Naps

Like most people that have email addresses, I recieve my fair share of forwards. They are a pet peeve of mine. They are either chain letters telling me that I have one hour and six people to send it to or else I will have bad luck for ten years or jokes that are too long which I don't have time to read (I'm the parent of small children!) or they aren't funny when I do take the time to read them. I noticed a forward in my inbox this afternoon from my mom. After I got done cursing her for sending it to me, I read it and laughed out loud! I had to share it!


"An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard; I
could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a
home and was well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats
on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked
down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep.

An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard,
walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about
an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out
who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if
you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house
for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a
different note pinned to his collar: 'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2
under the age of 3 -he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?"

Ain't that the truth!?

Thunderstorms

Jim took this picture from our yard last night. Pretty amazing sight especially being in Washington where thunderstorms don't happen very often.

However, apparently the tooth fairy doesn't fly in these weather conditions because the wood nymph found her tooth still under her pillow this morning.

Advice

As a daughter, I have gone through various stages of thinking on my mother's intelligence. My mom started out knowing everything. She knew all the answers to all my toughest questions or at least did a great job thinking on the spot (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!). She built tight ropes in the backyard, airbrushed motorcycle tanks in the kitchen, made letter pancakes in just about any shape a four year old could come up with, and did a wicked Grover impression.

Then, I hit puberty and those dreaded teen age years. My mom became one of the dumbest people on the face of the earth. I did numerous eye rolls. I was so sassy toward her that had she been the type to shove soap in her child's mouth we could have personally funded the Dial Cooperation. My mom believed in manual labor as punishment- she had her own window washers and tub scrubbers in my sister and I. Even in my early twenties I still doubted her in any piece of advice she gave me.

And then....... (drum roll, please!) I had children! The first time my baby girl needed a diaper change... 'tar' filled I might add, I called and apologized profusely to my mom. She is one of the smartest women I know! I just want to add in this that not only is my mom Nursing Supervisor of a major nearby hospital (meaning she's in charge of the whole damn thing) working 12 hours on nights but she has also recently gone back to school to get her Master's degree in Nursing with an emphasis in Teaching and has raised a village of children- some born from her body and some born in her heart.

When I became a parent, my mom gave me two pieces of advice..... 1) Sleep when the baby sleeps. The dishes will still be there tomorrow. 2) If ever your child tells you bend down and close your eyes, don't! (A small boy wanted to know if a nose would wiggle back and forth after being hit like in the cartoons) The injuries you receive 'accidentally' by a well meaning child will hurt the very most!

5:30 A.M. ~ I laid in bed this morning next to a beautiful three year old little boy. I watched him sleep. He is perfect. His eyes, his lips, his nose. He is so peaceful. His 'silky' security blanket (aka a pair of my satin jammie pants) under his arm and his 'sucky' fingers in his mouth. I remembered my mother's advice... sleep when the baby sleeps. I was willing myself back to sleep repeating this mantra. My eyes closed. Then in my son's efforts to get comfortable and once again with my eyes closed, I got head butted in the nose. I have never had anything hurt so bad in my entire life! I succeeded at not yelling or crying so as not to wake my child. Sleep when the baby sleeps.

See, my mother is the smartest woman I know.

Breakfast

Natalie was still struggling with words when her sister was born (She was 2). Grace was belting out her ABC's backward, forward, and sideways at 19 months. Between that and low enrollment, I talked her way into a co-op preschool. Now, Cam.... well, he's the youngest of 4 and a boy. The doctor told me not to worry.... he had three sisters, a mom, and a dad to talk for him. He had his own language. A few word I miss hearing now that he's three and a half and talking up a storm... full of words that other people understand. Still when he gets talking to fast, he's sometimes difficult to understand even for his father and I. Thank you to his sister for their interpretive skills. With that said....
This morning Cam and I were having our breakfast together. Everyone else was sleeping. (These are some of my favorite moments. First thing in the morning time together.... cuddling and chatting in my bed with all the kids or early morning breakfasts). I had said to Cam that I needed him to finish the bite he had in his mouth before putting in another one. I didn't want him to choke. He said "Like last night?". He had stuffed too much burger in his mouth in an effort for more Baked Lays. It's amazing to me to have these whole conversations with him. He's my little boy. Next thing out of his mouth was "Mom, remember when I was a baby....."
Like it was yesterday, my baby boy.

Pixie Picture

I was telling a girlfriend recently about this picture of Grace. It's by far one of my favorite pictures of her. She was rolling down her window. It was the weekend we went to see my husband's grandfather. Between her hair and pixie face....... Jim and I make beautiful babies together!

NAKED!

As much as I bitch and complain and love and rave about my kids, I need a break from them. It's normal. I go out for a bit and I come home to all of them. It helps make me a better mommy.

However, them getting a break from ME ....... right now, I'm down a few of my own babies and it's WEIRD! I didn't pick up Emma this weekend so there is one. Natalie is at a Girl Scout thing with her dad so there is two. Gracie is with my mom for the weekend visiting family in Yakima so there is three. Right now it's just me and Cameron hanging out watching Handy Manny. He and I are going to a Housewarming Party this afternoon while Natalie is at a birthday party (she's very popular this weekend). I'll just have one car seat in my car today.... WEIRD!

I don't remember what it's like to have only one or two kids. I'm used to feeling like a mother duck with her ducklings or feeling like I'm herding cats.

Putting the two kids to bed last night was weird. It was so fast and I didn't have to hurry anyone along or yell at anyone for the hundredth time to get back into bed and this wasn't the time to give their sister another hug and kiss or trade pillows.

After Jim and Natalie left this morning, I got to lay in bed more. Cam slept in until 9 AM! I didn't quite know what to do. So I just laid there and tried to will myself back to sleep. I kept throwing around the idea of calling Gracie or checking on Cam to make sure he was still breathing.

I can't help but wonder what next school year is going to look like.... Natalie in 2nd grade and Grace in Kindergarten. Or what about when they start going off to college...... I can understand empty nest syndrome now! LOL

I even tried to pick up an extra kid for today. My girlfriend is doing the Relay for Life and is taking her kids. I offered.... she looked at me like I was crazy :)

I feel naked without my babies all scurrying around in one form or another. Maybe if I do plenty of hair and makeup today I won't feel so naked...... NAH! I'm still naked!

Day One

The children and I have survived the first day of summer vacation with very little kicking and screaming and the kids have done well, too! We have begun the summer resting and relaxing in one of my most favorite towns in the world. Tomorrow, I am going to try and get Cameron in for a haircut somewhere. As you can see, very hectic and busy lifestyle we are leading lately. I'm still around.... just enjoying a few days of no rain. The forcast calls for it next week so I'm sure I'll blog more then :)