*resolved*

moments ago at the lunch table...

we chatted about resolutions,



we chatted about what the new year will bring, (yes they were eating lunch at 2:30...)

we chatted about what we want to be when we grow up...

T said she wants to be a mama when she grows up...

i smiled adoringly and asked why,

she stood on her chair smiled a huge t-bean style smile and declared "because mama's get to YELL at their kids...."

fabulous....

ironically i was composing a list of resolutions in my mind,

the first was to be more organized so i spend far less time cleaning...

then the second was to yell less about the condition of the homefront...



onward was the exercise more, snack less, save money etc.

perhaps i will nag less about the condition of the playroom, and spend more time making messes with my children.

may your days be merry....

hey y'all....















these days have been long...

i feel like i have been in a funk of sorts lately.

but today was a good day.
had some good company,
got some cleaning done,
and hoping that things are on the upswing.


kidlets are delightful, amazing and precious...i feel exhausted, overwhelmed, overjoyed, lucky and in love all at once...

does that make sense?

just waiting for snow.

and yes, they are all still wearing their x-mas hats....


all our love to you and yours....

the x-mas pic....

so this was the original pic.

*but the scoop is, that when cropped and black and whited, the the owl eyes looked like "boobs," and when I made this discovery, i opted out of using this pic because it was all i could see. and now the biggest been, has taken to calling T and everyone else for that matter - a boob. Fun is!


Peace...

A

refreshed

so i am feeling uneasy about the last post, and even debated deleting it this a.m., but i guess this place is about the good, the bad, the ugly, and all the wonderful on top of it. i sometimes feel i need to sensor myself based on my readers - well, no more of that. from here on, we speak our minds, we say what we need to, because after all, you all are part of my life in some way or another, and if you can see me at my best, i suppose i owe you all the rest as well. That being said,

we slept in today.

i am feeling refreshed.

we are going to decorate the ginger peeps today.

kiddos all cuddled with me this a.m, and then went to play while the littlest bean and i snuggled and he nursed away the morning.

i am gonna bust out a clean place and mound of yummy recipes for tonight and upcoming festivities.

i am not going to let other people dictate MY MOOD.

i am going to focus on the wonderful things. the sweet beans and their big excited eyes.

i am going to breathe.

now that feels better. have a wonderful holiday. thanks for checking in...



***update***





making the ginger peeps with the beans was a fabulous venture....




i am glad i decided to breathe today....

happy happy - or something...

things have been tough this week. i am glad the week is over. i have been stressed to the max, and not even from any christmas related activity. pretty sure the next person to cross me might need therapy when i get through with them.

but - alas...i am moving past it. making way for lots of peaceful, delightful, loveliness at home. kidlets and i braved the grocery store today, not even sure what i was thinking, holy freakin' chaos. seriously, the boy that bagged my groceries, actually bagged everything in plastic bags, and than made a makeshift mountain on the floor of the grocery store, of bags, and walked away. what is that? really. than for the FOURTH day in a row DD f-ed up my coffee. and i got attitude when i asked her to fix it. what is going on.

than on the way home, the biggest bean informed me that i need to watch home improvement tonight, because it will teach me how to deal with dad. not sure what that means.

at any rate, we came home and made gingerbread peeps, and the kiddies had a blast, the biggest and middle bean informed me that i am fun.

now the kids are cleaning up the playroom so that Santa wont see it a mess. lovely...

happy stinkin' holidays.

snow...

we are in the house. we have been in the house all weekend due to a couple factors. for starters, there is huge ass amount of snow.



















so, to make the best of it, we have been cleaning, holiday carding, baking, whining, *(me, not the kiddos of course), stressing over holiday madness, vowing to keep a zen outlook on some irritating chaos that will be heading our way SOON, roasting chickens, playing with the rebel xti, and trying all sorts of whacked out antics to get a picture of the three beans all somewhat clothed, happy and facing the camera.














what are you all up to?

need some centered mama time...who's in for another girls day?

something old - something new....

So, I realize that I have been distant, and blogthetic lately, but I had some big decisions that I felt needed my time, my undivided thoughts. There was just a whole stinkin' lotta stuff going on here, and things have leveled out. Kiddos are on the upswing health-wise, and I have made some choices and am now marinating in them before finalizing them.

Ironically, while trying to make some important decisions about the direction of my life, our lives, our future, my *wants* my needs mentally and socially etc., hubs found this at work and brought it home.... i can't help but to post it...

THE GOOD WIFE'S GUIDE.....from HOUSEKEEPING MONTHLY may 13th 1955
1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you are thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal -especially his favorite dish- is part of the warm welcome needed. (yah, this is all typed exactly as it appears.)

2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up you make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work weary people. (wow, a whole 15 minutes just to rest...)

3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

4. Gather up schoolbook, toys, paper, etc. and a then run a dishcloth over the tables.

5. Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel as he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction. (yes, it really says this)

6. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. (yup, it says that too.)
















7. Be happy to see him.

8. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first ~ remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours. (no words really. NONE)

9. Make the evening his. Never complain is he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.













10. YOUR GOAL: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order, and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. (you may want to dust the entire house while said husband is renewing himself....)

11. Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

12. Don't complain if he is late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night.(again, yes, it really says this.) Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

13. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

14. Arrange his pillow and offer to take of his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice. (please take out the trash, ahh, please clean up your stuff, sigh, please don't leave your ginormous dang shoes in the MIDDLE of the kitchen floor....ahh, this is so calming isn't is dear...)

15. Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember he is the master of the house and such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him. (what with being the hired help and all)

16. A GOOD WIFE ALWAYS KNOWS HER PLACE.




just thought I'd share this gem of literature from 1955. gonna go straighten up the toys, rile up the children, and take a nap....oh, and in case your wondering, I am going to go back to work....it is a part time job, i will still be with the kids, and have plenty of time to daydream about what dear hubs would like for dinner, but I won't feel the need to take my grown man husbands shoes off for him or let him stay out all night. peace.

whats's a mama to do....

struggling here today folks. looking for some answers, some BLINDING flash of the obvious to direct me, or maybe even some kind words of advice to help guide me. Ultimately my decision, but I am so torn. Many of you know that I am on unpaid leave from my job teaching art part-time. I teach two and half days a week. K-5. I love my job, love the folks I work with, love the school, and most all of the students as well. So I am on extended leave until Sept. at which point I go back, or stay home with my beans. Now if this were the only part of the issue, stay or go, it would be a no brainer. I LOVE staying home with the beans. I love being a stay at home mom. Love taking on the responsibilities. But as a result of my being home, hubs works, ALOT. He pulls doubles all the time, he takes it on in a great way, never complains...does the very best he can to provide for our family, but it is worlds of stress. It is hard to make the mortgage payments on time. Hard to fill the cart full of organic goodness and then charge away like it doesn't hurt. Hard to keep up with the bills, and the world. Also know that I am not in any way judging you working mamas. AT all.

It is so hard to know what is the right choice for everyone. My going back would give bry more time home. It would take some of the financial stresses off. Not all, but some. It would give me the ability to help some with the finances. Though on the flip side - I will not be able to be home getting dinner ready, grocery shopping whenever we need it, sitting up all night while the kids are sick and not worrying because we don't HAVE to go anywhere the next day, being on board of the pre-school, making tie-dyes with the kids in the spring sunshine any day that we wish, or can I? can I do it all and still make it work? Can I bear to be away from the beans?

So to go back or not. I just don't know where I stand. I am on zero sleep, so I know making a decision now wouldn't be a wise thing. The beans have been hacking and coughing away for a week, and all I want is for them to feel better. It is also the Christmas season, which I don't love based on the fact that I seem to find myself amongst materialism and consumerist HELL all to often, I would like NOTHING MORE than to have a homemade handmade holiday season, but some of the folks in my life would SO not be on board with that. Typically I get a little tough to take between the day after Thanksgiving (which I think is the epitome of everything that is wonderful in this world,) and New Years - which signifies that Christmas chaos is over.

Anyhow. I am filled to capacity with issues today. some I can chat and vent about, others not so much, and a good night out with hubs over dinner and chats followed by a restful evening of HEALTHY kidlets snuggled tightly in their beds would do me a world of good. We will get there. We will.

M asked me today if I was retired. and T told him to "sut up" - and I thought hmmm....maybe it's time to make a decision. I just want to be the very best mom that I can, the very best wife that I can, and I want to help them be the best that they can be....

sorry to carry on...just so on the fence today. about everything.

on the bandwagon

pic taken PRE turbo bug.

lots of herbal-homeopathic-chicken soup-tylenol-hot-teas chaos going on here.

t is now officially vomiting projectile snot. i have been awake for 4 days i think, though most things are starting to blur. i feel as though i am playing whack-a-mole, yah know that bizarre carnival game - (although i am obviously not clubbing my children over the head with a mallet) - every time i get one kid to sleep there is another awake and coughing/snotting/spitting up/feverish etc. fun. really.
m is bored, but trying not to cause too much trouble - i am sure it is only a matter of time till he goes down, though i have been filling him up with herbal goodness in hopes of him not getting sick.

they are troopers though, and even while utterly miserable, they have still been managing to smile, laugh, and whine as they always do. and as exhausted as i am, i still find complete joy in making the rounds as they all nod off to sleep for even just five minutes to tuck their little bodies in and kiss their too warm soft skin.

so, not fun here, but still good. hope you all are well and not battling any crazy fever bronchial viruses.

oh, and benji has sprouted his first tooth and started to walk during this whole mess, which really isn't helping.

a case of the blahs.

benji is sick. we have been battling a major case of head and chest yucks. the kind where even if the baby does fall asleep at night, he is breathing so loudly that it is impossible to sleep because you are sure he will wake up at any moment and vomit projectile snot all over you. it's bad. so we have been holed up in the house. listened to benji....

anyhow. http://www.glumbert.com/media/weddingfirstdance
this made my day today.
*molls, i think it has you and sam ALL over it.*

love you all...

A

what goes on....more

thanksgiving day - any given time

well, i have been feeling guilty-ish, since thanksgiving is my most favorite time of the year, and i haven't logged on to blog for awhile. I have seen so many of you lovelies in the past week, and had so many sweet compliments on this blog, from people that i didn't think even knew i kept a blog....i am so happy that you are all here, and reading. thanks, it means a lot, and whomever is here, welcome.

There has just been so much going on that i haven't been able to gather my thoughts long enough to process. This past week has brought some of the highest highs that i have known, and some of the lowest lows for peeps that I care so much about. There has been feasting, and loving, and gathering, and welcoming. The days were amazing. 18 of the most wonderful peeps, 5 of the sweetest dogs, and copious amounts of beloved things. The thanksgiving delights were plentiful, the days were full of wonderful treats, the freshest and most organic foods,(doritos and crab meat ball not included in this statement) the most wonderful people in my world all gathered together. It was just as amazing as I had hoped it would be. It always is. I continue to feel thankful. For all the love-fests, all the sweet beans being cared for and loved and treasured. For both wonderful family meals. For opening lines of communication where necessary and for reminding each other what family is all about.

(check out the shirt B)


Overall it was a wonderful long weekend. I won't lie and say I wasn't thrilled when Sunday night arrived though. I am ready for routine for awhile, ready for normalcy, ready for dinner at home and 7:30 bedtimes. Ready for some quiet.

I have loads to do around the homefront, including about 18 loads of laundry, a sink-full of dishes, and a good vacuum if the ENTIRE house...

and I want all you locals to read this disclaimer....

Last night after a CRAZY amount of visiting, loving, and all above mentioned chaos...hubs said he would do the dishes and clean up the kitchen if I bathed and bedtimed all three kidlets. SO, i promptly agreed and got all said children to bed. When I came back down the stairs - it being SUNDAY and all, hubs was situated on the couch watching football, and the amount of dishes looked as though he had maybe popped on over to the neighbors house and offered to take all their dishes over to our place and give 'em a rinse as well.

SOOOO, I casually walked into the living room, and said, "hey hon, are all those dishes already clean?" (read - WHAT THE F*&K ARE YOU DOING?)

hubs response was - "well, I was gonna run the dishwasher (2hours) then finish."

me - okay, well, I can go wake up all the kids, and YOU can put them to bed, and I will do the dishes.

hubs - no really, i will do them - they will be done by the morning

me - okay. (read - BULLSH*T)

So, this a.m, after waking me SIX times to find his keys, I walked into the kitchen in my pjs, and said to hubs, "are these all clean?"

hubs - "no, but just put them in the bed of my truck and I will do them when I get home." followed by the statement - "it took me so long to wake you up to find my keys that i didn't have time to do the dishes."


Seriously. no seriously.

amongst the thanks

not gonna post about the chaos and happiness that is surrounding things right now in our world, or about the upcoming joy that is thanksgiving...today there will be just quiet. our sweet neighbor passed away this week, and we have just been delivered this news by her sweet love of a husband. a little over a month ago she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. they had given her 6 months to a year. she did not last nearly that long. i thought we would see her sweet face several more times.

sarala was only 62. i know 62, but ONLY 62. she had a lot of love in her, so much to give, so much to share. everyday that i was out in the sunshine playing with the kiddies she would amble over and chat. she would pick up benji and sing to him and giggle with M and T. the way her name rolls off of there little tongues makes me smile every time. Sarala was from India, and truth be told had such a thick accent that I often wasn't entirely sure what she was telling me, but it always came with a smile and a laugh - and once i became more accustom to her i was far more able to understand her. she was plum terrified of Baxter, which I thought so silly because he is such a harmless dog, but she would wait till i brought him inside to go get her mail or cross the street if we were not outside.
this use to aggravate me...but once i got to know her, it just seemed like a quirk, and we all know i am the queen of quirk. so sorry about that Sarala. I am.

her sweet, sweet husband raju will be all up in my thoughts as the hours, days and weeks pass. her smile and delightful way will grace my memories.

so during this time so chock full of thankfulness, family, and friends, i am thankful for knowing this wonderful woman, thankful that my children adored her as they did, thankful that she was a part of our lives, even if it was only for a short while.

today i will immerse myself in holiday makings, and quiet reflection. well, reflection anyway, because my house is never quiet. there will be no stress of family chaos and gatherings ordeals...just quiet thankfulness, and reminding of what is important, and remembering sweet Sarala.

what goes on....

things are in a tizzie here. been painting, flooring, potty-training, cursing under my breath at the pto-ish moms involved in a wisteria lane style fiasco, smiling at the biggest bean as he tells me fact after fact after fact about snakes,been playing outside as much as we can, been feeling thankful, for so many things i am not even sure were to begin.

i am on the way out to pick up some dinner stuffs for the hubs and pa as "project mudroom," is well under way as operation " cleanse our home of sea-foam green and honeydew-ish colored paints and hope we can eventually forget they ever existed." has just been completed. per usual Pa has rolled up his sleeves and jumped right in - even though he knows for lunch he is going to be fed fun things like honey-wheat english muffin pizza with apple slices. for real. so BIG kuddos AGAIN. Mimi has the middle bean, as frankly when she is whining and whining and WHINING at me and i am trying to paint with a loaded brush...i cannot be responsible for my actions. so props to mimi also. So, no kitchen right now means we are in take-outville for the last two evenings....hmmm.....just remember NO MORE SEA FOAM GREEEEEEEEN.

i am not posting any done pics of the kitchen till it is back in order...but it will be soon...



we let the biggest been draw on the wall behind the cabinet while the guys were working, and here is his rendition of our house. please note it has a basement, a front door and a crazy little man running around in the front yard. sounds about right.


there are only 8 days...what this means***there is less than a week till the thanksgiving lovin' goes down. i think i actually heart this holiday as much as i do my children.

what goes on with you?


and just for the record - when i mentioned to hubs that he needs to really curb the language around the kidlets, as T has started calling her winter jacket her "freakin warm purple coat." i also "mentioned" that i air all his dirty laundry on this here website....and that i had written about the freakin pooper seat love...his response..."did you at least give credit where credit was due?" yup babe. it's all yours.

roaring our terrible roars....

(click on image to see the big bean...)

yesterday, while the biggest bean was tromping around the house in his dragon costume..(yes, he's still wearing it) i sent him to a time out in his room for one offense or another, and as he stormed up the steps and peeked out from the railing to drop a signature "grrr" in my general direction, little tail sticking out and all, i realized that i am amongst the pages of my longtime favorite story from my childhood...

life is good. chaotic, frustrating, silly, wonderful, and delicious all at the same time.

the middle bean is nearing totally trained in the potty department. she is working hard - we are down to an accident a day, not bad. i decided we needed another little potty in the house, usually she needs to go as soon as i come downstairs to settle down with my decaf - after the chaos of the day has calmed down...and i thought only fair to that she be able to go by herself if i can't get to her fast enough. SOOOOOO, that being said, i gathered the troops and met hubs a babies r us and he watched the boys in the van while t and i went in to buy her fabulous sheek new potty. it is so stinkin' cool - but regardless, i apparently was taking to long to make the purchase, and hubs was complaining and made the statement..."WHAT IS TAKING YOUR MOTHER SO LONG TO BUY A FREAKIN' POOPER SEAT."

hence the conversation every 10 minutes now sounds something like this...

T - "MMMOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE....i have to go pottyyyyyyyyy"
me -okay sweetie go use the potty"
T- you mean the FREAKIN' POOPER SEAT
me- yup, that's the one

a pause for pee time

then a quick "mommy i used the FREAKIN' POOPER SEAT...can i please have a sticker."

honestly folks...i couldn't make this stuff up.


the official turkey day countdown is 12 days....aaaaahhhhmaazing.

day to day...

so we had our do-over....and celebrated the anniversary on sunday..it was amazing, the weather, the meal, the day....

a special thanks to mimi and pa for the gift certificate, and for the babysitting...bry actually remarked during brunch while looking very perplexed..."what would we do without your folks?" i didn't have a good answer....there isn't one. WE LOVE YOU GUYS.


kiddos are good, we are cleanin' house and playing outside today...
kids have been reeking havic on me, this house, their daddy, etc.

i sent T to her room yesterday, she actually put her hands on her hips rolled her eyes and said "not AGAINNNNN mom."

i finally was able to get back to the gym today after a several week hiatus due to various peeps being sick here...which was nice...

more later...

lovins your way....

5 years, 3 kids, 2 gone cats, a dog, some dead fish and a partridge in a pear tree....or something like that....

hey all...

today was mine and bry's 5 year anniversary - it was a day full of laundry, fussing, teething, meltdowns, cleaning, organizing obscure places, and non - anniversary like activities. The big guy had to work because we got bills to pay, but it's all good, as tomorrow we are headed here for a brunch...just me and the man...that's right, no mouths to wipe but our own, conversations at a normal inside voice range, debriefing on the chaos, etc.


should be deeelish.


kidlets are more or less good, it was our first day inside in awhile, and all i can say as of right now is winter may suck...but we'll see.


Anyhow sending massive anniversary love your way Bry, and to the rest of you peeps, have a great rest of your weekend....

hugs, Al

oh, and 19 more days till thanksgiving, i am soo very excited....

c'mon now peeps...

i had loads to say.

i was witty, clever even tonight. then i saw this
now i am speechless

treats and such....

happy halloween folks...feeling worlds better here, as i got this fabulous sinus clearing thing that is far to gross to explain, but is stinkin' amazing....even the kids were grossed out, got some gags from the biggest bean even. BUT - it worked...so i am all about it. Okay, maybe just a quick explanation, it's like a little tea pot- you put it in one nostril and pour this warm saline solution in and it drains out the other nostril..disgusting. ABSOLUTELY disgusting, but I woke up he next morning feeling like a million bucks...try it....no really. it's totally worth it.

hope all is fabulous, here we are amped up for the trick or treating festivities...sweets and treats and costumes and such, though truth be told...we having been wearing the costumes for several days now.


this years pumpkin has been a hit with the neighbors. i have been getting a whole mess of "oh....that explains things" looks...(if you don't already see it, you can click on it to enlarge it.)

we had the school halloween party today, and spent much of the afternoon raking up leaves to jump in and roll around in...it was quite an eye opener for me, as I wanted to micro manage the situation, and make sure all the costumes were just so for this evening, but then I realized that it was really all for not, and if they were having a great time, so what if the costumes took a beating...that's what the whole point is right? it's halloween.



tonight we we head out after dinner, do a few drive by - trick or treats, then on to mimi and pas for the traditional house to house fun.
the dragon and the princess will walk and the froggy will take the backpack. should be fun, always is.


in other news, all else is more or less quiet. Bry is good, working hard, and we are getting ready for anniversary number five...if we can get through the laundry maybe we'll go out to dinner or something.

fallish

hey all, sorry about the last picture-less post, but blogger was being a pain. Anyhow, the show update is, it was slow. I know I sold some cards, not sure about the prints though...

Yesterday was a delightfully fallish day, and I woke up with massive plans to take the kiddos to get our pumpkins to carve, and to my surprise, the ONLY one that wanted to come with me was T, so middle bean and I trudged around and picked out our pumpkins, and came home to carve...we were able to finish mimi and pa's and I will do ours this afternoon if I can stop sneezing long enough...

stay tuned for pics.

I am rockin' a big old fall head-cold, which is delish, and that is about it. I have made an appointment to go see a naturopathic doc at the end of NOV. and I am very excited about that. Perhaps a doc that won't roll her eyes at my every words...great!


kiddos are good, getting over this nasty cold, that I managed to hold off just long enough for them to get healthy, and now I feel like crap. FANTASTIC. The beans are all excited for Halloween, and I am excited as well, as Halloween means THANKSGIVING is right around the corner! Official countdown is - 25 more days!!! Anyone wanna do a fav recipe swap for turkey day?? let me know - leave your recipe under the comments section....I will make em into a post!

hope you all are doing fabulous, I am about to go make some tea and spark up the wood stove so we can have our first fire of the season...i so stinkin' love fall.

hugs all.

A

keepin' it real

we have been keepin' busy here...since our return from the "festival." our week was jam packed with field trips to farms, fire stations and art galleries, and this weekend my work is in a gallery near by for our annual "no rules - just art" show, which is exactly that all art, no rules, no commissions, just lots o' ladies, and their art, some crafty, some photo peeps like me, some painters etc. just no rules...


that being said, I spent my day in the above mentioned gallery with benji and a rotation of older women whom have their stuff on display as well. there was lots and lots of down time, quietness, snacking, tea-drinking and WAITING for customers, as the weather was disastrous today. I sold some cards - and received lots of compliments on several prints, but the customers were slim today...hopefully tomorrow, a better turn out.

on the low key side of things....

hey all. SOOO....back from pumpkin fest and my stomach has been
rioting ever since. We actually eat relatively - so healthy INSIDE this
house, but when I eat elsewhere as of late, I seem to end up a mess.
Not sure if I am up against some sort of food allergy here or what, but
hopeful we can get to the bottom of things with a lesser degree of discomfort.

Anyhow,
pumpkin fest was INTERESTING. It was a whole new class of people that I
have never experienced before. It was lots of mullets, adults in
costumes, FRIED food, jerky booths - yes people, ENTIRE booths devoted to JERKY - i don't even know what that's all about, and swarms of people on a mission,
seemingly to nowhere...hmmm....
this is THE TIE...

I can honestly say we enjoyed each others company. but that is about where the good news ends.


We arrived friday eve at the Coach house cottages, which apparently is known to the locals as the ROACH house cottages...fabulous. To say this place was a cottage, was disgrace to the word "cottage". I would lean towards chicken shack or garden shed if I were their advertising guru...but I'm not, so they need not worry and can continue to charge $250.00 for a couple of nights spent fearing that your contracting some form of hookworm or hepatitis. uh, no thanks. Needless to say, Erin was on the phone booking us a couple rooms at the Best Western in less than 3 minutes - the men went and retrieved the money and we were back on the road.

The HOTEL, in comparison, was like staying at the ritz, based on the hell we had just come from, the biggest bean went swimming, the hubs went to the bar with Eric, and both came back tipsy and all smiles.


Us ladies holed up in the room and watched a flick with the babes - all while being quite sure the next vaca would include spas, beaches, drinks of the cosmopolitan persuasion, and LOADS of RELAXATION.


Ben and Sara met us at the festival, which for sure was one of the high points, watching Sara look utterly sure that she was going to contract rabies if she got to close to anything, and Bens amusement at the overall situation.


New Hampshire had its perks though, and we for sure made the best of them, the foliage was amazing, the kidlets, my three and Keegster were all deeelightful the entire trip, with only several MINOR meltdowns. There was a slammin' target with a starbucks inside, now that is one stop shopping peeps...

point being folks, I feel lucky. We weren't in the ideal situation, but we made the best of it, we had laughs, we had coffee, we had smiles, we had iced teas, and the frustrations that can come from travels. From this point on there will be unspoken standards and rules by which our vacations are planned - but that's okay, you live you learn, and thats all part of the game right?



i think its time to start the turkey day countdown...
only 31 stinkin' days left...

this year the foleys will be joining us for the spector-adams-critton-schlosser-breslin festivities....that is as long as they still want to hang with us and wouldn't rather hit up the ROACH house family thanksgiving....

love you guys!

A

happy fall

back from pumpkin fest 2007 - will tell all later...


what are you all up to?

A

seriously people.

so, I have officially been 29 for 2 days. this morning i woke up and the conversation went as follows.

me : wake up big man, you need to take a shower...
biggest bean: i don't want to, I need to sleep.
me : time to get in the shower, let's go.
biggest bean : you OLD MEANIE....

me, picking myself up off the floor...
"did you just call me OLD..."

biggest bean promptly jumps in the shower and avoids the conversation...

lovely.




the birthday was good. people were kind. phonecalls were a plenty. i am officially 29. i think i'm over it. the next milestone will be Brys birthday, and dealing with the fact that i will be married to a thirty year old. for now, i'm chill. i think.

bry got me a card reader for my birthday to go with my new rebel... so, some pics...




hugs all,

A

29 things for which I am grateful...

So I have been sitting here feeling overwhelmed with the IDEA of 29.
Twenty-nine. TWENTY NINE, alright so I am only turning 29, which is not
that old, and normally I just let birthdays fly by and don't really
even give them a second thought, but I guess because as of October 14th, it will be officially
my last year in my twenties, I just feel like it is catastrophic.
LOVELY.Freakin' Lovely.

Anyhow, I decided that I need to let it go, and channel my energy in a positive way, so, on this chilly and stinkin'
gorgeously overcast day, I bring you my list, of twenty-nine things for
which I am grateful- mind you, they are in no particular order...

1. my beans, M, T and Benji, for making my life chock full of fullness, love, excitement, chaos, among other things.

2. my sweetest hubby who loves me unconditionally, and I do mean that....unconditionally, even though I AM his ulcer.

3. My parents who also love me unconditionally no matter how many times i
hit their cars, bring them sick animals and break thing at their house.

4. Fall. need I say more. I am utterly completely entirely without reservation IN LOVE with fall.

5. The people in my life that truly LOVE my children. and not because they are obligated to. Including but not limited to extended family and such....

6. My home. it is desperately in need
of some completion of projects, but I am so grateful for a roof over
our heads, a cozy fire to sit near, a grubby floor to mop every other
day, and the towering pile of laundry, yup, wouldn't trade any of it,
not for the world.

7. My sister. because I only have one, and
though we have run the gamut of relationship dynamics, I think we have
finally got it, I am loving it, and not gonna let it go.


8. Sleeping under two cozy blankets at night and snuggling up close to my
sweaty hubs, who keeps his arms around me, but his body hanging out of
the blankets because he just cannot hack it.

9. Breastfeeding. Because I am able to nourish this last bean of mine, and watch him thrive...

10. My Girlfriends, because girly time, is just so stinkin' special to me, that I am not sure they even realize how much they mean to me.

11. Being able to be a stay at home mom. Reveling in the fact that though
we struggle a good bit financially, okay, a great bit, that my kiddos
are being raised by me, and that I get to see all their big bright eyes
all day long, and I even get to chill through the meltdowns...

12.The Apple Crisp on the counter with fair trade vanilla ice cream in the
freezer, and marinating balsamic rosemary chicken in the fridge.

13. Crocs. Mine, His, Theirs. I *heart* CROCS.

14. Benji's Eyelashes, and sweet demeanor.

15. T's biggest Brown Eyes, her blankies, and her princess like ways.

16. M's inquisitive nature, and of course his sweet hands...

17. Chocolate. Do I really need to explain this?

18. comments on my blog...no really i mean it. i cherish each and every word...

19. my health...

20. my garden

21. the freedom to go to the gym as often as I am able and trying to fix this body of mine.

22. Starbucks. I know, so lame. BUT I SO HEART STARBUCKS.

23. Sister in laws who remember my b-day and surprise me with big amazing yummy chocolate gooey and delicious cakes.

24. UH, THANKSGIVING, Did you guys really think it wouldn't be on the list. Thanksgiving, thanksgiving, thanksgiving, and everything that goes with it. Especially Pumpkin Bread with chocolate chips. The pre-gluten-free way. Sorry mum!


25. Having a handy hubs, he is able to fix it, hang it, prop it, build it, you name it. and it is always just right.

26. The way my kiddos cherish things, gather them and hoard them in their beds, like little treasures...did I mention that I so heart these kids.

27. Date-night, because even though we don't go out often, I love to reconnect when we have the chance.

28. capturing moments in time, my new camera, though I still need to learn how to download the pics...

29. the fact that I could come up with 29 more things, that I so heart, love and am eternally grateful for...

life and then some....

benji has taken to playing UNDER the train table...I think he may be ultra passive aggressive and sees it as the safest way to stay out of the kids choas...that we call playtime.

so, i have been doing a lot of thinking, in between calming down fussy children, playing judge judy over lots and lots of games of "myles said me -insert choice adjective here-" could be good or bad, no matter, still will cause a huge commotion...mediating, mediating, and more mediating...

as i type, T is on here way down the stairs from her supposed to be quiet time SCREAMING at the top of her lungs, "MYLES SAID ME GET IN YOUR FREAKIN' BED, I DON'T WANNA GET IN MY FREAKIN' BED MOMMY." Quiet time is a new thing here that we have been trying on for size, and well, not very succesfully. "Freakin'" is also a new word that the kids have taken on, and may I just say...NOT IMPRESSED
They toss it in before just about every word, it's a toughie when we are out in public, and while a huge step UP from "GYNA," we are not quite there yet.


Quiet time, in theory was a great idea. I thought it would be a nice time for me to catch up on some sewing projects, blog more, write some, etc. no dice peeps, no dice. benji takes a few naps here and there during the day, and is fine, but the older two beans HATE naping, and therefore DON'T. They will literally throw a stink in their rooms for hours and NOT sleep. SO, this makes for not much me time during the day, but we get by, and it's somewhat smooth. Though not at all quiet...EVER.



M making his best case at WHY i should let him wear his underwear on just one leg...did not happen by the way. did not.*see benji??*


T with her so sweet purple nails...because really, if she could be any more girlie...



So, back to the original point, which really is just about how i EVER get from point a to point b - all the thinking that I have been doing, is more or less in regards to the fact that I am turning 29 is just a few short days, and am having a semi-crisis over that. I cannot believe that I will be soon into the LAST year of my twenties, soo overwhelming. hugely overwhelming.....
for whatever reason, this number just seems to big to be mine...maybe I will hang back and chill at 28 for another year, I don't know. Anyhow, more on that at a later date when I can formulate my thoughts and my kids aren't deconstructing the house. Bry asked what I wanted for my b-day, and I said somebody else to clean and organize the house...he said he would call someone. NOT exactly what I meant baby, not exactly.