Monsters at the Grocery Store!

Yesterday I went to the grocery store with Leyton, Nathaniel, and Jacob to pick up just a couple of items. We were somewhat in a hurry, but everyone was keeping up. We walked past the meat and seafood counter, and the boys noticed the lobster tank. They quickly asked what they were and why they were there. Then the big boys wanted to walk back and take another peek. Jacob, though, didn't decide he needed a peek until after we were pretty much past them and he called out, "Mom, I want to see the monsters, too!"

After a quick explanation, he understood there were actually no monsters at the grocery store. I'm sure the butchers got a kick out of our conversation; I know I did.

Sweetheart of the Day

Nathaniel was my sweetheart of the day. He was just so sweet to his brothers and to Leah, I just enjoyed seeing it so much. He also really helped me out. He was a great assistance with the oil spill of 2008 and just with keeping peace in the house in general. Tonight, also, when I was tired and trying to get the kids to help me out with picking up and staying peaceful while I made dinner, he really made my day. I was in the kitchen and he came in and said, "Mom, I know what would help. How 'bout if I give you a kiss and a hug. Would that help you out?" Oh, Nathaniel, more than you know. I told him how sweet it was and that I loved it. He told me that he loved me and that he thought that was what I needed. Thank you!

Leah walking, walking, walking

Leah has figured out she can walk faster than crawl now and it's very cute to watch her just toddle around the house all day. Cute as ever for all spectators to enjoy.

Ideas for the day: patience, reconsideration of buying in bulk

Oh what a morning. We were off to a pretty good start I would say in that everyone was pretty happy. The kids were playing, and I took a minute to change Leah's diaper. Jacob wanted a granola bar, which are in a box on a reachable shelf in the laundry room. I told him that he could get one. In a moment, he was calling, "Mom, I need help. Mommy, can you help me?" He wasn't frantic or injured, just wanting help. I assured him I would be there soon. I finished with Leah & took the diaper to the trash & stopped to see what Jacob was up to. I could not have predicted what had occurred. He was standing behind the laundry room door basically trapped, but safe. Trapped by what? Well, it somehow happened that the value purchase I made at Costco not too long ago had come back to haunt me! It was a bottle/jug - 4.73 liter bottle/jug - of vegetable oil which some how lost its cap and was now poured out all over my laundry room floor! Yikes! I'm sure he didn't mean for it to happen, but it was still quite the ordeal to handle. I had to get him out without stepping in the 1/4-1/2 inch of oil on the floor, clean it up, and keep everyone else out while doing so. Leah, however, was VERY curious and wanted to come in the room and see what I was up to and/or be held. So, she sat and cried every time I tried to put her further out of the way. Nathaniel responded & helped me get towels & even said, "To the rescue, Mom" when he ran to get more towels for me. I managed to get up all the oil I could (there may still be a bit under the washer & dryer - we have to check on that), mop the floor in there as well as the kitchen floor as there were a few shiny little footprints throughout the kitchen at this point. The next step - laundering the towels! I'm hoping that my process worked well enough to get the towels clean and the washer & dryer oil-free. I washed everything in Dawn 3 times and then ran the washer with Dawn as just an empty load. In retrospect, no complaints, just completely not the morning I expected. I remind myself, though, that worse things could happen! No one was injured or lost and it all worked out okay. Who needs all that oil anyway! Ha, ha.

Cute Vocabulary

Jacob was eating some leftover birthday cake today from Patrick's birthday yesterday: "Mmm, this is DELICIOUS."

Today we went to the mall for a bit to play since it was cold & rainy. I felt like buying a new bottle or two of bubble bath so we went to Bath & Body Works. The boys goofed around, as usual, looking, smelling, touching all the bottles. When we waited in line to pay, they were smelling all the different votives and Leyton & Nathaniel were saying, "Oooh, this one is DELIGHTFUL." "Oh, this one is also DELIGHTFUL." I had to chuckle & enjoy the moment - truly delightful.

Thoughts from the last week

The last week has been somewhat of a whirlwind. Between Uncle Larry passing away at only 51 years, us traveling to the funeral and back, and then reviewing some conversations in my mind, it's another one of those days when I just feel very fortunate, blessed, lucky, you name it. Life is short and it reminds me to keep my priorities straight. These thoughts have focused primarily on family and my children.

I guess one thing sticking in my mind is from talking with Lissy about children and large families. It was mentioned to her about how maybe others may have a different perspective on family size, which is obvious to me daily whenever I go anywhere. But, she told me about some comments she heard from a cousin last week which was basically saying why have a lot of kids, maybe it's kind of crazy, and "it's not like everyone's farming anymore (i.e. don't need to raise 10 farm-hands like in days past)." In any event, I was surprised to hear these comments were made, yet it did make me look at simply the difference in perspective as to how a parent sees his/her children. I would suppose some think of their children as maybe an expected next step after marriage, or maybe a possession, or maybe a burden, I don't really know. But, if on the other hand, you think of your children as miracles, blessings, eternal optimism, gifts - why then would you not want as many as God sends? Yes, it can be tiring and very challenging to raise your children to be the best people they can be, but as far as work goes, it's a very fulfilling type of work that offers repayment many times over with each smile, each "I love you", each milestone, each simple day. Not much can compete with that.

I read once & found it interesting when a father said that he can run through a park in the morning and others will wave at him and even though they may never participate in the running or similar exercise, it seems people still appreciate and support what he's doing. However, he said, why isn't the same true if he's walking through the park with five of his children? Interesting point.

Officially Off to the Races

Well, Leah is officially walking all over. She's been walking steps here and there for the past 3 or so weeks, but last Wed./Thurs. I feel like she's officially walking. She's cute when she's sitting in the middle of the room and just gets up and starts walking to me. What's also very cute is the huge cheering section she has in her brothers. It gives her the biggest grin and she does those early walking steps (you know kind of like Frankenstein, with the legs not bending much, but much cuter). Hard to believe how different it is to see her walking. Makes me think back to each of the kids' first steps. I know with Leyton & Nathaniel, we were so excited about the progress and just so eager for it to happen. As each child is so special and the time flies, I feel with Leah, that Patrick & I both were in no hurry for this day to come. A whole new phase. He says, "Leah, can I still hold you when you walk?" Daddy's little princess for sure. Time really does fly; we enjoy each phase but are in no hurrry for anything to pass too quickly.