Milestones and blueberries.

Well, she did it. E is now the proud owner of a valid OH drivers license. We drove to Findlay..so much nicer down there, worth the 45 minute drive. She passed with flying colors. I knew she could do it. She and one other boy were however, the only two that passed out of about 9 kids. There were angry faces and some tears.  Ahh youth.

Saturday we all took a trip to the orchard to pick blueberries in the July heat. The pancakes the next morning made it worth the trip. Not too mention the fact that we make this pilgrimage a few times a year to get those delicious cinnamon sugar doughnuts and apple cider slushies.  Sooo good.  I think we plan on heading back for more on Sunday but we will have to go early. It is supposed to be dangerously hot this weekend and the following week.

Bill and I have been enjoying some cuddle/play time with the boys before bed these days.  They get cleaned up and crawl in between us and we tickle or chat.  I think it is Bill's favorite time of day.  Last nights conversation was regarding William's first bee sting earlier in the day...poor baby.  The boys are very good about wanting shoes on, but he was on his way to the porch from the pool.  Guess we will keep those flip flops on stand by for when they jump out of the water from now on.  Life.

Celebrating freedom down on the farm

Our much needed 3 day weekend for the 4th of July was eventful. Friday we did nothing and enjoyed every bit of it.  Saturday, we got an unexpected new member of the family.  Late last week E and I were heading to lunch, when she saw a sign for Pomeranian puppies for sale.  We have been looking for one for quite some time. In fact Pom's are H's dream dog. So on Saturday a.m. we got up, went shopping, got my hair cut, chems for the pool...and Moose our new 7 wk old Pom. OMG is he the cutest!!!  As with Tucker, the hit of the neighborhood. Speaking of Tucker, I think he is in love too.  We wanted company for him, and they get along very well.  Tuck almost seems to know that Moose is a baby and he needs to play easy.  It is so fun to watch a tiny 1 pound dog go all ninja on a 70 pound Golden. It is great fun.

Sunday brought our trip to R and A's farm in Swanton. The older the boys get the more fun they have...and me too. I actually reached the point that I can sit and visit while they run all over the place. God were they filthy and tired. I left before B did and the boys stayed behind with him.  They didn't get home until 1 a.m. We all slept until about 11.  Joey came Monday and stayed the day. We swam, had steaks on the grill and some beer. It was a nice afternoon. Bill and I took the kids for ice cream in the evening. All in all a great weekend. 

I am looking forward to this weekend as we have not much planned.  E and I are going to Findlay on Saturday a.m. to take her drivers test. Lord I hope she passes...that is a long drive for her to fail. Manuverability makes her sweat. We spent an hour last night practicing...I think she can swing it...if her nerves don't get the better of her. Other than that, I don't want to do much. I am not in the mood for a house full...which we usually have what with the pool open etc. Always someone under foot, always someone eating me out of house and home, never a clean dry towel for me.  I have no voice today...so strange, I don't feel sick, but I can't talk but a whisper. Very weird. I hope it goes away soon. It makes work near impossible.  Resting up...that's my plan.

Chasing Fireflies

After getting called into work on Saturday, the rest of the weekend was blessedly uneventful.  I spent large quantities of time on the porch with my knitting.

On Saturday night H and the boys and I spent a bit of time catching lightening bugs.  W is a pro.  J has a bit more trouble, but big brother will chase one half way down the block for him if need be.

It is such a treat watching them take joy in the simple things.  Maybe they are not simple things at all but rather moments and things sadly taken for granted by most.

A little office help

Saturday June 25th 11. I was supposed to have the day off today. I got a call from Dave at 8:45 this morning telling me our back hoe opperator called to cancel our digs for the day, the back hoe had a broken line.  He asked if I could come in for a couple hours to dig up more pools that could be built in a pinch.  Insert explitive here.  I have had a bad head ache for days now, and I was planning on sleeping in.  I had also promised W that I would have the day off to spend with him.  So, I did the next best thing, I brought him to work with me.  He enjoyed the office chairs and how they spin around.  Currently he is playing Angry Birds on my phone. I hope this keeps him preoccupied long enough for me to get things buttoned up around here and Dave will let me go.

I am looking forward to my doctors visit this week. I have terrible acid reflux and it is getting worse.  Nothing I take seems to work. Lately I have been eating two pieces of dry toast just before bed, and it seems to help. But when it is bad, I am up for hours and the next day I feel like I have 3rd degree burns in my chest. That cannot be good.  I also have a dentist apt for Thursday this week. Finally I am getting this broken front tooth worked on.  It has been over a year. I look horrible. 

A do nothing and like it weekend is on tap for me. E is going to the Shoreland fest later today, and I am sure H will ask to go somewhere. So I am sure I will get the chance to do some knitting on the porch.  I have a ton of laundry waiting and need to wash my sheets too.

Turning the corner

Well the weather is trying to make that long awaited turn towards warmth and sun..all in the same day..imagine!  The boys are getting more and more tan with every evening I pull them from the tub.  I seem to notice this more after bath and I have washed a days way of "play" off of them.  I am starting to see a stubbed toe and a bruised shin more often.  Sure signs of summer.  Last weekend we stocked up on band aids and anti-itch lotion, all good signs even if for unpleasant tasks. 

We see more of J these days.  We selfishly enjoy when he is unattached.  We get to spend more time with him.  He seems more drawn to us.  I want happiness for him more than anything.  In the meantime, I am going to soak up all the J time this momma can get.  There is always the lure of a home cooked meal as motivation to drop by as well.  Meanwhile, I continue to pray for him and give God thanks for his job.

B.  Hmmmm  feeling his age poor man.  Work is using him like a rented mule poor baby.  His hands are like sandpaper covered in Neosporin and Band aids.  His touch is almost painful to my skin.   He continues to battle his depression.  It ebbs and flows.  He is having a hard go of it lately.  The weekends are better, especially if the weather is nice.  He did put half the fence up in the yard, and I am hoping he does the back this weekend.  We are having trouble with strange unattended kids in the yard.  But, I have to wait until he is motivated enough.  Accepting him for who he is and what he is capable of or not has been hard, but with that acceptance comes some release of frustration.  I have stopped setting expectations for him and then I am not let down.  What I get is a bonus.  May not seem the best of circumstances, but I think with age comes wisdom...and he is who he is.  I can accept that or go.  I love him.  If I walk out on him, then that pretty much makes everyone.  His sister is about the only other person on earth who loves him unconditionally.  No wonder I love her.

E. Is working with me this summer.  She is saving money for a car.  She IS a saver and I envy that.  Comes from doing without most of her life I suppose.  Every cloud blah blah.
Today BK had a long lunch.  He picked her up here at the office with a card and pink roses.  Oh how I love that boy!  Such a relief that she chose well, or got lucky or whatever.  I know no matter what, she will be cared for and respected.  That is all that matters.  I have enjoyed her company and will be sad when fall comes and she has to be gone for the cold months.

H. My tough one right now.  Poor baby is not taking these transforming from child to woman years with a grain of salt.  B said she would be our rough one and he was right.  We love her to death, but I wish for her sake I had a fast forward button to get her through the teenage angst.  She has a good head and is smart, we just have to hang on tight and get over the bumps.  She is loving, but with a short fuse.  That love however is intense, and selfless and she is the most loyal person you could ever hope to meet.  E is strong in her convictions, where H can waver, but a more tenacious loyalty you could never hope to find.

W. Smaaaaart!  Stubborn!  gee, I wonder where he gets that from tee hee?  Really into so much these days.  T-Ball fever.  I am looking into getting him some equipment.  Has quite the arm.  E and BK are taking him to a Mud Hens game this spring.  I know he will love it.  Can't believe this is my last summer with him.  B was so sadly right, the first 5 yrs will be rough with him, but go faster than I know.  He is my hearts delight.  Last night we had a thunder storm and he crawled in between us.  I gladly moved over...these times are swiftly fleeting for me.  My "little guy" time with him has become a fist full of sand.  So I hold tight!

JJ.  Has the Devil in him lately...and I grin as I type because he is so darn cute!  Lucky for him!  Such a lover.  Snuggles, kisses, and impeccable manners for a 4 yr old.  Such a treat.  Speaking of, we have taken to calling him Sugar Boy as of late because of his penchant for treats.  What a sweet tooth.  What a sweet boy.  I must have done something good to be blessed so many times over. 

Me.  Thankful, ever foolishly hopeful, procrastinating on letting my W go to kindergarten.  My mom told me last weekend "you can't keep him home forever"  I can try!  J is 25...25!  Where did my life go?  This time around, I am older, hopefully wiser.  I will cling, and claw and cry my way through W and JJ.  I will savor every moment I can.  I will notice ridiculous small things and praise God for them.  My camera is now an appendage.  Keeping safe my memories...they are all that's left me.

p.s.  Had the most amazing, wonderful Mothers Day ever...EVER!  The entire day with my fab 5.  Dinner, ice cream, laughter and love.  A beautiful white orchid that reminds me of them every time I look at it.  God IS SO SO GOOD!

Feast or Famine for Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day has come and gone.  I had a nice relaxing weekend...as relaxing as you can get with 5 kids, friends and family anyway.

On Sunday we went out to A and J's farm for a cook out.  We had a nice time..the boys didn't want to leave.  They were happy, filthy and exhausted.  The boys cried through bath and passed out shortly thereafter.

Friday, DSP and crew put our new liner in.  It is so beautiful!  I ordered the ladder today and they have it in stock and on hold for me.  The water is like ice, but Jack was in it for hours at a time yesterday.  It was about 90 here yesterday and again today.  I love it!  I do feel bad for poor B though, working out in this.  He hates the heat.  I love it, like I love when the weather turns cold at first.  Something about keeping my family cool or warm and fed...makes me feel good, and so blessed.  

Things are crazy busy at work now that Mother Nature finally decided to turn on the heat.  E and I could hardly stay on top of the phones.  We have another hour to go, then we are off to the store for BLT supplies for dinner.  We had the most amazing sweet corn from Kroger of all places yesterday, so I think I will get more of that. And some watermelon.  I love love love summer.

Say Chuckie Cheeeeese

Father's Day weekend 2011 has come and gone.  Year 2 without my dad...sadness.  On the upside, we did have a nice day. Bill spent the morning sleeping in, it was well deserved.  We had a spur of the moment dinner at Red Robin with Brandy and Elvis and all of our kids except J.  Today is Zachary's 4th birthday, so after dinner, in celebration, we took the kids to Chuckie Cheese.  I have always dreaded bday celebrations there.  It is the epitome of obnoxiousness.  But, wow did the boys ever have an awesome time! Who knew?  We were there for hours.  They were so well behaved it was unbelievable.  Emily and Hope had fun with them and are begging to take them back.  So I guess we will be going back.

Hope had a long weekend.  She had a root canal started 2 weeks ago, and it decided to flare up.  Toothaches are like babies. They never come during "office hours". I tried to keep her as medicated as possible, but on Sunday night she wound up getting sick to her stomach from all the medication.  Nothing is helping her pain much.  The Dentist is seeing her at 2 this afternoon thank God!  I feel so bad for her.