Tuesday

*Big J’s last soccer game: the jamboree! She played her best friend and it was fun to see high fives between the opponents.

*Little E’s “Joy School” put on a parade and sang some songs for the parents! That kid is full of spunk and his whole body danced as he sang, “Oh boy, I’ve got joy!” I love it!



*Mr. T finally crossed the line with his scissor and cutting obsession – he cut his hair – a first in our house. Little E’s eyes grew wide at the prospect of cutting your own hair so we’ll see if this is the beginning or the end of such haircutting woes. Mr. T enjoys announcing: "I'm bald now!" Hmmm...


*Baby J has been a bit fussy lately, he has a cold and it’s always hard getting back on schedule after a trip! He’s grabbing at everything now – especially my hair (hello ponytail world!) and he actually enjoyed tummy time today. My baby is growing up… I’m enjoying his toothless grins while I can.

Starting Out on a Journey

I travelled back in time last week. Back to the small town in Alberta where I went to school my freshman year, and back to the time when Mr. Man and I didn't call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy." It was an enjoyable trip, but I'm glad to be home too!

I have to admit to being a bit stressed about flying with my baby. I’ve never flown with a baby before and I expected the worst – apparently there are pros to being a pessimist; I’m easily impressed. I think I enjoyed flying with a baby more than I enjoy flying solo! I had so much help, people were overly friendly and initiated all the awkward travelling conversations (which I usually hate) and were based pretty much on the baby (sigh of relief), and I basically got whatever I asked for. He was a great traveler, and despite a few little mishaps that really aren’t worth mentioning, we had an enjoyable journey. Long, but fine.

I’m committed to keeping this blog mostly about myself and MY family and try to make as little mention as possible of my extended family – it seems like you ALL read this, and if I mention you some of you get offended, if I don’t others do… yada yada, I don’t need any more family drama than there already is, so I just pretend you don’t exist – in my blogging world that is! Anyways, my point is that I’m going to keep it brief, but must mention how much I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all my family. I have a great family, I really do. The trip was really much too short and I had so much fun with my sisters, my brothers, my cousins, Uncle and Aunt, nieces and in-laws! On a better commitment topic, I’m re-committed to planning our family reunion! We do love to have a good time! I did miss seeing Oma – as she was in the hospital having her appendix removed and I had a rather sick baby for the day I was there.

My sister's baby girl!

Everyone needs an "Uncle Max"! My other kids were disappointed not to have seen him and heard his Donald Duck voice! He was the one who could get my sick baby to calm down just a bit!

The wedding was beautiful. My brother and his bride were gorgeous and so in love.
I ached to have my sweetheart by my side as I watched their union take place. I was brought back to when Mr. Man and I sealed our love together and were married for time and all eternity almost eight years ago. How time flies. All the memories of those first few years swarmed my mind as I watched my brother entering that completely new realm of marriage. While those times are sweet times to look back on, I’m also grateful to be where I am in this journey of love. Eight years has its benefits!
My brother has married into a large, energetic, and may I say “crazy” family! I’m sure he’s going to have a lot of fun. I’m curious how our family appears to hers. Oh well. My new sister-in-law is a sweetheart, and I’m anxious to get to know her better. I’m very happy for their happiness.


Coming home has been busy, but my husband made it so worthwhile – he completely cleaned my whole house and our vehicles (he even cleaned the bathrooms!!!) I guess that’s what eight years and four kids will do for you… I’ll take a clean house and a backrub over a diamond ring any day!

Here's to my brother and his bride starting out on their journey!

Our Chicago Adventure

I haven’t the time to do our adventure justice. But I’m hoping a few short words and many pictures will capture our weekend… as I have a billion loads of laundry to do and still have to get myself and the baby ready for our trip this week to my brother’s wedding (not to mention leaving everyone else ready for STAYING)!

We left early Friday morning to drive to Chicago to get the baby’s passport. He wasn’t born in time to do it the “normal way” and so we had to do it the rush way (let me just tell you how impossible it is to get a two month old to pose “properly” for a passport photo – ugh!). I did something a bit spontaneous and decided to book a hotel and make a weekend of fun out of our obligation.

Here are some things I learned from our adventure in Chicago:
-There really are a dozens of people crossing each street downtown. (I always supposed that the movies had it all wrong and could never understand why they used all those extras when just one person could cross the street. I know, I’m sheltered. But it was amusing for me to be one of MANY crossing those busy crosswalks!)
-A suite is perfect for our size family. And a hotel with a pool makes any vacation complete and relaxing for everyone.
-A front carrier for an infant is a MUST in a big city.
-Wearing a front carrier with a 14 lb infant for two days straight may cause back pain.
-It costs $20 to park for 2 hours.
-A monkey backpack/leash can save a three year olds life. And add years to a three year olds parents' lives!
-Going to bed with the kids at 8:30 pm is a blessing after a LONG day of walking all over!
-Chicago pizza really IS the best – according to the kids!
-Our Wonderlab pass has been such a wonderful investment – we got into every museum we went to for free!
-Families of 6 DON’T take the trains and buses in Chicago – even for a “cultural” experience.
-When they’re spending a weekend doing construction on the metro line, a 40 minute car ride will turn into a 3 hour train and bus ride –with at least 3 transfers.
-The kids will still enjoy ALMOST every minute of it.
-And then you still have to return back to your car the same way you came! (This makes parking not seem so expensive!)
-Show up early to the museum if you want to get passes to the Star Wars exhibit.
-My husband is the best person to take with you on a trip.
-He sweet talked a lady into getting us passes onto the Millenium Falcon.
-We should have taken the advice of the man at the entrance of the Museum of Science and Industry – “I used to hate bringing my kids here when they were little. Good luck. At least they’ll sleep well tonight.”
-Mr. Man will LOVE the submarine exhibit and it will be worth it just to see his face light up!
-Be careful at the grocery store in Chicago… someone will inevitably be stealing alcohol and a million security guards will appear out of nowhere and begin the chase.
-Getting home at 1am means a very tired crew the next day, but it also means a weekend of fun and family togetherness was definitely worth it! (Oh, and we got the baby’s passport JUST in time too!)

Quote of the Week

Mr. T: "The baby's crying! Someone get him his passport!"

Background: We are going to Chicago tommorow to get the baby a passport so we can fly to my brother's wedding in Canada next week. Also, we typically call his "pacifier" a "soother" (that's Canadian apparently) and the boys have been confused by the term "pacifier" that their friends have been using to describe the "soother". Obviously Mr. T is more than just a little confused!

Flying Solo

Mr. Man pulled out his back this weekend and is in a lot of pain. I spent this Sunday eternally grateful for all of his help in every aspect of our day! From bathing, to making a delicious Sunday dinner, to SOOOO much help at church – setting up, taking the baby during primary and of course helping juggle these kids during Sacrament meeting. Somehow I survived, but I felt like we caused more of a circus than usual. (Mr. T is on his steroids again right now, so he’s once again flying higher than a kite, and driving me absolutely crazy… needless to say, we’re not exactly on speaking terms right now. I jest, but seriously, DRIVING ME C.R.A.Z.Y.)

Here are some highlights of our day. We had Family Home Evening on Fire Safety, since October is Fire Safety Awareness Month – and since Big J had a firefighter visit and Mr. T went to the fire station with their classes. The kids love helping to “teach” and so they both shared their knowledge and we actually had a great learning time role playing and planning (for our first time) our fire escape plan! For treats we made and decorated cookies… mmmmmmmm! (As if any of my kids, especially Mr. T, needed sugar!)

(I love how creative they get with decorating!)
(Little E enjoyed decoating his lips, so he could "just lick 'em off, Mama!" - Don't you LOVE his eyes?!)
(Yes, still in PJ's - this was not a "Church clothes" worthy activity!"
(Look what my "crazy" boy made for me! So SWEET! Also note the haircut he gave himself on his "cycle" that we have yet to fix!)

I do have to mention that right before the blessings for the bread and water in Sacrament meeting at church today, Big J turned to me and said, “It’s half-time”! Cracked me up at an inopportune moment! WAY too much soccer yesterday, but also solidifies in my mind that she is all about the snacks!

So tonight I put Mr. Man in charge of stories and thus ensued a hilarious account of “Beauty and the Beast” – Little E’s choice, I might add! Mr. Man swapped the kids names for each of the characters, and soon we had the most handsome man in town, Mr. T, vying for the love of Belle, Big J, who was actually falling in love with the hideous beast, Little E because she decided to spare her father, Mr. Man from Little E’s captivity. I got to be Mrs. Potts with Baby J being Chip. I can’t even begin to say how fun it was to listen this storytelling and see how captivated and amused my adorable kids were! These are the moments I hope they remember.

"It's not about winning"

I can't count how many times I heard parents uttering that statement at Big J's soccer tournament today. Apparently "winning" must be on somebody's mind! Big J's team didn't win -thus no cookies or medals in the end, and were pretty much torn to pieces (especially as an all girls team playing an all boys team), but they had fun. Big J played great defense and I especially enjoyed her little dances as she cheered on every minute success her teamates had! (It was usually at these moments the ball flew right past her, but hey, it's not about winning!)

(They call her "speed")
(Baby J bundled up in the cold)
(I really think soccer is more about half-time and the snacks for this girl!)

(This is the neatest invention - the ball bounces back to him each time, from one foot to the next! I think I may get one to attach to HIM!)

My Joy is Full

It's my turn to teach/host Joy School. These little guys are so much fun, and I find myself truly belly-ache laughing with them on a regular basis! Today we were talking about the joy of animals. We were learning about their homes, habits and then, the inevitable - what animals give us. The lessons plan suggested having a tray of items and seeing if the kids could match each item to the correct animal (for example, leather, eggs, ham). I sort of dread this lesson, because though I'm not a vegetarian, I'm sort of a vege-mom; I don't want to be the one informing my kids of the killing that took place for their turkey sandwich or neat leather shoes. Bothers me. So I began this activity with a little trepidation, and the boys cracked me up! They guessed most of the items correctly - even a leather belt as cow hide, and then we got to "chicken" and their minds and faces were blank. They had no clue! I had to laugh. The next one they missed was honey, but the guess was too cute - "a honey bird?"

On another joyful topic - Mr. Man found me a radio station that is already playing Christmas music! I am in heaven amidst all the carpooling I have indebted myself to! I am loving some favorite classics and enjoying some new ones. So my question to you, as I begin my search for some new Christmas music to own - what are your favorites, and why would I like them?

My Daughter

I never imagined that I would be so surrounded by boys! While I adore the excitement and adventure these boys bring into my life, I am also eternally grateful that I have my daughter. She is, however, quite a character herself.

Some of you may have received one of her sales calls as of late. Her school had brainwashed her into thinking that it was vital that she participate in the school fundraiser - she honestly believed the school was completely out of money, and even offered to bring some of her old clothes and toys in for them to sell to make money! Anyways, I have issues with kids selling things, but with the desperation in her eyes, I told her a few people (particularly Grandmas!) she could call and try to sucker into buying these fabulous products they sell these days (note tone of last sentence as sarcastic). I cannot believe her ability at sales. There was never a , "do you want to buy" or "would you like to..." The whole time Big J shared her excitement over the items and would intermittently ask, "Which one are you going to get?" There was never any choice in the matter, and everyone bought at least two items - one for themselves, and one for the overly enthusiastic salesgirl! I have to admit, I was very impressed with her - she definately does not get that confidence from me!

I love how imaginative this girl is too! She is a creative queen and very driven. She is often creating and handing out invitations to all sorts of events that she has co-ordinated. From performing plays, planning parties and most recently - putting on a scavenger hunt! My daughter is always busy filling her life with more social events than I have time to encourage her in! And she is such a light in the the lives of all who know her. Last Friday was her "scavenger hunt" which she had been "planning" all week. We will actually be having "part two" at another date with some friends who couldn't make it! The kids had a great time, and there were ten kids between the three moms who came!

(Note the rock that Mr. T attempted to use as a skipping stone in the picture!)

Basically I've been very proud of who my daughter is, and am excited to see who she becomes as she continues to grow up and bless the lives of those around her - especially mine!

Big Happy Boy!

We went in this morning for an 8 week checkup. I knew my baby was big... I had no idea how big! He is 24 1/4" long (that's 90%) and 14lbs 4 oz (90-95%). Somehow I forgot about the shots part of a checkup. Poor Big J was traumatized, and Little E wasn't too thrilled either. Let's just say we all left the doctor's office with tears in our eyes. Still, I took these pics of my cute happy boy just hours after the horrid affair, and I think we're all going to survive just fine. I love these big cheeks, beautiful blue eyes and adorable smiles - not to mention his cute little "o" face! We are so thrilled to have this wonderful baby in our family.

Autumn who?

Reading a book with Mr. T...

Mom: "... Autumn is coming -"
Mr. T: "Autumn, who's Autumn?"
Mom: "Autumn is another word for 'fall'."
Mr. T: "Fall? Oh. Who's Autumn?"
Mom: "Autumn is the season, not a person. The season where all the leaves change colour and fall off the trees... the season we're in right now."
Mr. T: "Oh. Keep reading. I think I like Autumn."
Mom: "... and that's how we know that Autumn is here -"
Mr. T: "Where is he?"
Mom: "Who?"
Mr. T: "Where's Autumn? Are they going to show a picture of HIM?"

Oh for heaven's sake.

Squirrel Poop Myth Debunked

Fall Balls

(the "girls" at a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving walk in my hometown)

Everyone seems to be writing all of these awe-inspiring posts about the changing seasons and the beauty of autumn that is slowly beginning to envelop us all. I for one adore fall, especially fall in my hometown in Ontario, Canada. Growing up in the forest city where the fall colors are right out of a rich painting has forever tainted my outlook on fall anywhere else in the world. While the grass is always greener for some, the leaves are always more colourful where I grew up. So as I am enjoying the
cooler weather and the brown leaves beneath my feet – gotta love that crunch and crinkling sound – I do miss the true beauty of the season that the heat and dryness has somewhat thwarted this year.

I do have to admit to having a certain fondness for the squirrels. I’m not an animal lover, and besides last winter when Wolter had me and the kids feeding the squirrels peanuts from our fingers, I’ve never really “cared” for the critter, but they are sort of the official autumn mascot. Seeing these little guys scurrying around, munching and storing nuts, staring us down with keen observance and then daring us in a game of chase, I don ‘t know... there’s something awfully cute about them (though I hear a bite from one is not quite so cute). As fall has approached this year and these furry little brown guys have seemed to suddenly come out of hiding and multiplied feverishly, I’ve started to wonder something: where is all the squirrel poop? Having grown up with Canadian geese, you KNOW there are geese when you see ALL that horrid poop everywhere. Stepping in and around it is an absolute nightmare… but fall doesn’t seem to bring with it the stench of poop from it’s mascot. Here’s some of what I’ve found in my very rigorous and obviously prestigious research on the internet:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squirrel+poop
http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Squirrel

However, it was a clip from the very educated "YouTube" that clarified my question and confirmed my hypothesis.

So next time you go for a walk in the woods, think about that crunchy “leaf” sound beneath your feet. Is it just leaves? Are all those round things acorns? Just a thought. Enjoy the season.

Blue eyes and smiles!

We're starting to get smiles over here! (this is only a tiny glimpse at the real thing)

Saturday is a Special Day!

We had a very full, busy and fun day! Mr. Man started out his day before the sun was up and left to participate in the Hoosier Hills Bike Tour. He has been riding for 1-2 hours almost every day this summer and really enjoyed the challenging 100 km hilly ride he was on today (which only took him 4 hours 4 minutes with one flat tire)! While he was gone burning calories, the kids and I went and watched Big J’s soccer game and then headed across town for the boys’ soccer practice (I’m SOOOO glad they can be on pretty much all the same teams/activities due to their blessed 13 month age difference). We were enjoying our lunch of PB&J sandwiches and yummy pumpkin bars when Daddy called, out of breath, to say he was on his way home!

We didn’t rest nearly long enough and soon left to go to a nearby apple orchard. (I did catch a few winks on the drive there – Mr. Man was just thankful he didn’t have to peddle and the drive was relaxing for him too!) The trees were the perfect height for the kids and they had such a blast picking. Mr. T kept inspecting every apple he picked to make sure it was perfect, and I hate to say he threw the ones that weren’t quite so on the ground to be sold as seconds! Little E however, discovered the true jackpot – a whole slew of apples on the ground under a tree! He tried to carry as many as he could – even in his shirt! We had a wonderful time as a family, and I hope to make this a new tradition.

When we returned home we had a great time making applesauce with my fabulous applesauce maker! It’s like magic – the guck (skin, core) come out one end and the applesauce warm and sweet out the other. The kids really enjoyed helping with this, and we enjoyed delicious applesauce (with some leftovers) for dinner.

Tonight I am uploading all the fun pictures from our apple adventure while I should be working on my sharing time for primary tomorrow. I suppose I don’t want the day to end… I feel very content.

Tending Roses

I'm reading a great book once again... and thanks to the friend that referred it, I have found out it is a part of a 5 book series - so I'll be reading for a while! I really can't do justice to how beautiful these books are. The story is sweet, the writing sensational and the fact that there is a grandmother's journal involved... very compelling.

Here's an excerpt that should convince you mothers that you want to read this beautiful story:

"Once, a poor hired lady came with a bouquet of roses and wildflowers clasped in her hands. She told me that her children had sneaked into my garden and picked them for her, and that they would be punished. I bade her not to scold the children, for I was proud to give them this gift. She smiled, and thanked me, and told me that, with so many children, she had no time for tending roses.

I did not understand her words until my own children were born. When the first was a babe, I took her outside and let her play in an empty wash barrel so I could have time for tending my roses. I was often cross with her cries while I was at my work. As she grew, and as my second child was born, I understood what the hired lady had told me - that motherhood leaves no time for selfish pleasures. Only time for tending others.

My roses grew wild and died as I busied myself with feeding and diapering, nursery rhymes and sickbeds. I missed those bright blooms that had been mine and felt it unfair that I must leave my hard work there to die. But I did not think of it overmuch. My mind and heart were occupied with the sorrows and joys of motherhood.

The day came, it seemed in no time, when my children were grown and gone, and I again found time to tend the roses. I could labor over them from dawn until dusk with no children to feed, no husband needing meals, and few passersby on the old road. My flowers have come thick and full and beautiful again. From time to time, I see neighbor children come to pick them when I am silent in my house. I close my eyes and listen to their laughter, and think that the best times of my life, the times that passed by me the most quickly, were the times when the roses grew wild."

Little does he know...

Inevitably, the baby has a cold. Not bad, but enough that eating has become difficult for him and laying down uncomfortable. So we spent the night together – mostly up! This morning came much too early, but somehow I got up and got my children ready for the day (I even made Big J’s lunch even though school lunch was calling my name). I made it through knowing (hoping really) that I would be able to follow Laurie’s advice and go back to bed after I had shipped off the school attendees (namely the two eldest and my dear husband). Thanks to a loving neighbor, I didn’t even have to leave my house to get everyone where they needed to be. From 9-11 the baby and I caught up on our rest, while my three year old willingly zoned out in front of whatever they’re showing on PBS these days.

There were only two interruptions – once for a snack (I thankfully found a package of pez candies and a Winnie the Pooh dispenser that went over VERY well, oh and a banana for health purposes), and the second time there was hollering and Little E had gotten himself stuck between some toys.

When Mr. T got home from school he asked what we had done all morning. Little E started in this animated tale of how he had gotten stuck and was so scared and out of nowhere came Mommy to save him… and, turning to me smiling he said, “You’re just the best superhero ever, Mommy!”

So there you go. My inactions will leave no lasting impact… in the eyes of my child, I have already saved the day (and in my pjs too!)

Psycho Psycho Child

It’s embarrassing to admit, but when Big J was a baby and I was completely out of it and not entirely myself – suffering from postpartum depression – I used to sing her the most horrible lullaby ever. I wish you could hear the tune, because at least that is somewhat soothing. The initial lyrics go like this, “Psycho, psycho child; why am I your mother?” Once I “came to” that song seemed to dissipate along with it – thank goodness! Every once in a while I will begin singing this song (just the “psycho, psycho child” part) when my kids are doing something extremely goofy and it has basically become a family joke.

In attempting to diagnose Mr. T’s cyclic fevers (he gets them on the dot every 28 days, they get as high as 106-107 degrees and last up to a week, week and a half), we have been consulting with a specialist at a Children’s Hospital. On Thursday we went and spent the afternoon with the boys – as the doctor insisted that both Mr. Man and I be there to hear the diagnosis and suggested treatments. Thankfully the most serious outcomes had been cast aside, and even Lyme disease had finally been ruled out. We are now left with two syndromes, both which are treatable and he will outgrow by the time he reaches adolescents (which is when we will have to really deal with his Trevor’s disease). Both syndromes have different treatments, and so in order for us to figure out which one he has, we have to have his blood drawn twice a week for the next three months, and then we are trying a treatment for the one syndrome which it seems more likely is the one he has. This involves giving him a steroid treatment at the onset of his fever – a double dose the first day and a single dose the second. Mr. T’s fever had started on Wednesday and so we decided (with the Doctor) to attempt the steroid treatment at once. It worked. What should have lasted days, ended after only a day and a half – that night Mr. T soaked through all his bedding and pillow and clothing… his fever broke! It truly seems like a miracle. No amount of ibuprofen or tylenol (we go through bottles monthly) or even antibiotics could keep this little guy’s fever down, let alone break it. We are hoping this will help in making a final diagnosis and help conclude the long-term treatment he will need. We are also hoping he won’t have to be on steroids for long… for when he is, he is truly a PSYCHO PSYCHO CHILD!!!

For two days this boy has not been able to sit still. My usually quiet and non-troublesome preschooler has been into everything and basically jumping off the walls! He has been flying like a bird, climbing anything he can, and even in the car when he is buckled in he will remove any item of clothing he can and throw it. He has been much more aggressive, but mostly just very high strung. Basically he is acting like a child who needs to be on a different kind of medication! If I didn’t know this was a side affect of the medication I would be going crazy myself, but since I know it’s not his fault and won’t last forever I have been laughing a lot at his antics. The boy cannot stop long enough to eat, nor can he fall asleep. His body itches and he talks non-stop about absolute jibberish. He is my psycho psycho child… and yet I am still grateful that he isn’t sick. He is more than happy about that too!

Good Morning

I’m a complete hypocrite. Every morning I begin my day by uttering a quick prayer to my maker before the days events force me into a world of frantic moments and created memories. Repetitive, yes, but since I was a child I’ve started my morning prayer with an expression of gratitude for the new day I have been given. Lately, after said prayer, I start chasing kids into gear, comforting a crying baby and attempting to swallow a bite of cereal with lactose-free milk all while complaining (mostly in my mind, but sometimes out loud) how much I am not enjoying this new day. I know it’s horrible. I really do enjoy my days (as much as a completely sleep deprived “new” mom can)… I’m just really not a morning person.

The past month has been a trying one for me. And while the last week has been much more tolerable, almost to the point of me feeling “normal”… I’m not taking any chances and declaring myself as such. Having a new baby is hard. I’m not complaining, or whining, I’m just saying it how it is. Having four kids is hard. Losing half your blood and feeling weaker than a thirsty vampire (yes, I finished Eclipse!) is hard. Heck, just being a mom and wife is hard.
Before I was pregnant with my fourth I was just starting to feel like I couldn’t understand how “other” moms couldn’t keep their houses tolerably clean, why “other” moms were always running late and then at the end of the day didn’t know what to feed their family for dinner – hello, that’s what a meal planning calendar and co-ordinating shopping list are for. Now as I struggle to get out of my pjs and out of my house on a daily basis, let alone get all the kids (and yes four now seems like so many more than three) physically and emotionally cared for, I worship you superhero moms who have swept, and perchance even mopped your kitchen floor in the past month. Since I gave birth, Big J has started first grade, Mr. T has started preschool, Little E is doing Joy School (yes I’m attempting that once again) and all the fall sports have begun as has Little E’s music class, not to mention the continuous speech therapy sessions (Mr. T has thankfully “graduated” from speech just in time for another little boy to join our family!) I’m still Primary President and though I have had tremendous support and help in that area, it’s something that is on my mind quite frequently and tires me out beyond belief. My sweet baby is EXTREMELY sensitive and lactose intolerant. I’ve had to completely change my diet, and thankfully that has made a tremendous difference in his whole demeanor. He is back to being the baby he was that first week. Really I’m just trying to paint of picture of why I haven’t been blogging in the last month… but it’s starting to sound too much like whining, and so I better move on.

Last Saturday, after several nights of no sleep, Mr. Man hinted that he thought I was depressed. Having experience severe postpartum depression, I began to feel extreme anxiety that he may be right. I brushed him off explaining that I was just tired… all the while fretting that I was experiencing all the “symptoms”. I spent the whole day depressed that I may be depressed. It was a horrible day and a very bad waste of time. That night I had an experience that clarified things and helped me to see that I really wasn’t depressed, but just, as I had thought… VERY TIRED! Almost as a rebound reaction, I’ve had a much better week… almost glorifying the realization of my sanity and un-depression!

Today after getting Big J and Mr. T off to school the two little boys and I headed over to speech therapy, then music class, a trip to the park followed by adding Mr. T and a friend to our crew and heading over to McDonalds for a lunchdate with some friends, I did three loads of laundry, started dusting, picked up Big J from school, prepared a fun after school snack, actually went outside with all the kids while they played, had a long phone conversation with my mom and then co-hosted a baby shower for two friends. Sounds like a pretty good “normal” day… but my house is still a disaster, and we had leftovers and peanut butter sandwiches for dinner! (And by the way, Lynnette – my kids were still up when I got home tonight too!)

So my point has completely dislodged from my brain… but basically I’ve been busy and hormonal, and started humming and hawing about whether or not I even want to keep blogging – which is a whole other post in and of itself – which actually totally defeats my thought process regarding blogging anyways! Mornings… right… anybody have any advice or techniques that help to make a non-morning person at least friendly in the hours before 10am? How do you all make your mornings (when most everyone has to be out the door by 8:30am) run smoother? There are many of you out there who are up on pedestals for me, and I would more than LOVE your comments. For now, I’m going to continue to pray, because that has to help make the day at least a little better, and I may even try to be more specific and ask to enjoy the gift I’ve been given.

For your viewing pleasure...

... one month, yesterday.

Photos by Joy