Just some thoughts

Haven't had a chance to post this week it's been kind of busy and hard, just trying to get Jaden around a schedule (not happening so far), he thwarts all efforts. Madison has been sick this week just a bad virus, but it seems Kaleigh might be coming down with it as well, so we'll see. I have been doing a lot of praying this week, sometimes through sobbing from exhaustion, (this big family thing is hard). I feel bad when I don't have enough time to spend one on one time with each child, I constantly get I'm bored can you do this with me from one of the older too and Madison tries as she might all day for me to carry her when I am not holding Jaden or sit on my lap. At the end of the day I have been praying that I would have just the slightest bit of energy for my wonderful husband and somedays it seems to be completely spent with the exceptions of an I love you and hope you had a good day before I pass out. It's funny that our Pastor has been covering a series on Prayer and last night I was kind of convicted, because almost all my prayers have been all about me of course, getting enough rest, and I'm hoping that once I do that I will have enough energy to be the wife, mother and child he wants me to be. I am hoping to bring him glory in that way, however that may not be what he has in store for me. I desperately wanted to see the movie FIREPROOF this weekend, but it was too difficult to find someone willing to take care of four, especially with Jaden being the cryer that he is, I'm hoping that eventually Michael and I will be able to get out of the house together. Actually I would like to even be able to get my haircut with out Jaden being so tough, but I know that time will come.

In any given day I will change at least 20 diapers between two kids, someone will fall or crash into Madison or Jaden at least 2 or 3 times a day and I'll hear "Sorry.....(child's name)". Or I'll hear crash (one of the kids crashed into something or slipped while running in the house, even though I have told them not to run a million times). The laundry never seems to be complete even though in any given day I will do at least 2 or 3 loads (I think we need a bigger washer and dryer), I don't know how large families do it, I'm afraid to see my upcoming water bill. Homework, after school activities, field trips, lunch at schools, chores, meals, dishes, bath and bed, pretty much leave me too exhausted to even do any creative work, sometimes I can squeeze in a quick paint or quick card, but all too often it lays unfinished in my craft area, waiting for me to have a free moment.

All this to say am I complaining? Overwhelmed? maybe for a moment, am I lonely? Sometimes a little, but mostly I think wow what a responsibility God has entrusted me with. While I know his love endures forever no matter if I fail (which seems most days) but I know he has richly blessed me because he believes in me and he gives us what we can handle, and I know I am only in a season of life and one day I will surely miss my little ones sticky hands (maybe not sleepless nights) but wrap around my leg hugs and can I sit on your lap love, because Lord knows I will not always have them available and there are those who don't have any.

We Survived

OK so we survived the weekend without Michael, who went to the men's retreat, with my forcing of course back 2 months ago, when I suggested his mom come and help us and that was of course before she had to leave for Florida 2 weeks ago. So with help from some friends (thanks Sarah and Abi) on Friday night and I hired a baby sitter to help with Saturday night dinner and bed time hours (they can be rough). Well let's put it this way after 3 hours of a screaming baby (Jaden didn't nap well all day) and Madison wasn't too happy (she really missed her daddy and she had a shorter nap than usual after a long day) she cried when it was bed time - the baby sitter said to me "If you are ever alone at bed time, just call me to come help you don't even have to pay me." I hope that gives you an idea about what bed time is like in this house, someone told me once that the hours between dinner and bed time are the arsenic hours, you don't know whether to take it or give it.

My Big Little Girl

It kills me that she is getting so big. Every day she comes out with a new word her newest is OKKAAAAYY, it's too cute. And of course everything is "I want...." whatever it is she wants, mostly I wanna a snack (clear a s abell) it's too stinkin' cute! She's a lot like Kaleigh being so verbal.

I bought Jordan and Kaleigh new ballet slippers and so she had to get something too, so she picked out Dora slippers, she loves them, she doesn't even watch Dora, but because we have a house full of Doar stuff..Iguess that's why she picked them. She's such a shoe hound, hence her mural on her wall.

Finally

Finally we are all recovering from our various illnesses, Jordan and I seem to be the last ones still a little sick, but well on our way to recovery. I can't believe we have been this sick so early in the year, we are in for a long winter.

Illness

So our entire family has come down with something. Last week Kaleigh and I started feeling poor, turns out I have bronchitis thank goodness for medication I can take. Madison and Jordan came down with runny noses and scratchy throats, and now my rock husband Michael has come down with it, welcome to the first week of school, LET THE GERMS BEGIN!

Firt Day of School for Kaleigh

Kaleigh had her first day of school, while I'm battling bronchitis, thank goodness Michael came home early to pick her up from school so I could rest and get healthy, but her first words when she came in the door was "I LOVED IT!" She missed school so much or rather the challenge of it and it was so sweet for Jordan to tell her to have a great first day of school. I'm so glad she likes school even if her best friend isn't in her class any more and she only goes two days a week, it will be good for all of us.

Bassinet Baby

OK so thanks to a good suggestion by our friend Abi (thanks Abi) we moved the top part of Jaden's bassinet into the crib in his room, so at least he is in a familiar bed in a different environment, everyone gets peace and quiet. However, that leaves the bottom part of the bassinet open and in our room and of course not watching Madison as closely as we could have, we got 4 kids you know, we walked into our room and this is what we found. That girls is too smart, curious and amazingly agile.

Tae Kwon Do

So the girls begged me to do Karate for an after school activity, having looked and not found a class for them in their age group, we found Tae Kwon Do, after one free class they were hooked and their teacher Master Kim is really good with them. Good balance of Strictness and personality. Only problem is it's going to be a long year at two days a week, plus dance one day a week. We'll see how it goes and who wears out first, it will probably be me!

Shennandoah Valley Children's Museum

This weekend was all about the kids, little chores got done but we had lots of fun. Took the kids to the Shennandoah Valley Children's Museum in Winchester. It's a bout an hour and fifteen minutes away and it's not very big but it is the closest thing we have to a kids museum. They had been asking for a long time when are we going to the Apple Museum again? They have and apple pulley and crate system set up for the kids to play with. So we decided to take them this weekend since Sunday was going to be so nice, it's located in Old Town Winchester which has a couple of little shops and a coffee house that serves snacks including ice cream. The ride out on Route 15 is through the Blue Ridge Mountains which Kaleigh kept asking why it's called the Blue Ridge Mountains, especially after she saw them in front of her. First she kept saying we've been in this car for hours (after 15 minutes) and then when she saw the mountains in front of her she was like cool, but they are not green. It was funny. Jordan just kept quiet, enjoying the ride she only asked once about when they could climb on the rock wall. Of course once we got there I had to feed Jaden and Michael was left with 3 kids by himself all wanting to go in different directions, thank goodness it's not a really big place. All in all we spent about 2 hours at the museum (Madison was done after about an hour and a half..especially with only a 45 minute nap) then we grabbed a snack, ice cream for Michael, Kaleigh and Madison, chocolate covered pretzels for me and Jordan just had regular pretzels (that girl misses out on all the good stuff because of her pickiness). They are already asking when we can go back.

The Raceway Room, lots of things you can do with a golf ball. (All about physics).

The bees honeycomb

The rock wall.

The famous apple factory system (hence the apple museum).

A Kaleigh Day

Since before Jaden was born Michael and I kept saying we wanted to be able to spend some more one on one time alone with the kids. Well as you know life got in the way, with moving kids bedrooms, painting rooms, etc. So last weekend was Madison's turn (see earlier pics on blog) sort of at Clemyjontri park and this week was supposed to be Jordan's turn after her first week of school. Jordan wanted to go play miniature golf or go to the "special playground". Well hurricane Hanna changed our plans so Kaleigh and I got to go to "Clay Cafe Studios" a paint your own pottery place and then some lunch. Jordan doesn't like to go out in bad weather, it makes her nervous, so that's why she let Kaleigh take her turn this weekend, hopefully next weekend it will be nice so I can take her to play miniature golf and then out to lunch.

Kaleigh and I had a really good time, we were really wet of course but it was really nice to have time alone with her. She got to paint a pumpkin and tile with her age on it, then we went to have pizza, she actually ate really quick (for once) and almost all of it. Her comment was "Mom it's really quite when it's just you and me, I can actually hear you." Nice huh?!

Two Months

It has been a rough couple of months with this little guy, but every day we are seeing improvements. He's such a little angel. Had his 2 month visit and he weighs a whopping 8lbs 6oz and is 20 inches long. He has doubled his birth weight in two months and grown 2 inches. We are seeing more and more smiles and not as much crying (just in the last couple of days). He's cooing and making these sweet little noises when he's happy, his face just lights up when I talk to him it's so sweet. He's still not sleeping in his room but he is starting to go 3 hours at a shot now, so a little longer sleep for me. He had a lot of catching up to do but I think he's done a pretty good job.

2nd Grader

Hard to believe my little girl is on to second grade, how crazy is that, she was so excited today, she couldn't wait to go. It touched my heart when Kaleigh woke up this morning (Jordan was already downstairs and was done with breakfast when Kaleigh came down) her first words when she came down was "Good Morning big 7 year old, I hope you have a good day at 2nd grade!" It was so darn cute and it brought such a big smile to Jordan and me.

Crazy Week Before School

So had a pretty crazy week before school, trying to get the last minute shopping done for school, you know shoes, supplies...etc. Cleaned out some of the kids clothes for fall so that we could weed out some of the summer clothes they won't be wearing for too much longer. I'm kind of sad that we spent the week doing this stuff that needed to be done instead of something fun, but the girls went to their grandparents for the weekend and had a blast. We got to spend some time alone with Madison and took her to Clemyjontri park in Great Falls, it was fun and she loved it.