Gingerbread house

Frosting, candy, lot's and lot's of sugar, how could this not be fun?

5 kids= 10 hands

1 adult=2 hands

balanced right?

So the haycraft's are not handy in construction by any stretch of the imagination, so why would I even think we could construct a gingerbread house? insane I know. I thought that by buying a kit it would be simple....make a note, with kids nothing is ever simple :)

First of all the kit did not come with enough frosting, not even close.. an additional 2 tubs later and we still were having roof issues, but since the natives were getting restless it was time to move on to decorating, translation candy time!!!! this went quite well considering large quanities were being consumed by the decorators. Rose had the best approach, she would take a piece off the house taste it and if it wasn't what she wanted she put it back. Ok let's not even start on the health aspects of this approach. I was impressed she put it back.... :) So as you can see by the end result it isn't contest worthy by any stretch, but hey we had a fun, and that is what really matters.

Gingerbread anyone?

9 peas in our pod....

while at the mall this past weekend I passed a kiosk in the center hall of the mall. For sale were christmas ornaments, any and every type of ornament you could imagine, and each could be personalized with a child's name, I saw a few that had room for two children and one had room for three, so more out of curiosity than actual intent to purchase I asked the gentleman working do you have one with 9, well actually yes we do, "no way," I thought, "well could I see it?" I asked, and he takes me over to a display and points to this ornament, 9 peas in a pod, too stinking cute, and how amazingly apropriate. Of course I bought it, how could I not? some day down the road as I hang this ornament on the tree I will remember that in the year 2006 we did actually have 9 kids under our roof... and that is just simply unbelievable in more ways than I care to count.... but what a ride it has been.

christmas party

Friday was our annual Daycare Christmas Party.... what an event that is. Great food, excited kids, presents, good fun.... (is this where I say I'm glad it only happens once a year?) The above pics are from the night's festivities...that is most of the daycare kids, not everyone was there, and a few daycare alumni....don't get me started on how old that makes me feel. the top pic is of Kevin and I with all the foster children currently living under our roof...what a group, what fun, what chaos. Busy weekend, not busy in the way we expected, still trying to sort out my feelings on the cancellation of the kids' baptism, so very sad, and frustrating that nothing is in your control, nothing. I find myself wondering why I'm surprised after all nothing with these kids and their case has ever followed anything that could resemble normal, it is what it is I guess. with an open weekend presented to us we decided to take the kids to see Santa, what a trip that was, the line was minimal, thank goodness, the kids were somewhat cooperative, until it came time to smile, go figure.... Anthony asked for books, (love that kid) Yahaira wanted mermaid, bless Santa's heart for knowing her name is Ariel, Yahaira was so impressed, rose, well she's one need I say more...Alonso just seemed dazed by the whole experience, and moses, someone was holding him, life is good.

blink

and there is goes, time that is....has it really been over a week since I last posted? good grief! well let's play catch up...here are some pics of what we have been up to, well not all the picks since I didn't think to grab the camera while my family shared the flu bug, there has been a sick person in my house every day since last friday :( it's getting old. almost everyone has had it, myself included simply put.... yuck! just yuck!!! I lost count on the number of loads of laundry I have done since this began wondeirng how I managed to not launder a child in the numb state I existed in lately, and I have disinfected every surface in my house, numerous times, ( I truly never desired such a clean house) hopefully soon we will be done sharing this bug and be healthy once again.
love pics like this, when they fall asleep near the tree, this is by far Yahaira's favorite place to sleep, of course she has to compete with Cassandra since it's also her favorite place .
yes that would be a toppled tree, this event has occured twice so far this season... we have now replaced the base and readjusted the tree location, hoping it will stand firm for the remainder of the holiday season...amazingly it fell this way rather than the other, had it fallen the other way, cassandra would have been buried under branches...never a dull moment around here.
pics from the winter carnival parade, Anthony, Alonso, and myslef froze while we watched it go buy, Kevin, Cassandra, Rose and Yahaira (she was sleeping) watched it from inside the van....wimps. one float tossed stuffed animals...how cool is that?

and so begins ....

this busy, crazy season, that is the holiday's. We are only on day 5 of December and I am quite simply exhausted, how sad is that? This weekend kicked off the insane agenda with too much to do and never enough hours to do it. Was it all necessary? of course not....and yet to try to decide what to eliminate seems impossible and so we just simply try to do it all.

I thought I was done Christmas shopping, actually I was done by the middle of October, but as is life we were sent a few curve balls, this go round in the way of new kids, so naturally some Christmas shopping was needed for them...and you know how much I love to shop in crowds....and since my 12 hour workday doesn't pencil in much time for a trip to Mankato, that left the weekend, Saturday, even better yet....and of course we had 4 of the kids with us...don't ask, it really wasn't pretty. Did I accomplish my mission? of course not, which (I shudder here) will require another trip...oh joy!

We seemed to have settled into a routine of sorts here, still adjusting to life with 5 little people under the age of 5, plus balancing the needs of the 3 older children. Last weekend we had respite which added two more into that mix.Next weekend we will add another, just for weekends, I guess in some strange way I am just used to those numbers....adjusting has not always been the smoothest road, but certainly it has been quite hilarious at times. So I guess I forget the picture we must present when we head out into the public if you will... ( I will never get used to the stares, for a person most comfortable blending into the wall this is truly a test for me) and often I am just simply distracted keeping track of everyone that I just don't notice people's reactions. And trust me the reactions are quite varied, from horror to disbelief, to every now and again pretty rude comments, some people will simply ask, "why do you have all these children?" I admire them. Others just stare, coming to their own conclusions... some will whisper amongst themselves, forgetting that just because a person is surrounded by children doesn't mean she has lost her hearing, actually the opposite is the case, my hearing is very strong, it has to be with little people around :) I really just try to find the humor in their speculating. (yes I do know what birth control is, no i never planned my life this way, yes I do know how to say no, but when faced with the decision to split a family or take the whole family unit, I have yet to be able to say yes to that, waiting for someone to show me how to do that, let's not even touch on the comments referencing that some of the children we have are not white, I simply choose to believe that the person making such comments does not realize how ignorant they sound and I try to forgive them.) Sunday at church I was approached by someone who said, " when I saw the Haycraft's approaching the communion rail I just smiled" (always glad to add humor to people's life) then she said "and you just kept coming and coming and I counted once than again, and then asked my husband how many kids do they have and when he said 7 I realized I had counted correctly" I then said well actually there were 8, she looked puzzled for a moment and then said "Oh! I didn't count Cassandra since she is an original" that made me laugh "yes she truly is an original" that stuck with me, I've always been hesitant to distinguish these are our children these are foster care, simply because foster kids already have enough burden to carry, separating them out even more serves no purpose...and yet how does one reference all these children... I like the term "the original three"...what she said next startled me (guess this is where I simply don't notice the picture we paint, again simply trying to live my life) "it brought tears to my eyes she said to see you with all those little people, you are just amazing" whoa,that was awkward and how does one answer that? no clue, (I found myself wondering if she would still be so impressed if you could see us at bedtime, or during the two year old meltdown, or the 18 year old attitude, sometimes called seniouitis.) we don't do anything spectacular, we just simply do what we can, our gifts are in helping kids in need, simple really, there are far too many other people who accomplish far more amazing and wonderful things, things I will never in many lifetimes hope to recreate... giving a child a home and meeting their basic needs, loving them, that is so basic, so simple...not amazing. Puzzled and surprised by her response, knowing that just simply the numbers will cause people to look, and speculate, accepting that it is just the way it is, wondering if I will ever find the "right" answer for some of those comments. I guess what matters most is that I know why we do this, and that is simply enough.

Decorating the Christmas tree

Helping Kevin assemble the tree...


Rosie's loved the lights...



it was Cassandra's year to put the angel on top of the tree. We have to write on the tree box who does it each year, since remembering from year to year is impossible.

Beckie had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled on Friday, she wasn't too interested in the whole tree decorating venture.


adding the ornaments to the tree....

we put the tree up last Saturday, it is always so fun to watch the excitement as the tree comes together. I love pulling out the ornaments and remembering the stories behind them, where I bought them, or who gave them to us, each has a story, (and I am often simply amazed that I can actually remember them) It's fun at night to sit in the living room with the tree lights on, such a soft, calm atmosphere. It is a tradition that the first night the tree is up the kids sleep downstairs, Anthony, Yahaira and Alonso all were excited to keep this tradition going. As mentioned in an earlier post Rose has rearranged the ornaments daily, she must be looking for the perfect layout, rolling my eyes here. The tree has toppled once, no casualties, just some reassembling required. Let's hope that is the only topple it takes. Reminded me of the cat who would knock the tree over at least once a year, long after our kids had grown out of that phase. Now we have new little ones to take up where the cat left off...a never ending circle it would appear.

why not?

be comfortable while you are redecorating the christmas tree? This would be Rose's ingenious idea....she now has a chair pulled up to the tree so she can sit while she rearranges the ornaments.... on an hourly basis I might add, thus the need for the chair.... I must admit it's quite brilliant on her part. Ok not even going to touch the fact that she "is" touching the tree.... sometimes it's just good to go with the flow.... and it is rather entertaining watching her enjoy Christmas in her own little way. This year has been such a wonderful reminder of what truly is Christmas...nothing like little people to remind you of the simple wonder, the simple magic, the simple joy that is this season. No commercials necessary, just simply them being little blessings.

christmas pics...

Baby moses....age 4 months

Brandon and Grace,

and one of all the cousin's (notice yahaira is so happy to be doing this)

rosie doing what she does well, removing ornaments from the tree, (so the tree has been up since saturday and she has rearranged all the lower branches on an hourly basis....life as a 1 year old is wonderful!

gracie...and bitty baby

this would be Yahaira's view on picture taking....she is definately "2"

yes all these little people currently reside at our address...life is fun!

this is Alonso, Pedro, and Moses

Rose, Yahaira, and Anthony

yikes!

8 kids

3 adults

1 photographer (who is a saint)

and this is what you get..... insanity, pure and simple

thanksgiving

so much to be thankful for:
my husband,
my kids,
my faith,
my family,
my friends,
my job,
my health,
my home,
my hobbies,
my life.....

how could I not have had a great thanksgiving with all those blessings?
simple.....life is good!

100

numbers seem to be a frequent part of my posts these days...either marking milestones or occupants of my home (that number seems to change daily) ...and this one is another milestone...my 100th post.
wow! that's a lot of thoughts and ramblings. Pretty certain most weren't witty or thought provoking, I just don't lead that type of life. Often it's quite boring...mixed with a large does of busy/crazy. It is what it is.... and I wouldn't change a thing....loving this ride I'm on, loving the people who share it, just simply loving this life I have.

18

This pic was taken on Sunday, November 12...the day she officially turned 18. 18 years....it's hard to imagine..... she was our last, the baby (a burden she has carried well, and on occasion used to her advantage just as well) the third child in 4 years (what were we thinking, we weren't it's as simple as that) She put up with over tired parents, sharing everything, bossy older siblings who were quick to remind her that she was the baby, the hand me downs, the just wait a second comments, and she survived. She is my moody child,and yet she is quiet, she is a reader and would choose a book over any other activitiy.... and I simply can't imagine life without her. She has taught me to slow down, to enjoy the simple things...often in the chaos of life when just trying to get out the door was a challenge we would find her pausing to watch a row of ants...unflustered by our hurry up let's go attitude...she reminded us by example that it's the little things that matter. She has tested me, beyond limits sometimes and yet she is the one who always gives you a hug when she leaves and say's I love you. My life is better because of her, fuller, and complete. It has been an amazing journey... she faces life with a quiet determination, accepting that somethings are more challenging and yet never gives up...she sticks to her goals and reaches them. I admire her strength and determination. I am a better person because of her....and I am thankful daily that she i s my daughter. Love you Cassandra, being your mom is one of my greatest gifts.

well....

we survived the weekend, I think.

Traveling was ok weather wise, but the traffic end of it, now that just simply sucked! wouldn't care to travel in that mess again for an incredibly long time. The hotel was great, the pool and waterslide fun. Saturday morning Linette and I headed to the scrapbook convention, some new products, and venders, not so many as in previous years...in the afternoon Cassandra and Josh joined us to attend Bodyworks at the Science museum...amazing! well worth the wait and cost...indescribable. Linette headed home saturday we stayed until sunday, but we pretty much stayed in the hotel. ...I underestimated the time and energy it takes to keep track of 5 little people....I'm still tired. We went out to eat sunday for Cassandra's birthday, (will post her birthday another day, she deserves her own post for this milestone, year 18 yikes!) arrived home to a freezing home, the furnace stopped working sometime during the weekend, and one of the hard-wired smoke detectors back up batteries was beeping a low battery warning....ok after an hour of the beeping I was ready to scream...Kevin arrived home (he had to take josh back to austin so was behind us by an hour or so) we pretty much tracked and tried to determine just where the darn beeping was coming from, when finally located of course neither of us remembered how to take the battery out...good grief it is a nightmare of course the little piece that fell out as kevin finally figured out how to open the door turned out to be a major and important item....needless to say when we finally replaced the batter, (which required a trip to the store to buy a battery, we have every other battery size under the sun but not a 9 volt) the door wouldn't close completely thus the beeping continues, since the detector couldn't detect the new battery....a note if you want to drive some one crazy this would work, the beeping every two minutes is annoying to say the least...so I decide to try....which was simply to just disconnect the whole thing, sounded good in theory...but! perhaps not so great in practice...needless to say we are replacing the entire unit....ahhhh but there is no more beeping. Life is good. as for the no heat that we didn't get fixed until yesterday afternoon, so sunday night everyone slept in our bedroom, (we have a small space heater) there were bodies everywhere...but hey it was toasty warm, even the dog slept in the room, of course she shook all night, we think it was the trauma from hearing the beeping most of the weekend...poor dog. So for now all is good, no more home issues, things are put away from the weekend, just need to catch up on sleep :) (ok I know that isn't going to happen) and honestly I don't need to go away for a very long long time.

It's snowing....

:(

ok if I didn't have to travel in the white stuff that would be smiley face. It is the pretty snow, white and fluffy,perfect for snowmen and snowballs, this snow I like....unless I have to travel in it. Bother one can't have it perfect can you?

Trying to pack for 5 little people, assuming Josh and Cassandra can handle their own packing. (Beckie isn't able to join us on this weekend get away) and yes you did read the numbers correctly we do have "5" little people (under the age of 5) the end of this week has been an enormous adjustment for all. Of course I didn't take the day of entirely, just done early, so trying to juggle work, with packing and all sorts of other life issues, has me wondering why? do we ever want to leave home? Wondering if I am remembering everything...knowing I won't. Hoping the weather cooperates so driving won't be too much of a challenge, (we have to take two cars, those numbers above won't work in one vehicle) which is why I am worried about driving, usually Kevin drives and I never worry at all about the weather....oh bother.

lot's planned, so much to do, thinking I'm meeting myself as I move thru the house, trying to get everything in order.

have a great weekend....I plan to.

it's wednesday

and where did this week go? Kevin is on vacation the kids are loving that he is home all day. Even if it does mess up my schedule :( Getting alot of things done around the house that we just never seem to have time for. I voted yesterday, I'm relieved that at least for a little while we will have a break from all the ads in the mail, on tv, and radio. This year seemed to particularily nasty in tone. Wondering why it was neccessary. Yesterday was also the release of the Disney movie Cars. Anthony was thrilled to say the least, of course we had to watch it yesterday afternoon. I'm happy to say things are actually calm around here...for now :) I'll leave you with some random pics from when we visited Dennis just before Halloween. (notice Anthony's costume...yes the boy is nuts about Cars!

10 years

a decade
120 months
520 weeks
3650 days (give or take leap year dates)

unmeasurable moments, events, milestones......


It was 10 years ago today that my mom died. I can remember the day vividly. I can recall feelings so clearly that my body still reacts today. I remember moments so completely, the look on some one's face, the hug from a friend, seeing my dad cry, the kindness showed by so many.
The overwhelming emotions, shock, uncertainty, fear, sadness, emptiness, amazed a body could feel so much and still function. Decisions being made, and throughout the whole process inside I was fighting it with everything I had...honestly I was horrified when I stood in a room full of caskets, and yet the decisions had to be made, picking out a cemetery plot, the very kind man presenting places as easily as a Realtor would present land to you...wrong on so very many levels...my dad looking to me for answers (when did that happen, I still felt like a kid) "what do you think" he asked at a particular plot, inside I thought does it really matter, do you think she cares if she has a view? what I spoke was I think it will work. ( I have learned now that the plot isn't for the person who died, it truly for those left behind, I have over the years found peace in visiting that little piece of land that 10 years ago I in disbelief chose.)
I struggled for so long with the numbers, at first it was it's been a week, then two, wow now it's a month. I wondered if the 6th would ever just be a number again in my life. I knew when it was coming, I could tell you how long it had been faster than taking a breath. eventually it did stop being so big...although November 6th will forever be etched in my memory. I expected holidays to be bad the first year, they were and yet we got thru them and it wasn't so dreary and sad we survived, I learned it isn't that obvious that gets you it's the unexpected...my birthday was horrible, I was crabby, tense, unpleasant the whole day, no idea why until later that night when the phone rang and I realized I had been waiting for her to call, something she had done every year without fail, something until then I had not even registered as important until it was gone. I had simply took it for granted. The books written on grief are endless I read a good share of them, I never did find the answer, rather I found the answers are there inside you and you need to be ready to see them before you can accept them. I have moments of anger at her, for not taking better care of herself, for missing so much in our lives, those are brief thankfully and actually pretty selfish on my part. I have moments of tears, when I just simply miss my mom.
and I have moments of complete joy that she was in my life, no matter how short. I wonder what she thinks of her grandchildren, I have often sensed her at moments in their lives, I found comfort in thinking she was still a part of them,watching over them.and I wonder what she thinks of the new little ones in our lives, I know she would have loved them as completely as she did each of the other grandkids. I wonder what she would think of the person I have become... at times there are questions I would love to ask, advice I wish I had, just to simply see her, take in her face, her smell, her love. I have learned we miss most what we can't have. and I do miss her still 10 years later.

Trick or Treat

a few pics from Tuesday night...the kids heading out to Trick-or-Treat. Our neighbor Jay and his sister Katie joined us for the walk around the neighborhood. It of course was cold, annoyingly cold...monday morning the temps were in the 60's now that would have been perfect weather...oh well at least we didn't have snow to deal with.

candy overload

we survived Halloween....what an adventure, hilarious, exhausting, cold, and amazing all rolled into one. Rose loved the idea of candy (how do they figure that out so quickly?) she didn't love the idea of us removing her pumpkin pail each time we put her into her car seat, bother what a ruckus she would raise. Yahaira was completely into the whole going to the door and getting candy thing until someone she didn't know was near then she completely hid and wanted no part of this experience, and Anthony was just hilarious, he would race to each door (of course being Lightening McQween from the movie Cars may have added to that racing atmospere) he totaly was in the moment, how fun to watch his excitement, how fun to hear Yahaira's "tickrtreet" and "hanks" at each house, and rose was just fun...watching her "try" to walk in her pumpkin costume was entertaining in and of itself. of course the best part coming home and sorting thru all that candy....hilarious! Now to just find the will power to stop eating all that chocolate...

Happy Halloween!

an extra hour.....

to sleep....ummmmm no!
to clean.....ughhhhh nope wouldn't waste an extra anything on that!
to do paperwork..... see above :)
so what did I do with the extra hour I received on Sunday...not a clue.

it would seem I had high hopes for that hour, every fall I am so excited at the idea I get an extra hour of sleep....the past few years I have yet to register that hour in sleep time.

once a year we have a 25 hour day...so much potential, so many options....and sadly I have yet to use it in a truly awesome manner.

the only thing I really noticed about the time change was that little people actually went to bed at 8pm with very little fuss (translate only fussed for 5 minutes) of course they were up at 6:30 with very little fuss also. it's all about the trade off. some occupants of the house seem a tad more crabby than normal for now we will write it off to the time change, no idea what excuse we will use by weeks end :)

and so another daylight savings time has passed and before I will get another 25 hour day I will have to first go thru a time loss (so sad, not even going to think about that sad sad event) hope you used your extra hour in a fun way....and if any of you actually got an extra hour of sleep I really don't want to hear about it.

awkward

today I had to run a few errands so with Betty here holding down the fort (so to speak) I headed to the post office and library and McDonalds to get the kids lunch (insert Happy Happy kids here) so as I'm driving by Caseys I notice that gas is now 2.15 woa it's gone down. ....so naturally I pull in to fill up the tank...murphy's law when I don't the price will automatically go up the day I "have" to fill up as in empty tank so now I just fill it. So I'm walking into Caseys to pay and do you know how you get a feeling someone is watching you.... it was coming in loud and clear. I glance inside the store and notice the the kids' grandmother is waiting to check out, then I notice that the person who is walking into the store in front of me is the kids' mom...oh bother. So chin up and a smile on my face (it's always fun pretending to be brave especially when one can feel the dislike grandma feels for us miles away) I smile at mom and say hi, she shyly says hi and smiles back (and now I digress, sometimes I wonder if we weren't in this situation on opposite sides if you will, and really I wonder why sides ever had to be drawn....this could have been so much easier if there could have been some meeting part way so sad that grandma was so against us from the start. ... but I digress, I wonder if we could have been friends, the mom that is, she has always been kind to us, not that we have seen or interacted with her all that much. but still I wonder if it could have worked differently understandably most parents don't embrace us when their children are place in fostercare, but still you wonder if we hadn't met in these circumstances would we have liked each other. (Sometimes as I watch the kids I find myself wondering did you get that from your birth mom or dad, for all that did occur and for where this journey has brought us I will always hold a place in my heart that will be thankful to them for giving life to these 3 amazing wonders) but back to the present as I pass grandma I also say hi and smile....ok all I get is a glare, I'm sure she would have loved to smacked me (I guess I do bring that out in some people) but she chose to just glare (ok so I suppose on some level it actually makes sense the dislike after all we in simplistic terms have what she wants and if you are so inclined to have to draw lines and make things black and white I suppose I can see why she doesn't like us) ....naturally I end up in line behind them to check out...how weird that for all intents in purposes we share something very amazing and yet no words are spoken, just a tentative smile from mom, as if she is unsure how to address this meeting . I just find at times it sure isn't easy when faced with this dislike, terribly hard to not let it get personal. I reason with myself I've never done anything to grandma, I've always been kind, polite, generous...and yet she still dislikes me...weird how you can understand and yet still be hurt. As they left with no acknowledgement by grandma mom looks back smiles and says bye, echoed by me. and again I wonder.... what if?

Go Fish

Love this music group....We have been following their music for several years now. First they started out performing Christian music and now have moved into christian music for kids. Last year we attended a concert in Jackson, this was our first time seeing the concerts aimed at kids, great experience, Anthony and Grace loved it!

They have a new album out called Snow a compilation of Christmas songs...love it! Love their style....my mother in law commented that I was pushing the season....I had it playing today. with Go Fish their music is always in season.

It's been fun watching them grow in their music and performing. My friend Shirley introduced me to their music, (thanks shirley!) so many years ago...always excited to here that they are going to be performing nearby.

check out their website www.gofishguys.com you can hear some of their songs, read some info on the group. great site to explore.

and if you get the chance to see them in concert....you will not be disappointed.

I'm off to listen to some more Christmas music, gee might even put me in the mood for some snow :)

Fall pics...winter weather.......

I wanted to take the kids to Nichole's to take fall pictures. Of course wanting to do it, and actually getting it done are two extremely different things. Tried a few times thinking a time was clear in our schedule only to discover some unforgotten commitment...so finally last Saturday we squeeked in an hour to do these pics. Thank goodness Nichole is so patient with me...what an unbelievably kind person she is, not to mention uber talented when it comes to taking pictures. So we head to Mt.Lake Saturday afternoon, kids all dressed for "fall" pics.....of course the weather couldn't be counted as fall in any stretch of the imagination, the temps were hovering in the high 30's, it was threatening to rain/ perhaps snow, but I was determined. So we get to the first location and we whisk the kids out of the van, run to the spot, Nichole snaps pics and whoosh back they go to the van, which was left running. Of course I could have left them in their coats, but that would have ruined the "fall" affect we were going for. We repeated this once again at another location and called it a day. I believe that was the fastest photo shoot I have ever witnessed....and naturally Nichole captured some amazing shots. Ok it wasn't too bad, a bit chilly, hey in a few months these temps will seem tropical and we will be running out without our coats :) the kids thought it was great, they were laughing and simply having fun, (wondering what these adults were doing, but having fun all the same).

MEA weekend

Busy as always. Josh was home, great to have him home, the kids enjoyed seeing him and bugging him. Friday October 20th, was Brandon's birthday. 14 years ago he made me an aunt for the first time. Hard to beleive he is 14 already, where does the time go seems like such a repeat,but really.....where does the time go? What a great kid he is, love talking to him, love seeing this young person he is becoming. Saturday we celebrated his birthday...great fun! great kid! It's monday here, in every sense of the word....how sad that I am ready for the weekend already :) enjoy your monday....

Happy Mail Day!

that would be Cassandra holding her acceptance letter to Bethany Lutheran College!!!! Oh yeah, it is truly a happy happy moment here. This is her first choice, (of course mom made her apply to other colleges, we are so difficult aren't we?) So very very excited she is, (insert relieved mom here, finally one of my children has chosen to relocate to a place that is a do-able drive....yes!) and with the arrival of this letter one more step is taken during this senior year filled with so many new and exciting decisions.

so much for good intentions

I was going to try to post each day this month, ummmm well obviously that hasn't happened. Wondering where that organized, put together person went. Wondering if she is lost forever.

Still adjusting to life with an almost 4month old. Yahaira is completely captivated, and mothering towards him, Rose would just as soon take him out as keep him, and Anthony and Cassandra seem completely unaware he's here.

MEA is this week, kids are off from school today thru Friday, yikes! will I survive or will they? Not looking too good right now :) for either of us.

It's snowing here, real snow, like the ground is white kinda snow. If I would have the energy to get off my butt I could take a picture of it kinda snow. yuck, simply yuck!

The pic is of Rose in her happy place, being held by daddy...life is good when you are 1.

where did the weekend go?

no friday the 13th didn't wipe me off the face of the earth, but today almost did. monday's are such a bother sometimes. Today was definately one for the record book, crabby/whining kids, crabby/whining provider not a good mix in any form.

Saturday I went to Mankato shopping, I was actually looking forward to it, alone, no kids, simple, yeah right that lasted until I arrived in Mankato where apparently everyone in southern minnesota decided to go also. Have I mentioned I don't like crowds....ummmm yeah this was so not peaceful. I was so happy to return home to the houseful of little people.

Sunday I went to the Odin craft mill, found some x-mas gifts. Glad the crowds were small, don't think I could have handled another repeat of Saturday. Last night we went to the movie Open Season, loved watching Yahaira watch the movie, she laughed and laughed and ate a lot! of popcorn, Anthony was quoting lines to me afterwards so cool. Actually a pretty good movie, some great one liners.

I think we are adjusting to the new little one, still kinda scary holding him and moving him, so afraid we might hurt him unintentionally, but I guess they wouldn't have released him from the hospital if that were an issue. He seems to be adjusting to us also, although he still doesn't like noise, oh boy that has been fun!

well time for baths and hopefully bedtime, one can hope right?
Deb

Friday the 13th

I am not suspicious, I hang out with the under two crowd daily. If they can think it they will do it, (trust me their brains are incredibly powerful). A black cat crossing my path...would be a walk in the park compared to what I face some days....walking under a ladder....try walking thru a room of toddlers who seem to think being attached to your leg is the best place to be. simply put I live daily with karma, fate or bad luck..... I just choose to view it as life with children :) as for friday the 13th...it is just the day that comes after the 12th and before the 14th. As for being a day filled with bad luck, well Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday all had what most sane people would term "bad" luck moments. This is my life, perhaps not commercial worthy, but pretty amazing just the same. Of course I don't mean to make light of luck/or fate....I just think that it balances itself out pretty amazingly....with no help from me. Life is good, even when it's challenging.

Snow

it snowed yesterday, yes it was only flurries, the ground didn't even turn white, but still it's sad, so very very sad. Not ready for this season, I do not like the snow/cold. Glad I don't have to travel to/from work in the white stuff. If only it would snow but! the roads would stay clear and dry, then I think I could learn to like the white stuff....in a perfect world perhaps? At times the snow was coming down quite steadily, the daycare kids just freaked, loving the snow....I do love watching their excitement with each snowfall, (ok the cynic in me thinks, you of course don't have to shovel, drive in it, or simply deal with it, thus you can be excited) Kids do know the secret don't they, enjoy the simple things, we adults seem to like to complicate it. Here's hoping the rest of the snow waits until some time next March, one can dream. Enjoy your day.

Fall

love this time of year, the colors, the cooler nights, the leaves. No I don't love the raking the leaves part, but usually this isn't a concern for us, since our trees are still so small that we don't have a lot of leaves to rake, the few we do have, seem to blow away...simple! I love walking thru the leaves, listening to the crunching sound. Snapped these pics this past weekend of Rose, Cassandra, Grace and Brandon. Rose wasn't too impressed and seemed to wonder why? she was sitting on the ground when I could have been holding her. Suppose to snow here today, Linette called earlier to say it was snowing, I couldn't see it, (perhaps I should have opened my eyes?) total mental block, I don't want it to snow, I don't want it to snow! Last night I attended Yoga...oh my that was interesting....first had not clue what I was doing, second, I discovered this ol' body is way out of shape, there were positions I couldn't even come close to doing... Linette says I will get better, ummmmm wondering if I will survive. Here's hoping you don't have to shovel any white stuff today in your part of the world.

Kids Volleyball fun night

Our local community education sponsors fun nights throughout the year at the High School sport events. Last night was the annual Volleyball fun night for preschool-elementary age kids. Anthony and Kevin went last year, had a blast! He even won the door prize which was a volleyball, how cool is that? So this year I signed Yahaira up too, thinking she would get a kick out of the activities. They got to eat with the varsity team, made a sign, learned some cheers, and they got to watch the varsity team play....so exciting. Kevin said he thought perhaps Yahaira enjoyed the popcorn the most, that's my girl! They did a drawing for another volleyball last night......guess who won? Yahaira did, ok what are the odds? so completely unbelievable. She was so excited, carried it around all night long. Even slept with it...too cute. Today it hasn't left her sight.... so do you suppose if I register Rose next year?........nah couldn't happen. Enjoy your day....they are talking snow tomorrow, silly weathermen it is entirely too early for that.