The Lowe-down

Good Times - February

2011-04-05T15:16:00.005-06:00

I'm horribly behind on this here blog. Rather than ignore the past as I've done before I'm going to make an attempt to catch up on the highlights of our family life.

February is now a blur but I do remember celebrating Chinese New Year. Harrison enjoyed the fluff in our fluff and peanut butter 'year of the rabbit' pitas.

Basketball season ended. Trophies were awarded! Hooray!

Valentine's Day was celebrated. The girls attended a special party at a local play place.
They had a runway and tons of dress-up clothes.

Mark and I went on a Valentine's Day date.
The temperatures started warming allowing us to get outside a little more.
I unpacked our china for the first time since Jan. 2008. The boxes made fun chairs.
We had to have our well pulled up and the pump replaced.
We hit the zoo on one of those warmer days.
Look how cute these toddler snow leopards are.
A final outing to the botanical garden.

Grateful

2011-02-02T09:39:00.003-07:00

When I showed up to the girls' arts and crafts class Monday this mom (who I have only spoken to once before) said, "I want to give you something."

We seem to elicit charity from people. At first, I would get offended thinking that people didn't think we were able to provide for our young brood. But I've come to realize that most people know that raising kids is expensive and that with six kids, someone is likely to play with or wear whatever it is that's being handed down. And they're right!

So back to Monday...this nice woman explained that she and her boys are going out of town for two months but they had this box of Geotrax they wanted to give us. Mark met her yesterday to pick up what ends up is a bathtub-size tote of Geotrax. Amazing! The kids were screaming and whooping it up last night thinking that Christmas came twice this year. Now they're all building what's sure to be a room-sized town of Geotrax.

Thank you to Svzy and family for your generosity!

Look what I did today

2011-02-01T16:56:00.003-07:00

I made my first loaf of artisan bread. It's 100% whole wheat with flaxseed to boot. I need to fine tune my methods but for a first round, it's pretty tasty.

Good Times - January

2011-01-31T15:21:00.004-07:00

Here are our ten favorite photos from this month that didn't get their own blog entry:

1. Madelyn and I made homemade cinnamon rolls one morning. We got to use the bread proofing function on our new oven but it was more like lunch time by the time they were done.
2. Harrison loves the new kitchen. There are drawers to sit in, cabinets to open, and a spice rack to be explored.
3. The kids spent one whole day creating a miniature village in our front yard. It featured a walking path, a tepee, a sandbox, a garden, a fire pit and a table. Very imaginative!
4. I couldn't resist pitching in. I took them hot chocolate and cookies to snack on in their village.
5. Harrison is 15-months-old now. He loves his bathtime.
6. The girls attended a construction themed costume party.
7. Harrison with the Lowe & Young tractor.
8. Lego-mania has taken hold of our house since Christmas. Our game table is now reserved for Legos only.
9. Harrison likes the Lego table too. He's learning that leaving his siblings' creations intact allows him more time at the table.
10. The kids all got beanbag chairs for Christmas. They have been great, especially for movie nights.

2010 Highlight -- Kitchen Remodel

2011-01-30T08:45:00.003-07:00

The kitchen remodel was certainly one of the highlights of the year. It was also one of the worst parts of the year. It is forever etched in our memory, to be sure.

There's something really amazing about the pride one gets from planning and executing a project like this to completion. Sitting back at the end of the day and marveling at how all those ideas and dreams came together, how all the hard work paid off, how blessed we are to be able to take on such a project in the first place, well, it almost seems worth the headaches, the frustration, and the setbacks along the way.

And besides, the appliance boxes made for a super cool castle in the playroom.

2010 Highlight -- Team Sports

2011-01-29T08:23:00.004-07:00

This was the year we decided we could manage adding team sports to our calendar. It was a stretch. Team sports are not in our box, as it were. They take up a lot of time and game time is not always the same time. But this was the year. We felt it was important for the girls to try a sport, be part of a team. And, you know what, it's been so fun!

Catherine started us off with soccer this fall. Catherine always had a smile on her face and was eager to learn new skills. She made some sweet friends and we all look forward to spring soccer starting in a few weeks.

Chloe has played basketball for the winter season. She's young for her team but she's learning the basics. Next year, she may be a force to be reckoned with.

Madelyn also decided on playing basketball this winter. Her age group is much more aggressive and fast-paced. Madelyn plays some mean defense and is willing to try anything her coach suggests, including stealing the ball from the largest kid on the other team.

We're really proud of our girls for their willingness to try something new and their winning spirits.

2010 Highlight -- Camping

2011-01-28T17:43:00.005-07:00

Yes, I know that 2010 has been over for almost a month now but I wanted to share some of our 2010 highlights. By far, our favorite part of 2010 was camping. We bought a travel trailer days before 2010 began and had a blast using it throughout the year. We drove from coast to coast, racked up more than 15,000 miles, and spent 62 nights (except Mark who returned home to work during part of our trip east) in our rig.

Our final trip for the year was to Alamogordo. We spent three nights there just before Christmas, just after the kitchen was done.

Our first stop was the park. They had a great one!

Our six little monkeys. Seth was not participating in family photos this weekend. He generally was sporting a frown. We almost got him in this one.
We then spent two days at White Sands National Monument. It was awesome! The weather was around 60 degrees and we went barefoot as we explored the dunes.
The kids rolled down the dunes...
And made sand angels...
And went sledding...
And jumping...
Finally a smile from Seth!
Our second day's picture is probably better but it was cooler when we arrived so we look a little chilly.
The fast sledding duo of Catherine & Madelyn
So much fun!
This year our plans won't accrue as many miles but we sure hope to make as many memories!

Worth the price of admission

2011-01-23T09:38:00.003-07:00

We went to Family Night at our local Red Robin last Wednesday and WOW, what a deal! We got there just as the face painter got started. Everyone got to pick their design and they all were stunning!

We also were visited by a table-side balloon artist. So, face painting for five, balloon animals for six, and a meal for eight all for the value on our gift card! What a deal!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-09T13:00:00.003-07:00

I hate when I get this far behind on my blogging. We've had some technical difficulties with our wireless over the last few weeks. It's been super frustrating to try to load pictures and have the internet cut out just when I'm sure it's about to be done with the upload or as I've been trying to search for kitchen accessories and have the internet cut out just as the perfect utensil bar rack is about to reveal itself. Anyway, it's all better now.

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Belated New Year! We had a great time ringing in 2011 complete with honkers and blowers and sparkling cider. The best part was we were still in bed by 10 pm. Having east coast roots makes a 10 p.m. New Year justifiable doesn't it?

Harrison was a big fan of the cider!Now what to do about all the stuff I missed posting in 2010. Do I ignore it and move on with 2011? Do I post it and put 2011 stuff on hold? I thought about re-instituting Flashback Friday but I'm not sure I want to drag 2010 out for the next three months. Ideas anyone?

Kitchen Remodeling -- Weeks 11 & 12

2010-12-31T20:56:00.003-07:00

Well, I think we've crossed the finish line on our 12-week kitchen renovation. Check it out!

BEFORE (of the south wall and old island):
AFTER:
BEFORE (of west wall):
AFTER:
Week 11 started with a flurry of activity as the countertops and appliances went in. We rolled from one crisis to the next and didn't escort the last of the help out until after 8:30 p.m.

Then we escaped. We headed out for three nights in our trailer to clear our heads and reconnect as a family. We came home and have since been moving into our new kitchen, organizing and reorganizing. We've trimmed, puttied, caulked, and hung lights. We still need the dishwasher panels and a second pendant light but we're feeling pretty good about how the project turned out.

Now, to get to the serious business of cooking! Ah, my first New Year's Resolution.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Weeks 9 & 10

2010-12-19T08:32:00.003-07:00

This was supposed to be the big reveal post. You know the one showing the before and the after. The one where you, my loyal audience, ooohs and aaahs and marvels at our clever design and industriousness. Alas, you'll have to wait another week.

We were moving along right on schedule. The cabinet install got done. The electrical work got done. The holes in the wall got patched...twice. The template was done for the granite. The appliances were scheduled for delivery. Of course all these things required at least five phone calls and being home as much as possible in case someone stopped by to do something.

We built out the pantry last weekend. It came out great, don't you think? I can't wait to move into it. I've never had so much food storage space. Until I can start canning, I think I'm going to need to make a huge Costco run to fill it.
This Wednesday we hit the snag. The granite folks called to tell us that the machine that performs the final process on the stone BROKE! The message was that the part would be in tomorrow because they would certainly have us installed by Friday (only one day late). OK. We could still keep our plans to go camping on Monday. Then, the part was delayed another day but they would surely install Saturday because that's what they do when they inconvenience folks. On Friday, the plan changed yet again and the new plan is to install Monday morning. The excuse: Our island rock weighs 1,000 pounds and they couldn't get enough installers together to bring it Saturday.

Of course, for every push in schedule from the granite folks comes a push in schedule with the appliance folks. We've daily been begging to get on the schedule and that's gotten harder as we've gotten closer to Christmas when apparently EVERYONE wants their appliances delivered. Ugh!

So now we're attempting to make the most of our wait. You know, take lots of Tylenol, put up the Christmas tree, take cues from our kids that Christmas is around the corner and is a reason to celebrate.

We're on the schedule to have granite installed Monday morning and the appliances Monday afternoon. We're leaving Tuesday for a much needed escape from this craziness and frustration. Well, at least that's the plan today.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 6 thru 8

2010-12-05T07:14:00.003-07:00

The pace of our kitchen remodeling really picked up in Week 6. We had electrical work done...
And plumbing...
And sheetrocking...
And we had the wood on the ceiling sandblasted. The sandblasting gave the kitchen a major face lift. Our kitchen actually felt like new construction. Of course the dirt and sand that filled the rest of the house reminded us otherwise. But it really served as the turning point from the depression of demo to the excitement of what's to come.

We spent Week 7, also known as Thanksgiving week, starting to put things back together. The walls were textured. I stained the ceiling in one very long, very stinky day. Mark laid the tile and I painted.
Mark grouted and the girls helped clean. That's always such a drag. It takes so many passes with the sponge to get that 'new tile' feel. By Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend we were exhausted and sore, but we were ready for Week 8.
Week 8 brought cabinets! Yes, cabinets. It took us nine months to decide on which cabinets to buy and it was so worth it. They are beautiful!
After the first day of installation, it's starting to look like we have a kitchen again.
Week 9 will bring the rest of the cabinet install, drywall patching, electrical finish work and hopefully the beginning of a pantry. We're getting near the end. This whole kitchen remodel has been a taxing process to be sure but one we hope our family will enjoy for years to come.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 5

2010-11-16T07:11:00.005-07:00

I get further behind on this post each week. We're already two days in to Week 6 which probably doesn't matter to anyone but me. But it's my blog, so I'm clarifying.

Week 5 was demo week. As in, take it down to the studs. As in, no more sink or cooktop. As in, more dust than I can shake a broom or Swiffer at.

The kids are always looking for ways to help with the remodel. This week Chloe was Daddy's superstar helper. After our rented tile stripper failed us, Mark manually took up 400 sq. ft. of satillo. He needed an extra set of hands to get rid of all those chunks of clay. Chloe did a great job shoveling and transferring tile to the wheelbarrow for disposal.
The demo only came after taking a full day to set up a temporary kitchen. I've always wanted a galley kitchen, sort of.
This is our new pantry/countertop/cabinet space. The shelves filled up faster than either of us imagined. Ugh. We have the microwave in the kids' bathroom along with our wash station. And this is our kitchen now. We have it quarantined to try to contain the dust and to prevent trespassing.
We also finished ordering odds-and-ends like cabinet hardware, more tile, grout, the sink and faucet. Now, we need to get a firm delivery date on those cabinets.

Adventures in Paint

2010-11-12T07:43:00.003-07:00

Last Sunday, as we looked at the week ahead, the kids and I picked an adventure for each day. For Monday we chose to go to the botanical gardens and for Tuesday the kids begged and pleaded to paint. Painting with six kids is definitely an adventure.

I was apprehensive getting started as I looked at all their smiling faces and all those paint jars and brushes and newspapers. The boys have never painted before. What was I thinking? But, you know what, they did great! I gave everyone a lesson on how to love and care for their brushes and away they went painting their little hearts out.
Harrison even got in on the action. He painted with water. It's hard to tell whether he was more excited about painting or being included in an activity the big kids were doing.
Seth was a master color mixer.
Sam preferred taking it one color at a time.
We need to have more adventures like these!

Another day at the park

2010-11-11T06:45:00.004-07:00

The kids are off from school this week. The weather was beautiful on Monday so we headed to the botanical gardens for a last look at the fall colors.

Harrison discovered the fun of playing in leaves!

It's so fun to watch children discover the wonders of our world. Our children remind us daily that joy is found in the small stuff.

Fashion Week

2010-11-10T06:44:00.003-07:00

I love when our children work together towards a common end. Last weekend they put on a fashion show for us. They were adorable! See for yourself...

Harrison loved all the attention and watching his siblings. There's no lollipop on that stick, by the way. I know you're out there judging me. ;-)

A Walk in the Park

2010-11-09T06:56:00.005-07:00

We took a break from our kitchen woes to see what was left of the fall colors along the river. It's always a treat to crunch through the leaves and smell those earthy autumnal scents. We take a similar walk every year to enjoy our community and to attempt a family photo that is Christmas card worthy. It's hard to say which goal has higher priority.
I love this picture of the kids!
Fall colors galore
Another shot of the family. It's a little bright, but two decent family pictures in one day, that's some kind of miracle.

Studying...always studying. Then demanding...always demanding.
The one who started it all. She's getting so big.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 4

2010-11-08T06:23:00.002-07:00

This was another roller coaster week. We kept our 'high' going after seeing the results of our labor last weekend by making a deposit on appliances last Monday. I'm excited to have a cooktop with more than two burners and an oven with a fan to keep the heat even throughout, but more than anything I'm excited about our drawer microwave. It seems very high tech and has lots of buttons.

The rest of the week was devoted to getting bids from electricians, sandblasters and drywallers. I introduced myself to a drywaller while voting Tuesday. He was wearing his company hat but I think I took him off-guard. Anyway, he seems like a nice man and will probably win the work. As for the sandblaster, he seems great too. He's local and flexible and while he takes some effort to get a hold of he comes with references.

Then, or rather first, was the electrician. He nearly derailed our project. He comes through and starts spouting off code. At first we absorb and take notes. Then we start to get a little uneasy as he's telling us we need to add this and that and oh, by the way, you may not be able to have a pantry here because of the fuse box. WHAT!!!! This whole project is based on the new pantry which takes up the entire width of the entry. We are not adding quirks, we're trying to minimize quirks in this house. So, now what? Do we go along with his string of questions and see if we can make it all work? Or do we drop him and find someone who's less ethical?

So, again, we end the week asking WHY?!

Toddler Tricks

2010-11-03T07:28:00.003-06:00

Harrison is full of toddler tricks these days. His forehead has a perpetual bruise on it from headbutting something or tumbling over something or just generally not respecting the limits of his one-year-old body. He is a daredevil, to be sure.

Catherine taught him how to climb up the slide and go down by himself. He is quick to transfer his knowledge as he was an eager slider at the park yesterday too.
At the last soccer game, he toddled out on the field at halftime and moved the ball and wrapped himself in the net. Busy, busy, busy.
Chloe discovered his next trick when she walked into her room to get something. Harrison was already there climbing the ladder to the top bunk. Ugh! I guess I need to add that to his interests: electricity, toilets, and now, ladders.
So cute when he reaches the top though. Too bad the door is now closed all the time, along with the bathroom doors and the cat room door. Our house gets smaller by the day.

Farewell Fall Soccer

2010-11-02T07:37:00.007-06:00

Fall soccer is over! Surprisingly, I'm not doing cartwheels. I expected to feel a sense of relief, of new found freedom, of an extra two hours in my week. Those things are indeed true but I will miss the predictable friend time (for all of us) at the park every Tuesday night. I will miss cheering for the Crush every Saturday with the other families.
Most of all, I will miss Catherine's smile after the games. The one she gets when she knows she's done her best and she's getting loaded up with compliments.
Catherine has learned a lot this fall not only about her athletic potential but about teamwork and building friendships. Way to go girl! We're so proud of you!

Halloween Festivities

2010-11-01T08:07:00.004-06:00

We had a late start to Halloween this year. Generally, the girls start planning each holiday at least a month ahead of time. This year other things have taken priority and everything Halloween, except a vague discussion of costumes, has just not happened. In an attempt to show some last minute holiday cheer, we made a quick trip to a local pumpkin patch after Catherine's soccer game Saturday afternoon in search of the Great Pumpkin. We came pretty close.
Everyone got to feel the gooey yuck of the inside of the pumpkin.
Our jack-o-lantern. This is the first one we've carved in years. It was fun!
Getting ready for the big day. Seth and Sam were trying out their 'silly hair' to go along with their clown costumes.
Ta-dah! Ready to hit the streets and get some sweet treats.Our little Harrison was so cute. Harrison kept trying to make candy trades. As folks would hand him candy, he would try to hand candy from his basket back. Of course, he did that only when he wasn't trying to fight his way into the house.
After two hours of candy seeking, our little clown was done!
Everyone else was just getting started. They all dumped their loot in the living room. The girls sorted theirs while the boys just marveled at the small hill their candy made.
The loot sort by type. Almost make you want to draw a bar graph, doesn't it?
Bring on the whining for candy at all hours of the day and the sugar crashes!

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 3

2010-10-31T14:18:00.004-06:00

We started the weekend with a cozy library that doubles as an entry. Truly, it's an ex-laundry room/butler's pantry that has challenged my homemaker's brain. In addition to the odd shelves, it has exposed pipes and the fuse box. But it's cozy and it's off the courtyard and it's easier to access from the driveway and so by default, it is the entry.
Not for long! We are converting the back half of the room into a huge (4.5'x12') walk-in pantry while the front of the room (5'x12') takes on the look of a more formal and proper entry. Mark always looks so happy in these before shots, doesn't he?
Sam got in on the demo. He keeps talking about how we're 'destroying our house'.
From the same spot as the first picture...the doorway to the new pantry is framed in.
Then the dividing wall went up. Now we need to wait a couple weeks for a drywall team to finish up.
Now, use your imagination. This is the new entry.
This is the new pantry. Of course, shelves are to come.
Remodeling is such a roller coaster. At the end of the weekend, we feel happy and pleased with our progress. We see the hard work paying off but during the interim (Thursday-Saturday) we often are tense with each other and I generally end up totally frustrated and asking myself why we're doing this at all. Ugghh! Only seven more weeks...hopefully.

Brotherhood

2010-10-27T07:29:00.003-06:00

When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life.
--Antisthenes

Cursive Literacy

2010-10-26T09:49:00.003-06:00

One of the rites of passage of being a third grader is learning cursive handwriting. I know that it is a much debated topic in these electronic times. One side of the debate claims typing is all you need. I agree. Madelyn practices typing daily for 30 minutes. The other side argues that cursive makes a child's handwriting clear, legible and fast. I agree with them too. Writing letters and jotting down notes is something lifelong learners do. A computer is not always handy when genius strikes or when your grandmother needs to be thanked for the handmade quilt.

While Madelyn's school values cursive handwriting, it does not take the time to teach it. So, a teachable moment presented itself for me. Not only do I get to teach Madelyn something new, but I got to peruse the teacher store in order to prepare for said instruction. I could spend days looking at teacher stuff. It inspires me; it motivates me; it gives me warm fuzzies.

I chose a workbook for my pupil and proudly presented it to her. She looked at the alphabet inside the cover and decided that Mandarin symbols meant more to her than what she saw there. Reading cursive, it seems, is akin to learning to read a foreign language. Now, Madelyn and I sit shoulder-to-shoulder daily marveling at the beauty of cursive handwriting and the challenges of reading it.

Sick Sunday

2010-10-25T19:27:00.004-06:00

I am generally very thankful for the good health of my family. We seem to be a fairly resistant bunch. We generally don't have fevers and we've only made one trip to the urgent care in our eight years of parenting and it ended up being an aborted mission as the problem resolved itself. We've made a handful of sick visits to the pediatrician's office for tummy bugs, ear infections, pink eye and a strange rash. Really mild stuff, right?

This weekend, however, everyone but Madelyn caught a cold. We were full of sniffles and sneezes and sore throats. We were tired, a little cranky, and definitely more whiney. We decided to hole up for the weekend. We went out for tissues, medicine, and donuts on Saturday morning and didn't leave the house again until it was time to leave for school this morning.

It was wonderful! This weekend I was thankful for the common cold and the time it gave us to relax at home.

Which is better?

2010-10-22T12:33:00.004-06:00

Is it better for the environment to use plastic grocery bags and reuse them for trash can liners or is it better to use reusable canvas bags and buy plastic bags for trash can liners?

Kitchen Remodeling -- Week 2

2010-10-21T12:31:00.002-06:00

We put pen to paper this week on our kitchen plans. We signed the cabinet contract yesterday, all 19 pages of it. Today I signed off on our granite choice and gave the fabricator a deposit. I am totally lovin' our granite selection. The photo is not the best but you get the idea.
Next week, more decisions and hopefully a firm schedule!

As a final note, I have to brag about my boys. They have been so patient this week as we've visited a 'kitchen place' everyday while sisters are in school. Of course, the boys have memorized which stores bribe little boys with cookies and which bribe them with candy and which bribe them with toys. If they're really lucky, they get a combination of the above. So shopping with mom has become more like a treat than a chore.

It's my birthday and I'll mop if I want to

2010-10-20T07:26:00.003-06:00

My birthday was last weekend. To celebrate my 35th birthday, I wanted a steam mop. I know, Mark is a lucky guy to have found a wife with such practical wants. But really, my wants always are secondary to the kids and they tend to be practical because I'm always trying to whittle some 'free' time into my days.

Really, I think a steam mop is rather indulgent. I wanted a composting bin for Mother's Day. I got a Kindle instead. Maybe next year.

The steam mop is great and fun and may even be a workout.
The girls decorated for my birthday.
I was spoiled with beautiful artwork and lots and lots of homemade cards.

Group hug for mom!
I am a lucky lady to celebrate my birthdays with such thoughtful and eager children and a special husband who knows how to balance my practical wants with some splendid indulgences as well.

Square Dancing the Night Away

2010-10-19T07:33:00.005-06:00

We took a break from deconstructing our house to attend the Square Dance at the girls' school last Thursday night. The girls had two lessons over the last couple weeks. They were super excited to see all their friends and to try out their new moves.

Upon arrival, they jumped right into a line dance and dragged Dad along too.
Then I got to take a turn.
Seth and Sam were not so much into the dancing. For their patience, they were rewarded with some cotton candy.
Harrison was all over the place. Our littlest member just takes off and only looks back to taunt you into following him because he's about to go further away and faster.
A final dance for the girls and a classmate of Madelyn's.
I love these community events and seeing all three girls enjoying all their school has to offer.

Kitchen Remodeling -- And the wall is outta here!

2010-10-15T17:12:00.004-06:00

Our world was expanded yesterday! It was the day we have thought about, dreamed of, and planned since April 2005. We took out the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Why didn't we do that sooner? I mean, WOW, what a change! Now we can dine together and not have to drag chairs over from the game table and no one's knees are mashed into a cabinet or wedged under a table support. We even have elbow room and room to grow!

The boys were an attentive audience for wall demo. I just hope they don't try some demo of their own as they like to copycat Daddy.
Ta-dah!
The girls were very surprised by the change.

We're done with demo for a few weeks. Today, we finalized our granite selection and tomorrow we finalize our cabinet order. So, it's hurry up and wait around here. Our next project will be the new pantry in two weeks.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Day 2

2010-10-14T07:45:00.002-06:00

Day 1 of kitchen remodeling is under our belt. Demo got started after the 15-yard dumpster was delivered around 9 a.m. First to go, the double oven circa 1975. It's heating element blew out when we first moved in but after a replacement it's served us well enough. Of course, I don't have much to compare it to.
Of course, demolition always comes with some surprises. The first was this miniature sandbox under the first base cabinet complete with nesting materials. I don't think there were any inhabitants, or at least Mark didn't share any. After shoveling two trash bins full of sand and adding Great Stuff to our list, we moved on. One good surprise was learning that our dream pantry idea is very doable. So our kitchen design lives another day.
In the afternoon, we moved over to the north wall. We took out an original cabinet and some shelves added by the last owner. That guy sure liked his hardware. He used 6 inch bolts to secure the shelf to the supports. Such a pain to remove! Underneath the shelves we found another vintage treasure, the original linoleum. Sam calls it the 'fancy tile'. Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.
Today the wall between the kitchen and dining room is coming down. This is the biggest reason for this project. We can't all fit around the kitchen island anymore. We need better access to our table for 8.

Kitchen Remodeling -- Day 1

2010-10-13T07:52:00.005-06:00

Today is the day. Our kitchen remodeling project begins now!

When we bought this house in 2005, the kitchen was dark and felt a little like a cave. It was big and everything worked so we put it on the to-do list but it came after remodeling the bathrooms and bedrooms.

You can see in the before-before pictures that the cabinets were really dark. This was after the doors were taken off. The refrigerator didn't fit in the kitchen so anytime we wanted anything we had to go to the entry (which is probably even stranger but it worked for us).

We exhausted ourselves and our resources before we got to the kitchen during our first round of remodeling back in 2005 so we opted to paint it to spruce it up a bit.
It worked!
This is the kitchen today. This is the south wall complete with my 2 burner cooktop and 35 year old oven. So retro, yes?This is the west wall. We recently had a Solatube installed, giving us some much needed natural light.This is the north wall. It is very cluttered with food on the left (the existing pantry is not particularly functional) and desk/school/life stuff on the right.
Here we go! This is our first indoor remodeling project since we moved back in 2008. I'm a little nervous but I know it will be amazing in the end. Right?

Happy Birthday Baby Man!

2010-10-12T20:01:00.005-06:00

One year ago, we welcomed our sixth child into our family.

Yesterday, he welcomed me to the daily grind. I've been with him everyday of his time on Earth but I still marvel at how we went from our 'little lump' to our 'little lightening' boy.
Harrison is such a joy. He is a busy boy, always exploring and chasing after his siblings. He thinks he's 3 (along with his brothers) and gets so frustrated when his body or his mommy hold him back from an adventure.

And sometimes he sleeps and I swoon. Look at his little cleft chin. We have no idea where that comes from but it is adorable.The shot of the day (taken at the park during Catherine's soccer practice).
Opening presents with older siblings cheering him on.Cake time. Harrison was quite tired by this time.
Harrison didn't blow out his candle nor did he touch the flame, rather he grabbed the candle and it went out in his hand. He didn't even flinch though.Harrison Theodore, you are one-of-a-kind. You keep me on my toes. You make me smile! I feel so blessed to be your mommy.

Balloon Fiesta 2010 -- Part II

2010-10-11T08:28:00.003-06:00

We headed out to Balloon Fiesta again this weekend. Mark's sister and her family were here for a visit. We made it to the field around 6:30 a.m. after another hour-long traffic jam. Note to self: leave earlier next year. We went through some rain on the way in. The winds were calm though so we were hopeful that the Special Shapes would go up.

We learned on our way in to breakfast that the 'official' morning event was canceled due to lightening in the area. However, balloon pilots aren't ones to disappoint a crowd. Many of the balloon inflated even if they didn't take to the skies. We had a great time wandering around the field from balloon to balloon, collecting cards and marveling at the process. Here are a few of our favorites:

And this is really what it's all about! Look at those smiles.

And then they were 6!

2010-10-07T07:24:00.003-06:00

Yesterday went something like this: bake, cool, ice, bake, cool, bake, cool, ice, bake, cool, bake, cool, ice. Yes, it was the day of desserts. It was meant to be this Martha Stewart-inspired day of butterflies to celebrate my little butterflies as they've transitioned from their preschool days to school-time fun.

It came to a screeching halt when the cupcakes I had wrapped the night before to keep from drying out stayed so moist I couldn't get the icing to stick without tearing up the top of the cupcake. So Plan A of icing and decorating the cupcakes in the wee hours of the morning changed to Plan B which was to ice and decorate while the girls took their Mandarin lesson and Harrison toddled around babbling and distracting everyone. They came out alright, not as well as Martha's, but they were cute and the girls were happy.
Then came time for the main cakes....more butterflies. I used this pan when Madelyn turned 1. It's only been used once since I think. Anyway, the cakes stuck like crazy. It was a mess. I was able to glue the yellow cake together with icing but chocolate cakes are just too messy to try to fake. The icing gets all speckled. So, I decided I'd leave the edges as is and serve the leftover frosting on the side. And guess what, the girls were happy!
They were made even happier by the iPods in their gift bags.

And making wishes is fun too!

Now they are officially 6!
We have 6 more days until our next family birthday! I hope I can remember the lesson of yesterday. The love is shown in the process, not the product.

Happy Birthday Sisters!

2010-10-06T07:46:00.003-06:00

Six years ago I was watching the hot air balloons drift by my hospital window. I was anxiously awaiting the return of my twin girls from their first bath. The morning had been a blur. My labor was short, only two hours. In spite of my efforts to communicate its imminence, their birth came as a surprise to the entire hospital staff. Things were done, things were said. But in the end, two big, beautiful, healthy girls joined our family.

In what seems like the blink of an eye, our sweet girls are six-years-old. They are thriving and bright. They are gaining independence. They are learning to balance being a twin and an individual. We are encouraging them to seek out their own interests and try new things. Starting school has been a major change in their life, a welcome one.

We look forward to seeing what your seventh year of life brings, sweet girls. We love you!

Pizza in the Village

2010-10-05T07:43:00.004-06:00

Catherine and Chloe are rapidly approaching their 6th birthday! We had a birthday party at our favorite pizza place on Saturday to celebrate. All 18 kids got to make their own slice of pizza.
Then, we did cake!

For the first time ever, I bought a cake! And guess what, the world did not stop spinning. Everyone raved about it and I wasn't up until midnight baking. I will, however, be making the cake for their 'real' birthday tomorrow.
We had a great time with a mix of friends from school, dance and soccer!

I'd love to wax on but I'm being beckoned to watch the Darth Vader balloon land down the street. :)

Balloon Fiesta 2010

2010-10-04T07:06:00.003-06:00

It's Balloon Fiesta time again! That time of year when we wake our children up in the dark whispering promises of wonder, amazement and hot chocolate. It's the time of year when you quiz the same wide-eyed, groggy kids on your cell phone number over and over again on the drive in because that memory of your nephew getting lost years ago still haunts you.

We made it to the field around 6:30 a.m. and this year we, thankfully, didn't have to jostle in food lines because Mark's employer provided us with a nice spread and even some cool trinkets for the kids. We headed out on the field just as the first wave of balloons was starting to go up.

We were all marveling that it doesn't seem like a year ago that I waddled down to the field only to 'park' for the duration of the morning because I was days away from delivering Harrison. Now he's a spectator. He was rather serious but definitely soaking it all in.
There are always new balloons to see, which means that there are new cards to collect. Madelyn was really motivated to get balloon cards on this trip.
The bee family is a family favorite. The baby bee was new to us this year.
Some parting shots...

We had to hustle to a soccer game so we missed the second wave but we have another date with the balloons later this week.

Suppertime

2010-10-01T06:30:00.003-06:00

Last night, chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese were on the menu. I know, it's lame, especially when the temperatures are still in the 80s. We only had 30 minutes between arrival from school/errands and departure to Madelyn's dance class. And it's easy. And I should stop making excuses.

So, we're sitting at the table and we have a conversation that goes something like this:

Seth: I want boy cheese.

Mom: (looking puzzled) What?

Catherine: You know, since we have girl cheese, he wants boy cheese.

Mom: You mean gr-r-rilled cheese.

Chloe: But you always say girl cheese.

Dad: (speaking slowly with superior enunciation) It's grilled cheese.

End scene with Mom and Dad chuckling and the kids silently starring into space contemplating this new truth.

If that tickles your funny bone, remind me sometime to tell you Chloe's version of a song from Mary Poppins.

I wish I had a bigger plate

2010-09-30T07:50:00.003-06:00

There are so many things to do during the week around here. It's overwhelming really. My attitude fluctuates between wide-eyed excitement at all the opportunity and frustration at all that goes undone.

Maybe I could learn to balance more than one 'plate'...

Survivor -- Family Style

2010-09-29T07:49:00.003-06:00

I got an email not long ago that suggested the reality show Survivor should take a group of dads along with their youngsters to some isolated destination for a week or two of what I would call perspective. The description of the challenges, etc. were very funny.

And it got me thinking. My life parallels the Survivor themes.

My first challenge each day is to OUTWIT these three. That's becoming increasingly difficult as each works to define themselves: their interests, their personalities, their relationship with others.
Then I have to OUTLAST these two. That became clear with potty training. They are finally potty trained (and have been for a couple months) but it was a test of endurance. We conveniently ran out of diapers one day and Mark had to wait the entire day for Sam to break and actually use the potty. Since then he's been 95% dry. Daily we face the challenges of three-year-olds attempting to learn independence but finding frustration easier to express. Finally, we have to OUTPLAY this little guy. He's walking now and has been for a couple weeks. He's everywhere and into everything and I mean that in a way I've never meant it before. He's cute as a button but he's that kid who likes to play with electricity and splash in toilets and climb and stick things in his mouth.
I rise each day ready to take on the next challenge with a smile on my face because the rewards are so vast. Watching my children grow, play, love and learn makes it all worthwhile and then some.

Confessions of a Soccer Mom

2010-09-28T06:17:00.004-06:00

Hello. My name is Heather and I am a Soccer Mom.

The voices in my head are saying: Wow. How did that happen? Who are you?

Yes, our family has moved outside of its box and into the realm of team sports. I've always passed on team sports because of the variability in schedule and the TWO commitments per week; one of which is a sacred weekend day.

But you know what? It's been a lot of fun. It helps that our team is packed with friends and the practices are in the field adjacent the park so the siblings stay entertained.

And, Catherine really likes playing. She's still nervous at game time but her skills increase each week. If only she didn't have to sweat, soccer would be the perfect sport for her.

And what did you do this weekend?

2010-09-27T07:19:00.004-06:00

Our annual wood gathering is complete! We've spent three Fridays over the last six weeks up in the mountains collecting dead and down wood to burn this winter.

The days are always fun, well for everyone but Mark. The kids generally build nests or lodges for the animals. This week they built a teepee that they convinced us to bring home. Harrison has enjoyed these outing as well. Last year he was a little young and it was a little cold besides. He loves all the new textures, sights and sounds.This year we opted to rent a log splitter rather than have Mark out on every day off splitting wood. What a brilliant idea! For only $100 and about 15 hours of our family's time we have wood for the winter and, quite possibly, beyond.We make a good team when we all work together. Madelyn did the log prep, Mark loaded, Heather operated the splitter and Catherine & Chloe stacked. Harrison jumped and Seth & Sam generally stayed out of the way. It feels great knowing that we're ready for cooler weather. Bring it Mother Nature!

Summer Highlights: Dance Recital

2010-08-15T10:37:00.005-06:00

I'm back!

I took a sabbatical this summer. Thank you to those of you who reached out to inquire how/where we were. We did quite a bit of traveling this summer. After our first trip, which was most of June, I got so bogged down in sorting through pictures that I gave up on trying to blog the vacation and all the memories. I've resigned myself to summer highlights. Enjoy!

The summer started with the girls' dance recital. They've been taking lessons since we moved back to NM in September 2008. As the studio only does recitals every other year, this was their first recital with this studio. It was Catherine and Chloe's first recital ever.
The girls were beautiful and we are so proud of the effort they put in to their performances.
The recital was based on Alice in Wonderland. Catherine and Chloe were ladybugs and Madelyn was a pawn. The boys were excited to surprise their sisters with flowers after the performance.
A memorable group shot!

An Accounting of Second Grade

2010-06-01T12:27:00.005-06:00

Madelyn finished 2nd grade last week. It doesn't seem possible. It was just yesterday that I sat in the cafeteria at Forest Creek Elementary School fighting back tears as the principal mockingly told us new-to-school parents we'd be okay. And the day before that was the day she was born. Right?

This year has been amazing for our sweet Madelyn. We finally found a school that works for us. She goes to school four days a week for four hours a day and we teach her at home for another two hours a day on average. In fact, this year we logged more than 400 hours of at-home learning. Amazing!

Madelyn continues to shine in school. She is equally eager to tackle a tough assignment (and there have been some doozies) as she is to help out a classmate. For that, we are so very proud!

I will always remember Madelyn coming home from school after the first week and telling me that her teacher wanted her to learn to type over the weekend. My inner voice was saying, "WHAT! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! DOESN'T THAT TEACHER KNOW THAT I'M 8 MONTHS PREGNANT WITH 4 OTHERS TO TEND TO?" But I showed Madelyn some online typing tutors and bought her a typing software program and, don't you know, a week later she had it down pretty well. She knew where all the keys were and was building speed.

Another time Madelyn came home and told me she needed to learn her multiplication facts over the weekend. I thought about all the 5th graders I used to teach who still didn't know their facts but we tried it anyway. Chloe quizzed Madelyn. I quizzed Madelyn. Mark quizzed Madelyn. The computer quizzed Madelyn. And she got it! She's almost a full year ahead in math and that's saying something at her school.

What I've learned more than anything this year is that learning is a process both for Madelyn and me. We have learned so much together this year. The biggest lesson we've learned is how to talk to each other when frustration sets in or when staying focused is hard and that is priceless.

Good Times-May

2010-05-31T08:01:00.006-06:00

May sped by. School projects, performances, recital rehearsals, work travel, home maintenance and gardening have topped our list of things to do this month.

Harrison started drooling with a purpose this month. He's been gnawing on everything.
Madelyn with her cat Virginia. Yes, we still have the two cats.
We've spent a lot of time in the backyard this month between gardening projects and hole digging. The kids have enjoyed the company.
My garden assistants
Chloe has my corn-planting helper.
Harrison loves being one of the big kids.
Chloe and Harrison during excavation.
Our little contortionist. He is very close to crawling.
I love this expression. It reminds me of one of the other children but which one?
The HOLE, hole, hole. Dad's a man of many talents. The problem has been reset and the hole is mostly filled in.
Harrison is getting a little big for his baby toys. He likes to hang out the sides of his bouncy seat more than he likes the toys on it these days.
Chloe loved her face painting experience and her artist did quite a magnificent job.
When there are no toys to chew on, Harrison resorts to fingers and thumbs. Yum!
Here's hoping June brings lots of summer fun!

Adventure #5: Manzano Mountains

2010-05-30T06:59:00.005-06:00

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! After canceling two camping trips in April to deal with stuff on the homefront, we made our break for the mountains this weekend. We were surrounded by acres and acres of pines, pinons and Gambel's oak. Family camping trips are the best!
The girls wasted no time setting up a family chess tournament. Chess has become 0ur newest family pastime. The girls, Madelyn and Chloe in particular, are getting quite good at thinking through each move. The boys can set up the board and know the name of each player and Harrison will suck on any piece he can get his hands on.We took several walks in the woods. We had fabulously overcast afternoons which kept the temperature comfortable.
Daddy and Sammy are walking buddies.
Group shot number 10. The first shots are always a little posed and stiff. By the end, everyone is more natural, however sillly that may be.
Brotherly love!
I Spy a lizard. Do you?
Our family shot for the weekend. We kept forgetting the pocket tripod so we had to settle for a picture in the group camping area.
"Look Mom! I've got teeth." Our little Harrison has been busy sprouting his first two pearly whites. I felt the first one on Mother's Day and the second one the Wednesday after.
Nine more days until our biggest camping adventure yet!

Family Day 2010

2010-05-24T08:42:00.003-06:00

Mark's employer is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing in our great state. In celebration of this event, the company organized a family day with all the trimmings.

There were bounce houses with slides,
and air-filled obstacle courses,
and face painting,
(really elaborate, time-consuming yet oh, so beautiful face painting)
and a tour of Daddy's cube,
and a visit with Mickey and Minnie in Intel's Tommorowland,
and gadgets to tinker with,
and more characters to be brave enough to hug,
and a whole lot of sugary treats and a whole lot of family fun!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2010-05-23T06:56:00.002-06:00

As I alluded to yesterday, we went to a baseball game Thursday night courtesy of Mark's employer. It was really nice to be included in this team-building experience as it put faces with names and allowed us to learn about each others families.

Harrison was all suited up for his first baseball game.
The kids got kind of bored after the seventh inning stretch so Madelyn and Chloe walked down to the first row just above the visitor's dugout. They leaned over too far and were given a talking to by the manager of the visiting team. As they were heading back Seth was heading down. His sisters tried to redirect him back up to our seats but he was on a mission to see what they saw so he let loose a 3-year-old tantrum. He's loud and generally inconsolable during these times. We're not even sure why he was upset but some of the local guys saw this wailing little boy being pushed reluctantly back to his seat and took pity on him. About five minutes later after the wailing had subsided but while the tears were still fresh we were signaled down to get a ball for Seth. That got a smile out it him and a groan out of Mom and Dad. This is the second time in a week that Seth has gotten rewarded by a well-intentioned stranger for a tantrum. What message our we sending our boy?
Madelyn and Chloe hanging out at the ball park.
Yum, cotton candy!
The local ball-passer-outer fellow saw during the ensuing innings that we had a second son of ball-coveting age so he waved Sam down to get his own ball too.
Ah, good times. We got to bond with Daddy's work friends, witness about 5 minutes of exciting play, eat popcorn and cotton candy, and walk away with two souvenir game balls.

Belated Flashback Friday: Ballpark

2010-05-22T07:33:00.003-06:00

We headed out to see our local minor league baseball team Thursday night. It brought back memories of our last such outing. It was April 2007. Our boy twins were about 6 weeks old. We had moved to Texas two months earlier and were eager to take in the local sites.

Seth was all eyes. He just looked at all the patterns and took in all the sounds of the baseball park.
Look at those curls! They were enhanced by the humidity to be sure. Catherine has always been great about staying close in big crowds. Set her up with a treat and she's good to go.
Mark holding Sam. Look how little he was. Sam was our only baby who actually looked like a newborn.
We don't remember who won the game but I do remember having a good time stepping out into the community to enjoy what it had to offer.

We Love Summertime!

2010-05-20T14:57:00.003-06:00

It's THAT time of year.
The time when school rules the family calendar.
The time when extracurriculars dictate the weekend schedule.
The time when I feel like I'm barely hanging on waiting for summer to start and this constant stream of demands to end.

Get ready, get set, GO!
Madelyn's class did a Stomp-esque performance on Monday. The kids alternated between chanting poems and playing homemade instruments. The kids did a great job and obviously had a lot of fun. It was nice to visit with all the families and just relax and play.
The teacher surprised the class with an impromptu completion ceremony. Each child was given an award with highest honors in something. Madelyn's was for math. The families also got 'Certificates of Survival'. More on that later.

Spring Harvest

2010-05-19T09:48:00.003-06:00

The spring winds and cool temperatures are yielding a hearty selection of peas and lettuces here in the USDA's Hardiness Zone 7. Aren't they lovely? Those tidy rows of perfectly-spaced, delectable gems. Alas, they are not in my backyard. But they have provided me with some great ideas and inspiration for my next spring garden.
While our garden is not as pleasing to the eye, it has still managed to produce some succulent spinach and tasty romaine lettuce. We enjoyed our first home-grown salad last weekend and look forward to at least a handful more. Our snap peas and broccoli are also showing promise for a few rounds of nourishment.
Our summer seeds have been sown and little sprouts are popping up daily. Now, if only I can get a handle on all the elm seeds that also have seen fit to germinate, we might have a chance at another great summer garden.

Saturday Escape

2010-05-17T14:55:00.006-06:00

We've been feeling trapped by house stuff lately. Between maintaining the yard, starting the garden and our drain woes, we haven't gotten out too much. It was so bad that we decided to head out to our local botanical gardens on Saturday.

I hate leaving the house on Saturday because that's when everyone else is out. Six small kids and crowds are not a good mix. But this weekend it was a matter of family sanity, or at least parental sanity.

We had a great time looking at all the different flowers and landscapes. We even took a few notes for our own evolving yard.
The irises were just beautiful.
Dad and two-thirds of the kiddos in the Japanese garden. Seth was asleep and Harrison was dangling joyfully from the front of me.
Such a beautiful setting. We haven't been to the gardens in over a year. It amazed us at how much the landscape has filled in since our last visit.
Sam had a great time climbing rocks along with his sisters.
Our gang...my current favorite family photo.
Catherine & Chloe took over the stroller so Sam had to hitch a ride on Dad's shoulders.
Can you see the bullfrog? We heard him before we saw him.
Last stop...the train. Unfortunately, it was on its last lap for the day. We'd love to add a train like this to our backyard but we decided that would be a better project for a pair of retirees and a flock of grandkids!
The only downside to our outing were the mosquitoes. The kids look like they have chicken pox on their legs now.

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-10T07:59:00.002-06:00

What a lucky mommy I am! I spent a quiet weekend at home gardening, reading, and enjoying my six little wonders. Thank you for all the treasures kiddos and thank you for all the support and showering of gifts Mark. I love you all so much!

A real drain

2010-05-04T16:51:00.003-06:00

We were supposed to go camping last weekend.

Instead we decided to stay home and tackle a problem we've had for a while now. As I alluded to in my last post, we have a slow drain. It doesn't bother us most of the time. In fact, now that we have a high efficiency washer it bothers us less. But once every two weeks our water conditioner cycles and the flood that ensues in our utility/craft/cat room reminds us that indeed we have a problem.

Mark has been managing the situation by bailing water every two weeks. He sets the kitchen timer and every four to seven minutes checks the back-up level and just as the water is about to cascade over the edge of the utility sink the bailing begins.

We hired our friends at Roto Rooter to take a look at our system. That was painful, by the way. Two do-it-yourselfers hiring someone to fix a problem seems like a sell-out. Anyway, our Roto Rooter friend showed up Thursday morning and after listening to our tale of woe assured us he sees this all the time. So he snakes the line. The first time he pulls up a little hair and a few tree roots. The next time nothing. And the third time, nothing. He informs us this isn't good.

He calls in a troubleshooter who spends an hour more trying to determine why nothing is coming out. So for $150 we learned that indeed we do have a problem. The fellows speculated it was either a really big root or a collapsed pipe.

Mark decides that if we had better access to the drain line we might find something. So I agree to let him take up two tiles.
And cut a hole in the wall.
No obvious cause was revealed so our troubleshooter came back with his handy snake cam. He informed us we have back-to-back 90 degree turns in our plumbing. And our line does not connect to the septic tank like we thought. Rather it drains, or doesn't as the case may be, into what he guesses is a french drain in the backyard. He was even so kind as to locate said drain and approximate its depth at four to five feet underground.

Mark spent Saturday digging a hole in the backyard. He found part of the drain box but the weather turned sour and he was forced to stop his dig.

So now I have two missing tiles, a six foot hole in the wall of my cozy entry/library, a four foot hole in the backyard, a slow drain and an absent husband. He learned late Saturday that he'd be spending his work week in Arizona.
The silver lining...we've always planned to put a bathroom in using the existing plumbing in the laundry room. Thank goodness we had the drain looked into before we tackled that project. Yuck!

Next time we have a choice between home repair and camping, I think we'll go camping.

Good Times - April

2010-05-01T08:27:00.004-06:00

April was the month of projects at Madelyn's school. She did a science presentation on weather and an inquiry into whether baking powder makes food taste better or worse. This picture is of her presenting her inquiry findings at the inquiry fair.
Silly brothers playing in their toy box.
It's only taken six months but I think Seth has finally warmed up to Harrison. Aren't they sweet?
Sleeping brothers. Daytime naps don't happen very often anymore so they must be documented.
Harrison is 6 months old. He sits up on his own. He is adorable as always and showing more personality each day.
I got a little carried away taking pictures this day but I love this one.
And this one too!
Seth spent a whole morning studying this GeoTrax brochure. Like father, like son!
Here's a sneak peek of the girls' recital costumes. There are more accessories not pictured. Can you guess what they are?
We had snow yesterday. The crazy weather we've had this spring makes it hard to know when to plant our vegetable garden.

Flashback Friday: What were we thinking?

2010-04-30T15:23:00.003-06:00

Just about five years ago, we bought the house we currently live in. It was big, it sat on an acre, it had a great view AND it needed a lot of work. We had a plan, a vision, of what the house could become. We had no expertise or experience in construction. But we were determined to make this outdated house our home.
We have worked hard over the years on our house. We have redone all the bathrooms and bedrooms. We have painted every last inch of wall, changed out the majority of the doors and windows, and, most recently, landscaped the backyard. Mark has revealed a talent for tiling and baseboard installation and I have developed a love for finishing wood and coming up with crazy ideas for how to use what we have to make what we want.
All of this work has not come without headaches. We are experiencing one now with one of the drains. Even now, after five years, we shake our heads and ask ourselves why we made this purchase. The 'wish list' and 'monthly maintenance list' compete for our time and money. But it is our home. It has character and charm. It holds many family memories. It has an amazing view. And I love it...most of the time!

Zoo Date

2010-04-28T08:00:00.003-06:00

I headed to the zoo with my little monkeys yesterday after we picked Madelyn up from school. I asked each of them which special animal they wanted to see on this visit. Seth wanted to see monkeys, Chloe wanted to see the giraffes, Catherine wanted to see the warthogs, Madelyn and Sam wanted to see the cat walk. After some necessary documentation of our little traveling exhibit, off we went.
Along the way we marveled at some firsts. We saw the hippo momma and baby emerge from the water. Generally, they are underwater or only have their eyes out.
This ostrich came right up to us. He was talking away. Madelyn was convinced he was trying to give us a message. Can you tell they watched Happy Feet on the trip home from Phoenix?
Snack time!
Harrison couldn't decide if he liked the grass or being able to sit with the family better.
Finally, we saw a peacock strut his stuff. This is the first time the kids remember seeing such a sight. They thought it was pretty cool.
We succeeded in seeing everyone's favorite animal du jour along with witnessing some animal behaviors for the first time. We even squeezed in 20 minutes at the playset. When we have successful outings like this one, I'm never sure whether I leave happier or the kids.

Let's go fly a kite...

2010-04-25T08:16:00.003-06:00

We had planned a weekend of gardening and other yard work. Mark got his part done Friday. I decided to stop in the planning phase because the temperatures weren't all that warm and it was windy. We decided instead to fly kites. The kids each received one as a stocking stuffer at Christmas. After some initial trials of patience, we got everyone off the ground.

The boys got to try kite flying for the first time. We didn't read the package for their kites very well. We just saw it was a two pack and on clearance. In fact, one kite was a reasonable 26" across but the other was only 4" across. The tiny one spun better than it flew.
Chloe was very good at following Daddy's kite-flying guidance. She stood very still and held on tight.Our high flying gang.

Flashback Friday: Texas-sized fun

2010-04-23T20:31:00.003-06:00

Our dip in Phoenix last weekend led to some reminiscing about our neighborhood pool in Texas. It was definitely a highlight of our time there. We used to go every Saturday, first thing. We'd also try to go one evening after Mark got home from work. The girls loved it and the boys dutifully slept through it (they were only a few months old) so I could play lifeguard and Mark could just plain play.

Thinking about food

2010-04-22T11:11:00.004-06:00

I've been thinking A LOT about food lately.

No, I'm not pregnant.

I've been thinking about where our food comes from. I've been thinking about what is in our food. I've been thinking about what our family of eight can do to eat more naturally, more locally, more healthily while still saving money for our energy star kitchen remodel.

In honor of Earth Day, I would like to publicly declare my intentions and course of action. Our family pledges to:
1. Start composting
2. Grow and eat as much food as possible from our garden
3. Map where our food comes from for at least one month
4. Call at least one local company and inquire what the distribution route is (For example, there is a General Mills plant not too far from here. Does the cereal they make go directly to the grocery stores here or does it get shipped to a distribution plant in Texas only to get shipped back here by Walmart?)

Let's make every day Earth Day!

Weekend Road Warriors

2010-04-21T08:29:00.007-06:00

Last week I was checking out the family calendar for the week's commitments. Mark had to be in Phoenix again for work Saturday night. Madelyn had Monday off from school. That either left me with two wide open days to spend with the kids by myself or the opportunity to take a road trip.

We opted for the road trip. The boys have especially been missing Mark during his travel the last few weeks. They want to talk to him whenever I do. They want to save him dinner every night. They want to know when he'll be home to do baths.

Mark still had to work Sunday so I took the kids to the Arizona Science Center. We had a great time participating in all the different experiments and facets of science.

Catherine calculated how many square feet of skin she has.
Madelyn wouldn't leave this area until she plumbed the bathroom to the hot and cold water sources. I guess all that remodeling when she was a toddler did leave a lasting impression.
Sam and Harrison in the stroller. Harrison's not quite big enough to ride here regularly but it was a fun break for both boys.
Seth kept himself busy racing cars and gathering things in his wagon in the play area.
Chloe tries out the bed of nails.
Madelyn demonstrates how the pulley works.
We found this great 'Build-It' area. They had huge soft blocks that even Harrison could play with.
Seth found construction equipment to play with.
After an exhausting day of discovery both at the Science Center and Daddy's work, we took the kids for a late dip in the pool. It was about 6:30 p.m. when this picture was taken and still about 80 degrees. The high had been 91 degrees.
On Monday I headed home with the six kids. Mark had to stay behind to finish out his work week. The drive out of Phoenix was beautiful. The wildflowers were in bloom and the hills glowed with yellows and oranges.
We had a great time in the temporary 'land of Daddy'. I'm proud of Mark and I for rising to the challenge of a spontaneous road trip. We enjoyed the scenery, the weather and the challenge of discreetly taking six children to a hotel breakfast. We also learned that buying our kids their own sodas is our best bribery tool to date.

Flashback Friday: Madelyn's First Recital

2010-04-16T07:33:00.002-06:00

The three girls have been working hard to prepare for this year's dance recital. They have classes once a week and now recital rehearsals on weekends. While I often grumble about the time drain, I am proud of their hard work. I know they'll do their best and look adorable doing it!

Despite taking lessons for most of the last four years, Madelyn has performed in only one recital. She was almost 4 and such a ham.

Gardening - Round 2

2010-04-15T12:03:00.003-06:00

Well, it officially feels like spring. The temperature has been in the 70s for a couple weeks now. The daffodils have come and faded. The tulips have tried to smile at us only to become food for the bunny families we share our land with. This is the lone survivor.
Our wisteria bush is in bloom. We've tried to kill this thing at least three times since buying the house five years ago. This year, while inspecting and photographing it, I can't remember why we found it so offensive. I think we'll enjoy it as long as it will tolerate our neglect.
And the backyard is greening up which is a relief as this is its first spring. We even planted a spring garden complete with lettuce, spinach, broccoli and snap peas.
Now if only we could find a way to make spring cleanup and weeding more palatable.

Mmmm...rice dust

2010-04-11T07:49:00.003-06:00

We introduced Harrison to his high chair yesterday. He was all smiles. We were too as this move means that he will no longer be able to clear the table while stretching out of his Bumbo.
Then it came time for his daily ration of iron-fortified rice dust. He was a bit unsure to start.
But he was the star of the show so it couldn't be all bad, right?
I love looking at everyone else's mouths. They're all so encouraging.
A couple bites later we hit the gagging phase.
Then the look of betrayal and the plea for someone to rescue him.
That ended yesterday's session. Harrison immediately wanted to nurse. Not sure if it was to reassure himself that it was still an option or to wash down the cardboard taste in his mouth.

More fun with food scheduled for later today.

Spring stock-up

2010-04-10T07:44:00.003-06:00

We made our annual spring pilgrimage to buy sandals on Friday. We shake our heads and snicker in disbelief and wonder every time we SEE the impact of raising six children.

Flashback Friday: First Bites

2010-04-09T07:48:00.003-06:00

Our little Harrison will be six months old on Monday. That's about the time we introduce solid foods in our house. I thought for today's 'flashback', we'd look back at those precious first bites of rice cereal.

I don't think this was Madelyn's first bite. Of course, this child learned at a very young age to smile at any and all cameras so maybe it was. I remember my response to her first meal better than her first bite. I remember being so worried that she was going to stop nursing all together in favor of eating food. I was so nervous and anxious as a new mommy as I anticipated and participated in Madelyn's many firsts. I loved every second of it though!
Catherine was next to take a first bite. This was and is a typical 'What are you doing?' look from her.
Chloe's first bite.
Sam's first bite.
Seth's turn. He changed his mind after a few bites. He was unstoppable. I remember visiting my parents a few weeks after the boys started on solids. They asked me when I knew he was done. I told them, 'when the food is gone'. And to think that now he only eats bread and an occasional fruit.
The cheering section for the first feeding. It gets larger and bossier with each round. Madelyn, Catherine and Chloe are already working on a feeding rotation for Harrison. My response sounded a lot like them: "I WANT A TURN!"

What's for Dinner?

2010-04-05T10:40:00.004-06:00

Madelyn loves raviolis. She gets them whenever we go to a restaurant that has them on the kid's menu (which is not very often). She'll eat them frozen or from a can. She'll take them any way she can get them.

So, when she got the recipe for homemade raviolis from Grandma Jo she was pretty excited to get in the kitchen and get to work. I, on the other hand, asked for time because I could tell from the recipe that making raviolis from scratch without a pasta machine was going to be rather time consuming. Madelyn had resigned herself to asking me regularly, like daily, when we were going to make them. I'd supply her with some time constraint....ok, excuse...for why not today.

With Dad out of town, the calendar was clear for Easter dinner. No pressure to make a ham. We got to work at 4 p.m. yesterday. We made the filling and put it in the fridge. We made the sauce and set it to simmer. Then we got super messy making the dough, rolling the strips and stuffing the raviolis. At 6:30 p.m. the last of the raviolis came out of the pot.
Madelyn loved them.

I loved seeing my girls work as a team to get this job done. Catherine entertained the twin boys while Chloe worked at keeping Harrison happy so that Madelyn and I could tackle dinner. I'm so proud of my growing girls!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T07:38:00.003-06:00

The Easter Bunny came hopping up our trail early this year. Mark had to fly out last night for a business trip. Training never ceases for his company, even on Easter.

So, I have a confession to make. I have NEVER done Easter baskets for my kids or anyone else's for that matter. I thought about it when Madelyn was small but it seemed like too much candy. It's about this time of year that I hit candy burnout as it's been invading my home at a fairly steady pace since Halloween. I also feel like the whole man-size bunny delivering eggs image kinds of dilutes the real reason Christians celebrate Easter, even more so than Santa does at Christmas.

But last year we went to an Easter egg hunt with our D-L cousins and, well, my kids had fun. Aunt Heather put together baskets for them and they delighted in them. And who am I but an advocate for my children's happiness and well-balanced life. So, I've chalked Easter up as just something we Americans do, a cultural tradion of sorts.

Ta-dah! My first attempt at Easter baskets!
The kids were pretty excited.
We dyed Easter eggs. I bought an ambitious kit complete with glitter, sand and sequins. We stuck with the stickers. The rest will have to wait a year. My Easter spirit was waning a little at this point.
Then we did an Easter egg hunt. It is so nice having such a big backyard to do a hunt in. It was also nice to be able to take our time and not worry about pushy parents encouraging their kids to trample mine in order to pick up a ten cent egg filled with penny candy. Sorry, bad memories of competitive Easter egg hunts from our Texas days.

Harrison thought all the festivities were pretty great! He especially liked watching his sisters and brothers find Easter eggs in the yard.
Happy Easter to you and yours!

Flashback Friday: First Easters

2010-04-02T07:58:00.002-06:00

2003 -- Madelyn's first Easter (9 months)
2005 -- Catherine & Chloe's first Easter (6 months)
2007 -- Seth & Sam's first Easter (one month)
We moved into our Texas house Easter weekend. We were more into survival than family pictures that year.

Good Times - March

2010-03-31T08:18:00.004-06:00

Catherine & Chloe try out a ride simulator at Chuck E. Cheese during their brothers' birthday celebration. Chloe is warming up to rides.
Harrison in his normal outings pose.
Cousins came for a visit before Spring Break. We went to the children's science museum with them.
Being silly in the room of mirrors.
Taking a break in the elevator before heading for more fun.
My brave sister-in-law rode the suspended bike.
Seth blows bubbles. He was so cute doing this.
Cousin Gabriel makes a perfect bubble.
The H-L and D-L cousins. What a group! They play so well together and click instantly. Thanks for the visit guys!
Chloe the road warrior
Papa stopped through last week for an overnight.
Brothers are SO happy with their Geotrax trains! Their sisters are pretty happy too!

Milestones

2010-03-30T08:09:00.002-06:00

Harrison is on a roll...literally.

Our little guy has metamorphosed from a happy-go-lucky observer of life into a curious little roly-poly with a love for his toes and his sisters' hair.
Yes, at the ripe age of 5 months Harrison is trying new things, like the swing in the backyard, and loving it. I can't believe I'm actually encouraging this but who can resist that smile of triumph a child gives you when they've accomplished something new.
Harrison is also in the early stages of sitting up. He often can't decide if his toes need further exploration or if his back needs additional strength training. Either way, he has done some amazing things all in the span of a week give or take a day or two. What will next week bring?

Adventure #4: Last Day at the Beach

2010-03-29T07:41:00.003-06:00

We spent one last day on the beach before packing up and heading home. Mark took the boys out for their morning pep talk and ocean etiquette instructions. Sam bails out before the cold waves nibble his toes.
Seth loves the waves but gets knocked down easily. After one such wipeout he came crying out of the surf. I asked if he was hurt. He said, "No! Water yucky!"
Chloe shows off the wet sand she was using to make a sand castle.
Harrison happy to be outside with his family.
The long road home. We took the scenic route north of Joshua Tree National Park. It was a lovely but slow drive home.
We've now spent 19 nights in our trailer, about a third of what we have planned for the year. We are loving our new found ability to escape whether for two nights or nine.

Adventure #4: The San Diego Zoo

2010-03-27T08:42:00.005-06:00

We spent a very warm Day 7 at the San Diego Zoo. You know it's world famous, right? It's so famous that just by going you become famous too. We got our picture taken or at least offers to do so around every corner.

We started the day with a 40-minute bus tour of the zoo. It really is a lovely zoo with a sound commitment to the environment. We had a great bus driver who gave us a peek at the majority of the zoo's animals. She spoiled us really. We had to do some serious cost-benefit analysis later in the day when deciding which hills were worth pushing two strollers up in order to see the animals up close and personal.

This picture of the giraffes was taken from the bus. Would you have walked back to see them again? Us either!
We went to the sea lion show. It was fun although Madelyn was bummed she wasn't picked to be the kid who got to feed the sea lion squid and get a kiss from him.
This was my favorite exhibit. Children in nature, but be careful because they're prone to ask for drinks, food, and demand rides even when all four stroller seats are taken.
A highlight of our zoo visit was seeing the panda bears. Well, sort of. This poor girl was in heat. I'm thankful our kids were too tired to ask what that meant or consider the panda's pacing behavior unusual.
Madelyn took over the camera for the cat walk. Most of the cats were sleeping but she got this good shot of a duck.
Our second zoo 'moment' came at the koala exhibit. A handler brought this guy out and placed him on the tree right in front of our eyes. He was so cute and fuzzy, you just wanted to squeeze him. I settled for giving Harrison an extra squeeze instead. He's not as fuzzy but his nails are much less threatening.
Seth was fixated with a kelp snake for several days of this trip so we decided to take him to see some real snakes. I hope to never see Seth carrying one of these around.
The first five visited the petting zoo with Mark while I tended to Harrison. Chloe made friends with a goat.
Next was the aerial tram. It was refreshing and fun because any vehicle suspended above the ground is exhilarating. We had to take two trams because there is a 4 per car limit. We're finding that more and more often we are filling things like cars and tables to capacity.
Our last stop was souvenir shopping with the six kids. Yes, we're scheduled to have our mental health checked. Going into the experience we rationalized it by telling ourselves that it's good for children to have choices and to meet budgetary expectations. It really wasn't that bad other than our children's painful inability to make a decision about spending money, which Mark would say they inherited from me.

All in all, it was a good day. We learned a lot about why the San Diego Zoo is world famous. The enclosures do seem more authentic than we've seen at other zoos and it is pretty cool that they grow food for the animals on the grounds. But the animals didn't look any happier and I was definitely not happier having to walk so far to see them, pushing a double stroller uphill, both ways. And it did seem a little too commercial. I did mention they're world famous, didn't I?

Flashback Friday: Seth & Sam turn 3!

2010-03-26T08:43:00.003-06:00

March definitely came in 'like a lion' for us. We've been moving along at a frenzied clip of late between travel, family visits, school projects, and illness. In the midst of it all, our twin boys turned 3.

I looked back at what I wrote last year on their birthday and, well, it still applies. The boys have added words to their actions. Seth is still my snuggler, my tender hearted little sloth. He is curious, sometimes clever, and is developing a tremendous sense of humor with an infectious laugh to boot. Having a little brother was not on his list of things to do this year but hey, at least Harrison makes a good pillow. I love when Seth tries to make Harrison smile and calls him 'tooty' (cutey). Sethy makes me prove my love to him each day through helping him with clothes, shoes and food. "Mommy dude it!" is said with great frequency. I love my little guy. It has been such a joy watching him grow into a little boy this year.
Sam is still my most motivated helper. He likes to be in the middle of all family activities. Sam is thoughtful and sweet and well tolerated by his sisters. In contrast to Seth, a little brother is just what Sam ordered. He has lovingly doted over Harrison since the day he came home from the hospital. He's a little rough at times but Harrison loves when his big brother is around. Sam is eager to start reading like his sisters. Preschool Mommy-style can't start soon enough for Sam. Sammy Q, I love you!
We had a great time celebrating the boys' birthday. Seth and Sam have been talking about Chuck E. Cheese's since their sisters' birthday back in October. We went for a morning of fun in honor of them. Then, on their actual birthday, we did presents and cupcakes.

Boys, I love watching you grow and develop your own interests and personalities. You challenge me with your boy-ness at times, especially in the car, but I can't imagine my life without your sweet hugs and exuberance. Happy Birthday!

Adventure #4: San Elijo State Beach

2010-03-25T07:33:00.006-06:00

On Day 5 we headed down the California coast toward San Diego. We decided that rather than do two animal days (SD Zoo & Wild Animal Park) as planned, we'd do two beach days with our animals. The weather had warmed up some and the beach was wider so the kids had more room to play and after Saturday's lessons, they felt more confident in their ocean survival skills.

Sam was much happier digging in the sand and cleaning his sister's seashells, and his hands, and his feet, than venturing into the waves. Remind me to keep an eye on the compulsive cleanliness of this one.
Daddy and Chloe take the first dip of the day. I love this picture of Catherine.
When I was 7, if a kelp wrapped itself around my leg like this, I would not have been happy. I'm glad Madelyn is not as prissy as me. She actually enjoyed this kelp attack and stripped its leaves to make a 'snake' for Seth.
Madelyn just couldn't get enough of the beach. She jumped waves, scouted out the best shells, and dug sand pits which she and her sisters transformed into mini-oceans.
Catherine was very sweet with Seth this day. They were wave runners together.Go, Seth, Go!
Harrison got his toes wet too. The first day we did this the cold shocked him and he wasn't too happy. On this day he seemed to enjoy the sand in his toes and watching the waves creep ever closer.
Another great day of beach fun!

Adventure #4: Disneyland

2010-03-24T09:18:00.005-06:00

We headed to Disneyland on Day 4 of Spring Break. Mark and Madelyn participated in Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program. They packaged 2,000 lbs. of cauliflower for the local food bank. We were super proud of Madelyn's effort. Her ticket (and Mark's too) was well-earned.

Silly boys playing in hats.
We hopped in the "Monkey" car on the Casey Jr. train ride.
The merry-go-round is a family favorite. Madelyn always wants to ride an outside horse.
Catherine and Chloe were pleased to find horses next to each other.
Daddy really gets the girls spinning on the tea cups.
We all loved the boat ride through Storybook Village. The boys were too anxious about going into the whale's mouth to smile for the picture.
Daddy gave the kids turns riding on his shoulders. Seth is always somewhat sloth-like when on Daddy's shoulders.
The girls waiting to ride the roller coaster in Toontown.
Waiting for the parade. We got front row seats for the 6:30 p.m. parade. Madelyn got to dance with Woody and all the kids took off in the congo line.
We had a great day at Disneyland! It was enough to want to go back some day but not too much that we had to deal with tantrums. Ahh, balance and harmony!

Adventure #4: Doheny State Beach

2010-03-23T08:02:00.005-06:00

We woke up refreshed and renewed on Day 3. Mark set out in the wee hours of the morning to re-buy the battery we returned the day before. Once it was hooked up, we were all systems go! Vacation had finally begun.

Our first stop was the beach. We were camped three spots away from the beach. The kids grabbed their buckets and shovels, which we scored the day before in the Michael's $1 bins. Seth and Sam were initially not sure what to make of all this water. The girls took off as you can see in the background.
Running from waves is so much fun...
...until one catches you or you trip on your water socks that were bought to grow into and fall face first into the sand and surf.
Or you finally muster up the courage to venture into the biggest pool ever and somehow come out soaking wet. Yes, three of our brood ended up drenched in the first 10 minutes of beach play. We talked about what we learned about the ocean as a family and Mark and I noted that no matter how lukewarm it was swimsuits are a better option for beach time.
We headed out for an afternoon walk since the cloud cover stole our warmth. The girls loved having their scooters along this trip.
Some scenery shots. I love the tall palms.
It felt so lush compared to our desert digs
Our scooter posse and sidekick
Always happy to go for a ride

Adventure #4: Rocky Beginning

2010-03-22T08:01:00.003-06:00

We planned to leave for Spring Break on March 11 at noon. It didn't happen. Between running last minute errands, a couple loads of essential laundry and my insistence on clearing out the fridge for lunch, we left somewhere closer to 2 p.m. I was also dragging my feet because I had pre-ordered our Disney souvenirs hoping to save money and time. They were out for delivery according to UPS but that usually means a 5 p.m. stop. It seemed futile but Mark insisted we take a last minute loop around our small village hunting for that big brown truck. We found her at the gas station and our super sweet driver made the delivery without question and a smile on her face. All seemed right with the world and we headed our rig west. California or bust!

So, we drove and drove and drove some more. Our top speed while towing is about 65 mph. Mind you, the speed limit in these parts is 75 mph. We've gotten used to the suck-and-blow of the semis passing by. We stopped for Happy Meal dinners and an ice cream sundae for dessert. Then we were faced with where to spend the night. We opted to preheat the trailer and head into California to the first rest area. We made it, unloaded the kids and slept.

The next morning we pushed the button to pull our slider in the four inches it was out and nothing. The trailer's battery was dead. No worries, we thought. The van will charge it while we're driving. We'll go down the road a few miles and pull it in. That didn't work. We were then faced with driving 50 miles to Ludlow in search of an electrical outlet with our slider out ever so slightly or calling the manufacturer for assistance, towing, etc. We decided to take the risk and drive. We were lucky to find an outlet at a gas station turned automotive fix-it place in Ludlow. We plugged in, slid in and were again headed west.

We opted to stop in Barstow for breakfast and to see about getting the trailer looked at. We were sure there was some problem with the power converter. It's under warranty so why not, right? We pulled in to Affordable RV somewhere south of Barstow and were told almost immediately by our super helpful diagnostician that the problem was the van not the trailer. He added a fuse here and replaced another one there all to no avail. And of course because the problem was with the van and not the trailer we owed them money. I just love unexpected vacation expenses.

No worries though. We were headed to our state beach campground that had electric so we could deal with whatever electrical issue we had when we got home. Not the case! We made these reservations before we even bought the trailer and failed to write down that the sites we reserved did NOT have hook-ups. We spent the remainder of the second day of vacation scrambling around trying to find power. We bought a battery, then a generator, then returned the battery, then learned the generator didn't work, then went to bed with no power. We felt frustrated but knew the next day would bring fresh perspective.

In addition to our power woes, Seth was battling a mean cold. Poor guy had watery eyes the entire day. Fortunately, he slept a bunch in the car. Stay tuned, our vacation got much better on Day 3!

A lesson in love

2010-03-21T14:05:00.002-06:00

Twelve years ago Mark and I stood before our God, our families and our friends and became husband and wife. We were young and so full of hopes and dreams.

Together, we've faced overwhelming joy and heartrending disappointments. We've shared smiles and tears. We've been praised and humbled. We've been blessed beyond measure and challenged more than we knew possible. We've made choices, both good and bad. We've learned a lot!

Marriage is a verb. It requires action daily. It is a complex web of cause and effect.

Mark, thank you for sharing your life with me. Thank you for loving me on my good days and bad. Thank you for making our marriage a priority. I love you!

Buyer Beware: Not a Family Game

2010-03-06T14:52:00.003-07:00

I bought Mark Super Mario Brothers for our Wii this Christmas. It has introduced new vocabulary and tons of new emotions into our once happy home.

Our policy has been to only buy Wii games that are either educational or encourage physical activity or can be played as a family. For this reason and because we like to exercise self-control in our gaming time, we only own nine games after two and a half years of ownership.

I bought Super Mario Brothers thinking it would bring back fond memories of our early years together when Mark and I would duel on our Game Boys. I bought it because I thought it would be a family bonding experience like Super Mario Galaxy. Mark would play and we would coach and cheer him on. I bought it with good intentions.

Unfortunately, this game is incredibly addictive and frustrating in its repetition and rewards. Mastery takes time, especially if you play with more than one player and even more so if those other players are five and under. Through playing our children have discovered a virtual way to jostle and shove each other. They tumble off cliffs and float in bubbles.

I don't play with them. I don't want to be part of that therapy session destined for some distant date. Rather, I watch and cheer and coach when I just can't help myself. Each of the other members of the family has their own gaming personality. Mark is the leader. He is intense and competitive. He gets frustrated easily with himself and others. Tears are shed on account of him as often as high-fives are exchanged. Madelyn models herself after Dad. She is our most capable player of the kids and always starts off encouraging and sweet. Of course, that deteriorates as game play continues and frustration sets in. Catherine bounds around the living room like a kangaroo attempting to simulate the movement on the game. She shakes her hands even when she's not playing. She is bold and reckless in her play. Chloe doesn't like being on the front line of game play so she serves as the 'life saver'. She stays just behind everyone else and waits for them to need her to either save them or finish up. Sam holds his buttons and is a good teammate to Mark. I'm not sure how that works considering Sam only knows how to bubble but it works and for that I am grateful. My only concern is the addition of "me dead!" to his vocabulary when referring to his Wii character. Seth will either watch engrossed or play nearby with other toys. He will occasionally ask to play but is easily redirected.

To date, we've survived the first eight worlds, defeated the BIG Bowser and rescued the princess. Of course, that wasn't enough. Now they have to redo the entire thing collecting all of the star coins. I'll go set the timer!

Flashback Friday: One, two, FREE

2010-03-05T06:54:00.003-07:00

In three days our twin boys will be 3 years old. I thought this week I'd take a look back at when each of our girls turned three. It is a bittersweet age for us. It is when parenting really starts, when routine and consequences must be firmly in place, when daycare sounds appealing. Just kidding about that last part, but the months leading up to three and just after have historically been tough as our children fight for independence and control over something in this great big world.

Madelyn turned three a month after we moved to our current home. We were on a 'country living' kick. She loved playing in the mud and chasing rabbits around the yard in her underpants.
When Catherine and Chloe turned three we were living in Texas. After watching Wiggles way too many times (I was trying to get my act together after having a second set of twins), the girls begged us to take them to the beach. So, for their birthday we headed to South Padre Island. We had a blast! Check out Catherine's curls.
Chloe loved digging in the sand.Here's to three! We can't wait to see what adventures await our nearly three-year-old boys. Actually, we'd like to wait but times marches on nonetheless.

Good Times-February

2010-02-28T07:20:00.005-07:00

Our little Harrison is a drooly boy. Cute though, huh?
We did a Valentine's Day craft at Michael's this month. The girls enjoyed cutting and glueing cards together for the family.
Ta-Dah! Pop-up Valentine's Day cards!
Our first five kid pillow fight. It was fun for about five minutes...then there were tears.
Harrison bear-ly fit into his 3-6 month clothes. I finally moved him up a few days after this picture.
With all the storms passing through, we've had some dramatic skies to look at.
So happy!
Madelyn is such a great big sister. Harrison was super fussy one afternoon when I had too much on my plate. She stepped right up and patiently talked to, rocked and patted him to sleep.
Madelyn likes to surf Yahoo!Kids these days. She found a recipe for chocolate-covered strawberries to make for Valentine's Day. They were surprisingly simple and super good!
We did a mini-makeover of Catherine & Chloe's room last weekend. We bunked their beds and got them a six drawer dresser. They love the new layout because it gives them more floor space to leave their stuff sprawled over.
One worn-out Wii-er
Our almost three-year-olds. I think this is the most alike they've ever looked.
Fun with Daddy. It's a good thing Mark has a long torso. He needs it to pile all the kids on.
Harrison tries on the goggles from our Lowe's Learn & Grow experience.

More than meets the eye

2010-02-27T11:32:00.003-07:00

We headed out to Lowe's this morning to build Lowebots! Mark had Transformers as a child and still has them stored in mint condition in their original boxes. Our kids have handled them once or twice but are still a little too young to appreciate completely their antiquity and value. So we thought building our own Transformers, Lowe's style, would be pretty cool. Indeed, it was!

Seth had fun making towers out of the pieces until Daddy could help him.
Sam always likes to be involved. He was quite the carpenter's assistant.
I got to help Chloe and Catherine.
Madelyn did most of the work by herself. We were all proud of our success in building Lowebots!

Flashback Friday: Rites of passage

2010-02-26T13:38:00.002-07:00

As we drug out the exersaucer this week for Harrison, I was reminded of just how much fun this one toy has provided every one of our children. I can remember Madelyn staring at the butterfly during her early days in it and Chloe jumping herself silly in it. For Seth and Sam, the exersaucer gave me some much needed downtime during our summer in Texas.

Here's Seth at about Harrison's age enjoying the exersaucer:
I just couldn't resist tacking this photo on too. Here are our five under five!

If you can read this, thank a teacher

2010-02-24T07:59:00.002-07:00

Or your mom (if she's your teacher)!

Chloe has discovered the power of the pen. She is reading fluently enough to take charge of her pen/pencil and write.

Ahh, the power! Ahh, the freedom for mommy who no longer needs to spell every word for her!

P.S. In case you don't read 'beginning writer', the sign says "Nobody allowed our room; no cat allowed our room".

Four months of joy

2010-02-23T07:47:00.002-07:00

Our smallest member is four months old already. Sniff, smile! He had his well-visit last week and he is doing great. He weighed in at more than 17 lbs. and measured 26.5 inches long. Human growth and development really is amazing, isn't it?

Harrison is probably our most vocal baby. He realizes already that the only way to get attention around here is to demand it which he does by either squealing loudly, laughing heartily or crying like he's being pinched. He rolls from his tummy to his back and is ever so close to doing the reverse. He is more aware of his toys and grabs at everything from noses to plates to rattles. Daddy calls him 'pincher'.

It is such a joy to watch our children grow day by day. I love how the older ones interact with their baby brother. They do their best to make him happy and he, in turn, rewards them with smiles and giggles that warm all of our hearts. It doesn't get better than that!

Land of the Free

2010-02-22T11:44:00.002-07:00

We got our taxes done this weekend. Yeah!

We learned that at Mark's current salary, with our current number of children and other deductions, we don't owe any taxes. That Child Tax Credit zeroed us out. Thanks George W.!

Did I just write that? I must have a fever.

As a Democrat, I feel kind of bad that we don't owe the government anything to live in this great nation. But as a homemaker lusting after a new kitchen, I'll gladly bank our refund.

Flashback Friday: Valentine's Day 2004

2010-02-19T07:35:00.002-07:00

Madelyn was 20 months in this picture. It marks the end of my sewing career. When we only had Madelyn I sewed mother/daughter Thanksgiving and Christmas outfits. Then I thought it would be fun to make Madelyn a simple outfit for each holiday. I made it as far as Valentine's Day and then stopped because I learned we were expecting twins. My free time was then devoted to sleeping.

Day 3: Valentine's Day on the Catwalk

2010-02-18T08:23:00.005-07:00

We headed north into the Gila National Forest on Sunday to walk the Catwalk. After a picnic lunch we were ready to hit the trail.
Our motley-colored crew. Seth turns into quite the clown with his crazy hat on.
The first half-mile of the trail traverses a canyon. The walkway is suspended over the river below.

Everyone was eager to see what was around the next corner.
Just as water formed the canyon, it continues to shape the rocks.
We made it to the suspension bridge. The end of the trail is near!

We made it! 1.1 miles in; now to hike out!
Harrison got to face out for the trip back as it had warmed up some.
Chloe and Sam formed a support team for the walk out. Both were very tired.
2.2 miles...a family record! We were so proud of the kids as it was not only the farthest we've ever walked but also had the roughest terrain and most elevation change.
Back at camp, the girls settled down to color. They told us that they like the trailer better than the house.
Harrison was all smiles, as usual.

Day 2: There's no place like home

2010-02-17T07:59:00.006-07:00

On Saturday, we stayed at camp which happened to be filled with big boulders to climb and hike around. We got a little shutter happy, so bear with me.

Mark helped us all up and down the boulders.
Our band of rock climbers
My new favorite family photo
The kids were done with squinting into the sun for pictures after this one.
We dubbed this Sam's room. I love this picture of the first five!
My husband loves to climb rocks! He was the envy of all as he scaled the largest boulders in the park with ease.He took the girls on one such scaling mission. It doesn't look bad from here.
But check out the heights they were climbing to. I did my best not to give in to my motherly urges to faint and/or throw up seeing my young girls climbing to such heights.
This one is called Elephant Rock. Can you see why?
Five kids in a bowl.
Harrison enjoyed our hike. Our littlest member is pretty happy so long as he has something to chew on and something/someone to look at. I used his bib as an impromptu hat.
We ended the day with a campfire and s'mores. Fortunately, they were much better received this time.

Adventure #3: Daytrips near Deming, NM

2010-02-16T11:28:00.004-07:00

Your chariot awaits Princess Madelyn!
We picked Madelyn up from school Thursday and headed south seeking warmer weather and a geology lesson.

We pulled up to the City of Rocks State Park, our home for four nights, after dark. And man, was it ever dark. Fortunately, we woke up to beautiful surroundings and the warmth of the sun. We headed south through Deming to Rockhound State Park on Friday for a day of rock hunting.
Rockhound is unique in that they allow each person to carry out 15 lbs. of rock. For once, our family wasn't penalized for being large. Mark and Sam find a 'big one'.

Sam took a hard fall for this rock. He wasn't about to let it go.
Mark and Madelyn found 'sparkly' rocks up one of the hills. We are debating about whether or not to crack into a couple to see if there are geodes.
Here we are in front of the dragon (background).
A view of the Florida Mountains. We doubt they see snow often but they made for a lovely backdrop. We took a short drive up to Spring Canyon. The road up is at a 17% grade and there are dips for seasonal streams that make for some fun driving. We made Dumbo fly!
Thanks Rockhound for the new rock garden in the backyard and the great memories.

P.S. If you ever find yourself in Deming, the Dairy Queen there makes the B-E-S-T blizzards. And, trust me, we know our blizzards.

Flashback Friday

2010-02-05T08:10:00.003-07:00

First, I have to thank my good friend Cari for inspiring me to start up a new blog segment. Mark recently finished compiling his all-time favorite photos. Since it will be years before I get them into albums, I thought now would be a good time to feature a few each week on the blog.

Ever since we brought Harrison home from the hospital I have been trying desperately to remember what each child was like at his age. As much as I love having two sets of twins, it makes things blurry. Each moment of their early days was filled with soothing, bathing, dressing, feeding and diapering. There was little time to just observe and appreciate my daughters. I was always focused on filling a need.

It's nice to go back now and reminisce. This picture of Chloe and Catherine was taken almost 5 years ago when they were four months old. This was the first time I captured both girls smiling at the same time. I remember how excited I was at this small victory.

Honk if you see us...

2010-02-04T07:58:00.003-07:00

...we'll be hard to miss!

Coo-uld he be more cute

2010-02-03T08:52:00.002-07:00

Good Times-January

2010-02-02T07:46:00.004-07:00

January started with Harrison being introduced to his toys. He amazed us when he grabbed them right up.
Sleepy Saturday. Mark loves to catch my 'cat naps' with the boys.
Catherine made apple streusel muffins for everyone one morning. Thanks cousins for the kit!
Three-months-old and all smiles.
Sweet sibling time!
My two singletons
I love this picture! Look how much fun they're having.
When Catherine gets a cold her eyes swell mostly shut. Poor girl! But she still demanded her turn with baby brother.
I'm not sure why blogspot turned this one on its side. I like it better as a horizontal picture. Everyone, tilt your head to the right.Our three-month-old cutie!

Is it safe to come out yet?

2010-02-01T10:46:00.003-07:00

What a week!

It all started a week ago Saturday when Sam came to our room just as we were falling asleep to report he had thrown up. We had no idea he was feeling yucky but promptly gave him another bath and stripped his bed (every last piece). He fell back asleep and was fine until morning when the fun began again. Of course, that was a day Mark had to work.

I hate days like that when I feel like I need to protect the baby, comfort the sick kid and oh yeah, make three meals, wash many loads of soiled linens, do homework with the oldest and so on. I survived and Mark paid his dues later in the week.

Sam followed up his pukies with a cold he caught from Catherine which Mark also caught.

Seth was next in line for the crud. On Monday night we got another middle of the night wake up call from a pukey boy. Unfortunately, he continued throwing up the rest of the night and my sweet husband slept in his room and helped out with the sick bucket each time so I could stay near the baby. (See, I told you he paid his dues.) Seth repeated this cycle on Thursday from breakfast until lunch.

Friday was all clear up until bedtime when Madelyn reported her tummy hurt. We sent her to bed with a bucket and yet again found ourselves woken up by a sick kid. Madelyn had a rough night, waking up a dozen times, to be sick. Mark was by her side too. Until he was called away to help me with Catherine who started throwing up at 2 a.m. followed by Chloe at 4 a.m. Good times in our house, let me tell you!

Now we're 48 hours past the last attack and we're just wiping noses and trying to catch up on fluids and sleep. We are thankful for the health we generally have and appreciate the modern convenience of a high efficiency, super capacity washing machine.

Where does the time go?

2010-01-24T11:24:00.003-07:00

A little more than four years ago we took our maiden voyage in our pop-up to the same campground we visited last weekend. Our twin girls were barely one. They crawled and climbed and generally had a good time with their big sister on the campground's playground.
Fast forward four years and here they are, on the same slide...ok, opposite slides...running, climbing and generally having a good time with their big sister and THREE little brothers.
I wonder what changes the next four years have in store.

A League of Our Own

2010-01-19T11:09:00.002-07:00

Another part of our weekend adventure was heading out to the local casino for some bowling. If you can stomach walking your sweet, innocent children through the smoke-laden money dump, it's really a nice, clean, smoke-free bowling alley.

This was Seth and Sam's first time bowling. Sam really got into it. He only accepted help the first two frames and they he 'dude it' himself. I love the tongue hanging out.
Madelyn worked on her big kid swing. She beat the rest of us! I think next time we'll let her try it without bumpers.
Seth gave bowling a try too but he was far more interested in the machines surrounding him. He was fascinated by the ball deliverer and the touch screens. He managed to keep all fingers and toes but did reset his brother's game mid-throw once.

Adventure #2: Bernalillo, NM

2010-01-18T08:35:00.006-07:00

We headed north this weekend to the town of Bernalillo for another camping adventure. It's not far from home but it's an area we don't often go to for recreation.

We decided to check out the Coronado State Monument. It features ruins from the Kuaua pueblo. Every time I go to visit ruins like this I learn something new. This time I was struck by the fact that the people used to enter their homes from the roof. This allowed the homes to be built without doors to maintain privacy and cleanliness. Did I mention that the homes at this particular pueblo were believed to be 2-3 stories high? I wonder how this worked for small children. How about six small children?

The kids liked this replica room.
We also headed to the bosque of the Rio Grande for a walk.
This backdrop never gets old.
Daddy gets a break from picture duty to be featured in one.
Mark gave the girls a lesson on skipping stones. My super strong and talented husband can not only skip stones but was able to throw a stone all the way across the Rio Grande.
Back at camp, we spent time reading from the Little House on the Prairie series.
As always, Harrison is content just being surrounded by his adoring fans. He's learning that a toy or two isn't bad either.
To end our weekend we headed to the group camping area. We failed to notice that our site didn't have a grill or fire pit until we were a day in. Not to be deterred from this hallmark camping experience, Mark packed the camp chairs and a box of wood and we headed for the group area WITH a fire pit. He made a small fire and I started assembling s'mores. The girls took turns roasting marshmallows. We told stories of marshmallow shampoo. And the kids, all but Madelyn that is, turned up their noses at the yummy, gooey treats citing their stickiness as a problem. They were all much happier back in the warm van with clean hands and a 'raw' marshmallow for dessert.

Little do they know but we're going to try again next month!