He's Gone

Its been a little bit of a rough day.
I think this whole thing kinda hit me last night at the dinner table.
Don't get me wrong. I've had moments of panic here and there since we made the decision last year that Rich was going to go to South Africa this year.
It's been a calling that has tugged on his heart for years. And years. And years.
And each year in the past, it hasn't been the right time.
Someone (me) has been pregnant, or nursing, or pregnant, or nursing, etc.
This year was the first one that the timing was right.

I was a little excited to see how I was going to do by myself with the kids. And nervous. And scared.
But glad for a chance to prove to myself that I could do it.

But then last night, after we had spent the whole day together, I had a *minor* breakdown at the table.
And the kids watched with gaping mouths as I tried to pretend I wasn't crying, while trying to eat spaghetti.
That was a rough meal.

Then this morning we had to say "see you later".
There were some tears.
Who are we kidding. There were LOTS of tears.
Between me, and 4 kids, and (sshhhhh, don't tell anyone I said this) him, there were lots and lots and lots of tears.
And a few "Wow mom. I've never seen you cry before." and "Are there really tears dripping off your chin?" 
And then there was Nolan was just crying to fit in.

So, Day 1 - aka - Sad Day.
Done.
Survived.
Onto Day 2.

Cuddles

Its not every day that big sis gets to cuddle with littlest little while he sleeps. 
Pretty sweet.

Loosing Teeth

Cannon yanked out a tooth at school a few weeks ago, and then followed it up with an encore performance while watching TV.

I am now almost fully convinced these kids are not mine.

Although my queasiness with teeth has faded a bit as I have watched all of theirs come in, and fall out, I am still completely grossed out with all things teeth...and would certainly not ever, in a million years, never, ever, ever get excited to pull my own out.  Ever. 

Anyways, his tooth fairy pillow has gotten some use, and the notes that he sends to the fairy, are pretty funny.  And sometimes, when the tooth fairy remembers to collect the note, and the tooth, his replies are pretty funny too. 

Good times. Good times.

Time With the Littles

Daddy has been trying to spend some extra time with each of the kids before he leaves. 
I think he's starting to get nervous about leaving.
He keeps cracking jokes that once he's gone I will realize that he doesn't do much around here.

Uh...no. I already know that.

Turkey, Turkey, Turkey

I hosted Thanksgiving this year.
I'm the "lucky" one...I guess.

Besides the fact that I tried to fit WAAAAAYYY to many people around our table, the night went very, very well.

Thanksgiving 2012

My cousin pinned this cute printable on Pinterest, and I printed it out and let the kids fill in the blanks. We each got to have two lines, but Brynn was the secretary and wrote it all down.  There were MANY phonetically spelled words.

Rich had a hard time coming up with just two things...so he left his blank.  I'm sure that he is grateful for stuff....but he was thinking so long and hard about it that we all kinda lost interest, and left the table, and never got back to it.

I had to appease the "crowd" too, and just list the hubs, and the kids, but realistically, my list is deeper then that.  Of course I'm thankful for Rich, and the zoo crew.  But I'm also thankful for a strong healthy marriage, for a husband who's my best friend. I'm thankful for kids who have such an amazing ability to forgive me when I've lost my temper, or my words were harsh, or my attitude less then ideal.  I'm thankful for a God whose mercies are new every morning.  I'm thankful for friends who share in my slight obsession with Pinterest.  I'm thankful for two loving parents who support me in ways that I can't even begin to describe.  And I'm even thankful for in laws who show me love in ways that are different...but are none the less very appreciated. 

When all this is said, I realize (again) that I am a pretty lucky girl.
And I don't want to forget to be thankful.
Ever.

Happy Birthday Nolan!

The little guy is finally 2.  His age now matches his personality!
Yay. 
So glad that we got all caught up on that.

After we woke him up with a "Happy Birthday" song, he handed us his pants. 
Its a common occurance lately.
 
He actually asked for pancakes, and actually started to eat them until he opened a gift.

And then food was forgotten.

I never do much for the kids 2nd birthday. 
Just some family over, sharing a meal, enjoying the evening together.

Not sure who invited this guy....


He loved his cake, but I think he loved the ice cream more.

That's a big chunk of cake that got pushed off the plate in order to lick all the melted ice cream off. 

Yeah. That's how we roll.

Happy birthday to my littlest little. 
You know when he's been there, because something will be broken, spilled or destroyed. 
You know when he's left because its just too quiet. 
You know when he's near, because he will be hanging on my leg. 
You know when he's far, because you will see me running off to catch him. 
He's my one green-eyed boy, in a sea of blue eyed kids. 
He's my full time job.
Happy Birthday Nolan!

Beginning to Feel Like Christmas!

Church is doing the BEST series right now.
I absolutely LOVE it!

"Live Simply".
Enough said.
It's totally my cup "o" tea.

Each week we get a project, and I did two in one week because I knew it was going to get hectic toward the end of the month as Rich's trip gets closer.
(deep breath...)

We filled a bag of groceries,
and filled a couple of boxes for "Operation Christmas Child".

I love how my kids personalities come out while they packed their boxes.
Brynn had everything laid out precisely in the box, and it fit perfectly.

Cannon just shoved everything in, and practically had to sit on the lid to get it to close.

 
And then Brynn re-packed his box.
 

 Dropping these off,
and seeing the kids as they handed them over...
Best. Feeling. Ever.

Lincoln Logs

Did you ever play with these when you were a kid?
I did.
We had a huge set, and we used to make the BEST houses!

Now Cannon shares the love of the logs with me.
We can build together...or he can do it himself after he tells me to leave, cause he doesn't like my ideas...whatever.

The Big 35

I did it! I crossed the thresh hold of my "mid thirties"!
I don't feel like I'm 35. I feel 20...25...30....34.
Some days I feel younger then that....33 maybe?

Rich asked what I wanted for my birthday breakfast.
Uhhhh....Bacon. Of course!
I guess that it would be obscene to just eat that, so I also asked for Orange Cinnamon Rolls, and Eggs.
Perfect meal, by the way.

My birthday gifts started coming a little early when my mom bought me these curtains that I have searching for....for a long time.

And then I texted the hubs and told him to buy hinted to Rich that I would like this for my gift.  Another treasure that I have been looking for since, well, forever.

On my birthday, we spent a relaxing morning hanging around the house, riding my new bike (eek) in the street, and playing with the two littles that were home with us.

 Then we dropped them off and went and had lunch...a very yummy, very much craved Salami and Brie with Roasted Red Peppers, Olivada, and Chimi Churi on wheat sandwich.
At Korbel...sigh.
*Fun fact- I used to work there, and I was really good at my job.*
 
 
We walked around the place for a bit, snapped some pics, and then headed home to pick up the other two kids from school and hung out with my parents until dinner.  My mom made a huge spaghetti dinner, invited the whole family over, and we ate, and ate, and ate.   We had cake, ice cream, and good times.

See those wrinkles around my eyes?
When I was a little girl, I used to look at my dad when he smiled and laughed and think..."When I'm old, I want lines like that around my eyes, cause they crinkle when he smiles."
And now I have them.
And you know what?
I've earned them.
Every.
Single.
One.
And I'm ok with that.

Halloween

We had a Dog, a Rock Star, a Chinese Girl, and a Ninja this year.
And rain.
Lots and lots of rain.
Which made the parade at school "fun" to watch,
and trick or treating nearly impossible. (Fine with me, by the way.)

Yay! We survived!

Harvest Fair

I decided to enter something in the local Harvest Fair this year.  I have always wanted to, and love the fact that you get a free ticket to get in if you enter.
The family loved that I tested out dessert recipes that I've pinned on Pinterest on them for weeks before the entry date.  I got lots of good feedback (Mom- this is the grossest thing you've ever made), (Wow. This dessert actually makes my teeth hurt), (Maybe don't EVER make this one again). So when I finally made one that everyone loved, I went for it!

I baked it on the hottest day of the week...cause I'm cool like that.
 

 I got my claim check, and waited until fair weekend to find out how my yummy oatmeal lemon bars did!  (and hoped and prayed that they wouldn't turn to food sickness inducing goo because of the heat and lack of refrigeration....)  

When we got there, we wandered all over looking at all the cool harvesty stuff, and decided that next year we are all entering stuff so that we can all get in for free!

Finally we got to the food stuff....(drum roll please) and we saw this!!!! 

    

 I won!!! 

It was my moment of glory. My brief, small second of stardom.  Just let me enjoy it....

And then this came in the mail.  Cha ching!!!

 

Here's the "Award Winning Recipe" - and I use that term loosely...

Oatmeal Lemon Creme Bars
1/2 cup cold butter
1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® oatmeal cookie mix
1 egg
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
3 teaspoons lemon zest
1/3 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square pan with non stick spray.
2. In a large bowl cut the cold butter into the cookie mix with a fork or pastry blender.
3. Stir in the egg until the mixture is crumbly.
4. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the greased pan and bake it in the oven for 15 minutes.
5. In a small bowl mix the sweetened condensed milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice until thick and combined.
6. Spread lemon mixture over baked crust and evenly crumble remaining dough on the top.
7. Bake another 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Let cool and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set. Cut into bars and store in the refrigerator.

Afternoon Pickup

On a good day I get to sit in silence while we wait for the big kids to walk the path to the car after school. I love those days! Sitting there, reading, listening to snoring from the seats behind me.
So peaceful!!!

Hot Wheels

May day!
May day!

Hot Wheels down!
I repeat!
Hot Wheels. Down!

Please send help.
And a plumber....

Date Night

Rich took the 3 littles backpacking a while back, which left me and the littlest little home.
Alone.
Together.
For almost 24 hours.

I didn't know if I would survive it. 
Seriously.

We had dinner, and I decided to be brave and take him to get fro yo, all by myself.

Don't mock me. This kid takes two adults on a good day to control in a public setting.
He bolts, he runs, he's constantly putting his hands in gross places like a trash can, or the gutter, or the grate thingy in the bathroom on the floor by the toilet. 
He requires constant supervision.

Anywho, we did relatively well.  He had a *small* vat of yogurt, and I armed myself with napkins, and a mop to clean up the residue.
The worker at the shop was impressed (...or relieved) when we left.  He gave me a big smile, and a thumbs up.  Again, I'm not sure what for.

Date night with the littlest little...always an adventure!