Birthdays

Yesterday was an awesome day of puttering around the house, packing suitcases and folding laundry with a good deal of daydreaming scattered throughout.  Birthday wishes came from all different venues...snail mail, email, phone calls and texts.  Two particularly made my day....actually every thought meant so much that it seems unfair to even say that two stood out!  The first was a card in the mail from Great Aunt Gloria.  We use the term "great" in her name to mean fantastic, fabulous, awesome, amazing...great!
She never forgets a birthday and has an uncanny knack for knowing what each child might enjoy for their birthday or Christmas.  She sent such a sweet note from the heart that it brightened my whole day!
AND, the cards almost always arrive on a person's birthday.  I find this amazing as that is just not something I've got down.
I'll bet she has an in with the postal service ~ she must be great!

The other one that was too funny was my bro, Matt.  He called and actually sang Happy Birthday.
Not your typical Happy Birthday, it was a rendition that could have only been composed by Matt.
He said the typical tune was just not his thing...he may have used other terms, but we'll leave it at that!

After all the kids were settled in bed it struck me how different last year was.
And I cried.
At times I feel cold-hearted when a day goes by and I haven't thought a lot about Theresa.  There is enough going on that not every thought is consumed with her not being here...but then there are moments when it just bites.
Last night was one of those.
So, thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes.
It filled me up and yet again made me realize what wonderful family and friends we have been given.

Heart Stopping Moment

While driving home from Grandma's Joshie almost made my heart stop.

Without taking a breath he related the following ~

"Mom, me and Grandma were watching YouTube video and there were these quadruplets.  Do you know what quadruplets are? Well, quadruplets are like this....picture me...you know you have one of me...then imagine there are three more just like me."

Then, I drove off the road.

Trips vs. Vacations

As a child every little trip is a fabulous vacation.  As one has more and more children even a well-planned vacation seems like simply a trip.  It is easier to stay at home and perform all the daily obligations of motherhood than on the road, from a motel or tent, or in a strange location.


But Shannon and I realized this spring that we had postponed a family vacation too long and we needed a change of scenery.  Mom & Dad simultaneously invited us on a very special vacation.
Okay, so it was more Dad's idea.

WE ARE TAKING OUR KIDDOS TO ALASKA ~:o)


I am so excited.  Of course there are nagging thoughts of what people are going to think of a family of nine traipsing onto a cruise ship but darn-it-all, I don't care ~ I can't care.  I can't wait for my kiddos to witness the splendor of Creation in the icy north ~ to (hopefully) witness whales as they skim the surface and porpoises as they bounce in front of the bow of the ship, the mountains jutting straight out of the water, the magnificence of it all.
We just finalized plans to visit with a special friend in Seattle ~ the kids bagged the zoo so we could for sure spend enough time with them exploring tide pools.  So much for my grand plan of ditching my boys with the monkeys.
Anyway, who cares about the zoo, we live in one!

Packing all the suitcases will be a different sort of fun.

How do you like the little red one?  

Mine from way back ~ I'd carry it from our house 

to spend the night with an older couple that lived several blocks away.  

As wonderful as home is, and as stressful as caring for a larger family is away from home, this will be a vacation.  We will choose to make it one, not simply a trip.
That's what Mom & Dad did for us and what we need to pass onto our cherubs.

Cheapskate

I am notoriously cheap, but it really hit home last night as I was cruising through traffic on my bike.  While crossing through an intersection I spotted a nickel.
Not $100, just a nickel.
I almost slammed on my brakes.  Luckily a sense of self preservation kicked in and I continued pedaling, but it took a mile before deciding turning back would be a waste of time.
The sad part is while my eye instantly caught that shiny nickel it did not see the large piece of plastic ten miles further, thus leading to a flat tire and an SOS being sent out for a ride!

What a beautiful night it was.
Absolutely no wind.
The smell of spring hanging heavily in the air.
The traffic whipping by.
The sun beating down with little spots of shade here and there.

Every time I am privileged to go biking I realize what an unselfish anniversary gift this was from my husband.  Until recently no one could ride with me, so that meant he was home by himself whenever I was biking.  
It was a gift I never saw coming and one from deep in his heart.
He thinks of me like that ~ okay, not when he bought me a backpack and a Sunshower, but typically.

And this post has digressed....over and out.  

Strawberries and milk for dessert is the best~

Best of friends....most of the time.  

Brother Chicken

I am not sure St. Francis would approve of how Nickles is treating this chicken.  

He was catching it so the dog wouldn't, so maybe that counts for something.

Happy Birthday Annika ~

You're so special ~ oh so special ~ God gave you to us!

It's no wonder that we LOVE you so!

Holy buckets, Daddy and I cannot believe you are 7 years old!

It seems like only yesterday that I called Daddy at work to tell him that #5 was on his or her way.

The day you arrived was a cloudy spring day.  I was helping in Michaela's classroom, listening to her classmates read when I realized I had better head home.  

Maybe that's why you like to read so much! 

You arrived a smidgen before 10:00 pm, just in time for Daddy to make a Wendy's run. 

And that's how you still are, always accommodating.  If someone doesn't want to play a specific game, you are perfectly content to join in whatever they are playing.  

You have been a bit spoiled by your older sisters; they love dressing you up and treating you like a little princess. 

Despite being sandwiched between four boys, it isn't that rough!  The two younger ones love you like a little "mother," and the two older ones (when they aren't teasing you) tell you how beautiful you are!  

Make a wish !

Annika's favorite thing ~ parties with just the girls.

Reading to Nickles.  

She doesn't care whether he listens well or not!

Socks

If ever there were a mystery that I would love to see solved, it is that of disappearing socks. 
Why don't they disappear in pairs?
Where do they go?
I have never, to my knowledge, lost a shirt in the laundry.
Every week  day I stare, perplexed, at this mess.

Menu

Monday ~ Grilled Chic Breasts w/Spinach and Monterey Jack, Green Beans, Bread

Tuesday ~ Macaroni & Cheese, Fruit Salad & Birthday Cake ~:o)

Wednesday ~ Beans & Rice, Salad

Thursday ~Baked Penne w/Sausage, Spinach & Tomatoes

Friday ~ Grilled Pizza

Saturday ~Quiche (using up all extra veggies)

Sunday ~ Picnic Dinner

Monday ~ Sloppy Joes, Carrot Sticks Strawberries

Tuesday ~ Grilled Elk Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Salad w/Ranch

Wednesday ~  Salmon, Wild Rice & Walnut Salad, Spinach-Berry Salad

Thursday ~ Nut Crusted Elk Loin, Bread, Salad

Friday ~ Grilled Pizza

Saturday ~ Meatball Kabobs, Fruit w/Yogurt

Sunday ~ Burgers w/Caprese

We do love grilled pizza around these parts ~ if my husband is given the choice, grilled is what he chooses. 

So it makes all the sense in the world when the latest Fine Home Building magazine arrived and it featured an outdoor pizza oven that the wheels began turning...in my brain, not his.  

He matter-of-factly states that if I say the words, "I've been thinking...." that it costs him $1000.  

I do try to avoid saying that, but when I read the article I really began thinking, "Where would I locate such an oven? How much would it cost?  Could I bake bread in it too? Could I sell my range, thus always cooking outside?"

Okay, the last one is a stretch.

But think of the possibilities. 

I probably better not bring it up, or I may acquire a new grill for Mother's Day.

Onto other subjects ~ Nicholas has been perfectly happy in his crib.  He loved it.  He never wanted to get out.  He would wait hours for us to get him in the morning or after naps while he read a book, played with cars or whatever.  

Suddenly, he no longer likes it......at all.  

We find him in Annika or Dom's bed soon after tucking him in for the evening.  

The door clicks shut, and we hear the crib rail begin rattling.

I walked into the house late the other night and he strolled out of his room, nonchalantly saying, "Hi Mom," then, proceeded to walk downstairs to find Daddy or another sibling to hang with. 

Apparently, his roommates were fast asleep, as he should have been.  

It makes me laugh, but I am sorry to see the long-nap-phase disappearing as he become his own little man!

Annika loves having such an attentive audience...and right in her own bed!

Spring Days & Track Meet

The much anticipated small school track meet was today.  Despite the weather forecast threatening nasty weather all week, it turned out to be a not-so-shabby day.  

My kids enjoyed chatting with old friends, meeting new friends and earning a few ribbons in between.  

'Cuz it's not really all about winning!

It's more about a yummy packed lunch, hot chocolate, and a good time.

Annika, slicin' the air just like Daddy taught her ~

 

This one epitomizes 10-year-old boys, Eric is enamored with his feet, another boy is ensuring he is still in the lead, another is determination personified, and the one in all red....well he looks like a boy in a Norman Rockwell drawing.

I just like this picture, so much activity ~ and sunshine

My girl won the long jump ~ and by a good foot too!

If a boy works his tongue enough, he just might win ~

If determined faces could win a race, Eric would have won ~

Now Daddy says that the 3-legged race is not a track event, but we slipped 

Annika in with a friend anyway ~

Michaela and her buds, all the girls like hanging with Nickles ~