Hindsight

Hindsight, as they say, is always 20/20.  While running tonight I was thinking over this past crazy week, analyzing how I could do things differently this forthcoming week to make the household run smoothly.  But as I was formulating a plan my mind wandered to all the moments that while they are hilarious now, were more than a little stressful in the moment...and all of them seem so ridiculously paltry now.

Hindsight provides clarity and sheds a hilarious light on my seemingly mundane life.

There was the hour that I had free in town with only one child.  It seemed like a perfect opportunity to try on new glasses at Costco.  Never mind that the only child was Nicholas.  While I began trying on glasses, he ran circles around me.
And the tv's.
And the optical counter.
Realizing that this would never work I decided to have a little chat with him.  Surely he would understand how important it was for Mom to try on glasses.  Miraculously he seemed to comprehend!  I watched him out of the corner of my eye while I tried on a few pairs, chatting with the technician, til it dawned on me something was awry.  Sure enough, when I turned to actually look at him he was standing there, legs spread, still as a statue in a big puddle of.......yeah, it wasn't water.
So wrapping him in my coat, I cleaned up the mess, purchased a new pair of pants and exited stage left.  I was no closer to finding glasses than I had been an hour earlier and $8.00 lighter spent on unneeded clothing.

Then there was Dominic who had had a difficult time getting his shoes on.  We had just shoved them on despite his grimace because we needed to be at Grandma's house shortly.  That evening at prayers Shannon was sitting next to Dom and began peeling socks off.
Five pairs later we found his feet.

I learned I shouldn't send Nickles in to get a head start washing up for bedtime, unless I really like doing laundry.  He used a sink full of water and twelve rags....and a towel.

I'm still trying to figure out who drew on the counter overhang in the kitchen and why.  Seriously, it would have been easier to draw on a wall.  At least then the artwork would be on display.
Or maybe the budding artist realized that.

But the thing that made me say, "Hmmmm" were the muddy footprints on our white bath rug.  The kids aren't running outside barefoot right now.....maybe it wasn't mud.
But I don't want to think about that too long.

There were beautiful moments too. Moments that I loved right then and didn't worry about how they weren't fitting into my perfect schedule.

While waiting for Michaela's knee MRI to be completed we were able to have a wonderful discussion with the receptionist about the blessings of larger families.
And it's the first time I meant it in a long time, the words were from my heart, inspired by Someone greater than I.

Then there was little Halle Jo that was a guest at our house this week.  The little boys loved having a younger sister.
What am I talking about...everyone in the house enjoyed having her around.  It was a bit empty when we sat down for dinner following her departure.
Annika is wondering why it is taking us so long to have another baby. Oh golly!

And waiting for Michaela to hobble to the suburban following the girls' Latin classes so we could race to our next appointment.  Watching my two girls, Michaela and Katherine, laugh down the sidewalk, Michaela limping slowly on her injured knee, Katherine joking all the way but walking slowly beside her to make sure she didn't fall filled my heart right up to the top! Who cares what friends they may or may not have, they will always have one another.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the gift of  siblings!

After my run, it was clear that no matter how well my time is planned it will always be filled with unexpected events: extra laundry, mopping Costco's floor, scrubbing counters, and the list goes on.  If everything went as planned my life really would be boring and I'd have nothing to  laugh about!

Now, about those muddy footprints........

No, this is not typically allowed, but kept the littles occupied for about an hour ~

AND they were tired afterward!

Halle helping Michaela with Algebra.  

So while Halle is cute, the background is what made me laugh!

What IS Dom doing?

Daddy and the boys went to work and were certain to get donuts.

Well' we'll show them ~

We made our own!

This pair of pajamas defines my two little boys.

"How much can I get away with before I'm bad?"

Wrapping up the week with pizza and friends ~

Just what the doctor ordered for Michaela who has been 

going crazy sitting around with her knee.

13 more days til surgery!

Another chore that could have been completed much quicker sans help.

Notice the wadded up pile on the left...

...those were "folded."

Happy Birthday Nicholas ~

Ahhh, you are always trying to keep up with your older brothers and sisters, convinced that you can do anything and everything they do!  You absolutely love them.  When we began singing you the birthday song, you were happy until we said your name, then you collapsed crying, "No, No, Happy Birday Dominic!"
So we sang again, this time to both of you.
Your birthdays will probably always be kinda together, just like you two are always kinda together ~ brotherly love!

If you cry on your birthday....

Well, we all know what happens ~:o(

My second love.....tractors.

Tractors that makes the right noises!

You aren't stealing my jellybeans, Annika!

Dom was a bit behind on this one!

Happy Birthday Dom ~

Dominic, your birthday will forever be remembered as kinda wild and crazy.  You have always marched to the beat of your own drum!
For your birthday this year your requested dessert was pistachios...bowls of pistachios.
You didn't care that a typical birthday dessert is cake-like, possibly sweetish, lots of sugar, although sugar seems to be a love of yours.
Pistachios you wanted, so pistachios it was even though standing candles in a bowl of pistachios proved slightly difficult.
We did make root beer floats to wash down all those nuts and sweeten you up!

We love you Dom!

Brothers always ~ 

Best friends sometimes ~

Licking these candles off just wasn't too appetizing!

How did I luck out with another gift???

I am a dinosaur ~

A kinda cute dinosaur ~

And certainly not too intimidating!

Hawaii Vacation

Ahhh, what a wonderful time we had in Hawaii!  If a person needs to really slow down, Maui is the place to park one's brain in neutral.  Our greatest dilemma every day was where we were going to grab a bite to eat.  And knowing our children were in fully capable and loving hands allowed us time together that we desperately needed, though we didn't fully realize it til we returned.

The trip over and back was made quite relaxing with a set of Bose headphones and a fully loaded iPod, compliments of by sweet baby bro ~:o)

I was fully prepared to sleep, wanting to arrive in Hawaii without having to waste a day catching up from traveling. I had medicated (heavily), was snuggled up with my favorite guy and a soft pillow, topped off with a set of noise canceling headphones.  How could anything go wrong?

Unfortunately, I had forgotten the pot of coffee I had consumed trying to accomplish my
to-do list prior to leaving home.

I didn't sleep a wink....except for the half hour they were handing out mai tais!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here goes ~~~~~~~

The water, the sky, the rosy glow from the sun....a beautiful combination!

Ice cream for breakfast makes for a perfect vacation ~

Since man cannot live on ice cream alone, we needed to find

 something more substantial the next morning.

Introducing the breakfast burger...
a burger, cheese, egg, hash browns, lettuce, and tomato smashed between buns. 
gag

So I missed the DON'T PICK THE FLOWERS sign.  

Dinner on the beach.

We snorkeled in the bay below, the fish were amazing, 

but I kept a tight grip on Shannon's hand ~ 

or trunks!

Say, "Luau!"

Since I didn't have my little monkeys with me, I swung in the trees ~

The roads were enough to make a grown woman ill ~ 

but Shannon loved them!

Trespassing seems to be a theme for Maria,

she hasn't been able to break the habit since college.

Did you find any fruit, Maria???

Shannon dancing the hula with Manti Te'o's cousin.

He was about one pina colada short of having a really good time (or 6!)

We peeked over a ditch and found this taro farm.

While the sign advised against it...Shannon just kept on hiking ~

One minute it would be sunshine, then we'd be drenched while 

hiking through the bamboo forests.

Shannon could only handle driving behind people for so long,

I mean the speed limit was 40 mph max and it was rarely observed...most of the time they crept along around 15 mph. 

He found a "wide" spot in the road, using that term very loosely,

and rocketed past, potholes and all.  

Then, he arrived on the tail of a Mustang.

Then he calmly, or not so calmly, passed it as well.  

He is sold on the Chevy Equinox.

He says it drives like it is on rails ~

and can pass a 'Stang ~

A morning boat ride to spot whales and snorkel with sea turtles ~

I hung out on the back of the boat...

it was warmer, unoccupied, and the sea was beautiful!

There is just something about the sun and the sea!

Then, we spotted whales, a dream of Shannon's fulfilled ~

Shannon loved the sea turtles.  

They were always floating just off the rocks outside our motel room ~

While we aren't totally cool with the shaka yet ...

You know...when in Rome...

at least we didn't get inked!

Boys will always be boys.

Shannon was constantly on the lookout for turtles to investigate ~

Sorry Pat, I had to post this for Margaret ~

Shannon told me he'd kill me if I posted the one of him!

All you need is a cigar ~

More Mimosa?

Or more ice cream?

 Running down the hill to photograph a herd of goats 

seemed like a good idea til I turned around to hike back up.  

Ooofda ~ it was kinda steep ~

~ so I soaked in a cattle trough ~

It seemed fine at the time ~

Hopefully the farmer didn't see!

My boys would have thought they were in heaven

this tree had more branches to climb than they can count ~

Looking back at this year, I often am saddened.  The day prior to leaving on this trip I made a visit to the hospital to visit a friend. The torrent of emotions that flooded over me while getting in the elevator and almost pressing the button for the oncology unit coupled with all the other sights, smells and sounds were completely overwhelming.
But then I remembered that life is good and Theresa would have lived, soaking everything up.
At these times it is better to go and do something T would have done: jump in the waves, sneak in the pool late at night for a swim when it is supposed to be closed, pick a flower because it smells good enough to eat, skip through the parking lot with one of my cherubs, leap into the air when people are looking, run through a field chasing goats.......

This was the perfect end to a difficult year.

Life is made for LIVING!

Til we meet again, Maui!