Girlfriends

How can you not just love this photo?  The woman on the far right is Larry's Great Aunt Lily Rosenberg and this photo was recently sent to me by a cousin doing similar family research.  I love this picture for so many reasons.  Girlfriends are amazing and life would simply not be the same without them.

Four

I do not believe that there is a creature on the planet who is more loved than this child.  She came to us a miracle and has blessed us every day since.  We are so grateful to have this sweet, funny, loving girl in our family.  It is a little hard to let go of the "baby", but also such a joy to watch her grow.  She is amazing.  Happy Birthday Kierstin.

Catching up to do: Part One: Noah

I have been sifting through photos that I have not shared yet and remembered my brief but wonderful visit with our little Noah.  That little man...he is hilarious.  In the time that he was here he managed to get each of us wrapped right around his little finger.  He took a particular liking to Kyra.  Here are some photos that I think you will enjoy that will show you why.

She had him in an apron, cracking eggs, baking brownies!  He was hilarious.  Take a look at what came next!

He didn't know what to make of that.  He persevered though...

(yes, she is a goofball!)

SUCCESS!  He scores!

And then he was ready to get comfy...

He was so much fun to have here and frankly, were it not for his silly parents, I would have kept that little guy forever.  I mean, I can see why they would want to keep him, but I just think that's selfish.  Well, okay, selfish isn't the word necessarily, but he sure was fun to have around.  Even Kimball was sad to see him go.  He went back to Austin with Maiya and he doesn't even call me anymore.  Hmmph!

May Day

So.  May?  Really?  I feel as if I keep saying the same thing here, but how has another month slipped by?  It was a busy, productive, happy month...though you would not know that by my lack of updates or photos.  Or perhaps, the lack indicates just how busy and productive we have been.  Either way, I can't believe it is May.  In the month of May our littlest will turn 4 years old.  That one is a little...much.  I love this age she is and continue to feel such gratitude for her.  I am seeing some big changes in all of the children actually.  We are a mere 6 weeks to the end of this school year which closes out 3rd grade, 4th grade and 7th grade.  That means: a 4th grader, a 5th grader and an 8th grader.  There is something so, so strange about that.
We have some busy days ahead of us with birthdays and Mother's day and the always important last day of school.  The children are all a little disgusted that they ONLY get 70 days off.  I know.  I am thinking...they get 70 days?!?!?!  What will do to fill up those days?  Hopefully there will be a little travel, a little beach time a lot of family fun and even some relaxation.  These last 6 weeks of school will fly by and they will be thrilled to be home.  (at least for the first few days)  I foresee time swimming, dance classes, baseball, scouting and crafting.  Larry is set to be home at this point, but we never know.  He is in New York this week for Oprah, after that?  You never can tell.  The kids keep asking me if he will do the London Olympics and if he does will we move there because they don't want to be away from him again...they are nervous evidently.  There is no talk of London at this point, so we will just shelve that one for now.

I should surely have more stories to share and updates to give, but it is too beautiful out to sit here at this computer.  I have new window screens going in as we speak and then the windows will sit open for the remainder of this gorgeous day.  (my jasmine smells divine right now)  So, enjoy your day!  More soon!

It's nearly 3AM

Yep.  It is approaching the three in the morning time here in North Texas and I am awake.  I have been busy today.  Here is how it went and potentially why I can't settle in for a (tiny) nap...

6:45am  Awake with the sun.  Baking muffins.  Cleaning the kitchen.  Waking children, 2 and 3, to get ready for a new week at school.  A little trouble to wake them.  Harder to get them out the door.  But out they went.  Meanwhile...
7:30am Wake the big kid.  HARD TO WAKE!  Midget wakes up in the mayhem, but the house smells delicious so no one really complains this morning.  (note to self: something baking makes for a more pleasant morning.)
By 8:15am the big ones are all on their way to the house of learning while I tend to the littlest one in our house.  She wants her chocolate milk, kitty and t.v. on my bed but must change into a new pair of pj's for more comfort.  (the first set was not comfy enough. duh.)
From around 8:30 to 10:30 I am busy at work at the computer with family history research, so much fun these days, and paying bills.  Some meal balance fun, t-shirt orders and catching up on emails from the weekend.
11:00am Oh, I forgot to eat breakfast.  Now I eat my omelette and sausage and get myself dressed for a day full of errands that looked something like this:

First stop at the bank to deposit meal balance t-shirt checks (yay me!)
Sherwin Williams for paint to touch up the halls (it's bad!)
Pender's Music for sheet music for my thriving musicians
Costco (milk, bread, eggs and such)
Strong's Nursery (flowers! AKA Happiness!)

And now we head back to get ready for kids 2 and 3 to get home.  It's so beautiful outside that they get to walk home giving me just enough time to unload the car, set out my pretty flowers and collect a special delivery...a death certificate for Larry's great grandmother that held all sorts of fun info for my research.  (it is more exciting than it sounds, I promise.)



They come home.  Baby K, who is almost 4 by the way, is asleep!  Late nap, but who can blame her?  We have been busy and she was along for all of it.  At this point in my day, things are lovely. Windows open.  Lots accomplished.  Kaden is now baking brownies.  (again with the smells of baking!)  All is well.

Kimball comes home at the same time that Midget wakes up from her nap...cataclysmic forces of nature on their own but when the two systems collide...seriously.  I mean, seriously!  We have a good hour of chaos.  Whining.  Brownies baking.  Aggravating.  Smell of brownies.  Sun is shining.  WHINING.  That sounds is winning and it is coming from the eldest of my brood.  Seriously!

At this point I think to myself that I must not give in to the Afternoon Monster/ Grump.  I will not lose my wonderful, productive day to the one hour of nonsense.  (smell those brownies?)  Ok.  Deep breath.  Kids separated.  Kitchen put back together.  Kids eating brownies together.  All is quiet again.

Dangit!  It's time to head to drum lessons with Kimball and the brownies just became dinner.  (Yep.  Jamie Oliver should SO come to my house next!)  As I am leaving with the crew we are met with what seemed to be an ocean of children all asking the same thing...can *#*@&* play?  (when you say all of their names together that is exactly what it sounds like)  Well, now I am in a pickle.  Hand three of them off to a neighbor.  Say a quick hello to the fortunate few adults who are actually sitting in chairs in the sunshine enjoying each other's company.  Off we go.

While waiting for Kimball I sift through Scout stuff.  We have a Court of Honor coming up in a week and a half that I knew nothing about and I need to see where things stand.  I love the Scouting program and I love the people who make it happen.  The parents who sacrifice their time and energy to be there for these boys.  I really do.  I only wish that I had known this was coming.  I asked several responsible people several times...but no one knew.  And now we scramble.  Oh well, it's what we are good at.

Ok.  Kids back home.  Quick shuffle before heading to a Meal Balance Meeting.  No worries, Michelle agreed to come in and save the children in my absence.  (she was actually saving me as she cleaned and tucked them all into bed before I got back at around 10:45)  Yes.  I said 10:45.  Meeting was wonderful.  Very successful.  I am now a Senior Team Leader and considered a Founder of this great enterprise.  I really am thrilled to be a part of it.

Wait.  Are you still reading this?  At least one of us should be sleeping so perhaps my droning on has put you out of your misery.  It is now 3:06 am and I am STILL AWAKE!

Back to me.  Home to a clean house, laundry going, candles burning, kids sleeping bliss.  Chatted with my Michelle about chores and responsibility and some great ideas for all things parental.  You will get to see the fruits of those labors.  Promise.  Kicked her out at about 12:30 after Kyle called several times wondering where she was.  Caught up on email.  Ate a little late night snack.  Turned off the lights to crawl into bed.  At 1am.  Now this two hours later I am quite without sleep, but no loss for words, evidently.

So.  Full day!  Oh, and the Olympics are now officially over!  They are wrapping up and Larry comes home for a full 24 hours this Friday.  He then heads to NYC for three weeks.  Fast little visit, but he will be here.  That means touch up paint, planting flowers, garage cleaning, child managing, trip planning fun for all of us here at the Woodside dr. and I am a little wound up.  Obviously.

Ok.  One of us needs to try to sleep.  Since you are still reading this I suppose it must be me.  On tomorrow's list?  Scout advancements for the Cubs.  Painting.  Planting.  Muffler needs to be checked on the car.  Bills to pay.  Visiting teaching to schedule.  (for March)  Kids to send to school.  Doctor appt at 1 and piano at 3:30 followed by dance at 6:30 and then a city council meeting at 7:30.  Oh.  And the kids.  Better sleep or most of that will get pushed to Wednesday.  I think I will try again.  Let's hope for the best.

Thanks for stopping by for more wackiness from this neck of the woods.  You have been a great audience.

Spring Break...done...next?

Spring Break came and went.  It was a busy, fun filled time.  We had a baptism for Luca to kick things off, followed by LOTS of gatherings with the fam.  We played at the park with so many little ones.  We enjoyed Bahama Bucks again for the first time this season.  Kierstin grew up just a bit more on me, see the photo with the white shirt.  And then she went right back to being a precocious three year old, see the marker photo.  (pardon the awkward shot.)

And now we move to the next phase.  We will see the end of the Olympics this week!  For those of you wondering why Larry is still there, it's because of the often forgotten Paralympics.  He has stayed on for that but they have Closing Ceremonies tomorrow!!!  And then we will have him home...for one day.  He will turn around and head out to New York for three weeks and then home for three and then BACK OUT for three weeks to Orlando.  That means that we will be that much closer to getting out of school for the summer.  Oh, I can't even imagine.

It's snowing again here.  Enough said.

I am ready to paint and plant again.  It's cyclical, sort of like the seasons.  There is just a moment when I find myself ready.  Oh the plans I can make.  (especially with no budget in my head)  Screen room, gardening, exterior paint, windows, paint kitchen cabinets...I could go on and on.  But, that would make me sound absolutely ungrateful and I am feeling just the opposite tonight.  I love my home, the children all tucked in their respective beds, the snow falling for one of our last winter days of the season, or so we hope.  All of it adds up to the magical world we have the privilege of enjoying.  

Guess it's time to make some plans for Spring though, huh.  Hmmm.

Family History Fun

Ok, I am headed to bed but just look what I found tonight!!!

This is where Larry's mother's grandmother lived!  The house is still there!!!

This one is where Larry's grandparents lived in 1950!  STILL THERE!!!

And this beauty is where Larry's mother grew up!  It is magnificent!  

I found all of these homes through my family history research on Larry's family.  It is fascinating!  NOW I can head off to bed to get some sleep!