I’ve taken my older children to OSV (a “bringing History alive” old timey village) so many times that they got sick of it.  But, I personally love that place so yesterday I went and renewed my membership just for ME.   I did, of course, have my two youngest ones with me, but the others were at school. 

What a gorgeous morning to go, too.  As I buckled them into their carseats I cautioned wriggling, talking Seth, “And please behave yourself!  Is that even possible?”  “No.” was his all too quick answer.  Oh Seth, besides getting lost that one time, you did just fine.  xoxo

The beauty was good for my soul.  Yellow flowers against a white picket fence.

Heirloom tomatoes sitting in a sunbeam

Sitting by the water

covered bridge detail

first braid ever

we saw big horses and thought of sister Grace

a little red calf

After admiring huge black pigs things started going predictably downhill.  It was hot and Sarah just couldn’t walk anymore.  I picked her up and as we went past the apple trees a bee flew over and stung her right on the back of the neck.  You can imagine how the poor dear cried.  It did hurt, so bad.  I walked as fast as I could with her in my arms and tried to keep Seth with us.  We made our way to the eating place where I pumped them full of jello, yogurt, an orange, and (oh my) COKE for lunch.  Sarah perked up, who wouldn’t, with all that sugar.  Every once in a while she would say, “Ow!Ow! my head!”  “I know, you were stung by a bad bee, weren’t you, Sarah?”  “Yes” (pitifully).

We carried our coke to the long promised “grayground” (Sarah’s word for playground) and when another bee flew over I screamed, “A BEEEEE” which made Seth run and grab my leg and I’m sure caused some other visitors some alarm over that “crazy mother”.  I was just on edge, okay?  No stings this time.

I sat and they played.

They turned into sheep.  The cutest sheep in the universe, I’d say.

After wearing them and myself completely out it was time to go.  But no, Seth just had to run off and get himself lost. I had assumed he was following me and when I turned around (with big Sarah in my arms and my big purse over my shoulder, and the sweat running down) he wasn’t there.  After an eternity five minutes, I found him at the soda machine and he had wet his pants.  He thought he had found the bathroom and ran to the door only to find that it wasn’t one. 

With wet and jello covered pants, and a sting upon her neck, we buckled up again and made our way back home.

They didn’t even wake up when I stopped to get my pumpkin coffee at the Dunkin’ Donuts drive thru.

Makin’ memories with the young ones and going out for an adventure in perfect September weather = priceless.

Even if I’m still tired out today.

“A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.”

Oh dear, look what Sarah was doing while I was working in the kitchen this morning.  I had to take a break from the dishes and wash a window. 

While I was washing the window, they went to the kitchen sink.

.

And then I got to mop the floor.  It’s so nice having helpers.

After our chores were half way done (or, undone), we went outside to let out the chickens and then we played in the stream.

I made a nature discovery.  I would love to know what the name of this “growth” is. 

It’s an orange cluster of jelly covered tiny balls.  And perhaps the two big balls grew up from the small ones?  Anyway the balls are similar to a mushroom, (and maybe it is a kind of mushroom.) 

When I pushed on it, it did this.  A puff of powder came out.  I just think this sort of thing is so interesting. 

The glowing woods reflected in the still water of the stream.

I thought this batch of mushrooms looked like pancakes.

Today was Jacob and Ethan’s very first school sport competition ever.  They had a cross country meet and the parents had to bring a dessert.  I made a quadruple batch of raspberry bars.

I tasted one when they were done and it was disappointedly bland.  Then I realized I had accidentally left out the vanilla in the topping.  What to do?  They truly needed something.

I decided to sprinkle them all with cinnamon sugar and then they were just fine.

Funny thing is, Jacob knew I made them just by the taste (he didn’t see what I brought)…..he said they tasted like something I would make.

I don’t know if it was all the fresh air at the stream, or the busyness of catching up on housework, but I was so drowsy this afternoon that I took a little nap on the couch while Seth played a game on my phone right by my side. 

When I got up, Seth discovered that the dog brought us another nature find.  David immediately adopted it when he got home from school and now it’s on top of the fridge in his little dish.

Because the dog dropped him on the welcome mat, I named him Dogmouth.

Dogmouth is a tiny new snapping turtle that doesn’t even have his eyes open yet.  Dogmouth was taken to the cross country meet with us.

I could kick myself for forgetting to take my big camera to the meet.  I was in such a rush trying to get four little ones in the vehicle so I could pick up Grace from middle school after her chorus practice and forgot the camera.  So I had to use my iphone.  This was a picture (above) of Ethan getting ready to line up and race.  There were about 80 boys running from three schools.  Jacob finished 27th and Ethan finished 43rd.  But the amazing part was Ethan’s finish.  He was just behind another racer from a different school.  When a boy gets to the finish line, a girl at the line holds out a card with the number he placed.  Well, E got his eyes on that card and just fought for it….ran as fast as he could, and just at the last split second, with a crazy look in his eyes, grabbed that card before the other boy even knew what “hit” him.  We couldn’t believe it.  I almost peed my pants.  I’ve never seen a look of competitiveness anything like that on Ethan’s face.  I said to him, “I bet you weren’t even thinking about what you were doing you were so focused!”  And he said, “I was thinking THAT’s MINE.  That is MY CARD.”

Well done, boys.  Dad and Mom are very proud of you.

David, Caleb, and Seth spent time rolling down the hill.

Seth scraped his elbow and a nice lady gave him ice and a lollipop.

Sarah stayed close and held on to my legs.

Grace stood with a circle of girls and talked.

The parents stood on the top of the hill, talking, laughing and watching their kids run in the race.

It was a lovely evening.  Even if I did come home with a headache.  What a day.  Full, just full.  I love my life.

I have a WIP! 

I love reading my friend Dawn’s blog.  She’s a crafty sort, always doing something with her hands, creating.  She will often show “wips” on her site and at first I thought a wip was some kind of sewing technique, but it really means “WORK IN PROGRESS”! 

So, what is Shanda’s work in progress?  Knitting a dishcloth?  Crocheting mittens?  Sewing a quilt?  Perhaps Cross Stitch?

Noooooooo, although I would love to do any one of those things, my current WIP is my DARLING DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM!

How can one girl make such a messy-mess?  She is not a neat freak.  I wish I had taken “before” pictures, really I do.

I’ve been walking in and out of her room for days, working up the proper spirit for tackling the project.  This morning, I began.

At first glance, things don’t appear to be too bad.  I admit, the room has potential.  However, I need to re-hang her curtains.  Also, there are a bunch of toys and clothes that need to be sorted.  She loves to pick up frames from the thrift store, but I noticed today that she has no pictures in them.  We need to take down the snowflakes off the wall and use framed horse or cat pictures, instead.  I found Bitty Baby in Grace’s cedar chest and put her back on the bed where she belongs.  (mama can’t let the doll get put away just yet).

Things I like:  1. The suitcase standing under the nightstand.  It holds her small toys (mostly horses).  2.  The color of the walls.  A bit bright, but it’s in good shape so we’ll work with it.  3. The horse and cat theme, it’s what she loves.

On the opposite wall from the bed there are books.  This is where things get a little more cluttered.  Her books were all over the place on the shelves and I spent some time standing them all back in their rows.  I also pulled out the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and put them in a box for the garage.  I am starting a “donate these books” bag that I will have to hide from her because she never ever ever wants to give away any book.  I plan on asking her if we can put the cat bed someplace else….I’ve never seen a cat in it and it ends up collecting more clutter.  The yellow tin holds all her hair things and the “HUGGIES” diaper box is FULL to the brim with all her papers.  Grace is a writer and has bazillions of papers with lists, stories, etc, that she doesn’t want to part with.  She’ll need to go through the box and make decisions about what to keep and what to throw away.  We’ll put the rest in binders.  I want to do a different shelving system on the wall.  I love this look from PB teen, and think maybe Rich could copy it for me in his “spare time”.  Here’s hoping!

*photo from pbteen website

This is the biggest challenge.  Grace used to have mirror doors on her closet but they broke.  I need to either order more sliding doors or put up a curtain.  I thought about leaving it open, but I think it would be more soothing to have the stuff in the closet hidden, especially with the bookcases against the other wall.  Today I started putting the stuffed animals together on a shelf, and I also stacked some extra books in there, too.  I pulled out a bunch of clothes that are too small or childish (no more pretty Sunday frou-frou dresses for my almost 13 year old.  That was so two years ago!)  The dresser is rather small but has to stay, as it is a family heirloom for Grace from her Great Grandma.  She has a lot of closet space so I want to hang most of the clothes up or use containers to store other pieces.

She’ll be home from school soon and I can’t wait to show her what I’ve started.   And put her to work. 

As we continue on her room, I would love to know:

What was your favorite thing about your childhood bedroom?  I shared a room with my sis, and I loved our wallpaper, hanging up lots of posters (cats and gymnastics), and having my very own phone.  Even though the phone sometimes got me into trouble! 

 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