It has been more than a little while since I posted on this blog. I have also noticed that many of my friends have also stopped posting on theirs. Facebook seems to be documenting our lives. I feel like I am, once again, at the threshold of change. The kids are all in school - rising 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Middle school looms and with it my fear of the unknown. The kids have had a terrific year. We are looking forward to activities this summer. Some free time, the pool, overnight camp for the first time, the beach. It's all good.

Mid-life

A few months ago I was listening to a news story and it described a 40 year old woman as middle aged - well, of course I gasped. That's my age - I am not middle aged. Well, I guess I am technically. Here I sit in a place I have longed to be - wife, mother, homemaker and yet ... sometimes I feel like I was promised more. I wasn't really, but women my age had the expectation that we could be superwomen and I know this is not news that something suffers either home life or intellectual life depending on your choice as a mother. I am "Happy at Home" but definitely need to keep my mind and efforts not entirely at home or I fear I will atrophy. You don't imagine having a three year old and being middle aged, but maybe I am just wiser now. Perhaps it will be a time of reinvention - we shall see - Cheers!

FELIX

We have a new member of our family - we got him just a couple of days before Christmas. We found this tiny orange tabby cat walking down our road. We checked with neighbors to see if anyone had lost him. We now suspect he was a dropoff. But we are so happy to have him. We had thought about getting a pet for Christmas even, but just never committed. So, little tabby, we are glad you "chose" us. The kids have been nearly loving him to death. Thrilled with a new pet - our 10 year old lab is losing even more of her dwindling affection quota, bless her heart. This morning school was nearly delayed by who had or had not given Felix hugs and kisses - I am not making this sappy stuff up! Then after the older kids left for school I hear Walter going around the living room saying - Felix, it's me, Walter. Fe-Lix, it's me Wal-ter! I am a boy and you are a boy too. (adorable) Here is our new little man - growing every day.

Happy New Year!

Another year behind us, another year ahead of us. All is merry and bright! The kids had a wonderful holiday visiting family and friends. We rang in the new year - in Madrid - at 6pm and enjoyed a family meal out. We are hitting a crossroads of sorts with no kids in diapers - Danny and I are sort of longing for those baby days and really loving how the kids are growing too! This is a shot from our celebration last night. Here's to a great new year!

Chemistry

Wish I had a picture to post, but this adventure happened at the hair dresser where all three kids were getting haircuts. Usually Henry is not the one I quote with the funny quips, but this time it is. Sheila, our hairdresser who has been cutting my hair since I was three, was talking to Henry about colleges and asking where his parents went to college. She then said she figured he would probably study science when he went to college since he likes bugs and things so much. "Well," said Henry, "maybe science. I really like chemistry. Not chemistry like beer, but like acid." (me-bug-eyed - what?!?)

Blue Christmas

Gosh - I have gotten several requests/suggestions to write regularly about the kids - I shall give it a go. Me: Christmas is in four weeks. Are you excited? Walter: Yes, I am going to be Superman. Kids and I put the tree together and did some Advent activities at church. There will surely be more Xmas pics to post later. Love. Me. Blue Lights.

Another year gone by

Well - I wish I had been keeping up with the blog more instead of using all of my kids HI-larious saying up on FB, but alas I have not kept up with it. I have found posting pics on here just takes forever. The kids are just growing into such neat little people. Walter's language is starting to really shine. Tonight, for example, we decided that he could wear his favorite t-shirt to bed with pajama bottoms and he told me that "That is a great idea Mom". Awww. Claudia is hitting something of a fussy stage but luckily it is only sprinkled in and the rest of her endearing personality still shines through. She sings constantly and seems to really have a great voice. Henry is less excited by Claudia's singing as he is annoyed by her in lots of ways. He is doing very well in school and has started playing Words With Friends against his parents on the Kindle and doing a pretty great job at it. We are moving past the baby phases in our home and I even took down the crib for the first time (not including moving) in seven years. A little sad actually. Walter and Henry are now sharing a room and Claudia for the first time in her life has her own room - we are making the former nursery "girlish" for her. All is good. We count our blessings every night at supper.

Same old Bible

We have been going to church with some regularity these days. The kids get Sunday school and children's church while we have adult activities. I asked Henry and Claudia what they learned in church today - the answer was "nothing" for Henry and the burning bush for Claudia. Then Henry added - we have been reading the same Bible for four times now. When are we going to do a different Bible. (Me laughing and driving) Guess we should go over some basics.

my goodness

It has been MONTHS since my last post. Not because there isn't anything to say, just finding the time to say it seems to be difficult. We have had a fantastic Christmas and I really enjoy "making memories" with the kids. Knowing this is how they will remember their childhoods. Should that be plural. Anyway ... I spend a lot of time reading magazines as I can't quite get through a WHOLE book these days. Though perhaps the right one I could. And I have decided that I would like my life a whole lot more (not that I don't like it now) if a magazine would please come and stage it and take well lit pictures of my well dressed and well behaved kids so I can keep it in my mind and live that fantasy. Do you think that will happen? Well, maybe not, but if I can just pretend that the Southern Living photographers are on their way then maybe I will do a better job of taking mental pictures of our days for me to hold tight. Gotta run do dishes ... laundry ... sleep!!!

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

I have noticed lately that my services as a mother can pretty much be recorded and put on a sound loop for the kids. I am not even sure they would notice - they usually don't look up anyway and manage to tune me out. My recording would be something like this - "You are not in charge, don't do that, be quiet, put that down, no Ma'am, no Sir, step away from the baby, you are not in charge, don't do that, be quiet, put that down, no Ma'am, no Sir, step away from the baby."

Staying at home

So, I don't fully know if staying at home is my nature - I like to chat (with adults) and be responsible for things (including but not exclusively kids). Some days are wonderful and others I am looking for job ads. However ... today Danny and I were both reminded of why I am here. Apart from feeling like I really know my kids, we were thinking back on when Claudia went to full time daycare. She was there for over a month and never transitioned. She cried when we dropped her off, cried when we picked her up and she would be watching out the window waiting for us. The worst of it all though was the drop off - she would slump down next to the door and just sit there either crying or just in a sad daze. Sometimes she would even lie on the floor and the other kids or teachers would actually step over her. This would go on for at least half an hour.
Henry just asked me why I didn't like being a mommy today - good question - some days are easier than others. But I guess it all comes down to that I am glad I can be here for my kids.

Hard to Believe

All smiles!

Claudia asleep at the top of the stairs - this is what happens when she naps and then won't go to sleep at a normal time - she changes her clothes many times, gets into things in her room and eventually passes out at the top of the stairs!

Baby Sunshine!


Well, the baby is going to be one in two weeks. It is really quite hard to believe. He has just started crawling with a funny little scooter type thing much the same way Henry did. It is pretty darling really. He claps when he wants to be picked up, he clicks his mouth when he wants something to drink, so there is some communicating going on. We seem to be posting less and less frequently these days. Could it be because we are so busy? That and loading photos on here takes forever! The kids are good - going to camp this week in the mornings which is good for all concerned. I am not incredibly patient with three kids at home all week. Looking forward to the summer and some weeks at the beach. We will post again! Stay posted ...

Catching fire by itself

Henry started singing eeny-meeny-minny-mo - if that is even how you spell it, anyway, the line of course goes - catch a tiger by its toe. The girl used to sing - catching fire by itself - which we sort of prefer. She now does a combination of the two verses. Whoever "MO" lands on is who is at that very moment loved the most by the singer. It is a fun game that can go on for a long time. I recorded this just after it was really funny. Walter is screaming, but you can still hear CJ's hip-hop and slightly messed up lyrics. And, yes, this is what our house usually sounds like. Enjoy.

Kids

Hmmm ... We are at a couple of milestones with the kids these days.
Claudia is on the road to getting rid of sleeping with her pacifiers - it is about time! We are marking the days off - April 1 - not an April Fool's joke. The boppy should be gone forever. Fingers crossed. Three is also proving to be more challenging than being two. Sobbing over nothing - joy!! She is totally a sweet girl and really loves both of her brothers - one more than the other.
Walter has a new tooth - ouch - and is in a morning program two mornings a week. After a painful and tear filled start he is having a blast now. He gets tons of love and attention from all as he flashes his one tooth grin and dimples. A real charmer!
Henry is in a musical as a cow and is taking it very seriously because he wasn't at all and is now being bribed. He will get some kind of Star Wars ship if he sings all the songs. He had a wonderful day today because he got to eat lunch with the principal. His name was chosen out of the kindness box. He was nominated by two teachers for doing kind things. We are impressed! Oh - and he doesn't like having his picture taken.

Fancy is ...

H: (playing with Star Wars gear) I am going to be on the dark side.
C: (putting on a tutu) I am going to be on the fancy side.

at least she asked

C: Mom - can I swing Walter?
R: No
C: Can I pinch him?
R: No (smiling)
C: Can I pat him?
R: Yes

Claudia is three

Hard to believe our little girl is three. She is getting so big and so ... mouthy!
Lately she has been saying things in a real Valley Girl-esque voice.
"Like, how do you know that mom, and it's not your decision." She is a very funny girl, she has lots of talent drawing, she loves carrying on conversations with anyone including herself. She is our sweetheart!

Mother of Invention

Henry does enjoy science, creating things and now inventions.
H: When I grow up I am going to be a person that invents things.
Me: That sounds awesome. What kind of things will you invent?
H: Radios.

New blog

Hi - now that I am home with the kids - I am doing lots of wonderful projects and to document them I have set up a new blog http://glittercrafts.blogspot.com/
Some of you might have heard that I love glitter even more than my kids

love glitter.

Anyway, I am enjoying finding things to do with the kids - and they just LOVE art projects.

Social Commentary

This conversation came out of the blue.
H: Sometimes boys marry boys.
R: Oh, when would that happen?
H: If there aren't enough girls around or if no girl wants to marry you.