The Weekend

This was a really fun, unusual weekend for our family. Through a friend we heard about a 4 year old, purebred Siberian Husky that needed a family. Before we knew it, Snowball (we're changing his name to Balto) had joined our family! He is a calm and gentle dog who reminds me of a great big polar bear! We have wanted a dog for many years and, since offers like this one don't come around every day, we jumped at the opportunity. The kids have fallen in love with him, and he has already brought a lot of fun to our family. We asked Baby Boy if he liked our new dog. He answered, "No, I YUUUUUUUUV him!!!"

Yesterday was Father's Day. I couldn't help but reminisce over the past decade. Ten years ago Stephen and I hadn't even met, and here we find ourselves sitting around the table with four precious children (and a massive dog!) in our very own home. I am so thankful for Stephen and the life we share. I love replaying the memories we've made - from our initial meeting, our whirlwind romance, the birth of our babies, the move to our first home... These have been the best years of my life!

I'd like to take a little trip down memory lane and share some pictures from our parenting adventure...

Papoose in His Sunday Best...

He looked so cute, I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Of the dozens I took, we managed to get some great ones...

If I Can't Stand the Heat...

Why the heck did I spend THIS weekend in the kitchen?!

We had our first weekend of blistering heat and 110 percent humidity. Of all the times to begin my monthly cooking extravaganza, this was definitely the worst!!!

I have been melting over stock pots of simmering food with the oven and microwave blasting heat in my face.

The combination of the high temps and humidity was causing some pretty strange occurences in my kitchen. Not once, by twice, the cork flew out of my wine bottle on the counter!! (Couldn't resist turning that one into a scientific discussion with the kids). Then my meat thermometer blew up. I am seeking some respite in my cool basement while my sauce and soup simmer and trying to convince myself that this is worth the effort...

The one bright side of this day was my kids' enthusiasm and willingness to help me with this huge undertaking. Sis was appointed "Sous Chef" and cheerfully peeled and stirred for me. Buddy was my "Go For Guy" and made several trips to locate ingredients in the pantry closet. Their positive attitudes spurred me on! It sure will be nice to pull those meals out of the freezer on hot days when I don't feel like cooking.

To Put a Smile on Your Face...

Baby Boy has blossomed lately. Becoming a big brother has transformed him from a shy, clingy baby to a precocious,independent toddler. Here are some funny things he has come out with recently.

Weaning this little guy has been a drawn-out, emotional process. Recently he told me with brave resolve, "I CAN'T NURSE. I don't want to nurse!"

When Sis and I were heading out the door for a haircut he asked,"You and Sis are going to California?"

On a hot night, Daddy didn't wear a shirt to bed. Baby Boy asked in disbelief,"Mommy, why is Daddy taking a shower in his bed?!"

I asked the kids who spilled water on the floor. Baby Boy answered, "Maybe I did that. I don't know. I don't care."

Baby Boy and I have begun to do kickboxing aerobics together in the morning. He grabs his sneakers and joins me with enthusiasm. When he started to lose interest the other day, I asked him if he wanted to do what Mommy was doing. He answered, "No, I'm to yittle to dance."

"Mommy!!! Sis hit me for a few hours!!!!"

"I had fun in church. I sat in Daddy's yap!"

Commenting on Uncle Adam's new haircut, "Mommy, why is Adam's hair so BEAUFULL?"

Baby boy ran around with the fly swatter yesterday, announcing that he was killing AMPS (ants).

Surviving Summer Vacation

My sister presented me with a funny wall hanging. It's a picture of a completely stressed out/exhausted toddler and the following quote: "Any idiot can face a crisis - it's this day-to-day living that wears you out" (Anton Checkhov). I guess she knew from experience how my first week of summer vacation might play out!!!!


After our super day at the park on Monday, things went downhill. It has not stopped raining, and the kids are literally bouncing off the walls. On Wednesday, we counted the hours until it was time for our favorite library program. I packed up the kids (2 of whom were tired and screaming), and we headed over, only to find out that we were 6 days early! My mom was brave enough to visit us mid-week and agreed that my livingroom looked like a scene from "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium." You know the part when the toystore became possessed? Flying bouncing balls, screaming youngsters, chaos in every form imaginable...

The week culminated with a scramble to the doctor's office for my postpartum checkup. I had to transport 2 sleeping boys from their beds to the car while reprimanding my firstborn for tracking mud over my freshly mopped floor and putting the finishing touches on my grocery list. I was halfway to town (my heartrate had just returned to a safe range) when a timid voice in the back seat reminded me that I had forgotten to put shoes on my two year old and asked me how I was going to carry both him and his baby brother inside in the pouring rain. At that point my two options were to burst into tears or laugh hysterically at the challenge ahead of me. I am pleased to say I opted for the latter response.

I was so relieved when a good friend and fellow homeschooling mother of 4 (also with a newborn) called me in a panic, admitting that their vacation wasn't going so great either and suggesting that we might all need a little more structure. We brainstormed together on how to keep the little ones out of mischief and their mothers sane. The kids and I now have a scheduled time of family devotions, chores, and assorted memory work in the mornings (catechisms, poetry, Latin...). On a good morning we can complete all of this by 9:30 and be ready for the 9 or 10 remaining hours of play before Daddy comes home.

As for my own personal projects, I have begun a monthly cooking coop with my mom and sister. Each of us is cooking 21 meals to share with the others. My mom is doing the chicken dinners. Krista is cooking the beef/ground turkey stuff, and I'm doing the assorted pork, beans, soups, casseroles that don't really fit into those other categories. I'm really excited to see how it works out! Hopefully we'll all save some time and money in the process. Feeding a large family on one income is a daunting task these days...

My garden is flourishing with all of this rain. I have a remaining 1/3 to plant as soon as the sun comes out.

Other goals for the summer include fitting in some local field trips for the kids, keeping up with 10 loads of laundry and cloth diapers each week, organizing my curriculum for the fall, and providing the kids with a huge dose of fun in the sun. All we need now is some sun!

Papoose is 7 weeks old!

Hard to believe that Papoose is already 7 weeks old... He is such a delight to our family and is rewarding us with BIG smiles (showing off his one dimple).

Completion!

We closed our very last school book on Thursday. What an immense sense of accomplishment we feel! Despite morning sickness, the challenges of pregnancy, Stephen's five business trips to California and the adjustments of life with a newborn, we managed to have a really productive, enjoyable school year. It's neat to think that Big Sis is now entering the grade during which I began my homeschooling journey (4th grade). Baby boy keeps asking to do his "independent work" with the kids. It's fun to think that he'll be ready for some structured preschool activities in the fall.

On Friday we took off for a special day to celebrate the end of our academic year. It began with a trip to the pottery studio (where we made a plaque of Papoose's little hand and foot prints). Then we met some friends at Squam Lakes Science Center for a delightful stroll through their wooded trails. I'll post some pics of the critters we met along the way. I think that we were most impressed by the black bear since his twin brother paid a trip to our neighborhood last week!