Gimme A Break

No pun intended. Someone up there does not want me to have a day off to get this house cleaned since Ashley maybe staying home from school tomorrow. Coming home from her friend's house tonight, Ashley hurt her ankle wearing these boots. Maybe now she'll think twice about wearing these things that were given to her by a friend that had outgrown them.

Now she's on the couch with ice on her swollen ankle while we try to decide if it warrent's a visit to the after hours clinic to see if it's broken.

Not good. We're suppose to go hiking with her Girl Scout troop on Saturday.

My Fondest Memories

Every child should have the chance to experience that close bond that comes with having loving grandparents. I was fortunate to have that growning up with my Grandma Shirley. In some ways she was like a second mother to my brother and I. Who else would still love you unconditionally when you call her crying because your brother got mad at you and stuck a moving milk shake blender in your hair? Or when you and your best friend decided to walk home from the mall instead of taking the bus, only to call her 2 miles later for a ride home. Throughout our childhood, which was downright scary at times having a severly alcoholic father, she was always there to help take care of us.

While I miss her terribly since I've gotten married and moved 2 1/2 hours away from my side of the family, I'll never forget the memories that came from having her in my life. As kids, we grew up shopping at Kmart. (Yes, I know, ugh, Kmart!) (We won't talk about the time my aunt was horrified during a tornado and thought she was going to die in a Kmart of all places. Ha.) Back in the day, before car seats and seat belts were the law, I would sit on my Grandma's lap in the front passenger seat on the way to Kmart with my hands on the strap on the dashboard and hers beside both of mine. (She never got away with removing those hands!) When Kmart would come into view, I would get excited and tell her, "Kmart, Grandma. Kmart!" Ah, those were the days. Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Coming To My Senses

I think I may have lost my mind tonight. After dropping Ashley off at the Michael's craft store for her girl scout meeting, I headed over to Cub Foods to get some much needed groceries since it's right across the street from Michael's. Pusing my cart down the aisles, I was upset to see just how much more Cub Foods charges for almost everything compared to Walmart. Now I know some people are against the whole Walmart thing because of how little they pay their employees and the fear that they'll put everyone else out of business, but it's money I'd much rather spend elsewhere. So, do you know what I did half way through Cub Foods after I saw that they wanted a buck fifty more for Ryan's Trix yogurt than Walmart does? I turned around and back tracked, putting everything back. (Ok, everything but the Sara Lee coffee cake that you can't get at Walmart.) They're lucky I took the time to actually put the stuff back. I then headed over to Walmart to buy my groceries and probably saved a good thirty or fourty bucks. (Ha! Who's laughing now?!)

And The Mother Of The Year Award Goes To...

. . . the mother who sent her kids to school in sweatshirts this morning. I swear it was 65 degrees and feeling kind of warm this morning. It's now 61 degrees and dropping and very cold and windy. Hope they don't have outdoor recess today. Hmm.

Party Time

The kids had a great time at little Jarred's 2nd Birthday party this afternoon. All of the neighborhood kids ran around Perry's house like they owned it.

Ryan gets his baby swing fix. What is up with that kid?

Dr. Evil

Here you have it. The mask and the doctor's lab coat. He's decided to be an Evil Doctor for Halloween. At least it'll hide the horrible collar.

Anyone for a house call?

Halloween Headache

So, do you remember when Ryan said he wanted to be a doctor for Halloween? Well, I ran out and bought the materials to make him a lab coat and I forgot about two things that I have trouble with. Collars and button holes. So after spending hours of my time trying to make this coat, I've finally called it quits. The collar looks horrible and the pockets are uneven. We won't even talk about what happened when I tried to make the button holes. So after about 5 hours of working on this thing, Bret comes home with a cheap skeleton mask from Big Lots and Ryan decides that he's now going to be a skeleton. Figures.

I have, however, had other costumes turn out successfully in the past.

Like the year Ryan went as a Chicago Cub's baseball. He wore this with a navy blue sweatsuit underneath it.

And the best thing I've ever made of all time. Ashley's Medeival Maiden costume.

I have pictures of the kids in them, but that was back before we joined the digital camera world. Not bad for teaching myself how to sew a few years ago, right? (That would be just one of my famous hobbies that typically lasts about three months before I move on to another one - but that's a whole different post.)

Only In Illinois. . .

. . . can it go from 84 degrees one week to 42 degrees the next week. I've decided I'm not ready for this weather. I'm thinking we skipped the 50's and 60's somewhere along the way. What happened to fall?

Waiting for the school bus outside in the cold.

"Drunko"

Going out for a much needed night out with a group of friends from the neighborhood tonight. We no longer use the pretense of "Bunco" anymore. (Since it's been over a year since anyone has actually played.) It's now called "Drunko". Some have tried to name it a much more tame sounding "Ladies Night Out" but we all know the truth. We're there to unwind. So if you see anyone climbing through the cornfields home back to our neighborhood from Buffalo Wild Wings tonight, you'll know who it was. Right, Kelly? (I'm just saying.)

Bed? What Bed?

For the past two nights this is where Ryan has insisted on sleeping at. The floor of his bedroom. I know. I don't get it either.

False Alarm

So I get a phone call from the kids' school this morning and they ask me if Ashley is at home because she's not there today. (What!) I tell them she should be because I saw her get on the bus with her brother. They put me on hold. (Silently freaking out!) She comes back and asks if Ashley was leaving early today. I tell her no and she puts me on hold again. (Really getting worried now.) She comes back and apologizes and explains that her bus was late so she was marked absent and that yes, she is there. (Whew!) At least I know now that they call if your child is not there and you haven't called her in.

I've told him many times that he is too big for the baby swing. Does he listen? No!

So anyways, feast your eyes on this. Adorable babies. In my care. Chloe was so cute when Ceceilia got here this morning. She just stared at her, wanting to know what she was all about.

Worrisome Son

This morning Ryan informed me that he didn't want me to go with on his school field trips because then I wouldn't be at home. He says I'm suppose to stay at home all day so that I'll be there when he gets off the bus. He's so concerned that I'll forget him. As if.

Chloe's First Day

Today was my first day watching 10 week old Chloe. It went very well. She's a very cute and happy baby with a great personality. My kids were home from school today for Columbus Day and loved every minute of her being here. We took her for a walk in our newly discovered park since today is suppose to be the last warm day of the year. (They keep saying that, so I'll believe it when I see it - but deep down I'm sure they are right this time around.) Well, I am off to bed. I feel like I've been running on empty for the past 6 days.

And Then There Were Two

Well, my two extra little ones went home tonight. I was really sad to see them go. This afternoon we headed over to a new park that's being built in the back of a new subdivision near our house. The park has a few paved trails that go through the woods around the outside of the park. See, mom? Living out in the middle of nowhere has it's advantages. Tomorrow I start watching Chloe, so I won't have too much free time on my hands to miss my niece and nephew. It was definately a lot of fun though.

* * * *

Mitchell on our walk.

Brooke & Ryan on our walk. This is my favorite picture.

It's not easy getting three kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time.

No Girls Allowed

Except Mommy.

Ryan & Mitchell reading books before bedtime last night.

Two little monkeys jumping on the bed.

Wiped Out.

The girls are both at Grandma and Grandpa's house. They spent the night there last night so last night was a breeze. However, if I was ever thinking about having more kids - this has cured me. It has been so much fun spending such quality time with our niece and nephew. It's going to be really sad when they go home tonight. They've pretty much become just another couple of members of our little family.

Are We Nuts?

Bret and I took all four kids to Tanner's Orchard today. I would guess that there were no less than a thousand people there. It was crazy - what were we thinking? I put all four kids in bright red shirts so I could spot them easily and would you believe that every other parent there had their kids in red shirts?! We didn't end up staying too long because everytime a kid would disapear from my line of vision I would feel the panic rising up in my chest. We didn't loose anyone, but there were times it took a good 30 seconds (which seems like an eternity at that moment) to spot the right red shirt. The kids were already on the tired side when we got there so after exhausting their supply of free apple cider (yes, people who do that bug me, too), we took off for home.

Ryan & Ashley on the big tractor.

Mitchell trying really hard to get the little tractor to move.

Mitchell and Ashley hanging out in the back of the airplane.

Brooke strikes a pose on the hay bale maze.

We finally talked Ryan into going on the Cider Barrel Train.

The girls are going to Grandma & Grandpa's to spend the night over there tonight. Not sure if we'll know what to do with only two.

Musical Geniuses

Enough said...

Days Fly By

I think this whole day has lasted about 5 minutes. It feels like we all just woke up and now it's bedtime again. We've been very busy today. After my kids went to school, I took Brooke and Mitchell out back to play with the neighbor's kids. After that I took them to McDonald's playland for lunch. Let me tell you, there's nothing more mortifying than having to crawl up the tunnels to retrieve a stuck toddler. I was waiting for an employee to come out and tell me that the playland was for children only. Needless to say, we beat a hasty retreat after that. It's been a lot of fun - downright crazy at times - but these last two days with them are going to go by way too quickly.

Think we should feed the poor kid?

Picnic on the deck for dinner.

And a little catalog shopping. (They are circling all the toys they want for Christmas, putting the first letter of their name in each circle.)
Now I'm off to put the kids to bed.

Getting Good At This Now

Last night's bath assembly line took about an hour but the kids had fun. We managed to get them into bed by 9pm last night. (Amazing, isn't it?)

Up and at 'em by 6:40a.m. I must be getting pretty good at this now!

Ashley found a website with Thomas The Tank Engine games for Mitchell.

Piece Of Cake

This four kid thing has been pretty easy. A little louder than usual and quite busy, but I've enjoyed every minute of it!

Ashley has been such a life saver. She and Mitchell are inseperable.

Poor man just wants a hot meal when he gets home from work and all he gets is two new attachments and no dinner in sight. (It's still in the oven - I had been busy feeding the kids.)

Busted! How did they find that treat bag?!

5:42a.m.

5:42a.m.!!! OMG! Telling them to go back to bed until the first number on the clock is 7 didn't work. (Yes, I was going to get them up at 6:30a.m. but they didn't need to know that.)

Birth Control

In about an hour I go from having two kids to having four. My niece and nephew will be staying with us until Sunday evening. I'm actually pretty excited about it. The kids always have fun when they're together. Then on either Monday or Tuesday I start watching Chloe. My days of being alone during the day are just about over. All of this will definately be a good form of birth control. LOL.

Update: It's now 9:40pm. Four sets of teeth have been brushed. Nine stuffed animals and 4 blankets have been located and placed into correct beds. Four heads have been kissed goodnight. Two kids have come out of bed because they are "scared". One adorable little munchkin boy is sitting in his pack n play staring out the door. Two "scared" kids are still in bed talking. The oldest is passed out in my bed. One husband is getting ready to head down to the bedroom downstairs to sleep in kidless bliss. And now it's my turn.

March 1988

Oh Dear, Lord. Why didn't anyone tell me I was such a dork? Playing school, dressed up like a teacher in my Easter dress. It was my dream to be a teacher. And no, unfortunately the glasses were not part of the "costume". Poor me.

July 1983

While going through piles of pictures and trying to organize them today, I ran across this picture that my dad had taken in the summer of 1983 when I was seven years old of my mom, brother and I. It makes you stop and remember the past, doesn't it?

Wow, were we stylish or what? Ha!

Wild Life Prairie Park

I think I'm going to need Monday just so I can catch up from being so busy this weekend. Today we met up with Grant & Jo and their kids at Wild Life Prairie Park. The kids were so excited to see their cousins...

Ryan, Ashley, Mitchell & Brooke.

While walking through the park, we came upon the path that has a pretty steep incline. I had to laugh when Grant told everyone it would be easier to make it up the hill walking backwards and they all did it.

Brooke & Ryan playing at the park.

After leaving the park, we walked over to the old school house and were surprised to be able to go inside. Usually it's locked up. The kids had a lot of fun pretending to be at school.

The boys, hard at work.

Ashley & Ryan are not using their "listening ears".

Brooke, the teacher, forgives Ryan . . .

. . . but puts Ashley in the corner. (Ha Ha)

After we left the school house, we headed over to the park's 50 foot slide.

And then it was on to the trains.

That's all folks!

Yes, that was quite a bit already, but you guessed it, there's more on Flickr.