Where has my time gone? It seems like ages that I've had a chance to sit at the computer for more than 4 minutes. Life with little kids all around is definately exciting, that's for sure. The laundry and dishes alone make for very busy days.
We've been having lots of fun making artwork over the last few weeks. On the weekend we took the time to organize what we've been learning about insects into a lapbook. Lapbooks are a fun way of visually organizing information. Typically you take a file folder and fold both sides towards the middle like window shutters, and then you decorate the whole thing with little books or pictures about what you've been learning. Sort of like a report that an older child would write.
This was our first try at a lapbook and we all had fun making it together (wow, does it ever make the house messy making all those crafty things). We are going to try doing a little bee book this week.
You can click on the album below to go see our pictures of the lapbook. There are also other pictures there that E has been working on over the last month or so.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Outings with the littles
Haven't done much posting this week because I haven't had a lot of time to myself. We're starting to do more schoolwork again and have been working on learning the 8 facts in addition, and list F in SWR. E always surprises me with how fast she picks up both spelling and math. I hope all the rest of my kids are this easy to teach :-)
I actually got out of the house with all five kids by myself again!! This is quite a feat, because as most of you know, I have to juggle two 3 month old babies, a toddler (20 months) who thinks running away is the best game invented since her other favorite game of climbing out of strollers and highchairs, a 3 year old boy with enough energy at times to power the Internet, and a very distractable 6 year old.
I am determined to make use of our very expensive stroller, however, so each week I have been trying to get out of the house at least once. A worthy goal to shoot for, I think. Last week we went to the library and it was very successful (if you go by my new expectations of what successful means), and the week before that we went to the grocery store to buy some chicken nuggets (how could any family with littles survive without a box of chicken nuggets in the freezer?? I HAD to go!). This week we made an extra special trip to the local science centre and children's museum. Our dear friends, the godparents of the twins, gave us a family pass there for christmas (thank you!!) and we had so much fun!
I love getting out of the house with all the children at once because it gives me so many opportunities for adult conversation. Mind you, it is usually the same conversation each time, but when you live my life, that's ok. Nearly every other adult I walk by wants to talk to me because they can't believe they are all mine LOL. You can literally see them counting each child in their head as I walk by.
I must be getting a lot of prayers from people though, because I have a great sense of peace most of the time. In fact, when I was at the science centre, I ran into a mom who had her 18 mo old twins with her (her only children), and she was amazed that I was out of the house and how I 'look so happy', she said. I just laughed and told her I was happy because I was out of the house instead of sitting at home with my chaos. She said she would remember me when she has bad days. Glad to be the 'someone always has it harder than me' person for her :-).
I actually got out of the house with all five kids by myself again!! This is quite a feat, because as most of you know, I have to juggle two 3 month old babies, a toddler (20 months) who thinks running away is the best game invented since her other favorite game of climbing out of strollers and highchairs, a 3 year old boy with enough energy at times to power the Internet, and a very distractable 6 year old.
I am determined to make use of our very expensive stroller, however, so each week I have been trying to get out of the house at least once. A worthy goal to shoot for, I think. Last week we went to the library and it was very successful (if you go by my new expectations of what successful means), and the week before that we went to the grocery store to buy some chicken nuggets (how could any family with littles survive without a box of chicken nuggets in the freezer?? I HAD to go!). This week we made an extra special trip to the local science centre and children's museum. Our dear friends, the godparents of the twins, gave us a family pass there for christmas (thank you!!) and we had so much fun!
I love getting out of the house with all the children at once because it gives me so many opportunities for adult conversation. Mind you, it is usually the same conversation each time, but when you live my life, that's ok. Nearly every other adult I walk by wants to talk to me because they can't believe they are all mine LOL. You can literally see them counting each child in their head as I walk by.
I must be getting a lot of prayers from people though, because I have a great sense of peace most of the time. In fact, when I was at the science centre, I ran into a mom who had her 18 mo old twins with her (her only children), and she was amazed that I was out of the house and how I 'look so happy', she said. I just laughed and told her I was happy because I was out of the house instead of sitting at home with my chaos. She said she would remember me when she has bad days. Glad to be the 'someone always has it harder than me' person for her :-).
Friday, January 05, 2007
Back to school with... insects!
A new year and a fresh start to school. We started on thursday, and for this week we have learned lots about insects, making a craft about bees and their hives from this book which is part of a great series of science and nature craft books.
The hive is made out of six paper hexagons that we cut out of cardstock, folded into shape, painted, and then glued together. I used the template from here, but next time I would try to get a smaller, deeper hexagon to make it more realistic.
It feels good to be doing regular work again. When the babies were first born it seemed like it would take at least a year to get started, but here we are at 14 weeks and we're doing great! Of course, my expectations of what makes for a good school day have been significantly lowered since then, but hey, we're learning and we're having fun!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Ten things I love starting with the letter D
Thanks to Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight for giving me a letter for this fun post. If you want to do one, leave me a comment and I'll give you a letter too :-)
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My 10 favorite D things:
My Dad
What girl couldn't love a daddy like mine? He's gentle and kind, funny, strong, a great hugger, and smart. He kills mice, fixes things, cleans my house when i'm overwhelmed, moves furniture and always tells me he loves me with a wonderful smile. Love ya dad!
Doughnuts
My parents always bring over a box of doughnuts when they come visiting on mondays and I love them!! Too bad they have Dairy in them (a D word that I despise because it always causes problems with my breastfed babies).
Daisies
My favorite sunny flowers. They are so cheery, and bring a smile to my face. My neighbour generously donated some last summer to be planted along my picket fence out front, and I hope they survive and take over!!
Doug
My little cousin Douggie was so much fun to play with when I was a kid. He is like the little brother I never had. When we were playing hide-and-seek with him, we could always find him by yelling out the word 'NUTMEG!' because sure enough he would start giggling away. What a cutie-pie!
Dough
I love baking, although I don't seem to have much time for it these days. There's something so satisfying about doing everything by hand. I have a fancy mixer, but it's always more fun to mix the dough with a wooden spoon, or knead things with your good clean hands. THe kids think so too!
Doorbell
When it rings, I know that there is someone there to break up the monotony of the day and give me some adult conversation... even if it just the vegetable delivery man. Since the twins came, I have come to love the sound of the stomp, stomp (on the porch), ding-dong.
Dating my dh
We don't do this enough (wonder why? anyone want to watch 5 kids under 7 for me tonight?) but I sure do love spending one on one time with my sweetie. Movies, bookstores, coffe shops, grocery stores... whatever, as long as it's with just him.
Dusk
One of my favorite things is going for a walk just at dusk. I love the way the sunlight turns golden and casts everything in a soft warm glow, looking like it had come fresh from the makers hands.
Dinner time
Although there isn't a lot of food that actually gets eaten during dinner time, I love that it is a chance for all of us to be together as a family. It's a little overwhelming to look around and see those five little faces that we are so responsible for.. especially when we can't seem to get them to actually eat anything (how are they going to grow?), but we know they are all such blessings to us, and we are richer than any king and queen.
Desert
Of course! Chocolate, cake, chocolate cake, pie.. yummy.. i'll have seconds!
Dainty things
Anything feminine and pretty, light and delicate. I'm not elegant, and I wouldn't consider myself beautiful.. but I would love to be pretty and delicate. Gentle, and sweet.
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My 10 favorite D things:
My Dad
What girl couldn't love a daddy like mine? He's gentle and kind, funny, strong, a great hugger, and smart. He kills mice, fixes things, cleans my house when i'm overwhelmed, moves furniture and always tells me he loves me with a wonderful smile. Love ya dad!
Doughnuts
My parents always bring over a box of doughnuts when they come visiting on mondays and I love them!! Too bad they have Dairy in them (a D word that I despise because it always causes problems with my breastfed babies).
Daisies
My favorite sunny flowers. They are so cheery, and bring a smile to my face. My neighbour generously donated some last summer to be planted along my picket fence out front, and I hope they survive and take over!!
Doug
My little cousin Douggie was so much fun to play with when I was a kid. He is like the little brother I never had. When we were playing hide-and-seek with him, we could always find him by yelling out the word 'NUTMEG!' because sure enough he would start giggling away. What a cutie-pie!
Dough
I love baking, although I don't seem to have much time for it these days. There's something so satisfying about doing everything by hand. I have a fancy mixer, but it's always more fun to mix the dough with a wooden spoon, or knead things with your good clean hands. THe kids think so too!
Doorbell
When it rings, I know that there is someone there to break up the monotony of the day and give me some adult conversation... even if it just the vegetable delivery man. Since the twins came, I have come to love the sound of the stomp, stomp (on the porch), ding-dong.
Dating my dh
We don't do this enough (wonder why? anyone want to watch 5 kids under 7 for me tonight?) but I sure do love spending one on one time with my sweetie. Movies, bookstores, coffe shops, grocery stores... whatever, as long as it's with just him.
Dusk
One of my favorite things is going for a walk just at dusk. I love the way the sunlight turns golden and casts everything in a soft warm glow, looking like it had come fresh from the makers hands.
Dinner time
Although there isn't a lot of food that actually gets eaten during dinner time, I love that it is a chance for all of us to be together as a family. It's a little overwhelming to look around and see those five little faces that we are so responsible for.. especially when we can't seem to get them to actually eat anything (how are they going to grow?), but we know they are all such blessings to us, and we are richer than any king and queen.
Desert
Of course! Chocolate, cake, chocolate cake, pie.. yummy.. i'll have seconds!
Dainty things
Anything feminine and pretty, light and delicate. I'm not elegant, and I wouldn't consider myself beautiful.. but I would love to be pretty and delicate. Gentle, and sweet.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
So that's why she's so picky
E, on why she doesn't want to finish her pasta:
"I just don't want to eat it because the spit from my mouth keeps getting on it when I chew it and it makes it taste yucky"
How do you respond to that??
"I just don't want to eat it because the spit from my mouth keeps getting on it when I chew it and it makes it taste yucky"
How do you respond to that??
copycat brother
Z loves to copy his sister. A good chunk of his creative play involves following what she does, immitating her voices, singing her songs. Today they were playing knights and princesses:
"Where's my princess?", the king bellows.
A sweet voice calls out from behind the chair, "I'm over here! I was just getting my crown and my earrings".
"Where are MY earrings?" The knight says, in an equally sweet, high voice as he runs over to the princess.
Laughing, the princess tells him " YOU don't wear earrings!", and the play dissolves into silliness with lots of giggles and silly faces.
I'm sure things will change when the twin boys grow up and start playing with Z.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Feast of Saint Basil
We started using a calendar this year with stickers for all the feast days of the church.
Each day E has been putting the new sticker on and practices reading the day of the week and the month. She's also learning about each saint as we come to their feast day.
Today we celebrated the feast of St. Basil who is one of the great saints in the history of the church. You can read more about him at Catholic culture. From the same website, we read about the Greek custom of baking a cake (called a Vasilopita) in honour of St. Basil, in which you hide a silver coin. Whoever finds the coin is believed to be especially blessed for the next year.
We had fun baking the cake together. Because I was nursing a fussy baby, E got to do almost all of it herself with me instructing from my chair. She measured, poured, cracked eggs, and stirred. In fact, she did such a good job that I think I need to give her more jobs in the kitchen.
We were a little worried about how the cake would turn out, because it rose pretty high (with the yeast), but in the end it was beautiful!
E was the lucky one who got the coin in her piece of cake. She was so excited. I told her she could keep the money and go buy something, or save it up for something bigger, but she has decided that she is going to give it to the poor like St. Basil, and is now going through the house trying to find money laying around so she can give even more. Her generous heart never ceases to amaze me.
Monday, January 01, 2007
happy new years!
My sister joined us for the evening and we had a very enjoyable night. Despite the babies being sick with colds, they gave us smiles, and the three other kids were all in good spirits too.
We played our own version of pictionary for most of the night, and then daddy read us a bedtime story *(hillarious).
After bedtime for the kids, the grownups watched a movie... we brought out the big monitor for our special guest instead of using our regular laptop pulled up to the couch on the coffe table.
Below are some of our pictures from the game. Can you guess them?
We played our own version of pictionary for most of the night, and then daddy read us a bedtime story *(hillarious).
After bedtime for the kids, the grownups watched a movie... we brought out the big monitor for our special guest instead of using our regular laptop pulled up to the couch on the coffe table.
Below are some of our pictures from the game. Can you guess them?
John Paul getting his diaper changed
Zebra
Knight on a horse standing in the river
plant
baby crawling
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Award-winning parenting moment #451
This morning, looking into the kitchen, my husband and I were treated with the sight of our not-yet-talking toddler standing on a stool, waving a knife longer than her arm over the top of the stove.
hmmm... better brush up on those parenting books. Note to self: don't let her out of my sight for more than .5 seconds again. (you think I would learn! Wonder what she was trying to cook... she seems to like the culinary arts).
Oh, and she can open doors now. I spent the better part of friday picking locks on the bathroom doors trying to get her out after she had opened the door, gone inside and promptly locked the knob (three times!)
hmmm... better brush up on those parenting books. Note to self: don't let her out of my sight for more than .5 seconds again. (you think I would learn! Wonder what she was trying to cook... she seems to like the culinary arts).
Oh, and she can open doors now. I spent the better part of friday picking locks on the bathroom doors trying to get her out after she had opened the door, gone inside and promptly locked the knob (three times!)
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friends for Life!
Aren't siblings one of the best gifts you could ever give your children? The way my children interact with each other is so precious to watch. Our little H is 19 months old, and loves to bug her big brother Z who is 3 1/2. She will run up to him and hit him, and then immediately give him a big bear hug (because if you hurt someone you have to make up with them after by hugging). He gets her back later on by running up to her as fast as he can to give her a hug and knocking her over from his excitement.
It's fun to watch JP and P grow up together too. Right now, they are nursing buddies, and sleeping buddies.. but soon they will be crawling around buddies, climbing buddies and ganging-up-on-their-sisters buddies. What a gift they will be to eachother, and to the rest of our family.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Our blessings - 2006 edition in photos
Blessings abound wherever you look. Here are some of ours from this year:
Mommy and Daddy:
Turned THIRTY!!
Pregnant AGAIN
Married seven years
Bought a tent trailer
E:
featured at art show
turned six
Learned cursive, addition, subtraction
learning how to read
flower girl at grandma and grandpa's marriage blessing
Z:
turned three
learned to swim
learned to ride a tricycle
H:
turned one
first solids
learned to walk
learned to climb
JP and P:
twins?!?
born at home by daddy
front cover of newspaper!
baptized!
first christmas
Mommy and Daddy:
Turned THIRTY!!
Pregnant AGAIN
Married seven years
Bought a tent trailer
E:
featured at art show
turned six
Learned cursive, addition, subtraction
learning how to read
flower girl at grandma and grandpa's marriage blessing
Z:
turned three
learned to swim
learned to ride a tricycle
H:
turned one
first solids
learned to walk
learned to climb
JP and P:
twins?!?
born at home by daddy
front cover of newspaper!
baptized!
first christmas
Monday, December 25, 2006
Merry Christmas!
We wish you all a blessed Christmas!!
Here are some pictures of our christmas eve, and christmas morning... you can click on the album below to view all of them... watch the slideshow of them for the best viewing.
We spent the evening at sean's parent's house, enjoying delicious food and joyful family time including christmas crakers, bread pudding, and presents. Then we went to a lovely evening mass together. (although7pm must be just about the worst time to take 5 sleepy kids to church, they behaved very well! At one point we had five out of the six adults in our group holding kids... what a sight we were!)
Little H wasn't feeling well, so we all got to snuggle her lots (which doesn't normally happen)... but this morning she is her chipper self again, stealing candy and toys from her brother, and rolling her eyes at daddy.
E decided that we should write a letter to baby Jesus so st. nicholas could bring it to him in heaven, so mommy and her left notes on the table. In the morning, we were excited to find a note that st. nick left for us, along with lots of goodies in our stockings.
The children woke us up sometime around 7am and we tried to get some cute group pictures before stockings... right. We'll try again later.
The rest of the morning was spent opening presents, playing, and eating a lovely breakfast prepared by daddy. later on today we will bundle up and go over to my parents house for another nice dinner and more presents with my family.
I just love christmas!!
Here are some pictures of our christmas eve, and christmas morning... you can click on the album below to view all of them... watch the slideshow of them for the best viewing.
We spent the evening at sean's parent's house, enjoying delicious food and joyful family time including christmas crakers, bread pudding, and presents. Then we went to a lovely evening mass together. (although7pm must be just about the worst time to take 5 sleepy kids to church, they behaved very well! At one point we had five out of the six adults in our group holding kids... what a sight we were!)
Little H wasn't feeling well, so we all got to snuggle her lots (which doesn't normally happen)... but this morning she is her chipper self again, stealing candy and toys from her brother, and rolling her eyes at daddy.
E decided that we should write a letter to baby Jesus so st. nicholas could bring it to him in heaven, so mommy and her left notes on the table. In the morning, we were excited to find a note that st. nick left for us, along with lots of goodies in our stockings.
The children woke us up sometime around 7am and we tried to get some cute group pictures before stockings... right. We'll try again later.
The rest of the morning was spent opening presents, playing, and eating a lovely breakfast prepared by daddy. later on today we will bundle up and go over to my parents house for another nice dinner and more presents with my family.
I just love christmas!!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
two more days left!!!
This afternoon we enjoyed a quiet (?? with five kids?) time decorating our christmas tree. The children each got to find special places on the tree for all of their own ornaments they have collected in their short lives. E placed all of the angels on the tree on the same spot and told me they are having a party, and apparently they are on the back of the tree because they don't want us to see what they are doing.Mommy and Daddy ate cookies and held the babies.
Heather was the special child who got to place the angel on the top this year.We also put out our nativity scene, and spent the morning cleaning our house in preparation for baby jesus. I even had a chance to do all the laundry. I'm not sure the laundry has ever been all clean and put away at the same time ever!! Quite an accomplishment for us!
Here's our finished tree! Isn't it pretty? I just love the lull right before christmas. Come, O come Emmanuel!
Friday, December 22, 2006
JOY
Today we spent the morning making some pretty christmas decorations to continue preparing our house and our hearts for christmas. The stained glass JOY came from an idea here, and E made the nativity scene on the window all by herself (she even designed it and cut it out)... she's very crafty!Tomorrow we will be decorating our tree to christmas music, putting out our nativity scene, wrapping presents, making cookies, and going for a late night walk through our neighborhood with the kids to look at everyone's christmas lights. These last few days before christmas are so special, and I always cherish the time we spend together as a family.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
What we're reading
Mommy: Holiness for Housewives
with 5 kids under 7 (and four of them under 4) I need all the help I can get!
Daddy: his blackberry and the Hobbit to the kids in his spare time
or is it his 'crackberry'? (actually, he's pretty good about not being too addicted to it)
Z: Richard Scary
Want to learn ukrainian with Richard Scarry books?
Read about his life
H: Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
play teletubbies game (warning: VERY Annoying!)
E: The hobbit (read aloud by Daddy)
my Hobbit name is Tigerlilly Burrows... what's yours?
the twins: mommy's blog (while she types with one finger)
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Getting ready
When I was a child, the month of December seemed to crawl by. With each morning’s chocolate square from my advent calendar I would count the days left and wish they would come faster. 
Now, as a very busy mother of young children, I find that December goes by faster than I would like, and before I’m even ready for it, Christmas explodes into my house with it’s decorations, flowers, cookies, trees and presents.
This year we are celebrating Christmas in the most wonderful way: with a baby in our midst… make that two babies!! How much easier it is to reflect on that Silent Night when you have a newborn in your house. When you yourself are up in the wee hours of the morning you can so easily imagine Mary and Joseph’s sleepless, but wonder-filled nights with their new little blessing.
Most nights I am tired and wishing for sleep when feeding babies in the dark, but in this season of wonder, I am grateful for their innocence and dependence, because they call me out of myself and give me precious time away from the business of the day to reflect on what is really important.
This year, in an effort to deliberately set aside time for our family, my husband and I packed up all 5 children and drove out to the mountains for the weekend to stay in a 2 bedroom chalet. We brought along crayons, one toy for each of the kids, a movie, and a whole bunch of stories, and spent all of our time together, unhurried, and happy. There was an outdoor hot tub that wasn’t too hot (so the kids could play in it), and there was a delightful fireplace that was electric and gave you the beauty of a fire without the dangerous toddler factor. (cheesy yes, but so much fun for the children to have on). The kids piled into a soft double bed in their room, and we enjoyed a king size sleigh bed in ours. What fun it was to hibernate together and enjoy each other without the phone, doorbell, messy house, piles and piles of toys, and chores to do at home. We realized, more than anything, that we can get by without 90% of the things we have at home, because what’s really important is that we have each other.
Other things we have done to get ready for Christmas this year:
The kids made gingerbread houses with their grandma one morning
We put up our Christmas tree and put the lights on it (although they are those newfangled LED ones, and after they lit up the tree, we decided that they look more like the dentist office or a fluorescent glow stick, so we’re going to go back to the old fashioned normal ones if we have time).
We have been lighting the candles on our advent wreath each night, watching each week as the light becomes brighter with the approach of baby Jesus.
We went to E’s Christmas concert at a big concert hall and enjoyed the lovely music from the girls choir. The older girls sing like angels, and the little girls are adorable.
We have been listening to the Cinnamon Bear each night (an old time radio Christmas special from the 30’s or 40’s).
Other things we still want to do this year:
Go sledding (if we ever get any more snow!)
Go for a late-night walk through our neighbourhood to look at everyone’s Christmas lights
Go to the Zoo for their Christmas light display
Do some baking,
Build a snowman
Sing Christmas songs together.
Now, as a very busy mother of young children, I find that December goes by faster than I would like, and before I’m even ready for it, Christmas explodes into my house with it’s decorations, flowers, cookies, trees and presents.This year we are celebrating Christmas in the most wonderful way: with a baby in our midst… make that two babies!! How much easier it is to reflect on that Silent Night when you have a newborn in your house. When you yourself are up in the wee hours of the morning you can so easily imagine Mary and Joseph’s sleepless, but wonder-filled nights with their new little blessing.
Most nights I am tired and wishing for sleep when feeding babies in the dark, but in this season of wonder, I am grateful for their innocence and dependence, because they call me out of myself and give me precious time away from the business of the day to reflect on what is really important.
 |
This year, in an effort to deliberately set aside time for our family, my husband and I packed up all 5 children and drove out to the mountains for the weekend to stay in a 2 bedroom chalet. We brought along crayons, one toy for each of the kids, a movie, and a whole bunch of stories, and spent all of our time together, unhurried, and happy. There was an outdoor hot tub that wasn’t too hot (so the kids could play in it), and there was a delightful fireplace that was electric and gave you the beauty of a fire without the dangerous toddler factor. (cheesy yes, but so much fun for the children to have on). The kids piled into a soft double bed in their room, and we enjoyed a king size sleigh bed in ours. What fun it was to hibernate together and enjoy each other without the phone, doorbell, messy house, piles and piles of toys, and chores to do at home. We realized, more than anything, that we can get by without 90% of the things we have at home, because what’s really important is that we have each other.
Other things we have done to get ready for Christmas this year:
The kids made gingerbread houses with their grandma one morning
We put up our Christmas tree and put the lights on it (although they are those newfangled LED ones, and after they lit up the tree, we decided that they look more like the dentist office or a fluorescent glow stick, so we’re going to go back to the old fashioned normal ones if we have time).
We have been lighting the candles on our advent wreath each night, watching each week as the light becomes brighter with the approach of baby Jesus.
We went to E’s Christmas concert at a big concert hall and enjoyed the lovely music from the girls choir. The older girls sing like angels, and the little girls are adorable.
We have been listening to the Cinnamon Bear each night (an old time radio Christmas special from the 30’s or 40’s).
Other things we still want to do this year:
Go sledding (if we ever get any more snow!)
Go for a late-night walk through our neighbourhood to look at everyone’s Christmas lights
Go to the Zoo for their Christmas light display
Do some baking,
Build a snowman
Sing Christmas songs together.
Friday, December 15, 2006
education in real books
A wonderful example of how homeschooling can create great minds. You must read this post by Elizabeth Foss's son. He is applying to colleges, and reflecting on his homeschool experience that was immersed in great literature. It just makes me want to head off to my local library and curl up with a good book by the fire.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12 is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
While we didn't have time to do an elaborate party or make beautiful crafts, we did take the time to read about when Mary appeard to Juan Diego, look up Mexico in our atlas, draw a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, make tacos (mexican food) for dinner, and bake a cake for dessert. (E thinks that all feast days deserve a cake for dessert).
and how can I resist another picture of the adorable twins?? John Paul is smiling away and Peter is still waking up.
While we didn't have time to do an elaborate party or make beautiful crafts, we did take the time to read about when Mary appeard to Juan Diego, look up Mexico in our atlas, draw a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, make tacos (mexican food) for dinner, and bake a cake for dessert. (E thinks that all feast days deserve a cake for dessert).
and how can I resist another picture of the adorable twins?? John Paul is smiling away and Peter is still waking up.
Friday, December 08, 2006
fresh air and freedom!
So the babies are 11 weeks old already.... I can hardly believe it! The time has flown by so fast that I've barely had a chance to think about how much my life has changed. I missed the entire season of Autumn (not hard to do where I live since it comes and goes in about 2 weeks... the two weeks I was in the hospital with the boys).
However, since they have started sleeping more than 4 hours in a row at night, I have had a few more brain cells freed up to start thinking about other things than diapers, milk, and laundry, and I have realized that I haven't actually left my house and breathed fresh air in a very long time. Because I have three kids under 2 (not to mention the other two under 7), and because I only have two arms, I can't leave the house with the kids unless I have help. This has become very frustrating for me, to say the least, because my favorite stroller that I have used since H was a baby wasn't working with the babies.
Take for example, our experimental trip to the mall last week:
Picture the seven of us standing in line at A&W.
All the kids are starving because it's now almost 7pm and they haven't eaten anything since 2pm. The babies are stuffed into the bottom seat of the stroller (which, by the way, is designed to be perfectly comfortable for one baby who is sleeping, but apparently doesn't do the trick for two squirming awake babies), our toddler is strapped into the top seat of the stroller protesting her situation loudly by alternatingly yelling, and banging her boot-clad feet against the stroller while sucking her thumb, E is twirling like a ballerina through the line-up, oblivious to everyone trying to walk past her, and Z the preschooler informs us that he has to go pee... NOW. (did I mention that both babies were crying?)
So Sean takes Z to the bathroom with the toddler and leaves me with the two crying babies, the stroller, the diaper bag, Elizabeth, and the grumpy cashier at A&W who is trying to hand me my tray and get me out of the way so the next person in line can order.
All we could do was just laugh at the absurdity of our new life with 5 kids under 7, eat our food quickly while balancing the babies on our laps and keeping H from climbing out of her high chair. We tried looking in a few stores while we were there but that didn't last long with the chaos we carried along with us.
"If we don't get a better stroller, I am never leaving my house again with the kids", I said to my husband... and the chinook that rolled in yesterday, raising the outdoor temperature up to a beautiful afternoon that just begged for a walk, clinched it for me.
Being the wonderful husband that he is, that very day he came home with one. What a good man he is!!
Very fancy... the nicest (and most expensive) stroller I've ever seen!! Comes with it's own air pump for the tires, two zip off diaper bags, lots of cargo space, shocks, head huggers for the babies, a big fancy rain cover, and the best part of all: a toddler seat so I can push all three of my littlest littles around.
Doesn't she look like the queen riding up there so tall? The kids were very excited about going for a walk. We had lots of fun walking through the snow, and listening to birds chirp in the ravine.... I love having my freedom again!!
However, since they have started sleeping more than 4 hours in a row at night, I have had a few more brain cells freed up to start thinking about other things than diapers, milk, and laundry, and I have realized that I haven't actually left my house and breathed fresh air in a very long time. Because I have three kids under 2 (not to mention the other two under 7), and because I only have two arms, I can't leave the house with the kids unless I have help. This has become very frustrating for me, to say the least, because my favorite stroller that I have used since H was a baby wasn't working with the babies.
Take for example, our experimental trip to the mall last week:
Picture the seven of us standing in line at A&W.
All the kids are starving because it's now almost 7pm and they haven't eaten anything since 2pm. The babies are stuffed into the bottom seat of the stroller (which, by the way, is designed to be perfectly comfortable for one baby who is sleeping, but apparently doesn't do the trick for two squirming awake babies), our toddler is strapped into the top seat of the stroller protesting her situation loudly by alternatingly yelling, and banging her boot-clad feet against the stroller while sucking her thumb, E is twirling like a ballerina through the line-up, oblivious to everyone trying to walk past her, and Z the preschooler informs us that he has to go pee... NOW. (did I mention that both babies were crying?)
So Sean takes Z to the bathroom with the toddler and leaves me with the two crying babies, the stroller, the diaper bag, Elizabeth, and the grumpy cashier at A&W who is trying to hand me my tray and get me out of the way so the next person in line can order.
All we could do was just laugh at the absurdity of our new life with 5 kids under 7, eat our food quickly while balancing the babies on our laps and keeping H from climbing out of her high chair. We tried looking in a few stores while we were there but that didn't last long with the chaos we carried along with us.
"If we don't get a better stroller, I am never leaving my house again with the kids", I said to my husband... and the chinook that rolled in yesterday, raising the outdoor temperature up to a beautiful afternoon that just begged for a walk, clinched it for me.
Being the wonderful husband that he is, that very day he came home with one. What a good man he is!!
Very fancy... the nicest (and most expensive) stroller I've ever seen!! Comes with it's own air pump for the tires, two zip off diaper bags, lots of cargo space, shocks, head huggers for the babies, a big fancy rain cover, and the best part of all: a toddler seat so I can push all three of my littlest littles around.
Doesn't she look like the queen riding up there so tall? The kids were very excited about going for a walk. We had lots of fun walking through the snow, and listening to birds chirp in the ravine.... I love having my freedom again!!
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