64 Degrees and it is Dec. 30 ! !

I am so loving the weather today.
With two sickies in bed with Strep. I have every window and door open today. The house smells of lysol, bleach and the ham in the oven.

I kicked the healthy children outside to play and they all have played out front for much of the afternoon. Street hockey is the theme for the day. When they need to rest they go straight for the legos. Gus is happy as well. He has been tormenting Hockey Player while he tries to play street hockey! He grabs the street hockey ball and goes running. All he needs is a pair of skates. Great defense.

I should have the camera out, but then they will just want to pose and the magic will be lost.

My Favorite Quoteable Today !

"Flutter Nutter I need Jesus!
Bring me Jesus !
Bring me Jesus Now! "

Everyone needs Jesus right? Fun Mom is laughing. She think what I have just hollered dramatically and as enthusiastically as a fire and brimstone preacher is "just wrong!" Why? Cause Jesus is smelly and needs a bath.
Jesus goes everywhere with us. Flutter Nutter loves Jesus so much.
I am washing fleece so it is a perfect time to bathe Jesus!
It is Jesus' fault Flutter Nutter will need lots of orthodontics. Flutter Nutter likes to suck on and chew on Jesus. He puts as much of Jesus into his mouth as possible. He has done this since he was babe. And the orthodontist was the one who discovered the problem a year ago when we had the older ones in her office. She took one look at him and asked us what he sucked on? I thought she must possess some super powers, how could she know? I told her he sucks on his BLANKIE. (Yes, Jesus is a blankie! ) She looked at me incredulous. She said, "Nuh uh." I said, "Oh yeah! He shoves as much as he can in his little ole mouth and sucks on it. Fortunately, he has never suffocated." Light bulbs and an aha moment for the orthodontist. I asked her how she knew. She pointed out how his teeth don't touch anymore when he bites down. Sure enough. I just thought he had a great goofy grin that wrapped itself all over my heart. And he does. What to do? Not much, she is going to make money off of us. She told us it was up to us if we wanted to take the blankie away and have to pay for therapy in addition to orthodontics! Gotta love an orthodotist who is a mom to a large family as well! !

Before you think I am being sacriligeous or blasphemous. Please meet Jesus. We all need Jesus. But sometimes, it is nice to have Jesus here on Earth to wrap yourself up in. Flutter Nutter has just that.

Mom's Reflections...

I have tried really hard to take the wisdom of those before me to heart.
Especially, "enjoy the children because they grow up all too quickly."
It is true they do grow up quickly and I have found the more children I have the faster they grow up. It wasn't too long ago I looked at my middles and wondered where the preschool/toddler days went. I realized the addition of baby after baby left me with blurry memories. Now I am losing those very same days with my youngest. The olders are bigger and busier and I find myself in this fight against time to gain time with each of them while they are at this very moment. Then there is the struggle with my own selfish nature of just wanting a quiet moment for myself, a nap, a moment to stop and truly look around. There are times when I get the chance to stop and take a deep breath and I realize my surroundings have changed. It is no longer summer, the leaves are falling off the trees and then I blink and I am running for hats and scarves because of the bite in the air.

Lately, I have been savoring the sweetness of Little Princess. Her desire to comfort and serve others. She loves giving back rubs and scratches. She is learning new domestic arts, which she really enjoys.
Savoring the preciousness of Flutter Nutter. He is quick to say thank you without prompting, flatter his momma with no prompting, just the pure love and joy in his heart, and his innocent honesty when he is reflecting on things.
Hockey Player has been renicknamed this year around the house. I affectionately call him "Man-Child" and/or "Mowgli". If you can't remember where these names come from, take sometime to review Jungle Book. In the blink of an eye, Hockey Player has grown. He is no longer a boy, but not quite a man. He is clipping those apron strings from mom and gently sending me packing. He does still dote on me in his own ways. But he is becoming a man. He even has hairy toes now! That sends me in shock...I remember those precious little baby feet, the ones I kissed and tickled. Now they are strong feet, feet with a purpose and destination. In them, I see strength and manliness and my momma's heart aches with the truth, the days with this man-child are numbered and quickly passing.
Fun Mom leaves me all twisted with joy and anxiety. Her aunt once said, God made babies and little children, cute and adorable so we would continue to care for them and enjoy them. (Even if they flushed hot wheels and animal figurines down the toilet...my addition) But God, also made them to grow up and in that process allowed them to become annoying and irritating enough that as parents we didn't mind clipping some of those apron strings and giving them a good positive shove out of the nest. I am enjoying walking alongside Fun Mom during these years. The conversations we are able to have. We are moving away from the time where everything I say she just takes in and accepts. She asks questions, she reflects, she ponders, she makes observations. There are more and more adult conversations between us. There are the moments when "the littles", as the younger siblings are called, provide humor to us, that only the two of us get and we can look at one another in amusement and smile. A special time, where we are both enjoying their innocence and yet sharing in the private joke. The beginnings of a friendship, that I hope and pray survives the coming years to the time when we are mostly past the role of mothering and daughtering. In the midst of these precious moments, she does something so shocking to my system I am reminded, she too is growing up. Another apron string has broken and the struggle for independence and adulthood is still enduring and I have to let go just a little bit more.
Then there is Daddy's Buddy. He has had a tough autumn. Lots of changes in this boy. No longer little. Impatient to be like his big brother Hockey Player. Slicing those strings with mom with great warrior-likeness to only come running back for a brief moment or two. Even those moments are getting farther apart. He has lost his first tooth and for him that means he has arrived to Big Kid status. He has his own personal struggles. Ones we are learning alongside with him about and how to help him overcome them. Part of that overcoming involves in our interaction with him. He responds best when he is spoken to as an adult. Everything is very mature and grown-upishness with him. This Christmas he keeps making plans to fill everyone's stockings, even though Santa does it. He is planning and organizing when all will get done. He has taken over the responsibility to make sure Christmas happens. Decorations, check; menu, check; presents, check; calendar countdown, check and so on.
It seems all too quickly, I have only one little one left in my nest, Flutter Nutter, and he is very content to stay little. You might even say he has Peter Pan syndrome. The others are all leaping from the nest and trying to soar. How does a momma stop to even sleep when she knows very well, that the time is coming when one by one her little ones are going to take off soaring and if she even blinks, she will miss it?

Geminid Meteor Shower

Ever so slowly I am reading through our astronomy book by Jeannie Fulbright. Last night at the hockey rink while Daddy's Buddy was going through drills, Little Princess, Hockey Player and I read about comets, meteors, and asteroids. At the end of the chapter is a chart giving approximate dates for meteor showers throughout the year. Instructions to go to a website were also included. Thanks to technology, I did a quick internet search and discovered that very night there was to be a meteor shower. Now it will continue for a few more days...till the 16th, if I remember correctly. But God's timing is perfect, because we didn't have to be up at a certain time this morning. With excited kids who asked if they could sleep in, we made our plans.
If you get a chance to head out in the cold, cold night this week, do so!
Hockey Player, Little Princess, Fun Mom and I headed out just after midnight to escape the city lights. It took us a while to position ourselves in the right direction. Hockey Player wasn't able to keep his eyes open long enough. One of the disadvantages of having had a game earlier in the evening, and a tournament the past weekend. He was pooped. The girls and I weren't disappointed. Beautiful !
We opted to head home before the shower peaked, but sleep was calling. We were blessed with the opportunity to watch the shower as we headed home.

It appeared to me the shower was coming from the south. Though one of the employees at the observatory said to keep our eyes towards the northeast. ?? ?? But the best vantage point was just looking straight up! If only it wasn't so cold, I would have reclined on the ground, instead of hovering in the suburban with my face pressed to the glass. I did eventually roll the windows down and stick my head out the window while the motor and heat were running. When the clouds thinned, we could see the meteors traveling through the sky, with one or two suddenly falling towards the earth as a shooting star! It was breath taking.

Unless Hockey Player begs to try again this week, we won't head out again. Sleep is crucial for this momma to function. But definitely worth the loss of sleep last night.

Thanks for the heads up dear friends,

apparently someone accessed my blog and entered a bunch of jibberish on my blog.
I have since cleaned it up and changed my passwords. I am leaning more and more towards the advice of my husband on passwords. Living in the tech world he has a bit of insight on the best ways to choose and develope passwords. However, it will make it more difficult for me to remember them. Guess I won't need to do Sudoku and Crosswords to keep my mind sharp, just memorizing passwords that I gotta keep changing will do that. LOL! !

It worked!

Grandma's Stories are on my IPOD! !
Takes 1 hour to put each cassette onto my computer.... 2 down, ? ? to go !
But they will be saved.
Can't wait to suprise the kids.
First Sleep!

So excited about Grandma's Stories!

There's been a lot of discussion over the last year or two among the children. Who gets the latest tape of Grandma's Stories first? The competition is great. During the fall and winter months, Grandma Stories are a bedtime ritual. They gotta have them on before the lights are out.
(sidenote: Grandma's Stories are recordings of Grandma Mac and sometimes Grandpa Mac reading books to the children.)
My two youngest guys share a room and they can never agree to what they will listen to at night. Grandma's Stories or Bible verses for Cubbies/Sparkies. Over the last 2-3 weeks I have been researching on how to transfer these recordings onto my computer and, then, eventually onto the ipods/mp3 players. If that could be done, then maybe MP3/Ipods would eliminate some of the competition/rivalry over who gets Grandma's Stories first. I declared Thanksgiving weekend as the time to attempt this project. My first attempt bombed! Not the right kind of cords. However, while waiting in line to pay at the Black Friday Sales, early in the morning, BODO discovered the cord I needed. He may have been sleepy to start with, but he did wake up in the hustle and bustle of deal finding. He did GOOD! The cord is just what we needed. And now I have Grandma's stories on my computer. They have even synced to my Itunes... Next to see if I can load onto my IPod!

Getting the Most Bang for our Dollar!

Big O Daddy O and I hit the Black Friday sales again today.
Yep, I am still up at midnight.
I never went to bed last night. I finally climbed under the covers just before 6 this morning, just in time to hear Flutter Nutter crying out for me. So glad, I hadn't closed my eyes yet. Got everything taken care of and back into the covers just after 6. Woke around 11 to deal with sibling issues and to discover Fun Mom still asleep. (WHAT? ? ?) Kicked her out of bed, rolled over to snooze till noon. Hence, I can't sleep.
This year we dreaded heading out to shop. The lines seemed longer. It was cold. Sleep was calling us. But...the deals were good and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the kiddos were all snug in their beds asleep. We brought Fun Mom up to our room to sleep, so she'd hear the crew if they were to awaken. We were able to slip back into the house around 5:30 am. (We left at 4.) I threw blankets over the packages by my side of the bed. Those little sneaks can't rustle bags right under this sleeping momma's head. :) The best part, we are pretty much done. The sales didn't match up to our shopping list for one of the kiddos. Seems there is at least one each year. We did manage to even pick up a few birthday presents.
Back to my title, before BODO took his pre-shopping nap this morning, we hit Walgreens at midnight. I had my list, my coupons and ad ! BODO was my shopping partner. He did his own transactions. Bargain shopper in training, he was. He did great job, at least until he started to try and add things to his cart. He was thinking get it all done. We ended up with lots of Jingle Cash when were done. Then I told him he could add things to the cart not on the list ! Lots of stocking stuffers and then some. Best part is we still have lots of Jingle Cash. Can't wait for next week to use them for more Jingle Cash. :) Since, I was in bargain mode, my brain switched over to the Dillons ad. We knew what we were going to be buying. We knew how much it would cost.... And we have a trip planned and we know where we will eat when on the road. So we headed on into Dillons to make the most of the Gift Card deal + Fuel Rewards. typically gift cards are worth twice the fuel points at the pump. Right now, they are worth 4X the dollar value of the gift cards in fuel rewards. We knew how much and where, so we spent our Christmas money on gift cards, got the fuel rewards and then in turn hit the stores! We'll do the same when we head on down the road.
I must say BODO wasn't super thrilled with the detours and being out instead of sleeping. But once he did the math, all was good.

Return to Hockey !

Hockey season is upon us this year. It will be double the fun and double the craziness. Daddy's Buddy is now a Hockey Player TOoO! He has let me know that he does not want to be known as Daddy's Buddy on my blog. So until I come up with a new nickname that I just love and think fits this guy of mine, Daddy's Buddy he remains. (Good thing he doesn't get on the computer and read the blog yet...) I may have to rename Hockey Player and hand down his nickname....but it just doesn't feel right.
Hockey season started with a bang and an injury! First game, first 30 minutes and Hockey Player was down. But not for long. Sat out to catch his breath and then back on the ice he went. Big O Daddy O wouldn't let Mom check out Hockey Player. He is a Warrior after all. (Aren't all boys!) A mistake that BODO won't make again. Took his skates off between 2 games, and it was a challenge getting that skate back on for the second game. AND Hockey Player played the second game. The next day (Monday) we discover he needs one of these:

2 weeks in a cast. 2 weeks in a boot. Easy return to the ice to condition the ankle. (Not really...there is no take it easy with this kid.) He overdid it and had to sit out the next week. Miss yet another set of games/tournaments. Back on the ice. Taping. Icing after games. Elevate it during the day during school (beautiful that we homeschool, the couch was his new workstation!) The ankle weathered the week with just a little puffiness. So good, because it was hard to see these disappointed eyes.

This boy loves hockey. Can't get his attention, say a hockey term or just hockey. Boom back on planet earth he returns and he is looking to see where the action is. :) He now has a team of moms that worry about him. Just what every hockey player wants! But hey, he is back on the ice now...

This weekend both boys participated in the Kansas Cup. A wonderful hockey mom shared her pictures with me. So I have these of Hockey Player. I am waiting for the Bestest Aunt Sharon to pass on the pictures she took to me, so I can share memorable moments of both boys. So pictured above is getting back to business ! His serious expression his the only sign of how glad this boy is to be back on the ice. Feet, pucks and sticks belong on the ice. Ice does not belong on the body. :) First tournament back and it feels oh so good to end with one of these team pictures:

and one of these pictures of pure triumph and joy!

And yes, he did receive a pretty awesome check this weekend. Fortunately, Mom looked to check on one of the kiddos and missed it. To hear Big-O-Daddy-O tell it, makes the momma sick and she gets a lump in her throat. All of his new moms checked in with me to make sure he was okay. I just keep saying thank you Lord for preventing me from seeing it. So good to know he has a crew to watch out for him. He may not like it, but it is comforting and encouraging to this mom. He got back in the game and finished up. I was able to watch the Championship game later without as much angst and enjoy watching him have fun.

When asked later by BODO about the check, "It didn't hurt a lot, but it didn't hurt a little." In contrast, when he was checked and broke his ankle, "It didn't hurt at all." So it was a harder check, just like everyone said, the second time around. He did get back in the game. His chest was sore and his chin scraped up, but all is good and that is hockey for you! A checking clinic is on the horizon. Never been so intent on signing up for a clinic as I am this time.

I am hoping, maybe Daddy's Buddy finds a different sport he likes. I am grateful Flutter Nutter isn't too interested in playing sports. He is just interested in girls and computer games. For now, I will just go along for the ride and look forward to when i can see the Aunt Sharon's pictures of the boys.

Remembering...

Couple years back (could be a few more, but it would take quite the effort to push through the cobwebs to remember exactly) I was trying to explain Veteran's Day to the kiddos. Part of our schooling. Part of just explaining why it was a holiday, banks were closed and Big-O-Daddy-O was off of work.

We were discussing what it meant to be a Veteran. Those who had gone before us and those still fighting today for the freedoms we so take for granted and enjoy. We got to talking and I realized there was another kind of veteran. The kind of warrior who fights, weeps and possibly bleeds as well for us on a daily basis. The kind of warrior who fights a battle that goes unnoticed mostly. These warriors fight for us in all kinds of situations and in all kinds of places but more often than not they do their fighting on their knees in the early hours of the morning, late at night, and they may even awaken in the middle of night or never sleep at all because they are praying. So as we wrote our thank yous to the veterans who fought for our country, I put pen to paper and wrote a few thank yous to the spiritual veterans in my life/family. There are two today that still stir my heart with immense gratitude and emotion when I think of them. Their bodies are failing them. Their memories may be failing them as well. Their faith still unwaivers. Their love for the Lord and others unwaivering. The legacy they have created and are still creating humbles me greatly. To my Great Aunt Dot (sometimes called Grandma Dot by my kiddos) and Great Uncle Paul, thank you for serving the True Commander and Chief and praying for all of us. As you pause to thank those who serve our country, take a moment to remember and thank the warriors who serve our King of Kings.

Because Dad isn't the only one....

A big thank you to Big-O-Daddy-O on this Veteran's Day. He may not deploy and he may not see the horrors that some do, but he does hurt with those who hurt, prays for those who are in harms way and he takes care of business on this end. He realizes it is his job to serve the guys over there (wherever) so they are not left unprotected and unequipped. Thank you!

Because I couldn't say it any better...

I will just borrow from my sister and share this link

End of Summer Cram Session

Summer got away from me this year. It seemed to speed by faster than it ever had before. This time, we spent the last couple of weeks cramming in those things we had yet to do. One of those summer fun traditions is to go to one of the many sprinkler parks in town.
So we loaded up and the kids had fun.

Then we needed them to run around and dry off. Good thing there was a playground nearby. I had my phone with me instead of the camera. Sooo, I got to playing with the settings. It is too bad you can't flip throught the pictures. It is like watching a home movie, old flip card style. :)

Well, the moms did not want to be left out. Because, we are cool, we were quick to join in the fun. My super sweet friend was demonstrating the fine art of swinging. Had to prove to the ALL-KNowing 14 year that, yes, she could swing higher than the Fun Mom!

Fortunately, we were buckled up in our vehicles before the rain started. It poured all the way home. However, we were rewarded with the most beautiful rainbows once we were home.






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Little Princess' Ninth Birthday!

So it has been a couple of months, but I finally did it!
The best part of waiting a bit to attack the pictures is the reminiscing. Sweet Memories. So grateful for Uncle Charlie and Aunt Tracy getting out there with the kids and the water balloons. Big-O-Daddy-O had a slipped disc and was out of commission. Lots of smiles and laughter. Good Birthday memories!

Does anyone have the time?

Big-O-Daddy-O and I are finding ourselves in one of those seasons of transitions.
And, well, I just don't feel that old or like I am suppose to be here already.
It doesn't seem to be time to be having some of those discussions.
And some of those transitions, I knew they were coming up, and yet, I feel blindsided.
There are some benefits though.
I prefer to sit there and ponder the benefits more than the other.
We recently went to the pumpkin patch. At least the kids and I did.
Big-O-Daddy-O had appointments to keep. I started to panic that morning in the shower. I was thinking through the day and what needed to be done. My relaxing shower left me shaken and in shock.
I was going to the pumpkin patch WITHOUT a stroller or wagon!
I have never done the pumpkin patch without one of those handy tools.
There's a place for drinks, picnic lunches and PUMPKINS!
With 5 kids that translates into 5 pumpkins!
But then there is the realization, the kids are older and good helpers, so we would be fine. BUT no stroller? ! ? When did that happen? I mean, I know when that happened. I sold them, gave them away, threw them away. Yes, we had quite the collection of them. But I had never identified the stroller with any family tradition, that is until then. Last year, BODO did the pumpkin patch. Fun Mom and I were in Ireland. See, they are getting bigger.
The trip went just fine. We even went on another field trip yesterday and it was fabulous. Just me and the kids and we had a blast. Those pics are coming. I know, I keep saying that. But we plan to sneak away as a family for a few days and well, I will probably get caught up on the fun stuff then. But back to me and the kids. That is another mile marker in our life. Since Flutter Nutter was born, I reached a threshold. I could NOT, would NOT consider going anywhere alone with ALL of them. There were a few times I did out of necessity. BUT it was too overwhelming to even discuss. But now, they are older and more independent, which can be a good thing. I am discovering the joy of exploring this world with my crew once again.
Then there is this other transition in life. BODO has declared he is having his mid-life crisis. Things happening in his body. New diagnosis. Health habits needing to be changed. But the latest has left me quite befuddled. And frankly I don't want to talk about it. He could RETIRE! What the? ? (For you grand folks reading, please, don't be offended) But retirement is for OLD people. You think about it when you are in your 60s, maybe 70s. NOT your mid (I am not late) 30s. I realize BODO is in the next decade here, but he isn't even mid-40s yet. I am not OLD. I rediscovering the joys of playing with my children and new discoveries. I don't want to talk about retirement.
Where did the time go? I would like to frankly know how this has happened in all of just a couple of minutes. Because I sure don't think this much time has passed. The 15 years we have lived in our home, doesn't even seem to be 15 years. Much less the 15 years we have been married. I can deal with the wrinkles. Mid afternoon naps and saggy arms but really, RETIREMENT? ? ? ?
So for my birthday.... Can we not talk about retirement until BODO's birthday! ? !

The BEST Quote Ever

Courtesy of Flutter Nutter:
" Girls are Gooder!"
"They are smarter"
Me: "Did you just say girls are gooder, cause they are smarter?"
FN: "Yeah! Duh! ! ! "
there you have it... girls are smarter, the words came out of a boy's mouth. :)

Learning a New Language

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself learning this new language.
Testosteronese
I have been a little slow at picking it up. But I had a break through tonight with Daddy's Buddy. He actually understood me the first time I spoke.

I need you to sit down proper in your seat. We are going 64 miles per warp speed. If I get to light speed you might fly out the window.

He sat.

The tension in the suburban was thick. Would Mom make it it time? We were 3 minutes from the start of the new Clone Wars episode. I was doing all sorts of warp speed down the highway. Threatening to slow down out of warp speed if children did not remain safely seated and buckled into their seats.

Then there was "Hold on, I am making a warp speed turn."
To which Fun Mom corrected me, "Light speed turn."
I will rejoice in the one success today. :)

Dads, Sons and the Mom

First hockey game of the season.
I am working in the church nursery and show up before the second game.
On arrival, I am told Stephen was checked but ok. He sat out a few rotations because his ankle hurt. Dad roared and said I was not allowed to go to the locker room to check on him. I do try to respect the men and man~children in my life. Fine line between being mom and overly-mothering.
Next thing I hear is they are having a hard time getting his skate on, his ankle is swollen. But he'll try to skate during warm-up and see how it feels.
Momma bear is trying to stay quiet.
Hockey Player plays and the Mom can tell he is hurting. Not skating like he usually does.
Afterwards, I tell him I will see him at home. I also tell him, when he gets home he needs to soak his foot in epsom salts. (More so I don't have to smelly his funky foot, when I look at it.) Come home and take a look. A huge golf ball has somehow managed to work its way under my son's skin. Yowzer! Momma Bear insists on a trip to see the doc. But calls the doc on call for backup with the dad and son.
Left doc's office with a diagnosis of "severe sprain". Possible fractures but need the radiologist to look at. Get a call later, radiologist doesn't think there is a fracture.
This morning, Hockey Player is asking for pain medicine. It hurts to stand on it. He doesn't want to elevate it, because then it hurts to stand. Call to the doctor. He shouldn't be in that much pain with a brace on his foot.
Doc pulls up the xrays on his computer which is really a cool thing. He zooms in, spins the pics, zooms out, clicks a few times. Checks the spot on the xray where Hockey Player has the most pain. His knobby little ankle bone is fractured on the tip. Hard to catch fracture, but there all the same. Pretty purple/blue ankle this morning. I tried to get him to choose the purple cast. I even suggested the hot pink one. He chose royal blue.
Needless to say Dad and Hockey Player now know Mom will enter the locker room regardless of their wishes. The other players can run, hide, turn around it doesn't matter. I am not looking at them. Mom will take the skates and hide them. Hockey Player is too young to be playing injured.
Fun Mom thinks aloud, wish I could break my leg. She seems to like the attention Hockey Player is getting. She doesn't want the pain though. Mom can only shake her head. Enough drama for the rest of the year. Doctor is laughing because he only just saw Hockey Player for a physical last Thursday.
At least there's no locker rooms for 6 weeks. Whew... the boys can relax.
If I can bring myself to take pictures later, I will post them.

Science for the day!

Can't remember what I was doing exactly yesterday afternoon. But I happened to see a spider on Little Princess' window. Went to see about killing but not before noticing the fly he was carrying around in his jaws. No web. Just eight furry legs and a dead fly. I couldn't resist and called the kids to come check it out. There were a few who said, "cool!" and one that just squealed and squeaked and shrieked, "ewww!" Another, who just watched in awe. I went to capture him in a jar to let him outside. He had endeared himself to me. I couldn't bring myself to kill him after the entertainment he had inspired in Fun Mom to provide me with. :) And the awe and coolness factor I was elevated to for calling the children to witness such a fantasticly, gross discovery.
But, oops, he jumped, I was startled and now he is somewhere in Little Princess' room. Fun Mom went a little nutso and announced there was absolutely no way she was ever going to sleep in Little Princess' room ever again. I never told Little Princess. She woke just fine this morning. Doesn't seem to be missing any blood or body parts. Though, she does keep living behind some sticky substance everywhere she does......

Anyone wanna play Iceball?

A Crazy Wednesday night usually involves about 100 kids and thier parents at church for AWANA.
Last night, it started before we got in the suburban.
On our way into the garage and small pieces of hail began to fall. Living in Kansas, this is not wholly unusual. Being fond of my suburban, I was in no hurry to venture out.
It proceeded to hail for 30 minutes or so. During that time there were loud thumps on our roof. Louder than the hammering of a roofer. More like kids jumping up and down on the upstairs floor when I am in the basement. But the hail continued to look small. Then, I realized what I was seeing was the busted up pieces of hail coming off the roof. Then it grew quiet. I waited to make sure the storm was done. We had, had a brief moment of 60 mph winds. Then it started again. Louder than before and a lot of more jumping on the roof sounds. But this time the big stones were landing in the yard as well. Softball size! I have never seen hail this large until last night.
All is good though, the dog was cooped up in the garage to shake and shiver and cry through the storm. Initially, he was outside in the rain and I wasn't going to feel sorry for him because he was also laying in the kiddie pool in the rain. Silly dog. But then the pea size hail came and I conceded to the children he could go to the garage. They were worried he wouldn't go into his dog house. I am every so grateful for those warning little peas. I am even more grateful for the hedge of protection God wrapped so many people up in during this storm. So many were out and on the roads. It all started around 5:45 in the evening. People going home, church, sporting events and such.
We have 4 holes in our roof. Down to the base plywood layer and it is cracked in some of those holes. We'll be getting a new roof. Maybe siding and some guttering.
Craters in our yard offer new landscaping interest. We could not have been so creative all on our own. :)
But my favorite of all pictures in on the www.kwch.com website. Pictures of the Auburn Hills Golf Course. Those are some pretty large golf balls. In my twisted, silly humourous way, I find myself wondering if God and his angels were busy with putting practice last night and a few of the balls went wild? I remember being told thunder was actually the angels bowling. Lightening meant they had gotten a strike.
Here are a couple of pictures from our yard. The garden house and swing to offer a bit of perspective.

Four for Four

Four Year Old Boys have the ability to wrap their mommas around their little fingers so well.
1. When they say "I love you!" it is because it is bubbling out of their little hearts. Not because they want something.
2. When they say "You are the bestest momma ever!" it is because it is bubbling out of their little hearts. Not because they want something.
3. When they say "Momma, you are the beautifullest momma ever!" it is is because it is bubbling out of their little hearts. Not because they want something.
4. When they run up and grab you in a big hug it is because it is bubbling out of their little hearts. Not because they want something, or just got something.

I have a four year old little boy that is in love with his momma at this point in his life. As much as I enjoy each stage. I think I am going to miss this stage quite a bit. Especially now, that my other 2 boys are getting older and Dad is cooler more often than Mom.

Quiet....

Yesterday my kids and husband let me take a 5 hour nap!
To which, my dear, sweet friend replied with, "WHAT! ? ! Haven't you learned your lesson?"
The last time I took a nap, dog doo was tracked through the house and led to the marathon cleaning that left me so exhausted I drifted off to be unheard from for 5 hours.
I think the kids were just glad to have mom quiet and sleeping. It meant no more chores and scrubbing. They were also exhausted from the hours of outdoor play I had required of them while I cleaned.
But the last 24+ hours have been quiet. I am very grateful for that. They are even getting along with one another. A miracle in of itself. I love these moments. They are hard to interrupt. Its getting to be bed time, but I don't want to end this magical moment where my children are friends with one another and enjoying each other's company. I am free to listen to their sounds and reactions and also accomplish a thing or two in peace.

My Brain made me do it....

I haven't blogged much...
We got a dog.
We started school.
Big O Daddy O hurt his back (We learned yesterday he has a bulging disc in his lower back)
throw in 5 kids and the activity level of mine and there is not much left of this momma at the end of the day.
Nerves are shot. Sense of humor has become quiet concerning. I actually enjoy watching the dog get shocked from either his bark collar or the new electric fence meant to reinforce the command, "Stay".
I tore the back garden out so the fence people could lay the underground fencing/wire.
And Voila, set off a huge allergy flare. Eyes, nose, throat and skin....I am doing okay. Praying I won't need the steroids.
We celebrated one birthday and that post, well it will be coming before she turns 10. LOL. Getting ready to celebrate another.
Just learned hockey season will be starting up for us real quick. Tryouts start in a week. UGH, oooh, I meant YEAH !
Just to add a little more drama into explaining why I haven't been posting, the ghost "NOT ME" stepped in dog doo and tracked it all over the house. "NOT ME" also climbed onto one of the beds and wiped dog doo all over the mattress.
So off to the store to rent a carpet shampoo-er....
Just another month of craziness in my life...
However, I have not even started to explain the title of this post, so lets begin.
I am shampooing the carpet. Hockey Player is finally vaccuuming one of the rooms so I can shampoo it as well. Did I say finally... well the were kids asked, told, and told, and then mom blew. But it got done. Just as the vaccuum started there was a pop, the lights flashed and a slight blurble through the house. Then all was good. I didn't think anything of it.
That was until, Daddy's Buddy has anguish on his face and Big O Daddy O is asking what happened? Show me what happened? So I know something big has happened. I go immediately into denial, because I have plunged toilets this week, the dishwasher has broken, and the garbage disposal needs to be fixed as well...and did I mention BODO has a bulging disc that comes with a lot of back pain and he is pretty much useless in his role as Handy Man of the House right now. Because I am in denial, I keep shampooing. Because...I can do something about disgusting carpets.
Then the story comes tumbling out in BODO's hand lays a burned up, blackened contorted paper clip. 5 burned little fingers with blisters. Pointing at an outlet.... Tears...
"I won't do it again."
I dump the water. Pick up the phone and call the Nurse line. Nurse says, "Get him checked out at the hospital."
Off we go to the doctor's office, closer than the hospital and cheaper. Did I mention everything is falling apart and I just rented a shampoo-er. I am going to penny pinch if I can. He is not in life threatening distress yet. Have to explain he has been electrocuted, to my favorite nurse. The one I haven't seen in a year or so, she laughs and says, "I can see your life hasn't calmed down any." More phone calls. EKG? Protocols... I look at Daddy's Buddy and shake my head.
DB: "I don't think I am going to do that every day." (deadpanned, serious, straight faced. He's not joking."
ME: MY JAW DROPS, AND I LOOK AT HIM LIKE DUH, "HOW ABOUT NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, AGAIN!"
DB: looks at me like I have just crushed his feelings.
DB: I didn't want to do it.
ME: Where did you get the idea to do it?
DB: I didn't get the idea, my brain did. My brain told me to do it. If I didn't do it, my brain would blow up.
ME: Next time your brain tells you something, come tell me. I will talk to your brain.
DB: My brain can't be talked to.
ME: OH yes it can, I gave birth to that brain and I have super mom powers, I can talk to brains.
As we leave the doctor's office with 5 bandaids and a blown over stressed momma who needs some serious chocolate,
DB says, I think my brain got the idea from "Myth Busters"
ME: No more watching "Myth Busters!"

I love DB, I love his big head. Seriously, he has a big head. Doctor who delivered him even said so. I love his head. But his brain just might have to go.
And sooo, this is why my posts are far and few between these days. I need to go wind down some so I can sleep tonight and face yet another day tomorrow. Praying and Hoping BODO returns to normal health soon.

Hold that though for another 18 years, PLEASE !

So we are driving around, me and the kids. There is the normal chatter going on when Flutter Nutter announces, "Mom I think you are smart enough."
Really?
Glad to know it.
Then he says, "Mom, I think you are smarter than me."
Giggles from Fun Mom with her jaw dragging on the road along side us.

Of course these quotes are from the 4 year old and not the 14 year old. All I can say, is there were witnesses to such a bold statement. I have proof. Now, I pray he will only hold that thought for the next 18 years and continue to believe it.

Fashion 411

Mom: Flutter Nutter you aren't wearing swim trunks today.
FN: Don't worry mom, I have underwear on under them. So that means they aren't really swim trunks. They are shorts.
Mom: What kind of underwear? (thinking of the white mesh lining...)
FN: The 4T underwear. The white ones.
FN: See I don't need to change.
Mom: You still need to change. (FYI: He hasn't changed yet.)

Running...

Running is for some a true love. They can't wait to hit the pavement.
I love the image that my mind creates. I imagine myself running. Long strides, loving it, looking forward to the next run. Alas, it is just my imagination.
Running is hard and in the summer, it is HOT !
I don't like to "glow"....it isn't even a glow I get, it is full fledge soaking sweaty. YUCK !
But I do like running with Gus. I HAVE to keep up. He gets my momentum up, and I go so that means he gets he needs to be redirected or dragged if he starts to sniff. It also means the run/workout ends a lot faster than say walking or yoga or pilates. I can say 1 mile or 1.5 or 2 miles.... then I am done.
Done I say, and I have accomplished something in less time than it takes Fun Mom to shower. I walk a little taller. I gain a little more respect from my children, because their mom accomplished something they thought she couldn't. The stress is beaten out of my neck and shoulders for a few minutes.
I am so glad to have Gus.
He motivates me to get up and out.
He drags, oh I mean, challenges me to go faster than I normally would.
And, I sleep ever so good afterwards... gotta love those early morning naps after a run...or the hard fast sleep after a late night run.

Wrapping up Week Four...

So we have been back at school about a month now and it hits, the feelings of inadequacy. I don't know if we have made it further into this year than years past or if it is coming sooner than normal. But come it does. When life collides into the homeschooling/family schedule and routine. In years past, a new baby, a sick baby, a sick momma, an ailing grandma, a business trip that we jump in the car and tagalong, a toddler that so quickly grows into new abilities (the kind you can't ever take your eyes off and you feel like your job is clean up after a demolition ball), whatever it is, it happens. It feels like the schedule is thrown out the window. This time it is the hubby. What he did to his back, we have no idea. But he did it. I have been living like he is on a business trip now for 3 weeks. Coaxing myself along. Coaxing the children along. Routine has gone out the window this week cause Momma is tired. She sleeps through the alarms...believe me there are quite a few of them in the household. The noisiest being Flutter Nutter. She struggles to stay awake at 6:00 p.m. Pepsi is the kids' new friend. They ration it out to the Momma...too much makes a grumpy momma. Maybe that is what happened this morning/afternoon. I drank a whole one by 10 am.
The feelings of inadequacy take over along with the ifs. If the children would go to bed easier... if I hadn't overslept... if Flutter Nutter wasn't 4.... if you would only do what I said the first time.... Why can't I seem to conform these children into the perfect picture of homeschooling children? The kind who are awake early and cheerfully. The kind who sit quietly and still with ears and eyes open and mouths closed while the momma reads aloud. I have showed them the pictures. I have told them what I want them to do. I have the routine mapped out, charts, graphs, the whole nine yards. (Well not this year, so much...I kinda learned and gave up 99% of the whole chart/graph business). So why is it they are acting like normal children? Why is it they only have questions when the other 4 have questions or need me? It is like being a press conference and all the reporters are speaking at once asking their questions. Don't they realize mom ears really don't work that way? We HEAR things...but we don't make sense of cacophony. A friend once said being a mother is sometimes like being pecked to death by chickens. That sums up this week. Horrible picture isn't it. But just the incessant mom, mom,mom, no, mine, no this, that, leave me a lone..... moooooom, mom, MOM MOM MOM.
Children they are, chickens they aren't, that is a wonderful and beautiful thing. God humbles me and brings me to my knees, because I so want to model for them Jesus' love and grace.
Routines, shmutines, life happens.... He reminds me once again, my days are His days. Blessedly, my children are quick to forgive me when I lose it. They are quick to hug this momma who seems to not be able to hold it together when her routine is disrupted and she has forgotten WHO is in charge around here. My Heavenly Father reminds me plans are good, but He gets to reschedule them as He sees fit. He keeps me dependent on Him, less I get to full of myself, my routines and order. He afterall sees the BIG picture and knows the plans He has for us....

But I am ever so grateful He humored me for the first 3 weeks and let things go according to "plan". I do so like those harmonious, "perfect" homeschooling days. Off to go see what else needs to be conquered or restored after being destroyed and to hug my kiddos.

Exploration Place Fun

While Hockey Player and Little Princess were off at Church Camp, the other 3 kiddos and this Momma set to having our own fun.
Not knowing that Grossology was at Exploration Place, we headed to the museum for some fun in air conditioning. The boys were thrilled by shooting ping pong balls into a giant nose, climbing into a mouth and sliding down an esophagus. Fun Mom was, well, grossed out. The castle was fun as always.
Lots of stories to share with HP and LP when they returned and a second trip planned.