boys vs. girls

Last night, after an evening of the "now standard" conquer and divide to get it all done, we finally had the little ones all in bed.  Patrick and I had to head out the door to meet up with some friends.  We have realized we can leave Luke and Sarah home to "hold down the fort" together if all the rest are in bed.  The house was a bit of a wreck due the busy evening and all the bodies "playing" before the evening started.  I offered Sarah  $5 to load dishes, clean the kitchen, swap out laundry and such. Luke didn't get offered a chance at cash since he had some "homework" to finish up.  The house was immaculate when we returned.  Sarah had pledged the kitchen table, left a few picture books on the endtable and post-it note love notes to us on our door.  Patrick was in awe.  And I began to contemplate the cost of a $5 clean-up every night.  Luke was the last child awake reading when we got home.  And teasingly, Patrick asked him if he sat and watched Sarah work all evening.  Luke replied, "Nope, I ate some food too!"  That about sums up life in this new stage of budding teens and busy lives.

Sibling love

Thomas has figured out how to crawl, and watching the reaction among his siblings has been so enjoyable.  I was putting away laundry when I heard Luke scream, "Mom, come quick!"  My brain immediately began to run through the broken glass, spill, injury checklist.  However, when I got to Luke, he was standing with a silly grin on his face, pointing to Thomas.  "Look, he can crawl!"

It is moments like these that warm my heart, even on those trying days.  Luke was so excited by the baby's accomplishments that he got on the floor and proceeded to try and play chase with a newly crawling 9 month old.  It is so wonderful to see the love and awe over little things between my crew.  I must admit it is good to see these milestones from a sibling's perspective.  While my mind first thought, "Here we go, what can he get into, what needs picked up, what needs moved?"...Luke simply thought, "He couldn't move yesterday, and now he can....cool!"

And about that cleaning, moving, picking up....he figured out how to crawl a few days ago.  Today I found Thomas and Lucy practically inside the fireplace, with hands full of those little stones, throwing them all about the room.  Big smiles on their faces as their relationship takes on a new dynamic of "partners-in-crime".

Our pteradactyl begins to soar

After a few seconds you will understand the little guy's nickname...

Gratitude journal

From time to time I debate starting a gratitude journal.  I think they are a fantastic idea for focusing on all the things we should be thankful for.  And, lets face it...it may serve as a momentary pick-me-up for a very busy, homeschooling mother, who, from time to time, may wonder.....is this good, is this working, are we learning....anything, what day is it, what is for dinner?  And the like.  But it would require time, which is so very precious.  So for me it is more of a mental exercise.  Except for today, because this one I need to remember.

Today I am thankful for swimming, followed by Boyscouts and baseball, which required "conquer and divide" by parents, dinner on the fly...in stages for the kids and take-out for adults at 8:45 pm. I am thankful for a race of baths and bedtimes and last minute chats.  And I am so very, very, very thankful that Patrick asked for a beer while tucking in some kids, which required me to head to the beer fridge in the garage.  I am so thankful it was happening in that moment because upon entering the garage I saw the cat perched on top of the cardboard box containing the 10 chicks.  The box with the lid half-open.  The cat with his head peering into the box.  We were moments away from mayhem and a scene I don't want to think about involving blood and feathers.  So very thankful for....beer, a box, and husbands tucking in kids.

Godspeed neighbors!

Last weekend we had a little impromptu going away party for our wonderful neighbors.  They had been splitting time between their Florida home and here in NC, but they sold their house so it was time to say goodbye.  I know the kids are going to miss them terribly, as they acted like surrogate grandparents for our crew.  The Lord has blessed our lives' in so many ways, but I count the wonderful sets of neighbors that He has set in our path near the top.  I know Max will miss his toy-filled chocolate eggs from Mr. Hubbard's trips to Germany.  And Sarah will miss her Christmas time shopping trips with Mrs. Hubbard.  Sean and Luke will miss having a Mr. Fixit to help out with problems and broken toys when dad isn't home.  Sometimes they would be halfway out the door because "Mr. Hubbard can fix it", before I could tell them to just wait a bit....maybe Mom could try? I know my husband will miss his partner in crime when it comes to projects around the house and yard.  He'll also miss his conservative news junkie confidant. And I'm not sure how I will ever pick out a paint color...since I usually just ask my neighbor!

Today I took the little ones on rainy day walk.  When I asked where they wanted to go, they suggested a walk to the Hubbards.  I had to remind them that the Hubbards live by the beach now.  Lucy just looked up at me, shaking her head, and said, "I miss them."  That about sums it up here.  We are all pretty sad.  But our home is now filled with many of the items the Hubbard's couldn't take with them.  I suppose I will keep memories alive by saying things like, "Get off Mr. Hubbard's chair....get me Mrs. Hubbard's white bowl."  We are hoping Mrs. Hubbard, Pop, and Gracie will come visit us soon!

Sean's First Holy Communion

After much anticipation and excitement, Sean made his First Holy Communion on May 4th.  We were so proud that he was so ready and excited to finally be so close to our Lord.  Grandma and Grandpa Army came down from Ohio to share in his special day.  (I wish I had a picture...I never take enough pictures).  We needed to order him a dark suit for the special day and he was happy to wear his "tuxedo".  He was so excited that I don't think he got enough sleep the night before....as evidenced in our celebration dinner after....the celebration he slept through after a big case of the grumpies.  How we love our Sean...and we know how much he loves the Lord.  As he told me when reviewing his catechism lesson....."Sean, what will you do after receiving the Holy Eucharist?"  Sean replied, "Well if I don't die of happiness right away, like blessed Imelda, I will say a prayer of Thanksgiving."

More from the top ten

5.  Easter meant preparing our hearts with prayer and good deeds.  It also meant dyeing eggs.  With a family our size...lots of eggs.  We ate them in a few short days.

6.  Almost there.....the end of the school year that is.  We are finishing up work and looking forward to a summer of trips and camps.  I am making my to-do list of all those items that don't get done on a regular basis.  Some deep cleaning of the van, sorting through DVDs and CDs....some sewing maybe?  The end of the year can't get here soon enough, for all of us.

7.  Visits...we have had lots of visits with friends and family.  We have had grandparents in town.  We've gone on a few trips.  Patrick had his 10 year reunion in Cincinnati, so he and I got away for the weekend.  We just got back from a trip to Charleston.  We have had tons of fun, so much fun that the camera went untouched.  Oops!

8.  Easter brought a great surprise in that friends called early that afternoon and asked us to pack up our food and head over to their house where we combined dinners and hung out enjoying each others' company.  This is never hard for my kids since their "big kids" (ie some are big enough to drink beer!) are some of my kids' favorite people.  Infact, Andrew is a regular to our home several mornings a week since he is Patrick's workout buddy.  But when I take the kids out any afternoon, the first question once we hit the garage is, "Is Andrew here?"    Here are some of the pals.  Easter involved the pals hiding eggs for an egg hunt for our kids.  It was hilarious to watch the little ones hunt for eggs in the rain, and attempt to remove eggs from the top of basketball hoops and other crazy places.

9.  My new favorite thing is grocery shopping online.  I just click the mouse a few times and then I'm done.  The magical lady at the store actually roams the aisles and loads the cart...which is a blessing since most trips I end up with multiple carts, which is difficult with little ones in tow.  Then they pack the bags and call me.  I just head to the store where the magical lady and her assistants load my car, give me some cookies for the kids, and I head home.  I don't believe I can put into words the time and trouble this saves me.  Plus, there is no, "Mommy, can we get...." 

10.New things around here.....new carpet, new granite counters, new painting......soon to be some new appliances.  Brand new baby chicks are here too!  So cute.  Picture to follow.

A top ten in no particular order

Wow....it has been quite a while. Life here is so very busy.  To the extent that my organizational prowess is very lacking.  Last night involved baseball practice for someone.  Not sure who...or when.  Took the boys to practice and ordered Luke to find a coach at the field, look over the roster and figure out who had practice.  Yeah...no one.  Sean has practice on Tuesdays at 5:30, I learned.  It was Thursday.  However, we were out of town on Monday and Tuesday, so Thursday felt like Tuesday, which felt like practice.  It is a new season.  A beginning of baseball season, and a new season of life.  Very busy...but I wouldn't want it any other way.  So in no order, because frankly, I don't have enough time to scroll through 4 months of pictures, here are some things we've been up to.

1.  Lucy (aka Lulabelle) turned 2!  She is full of words, well paragraphs actually.  This is making life so much better.  She is less "fussy" than she has been in the past.  She sleeps better.  And she is now, a big kid, who wants to hang with the big kids.  She loves all her siblings and is quite the little mother to Thomas and her dolls. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, although he places her in time-out quite a bit (she likes to scream these days).  She loves Diego, so her birthday was Dora/Diego.  We enjoyed celebrating her and are so thankful she is part of the family.

 2.  Sarah Clare had a birthday as well.  A big Hobbit party which involved a hobbit menu and inn in which to be served, a hobbit hole cake, a hobbit scavenger hunt, a dragon slaying archery game....very few pictures due to the "death" of the memory card.  (thanks Lucy).  Sarah is such a gift.  She helps keep the house moving and loves her siblings fiercely.  I am so thankful for her generous heart and giving spirit.  The Lord blessed us tremendously by gifting us with her.

3.  Spring has sprung.  It has taken quite a long time. But our days are filled with trips outside and to parks.

4.  Learning all the time.  Dad brought home dry ice from work.  We then learned all about states of matter and changes between states...and made messes, like usual.