this precious souls gifted to me from God and a willing, gracious husband.

Birthday 33

Ha-he-hey there.  I'm just trying to survive and blogging does not fall on my survival checklist.  That's all I can say!  Coming to you only approximately 102 days late ISSSSSSSSSS my birthday post.

I may sound silly, but all I wanted for my birthday was to relive some old memories, speed style because we didn't have oodles of money for a babysitter.  The Husband and I visited our old haunts in reverse order and had some silly times wondering what people thought of us taking pics in front of their houses (our former abodes).  It was a good activity, and I was thankful The Husband went along with it.

First we have the college days:

His place-Chaffee Hall

My place-Driscoll Hall

Behind us in the above pic is my dorm room window which did not used to be overgrown with plant life.  Stage budget cuts maybe?  Or going for a more naturalized look.

This is the front entrance to my dorm and sometimes beloved Honors College.

We met in English on Tuesday, the second day of classes, in the liberal arts building.  We were assigned to the same group.

Then, of course, there were the goo goo eyes, the desire, despair, disagreements, drama, but most of all my feeling really overwhelmed that smack at the beginning of college I was madly in love and the guy was talking marriage.  Not expected and unprepared.  Nonetheless we:

Ended up here.  This is a duplex.  We lived in the front part.  I bedroom/1bath, teeny washer and dryer, teeny oven.  It was small, especially when we added a beagle, but it was our first place together after we were sealed.  We found it at the beginning of June, so that is where my man lived until we were legal.  I remember crying at having to spend $800 of my hard-earned savings on furniture, etc.  Starting a life together can be expensive.  Growing up is hard to do.  Growing up in your first year of marriage in a teeny apartment is hard also, but it's all part of the package.  We had some odd neighbors, and the duplex sharer would fight with her boyfriend very loudly and had a psychotic Rottweiler.  We survived, survived well and learned a lot.  Then Lucas started pushing for buying a home when we had lived in our duplex for about a year and a half because my little Judy Moody was on the way.

 We then moved here, stressfully when I was writing my senior thesis and getting ready for graduation all while 5 months pregnant.  But whatever!  Then, after nearly years and definitely 4 kids later, as documented in post long ago and far away, we moved to our yellow house in our beautiful neighborhood.

 K, I know seeing us kiss is gross, but here is us in love 12+ years and 4.?? kids later in front of where it all began.

It was a great birthday. simple but full of good times, and a Friday wherein I DID NOT have to work.  Thank you Boss Karen!