The ride

Life is such a roller coaster ride, sometimes up and sometimes down and sometimes up and down and up and down and up and down all at the same time.  It can be overwhelming.  A bit of our ride lately:

- last week the family got to go away on vacation, that should be so very fun and relaxing!

- a couple of days into it we got a call from the house sitter that our big dog had attacked one of our kittens.  Spent half the day back and forth with the vet on the phone.  It was bad.  On top of visible injuries it turned out the poor thing had a broken neck.  I felt terribly guilty for not preventing this as Towzer had been getting a bit grumpy lately due to his arthritis.  Now, however many days later, I still flip flop between guilt for not preventing it and giving myself grace because how could I have really known?  I don’t know but needless to say it really put a damper on our vacation.  Before we left we prayed for God to protect our critters like we always do and I’m not sure why the answer to this prayer was “No.” except that perhaps now we can prevent injury to one of the kids.  If Towzer, who has always been sweet and playful with cats, can do something so sudden and violent with one I doubt he would show restraint with the kids either.  Thank God our kids are safe.

- this is the third vacation out of the last four where one of our kitties has died unexpectedly.  It’s hard not to feel a bit attacked and vulnerable.

- considering what happened to the kitty we definitely cannot trust Towzer any longer and after consulting a behavior specialist (who we had actually had an appointment with on Sept. 5) we have decided to put him down on Monday.

- also right at the start of our vacation we found out we got an offer on the other house.  Should be good news and it is except that meant we were receiving calls and e-mails from our agent and her assistant for days and having to make big decisions and do paperwork. 

- right before vacation Rob got a new job offer.  The official, in writing offer came in at the beginning of the week while we were gone.  We had until Friday to decide whether to take it.

Rob and I have agreed that, while we still managed to DO a lot of fun things with the kids (who are holding up surprisingly well regarding the cat and dog) mentally and emotionally we were put through the ringer.  We need a do-over.

In just a few days’ time we had to decide to euthanize two of our pets, to accept or decline an offer for our house that was considerably lower than the listing price and to accept or decline a new job.  And weren’t we supposed to be vacating our every day lives?

My heart is so bruised and battered right now.  For the kids losing their pets, for me losing my pets, for the pets losing their best friends (which I know sounds so silly to some but Blue was one of a brother/sister pair that we had adopted and the two were inseparable and Towzer was Rosie’s best friend too).

We did decide to accept the offer on the house even and Rob did decide to accept the job.

I tried to focus on the positive all week while secretly I was practically sick with dread over having to come home.  Every day I prayed for God to give us peace and it was very tangible when we came home today to two less pets than when we left.  We still need to get through Monday (Towzer has been boarding at the vet since the incident happened, I didn’t want the house sitter to be at risk either) but I have hope for continuing peace and that is so big if you have ever experienced that, you know.

And can I also say that I’m so emotionally conflicted, like every year, that school is starting soon.  Summer was so fleeting and I LOVE having my kiddos home with no schedule, nothing pressing but a few chores and a lot of fun.  But we moved this summer and we STILL aren’t fully unpacked so there was less fun than I wanted.  Did I mention that I LOVE having my kids home?!  I’m so not one of those moms who counts the hours and minutes from the end of one school year to the start of the next.  If I wasn’t so distractible and a lousy planner and a total procrastinator I’d home school.  LOL

I’ve got one going full time, one going full days half the school week and one going for half days a few days a week.  There will actually be hours of the day where I only have one kid.  *sniff*

I will not look forward, I will not look back, I will look UP.

Sweet Shot Tuesday

Getting back into photography is helping to sharpen my decision making skills and BOY do they need sharpened.  I’m the worst.  I hate making decisions, choosing a favorite.  My favorite can change from day to day.  It didn’t take me tooooo long to choose a shot for Sweet Shot Tuesday.  Here’s my offering:

My sweet girl entertaining her “guest” at an impromptu tea party.  Eva is very nearly the most tolerant cat I’ve ever met.  I am so happy that we got such a good kitty.  I clearly recall my kitty growing up tolerating me putting him in doll clothes and the baby swing.  I feel safe putting that in writing because Zion can’t read yet but, please, nobody say it out loud around her.  She doesn’t need any more ideas.

Head on over to My 3 Boybarians to enter your own sweet shot, you know you have one, and/or see what others have put up.  It’s quite fun, I promise!

A Day in the Life

5:40ishAM- Elias wakes and needs a change and a bottle.  He doesn’t go back to sleep right away either.  Since Maisy (the cat) had me up multiple times that night I was disappointed that he didn’t sleep later.

~

7AM – I hit the snooze button for the first time.  I hit it a few more times before finally getting out of bed about 7:30.  OK, maybe it was closer to 7:40.  Still enough time to get the kids breakfast though I do recognize how lucky I am that my 1st grader will get himself up, showered and dressed usually before I’m even out of bed.

~

8:25AM – Head out the door with all the kids to take Gabe to the bus stop.  I’m super excited about this today and grab my camera.  This is why:

The night before I’d secretly run to Target while the kids slept and got Zion a new carseat, came home and installed it for her to find in the morning.  And not just any carseat.  A GIRLY carseat!  It’s purple and she loves it!

~

9:45 – It’s clear that Elias is ready for his first nap early.  No surprise considering that he was up at 5:30.  I’m ready for my first nap too.  Elias has, however, hit that stage where when I put him to bed instead of going to sleep he pulls himself up to a stand and is then “stuck” there.  This requires many, many trips up the stairs to lay him back down so he can fall asleep.  It is currently 10:19 and he’s still awake up there.  I’d better go check to see if he needs help getting down again.  Back in a bit…

~

10:26AM – I’m embroiled in that age old argument that every mother (goodness, I hope EVERY mother and it’s not just my weird kids) has with their two-year old at some point (or points, like three or twelve times a day).  If Gideon insists on staying in his jammies then he doesn’t get to go outside.  It goes a little something like this:

Me: Do you want clothes on so you can go outside?

Him: No!  I wa’ stay in jammies!  (And he puts his arms around himself and holds his jammies even tighter to his body so there’s no mistaking his preference.)

Me: Oh-Kaaaay.  Then you don’t get to go outside.

Him: I WA’ GO OUTSIDE!

Me: Then you need clothes on.

Him: No!  I wa’ stay in jammies!

You get the picture.

He’s still in his jammies in case you were wondering.

~

11:11AM (I LOVE 11:11!) – Made lunch for us.  Snack lunch today, no surprise there.  It’s their favorite and it’s easy.  Zion had spread her blanket on the floor and put out pillows, books and her play tea set so I suggested she have her lunch there.  So she added Eva’s food bowl too and invited me to join her.  So we picnicked in the living room today.

~

Noon – lunch is over and Elias wakes.  Over the monitor I can hear Zion singing nonsense songs to keep him happy while I finished putting that picture of our picnic up.  She’s such a sweet girl.

~

1:23PM - I attempted to have a photo session with Elias as it’s his 9-month “birthday” today.  He was less than cooperative.  I managed to read Zion a good length story with only about a half dozen interruptions.  I have Elias at the table eating some Puffs and was about to put Gideon up for nap when he announces that he’s poopie – again.  I’m off to … well, you can figure it out.

~

2:06PM – All kids down in areas of rest.  Gideon is quiet in his room probably snoozing on his back with his hands behind his head, his favorite sleep position.  Elias is in his crib yammering in his way that leaves you to wonder if he’s going to break out in a full cry or just fall asleep (fingers crossed it’s the later).  Zion is utilizing the blanket she had previously laid out for a picnic and watching the Charlie and Lola DVD we borrowed from the library.  In all likelihood she’ll fall asleep by the time it’s over.  I am torn between trying to spiff up the photos I took of Elias or going to sleep myself.  Or dear, full cry. Later…

~

2:13PM – False alarm.  I got up to make him a bottle and he got quiet somewhere in between my filling the bottle with warm water and trying to find a can of formula.  That reminds me, I need to order more formula.

~

2:16PM – Crap, both of the websites that reliably carried Elias stinkin’ expensive formula have jacked the price up.  Off to contemplate whether I should sell my blood or pawn something.

~

2:55PM – Elias really didn’t give me much time to contemplate my taking a nap.  He’s awake already.  Maybe that bottle will be what he needs to fall back asleep.

~

3:21PM – He took some of the bottle, got a fresh diaper and put back down with a teether (a ring, not something edible) but he’s still kind of fussing.  Stinker.  Gabe will be home in 20 minutes.  I need to figure out what to make for dinner (or should I just order pizza, hmmmm).

~

3:43PM – It’s a nice day so instead of driving to the bus stop to get Gabe Zion and I step out the front door and watch the street so he can walk home.  When Zion sees Gabe round the corner she always runs to him as if they are long lost siblings.

Once back in our yard she suddenly notices that our trees are pink.

~

3:48ish – I settle down on the couch to download the most recent pics including this lovely which is straight out of the camera (can’t wait to “play” with it a bit):

~

3:50ish – Zion begs me to come outside to see the beautiful yellow flower she found.  She is using a sandbox shovel and a pool of water in one of the ride-on cars to water it “To help it grow!” she says proudly.

5:04PM – I back out of the driveway having bundled us in the van.  Sonic for dinner.  The food may be mediocre but since we don’t have to get out of the van I needn’t be concerned as to whether or not we’re presentable for public.

~

6:10PM – Elias was strangely fussy so we’re home.  Now he’s laying in my lap with a paci (highly unusual for him to want one) and being stll (even more unusual).  I’m typing with one hand.

~

6:30ish – Elias got all restless for a bit but finally takes his bottle again.

~

6:44PM – I carry Elias upstairs and put him to bed as he’s fallen asleep in my lap. 

I can’t recall the last time he did that.  I hope he’s just tired since he didn’t get much of a second nap and not getting sick again.

~

6:48PM – I realize we’re out of licorice.  Dagnabit.  Who let that happen?!

~

6:55PM – Jellybeans leftover from my Christmas stocking will have to do.

~

7:30PM – I have the kids brush their teeth and potty downstairs since Elias is already asleep and then try to usher them quietly up to my room for devotion time.  Half way up the stairs Gideon lets one rip and shouts “TOOT!”

So much for quiet.  At least Elias didn’t wake up.

In my room we hunker in and around the rocking chair and read our devotion and have prayers.  I tuck Gideon in and tell him Gabe will be in in a minute, he doesn’t like to go to bed without his big brother.  Zion is snuck into her room where I whisper-sing her goodnight song in her ear.  Yay!  Successfully got the two loudest in bed without waking the baby.

Then Gabe and I get to have reading time, just the two of us.  Right now we’re reading Alcatraz Verses the Evil Librarians.  We’re a few chapters in and laugh continually, it is a really good book.  Alcatraz, the main character, is a young boy with the power of destruction.  Where we’re at in the book it hasn’t sunk in yet that this is a power and not a curse, he’s not your average klutz.  The day after he turns thirteen he receives a surprise visit from a grandfather he never knew he had.  He has the power of being late to things.  Yep, a really fun book to read.

~

8:22PM – I’m writing this.  No really.  Right this mi– oh wait, now it’s 8:23.

~

11:11PM (woohoo, twice in one day!) – Rob called a few minutes ago to let me know if plane landed and he is headed to the lot to get his car.  Elias has been fitful tonight.  He woke up at 10 and he got a new diaper, jammies and a bottle and he just had a hard time settling afterward.  He felt warm but I didn’t want to bring him downstairs in the bright light to check his temperature so I don’t know if he does have a fever.  Poor baby though, something’s amiss whether it’s just teething or yet another sickness.  I have been puttering around the house getting some tidying done and puttering around on Photoshop with the pictures that I took today. You’re going to have to wait for the rest of the pictures I took of Elias but here are two versions of the photo I took of the pink blossoms earlier:

The one above is what I just learned is called a “clean edit”, just minor adjustments for levels, saturation and contrast.  The one below is the clean edit copy texturized.  Whenever I do stuff like this I can never decide which I like best.  I love them both.

Well, the day’s not over yet but I think this will be my last update on my “Day in the Life” post.  Good night, y’all!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Hoo, it’s been a week!  I thought Elias was going to escape the sickness but, alas, no.  Mark this as his first illness (unless I’m forgetting something).  And the poor guy is miserable!  He’s congested and feverish and coughing and not sleeping much at all.  Of course it was Rob’s Reserves weekend so I’m not sleeping much at all either.  No one to split late night duty with.  Today was a bit better all the way around for all the kids.  There was even a time today when they weren’t all lying around in their jammies.  Of course they were playing in nothing but their undies (or in Gideon’s case, a diaper) but hey, at least they got out of their jammies for this first time in five days.   Except for Gideon who has become obsessed with playing at the kitchen sink and therefore at least got new jammies about once or twice a day.

I did get some time behind the camera today.  This morning Zion pointed out that Eva was lounging on the back of the couch and she looked “so cute”.  So I grabbed my camera and came over.  She did look so cute:

Awww.  Isn’t she purty?

And later Elias was hanging out in his favorite spot, his jumper.  He wasn’t quite as snotty today and seemed a little less feverish but still kind of a mellow guy.  He gave me this look:

Hoh, Lord, there goes my heart.  Melted.

I still had a heck of a time deciding which would be my picture of the day for My 365 though.  I don’t often get such good pictures of the animals.  But still.  Melted.  That one won out.

The kids even gave me a time when they all napped today (except Gabe who was permitted to play a zoo game on my laptop) so I got to knit a little.  I had one of those hankerings to knit something up real quick that I might actually have a chance to finish today so I knit this:

A cup cozy in about half the time it took me to watch a movie (Twister in fact.  Sometimes you just need a good natural disaster movie).  I’ll keep it in the van for those special occasions in which I treat myself to a coffee.  Now I don’t have to use on of those cup sleeves.  Just looking out for the environment and stuff, ya know?  It will look so much better on an actual coffee cup too, not that obnoxious orange thing that I’m pretty sure is left over from a pumpkin carving party we had about 5 years ago and has been hanging out in the pantry ever since.  But I needed a model and couldn’t run out to get an actual coffee so leftover orange thing it was.

Rob came home from his Reserves weekend and cooked dinner and made me brownies.  That can go a long ways in making up for what turned out to be a really hard weekend for my stamina (and sanity).

I also made some progress in the hat I’m knitting for Gabe’s birthday gift.  The last two weeks have not been spent planning a birthday party so it’ll be a big cram session on that this week.  Something to look forward to next weekend celebrating a wonderful boy turning 7.

Life

Rob is away on his Reserves weekend and 5 of the 5 of us left at home have a little cold so we played hookie from church and are having one of our famous "pajama days". Since I have a cold I don't feel guilty ignoring some of the household chores to work on some of the more sedentary items on my to-do list. You know, really important things like knitting and blogging. Though, I have to confess that one of the knitted items on my to-do list is a Christmas present.

From last year (yikes!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel Baby
Elias is one of those babies that, when someone asks "Is he a good/easy baby?" you get to say "Yes!" and really mean it. Truly, all babies are good babies because they are all just doing what babies do but some are definitely happier/more content/less demanding/whatever and he fits into that category right now. You can often make him smile even when he wants to cry, he laughs a lot (and sometimes so hard he snorts), he is content in the bouncy seat, the swing or on his mat until he gets hungry or needs a new diaper of course, and he sleeps through the night two out of every three night which isn't too bad for a 2-month old. Needless to say, we are really enjoying his personality right now.

Lunch made to order
Not wanting to deal with cajoling a bunch of not-feeling-so-good kids to eat their lunch I made them each something I knew they would eat. Zion got pasta (we happened to have a bunch of plain pasta in the fridge already made) with butter and parmesan with olives on the side, Gabe got a PBJ, chips and banana and Gideon got his version of fish and chips. (Those are Finding Nemo fruit snacks. He also got some banana with today's ever so healthy lunch fare.)

This is was Zyrtec does to my little guy apparently. The day he got hives around his mouth from eating the yogurt bar I gave him some and this is how I found him a little while later. He was awake at least and the second I asked "Do you want to go outside and play?" he jumped right up. Then he got attacked by the ants.

Turn that frown upside down! ;)

Naptime
Zion's kitty, Eva, sure is getting big. She's becoming quite the good cat, just has to learn a few more kitty manners (like not jumping up on the table even when we aren't there to squirt her with the water bottle). She sure likes her girl (at the very least when her girl is sleeping). She has also been more attentive to me which has been helping me not miss Ben quite as much. Every little bit helps, his absence in our home is still glaringly apparent. Eva very much loves to hunt and once she's allowed outside (not until after her spay surgery!) I'm sure she'll be a bringer of gifts like our other kitty Maisy. Maisy who we watched hunt down and play with a big gray mouse the other day. A literal cat and mouse game.

Ben

We had the vet take a look at Ben. We just couldn't deal with not knowing what happened to him. As it turns out Ben had a urinary blockage that caused him to become toxic and his bladder to rupture. I'm a wreck. I feel terrible that we were gone when he needed us. I feel guilty for not noticing any signs of sickness even though, in looking back, there were none, and for not being available when he needed me. I miss him something fierce. His happy face around the house, sitting in the window on the milk box especially and at night in our bed and I keep expecting to see him and go through the motions of his still being around like making sure my bedroom door is open during the day in case he's sleeping on the bed and needs to get out. It sucks.

Saturday I received an e-mail from the Catster website, a happy birthday message for Ben since we'd guessed he was born in August sometime. Ben was 7. This is his page if you want to read about him.

Here are a few photos I "stole" back from Catster and Dogster of Ben. He was such a big love.

Ben as a kitten. He used to steal Towzer's bed, always laying right in the middle. Sometimes Towzer was brave enough to join him. Often times Ben would pick a "fight" and bite Towzer's cheek until Towzer played with him.

Ben used to squeeze in between the window and screen in the upstairs of our Rhode Island house. Such a character.

Ben and Maisy. Always a lover my Ben.

Sad News

We've returned early from a wonderful weekend getaway and I will return and write about that soon. For now, I'll take care of the sad part. Within minutes of leaving the restaurant where we celebrated Rob's birthday with a super yummy dinner my cell phone rang, it was our house sitter. She came to our house this evening and found my favorite cat, Ben, passed away. He was lying in between the food bowl and water bowl and almost looked like he was sleeping. I'm shocked and confused and so very sad and I feel terrible that this happened on Rob's birthday and that we had to break the kids' hearts by cutting our vacation short.

Ben was found by a police office in the middle of the Jamestown Bridge in Rhode Island. He was a tiny ball of gray fur, covered with fleas and filthy. He'd been abandoned there, we guess, most likely from someone who was trying to get rid of an unwanted kitten by tossing him over the bridge. He was blessed that he somehow managed to stay on the bridge.

When the office tried to catch him Ben panicked and ran. He was moments from dashing in front of a moving vehicle when the officer stepped in his path and scooped him up. He was blessed he didn't get crushed.

The officer brought him to the animal hospital where I worked where the doctor had to remove one of his hind legs because it was so damaged. But Ben survived and had such a great attitude.
He picked me. In one look I knew what he knew, he was going home with me. He's been my special boy since then. Such a funny character. Such a great heart. I named him Benedetto which means "wellblessed".
When he stretched up he was at least as tall as the top of the kitchen counter. Not that he would do any thing so naughty as to try to steal from the counter. He had great manners. He loved tuna but that was the only thing he ever begged for.

He was faster than our four-legged cats and could jump to the top of our six-foot fence without a problem.
Frequently when he wanted in he'd go to the front door and sit on the milk box and stare in the window until some one opened the door. With the exception of the aforementioned tuna, he never yowled to get what he wanted.

He was such a sweet boy. I just don't understand. This may seem so silly to write about but my heart is really breaking and I don't know what else to do. It was a year ago that we lost Spot unexpectedly as well. She has been on my mind a lot lately as well. Now this.
My last photo of Ben and not a very good one. I'd been thinking lately that I needed to get a photo of him sitting on the milk box looking in the window but I didn't. Now I feel worse than ever.

1-Week Old Today

...and I forgot to take a picture. OK, I did take one of Zion holding Elias. It's really cute. It's still in my camera. But here's some cute for you:

Eva seemed to double in cuteness while I was in the hospital.



And double in size. She still can't compete with Elias though, bigger and cuter.

All of our cats seem to realize there are good cuddles to be had when one of us settles down with a baby. It's always been that way.

Things are going pretty well with the little guy. He sleeps pretty well at night. Sleeps so well he will not wake up for anything when he's not ready. This does not bode well for when he starts school (he's going to need like 5 alarm clocks) but for now it's hard to get him to gain weight when he misses what could be 2 or 3 nursings. I would try to make up for them during the day but he won't have it. He also has a bad latch. Bad latch = not getting as much milk per nursing and a TON of pain for me. I have not had such a hard time with this with any of my kids. There's always a period of soreness and with Zion a lot of frustration because she didn't much care for the work nursing took and got fed up but nothing like this wretchedness. Sore, bruised, bleeding, crying, massive amount of pain that doesn't go all the way away in between nursings.

He has lost a lot of weight, down to just about 9 pounds and hasn't started gaining yet. *sigh* He is alert when he is awake, has the right amount of pees and poos and all that. Zion did this. Gideon lost more than average but bounced back quickly. If only we could get in some more nursings and if he was better at latching on so he could get more for his effort (calories in needs to be more than calories out and all that)...

His jaundice is better though. We had to have him at the doctors on Tuesday for a recheck and back again today. The doctor didn't feel the need to retest him since his skin had cleared up enough. Small victories though I feel frustrated that I've had four babies and I've yet to just be able to rest and recover. Something always happens that keeps us running back and forth to the doctors almost every day.

Even today after we got back from Elias' doctor appointment and grabbed some lunch Rob had to take Zion to the walk-in clinic. When she was with my sister (all the kids got to stay with Jamie for a few days when we came home, it was awesome for us and them) she pulled a door over her toe and flipped the nail back and took off some skin. This morning she started fussing about it big time in a new way so I knew something was up. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be broken but likely some infection was starting to set in so she's on antibiotics now and seems to feel better already.

Most likely it's just the baby blues talkin' but I'd so wished that this pregnancy and delivery and recovery would be free of complications and I'd just be able to enjoy. I guess that sort of thing wasn't meant for me. Tomorrow is Saturday. Perhaps we can stay out of the doctor's office for a day.

On a different note, Gabe realized that it was July today. He remembered that we set off fireworks on the Fourth. It was unexpected. Suddenly I realized that I have a child old enough to remember holiday traditions like that. It's going to get harder to skip these things when we just don't feel like it. So tomorrow we'll head out for diapers (those newborns sure go through 'em) and fireworks. Small ones. Little flowers and bees and things. Remember those?

Oh dear, I hear a baby over the monitor. Gotta go.

The kids have named her Eva and she seems to be settling in nicely...

Notice the semi-drugged look on her face. That's the look of kitten contentment.


She sleeps with Zion at night, usually snuggled up in her blanky right along with her, and seems to be loving hearing all about Fancy Nancy. This is a great cat.

Each night when we put the kids down to bed we bring the kitty up with us and she goes to bed too. Tonight I went up without her as Rob already had the kids up for their bath and I simply forgot to round her up. Zion noticed of course. I told her that we bring her up later but half way through the bedtime process guess who should appear but Eva. I guess she new it was that time and didn't want to be left out.

Now if only it were that easy to get her used to the concept that cats don't go on the kitchen table or walk on my laptop keys (how can they always make it do something that I have no idea how to undo?) we'd be golden.

This Week

My oh my, what a busy week! I've hardly had time to check e-mail let alone blog or anything.

Monday started bright and early with set up at the church where I am a MOPS table leader. Normally I don't do set up but Tuesday's meeting was the annual special meeting that is run by the table leaders. This year's theme was Jazz N Java so we set up the meeting room to look like like a jazzy little coffee shop complete with a stage with instruments and a plate glass window looking out on a city (which was painted by the table leaders too only not me 'cause I couldn't get a sitter to go to that meeting). Later my neighbor helped me get one of my cats to the vet. Turns out the poor little guy has an ear infection. The rest of the day was filled with cooking and baking, besides taking care of the kids that is.

Tuesday was the meeting itself and that was such a good time. Three ladies gave their testimonies and I was very blessed by what they shared. My table had a good chat too and it was just a really good time. Well, when you set up you have to take down so I stayed to help with that. Then home for lunch and for the kids to nap so I can clean. That was the plan anyway. Zion started howling shortly after going down and woke up Gideon so no nap for them. I finished the dishes and then got us the heck out of the house, staying home was going to make us all nuts. Off to an errand that I'd been meaning to run for a week but the rain was keeping me from it and then off to Gabe's swim class.

Wednesday is usually preschool at my house for Gabe and his friend Isaac but with sickness and busyness we decided to skip this week. We are learning about Ireland however so next week we'll be having an Irish meal to end the month. Can't wait! Still Nora, Isaac and Sarah still came to play but not until I hauled all the kids to our elementary school to register Gabe for Kindergarten in the fall. Ahhhhhhh!!!! Did I just say that? Yep, and boy is he excited. I am too but I won't really know how I feel until I put him on the bus. I think I may have a change of heart.

Later that night while Gabe was at AWANA my friend Laura came so I could teach her how to knit. Yeah. Only been doing it a few months myself but I'm already roping others in to the craft. Truth be told she and I and a few other friends have something special up our sleeves but I can't talk about it yet. Give me a couple of weeks and I'll blab and probably have pictures. Patience!

Thursday morning is Bible study for me and this week was no exception. A quick lunch at home after that so we can have Gabe's friend Gabe (yep, two of them AND they have the same birthday) and his mom came over to play. The boys played Lego Indiana Jones on the Playstation2 (gotta get that game!) while the mamas got our knit on. Love having other ladies to knit with, thinking about starting a monthly group. Had to cut out early to head to the Y so Nora and I could try Zumba. Let's just say that I'm really glad we tried the Basic class first. Oh. My. Goodness! I was so out of breath and got to a good reminder of how not graceful I am. Hm. I think I may try it again but I'm really going to have to psych myself up first. Then we all got to go to Nora's house for dinner and then Matthew took all the boys (except Gideon) to swim class while the girls I (and Gideon) stayed back to play. Not to knit though. Can't convince Nora of that one. :)

Friday. Whew, is the week not over yet? Friday mornings are always a bit obnoxious in their busyness. Awakened by an alarm clock, feed us all quick, quick, quick, then off to the Y for Gabe's sports class, Zion's swim class and then my water aerobics class. So tired by the time we leave and not just because of the workout. This particular Friday was also my monthly movie night so after feeding the kids lunch (with the help of Taco Time) I cleaned a bit. A real little bit. My darn cold still has me pretty low in energy so I'm doing only as much as necessary. This month we watched While You Were Sleeping, a favorite of mine, and I also made a lot of progress on my current knitting project.

*sigh* I'm exhausted just from rehashing all this. It was a fun week though. Here are some more highlights in picture:

I got Gabe to play in shaving cream. A couple of years ago I would have told you this never would have happened. Judging by the look on his face he's still warming up to the idea. He doesn't do textures well. At all. But he didn't throw up and said he would do it again so we're golden.

Zion wore a totally cute outfit and ran from the camera. Nothing new there.

Gideon got his very first sandwich. Jam no peanut butter. Totally loved it. He's busting through tooth number six. That will make four on the top and two on the bottom. He's also starting to move around a lot more and pull himself up on things. Usually me. Still, I thought he was never going to crawl. Not that I'm complaining. I keep saying that God knew I didn't need another mobile child right now so he was keeping Gideon content to sit where I put him. Not for much longer.

Me? I got a hair cut and had Gabe take a picture of me. Didn't he do such a great job!

Towzer

Remember a while back when I reported that our dog, Towzer, had nipped Gabe? Well I sought a recommendation for a behavior specialist at our vet's office and received the name of Kathy Sdao at Bright Spot Dog Training. Towzer and I met with her on Wednesday and I fought the urge to slap my forehead through much of our meeting. A lot of what she recommended were things that we used to do with Towz. Feeding him using food puzzle toys (he's ultra smart and needs to have that mental stimulation) and playing games. Her training philosophy is a stark contrast to the trainer we used when Towzer was a pup and that is a good thing. No, a GREAT thing. Against my instincts that trainer convinced us to use techniques that I was uncomfortable with and ended up having a detrimental effect on Towzer and his trust of us. We have lots of "homework"to do but I am confident that we're on the right track now. He is such a very cool dog as anyone who has met him agrees (well, except for maybe Nora but that's just because she's the antithesis of a dog-person but she's my best friend, what can ya do?).

Look at that handsome mug!

Cooling off last summer with Gabe.

Maisy and Towzer, best friends.

Favorite Things Friday

Wow! I'm so on top of things today (translation: I'm ignoring the dishes and the rest of my to-do list) and am actually posting on my friend Tiff's Favorite Things Friday - and it's even Friday!

Sweet.

Dude.

(Sorry, having a Dude Where's My Car moment.)

So, anyway, you too can participate in Favorite Things Friday by bopping on over to Tiffany's blog and linking to your Favorite Things post. It's that easy. Seriously. Or I wouldn't do it, I'm all about easy. Here's my offering:



1) Extremely tolerant cats. When I was growing up my tolerant cat was Runaway. So named because he was the neighbor's cat until he ran away to live with me. He used to climb our house to my second story window and wait for me to let him inside. When I was young I used to dress him up in baby clothes and put him in the baby swing. The torch has passed.


2) Pajamas with little flaps on the butt. Don't feel as I need to elaborate here, the picture says it all. (Thanks Grandma Marlene for the pjs!)

3) Zion's pigtails that keep getting more and more freakin' adorable. And harder and harder to catch on film. I won't say how many pictures I had to snap to get this one of her actually looking at the camera. It's embarrassing.

And there goes Mercury, little pigtails flying in the wind like wings.


4) Sibling love. One of the most rewarding aspects of having multiple children. Not to mention that its totally cute and funny. They get me laughing good on a daily basis.

5) Bedtime. I've shared how much I love bedtime on many occasions. Or, rather, I love the time after the kids' bedtime in which I get to hunker down and have a little Me Time. But this entry is a little different. What I've been really, really, really, really loving lately is the period of time after teeth brushing and before prayers when I get to snuggle in bed with Gabe and read a chapter of the Boxcar Children. We finished book 1 tonight and will move on to book 2 tomorrow. I love how the author broke up the chapters perfectly so that there is nearly always a tidbit to excite you about the next chapter. I love asking him for his guess as to what is going to happen next and then leave him hanging until the next night.

6) I probably shouldn't include this but I can't help myself. One of my newest favorite things is the iPhone Rob sent me for Christmas. I so stinkin' love that hunk of technology. It just continues to amaze me and has proven to make my life SO much easier. I am disappointed that it can't send photos to another phone (with all that they can do I have to say "what the heck?!" about that) but still, it keeps impressing me.

Can't Catch Me!

OK, I so need to go to bed but I wanted to post this before I hit the hay (hopeful that Gideon will actually let me sleep tonight). This is the gingerbread man that I made for Zion's felt food collection. Ben was laying on my lap as I put in the last stitches and that made me remember the part of the story where the gingerbread man was riding the foxes back across the water. We all know how that ended.

Good thing Ben didn't try that, I so would not have wanted to clean up that hairball!

My Big Boys

What can I say? They are both getting so grown up. You know, a whopping 4 1/2 years old and 4 months old (tomorrow).

Gideon is trying to convince me that he's ready for solids. "Look, Ma, I can even feed myself!"



And just check out that attitude! Oh yeah, he's all that! He's so cool, he's not afraid to let everyone know that he loves his Daddy!



Since Rob left Gabe has really stepped up his helpful attitude. He's getting doors for me and walking holding Zion's hand (when she'll let him) and trying his best to keep her from getting into things when I go upstairs to get Gideon down for nap. So the other day I surprised him with a big boy watch. A Thomas the train watch of course.



And of course there's my first "big boy", Towzer. He's a whopping 5, almost 6. And isn't he sweet, he hangs out with cats. But, Shhhh! Seriously, don't let word get out though, he'll be the laughing stock of all the neighborhood dogs. Both Maisy and Ben love him to death and will literally wrap their tails around his legs walking under and around him while subjecting him to rubs and head butts.

The Last Week (or two) In Pictures

It's SuperZion! Mild mannered (not really) baby by day, goggle-wearing, zebra-riding super hero - um, also by day!
And her trusty sidekick, SuperMarioTurtle!
A Spot in the sun.

And a Gideon in the shade. My little guy's favorite thing to do out of doors is to fall asleep.
Gabe insisted on building some tracks outside the other day. I reluctantly conceded. Then it started to rain. Naturally.
Maisy escaping the sun under the slide.
My pepper has grown quite a bit bigger. I have no idea when to pick this thing or what to do with it once I do.
One would think Gideon wouldn't like getting squished.
But apparently that isn't the case.