Back in the Saddle

     It has been over 10 years since my last post.  This feels like writing a journal entry and just tossing it out into the universe. Will anyone read it? Probably not. I used to love writing. It was something that came easily to me and made me feel confident. Now I feel like a rusty old typewriter, trying to remember how to put words together in a meaningful way. Not to say that I haven't been writing in all this time. I've been getting an education, and that entails writing, to a degree. But writing something personal in a very public medium is different that writing a paper analyzing A Doll's House through a Marxist Theory of literary interpretation for your instructor's eyes only.

    But writing is important to me. It makes me feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose, or one of my purposes. One of my goals in finally receiving my higher education was to improve in my writing, so that I could realize my dream of being a book editor and published author someday. I’ve always felt that I could be a good and efficient book editor because that’s about making corrections to someone else’s work. Being a writer though, that means creating my own worlds, and that’s a bit more complicated. It seems like the best writers have a tortured past, and I had a pretty happy childhood. This just means I’m going to have to dig a little deeper to find my voice, but it’s somewhere in there!

Lost Tooth!

Ethan FINALLY lost one of his front teeth last night. It's been lose forever and Dave kept trying to convince Ethan to let him pull it, but he was, understandably, a bit adverse to that idea. Last night he finally convinced him, (I think Ethan was willing to do anthing to put off bedtime). Yay, Ethan!

1st Day of School!

Ethan & Aidan started school this week and we all heaved a sigh of relief! They are both loving it so far and I don't think I even need to say how overjoyed I am. :) Robyn is the

only one who isn't thrilled, and that's only because she feels left out. All day Monday she kept saying, "Mommy, I want to go to school!" and crying when I told her it wasn't her turn yet.

Kate is almost 4 months old, time is really flying by! She is a very happy baby and very easy going. I think she's begun teething, which is normal for my kids, but even with that she hardly ever fusses and most nights she only wakes up once or twice. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before she's as wild as the rest of them, though. (Not that we'd have it any other way)

My Latest Haircut

I also put this photo on facebook, but as I said before, not everyone is on facebook!

For Those of You NOT on Facebook...

I just posted these new pictures on facebook, but was reminded not all of our friends and family have accounts with facebook and didn't want the rest of you to feel left out! I know I need some with Ethan, they will be coming soon!

Aidan's Wearing Underwear!

Dave reminded me yesterday that I needed to post Aidan's big news. As many of you know, Aidan is developmentally delayed in many areas. He is extremely stubborn and likes to do things his own way and on his own schedule, which is why we've had such difficulty in getting him interested in potty training. Well, he started going to preschool at the beginning of April and they take all the kids to the bathroom every thirty minutes there to keep from any "accidents" happening. They sent home a note telling us so send him in underwear and that he was "ready". All this was happening while my mom was visiting and she made it her mission to get Aidan potty trained. She tried many methods, ie: bribery, flattery, praise, but the only thing that worked was when she used a washable brightly colored marker, drew a target on a square of tiolet paper, and told him to shoot the target with his pee. He enjoyed watching the water change colors, and eventually, he went on his own, without even needing a target. He almost never has "accidents" and we're grateful to my mom and so proud of Aidan!

New Pics of Baby Kate

Kate is almost 2 months old, I can hardly believe it. Time flies when you are BUSY! Anyone who says having 4 kids isn't much harder than having 3 was flat out lying, (and there were several who told me this--shame on you!)

Despite all the craziness, (taking 2 hours just to load and unload the car when we go somewhere, grocery shopping with 4 helpers, losing count of all the poopy diapers I change in one day, etc.) we are loving Kate and enjoying her sweet, mild spirit. Sorry I've been so lazy, but I do have a good excuse this time!

Surprise Visitor...

The day after Kate was born there was a knock at my door and when I went to get it I was very shocked to see my little sister, Cara! I have been bugging Cara for years to come and visit me, and I guess it finally worked. She was planning on being here for the birth, but since Kate came early, she didn't make it in time, but we've been having a great time with her and I am SO grateful her husband could spare her and their cute little boy, Sawyer for a couple of weeks.

Kate Allyn is 1 Week Old!

Okay, I've been lazy. But I do have a good excuse this time, I had a baby , for crying out loud! This little gal exeeded 2 of my expectations about childbirth: she was actually born early, (my first ever) by 4 days and she weighed less than 8 pounds, (smallest baby yet). She came Wednesday night at 10:23. She was 7 lbs 15 oz and 20 inches long. I had her at the same birth center where Robyn was born, but I used the bathtub this time, and it was amazing. It is so empowering to have a baby naturally! I seriously feel like Wonder Woman. She's a great newborn and gives hardly any trouble. She wakes up to eat at night, but usually goes right back to sleep. She's getting more and more beautiful every day and her brothers and sister ADORE her, (sometimes they adore her a little bit too much). So here are a few highlights of the last week. Enjoy!

Lake Lotus Park

As you can see, I am VERY close to my due date, (one week away to be precise) and Sundays are the bane of my existence. (So much time at home with the kids) So we decided to get out and go for a family nature walk. This is a great park and there's no entrance fee. The boys had a fabulous time watching the wildlife. They saw 3 Garfish, 2 Turtles,

8 Carp, and 2 baby Alligators. I was pretty exhausted when we were done, but it was a great workout and we'll all sleep great tonight after a hot afternoon in the great outdoors!

Robyn the Monkey

She started doing this on her own and saying, "I Monkey! " (on the video it sounds like she's saying "I Puppy!" but I promise it's "Monkey"). She is SO MUCH like her brothers!

Aidan's a Big Boy!

For those of you who didn't hear, Aidan has joined the "big boy club" by starting preschool 2 weeks ago. He even rides the bus! He was evaluated by the ESE team that work for the school district and they found him "developmentally delayed" which qualified him for the half-day preschool program and other services, such as speech therapy. For anyone who knows Aidan and his separation anxiety you will know how I worried about him at the beginning, but he is thriving there, (after a pep talk every day to get him excited to go). It helps that he goes in the afternoon so I have all morning to get him ready, (psychologically & physically). We've already seen improvements and are so grateful that he has this opportunity.

Doesn't he look excited?

We Will, We Will...

Here's the other video. Enjoy!

Definitely Her Dad's Girl

Anyone who is familiar with Dave's sound effects will appreciate that Robyn has started figuring out her own sound effects, with no prodding or help from anyone. I am posting 2 videos, one of her making the sound the camera makes when it takes pictures, and another of her making the percussion sounds in Queen's "We Will Rock You". Pay attention!

Field Trip Fun

I got to go on my first field trip with Ethan today. It was great! I sat next to him on the bus and we played games until we got to the theatre where we saw a production of Junie B Jones. If you're not familiar with her, it's a series of books about a precocious kindergartener who speaks her mind and sometimes gets in trouble for it. We really enjoyed it, (I'm pretty sure I laughed more than all the kids) and we got back to the school just in time for lunch.

Thanks again to Dawn for watching Aidan & Robyn for me so I could go!

Ethan Story

Today I was in Ethan's classroom for refreshments after his music program and his teacher told me something she thought I'd appreciate. They have boards with nails in them that they use with rubber bands to make shapes and Ethan made what looked, to his teacher, like a house. When he showed it to her he said, "Look, I made a temple!"

(Glad to know SOMETHING we've taught him has sunk in)

Gettin' Clean at Grandma & Pop Pop's House

Here's Robyn & her cousin, Curtis taking a bath in their grandparents' sink.

Robyn's 1st Pigtails

She doesn't have a LOT of hair, and doesn't cooperate when I try to put clips in it, but she kept her "pretty" pigtails in her hair for several hours today. (She kept touching her hair and saying, Pretty!")

Camping Adventures

We loaded up the van on Friday and went camping. It was a park we've been to before, but never camped at.

As always, we had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer. There were beautiful nature walks and lakes almost everywhere you turned for fishing, (unfortunately they seemed to be all out of fish). There was also a great playground/park area for the kids.

We didn't see any gators this time, but Ethan did find some leeches when he was looking for fishing bait for his dad. (Ew)

Playing...TOGETHER?

When I saw my kids actually playing quietly together, I realized it was a once in a lifetime kind of moment, so I quickly ran and grabbed and camera. Sure enough, not long after these pictures were taken, Robyn ran off with one of Aidan's favorite pieces and he chased after her, yelling at her to give it back. Ah, well, it was nice while it lasted!