So Happy

There was a time when I had an infant, a 2-year-old and a 4 year-old and life was SO busy!!
During that time I would sit and think about the day when all the girls would be in school and I would finally get a break.
I really didn't realize how bittersweet it would be. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. Yesterday morning my biggest kid didn't want to go to school because we had all spent a week together during the Thanksgiving holiday and she was going to miss me too much. I know I say it all the time, but we are a tight knit group.
On the other hand, it didn't realize how easy they would be for me to take care of. People assume that a 5, 7 and 9 year old would be a lot of work, but it's quite the opposite.
They are all now very independent, good listeners and eager to please.
Even my middle child, who fought me so hard for a good 3 years straight, has turned the corner!
Our mornings are a million times better! No fighting, no crying, no whining.
Sure, the girls fight with each other, but that's normal and I can ignore that.
They don't fight with Bill or me on much. They're just so good!!
I know it won't stay like this forever, but for now I couldn't be happier or prouder.

This is what they refer to as the Sweet Spot in parenting, I think.

Now What

So Bill returned from California and we went to the Masquerade wedding then spent the night and the whole next day with his family to celebrate his Mom's birthday.
The following Friday we left to spend the weekend in Moorhead. Bill attended the MSU Homecoming game and I spent the day getting into trouble with my bestie. Much thanks to Dad and Mare for taking the kids for the day/night!!! We headed back to the cities on Sunday so I could get my Mom from the airport. Mom spent a night here, went to Little Falls for a few days, then came back here to finish off the weekend.
We saw Bill for about an hour on his birthday - enough time to eat some dinner and blow out a candle, then he went up North with his buddy for 5 days.
The girls, Mom and I took advantage of our girl time and ran around the city doing various things. It rained the entire time she was here. Mom flew out Sunday night and Monday morning the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the heat came back. Go figure.

Things have been so busy and now that things have died down I find myself twiddling my thumbs. I didn't have anything to do yesterday morning (besides grab a few groceries) and I really don't have much to do this morning.
The kindergarteners get home a little before noon so my afternoons are busy, but I really need to find things to do in the mornings so I don't lose my mind walking around the house cleaning and organizing.

Seriously, what do people who stay at home DO ALL DAY?? It is SO boring!!

I'm sending in my application packet to Deaf-Blind Services today so hopefully that'll pan out.

So, now what?

Go decorate my house for Halloween.....oh what fun.

This Week

This week I have been trying to get a part, part time job at Deaf Blind Services of MN to teach sign language to small children in the morning while my kids are at school - 10 hours a week max.
I have had drywall contractors and painters in and out all day since Tuesday morning.
Pearl needed to go to the groomer.
I had class.
I volunteered in Laila's classroom. Twice. Once to cut paper and today to chaperone a field trip.
I have (as in not done) a study guide to complete for a study group I'm in.
I had one day (Wednesday) that I felt like total crap and the only thing I could muster enough energy to do was clean the house a little and make sure the kids were taken care of.
I've worked out everyday but Wednesday.
I had teacher conferences with 2 out of 3 teachers.
I brought CeCe to her first night of hip-hop dance.
I planned tonight's Girl Scout meeting since I am now the leader.
The girls need me to get them alarm clocks.
CeCe needs new curtains in her room since Pearl chewed up her blinds.
I still need to replace our broken microwave.

Now the painters want me to go pick out paint color.
I literally have not one extra minute to do that today.

Did I mention Bill is out of town? He gets home tonight. Late tonight.
Laila and Delaney both have gymnastics tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow night Bill and I are going to a wedding sans children. (I should probably think about painting my nails or something.)
Sunday we will celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday.

There it is.

Summer Wrap Up 2013

Wow did summer whiz by!! Looking back we really didn't let any grass grow under our feet.

June was Bill and my 10th anniversary and my aunt was SO kind to take the girls over night. Bill had a hotel room all set with champagne chilled waiting for me when we arrived. We had an amazing dinner and managed to paint the town red until MIDNIGHT!
The girls were very busy with all their activities: Laila in soccer (never again), Delaney in golf, Cecelia in orchestra and all 3 in swimming.
I also had a house full of kids every single day as the many school aged kids needed care for the summer.
I had a very quick trip to St. Pete's beach - the flight that was supposed to arrive before noon didn't get me in until 3 a.m. the next day. Long travel day is an understatement. No matter, though, I still got to see my family and that's all that I really needed.
We field tripped to the zoo and the splash pad and the wading pool and starting our hosting of BBQ and pool party season.
July 1st marked the first day of our week long vacation. We spent the first half of the week at home enjoying our pool and the city life. We went to Lake Ida courtesy of the Tortorice's for the second half of the week. The weather was ideal and we had an amazing time - except for Pearl who barked the entire time and is never invited back again (by me). Our weekends in July mostly consisted of going to this party, or this BBQ, or us hosting friends here. We also took part of our wonderful city and took the girls to watch the River Rats among other things.
August we made our annual trip to Floyd Lake to celebrate Marilyn's birthday. It was a little chilly but we still had fun boating, floating, eating, drinking and talking with family. We took the girls to the annual Stockyard Parade and Stockyard Days in our Long Lake Regional Park. This month also brought some bummers including me getting two spots of skin cancer removed and getting water damage to our basement (which we still haven't had fixed yet...waiting for school to start so we can clear out the basement..oh joy of joys). We camped at Wild River and took the girls to Wild Mountain. I hosted not one, but TWO Girl Scout pool parties. We took the kids to Bunker Beach and have pretty much submerged in the pool since the heat came back full force. I started class this Tuesday and we're all going to the State Fair tomorrow. Today is also my last day of full-time daycare. I will have half-day kindergarteners everyday and the occasional full day when school is out, but Operation Phase Out officially starts at 5:00 p.m. today!!!!!
This weekend will bring more fun and more friends and, of course, the final preparations for school on Tuesday.
I will cry when all 3 of my girls get on that bus.

I hope your summer was as jam packed with fun as ours was!!

Happy 5th Birthday Laila!

My baby turned 5 on July 20th. She was very excited about her birthday and couldn't stop smiling from the minute she woke up.
She was excited to open presents and be treated like a Princess for a day.
We took her to Valleyfair on her actual birthday and she rode rides and played in the waterpark and rode more rides...for 12 hours!!
Sunday we had her cousins and grandparents over for a pool party. She got new clothes for her birthday and had to try everything on at once. She loves to change outfits approximately 50 times a day.

At 5 years old Laila is sweet, witty, athletic, imaginative, and playful. She is a good listener and often times is the peace maker between her two sisters. She still likes to cuddle and tells Bill and I she loves us all the time.

I am taking her in for her Kindergarten well-check today and she doesn't know that there are shots involved. We may have to go out for a special treat afterword.

We are a blessed family, for sure.

Lately

In the 16 days since my last post we:
Had our last day of school.
Celebrated 10 years of marriage.
(I) spent a weekend in St. Petersburg.
Started golf..
And soccer..
And swimming..
And orchestra..

And of course the usual work stuff and pool stuff and regular life stuff.

That's all. I'm just SO glad summer is finally here!!

Happy 7th Birthday Delaney Rae!!

My little spitfire is 7 years old. She didn't ask for anything besides some hair color but we got her a fish because we knew she would absolutely LOVE it. And she did :-)

As I'm sitting here typing this it's finally sinking in that she's 7 and finishing up 1st grade. She is still so much of a little girl that it's hard for me to wrap my head around it.

She needs Bill and I for help and lots of love and attention. She still wants us to be around at all times and be close to her to keep her safe and comfortable. She likes to hold our hands and have us accompany her to most everything still.  She crawls in between us on weekend mornings to snuggle up instead of heading to the living room to watch cartoons with her sisters. She often says that she's going to live with us forever.

I guess that would be OK.

I sure love this kid.

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day

I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I was actually kind of crabby for the first couple of hours on Mother's Day.
I was hoping the girls would be on their best behavior for me, but they weren't. They were themselves.
The kids fought about nothing to and from brunch and the smallest (but loudest) member of our family was put in her bed the minute we got home for having a holy fit about who knows what when simply going from the car to the house.
I went in my room to change clothes and thought about how I was the WORST mother in the ENTIRE world because I really wasn't enjoying being a Mother......on Mother's Day.

For some reason I had decided on Saturday that I was going to take a break from the usual stuff in 'honor' of Mother's Day the next day.
However, after a phone call to my Mom, and a couple of minutes sitting on the couch I felt bored.
I got up and started to make the beds and clean rooms and empty backpacks and empty the dishwasher and pull weeds and clean the yard.....and feel much, much better.

We went to my in-laws for dinner and had a really good time. The whole drive home the girls and I were telling stories and cracking each other up. I snuggled each of the girls and tucked them in and sat wondering what the sam hill my problem was earlier??

I love being a Mom, but I admit that sometimes I get a little whiny about the work. It's pretty shameful.

I hope your Mother's Day was simply all fairies and rainbows and sunshine - here's to another year!!

Mr. Golden Sun

Thank you God!

We finally got some sunshine!! The ENTIRE weekend was warm and sunny! It's supposed to cool off a little now, but with April coming to a close I know it's just a matter of time before it's warm and sunny every single day.

I almost can't believe that the school year is wrapping up already. I have finals next week and the girls only have 5 weeks left to go before summer break. I'm beyond excited.

I want to plan a Memorial Weekend trip - probably to Brainerd.
I want to meet my Mom in Tampa in June.
I want to take the family to Lake Ida once or twice this summer.
I want to have a Valleyfair weekend vacation.
I want to camp a few times on our own, with friends, and with family.

I am really looking forward to biking with the family more this summer and, of course, lots and lots and lots of swimming.

The Spring cleaning has begun and I look forward to a nice, clean, organized, fresh start to summer.

Feel free to stop by to BBQ any time :)

For Those of Us With Picky Eaters

I found this interesting and helpful.
I also felt supported in how I feed my picky eater - multiple exposures and the 'no thank you bite' as we call it in our house is a good way to get her to try (and maybe even LIKE) new foods!

http://mynutratek.com/blog/news/the-picky-eater-gene

Let's just complain about the weather, shall we?

(On an unrelated note, both my brothers are on a Disney Cruise right now. Guess I screwed the pooch on that one.)

Okay, so anyway.

It's April and we have snow. The temps aren't too bad, which is the thing I despise the most about winter, so that's good. My seasonal affective disorder is at it's worst when you go outside and literally can't breath because it's so cold.

For me, I hate this year's Spring weather because I can't start my heavy-duty Spring cleaning. I want to clean out my garage, and my shed, and my entire house. I plan on having a garage sale (donation only...just get the stuff out of here!). But, when it's dark and rainy and snowy for days and days on end it makes it hard to do anything.

I want to start getting the pool ready and the yard ready. I want the kids to be able to go in and out of the house to play without having to still put their boots and jackets on every time.

I know that April showers bring May flowers so I'm trying to be patient. The fact that we're getting more snow isn't really depressing, just crappy.

As Minnesotans some people say we're stupid for complaining because we know where we live. I agree with that, but I never wanted to be a permanent Minnesotan so I get a pass.

Florida

*I tried a different link for the pictures. Hopefully you can all access them now?

We left for Florida on Monday, March 4th.
Tuesday we went to Magic Kingdom - for atleast 10 hours. We left no stone unturned.
Wednesday we went to Epcot where we did the Princess lunch in Norway.
Thursday was Hollywood Studios.
Friday we went to Sea World.
Saturday and Sunday we spent at a hotel in Tampa and hung out on the beautiful Clearwater beach.
Monday we went back to Magic Kingdom.

Here is the link to my shutterfly account if you want to see ALL my pictures.

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=523e338faffc4323d33ce936de451066&sid=8QbNmzZwzcsv-

We went to Florida!!

It's true!

9 days of fun in the sun, family and Mickey!

Pictures coming....

A Broken Heart

We have broken hearts, and we all know why. I don't think it's time, or maybe my place, to really go in to much detail at this point.
My cousin (and to some their sister, niece, daughter, granddaughter, mother, etc.) lost her husband. We are all so very, very sad on so many levels and for so many different reasons that we don't even want to think about.
We just want to pour out our love in hopes that it carries the family through. That's all we can do.

We are a large and vast and crazy family but we sure do love eachother a LOT.

My Valentine

Here is a picture of my Valentine with HIS dog, Pearl.

 

Bill is the best Valentine ever because he is so sweet. He will do anything for me and he never really even complains about it. He does things that most guys won't do. He cleans the house - including things like doing the dishes and washing the bathroom and doing laundry and making beds. He also does all the manly stuff that I don't do - like putting carseats in cars and taking out the garbage and carrying anything remotely heavy.

He always tells me that I look nice and sometimes is very specific and will say he likes my hair up. He doesn't flirt with other girls (well, he does, but in a non-threatening way). He goes to work and comes home right after work almost everyday instead of hanging out with other guys. He gives me back rubs all.the.time. He kisses me goodbye everytime he goes somewhere. He will run to the store and buy me coffee first thing in the morning if I am out even though it's really early and cold and he needs to get to work. He's patient with my mood swings. He's honest with me, but pretty much agrees with what I'm saying anyway.

My Valentine is the best Dad to our girls. He cuddles them and kisses and hugs them constantly. He gives them baths and does their hair. He helps them with homework and takes them sledding. He goes to the mall with us even though I can tell it's not his favorite. He goes to the store on Saturday mornings to buy CeCe donuts and lets the kids watch cartoons in the living room. He tells his daughters how smart they are.

 

I appreciate and love my Valentine more than I could ever express.

Planning This Vacation!

So here's what's going on with our Spring break vacation: There is nothing going on.

Well, yet.

We thought we'd be going on a Disney cruise in February with both my brothers, their families, and my Mom. Turns out February is not going to work.

I REALLY want to vacation in March, and am HOPING and PRAYING that it works out!

I want to give my kids this trip of a lifetime and it's been so hard just waiting and wondering how it's all going to work out.

I've got my fingers crossed.

I am, I think, I know

I am: Becoming more and more type A as I get older.

I think: Other Moms don't take me seriously.

I know: I'm a good Mom.

 

I want: To book this Disney cruise!

I have: Everything I need.

I dislike: Torture, cruelty, crazy people who do bad things.

I miss: Rick.

I fear: Dying and leaving my kids behind.

 

I feel: Happy then stressed then happy then crabby.....

I hear: currently - Max and Ruby, the baby I watch screaming, Laila and Delaney talking.

I smell: Coffee - I usually always have oils burning though.

I crave: Beer

I search: The internet all the time for information - especially when people put stuff on FB that I want to know more about.

I wonder: Why some people have kids when they never want to be around them.

I regret: Every single time I came down way to hard on one of my kids.

I love: My husband.

I care: About what I look like.

I am always: Weighing myself, picking up the house, doing 10 things at once.

I worry:  That I will never be good enough to be an interpreter and all this school is going to be a waste of time and money.

I remember: Some things from my life - good and bad. I don't remember a lot though, generally speaking

I sing: Along if I know the words.

I argue: With people on FB like an idiot.

I write: Just for school.

I lose: My mind when I feel like I'm the only one who ever does anything around the house.

I wish: I didn't have to work.

I listen: Well. Even though I talk a LOT, I can be a really good listener.

I don't understand: Why my kids aren't afraid of me.

I can usually be found: On this stupid computer.

I am scared: Of the night, I always think I hear noises.

I need: To get in shape!!!

I forget: People's names and faces.

I am happy: Most of the time.

From This to This

It's over! We went from being completely down for the count to BACK TO LIFE! Last Friday we all finally felt like ourselves. The warm weather came (40 degrees!) and we were going, going,....gone! We went to the Zoo on Friday. We played family games Friday night. We went out for lunch with Bill's sister and her family on Saturday then went tubing at Three Rivers. My Dad and Mare came Saturday and spend the night with us. I can't tell you how good it felt to be normal again!

We're still really wanting to go on a Disney cruise, but are waiting patiently for a date to come that works for everyone. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Have a great weekend!!

Sick cont.

It is Thursday and I have been rallying all week. I've been so, insanely, tired and I have a constant heachache that even keeps me up at night.
I've been up in the morning getting the girls ready for school. I've had daycare kids, extra daycare kids, and a set of twins coming today for 4 hours as a favor to a friend who's provider is on vacation.
Why do I do this to myself? One of my daycare parents, who I love, is home for the 3rd day in a row now. I'm pretty sure in my 9 years of parenthood I have never had one single day to be at home, by myself, to be sick and rest. I don't have a daycare provider (obviously) and we all know I don't have a Grandma or Grandpa to watch my kids so I can die in peace.
I seriously want to feel better. I'm sick of having something to eat then feeling sick for an hour afterwords and I am definitely sick of this headache.
Let's just say that when I DO finally feel like myself again I'm going to get out of this house and do something fun!

Sick

Everyone and their mother has been sick since the holidays, it seems. Bill was sick ON Christmas Day and so were so many other people!
We were good for a couple of days then last Monday one of my daycare kids threw up all over the kitchen table at lunch.
Cue: Laila throwing up ALL night Thursday, a little on Friday, and once again on Saturday morning....and then I started in ALL night Saturday.
Gross.

I have spent days on end sanitizing and cleaning and changing sheet and toothbrushes and I am over it. Noone else is allowed to get sick. Period.

I know a lot of other people/families have been sick this winter, too. It makes it really hard to get together and have fun with anybody!

Hopefully the worst is over and we can all get back to normal.

If and When

IF and when I allow my children to use a phone of their own I will definitely take from this mother's rules:

Greg Hoffman is a kid who just got an iPhone from his parents. His mom, Janell Hoffman, wrote these [slightly edited] rules for its use:

1. It is my phone. I b...ought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest?
2. I will always know the password.
3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or "Dad". Not ever.
4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30am. If you would not make a call to someone's land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.
5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It's a life skill.
6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs.
7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire.
8-9. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.
10. No porn.
11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.
12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else's private parts. Don't laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear -- including a bad reputation.
13. Don't take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO -- fear of missing out.
15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.
16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.
17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.
18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

Cecelia's 9th Birthday

She's got the biggest, softest heart of anyone I know. Even her voice is soft and sweet. Her eyes look like the ocean - blue and a hint of green with love shining through them.
She's so nice to everyone - including her sisters. They torture her and she just asks 'why are they mean to me?'
She's polite and knows how to act like a lady. She never complains. She's a top student at school, but more importantly, knows how to be brave and kind. She got voted Role Model in her classroom recently, and didn't even tell us - the teacher did. That's just the kind of kid she is.
Cecelia Jane I love you more than you will ever, ever be able to understand. Happy Birthday!!!