I am thankful. I am grateful. I have a husband who loves me unconditionally. I have been blessed with four wonderful, imaginative, exasperating, creative, loud, loving, funny, demanding, busy, bright, inquisitive, always hungry, amazing kids. I have some great friends and I have family that I love even though they can drive you NUTS.

I love the holidays. I look forward to the holidays every year. I enjoy all of them...throughout the year, not just in November and December. I enjoy the time with my husband and kids, the tree hunt, watching holiday movies and eating fresh popcorn, decorating the house, playing in the snow, hot chocolate with marshmallows, enjoying day trips and adventures, helping out in the kids classrooms, wishing and dreaming. Along with all of these fun things come the frustration of trying to deal with the huge expectations of some of those around us. I often let those others overshadow the good. This year I would like to try not to let that happen. Some days are better than others. I am a work in progress....still!

I am thankful that I have the opportunity to keep trying!

God is good!

So much...so little....

So much going on. So much to talk about. So little time to talk about it.

We've been busy...living life. We are really enjoying our time together this summer. We are regrouping (vacuuming, laundry, mail, bills, gardening, etc.) before we start our next little adventure. I will try to stop by and fill in the spaces as I can.

Until later......

Motivation

I found this quote. I really liked it.



I would like to think that maybe it can help me...I just need to read it a number of times daily. I am really trying to make some positive changes in myself and our home. I am currently optimistic.

New life

...happening right outside our window. We have all been watching and patiently waiting. Mama bird built her nest and waited. One day we noticed the baby birds. Then we watched them grow up right before our eyes. We watched them being fed, eating, growing feathers, and getting bigger by the day. Then they began to stretch their wings...and then they flew.

Bittersweet. It's not just happening outside our window. It is happening here.everyday.with my own baby birds.

Summer...it begins

We are finally settling in to our summer routine...which is to pretty much fly by the seat of our pants. We are trying to take it easy, relax, and have fun. I think we have accomplished that thus far.




The boys have been busy in the sand box. It is a pretty busy place in our yard. As you can see, their work requires some pretty tricky equipment relocation and transportation. With the expertise of Daddy and mad stacking skills of Mommy, they have it made.

Daddy and the Beach

We spent some time at the beach for Father's Day. The weather was perfect. Daddy deemed it a perfect Father's Day...the kids and I agree.

We grilled, ate, swam, dug, splashed, rode in the boat, went tubing, splashed, swam, built sandcastles, dug, ate, laughed, played, swam, splashed, and, and, and....

Then we left for home and almost everyone slept most of the way.

PERFECT

We are so blessed. Daddy is the BEST DADDY EVER! Thank You for being the Daddy that you are. You genuinely LIKE our kids and spending time with them. You like to experience life with them. I am thankful that I get to parent with you, and we have some pretty terrific kids because of it.

Olympics

We are really enjoying the Olympics this year. I am loving it. I am not really a sports person per se, but this is different...it's the Olympics! I always enjoy watching the Olympics, but this year is different somehow. I think part of it is that the kids are more aware of what is happening now. They are cheering right along beside me, they feel a bit of the joy, the disappointment, the pain, the glory, the camaraderie, the wonder of it all! It makes it just that much better! They go to bed at night, begrudgingly, afraid of missing anything. Each night it is ,"Good night, Mommy. I love you. Let me know what happens in the morning. Don't forget to tell me who won, too." It has been like that nightly, with just about any event. They very much enjoyed the opening ceremonies and, I am sure, they will be the same with the closing ceremonies on Sunday night. I know I am looking forward to it. We will remember the combined events, skiing, snowboarding, skating, curling, hockey, etc. We will remember some of the key players and how thing don't always go as anticipated. I will remember the 2010 Olympics differently than I have any others...remembering it with my kids.

Saturday

Busy day today. Picked up Angel Food, went to the grocery store, picked up a prescription, stopped at the post office, did A LOT of laundry, dishes, and miscellaneous cleaning up. What is sooo exciting about that? I did it ALONE. The Daddy took all four kids to do some tree trimming and wood cutting at my sister's house. I didn't get any help, but I didn't have the whining and easily distracted kids around while I was trying to get something accomplished.
Woo Hoo! Sometimes it's the little things that make the biggest difference.

Most of the time I like having the kids around. Most of the time I don't mind the company while running errands, most of the time I can find joy in the banter that always accompanies the four little people that are my pride and joy....but every once in a while....I enjoy the solitude, the quiet, the change of pace. I am thankful that my husband is also an AWESOME Daddy to our four kids. LOOOOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On other things, I took A to the doctor last night. She has had a bug bite of some sort on her wrist since before Christmas. It just wouldn't heal. It never got really bad, it just wouldn't go away like most bug bites do. We figured it was some kind of spider bite. It itched, it was a little puffy, pink and had a rash around it. We treated it topically and watched it. Finally, I caved. It seemed to being getting slightly better, but not enough. I called Wednesday and made an appointment for Friday. Wouldn't you know it, it started to heal up. By the time we made it to our appointment it looked great! Oh, well. Better safe than sorry, right? We will treat with 2% hydro cortisone cream and she will be as good as new. Of course, prior to our doctors visit, Grandma had the poor child worried that she might have Mersa. Don't know if Grandma watching all of these medical shows is always a good thing, HAHAHA.

So....here is to an uneventful, relaxing, weekend full of family time and getting much accomplished.

Me

New

New year, new month, new day; new goals, new concerns, new joys. Still plenty of old...just wanting to revamp, renew, restart here and there. Let's give it a whirl, shall we?

Comments from the lovebugs:

D - (while watching Snow Buddies) You know...Santa and God are friends.

D - (passed gas in the van on the way to school) Whew...that hit the spot!
Me - D, you should say "Excuse me".
D - Why, I didn't burp, I 'tarted".

D - (after being scolded for poking his little fingers in the pan of peanut butter/chocolate dessert B made while they were chilling in the fridge) What, I just like 'em (while shrugging hes shoulders, holding up his hands and looking all too cute.

A - (being all teenager after being told to stop yelling) It's not yelling, five year olds yell...teenagers just talk really loudly.

A - (after asking me a question-very loudly-while I was sitting at the table with the telephone to my ear and a pile of papers in front of me) Oh, you're on the phone, I didn't know you were on the phone?

B - (upon observing a goofy exchange between A and Daddy) Shakes her head and says "Teenagers...at least I won't act that way" -Spoken with the wisdom of her ten-year old self.

C - (Following a scolding for back talk and attitude) I know, for my punishment, how about you send me outside to work on stuff with Daddy?
Me - How about, for your punishment, everyone else can go out and work with Daddy and you have to stay inside.

And just how does "Please go get in the van and get buckled" get interpreted as go outside, climb snow piles, and play with the dogs"? And, when I call it to their attention I get....."Oh yeah, I regot." It's no wonder we end up so rushed in our transit to school in the morning.

Of course, I can already (always) feel them growing up and moving on. Even with four, it all goes too quickly.

I am so very blessed to be their Mommy!