Mommy of Many®

Yesterday, my adorable 6 yr old needed to practice her spelling words for her test on Friday. Her assignment was to write each word 3x and then to bring the list to me so we could practice. After she finished writing the words and I started to quiz her, it became clear that she needed more practice. I told her to take the list, say each word, spell it and then say it again and when she was done to come back to me and I’d quiz her. After a few minutes she came back. I started at the bottom of the list and asked her to spell the word. She looked at me, said that I was going out of order, ducked into my bathroom for a second and then came out and spelled the word. When I asked the next word and she, again, ducked into my bathroom, I asked her what was behind her back. She showed me her hands and spun around in a circle. But you can’t fool a M.O.M. THAT easily! I told her to get in my bathroom and pick up whatever she’d dropped on the floor. She came out with a small piece of paper that had each of the spelling words written in tiny writing on it. A cheat sheet!!!!!

I was shocked!

At 6 years old, she’d figured out how to cheat on a spelling test?! I know that my younger kids pick up older kid habits from their siblings, but I’m quite sure this wasn’t something her sisters taught her!

Lord help me in the future with this kiddo!

Doing the Dance of the Children with a Stunned Look and a Missed Step~

Last night was the Sports Awards Banquet for the 7th and 8th graders. Maddi and Anna both played sports this year and were honored with their teams.

Division Volleyball Champs

Anna received Most Improved Player for soccer

Kateri helped keep Max busy when he got bored of listening to the awards. They made up a game that kept Max happy.

Tristan read the night away. Notice that he’s 1/2 way through that book. He started it after school THAT day!

After the banquet was over I made a quick trip to the grocery store that ended my evening with a smile and some sweet, fresh breath.

I’m an avid gum-chewer. I almost ALWAYS have more than one pack of Polar Ice-flavored, Eclipse Gum in my bag. When I was in line at the check out, last night, I was gazing through the gum selections and noticed Trident’s new line of Trident Layers. I am no fan of fruit-flavored gums, but noticed their mint/melon package. I pointed it out to my sister and wondered, aloud, if it would be any good. She suggested I buy it and give it a try, but I said I’d wait until another time. After I’d paid for my $14 worth of groceries, the woman in line behind me asked the checker if she could please buy me a pack of the gum I’d been wondering about. To my GREAT surprise, she handed the checker the pack of gum and some $. She said she wanted me to give it a try and that I should have it. What?! She handed me the pack of gum, with a big smile and I opened the pack and offered her the first piece. Together, we gave Trident’s new flavor a try.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter WHAT that gum tasted like, it was the BEST piece of gum I’d ever been given! After exchanging thank yous, names and hugs, I left the store with some sweet, fresh breath and the feeling that I lived in the best place on earth. It truly is the simple things that make a person’s day.

Let’s all remember Caroline’s little act of fun and kindness and find a way to spread it around today. And by-the-way, the gum wasn’t half bad!

What is it about life that it just can’t leave you alone? There’s always another journey, another test, another milestone. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just petition to take all the tests and then live peacefully for the next 70 years?! Ok, I get that then it wouldn’t be life, but I still like the idea.

On my journey through life so far, I’ve hit many milestones and walked a path or two but I still haven’t fully joined the Club Woman. So, today I get to get my membership card punched one more hole toward full/lifetime membership. Today I have my first mammogram. It’s interesting to hear all the conflicting comments on this. I’ve heard, “why would you do that, you’re not 40 yet.” as well as, “why in the world haven’t you already done that?!”. I’ve heard that because I was a breast feeding M.O.M. that my risk is low and that because there’s no family history that I needn’t worry too, terribly much. Yet I’ve heard one too many story of survivors who “had no family history” and got caught by surprise.

So…in the name of taking care of me I’m off to go through one more rite of passage.

Then I’ll be sure that I can keep Doing the Dance of the Children with a clear mind and a healthy body.

Have a great day~

So, here I sit (for no more than 1/2 hour at a time) in bed.  This means that surgery went well and that I’m on the road to recovery.  It also means that when I’m not asleep, I’m lying down because sitting or standing for too long bring great discomfort.  Ugh!  I’ve also learned that having surgery is nothing like having a baby.  After a baby I’m on my feet and ready to go!  The pain meds and softners and the such that they give me go untouched and I hit the ground Dancing.  Guess what…….not so with surgery!  BRING ON the pain meds and all such softners!  I had meant to get out of the hospital and document each day of recovery, here, for all to see.  Hmmm……it was a good plan but an illinformed one!  The first few blogs would have looked something like this;

Day 1-hooked to many things still.  Pain meds please!  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Day 2-out of the hopital.  Staying with amazing friends who are treating me like a princess!  Gave me their room!  Pain meds please! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Day 3-tried to sit up for ANY length of time today.  BAD idea!  Pain meds please! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Day 4-had company.  Sat up for more than 1/2 an hour.  Pain meds please! zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So, you get the idea!  I came home after a few days of being treated like royalty and it was JUST what I needed.  Many many many thanks go out for those couple of days!  BUT, I got home and the pampering didn’t stop! I was walked to my room where a new (to me) flat screen tv was perched atop my curio and all hooked up to the wonderfullness that is Apple TV!  Uh huh!  This means that all 14,ooo + pictures that are on my lovely iMac can now roll across my wonderful, new TV playing to all my favorite songs from my iTunes library.  Oh yeah!  And it didn’t end there.  On Valentine’s Day, 6, yes 6 of my favorite truffles from Mr. DeGroot showed up wrapped all pretty and tempting me to indulge in sweet, richness from my sickbed.  I’m gonna have to be careful not to gain tons of weight while I lie here and not only because of wonderful chocolate.  Each night a yummy meal is being delivered to our door by the many fabulous people in our lives!  I tell you, people….watch out!  A monster is surely being created!  I am literally being locked in this room with the TV, my phone, plenty of books and a laptop!  Clay has done a marvelous job of keeping the little ones away from the door and I text him when I’m ready for food, coffee, more water or any odd request I may have.  It’s FABULOUS!  I may NEVER get better!

~sigh~ alright, I know that my reality and Dancing days are only a couple of weeks away, but until then, I’m gonna enjoy this pamered life!  This Mommy of Many has never experienced anything like it.  Whoo Hoo!

Have a great day~

A few days ago I asked for some patience from everyone while I get everything back up to speed with the shows.  When  I changed servers, only about half of the shows moved.  This means I have  A LOT of manual work to do.  It’s going to take me awhile to have it all going again.  Shows #32-#54 should be fine, but the first 31 need my attention.  BIG JOB!  And of course I will be doing it in my spare time.  Yes, you can laugh now.  

However,  most people come looking for the first show, so I’ve made sure it’s back up and going.  Looking for it?  Just click here

It was funny for me to go back and listen to it.  Dang, Kateri’s almost 20 now!  Time sure flies.  Maybe it’s time for an update show.

Thanks for your patience and for coming in search of the show!

Back from my 4-day jaunt of eating (and eating and eating some more), laughing, visiting, reminiscing AND being childless, reality hit HARD this morning at 5am. “Oh yeah!, I’m the Mommy of Many” ” I do the Dance of the Children”. Dang!

Seriously, it was sweet to have Luke-Xavier climb into bed with me and snuggle up, all happy and sweet, because I was finally home. Max was down-right giddy when he saw me this morning. Talk about feeling like royalty. It lasted all of 7 minutes and then it was back to the routine. Clay had done a good job of trying to keep the kiddos on schedule and on task, but there was still plenty of catching up for me to do. I’m still a little fuzzy from taking the trip.

I was able to visit with my Grandma. I was quite impressed with her memory on that particular day. She was able to ask about some of my kiddos by name. I don’t think, enough, about visiting relatives until I’m finally with them and realize how much I miss them. It was really nice to be able to visit with 5 (yep, 5!) of my siblings at once. Usually I’m the one hearing stories of the visiting, but don’t actually get to be there. Hmmmmm……………I guess I better start taking trips more often!

I managed to squeeze in some visiting with friends from High School and am now wondering how Kateri can possibly be, almost 19, when my friends and I are all only 28?! Crazy!

Well, off to bed I go, so that I can face tomorrow without feeling off kilter. Wish me luck!

Good night~

I’m heading out for a weekend trip to visit family and friends. It’s the only chance I’ll have to get away before Clay leaves for his deployment. It’s also the first time since 1998 that I will be going anywhere overnight without “the baby”.

I’m excited to see people, but the Mommy in me is nervous about Luke-Xavier. But, my personality is such that I shy away from anything new (hard to believe?) and am always ready to cancel what I’ve planned. So, getting on the plane will be an accomplishment. I also, always worry about the house and routine and if it will be kept up (ok, silly! It won’t be kept up in MY way, but no one will go hungry, thirsty, naked).

See the self-talk I go through?!

Geesh!

Well, I’m going! But, that means that the next new thing here on the site will be the show on Sunday. I hope you enjoy it!

I’ll be back to tell about my trip Monday night.

Until then~

Well, we’re in for it now! Little, 19 month-old, Luke-Xavier learned 2 things yesterday. First, he learned he can take his clothes off. Great! I must have dressed him 15 times yesterday. As a matter of fact, he was dressed completely inappropriately at Tristan’s soccer practice because when I scooped him up to leave, he was down to his diaper (thank goodness he hasn’t figured THAT out yet) so I grabbed the first item on his clean clothes pile and brought it with me. Poor little guy ended up in a onesie for evening soccer practice and got cold enough that I had to sit in the car with him. And second, he’s learned to climb out of his bed. So, all routine is out the window! Between Clay and I we put him to bed more than a dozen times last night. And forget putting him back down after his middle-of-the-night nursing session. UGH. Clay was curious as to HOW he was managing to get out of bed, so he set up the video camera to find out. I thought it was funny! He throws any items he may want ie; bottle, pillow, etc. out of the bed and then swings one leg up until he gets his heal over the side and then wiggles his way up and over, landing on his feet. So, here we go for the ninth time with a toddler too young to understand the value of a good night’s sleep or an afternoon nap who can get out of bed and be cranky because they aren’t getting enough sleep. I know the phase passes, but it’s never fun!

Good night~