HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I am sooo blessed to have 5 healthy beautiful daughters & an amazing husband.  I really have NOTHING to complain about - in the grand scope of things . . . but today (Mother's Day) was one of those days where I am just tired & cranky.  Welcome to my party - pity party.  Arturo is working all day, there were tornados in Dublin & our power was knocked out (NO VIDEOS), and I've got laundry & the kitchen that desperately needs to be done.  The twins, thankfully are napping, and I tried to arrange a fun painting time with the other girls.  Here is a few photos to show how that went.

  

I do have to say that with all of this emotion & mess - I received a few good hugs & I love you mom's & we curled up on the couch & read some books.  Somehow we all felt better - the laundry & kitchen still need to be done - but when do they not??  I am truly grateful to have 5 sloppy kisses & hugs & lots of little ones to crawl up in my lap for one story - or two - or three.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Wordless Wednesday

seems to be the thing to do . . . and easy.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes & the first blog Video

Stella has crawled out of her crib a few times & I really thought that was the end of it!!!  Arturo, however has 'told' her that she needs to stay in her crib & it actually works! I have found her a few times on her dresser - so I moved her crib at an angle so she cannot reach her dresser. Well, as you can see in the pic below - she can reach & open the top drawer.  I have also found her a few times perched on the side like in the pic.  So I am not sure if I should make the switch to a little girl bed before she tumbles or take my chances. 

 

The twins are starting to really play together & get into some trouble & make some messes.  Ahhhh the 'joys' of little ones.

The above video is Chloe walking.  Cutie patuti.  Claire still isn't that interested - but I'm sure she'll be there in no time.

I've been 'tagged'

I have been 'tagged' by Erin.  I have to admit that I don't normally do these things.  It's like receiving all of those emails that need to be forwarded or else . . . It's just another person asking me do to something - too much pressure. BUT, this one was quick & fun to see how radically my life has changed! Enjoy!

4 Things I Did 10 Years Ago (1998)

** Was living in Santiago, Dominican Republic leading Young Life in English.

** Met a really cute (& skinny) boy named Arturo who became my best friend then husband.

** Was still in the beginning stages of starting Young Life in Spanish in Santiago.

** Was living by myself & teaching new leaders how to play guitar.

4 Things I Did 5 Years Ago (2003)

**  Had my second daughter Jillian (Abigail was 1 1/2 years old).

**  Arturo and I bought an apartment in Santiago.

**  Had changed my role in Young Life to more training & special projects.

**  Experienced my first major earthquake - registered about 6.5. It was the freakiest thing of my life!!

4 Things I Did Yesturday

**  Built a castle out of leggos with my daughters

**  Changed 10 poopy pampers

**  Read half of a magazine while in the bathroom

**  Had a great family from our church over for dinner & didn't burn anything!

4 Shows I Love To Watch (in no particular order)

**  The Office

**  Soup (on E-channel)

**  America's Funniest Home Videos (b/c I watch it almost every night with my daughters - they love it)

**  Top Chef or Project Runway (whichever is on)

4 Things That Make Me Really Happy

**  When my kids listen to me the first time & don't whine

**  Conversations with my girls that are fun, unexpected & unplanned

**  A great Bible study where I feel like I not only learn something, but can apply it to my life

**  Having great conversations with Arturo & hopefully I'm eating something chocolaty

Wow - I had a lot of things come into my head that make me happy - how fun is that.  These were just the first 4 that popped into my head. We really have a blessed life & I am excited to see where God leads us & what He has us do in the next 4 days, years, decades . . .

OK, my turn to 'tag' someone.  jeesh - no pressure people but, Deb (b/c she first encouraged me to blog), Kate, Connie, & Jocasta.  Enjoy.

Jillian, Jillian, Jillian

Jillian, or as we call her, GiGi.  She is 41/2, and very full of life & emotion.I did say emotion right?  I could go into some exact details, but let's just say that she may b/c a famous actress - or at least I'll b/c the most patient woman in the world!  Jillian has been calling herself the 'babysitter' lately, and honestly has been an amazing help with the twins.  As for Stella, . . . it's hit or miss.  Jillian LOVES to help with Chloe & Claire - in any aspect - and at times her 'help' is a bit unsolicited - but I cannot complain really b/c she adores her little sisters & has helped saved my sanity a few times.  Ironically she has also been the loss of my patience & sanity most times, but I guess it all evens out.

Visiting the Steele's & the bathroom

I did something a little crazy this past weekend, and packed up the kids to visit our good friends in NC.  The trip was about 5 hours drive time, and 1 half hour stop to change diapers.  We know the Steele's from about 10 years together with Young Life in the Dominican Republic & it is funny that we are both stateside & can still hang out!  God is good.

We got to talk, drink coffee, talk, visit their church, talk, & Scott took us to the original Krispy Kreme - it was wonderful.  Stella really enjoyed it!  Abi & GiGi had a blast finding their cats & Stella only got scratched once from petting a bit too hard.  Their daughter Ellie was amazing with the twins & has the makings of a great babysitter.

Our only rough spot of the trip was on the way home.  I got out to pump some gas, and realized that I needed to use the bathroom - I mean I REALLY needed to use the bathroom.  What should I do? Take all 5 girls in with me?  Keep the twins in their car seats & hope Stella held Abi's hand into the bathroom?  Stella is not always cooperative.  So I decided to have Abi hold one of the twins so that I could hold onto Stella, and the other twin - who I would keep in her car seat.  As I got Abi & GiGi out, Chloe in her car seat out, I handed Claire to Abi, and as I went to get Stella out - Abi screamed.  Claire had an exploding diaper, and Abi had poop all over her hand.  She freaked out & rubbed her hand on my jeans as I tried to balance Stella & Chloe. This was NOT looking good & I still really had to . . .

In a jeep next to us sat a woman & in the backseat a child.  She was watching this 'show', and when the poop surfaced she asked if she could help.  Now I know we've all heard the horror stories that involve kids, but what should I do?  I had poop on my pants, poop almost in my pants, 5 cranky kids - 3 of whom were poopy themselves - it all stank!  So I left Abi & the twins with this woman & her child, and took Stella & GiGi to the bathroom with me.  I went to the bathroom in record time, and when I got back everyone was there - and happy.  I almost cried.  Her husband had been inside buying ice, but they stayed & helped until everyone was changed & back in their car seats.  I thanked them, and got in the car and praised God for sending them my way.  Here was a complete stranger with her own 3 year old in the car & a fresh bag of melting ice - and yet they were willing to help a complete stranger, me, with too many kids to be able to go to the bathroom properly.  I learned a lesson - again - I should never be to busy to help a mother in need.  Or anyone for that matter.  Melted ice will freeze again - a mother's sanity may never come back.  Praise God for miracles of provision.

We would love to see you guys - just come visit us for a while.

T-Ball

I thought it would be a great idea to expose Abi & GiGi to sports.  They seem so have lots of energy (especially around bedtime), and like to throw things - so why not sign them up for T-ball.  Ahhhh, what a great dream.

Since our grand entrance into team sports, I have had glimpses of myself as one of 'those' parents.  You know the kind - screaming like a madwoman on the sidelines for her child to stop biting her glove & run after the ball.  Telling the 'coach' for the 8 millionth time that Abi is not a lefty.  Giving GiGi a hug, kiss, scratching her back, fixing her hat, tying her shirt (b/c it's too long), and basically bribing her with a special snack to stay on the field until the other team is done batting.

Driving home, and I'm in a cranky mood from all the emotional energy it takes to 'support' my kids in t-ball; and I'm wondering why I paid $60 for this!  So here are some adorable pics (thanks to Arturo) to show as evidence that my girls will have a positive and wonderfully fun t-ball experience - damn it.