Sunday Afternoon

 Sunday afternoon walk around the lake - it was a little breezy but so good to get out and enjoy the sunshine

Mall Walkers

I've been trying for a couple of weeks to make it out of my house and to the mall in the early morning to figure out how to walk with a three year old and a newborn since the weather makes it hard to walk the neighborhood in the rain and cold with 2 kids and dog in tow (I've tried - they cry or whine - no go).  I just haven't been able to make it happen (some days I haven't even been able to brush my teeth before 5pm but I have been taking care of these precious ones - and playing Littlest Pet Shops and having Tea time and eating LEGO food prepared by my personal chef and taking care of screaming cutie pie and feeding the whole family in their own way).  BUT today - I did it - I even brushed my teeth before I went.

I let Lydia dress herself - she's so fashionable - where else would we go but to the mall?  "Mom, I'm ready, I brushed my teeth and fixed my hair and put on lips, I have my shoes and my purse - I'm so excited, oh, I have to pee before we go!"

 Contents of purse - Chapstick (AKA Lips), Frozen phone, scrap of blue fabric found on floor in brother's room, CFA card, Ariel decoration, mix-matched "beautiful" gloves

 My exercise partners

 Since all of the stores were closed (and we don't get out much apparently) Lydia thought the most beautiful thing at the mall was this "golden case" - it is the FIRE EXTINGUISHER holder.  She loved it and wanted to take a picture of it with her frozen phone

 Miss fashionable Mall Walker - the other walkers didn't seem to mind her mismatched clothes or my haggard look :)

 And for fun we had to go to Build-A-Bear on the way out to try on wigs for brother - isn't he cute?

As for the exercise - we only made it around the mall 3 times.  The curlie que wants to run with me and not ride in the stroller.  If I could get her in the stroller for a few more rounds and Nathaniel in the ERGO for a while we might could call it exercise.  I think we can make this an exercise option for the winter weather months but it will take some work.

Sweet Dreams

I prayed for you tonight as I often do.  Your hurts and struggles for the day are behind and the peacefulness of rest is on your face.  Prayers to the LORD who loves you dearly- who is the ONE who grants Wisdom, Hope, Joy and Courage.  Promises run through my mind, I ponder, pray and remember to rest myself.

sweet dreams
Closed eyes surrender, 
tiny minds trade their wakeful wonder for voyages on slumbering dreams.  
Little hands and hearts let go of that object so cherished just hours ago 
and life is filled with more treasure than can be counted.  
We walk and run and scream and want - 
we wonder and sing and play and dream 
and then 
we surrender to sleeps adventures.  
Sweet surrender, peaceful surrender, 
the way of dreams is in SURRENDER - both in wake and slumber.  
So rest sweet children, rest dear Mom - with eyes open and shut.
Tomorrow there will be more opportunity for dream, 
for surrender - 
and after that - a life of tomorrows to do the same.

Postcards from the edge of sanity

Postcards from the edge of sanity - shots of chunky monkey - for Grandma and Papa

Quotes

Lydia is trying to figure out time.  She often confuses tomorrow, today, now, then etc.  Last week Regan was coming to babysit on Friday - so on Thursday

Lydia: "Is Regan coming today?"
Mama: "No, Regan is coming tomorrow?"
Lydia: "Is it tomorrow, yet?"
Mama; "No right now it's today, you have to wait until tomorrow."

The next morning I forgot what Lydia was so excited about and she came in my room and sat on my bed

Lydia: "Is it tomorrow, yet?"
Mama: "No, it's always today."
Lydia: in an exasperated tone "Why does it always have to be TODAY!"

After a laugh I told her Regan would be here tonight - ok, when is tonight?

Christmas for 6!

It was a Christmas for 6 this year and for many more in the future. We sang songs like "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and "God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen" and we were excited about the Tidings of comfort and joy given to us even in the late days of 2014.

A blur of lights, joy, laughter and family time...

Family time

While daddy was out for Christmas we enjoyed some family time outside the house (I had to get out of the house but seemed a major accomplishment when we did)

We went for a family hike (including dog) at nearby Sweetwater State Park

Drank some hot chocolate

And even ventured to the mall -

All while keeping this little one alive and loved!

Today

I had high hopes that in the few days my older three were at Grandma's that the little one would magically begin to do this more- he's cute when he sleeps isn't he?

Because I had high hopes of finally folding everything I washed in the past week (which is everything that is fabric and washable in our home - all towels, sheets, coats, hats, blankets, clothes, etc. because we WILL be free of the lice)

 I also had aspirations of a shower, teeth brushing and maybe even something other than surviving (maybe hang a picture on the wall, out for a cup of coffee, a walk in the neighborhood, anything that would help me remember I am doing something other than surviving)  BUT this guy had other plans - this is what he did - cry

Y'all I love my little ones but this one I can't figure out - YET.  He's not as bad as Lydia was but he's getting close.  He is sweet when he sleeps, he started to smile a little but boy, oh boy, can he scream.

So, one day, I'll do more than stare at the wall when I have a few minutes of silence, one day I'll get a shower and brush my teeth in the same day, one day I'll be able to move and accomplish other than surviving - but it's not today.

Christmas

My precious gifts for this Christmas!  I got what I wanted for Christmas - to be able to be home with my family.  Lucy didn't get her wish for snow - or her two front teeth - but we did enjoy the calm day at home with each other...and a screaming sweet baby.

togetherness is sweet!

By this point in the decorating there was more munching going on than decorating.
sugar consumed early in the morning - check
siblings enjoying each other - check
one mom soaking it all up - check

It's a wonderful life!

Home with this little guy while the other 3 spend the morning with Grandpa Noonan.  What a sweetie pie!

Visits

Guess who came to visit yesterday?  Uncle Casey, Aunt Erin, Wyatt and Mason!  We were so excited they came that we forgot to take pictures.  Blame it on the sleep deprivation - I can barely carry on a coherent conversation these days.  I was so glad to get to see them and have them visit.  My kiddos had a great time and have asked this morning when they can come back.  We'll have to make it soon!

Later this week we'll get to see more family and there is now better way to celebrate holidays and specials time than with family.  Thanks for coming guys - what a gift to me!

Superpowers and Sleep

We all have super powers - right?  I don't mean to brag - but I think it's time to share my superpower with the world.  I've known it for a long time but have kept it to myself...until today when I found out I may have passed on my superpower to my fourth born.

You see our little gift from God was born at 7lbs 9 oz and a week later he was down to 6lbs 13oz.  From there - here are the stats

Birth - 7lbs 9 oz
1 week - 6 lbs 13 oz
2 weeks - 7lbs 15oz
4 weeks - 10 lbs. 3.5 oz

So, three weeks ago he was 6lbs 13 oz.  Today he weighed in at a whopping 10lbs 3.5oz.  That is alot of weight gaining.  And that gets to my superpower - weight gaining.  I can gain with the best of them and I think I've passed on my superpower to my little one through my breast milk.  So grateful I've been able to nourish all of my little ones with my super powered breast milk - hoping to be able to keep it up with this one.

And as one of my dear friends said years ago when she had her first little guy - "Now begins the John the Baptist phase of my life - "He must increase and I must decrease" - Here's to a year of me decreasing and this little one increasing.  I pray all of my offspring grow this year in amazing ways!

AND last night I slept 3 hours in a row - not only once but twice.  I haven't slept 3 hours straight without interuption in probably over 2-3 months (those last few months of pregnancy were brutal).  Last night I got to sleep 3 hours straight 2 times!!!  I could possibly run a marathon today with all that sleep - whew!  What a Christmas present!  Seriously people - sleep is UNDERrated!

Lunch with wildlife

I eat lunch with a squirrel

 while I feed a pirahna

A little cheer

Fish Pond

For the past several Christmas's the children have done odd chores and raised money to donate to an organization to help those in need.  They have enjoyed giving through World Vision - a goat, a bee hive, some chickens - a tangible way to serve those in need that they can't see.  For the past several years the older two have wanted to do something BIGGER and wanted to really give a bigger gift this year.  And they did. 

Samuel and Lucy decided the $10,000 for a clean water well might not happen in a couple of months but the fish pond for $200 might. They set out to ask neighbors if they could do chores for them, did extra chores around the house, asked friends if they wanted to help and Lucy baked pumpkin muffins for orders.  In addition they typed and sent a couple of letters to gracious family donors who put them over the top of their goal.  One of their little friends gave them some of his birthday money so that he could be a part of the gift.  They worked hard and were excited to get to call and order the gift with the money given and earned - especially the extra money they used to buy a few more supplies.

I pray they would grow in compassion and giving as they work to serve others...especially serving each other :)


Samuel doing serious yard work at the neighbors

 The girls baking mufins

My girls

Science night at school

The first three weeks

There has been a silence in the air - but trust me it's only in the virtual world.  Around here there is plenty of hustle and bustle and crying and Spanish homework and MATH and Christmas carols by two little girls and more.  We've had a full three weeks and are just beginning to see daylight (thank you, LORD, for daylight and the HOPE of morning!).  What a joy this little bundle has been!

AND that is a good thing because it's been a hard few weeks but he is all worth it.  He actually didn't contribute much to the chaos around here - but the lice brought home from school the day I got home from the hospital has brought enormous chaos.  Y'all I literally think I lost my mind two or three times in the last few weeks over this lice thing.  They are horrid! 

I spent hours my first day home picking hair, vacuuming, washing, rewashing, crying, comforting sweet girls.  AND then we did it all again a few days later and then a few days later - while scratching my head, quite literally wondering if I still had it.  I was ready to hire a Mama orangatan from the zoo to pick lice for me - CRAZINESS!  Not for the faint of heart on a good day but definitely not for a hormonal mom the day she brings home #4 from the hospital while physically being reminded she is NOT 20 anymore. 

We are finally lice free as of this week - I had a sweet friend from church who does hair come and double check for me this week to get "professionally cleared".  One good thing is EVERY washable thing in my house has been washed several times.

Lucy and Lydia before Lucy's school Christmas show last night (notice both girls' hair is braided and sprayed with hair spray and tea tree oil!)

And then I could list a few other crazy things to happen but you wouldn't believe me - like how the dog locked Jeremy out of the car at the gas station, how the Honda broke down, I had no place to put the sweet newborn down out of the way so he's spent most of his days in a  laundry basket - and a few other exciting things.  But all of them are just inconvenient, funny stories I'll laugh about later on. 

I'm grateful for a healthy little boy who is sweet as pie, for siblings who love him to pieces, for a neighbor and friend who watched my kiddos and loved them and cleaned my house while I was at the hospital, for Mama and Daddy who came for Thanksgiving and braved lice to cook, clean, set up Christmas and love on us, for friends who have texted and called and reminded me that this is temporary, for church members who have brought meals and not laughed at me as they saw me in the only pair of sweat pants I've worn in the last 3 weeks.  I'm grateful and know this adventure is a great one - for us all. 

What a precious time to welcome a little one to our home - Thanksgiving week and then ADVENT - waiting and welcoming.  We are here, we are well, we are thankful and we are daily adding to the portrait of what it truly means to be a "beautiful mess"
 

Thankful

What did your Thanksgiving look like?  Our was full of yummy food lovingly cooked by Grandma and then cleanup by Grandma while kiddos watched the parade on TV and Papa watched football by the fire.  My evening looked a little like....

....Grandma playing iPad puzzles and games with Curlie Que

 .....Daddy and brother playing 1980's ATARI games on the computer

 ....holding this 1 week old

 ....Papa teaching Lucy to play Solitare the old fashion way - with actual cards.

What a restful, thankful day!