Brunch at my house

18 little ones.
2 bumps.
6 mamas.
A driveway cum minivan lot.
Fruit.
Monkey bread.
Egg casserole.
Banana bread.
Acini de pepe salad.
Juice.
Coffee.
Deliciousness.
Absolutely no leftovers, (luckily I set aside plates for Kevin and my mom, or they wouldn't have gotten any lunch.)
A modicum of conversations above the general hubbub.
Knowing you have women by your side who completely understand.
And a completely clean kitchen (only 4 1/2 hours later!)
***************************************
And in other, completely unrelated news, I am ridiculously excited about my new recipe box I ordered on Etsy. Maybe one day, my grandchildren will be going through these same recipes asking me to help them learn to cook and bake. Maybe they'll get all nostalgic after I've gone to be with Jesus because of the recipes in my handwriting. Maybe they'll have to do a coin toss to see who ends up with Grandma's precious recipes. Maybe.

I try

I put her clothes in her closet as an outfit--you know, her pants and shirt on the same hanger. And still, I realize we end up looking like this more days than not.

*shrug*

At least she's got a style all her own.

Scary Fairies

The original directions included fairies that looked like this:


Ours turned out a little differently...


But since the girls haven't stopped playing with them since we created this wizened old looking creepy ...ahem... interestingly unique version of the craft, I'd guess my children aren't warped or scarred in any way.

Superwoman

You may not want to read this post because I'm about to get a little bragadocious.

I woke up, for the 2nd or 3rd time at 7:56. By 8:26, all four of us (the three chickadees and me) were out of their pajamas, with clean faces and combed hair and we were on our way to MOPS.

We all went to the grocery store, getting everything on the list and forgetting nothing, and although I did start to sweat a little when Cadrian was dangling precariously between the edge of the the window of the truck cart and the check out lane beside us, and Brielle decided to whine the ENTIRE time we were in the check out, we all made it home in one piece.

And then, my coup de force, after dragging in all the groceries and making lunch in the speed of light, I... (are you ready?)

( you might want to sit down for this)

I hung up the hose.

Yes. You read correctly. All by myself.

Yes, I'm still panting a little, and my arms are sore, but I hung up our gigantic, extra long length, super farm duty, enormously heavy, so-big even my brawny husband said he wouldn't have done it, hose on a hook that was over my head all. by. myself.

I'm going to go bask in my glory for a bit. Feel free to bring me lemonade or random tokens of your admiration.

Going with the flow

The plan today may as well have not been a plan. Oh well.

When you're going to drive a good half hour to go to a garage sale you saw listed on your message board, it's a good idea to double check the dates.

Also, it's a good idea to remember where you're going in the first place and not drive another half hour out of your way simply because you weren't paying attention.

We had planned to go to the library for a home school open house. Apparently, an open house from 10-12 is really more of a suggestion, because everyone was shutting down and cleaning up when we arrived at 11:30. They were apologetic about it, but I still didn't get to meet other home school moms in the area, which is what I thought I would be doing.

I did get to meet one, which is better than nothing, right?

Since the children were dealing well with all the disappointment, we went to visit the museum briefly, so that turned out all right for them.

And then I saw a street full of garage sales on the way home and did snag some clothes for the boy.

And even though he protested mightily his nap, he's finally quiet and asleep. The girls are content upstairs in their quiet times. I am going to read for fun.

When it rains on your parade, you may as well dance in it right?

And a better day it was too!

Everyone was feeling better today--Thank you Jesus!--including me.

It was SUCH a relief that Brielle was back to herself. That whining was not at all tolerable. Plus I felt bad she felt bad! Cadrian still seemed to have some digestive issues, but he was eating again and acting happy and non-clingy. And Aviana was truly a joy.


We actually got into town. I bought some miscellaneous 'necessities' at Michael's, then went next door to get the girls new swimsuits. Of course they had to pick the ones that look like tutus. Always frilly, my little farm girls.

And what's a trip to town without a stop at Chic-fil-a? Or a quick jaunt to the scrapbooking store?

This afternoon, we had a version of quiet time during which Aviana did some school. I've started getting some of her materials for next year, and she can't wait until next year.

After Cadrian woke up, and Aviana left for Good News Club, I could barely keep my eyes open. Whew! I never know when that exhaustion wall is going to hit me, but when it does, look out!


I got a rough draft started for our Super Summer Challenge, as well as a template made for our 21 Meals. I decided to stop figuring out what we'll have to eat every night, and just have a three week rotation of basically the same meals. Hopefully it won't get too monotonous.

I let Brielle watch some PBS, while I watched Cadrian explore his world out of doors.

Now, speaking of PBS, I'm going to watch Food Inc for the second time (it's on at 8 for those of you in CST, 9 in the East, and I have no idea when you Mountain and Pacific people watch!) I highly recommend you view it.

And I'll probably knit while watching. At least until I get to the point (I'm nearly there) where I don't understand the directions anymore.

Some days are just like that...

even in Australia.

I love that book.

More than that, I have been trying to count my blessings.
Count my blessings, name them one by one.
Count my many blessings, see what God has done.

Yes, perhaps I have had more than my fair share of diarrhea today with 2/3 of my children suffering some stomach ailment, but at least I don't have to worry about them dying from it.

Perhaps I don't get to go to the home school conference I was looking forward to, but at least I have the freedom to educate my children at home.

Perhaps my husband and I haven't really seen each other this week, but at least I know how much he loves me and our family and how hard he works for us.

Perhaps I haven't been feeling the best, but at least I am not bedridden and can still take (mostly) good care of my family, and I'm grateful to be having another child.

Yes, perhaps people close to me may disapprove of me and my choices, but at least most of my loved ones know me and support me.

Perhaps the whining is still echoing in my head, but at least I have some time to myself now.

Perhaps I was disappointed with some people I'm trying to buy stuff from on eBay and Etsy, but at least they are going to rectify the situation and I can buy the items in the first place.

Perhaps I had a temper tantrum today and acted like a spoiled child, but at least my children were quick to forgive me and love me regardless.

Yes, perhaps this was not the best day in the world.

But after all, tomorrow is another day.

Twenty weeks

Halfway there--although--the bell curve of pregnancy says that 42 weeks is perfectly normal. I'm due anywhere from 21 August to 18 September, but I'm just saying I'm due "Labor Day".

Because it's fun and I like the pun.

Supposedly, I've gained about 8 pounds, but it looks to me like a loh-ot more. I really scared myself when I accidentally caught sight of naked me the other day.

The baby, according to a fairly funny site I hadn't seen before, weighs approximately 10-11 ounces and is about 6 inches long, which is about the same size as a can of Red Bull, which has way too much caffeine for a pregnant woman to be drinking.

We may be thinking about a name that doesn't begin with D... a friend told me about this research study, which may or may not be a bunch of hooey...

But then again, why mess up a good thing?

Overall, baby and mama are doing well. Baby is active; I feel him/her every day, often. I'm more tired with this pregnancy than I remember with my others. But that stands to reason--I'm two years older and have another child to take care of.

My allergies have kicked into high gear, with a lovely asthmatic cough to contend with on top of the rest, but with good nutrition, herbs and Big Pharma, I'm getting it under control. I didn't realize until I saw that picture of myself that it shows all over my face.

Off to bed--sweet dreams, world!

Nails

I put nail stickers on the girls today for being super duper trooper helpers today. They loved it.

And then, my wonderful sister-in-law came over and hung out with the children for five hours so I could get a haircut, go spend my Gymbucks, get a pedicure (thanks to my husband who got me the gift card for our anniversary in November--last year!--), and go to the grocery all by myself!

I got Aviana her watch on my little excursion--she is beyond thrilled to pieces.
The tile I'm standing on is what we're thinking of having installed in our entire kitchen, replacing the beige you can see here in the prep area of the kitchen, and the beige carpet in the eating area of the kitchen. What thinks you?

Clearly, a great success

My pudding-painting-four-wafers-and-fruit for supper idea seemed to be a big hit, even though they didn't really eat any. Hopefully, they won't wake in the night with growling tummies...

Brielle complained, "Too much sweets!"
Cadrian would get too much pudding on a strawberry and nearly gag and spit it out.
Aviana ate only her apple and strawberries.

Funny, I just learned today that this pudding has less (by half!) sugar than the yogurt I thought was so healthful for them! Guess I'll have to go back to making it.

Which I last did in January.

And by the way, if you make yogurt in January and then discover it at the back of the fridge in April, don't put it down the sink, because it really, really smells. Really.

Breathe...

Sunblown faces.

Pink cheeks.

Pink shirts.

Strawberry fingers.

Fourteen feet.

Ducks.

One hundred forty dirty tootsies.

Three hours.

Mozart's Magic Fantasy, Give a Mouse a Cookie, American Tall Tales.

Two vans.

Two Tías.

One midwife.

156 bpm. Swoosh swoosh swoosh.

Two playgrounds.

Smooshed peanut butter sandwiches, pine needle cottage cheese, pretzel sticks for squirrels.

No fountain.

Mint, chocolate, vanilla, pistachio and cotton candy.

Stickiness galore.

Countless drinks of water.

One returned toddler.

One stroller.

Two back carries.

Sore calves, achey back, sleepy eyes.

Perfect satisfaction.

Things I don't really need

but I really really want...

I've been itching to shop lately. I've been pretty much able to quell the urge and limit myself to groceries, but

I really want to get new covers for the girls' boosters. We did get the car seats themselves given to us, so that makes $$ covers completely justifiable, right?

I really want to get some adorable wool covers for my baby's bum. He really needs to bump up his cuteness quotient. I love this one. And this one. Oh, and also, this one. And I'm pretty sure we couldn't live without this one.

And then I want pretty much anything out of this catalogue.

Oh, that's pretty much all for the kids. Well, this is for me... sort of.

I know, I'm pathetic.

Thinkin' about:

** On being included**We had a play date today at a big bounce house type place. I was there for a while before the girls I was meeting arrived. Another mom's group was also there.

You may not know this, but I'm what you would call an extrovert. An outgoing type person. It's usually not at all difficult for me to walk up to a total stranger and introduce myself. New situations, new people don't make me feel uncomfortable, just curious, and sometimes energized.

I spoke briefly to one of the moms from the other group when we were at the check in together, but once the other moms got here, I just hung out with my kids, because it's been my experience that moms groups are generally (hopefully inadvertently) exclusionary, and there doesn't seem to be much of a point trying to talk to them.

Imagine my surprise, when not one, not two, but THREE of the moms came up to me separately to introduce herself and invite me to join them. That's what it should be like! Since I'm nearly always on the introducing/extending end of meeting people, I truly had no idea how good that felt to be invited and welcomed.

**On bleeding**Several articles in Mothering made me really think. One was about making your daughter's menarche (first period) a wonderful rite of passage. It never even occurred to me to celebrate this transition to womanhood, or do anything special at all. I wonder what that could look like.

One was about cloth pads. I never really thought about that before, even though we part-time cloth diaper. A woman will produce 300 pounds of menstrual waste in her lifetime. I may have to buy some or make some.

One was about tilted uteri. I was told I had one when I was about 19, and that I might have trouble getting pregnant. That was all. My mom said she was told the same thing, but she never had any trouble at all. We did try for a long time (to us) for Aviana, but didn't have any problems conceiving our other babies.

But not one of my practitioners in my history, ever mentioned any other problems a tilted uterus might cause. These include headaches/migraines, painful periods, chronic constipation, lower back ache among a host of others. Most of these problems I have had have been immensely helped by nutrition, but it would have been nice to know this before now! There is an interesting massage technique that has been shown to help many, many women.

(the above links are just ones I found relating to the topic)

**On math** I do not have a mathematical mind at all, but I think my oldest does. I want to provide her with an empowering math program, but I am completely stymied on what to get. I know it's just primary math. I know I can switch if we don't like it. I know it's really not that big of deal. But still. I seem to be paralyzed in choosing. Something. Anything.

**On Canada** The Canadians are no longer being forced to have a Cesarean for a breech baby like American women are. Go Canada!

Maybe I should change the name of this blog to "Corn in my Dryer".
Or "Mud in my Kitchen".
Or "Stupid Smelly Asian Beetles all over the Dang House!"

grumpy

Cadrian has been Mr Grumpypants of late. And that makes me Big Miss Grumpbackatcha.

The only thing that seems to help is to hold him all the time. Which is impossible.

So wearing him on my back at least balances out the bump.

It would be nice to get through one day without any screaming.

Wish me luck for tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day!

Easter doin's

That child!

Poem by Brielle: Wittle Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating some cherry pie. Awong tame a spider, who ate her all up, and then Miss Muffet died.

Here she is with her cousins: Dani, the awesome pedi giver, Aviana (her sister), herself with her hair in what we call Miss Muffet hair, which prompted above poem, Cora and Ella

It's the thought that counts.

Right?
This was my first attempt at embroidery or appliqué or whatever it is I did here.

The heart patch on the back? That's because I accidentally sewed the back to the front and made a hole when I took out the stitches.
I hope it really is the thought that counts because I don't have time to do another one before Saturday when I get to meet my sweet Genevieve.