Rain, Rain, (PLEASE DON'T) Go Away!

Summer's in Kansas can sometimes be daunting; the tornadoes reporting for duty on a weekly basis combined with the awful heat + humidity often makes for a not-so-fun time to be had outdoors.

But SUMMER 2009 has been quite mild-- in fact it's been quite delectable. I can't recall (although my husband can recall a few times, but whatever) a tornado siren sounding in our area since...

... well, I'm not sure.

I think we've had only a couple, if any, days over 100 degrees, and that usually included the heat index.

Recently, our little area of Kansas located just east of the beautiful Flint Hills has seen some scrumptious (according to our usually scorched soil) rain. I think the Kansas River might actually have fewer sand bars that could be scrapped across by a paddle boat now. Anyway, with this rain has come a bit of a cool front, and all I have to say is I'm so glad mother nature finally listened to my request:

Please, please, please will you cool the temps so I can open my windows; make sure to eradicate most of that humidity that feels like it's sucking my breath away from me; and for goodness sake please just give us a little breeze-- no strong winds though, okay?

And with this great, though rainy, weather we

pulled on our goulashes

posed with our cute goulashes

explored a drain pipe gushing out a waterfall

got super excited about feeling rain

and splashed in some great little puddles.

So, for the first time in a long time ever, I'm happy to say that I loved our (unusual)Kansas weather this summer.

It sure made for some nice memories with my girls!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

In light of some recent tantrums events, I've decided to take a stroll down memory lane. These past 4 1/2 years have flown by, and there's really nothing like seeing my little girls grow up while going through some of my favorite pictures.



This was taken just a few months ago, like literally a month before M&Mwas born. I can't pinpoint what it is exactly that makes me love this picture, but perhaps it could be the fact that Peach's face is all but completely covered, Brownie is chillin' in her Dora hat and Bug looks as if she's done something ornery and is running away from the scene. That, and I just adore snow pictures.

This picture is not too far back having been taken a few weeks after M&M's birth. I simply love the delicious position she is in. Of course she concocted this contortion all on her own.

Ah, this one tugs at the heart strings. Here is a 13 month old Peach getting ready to lay on on her new baby sister Brownie. True love from the start.

This one just captures that sweet time I had with Peach. This was one of the last days I had as a mom of one girl (ie, I wasn't preggo yet).

This picture says a lot! Taken shortly before or after Brownie's arrival (I'm not sure which) one can see that my sweet little girl, Peach, is eating chocolate, probably late at night--that doesn't happen anymore. That white paper behind her has a recipe on it. When I was new to mothering and being a wife, I used to spend quite a lot of my time on allrecipes.com looking for the most awesome concoctions on the planet. I would then simply print them off and take them to the kitchen to cook. If we liked the dish, I kept the paper in a file-- if we didn't much care for the dish I would simply toss the paper. And this my friends is where I got the majority of the recipes I cook with today-- having tweaked them over time to oficially call them my own now. If you look a bit deeper in the picture you'll see glasses sitting out on the counter--we don't even use those anymore. They might be in our cabinets or we may have sold them in a garage sale. I'm not really sure. The last little thing in there-- you see that slice of orange sitting next to the glasses? That would be a container of Clorox wipes-- which I now know better not to use (very often). OH HOW FAR I'VE COME!!

I just love how Bug looks in these pictures. She's folded and scrunched like she's still in the womb-- and I just love it when babies do this. She was a mere 2-3 days old in these pictures.

Oh, sweet Brownie kissing on her baby sis. Brownie was about 15-16 months old and Bug was the victim recipient of such lovin'.

Another heart strings tugger. A 3 month old Peach sits nestled against her daddy. Doesn't this picture just scream, Daddy is comfort!"

I love how a little newborn Brownie has her head popping out of this sea of blanket. And I love her hair and cheeks.

Peach as a newborn. Brownie as a newborn.

Bug as a newborn. M&M as a newborn.

So for those of you asking, "Did they all have so much hair when they were born?" now you know. Yes, my children came out looking like they were in the wig business while still in utero!

Here we have Brownie and Bug at about 3 weeks old wearing the same outfit. I've always loved posing them in the same outfits at about the same age just to see similarities. And while it's easy to see that Bug is the most different looking among my 4 kiddos (even though she's still very similar looking), here I think there's quite the resemblance.

And here we are with each girl shortly before turning 4 months. While the bookends (Peach and M&M) appear to have not lost an ounce of hair, it's plain to see that the books (Brownie and Bug) hit the 3 1/2 month mark and started to sport the bald look. So I'm guessing that M&M will continue to look like a little Elvis baby with her awesome, dark hair. Do you notice how Peach and M&M have those lines coming down from the bridge of their noses to outline their plump cheeks; yet, Brownie and Bug have smooth skin? How funny-- I've never noticed this until now.

Okay, my mood has improved. My children are totally sweet-- while I know this, I just needed a little reminder. Man, I'm so glad that I'm a compulsive picture-taker of such sweet subjects. How fun this trip has been!

Finding My Inner Debbie Downer

Warning: The following post is intended for mature audiences only-- even if it wasn't written by a mature mama.

Believe it or not, I log onto Blogger just about everyday. Most of the time I catch up on other blogs- totally ignoring the fact that I haven't posted in quite a while.

We have been oh so busy. I have been oh so tired. The kids have been oh so crazy.

July and August brought on a whirlwind of emotions and that alone can tire a gal out. Not to mention that on top of my daily routine of cleaning floors, planning meals, brushing the dog, folding laundry, feeding kids, changing diapers, and tripping over toys; I've also been breaking up fights, listening to scream after scream after scream, massaging my own neck, rubbing my temples, pleading with God to make me strong enough to get through the next minute without raising my voice, and trying to cope and get through the baby/toddler/preschool hood years without any more gray hair.

But I'm tired of just trying to get through. I'm a life is short, don't take a minute for granted kind of gal and I want to be the best mama I can be; right now I feel as if I'm falling short of my expectation and my girls' expectations. I know this happens to nearly every mom, but I just feel the need to vomit it all here in this post.

My life used to be so unstructured and carefree. I took each day as it came and rarely planned a thing. A few years ago I was more than happy to trade it in for a life full of giggles, hugs, kisses, hair-braiding, hand-holding, breast-feeding, and the sweet words, "I love you, mama." I even knew there would be several late nights/early morning--depending on how you look at it- throw-up sessions, sibling rivalry, potty-training, errand-running, time-outs and temper tantrums. But right now I just feel like this season of life is something I never could have imagined.

I have been blessed with four amazing daughters who have taught me more than I ever could have imagined. Each time I've had a baby, I pretty much already knew, though not necessarily decided, that I really wanted another. I mean, they are simply beautiful, perfect, innocent, gems of baby cuteness-- how could I resist?

I was even feeling this way shortly after M&M's birth-- even more so when the doctors told me that I should never have another pregnancy. Oh, there's nothing to make me want to do something so badly like somebody (who wears a white coat, nonetheless) telling me I can't-- I'm a rebel like that. HA.

Even so, once I found out that I was okay health-wise earlier this month, I still thought that maybe in the future another baby we'd have. And I guess I'm still teetering on that side of the fence. But really, who knows what the future holds?

What I never imagined in my wildest dream is what it would be like to have a young infant, a toddler in full-swing of the terrible two's, a very strong-willed child exiting the terrible two's soon, and a smarty pants who's about to turn four but thinks and acts more like a fourteen-year old. Oh, my heavens. It's really created a unique environment for us and I can't say I'm the biggest fan some of the time.

While I wouldn't trade the crazy moments where I'm breast-feeding M&M, shouting to Bug," I said LET GO OF YOUR SISTER'S HAIR," comforting Peach because she was another victim of Bug's acting out, all while listening to Brownie scream in seriously ear-piercing decibels over in time-out---ahem...

...I could use a serious sanity break from it all. I know there are other moms out there who have several young children at home-- how do you do it?

How do any of us do it? I don't care if you are a single mom, a working mom, a SAHM, a retired SAHM, a foster mom, any kind of mom-- how do you find a break to collect your thoughts. Decompress. Take a deep breath. Lower your blood pressure? Sometimes I wonder if all of the other moms out there, like me, think to themselves, Oh man, I hope that when she has kids one day she gets one just like her. You know you do!

I tend to learn as I go, but I guess I'm just too old to learn new tricks. I've tried deep-breathing.
Living minute-by-minute. Praying. Crying. Taking walks. Now I'm trying a tried and true friend, writing. I just feel stuck. That's the only way I can describe it-- just stuck. And yes, I've already considered changing my name to Debbie Downer.

You can judge me all you want, but frankly I won't care. My children's opinion is what I'm most concerned about. I don't want them to look back on their childhood with ill feelings.

I'm sure I'm making a mountain out of a molehill here, but right now it feels like Pike's Peak to me. Lord knows I could never climb that darn mountain unless I took it one step at a time and climbed ever so slowly. I suppose that's how I can live the moments I'm sharing with my children now-- one step at a time. Even living the good and peaceful moments one step at a time or, minute by minute as I like to say, would help one to savor those precious moments.

I love my children for who they are. I cherish all of the moments I have with them, even the bad ones-- because those are still waaaaaaaaaayyy better than not having them at all.

School will start in two weeks as will MOPS. Life will find a new routine with different stresses and different forms of bliss. Three birthdays will come early this fall, followed by football games on t.v., Saturdays at the pumpkin farm, and lots of memories to be made around the dinner table and fireplace. And I know I'll look back on the past couple of months and wonder why I got my panties all in a twist about this little season of life.

Ah, C'est la vie!

A Few Things I love

little legs in little leggings (can't beat the price at $3.50)

taking pictures with my mini-me

These gals coloring on a wall (that's not in our house)

Summer sunsets behind Kansas prairie

Watching my girl fish

and these girls too

my little lady showing off her first catch (we put it back, I promise)

A bug on a swing

Oops!

I missed M&M's three month birthday post. It has been an odd week--one that's flown by much too fast. I worked for the first time in 4 months, celebrated my 27th birthday, celebrated my hubby's birthday, said goodbye to my east-coast livin' sister,

and have been in a whirlwind of medical information (which I'll post about when I know more about it) that I've been trying to sort out in my head. But this post isn't about me, it's about this sweet little Memphis Queen.

At 3 months, M&M

- is in size one diapers

- celebrated her first 4th of July
- knows that a snuggle on mommy to eat will help her fall asleep

- loves to chat it up with mom, dad, and just about anybody who will react

- still doesn't much care for tummy time

- just went through her 3 mo growth spurt (slept all day Sunday, ate all day the next 2 days)

- can wear only 1 or 2 nb size outfits, some 3-6 mo clothes, and many 0-3 mo

- wants to be fed to sleep b/t 7& 8 and wakes up around 5 am

-is such a happy, cheerful, talkative, interacting little joy

- loves to grasp on to her hair while she dozes off during meal time

-pulls so hard on her hair that her scalp lifts up

- spends most of the night in her bassinet by my side of the bed

- didn't get the cough all her sisters had this month

- still likes bath time

- doesn't like to nap much in the morning

- can't nap very well unless sisters are asleep too (explains note above)

- still likes the binky--especially to go to sleep with

- has lost 0 hairs on her head, although they're not as 'fro-ish

Right now, I'm typing with one hand because my other one is snuggling a warm, sleeping bundle of beautiful-ness. No, life really can't get any better than this!

I'm Cheating

Wow, she just celebrated 4 years of marriage and seemed so happy. Now she's cheating!

Oh geesh! Get your mind out of the gutter. Not that kind of cheating!

Remember how I said in my post titled Recap that in my free-time you could find me learning what's best for my family as far as food and life-style are concerned? Well, I'm feeling a bit lazy overwhelmed. The amount of information out there is insane and I just can't seem to sort it all out in my head right now. So I'm asking you for help.

I'm tired of blowing money on commercial products. I feel ridiculously guilty because I buy these products, though I know better. I try to buy earth/people/pet friendly but it can become expensive.

In the past I have come across and used a few recipes for homemade laundry detergent and all-purpose cleaners, but then life interrupts the flow of things and my old recipes fall by the wayside.

What I'm wanting to do is collect ideas from all of you. If you use a homemade cleaner, would you A) tell me what it is for, B) share your recipe, and C) tell me why you like it (or don't like it-- but then why are you using it)! Anyway...

Even if you just know of somebody who uses their grandmother's recipe for cleaning their floors or for getting rid of mildew--that's fine too.

I have made my own laundry soap in the past and I quit because I noticed the clothes started to look like they had powder all over them. I'm guessing I was using an unbalanced recipe.

I know vinegar is great to have in your arsenal of green cleaning. Tell me how you use it. I put it in a downy ball so that it'll release during the rinse cycle to soften my clothes and rid them of static-- thanks, Michelle!

Also, if you have any tips for saving money or energy when you do household chores, let me know. For instance, I squeegee the shower tiles and door after showers to prevent mold from growing. I also like to line-dry to save electricity (and money)-- at least when the mosquitoes aren't attacking.

You get the idea, right? Oh, and if you have a super-awesome way of mopping the floors (mine are mostly tile) that doesn't cost you an arm and then another arm, have icky chemicals in the cleaning product and doesn't take a great amount of time (I ain't got much)--well, I'd love to know your secret. I will have serious issues with giving up my swiffer mop stuff. Please convince me to give up my disposable mop pads that Velcro on to the stick that squirts out the smell-good cleaner right onto the floor, all with the push of a button.

Thanks for helping a lazy totally overwhelmed mama.

Bug's ABC's

Maybe you've noticed over the past couple of weeks that I've been writing a special post for my older children; or maybe you haven't-- that's okay! I realized I was writing M's highlights from the past month on the 28th of every month so far, and I wanted to give some insight into my other children. After all, I love them just as much and they are definitely just as sweet and unique as baby M. So, here are the ABC's of my sweet cuddle BUG! These words should really come to no surprise if you either A) know us, or B) have been reading my blog for a while.

So please, read on about this sweet little girl who turns 21 months tomorrow!



Abundant Baby kisses given by my
Compact, Dilligent, Effervescent, Fancyface Gal



who happens to be Honestly Impulsive,
my Jovial Kin,
always Laughing,
Making your toy Nests,


Ornery,
ear-Piercing screams
Quiet, only while Rocking or Singing Itsy-Bitsy Spider,




Tiny Terminating Tornado- so you've been called,
Unique for sure
Vivacious and Whimsical
perfect, eXactly as God made You
adding Zest to my life!

Ode To My Second Born

My second born, you came into this world

announcing your presence to us, the world alike;

You, a wee babe with hair like the midnight heavens.
My spunky shorty, you fervently commanded all eyes and attention,

your lack of apathy never goes unnoticed.



My second born, just yesterday we were nestled together
cheek to cheek, tummy to tummy;

I cradled you in airplane-pose to ease your distress.
Many hours we passed star-gazing into each other's eyes,

beholding the intimacy we share as mother and daughter.

My second born, at the age of 2 years you have a bountiful harvest of toys

gathered in your bed, or lying near;

You can't sleep without your beloved books about the streets of Sesame.

The mounds of pink, green, blue, red and purple fabric cover your bed,

you certainly cannot rest in slumber without such comforting blankets.

My second born, you're situated somewhere in between

younger than the boss, older than jester and munchkin;

I never worry you've lost your place amongst the brood.

Temperament, smile, gestures, soul,

you've found your niche in our humble abode.

My second born, in years past so docile and tender

now growing and evolving to more impassioned ways;

You solicit adventure, often becoming apprehensive of the consequences.

Sometimes the gambler, deliberately pushing and testing boundaries,

only you can wander the line so gingerly.

My second born, you bring me such joy

with your ardent love;

I delight in knowing you are my daughter in this life.

Nary a day passes in which you did not teach me a lesson,

making me stronger, wiser and evermore in love with you.