8 Months

Jane is almost 8 months. What in the world? But I'm always happy when my babies reach this age because this age is SO STINKIN' CUTE! Jane is a humming, grabbing, kicking, arm- flapping, kissable, stationary chubby package of absolute yumminess.

I've decided that babies create a safe, peaceful haven in my life. Much of the day I have my to-do list on my mind and get ansy to check things off, but I'm always able to put the to-do's aside during the minutes and hours spent rocking and cuddling with my babies. It is theraputic to let everything else go for a moment (many times a day) while I nurture my baby and myself in the rocking chair. I love it and will miss it when it's gone. I wonder if I'll be one of those mothers that rocks their last baby until age 10...

Blessed Jane

Babies all in white are extra beautiful.
Jane was given a special blessing by her father on June 6. We were surrounded by loving family that came to celebrate Jane. It was a wonderful day.

Each of my girls have a special blessing gown. Ivie wore my blessing dress and I made both Norah and Jane's gowns. It is delightful to create something meaningful and beautiful.

To the father of my children,

Happy Father's Day! I love you so much. I love you for the father you are to our children, I love you for the husband you are to me. You have embraced each of these callings with all of your heart, even when your back is aching or you had a hard day at work. You keep up a smile and rarely complain.

I love how you often read poetry before drifting off to sleep, how you make me laugh at your silly little sayings. You have sound judgement, a strong work ethic and a boisterous sense of humor. I love your smarts that you have worked so hard to gain. I feel well cared-for in your capable arms.

Thank you for building a home with me and for the constant dedication you show for me and our children. Thank you for working long and hard to provide for us. You sacrificed many years to get us to this point. Thank you for loving me.

Love,
Your dutiful wife and mother of your children

Dear Caleb

I absolutely adore you! What a strong young person you are full of life, ideas and energy. I appreciate how you try new things, even when those new things are scary or intimidating. You completed the soccer season, even though you were nervous for all the games. You knew that Dad and I weren't pushing you into it; you decided to see it through to the end all on your own. Remember performing your violin for recitals and the nursing home, singing "Calypso", and reciting "The Crocodile went to the Dentist" for various talent shows?

You have such a tender heart. Each morning before school, we give one another a 'kissing hand', then I watch you run off to the bus stop with your huge backpack bouncing up and down. You are so kind to me and Dad, and are a fun big brother to your sisters.

You are a grateful person and often say thanks for the most simple things that others overlook. Last week, you were so anxious for your new summer sandals to arrive in the mail and so grateful to us for getting them for you. You are a voracious learner and have become an expert in so many things (rocks, dragons, machines, animals, money).

I love your sense of humor and your contagious laugh. You laugh so easily and love to be silly. I'm proud of the person you are becoming. I'm thankful you are mine.

Love, Mom

My kitchen was raining....

Yep, at 2 am, I wander into the kitchen to make Jane a bottle only to find water pouring from the ceiling making huge puddles on my HARDWOOD floor. We all know that wood and water aren't particularly good friends, so I threw down some towels and put out some buckets to catch the rain before I ran to see what exactly was causing it. The toilet upstairs was the culprit...the kid's toilet. It became plugged, then the stupid thing continued to run spilling water onto the bathroom floor that leaked through causing the rain in my kitchen.

The hardwood is warped. I have to wear shoes or I stub my toes on all the edges popping up. But, we discovered today that when it dries out, it can be sanded down and will look fine AND the insurance will probably pay for it.

From now on, my children are allowed to use only a certain amount of TP. We will NOT have any more flooded toilets that cause rain in my kitchen.

Almost Heaven...

Yesterday was almost heaven on earth. It was a simple day, but I love simplicity.

We enjoyed on a LOOONG walk in the morning with the sun shining down, the perfect temp and spring happening all around. I got my first sunburn of the season (mostly just pink and gone by today). Jane slept for 3 hours in the stroller and Caleb drove his bike along side me talking endlessly of a crazy machine he wants to invent that can climb trees, cruise over ice, go in water and fly. The details he imagined were plentiful. (OK, the talking endlessly got a tad bit annoying!) We stopped at the park mid-walk where Norah charmed a cute 5 year old red-head into playing with her. Norah always has some stranger charmed by her utter cuteness.

Caleb and Ivie played and played all afternoon like best friends. They created some hut in the backyard where they read their beloved dragon books and imagined a world for their toy dragons named Nevesh, Hulstrom, Gracie and Toothless. I felt like I had succeeded as a mother when I heard lots of, "May I please, and Thank you" and saw them having so much fun together! Ivie even said, "Caleb is the best brother! I love him." Whoa. I wonder how long it will be until I hear that again!

I took a nap while Norah and Jane slept and Caleb and Ivie ran wild and unsupervised outside. I did ask them to say on our property though...

We spread a blanket on the lawn for a dinner picnic feast where the children ate mostly a whole bag of Bugles.

I wanted to get out and see our new hometown in the spring, so we went on a drive to some of the nearby farming communities. Oh how I love beautiful farms. To me, they represent simplicity, hard work, wholesomeness, and family.

Our drive ended with chocolate frosties.

The littles were put to bed then Caleb, Ivie and I played games until way too late. We're finally past the Candyland phase of game playing. It's actually quite fun now.

After games, we all cuddled in my bed and fell asleep...(until Jane and Norah woke me up 50 times).

It really was almost the perfect day, even though Norah drew all over herself with a permanent marker, tore down all of her wall decor above her bed (I'm stupid for putting it there I guess), dumped out her frosty and smeared it all over her high chair tray, and went #2 in the bathtub AGAIN! That is THE MOST disgusting part of motherhood.

The thing that would have truly made it heaven on earth is if Wes could have spent the day with us. But he is doing his fatherly duty to provide for his family. In this case, that means taking his final oral board exam, the last exam he will agonize over for a REALLY LONG time, perhaps even FOREVER! Goodbye to the days of tests. Thank you, Wesley for taking care of us.

I'm so thankful that sometimes I stop long enough to enjoy these little ones in my life and remember that I have a heaven on earth in my home with 4 little children and 1 practically perfect husband. I count it a great blessing to spend my days with them.

No, you can't....

...grind up crayons with my can opener.
...throw your sucker stick behind the couch.
...launch that huge boulder off the deck.
...cut up styrofoam into minuscule pieces with my butcher knife and spread it all over the backyard.
...put a stick of gum on the griddle while I'm cooking pancakes.
...sit in the wagon and ride down the hill and into the street.
...walk through my house with mud-caked shoes.
...attack my brand new black bar stools with sand paper, just to see what happens.
...put chewed gum in your shirt pocket.
...spray perfume in your sisters face.
...wipe boogers on the wall next to your bed.

A certain child of mine did not ask permission to do all of the above; he just did them. His imagination and curiosity have no limits and I love him for it!