D'uh!

Sara was having a fussy moment when Anne was here this weekend. {highly unusual, cause she is the easiest baby} and Anne said, "Aw, what's wrong Sara?"

Without missing a beat, MaryClare piped up. "She can't talk, Aunt Anne."

Anne felt pretty stupid. :)

Of course, this is the same four year old who was telling us earlier that we have two heads, our foreheads and our regular heads.

Everything and the kitchen sink ...

Summer wrap up:

Jake and Ryan went to camp this summer to Camp Marymount. I went to this camp from 83-91. It's a traditional camp and accomodations are rather, um, rustic. I wish I had some pictures, but my camera lens busted during drop off! Luke really wants to go next year, but I want him to wait until he is older. They were there for three weeks. I missed my guys so much, but they had a wonderful time, cold showers and all.

Camp beagan after the swim team season so all four swimmers were able to compete in the summer leagues. They swim at a neighboring club because our pool is too small to have a team. Several other families from our subdivision and from church swim there too so they know the kids. It's a very laid back team and they even let MaryClare 'practice'. She would go up and down the lane in her floaties kicking and laughing. She loves the water. I have never seen a kid love it so much. This winter and spring she'll have swim lessons and I know by next summer she'll be ready to be a full member of the swim team.

We started back to school in mid-August (Ack!) This year we are members at a hybrid school where the kids go 2 days a week and we homeschool hte other days, following the Mother of Divine Grace curriculum. We are thrilled with this so far. It seems to be a perfect balance for us. Oh and they wear uniforms. Laine is the only one who is happy about this though.

Lee has travelled less this year than ever before in our marriage. It has been wonderful! In the midst of this rocky economy we have been so fortunate that his business is thriving. Still, we have tried to be more mindful and frugal than ever before, although I have always been somewhat of a cheapskate!

As for me? I am happy and content. I can't imagine doing anything other than what I am doing every day, even if I am motivated to continually learn and grow. I taught myself to crochet this past year, did some personal writing and joined a gym. Now I need to finish that crochet project, the story and the CT5K plan! That is the hardest thing for me, finishing stuff!

Happy Belated Earth Day!

I like the planet. I am very glad it is here.

I can conserve. I turn off the water when I am brushing my teeth and my kids frequently follow the 'if it's yellow let it mellow...' philosophy. Unfortunately, they sometimes forget the second part (if it' s brown, flush it down). We routinely dig through the dirty clothes for something to wear and thereby saving BOTH energy and water. We recycle.

However, the most important way I contribute to 'saving the earth' is in the area of battery conservation. You see, lots of things rely on battery power these days. Lots of annoying, lousd kids things. Our policy has always been that if the battery on a toy runs out ... oh well!

After several years of this policy implementation, I have decided to go even further and expand the concept. The toy I bought Sara yesterday has this little lightup keyboard section and when I put the whole thing together, I didn't put any batteries in it at all!

I realize this is decision is quite radical, but I think we will all adjust. I know that it in is the small sacrifices we make, that big things are accomplished.

I went out this afternoon to run a few errands. Lee was extra busy today so it was me + 6 vs. Old Navy, Target, Costco, Michael's and the library. You do the math.

I was optimistic as we pulled out of the driveway. Everyone had on clean clothes, the girls had their hair brushed and tamed into pigtails (so cute!) and I even had on make-up and some hip giant hoop earrings.

We hit Old Navy and I made the needed returns, got my money back and we were out of there in record time. Next on to Target and some more returns. I was waylaid by the damn dollar spot, but still we left Target in under an hour and with a bill under 100.00. Beat that!

We make it to Costco and it is slammed! Still, I get in and get my stuff. Same for the rest of the stores. I am a mom on a mission; to complete my quest and make it home for nap time.

Throughout the day we receive our normal number of amazed stares and typical comments. "Are they all yours?" etc... Some nice comments too like "You are so lucky!" I even see an old college friend at Costco and instead of avoiding eye contact and hiding behind a tower of paper towels, I engage and chat for minute.

This evening, my mission accomplished successfully, I relaxed on the couch nursing Sara. Luke, Lainey and MaryClare were playing nicely. I had just put together this bouncy jumper thing for Sara I had gotten at Target earlier today. (She is so strong and loves to stand!) I was enjoying watching them play with the box the toy was in.

Ah, they are so imaginative my children, look how sweet they are and playing so nicely together! I am such a great mom that they play and love so creatively!

I was not too surprised then when Luke jumped up on the couch with me and asked when we could have another baby.

Ah yes, siblings are wonderful aren't they? No jealous whiners in my house!

Smiling, I quizzed him some more about his request. Another girl? Or a baby brother next time? Heck, what about some more twins?

Giggling madly he replied. "Oh it doesn't matter, as long as we can get more boxes to play with!"

So apparently, new siblings are only worth the boxes they bring with them.

My mommy ego is now back to it's normal size, thankyouverymuch.

Small Successes

1. Sent out new family pictures to friends and family. I am terrible at this for some reason. I know it is fairly easy to upload pictures and then send them out to people via Kodak, but still, I rarely do it.

2. We have had a great two weeks of homeschooling and lots of efficient planning by moi, thanks to great new organization system called workboxing. We have learned a lot and done some fun and creative things too.

3. Almost finished decorating the big girls' room. We bought a new chest and lamps from IKEA and I finished putting up the border which is made from sweet alphabet fairy cards. There are a couple of more things I need to do, but overall it is coming together and looks like a real cozy bedroom, not just a room with two twin beds!

Interview with a mom

I found this on Sara's blog. I did this with all of the kids individually and they did not hear or know the other's answers. I thought this was so funny and a wonderful capture of us at a point in time. Their answers really surprised me and were kind of wierd at times ( I have never, ever done any ballet!)Jake-10 Ryan-9 Luke-6 and Laine-6



1. What is something your mom always says to you?

J-That is unacceptable!

R-I love you

Lu-400

La-sit down!




2. What makes your mom happy?

J-Love notes

R-being obedient

Lu-when I make her bed and clean her room without asking

La-tickling her



3. What makes your mom sad?

J-Disobeidence

R-when you're disobedient

Lu-I don't know

La-when someone dies

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

J-When she brings out the tickle machine

R-by tickling me

Lu-saying funny stuff

La-tickling me



5. What was your mom like as a child?

J-I don't really know

R-I don't know

Lu-I don't know

La-she had long hair and she looked like Aunt Anne



6. How old is your mom?

J-35

R-33

Lu-34

La-34



7. How tall is your mom?

J-5'3

R-I don't know

Lu-83 inches

La-50 feet



8. What is her favorite thing to do?

J-have free time with all the kids

R-do things with her kids

Lu-play with Sara

La-do work



9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

J- work on the computer

R-I don't know

Lu-only God knows that

La-do work



10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

J-for being the best mom ever

R-being the greatest mom in the world

Lu-dancing (!)

La-dancing (again ?!?)



11. What is your mom really good at?

J-talking

R-crocheting

Lu-ballet (?)

La-typing really fast




12. What is your mom not very good at?

J-talking quietly

R-basketball

Lu-hulahooping

La-putting away things



13. What does your mom do for a job?

J-be a mom

R-cleans up around the house

Lu-I don't know

La-she talks to Dad about work



14.What is your mom's favorite food?

J-I don't know

R-lasagna

Lu-pizza

La-pizza



15.What makes you proud of your mom?

J-when she crochets

R-that she is my mom

Lu-when she cleans up our rooms

La-when she kisses me goodnight



16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

J-Daisy Duck

R-Olive Oil

Lu-Sandy from Sponge Bob

La-Sleeping Beauty




17. What do you and your mom do together?

J-sit on the couch and talk

R-eat ice cream

Lu-I don't know

La-we sing



18. How are you and your mom the same?

J-We have the same size feet

R-we have the same faces

Lu-we have the same eye color

La-we have brown eyes




19. How are you and your mom different?

J-She's a girl

R-We have different colored eyes

Lu-I'm wearing these and your wearing those

La- My mom has black hair



20. How do you know your mom loves you?

J-cause she says it every night

R-because she makes rules for us

Lu-she always does

La-becasue I am her daughter



21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

J-his humor

R-he's funny

Lu-I don't know, that's a hard question

La-he's happy


22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

J-everywhere

R-Mad Italian

Lu-the grocery store

La-the grocery store

Unfortunately

funny meme: try typing your name and unfortunately into google and see what crazy things you have been up to:

Unfortunately, Tracy is not eligible to benefit from the reforms because of the date she was arrested.

Unfortunately, Tracy has been on the show before, and on that occasion he tried to stab Conan.

Unfortunately, Tracy didn't have her camera with her.

Unfortunately, Tracy makes it worse by crying about it, just like last year.

Unfortunately, Tracy was dogged by a not unusual demon of the gifted: booze.