I love how they feel compelled to always pick me flowers when they’re outside.
They don’t know they’re just dandelions
and I hope no one ever tells them,
To them, they are a bouquet of roses.
And I adore them.
It Pays Off
To declutter.
Start:
(No worries, this is not a typical location for the baby. We don’t keep her in the garage…. always. Tehehe.)
Finish:
So we can continue to fit like a glove.
Because loading 5 kids in the car while it’s raining is not on my agenda if it doesn’t have to be. 😉 I mean as much as I love the smell of musty, wet dog…. yeah. I love my garage.
Took me 3 hours from start to sweeping finish (keep in mind that it included a trip to the store to get a few more hooks, stopping to care for children, etc).
Wordless Wednesday: Serving
This morning I was served breakfast in bed.
And they were even thoughtful enough to bring my morning nurser some love.
And they didn’t want to disturb Daddy’s shower.
– Love their little hearts.
Wordless Wednesday: Went There
Oh yeah, we went there. Because we can! =)
Can you guess who picked these out? Oh no, not my husband. HA!
And look at this face…
I love this boy. He is “one of us” for sure. 😉
He cracks me up. =D
It’s About Time!
So it’s time to start sharing about California. Buckle up this is gonna be a long ride.
No, in order to remain sane I’ll just start to throw in come CA posts here and there amongst my other ramblings.
So day 1 we traveled. We hauled 3 kids and 2 adults (we met my parents at the airport) out of their beds between 3:30 and 4am and loaded into the van. Rodger, Matt’s Daddy, was so gracious to stay over the night before and drop us off at the airport. You may be wondering why we didn’t take the boys – no it’s nothing personal people. We had just planned this trip before ever getting the placement and there is something MUCH different about traveling with 5 children (two of which are babies) and trying to find accommodations for 7 people and a vehicle that’ll fit us on the other side. Since things would be further complicated with vacation clearance if Mom would even want her boys traveling cross-country and other stuff we nestled the boys in at Grandma’s house and called frequently. We knew she’d smother them with spoiling and love and they’d have many wonderful opportunities to have adventures with her throughout the week.
So our plane took off at 6am ON THE DOT. And we attempted to settle three little ones in for nap #1. Hannah was out like a light at take-off with a little nursing goodness. Abi was next in line with Daddy’s hair petting and Rachael decided to stay awake the whole time and talk my Mom’s ear off. Since my Dad added in at last minute (not knowing where exactly he’d be flying from until his trucking orders were given) we hugged and promised to see him on the other side in CA. Mom graciously joined our clan to provide support staff. 😉
The girls got a chance to have more “firsts” than just the flying and found themselves enjoying the airport monorail much more than the actual flying itself. Something about the excitement of a train mixed with having your feet decently grounded brought a smile to all of our faces as the girls enjoyed the window seats.
I am ridiculously proud of how well the girls did on both flights getting to CA. There were many opportunities for meltdowns, but they really did a great job. Since I had adjusted everyone onto almost CA time a week prior to our departure, the effects of an early morning and airplane excitement were the only two challenges that day. Sadly we learned that my dear Rachael felt the effects of air-sickness not on the last landing (in which she started turning a bit green) but in the rental van right before we were about to cross the golden gate bridge. So with a little pull-off on the side of the road, change of clothing, and the use of the last of my baby wipes we gimped along to the hotel, stopping occasionally to coach the poor child through it all. All I can say is, when my kids are physically ill, they are MIGHTY troopers. Though “I need a bag” was a phrase that took a week for Abi to stop repeating in the van after our CA vacation.
So we hit a Subway for dinner (lunch in CA time) and headed back to the hotel (sitting in traffic for what felt like years while the poor Rachael still experienced her motion sickness.
Once finally to the hotel, we put the girls to bed (who went willingly) at 6p CA time. Rachael’s color had returned to her face and her normal spunk post-shower spoke of motion sickness ending with her two feet on solid ground. We were happy to see her keep dinner down before bed and the two girls knocked out without a complaint. Hannah and I knocked out somewhere in the land of “lay down and be quiet so the girls will go to sleep”. I awoke to Daddy watching ESPN and my Mom and Dad bringing us a pizza for dinner. The girls didn’t even stir.
Thus ended our Friday day of travel. And joy CERTAINLY came in the morning with a solid 13 hours of sleep for all.
… to be continued …
So Darlene
I still remember riding bikes to the park at the end of the cul-de-sac. Me on the boys bike, borrowed from an unknowing little brother. And she on her bike (back when riding a bike was still on the agenda). The breeze in her red hair. The sky speckled with bright white clouds. The wind rustling the trees. Nothing really to do. No pressing schedules. Just me and her. And an afternoon all to ourselves.
Darlene. Saying her name brings back a flood of wonderful memories. Little did I know when I met her at our hometown church as a young child that some twenty years later we’d fly across the country and she’d drive a state over to spend time together.
We packed everything we owned and trucked it across the country. Funny how my Daddy would make a profession out of moving people cross-country later. Only this time it was us. I was excited. Scared. Anxious. The goodbye didn’t feel real. Surely I’d see Darlene next weekend. I turned nine on the road. It was the first year I remember not having her at my birthday party.
We went back to visit when I was in fifth or sixth grade. We missed “home”. Things still felt new in Ohio and weird. The accents still felt foreign. Why did everyone assume I knew how to surf? Darlene still felt like home. Funny how you can pick back up right where you left off with a few year gap.
Then came the news that she had saved her money. Not just for her ticket. But for her mom’s too. She came and visited. She stayed for many days. She watched me graduate High School. It was great to have my old friend back. There were no string attached. There was no guilt trip about lack of writing letters. There was no pressure. No expectation. Just her smile. And hugs all around. Good friends are like that. Even with years of “different worlds”.
I can’t quite remember if I found her on facebook or she found me. It’d been so long. College graduation. Marriage. And kid…. soon to be kids. I couldn’t believe it. That same beautiful smile. Those same bright eyes. That same welcome mat. Some things about people never change… especially when they’re so good.
A surprise package came in the mail. The thing weighed a ton. The box was the size of two of my toddlers. The neighbors must have enjoyed watching a very pregnant me drag it in from the strong July heat. The girls’ eyes were huge. I could barely believe my eyes as I read the tag. “From Darlene”. It was packed full of summer fun for the girls. Indoor summer activities. Things I could do with them while remaining in the air conditioning. Tears welled in my eyes. Her generosity stunned me.
And then another package silently came. Two days before my induction date. Hospital bags packed with goodies for the new big sisters and some precious outfits and a welcome-home wreath for our soon-to-be new addition. How could someone be so thoughtful? How could someone have such heart for little girls she had never even met? All I can say is… It’s just Darlene.
And then came our last trip. Funny how for a moment I was nervous. Would it be the same Darlene? She’s married now. And a big professional at work. I mean she travels. And I’m just a stay-at-home Mom. And it blew me away again… how easily she was thrilled to drive from a state away. “I’ll go wherever and do whatever. It’ll be great”. Her smile melted away all my doubts. I had forgotten in a moment who I was meeting up with. It’s Darlene for crying out loud. Darlene!
It was one of those days I wish never ended. Her smile is so contagious. Her heart so kind.
I wish my girls could find a friend like her in life. A friend who doesn’t disappear with distance. A friend who doesn’t just live in the past, but dares to create a present no matter how much time passes. A friend who just cares. No strings attached.
I can only pray I have been that friend to her as well.
My two favorite red-heads.
– Love ya, Darlene. You’re such a wonderful friend.