All of the glamour.

Nothing says, "Wow, motherhood is so glamorous" like a 10:30 pm wakeup call that is the unmistakable sound of everything that has gone into the stomach of your three year old over the course of the past 24 hours as it hits the floor (and the walls and the bathroom door)...and every piece of bedding in the room. And so most of Monday night and Tuesday were spent on puke duty with one very pitiful Mara. Most of the time she wanted to be held, and frankly that was the best method to keep from having to clean the entire house...because apparently when you are three, the concept of hitting the yuck bucket isn't a natural one if left to your own devices. So I didn't go far. She did sleep for a while in the afternoon which allowed me some time to prep dirt pudding cups for Joshua's Easter party at school for Wednesday.  But a glamorous day, it was certainly not. 

 

 

Easter celebrations are in full swing here, and the kids are really having a great time. We colored eggs the other night, and most of them have already been eaten. I swear Lauren is going to turn into a hard boiled egg one of these days. Or have very high cholesterol at the rate she devours eggs of all varieties. 

And this past Saturday, we headed to our church's egg hunt dressed more for a snowball fight than for an Easter egg hunt. We had a nice dusting of snow that morning and it was so cold. But the kids didn't seem to mind much. 

It is always a good day when we can cross paths with some of our favorite people on the whole planet. Mine may have already consumed 17 Tootsie Rolls judging by Mara's smile because apparently I have no control over them getting into their eggs and stuffing their faces full of sugar. 

Lots more fun and hopefully lots more pictures coming after our trip to Nana and Pap's house tomorrow and fun with Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday after church. 

Noticing

Today started out badly no matter how you define it. I had "stayed up" later  than usual last night-- and by that I mean I fell asleep on the couch downstairs around 10 instead of 9. So getting up was painful. And since I had agreed to help at the book fair at school this morning my get ready routine had to be at warp speed. And I think we will all agree that those two things alone are a recipe for disaster. In all of my rushing, which included backpacks, coats, emptying the dishwasher, drying my hair, getting my makeup done, finishing packing Joshua's lunch, preparing a cupcake for him for a snack today while the rest of his class had cupcakes that were brought from someone else's home, feeding and dressing three kids, and starting two crockpots of roast beef with noodles (one for our supper and one for a family who is grieving a devastating loss), I neglected breakfast for myself. It was 7:25-- we needed to be out the door at 7:35 at the absolute latest.  But I scrambled myself some egg beaters, grabbed a banana and made a cup of coffee to go. I was thrilled that the kids were in the car and ready to go at 7:34 and I made my final sweep through the house to kiss Mara's sweet little head one more time for the day and grab my breakfast to gobble down on the way. I took one step onto the garage steps and immediately fell to the ground, after bouncing down both of the stairs on my left hip, tossing my coffee, scrambled eggs, shoes and my dignity into the air.  I did what anyone in my position would have done. I cried. Sobbed really. Like a good, ugly, cathartic cry that cleans your soul from the inside out. 

Upon seeing the scrambled eggs flying like confetti both Joshua and Lauren came running. And this is when I started taking notice to things today. 

Josh and Lauren took my hands and helped me up, asking no less than a thousand times if I was OK.

We made it to school on time...albeit barely...but Joshua told me he would use me as his prayer request this morning in school. And he did, too, because when each of his classmates saw me at the book fair they asked if I was alright and told me they had prayed for me. They're 8. 

On the way down the steps to take Lauren into her class, we watched a little boy-- the most difficult one in her class-- the one most people are more annoyed with than patient-- trip down the steps and begin to cry. We were able to check on him and tell him that I had just done the same thing at home, and both had a good giggle over it.

I got to sit this morning and talk with another mom, also volunteering at the book fair, who has recently lost her grandmother-- and is deep in sadness over that loss. I wish I wasn't so familiar with it, but I thank God that I was there in that moment for her. And I have prayed for her all day today. 

When I returned home with a list a mile long tonight, Lauren declared that she wanted to make a special surprise for me. When I was finally allowed to look, I came into the kitchen to find that she had set the "table" for us, all of her own doing.  I don't know why she picked the island and not one of two actual tables to eat on, but it didn't matter to me one bit. She even moved the felt and pipe cleaner flowers that I have sitting on another counter so we would have a centerpiece. 

After supper, we got showerd and I was putting laundry away while the kids were washing. Lauren has assumed the position of helper for Mara, so I put them in our shower while Joshua used the kids' bathroom. It wasn't long before I heard this little exchnge take place. 

Lauren:  Mara,we need to hurry up in here, OK?

Mara:  Why?  Because you want to tuddle?

Lauren:  Yes, I want to make sure we have time to cuddle with Mommy before bedtime. 

Mara: (always the classy one of the bunch)  Hey sissy, I just tooted twietwy.

And then they giggled. They had no idea I was listening. 

And so that is just what we did to end this day. All four of us piled on the couch for some snuggles and prayers and then I put them all to bed. 

I don't think I will have an ounce of trouble filling my grateful journal's five spots for tonight. Because when I focus on noticing...really looking...God's hand is at work in every circumstance. Even tossed scrambled eggs at 7:34 am. 

GREAT Weekend!

After a very tough week last week which included the loss of our dog, Watson, who Jason discovered had passed in his bed in our room on Thursday afternoon, we all needed a much happier weekend.  Luckily, it seemed to work out that way. 

Friday night we spent in the kitchen making a very special supreme pizza lasagna (Pioneer Woman recipe...my absolute fave) to share with aunt Libby and Uncle Zig and the girls on Saturday. We also baked a cake for dessert and had a few good laughs. Before I knew it, it was bedtime and I finished my cooking in peace and quiet after everyone else went to bed. I must say, cooking in a quiet kitchen was a real treat, and not one I am used to. 

Saturday and Sunday were firefighter training days for Jason, so the kids and I had a lot of one on three time. But we were busy beavers on Saturday morning spiffing the place up for the Wrays' arrival. And by spiffing up, what i am really saying is that we scrubbed the footprints off of our floors and cleaned toothpaste globs out of the sink. Because...gross me out. We put away about seven baskets of laundry that had piled up in the bedroom throughout the week and everyone was pleased to not have to go rummaging on a treasure hunt to find two socks that matched any more. I mean, these people I love are soooo picky. 

In the afternoon, the Upward Green Wave concluded their season with a nice win. This group has been fun to watch, and their coaches were outstanding. I am sorry to say that this week's practice included a parents vs kids scrimmage that I had to participate in because of Jason's fire training class.  I think he may owe me big for that one. It may require jewelry. Josh was so excited about Lib and Zig and the girls being there to see him play. And Mara and Lauren were thrilled to have Brooke and Hayden there to play and giggle with during the game. 

They came back to our house for playing and dinner, and I just have to day that it is times like that when I wish my sister lived in the same town. I wish it a lot, but I definitely felt that way with this visit. While they were here, Mara somehow got it in her mind that she was going home with them.  As they were packing up, she grabbed her coat and waa ready to go. Inwish Inwas exaggerating but a full 30 minute tantrum ensued when I told her no. 

This morning we made it out to sunday school and church, and then headed to a birthday party at the Sunset Skating Rink in Shamokin Dam. None of the kids had ever skated before, and I am fairly certain it has been close to 20 years since I have.  Nothing flashes you back to the early 90's like an afternoon at the skating rink-- and today was certainly no exception.  The kids took to it better than I had anticipated, although the fact that the girls were in the Fisher Price skates that only roll forward certainly didn't hurt.  Joshua struggled a bit-- with arms and legs flailing all over the place for the first hour or so that we were there.  I felt a bit like I was watching the falling montage on America's Funniest Home Videos because the number of times that he fell down in close succession had me a little concerned that I might pee my pants.  I was quite pleased that I managed to skate for three hours without a single fall, and that both of the girls remained mostly vertical during our skate.  Lauren skated on her own most of the time, and Mara insisted on holding my hand the whole time.  I loved having the afternoon to spend with them.

We have all ended the weekend in our sweats, on the couch, cuddled together under a blanket.  Dinner was leftover lasagna from last night--- the gift that just keeps on giving.  Sounds like heaven to me.

How to spend a snowy Sunday.

When I heard that we were expecting a snow storm on Sunday, I had my mind set on a day at home. As the forecasts seemed to be zeroing in on the fact that we would, in fact, get some snow, I had a whole bunch of things on my mental to-do list.  When the alarm went off on Sunday morning at our usual get-up-for-church time of 5:09 (The clock is set 9 minutes fast to allow me to snooze once before getting up...which is pretty ridiculous since I KNOW this and factor it into my thinking.  This is the cause of many conversations between me and Jason.  He doesn't get it-- and hates like heck that he can never tell what time it is on our bedroom clock.  But I digress.) I could already see the flakes flying and decided that we wouldn't be trying to go to church.

 

After my shower, I donned my Sunday afternoon/evening uniform-- sweats and a tshirt-- and headed downstairs to get to work on that list.  Coffee first, of course.  If it is snowing, you can bet that the top priority on my list is absolutely, always cooking.  And generally, baking.  Apparently in my mind, if you're eating on a snowy day, there are no calories in your food.  I blame my mother for this-- because every single time it snowed when I was little, I have a distinct memory of her making rice pudding and it smelling delicious in the oven.  Oddly enough, I have never once made rice pudding.  But I bet my Mom made some lately.  I started gathering ingredients and realized that I had not nearly enough raisins for the cookies I was planning to make for Joshua's Expo at school next week.  And so I had to venture out...a whole mile to the itty bitty grocery store in Turbotville...for more raisins.  Upon going out, I realized two things.  First, it was not even 8:00 and I had gotten so much done at the house that it felt like 11.  Why is it, then, that when I get up at the exact same time every other Sunday morning, it is nearly impossible for us to get out of the house for church on time?  I do not understand this.  Secondly, while driving home from the store, I realized that the roads weren't bad at all, and if I hustled (and inspired some pep into the steps of the kids) we could still get dressed and make it to church in time for the 10:30 service.

 

(Looking back at that paragraph, I realize that I am narrating this story as though it is a "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" book.  Perhaps I have read that book too many times.)

 

And so we went to church.  It was wonderful...albeit sparsely attended due to the weather.  It was also a bit surreal as we were singing Christmas carols and learning about the birth of Jesus.  As we have worked through The Story curriculum, we have finally made it out of the Old Testament.  That learning has been really good for me, and extremely eye opening.  There were just a lot of things that I wasn't aware of-- stories that I knew, but didn't know the chronology of it.  Or stories I just plain didn't know.  So to say that this whole thing has been a very worthwhile use of time is an understatement.  But the fact that, on March 1st, we were studying the Christmas story and singing Christmas music was a little odd at first.  But I will say, it was quite nice to be able to listen and soak in the sermon without the stress of it being Christmas Eve, or the exhaustion of it being the Sunday before or Sunday after Christmas. 

 

The kids had all sorts of ideas about what to do when we got home.  I was all for it-- because remember, the list.

 

They began their escapades with some play in the snow time.  Playing in the snow this year has taken on a real joy in that Joshua is big enough to keep an eye on the girls, and Mara is big enough to be able to be watched by Joshua and by me through periodic peeks through the windows.  She is following rules relatively well, and seems to love being outside with the kids.  Let's be honest-- we've all been cooped up so much this winter that any outside time is good at this point.

 

 

 

There was even a point at which Jason and I found ourselves inside for a period of over a half hour without any interruptions from the kids.  I seriously did not know what to do.  Jason was reading and had the TV off.  I was in the kitchen finishing up the cookies.  And it was so strange that I felt confused.

 

Don't worry-- the quiet didn't last for long.  When the kids came in, I warmed up their bellies with some fresh right out of the oven raisin cookies, and then got everyone warmed up.  The kids then went into some major pretending and turned the dining room into a meeting of some sort.  See all the people in attendance?  After Josh and Lauren were done with their presentation, Mara got right to work giving all of these people a piece of her mind.  With a microphone.

 

 

The big kids were having some sort of a restaurant in the foyer.  They were playing so nicely together that I really had little concern for the fact that they were making a complete mess of the house.  They cleaned it all up before supper, so I had no complaints.  If there is no fighting, I'm a happy Mommy.

 

 

I made not one, but two batches of Grandma Mary's raisin cookies for Joshua to hand out at the Expo next week.  His class did a cookbook as their project, and this is the recipe that he picked.  I have to tell you- the house smelled so good that it was as if my Gram was here baking with me.  The smell alone transported me back to Edgewood Place, right into her kitchen.  And I know she was smiling as the kids were gobbling up the cookies at the speed of light.  Which is why I needed two batches!

It was a super Sunday.  We accomplished a ton.  Had lots of laughs.  And no one wanted it to be Monday...sign of a great day.