Oh Tuesday, here you are again

I went out with some girlfriends last night for pizza and Eat Pray Love. I knew nothing whatsoever about the movie or the book beforehand and… it was a little tedious. One of those movies that tries to be really philosophical but fails miserably. But, still fun to go out with the girls!

It was also the longest stretch I’d left Arianna but she did fine with the babyfood and my mom rubbing her back and singing to get her to drift off to sleep. So cute.

Alright. I spent the entire day yesterday laying low, feeling like I was fighting something off. My throat is a teensy bit raw but I have GOT to get moving on this sale, especially while my kids are playing quietly and nicely with the dollhouse. Cheers!

This post is brought to you by Signing Time

Whoa nellie, we had quite the weekend. Our local playground was the location for a church-sponsored fundraiser kiddie fair on Saturday morning, which my kids obviously thought was the coolest thing ever. We had no idea – some friends just called to say they were there and (for us) it was a total surprise.

Although, the music should have clued us in. Anyway, Andy took the kids down, fresh out of bed. Only he can pull off wild bedhair, a wifebeater with basketball shorts, flip-flops and a cup of coffee in hand. At the park.

The kids “won” at several different games, prized with (gently used) stuffed animals. [Which may or may not disappear sometime in the near(ish) future.] All very exciting. And then we packed up, made a picnic lunch, and went swimming. Arianna and I haven’t been in a few weeks, so that was fun.

Yesterday after church we played the “lets-see-how-many-kids-we-can-cram-into-one-house” game and ate lunch with two other families. Good friends, good times. We made it home in time to clean up a little bit before GRANDMOMMY CAME! Always an Event around these parts.

She’ll be in town for a couple of weeks so there’s been much rejoicing. The fall children’s consignment sale drop-off starts Thursday, so you can guess what I’ll be doing this week. (Too bad my attic is about 1,000 degrees.)

And these are just because, taken this morning fresh out of the bath:

(Of course, she spit up five minutes later and had to be changed. Life.)

The Afternoon Lull

Whew!  Everyone is either room-timing or napping, time for me to grab some mid-day coffee and blog.  Andy took the kids swimming this morning; they should be good and tired.  (Let’s hope.)

Yesterday around 1 p.m. we decided to invite some newly back-in-town friends for supper and a little catch up.  So pretty much we ran around all afternoon like headless chickens getting groceries and whipping our house into shape.

It was worth it, as always.  Unfortunately I didn’t get the camera out so I have nothing to document the chaos that is 7 children excited to see each other again.  Good times.

And you would think, getting to bed well after 10, they’d be good and sleep in a little.  You would be wrong.  (Looking forward to the early-rising Grandmommy being here in a few days.)

Alright, ya’ll, YOU be good and link up for Fun Mom Friday tomorrow!

Oh. Monday.

We had a fun-filled, busy weekend – friends, shopping, parties, church, swimming; all the good stuff. On Saturday Madeline and I stopped in at a trunk show and then bought a new vacuum. (Dirt Devil is now dead to me.) Which means my house is going to be clean really soon since I taught both Drew and Madeline how to use it and they love to vacuum.

Child labor. Love it.

(She also likes to play in the water do the dishes. The counter is a little, um, damp when she’s finished.)

So, yeah. Great weekend. Now back to reality.

There was a party, who knew?!

Here I was complaining talking about the Memorial Day annual rain, when really it cleared up enough to do this -

There was even a feast of grilled yumminess.

So, I want to know what you did for Memorial Day (and was it what you had planned)?

Teeth, Water, Date

Today was a total whirlwind.  Andy and I took the kids to their very first dental visit ever.  They LOVED it.  (I think it was the parrot.)  As far as pediatric offices go, it was perfect. When they climbed in the van, the kids were already asking when they could go again.  Also, no cavities!  Andy’s comments to that were along the lines of let’s thank the tooth-brushing nazi. (That would be me.)

We got home, threw suits on, and went to a friends’ for lunch and swimming.  (Their pool is heated, in case you’re wondering.)  This one is SO Adelaide:

Another of my favorites (Drew’s face!):

The baby slept in a closet, which was another first time ever. But before that, I got to try out the solarveil sling I bought for use this summer. It was great! (She was a little unsure about all the sibling splashing though.)

Meanwhile, Andy finished the flooring project in the attic. WOOT! So nice. I put the kids down for a nap, crashed on the couch for 45 minutes, and then got up and got ready for our long-awaited big anniversary/birthday date at the restaurant. I even left Arianna with our babysitter. SUCH a nice dinner, yum. And now I’m going to crash into bed because we have a similarly full day tomorrow. Ciao!

Milk and Tea

Our Valentine’s weekend started out with a BANG: Adelaide spilled an entire carton of milk all over our couch and carpet. Yeah. Lakes of milk. (And I hadn’t had my coffee yet.)

Madeline had gotten it out to put a little in her oatmeal and I’m not sure how it happened, but probably Adelaide just bumped it. Anyway, I was very glad it was almond milk and not cow’s. Our living room now smells a little vanilla-y.

(And yes, I do allow them to eat at the coffee table. Bringing a whole carton of milk in there? Not so much.)

I must admit it wasn’t my proudest moment discovering my living room doused in milk. Drew and Madeline were crying but Adelaide (this is SO Adelaide) huffed and goes, “why you not bein’ my best friend?!” I bust out laughing. Leave it to her to provide the comic relief.

I was also very glad Andy was willing to finish cleaning it up. We were trying to get ready to make it to a tea party.

Which was very fun and very girl-y.

Phase 2, Complete

(Tap, tap, tap.  Is this thing on?)

The drywaller finished up on Saturday morning, and the kitchen is all primed and ready for paint! I haven’t pulled it down from the attic yet; still crossing my fingers it hasn’t dried out. (I’m using leftover paint from when my mom and I stripped the wallpaper in the dining room four-ish years ago.) But still, getting closer!!!

I ran some errands with the kids in the freezing cold on Saturday and then Sarah had us over for supper and playtime after naps. It sort of felt like a daycare, what with the eight (EIGHT!) kids between the two of us. It was a busy and fun day but our house is still trashed, and here it is Monday.

I also made two dresses for Adelaide this weekend (SO CUTE!), and a skirt for Madeline with the extras. I still need a few things for finishing touches and then I’ll post some photos.

On a totally un-related note (except for the fact that she’ll wear one of the dresses to the Valentine’s Tea we’re invited to on Saturday), what are some fun things you like to do with your kids for Valentine’s Day?

This n’ that

So last night the aforementioned Sarah, Jenny, and I had ourselves a girls’ (and babies) night and had dinner at one of our favorite spots. (I’ll restrain myself from going on and on about friendship; suffice it to say, friendships: you need them.)

I also realized something about me last night through our stream of conversation, but I’ll have to think about it more and blog the discovery later.

For now, I wanted to share these photos I took last Sunday. I put them on my facebook but I thought it’d be fun to also put them here.

Arianna in the first one cracks. me. up.  (”Hey, guys?”)

Farewell, fruit

(Why do I do these things to myself?)

As you can see, I ripped out over half of one wall of wallpaper once the kids were in bed last night. Thankfully it’s the kind that comes off very easily when wet.

I’m not sure why most of it was olive green and then there’s that patch of mint above the sink. I should have known that wallpaper in an old house is most surely hiding SOMEthing.

********

My sweet sister-in-law gave us a new membership to the children’s museum that she got from work (they don’t have kids yet). We met my friend Sarah and her kids there yesterday morning. Andy came along for crowd control – between the two of us we have eight kids, six and under.

He was even kind enough to paint their faces:

Maybe “paint” is too generous a term. ;)

DPP Day 24: Christmas Eve

Making candy necklaces (thanks, Mom!):

You may or may not know these people, but they’re some of our favorites:

Improvising:

Thankful

For electricity, for a borrowed car, for friends that bring

flowers and meals and bread.

Various and Sundry

(My brain? Anybody seen it?)

So… the last time I posted I was waiting for an appointment with my midwife. (I was 4 cm, 70-80%… and so it begins.) I rushed home, kept Nicky’s boys during her class, finished up the laundry, and then headed out with the ladies to the retreat.

(My sisters came over first; I did not leave my kids home alone.)

(Just so we’re clear.)

Nicky ended up being able to go, despite her husband’s inadvertent attempts at sabotage. ;)  It was a lovely drive up, made especially so with a cup o’ Starbucks that Sarah had brought each of us.  We checked in, ate dinner, listened to the first session, hung out and talked and had snacks until pretty late, and then tried to get some sleep.

I finally got up and dug the sound machine out of my bag.  The hotel room was just WAY too quiet.  Does anyone sleep on retreats?  I think probably not.  Plus breakfast was at 6:30.  (So, a bit ironic that we all came home from a retreat exhausted.  But that’s neither here nor there.)

My kids have been on fall break this week, so Monday was pretty lazy and we took a picnic lunch to the park.  It was the most gorgeous sky.

Yesterday I went to the mothers’ fellowship group at church in the morning and then ran a few errands while I was out.  I went back out later to grocery shop while the kids were napping and unfortunately my van started acting up.  Not good timing (really, ever, but especially) with a baby so clearly on her way.  I’m staying home from church tonight because I don’t want to risk breaking down with the kids in tow.

I did make it home safely though yesterday and my sisters watched the kids after supper so Andy and I could go to Nicky’s choral concert, which was really fun.  She had a solo, and if you’ve ever heard her sing you know what a treat that is.  We thought about going to a movie but ended up getting apple cider at a coffee shop instead.

And finally, this morning Sarah and her kids came over to play.  I was also watching another little girl, so Sarah’s girls brought some extra dress-ups and accessories and they generally had a sparkly good time.  (And we mommies obviously had a good time chatting over coffee and scones. That should be a once-a-week priority for sure.)

Andy took Drew and Madeline on a little nature walk this afternoon.  They came back with a turtle, which Madeline wasted no time claiming as her own.  Unfortunately, it climbed out of the flower pot during her nap and made its escape.  She cried.  She is definitely my sensitive animal-lover child.

We love us some friends

This has certainly been the week for playdates! I already mentioned going to Tiff’s house, and then Nicky had Adelaide and I over for tea on Thursday. We stuffed ourselves full of blueberry muffins.

(If you can help it at all, make sure you have friends that know how to bake. I’m just sayin’.)

Also? Can I just show you this? Nicky MADE this dress for Arianna:

Yeah. Amazing, I know.

And then on Friday, Kristin and her two kids were in town and came over for the morning. (Complete with dress-ups and snacks, of course.)

Since it was Friday I had Nicky’s boys here afterward for her music class.  Clearly my kids are being friend-spoiled.  (And I wouldn’t have it any other way.) 

Carrissa came over during naptime so I could get groceries and pick up Madeline’s portraits BY MYSELF.  I came home, made dinner, and promptly fell asleep on the couch.  (The kids watched a movie.  It was Friday night, after all.)

And while I’m wrapping up this friend post, I’ve been meaning to include a thank you to virtual friend Tabitha for these little lovelies:

Truly we are friend-blessed.

An Observer

About once a month there is a children’s sermon at our church and all the kids are invited to walk down to the front steps and participate. Yesterday was the day. (Also, Adelaide’s first time since we started having her in the service with us.)

I was also signed up for infant nursery duty. I had sat in there for about a half an hour with two other ladies, and no babies came, so I ended up going back to the sanctuary. Andy and the kids had sat up in the balcony, him being alone with the three kids. (There’s an iffy situation if I ever saw one.)

By the time I sat down, he had walked the girls down to the front of the church. (Drew was using the bathroom and missed it.)

So I got to be a helpless observer for Adelaide’s, um, performance. She initially sat down, but then jumped up and started heading up the choir stairs. Madeline, ever the big sister, tried to grab her hand and pull her back to her seat.

Adelaide snatched her hand away and sat back down, only to jump and run up the stairs again.

Rinse and repeat about six times with an increasing amount of drama.

Finally Andy had to walk down and sit in the front pew so she wouldn’t be tempted to continue her self-endorsed playtime.

But the thought struck me as I sat there and watched; I could do nothing. I couldn’t control her, especially at such a distance. I was obliged to simply be an observer.

Sure, yes, we can train and teach and try to mold our kids and lead them in the way they should go. But ultimately, it IS the Holy Spirit who works in our kids’ lives and hearts. We do nothing but watch.

Busy. Fun. Tired.

We’re coming off a whirlwind weekend of visiting out-of-town friends, watching other friends’ kids, school supply shopping, and a very fun birthday pool party. I’ve also been crafting a bit and dying my hair red.

(Variety is the spice of life, you know.)

Tonight is a church ladies get-together and I swapped babysitting with my friend Nicky last week so that I could go. That really is the best idea ever. Being close neighbors is just the icing.

The other item worth mentioning is Miss Adelaide decided she’s big enough for big girl panties. (With no accidents thus far.) And yes, she’s eaten her fair share of chocolate chips.

Which is a very small price to pay.

And summer marches on…

Talk about jumping right back into the busy summer life! Since we got back Tuesday night, we’ve gone swimming twice and met two different sets of friends at the park for two different picnic lunch dates. It’s hard to believe Madeline starts preschool in less than a month! (Drew doesn’t start K until Sept. 10. I’m not sure how I feel about that.)

Yesterday we met with our shepherding group at church for lunch and then enjoyed a really quiet, relaxing afternoon here with everyone napping until 6 pm. I love lazy Sunday afternoons. Andy watched the kids and put them to bed for me so I could go catch up with some girlfriends. I SO needed that. Nicky and I ended up hanging out at our friend Jenny’s place until well after midnight.

Sleep is overrated anyway.

Because vacation is supposed to be fun.

Last year when I came to visit my folks, I got to meet Mer (Life at 7000 Feet) in real life for lunch one day. So as soon as I started planning this trip, I knew we HAD to meet up for lunch again. And yesterday was the day.

My kids have been in VBS every morning this week, so my mom took Adelaide for me and I drove up to meet Mer at a tea house. It was a gorgeous day and we ate outside:

But then we decided that wasn’t enough time together so I ended up going back to her house, we took her daughter Sarah over to her little friend’s house, and then sat in her kitchen for two more hours and had leftover ice cream cake.

(Mer- thank you so much for lunch, for being honest and real, and being such a good friend!)

Right before I left my mom called saying my van wouldn’t start.

OH THAT’S JUST LOVELY.

Remember when it wouldn’t start before and we had it towed to the shop and it ended up being nothing but us trying to use the wrong key? Well, my mom had stopped at Walmart yesterday and had two spare keys made. Problem is they weren’t the dealer keys with the programmed computer chip. Which meant they also wouldn’t start my car.

She didn’t know that.

She called back later to tell me she had gotten it to start again, and then mentioned about the new keys, and it all clicked into place. I’m surprised Walmart didn’t tell her those keys wouldn’t drive the car, but whatever. I explained it wouldn’t start for her before only because she was using one of those new non-chip keys. I WAS SO RELIEVED. Car repairs on vacation are never any fun.

Also at Walmart, she picked up Razor scooters for Drew and Madeline. My grandparents’ neighbor’s kids have them and Drew had found his new love. Problem is he only got to ride it once and has been talking about it ever since.

Enter grandma and the problem is solved! I’m just praying they don’t kill themselves because have I mentioned that Madeline is clumsy?

And then to round out the day, Andy and I went to see The Proposal after dinner. He thought it was just as funny as I did.

Which is convenient.