Sleeping on Friday……..

Oh. my. word.

This morning has been C-R-A-Z-Y busy.  If it wasn’t one thing (like Sarah crying or Sarah needing a change or Sarah needing to be nursed again) it was another (like Seth crying or Seth needing a change or Seth needing a sippy cup or Caleb getting hurt or Grace needing her hair fixed or Jacob needing to tell me information about Big Foot or the dog pooping in Grace’s room or the garbage never getting to the road or Ethan needing instruction, etc, on and on like a fast moving song).

I’m sitting here exhausted and rubbing my eyes but I am determined to catch up on my blog this morning.  It’s lunchtime now, actually.

Jacob, Ethan, and Grace went to their friends’ house today.  I had Ethan take the dog to his house and tie him up before they left.  I’ve been busy with Sarah mostly, it’s been one of those mornings where the baby was tired but the baby wouldn’t sleep.  Every time I put her down she would be awake and crying in five minutes.  She’s in bed now but since I started this blog I’ve run downstairs 2 times to make sure she was still asleep.

At one point I got her down to bed, started taking care of Seth, and the dog starting barking continuously so I had to go get him and walk him.  I had David keep Seth in the sandbox outside (I was able to keep my eyes on them as I walked the dog) and they had fun there, with Caleb, too.

It’s been so hot here, and humid, for the last few days.  This morning there is a welcome relief from the humidity and there is a nice breeze.

My dryer broke.  I’ve had it since Rich and I were first married.  He bought it for me.  I remember one time I was in the basement of our first house, doing laundry.  I carefully wiped down the dryer, cleaning it up from the lint and dust, I was in my own little world working away… and when I turned around, I saw that Rich was watching me.  He had a look on his face that I haven’t forgotten, like he was proud of me, watching me work, being married to me.  That was probably 14 years ago now.  So the dryer has died and I’m sad about it because I’ve been using it constantly for all these years.

But it’s been beautiful weather to hang clothes out on the line.  I enjoy doing it, too—the work outdoors, the smell of the clothes, using clothes pins, seeing the clothes blow back and forth, the feeling of using a scratchy towel that had dried on the line, and the feeling of accomplishment in a job well done.

Snoozing on Saturday

Dreaming on Monday

Yesterday I went out by myself with all seven children for the first time.  We went……..(drumroll please)….TO THE LIBRARY, of course!  LOL  It was so busy at the library now that it is summer vacation.  Sarah was crying by the time we got there so I sat right down on the couch with a big blanket (from Angie) and nursed her.  I sat there for a few minutes and then thought “where in the world is Seth” and had to have David find him for me. “He was making a NEW FRIEND.  A baby boy JUST LIKE HIM.” David said, when he brought him to me, with pride.  Seth messed his diaper while we were there.  Jacob needed help finding books.  He ended up getting a Guinness Book of World Records, and a couple of books about BIG FOOT.  He is really into Big Foot information now.  I think its the mystery that intrigues him, and scaring himself silly.  I notice they don’t go into the woods very often any more. 

Jacob is getting over poison ivy rash.  He has been so itchy.  That may be part of the reason why he’s not going on the woods, too, come to think of it.

One of Ethan’s quirks is that he likes to eat plants outside.  While I was helping Jacob yesterday w/his books, Ethan was hovering around us with Seth on his hip.  All of a sudden, Ethan said, “I found the PERFECT BOOK FOR ME!” And Ethan doesn’t normally say things like that.  The book is a big hardcover called EDIBLES and it’s about edible plants out in nature.  I laughed and laughed.  Yes, E, and hopefully after you study that book you will not eat anything that will make you sick.

I also got about 20 FREE Little Golden Books at the library from their “free box”…all books that I didn’t have in my collection!  It was exciting.  Also, the library gave Sarah a gift:  A bag with a book in it and an application for her first library card.  It made me laugh, it’s so precious.  I thought it was very nice of them to do that for her.  They even took down her name and wrote her age (four weeks now!).

We got a package in the mail yesterday.  And even though it was 91 degrees with 69% humidity, Sarah still really appreciated her new blanket from Uncle David and Aunt Maria.

I think it is the perfect size for her to carry around with her when she is a little older.  I like the colors, too, a soothing off-white and that pretty yellow edge.  THANKS DAVE AND MARIA!

Rich took the kids out last night for an hour and a half.  They went to the school track and ran.  All of them ran.  J, E, G, and D all went three miles and C went one and a half miles!  Rich was so proud of them.  Seth stayed home with me so he could go to bed at 8, and when Rich got home I was up with Sarah.  We passed each other by the door…I was coming out of our room and he was going in, when he stopped me to admire Sarah, who was sound asleep on my shoulder.  “Oh, Shan I wish you could see how sweet she looks.  Can I take a picture?  Where is your camera?”

And this was the picture he took:

We first met each other in the halls of public high school.  And now we have our own home and our own babies and he’s taking pictures of me and I love him so much. 

Early this morning:

While I nursed the baby, I caught up on some of your blogs and then Seth woke up and Jacob got him for me.  Last night I could not find his suckie anywhere so I had to let him borrow Sarah’s.  They’ll be swapping germs soon enough I guess they might as well start now.  Of course I will wash it before I let Sarah have it back but doesn’t Seth look funny with the pink?!  As you can see, Sarah can lift lift her head up and wobble it around now.  Grace took the pictures.

Seth actually drools and spits when he kisses.  You know that smacking noise we all make when we kiss?  He thinks it’s because we spit so he does it that way.  It’s just the most disgusting thing.  If I try to stop him from kissing her he gets upset and cries.

blissfully covered in babies……

Where ever I go, he goes.  Together forever.  best buddies.  my little side kick.  Yeah, I’m holding Sarah, too.  Same goes for her……(together forever, etc)……

Asleep on Tuesday……

Awake and screaming on Tuesday (five minutes after the asleep picture was taken!)

I love that all I have to do is touch her and start picking her up and saying her name, and she stops crying almost immediately.  She melts in my arms.  She’s safe there, and she knows it.

God is so close to me during these moments.  I’m so thankful for Him and I can talk to Him anytime, and thank Him for all the goodness He gives every day.

And when I am busy, I know He is watching over my family and is in control of every situation, big or small.  Every good thing comes from Him…and even when Rich’s arms around around me and he’s stroking my hair, I shut my eyes and thank God for the great love He shows me, through my husband.

The blue sky is His love.  The running water is His love.  The sun is His love.  The children are His love.  My friends are His love.  The love I give out to my family is His love, too.

How can I keep from smiling?

Blessings to you all, my friends!  Enjoy the day!

Love~Shanda