Craziness

The days here just keep whizzing by! I honestly don't know where the time is going. To think that Madeline and Leah are now over 6 months old just blows my mind. Pretty soon I'll be planning Grace's first day of preschool, then Halloween, and then the twins 1st birthday party and Grace's 4th birthday! And to think that people tell me all the time that time really doesn't start flying by until the kids are in school. If that's truly the case then I'm going to be 6 ft under before I even know what hit me. This weekend has been an interesting one to say the least. Matt had to work all weekend on night shift so I haven't been doing any real Memorial Day festivities like most people. We probably would have gone to the mountains if Matt had been at home, however his Mom and Rob are down here today through Wednesday. Speaking of the mountains, I'm scared for Grandma. Her chemo treatments seem to be catching up to her and she's been feeling worse and worse. Thankfully she only has 6 treatments left. I pray that the weeks go quickly for her.
Back to things being so crazy...I feel like I've been neglecting everyone and not being a very good friend. I can make all of the excuses in the world but it really doesn't take much time to send a 30 second email just to say hi and that I've been busy. There is a first birthday party coming up for my best friend's son and I'm trying to work up the courage to go to it alone with the 4 kids. Matt is on day shift that weekend so it would just be me. It's times like that that I still don't have it down to a science of how to go out alone. But I am getting better at it, and if things start to head south, we will just bow out as quickly and painlessly as we can. I guess part of my problem is that I hate to have other people see me "sweat" because of the kids. Especially since, believe it or not, I have things under control and have found ways to go out and actually have fun. I know that's hard to believe but it's true. I actually had my neighbor say to me yesterday that she doesn't understand how I have all of my kids "so under control all of the time". I wasn't too sure how to respond to that but I guess it was a compliment. She has also told me that I always seem to "have it together". With that comment I am starting to think that she might have mental challenges...

Pictures!

Grace and Evan had a blast dumping water on each other!!

Blue eyed cuties caught with the "huh-wuh" stare!

A profile view of Maddie (L) and Leah (R)...so cute!

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, please take time out of your day to think about and thank all of the service men and women who have given their lives for our country. One of those heroes was Cpl. Brandon Hardy, he is so missed.

http://www.cplbrandonhardy.com/

Long Time

Some pictures of our recent adventures...Grace on a rocking dog at Cabela's, Evan giving the big fish at Cabela's the "rock-on" sign, and Maddie and Leah hanging out right before bedtime at the cabin!

I feel like I haven't blogged in so long. Things have been especially crazy around here and I just haven't found the time. I'm not sure where to even start with this post since there is so much to write about...On Saturday we went to the mountains for the weekend, we were going to attempt - again - an overnight trip with all four kids. We had a great time visiting on Saturday and after dinner we left Grace and Evan with Grammie and PopPop at their house while we took the twins with us up on the mountain to stay overnight in the cabin. We got the babies to sleep and had the rest of the night to ourselves. It was glorious! We sat out on the porch of the cabin and talked for a few hours and then went in and played cards while having a few beers and just joking and laughing. It was such a much needed break! We kept commenting on how easy things were with 'just' Madeline and Leah with us! It was a breeze! In the morning we packed up and headed back into town to see how Grammie and PopPop did with Grace and Evan - they said everything went well even though later in the car on the way home Grace fessed up and started telling how she kept getting out of bed and whatnot. But overall it was a success! We are looking forward to doing it again next month on Matt's week off as long as Debbi is up for visitors so soon after her surgery. On Monday we just did a few local errands and took a long walk with the kids. We took 2 strollers for this walk and went out past a bunch of Amish farms so the kids could see all of the animals. Grace wasn't happy at first about riding in a stroller but my big blue jogging stroller is made for bigger kids and it was really the only way that Matt and I can both get exercise with all of the kids with us. It turned out really well and are going to do it more often now! On Tuesday Matt took Grace and Evan to Cabela's and they had a blast! I ran errands and did a little shopping with Maddie and Leah. It was the first time that Maddie and Leah rode in the seat of a shopping cart! I put the cart cover in the seat and set each of them on a side of the seat facing each other. It was adorable! I won't be able to do it much longer but while I can - it's just the cutest thing ever! We were stopped by just about everyone telling me how cute they are! Today we had to take Grace to the Pediatric Opthamologist because her eyes are 'wandering'. It turns out that she may need glasses to correct it however we are just going to watch it for 2-3 months and go back for it to be evaluated. It may correct itself. I'm a little upset about it but at least the doctor doesn't think that she will need to have it surgically corrected like Matt did. I don't want to see Grace needing to wear glasses all of the time but we did try a few pairs on her today while we were waiting and she does look just adorable in them - but then again she looks adorable in anything! Grace was amazing at the doctor's office today. She read all of the letters, let the doctor look in her eyes and didn't get upset at all when they needed to dilate her eyes. She really impressed me today. I am so proud of her!

Wednesday

Evan eating Strawberry Shortcake on Mother's Day - loving it!

My big girl Leah standing up and playing at the activity table!

Leah again sitting up all by herself!! Such a big girl! I cannot believe she will be 6 months old on Friday!!!

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day! Grace, Evan, Madeline and Leah were so well behaved - you would have thought that they weren't my kids! Grace and Evan were so well behaved at Nana's yesterday I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face for the rest of the day! I was completely expecting the day to go the opposite way since Saturday was dreadful. Everything about it just stunk - well except for the gardening and dirt down the pants incident - it was just bad. So bad that I won't get into it because I don't want to get upset. I got two beautiful handmade cards from Grace and Evan that they were so proud of! Matt got me flowers that are on the counter in the kitchen and make the whole room smell so nice! I only changed 2 diapers the entire day - hooray for me!

Today is a recovery kind of day. It's dreary outside so we're not doing a whole lot. Usually the twins take good naps during days like this but they are in pain from teething so they aren't sleeping very well. Leah's teeth hurt so much she even tried to bite my nose when I wasn't looking to try and find some relief. I guess I should be paying closer attention. I'm trying to plan what we're going to do on Matt's week off coming up. We usually spend the ENTIRE week running around here and there - and I want to do some of that, but I also want some time to just hang out and putter around the house. If puttering at all is possible with 4 under 4?! We want to make a trip to the mountains that has been scheduled for Saturday and also want to get to the beach for a day trip.

Speaking of the twins not sleeping - they're up again after only half of an hour nap...

Dirty Girl

I went to some local Amish greenhouses today to buy flowers for our front garden. I found a few nice things and most were 10% off for Mother's Day! I brought all of the kids out front to help pull all of the weeds and junk out of the flower bed and so they could play in the dirt a little bit. They were having a blast getting filthy while Madeline and Leah sat on the porch enjoying the weather and watching us. I was on my knees pulling something out of the back of the garden when I felt a nice big handful of moist dirt go down the back of my pants. Evan thought it was hilarious! It was so much dirt that when I stood up is was falling out the bottoms of my pant legs. I had to come in the house and get in the shower since it was in my underwear and everything. Matt thought it was hysterical. I finished getting cleaned up and changed and went back outside. Evan then looked up at me and, in his big boy voice said, "Mommy, you have a dirty butt!" Who knows what the neighbors are now thinking....

My girls

Just some pictures from today - Hopefully I'll find time to blog tonight after the kids are asleep.

Oh What a Day

Today has been stressful. Everyone is sick of being stuck inside since it's been rainy and dreary for what feels like forever...And it's not supposed to get much better until the weekend. The twins are cranky because they're teething and aren't napping properly because of it so that just make it worse. Grace and Evan are b-o-r-e-d. I have run out of 'fun' things to do. I have no more suggestions, nothing else that I can pull out of my craft basket. I need to make another trip to the Flower and Craft Warehouse and re-stock. As we speak I'm listening to the twins fuss in their cribs. I am trying to get them to take a power nap but am failing miserably. Matt is on nights now until Friday afternoon. I cannot wait to have a nice weekend together. We are supposed to get together with my sister and my Mom's whole family on Sunday for Mother's Day and Megan's birthday. I hope that it's nice outside and we can be outside for most of the time. It's schedule right in the middle of Evan, Madeline and Leah's nap time so if we're all stuck inside it's going to be pretty brutal. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at 10:15 and am going to drop the kids off at my Grandmother's house for about an hour so I don't have to drag all of them with me. I hope they behave themselves. Then I have another doctor's appointment on Friday, but Matt will watch the kids for that one since it's in the late afternoon. Speaking of doctor visits - Madeline and Leah will go for their 6 month appointment in two weeks. I can't believe it. Half of a year old! Time flies when you're sleep deprived, up to your ears in laundry, covered in spit up and loving every minute of it. :)

Pray

I just found out about this story from another blog that I read. I read Noah's story for myself and am just sick to think about this little boy and what his family is going through. If you're the praying type, say a little prayer. If you're not the praying type, please just send them well wishes. Oh how much I have to be thankful for.

http://www.noahsroad.com/

F*ck, it's Friday.

I know, I know - stop with the potty mouth. I also know that most of you are rejoicing that it's Friday and that the weekend is within your grasp. Me, not so much. Matt works this weekend. Usually it doesn't really bother me too much but for some reason I just have the 'itch' to do something or go somewhere. I would love to pack all of the kids up and head to the mountains or take them to Cabelas. I guess I just want to do something instead of our usual nothing. Maybe I'll think of something or just lose my mind totally and embark on a trip alone with the 4 kiddos!

Madeline and Leah are growing in leaps and bounds! They love to be in their excersaucers and 'talk' to each other. It's so funny to watch and it melts my heart to listen to the chatter away and giggle! They are both starting to be movers -and-shakers already. If they want to get to something they will just roll their way across the floor. Lord help me when they're truly mobile. I'm still waiting for clear mama and dada sounds to come out of their little mouths. Leah is really close to sitting up alone and Madeline isn't far behind her. They will be 6 months old. A whole half of a year old on the 14th/15th of this month. Holy crap - where does the time go???