Snowy Peaks!

It feels like a rare occasion to have everyone home together on a weekend day! It is and will be a rare occasion, so we took it and ran! Lydia got curls in her hair, Mommy too, and the boys got hair cuts! The Ford was in the shop having tune ups and fixes galore, so we rented a Tahoe and pretended to have a life with a bigger, faster, and funner vehicle! A vehicle that allows me to have 80 degree vents while Steve has 65 degrees....that's cool!

We started the trip to White Sands and decided against it when we realized we'd be driving or 4 hours each way...so we turned around and went to the Tram. We were nearly there when we looked to the peak of the mountains and saw snow, so we turned around, stoped at Khols for sweatshirts and socks, and drove back to the mountains!

Of course, we couldn't resist some Halloween action!

On a different note, I am thoroughly disappointed in school peers...I wrote a note for Connor, tucked it in his lunch this week, and I was informed that the children took his lunch pail from him when they saw he had a note, read it, and laughed at him. Connor said he felt sad and embarrassed. Seriously, he's in 2nd grade--the mocking and stupidity has already started? Grrrr....

Here's my snugglie little teddy bear right before we took the tram to the peak. At the top the winds were 20mph and it was 27 degrees. There was snow and ice...and a toddler who thought she could run every which direction. I was a panicked mess as I imagined her throwing her self of the peak...so we stayed up there for 15 minutes.

She's gorgeous!!!

Some kisses for my Aiden, who has been out all week or a corneal abrasion. He is looking fabulous now! The week prior he was out of school for strep throat...Kindergarten is not going well :(

Some kisses for my Liddy!

And we ended the night with "CJ dadda"!

Our heads came up out of the water yesterday for a breath of fresh air as we let go and had fun...the boys have continued even into this morning to talk about how much fun we had yesterday!

Zoo!

I was able to work 2 six hour shifts this week in place of one of my 12's! It was nice to have a little break. On the first day...I met my sister and husband with the kids at the ZOO!!! This is Aiden, happy and handsome!

And this is Aiden after he decided to get wet, despite the many warnings we gave him! Nope...he's not very happy here, and Connor got a kick out of it!

Of course, Aunt Sunny, in her super Mom powers...joined the fun! Seriously, she will pile children, ages 7, 5, 3, 21 months, 16 months, and 4 months into a car several times a day to meet the 4 month olds needs. I couldn't ask for a better aunt and mother to care for my babies when I am gone. I see her interact with them and her love is unconditional--I am blessed!

Her two beauties...Emma and Hallie! Hallie escaped from us while Aiden was jumping in the water--prepping himself for disappointment. She decided that she was independent enough to go take one last look at the elephants; when her mother found her, she also found dozens of people looking at little Hallie with deep concern! Thank heaven she ventured only a small distance!

Aiden loving Maya! It's what he does best!

Mommy loving Maya! It's what I do best!

Chasing the peacock!

Admiring the polar bears...I mean Lydia!!!

And to end the day, Maya tasted ice cream for the first time!

She loved it!!!

Lunch Break

There are some days when you know...when the Spirit whispers so clearly...that you are capable of all the Lord intends to have you walk through in this life. Yes, there are other days when the smallest steps cause so much agony and pain, but with a tweak in perception, those days pass; though the task is not any easier--the gift to endure better becomes an overriding force for good.

So, how many things would you change about your life right now? We'd all be fibbing a bit of we said that EVERYTHING was simply perfect, and yes, there are things I would change. However, I am inclined to say that I know that every path that I have walked has been necessary. Sometimes it looks ugly, and believe me sometimes it feels ugly...but each step has been calculated, numbered, and planned (by a Father who loves me so very much!). Some steps have been for my growth, others for my husband and children, and then others for people outside of our small family.

I am blessed to have a sister and husband who can see that a baby who loves her Momma still needs her Momma on LOOOONG days when Momma is gone. There are many days when I leave the house shortly after 6am and don't arrive home until 8-8:30pm. Maya is so young and attached to me still; Daddy and Aunt Sunny see that and they place themselves in a unique and humble position to recognize Maya's infant needs and act upon them. Often, it entails piling tired children into the car to make a trek up to the hospital for a little "pumping" break! Daddy will travel the course 2 times in a day if Maya is desperately needing me. I believe that sort of sacrifice is seen by the Lord...and looked upon with admiration!

This was one of those days! The kids played at the park...we enjoyed a longer break with our didactic classes, and though I was away from each of my children for another busy long day...I kinda wasn't!

I saw their smiling faces, laughed at them, blew dozens of kisses, gave dozens of hugs, said countless I love yous...and I was still their Mommy! A working Mommy, but a Mommy nonetheless!

I would rather be home with them every day...but the Lord can make hard things possible!

Today Lydia blew me kisses the whole way home from the hospital from her car seat. Her hand was smashed against her face, and one kiss after another smacked perfectly for me. She said, between the kisses, "I wuv you" and "miz you". They seem to love me more everyday, and I am loving them more as well...if that's even possible!

Eventful Life!

I loved being a Mommy today! Well, I love being a mommy everyday...but today was my first day this week with the kids! Miss Maya made her mark on her new outfit...and was quickly tossed into the kitchen sink for her first sink bath! She instinctively tried so hard to lay back, she loves her bath time!

Lydia, in the back, was thrilled to help, and Maya was infatuated with her hands!

I admired this little girl all day--she is getting to be quite the eater in our house! She wanders from chair to counter top, to table top, and then moves the chair to any other surface she can find just to get her hands on food! I catch her on the top of counters often...I guess my little "we love food" chant to encourage eating has finally paid off--she LOVES to eat.

And, she loves to drink!

She definitely has her priorities set...I think she'd rather stay stuck in the doorway just to get one last sip of Sprite! Sadly, I caught her drinking Aiden's Sprite during his bath time--I got him Sprite because he was feeling so sick. She drank it, spilled it, and cried to me about HER "sow-a" in the carpet. I told her it was okay and then turned to find HER old cup (her original drink) on the counter...gone. I was flustered with anxiety over how I would explain to Aiden that Lydia drank HIS Sprite :( Then, I put Connor in the bath and turned to see Lydia in his chair drinking HIS Sprite. (long weary sigh....) I just kept quiet, and the boys were just fine!

My Aiden woke this morning complaining of pain in his tummy. I told him that he was going to school and staying there today. You see, just a week ago, Mimi was called to pick my poor Aiden up from school because he was sick. Papa ended up picking him up and they had a grand time, riding in his truck, going shopping for floor mats, eating ice-cream, and "almost" waxing Papa's truck. He didn't seem sick, but who knows! Today....Aiden walked off the bus, face flushed, a pout that broke my heart, and a weary voice stating, "Mom, my whole body hurts!" He has a fever and is now in bed...fighting a bug. I feel terribly bad....I'll have to make it up to him somehow!

There's my princess! Now, for Connor...he was too busy catching up on tons of homework to take a picture! He's a good boy...on his way to mastering Algebra already! :)

Until next time....