Imagine His Feelings on that Night...

I heard this song for the first time today and was really moved. Don't want to ruin it with too many words, but I just thought about how he may have felt that night...

Joseph's Lullaby

(here's a second link that has lyrics)

Jacob's Quote of Affection

So, I really knew what Jacob was saying, but the way he said it was an interesting way to put it...we were comparing how much I loved him and how much he loved me. He said, "Mom, I love you more than a light bulb!"..."I don't even love a light bulb!"

Leah's Religion "Class"

Leah is SUCH a pretender these days and I absolutely love it. She is so cute with all of her talk. She talks A LOT about her "school." We get a lot of, "Well, at my school..." and whatever she has to say. Well yesterday, she wanted to have school at home, which we sometimes do. She said she wanted to read the Bible. So, we got it out, she found a page with a picture and wanted me to read it. It was a picture of the Torah and I started to read the caption. She said, "Oh wait, I don't want to read this. I want to read something else." She began reading, "And Jesus said, 'Not by the hair of my chinny-chin chin.'" We were also sitting at the kitchen table and we were coloring. I was using a colored pencil. She said, "Mom, is it 'Pencil-cost'?" With a grin, I told her that no, it wasn't Pentecost. But, at least she's thinking, right?!

Thank Goodness for Analogies...and Star Wars

Well, you know, analogies sure help things make sense better. Tonight I was reading with Leyton; he was reading a Batman book. The book mentioned Robin having a mentor. Leyton asked what mentor meant. I told him that it was kind of like a teacher, someone you could learn from and talk to if you needed help. And he replied, "Oh, like a Padawan. Like Anakin was for Ahsoka, and like Obi-Wan was for Anakin." Now of that I have not a clue, but it made it crystal clear for him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Kansas this year. The main bummer, though, was that we were all looking forward to seeing the Grahams in from Texas. Unfortunately, a bit of illness held them back. Maybe next time. We spent lunch with the Robinsons at Barbara & Stu's house. Everyone from Patrick's family was basically there other than Jeff & Charlene. Our niece Sarah & her family weren't able to be here, but they're living in Virginia now and she is due to have her baby girl in just a few short weeks. For dinner, we gathered at our house with Grandma Donna, Grandpa Jerry, and the Lee family. It was a nice gathering. Plenty of good food and even better company all day. The kids had a great time, too; just missed their TX cousins!

It was really nice that Grandma & Grandpa were able to stay at our house on Thursday night. The kids were very excited they got to see them more. Leah & Jacob helped me clean the bathrooms last week prior to their arrival and tonight, she had a cute conclusion to the weekend. At bedtime, she was cleaning and cleaning in the boys' bathroom. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm cleaning the bathrooms so that Grandma Donna and Grandpa Jerry will be able to come back and stay here." Very sweet.

Happy Belated Halloween!

So these are pretty late, but my time seems to escape me quickly in the evenings...better late than never. We had: Leyton & Nathaniel as Star Wars Clone Troopers, Jacob as Commander Cody (another clone trooper), Leah as the beautiful Princess Leia, and Anne as a somewhat unhappy for pictures Ewok/lion. Fun was had by all.

Anne's Personality

Well, Anne has shown us a taste of what her personality is like for quite some time now, but lately she's kicked it up a notch. She is priceless. She understands so much of what we say, that truly, you can carry on a conversation with her. She DEFINITELY can identify what she wants. Easy to tell when she brings you a cup or gets one and holds it up by the fridge water dispenser that she can't reach. Or, she'll point to the "candy cabinet" in hopes for goodies (or a calcium bear vitamin, for that matter, in it's cabinet). Lots of yes/no answers when you ask her questions. This morning, before he left, Patrick said, "Well, I guess I better..." and before he said go, she was waving to him. She's a hoot. My other favorite thing is that she does this adorable shoulder shrug with a happy little shrieky sound and you can usually get her to do it on demand and with a huge grin.

I did cut her hair last week, just to even it out and such. I'll post a picture of that soon. She was too busy to stop and actually pose, so I had to catch her on the go. We sure enjoy seeing her grow and change! These 16 months have been fast!

Beautiful work

Here are a couple school papers Leyton & Nathaniel brought home recently. Leyton has planned the Thanksgiving celebration, and Nathaniel tells about what he's enjoying these days (the cut-off word is "bike"). Great work, boys! They are doing great at school and really enjoying it. I miss them when they are there, but see they are happy children and I always love the daily updates when I pick them up.

Trunk or Treat!...plus my thoughts.

We had a great time at trunk or treat at school. We got to try out the clone trooper costumes and a pretty cute little Princess Leia. Anne went as herself for tonight and really enjoyed the candy! It was so wonderful for all of us to walk around together and enjoy each other's company and saying hi to friends. What a great time. The kids had a lot of fun and got a hefty supply of pre-Halloween candy.


And then there's Jacob. You know, he's a happy little guy with some traits that I just love. He knows what he wants, and anymore, if he's offered something he doesn't want or doesn't like, he's just fine - he doesn't usually want something else, or complain that he missed out, he's just fine. This is very frequently the case with candy or desserts - he has his few favorites, and beyond that, he'll just say, "No thanks." Such was the case tonight - he would trick or treat, but then if he saw a kind of candy that he didn't like, he'd just walk away. We figured we should have him just accept graciously and we could work out the details later. Just thought we'd avoid the big walk away & not accepting. He didn't mean anything by it, he simply wasn't interested. He was then ready to just give away the stuff he didn't like. I encouraged him to at least try & trade his brothers or something (they all got plenty - didn't figure they all needed donations). And furthermore, due to his selective nature, he didn't have nearly as much candy as everyone else. And did he mind? Not one bit. He is such a happy and content guy.


And then the other thing I'll remember from tonight. At first, Nathaniel was a bit bashful about getting started with the trick or treating. Well, one of the first cars was giving out huge pixy sticks and long rope licorice. Nathaniel didn't get up to get one by his choice. By the end of the evening, he was ready to go back by there. We did, but they were all out. He actually didn't complain. Leyton then asked why he needed one, "Did he not get one earlier?" I told Leyton he didn't. Then Leyton said, "I'll share some of mine." Thanks, sweetheart!


So as I walked around, I noticed so many families we know and saw many kids enjoying the night. And afterwards, on the way home, and when we read stories and got ready for bed, I took a step back to relish the day. Patrick & I often discuss how our life is always dynamic, that we really don't have a status quo. I was laying by the kids and I thought, you know, maybe it's changing and maybe we're busy, but I also know that I wouldn't trade it for anything. This is my life and I want to appreciate and enjoy it with all of its busy-ness. I thought about it a bit, too, after the school event - I know things will continue to change, but I don't want that to happen too quickly - I loved that we were all there together, that the kids wanted to stay together and we could all do this as a family activity. Someday, I know, they'll want to go with their friends and I know that's to be expected, but I'm definitely not in a hurry. They're just too much fun.

It was one of those days...

...when I put the kids to bed after a wonderfully busy day, and I took a few minutes to just watch them sleep so peacefully. It literally brought tears to my eyes just to be there to appreciate the moment and wonder how I became this amazingly blessed to have these precious people in my life. Each one of them is so special in their own ways and each of them represents an irreplaceable part of our family.

Leyton, Nathaniel, Jacob, Leah, and Anne...Mom loves you more than you know. Sleep well my little angels.

Birthday Pictures

Finally a few from Leah's big day.

A Year-round Giggle

Although this is a Mother's Day e-card, I really find it quite funny all year round. I remember seeing it a couple years ago, but think about it now and then in the scheme of life and all of the precious happy voices. Hee, hee.

Hoops & YoYo - What we say, What Mom hears...you can click on a flower on the left to hear the kids version, and click the same flower on the right to hear the Mom's voice.

Leah likes to be "a mom" part 2

This morning, Leah was taking a shower. I was getting ready to leave the bathroom, so I said, "Leah, see you later, alligator."
She said, "I'm not an alligator, you silly; I'm a MOM!" (said with much inflection)

And, that reminds me of the other day when we went to see Funky Mama sing. We've seen her before, but Leah really heard her introduction that morning. Funky Mama was explaining, for those who were new to her show, that, well, she's a mom and a little bit funky. Well that really got Leah going, "Mom, Funky Mama is a mom! Mom, she said she's a mom. Did you know that Funky Mama is a mom?" It was so cute. She's quite a character - mom, child, princess, etc.!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Leah!

Time flies and flies and flies. My "lady cakes" turned 3 today and I just can't believe it. What a nice day. The boys were all out of school today and we planned to go to a pumpkin patch - silly rain foiled that plan. Oh well, we still had a great day. She actually slept in until about 10am. We ran to the store, and then Patrick was able to come home a little early. This evening, Grandma Sally & Grandpa Dan, Aunt Stacy, Uncle Robert & Aunt Beth & Mya, and our neighbor Charlotte came over for a fun family birthday gathering. I made Leah's favorite meal: CHILI. I made a regular beef one and then a white chicken one. We had Dora cake with ice cream and rootbeer. All her favorites. She got some books, several nice outfits, a Dora doll, a baby bassinette, and a few other things. She was happy as a clam. Her total phase these days is babies. She's so cute with them and plays with them so nicely. It is still different to me seeing a little girl go through these phases and enjoying dolls, etc. What a sweet girl. She said she had a great day, and I'm glad she did.

Always interesting to look back to the day each of the kids were born. This is one of the phases of parenthood I never really thought about before they were born. Each time a birthday rolls around, I just really enjoy thinking about their actual birth day and reveling at the joy and love they've brought just by being them. Each of them has added a unique part to our family and I really think it is a special day for me as Mom to just think and enjoy how much I love each of them and how grateful I am that they are here.

We love you, Leah!

(Maybe tomorrow I'll get a few pictures up from the day - just too tired right now)

Anne's 15 Month Update

Anne had the pleasure of the well child visit on Thursday. She didn't sleep well the night before, and, as usual, sickness either shows up when it's time for a visit or right after. She had her first ear infection. She is enjoying the amoxicillin just fine - and her siblings are jealous. Yep, at least three of them asked why Anne got to have the pink medicine but they couldn't. "But we like it, Mom." Silly kids. Anyway, Anne's doing great. Walking all over, pretending to talk on the phone, brushing her hair, and making more and more conversation sounds. She weighs 25lb 6.4oz (~75-90th percentile), 30 inches long (~50-75th percentile). I'm pretty sure her favorite word is "Mama" which I'll never complain about. She also got the pleasure of leaving after three shots. She has definitely hit that stage of absolute melt down at just being in the exam room. I felt bad, but her not wanting to be in the room coupled with not feeling the best and then getting three shots, she really turned up the volume on all the screaming. Yep, she was exhausted and a bit unhappy after all of that.

Overheard this week...at the baseball game

So I know most of the parents on Leyton's baseball team, but not all of them know me. No big deal, I'm usually hanging out with the kids anyway. I was sitting in the bleachers this week with the rest of the kids and one of the moms was behind me (her son is in the boys' class at school). Anyway, she saw me sitting with the kids and of course asked if they were all mine. "Yes." And then the usual, "Oh, wow, you sure have your hands full." And then the response, "In a very good way." Then she asked me if I had four children. Hmm, I wondered why, then, I was there for the game - and every other game as well? I explained that I had five and that one was on the team. So, obviously she didn't really know who I was or anything. No big deal. Her husband is helping coach. I don't really know him either, but do know who he is, and actually feel a little uncomfortable around him for some reason. He sat down with his wife and was talking aloud. Glad I overheard this, but he said when Leyton went to bat, "Leyton, now that is a good kid. He's a really nice boy. He listens, he really wants to learn. He's just really a great kid." I totally didn't expect to hear that, but it sure made my day. I'm proud of all of my children and I love my family so much!

Walk On...

Anne's doing more every day. So fun to watch her. She can make it across a room if she wants (and truly, more importantly, if no one comes near her & throws off her balance!). She'll stand up first, and clap for herself, and then get going. I bought her some cute shoes today. I need to take her picture in them because they're just too cute. Hard to believe 15 months is coming up in a few days. What a character.

Life Keeps Going Even if...

I don't get a chance to blog about it. But, I'm trying to remember all the things so I can get them on here & not forget!

Newsflash: Steps have been taken!

Just updating...Anne did it. First steps - probably about 6-7 this morning. Fun, fun. I'm sure she won't quite adopt it as her normal mode of transport, but fun to see her do it!

Standing Proud

Miss Anne standing tall...just wanting to step, but not sure she should do it. I love when she stands and puts her hands up in the air.

Orchard Pictures

A Day at the Orchard

What a fun day! Saturday after Patrick was finished working, we decided to do something I'd been wanting to do since last year. We went to the Wagon Wheel Orchard and the kids picked apples. It is a nice little farm, which by address is in Gardner, but upon driving, I totally did not feel like I was in Gardner. Thought in my mind, "We're not in Kansas anymore" (ha, ha). Well, it wasn't THAT far away, but I had never been that far out before, that's for sure! Well worth it, though.

The orchard is owned and run by a family that lives there onsite. They have 550 varieties of apples! I didn't know there were that many! Some are for people to pick, and timing determines which varieties are ready for picking. Some are test varieties for the USDA also, so those never get picked. This weekend, we were able to pick Golden Delicious, Liberty, and Johnagold apples. Yummy.

The kids really had a great time. The hay rides weren't running that day, but we did see some chickens and goats and also got to feed the catfish in the pond. They had a nice campfire site there that Nathaniel and I enjoyed and talked about campfire songs and cowboys. Then we sat there and just enjoyed how quiet and peaceful it was out there. It was not a crowded place, so the kids could pretty much run free through the orchard. So much fun and VERY relaxing, actually. Just what we needed after a very hectic week. It led to Nathaniel telling me that we should move to a farm. Then that led to me telling stories about living on the farm including: the creek, the animals, taking out "the garbage" ("Yes, Nathaniel, that was one of our chores - no garbage disposal!), burning the trash ("Yes, we burned it. No, a trash truck didn't come to our house."), and of course - washing & drying dishes. It was great.

We brought home three nice bags of apples - all sizes of apples - some were very small & cute. They have all been eating them like crazy. They sure are good. Trivia: I really have never bought bad apples, but at the store, they can actually be up to a year old (they get stored in buildings with no oxygen)!

A few pics coming...

Thoughtful Nephew

Today I had the pleasure of watching my sweet niece Mya for the morning while Beth had a doctor appointment. It turns out Mya got to spend some extra time with us in the flow of the events of the day. What a sweet baby! Nathaniel had asked me to get some batteries for him for his Nerf gun. I told him that IF I went to the store, I would get some. When I picked him up from school, he asked about the batteries. I told him I didn't go to the store since I stayed home more of the day. His reply was very thoughtful. He said, "That's ok, Mom, because that's [meaning Aunt Beth going to the doctor] more important than playing."

Fun Weekend

So we'd really like it if every week could have a three-day weekend! It was so nice having the extra day. We didn't really have a lot of plans, but that's what made it even better. Friday night I worked. Saturday, we grilled and did some house work. Sunday we went to Mass and then I got a new car! Well, not really, but it looks like it! I spent about 4 hours cleaning my car - all the car seats came out and even got the actual seats of the car moved to clean under them. That hasn't been done in a LONG time! I cleaned leather, used lots of Armor All, and the kids actually vacuumed it. They each wanted a turn & I wouldn't turn that down! They did a great job. I even got my Little Green carpet cleaner out there & shampooed the carpet. We'll see how long it can stay clean. The Lees came over for a little visit & brought cupcakes - they were a hit! Thanks, guys! We ended the day with bike riding and visiting.

This morning, Anne & I were the first ones up so we went for a nice long walk this morning while everyone else slept in a bit. We spent a couple hours this afternoon with me shopping with the kids: a bit of clothes & each bought a small toy. Amazing how much time you can spend in one store with four kids trying to choose something. Tonight we went to dinner at Sweet Tomatoes and then had sort of a family game night. We played Trouble and the War card game.

Tonight Patrick is enoying seeing football back on TV and I'm trying to plan out the week we'll dive into in the morning. Back to the routine!

Confidence is Building

Well, for a while, Anne had seemed afraid to stand on her own. She's been pulling up plenty, but never wanting to let go. If you'd hold her up & then let go of her, she'd have this frantic look on her face wondering what on Earth we were doing. But, in the last couple weeks, she's been getting more confident. She's let go a few times and those brief moments led to PLENTY of applause from all of us. I'm sure the next few weeks she'll be working on it more & more & getting more and more confident. It's neat to see her working on a milestone, but at the same time, it will make her seem like less of a little baby when she takes off walking. Hmm. Yes, being the fifth vs. the first, I see myself enjoying the moments of still having her be my Sweet Pea that moves like a baby.

Jacob's 1st Day of School (08/20/10)

He's ready to go!

Looking might grown up in this one!

Jacob and his first day at 4-year-old preschool...wow. He's a load of fun. He wasn't sure he wanted to switch schools this year, but we thought it would be good for him to settle in to where he'll be for the next several years. Now he gets to see his big brothers on occasion and is meeting some children he may know for a long time. One of the things that really got him excited, though, was seeing the toys that are in the new classroom. So far, the pirate ship and an army plane are at the top of the list. He's once again making friends easily and having a lot of fun. He says he would like to go every day! Now that's got to mean something because typically, Jacob is my guy who pretty much doesn't want to leave the house for much of anything. He really likes being at home and just playing. He's had stages where we call him "passionate," (i.e. very vocal when he's upset to say the least). But, he's mellowed a lot in my opinion and he is probably the most content of the children as far as occupying himself and having fun with individual play. He makes friends easily and is very kind and thoughtful to others. It's really neat to see him off playing with Playmobil or Legos and hearing the conversations and creative imagination he has in his pretend world. I love it. I really think he reminds me of his Uncle Ben as child in that he's very happy at home with Mom, he likes how Mom cooks things for him, and he wants things done a certain way. Some favorite foods: chocolate chip cookies, bacon, sausage, apples, broccoli, "butter sandwiches" (aka plain old buttered bread, folded in half, NO CRUST). His love for his family is very obvious and he DEFINITELY has a special place in his heart for his Sweet Pea, Anne. One on one conversation with Jacob is hard to beat. I love hearing his thoughts, and he has plenty of them. I know I've said it before, but I do think he's in a tough spot in our family - two big brothers that pretty much get to do all the same things, and then two little sisters who obviously have a different dynamic with being girls; and he's right in the middle. I think he handles it pretty well!

InsideCatholic.com | Crash Call | Feature | Articles

A great article. Very true. I hope I don't need a "shaking" like this EVER! I also read a quote today that is somewhat related to keeping priorities in order and understanding who's in charge:
‎'Hold everything in your hands lightly. Otherwise it hurts when God pries them open.'
-Corrie Ten Boom

InsideCatholic.com Crash Call Feature Articles

Super Ladybug!

Today Leah has on her ladybug costume that she wore for Halloween. She came into the room and said, "Mom, can a ladybug be a superhero?" I knew for sure, a ladybug can definitely be a superhero!

Little Blue Eyes

I love getting a few of Anne now and then since she's often the easiest one to "convince" to let me take her pictures. I sure love her eyes! The first and last are probably my favorites.

First Day Pics 2010

Ok, so these are kind of in reverse order since I uploaded them in order - they get flipped. Oh well...

The start of a good day for Nathaniel.

Leyton is ready!

These handsome boys sure are growing!

And a near perfect one. So many great smiles. Anne just didn't want to be moved around by anyone any more.

1st Day of School: 1st Grade, 8/19/10

Leyton & Nathaniel started school today. Quite a new adventure as they are in separate classes this year. It will be interesting to see their growth and changes with this experience. I love having them together, but I do think there will be some benefits for them to allow each of their strengths to come out a bit differently. They complement each other well, and they get along great. I think Nathaniel may have been a little nervous today, but he had a great day as I knew he would. I am proud of him because I think it was a little bit more new to him as he started with a new teacher. Leyton has the same teacher they had last year for kindergarten.

The interesting thing about Nathaniel is that I think often times he is the one that looks to Leyton for some guidance or help with decision making. For example, sometimes Nathaniel will decide on his own to play something, choose a color of something, etc., but then there are several times when he'll want to know what Leyton is doing and go from there. Leyton is very much like Patrick in that he's very laid back in choosing things and will pretty much be indifferent with a lot of decisions. Example: getting dressed. Nathaniel will want certain socks or shirt. Leyton is just happy if someone else gets it for him - "Whatever, Mom." So I see this trait with Nathaniel as somewhat of a security zone for him, to have that familiarity with what he's used to, with what Leyton might be doing and want to do the same. Even more interesting is that looking at this "comfort zone" factor, it's actually Nathaniel that seems to be the social guy. Whenever we talked to parents even early last year, they seemed to usually mention that the boys were very nice, but also mention that they had lots to say about Nathaniel. Sometimes it was sweet in that it was the girls' families; nice that we have a number of very good and nice families at school. He always got a shy little grin about him.

And my Leyton. Like I said, a roll with the punches guy. Unless he's tired and/or in a growth spurt that exhausts him, he's pretty low key and laid back. Nothing phases him and frankly, a lot of things come easy to him. He's typically willing to help out, but will use the "in a minute" answer when he's into something else. Just more of the laid back thing, though...i.e. well, you know, I am laying on the couch right now. Hee, hee. He is a very sweet and loving boy.

I feel blessed that they are both very sweet and caring older brothers to all their siblings. I think we expect a lot of them, but I also think they do a great job of being nice young boys. I enjoy where they are in life, but I don't look forward to any first days of school coming too quickly. I'm sure it can be a time to reflect on one year to the next, and I don't want to let the time fly too quickly.

Have a great year, boys! (And tune in tomorrow for Jacob's first day!)

Anne is Growing and Changing

Watching Anne lately has sure been a hoot. She is a sweetie. She loves clapping, playing peek-a-boo, waving, and moving around. Hard to believe she's 13 1/2 months. Still such a happy girl. In the last day or two, she's picked up a new thing - she'll stand up in her high chair. The first time I saw this, it caught me off guard as she is the first of our children to do that! Just stands right up, with the tray on, and looks around to see what everyone is doing if they're not in front of her. Usually, she'll flash a cute wrinkled nose smile when you call out to her. For some reason, too, when I hold her, she just really wants to be perched on my hip and pushes against me until she gets there. For fun, she also plays "equal opportunity parents" with us (i.e. when one of us holds her, she literally reaches out for the other person just until she gets transferred, then wants back again). I have to say, though, I typically get the last hold, and as Mom, I'll love that for as long as it lasts.

Yes, Sweet Pea is definitely just that. I enjoy each stage, but it will be fascinating to hear her thoughts when she starts chattering more words.

Leah on the Phone

When I'm at work, if time permits, I call home to tell the kids good night and to say hi to Patrick. Usually, when Patrick answers, he will say, "Hi, Dreamboat." Well, Leah has been hearing this. On two different occasions (the latter was last night), this is the interpretation:

1) Patrick, "Hi, Dreamboat."
Leah: "I want to talk to Dreamboat, I want to talk." (at this point, she didn't know who
Dreamboat was)
Patrick gives her the phone and she says, "Hello?" I tell her hello and she says, "It's
Mama! Daddy, it's Mama on the phone! Hi, Mama!" ...and the conversation goes on.

2) Patrick, "Hi, Dreamboat." We talk for a few minutes and then it's Leah's turn. She gets on
the phone and says, "Hi Mama. What are you doing? Mom, Dad did call you Rainbow!"
I said, "What did he call me?"
She repeated, "Rainbow!"

Just worth a chuckle or two to me. The actual true nature of each and every phone call with each of the kids is:
1) "Hello."
2) "Mom, what are you working on?", "What kind of medicine?", "Oh."
3) "Mom, will you lay by me _____ (-insert 1st, 2nd, 3rd, last for each conversation) when you get home?"
4) "I love you, bye, I love you, bye, I love you, bye, I love you, bye."
5) "See you in the morning."
Repeat, repeat, etc.

Sunday Afternoon at the Farm

As I mentioned, while we were on our trip to the fair, we were able to stop by our friends' Dwayne & Dawn's house for a little tractor ride. Dwayne was so kind to volunteer this...the kids really liked it and I'm sure will remember it for a long time. I really had no idea the tractor cab was big enough that they could all four ride in there with him at the same time. He took them down the road and they stopped at one of the fields and they each got a corn cob. He's invited us several times before, but the timing just hadn't worked out. He also invited us back in mid-September for harvest - then they could ride in the combine. We're thinking about trying to work that in - sure would be a fun fall activity!

Little Girls are Made of...

...Sugar and spice and everything nice...

We are having a lot of fun exploring Leah's new hair styles. I'm getting some practice! Yesterday, she wanted pig tails for the first time. I told her how nice it looked and how it was different and she'd never had her hair like that. She said, "Yeah, I did see it at the t-ball game, and I thought it was cute." Oh she's precious. Tonight, however, I gave the boys haircuts - 3 buzz cuts as they requested. What did Leah want? Of course, a buzz cut. So, remember these pictures - she sure looks different tonight!

~~~Just kidding. I couldn't do that...even though she said she really wanted it. I gave her a very minor trim for her own sake. Always my fear she'll decide, "Well, if Mom won't cut it, I guess I have to."

Vocabulary Lessons

"Silly beans": Leah's explanation of what caused her horrific breakout of hives at the fair last week. I think it's a combination of her familiarity with silly bandz along with the fact that we think her reaction started when she played in the SOY BEANS in Agriland (i.e. similar to a sand box, but filled with soy beans - next to the corn "box" and the wheat "box").

"Squirt": Leah's term when she got dressed yesterday in a frilly little cute brown SKIRT that I bought her. In context, "Mom, did you buy this squirt for me? And that other one?" Cute.

"Popsicle Juice": Jacob's term for a snack he actually sometimes prefers over the actual popsicle. You know, the kind that are enclosed in plastic that you buy as liquid & freeze them when you get home. Jacob said, "Mom, I saw popsicle juice at the store; can we buy that sometime?"

Whew, time flies when you're having fun!

Wow, so Beth brought to my attention last night that my last post was "July 22 to be exact." Just been busy, I guess. That week after the 22nd, Patrick was gone pretty much all week with work and then last week we made the big trip to the Washington Town & Country F-A-I-R! After a tiring week for all of us, it was nice to take a break and have some fun on a mini-vacation before school starts next week. And, Patrick was even able to take a day off! Yes, that's right; I worked last Monday & Tuesday evening, then I left with the kids on Wednesday morning. Patrick rode the Amtrak into Washington on Thursday evening.

So, updates to be made and pictures to share. I need to get caught up on a lot of things, why not start with memories - before I forget!

Hospitality and Listening

I enjoyed reading this today...a homily from a great priest!
Hospitality and Listening

Field Trip: Moon Marble Company

This morning I took the kids on a field trip. We went to Moon Marble Company in Bonner Springs. They have marble-making demonstrations there and we had a great time watching a man make handmade marbles, one at a time. It was actually neat for me to see, too, how the glass is layered to make the different designs. He said he's a fast marble maker and made each one in about 15 minutes. I think the kids had a lot of fun, too. Then we of course shopped in the toy/marble shop for a while. It was really neat to see the variety of marbles they had there. I'm sure we'll be going back there some time.

Anne's 1 Year Stats

Last week Anne had her Well Child Visit. Along with receiving 3 shots, she was measured at 23lb 13oz, 28 3/4 inches long, and developing normally. Yeah (not that we were surprised). Dr. Herrick figured she may be a bit scared about standing much and recommended we try & get the other kids to distract her to see if she'll do it...and she will/does. She sure does seem scared, though - terrified, actually. Cutie pie.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Monday was a great family day and a wonderful day for a birthday. Happy Birthday, Anne! (aka Anne-boo, Boo, "Sweet Pea", Annie, etc.) What a great girl, a priceless little happy girl. She's content "scootching" around the house, getting to what she needs or wants. She likes music (great at moving to the music) and seems to also really like playing with shoelaces. Her favorite words are: "Momma," "Bubba," and an occasional "Dadda." I love how happy and full of smiles this laid back girl is. The year has gone quickly and she is such a blessing. Jacob made a great comment on her birthday morning, "Mom, is Anne one now?" I said, "Yes, Jacob, she is." He said, "She doesn't look different to me." Hee, hee. He thought she still looked like a baby; I don't want her to change too quickly! I don't mind if she waits a while to walk, either; I'm in no hurry to see her grow up more!

A Wonderful Bare Foot Walk on...

my kitchen floor! Ha, ha. Today I did that. After I mopped the floor, I just had to do it. I know it doesn't always last long, but I had to experience that clean clean feeling of the floor right after it's mopped. I basically feel like I mop sections every day due to spills or sticky messes, but this was the whole kitchen, entryway, and family room. They boys wondered what I was up to, and before I knew it, everyone was walking around bare foot. Kind of funny. Enjoying it while it lasts. Ha.

Sweet Anne

How can it be that she's going to be one in just a few days? The time just flies by. She's doing so well. We are all enjoying her interaction these days. She's much more intentional about her sounds and actions. She'll mimic a lot of what we say, claps all the time, is full of smiles, and has now been working on her fake laugh/cough. She's so much fun. Her favorite food? Well, she's totally not picky. It's wonderful. And, it appears she's going to be able to tolerate regular milk (Jacob & Leah were allergic at the age of 1 so they drank rice milk)! She's not walking yet, but that is totally ok with me. I love watching her get all around the house (not the stairs) and we can just watch what it is she is trying to get. The kids love her dearly and they all watch out for her and can always make her smile. Don't grow too fast my sweetie!

How Could I Forget?

Faster than a speeding bullet, stronger than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPERMAN!

So in the midst of my nostalgia, I can't believe I forgot to mention what the boys are totally into lately. Well, Jacob has been a big Superman fan for a while (at least since Halloween). I decided to get some Superman episodes on DVD from the library and they have been getting to watch a few in the past few days. Currently they've been from Season 5 & 6. These are the old Superman episodes. You know, the ones with the great screen effects & stuff. Anyway, it's been actually entertaining for all of us. I do remember watching some of these episodes as a kid. It's fun watching the boys enjoy them and tell me about them, "Mom, Superman flew all the way...(insert anything)...and he was able to save (insert someone)...etc., etc."

Now I'm thinking I need to check into the Lone Ranger! Now that's classic, too!

A Happy and Nostalgic Father's Day

What a wonderful day to celebrate all the important fathers in our life. We had a great day. We went to Mass, then over to Grandpa Dan & Grandma Sally's for brunch. After that, we came home for Anne to take a nap and Patrick took the rest of the kids to the pool for a little while. We had Shrimp Scampi, vegetables, and corn on the cob for dinner followed by Tippin's French Silk Pie and/or Chocolate Sheet Cake for dessert. Yummy.

A number of things today had me thinking back to my childhood and having some nostalgia about some things: recipes, dishes, and corn on the cob.
- recipes:
So I decided to pick a recipe for brunch at Dan & Sally's and I made "Donna Mueller's" coffee cake. Funny that this recipe had this name for so many years. Patrick has often wondered why it's always "DonnaMueller," said altogether and very quickly as if it's a one syllable name. Then, for dessert tonight, I made chocolate sheet cake for the first time. I was telling the kids how my mom used to make it often when I was a kid and I really enjoyed it with a big glass of milk. Smelling it and tasting it, I just felt like, wow, what a familiar taste; it had been a while.

- dishes:
When I was making dinner, I decided to wash some of the bowls & pots I had used during the process. I need to keep my motivations straight - I was doing this since I had just emptied the dishwasher for the second time today and was trying to avoid filling it right back up with all the big items. So, I was washing them to save myself some work later. Anyway, while washing, I had two thoughts: 1) should we get rid of our dishwasher for family bonding and stress relief purposes, and 2) the thought, once again of Grandma Rita's washing methods in her ceramic sink (aka LOUD). I don't think I'll ever forget how she washed dishes so quickly and sloshed the dishes & water all around. As far as getting rid of my dishwasher, I was thinking how it was actually a bit relaxing to stand there and just work on that; to put out of my mind any other chores I could be doing and actually afford myself a few minutes of quiet (other than the sloshing of dishes, ha). Hmm, it was actually kind of nice, forcing myself to slow down for a bit. Then the other issue of the family bonding benefits of washing dishes. You could ask my siblings if they agree; well, I guess mostly Lissy (doubt that Beth & Ben ever really did many dishes). Wow, every night for a long time, I can recall the two of us doing dishes. Boy, sometimes, or was it most of the time, that we'd fight about it? But, I do also know that it was simply additional time together, interacting, talking, etc. Are there enough benefits to make me get rid of my dishwasher. NO WAY, but the thoughts were still good and it probably wouldn't be a bad thing, just can't imagine going back. The next load is primed, too, just waiting for a couple more before another cycle.

- corn on the cob:
Just a short comment on this. So, I remember eating quite a bit of corn on the cob as a kid. Patrick & I were discussing something that we have none of, but both vividly recall - the corn on the cob push pin type things you'd poke into the ends of the ears to hold the corn with. I remember different decorative ones: ears of corn, pigs, other animals, etc. Kind of funny to remember that we had them; now we just hold the corn. Seemed like they were a pretty common thing to have around the house.

The Price of Clothes

This weekend, the Wall Street Journal had an article about large families that I found interesting. It talked about the fact that having a large family with good parenting "is easier than people think." Some of the points they made were based on comparisons/studies of twins raised apart and then adopted children in a family. They said that basically, there were several things that parents do (or don't do for that matter), that in the big picture, don't really matter. Point: basically made it look like a lot of worrying that parents do or ways that parents try to prepare their children for life don't really matter. Now it's not that anyone is saying good parenting isn't necessary or anything, but in their comparisons, they kind of said that to a great extent, some things parents do simply don't make a difference. For example, in identical twins raised in separate families (and thus a somewhat different environment), that they grew up to be basically equivalent in intelligence, happiness, etc. Anyway, if the article is of interest, I'm sure it can be located. My main point with this is the comment Leyton made to me when he knew I was reading it.

Leyton said, "Mom, I know that having a lot of kids can be expensive." I asked him what made him say something like that. He said that it was because clothes can cost a lot for a lot of people. Wow. Not sure where that came from. But, I did take advantage of the moment to let him know how special he and his siblings are to us. I simply reminded him that no matter what, we are so happy to have our family and we would much rather have them (and the need to buy clothes for our kids) than not have them around. I told him that, yes, most things do cost money, but that we can do our best to use our resources wisely, provide for our family, share things, etc., but again, that every dollar spent couldn't compare to the amount of joy we feel from having all of them. He gave a big smile and we shared a good hug. Such a great kid...along with our four others.

Sweet Dreams, Princess

Moments after she dozed off tonight...

A Great Quote for Mom

Tonight Jacob told me what he's said several times before and always gives me a chuckle: "Mom, you're the best mom I ever had."

Hmm, thank goodness I know I don't have a lot of competition, hee hee. But, I do appreciate the intended compliment.

The Awe and Amazement...

The kids saw their first real rainbow last night. So wonderful to watch their enjoyment and hear their commentary.

Branson, MO, 2010

What a fun trip! This year we did actually accomplish the whole Kuenzel clan gathering in one place for vacation. Grandpa Jerry & Grandma Donna, The Grahams, us, Ben & Rachel, and Beth, Robert, & Mya all made the trip. Although everyone wasn't there at the same time for too long, it was nice getting a chance to get everyone together.

We arrived on Saturday (the day after the kids were out of school) and then Patrick was able to stay until Monday night before having to head home for work. Sunday, Patrick & the kids went to downtown Branson to walk around a bit. Monday we went to Silver Dollar City and had lots of fun. Tuesday (and every day) we went swimming. Thursday's highlight was that Leyton & Nathaniel made tie-dye t-shirts. They did a great job and had lots of fun with that. Thanks, Grandma Donna, for helping them! Friday was check-out and time to head home. We were happy to have a nice week, but we sure enjoyed getting home to see Patrick again. And, the fun didn't end there - that weekend was Memorial Day weekend and we went to the Jiggle Jam on Saturday and had a wonderful time. The kids loved it and it was a great summer kickoff. Who could go wrong with Funky Mama, Mr. Stinky Feet, The Doo-dads, The Jimmmies, and the one and only Ralph's World. That was my first time to see Ralph's World and he was wonderful. Nathaniel & Patrick went up on stage, and Leyton had his picture taken with Ralph after the show. What fun.

Progress on the Home Front

Ah-ha! It has taken us a while, but we've made it...for the past almost year since we moved, the kids have mostly enjoyed this house as well and/or better than the last. All except for Jacob that is. I think it has probably been his age and his sense of security that has impacted this in my opinion, but he held on to the idea that he liked the old house better for probably at least 8 months. When we asked him why, he typically said he liked having his own room and that his room was blue - nothing we can't create here, but nonetheless, that was his commentary. Then, we went a few months without talking much about it. But in the last few weeks, he has finally been saying that he likes this house better and he wants to live here forever (yes, he does tell me he'll want to live with me when he's older and married). He is such a sweetie.

Smiles from Vacation (5/24/10)

Vacation Recap to Come

So I'm a bit behind on the vacation details from recent weeks. It will come, but not tonight. Time for sleep!

True Motivation

I start by saying I love my family, I love being a mom to my children and I love being a wife to my husband. I also say, though, that it is true that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their own choices. I do my best not to judge others for their decisions. I know I'm not perfect, but I depend on my faith and trying to associate with people who may support the values and ways that Patrick & I try to live by and teach to our children. However, we know that we often find ourselves out of the norm. Doesn't really bother me too much, but there are still times when a comment, a look, etc., can really affect (aka hurt) me. A recent situation has led me to think about this more. So tonight, I found myself listening to a song that really has an impact on me and reminds me of where my true motivation should be. It helps me in dealing with a difficult or hurtful situation. It is called: "I'm waiting" by John Waller. A reminder that I shouldn't let situations hurt me, but know that I'm working on bigger and more important life goals.

In addition, I found an email that I received a few years back that I have kept because I really enjoy the perspective. It is called, "The case for large families" by Michael Pakaluk, professor of philosophy at Clark University, lives in Cambride, MA. I think he makes several excellent points and I keep this and read it every now and again. Simply put, there's a comment toward the end about jogging through the park vs. walking through the park with five of his children that I especially enjoy.

YES! What a great thing to hear...

Tonight we were all talking about the laundry that was sitting on the family room floor before bedtime. Then Leyton started tracing letters in the air that I couldn't make out since he was going pretty quickly. I asked him what he said. He said, "Can I fold clothes?" Any thoughts on my answer to that? Go right ahead, my son! Ha. Then Nathaniel, Jacob, and Leah chimed in that they wanted to help. Then I literally heard, "Mom, folding clothes is fun!" They were busy with towels, shorts, etc. Then, "Mom, can you show me the right way to do shirts?" Wow, now this was great! Can I hope for this to continue? They were bummed when we had to head upstairs since we didn't finish. I assured them that I could have laundry every day for them to fold. Nathaniel said, "Every day?!" with a smile. Perfect. So, just for their sake, I didn't finish folding it tonight so we could work on it tomorrow. We'll see if they're still interested. Either way, I appreciate the help!

"Mom" still has a sense of reality...

Today I mentioned I was ready to go get my hair cut. I asked all the kids to get their shoes on. Done. Then Leah said to me, "Mom, 'cuz I am a mom. I will take you to get your hair cut."
Me: "You will? Thank you, Mom. Will you drive me there?"
Leah: "No, Mom. I can't DRIVE! 'Cuz you are the REAL mom! YOU need to drive."
Ok, ok. So it was kind of funny how adamant she was despite her eternal pretending. Hee hee.

Addendum to the mom story...Jacob's comment

So as I mentioned Leah's portrayal of a mom quite frequently, tonight there was a quite enjoyable comment from Jacob about it. Obviously he is aware of her frequent trend lately of being a mom. She was in the bath and I was getting Anne ready for bed. Jacob was walking around looking for me and calling for me. I tried to answer, but he didn't hear me. He did hear Leah, though, responding that "Mom" was in the bath. Jacob saw her in the bath and his priceless reply, "No, where's the REAL mom, the one that's bigger?"

Leah: "I am a mom."

Leah is in the cutest stage of pretending and I just love interacting with her in her own little world. One of her big things lately has been that she'll pretend that she's a mom. She'll just come in the room, "Mom, I am a mom." Sometimes I'm a little girl, but other times not. She just plays it up and I love it. I also enjoy the moment as she says she does want to be a mom when she grows up...my own little feelings of being special to her - that she wants to be a mom (just as the boys, though, want to be fire fighters, police, ambulance drivers, etc.). Today she said, "Mom, I am a mom." I replied, "Oh, and you are a wonderful mom."
She said, "Today I am going to drive to Chick-Fila and I will get you some chocolate milk."
(She and Jacob love going there - I enjoy it, too. Kind of our special little get away during the week every now and then).
"Oh thank you, Mom," I told her.
Amongst all of this, she is batting her cute little lashes and blinking her big eyes.

Grandma Mary Kuenzel

6-13-1925 -- 5/13/2010

One month shy of 85. We'll miss you Grandma.

Fast as a ...

Yesterday I was trying to motivate Jacob to quickly get buckled so we could head to school. I told him, "Let's go, Jacob, let's be super fast like a..." The next thing I planned to say was 'race car', but before I had the chance, Jacob said, "Like a cheeto?"

Took me a minute and gave me a chuckle. Then my reply, "Yes, Jacob, like a cheetah."

Jacob's Mothers Day Gift

Jacob made the cutest poster for me at school this week and his gift to me was a decorated (by him) flower pot with a nice flower. He did a great job. The poster was a list of questions & answers about his mom. Here's a touch of what he reported...
1. My mom's name is: Mom
2. My mom is ___ years old: 20
3. My mom's hair is: black
4. My mom's favorite thing to do is: playing with me
5. My mom likes to shop at: everywhere
6. My mom likes to eat: mint chocolate chip ice cream
7. My mom likes to _______ with me: play Playmobil
8. I like to ___ with my mom: play.

I was very touched and happy to read all his answers. On the other side of the poster, he had a paper cut out flower pot with flowers, a picture of us on his first day of school, and then at the top, he wrote, "I love you, Mom." I love you, Jacob! So much.

What a Wonderful Mothers Day!

Today was such a wonderful day. We started with Mass at 9am then we went to Barbara & Stu's house for a brunch as today was also Grandpa Dan's birthday. Then we came back home to relax. We had been planning to make homemade ice cream, so the kids helped me do that this afternoon so we could have it for dessert tonight. Then Patrick made a wonderful dinner of BBQ grilled shrimp, salad, grilled vegetables, and bread. He also made a strawberry angel food cake dessert as well. The kids each gave me a bottle of lotion or bubble bath and I'm getting ready to use it tonight. They also made me the most wonderful cards. Leyton & Nathaniel each gave me ones with their handprint on it since, "we know you like to see how big our hands are." It's true, I do enjoy that. One of their cards included a great poem called, "Hands." It was very cute and I know I'll keep it in my special things of theirs to always hold on to. Hard to believe how they're all growing and changing to so quickly.

I feel very blessed today and always...and it sure was nice getting catered to a bit!

Happy Mothers Day to all!

Playdate with Mya

Thanks for the playdate "Baby Mya"!

Backyard Fun

Fun from last weekend's nice weather (I had already posted Leah's)...