Saturday, April 7, 2007

Don't mean to Toot-

My own horn, that is! I hate to gloat. No, really- I hate people that constantly spout sunshine and daisies. They seem to mock the 'real people' who wear mis-matched socks, use the dishwasher (for dish storage), and seem to go to the grocery store EVERY single day. But not because they want to.--------------- With a family the size of mine, we seem to do everything big. When things go bad, it goes bad- big time. When things are good- they are GREAT! Yesterday was one of those days. Fantastic!!----------- So I will gloat. A little. Because you never know when a Great Day will happen, and on the rare occasion that it does- DOCUMENT IT. It will hold you over during the not so great ones. I know. I am tempting fate- Two great days in a row. Thing swill turn crappy soon enough. I promise. Then you can listen to me whine about "the dark side" of big family life. So I will gloat while I can. Toot toot! The morning started well, the kids were ending their swim lessons with a play day- and the parents were invited to join them. I couldn't (because of my aversion to wearing a swimming suit anywhere in the vacinity of anything with eyes) AND I had to take care of the baby. Besides, Steven LIVES for those Daddy moments. He took the plunge- and loved every second of it! The kids weren't completely horrified to have him splash around with them either. Win, win... AND I got pictures. An hour later, completely water logged- it was well worth it~ I had had some doubts, especially when SOMEONE forgot to bring dry tighty whities... but with the dad assist it was a blast. We went to visit Big Grandma, (aka My Grandma) and visited for a bit. It was nice to sit, and catch up.The kids loaded up on candies, and took full advantage of her Bag Of Stuff. She saves all sorts of little things- like mini flash lights, promo calculators, little toys, sample sized everythings... and the kids can't get enough! It's like finding hidden treasure- every visit. Pretty cool Grandma!! We then, Yes, ALL 9 of us, continued the Grand Adventure by braving the Greenway. Yes, tempting fate. We parked at the South end, hiked up and around, and ended up at the play ground in the middle. We all survived. And have photos to prove it. I can't begin to tell you how beautiful a day it was. Beautiful. We hiked back- Clara in the stroller giggling her little head off, and JJ walking most of the way on his own two feet. He did have a little help- but he's still little :) Stopped at BK, and played a little more. I was SO happy- the kids were great- no fighting, picking on each other, no whining or anything. Especially considering the fact that they should have been exhausted! Little Energizer Duckies, they kept going and going--------- While walking, we decided Dad should cook. Bust out the grill and have at it. We even braved Walmart (in the afternoon) for supplies. We actually- mark the date down- got to a speedy checkout line, with no line! Did I tell you it was a great day? When it's good- IT'S GREAT!! So, we meandered back the the Beast, and headed home. In awe of the day we had spent. All together. Loving every minute of it!--------- Days like these, are what makes being a Mom feel like more than being an unpaid domestic servant. Days like these, I am reminded of exactly what I had hoped for when I wanted kids. Heaven on Earth- THIS is what it is like to LIVE. Most days are tough, to be honest, many are pretty rough- Days like these seem to wear you down, and can make things seem pretty bleak. But then you have a good day. Once in awhile, you might even have a great one- and everything else is forgotten. Those great ones make everything- the bad, the ugly, the completely unorganized and utterly chaotic- fall away. Just being able to wake up, get out of bed- and to know, really know that GREAT days are possible... makes dragging the old mom body out of bed just a little bit easier. And next to A Great Day... Easy (easier) is always appreciated:)

Friday, April 6, 2007

My Hubby ROCKS.

Really, that should say it all. I shouldn't have to type another word. BUT he's amazing, so I will continue :) ---------------------------------------------------------- Some days, he's pretty good. Some days, I want to throttle him. Most days it's a little of both. Today- He Rocks. -------------- Today was our anniversary. 4 years ago, we hopped into his car- and eloped. To Idaho. Not the first place that comes to mind when you think of romance? Well, maybe it should be. It worked for us!! ----------- Those of you who have NOT had the experience of elopment- you really don't know what you are missing. Big Bills, Big Headaches, Big Stress. Yup, you are missing a lot! Elope. Relax. Enjoy the experience. Come home- and spend the big bucks on something important. Like more shoes. ------------- But, I got off topic. My Honey Rocks. I get brownie points for each time I post that phrase!! ------------- Well, first of all- HE REMEMBERED. That alone is huge. AND he almost got the date right. To his credit (in his defense?) when we ran off and got hitched- we did spend the whole weekend away. His thinking is that The Weekend should count as the anniversary, not the specific, exact date. So he's got a 3 day window. He's cute. It'll work. ------------------- So #1, he remembered. #2- he made PLANS. -------------------- My Hubby rocks! (4) ---------------- He had this piece of paper that he carried around with him. For a few days. He'd pull it out, write a little something, and sneak a peek to see if I was snooping. Then he'd put it away really quickly. And MAN, was he protective of it! A wee bit annoying, but he's cute. My hubby rocks. (5) --------------- He also spent the week before The Weekend going over memories of The Day. Very sweet. Bringing up, and talking about all the stuff you kinda hope your guy things is important or special- but being a guy, they rarely do. Mine did. He does. My hubby rocks. (6) ------------- HE set it up with my mom to watch the kids so we could have dinner together. On his own. I didn't have to do it. He rocks. (7) ------------- He took the twinnies on secret errands- which means he spent lunch with two beautiful blondes, and went shopping. Did I mention my hubby rocks? (8) --------------- So, I took the kids to moms- he was going to come and pick me up. Like a really date. Front door service- My hubby rocks. (9) -------------------- We went out to dinner. ALONE. No kids, car seats, sippy cups or packed diaper bags. AWESOME. My hubby rocks. (10) --------------------- We get to the resturant. It's our favorite. It's literally the only one we EVER go to (without a drive thru.) It has actual chairs, and serve festive adult type beverages. Big time!! I happened to have my usual- a Shirley Temple. I know, hold your comments. I am a lush~ . Back to the nitty gritty- We get to the resturant, the one with chairs, and we are led to our table. There, with the reserved sign................... A dozen roses................. And a card................. And a tiny little box.................. Just waiting for us. For me............... Did I mention the teary eyes? Or that my hubby rocks?? (11) -------------- Sniff, Sniff. Too sweet. Too thoughtful. Too cute. Too much~ The roses- Beautiful. The dinner- Loverly. The little box held gorgeous emerald earrings. The card, was too perfect to describe. ----------- The paper he had carried around, he was writing a poem. Just for me. With little bits of "us" in it. He wrote it all down in the card- not just a quickly scribbled signature, he wrote me a poem. On the card. That I will keep FOREVER and EVER. BECAUSE MY HUBBY ROCKS!!!! (12)

Thursday, April 5, 2007

A Good Day

Today, we are about 2/3 the way through Spring Break. Needless to say, my schedule has been shot, repeatedly, so we are offically 'winging it.' So far, so good:) Today is also my anniversary. 4 years ago, a remarkable man joined our family. Not many MEN would want to join up with a single mom raising 5 little ones. He did. He didn't have to- but we are all better off because he did. He has given me so many things, in these short years together, that I never thought (hoped, expected, longed for, or dreamed) of. Faith in people, hope, trust, love, friendship- a partner. I am a very lucky woman. Just so you don't think I am completely sappy, I will admit it hasn't been easy. Not in the slightest- but then again, if it were easy, everyone could do it. Not everyone can. A lot has changed. I went to school. We added 2 more duckies to the family. Jobs have come and go. Bills, stress, family issues, LIFE. Somehow we seem to make it work. A lot has stayed the same. We still love each other. And back each other, support each other (in our own way :) WE are still here. WE are a family. Somedays 4 years (or 5 1/2) seem like a lifetime, other days it seems like just yesterday. Crazy how time can play with our memories~ Not everyone gets a second chance. I did. I am SO proud, honored, pleased, happy, blessed, over joyed, and lucky to have him in my life. Even on April 1st. Love you honey~~

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Spring Break

Well, working on Day 2 of Spring Break 2007. Keep your fingers crossed, I might actually make it. Maybe. Yesterday, the eldest 5 started swimming lessons. Free lessons at the local Y- so it was a nice way to see how they took to it... and see if the Membership fee was worth the budget chunk. So far, it looks like the Y will have a few more regulars. The kids love it- kicking and splashing is always good, and everyone needs to know how to swim. So yesterday, we all loaded up early to get there on time. Evidentally the other parents didn't think that would be important. WE were on time- not just because I HATE to be late, but other people have things to do too!! Anywho, it was packed. Lots and lots of little kids, and parents too. Leaving was a nightmare- as their class let out, another was just starting. Crazy, crazy, crazy. We survived. And planned to make today go smoothly. We went, already dressed in suits, and left with clothes tossed over them. Flip flops instead of trying to force wet tootsies into socks and sneakers. That, and the fact that the number of people in class (and watching it) drastically went down. Less than half of the kids were there, and only 4 or 5 'sets' of watchers. Me and the teenie weenies were one set. In and out- Ahhhh NICE!! Besides the daily swimming lessons, the kids had/ have BIG plans. Lunches in town, running the track (to see who is fastest of course!) picnics in the park, library, walks on the Greenway... going to Grandmas. We are working on the list, but it's taking a while to get a routine going with everyone home this week. I'm sure that by the time I get it to work, they will be heading back to class. With all this excitement -haha-, I need a long weekend! BUT this week is my anniversary...AND Easter, so Mom is postponed again.

Sunday, April 1, 2007

April Fools

Today was nice- we had Sunday breakfast at Mom and Pops... gotta love those waffles! We hung around and the kids played- like it was Spring or something :) Outside in the sunshine. Beautiful. The kids wait all week for Sundays. Mom and Dad live maybe 10 miles away, and we see them every week. The kiddos act like they NEVER do- So it is the big rush to get there, and the dragging of feet to leave. Always. I really like my Sundays- I get to speak to adult type people. Yes, they are my parents... but I kinda like them anyway. Hopefully my kids will feel the same way when they get old. Like me. The running joke between my hubby and my dad is that food is served. Pa says they only get "to eat like this" when company comes over. Steve says the only time he gets to, is when we go somewhere. HAHA. My bathroom scale says otherwise. A LOT otherwise. Anywho, today the trampoline was the activity of choice- my little duckies out there flipping and flopping. Little Man was out there too- on the Jump-o-lene. You can't correct a 2 year old. Just roll with it. It's a good thing they are cute. :) After breakfast, passing the baby, jumping on the Jump-o-lene... we loaded up for the fun and excitement of.... garage cleaning. Honey, look! We are doing something as a family!!- Yup. FUN times!! Why is it SOOOOO easy to collect, compile, and horde tons of (CRAP) treasures- and so hard to sort out, re-organize, and (sniff sniff) let go of them later? Steve was all smiles- his shop was clearing out. Me, happy about it? Not so much. To put it lightly... REALLY not so much. But the deed is done. Ashes to ashes... back to whence you came. Goodwill- we'll see you in the morning! hummm... I wonder what new stuff they have in?? Well, in the spirit of April Fools day... I happened to mentioned my dependence on spell check. You'd think after 3 years of college, I could spell. A little. Hubby comes up behind me and says "Yea, it's a good thing I didn't marry you for your intellect. I did it for your tight, hot, body." AND he said it with a straight face. After having 7 kids... 'tight,' 'hot,' and 'body' have NO business being anywhere near each other, let alone in the same sentence. But then again- it IS April Fools!! I'll get him back later.