Did you know?...

That I love going to the dentist?  (Orthodontist too, but that was years ago)
That I got a filling this morning and my mouth is still numb?

That Jim has a really good black eye from playing ball but won't let me photograph it?
That Sara loves Blue's Clues?  And Memory?

That I make a latte and "special coffee" for Sara and myself every morning?
That along with our coffees we have a chocolate earth ball and play a game?

That I've been taking long walks with Sara in the stroller before the weather gets to nasty to do so?
That we're getting our one tree trimmed next week?

That we're hosting Thanksgiving this year?
That we've started to eat more root vegetables?  (who knew routabagas, and parsnips could be so tasty?)

That I'm still wearing my coat and that my fingers are cold from typing?
That it's time to go and move so I can get warm?

It is.
Good day friends.

These girls...

have a lot of fun together.  I love watching them grow as sisters.

They~

Play together

Imagine together

Eat together

Laugh together

Cry together

Fight together

Sleep together

Share together

LOVE together

Happy Halloween...

from Sara, Ella Jane and Matthew...

or

Bumblebee, princess, and ballerina

Seriously?...

Seriously.

At least they didn't spread honey all over the t.v. and walls (oh yes, they did and do not ask me what possesed them to do that while I was napping with a newborn), or dump every little game piece known to man all over the living room floor.  Don't ask me why I didn't stop that fun little one.  I believe I was even in the kitchen at the time.

But, seriously, yes my kids did this.  My FIVE and SEVEN year old kids this.  And perhaps that's just normal five and seven year old behavior.  It's not to me.  As an adult I came down (only part way b/c at the onset I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the initial stress of it all) and wondered what would make them drag all of our boxes from storage into the play area of the basement and proceed to DUMP all of our stored popcorn (we live far from family and you just never know when you're going to need to send a pkg.~no judgement please for storing popcorn)...and I'm laughing now when I look at the picture, that's a lot of popcorn!

but anyways, ...proceed to DUMP all of our stored popcorn all over the basement floor. 

I asked. 

 Do you want to know the answer?

"Because we made a boat out of the boxes and we were pretending that the popcorn was the water!"

And that was said in the most whineyist voice you can imagine. 

It all started with three chairs.  I ordered three chairs for our learning center and they of course came in big boxes with styrofoam.  The styrofoam was in fun, big rectangular shapes and I literally thought the kids might enjoy building with something different than just blocks.  I even saved a box for each child; big enough for them to sit in and play if they wanted.  I guess I was thinking that all of my children were little two year olds.  What seven year old is going to be content just sitting in a box?

So, with my grand idea in place, I put the boxes and the fun, big styrofoam "blocks" downstairs for a later time.

And then the big kids went down to play.  By themselves.  Oh heavens.  Do you know what rubbing together two pieces of styrofoam will create?  Itty bitty pieces of more styrofoam that will stick to your hair, clothes and walls.

Needless to say, the clean-up took a lot of people and a couple of days.  And, it you'll notice the boxes are stacked nice and neat.  Those were cubbies that held books and movies.

**sidenote; is it weird to store boxes?  We've moved so many times I almost feel insecure if we don't have boxes stored somewhere in our house.  I'll go down to get a box for a pkg. and think, "no, I can't use that box, it's a good one for books."  I actually have that thought sometimes.  That's a little crazy isn't it?

**another sidenote; my mom is supposed to be going home from the hospital tonight.  She's been recovering well, so we hope that nothing unforseen pops up again.

Something tangible...

About a month ago my mom had surgery to remove a benign tumor in her head.  But, being more than just a few states away there wasn't much I could do but offer support over the phone and pray for her recovery.  We sent a care package but never took part in her imediate care.  My siblings were the ones to organize meals, transportation, and support while she was in the hospital.  It's a weird thing to hear about your mother undergoing such a surgery and seeing pictures of it but never seeing it happen in person.

My mom went home and went on in her recovery.

Except she didn't fully recover and last night had to have a second surgery in the hopes that she can fully recover.  And it is expected that she will.  But, again, my siblings are there round the clock, taking in what the doctors have to say etc.  I'm here.  So how do I still be a daughter even though I'm not actually helping her in some way?

Well, you make the night she has surgery to be the night you will decorate Halloween cookies with your kids just like you used to do when you were a kid.

That's how.

In this moment...

I miss my kids.

I'm listening to a beautiful song while I do some work on the computer and I miss my kids.  They are all upstairs in bed sleeping away, but I miss them.  That ever happen to you?  Can you miss someone when they are still right in front of you?

The last few weeks feel like such a blur of activity.  Jobs, housework, school and what feels like little time for play.  We've just come off a gorgeous weekend of sunshine.  I'm thankful for soccer to get us out of the house and outside for a couple of hours on Saturday mornings.  We had steak for dinner last night and Matthew (or was it Ella Jane)? asked me why it is that whenever we have steak we always eat outside.  It's just better enjoyed outside don't ya think?  You know how I feel about summer, and that meal screams summer to me.  So we had it.  Outside.

We're fortunate to have a houseguest this week.  Whenever we have a visitor we make cinamon rolls.  We even have orange juice.   Ahhh, breakfast will be a fun treat for us all.

We've got pictures of the kids up in the house but I miss seeing them here in this space.  When life gets crazy I like to check-in here just to see some of our more fun moments and the stories that go with them.  So without further ado.

My kids.



Over the summer we had a week where our theme was ART.  We spent a few days imitating famous artists and that is what our kids are doing here.  I love Sara's rendition on the bottom. 

 

Need I say more?  He's usually one of the two; superhero or spy.  I love this guy.



ahhhh, that's better.

Just a bit longer...

Can it be that we've been in school for four whole weeks already?  Some days it seems we've been in for several months and then others...well, I can still vividly recall the hot, fun, lazy days of summer.

Honestly, I've been in denial about this upcomoing fall season.  It's usually my favorite time of year.  It's the season Jim and I got married (12yrs. this last Sunday), the weather turns just a bit cooler and the wind picks up.  School supplies are everywhere and thoughts turn to upcoming holidays.

And while all of those things are still fun, I find myself really missing my summer.  It just about matches my last summer in Maryland.  One of the best on record.  At that point our kids were 2 and 4 and at just the right age to be doing things independently.  By things I mean, getting up and down from the table, using the bathroom, and brushing teeth.  Those are the pieces of paranting that wear me out so to gain some independence in that area...well, what a great place to be indeed. 

And then we moved. 

And everything seemed to go two steps back.  Oh how tiring that time in my life was.  Well, not to mention I was 10wks. pregnant with Sara at the time.  So, we whethered the storm that is toddlerhood from time to time and then eventually those hard days lifted and I was laughing and playing again.

Fast forward to summer and a lot of laughter and good 'ol family time with the kids ensued.  I love hot midwest summers.  We plant the pool on the deck for three months and enjoy splashing and popscicles.  Oh yes, I get in there too.  What I love about the heat is that I can swim and not get cold.  It's just plain refreshing!  We added goggles to our gear this year and the kids' world opened up a ton.  Matthew was a little fish.

So, you can see my reluctance in beginning a new season.  I want to stay frozen in the last one for just a bit longer.  Everyone seems to be capable of doing "things" by themselves and oh how refreshing that is!  And the big plus?  We were on our own schedule.  This is huge for our family.  To be able to come and go on an open time frame.  If we were a few minutes late to the park, who was going to care?  It's the park afterall so really, how can you be late?

With fall comes school.  And with school comes early mornings and expectations to be on time. 

Oy.

For the past month I've felt like I taken a trip back to the trenches.  Like my life has taken a big 4 year step backward when everyday seemed hard, not fun and full of effort.  When tantrums seemed to rule the day along with bad attitudes.

So while I do love fall, I'm not loving the state of my family.  My days are great, but the drop off and pick up of the big kids can be stressful.  Those last 15min. before we head out the door in the morning~ and those first few minutes when I pick them up in the afternoon can color the day if we're not ready for them.

With September now on its way out, I'm hoping October will bring a fresh new season as well as a few fresh attitudes.

Changes...

It's safe to say we've had a lot of changes around here in the last few weeks! 

Matthew started second grade and Ella Jane started Kindergarten.

Here they are on their first big day.  It's so fun to see Ella Jane's new excitement and apprehension as she begins something totally new.  Matthew?  He's an old pro~ but it's fun to see him talk about new friends and the things they are playing together.

A few days before school starts the Kindergarten teachers drive around to all the kids' houses and plop one of these precious signs in the yard.  I love it!

This face below is so precious to me...I'm love with her expression.

At one point the kids wanted pics of their backs and Sara is trying keep in step.  Isn't she a hoot?

While the big kids are at school Sara and I mostly play.  We've gotten into the habit of dropping the kids off, meandering back home and heading to a park.  I know all too well how fast the weather will turn and before too long park weather will be a thing of the past.  I'm wishing so much that I could bottle up this weather for three more months!  Sigh....

So, knowing that the cold is inevitable, we're taking full advantage of the warm (ish) now.  After the park we head home for some playtime and then lunch.  Then, come to find out this girl is a napper!  For the past year and a half I've had to wake her from a nap to pick up a child from school.  I think she's making up for lost time.  I get the afternoon to do any number of things.  Most of which is refilling my energy tank to welcome home the big kids!  And most days that is a full time job.  After the initial transtion from school to home everyone is anxious to tell a story or ask for some food; read~ "I was talking, he interrupted me!", "mom, can I have a snack?"  After we all spend the next 30min. breathing we're okay.  But until then....look out!~

This is playtime with Sara.  Fun.  Simple.  How I am loving these times with her.

We like to do this activity with our eyes closed!  I think she gets a kick watching me try and figure it out.

So loving these days lately.  Summer still is not far from my mind~ we just had so much fun.  Look forward to shaing about that too.  Soon.

(as we say around here)