End of School Days 2017

If you get our ministry newsletter or have seen us in real life you know that tomorrow morning we begin an adventure.  We are driving to the Wisconsin Dells for a Summer Training Program with the Navigators.  More on that in a later post.  I read that going on one for staff is like a mini-move, just for the summer and that is definitely what the preparation has felt like.  Olivia and Isaac finished school a month early and both had great celebrations with all their friends.  Olivia's class happened to go a field trip to the Zoo Thursday- hence the picture of the zebra.  She has been blessed with so many good friends at school, she had a week of playdates!  And came home Friday with a full bag of treasures from her teacher and friends.  

Friday Morning Isaac's class celebrated his preschool graduation with us a month early.  We have known Linda since Olivia started in her classroom just before Sam was born.  Please pray with us Sam and then Daniel would have the chance to continue the tradition (or we would adjust to a new situation for them.)  Isaac's many friends gave him big great hugs goodbye and the teachers told us they had discussed many emotions about his leaving early- from anger to sadness.  Hopefully we can send some emails with updates about our trip along the way.

 Then last night we had an impromptu family grilled dinner on our deck.  It was way past their bedtime, but it was perfectly lovely.  Our family of 6 gathered around what we had in the fridge and just enjoyed.  I am sad that this isn't exactly what our summer holds, but hopeful even better things in WI are ahead for us!

Mother's Day 2017

I woke up to breakfast in bed, a beautiful tray of yumminess and handmade gifts from my kids.  There were lots of not as pretty moments along the way, but breakfast and these photos were what I'd like to remember from this year.

The definition of "Too Much"

All things collided this weekend and we definitely did "too much."  Perhaps we should read the book boundaries and put it into practice...  However, what to say no to?  Work? Family? Kids?  Between 6 of us, there are a lot of commitments.  And we are grateful for a family we love and are close enough to see semi-regularly.  Ready to be exhausted?  Here ya go!

Friday - Sunday:  Our regional staff retreat at Camp Wonderland in Sharon MA: a time for us to gather with staff from around the region to connect and be developed.  The teaching we heard was great.  Nate got to help lead us in Worship on Sunday morning.  And we saw friends from around the region.

Saturday afternoon we ducked out before lunch to head to RI to celebrate Nate's cousin Andrew and his marriage to Brittany.  We saw most of Nate's immediate family and some of his extended family and cousins.  They set up an amazing kids table which all the little cousins really enjoyed.

 Sunday we left the retreat and headed back to Amherst for Olivia to perform in the Happy Valley Children's Chorus Concert.  She did an amazing job including a duet with her friend Claire.

 After the concert Olivia, Daniel and I shopped for our End of Year Navs BBQ- Olivia had my phone and snagged this shot.  Me in my "natural habitat" of Stop and Shop.  Kind of fun to have a photo where I go so often.

 And then the End of Year Navs BBQ at Mill River!  Unfortunately the weather did not fully cooperate and it was rather chilly.  BUT we still had a great time.  Two of the seniors parents came and surprised their kids and brought cake to celebrate!  We are so thankful for this bunch.

Johanna and Kristin, two graduating women Ive had the pleasure of meeting with!

Lastly, I must confess I kept dreaming about last weekend when we went to NYC to celebrate Nanny's 80th Birthday- WITHOUT our children (especially when the kids wouldn't sleep at the retreat!)  

"Mom don't drop your phone in the toilet this time."

Ok Sam, I won't.  Thanks for the tip.  And we had a great rainy afternoon trip to the Jones Library.

3.28.17 or the day I rocked being a mom (kind of)

Today was one of those days I want to document and say "well done!" to myself.  (And also I wish I was a better writer but here it goes anyways).

Started as the day usually does, from my bed I hear Sam yelling "Isaac!  Isaac!!!!"  in an attempt to see if he is awake (or to wake him up I am not sure).  We eventually headed downstairs, got the baby up, had breakfast, packed lunches, got all 6 of us dressed and Nate on the road with Isaac while Sam, Daniel and I waited with Olivia for her bus.

On Tuesdays Angela from "Baby and Me" comes to visit with a book for Daniel.  Sam played outside in the snow and rain almost until she arrived.  Daniel was short-lived- he was ready for a nap at 9 as he announced with his new loud screams (not a fan!).  So Dan slept, Angela read to Sam and said goodbye, and on went Daniel Tiger.  I put in a load of laundry and got ready to head out for the rest of our morning.

At 10 I woke up Dan and we headed to Crocker Farm Preschool for Sam's speech time, then to the polls to vote for our town election, then to Stop and Shop in preparation for Nate's birthday (where we saw our friends Sally and Bethany) and back to Crocker to pick up Isaac.

Except for the voting, thats all pretty typical of our Tuesdays.  Here is where it gets interesting...  for the first time in a long time, neither Sam or Dan were asleep in the car.  So we all got out to pick up Isaac and actually stayed to play on the playground!

When we got home, I declared rest time!  And Sam and Dan slept.  Isaac played for a while and then joined me.  I kept the laundry going, worked out, cleaned the upstairs bathroom with Isaac's help, folded a load of laundry and PUT IT AWAY, cooked dinner and got ready to go out again.

At 3:45 Olivia got off the bus and we all headed downtown to drop her off at her chorus practice.  The boys and I walked in the rain to the library.  We had a great time there...  including a visit to the potty that was almost catastrophic as I later explained to Olivia.  The boys (who peed together with their "swords" crossing) were just finishing when I needed to go and not wanting my phone to drop into the toilet from my back pocket or into the sink if I left it on the ledge there, I carefully put it up on top of the toilet paper dispenser...  only to have Isaac accidentally knock it off into the peed in potty!  without flinching, I grabbed it!!!  (and didn't yell too much) and dried it off and it still works!!!!  THANK YOU OTTERBOX!

We gathered our books, DVDs and hastily walked back to pick up Olivia- getting throughly wet in the rain, but otherwise without complications.

We had a nice dinner at home with Isaac offering to pray and sharing our favorite parts of the day.  Taco Tuesday is almost always a hit around here.

Then  I went to change Daniel's diaper and put his pajamas on.  Lets just say a blow out diaper does NOT give it justice.  Into the bath he went and then to bed. (Can I say how thankful I am that he is a REALLY good sleeper!)

Cleaned off the table, dishes,  changed the laundry, kids in PJS, read to, sung to, prayed with and tucked in and now the night is mine...

In a moment I'll get a glass of wine and catch up on my recent favorite TV show....  but for now, I wanted to write this.  But I guess now that I am done, it doesn't seem so extradorinaiy.  Ive just started a book called "what mothers do when it really seems like nothing" which would be fast to point out that all these "things" I did included unexplainable forethought and planning (and a bit of luck - like no meltdowns between the church and library since I packed light and left my wallet and bag of tricks (i.e. diaper bag) in the car).  And yet, I felt like super mom today.  I did all of that.  On my own.  Without yelling too much at my kids.  I even enjoyed some of it.   I guess I am just trying to feel thankful for the season I am in and this is one way to do that and document it.

Daniel on his One Year Birthday

Olivia and Daniel at Liz's Surprise 30th Birthday Bash

At the end of our walk in the rain to the library and back- JOY!

PS Blogger let me upload photos really easily today!!!  Maybe I will get back to blogging more- yea!

Play dough!

First day of summer

The last week was filled with end of year things: Isaac's preschool picnic, Olivia's kindergarten open house, last reach playgroup for Sam, my last women's growth group and in the midst of that I prepared many thank you gifts and Father's Day cards...  And Isaac had his tonsils out.  And then I realized its summer!  Olivia has one more day of school tomorow but today felt like the start anyways.  Nate left for work at 8 and the boys and I got Olivia on the bus at 830.  It was a beautiful morning and we saw two neighbors we never usually see.  Then I raced to put together a snack and linch to take to the park before the boys drove me crazy and I let them watch tv.   I succeeded and when we pulled up to the park I saw my friend Gretchen!  We ended up having a blast with 6 boys between us and even running into a few more friends along the way.  When we got home the boys played and has a rest time while I worked out and got a shower.  I even did dishes and paid some bills...  I did eventually let them watch an hour of tv when they woke up and we picked up Olivia and headed to a friends house for dinner.  I was starting to get worried about what the summer would be like with 4 kids...  But if today is any indication, I think it's gonna be great!