Life Is Beautiful

The longer that I am a Mother, the more I realize that I don't know anything. My skin gets a little tougher and I'm not as easily rattled, but I am no closer to knowing how to figure out my kids. One thing I do know, is that they need even more attention as they grow older.  You would think that a two-year-old is at the pinnacle of need.  They need to be diapered, dressed, bathed and fed all by your hands.  They no longer sleep 20 hours per day and that afternoon nap is all you get for a break.  Food must be cut in to appropriate sized pieces, gates must be secured, doors latched and bodies of water observed with hawk-like attentiveness. I always felt like things would get easier when the kids got older.  Don't get me wrong, it's really nice to have all four of them able to feed, dress, wash and toilet independently.  What I'm finding is that parenting is way more than my physical time investment.  Even after the day is done, as they get older, I...

  Hello, Monday.  I liked you about as much as I normally do, today.  Our 4 year old son woke us up hollering his little head off at about 4:15 this morning.  He had a question.  Uh-huh.  So after my adrenaline was all charged up (and I answered the stinking question), I was unable to fall back asleep.   My husband gets up at 4:30 to ride his bicycle to work.  I laid around and tried to worry my brains out about money, but decided a better use of my time would be here:     The pain cave.   Today was leg day - and I experimented with listening to music instead of watching Star Trek.  I felt like my time was more "my own" when I had the headphones on.  I don't know...for what its worth, I had a good hour of leg and ab goodness.   I finally figured the banking for the month - and if I keep squeezing these here stones, everything will be fine.  :o)  Ha, ha...yeah, things are tough all ove...

Here is a few pictures from a typical day.  I failed to keep up on them after lunch... Here is a photo of the teen in his natural habitat.  I drive him the scant 1.68 miles to school every day now that the weather is cooler.  Aren't I nice?  And yes, this is the only way I could get him in the shot. The view when I drive out of the school parking lot is pretty neat.  This is our Nebraska State Capitol building.  The sun is coming up behind me and is shining on this beautiful, historic building.  Pretty neat. I wake up pretty hungry every morning, and I'm always thankful that these taco wagons are not open yet.   In the short stretch of 27th Street, I pass two of them PLUS a D'Leon's Authentic Mexican Cuisine...which actually IS open 24 hours. Taco Wagon 1 Taco Wagon 2 So, I just come home and eat something that looks more like this: It's better for me - but I sure would rather have a big. badass. burrit...

My daughter, Alahnnah , just about couldn't handle today being April Fool's Day. If ever there was a holiday for that girl - this is it! My requirement is that the pranks have to be "nice", not include food- esque items passed off for food, and they can't lie. She had a fun day. I think she may have even had her Daddy fooled that she found a "real" mouse in the flour! Great day today. Had a moment that made me grin... Right after lunch, I always change diapers and help kiddos use the potty. You win some and you loose some. Today, I lost. Stinky messes all around. After I cleaned and napped them all, I went downstairs to retrieve the couch cover that was drying and passed my son's room. He needed his guitar tuned - the fancy electronic tuner wasn't working right with the laundry going nearby. That done, I went upstairs and helped Alahnnah with her math. That variety of multi-tasking really made me laugh. Tonight was our 9yo daughter...

Since my disgusting blister post I have run 10 miles and that toe doesn't seem to be getting any worse. I did put a band-aid on it for my 7 miler on Sunday, but left it off - to no adverse reaction - on my 3 mile run this morning. I can safely say that this morning was the HOTTEST weather I have ever run in. It was 87 degrees and pretty muggy. It sorta felt like running through warm water with a hair dryer in your face on low. That first mile was all about my body refusing to cooperate. I brought hydration with me and fought the first 15 minutes not to drink the whole thing. After I got into the groove, swished some water around my mouth and relaxed - I was able to finish. Monday's weigh in brought another milestone - my BMI puts me in the "overweight" category as opposed to "obese". Only took me an entire year and 53lbs, but I did it! Only 29lbs to go til I'm not overweight anymore! Twenty-nine pounds! Dude...I can DO that!! Okay, enough with ...

Wow. This day has proven to me that I really am healthier and more fit than I was a year ago. I can't believe I survived it all! First of all, let me say Thank You Lord for allowing me to get a full nights' sleep again last night. Without that, I'd have been sunk. The day started before 6 and went a little like this: Up and out the door for 3 miles, home to shower, make breakfast, serve 8 kids, (chug coffee/inhale my breakfast). Break up multiple fights between 2 school agers and wonder why I home school. Read stories, change diapers, put babies down for naps. Clean kitchen, wash dishes, get babies up, serve snack (apply makup /curl hair). Clean, clean, clean, read books, play with blocks. Make lunch, feed babies, coax toddlers to try something new, clean everyone up, change diapers, put down the first set (sing nigh-nigh songs), then the second set, then the third. Get kids all up from naps, sweep and vacuum before they start tearing up the living room again, br...

I'm finally reaping the rewards of my stick-to-it-iv-ism with nap time here at the Morton Crazy Daycare. I've been working on it for 6 months - ever since the babies were about 6 months old. At that point, I decided to try to get them on the schedule of everyone else. I knew it would take time - but good grief. This week, I have sang the songs, tucked the blankies , kissed the foreheads, and said nighty -night. I didn't hear a thing and all slept for almost 2 hours! Normally, I lie on the couch and close my eyes for the glorious few moments that all 4 of them are asleep at the same time. Well, after we finish Math and Science, that is. Today I actually fell ASLEEP on the couch and had a dream!! Sigh...it's the little things. :o) Went to the Y with the fam and got my miles in. I was having a hard time and couldn't really understand what was going on. After we were done, my husband said the same thing - noting that it was especially hot in there. Pretty su...

Not a snow blizzard, a DQ blizzard. I am learning that eating pounds of sugar wrapped in saturated fat will not, as it turns out, solve anything. Hmph. Just like liquor. Damn. Today was one of the worst days as a daycare provider yet. Normally, there is one kid that has "issues" (my own child, usually) because little kids are constantly growing and changing and well, that can hurt sometimes. But this day was special. Both of the 8mo old babies are teething. Acid diapers causing bleeding diaper rash. The Snot Faucet was on full bore so not a nap could be had. There were tears, there was screaming...and that was just me! Also, I seem to have hit some sort of hormonal flux due to the fact that the last time I nursed Cameron (for the last time) was about 2 days ago. Today I felt like the worst PMS ever. The phrase "I hate you, don't touch me or I'll tear your hand off" ran through my mind more than once. I wanted to climb up on top of the house and ...

This last week has been even fuller than the last one! There has been much in the way of revelation. I figure nobody really wants to read a 4 page account of my life this week, so I'll hit the highlights in a few separate installments. --Your welcome-- I'll start at the beginning of the week. My house tried to kill me. I'm happy to still be alive and kicking despite it's attempt. Maybe we should have chose a different color when we painted. Hmm. On Tuesday we had freezing fog in the morning. Our older children were up and ready early and had a field trip with some fellow home schoolers to attend. Our neighbor also home schools her kids and is a tremendous help and resource for me. Our 11yo son went out the front door and came back in, telling me that he'd slipped and things were icy out there. Trying to prevent a serious fall, I went out on the front porch and grabbed the rock salt. Each foot stepped successfully down our concrete front steps, but on the s...

What a fantastic day of blessings! In this pre-Christmas week, it seems that generosity is the buzzword. Giving is great, but giving with thoughtfulness is truly admirable. At church on Sunday there was a package with my name on it and no "from" tag. Inside was three large bottles of product from Bath and Body Works. Shower gel, lotion, and scented spray. To top it off, the scent is absolutely perfect! It's a woodsy, natural, patuli type scent. I love it so much I sure wish I could thank whomever decided that I needed a gift! Then this morning, Sweetie Boy's Mommy brought me a gift. Inside was a lovely ornament with SB's picture, a Christmas card with both of their little mugs and a Shopko gift card. The amount was extremely generous and I just appreciate it SO very much. I'm not used to having a whole lot of disposable money to use on myself - Sweetie Boy's Mommy is pretty intuitive and apparently loves her daycare lady!!