Smarter

Are all oldest children smarter than their parents?  I'm just wondering because mine certainly is. 

My days are full of comments like, "I know", "I'm going to", "I have to do this first", "I'm not doing it that way".  Oh my!  If I didn't love this kid like crazy I would, I would, I would...I would really, really not like him. 

Life's Tough

It's hard work being a baby.

We've had a couple of tough days.  Days that have been filled with unexpected surprises.  Not the regular day to day surprises like, "Mom, the mean cat treed our cats again" or "Is water supposed to be coming out of that" or "The baby stinks, I think she needs to be changed".  Okay, that last one isn't exactly unexpected and usually it's not too surprising.

No, the surprises we have had are almost entirely financially and automobile related.  Actually, really just "auto" because the "mobile" part is no longer true for a couple of autos.  Our truck is dead, dead, dead.  It's been at the shop for weeks and after a lot of money and a lot of time, it's dead.  We had just made the decision to say goodbye to the black rustmobile when Brett called. 

I was actually on the phone with a dear friend.  We were talking each other "down" from some stressful times. 

"Uh, Meghan", I hear at the other end of the phone.  "I went to start the car to come home and it won't start."

"That's really funny, Brett!  Good joke, you got me."

"I'm not kidding."

It turns out it was just a battery, but it was almost enough to send me over the edge.  That was almost me in the picture above, although I wouldn't have been in a one-piece fleece outfit. 

I will admit to sulking a little bit, and grumbling a little bit, and complaining a little bit.  But, only a little bit.  My kids are by my side almost constantly.  They are watching how Brett and I react to bad news like, "You just spend $1500 on a truck that will never run again and isn't worth more than $2000 to begin with".  So, I've picked myself off the floor and have chosen to take this in stride.  I'll let you know how that goes. 

When Mama's Sick

I've promised my husband, my children, and myself that I would go to sleep as soon as the baby did tonight.  I'm not quite there.  I was in a "bloggy" mood.  That sounds like a fun mood to be in.  "How are you?" "Oh, bloggy, just bloggy!". 

We returned home from our "that-was-so-great-seeing-every-one-I'm-so-happy-we're-not-making-that-drive-for-another-6-months" vacation with a couple of sickies.  The two youngest and myself had/have colds.  Like the mother on Pride and Prejudice said (Colin Firth version because in my opinion there is no other one), "No one dies from a trifle cold!"  Perhaps not, but we've been pretty miserable.

I wanted to be the mom that smiled and met everyone's needs with joy and patience and understanding.  Instead, I've been the mom who makes the 10-year-old make meals and clean up after them.  I've been trying to catch a nap whenever I can get it, even if it means my children have had way too much "screen time".  I wish I felt worse for being crabby, and irritable, and a bear.  They don't mind, I postponed the beginning of our semester until next Tuesday.  Gianna may have shed a single solitary tear because she was looking forward to doing Math, but I think I've been forgiven for my less-than-wonderful mood. 

And on that note, eventually I won't be able to "buy" my children and husband's forgiveness (I will run out of leverage at some point) so I should sleep because my bed-buddy is sound asleep and not sniffling, coughing, or wheezing.  I am going to curl up with her, listen to the sound of the humidifier for another night and say some prayers for lots of people who have much more serious issues than a few people with some colds. 

Dear Gianna

I had no intention on leaving Gigi completely out of that last post.  I blame it on the fact that she is now the middle child (which is why we should not have an odd number of children...mind you, I didn't say a number of odd children). 

Here's our Gianna.  Sweet as can be.  A little challenging because she's 5 going on 6 and I've never had a non-challenging almost 6-year-old.  What a gal.

Playing Checkers with cousin Braden

In new blanket.

Sweet Gigi.

With Godmother Katrina.

First post of 2012

I really hadn't intended on such a long break between posts to this space.  Tonight is the lucky "posting night" because I'm sick and in bed early, but can't fall asleep due to constant coughing spells that wake up the sweet and cold-ridden baby who is laying next to me.  This could be a long night, but enough whining.

We have recently returned from SD where we spent about 9 days visiting our families and friends.  My parents moved into a new home and it is lovely.  It was a little strange not going "home", but I handled it better than I thought I would.

Brett is working on our basement "remodel" which has taken much, much longer than we had thought and cost much, much more than we expected.  The end is in sight and hopefully in a couple of weeks we will be moving in (our schoolroom!).  I am loving our new house more and more.  We have much more space and waking up in the woods...well, you just can't beat that.  The only problem is that I never want to leave.  This once very social individual has turned into quite a recluse I'm afraid.

On another note.  I watched the first episode of "The Gist" on CatholicTV this afternoon, and although I really, really wanted to like it...I just didn't.  Any of my Catholic mommy friends out there see it?  What did you think?

So there you have it.  A very random first post of 2012.  I'll end with a Nica funny:

Nica-  Mommy, guess what pet I want to have.

Me- Okay, hampster (no), mouse (no), dog (no), fly (giggle, no)......I don't know, tell me.


Nica- I don't know!  (Giggle, giggle, giggle) 


Ah, two and a half year olds. 

Here's the man.  I could do without the facial hair, but I'll take what I can get.

Emma was slightly excited about getting a Kindle for Christmas.

Cuteness.

Ever see a man play a nose flute?  Now you have.

The animal lover loved my parents' dog Nicki.

Two sweet gals. (In case you're wondering, the blonde, curly-haired lady is my sister).

Sadie knew whose chair to lay next to.

Lots of reading happened this vacation.

Two redheads.

Posting again!

December 13, 2011

Outside my window...It's dark and I think foggy.  I would be able to tell if it wasn't so dark.  The weather is warm, relatively speaking, and we have an unimpressive amount of snow on the ground. 

I can hear...A baby sucking on her pacifier, Aidan's bed crack with every "I can't get to sleep" move he makes, the dishwasher running, and the washing machine running.  Actually, I can't hear that last one, but I know it's happening, does that count?

Tonight...We ended on a high note although I can't say that today was the best of days.  Some of us may have been a little short-tempered, others of us may have been acting like an oldest child, and yet others still could have been letting her redheadedness get the best of her.  Oh, there is the one that may have begun an "in one ear and out the other" phase (please let this be a short phase).  I am making an educated guess that we all need to get out of the house, and if Mr.Sun could peek out from behind the clouds to say hello I don't think that would hurt at all.

Around the house...When we first looked at this house I immediately started decorating for Christmas.  Okay, that's a big, fat lie.  When we first looked at this house I told Brett that there was no way on this green earth that I would even contemplate buying this house.  I never wanted to step foot in this house again, and that was the end of that!  I think God has been using this year to teach me many lessons.  But I digress...Once this house was ours and I could be in it for more that fifteen minutes without wanting to scream and pull my hair out, I started decorating for Christmas (well, in my mind).  And now it's decorated for real.  I have the perfect place for my Nativity, the perfect place for our tree (even if it isn't real...shhhh), and for the first time since we were married, a mantle on which to hang our stockings! 

In the kitchen...We had meatloaf for dinner, and I have chicken thawing to hopefully become Chicken Rice Soup for dinner tomorrow night.  If I'm feeling ambitious and generous (has to happen at the same time) I will make my family homemade bread for dinner tomorrow night.  If not, they will have crackers with their soup.  I have very little I can eat in the house right now so when the kids are at karate tomorrow I'll remedy that and I have promised myself and our budget that I'm going to purchase regular food that I can eat instead of "safe" comfort foods which are way overpriced. 

Our homeschool....We are working hard this final week before we take off for Christmas break.  One aspect of our homeschool is that we follow Brett's schedule so when the University is off, we are off.  This year I couldn't bring myself to following that rule because they aren't officially done until the 23rd.  No way!  We have Advent/Christmas books to read, and yummy treats to make, and other preparations for Christmas.

On my mind...I've been thinking a lot about how I spend my time.  Blog? Don't blog? Facebook? No Facebook? Should I sew? Should I knit? Should I read? Hmmm....I still haven't found answers to all of this, but I am trying to be more purposeful in what I do during the day.  Also, can someone please open a store for girls that sells decent clothing?  Ick!  I have four sweet girls, and I intend to keep them sweet girls for as long as I have the power to do that.  I'm loving our school uniforms this year because they are cute and modest and cute (did I say that).  Where's cute?  Where's modest?  Hello?!?!?!?!  I can't be the only mother who struggles with this.

Praying for...friends who are struggling with their marriage, sick friends, pregnant friends, sad friends, lots of friends.  Please pray with me. 

The joy of my day...As much as I complained about my kids today, I am so grateful for each one.  This world is better because they are in it.  The youngest little one is taking her first crawling steps and it is such a joy to watch all of her siblings rejoice with her.  I am surrounded by blessings.

Some pictures to brighten your day...

Doesn't Emma look so big?  Before the weather turned warm and melted all the snow the kids were having a blast sledding down our super-awesome hill.

I love this girl!

Plans for the rest of this week...A little karate, Brett has a gig coming up, finishing school, getting some Christmas stuff ready, feeding my family real food, getting outside a bit, reading a bit. 

Nica's Fire

Veronica and I enjoyed a fire together today.

It was beautiful outside so I bundled up the littlest one and we all headed out after nap time.  I spent a good portion of our time raking our leaves into several massive piles.  Love the large trees...not lovin' the leaves as much now they are off the trees. 

Aidan took over the raking, the older two girls were busy picking up sticks, and I noticed Veronica down by our fire pit. 

"Mommy, wanna sit and woot at my fire?"

I had two choices here.  I don't always pick the greatest one, but today I slowed down, sat down, and "wooted" at my Nica's fire.

Isn't her fire the best? If you can't see it, that's your own fault.  It was lovely!