Winter Snow and Spring Garden

Well there are several inches of snow on the ground and I am contemplating my garden. I have been looking through seed catalogues and spending hundreds of dollars on all the things I want...at least in my head I have. Always seems strange to me to contemplate my garden in the middle of winter, but I'd like to plant peas this year and they need to go in March or so.
Thanks to our new limited budget, I am going to make a go of actually planting and harvesting enough food to keep us through most of the winter. Not my favorite thing as I like the idea of a garden much more than the actual dirt. Probably because my allergies are so very horrible that it is awful to go pull weeds and what not. However, that said, I will be doing it anyway to try and salvage some of our money...maybe if I pull it off we won't be so deep in the red next year.
Blech to not enough money!
So this is what I want to plant for sure this year: corn, peas, green beans, wax beans, tomatoes, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, carrots, radishes, spinach, beets, zucchini, crook neck squash, spaghetti squash, pumpkins. I'm sure there is more, but my list is not in front of me.
We also have a rhubarb patch, grapes, apple trees, pear trees and I would love to add a heavier bearing cherry tree as well as a couple of peach trees. We really are blessed with abundance in this area. Of course this is assuming a good spring and summer. Last year it was so cold and wet that our garden didn't really do all that well and we got almost no apples or pears and oddly I didn't see any rhubarb come into the house.
My other desire which probably won't come to fruition this year is to add a couple of Goji berry bush/trees and at least two paw paw trees. They both sound yummy and beautiful.
Off to clean and continue planning what is going to be a massive garden.

Well it has been more than a month since the last posting and my playroom/house is wonderfully (mostly) still organized. I still have to tackle the craft drawers, but I think that will be waiting until after Christmas.

I just love being able to see my floors *smile*

Today will be a day to multitask. Though my laundry is clean (we won't discuss the several loads waiting for me upstairs) it needs to be folded and put away, I need to start sewing my 2 year olds Christmas present (a "Toothless" dragon, from How to Train Your Dragon) since I couldn't find them in store anywhere and online were running $150-$200. That wasn't gonna happen! I also need to start her Christmas PJ's (the other two kidlets, plus one set for my friends little girl are already done). I would like to clean out the window in the kitchen to display all my Christmas nativity scenes and what not. I think however, that I might save deep cleaning the laundry/bathroom for Monday.

Now as to budgeting...I still don't like not having money, but I can tell my mindset is changing because I walk out of the stores with only what's on my list, perhaps minus a few items that were non necessities instead of what's on my list and then some. I was still a hundred dollars over my food budget last month, but hopefully that will be rectified this month. Where we have run into a snag is that horrible column called "Extras". You know all that miscellaneous stuff that doesn't deserve a column of its own, but needs to be put somewhere. Yeah well that horrible column was sitting at almost $500 last month. Really?! Why do we need $500 worth of misc.?

On the upside of the whole budgeting thing, I have managed to procure a job watching a little girl during the day while my older kids are at school which will allow the kids to stay at their current school as it covers the cost of their tuition plus a whole extra $10. Whoo hoo. I am very grateful for this opportunity that God has provided as it meets all the criteria that we felt the ideal job for me should have at this time. I can work in my home, it covers the cost of the kids schooling, gives me the same days (mostly) off that the kids have, and best of all the little girl is my son's teachers daughter so when I pick him up, I drop her off. I also think it is a bonus for my 2.5 year old to have that experience of not being the youngest and learning how to deal with someone much smaller than her.

Well that's all for now.

Well just to add on at the end of this day, my laundry still remains unfolded, but the kitchen is clean, the downstairs is vacuumed, toys are put away, kids' rooms are cleaned, Toothless is maybe half done. Now my back is tired from all that sewing, but I feel good about my day. Perhaps I will even fold laundry while me and David watch a movie.

The hard part is getting started!

The hardest part is getting started. From oozing out of my bed early in the morning, to getting ready for bed at night. I have also found that once I have started whatever it was that I had been dreading (mmmm it can't be 6:30AM already!) isn't as bad or as hard as I thought it was going to be. My current dread/project is undigging my house from the mountainous melange of toys that my three munchkins have brought into it. When did that happen by the way, every time I turn around there are more and more toys...especially those oh so wonderful (if you're a kid anyway) happy meal toys. I'm telling you we must eat at fast food a lot more than I supposed if the exponential growth of these toys is any indication. Currently I have literally swept out the living room of all toys, clothes, and debris and deposited the pile in the play room. Now I have to start the sorting process. We are often telling our kids "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do" and today I have to tell myself that. On the up side my laundry monster has been tamed (for a day at least), the children are dressed and groomed and departed for picture day at school, I don't have to go anywhere until 2:30 this afternoon, and when the toys are sorted (and some of them disposed of...a whole day to do it without interruption wahoo!) I will have a clean, organized playroom. Yay!

Now what you have to understand about these pictures is that they were taken after I had been sorting and cleaning for about 3 hours...AND there is even more upstairs in the kid rooms.

Well ta ta for another day from this mama living in her muddled house.

And the rain came down!

Well it has been a while since my last posting. I am doing okay. Dealing very well with the miscarriage, I can even talk about it without crying!
Now as to the rest of my life, sigh, it is getting financially tight. My husband still has his job (good) but his hours are cut back (bad) which means our finances are not doing well at all. The conclusion of this is that I have to get a job. Up until today I honestly thought that meant a full time job, but taking a good look at all of our necessary monthly expenditures and holding it up against David's new income we should be able to meet our needs with out me getting a job, or taking our kids out of their school. However, a part time job on my part would make this much, much easier to do.
Without the job I would have to reduce our grocery bill to $500 a month...sounds not bad until you factor in two dogs, a cat, a guinea pig, 3 kids and that grocery includes all paper and cleaning products as well as food and that Nathan's goat milk alone costs $40 a month (more depending on how many Wednesdays are in a month). I'm not sure how to do that, but I am sure it is possible. People live on waaaay less than this and survive. That said anybody got any really good, doable tips for me on cutting that grocery bill down? On the plus side of this I could stand to lose a few pounds and this may just force me to do it!!
Oh dear it just hit me, this is the first time in my life (as an adult of course) that I have had to be financially savvy! We are dipping into the red every month and that simply just won't do.
In better much less depressing news, my children are still adorable. Megan has progressed to informing me when she is "stinky". Which means wet or in actuality stinky. One step closer to potty training (yay and boo!). She also sing songs "Let's go get my Emily." every day on our way to get Emily. She sure does admire her big sister, though that doesn't stop her from pushing Em's buttons!
Emily was emptying her backpack out today and said "Mom, can we keep my "m" paper? I want to remember how good I made M's." Very cute.
Nathan is doing so very well at school and is probably the best reader in his class. He rarely makes mistakes in math, is picking up science well, and his spelling has really improved this year. His cursive is still...interesting, but is much improved from last year and his teachers are super at pointing out all the letters that he has done really well instead of constantly pointing out all the letters he didn't do so well (though they do get a nod).
I love my kids and just thinking and writing about them has cheered me up incredibly.

Ahh, Summer Bounty!

Ahh, the bounty of summer has begun. I just went down to our lovely garden and picked the first fruits...OK so technically first vegetables. Our zucchini is now getting big enough to pick. Yay! I think I will make cheesy stuffed zucchini and if I have enough chocolate zucchini muffins to freeze for our trek north at the end of next week.

Only 11 more sleeps until we leave for Canada and already I'm beginning to get a little panicky at being ready to leave. In between now and then I have a chiropractor appointment, a hair appointment, a dental appointment, 3 evenings of VBS (which we are putting together from scratch (myself and one other lady) ), and the final event is the evening before we leave, I am hosting, as matron of honour, the bridal shower of my cousin Melanie (my husbands side)! I keep telling myself to breath deep. Oh did I mention that I'd like to have my house clean before we leave as well so we can come home to a clean house. I may have to call around and see if anyone can come help with that last one! Any volunteers out there?

Well I am now off to work on that delicious crop of zucchini! "Nummy, tummy" as my sweet (90% of the time anyway) two year old would say (well maybe she wouldn't say it about zucchini, but maybe the chocolate zucchini muffins!)

Not so great news...read all the way to the end!

So I had been having some trouble back at the beginning of June. I felt like I had a really terrible UTI. Thing is the doctor couldn't find any infection, though he sent a sample to a lab and they managed to grow non-specific bacteria. I went twice because the antibiotics just didn't seem to be working. Next step...a specialist. I am so tired of specialists at this point (a history of problems I won't share here) which I thought were finally figured out and over, and here I was supposedly headed off to another one.

Saturday June the 5th I decided to just go ahead and take the test. You know the test with the little pink lines? Only I used a test with a digital read out. The only reason I took the test was because both times I went to the doctors office (saw two doctors in the practice) was because both of them asked if there was a chance I could be pregnant. Guess they should have just run the test themselves and saved my poor body all those antibiotics. Yes that is right, I am pregnant with baby #4.

Apparently when I get pregnant and am on birth control pills my body acts like it has a terrible UTI even though I don't. Of course I instantly went off the pill and my pseudo UTI cleared up almost overnight.

At first I wasn't sure how I felt about being pregnant yet again. My brain had moved on, we were done at three, my visions of how the future was going to go were in place, but it didn't take long for me to start getting used to the idea. At this moment (June 22, 7 weeks pregnant) I am still in disbelief that I am actually pregnant. Not even feeling that morning sick, just a tad bit in the evening. I am tired, but not as exhausted as I remember being with the others.

Week 8 (June 29th)

Well, here I am a week later, June 29th 2010, 8 weeks pregnant and feeling about the same...perhaps this baby has decided to be kind to me and spare me the morning sickness.

Week 11 (July 20th)

I guess I spoke too soon. Although I suppose technically s/he has spared me "morning" sickness as this little seems to kick in at night....right around supper time! I consistently started getting "evening" sick at 9.5 weeks and am now at 11 weeks and it is getting very slightly better. Exhaustion also set in. It's amazing how quickly you forget just how tired you can be! All in all my mind is starting to adjust to the addition to the family, though I must admit to some panicky feelings when I try and picture myself getting 4 kids out the door to school come February. Two in school and two to stay with me. Maybe my in-laws will spell me for a few weeks and take Nathan and Emily to school for me...I suppose that I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I figure it never hurts to be prepared.

Oh by the way my official due date is February 8th. If this little one goes late I could end up having a mothers day baby (Emily), an Easter baby (Megan), AND a Valentine's baby! Wouldn't that be interesting :) That would be six days past due date...Megan went 8 days past. Of course if s/he is born on Valentines day s/he would be my only non-Sunday baby. All three of the others have been born on a Sunday.

August 19, 2010

Since today is the day of hope, speaking up and remember child loss wether it is through miscarriage, stillborn, infant death, or accident, I am going to celebrate the brief life of my fourth child. I wasn't going to post this, but feel like I would like you to share with you and sort of get it all out there.

I have been feeling like it is taboo to speak of my miscarriage which happened three weeks ago yesterday, but have since decided I have every right to grieve, openly or otherwise. Man I thought I was done tearing up at the drop of a hat, but here I sit with tears leaking our of my eyes!

Overall I am doing well. I have many blessings and know that God has his hand on all things. I am thankful that if happened fairly early (12 weeks), that I have three healthy wonderful living children, that my husband loves me so much, and for the friends and family who knew when it happened and grieved with me.

Busy Bee Day

I am not sure what happened to spring sunshine. I think April forgot to end so that May flowers could bloom. Here we are on the 18th of June and I have little hope that the corn in our garden will be knee high by the fourth of July. I sure hope September and October are extra nice to make up for this wet, cloudy spring.


In other news I had three extra kids added to the household for the day. My niece Bridget, nephew Seth, and my friends little girl Bailey. All in all I find having friends over can be easier than not having them. Other than general supervision and guidance, oh yeah and feeding them, they entertained themselves pretty well. A few squabbles here and there, but nothing serious. However, it amazes me that adding even one more kid can increase the dishes by so very much, but adding three has pretty much emptied my cupboard bare. I have done dishes no less than 5 times today. Amazing. Had a light bulb turn on after supper...I made the kids clear the table, rinse the dishes, and put them in the dishwasher. Revolutionary I tell ya! I guess I can't totally blame the kids for all the dishes. I made home made mac and cheese for lunch, and homemade chicken enchilada's for supper, and am about to finish making two chocolate cream pies.


David and I spent last Saturday cleaning up the downstairs of our house. I think 80% of that was toys. We have reduced the toys downstairs by probably 90% and it looks so nice, and the kids are actually playing with what is there instead of just stirring them into even greater chaos. It will be one week tomorrow that I have managed to keep the downstairs of my house cleaned. I amaze even myself sometimes.


The kids enjoying the pool...so what if it doesn't have any water in it :)

Nathan's Heart

I love my son! Of course I do, he's my son, but let me explain why I got that mommy warm fuzzy feeling in particular.
So Nathan's birthday is August the 10th and because of that we 'celebrated' at school on Thursday, May 27th with cupcakes. He has a little girl in his class who is wheat sensitive and we made special (and quite tasty) wheat free chocolate cupcakes for her and I put the same white frosting on her cupcake as the other chocolate cupcakes. As we are getting ready to hand them out, his fabulous first grade teacher noticed he was looking sad or upset about something. At this point my darling son started to break down and cry (not harsh sobbing, just I'm upset and my eyes are leaking and mouth is sad looking cry). The reason for his tears you ask? Though we had made a special cupcake for Halley, Kylie who has no allergies or sensitivities that I am aware of, doesn't like chocolate. He was upset because she wasn't going to get to enjoy the cupcake. How sweet is that!!! Of course had I known that we probably would have gotten a different kind, but I had no foreknowledge of such a dislike.
On a note off my sons soft heart, I was impressed with the caring and concern shown by the others in his class. Several of the boys in his class got up when they realized he was crying and started patting his back and head and telling him that it was going to be all right. And Kylie, who indeed did not eat her chocolate cupcake, piped up and said "It's OK Nathan, it has white frosting. It's all good!"
I hope all of these children never lose their caring hearts for other people!

A bookworm is born

My heart is filled with warm fuzzies. My son is becoming a bookworm. For the last two days I have found him curled up reading a Horrible Harry chapter book. I LOVE IT!

I have been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. Even before I could read I remember asking and asking and asking my mom and older sisters to read to me. Especially my favorite alphabet book. That in fact was my inspiration to learn to read as fast as I could. I get a kick out of my first grade report card stating that I was struggling with reading...by fifth grade I was reading 11th grade level or more.

I was warned that after having kids I wouldn't have time to read...they underestimated my love of diving into a good christian romance, or comedy, or adventure. I even periodically go back and read some of my childhood favorites like the L.M. Montgomery books, Louisa May Alcott books, and my Narnia series.

My bookshelves are overflowing (literally), but there is always room for another good book.

Emily's 5 and Missing Megan

Well Emily's birthday party went well. On Thursday night I actually woke myself up with a stomach ache worrying over whether anyone would come or not. I hadn't had any RSVPs yet. Seems kind of silly I suppose to worry over that, but her little heart was sure that EVERYONE invited was going to come. Thankfully, though not everyone could come, her two best friends made it plus several other little girls and their siblings, and her three cousins came. I think she would have been happy with just her two best friends. I was pleasantly surprised that her little friend Lilli from Kung Fu joined us with her family. Emily's was the second birthday party of the day, out of three for them.

When we got home we unloaded all the stuff and then I was having Nathan and Emily pick up all the garbage that was in the van. Megan was following me around and I leaned into the van just for a moment to grab the actual garbage can to empty it and when I had done that Megan was gone. I didn't immediately panic. I went through the shop first because she had been peeking in the door way just a minute before, but when I didn't see her there I did start to panic. I suppose I should explain why I panicked so quickly. Megan is my wanderer. Though she is terribly clingy when strangers are around, on her own she explores and she loves to be outside. The last time she disappeared David found her all the way down our driveway and across the bridge heading out towards the main road. This road is easy on/off to the I-5 and it would only take seconds for her to simply disappear forever.

(This picture is taken from our front yard. The driveway is on the right and heads across the picture to the left. )

So after informing David I couldn't find Megan I ran down the driveway to see if I could see her. Nathan followed me and of course I didn't find her. Now panic was setting in. She had been missing for probably 3 or 4 minutes at this point. I came back to the house where David had been searching with no success and then really started panicking. On the verge of tears I went back out to the shop one more time, and David headed down the driveway, one more time. This time, thankfully, there Megan was in the shop calmly playing with...nails! Sorting them from one bucket to another. I sent Nathan running down the driveway to tell David (shouting all the way "We found her...We found her!") and I promptly burst into tears and picked Megan up and headed down the driveway after Nathan.

Even now thinking about it increases my blood pressure!

God is so good and I thank Him for answering my prayers for Megan to be safe and found!

(This picture is taken maybe halfway down our driveway and shows the covered bridge which begins our driveway. Main road is just across this bridge.)

Irresponsible me?

Well I have officially been made to feel like an immature, irresponsible fool! I don't like being berated because I know that I am NOT immature, irresponsible, or a fool.
Now to dissect that, can anyone else make me feel anything? Hmmm, I think the answer is yes. If you care about someone's opinion and they say something hurtful or "get you in trouble" (even if you have done nothing wrong as in my case) they can make you feel hurt or foolish. Now I need to ask myself why do I care about her opinion. She is much older than I, we are not friends, so why does it matter? I guess the only conclusion I can logically come to is that it doesn't matter. However, she is a forceful, opinionated, take control (not charge, but control) kind of woman. To be honest, she scares me and I know for a fact I'm not the only one she scares and makes feel immature and irresonsible.
OK enough of that. Watching my beautiful two year old Meg run circles around the kitchen table shouting "RUN" is helping me put into perspective what is important and worthy to pay attention to...and it isn't an opinionated, old lady!
So this weekend is a bit busy for us. Saturday is baseball game day for Nathan, Sunday is church, board meeting, Emily's birthday party, and possibly church again.
Well, I suppose I should go be responsible and do some work!

Returning Home

Well, I had a marvelous weekend away from my crazy, can't keep it neat, or tidy, or clean house. I went to a Ladies Retreat up at Canby Grove Conference Centre (in Canby, Oregon). My friend Megan and I left Friday and came home Sunday afternoon. I wasn't sure I was going to get to go. Thursday night about, oh 8:00 PM I started not feeling so well. Everyone in our house except Nathan and I had already caught this particular stomache bug. Sure enough (almost two weeks since the last person had it) I caught it. All night I made visits to the bathroom, still determined to go to retreat. The next morning I got up and called my father-in-law and asked if he would take the kids to school, left my youngest in bed (she was happy and singing to herself), and proceeded lay down on the couch and try to convince myself I wasn't sick. I'm glad I did go, even though I missed Friday evenings speakers and slept instead. I felt much better the next day and back to normal by Sunday.

I love coming home after being away from my family. My marvelous husband had made sure the kitchen was CLEAN! Better than I ever seem to manage. My four year old informed me she missed me sooo much but that she still loved me as much now as she did before and that none of her love had gotten lost :) Made my heart warm. My son proceeded to eat 3.5 big bowls of the black beans and rice I made like he had been starved all weekend and pronounced it soooo goooood. Megan (my Mega roo, not my friend Megan...confusing I know) on the other hand, who had apparently been missing me all weekend, singing songs about "mommy back?" really didn't want much to do with me. Oh she didn't fully ignore me, but she wanted daddy to hold her and put her to bed which is very unusual. Two days later things are back to normal and she is my little shadow again. I'm glad my shadow plays so well by herself.

Well, aren't I chatty today!

Signing off to start all those chores! Despite the kitchen being clean (which it is no longer of course) nothing else got cleaned and the bathrooms are desperately calling out to me for attention!

Clean kitchen...dirty kids!

"Keeping House"

So I think my ideal woman lives in a different era. Back when most women didn't leave the home to work and girls were taught from a young age how to "keep house". Nowadays keeping house is something you try to fit in between all the other craziness of life. Nathan started playing baseball this year, which so far has been fun, but it takes up two evenings and Saturday morning. Kung Fu takes up Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Add the 15-30 min of homework Nathan has each night and I feel like my head is spinning. Of course I always have mornings to get some work done, but Megan does take up just a bit of my time. Oh yeah, and I forgot that I do church books at least one morning a week (sometimes two).

Oh dear, sounds like I'm complaining...actually more like I'm making excuses for not "keeping house" better.

I guess I need to define what "keeping house" means to me. Let's see...keeping house means keeping my dishes done, laundry done, bathrooms clean, floors clean, house de-cobwebbed, beds made every day, big vegetable garden, beautiful flower garden, home cooking, home canning, laughter, love, and lots of family time. Boy I have a long way to go! Mostly in the "clean" department. Computer, reading, and kids are waaaay more fun!

I'm still struggling to follow some semblance of a routine for keeping up on cleaning my house. I will admit the dishes are getting done much more often and I've actually gotten my bed made almost everyday for the last 2 weeks. I've even de-cobwebbed a few rooms! So I guess habits aren't made in a day and long ago, girls spent years learning how to do it all so I shouldn't give up just yet.

Of course I wouldn't want to give up all my modern conveniences...like my washer and dryer!

Are we done yet?

Well, I feel great this week, which is fabulous. We have had a icky stomach bug making its

way around the family. First my little Megan bug caught it on Saturday, then the next Tuesday my sweet Emily got it and followed it up with 3 days of a different bug, I caught that bug and hurt for almost 4 days, then I thought "whoo hoo, we are done" I cleaned, I sanitized...and wouldn't you know it, David woke up a week and a half later on Friday morning with the original stomach bug that Meg had. Now, starting Monday, Nathan seems to be down with the ouchy tummy stomach bug Emily and I had. Hopefully it'll clear up tomorrow and life can go on. I do not like watching my kids be sick and in pain when there is nothing I can do about it.

I am half dreading catching the original throw uppy bug, I HATE throwing up, but the other half of me just wants to get it over with since there seems to be quite a long incubation period for whatever it is. The cynical part of me figures I will get sick either right before or during a Ladies Retreat I am going on next week.

Ah, well life continues and since I am feeling so well I guess I should go tackle my dishes and the giant pile of CLEAN laundry. At least it is all clean this time. I have kept up on washing it, but folding and putting away after every load is still eluding me. Goal for next week, is to keep on top of the laundry.

Waking up Clean

Well, here I am the day after Easter enjoying my mostly clean house (just don't look into my living room where shredded paper (thanks to my 4 going on 5 year old) and blankets reign supreme). I woke up this morning and came downstairs and just enjoyed the fact that my kitchen was clean! I didn't have to clean it. Marvelous! Thrilling! OK so it doesn't take much to excite me.

This morning was parent-teacher conferences. I am a proud parent. Both my kids are doing so well and get top grades in Listening and following directions, getting along with peers, participation...I love it. Nathan is having trouble with his cursive writing. My poor little leftie is just finding it so hard to find that smoothness when writing and as a result it is a tad(!) messy. Better than the beginning of the year, but still not great. His teacher and I and then his dad and I discussed what we could do at home to help him with that without making it a chore. I don't want him to hate writing! If you have any fun ideas with the whole fine motor skills thing let me know.

Me and my Easter beauties

Accessories

Every girl needs a good assortment of accessories. These are Meg's choices of the day...

5 Beautiful Barrettes...

and one Swell set of Swimming goggles...

Tap, tap, tap...the rerun

Oh my goodness, I am tired and my legs hurt! Who knew laundry (with some good old fashioned bathroom scrubbing) could take so much energy!! Of course the goal is not to have so much laundry that it takes me 4 hours to bring under control...and I do mean 4 hours straight of folding and putting away. I still have...oh...6 loads to get through, but hey in light of where I started I figure that's not bad!
This is the true first day of trying to live up to my Spring Resolution. I say the first true day because I have been 'skipping' all kinds of chores when I didn't want to do them for the last week. I now have a daily list of things that should be done every day, a weekly list, a monthly list, a seasonal list and a yearly list. It's a bit overwhelming to look at, but every task gets its own spot so cleaning the bathroom takes out 6 tasks all at once.
Despite the fact that I am tired, and my feet hurt, and I haven't actually finished the list for the day, I feel really great about all that I accomplished. Plus to top it off, Meg and I still had fun together. I folded clothes, she jumped on the bed, I cleaned the bathroom, she jumped on Nathan's bed, I de-cobwebbed all but my bedroom upstairs, she climbed into the baby-doll crib and pretended to sleep. I'm glad she had so much fun while I worked, made it all much more enjoyable just getting to watch her have fun.

Amazed

It amazes me every time I look at my kids. Before you have kids people tell you to cherish every moment, they grow so fast. It is so very true. My oldest baby is sitting beside me right now, reading over my shoulder! Emily, my second baby, has outgrown all of the pants I bought for her in September! And my youngest baby turned two on Tuesday! She desperately wants to be one of the big kids and is starting to fight holding my hand even when it is for her safety. She hasn't worn a bib in about 6 months because she has figured out how to get out of every bib we own and already has a shoe fetish.
Thank you God for these little ones you gave to me.

Tap, tap, tap...

Well here I sit, staring at my computer screen and ignoring the five things that I have to complete in order to finish what I set out to do today. I feel like my almost 5 year old..."I don't wanna!" However, I suppose I should aspire to the proclamation of my two year old, "Mommy awesome!" Of course keeping a clean house is not what being a great mom is all about, but I think that attempting to keep a clean house is actually important for kids to witness and take part in. I'm sure it'll affect their characters somewhere down the road...just don't ask me how right now as my brain is falling asleep and I don't wanna finish my work.
And of course I have my Spring resolution of trying to be more organized (which in my head means more clean) tapping me on the shoulder.

(my lovely large and overflowing laundry room)

Why?

I have yet to figure out why I have an attraction to adding to my household. Last Friday was my two older childrens' Spring Carnival at their school. Much fun was had and puppy love was found...make that guinea pig love. One of the prizes that could be bought with the "funny money" they earned from playing games was, yup, a live guinea pig. I will accept the blame in that I mentioned to them "Oh look, a guinea pig for a prize!" Of course they wanted him. What child when presented with the opportunity to own a cute furry creature can pass it up? So after tracking down the donor of GP prize, AND more importantly calling my husband and getting his thumbs up, we became the proud owner of my very first guinea pig.

Just ask my mother about my penchant for bringing home cute animals. I didn't quite get away with the kitten I snuck into the house when I was 12, as my mother is very allergic and knew something was up. I did get away with my green budgie, Claire, who gave my mother sweet revenge by waking me up every morning as soon as the sun even thought of rising. And rabbits. I will admit (openly for the first time) that I took my mini-lop over to my friends house and bred her on purpose, behind my mothers back. But I 100% deny...truthfully even...ever breeding my scary, mean gray bunny Duchess! She was NASTY.

So all that leading to the fact that I still crave caring for small furry (though I've gotten beyond feathery) creatures...in fact, guinea pigs are social, herd animals, so I think I need to go get poor, lonely Hamlet a friend!

My miss Meg is quite enthralled with Hamlet.

Nathan has had to run back to tell him goodnight and to give him just one last pat before bed :)

Good Morning?

Well it has not been the greatest start to my Saturday morning. I have been puked on and pooped on multiple times and my laundry has definitely increased because of aforementioned activities. My youngest daughter, who will be two next Tuesday, woke me up at about 4:30 this morning complaining of an ouchie tummy. She is pale and listless and has had only one drink since this has all begun. She is currently holding a popsicle, but so far refuses to eat it.
Now for the blessings: She is not sick on her birthday or for her party (please Lord), her older brother and sister are not sick, I feel fine, I have a washing machine and dryer to wash the increased laundry for me, I have many friends and family praying for my little one.
Well that's all for now, from this wishing she was more organized mother in a muddle mess....off to move that laundry pile again!

Muddler Meg

So I'm sitting at my computer with my youngest daughter (2 next Tuesday!) laying on the floor playing beside me, when seemingly out of nowhere two icy little feet land on my leg. This means that she has managed to shove her feet up the leg of my pants and plant them there. Apparently she agrees that she is cold as she has now gone and grabbed her mittens to put on.

My littlest muddler has lost her mittens, deserted the book in the picture, stashed her tights who knows where, smeared apple sauce and fruit juice all over my table...I could go on, but to give her credit she has also washed her own hands and put her shoes in the proper place. I'll take the little steps towards de-muddling my house. Besides which how boring would it be if a house full of children showed no evidence that children actually lived there?!