Weekend...

GO BULLDOGS!!!

At any point, if you get tired of hearing about football, you can say so.
I won't stop writing about it, but I will acknowledge your frustration :)
It's a bit all consuming at this time of year. I'm sorry. Really, I am.
Every week is the same, yet so different.

New opponent, new emotions. For example, last week we played Haskell. Not a great team. Not that you can take any game lightly, as they say, but I wasn't nervous about losing this one. More worried about someone getting hurt. This week, we play Friends. BIG, big difference. Much better team, much more emotion involved, I think.

Here are the things I think about during the week:

Travel plans. Home game, not much to think about, but we go to Wichita this week so got to think about when to leave, what to bring...

Tailgating or not. I LOVE, LOVE tailgating, but it's a lot of work. Not really into alot of work these days.

Get a babysitter for the 2 younger boys or take them to the game. This is critical to my happiness. Away night games are tricky cause it's really late and I don't want someone to have to watch them that late, but it's hard to keep Caleb occupied and actually watch the game so not sure about this one yet.

Do I wear a Bulldog t-shirt and jeans or just something red and black? Again, major life decision here. Got to be comfortable, but need to look cute, but not too over the top cause it's just a football game, you know.

Big decisions people!!!

And finally, tonight, we are having the quarterbacks over for dinner. I love this part. I like to "entertain", although I don't know how entertaining our house is to a few college boys. Anyway, I get to feed them food til they are stuffed and sick feeling. Pretty sweet. I like the guys. They are easy to be around, polite, and don't care if I feed them tacos, spaghetti, or enchiladas.

Lots go into a week of football all for a couple hours on a Saturday.
It's crazy. I know that. Please don't institutionalize me.
Actually, I could use a break.

a list

1. I don't have a "topic" that's been on my mind so I thought maybe a list would be sufficient.

2. I don't really get Labor Day. I suppose it's nice to have a random day in September off, but I really needed to go to the bank today.

3. I super duper, really, love my job at the coffeehouse. I can't wait to go there tomorrow.

4. I think I like my oldest son more when he's not in school everyday. I can't decide what that means.

5. I think I like my middle son more when my oldest son is in school. Again, I don't know what that means.

6. I REALLY want to go to my hometown this week for their big Fall Festival. It's not really that big cause the town is 2500 people, but it's a good time to see people.

7. I miss my mom.

8. We won our first game on Saturday! 45-0. A serious whoopin'! This next week is going to be a whole different kind of game. Much better opponent. I'm nervous. No, excited. No, nervous. You get the picture.

9. I really love my house, but I CANNOT decide on what else to put in it. Let's just say it's sparse. Really, sparse. It doesn't feel cozy and I kinda want cozy. I'm too cheap, though. I don't want to buy anything unless I love it and I can't decide what I love. HELP!

10. I love my husband and my kids, but they can only do so much to make the house cozy.

11. I'm wondering how many numbers I could get to in this post. I think probably a lot.

12. Are you bored yet??

13. My camera bit the dust this week. I'm kinda sad, but then I think about getting a new one and I get excited and then I think about Chad taking over our finances and then I get sad again cause he doesn't see that as an essential item. The camera I want is going to cost me ALOT of hours at the coffeehouse :)

14. Now are you bored?

15. I am.

ROAD TRIP!

It's a small one, but I'll take it!
I'm going to see 2 of my favorite people...



Fortunately, for them, they live in the same town together now.

Unfortunately, for me, that town is Fargo, ND.

I don't get up there much.
But I get to hang out with them tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited to see their lovely faces!!

And here's the kicker...I get to go on my little excurision with another one of my favorite people.


This is my lunging friend, Shannon. You can't beat loyalty like that, folks.

Routines

I like 'em.
Wait...Hold on...Hell might freeze over...


Guess we're ok for now.
I honestly never in a bazillion years thought I'd say that!
I don't know what I'm saying!
I'm a free spirit.
I love spontaniety!
Schedules are for people who can't enjoy life moment to moment.

Yep, that's me. Somehow I can't, exclusively, hold to that.
A part of me will til my dying day.
The other part realizes that my life, such as it is, cannot be that lackadaisical. I have to plan...a little, anyway.

It used to be bad. Really bad. As in I had NO routine, schedule, ANYTHING!
This created a bit of a problem when I did have to actually get somewhere on time. Sometimes I was late, other times I just forgot.

And so I have come to like a routine. Nothing crazy. I am the anti-OCD.
I don't have 15 charts, with every minute planned and each task specifically laid out. I don't do chores on specific days or know what I'm cooking for each meal each day. I'm sure someone who is a planner would love to come in and give me an organizational make-over.

I don't see that happening.

I basically exist off of a calendar and that's it. I'm a lazy routine person, but that works for me. I get to maintain the free spirit in my soul, but not go completely nutso cause I can't remember what has to be done each day or where which kid needs to be at what time.

Someday I may just totally rebel and pack everything up and move to a remote location and raise my kids all hippie-like.

My house is quiet...

and that's not necessarily a good thing.

It's Sunday, which has usually been "Everybody Nap Day" around here, but we haven't done that for awhile because when Elijah naps he usually doesn't go to bed til 11 and then it's just a long week of grumpiness.

Today, though, I reinstated "Everybody Nap Day" cause I could not
for one.

More.

Minute...

handle the insanity that is my 4 kids today.
See not necessarily a good thing that it's all quiet around here.
I yelled, stomped around and sent everyone to bed.
Not good.

Half of the problem is my current state of mind, which is just generally stressed and half is their inability to like or be kind to each other for more then 15 seconds.

I needed a break.
So I swept the floors for the one thousandth time, knowing full well that I will do it again at least 2 more times today.
Then I made some coffee and put a scoop of ice cream in it cause I can and sat down to write.
Here's to a LONG "Everybody Nap Day!"

Millions of peaches...

peaches for me.
Millions of peaches, peaches for free!
Name that song!!
I'm a product of the 90s :)



We have a peach tree in our back yard and if my camera had not broken yesterday, I'd have some really cool "peach" pictures to put up with this post. Instead you get some stock picture from the web.



There were ALOT of peaches on our tree.
We lost 2 really big branches just from the weight of them.
I had no means to get to the top of the tree to get the lovely, juicy peaches so I was kinda bummed about just wasting them.

Enter our kind neighbor...
He generously offered to use his ladder and apple picker to get our peaches down.
I, of course, said yes and take all the peaches you want!
We were still left with a mother lode!

I'm going to freeze some, eat some, make some peach crisp( I don't like pies!)
and if Caleb has anything to do with it, he will consume 15-20 a day!!

It's coffee, people!!

I love it! I love it! I love it!
Coffee!
So what better place to work then a coffeehouse?!
Today was my first morning at my new job at Kettle Creek Coffeehouse and I loved it.

Check it out!
http://www.kettlecreekcoffee.net/

It's a great mix of social interaction and mental work. I'm looking forward to knowing how to make all the different drinks and getting to know all the regulars.

I've become very aware over the years to how much is too much for me and I really considered that before looking for another job. I just know that when I'm stretched too thin with outside things, my family suffers.

What I've also noticed about myself is that if I don't have enough to do, I spend WAY too much time messing around all day and not getting anything done, which also makes my family suffer.
So, my theory is that if I work "just enough" I'll actually be more productive at home and with the kids.
We'll see how that goes!

UPDATE:
For those who care, I have almost recovered from Monday's lunges.
And by almost recovered, I mean that I can walk up and down the stairs without yelling expletives and cursing Crossfit.
Now I just grimace and cry a little bit.

Craigslist, floors, and lunges...

It's a random sort of day so here's a random sort of post...welcome to my world :)

Our recent lack of money,...oh who am I kidding?...Our continuing lack of money has caused me to list a bunch of stuff on craigslist that I no longer need/want.

I have a serious addiction to craigslist.
As in I'm on it every day.
I don't really buy much. Here and there I've gotten things we've needed, like these bad boys :)


It's mostly a fascination with what people are getting rid of and what value they put to things.
And quite frankly, we couldn't have made it this month if people hadn't bought our stuff. So, I don't know who Craig is, but I love his list!

If you've read some of my other posts,(and since I actually have a few blog stalkers, I can say that now!!), our floors were something I was super excited about when we moved into our new house.
Remember these beautiful floors!

They don't look quite like that anymore.

I love them.
I do.
I really do.
No, really, I do. (I'm trying to brainwash myself. Just give me a minute...)

So anyway, I mop alot, but not nearly enough to make them look nice and lovely all the time.
I'm shopping around for rugs...on craigslist :)

And finally, on this random day...lunges.



Might I recommend that you DO NOT under ANY circumstance, for ANY reason,
even if your husband will call you a wuss if you don't
and a friend is stupid enough to join you,
and even if you're held at gunpoint(well, maybe then),
do 400 meters of walking lunges.
Stupid.

I love this time of year!

Football is in the air!!
Can you smell it?

I'm not talking about the smell of stinky boys in sweaty uniforms that haven't been washed in 3 or 4 days.

I'm talking about the anticipation, the thrill, the culmination of months of planning, hard work and focus!

I married a football coach, which means I married this sport. He hasn't always coached, but he's always been a coach at heart. From very early on he knew this is what he wanted to do. There have been a few side steps, but this is where we have landed.

It's not an easy task. It's not a 9-5, low-stress job that always pays the bills. It's not easy for those that are able to coach full-time, but exponentially harder when one coaches and has a full-time job, as well.

It's countless hours planning, practicing, and planning some more. It's some missed family events and good night kisses with your wife and kids and relaxing Saturdays with the family. It's setting a good example and being a role model for a hundred boys who are trying to figure out and plan their own futures.

And for the wives, it's being, essentially, a single parent for months on end, selflessly, and sometimes begrudgingly, handling all things house and kids, keeping your cool when message boards are knocking your team or husband, and being a sounding board and constant cheerleader when the games or seasons aren't going like we'd all hoped.

So what's the catch? Why do we keep doing it, year after year? Why do I love it so much?

It's butterflies at kickoff, the sigh of relief when the scoreboard shows a W as the final second ticks off, or the sense of disappointment when the other guys play better.


It's seeing a team that you are personally invested in succeed. Or seeing them fail and get up and go for it again. It's waking up on a Saturday, dressing in your team colors, anticipating the crowds, the cheering, the possibility of a sweet victory.

It's making friendships that will last a lifetime.



And, more then anything, it's seeing my husband's face after the game, when we both know all those sacrifices mattered.

School days, school days

It's started. School.
Such mixed feelings every year at this time for me. With one in public school and 2 homeschooling this year and a 2 year old, each day is a juggle.
This time of year makes me think about our schooling decisions. Which inevitably leads me to question our decisions, incessantly.

Should we just homeschool everyone?
Should we send them in sooner, later, never?
Can I really do this?

Same questions every year. I would think at some point, I would just know.

It seems in my circle of friends, the start of school is like a celebration of sorts. For those that are sending their Kindergarteners off, there are a few tears, but for the most part, it seems everyone breaths a collective sigh of relief.

I don't ever really have that relief when my oldest goes to school.
I get anxious, not about all the fun, great things he'll do and learn, but about the other stuff.

What's he going to learn from his peers that I'd rather he didn't yet, if at all?

He has a great time in school and he really does well academically. So what's my problem? I don't know. It's just a thing.
I have a feeling we'll end up homeschooling everyone again.
I just need to wrap my brain around it, I think.

2 year old

Disregard the nose-picker in the background.

The blond one.
He's 2.
And boisterous.
And chatty. Super chatty. By chatty, I mean he never shuts up.
Really, from the minute he wakes up til the 2 hours he naps and then again til he finally sleeps at night. It's non-stop words. 50% of those words are "Mom, Mommy, Mama"

He's busy too. He's got things to do, you know. Yesterday, for example, it was very important for him to pour half a bag of brown sugar on the floor. This was of course after he had unhung all the clothes by the dryer for the tenth time that day.
"Lots to do, lots to do." I imagine that's what goes through his head as he terrorizes the house.
If he weren't so cute, I may get annoyed.



Ok, I do get annoyed, but then I look at that face. That face will change, he'll start asking me if he can go to friend's houses, or bungee jump, or get a motorcycle, or if he can go on a date.

AAHH! I'll hold on to the 2 year old as long as I can.

I'm grumpy and a family affair...

Yowzers. I can't think of anything nice to say so I'll take my mother's advice and say nothing at all.

Except this...my mom and my two sisters have all started blogs. Add them to your list. They will be much more interesting to read then this dud of a blog :)

My mom's: Looking forward to reading this one. She's incredible.
http://onecallsmedear10callmemother.blogspot.com/

Ang-my older, wiser sister: She has 2 blogs. Always the overachiever :)
http://musingsthatmeander.blogspot.com/
http://trueconfessionsofahomeschoolmom.blogspot.com/

Grace-my younger, cuter sister: Not that my older sister isn't cute. She is. Grace is just cuter then both of us.
http://heartofatravler.blogspot.com

Happy reading :)

Hello again

It's been awhile. We've been busy and/or lazy. Both are sufficient excuses for not blogging right?
Here's a recap:
House:
Chad and I spent several nights trying to measure/cut baseboards and quarter round for our house. And by try, I mean get annoyed with each other and manage to get some of it done. It hasn't been nailed up yet so we're still not done. One night in particular, we just quit. Haven't worked on it since. Yeah, so that was fun.

Muehler Family reunion-
43 Muehlers in one smallish "resort" in Arkansas. I use the term resort very loosely so you don't conjure up ideas of a swanky pad with all the amenities one can imagine. The cabins were sufficient and it had a pool so we were set. We celebrated Chad's parents' 50th anniversary all together, which was really special.

All 26 grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa.
My only hang up with the whole trip was Caleb. I ended up shadowing him most of the time as there wasn't any place we could just let him roam/play. It was annoying at times, but such is life and the kids all had a great time with their cousin.

Mentally preparing to be organized:
Seriously, this takes alot of prep work. School is just around the corner and I have to gear myself up for homeschooling, Elijah's school schedule, Cory doing Kindergarten. I'm tired already. I'm looking forward to it in one respect because I do like the schedule of being in school. And, I'm not because I don't really like schedules, in general. Right? Right.

Yep, so that's what I've been doing the past few weeks. Hoping to blog more frequently now. If I have anything to say, that is...

Family reunion

I've been meaning to post these for a few weeks now, but with the move and all I haven't so you get them now.
The following are pictures of my parents and siblings that my sister-in-law took at our family reunion a month ago.
Personally, I love them. Super love them.
This is really and truly what we all look like.
She got the idea from The National's new album. They had mug shot type pics and they were super cool.















An old pic of Luke. :)











As Seth would say, "Yeah, we really are that good-looking." :)

Swimming

I can't swim. Rather let me rephrase. I didn't think I could swim.

Enter: Taking swim lessons at 29.

Now, I'm married to a swim lesson instructors instructor. Meaning he teaches people how to teach swim lessons. He's a great swimmer and teacher, yet I could not bring myself to listen to his instructions without getting annoyed.
So, I was stuck with doing the side stroke whenever I got the urge to swim.

That was last summer.

My wonderful friend, Jamie, says one day this summer, " Let's take swim lessons."

See, I had a thing about the breathing and the swimming and the breathing. It was just too much to put all together. It seemed so unnatural.

But, being the senseless person I am, I said, "Sure. Let's do it." Pretending to be excited.

So, last night was our first lesson. I was nervous. Not like crazy-hyperventilating nervous, but butterfly-in-the-stomach nervous.
I was nearly panicky nervous when she said, "Just put your face in and blow bubbles."

That stupid breathing thing!

Funny thing was I did it a few times and it wasn't too bad. Couldn't be cause 4 year olds can do that, right?

So, anyway, longer story long, I swam. With my face in the water, breathing and blowing out just like the pros...

Well, maybe not JUST like them.

I think I like swimming.

Moving and friends

Good grief!
We are moved.
Meaning all of our stuff is no longer at the rinky dink house we called home for 3 years and is now residing at our new, old, not finished, huge, lovely house we LOVE!

I will post some pictures soon when it doesn't look like our boxes just threw up all over the house :)
The move itself was super fast. We are SO blessed with super friends that just help. They helped with kids, they provided trucks and trailers and tools. They gave us furniture. They brought house warming gifts and lots of thoughts and prayers. The super studs that physically moved our stuff were done in just a couple hours.

We are surrounded by helpful, beautiful people. I get a little teary-eyed when I think about it.

So, now we're here. All this time waiting, working, planning. It's all over. Except it's not. Lets just say I won't be short on things to do around the house anytime in the near future. I'll probably wear work clothes everyday for the next few months :)
Love it!

Floors

We decided to go ahead and refinish the floors at our new house before we moved it. It delayed our move by about a week or so, but I think it's going to be so worth.

Before/After Living room/Dining room





Have I mentioned that I'm really excited to move? Yes? No? I can't remember so I'll just let you know...I AM SO EXCITED!!

Notebooks

I heard a great idea the other day from a friend in my Bible study to have a notebook for each of your children that you can write back and forth to each other in.

Sounded nice. Very nostalgic. Years from now, I can look back in those notebooks and see what wonderful things we wrote to each other.

So I went out and let each of the kids pick out a fun notebook, explained the whole thing to the 2 oldest and away we go...

It was all going well for a week or so...I'd write something about how much I love them and they would write back that yeah, they love me too and "Can we go swimming? Can I go to a friend's house? Can we go get ice cream?"

Not exactly what I had in mind, but we're just getting started...

So today, my oldest had a full blown 100% complete and total meltdown. This has happened a few times in the past and it's never pleasant and usually has residual effects for days. Those effects being mostly that he doesn't like me and thinks I don't care about him.

So today, as other times, it's something pretty ridiculous that sets him off. His sister was annoying him. Shocker, I know. She is actually very annoying to her brothers.

So, it started...meltdown, talking, crying, more talking, more crying. All this usually ends with him telling me that he feels like no one cares about him, at which point, my heart breaks a little.
Today, though, I thought, "Well, lets try this notebook thing." I wasn't getting anywhere with the whole talking thing.

I told him to go write in the notebook whatever it was he was feeling and I would write him back...

This is what he wrote..."I hate you!!!!! I don't won't to live with you. I wish I never did live with you."

Yep, mother of the year award, right here. I can rationalize that he doesn't REALLY mean it. He really DOES love me. Deep down. It's just REALLY deep down right now. It's a problem. I don't know what to do.

Not something you want to hear from your sweet, loveable son. See the thing is, I know there are alot of things that get him to the point where he feels like that and I'm not very good about noticing them before it gets too bad. He gets tired, bored, tired, annoyed, really annoyed, ANGRY, and then it's all over.

If I can catch him before angry, we can usually defuse it.
I didn't today.
It sucked.
I think we'll keep doing the notebooks...

"Oh, no. Get mom."

Those were the first words I cognitively understood this morning.

No one came to get me so I did what every mother with any common sense would do...

I stayed in bed a little longer.

When I did finally crawl out of bed and stumble to the living room, the smell hit me before the view of the "mishap."

Greek Vinigrette dressing.

Alot of it.
Almost the entire bottle.

Caleb, as cute as he is, LOVES the refridgerator. He loves the bottles, the cheese, the tortillas. Pretty much anything he can get to and make a mess with.

Today's condiment of choice was mine and Chad's favorite dressing. It's super yummy, but oddly when poured out all over my carpet and loveseat, it smells terrible!!

So, I made some coffee.
I happen to believe nothing can really be done properly until that is started.

The clean up was not enjoyable as the smell lingers. Not sure it's ever going to come out of the loveseat.

I love mornings like this.

It's all ours!!!

My Pops rocks!

It wouldn't feel complete today unless I said something about the super awesome guy I call Dad, or Daddy, or Pops, or Big Man, or Old Man. Just depends on the situation.



He is the most patient, gentle, kind, sacrificial man I know. He truly lives his faith and has fun doing it. He loves my mom like crazy and has been such a constant in my life. I never, not once, questioned his love for me, my mom, or my 9 siblings. Yeah, 9 that means there were 10 of us he had to work to feed, clothe, and care for. He did it wonderfully. Our lives weren't flashy, we didn't have much, but we had what was most important.

He doesn't read this blog, but for the 2 people that do read it, now you know. My Pops rocks!! :)

Run, rinse, repeat...

That's how my summer has been going.

Not actual running, unfortunately. I've only done that a couple times.

Running, as in running around from one thing to the next with little to no regard for my sanity.

This week in particular I will be glad to have over. It's "activity week." Which means its the one week that is uber duber crazy with my kids doing stuff. I don't mind it mostly because it's just one week like this.
This is how it's gone.
8:30-drop Autumn off at volleyball camp
leave boys at Toddler Time.
Go to house or church to work
9:45 pick Autumn and boys up
10:30 take Autumn to art camp
11:00 take Cory to swim lessons
11:30 pick up Autumn at art camp
11:45 pick Cory up at swim lessons
Pray that my father in law who is town with my mother in law will take us to McDonalds so I don't have to fix lunch. He's done that a few times and I'm SO glad when he does :)
Today I also drove my route for the summer lunch program from 12-1.
Yowza!!
Thank goodness my baby is still in the napping stage cause I don't think I would stop if he wasn't.
Evenings have been full with tball and baseball games, saying goodbye to my beautiful friend Amy, and packing for the upcoming move.

After this week, our days should, for the most part, go back to being lazy. Which means my kids will be super bored and very annoying and I might sell them to some passerby who thinks they are cute.

10 years ago...

I was 19.
A baby really.
But I knew what I wanted...




Despite being good looking, which really is just icing on the cake,
he's kind, thoughtful, gentle, hard-working, humble, faithful, confident,
seriously, the best dad ever and loves me to pieces
(are you getting nauseated yet?)

I could go on...but I won't.

Um, I think I'll hang on for a few more years and see how this all turns out!



HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Ode to my Grandma

My grandma is going to turn 90 at the end of this month and I'm doing a video montage for our family. I thought I'd share a few pictures that have really touched me. She is such an amazing woman. An old Irish gal from Minnesota who fell in love with a soldier. She lived through WWII, as did my drill sargent grandfather. There was one point during the bombing in London, that my grandma knew that is where my grandfather had been, but didn't hear from him for 3 weeks! In our current society of instant information, this is so hard to comprehend. She is always full of stories. I honestly think I could write a book with all the stories she has told me. She and my grandpa, who passed away a few years ago lived a full, beautiful life and I'm just so thankful that she is still in our lives. What a gift we have been given to have such a wonderful lady!

Parents

My parents are coming on Friday.
They may be bringing my litte sister and brother.
Not sure exactly cause I haven't really talked to them in a few days and that usually means something has changed multiple times and I no longer know "the plan".

The sad part of ths scenerio is that they will be here for about 24 hours.

That's it.

One measly day and we have to sleep during part of that time so it's really more like 18 hours or something. Bah!

I really like it when they visit and it's not nearly enough. Oddly, I really thought that it would happen more and I think they did too. It's not their fault. They are busy. Crazy busy, 99% of the time.

I always thought that life would maybe slow down as the kids got older, but I'm realizing that is just not the case.

Well, maybe it is if you don't have 9 grown children to fit into your lives like my parents, but they do a wonderful job, I'd say.

It's an intersting set-up, my family. There are alot of us, each with our own lives, circle of friends, schedules, etc. My parents have a very busy life, with their friends, schedules, work, etc. So where do we all fit in?

I'm not sure. I think we all learned pretty early on that we have to take turns. Not just with toys or games, but with our parents, too. Biggest problem gets attention first. I don't know what it's like as an adult to just have my parents "around."
We talk often and really do get to see each other every few months.

They are incredible parents. They have essentially given their whole lives to raising all of us and I'm so thankful for the sacrifices they made to raise us well. Having my own kids now, I realize that even more. It's stinkin' hard!!

My parents are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary next week. Pretty impressive, I'd say. We're going to all get together this summer to celebrate with them, which doesn't happen very often and isn't easy to do. I'm excited.

So, ya, my parents are coming and I'm stoked to see them. Even if it's only for 18 hours.

16 things

This was a Facebook note a few years back, but I thought it would make a good blog post, too. I think I might do a full post on each of these...?

1. I have more brothers then cousins...7 brothers, 6 cousins

2. When I was little, I really, really, really, wanted to be a rancher in Montana.

3. I use to coach elementary girls volleyball and basketball and I would LOVE to do that again.

4. I'm the all time leading scorer in basketball at my high school.

5. I nearly get a panic attack if I have to go to a funeral home. Residual effects of losing my brother, Luke. It's gotten better over the years.

6. I would love to adopt siblings from Haiti someday...only God knows if we'll ever do that. My grandparents were missionaries there and my parents have traveled there as well.

7. I started writing a novel last year, but am scared to finish it. I'd also love to write a novel based on my great grandparent's lives.

8. I LOVE, LOVE road trips! There is not much more exciting to me then packing up the car and driving. Honestly, even with my kids, I love it! Something about driving is very therapeutic for me.

9. Nothing is more annoying to me then to have people who know how many children Chad and my parents both had and to ask if we're going to have 9 or 10 too.

10. I tend to get really excited about something and start, but then not finish. It's one thing I really would like to change about myself.

11. I really want to visit Ireland someday and find some of my relatives. My paternal grandmother is Irish.

12. I love all things coffee...mugs, coffee shops, flavors, decor...

13. I plan on finishing college someday, but I have no idea what I'd get my degree in. I like a little of everything.

14. I would really like to tandem sky dive with Chad someday. He's done it quite a bit so it makes me less scared to go with him :)

15. I really love my life...most days :) We got married very young and started a family right away when everyone our age was doing other things, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

16. I get along really well with all my inlaws. Chad's parents are really low key and easy to love. I'm very thankful for that.

Moving right along...just not fast enough for me.

Lots of people have been hard at work at our house and we are eternally grateful! Here's a few updated pictures since my last post about the house.

sick babies, ballerinas, and clowns

We've had sick kids around here the past few days and it's no fun. Thankfully, things are looking up and they are on the mend.
I'm not FOR sick kids per se, but I must say there are things I treasure about those moments when they are feeling puny.
They lay still...for the most part...



They are cuddlier (yes, I know that's not a real word),and when you have 2 little boys who go 90 mph 90% of the time it's so nice to cuddle sometimes.

We had a busy week with the annual All Schools Day. This is a bit of a strange phenomenon for us. We're not FROM here so we didn't know what to expect 3 years ago at our first ASD. It was fun. I like it. I like traditions. The kids like the carnival, which I pretty much hate, but put up with.

We had our first performer this year in the May Fete craziness...

Our little ballerina in the middle.

So back to the sick kids...Chad was my hero this weekend. First and foremost because Cory puked all over him at the parade in front of a bunch of people we don't know and he handled it gracefully. Secondly, because he didn't punch a clown in the face for being a complete jerk.
Apparently a few moments after Cory had yakked all over Chad, a clown passed by and said,
"Uh, oh! Someone made a mess. Didn't your mommy teach you not to make a mess."

Yep, that's what he said. I missed this as I was trying to grab wipes to help with the clean up. He's lucky I didn't hear him cause I hadn't been puked on and I would have punched him in the face.

Update on the fight against the Wii...

Well, I won. Sort of.
I stated my case to Elijah about why I was against getting a Wii.
1. It would take ALL his money and some of ours to get the Wii.
2. Games are expensive and we would not be getting new ones on a regular basis.
3. It's an indoor game and we spend most of our days outside over the summer.

Short pause..."Yeah, you're right." Elijah said.

"WHAT!!!?!?!"

Just like that. I'm right. I was so pumped.

So we started looking for an alternative item that got him excited. Here it is:


Air Hogs Switchblade

He was SUPER excited about it. We went to Walmart even though they said it can only be ordered online and were stoked to find it.
Ah, the thrill!! Got it home and all put together.
Took out to a wide open space...

COULDN'T GET IT TO FLY!

I'm honestly not sure if it was operator error(entirely possible) or what.

Since then, he has tried to fly it once...in our yard...which has a large tree...that he got it stuck in. This was, of course, after Chad and I had told him several times NOT to fly it in our yard for that very reason.

After several attempts by several of the neighbor kids we got it down. It's still in working condition.

Elijah is not happy. He wants to take it back. I'm gonna let him.

I do feel pretty bad about the whole ordeal. I hate it when they get all hyped about a toy and it's disappointing. He's going to look for something else a little more operator friendly.

I'm thinking a Wii might be a good idea :)

Why wasn't I told...?

I realized some time ago that there are certain things that people don't fully explain to expectant parents. Either that or they did and it's just one of those things you have to understand through experience.

One of those things is that there are times/days that you won't like your child. WHAT?? I thought being a mom was going to be dreamy and, sure, hard, but mostly just great!
Maybe other parents have managed to avoid these "disliking" moments, but I sure haven't. I, of course, love my children. They are fun, interesting, unique and simply wonderful.

That being said, I could have gone without my youngest today. Truly, if I had woken up and someone else had taken him all day and not brought him home til bedtime, I would not have been upset and I doubt I would have missed him much. Sounds harsh when I put it to words. Just being honest.

He's insanely stubborn. Twice today I went to put him down for a nap. No go.
A few weeks ago, I simply had to have him give everyone a kiss, say good night and lay him down. Just like that. He'd go to sleep.
Now's it's World War III everytime I say nap. Quite frankly, he's a punk. I've told him such, but he doesn't seem to think that's a bad thing.

I go between being a total hard ass and not letting him be in charge to just flat out getting tired and letting him get up and do whatever he wants. He wears me out.

I remember this time, this age with my other kids. It's so fun in some ways. They're funny, goofy and learn something new every day. I keep telling myself to find the good things about him today. It's been slim pickins'.

And here's the catch...it doesn't matter. He can be a total punk, completely uncooperative, and just a total pain and I still love him like crazy. I'll keep him cause I'm banking on the fact that some day, probably sooner then later, I'll miss this time in our lives.

Here's hoping tomorrow is better...

Video games

I don't mind video games per se.

I've played a good bit in my lifetime. As a kid, I beat Ms. Pacman on our Atari. It was awesome and I know I spent ALOT of hours perfecting my moves. I don't think I was harmed by my time playing.

We bought one of those old school plug in atari games awhile back. It was awesome cause it had Ms. Pacman and Galaga, which brought back sweet memories for both Chad and I.

I guess the kids liked it too :)

So why am I so NOT for getting a gaming system??

What I mind is what I know will be the endless requests to play said video games. It's annoying and it frustrates me cause I'd rather they were playing outside or being creative independently. This thought is all well and good in the utopia that is my mind, but reality tends to be different.
I'm sure we'd have fun with it. There might even be some "bonding". I just don't want to take the plunge. We've held off for so long!

So here's my dilemma...
Elijah has been saving up for quite awhile for a Wii. He was SURE 100% that is what he wanted so he didn't spend his money on silly things that break after a minute or stuff he didn't REALLY want. We told him that we would pay half after we moved into the new house.

Now, I am trying like CRAZY to convince him that he doesn't REALLY want a Wii.

Bad mom?

Quite possibly.

He's got a good chunk of change and I'm so proud of him for knowing what he wanted and saving for it diligently. So, now, I feel like I'm manipulating the situation a little. I really don't have ANY desire to have a Wii or any video game in our house. I don't mind if they play it...just somewhere else.

I just don't want to hear the never-ending requests to play, or the fights over what to play or whatever else comes with getting something like this.
And, I'm slightly morally opposed to it, I think. In my mind, it could very well be the one thing that starts to destroy the fabric of our family!!

I may be slightly dramatic about that point...just a little.

But seriously, I'd much rather they play games outside, ride their bikes, climb trees, etc, etc.

Maybe we'll get one in the winter when we're all stuck inside anyway...

Parenting more

I came across this quote on this blog...
http://www.simplehomeschool.net

"I tell people who ask about homeschooling that it’s just parenting — but more of it. If you enjoy parenting most of the time, you’ll enjoy homeschooling most of the time. If you don’t, and you can’t wait to send your kids elsewhere for most of the day, you won’t enjoy homeschooling, and it may not be for you. The lessons you learn in parenting are multiplied and intensified through homeschooling. I hope my kids are getting a good education — but I KNOW I am!"

People homeschool for all kinds of reasons. I've been at it for several years now and I can't say definitively why I do it. Some days, it's cause I love the flexibility. I can do six lessons in phonics and nothing else or one lesson of math, language, science, etc. Other days I love that I get to be the one who teaches my daughter what letters make the oo sound. Other days I do no "homeschooling" at all. We just live life together. I like that too.

Here's the thing. I really liked this quote at first, then I hated it. Now I'm not sure what I think about it. I hate it mostly because it makes parents who send their kids to school sound like bad parents who don't like their kids, which I know is not the case. Our son is in public school and I have tons of friends who are amazing parents with great kids who spend their days in school, as well.

I like it because it's got some truth to it, except for the "can't wait" part. I'm not sure the wonderful parents I know would say they "can't wait" to send their kids to school each day (well, maybe some days :) ). It's just what they, and I, do.

I honestly never considered sending my kids to kindergarten.

I knew I would homeschool at least that year with each of them. I just wasn't prepared to have that shift begin. You know, the shift that happens when your kids are around their peers more. They want to be like them, talk like them, have the same games/toys. I wasn't ready for that. "Getting a break" from my kids never seemed like a good reason to send them to school. There are, of course, times I NEED a break, but I don't think that's what school is for.

What I've realized each year, and why I partially agree with that quote, was that homeschooling makes you parent more. Alot more. And some days that's great. Other days it's awful and I would really like to only have to parent them for those hours in the afternoon/evening and weekends.

Any personal flaws, or personality clashes are often up front and personal everyday when you homeschool. I can't ignore them, well I could but it just prolongs the inevitable of having to deal with those and learning how to co-exist in peace.

So here are just two (trust me there are ALOT more), things about myself that I've had to address sooner then I would have liked because I'm around my kids all day long.

Personality flaw #1. I'm not a schedule person.
I don't have specific things I do each day at specific times. I pretty much wake up with a general idea of what needs to be done and some days I get those things done. Autumn does very well with a schedule. She likes to know what, where, when and with whom every minute of our day consists of. I've had to accomodate her, which has made me a better planner and she's had to accomodate me with learning to just go with the flow sometimes.

Personality flaw #2. I like lazy mornings...alot...too much. I day dream about being 16 and sleeping in til noon. I don't get out of bed some days til my oldest son is out the door for school. My husband, who is awesome, usually makes sure everyone has had some type of breakfast, if he's home.
I haven't solved this one yet. Sometimes I'm up and moving around by 700/730, most days I'm still laying in bed pretending to be asleep. I'm a little selfish about it. Maybe that should be #3, but I'll stop with 2 for now...