The view from the top

Being at the top of the food chain in our house has me seeing the kids from this vantage point a little too often.

When I get down on their level there is a much better view.

There is a lot to do around here, but I find that if I change MY perspective things always get better. Easier said than done sometimes for sure.

My favorite things..

This is Pups, he breaks my heart. When Collin, my almost 17 year old son, was a little boy, Pups went everywhere with him. Pups was very loved, very well traveled and was always tucked into bed every night. When Collin would get home from school he would run through the house hollering, "Pups, where are you Pups" and Pups would always "respond" so that he would find him right away. Pups had cosmetic surgery to replace his stuffing and even had his eyes colored back in a few times. Here comes the heartbreaking part. When Collin was about 7 or 8 he was a bit weepy, Collin never was the weepy type. "What's wrong baby" I said. "Mommy, I am just worried about Pups. I don't know what's going to happen to him because now that I am getting bigger I don't take care of him as well and I am worried about what is going to happen to him when I grow up" I promised him then and there that I would always look after and take care of Pups. Pups now sits on a high cabinet in my bedroom. I go weeks without even noticing poor Pups. Yesterday Mina reached up and wanted to play with him, and I started to get a bit sad. No baby, that is my Pups, Collin's Pups, I just couldn't bear anything happening to Pups. If my house was on fire and all my kids were safely outside Pups would be one of the very first things I grabbed. Some people would say that I was not a rich woman because this is one of my few prized (material) possessions, I would have to strongly disagree. What is your favorite thing?

Homebound

Back in the day, I would never last a full day hanging out at the house with the kids, we are movers and shakers, always up for a field trip or park excursion. The past few weeks I have become a homebody and shiver at the thought of rounding up this many little kids for a lunch out or a day at the museum by myself.. If only I was born with an extra set of hands and eyes, I think I would have been just fine. So here are the shenanigans that went on here before noon today. I am clean out of ideas that will entertain the masses... Any ideas??

The first of many costume changes.

"Can we have a snack?"

I am teaching my children my warped perception... "If one is good, two is better!" Waiting for lunch, not pictured is a few rounds of video games, dance party, and chase your sister.... When's naptime?

Back from the beach.

We got back from the beach late last night, I was having a really hard time accessing the internet while we were there which was probably a good thing.. Here are some of my favorite photos from the past few days.
I had high hopes one evening, when I made the whole crew put on something other than their bathing suits and head down to the water for some photos... I screwed up, it was still too sunny so all of my photos turned out way to bright or we are all really squinting, I didn't have the heart or the nerves to call a redo... so I will have to make do.

I want my Mommy

We spent one evening flying kites...this photo CRACKS me up, Finn was trying so hard but there was no kite attached to this string... She was just looking up in the sky at other kites and so proud of herself... I love babies

Marc managing the troops,,, we need another set of eyes on this group... they are all crazy brave when it comes to the water which made our beach trip a little less relaxing this year...But the kids had a blast and are already asking when we are going back.

This doesn't stink...

We are here the weather is beautiful and we are loving life. Thank goodness all the kids love the beach- salt-water, sand and all! We spent our first relaxing day down by the water and now the girls are napping and kids are resting, and Mama is sitting on the balcony posting to her blog. Life is rough...

Building sand castles and capturing hermit crabs, it's what an awesome big brother does.

This is how Finn's face is lit up all day long. Unless of course she is "singing" her fav song ever..."itsy bitsy spider"
Climbs up the water spout
Down comes the rain.....
Only about 50 times a day does she plop herself down on my lap and start the hand motions so I will sing along with her... It's her little fetish

(sorry for the shout outs... Angie & Dan, we miss you and love you and maybe next year we can meet up here with our whole crew.

Kathleen, I love that we are hanging at the place you grew up vacationing, I love seeing your family photos around, I am making a bunch of the recipes you forwarded to me too, yummy :)

Road trippin' to the beach...

Since I have snuck away for 3 minutes to post this I have already heard, "Where is your mother at?" from down stairs, so I'm gonna make this quick. This is actually a very small portion of the actual packing mania that is going on in this house right now.. Packing for 7 people for a week at the beach is no picnic, believe you me I am not complaining.. I also pack 7 days worth of meals, being that when I am at the beach I want to relax, and taking this crew out to eat 21 times in 7 days is not a stress-free task. We will be sitting on the beach, boogie boarding, playing games and soaking up the kiddos for the next few days.. I am sure I will take way too many photos and I will make sure I share some with y'all soon. Peace out..

Motivationally challenged

So my once active lifestyle has slowed to screeching halt. Sure I chase a bunch of kids around but my intentional activity output is literally nonexistent. Yesterday I jumped at the chance to take the kids for a bike ride and decided to roller-blade along with them. I know that most people haven't roller-bladed since the '90's but if I remember right it is actually quite fun. I will not tell you how old these skates are but the truth here is evident. The kids hopped on their bikes and I donned my skates and off we went... Within two blocks my legs were on FIRE. Am I really that out of shape? Seriously, this is pathetic, I could barely move, I was having to suck up my pride every time one of my neighbors drove past, I was moving in slow motion. I once did a rollerblade "marathon" through Disney world, 26 miles, with a smile on my face, but now I was feeling ridiculously old and pathetic. And then I looked down and realized that my "oldish" skate wheels were melting into the summer scorched blacktop pavement. I was instantly thrilled! Maybe, just maybe I am not as shamefully out of shape as I thought, maybe I just need some new skate wheels and all will be right with the world... Come on kids, bike rides over! I need to get myself a new dose of motivation.. this didn't help.

Compromise

So I will admit that I like that Finn is not turning out to be a girly-girl. I myself am not a girly-girl either. But I do like all the little girly-girl clothes that have been gifted to my cuties, this little dress especially (Thanks Cheryl). For some reason when you put a dress like this on Finn it just doesn't fit her, but instead of buying her a whole new rocker-chic wardrobe we have decided to compromise .. pretty little dress and a "faux-hawk"and now for some strange reason, it seems to fit her, I have tried to capture her personality so you can see what I mean....

Trying in vain to pose without moving for 1 second. Playing with dinosaurs...
Doing my "rockstar" tongue, while making dinosaur noises.
Trying to figure out how this car works, while sitting like a little lady. Papa, will you play tug-o-war with this pretty purple sparkle bracelet?

Godzilla baby

These dimples make me jump out of bed in the morning. If she decides to take up all things girly and pink I will love her just the same.

Blackboard quote of the week...

Such a simple truth.

Happy 4th!

We all put together the tackiest red-white-blue ensembles possible and headed for a small town bike parade and concert, then out to see fireworks and celebrate the 4th.

I'm not a hat girl Mama. I know you can't wait until I have enough hair so you can put it in piggy-tails, but until then, leave me alone.

Listening to the music.

We also found out Mina does NOT like clowns. It is one way to keep your child close by at a festival though, she was glued to us in fear that the scary clown would come back 'round.

Early morning rumble

This is our, it is 7 a.m. , we have already had breakfast, played outside, gotten dirty & took off our jammies, wrecked the house and having a tickle fight look... I think is suits us all just right...

I would pay a million bucks to know what thoughts were running through their heads.

I love that Finn thinks she looks as scary as Jack and Kobi do with these teeth in her mouth.

Have a great 4th of July weekend!

The inner workings of a twisted 2 year old mind....

It's my turn on the scooter, I actually don't even like riding this scooter...
but my baby sister does, so I have to make sure she doesn't get a turn

Is she looking this way? Is she still interested in riding it?

Maybe if I just hold on to it, it will still be my turn and I won't have to bother riding it. Or I could just wait right here, as long as I don't get off I won't have to share.

Ok, I guess you can have a turn, since Mommy insisted, but only if I get to manage your every move.