Summer's End

In all the summers we've had since the beginning of us, this one has been the most packed. Some dismal February day when all we could do to drink the gifts of summer by planning what we would do. We planned and planned some more. Taking out all the stops, excuses, and realities (like it is really hard to camp with a baby), we planned a whimsical and adventuresome summer. It was all we could have expected with a few bumps in the road. Yet to warn you: if you plan in February how you will weed away your summer days, be warned that they will speed by. Busy is always good, in my book. I have so many memories that I need to tuck away somewhere. Some of my favorite are Harris's amazement with Arches, Anna at the ranch on Ol' Timer, and Jack slumbering in the front pack on the way down from Timp Cave.

Then there are all the little things which filled in all the cracks. My house seemed to have a revolving door for all the neighborhood children. Our living quarters are tight, the basement still in the last stages of completion, yet it seemed they didn't care. Boys playing wii or plotting their weekly business. Little girls pushing strollers and conducting tea parties. Then there were the drawn-out mornings where Harris spoiled Anna with attention, pillow forts, and the Price is Right. Those walks to the park filled the twilight hours and drink runs with the kids. Jack growing and changing like the weeds in our garden. Not to forget, the tender sugary corn that we ate at summer's end, luckily there are a couple left on the stalks to make the warm weather linger. Then there was the night when Aaron and I took books out on the patio, meaning to read in candlelight and talked for hours. It probably was me doing the talking and Aaron wanting to get back to his book.

Now its over, school is back in session, the days are shrinking down and cooling off. Which means I actually have a schedule. Those long days of summer have slipped through my fingers. Yet, not without leaving their mark. So, when February rolls around again and we begin to schedule those warm three months, I hope we fill it. I hope we cram as much in, leaving very little air space. Just enough to breathe and to drink a fresh lime or two.

Wide Open Spaces

Howdy all! We are now recovering from cowboy camp. Oh, how we loved this place. The Gallitan River, the mountains, our first spotting of a bear in Yellowstone Park. It was as rejuvenating as the cool Montana Air and cleansing as the storms that visited us each evening. I feel a bit heartbroken as this trip begins the close of our summer. One more short jaunt and then back to books and car pools and cold weather too soon. There is a lot I will remember about this summer: Arches, crying babies in the car, Ragnar, swimming with the kids, and fresh limes. We have grilled almost every night and dined on the patio. Yet, as I watched my family blend in to the Montana landscape, I'm convinces that this summer is one to be beat. Aaron and Harris played their western roles well. The cowboy hats grew on me. A few times I thought maybe we should have left the young'ns at home.

There was oodles of water running in and out of the ranch for tiny fingers to wade in.

We might need to get Aaron a bigger gun in thirteen years...

Anna and Timer

I hope this trip doesn't affect any career goals.

How I waited for my cowboy to come home from his two hour ride.

My cowboys

Afternoon at the fish pond.

Harris learning the ropes.

Oh, every girl wants a cowboy

Cowboy Jack on his morning ride.

New Blog and more to Come

So I did it. Started a new blog. Say what you will, but it is done. If you would like to check it out, here's the web site: www.reinkarination.blogspot.com. Also, we just returned from the vast lands of Montana along the Gallitan river. We rode horses, lassoed fake cattle, shot Bibi guns and such. We even saw a bear. Now, who can say they saw a bear in Yellowstone, now we are amongst the fan club. Shortly, I'll be blogging about all that. There is more to come as well using Stories as the mother ship to all kinds of other adventures.

Revisiting the Old Blog

I know. Its been a while. What do you do when your good writing time is barricaded by a sleeping baby. All moms agree that is precious time. That is time that is worth sending the guard dogs to lie in front of the bedroom door. So now with him sleeping more soundly I am attempting to write with out the other two barging in asking for Popsicles and calling over so and so or going this way or that. Also, why not wrap up one vacation montage when you are about to emark on another? Good plan I think. Or it might just remain with the dust in between my keyboard keys.
We ventured off after Harris was released from Fourth Grade and went on a desert vacation. This vacation planted me firmly into my role as a mom. #1 We were all in our van. Yes, I now drive a sporty red Honda Oddessy. I have enough kids that I have to yell to the back seat so Harris can make the decision between red or black licorice. #2 We had a screaming baby. I love him, I just don't like that he brings up the noise levels where ever he goes. Aaron and I were a bit afraid of getting kicked out of our first National Park because of some noise ordinance violation. #3 Several trips and searches for commodes, bear potties or discreet areas for Anna to do her business. At least she's got that covered. All in all it was a very good time. What is better than a son who every turn, found something to exclaim about, especially the bounteous lizards? It almost made me forget about the bugs.
Park Avenue is closer than you might think. Much more spectacular and it doesn't break the bank.

They love each other

See my death grap on Anna, Aaron wouldn't have it any other way. We didn't spend long at Delicate Arch, even after our hike

Sand! There was something Anna digged.

Quality reading time.

Only one of many, many lizard pictures taken by our offical wildlife photographer Harris.

All Together.

Don't Get too close, that is one big drop off.

Love a desert rose.
This dropoff is even a little worse.
I think this was annoyance at being toted all day long.
The kids worked for their supper in Mesa Verdu
Amazing Cliff Dwelling.

A little down and out

This week we've had a touch of infection at our house. My stomach wouldn't settle yesterday. So I ignored the fact and went on making princess crowns and changing diapers, avoiding food smells. All day long all I wanted was Diet Sprite, I am just now enjoying chilled sips of it. So, when Aaron stumbled in the door at 9:00 last night I declared that I would be sick until I went to bed and he was in charge. Of course, they all were down, except Jack who Aaron quickly bundled and Paul Simon lulled him to sleep. Mr. Simon, you were right, it had been a "long, long day."

After quick inquiries about our day apart, I feel asleep only to be awoken by a wheezy girl. Who, hours ago was perfectly content to hang her crown on her headboard and snuggle down with pink blanky. Aaron took charge, those student loans were worth it, and sat with her outside until the croupy cough ended, oxygen flowing freely in and out. He then rushed to grab her meds. I sat with her blond curls tickling my chin. All I could think was of how she was planning a bike race tomorrow with her bff next door and they would wear their crowns she'd constructed. She probably was planning on a banana Popsicle or two as well. Now she would be tired and a bit out of sorts.

The Best Part about Running

Among many, many things.....

Coming home to these two wanting my tunes from my mp3, beeps from my watch, sips of my water, turns with my sunglasses and gulps of gatorade. Nonetheless, both draw the line at sweaty kisses. They learn that from their father.

He might hinder my athletic efforts more than help but, those cheeks are worth it.

And He is Still Here....

At first, I was o.k. with it. A new born baby needs to be close to his parents. Your small cries could not carry down the hall to my ears. Also, needing to eat lots, made it necessary for you to stay at the foot of our bed. It was given, not to mention giving you a full wardrobe change at 12:30 a.m. and then again at three. It was enough to muster the strength to walk five steps but to actually enter another room? Unthinkable. Then it came. Your reflux kept me up. Not you, me. I would listen toyou gurgle and sigh, totally ignorant to the fact that I was counting your breaths a nd gags and creeping to the edge of the bed to make sure all was fine. Then I was ready. Get that basement complete, move that baby in his own room for both of our sanity. For all (Aaron too) of our sanity. Yet, four months later and we are still waiting.You still sleep in a portable crib at our feet. At least you do sleep, most of the time.

Yet, I watched you last night as you feel asleep effortlessly, in your peanut swaddle. I looked at that still body, which in a wakeful state is never still any more. Oh, it is good you are still here in my room. With all that goes on with the others: dressing dolls, doing hair, doing homework,laying down the law and practicing Krypto. I need a retreat I share with you. So I can glance at that even countenance as I ready myself for bed. So when I wake, I can glance at you usually peacefully sleeping. So I can play Sting and Eric Clappton lullabies for you.

Not to say, I won't rejoice once you move, but I will cherish the thought that we had that time where I was forced to keep you close to me.

I've got skills

Today I found myself nursing Jack, eating wheat Chex with strawberries, and reading scriptures. Don't worry, I stopped eating to read aloud. Then Harris asked me to pour milk on his cereal out of a gallon filled to the brim. That might be a bit of a stretch....

twenty-ten?

We sat after a drizzly day had finished up. We discussed some missing work, and a suitable punishment. You, head to your knees a little mad: mad at me, mad at your teacher, mad at all those worldly forces that make it hard to be ten. I bring back that memory of when you were born. How they laid you in my arms and I calmed you. That was our moment, our start. At times you've done the same for me as concern enters those azure eyes, you find ways to assure me that life is o.k. Once you feel asleep on me at four years old, worn out from the first long day of spring play. As I looked at your sandy head and dirty toes, I inhaled all you had to give me: stillness, steadiness, sweetness. I knew why I was chosen to be your mom. I need you. So you must understand that is hard, almost an out of body experience, for me to have to scold you, to ruin your days full of boyhood fun. Yet, I must. I must help mold, shape, rear you, much as you do for me, oldest child. Let' s just say I have to insure that all of that goodness stays surfaced. I know I make mistakes, even trying to make sure you don't feel like our test child. So can you do me a small favor? As you figure out how your choices affect you, realize that I always see that four year old boy when I correct you.

Three Things on a Tuesday

1. I am grateful for Aaron. I am a spoiled brat and he knows it. Yet, in that he finds ways to humble me by loving me. He sits with fussy Jack on his lap during ALL meal times he is home. He deals with or ten going on fourteen year old in great humor. He gives Anna all the Daddy attention she needs. In all that he finds ways to make sure he still shows is affinity for me. He loves me mind, body and soul. Certain I am of that.

2. The way to peel the prickles of a tough ten year old boy is to give him a baby. Everyone needs a brother, even if he is ten years your junior. Also, don't let him drive you around in a go cart. Just don't.

3. With all the ebbs and flows and right out spikes in in my life, I am grateful it is mine and that my daughter, even though it is a bit concerning, sits her entire dance class on my lap tapping her toes. She may never do that again, but its o.k. right now. It really is.

A mother's day wish

My Knee Hurts. My baby has screamed all morning. Anna spilled water and I sat in it, only able to change my pants because of inconsolable Jack. Then I watched this

I hope you mother's can find some solace in it too.

Time going Slowly

How time flies! Hours, days, weeks, months seem to fly by with jet engines. There is nothing I can seem to do to slow them. Mostly I just sit back and enjoy my full life. My overflowing basket of life. I decided that if updating my blog was going to seem like a nuisance, I wasn't going to do it. Some things that are good for you do hurt, I am aware of that daily. Yet, I try to remedy those instances trying to slow my days by being there in the moment. I mean, it has been a long time since I sat down for a full day with at least two children at a time, doing what they want to do. Yesterday, I baked cookies, calmed a baby, colored paper dolls, had long jump contests, calmed a baby, walked home from church at a snail's pace, danced to show tunes, calmed a baby, and played a innovative game using the mancala board that I am still not sure of the rules. As I pulled the covers over me and looked at Aaron, exhausted and full, I had no regrets. Right now I am living what only existed in my head four years ago: busy with my children's busy lives and never-ending developments. Walking home with Anna, I realized that she would be ten before I knew it. She would want to make her own ramen noodles and organize a neighborhood football league. Maybe not the football league, although she is one durable chick. I've found myself asking where is my old life, and cursing myself for wasted moments. A nap? What's that? Yet the more I try to combat my life, mold my daily war zone, I realize that it is better just to melt with it. So If my blogs are sparse, that is why, I am melting into my and molding my young, hoping the days slowly pour by. Yet a few thoughts from that past while,

When your son casts out, catches, and reels in a twenty-one incher, you only remember his dad holding a fish nearly as big beside him at one and they seemed to be in the same growth curve. What he can handle now.
I realized Anna is grooving along with the conservative movement. She holds Tea Parties daily at our home. Want to join? Just be warned her radical protest are why she can't use real water and sugar than moving back to constitutional legislation. How I love my baby, How I love my Jack! He now reaches for me. Of course, I oblige always to his first attempts of intellectual conversation.

And We have it...maybe a bit premature

For four nights now little Jack has slept through the night. Oh the joys of uninterrupted sleep. I feel like praising him, putting chocolate in his milk, Anna's convinced if I drink chocolate milk Jack will get to enjoy the pleasures of our shared favorite beverage. This is what I plan to do with all my extra energy:

1. Actually really start training for Ragnar...none of this lack of sleep excuses. 5, 5, 9 twelve hours a part? I better get crackin'.

2. Maybe clean my house, just maybe.

3. Finish all that basement painting and paint Harris' old room in Jack colors: slate blue and mossy brown: infantile masculinity. Did I just make that up.

4. Try to revive my funny bone and get rid of this writer's cramp thing. There is too much going on to be injured in any form.

5. Yoga. See number one and four.

Love this kid. Oh, have I said that already?

So is it really March?

So as we leave the short in days but long in grayness month and enter the manic month of March, I am aghast that it has been three months since I had Jack. I love this boy,Aas so posted again and again. Our house sometimes may look like it rains toys daily in our living room and I sprinkle an extra helping of dust around. I must blame this on the construction zone that used to skillfully conceal the games which Anna would play that are only recognizable as orderly to herself. Yet if dust and toys is what I have to put up with, so what.

Because every day Anna asks if Jack is ours. Yea, he definitely is.

Patch Anna is almost no more. Finally after surgery and almost a year of patching she is using both her eyes equally. I felt like shouting a rip roaring holler when the doctor told us. Anna literaly hollered when I told her the latter. She is one awesome patient, all the staff remember her by name when she comes in. I know they have charts, but in her case of cuteness, they are just a mere formality.

Less than a year of cubs left, so sad. Maybe it is because I don't have another directly following but, I have enjoyed it. The corny jokes and all the rambunctious doings of real boys. Eight more years and we will be there again. Harris and his friend made this for the Blue and Gold. I thought I'd have to do it all, but the creativity that these two showed made it definitely an afternoon to remember.

With three comes imagination. It has been fun to see where Harris played superheros and cowboys be replaced by tea parties and little mommy by Anna. Every mommy needs one little girl. I'm glad I have mine.

So march on March, I won't delay you. I can't wait to see if you go out like a lion or a lamb and what each day in between holds. Hopefully runs outdoors with my two of my tots in toe. Park outings and feedings ducks filling up our mornings. Also I want to see Harris perfect that ripstick that has spent so many days in our garage. More Blogging, you ask? I'll see where it fits in.

Baby Love

I love this kid. You know the day you worry because you love the kids you already have infinitely? How could equal Harris's loyalty and sweetness at the right moments. Who could be Anna? Her femininity gushing from head to toe even when she doesn't want it to? I couldn't ask for more, could I even expect more. Then there is Jack. His smiles come easily now. We understand each other. He might be fussy and have more particular tastes, but he has multiplied my love. There was I time I doubted being this fortunate, I didn't understand the meaning. I didn't understand that when they come your love grows because you are constantly doing those tedious tasks of changing diapers and figuring what exactly is need to make them content. It is not what they do it is what you do. Yet....

this doesn't hinder anything. He is almost three months and thirteen pounds,twenty four inches long. If I don't blog often it is only because I am lost in his blue eyed gaze. One that reminds me of the one I began to cherish ten years ago that started it all and made me wonder if love really could be greater than that. Yes, it can...three times greater.

So I had a lecture

So I was telling Aaron about Anna using perhaps and actually in the same conversation the other day and he kindly scolded me for not recording these funny things she does or Harris does or Jack does on my blog. Just so you know I should be back. Six weeks right? Yet the doctor declared me 90% healed and able to resume regular activities. So I guess the blog is included. I have missed it. I want to wittly plunk out the liveliness of our household. We are buzzing, don't let me make you wonder. So maybe that is why this blog has been to a near state of abandonment. Three kids. Yea, let me dispel the myth, that I told myself day in and out for nine months, three, no matter the spacing, is an adjustment.

So as I learn to juggle with one new ball in the mix, I will try to throw in a blog entry now and again.

I did blog about Jack. Oh, what a third child is he, month and a half later it gets finished and posted. I relish the thought that this tardiness is because I am preoccupied. That is what I want right now.

So I will begin to play catch up or maybe just resume. Only time will tell.

Things good about the past month and a half (in no particular order):

Jack

Anna and "Lady" and the Frog. This is why I have a girl. Who sometimes would rather be the prince or Buzz Lightyear. Love her.

Harris and the Bees: Spelling and Geography. If there was a big brother bee he would have won it hands down, I'm sure.

DDR, if you don't know don't ask. Thanks to a husband who understands his wife's weird requests. Nydegger dance parties have never been the same.