Floaties

As  kid I hated "floaties" in my bathwater.  I remember distinctly balking at entering the water in the bath (or if there was a bug in the pool) if I could even see a speck.  I'm sure my mom remembers this too!  I'm about 99% sure LMM gets his sensory issues from his mother.

I have floaties on my brain.  We love Shauni Feldhahn's books "For Women Only" and "For Men  Only".  In "For Men Only" (which I read, and will explain in a minute) it described women's minds like a computer screen with many windows open at once.  That explains my mind most of the time.  We have a hard time thinking about one thing and sometimes feel like we are juggling too many things at once.  I'm sure not every woman feels that way, but I certainly do.  So right now I have floaties.  SOOO many things at once I can hardly function or settle on one item.  Hold on, I just remembered I'm supposed to take a jello to a baby shower tomorrow and haven't made it yet....

...heavens.  I am so scattered.  Ok, so a few years back my husband and I got the Shauni Feldhahn's books.  We liked them so much we give them out as engagement/wedding gifts.  But we read them with a twist.  I read the men's one and he read the women's one making notes for each other as we read like "this is totally me" or "I've never really felt that way about...".

My big project this fall is making a family closet.  I'd heard about them and mentioned it to #1 (who instantly thought it was a great idea, just took me awhile to get on board) a little over a year ago.  I guess I am a traditionalist who likes everyone to have their own drawers and closet space.  However, now that (according to many, but not me) we are a large family things are getting a little...disorganized.  Often when the boys are getting their clothes out of drawers they toss everything in their way on the floor.  Later I don't remember what is clean and what is dirty and washing clean clothes is not  a good use of our resources.  I am tired of lugging laundry baskets up and down the stairs multiple times a day.  There are perfectly good clothes not getting warn because I never see them in the back of drawers, or because we simply have too many clothes.  In my opinion we have too much of everything material, but I am not great at getting rid of things.  I am learning to think of giving things we are not using as blessing others, not "losing" something.

I'll post pictures as we go.  Right now it looks like a tornado has hit our basement.  But that is not the only reason we have chaos down there.  Our basement floods every time it rains.  We used our tax return money plus some money we saved up to put an egress window in.  Our plan is to use tax return monies each year to finish off our basement.  We had planned on at least moving ourselves downstairs this year (even if it wasn't a "room" per se) and turning the girls' current room into a den off of our dining room.  They'd get our room.

The men installing our egress window in July

However, the egress now floods each time it rains which has ruined much of the carpeting in the playroom and everything in that area has been moved to higher ground.  The company had guaranteed that it wouldn't leak.  I have spent hours on the phone with them and was told for $1,500 they could put in a solution to our problem.  I politely informed them that before they came with their product I didn't have a problem.  After finally speaking with the owner I think they are going to put in some sort of a pump to pump water out of the well and it will be at their expense.  Time will tell.

 The kids enjoying a rainy Saturday

The view from inside the basement when it rains...water POURS in the window

The view from outside after it has rained.  

Other things floating in my brain are small like things I need to make for baby showers, planning meals, and juggling our schedule.  One of the reasons I think I cannot homeschool Snug is that I barely get everything done as it is.  I can only imagine what life would be like if I added that.  

I have a ton of apples sitting on my counter top waiting to be made into applesauce.  That is a project I'd like to have the entire family participate in, so it will wait for the weekend.  Homemade applesauce is a dessert/side dish we all enjoy throughout the winter.  

I'm also planning on doing some fall family pictures.  Not of us (although I'd like to fit that in too) but of some other families.  I am excited to try my hand at it.  I'm not a professional and I let them know that up front!  Waiting for some nice weather days and the colors to come in just a bit more. 

Speaking of pictures, I still haven't done ANYTHING with the ones of my cousin's wedding in August.  On my "to do" list today is to at least get them up on Facebook.  I am soooo bad!!!!

So while my basement is floating in rainwater and my brain is floating full of projects and things I need to get done, I better get off my blog and get working!

Lazy Days of Summer

 The last couple of weeks have been so hot we weren't outside until after 6pm.  This week the 100 degree temps have left and we're enjoying high 80s and sunny skies.  Sweet Pea was napping and the kids were in the sandbox so I took the opportunity to sit down with a magazine.  I'm packing for 2.5 weeks in Michigan and it is a lot of work, so I loved the break.

 As I sat reading my magazine I noticed Rosebud kept going over to the garden.  I assumed she was checking out the sprinkler going (we haven't had rain in a long time).  Our garden has been doing really well. I have shredded and frozen enough zucchini for eight loaves of bread, and we've eaten some too.  I also have been freezing green beans, eating green beans, eating and eating and eating (and giving away) cucumbers, eating broccoli, and when those tomatoes ripen...well we could supply the local supermarket.   Cause there are probably 100 green ones, no lie.  Carrots will be ready in a few weeks and we'll eat/freeze them.

 When my camera lost focus on her I noticed something...there were two birds on the fence she was observing.  Here I was thinking she was excited about produce.

 Then she turned toward me, which I thought would be a really cute picture.  Or not.  (Look Closely)

 You can always take care of that little problem on your own.

And then your mother can take an "after" picture.  Hmmm.

Our lazy summer days are about over.  We have four more weeks of summer left.  We're headed to camp (CRAZY, never eve lazy) then home for a week, then one more week in Michigan for my cousin's wedding. The day after we come home Snug starts school.  Heavens.

4 Years, 7 Months, 4th of July

Happy Birthday to Little Monkey Man!  He turned four on June 27th, but his mommy is a busy woman!  He woke up to the traditional big birthday breakfast and presents.  He got a Slip N Slide and a tire swing!

 He wanted an Angry Birds birthday.  I collected some boxes, spray painted a couple of milk cartons, rigged up a "sling shot" and (bit the bullett) bought a stuffed Angry Bird.

 It was definitely  homemade, but the boys loved it.  I personally liked the pigs.

 One of our friends gave up on the not-so-great slingshot and just threw the bird at the pigs.  Best result.

 We had special hot dog sandwiches for lunch with ice cream on a stick instead of cake.  His choice.

 When daddy got home from work we made homemade pizzas and had Angry Bird cupcakes.  I found these Angry Bird rings at a cake shop near here for only twenty cents a piece!  Steal!

 We celebrated his birthday with Grandparents on Saturday.  I made a big cake then and put Snug's Angry Bird game on top.  It worked perfectly as a cake topper.

 I wanted to do a picnic, but it was over 100 degrees so we didn't.  We set it all up inside instead.

 The kids even ate at a picnic table!

 LMM got to go putt putting with Grandmommy and Pop Pop as his gift, and my mom also made him his quilt to match Snug's for their bunkbeds.

 #1's parents gave him this HUGE blow up ball that he can get inside of and roll in.  He loves it.

 Here he is on his tire swing that daddy built.  That has been hours of entertainment.

 I can't believe he is four years old!!!!
He had his yearly check up.  He is now 3' 5.5" and weighs 37 lbs 8 oz.  This is the first summer since he was one that he doesn't have to wear earplugs in the pool or tub.  He goes underwater if he has goggles on.  He climbs EVERYTHING.  He recognizes his name and four letters.  He can count past ten.  He hates naps, but on long summer evenings when the kids often end up in bed after nine, they are SO necessary.

7 Months

 Sweet Pea is now seven months old!  She has six teeth (the top four haven't been bad at all and I still believe in amber teething necklaces!)  and is getting more hair.  She sits independently and goes from a sit back to her tummy (doesn't get herself to a sit yet).  She can crawl, but it is still shaky.  She is trying to pull to a stand.

 She is trying really hard with me to keep my milk supply up.  Most of the time she is a pretty good sport about it.  Sometimes she bites, but not often.  Thanks to some very helpful Lactation Consultants and my midwives group, I got a prescription and my supply, until today, was back to GREAT!  Then she slept 8 hours in a row last night and that kinda ruined it.  Working hard again  :o)  As long as I take supplements, drink tea, take the prescription, drink tons of water, pump, avoid sage and peppermint and nurse every 2-3 hours...its all good.

 She's TOTALLY worth it.  She weighs 14 lbs 6.5 oz and is 25 1/2" long.  (She is 1.25 inches longer and 9.5 oz heavier than she was when she turned 6 mos.  Most of that growth has been in the last week!!!!)

4th of July

 We had a great 4th of July.  #1 is now a full fledged detective with his department, which means he gets holidays off!  WOW!!!  We are truly blessed with his new job.  It isn't technically a promotion, but it has enough perks that it feels like it.  He loves the new challenge, but with it also comes some new stress.

We puttered around the house doing odd jobs in the morning, went swimming in the early afternoon and we ALL took a late afternoon nap.  Later we went to a friend's house to socialize and watch the fireworks from their fabulous second floor balcony.  Their porch screamed PHOTO OP at me, so I went ahead and took a few...ok...more than a few.

The sign of a truly great summer for me is a lack of blog posts!  I guess this is a good one  :o)

How To Get 4 Kids In One Picture

I have been asked many many times "how do you get all of your kids to look at the camera?  How do you get them to smile?"  It is all luck my friends.  But here are a few things I've learned.  

1.  Only attempt to take a picture of multiple kids if you're relaxed, they're fed, and it isn't anyone's naptime.

2.  It won't always work.  For every great picture of my kids together, I have 20 that look horrible.  Be willing to try another time.  

3.  Let them be as natural as possible.  Don't force them to pose too much because someone isn't going to be comfortable and it will show.  Do get them close together, but don't put so much effort into making it "perfect" that they get bored.  Then you won't get any picture at all.  

 See this picture?  Not what I was going for.  But I have to say the look on Sung's face is priceless.  And it sums up the situation.  Rosebud and LMM were being very silly and Sweet Pea was being her usual ray of sunshine self.

 4.  Be willing to act like an idiot.  To get everyone to look at me I jump around, drop things off my head, and make really dumb noises.  But they look.  Most of the time.  Here Rosebud is not quite into it, but still thinks I'm funny (or dumb...I don't ask if they're laughing at or with me...I don't care, I just want the picture).  Sweet Pea looks like she'd rather bite my head off than smile.  I had to keep working on her.

5.  Take TONS of pictures. Just shoot and shoot and shoot. I saved these three to use in this post (and this last one to use in general because it was exactly what I wanted) but I took close to 25.  Digital photography is wonderful...I get to ditch what I don't want.

6.  Quit while you're ahead.  If you think you've got what you need, don't keep taking more.  I saw I had this one and I had like 2 others that were o.k. so I stopped.

7.  Praise them for a job well done.  If it ends on a happy note they're more willing to work for you the next time.

What do you do?  I'd love to hear your thoughts as I am always learning!


*I was taking pictures today for my MIL.  She gave the kids these clothes for Easter.  Yup, it took me that long to get a good picture.  Either the kids weren't into it or someone's outfit wasn't washed.  For awhile we couldn't find Snug's shirt (he had tossed it into a tub that held winter clothes).  Today was the day.  I was really happy with the result.

Tie Dye Fun

I'm getting geared up for the Flats Handwashing Challenge I mentioned a few days ago.  Below are two items, training pants for Rosebud and a few flats.  I started cloth diapering using flats, snappi's and covers, so that part isn't going to be anything earth shattering (handwashing...probably will be).  

 But as I gazed at these items.  They seemed a little...well.. dull.  Several of Rosebud's training pants are pink or have little butterflies...but these are about as exciting as a woodchip on a playground.  I need her to be excited about the potty.  And I needed to be a little more excited about white flats.

 So...I bought a box of tie dye and got started.  I love tie dye.  I would probably tie dye everything I wear except I want to fit in a smidge...sometimes.

 This was the end result.  I was THRILLED!!!!

 I had the prettiest line in the neighborhood today.  Ok, I HAVE the prettiest one.  It is 11:00pm and I didn't go back out and get them yet.  Oops.  I also tie dyed a couple of old stained onesies with the leftover dye.

 These underpants are WAY more exciting, don't you think?

 These are Sweet Pea's 5 month pictures.  My friend Lindsley saw them on Facebook and offered to run them through photoshop.

I loved how they turned out, and it was so kind of her to make them look professional!

For all of our other children I got monthly pictures done at Wal-Mart (except Rosebud's 8 month ones, I did those).  For Sweet Pea I'm taking on the challenge of doing hers myself every other month.  Wish me luck!  I hope she doesn't get upset with me someday when she doesn't have the same ones everyone else does.

Indian Summer

Sometimes being a police officer means that #1 isn't around much.  This weekend is one of those times.  He left for work yesterday at 3:30pm, got home probably around 12:30 am (so we didn't see him) and left the house before 7:00 am this morning.  He won't get home tonight until 12:30am again...so by the time he wakes up around 8am for church tomorrow...that's a little over 40 hours since the kids or I have seen him.  

That is a little over 40 hours with the kids by myself.  I can't imagine having a husband that deploys!

I decided right away that we'd need a schedule of fun activities if we were going to survive!  Last night the kids helped me wash apples and then watched as I canned quarts of applesauce.  As a bonus, a college student friend of ours is home for fall break and came over to watch "Lady and the Tramp" and give lots of tickles and read stories.  That was a real blessing to me!

The weather today is BEAUTIFUL.  Perfect indian summer.  Breezy, sunny, and about eighty degrees.  I've been wanting to take a fall picture of the kids for our wall.  I have a big frame that I try to change every season.  I had a coupon from Wal-Mart for a free 16x20 print and although that is too big, decided to take a picture I could cut down and put in the frame.  Today was the day!

I took the kiddos outside and got the shot I wanted in my first 30 seconds.  I had a photo trip to a working 1800's farm all planned...and even though I had my picture, I decided we'd go anyway. More fun than being home.  So I uploaded the picture to Wal-Mart to be picked up later and we headed out!

I was a little disappointed when I saw the horses out in the pasture.  It meant that they weren't harvesting anything today.  I was kind of hoping there would be something like that going on. Instead, we were among quite a few other people there taking pictures.  Seriously, we saw no less than 10 families with professional photographers.  

 I have to admit that is intimidating for me, as I'd love to know how to do photography on a more serious level.  However, my kids had no pressure to perform and were not in tears.  I saw so so many kids crying because they had to get their pictures taken right now.  I'm sure mom and dad were paying by the hour and wanted to get in and get done.  I know the feeling, we've had professional pictures taken.  But I was relieved to just be there having fun with the kids.

 Snug remembered where we were when we got to this sign.  He's been there before, but not since his 4th birthday.  Instantly he remembered his favorite activities, but we were a little disappointed to learn that we couldn't go to the river and covered bridge today.

 The blacksmith shop was open today and the kids got really excited....because there was a praying mantis.  This guy had the bellows going and fire and sparks, he let them bend steel with their bare hands...and they kept focused on this bug.  They crack me up.

 As I'm in no shape to be babywearing at this point, we took our small wagon.  It contained Rosebud well, and also carried our diaper supplies and lunch.

 Inside the farmhouse I learned about canning tomatoes without a pressure cooker (I have one, but still don't really understand how to use it).  The kids enjoyed the toys, including this marble run.  I love the farmhouse there.  If it had things like, you know, heat and electricity, I'd move in.  It is a huge beautiful house with a nice front porch, large back porch, and a summer kitchen off the back.

 For about 99.9% of the trip Rosebud was all smiles.  She'd climb up on something, smile and wait for me to take her picture.

 Little M.M. also wanted his picture taken, but has this really cheesy face for photos lately.  This too shall pass and I'll have lots of documentation of that "phase".

 The kids loved the chickens, and I did too.  We're hoping to get some in the spring.  We'll see how I feel after baby #4 is here.

 Perfect day to be outside!

 I took a couple more pictures of them altogether.  I do not know how I will ever ever get four kids to look and smile at the same time.

 The boys expended the last of their energy surfing on the cellar door.  Then we headed to the visitors center for our picnic lunch.

 After he was done eating, LMM decided to check out this cauldron.  Not sure what they were going to cook in it, but he cooked leaves.

On the way out we stopped at the penny candy store where things like Sweedish Fish and candy sticks can be bought from 2cents a piece.  Each boy had 10 cents from their bank...which translated to 3-4 small pieces each.  Not even what would be in a snack size Skittles, but enough for them to feel really special getting to choose and pay by themselves.  

I didn't notice how late it was getting, but when Rosebud had a complete meltdown, I figured it out.  Ooops.  I felt kinda mean taking her picture, but realistically she isn't all smiles all the time.  She is a typical toddler.  

So now we have 15 more hours without daddy...but we're going to make it.  Some more time outside, supper, and baths should get us to bedtime and then I'm going to COLLAPSE!  Hope you had beautiful weather as well.