Stacks of Laundry

Last Friday after school I decided that we should do our Saturday work early because we had family pictures first thing the next morning, and it would just be easier all around.  We all had our different jobs, and as I was in the kitchen Crew and Cannon came in bubbling with excitement.  They wanted to show me a "surprise".  I closed my eyes and they led me by the hand into my bathroom, where they proudly showed off their hard work.  They had decided to clean my bathroom for me!  I shouted my joy and smothered them with hugs and kisses. Then we all went on with our work.  It wasn't until later that night that we realized that we had overlooked this:Apparently when they were trying to clean the shower they realized they couldn't reach the top.  So they found every piece of clothing they could-clean, dirty, whatever-and stacked it up in the shower.  It made for some extra laundry the next day, but it was worth the laugh!

Valentines Day Preparations

Ooh...those legs!   More delicious than the cookies she's making!

Don't worry, they used proper hand washing techniques prior to holding, rolling, and squishing the dough -- and I only gave away the ones that I made, so if you ate one of these- no worries!

The all important valentine signing.  I fully remember the social pressure of this day in elementary school.  Do you?

The finished product.  We had fun together & the cookies turned out.  See, not everything in my life turns into a saga!

Fun Friday Night

Last friday night Cooper got his Arrow of Light.  

He also got his 20's Patch, which is pretty awesome.  There are 20 different activity badges possible in Webelos, but only half of those are required to get your Arrow of light. Cooper went above and beyond.  I am so proud of him.

Caden got his Religious Knot.  As part of this he had to write down his testimony, and when I read it I felt all goose bumpy.  There is something about a nine year old testifying in their own words about the Savior and the scriptures.  I love being a mom.  

It all sound so nice, which it was, but it was also all a little crazy.  Jody had been gone out of town all week.  (enough said)  Then Colton got sick.  I decided to leave Braelyn home with Colton while we went to the Blue and Gold.  Then Brookie got sick.  And Conner had an ear infection and possibly strep throat.  So he and Brooke stayed home as well.  I was responsible for bringing potato salad and a pie.  There was a pie contest for all homemade pies.  At one time in my life I would have loved the challenge and spent all day striving for pie perfection.  Oh how life teaches us.  I don't even feel the slightest bit guilty that my contribution was going to be a Marie Calendars Turtle Pie.  And let's just admit it, it was way probably yummier than anything I would have concocted.  I also had to go to the scout store that morning to buy Cooper his neckerchief and slide which he lost, and would never wear again, but needed for the ceremony.  Add that in to an already crazy day and I was feeling a little overwhelmed.  Then of course, because I am so fabulous at procrastinating, I had to sew the last six months worth of badges onto Coop and Cade's shirts.  Amazingly enough, the four boys and I loaded ourselves and the potato salad into the car and set off down the road on time!  No sooner had I rounded the corner than I realized we had a stowaway.  Brooklyn was hiding in the way back of the car, determined not to be left behind.  I quickly turned around and pulled back into the driveway.  By this time Braelyn was outside searching for Brooklyn.  Caden yanked open the car door to deposit her into Braelyn's waiting arms and SPLAT went the potato salad.  All over the driveway. This started the blaming, exclaiming, ranting and raving.  I jumped out of the car and looked over to see a realtor trying to talk to a man who was looking at the house next door.  I'm pretty sure it only took him ten seconds to realize that we would NOT be ideal neighbors!  I ran in the house with what was left of the potato salad to transfer it to another container, then screeched out of the driveway, arriving just after the opening prayer.  Not too bad, right?  About ten minutes into the program I realize that I had forgotten to pin back on Cooper's Webelos activity badge thing, which I had taken off to wash the shirt.  With my life lessons in learning not too sweat the small stuff, I would have brushed it off...except... they make a big deal in the Arrow of Light ceremony of removing it.  So I left the four boys (with a few good threats thrown in just to be sure they behaved) and ran home for the pin.   I arrived back at Blue and Gold, only to realize I had left the pie in the fridge.  At this point I decided who the heck cared.  It was actually going to work out pretty good, because once I got home, got everyone to bed, rocked a sick baby, and picked up Jody from the airport, a turtle pie was going to be just the ticket.  And I was right.  It was delicious...every bite.

What Do You Get When....

...the ingredients are a pair of high heels, a purse, multiple hair clips,an ipod and Brooklyn

answer: one dadgum cute little girl

... your twelve year old son plays "rolling the ball" with his baby sister

answer:  heartwarming feelings and really great pictures


...you leave breakfast on the table for too long, and you have an almost two year old "helper"

answer: oatmeal added to the milk, instead of the other  way around.

...you share a room with an almost two year old and leave  your makeup where she can reach it

answer: "pretty girl" (her words, not mine!)

...the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl.. and it gets close

answer: intense men.

...you have six sons

answer: the opportunity to make a lot of pinewood derby cars.

 

Open Blog Friday

In the style of radio show talk hosts that have Open Line Fridays where folks can call in and talk about whatever they want, I need an Open Blog Friday where I can record the smattering of thoughts in my head.  Not that I fancy myself some popular "Blog Host" or anything of the sort, I just like the idea. 

** Thought #1

Yesterday afternoon I found a comment on my post from a mrs.dph.  Doesn't that sound fabulously distinguished?  Straight out of some murder mystery or something.  Then the comment said "Hi from Kansas" and I'm wondering, has someone outside the circle of people who are required to love me and read my blog, actually seen my blog?  And then I get to the bottom of the comment and it is signed "Tracie".  My brain starts connecting the dots and I realize that even better than someone I don't know finding my blog, it is someone I KNOW and LOVE!  Tracie, it was so great to hear from you.  Please tell me you have a blog where I can keep up with you and your beautiful children.  Oh- and someone with five kids should never preface that statement with "only".  

**Thought #2

I realized that it may have been slightly tacky for me to enter Jessica's giveaway and lessen her chances of winning.  Especially when she was gracious enough to say that I was more deserving than her.  Not hardly.  Her husband has been a student for nigh unto eternity, and should I win, it's her early birthday present.

**Thought #3

I had a dream that I had a tummy tuck.  What a great dream.  In my dream, I wasn't even in pain afterwards.  Sadly I woke up with the same stomach that has been stretched beyond capacity eight times.  

**Thought #4

My sister in law Jessica had a baby this morning.  She had Amy there with her as her doula, and was able to have a beautiful natural birth.  A twinge of jealousy I must admit to.  There is nothing more beautiful or sacred.  I love everything about it.  And of course, thinking of her and all that she is experiencing, I couldn't help but feel a small sadness reflecting on how I missed out on all of that with Colton.   All of the concentration and focus to give this little baby the best entrance into the world possible, hearing their first cry, discovering the perfectness of every inch of them, the moment when you are all alone with them for the first time and you can whisper all of your hopes and dreams for them.  The bonding of nursing, bathing them for the first time, the quiet middle of the night feedings when the house is peaceful, kissing and snuggling together, scooping them out of their beds to calm their whimperings, falling asleep together.  Instead of that, Colton and I had this:

I was completely out for his delivery, as other surgeries were to start immediately afterwards. I didn't lay eyes on him for 2 1/2 days, although the sweet nurses taking care of him took pictures and sent them over to me.  I saw him a total of 4 hours the first week of his life.  Jody had to place him on my chest and with great care I could get my right arm around him so that I could almost feel like I was holding him.  The day he left the hospital, knowing I had to stay behind, forced me (figuratively) to my knees.  I prayed my way through that day, and Heavenly Father blessed me with the peace that only comes through our Savior and the Comforter. From that moment, I was determined to be home as soon as possible.  I left days earlier than projected by the doctors, and I was so grateful.  And yet, once home, I realized what a long road was ahead.  I could do none of the things that I find so much happiness in.  I couldn't pick him up, I couldn't hold him for very long periods of time, I couldn't rock in a chair with him, I could feed him only once in awhile.  I couldn't dress him, change his diaper, or bathe him.  I couldn't soothe his cries, and couldn't enjoy the solace of nightime feedings, couldn't nurse him.  It is typically months before I leave my babies, and yet immediately after coming home I began the many appointments with surgeons and physical therapy, forcing me to be separated from him.   The heaviness in my heart was unbelievable, but greater still was my gratitude.  I was surrounded by loving family and friends to care for my baby and seven other children, bring meals, do laundry, drive me to appointments, and support Jody and me in every way.   When Jody blessed Colton, the first thing he was told was that he had been preserved by the hand of God.  The last thing that he was blessed with was that he would have a special bond with his mother.  I know that the last part was Heavenly Father's gift to me, an answer to many pleadings, worrying that Colton would know and love me even though  I couldn't care for him in the typical way.  Nearly eight months have passed since that day.  And while this isn't but a small part of my experiences, I wouldn't trade the lessons I have learned and the miracles I witnessed for anything in the world.  Colton and I are madly in love with each other, I am here to be a mother to my children and a wife to my husband, and I know beyond anything that Jesus Christ is real, His promises are sure, and we are never alone.  

Content

I love the idea of being content.  Contentment sounds so peaceful, so right.  And yet, the details of everyday life seem to allow me only brief glimpses.  Today, though, I am content.  The weather is absolutely beautiful- like a day plucked right out of Spring.  The sun peeks out occasionally, only to be chased away by the soft clouds and light wind gently blowing tranquility and happiness to those under their cover.  A few cheerful raindrops even found us.  

Here is what we did all afternoon:

What a day!

Blog IQ

So, I'm fairly new to the "blog world".  I mean, we had the Petersen blog, and I knew how to post.  Then I ventured out and started my own blog and learned how to add a slideshow from photobucket.  I thought I was content with the amount of blog intelligence I had acquired, until I read my sister-in-law's post about this:

Apparently someone is giving this away.  It is the double stroller that I thought only existed in my dreams.  I've tried double strollers before, and sworn them off for various reasons.  This one seems to have found an answer for every complaint.  It would be so enormously convenient to own one again, with babies 15 months apart and all.  And just think, the stroller and Colton would MATCH!  Of course, I really never expect to win anything, but there was that drawing in eighth grade that got me a "Go Gilbert Tigers" puke-gold t-shirt, so maybe there's a chance.   So now I'm going to figure out how to enter blog give aways and tell people to go here(You know, where the word is highlighted and you can click on it and it will take you to another site?).  

You really should check this stroller out here.

Oh my!  I did it!  

Blog IQ spiked significantly!

Happy girl! (happier if I win though)

And just to be fair, I will do the six month switch with Jessica if I win, since I never would have found it without her!  Thanks Jess.