For Today…June 5, 2011

Outside my window…it finally rained this afternoon.  And despite the fact that I was at the pool when the thunder and lightening started, I couldn’t be happier.  I imagine the rest of the city feels pretty much the same way.  I love Houston, but the weather sucks a lot of the time.  No way around that fact.

I am wearing…Snoopy boxers and a blue t-shirt.

I am listening to…an old mix.

I am pondering…this quote from St Therese of Lisieux: “The insight of the most skilled doctors can’t compare to a mother’s heart.”  This is true, I have lived it with my own mother.  I can’t ever forget all I can do for my kids as their mother.  It is amazing to be “their everything” but it’s also scary because I don’t want to make mistakes.

I am praying…for gentleness, guidance, wisdom and peace.  Not always easy ones to achieve.

Did you know…school is out!  I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.  I know, I moan and groan a lot, but I love having my kids home with me where they belong.  I have been looking at the calendar trying to figure out if we can take a “big” vacation and I am already getting manic about August.  It seems like it is already here. Which leads me back to praying for that peace.  That sense of calming down so that I can enjoy my time with the boys.

The closest I can get No David to a corner.

And you can see he takes me so seriously.

Are all my days crazy…Yes and no.  We ran into someone who has known Lance for a while at the grocery store.  We had the four younger ones with us.  Baby Z didn’t want to sit in her car seat, and the boys were OUT OF CONTROL.  Goose landed on the floor four times before I finally put him in the cart.  He is almost 7.  It was one of the few times that I worried what people might be thinking.  By the time we left, I needed a drink.  And got one as soon as I got home.  That was at 12:30 this afternoon.

From the kitchen…menu planned.  I am trying three new recipes this week.  I am also in a baking mood.  Last week I made cinnamon scones.  The whole family loved them.  This week I am trying berry coffee cake.

To be fit and happy…I plan on working out, but No David has decided he doesn’t like the gym anymore.  All of my kids freak out at some point at the gym.  This just isn’t the best time for them to start since it’s going to be really crowded for the summer.

Around the house…my hair.  It sounds gross, and I guess it is.  After you have a baby you generally lose a bunch of hair after a few months.  Since my hair is so thick, the amount of hair around the house is out of control.  Squirt even insinuated that Lola, our dog, should move back inside because I was shedding more than her.

Also around the house…cleaning out that garage because it will be gone in a week.

I am thinking…about birthday plans for my July boys.  Will we have a big party?  Just family?  Goose hasn’t had a party with his friends in over two years so he will probably have a party this year.  I would love to combine the two, but I think Goose would like a Lazer Tag party.  No David will be three, I’m thinking a pool party for him.  Sometimes I feel like the laziest parent when it comes to parties for the kids.

Towards Rhythm and beauty…I think we’re settling into the rhythm that summer brings.  Lazy mornings, lazy nights.  That said, we’re not just doing nothing all day.  In an effort to get No David napping again, I am requiring two hour quiet time during the day.  No David will nap, the older three will read, (with Baby Hulk doing some handwriting too) and narrate what they have read.  Just a bit of Charlotte Mason for the boys.

I am creating…some minimal learning plans for the summer.  I am really interested in Charlotte Mason right now and want to encourage as much reading from quality books.  I have found a couple of “living books” for each of the boys to read.  I just informed Squirt, and he doesn’t seem to mind my plans for him.  🙂  Now to implement the reading plans during the day.

I am grateful for…the laughter of boys, the love they have for each other and their sister, the husband who gave me those kids, a friend who loves my biggest boy so much that she wants him to visit, a son who wants a job, loose teeth, No David and his wild ways and a girl who looks at me when you ask her where her mommy is.

One of my favorite things…No David.  He is not my easiest child.  If you cut his food, he screams.  When he gets hurt, he screams.  He doesn’t sleep much and now wants us to hold his hand so he can fall asleep.  BUT, he is so funny.  Last night, I was driving out to The Woodlands and the other two fell asleep.  Not No David, he amused himself by yelling at the cars on the highway.  He also loves his little sister.  So much so that he picks her up.  By her neck.  How to stop that move.  I am trying to stay calm, but it’s more than a bit dangerous to hold a baby by her neck, you know!

A few plans for the week…the gym, Super Saints, a playdate, Miller’s Outdoor Theater, family time with friends and a romantic dinner.

A picture thought I am sharing…