Jason

Twenty two years ago today I became a mom for the first time. Jason weighed in at a whopping 6 lb 8 oz. Good thing he was small, he was born without the aid of any pain meds. Actually all my kids were, they were all in a big hurry to get here.

.

He was born in Colorado Springs, COJason was the first baby I ever held. His diaper was the first diaper I ever changed. I was worried that I wouldn't know what to do but I learned quickly. I loved being a mommy.

.

He was a colicky baby which made me wonder what I was doing wrong. Tasha was born a year later and slept through the night before he did. I have great sympathy for parents of colicky babies!

.

Those colicky babies do eventually grow out of it. It is amazing how quickly babies grow. Seems like we want them to sleep through the night, get potty trained and such. Then when they do we want them to slow down...then they become teenagers and we want them to act like grown ups.

.

Markgroningen, Germany

Jason knows no fear, he is always willing to try new things.

Funny, all the kids were willing to mow the lawn when we had to use the tractor.

Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii

Oh, I won't lie, he has given me a few grey hairs over the years. He has been a challenge. But, how I love that boy of mine.

Happy birthday Jason.

Busy Week

This is going to be a busy week. Yesterday I spent most of the day observing a middle school class for children with autism. After that I went to class.
.
Today Larissa and I went to the doctors. I got my flu shot, I really don't have time to get the flu so hopefully the shot will prevent that. Tasha and I also did some painting in Sarah's room.
.
Tomorrow I have drill.
.
Thursday I have class and it is Jason's birthday. (Big month for birthdays, Kiwi's is on the 23, Sarah 27th, my mom 28th and Tasha the 30th).
.
Friday I have drill.
.
This weekend I have to write my paper, observation paper, take a quiz, and graduation project.
.
Thanksgiving is the next week. Ugh...how many days until Christmas. I am feeling a little behind today.
.

A little bit of happy news for me......the little girl Leesia who I have been following on Reece's Rainbow has found an adoptive family!! For some reason I felt very drawn to her. If she hadn't found a home by next summer who knows what ideas I might have come up with. It is so hard for me to think that so many kids are considered throw away kids in other countries because of any type of disability. The problem seems so overwhelming. However, today I am celebrating that Leesia has a family.
.
Well, Sarah just informed me that we are under a tornado watch. I didn't even realize it was raining until I just went to check. Wind and rain, I guess I'd better get off the computer.
.
Have a great night.

Carolina Renaissance Festival

Yesterday we headed to North Carolina to go to the Renaissance Festival just a little north of Charlotte. We have been there a few times and know that if you get there when they first open then you miss a big bulk of the crowd.
.
I actually preplanned for this activity and had a babysitter for the babies. It was supposed to be cold and they didn't need to be out in the cold with their runny noses.
.
The weather turned out to be beautiful and the trees were dropping their leaves.

There were a lot of interesting characters there.



Tasha was able to go with us. Her husband is in training for two weeks so she fit some time in between her work days to come for a visit.

Most of us were watching the show. Larissa found all the other characters more interesting.

Larissa actually went up to quite a few of the folks and interacted with them. Of course, she didn't say anything to them.

The kids had a lot of fun.

Larissa got tired of walking, thank goodness for big sisters.

This gentleman was inviting all the kids to come and feel his snots. None of the kids were willing......except for mine of course.

Green, slimy snot.

That tree is a man.

If you look real close you can see his nose, mustache and eyes.

I offered to make John this outfit for next year. He didn't seem to excited by that prospect.

We had a great time. It wasn't too crowded and the weather was great. Next weekend is the last weekend if anyone wants to go.

Life

Today the kids played in their playhouse for quite a while. They have asked for a broom to keep the place clean. Anthony asked about a TV....uhh, nope.
.
I still need to make a window and door. We put the play kitchen out there. I could have built a cool looking one but I am afraid that the kids will outgrow the kitchen soon and I wanted to keep the space versatile. I finally bought some chalk tonight for that chalkboard..

I did put in a bench with an area for storage below it. I need to add some curtains and cushions or pillows.

I have too many projects going right now and need to stop all of them to finish up my school work and study for finals. I am getting behind in my reading.

.

The house is showing the neglect. Anyone own a sectional? I will never buy another one. We can't seem to keep ours in one piece. It is always coming apart and stuff falls between the sections. John says it would stay together if the kids would stop jumping on and over it. I guess that is true but I am still tempted to screw the sections together.

Our repair crew came by today and finished most of the repairs for the washing machine move. I now have drywall in my new closet and a working washer and dryer upstairs. I need to do some shelving and hanging rods in the closet and determine how I am going to integrate my craft and laundry rooms. Right now I can't afford to do too much. We have 5 birthdays this month and then Christmas. It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I don't have a turkey yet, I always procrastinate on that. That thing takes up a lot of fridge space.

.

Well, I am off to pick up some clutter (there is no way to get it all) and sit down and study. It is only 9pm and it feels so much later to me. I don't like this daylight savings time changes.

.

Have a great evening.

Home Projects

Busy day here. We decided not to move our washer and dryer to the garage. Instead we decided to move it upstairs to the FROG (finished room over garage), otherwise known as my craft room. The sewing machine and ironing board were already there so it made sense. Also, all the girls have bedrooms upstairs so that is where most of the clothing goes.
.
My old laundry room looks like this tonight. I am excited. I will finally have a space to store our coats, shoes, linens and even my vacuum cleaner (which always sits in the family room because there is nowhere for it to go).
.
Our yard irrigation/heating and air man came by for an estimate this morning and one hour later they were hard at work. This guy does just about everything. They will be back tomorrow morning to finish and patch that hole.

Tasha, these are sitting in the garage waiting for you to come and get them! Why are you paying to rent something when these are free? Procrastinator.......
This is sitting in my garage too. Craigslist.....$40, delivered. It is going to be zebrafied (spell check tells me this is not a word, it should be) for Sarah's bedroom makeover. Uh, it is bigger (and heavier) then what it looked like on the computer monitor. I hope that we can get it upstairs!

I have got to get to work on a big paper for school. I have less then a month left of class and have several big assignments left. I seem to find too many other things to do. Tasha got that procrastination gene honestly.

.

Have a great evening.

Playhouse Progress

The flooring is in the playhouse.....I really like it.
I put a protective coating on it, but I know it won't stay this clean for long.

I'd say it is an improvement from the original flooring.

I have been working on it at odd times. It is going to be harder now that it is getting dark earlier and I mostly work on it after the little ones go to bed or on the weekends.

This little playhouse and other painting/craft projects that I do are my sanity maintainers. I love to be creating things, even if it drives my poor husband crazy. I tend to be a multitasker and have several projects going at once. I can't help myself.

.

Right now my side projects are the playhouse, Christmas ornaments and the beginnings of Sarah's bedroom makeover....oh and trying to get my washer and dryer moved to the garage.
That is on top of school and kids and house and .......well you moms know.

.

I know that I don't have too many readers who come here, but share with me, what do you do to maintain your sanity?

What is happening?

Why does it seem to me that the world is going crazy?
.
Oh, I could go into all the ills of our society today. I could discuss how so many families are broken. How it seems that our societies moral compass is broken. We are floundering as a nation.
.
But, I won't.
.
It is just too depressing when I look at it. I received too many phone calls today. There are too many hurting people and I can only do so much to help.
.
So, I am going to bed.
.
Tomorrow will be a better day.