five + two

This girl has just got her own look, her own personality and I am actually quite perplexed at who she looks like. She's such a petite little gymnast, intrigued by this one...








Oh yes, and did I mention, she knows what she likes and what she doesn't like.

The joy of completion!

We finally got our tree!  I felt like we needed to get it because I wasn't quite convinced it was Christmas yet, it just came so darn fast this year for some reason.  So, it was especially important to have the decorations up so I could start feeling the Christmas vibe.






Ada wanted to wear the Easter bunny hat, sure, why not?




The "after", I love it!  The first night we had it all up Nate and I slept on the couch.  Now on to the Christmas shopping.  I'm doing ok on that.  Can't figure out what to get the twins, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear it.  We don't need any toys and the older kids will be very upset if for some reason M & H were forgotten.  What to do?  What to do?

Sitting here at 10:20 wondering if I should go to sleep because it just seems inevitable that I will be woken again.  It has been quite the series of events here everyone! To start, Nate's folks house was the top story of the news. If you haven't heard yet why, the video is below.



Everyone was ok, but it was quite scary.  Edie and Tony had to rush Granny (94 years old) out of the house down a steep bank, while the fireman couldn't get up the hill to get to their house because of the snow, so they had to run up this huge hill with hoses in hand to put out the fire.  Both their cars are goners and the "lounge", which was under the garage and was my first room makeover project is in need of another huge makeover.  Gladly, I can report that our wedding china survived the flames, but Nate's 5,000 dollars or so worth of books that he was given didn't....  But really, that stuff seems so small.  There house was ok (Praise Jesus!) and everyone involved was ok (Praise Jesus).   Anyways, while we were still processing this news, I go to pick up poor little Henry and he threw up.  All over.  It's so sad to see a little guy get sick like that. We thought we were in the clear and then miss Ada chimed in tonight and now has had 3 baths, 3 sets of sheets and 3 jammies.  I might also add that I have thrush, yay, I know, weird.  Sooo, I think we're going to be alone on Thanksgiving. Initially I was pretty bummed. We were going to some of our good friends house, with Nate's family coming up, and other good friends, and scrumptious food from talented chefs. A big party. Lucy and Will, well, they've been talking about our Thanksgiving party for a while now. However, I think Lucy started to sense that it might not happen. We were talking in the car and she said, "I'm trying not to get too excited about Thanksgiving, because I'll probably get sick or something". For some reason the stomach bug seems to come on important days for her. Like, a couple years ago she woke up as sick as a dog on Christmas. And she missed an assembly she was supposed to be in when she was sick last week. And I'm just remembering now that on her first Thanksgiving our house was in the middle of a major flood.  Our house was literally surrounded by a lake for hundreds of acres (up to Nate's knees) and we had to evacuate and get rescued by our landlords with waders on and turkey in hand (we made it on the news that Thanksgiving too).  Cynicism growing about special days.  Sooo, I was driving to Fred Meyer to get a few items this evening and decided that, gosh darnit, Thanksgiving will be fun!  We really do have so much to be thankful for and this is a good lesson to focus on ALL the things we have, rather than the things we don't have this Thanksgiving.  I ended up buying some fun little toys for the kids and am going to do a scavenger hunt for them throughout the house over the course of the day.  I think I'm also going to put a big ol' piece of butcher paper on the dining room table and we can all draw pictures of things we're thankful for throughout the day and look at/ talk about the pictures while we eat the Thanksgiving dinner that our friends will still be bringing to us. And then, I know I will totally win Will's heart by watching Star Wars which we just got in the mail and letting them sip on some hot cocoa on the couch, usually a no-no.  And all those games we always love playing, but rarely do (hide-n-go seek, uno, charades, talent show),  I think those will make an appearance.  Anyway, I'm discovering more and more that it's all about perspective, it really is.   From the fire, to sickness, to Thanksgiving, we can look at the many things we have, how blessed we are.   It's utterly ridiculous.  One last major thing we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving is the last two years we've have with Ada.  Tomorrow is her 2nd birthday and we have absolutely cherished every single day we've had with her.  We love you so much!  Happy Birthday!

I'm a good news first kind of gal, so that's what I'll give. It snowed!!! Only 2 or 3 inches, but enough to get the kids out in the snow and do a little sledding. The twins also got to meet snow for the first time and were quite intrigued by it, until they got cold, then they just cried.














And the bad news. One kids is missing from these pics- well, this is because he was inside throwing up. We recovered from lice just in time to get the stomach bug... oh boy!  (and now anyone who's hung out with us lately is concerned, here's an early apology)

If I didn't know I was a young mom, I would be reminded every time I leave the house with all of them (even with 2 or 3 of them really).  If I had a nickel for every time someone said in shear shock, "how old are you?" and another nickel for every time someone said, "you have your hands full" I would be a rich woman, that's for sure.  Strangers even go as far as offering solutions to having no more children- still trying to figure out how to respond that.  At first I kind of was interested in seeing people's reaction when they discovered that I have five kids, and now, well I don't hide it, but I'm not as quick to offer that information up.  Not because I'm ashamed or anything, I know they are little gems, but I am not always quite geared up to hear the same comments that I always hear and to offer up my rote responses.   So, what is it like to be a mom of 5?  Let alone a young mom of 5 (I'll make all those strangers happy by pointing out that I'm a young mom with my hands full.)  Side-note:  people's responses are natural, we did have 5 kids extremely quickly, hope I'll continue to be gracious with these conversations, just venting a bit, ya know, like at the end of a pregnancy when you hear over and over again, "you're about to pop!"  After a month or so of that, you're done.  I've also never been a big "look at me" person, so the drama and attention that it draws to myself is not to be desired.  End of side-note.

I feel like the Lord really has provided sanity during this time through various means.  We are starting to get more of a rhythm and re-entering somewhat of a schedule that takes us out of the house.  I actually brave it and take all 3 babies to story time at the library once a week, I started BSF once a week, and have somewhat systematic play dates at a friend's house.  This schedule is key for me right now.  Seeing other adults and having adult conversation is something I'm always hungry for.  One thing that I can always count on with any kind of schedule though is that it is going to be broken, it just will, trust me, it will.  So, I hold it lightly.  Like when my kids get lice.  Yep, this is not hypothetical, LICE!  This is an easy one to be embarrassed about, but in all my online research they say "it's not a sign of uncleanliness."  So, my kids not bathing very often is not the culprit.  I mean, my kids don't bathe very often, but I don't have to change my habit of not bathing my children because, well,  lice is "not of sign of uncleanliness" phew!  That said, these new family members are not welcome, not at all.  Get outta here!  You should have seen me yesterday, doing a mayo treatment on myself.  I was one hot mess, scurrying around getting everything done that I needed to.  I'll post a picture I took if I feel brave enough by the end of this post.  I literally did 10 loads of laundry and still have more waiting.  It is kind of nice to feel on top of washing those things that I don't get around to as often as I'd like (like car seats).  The kids have missed school yesterday and today (maybe tomorrow?) and it's been crazy!  Meanwhile Ada is teething and drooling like a dog all over the front of her shirt.  I mean, the whole front is covered.  And Lucy had little white bumps all over her tongue that hurt.  I think from eating too many pretzels, I don't know though.  So, she's walking around talking with her tongue sticking out, with an occasional yelp "this hurts!"), while the babies are crying for food and Nate is shaving Will's head in the bathroom (his beautiful hair) to prevent the lice from taking over and Ada is pointing at her back left molar. Yes, "I have my hands full". So, remember, I did say that the Lord has offered sanity during this time.  Well, one means of that is through my wonderful husband.  He walked in the door 7 minutes late from work.  I was about to say, "you know 7 minutes can seem like a really long time", but I held my tongue and he said, "I think you should leave". What?  "You should go out and I'll take over".   I won't go into how amazing this is, but it is.  Especially given the fact that it is crazy time (4:30-7), everyone needed to eat, chaos was becoming more chaotic and... oh yes, I said I wouldn't go into how amazing this is... but it is.  So, here I am at Woods, sipping on a chai tea latte that was given to me to sample by the barista and sitting on a nice comfy couch, borrowing someone's charger so I can just sit and write while my husband deals with who knows what at home.  A good husband.

How else is sanity kept?  Well, I rest when I can.  With babies 1, 2, and 3 I would clean during nap time and get all caught up.  Kinda gave that one up.  It seems it's the only time i can actually just sit.  I used to not be able to relax until everything was cleaned up, not anymore.  In college I could not do homework until everything was perfectly clean- that had to go!  I still LOVE it when it is clean, but realize the mess will come back, I need to rest.  I try to get caught up at night time and it makes a huge difference on my day if I do, but there there are those days where I just can't bring myself to do it.  I just need to REST.   I also have to tag on that the children in fact bring me sanity as well.  Those little babies of mine, man they are awesome!  I just stare at them and enjoy every second of them playing tug-o-war, tackling each other and following each other around.  Ada cracks me up and is blooming into quite the big sister.  And Lucy and Will, we still try to get dates out with them and that is some of my favorite time.  When I get to just focus on one and talk and hang- invaluable  They're good kids.   The Lord is good, he provides sanity, and not only that, but joy.

I would love to keep writing, I really would, but I must stop and not take advantage of my generous hubby.  Plus I have laundry to do and my friend is coming to pick nits out of my hair tonight (a true friend).  On that note, I suppose I will post the pic, why not really? (And forgive my lack of proof-reading, that's something I've given up as well).

My sisters and I threw my parents a much deserved retirement party. It was an attempted surprise and we pretty much pulled it off. We surprised them on my aunt and uncle's boat, however, Nate and I missed it by about 20 seconds- so close. It was a good time to celebrate the years and years of hard work my parents have committed themselves to in order to provide for our family- no small thing.





Here we are in an intense game of bingo- I mean, what else do you do when you're retired?

The five of us.

My sisters (doesn't Jodi look adorable with her pregnant belly?  another cousin real soon- and it's a boy!) and the hubbys.

Any of you that know me even somewhat well would be shocked by the news that I gave up coffee, the caffeinated variety at least. And because I have somewhat of an issue with (obsession) having a drink in my hand at all times, I went and stocked up on tea. Now, for those of you wondering what teas to get for winter, I highly suggest at least purchasing the lemon ginger (Fred Meyer) and Vanilla Cinnamon Black tea, both are oh so good! And if you can't quite make it to the store, just come here and enjoy a cup with me anytime!

Down with the wall and a world of possibilities open up.

The after with the french doors!

I'm really loving the space.  I decided to go with the aqua green/blue with red and mustard/gold yellow accents.  The room has already gotten so much use and I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  I still have some finishing touches, but figured that if I waited to post it until it was totally complete I might never post it.



Below is the view from the chaise lounge at night time (love that the lights are on dimmers).  Check out the red chairs!  I got that big, comfy, rocking chair at goodwill for 4.99- love it!  love it!  And the little red chairs I found at the re-store for 4 bucks.  Oh yes and the fabric I used to cover the little nooks were an old Ikea duvet cover that I got at Ikea for 3.99 and just haven't known what to do with- perfect!  There was much debate over what exactly to do with that little mini-wall.  Make one big wall?  Use as storage?    I decided make 2 of them for storage and then to leave the other one open as a little cove for play.  The middle cove has a little roof shaped ceiling that mimics the other ceiling.  Let me just say, the kids love having their little coves and I'm not sure if I'm going to get them for storage afterall.  They pretend they're little rooms and stores and create all kind of fun in them.  They each have little lights in them too which makes them even more appealing.  Another hit for the kids is the little bench under the window.  They use it to build trains, watch the happenings of the outside world, read, walk on... and of course, lovin' the little built in bookshelves.  All this said, happy the project's done and our life can regain  some order.  We feel so blessed by this space and envision many memories here.

This in fact is Will's true identity, he just chose to reveal it tonight.

Miss 50's thang

Hop Mo Hop!

Fond memories of Will in this costume, had to go to the archives and revisit frog Will.  Do they look alike?



Ladybug Ada.  And in true form, hair and clothes disheveled.

Goodbye summer, thank you, you treated us well...










Meanwhile, thank you Fall, for being beautiful and sunny and for offering time for... grandma to come and help with homework,


grandpa to carve pumpkins,

Ada to pick out her Halloween costume,

many after school playdates,