Tuesday, June 29, 2010

My schedule is officially lost

We are now one month into summer, and I have to say, so much for any schedule!! We try. Oh, do we try. And by we, of course, I mean, me. Every day the tv goes off at 8:30 sharp (usually, unless they're crabby, or I'm still not dressed, or...). And bedtime is 8:30 on the nose (usually, unless there's a tball or softball game (every night), or they're having fun outside, or Dave brings home a new Harry Potter Wii game, or...). We go to the Menomonee Falls YMCA with my dad every Monday (usually, unless it's Fourth of July, or someone has a doctor's appointment and we go swimming instead), and we go to the West Bend YMCA on Tuesday and Thursday (usually, unless babysitting is closed to move to a new location). I work on Wednesdays only (usually, until I need to work on Wednesday and Thursday).

See what I mean? What schedule?? I can't tell you the angst that it causes me, especially when it means me not working out for four days (hello five pounds!), and my only quiet time coming after they got to bed (I'm so tired by then!). I'm trying to be flexible, to have fun with them, to bend the rules because hey, don't we all wish we could be little and enjoying summer vacation again? And let's face it, if I'm going to completely schedule their summer, then I might as well go back to work... and even I don't want that kind of schedule!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Little Miss All-Star

Softball this year is just so, so different from last year. Other than the parents that I really like and the players Abby all knows and the coach who is great, Abby's actually one of the better players! In fact, she was good enough to make the all-star team (5 out of 11 players on their team made it). The game was on Saturday, and I have to say, it was really neat. They had the racing sausages there (from the Brewers games), the sang the Star Spangled Banner, and they announced the girls' names. Unfortunately, her team lost (I think they paired up the first place and last place teams, which means we were with the last place team, which doesn't work so well in softball), but we still had a great time, it was great for Abby, and I'm very proud of her.

Of course, if she ditches softball for volleyball when she gets older, I'd thoroughly support that, but for now, I'll take the hard work she's putting into softball.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Depression sucks

This week I found out a man at church passed away. I got a couple of emails on it because of various groups I belong to, but they were quite vague, saying only that he passed away suddenly, and to please keep his family in your prayers. The man, Frank, was 63 years old, so not especially young (sorry, dad!!), but seemed healthy. He worked at church as the adult ministry director, taught baptism classes (so I went through them for both Max and Ava), taught part of Abby's First Communion classes, and helped run our Family Program at church, which the kids and I have gone to for the past two years. I was quite surprised and saddened to hear the news that he passed away.

Then tonight, I was even more shocked. I was scheduled to read at church, and when I got there, there were different readings--the readings from Frank's funeral mass. It was strange, but not overly out of the question. Then I asked the guy who was reading with me if he heard what had happened to Frank, how he died. And then I got the shock. He had committed suicide. I truly don't know any details, but the priest confirmed the suicide and talked about church teaching on suicide during the sermon (clearly violates 5th Commandment of no killing, but also clearly not in his right mind. We can't possibly know or judge). To say I am stunned is an understatement. He was seriously the happiest, friendliest, help you out in any sort of way I can kind of person, and I'm not sure how to feel. Sad, angry, shocked, guilty, all of the above? To get to be 63 and then feel that's the only way out, I can't imagine what he had to be hiding day in and day out. To be so involved in church, and still feel you can do that. It's horrible to say, but I'm really just relieved that, while I knew him and have had interactions with him (he's a contact in my email address book!), we were no closer than that. I can go back to regular life with some thoughts of him but not overly debilitating. But his family, wife of 42 years, children, grandchildren, his church co-workers. I can't even imagine what they must be feeling. All of what I am, plus 200 other feelings, times a thousand.

It's also strange how you think about these things in terms of your children. The first thing that was hard was that Abby actually paid attention during the sermon, so we had to have the conversation of what suicide is, and why someone would want to kill himself. How do you explain that? I really have no idea myself so how do you explain it to a seven-year-old? But then I think about my kids growing up, and how this parenting thing is a little like playing roulette. I mean, I can't really guarantee that my own children won't grow up depressed, and I can't protect them from everything. I breath a sigh of relief everytime the pass a stage--I don't have to worry about SIDS anymore. Three out of four are safe from most choking hazards. Any major undiagnosed illness they would have had at birth is highly unlikely at this time. But events like this just make me realize how long the worrying could go on. Forever, I suppose.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Storms by myself

I love thunderstorms, I really do. Watching the lightening, hearing the thunder, the rain on the roof. It just makes me happy! But... I really prefer them when Dave's home. I knew it was raining out, and heard the thunder, but was pretty surprised when I went in to close Abby and Max's window and heard the Emergency Broadcast going off for thunderstorm warnings. Luckily, the major storms are south of us, but it's still just a little nerve-wracking.


We had a busy weekend! Friday we hit the zoo where Abby had zoo class and Ava, the boys and I walked around and then met my sister and her three kiddos. It ended up being a very nice (if very warm) day, even though rain was predicted. Saturday after a very nice breakfast (I love going out to breakfast!) with a good friend of mine and good conversation, I met Dave and the kids at the boat. We ended up out on the boat for about five hours, and the kids were great. Sunday was Father's Day, and we didn't do much. Unfortunately, Dave had to mow the grass, and then he also made us all dinner. Lucky for me, a good Father's Day for him means him cooking a great meal!

I have a ton of pictures on my phone, but haven't transferred many yet. So, I'll just leave you with these of Ava enjoying the boat.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Why I quit work (and why I should go back!)

Yesterday when I got home from work I was tired. I picked up the bigs, ran to the store to get drinks for Nolan's snack for tball, got the littles, then came home, decided against trying to shove down dinner before the game, and then headed to the tball game. And throughout it all... the kids talked. I know, HOW DARE THEY? They talked! Apparently after a day away from me, they all want to tell me something, which is great! I mean, how long will I have that? How long before I'm begging them to tell me something, anything about their lives? But after a day of work, my listener is just worn out. One more comment, question, story or joke is just too much for me to take.

So I woke up this morning, ready. I heard Abby and Max wake up, and that always makes me smile because they come downstairs by themselves and Max curls up next to Abby on the couch and they grab a blanket and watch TV. Plus, a few extra minutes of sleep? I'll take it any day! And they're a little slow to wake up, so it lets me have a few minutes of quiet, which helps. But then Nolan woke up, started asking questions, Abby wanted conversation and Max was his usual crazy. And I did good for awhile, I really did! But to be honest, by 9:00 when we were leaving the house, I just couldn't field any more questions. (Whoo hoo, I made it to 9 AM!) So we took a trip to the Y, and you can bet I put a movie on in the van for the 13 minute trip. The silence was golden.

Hey, I never said my mommying was perfect or pretty, but at least I'm honest about it!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Chicago, Chicago

Last weekend it was me and The Littles heading to Chicago. Ok, not exactly Chicago, but to La Grange, at least! My friend Renee moved there in May from New York (YEAH!), so we went to visit. We had a great time but, unfortunately, I forgot my camera. :(  Here's a few pics from my phone, until that died, too. There may be more pics from Brookfield Zoo later if someone sends me some (Hint, hint, Renee!). The boys did great (Ben is 5 days older than Max) and Ava was great too. The zoo day was a little rainy in the morning, but nothing bad, and then all kids fell asleep in the afternoon, so Renee and I got to walk around the zoo in peace. Very nice!

Here's the boys watching Shrek... and holding action figures.


All was peaceful until Ava tried to get everything from them, and then they couldn't move fast enough.


Meanwhile, back at the homefront... Abby was the little social butterfly. She had a sleepover Friday night, played with a friend of hers Saturday, and then another sleepover Saturday night. She was pretty tired (read: crabby and sassy) on Sunday. I think Nolan was in seventh heaven having Dave all to himself from Friday night until I got home late Saturday night!


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Yikes!

I think I'm in denial that tomorrow is the last day of school. TOMORROW! Oh my. On the one hand, I'm excited. I feel like the mother hen, with all her little chicks around. It's comforting and comfortable both. But then reality hits. Nolan torments Max, Max hits Abby, Abby teases Nolan and on and on it goes. And they ALL have something to say, especially when Ava is babbling and I can't hear anything.It jangles my nerves sometimes, and there's just more chance of that with more kids around more often.

My biggest hope is that Max will be a happy camper all summer because he'll have playmates. And that his playmates will actually play with him! A girl can dream can't she??

Monday, June 7, 2010

Pics

Ok, I seriously had an entire post done last night, and then something was wrong with blogger and I lost it all. Ugh! Anyway, I realized when I got the Memorial Day pics off the camera, that I haven't actually posted pictures lately. So I thought I would tell stories through pics...

Here's Ava doing all the hard work. Someone has to around here! She's so frustrated at not being able to crawl yet--very cute. :)  She's different from the other kids, though. She doesn't try to crawl from her tummy, she tries to launch herself from the sitting position. And she stands pretty well... she may skip real crawling, decide rolling everywhere is fine, and then just start walking one of these days!

The gang. Also my new blog picture on the right, if you haven't noticed! What am I going to do with these four characters at home every day?? Last day of school is Wednesday. So quick! And what do I do with a third grader and a first grader? Real kids!!

Here's Abby helping Max how to read. It's funny listening to her try to get him pick out the "P" or asking him what a letter sounds like. She'll be a teacher for sure!

Elephants!

Here's back at the beginning of May... Nolan's and my nephew Chad's birthday celebrated in the Dells.

The whole gang... seven, soon to be eight in August when my sister's baby girl is born.

More elephants... it's a game Max got for Christmas. I'm not sure they ever played the game, but loved the masks!

My mom took quite the fall while we were in the Dells, and hit her elbow and her cheek. She got a nice black and blue eye, and went to urgent care for her elbow. They told her it wasn't broken, but it was a bad bruise. Then the week after, they called her at work and said it might be fractured and she went to the orthopaedic guy. But then it wasn't broke. But it was still very sore and still hard to use, over a month later!

More elephants

Well, that's it. My pictures are caught up. I just wish I could say the same thing for my laundry, my "real" work, my bathroom cleaning...

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Content

I've never had a baby as content as Ava. Seriously, she just sits and plays for hours on end. She tries tro crawl a little bit, and she enjoys standing, but mostly, sit her down, put a few toys in her reach and she's a happy camper. She'll even sit in front of the tupperwear cupboard and play there for at least 45 minutes. I've had a tupperwear cupboard for as long as I've had kids just for this purpose, and no one except Kyle next door has ever used it. I must say, it's really nice!!

Ava at a softball game, and Ava at Dave's parent's house, just hanging out.
Even Ava in the "bathtub" is pretty laid back.
But these pictures, they take the cake. CHECK OUT HER FEET!! Seriously? Could you get any more laid back than that?

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Fun in the sun

For as long as I can remember, which means, as long as I've been blogging and can go back and read about it, Memorial Day has been great. Last year I declared it my new most favorite holiday and the year before we kicked the summer off right with a few alcoholic beverages. I'm happy to report that this year was no different. All last weekend we were going back and forth on whether we should head down to Dave's parents, to the pool (as well as to visit them!) or to stay home. Go, stay, go, stay. That's the way most of our conversations went. Clearly we're stunning coversationalists. Ultimately, we decided it was a GO and boy are we glad we did!

Dave was down in Chicago for work on Friday, and he got a ride with a coworker, so the kids and I packed the car Friday morning (they had the day off school) and headed down to meet him. On our way we stopped at Rainforest Cafe in Gurnee Mills, and I decided it's the perfect place to eat lunch with the kids. There's plenty to distract them, noisy enough, and, luckily that day, it was pretty empty. Then we walked around the mall for a little bit before hopping back in the car, picking Dave up at the Oasis, and heading down to Grandma and Grandpas. A little pizza Friday night and bedtime for the kids in hopes of a pool-filled Saturday.

To say pool-filled would actually be an understatement. We got in the pool at 9 in the morning, and I don't think it was empty for more than 30 minutes until 5:00 Saturday night. Dave and I had a great time, the kids loved it, and the weather was just perfect. And even better? Sunday was a repeat of Saturday, only warmer. We all got a little bit of sun for sure!

Saturday night Dave's parents watched the kids while we went out to dinner which was really nice. We left around 6, ate, and really didn't have anything else to do so went back to his mom and dad's. On the way home, we passed an Irish pub, and Dave asked if I wanted to stop in for a nightcap. I just burst out laughing. Seriously? A night cap? It was 7:45 and not even dark yet! Oh my. We're old.

Sunday night Dave projected a movie outside, which was a lot of fun. Then Monday, more pool time in the morning and we headed back on home to relax and get the kids ready for their last 7 days of school. (Yikes!! What am I going to do!)

Some pics... Ava just loved the water. She spent upwards of two hours at a time just hanging out, until it was naptime or eating time! I guess she has no choice but to love the water... what would she do in our family?

The boys spent a ton of time "going on an adventure," which consisted of them donning their snorkel gear and fins and heading out on the "Snorkel boat."

Here's Abby just hanging out. She'd sit and lay with me for awhile, the go to Dave who would throw her up in the air. I think she's getting a little too big for him now, though. He can't throw her quite as high! We also got some new rafts, too, like the one Abby's in. The kids just loved them, and they served as everything from lounging rafts and adventure boats to circus rings and diving surfaces.

And now back to the real world. I just can't believe summer is a week away (kids are done next Wednesday). I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Hopefully, we'll all have as much fun all summer as we did Memorial Day weekend!