Beauties and the Beast

...although he was quite well-behaved considering he waited 45 minutes to meet Belle.

How To: Spend a Snow Day

We have had quite a few snow days around here, so many that I think we have perfected the day! No longer stir crazy...this is what we do:

Make Hot Cocoa Cookies and try to save some for the neighbors that cleared our driveway with their snow blowers.

Discover, play with, nibble on the cutest piggy toes on the planet. 

Finger paint...or another similarly messy project - they love messy!! 

Play with our new toys (and try to ignore the messy mirror). 

Play outside for hours and hours with the best neighbor ever until totally exhausted! 

Try to avoid the mountain of laundry. Unless things get really boring, then it is time to BLAST Justin Beiber and fold, fold, fold. 

Just Because...

I love this boy. 

Just because...

I love everything about barns, even the smell. 

Just because...

I know that yesterday he was in my arms and tomorrow he will tower over me. 

Just because...

I love this boy. 

Can you please?

Can you please make a house for my dog? Can you get me some juice? Im hungary, what can I eat? Can you please put music on? Can you turn it louder? Where are we going? I don't like the way these pants feel - can you get me something else to wear? How do you spell Justin Beiber?

Mom, while you are in the kitchen can you please get me a drink? After you finish carrying that laundry can you please get my puzzle? Can you please read this Superman book again? Can you get Tyler off of me? Can you help me with this video game?

Mommmyyy, I want milk. WITH A COVER ON IT! Mommmyyy, can you carry me? I don't want to wear this coat. Mommy, can I have a snack? I want hot chocolate. Can SOMEBODY get me out of here?!! I don't want to get Ella and Drew from school...

Can I have some more hay please?

Just kidding. I don't have a Donkey. But the only thing that stops the frustration that builds after hundreds of consecutive days of thousands of non-stop requests and demands is humor.

And wine, but Im out...and it is only 8 AM.

Wintery Weekends

Well, it is hard to argue with Winter this year! With temps barely in the teens we stay in our jammies for too long and then head out to embrace the season. So skating it was. We dropped Tyler and Colby off at Grandmas and met cousins at the rink. We had a ball skating together. It is awesome to watch the kids gain more confidence and skill with each lap. 

This picture freaks me out! A little grim reaperish, right? And when did my 3 yr old start to look so big?

I gave in and started Colby on cereal. He loved it, sort of. After a few tastes he calls it quits. So, I'll start again in a few weeks. Ill keep him by teeny baby a little bit longer.  Im trying to catch him talking & squealing on video. This kid is never quiet.

I was sort of hoping for another quiet one.

On Being a Mom

I know I've been pregnant a few times, given birth, changed lots of diapers, dried tears, and fixed lots of meals. I've even done thousands of loads of laundry, volunteered at school and braided hair. 

But most times I don't feel like a mom. I feel like me. I feel like me at 16 when I needed my parents but thought I didn't. I feel like me at 19 when I fell in love with my husband. I feel like me at 25, a social worker wanting to help kids. I rarely feel 33, a mom with 4 kids. Sometimes I am shocked by my wrinkles and changing skin in the mirror. Denial? Maybe. 

But there are moments here and there when suddenly I feel like a mom. Some are predictable like holding their hands while they get a shot or licking my fingers to wipe a mess of their face. But others are unexpected and suddenly flood me with an overwhelming sense of pride and love. 

The weirdest "aha" moment was walking through the mall at Christmas time with 4 whining miserable kids. 

The best has been skiing with my two biggest littlest kids. 

And a favorite is when my baby nuzzles into my neck in absolute contentment. 

Winter Mornings

We move slower on winter mornings. We take a little longer getting out of our pjs. The kids usually have 2 breakfasts before they get dressed. Toys are scattered here and there while cups of hot tea are cradled and sipped. 

 Drew fashions a Batman tool belt to fight crime.

 Ella has a turn making Colby smile and jump. With a little baby talk of course, "Are you a silly baby? No. No." That is her favorite line repeated 100's of times a day.

 Bed head is surely a sign that he slept well and perhaps that he needs a haircut. Regardless, looking at those messy tresses makes me smile all morning.

And tiny dancing bear feet. Why we would we rush?

Frick & Frack make a Match

She has just one Daddy, he has just one little girl. And it is as if with every step, every little conversation, every hug - they know it. She basks in his attention. He gets wrapped tighter and tighter around her finger and loves it.

He is a little quiet, she a little crazy, but she brings out the silly in him, like no one else can. It is something to watch, this mismatched pair who are so obviously meant for each other.

Slow and Slow

 

The pace in our house as been slowing regularly until reaching a near stop this week. Idling somewhere under the snow while nursing aching bellies. Yes, we were hit with a double whammy - snow storm and stomach bug. 

I've baked. I've cleaned closets. I've done mountains of laundry. We have built puzzles, played in shaving cream, painted and watched many movies. I've prepared meals that no one has eaten and set up games no one has played. There has been napping, moaning, and moments of sheer energy that can only be defined as cabin fever. 

It is as if life has finally slowed down to the speed of my brain. After 5 months of nightly wakings - sometimes hourly and if Im lucky a four hour stretch - my mind is at best foggy. Like a hangover without the fun of a party, cramming for finals with no winter break in sight - Im not as quick or as sharp as Id like to be. You may not notice, at least Id hope you wouldn't, but it is evident when I return from shopping to find the car door ajar or when I realize hours later that I only shaved one leg in the shower. 

So, Im embracing this temporary lull in our family's activity. If only my family was well and we had a fire place, it just may be perfect.

Ball Boy

 Want to see my little devil happy?

 Give him a ball.

Money Well Spent

We have certainly gotten our money's worth out of this exersaucer toy! 

 Colby 

 Tyler 

 Drew

Ella 

and the big goober

5 Months

My baby boy is 5 months old today. To me this month is a turning point from a teeny tiny snugly newborn into a reaching, grabbing, rolling, eating baby.
Colby G. continues to be an edible joy of a boy. No one can resist him. He is smothered with kisses, hugs and baby talk all day.
He likes to roll, chew on anything/everything, and of course he loves his nippy. He is starting to sleep in 4-5 hour stretches and his eyes are glued to our food. Soon my boy, soon.

And his blue eyes and chubby cheeks continue to draw a crowd wherever we go...do you blame them?

Don't Worry, Be Happy

When was the last time you were this happy?

Another resolution...make this happen everyday!!

Passing it On

Sharing something you love...

...with someone you love...

...and watching them fall in love...

...is awesome.

Reach Out

I was going to write more about Resolutions, but I changed my mind.

I love these moments. It seems that at any given moment of any given day at least 2 people are smashed together around here. Hugging, sitting super close watching tv, two inches from my right hip while I cook - someone is always touching someone. Love personified.

And no one can resist the chubby little one when he is all sprawled out on the floor. Especially since his new favorite trick is touching your face whenever in arm's reach.

Smitten.

2011 Resolutions

Another year has come and gone, it seems the older I get and the more children I have the faster the time flits and flutters right past me.

I take great delight in making resolutions. Truly the combination of list making and the promise of self improvement is a little like warm fudge on vanilla ice cream. The little moments of thinking about the approach Im going to take, the items I may add to my list...well, they are just the chocolate jimmies on top. (no, not sprinkles, jimmies - yeah Boston!)

It took my awhile longer than expected this year because I was a little conflicted. I wanted to do a general theme list versus a specific item list...but my mind wouldn't let some list like items go. So a compromise of sorts is in order.

I warned you - I love this stuff!

Without further ado.....My 2011 Resolutions:::

::Make more, buy less. Save more, spend less. (more on this one tomorrow)

::The house, oh the house. Adventures and coloring together, and playing are so much more important...but I think we may all enjoy our time in the house when it is a bit neater. I think I will relax more when Im not mentally listing all the items to be cleaned. An actual systematized schedule may be in order...but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here!

::This will be my last year with a baby. By the end of 2011 he will be a walking, talking toddler. Im going to soak it all in - even the night feedings every three hours, the dirty diapers, and the crying in the car.

::Entertain more. (sorry Mike)

::Monthly challenges. Why save resolutions for the beginning of the year? The list is so long and I want to keep the momentum going, so Im saving some ideas to be tackled monthly. Stay posted!

The Big Boy

He really is just the best kid. We love it when he is trying not to smile, like in the first few seconds of the clip.

Here he is last year, just as good, just as cute!

xoxo