I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen…
— A.A. Milne

Sometimes, when I’m going through old papers and mail, I will come across a little slip of paper in my handwriting with a random quote on it from one of the children.  Every mama knows these priceless remarks are like treasures; glimpses into the mysterious worlds and thoughts of our children.

Now that I have a smart phone, the slips of paper documenting these quotable quotes are vanishing from the drawers and babybooks.  It’s easier to keep a running “note” using an app on my phone, and I find that I tend to record even more remarks from my wonderfully funny talkers.

Like these:

“MOM?  Can we go to Crackerbarrel?  The one that has those yellow eggs?  The ones that look just like those green eggs on ‘Green Eggs and Ham'”?  Only they’re yellow?  I WANT THOSE EGGS!”  ~Davy, at breakfast time.  (apparently we don’t have that kind at home?)

“MOM!  DAVID SAYS HE FEELS LIKE BITING SOMEONE!”  Grace, stuck in the backseat with three brothers (and how does that urge come upon one?)

“I wonder what Ethan will look like when he gets older.   Probably just like….. mom.”  Dave (poor, poor E)

“I just made a tent.  But.  Not with my bed thing.”  Caleb (I had told them to quit tearing their beds apart, so he felt he needed to clarify)

“Mom?  Hands are more valuable than your feet.” Dave (after he had jammed a finger) (he’s never jammed a toe)

This one is priceless:  “I know what I got bit from to!  A special bug butt!”  ~Caleb (that remark came out ALL wrong, huh, buddy?)

David was drinking milk and told us he thinks he “has a hole in his body tube.”  (I worried all day after this comment)

“HEY!  Give it my backpack me!”  Seth

“Help!  Where are me?” Seth, stuck in his shirt

“Everybody plug your nose!  There’s a bad breath in your mouth!”  Caleb (when we were all in the car together,  he smelled something bad)

David says he only burps in wide places “because those are the only places where the stink doesn’t build up.”  One only wishes he had this same rule with passing his gas.

Caleb told me there wasn’t a bit of east in his bread.

“East is that stuff that makes bread chewy.”  ~Caleb

David says he “has to get his spirit back.”  (he was groggy after his nap)

“Is it still spawning season?”  a thoughtful question out of the blue, from Dave (like. I would know???)

“Why does everybody keep leaning on my blues?”   Caleb, frustrated during a tv time, when the kids are usually sitting practically on top of each other.  (he meant BRUISE)  Oh, the drama!

“I’m outside down!”  Sarah, when I was tipping her backwards, playing.

“MOM!  Why did you cut it?  I wanted it on a BONE!”  Seth, unsatisfied with the hot dog that I cut up on his plate.

Grace and I went out on Saturday, with a stop at the Thrift store, Agway (for chicken feed), the fruit stand, and a yummy lunch—just the two of us. 

We found a darling little tea set.

Grace found a soft sweater for herself, and a cute blue t-shirt.  I bought two frames, and found a few things to decorate Sarah’s room with.  Her room is sage green and country blue, with dark pink accents.

I knew these pillows would look so pretty.

Isn’t this sweet?  I thought the little girl looked like Sarah might look in a few years.  Plus, she’s reading!

It’s a small picture, about the half the size of one of the pillows I purchased, perfect to hang on the wall in a cozy place (next to the bookshelf).

Have I mentioned that Rich is trying to train for a marathon?  We aren’t sure what will happen, because he’s been doing so much running that he now has an ankle that’s bothering him.  This weekend, he decided to go for a long bike ride, which is easier on the ankle.  He was gone for about half an hour before he called and told me he needed me to bring the truck and pick him up.  BOTH of his tires had gone flat!  LOL  Poor guy.  He was not happy.  He came home and went for a little jog instead, then felt bad about his ankle.  Hopefully it can heal up soon, but Rich isn’t one to lighten up even when he needs to.

Sarah asked, “Can you paint my pretty nails?” and after a her nap and a bath, I did.  Such girlie fun!

On one of our walks, I picked wild berries like flowers; not for eating, only for looking; purple, pink, red, speckles, loveliness.

On another walk, I had to take an umbrella. 

I always think the ponds look so pretty during a rain shower.  If it isn’t a thunderstorm, the children sometimes swim.

Rich found this airplane playground piece at Costco and just had to get it for the children.  He and Ethan spent time working in the garage, putting it together.

The selling point?  It has seven seats for seven children.

Jacob and Parker, our dog.

Sarah is quite smitten with Ethan lately.  In fact, the first thing she said this morning when I got her up was “I want E!”

I had to take a picture of an afternoon Crackers and Cheese Party…all seven are here together (Sarah is behind Caleb).  I normally do not allow eating in the livingroom, but they were watching a show and the rug needed to be vacuumed anyway…….  Rich and I had one of “those moments” as we enjoyed watching the kids wolf down THREE sleeves of Ritz crackers and one and a half blocks of cheddar cheese, just enjoying the moment, knowing someday they’ll be grown and gone, but so happy and proud that they are OURS.

On Saturday night, we had another emergency incident.  Last week, if you remember,Seth needed stitches.  This time, DAVID was on the floor, watching TV (at 9pm, no less) and felt something in his eye.  When I looked at it, the white of his eye was turning pink and swelling up fast.  Rich tried washing his eye out but it kept on swelling (all but the iris, which looked sunken in!) so he whisked him away to the ER.  Since it was his eye, and his precious vision, we didn’t want to wait.  At exam, he had nothing in his eye, no scratches, and the doctor believed it was an allergy.  Since then, I have found a few of my friends have had this happen to their kids, too, so I think he just had a bad reaction to something.  They were back after midnight.

The next morning, we missed church because Dave slept and slept, until 10.  By that time, I was pacing around, nervous, NEEDING TO SEE THAT EYE.  Thankfully, when he got up it was normal sized, only very sore looking.  I hugged him and said in my dramatic way, “What do you want for breakfast, I’ll make you anything you want.”  PANCAKES, it was.  We had a 10:00 Sunday morning pancake breakfast (the second breakfast for the six other children!).

Therefore, on Sunday night when Rich said, “Are you going out with me tonight?”  I said, “No, I don’t want to leave the children.  Someone might get hurt.”

He knew what to reply.  “I wanted to go to the bookstore.”  Smart man.

“Okay.” I quickly agreed.

We had Panera for dinner.

Then, we browsed the bookstore and were still home by 7:30.  It was a nice little date.  AND NO ONE GOT HURT.

We actually had a second little date on Labor Day, the day I told myself I wasn’t going to spend cleaning and cooking, but I did anyway.  By the time *that afternoon cup of coffee was calling*, I asked Rich if he wanted to go downtown for a coffee treat.  Seth and Sarah were put to bed for naps, the others were told to go downstairs and play quietly, and we went downtown and got coffees and DRANK THEM IN THE PARK!

It was very very nice, we sat under a tree together in the shade and it was so very lovely.

The children are back in school today, and it’s going so well.  They’ve had two full days of it and are happy.  Jacob doesn’t see Ethan during the day but he likes knowing he’s in the same building (“it’s more homey” he said).  Ethan is doing great, he and Jacob have joined Cross Country, their first school sport, and are already in the “fast group”.  David said that school is “going great”.  His new teacher is a lady (a man last year).  He gets to start an instrument this year.  Caleb is happy but believes the day is too long.  “We had two Maths!  Two!”  He prefers recess outside.  Grace is the least enthusiastic so far, but she is fine and calm and looking forward to singing in Chorus and Select Choir.

We had last year to get used to school (after homeschooling for five) and this year they seem very confident.  I am so proud of them.

As for me, I absolutely love having some extra space and time for Seth and Sarah, and my own interests.  I can breathe again. 

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Half an hour ago if someone told me I’d be blogging in a quiet house I would have said, “You’re crazy!” 

I was frazzled…trying to find Caleb’s shoes, Ethan’s missing schedule, a missing lunchbox, labeling Caleb’s stuff, making sure EVERYONE got baths, etc, etc.

Today was the last day of summer vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted it to be magical, something special and sweet.

For the most part, it wasn’t.  For me, those feelings are gone away somewhere.  I’m TIRED!  There is so much to do and keep track of this week, I feel like it’s all too much!

But, I tried to make it at least a little bit better than an ordinary day.  We went out for ice cream and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.

I carried my camera around, hoping that it would help me find those thankful moments…….

The stream was cold today!

Seth is doing great.  I’ve looked at his stitches, they look awful.  (as in, I don’t like seeing them in my baby) but he’s healing nicely and is acting normal.

“I think I’m too big for this swing, the whole playset is creaking”  This, after 15 minutes of trying to move the swing down a few notches and get it level.

Goldenrod by white birch, so lovely (it was a gorgeous day!  bright blue skies, cool breezes)

David started making this fort all by himself.  He didn’t want any help whatsoever, and he didn’t want me hanging flowers off it, either.

The time in the woods was the best part of the day.  Seth woke up from his nap and found us, I mean ME, and I just loved holding him in my arms.

Grace was by my side.

I even had my coffee with me.

Ethan worked on a fort, too.

Ethan starts high school tomorrow morning.  (ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!)  It really does seem like just the other day he was my baby boy.  How I love him.

As soon as Jacob got home from work, he showered and we all went downtown for ice cream and the playground.

They had a lot of fun on the see saw.

Back home, we had hot dogs and marshmallows.  And struggled a great deal with the fire.

Grace got a hold of the camera and I was so happy to see that I didn’t LOOK as frazzled as I felt on the inside.

Sarah did not like the roasted marshmallow at all.  She finally (after holding the one bite in her mouth for 10 minutes) spit it out on the ground.

The summer went by fast.  We’ve had such a good time together.  I’m sad it’s over.

As I sit here, thinking, I’m wondering if those “frazzled” feelings are really sadness in disguise.  The beginning of a new school year has a way of reminding me that time is marching on.

Three year old Seth is sad because he is not allowed to run around today, but he wants to.

He has a head injury.

He and his big brother have a game they like to play.  They go out on the big porch with the dog and run up and down and all around as fast as they can.

It was an accident waiting to happen and yesterday it happened.  While Seth was running full speed with the dog, he fell and hit his forehead on the porch railings.

His forehead split open, an inch long gash that showed forehead guts and bled all over.

Rich and sister helper Grace took him to the ER right away, as Seth was sleepy and subdued which worried us more than the cut.

When the doctor held up one finger, Seth said there were two.

He had a catscan to check his brain.

Thankfully, his brain was fine.

He had his cut stitched up, with five nice stitches.

They put a real big bandaid on him.

Then, he had a red popcycle.

“They fixed me.” he said.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  inspired by soulemama

This picture totally cracks me up.  We were getting ready to go somewhere, and as it was pretty early, Jacob was drinking coffee.  I went out to hop in the driver’s seat and found this power struggle going on between the firstborn (who thinks he can kick people out of “HIS” seat) and the second born (who wants a turn riding shotgun and is not the least impressed by Jacob’s imagined authority over the rest of the siblings).  No one would budge, and they weren’t even talking, until I arrived to be arbitrator. 

It was the start of a glorious morning.  (ha ha)

This summer, although we LOVE our home and yard and woods, the children and I have felt the need to go do something else now and then.

But what? 

Something that all seven children like, is this possible? 

Something free, fun, and local.

Someplace that allows for running around for the children, and a bench for me to sit and read.

On a whim one day, I stopped at the playground at the school and was pleasantly surprised to discover that my older ones still managed to have a good time!

They made up their own game; “let’s see who can get around the whole playground without touching any walkways, just climbing on the tops of rails and such.”

When we went on Friday, I also joined in the fun because we were at a place that had a wide wooden edging around the whole play area…wide enough to be a balance beam, so I practiced full turns and cartwheels!

If they don’t want to play, they can sit with me in the shade.  I scratched tired Grace’s back that day, too, under a tree.  She was like a contented kitten.

It’s been so good for little Sarah’s coordination.  When we first started going, she could barely get herself around and now she’s a pro…and she LOVES it.

She calls it the “grayground” for some reason.

Yes, it’s a great place to be for the LITTLE ONES;

AND THE BIG ONES!

I love this picture of Jacob and Gracie.  It just hits me. 

Question.  I was at the thrift store the other day and found this gadget in the kitchen utensils.  Can anyone tell me what this is?  And, is it useful?

“As a freshman in medical school I had been randomly selected as class photographer and given a camera to take pictures for the yearbook.  I took pictures for four years.  At first I felt burdened by the responsibility, the need to carry the heavy camera with me to class, to remember to look at things.  But in time, the camera caused me to see my ordinary surroundings far more clearly, to become aware of beauty around me in some very unlikely places.  It had given me new eyes.”

~Rachel Naomi Remed, M.D. in her book Kitchen Table Wisdom

When I came across this quote in my reading, it resonated with me because that is exactly what has happened to me through the years as I use my camera.  There are many days when my Nikon D40x just sits in it’s bag, but there are far more days when it’s along for the ride.  I adore documenting my life in this way, through photography, and I have honestly grown to appreciate more of the ordinary details of living, in seeing it through the lens of my camera.  Each shutter click is a “thank you”.

The following are some “thank you” moments from this weekend.  (during a short trip home)

On our four hour trip to NY, the sky was stunning.  I took photo after photo, most of which were eventually deleted until only my favorites remained.

Beautiful!

On Saturday morning, we took the children to a big park for an hour or so.  When it was time to leave, we made them line up for directions.  We often do this, so that the younger ones learn to listen and have a chance to figure out what’s going on next in our crazy family.

Caleb, Grace, and Ethan are all looking at their Dad, ready to hear the plan.

New York farmland, oh how we love it.

When we arrived at my parent’s house, we settled right in to bake and prepare snacks and lunch.

Grace took this picture.

The children played and explored.  David set up Dominoes in the garage.  He played croquet with Ethan.  Caleb found the lego bin.  Sarah played with the play kitchen things.

Dad, Dave, and Jacob talked and laughed so much, it was just the best time.  Dave was teaching them some of his crazy-hard work out exercises.

Rich enjoyed a run, like he usually does.  We all talked and visited.

Sarah found a book that had lift flaps in it, each one had a kitty underneath the flap.  Her Uncle Dave screeched out a big “MEEEEE OW” when she looked under one, and she thought it was the funniest thing ever.

On our way up to Lion’s grave, Dad carried the box of flowers and two grand-boys.

Uncle Dave carried Sarah and held Brutus’ leash.

My husband

Later on, after lunch, Mom and I took Caleb, Seth, and Sarah for a walk through the farmland that they own, that used to be my grandparent’s.

Memories abounded, as these places were my own play areas as a young girl.  Just smelling the air alone made me teary eyed.

I’m so thankful that we can still visit as much as we can.

Sarah took off her shoes and socks so she could do what Seth was doing; walk down the creek bed in barefeet.

This picture looks peaceful but she was babbling along (like a creek) as she walked.

“I’m just walking.  I can just do it myself.  Ooooo, I almost falled.  Wait for me!  Oh!  Ugh! Ouch!”  etc.

We saw a toad and put him in a hole that we found in a maple tree.

We also saw something that I really wanted to see, an orange newt.  We don’t have them where we live now, but I always saw them as a child. 

NOT the best picture of the newt.  Sarah was gripping it good.

Happiness is finding a mushroom that matches your blouse.

Happiness of another, better sort, is your much loved cousin finding you in the woods (thanks to Dad’s help).

On Saturday night we did eat the pizza Rich was craving, but alas, no pictures of that adventure. 

For two nights, we slept in a hotel.  Rich had his own room, with the sons. 

I had my own room, with the daughters.

Despite arguements of how “unfair” it was from the older boys, to have 6 in one room, and 3 in the other, it really was best that way.

The guys had guy time.  They order pizza late at night, and went swimming late on the second.

We girls read books and this one fooled around until 10pm.  It’s amazing how wild they get in a hotel; too excited?

Next morning, I just had to take a picture of these beautiful girls of mine. 

Grace with her kindle.  Sarah with her book Jamberry .

Then she got up and proceede to make coffee. “I’m MAKIN’ COFFEE MOM!”  “It’s for Sarah.”  “I’m just makin’ coffee now.”

Sunday was spent heading home.

We stopped for subs and drove around in the backwoods of Massechusetts trying to find a perfect picnic spot at a park.  We ended up five miles up a mountain, following signs, but finally giving up, only to eat our picnic in a gravel parking lot with three Spanish speaking four-wheel riders parked near us.  And NO field anywhere in sight, in which to play catch and run off energy. 

We ate and moved on……and arrived home, safe and sound, on Sunday afternoon.