The Best Kids in the World

Feb 1,2016
Aurora, MO
Babes' ages- 11,9,8,7,2

I have the best kids in the world. I have always had the best  kids in the world.
Looking at old pictures, blog posts and unsent letters reminds me of my earlier mommy moments and brings back laughter and nostalgic tears...
This morning my babes woke themselves up with their own alarm clocks and were busy combing their own hair, putting on their outfits unassisted, and brushing their teeth in preparation of another school day. I prepared my overnight bag for work and sloshed my coffee in my favorite mug while they made their own individual breakfasts. I yelled out, "I love you guys! Have an awesome day!" and laughed as I was bombarded with four sleepy bodies with arms outstretched for goodbye hugs.
I paused at the door after grabbing my name badge and looked behind me- the livingroom was still tidied and vacuumed. The dog had been fed. The laundry had been washed and folded with no monstrous piles gracing my living room. And I hadn't done any of it.
 There was no chocolate syrup smeared into the white carpet of the UPSTAIRS apartment we were renting with two non-walking babies.
There were no pee soaked blankets to wash because the 1 year old removed his diaper in the middle of the night.
There was no Thomas the Train playing on the TV so I could sit still long enough to nurse the baby.
There were no bubbies to find from under the couch.
...
 My babes are growing up. I trudged out to the car as the wind took away what little breath was left in my emotional lungs.

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July 24, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
Babes' ages-3,2,1, 2 months
"For everything there is a season, a time and place..."
 I keep reminding myself of that...especially when everything needs to be done at one and there is yet ANOTHER catastrophe on the verge.  Like Carolanne (2) helping Thaddaeus (1) to dress up in yogurt, or baby powder...or Isaiah (2 months) about to be on doctor Thaddaeus' examination table...you know, fun toddler stuff!!.

You know, the other day I was trying to figure how much time I actually spend nursing Isaiah and Idecided it is exactly the amount of time required to clean the house. So, I informed Abe that on most days, it is a question of importance- Isaiah's well being OR the house's. He didn't really believe me and still sticks to the "but you are wonder-woman!" glasses he loves to wear. Who am I to dissuade him? Wonder-woman it shall have to be :P
(I do have a really great schedule written up. I just need to actually get on it.)

We have misplaced our mail keyes. Well, actually, the concensus is that Carolanne was on her bandit rampage and threw them away. That is all we can come up with after tearing the house apart for the last week. We are trying to get a new one. That reminds me, I need to call the post office back again today. Aauugghh. I can't imagine how all that mail is fitting in our tiny little box.
Thaddaeus, my short, sweet, happy camper, STILL refuses to walk and makes sure that when we are in public mommy holds HIM instead of Isaiah so everyone knows who had Mommy first.
...
Well, I guess I will end this now and get on with my busy schedule. There are about 10 loads of laundry waiting on me to wash them and all three older babes are cutting various teeth with a whiney vengeance.
 I am going to try half clean house half fed baby today and see how it turns out. ;-)

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Feb 1,2016
Aurora, MO
Babes' ages- 11,9,8,7,2

-My seven year old's tooth was ruthlessly, though accidentally, knocked from his face during a battle to end all battles with his older brother consisting of pillows. And dolls.
-My 8 year old has decided that in order to stand out in this household of mundane brainiacs, he will simply refuse to participate in an activity we all enjoy thoroughly - Reading. Magic tricks are far, far more interesting.
-My nine year old tore her dress completely off at church while swinging outside with friends. Completely off.
-My 11 year old remembered to wear underwear to the Dr's appointment all by himself yesterday. For the first time ever.
-No one has yet mastered the art of unburned microwave popcorn
-My two year old has sooooo many much older example figures, she hasn't even perfected the art of true fit throwing. The lack of visual example has been a plus...

It may seem like a far cry from lining the four little bottoms up for diaper changes before going ANYWHERE, but I guess it really isn't. Its still a crazy circus. I am still a much needed Mommy. And my babes are still the best kids in the world.

30 Year Bucket Lists

January 30th, 2016
Clever, MO
(Laying in bed listening to the babes create my "surprise" birthday breakfast in bed. I'm pretty sure the eggs have burned.There is no other explanation for the accost that has bombarded my nose.)
Babes' ages-11,9,8,7, almost 2
Thw ramblings of my sleep dwprived mind...

Last night, my sweet Knight of 12 years pulled off quite a feat and surprised me with a lovely little birthday dinner at a Brazilian grill with my two sister/friends (friends who have known you long enough that sometimes you forget they aren't your actual sisters) and their husbands. It was everything I needed, intellegent conversations, delicious foods, happy dispositions... I even managed to keep my gory Medic work stories to a comfortable level and mentioned bodily fluids just ONCE!
Somewhere between broiled sea bass, calamari and fried bananas, my sister/friend asked me if I had accomplished everything on my "Turning 30 Bucket List".
Hmmmmmmmm
 I HAVE a bucket list, but I haven't thought about a 30 year one! She went on to tell of several different lists you can find online of things on before you turn 30 and laughingly stated that she was pretty sure I had done ALL of them.
Naturally,this morning while waiting for the adorably sloppy breakfast that will soon come my way, my curiosity won over and I decided to do a little research and find out just what most people feel are accomplishments worthy of a 30 year bucket list.
Here are some highlights-
 #1 from Urbanette- Enjoy a one night stand
Gen20 had a mix of the emotional and physical- forgive all your mistakes, date someone not your type, remove 2 main stressors from your life, move to a foreign country...
One guy aspired to run a farm for a week, climb an active volcano, learn to swim, float in the Dead Sea (Ewwww) and have a garden tea party (?)
Some of the obvious favorites that I have found online, yet have not-and probably never would dare dream of accomplishing:
Crash a strangers wedding
Consciously overdraw my bank account
Run a marathon
Eat an insect *horrors*
Attend a cop raided part
Wear only body painted clothes

Of course, I ran into an article from Huffpost that explained why one shouldn't have a bucket list at all. Killjoys.

The conclusion of it all?
I don't have one.
Live life. Make a bucket list. Don't make a bucket list. Do everything on the spontaneous whim. Plan out every second of your existence. Enjoy every precious, stressful minute. Relish every painful, wonderful moment. Take pause and experience as many non-personally-mundane things that you can. Snuggle yourself in the familiar and live out your days in peace. It doesn't matter!! Be happy!  Life is always fatal.
And on that incredibly cliche note, have a fantastic day, world. Do what makes you happy.
As for me, you may just see me standing on the street corner in Springfield MO shamelessly selling tabloids like a 1914 Newsie. (A fantastic bucketlist item!)
Or maybe I'll stay here in this bed all day and sleep like a newborn.

January 20, 2016

January 20,2016
Aurora, MO
Babes' ages- 11,9,8,7,1

Skype Messages with my 11 year old son...
"Have a great day, Sweetie! Love you!"
"Love you too, Mom. Where are you?"
"Ummmm, at work. Dad should be there."
"Are you sure?"

Sigh

Ice was smeared across the roads this morning in a manner more sloppy than my 7 year old's application of peanut butter to whole wheat bread. 1930 hrs last night harolded a cry of cheer from my babes as the inevitable phone call came in to cancel school. Leaving an hour earlier than usual allowed for the ample "come rescue me" time which proved, thankfully, unnecessary. I miss having a day off with my babes.
Martin Luther King Jr day (last week) was filled with home made cakes, board games, snuggly movies and pic updates via text from Darlin so I could partake in all the fun activities whilst chauffeuring my EMT around the county. Not even a single IV stick to lift my spirits...
Last week a friend and fellow mommy of 3 was lamenting how busy her days off were and I heartily agreed. Even working 3 shifts a week I find my 4 "home days" are ANYTHING but. Dr appts, basketball practice, math leagues, worship practice, grocery shopping, chorus... I can only imagine how crazy it would get if I was a stay at home mom again!
Stay at home mom. I think we can all agree that, in itself, that phrase is an oximoron. Moms just don't stay home, working or otherwise.
I read an old facebook post this morning, whichI will share below, and it made me smile. My eyes even misted over a little remembering how tiny my babes were. My lips curled up slightly as I recalled the main stressors of that time in our life. Kindergarten. Potty training. Toy organization. Spousal communication. Kindergarten...

My Breakfast This Morning...

January 20,2012

Moab, UT

Babes' ages- 7,5,4,3

 

This morning I dragged myself out of bed and prepared for an "early" morning breakfast with friends. (Yes, 8 AM with four little ones on my current work schedule is EARLY!) School is out today and the Babes were excited at the prospect of eating out. Walking in the door of the restaurant they all rushed to the display of toys that could be added to their meals and loudly declared which ones they required. I knelt amongst them and quietly reminded tham to use inside voices and asked what they wanted to eat...
"The Foh-wheelah, mama!" Isaiah suggested.
"ICE CREAM!!!!" Thaddaeus graciously added, which in turn raised a chorus of Ode to Vanilla ice cream.
"The quiestest ones get their food first!"
Silence.
Until I went to order, of course. Four voices were soon chattering away on which toy they wanted and whether or not their ice cream would have a cone.
"The ice cream machine doesn't work for breakfast, only after dinner." I said, more to the waitress than to them. She smiled knowingly.
We settled in and the Babes opened their boxes to reveal which toys they won. I was momentarily distracted by pieces of adult conversation that floated my way from Abe and our friends. A rarity. I was about to interject my opinion on an important grown up topic when the melodic sound of ice and juice splashing on the tile floor harmonized with morose wails from Isaiah. Happily, everyone was dry and after apologies to the bus boy, munching commenced.
My mind entered the realm of my peers once again only to be jarred seconds later with a little body dancing and requesting a potty break. A "quick" field trip, complete with exploring every stall (even the ones that were occupied-my sincere apologies to the lady in the third one down), and three hand washes as there WERE three soap dispensers, was exucted. I deposited my little girl back to her spot only to be greeted with three little bodies holding their jeans and loudly declaring that their wee-wees were full as well. A much longer trip followed with noisy chattering about bodily functions along the way. Bladders empty, I finally sat back down and commenced to chewing on my room temp burrito. A few minutes of small talk ensued, but my mind was constantly multi-tasking. Wiping faces, answering questions like, "Mom, why is that man wearing a hat?' and "Mom, if my bed had a spider on it, could it sleep with me?"
Flustered and slightly disappointed that the ONLY time our friends could meet with us would be early morning when ALL of my babes were out of school, I finally told them all to sit quietly and just eat so I could visit. Inside I whined and told myself how much easier breakfast would have been at home in our jammies with my trusty table cloth and sippy cups. Visiting via text IS a much saner way to connect with adults, you know.
A few moments of near peace went by until stranger walked by our table. I looked up and braced for whatever complaint would be shot my way when she smiled and stated, "Youre kids are the sweetest I've ever seen!"
I turned and took in the scene next to me. Adam was helping Isaiah open his apple package. Carol and Thad were quietly applying stickers to the table top. Smiles and laughter floated into the air.
I smiled. "Yes, they are." I agreed with a sigh.
The next moment another cup hit the floor and dispursed it contents. My husband and our friends were donning jackets and saying goodbyes. I stacked up the trash and plates and untangled the hot wheel that Thad drove through Carol's hair. I pulled little arms into coats, replaced shoes and socks that had been discarded under the table.
As I zipped Isaiah into warmness he slipped his arms around my neck and smacked a syrupy kiss on my cheek. "Tanks, Mommy!" Four little bodies lined up and held hands, preparing to walk out to the van. My soul smiled.
Due to Mommy Magic, the ice cream machine magically decided to work on our way out and four little faces were drippy with white sweetness as we loaded up.
I love my life.