It’s the Weekend!

Soo, my mom is here. Happy dance on that one! I cried when I picked her up, just so emotionally spent. We hit up Sonic and the dry cleaners on the way back from school and then she and the kids helped me clean up a bit. Andy and I started this little neighborhood small group parenting study and it started last night — heaven forbid I have people in my home with it looking like a train wreck.

We are doing Loving on Purpose and I’m not sure where Monique found it but I really enjoyed the intro. Looking forward to it.

Another thing I’m LOOKING FORWARD TO is THIS WHOOOOOOOOLE WEEKEND! Two of my aunts (maybe three?) set it up so Andy and I could attend a Family Life marriage conference this weekend two hours away. Hence the reason for my momma coming. The sessions are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with a built in date-night Saturday. So fun, can’t wait. The new white jeans may just get busted out since there will be no ketchup packets in sight.

Still hard to believe it’s already May 3. I feel like I’ve been living under a rock of sickness since January. (Right, G?) I’m so looking forward to summer, this one probably more than ever.

yep, that sounds about right

It’s the little things that wear me down. I find when something big happens, it’s so obviously out of my control that it’s relatively easy to depend on God and see his hand in things.

It’s the gallon of milk spilled under my fridge, or Adelaide busting her forehead, or Drew blasting the dining room window completely through (true story), or not paying enough attention to checking and throwing $100 down the proverbial toilet because apparently the overdraft-pull-from-savings suddenly isn’t working, or having to get a plumber because Ethan flushed my hand-lotion in the upstairs potty and we haven’t been able to use that bathroom for 3 weeks… and then yesterday I threw out my back.

I’ve been either laying on the couch or my bed for two days, or hobbling around when I have to and/or if something happens. (Like a broken glass or [a box of] spilled cheerios, or the water party Ethan and Ari threw when I was downstairs – all three from today.) My mom comes tomorrow and I’m dreading her seeing my house in such a state (hi, Mom!) but there’s only so much you can do with a broken vacuum and a bad back. And it’s too late to call in a cleaning lady.

Life, it goes on.

more bumps

We, like everyone else, are still reeling from the news coming out of Boston. My sister-in-law ran last year and decided not to train to re-qualify this year. So thankful. The only other runner I know already posted on FB that she is okay.

My kids had a rough day yesterday. Ari and Ethan had a well-check appointment and I could not BELIEVE how uncooperative he was. They were trying to weigh him and he was screaming and kicking the nurse. He’s usually laid back and laughing. Clearly does NOT enjoy being held down. Made his point loud and clear.

Later, Ari dropped a pole on her pinkie toe. The kids were “weight lifting” in the yard with some garden tools. I don’t think it’s broken, she moves it and bends it with her hands but it’s definitely bruised and swollen. (She came down this morning and said “my toe’s messed up.” Which made me laugh a little at her choice of expression but then I realized she meant her nail polish. She hasn’t stopped asking me to fix the pink paint. Seriously, kid.)

AND THEN.

The older kids had been riding bikes around the driveway, as usual, no big deal. Madeline currently doesn’t have a bike (I think the last one she had was left out and possibly hit by a car, can’t remember). Adelaide’s back tire is popped. So the only real working bike is Drew’s. Which is way too big for Adelaide.

But she came in and proudly announced that she could ride Drew’s bike now. Honestly I think she had done fine down on the flat paved half-loop we live on. But then she wanted to ride from our driveway around to the loop, which is sloped and curvy. I advised against it. She would NOT listen, so sure she could do it now. She was so adamant, I started believing she really knew how to ride his bike and agreed to let her have one turn. BIG MISTAKE.

She started screaming and panicking when she realized that pushing the pedals backwards did not slow her down. I didn’t even THINK about the fact that she didn’t know the brakes are in the handle bars. Like, it never even crossed my mind. So I’m watching my baby fly away from me on a way-too-big runaway bike, screaming and panicking and disappearing around the bend in the road. I freaked a bit and ran after her.

The next thing I know she’s climbing out of the woods with blood running down her face and arms. I freaked some more. I told Andy later it reminded me of a Band of Brother’s scene. I could hardly believe this was real and happening. Thankfully it turned out to be just a small cut on her head and stopped bleeding almost immediately. We changed our bloody clothes and she took a bath. We had a long talk about maybe sometimes mommy really DOES know what she’s talking about.

Sometimes.

fresh start?

I know I haven’t blogged in forever. We’ve had rough patch after rough patch, really since the end of November. The latest was my kids rotating various illnesses for four and a half weeks straight. That was over a month ago now but I’m still feeling a little twitchy.

And then Andy was gone a coupla days this week for business training. I always suffer as a single parent.

But… Adelaide turned 6 this week! I snapped some photos! So I’m going to start posting again.

I just have to get my foot back in the door.

sledding, southern style

Making do with what you have. Or, in this case, have-not.

The last two Fridays the kids have had off, due to impending bad weather. Not a snowflake in sight, either of those days. Granted, the second Friday there was some freezing rain. But it got sunny enough Saturday to be outside most of the day, and even lose the coats:

…and the shoes.

one to remember

We moved yesterday.

Several friends warned me how chaotic and stressful in-town moves can be. Generally you take van loads of apple boxes, dump them at the new place, and then rinse and repeat a few hundred times. Leave the sorting for later when you’re exhausted and can’t find the coffee pot.

Since all of our stuff was going in storage, it wasn’t like that. Saturday we moved the furniture and boxes (even beds!) to storage and that went really fast. Everything is labeled. We slept on blow-up mattresses and tried to just keep our lives moving along.

Yesterday the storm hit, just as we were beginning to load the last wave of our stuff into the moving truck. Like, literally. My neighbor texted me the area’s tornado warning. We loaded all the stuff we need to keep with us in the pouring down rain – shoes splashing in the mud, water soaking our clothes. Andy was at work; it was just me and my mom and I wondered several times how on earth we were going to get everything done, just the two of us.

He came home to take the last load of trash to the dump, but since the moving truck has commercial plates, they turned him away. I think he almost had a nervous breakdown right then and there. We still had all that trash and he still had work to do. (Note to self, don’t schedule clients the day you move.) So on top of getting all the closets packed up, kitchen cleared out, house cleaned, we had to deal with mounds – MOUNDS, I TELL YOU – of trash.

I had this moment of panic, thankful my kids were being cared for and safe, we couldn’t stop to find dinner, Andy calling to remind me to be at the apartment not too late so to be courteous to our hosts. I almost called a hotel and may have shed a few tears. We decided to basically drop everything, pick the kids up, go set up beds at the apartment, and my mom and Andy would come back and finish up what was left.

I had to back that dang moving truck down my own steep driveway in the pitch dark, pouring rain. And also? It was out of gas.

But you know what? We got to the apartment without a wreck, Andy met us there, we put the kiddies to bed, I FINALLY got a shower, and we were able to get things functional. My mom and Andy finished the old house, left the key in it (don’t mind the huge trash pile out front!), came home and we slept. Andy got up early this morning and caught a flight to a conference in Texas. And I’m very very thankful my mom is still here and I’m not the only person here over the age of eight.

So. The trash. After school drop-off this morning I borrowed my former neighbor’s truck to load everything and finally took it to the dump. We also returned the moving van. Yay! I still have to cancel our utility accounts and stuff like that, but we’ve finally found a resting place between homes. Lots of tough spots, but we made it through!

update, and why it’s quiet here

We’re packing! My mom is here to help since she’s practically a professional mover (y’all know I grew up moving around with the Air Force?) and she’s the energizer bunny. Love her. It’s a dang good thing, too, because I was completely knocked off my feet with a random virus and have been in bed the last day & a half. So awful.

We’re planning on being completely out of this house by Monday night. We should have a place to stay until the floors in the new house are done (can’t put anything on them for a week after sealing). And we’ll get a POD for our stuff in the meantime. It’s nice not to have to stress about those details but there is a LOT to do. So I’m just warning you upfront that it will be quiet around here.

I did take a few pics of the kids’ first day of school last week. I’ll try to put those up. Sometime. ;)

T minus 28

This week has been so busy I wasn’t sure if I was coming or going.  I think Andy got a little annoyed with the laundry situation (meaning lack thereof) and I finally got around to it I think Thursday night.  My philosophy is if you run out of underwear, go buy some more. ;)

The inspection went well, no major issues and we have agreed to all the small repairs they asked for.  The termite letter was clear, etc.  It’s been so smooth sailing I’m just waiting for SOMEthing to go wrong.  Can’t help it!  I need to get over to the new house and measure window sizes and stuff.  (And check up on Steve’s progress, ha!)  I figured I would whip up some window coverings before we start packing.  Although I really need to be going through our attic.

I went up there the other day and told Andy afterwards, we need an entire moving truck JUST for what’s in the attic.  I think I might just drag it all out to the front yard and email the neighbors to come and freecycle it.  My children’s consignment stuff is still labeled from last year, and drop off starts next week.  Which is really good timing, yes?

We won’t have a ton of storage at the new house, but definitely enough.  The kids’ closets are REALLY fun.  More like bonus rooms than closets.  In the girls’ room especially, it’s like a little hideout playroom.  Love.  I’m considering painting it pink and putting fluffy rugs in there so it’s cozy to play in.  And two FULL closet bars.  Which you know they (I) need.  ;)

Okay, better get moving on today.

I’m on a bloggy roll

Tonight I took Madeline to the first of two friend birthday parties she has this week. I don’t know what it is, but taking a child to a friend’s party brings out the WORST in my other kids. I sort of have a love/hate relationship with the American idea of a birthday party. I LOVE them on one hand, making special memories and celebrating a life. And, hello, cake.

But. They involve a high level of stress, at least for me. And, fallen like everything else on this earth, often can include a high dose of the not-so-lovely; envy, greed, selfishness, unthankfulness, boastfulness, etc. I haven’t figured out how to best reconcile all that yet. And my kids typically don’t do an overly great job of being happy for others while NOT thinking about themselves. Sometimes it’s just easier to avoid those hot situations. But yes; work to do, work to do.  Some of that is better with age and maturity.

Anyway, we stopped at the store after dropping her off and I let the other kids pick out a dessert. I REALLY wanted fresh parmesan for our pasta. Over vacation, our friends introduced us to this kale and spinach ravioli and my kids loved it. (I had picked up a couple of trays of it at costco yesterday, check it out if you can!)

Usually our quick foods are just that – quick, and decidedly not healthy. I love that this is a quick meal and jam-packed with vitamins but doesn’t taste like it. It pretty much just tastes like noodles and red sauce. Yum.

Oh! Andy did show our house today. I texted my friend Gretchen afterwards that I was going to fake-sell my house every day. I had two laundry-bins of junk hiding in the attic, but it’s nice to have all the clutter in one place.

I’m guessing he didn’t mention the girls’ little friend they found this morning:

Sooo Madeline.

But then there’s Ari, who clunked around in my heels all day.

Yeah.  More my style. ;)

midsummer

Andy warned me this week would be really busy for him just coming back from vacation. He had two closings today, as well as a few showings and other meetings. The kids and I decided to save Costco for this evening after naps since Andy couldn’t eat with us. We took our time and browsed…bought a flat of peaches, sat in the display armchairs, pushed buttons in the toy aisle, played hide-and-seek, and had food court pizza for dinner. (It’s surprisingly awesome.)

I feel the need to stay busy with the kids on the days that I’ve got them by myself ALL day. Even if we just pop into Target or do happy hour at Sonic, one thing I’ve learned this summer is changing the scenery, even for just a bit, does us all good and can re-set the tone from hot and cranky to peaceful and fun.

I laughed a little to myself tonight, reading Rebecca’s post about too much angry birds and oreos and no reading and writing. Nail, meet head. Honestly I feel like the summer heat has fried my brain just a little bit. We have been LIVING in the water, any form of it – pool, beach, fountains, spraypark, hose, you name it. What is a book?

I guess I shouldn’t feel guilty, it’s summer BREAK. I did start fresh in the storybook Bible to the kids last night and reminded myself how much we all love it. Read together tonight, too.

It’s a start, yes?

just the ordinary

Last night I let the girls play games on my computer (very rare occasion) while I laid on my bed and played camera.  Win-win!

(I still feel hugely accomplished when I get a clear shot in very low light sans flash. Yep, dork.)

We made it back to the gym yesterday after 3ish weeks. It wasn’t so bad! Drew doesn’t love going but went anyway with a surprisingly good attitude. I NEED that time. Sore today – worth it.

Today Drew goes back to the speech center and we’ve got to clean because Andy is showing our house tomorrow. I know, I know – we’re fickle, what can we say?!

Also, in other completely random news, Arianna was probably the easiest potty-trainee ever. It was like one day she was in diapers and I just had to show her the potty and wala! the next day she was trained. I have GOT to take some video of her, she’s such a funny little gem.

I think I need some decaf

My kids (and Andy) are cleaning my house, so I can sit here and blog guilt-free! I texted my friend Tiffany this morning warning her I was thinking of heading to the playground and that she may as well drop everything and meet me there. My kids were stuck at home so much last week due to rain and I knew they were really needing to run around. And it wasn’t too hot yet. So off we went, with plenty of water. I’m pretty sure I could sit and talk to her all day.

And it kinda WAS like that since they met us at the sprayground this evening too. There’s a Monday $5 after 5 deal and we’ve been taking full advantage of it. You can’t beat getting out of the house, cooling off, enjoying friends in a really fun place, and not even have to deal with sunscreen (not that I do much anyway).

And Madeline’s cast comes off Friday! (Why yes, we are counting the hours.)

gritty

I’m not doin’ so hot, you can pray for me (us) if you think of it. I feel like we haven’t really even started the summer yet because it’s just been one. thing. after. another. Plus Madeline’s arm kinda puts a damper on water activities (and baths – ha!) these days. Then Ari got a fever virus, Adelaide started throwing up, now Ethan has the fever. I don’t do so well home-bound for days on end.

We’ve got some stuff to deal with for Drew this summer, issues affecting his reading/learning (but now we have answers!) and we also got a letter from the IRS saying we still owe $500 on 2010 taxes. I was getting groceries with Madeline last weekend and Andy’s car broke down in the parking lot. It all would be kinda funny except for the fact that it’s all piled on so thick. We also need some maintenance repairs done on the van and when are we going to stop bleeding money?

I’m thankful that the sun is shining, most of my kids are healthy and the front yard looks goooood. Andy spent the entire day working out there yesterday, mowing, weeding, and planting grass seed where the kids had worn a path to the neighbor’s house. Nevermind the fact that the kids came in utterly filthy from playing in the topsoil. It washes.

And on that note, I really need some more coffee.

how to go on vacation

1. Get strep throat.

2. Take kids to bouncy house place, where your 6-year-old girl is pushed off the side of the maze and breaks her arm.

3. Spend the second to the last day of school in the ER.

4. Finish up the school year, make it to last-day presentations and take your kids to the school-wide park day, with daughter’s arm freshly splinted. (Too swollen for a cast; that’s next week.)

5. Relax, school’s over. Think about packing for the trip and put off the laundry and just take a nap.

6. Get a flat tire.

(And make sure it happens on a Saturday night where you’re sure you won’t be able to get it fixed anytime soon or get said vehicle packed for vacation.)

But hey! SCHOOL’S OUT!

return from the sickbed

Welp, I’m still alive. It was gettin’ dicey there for a bit. Andy, bless his heart, has a full plate without a sick wife and let’s face it, men typically aren’t good nurses. ;) He did take the kids out several times, though, good for me and them.

Yesterday was the first day I felt more like myself and could actually swallow without bracing myself. I haven’t been that sick in like five years. Miserable.

No pics yet, sorry. I need to put the new software on my computer and my desk is a mess. Plus I was on my deathbed and all.

But here! Some pics from my old camera!  How’d I end up with such a blondie??

Can you tell he’s our happy guy?

snap happy

My lens came yesterday. I would be soo happy except I have strep and my throat is on FIRE. It’s really not fair for the mom to get sick!

Hopefully new awesome photos coming soon. ;)

ice cream snatcher and paint in my hair

Gretchen picked up Arianna at Chick-fil-a on Tuesday to walk out to our respective vans (in her case bus) and Arianna snatched her ice cream cone and stuffed it in her mouth. I think Gretch was so caught off guard she probably froze for a sec, did that just happen?! And then she reached to grab it back and Arianna switched it into her other hand and held it as far away as she could. Such a 2-year-old-4th-born thing to do. So funny. I wish I had witnessed that but I only heard the story from G later. hahaha

So my folks are here. Happy dance. (Although I haven’t been feeling that great; tired and my back is still bothering me.) Anyway, as is their custom, they’ve been trying to whip my house into shape. Cleaning and fixing things, and yesterday we scraped old paint off the outer trim around the windows and door. Put on the primer. (Andy wasn’t so excited about the white splatters on the porch but I think we can get it off.)

Anyway, it looks way better. Re-hanging shutters today and hopefully put the topcoat on. We have some church friends that run a nursery so the plan is to get enough hydrangeas from him to fill up the entire length of the house under the bedroom windows, which will make a big cheery difference. Finally going to fill up the heavy stone pots on my porch that the kids usually sit in. Any suggestions for pretty flowers that can withstand lots of sun and don’t mind the sweltering summer heat?

Andy and I went on a FUN double date last night with his partner in crime and his wife. Tonight we’re going out with my family (siblings and parents) for my birthday and we have a babysitter. I always say you might as well celebrate a birthday for at least a week!

(PS Madeline lost her first top tooth. And the tooth fairy finally remembered!)

Helloooo out there!

I had big plans to blog this week and then poof! it’s Friday.

I threw my back out yesterday and so I’m in serious survival mode. Thankful Andy has the whole day off and is picking up all the slack. I go back to the chiropractor on Monday and in the meantime have been using ice and advil. And *trying* not to walk too much. (Yeah, right.)

So that’s where we are today. Needing prayer as usual. ;)