Soccer for all?

Violet, Azure and I went to Randall park today and as we walked up to the park, Violet could see some men playing soccer in the big field by us.  I don't recall her exact words but they were something like, "I wonder if they'll play with me."  I thought she meant the little kids at the playground at first but then I saw where she was looking.  She is such a social personality. Pretty darn confident too!  There ended up being two other kids her age at the playground and she would play with them some and yell at them to come follow her, etc.  I really liked hearing her yell, "Oh boys!" or "Hey boys" before she told them or commanded them to do something.  :)  They had fun.  I think.  Azure was fine as long as she had either her blankie or Fluttershy (a shy pony character on 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, a super cute show).  Mostly Fluttershy - which has been quite a change.  Her blankie has been the magic cure-all for quite some time.

Why are you a mom? How do you do it? What does it mean?

My amazing cousin Michelle Lyche posted this on her blog recently and I truly adore her words.  Here's an honest look at what you see, give and receive as a Mom of 5 children.  After reading it, I felt like doing a combination fist bump, hug and a "vote of thanks" to her and to every other mom who tries to be a Mom (particularly those that have "more" than whatever is "typicall" for their city, etc.)

She addressed it to her neighbor.  

 Dear Neighbor,

while chatting outside while children busily played around us you asked me yesterday why and how I do 5 kids in a sorta awe struck but you-must-be-crazy and you-are-over-populating-the-world sorta way. I answered back "it is hard, but I love it". I wanted to say more but a child ran up right then and needed my attention and the conversation was lost after that. But now I have a quiet moment, for the moment, and I can answer your question. So here is my answer straight from my heart.
5 kids is hard. It is always feeding them. ALWAYS. Boys are hungry at every moment. It is wiping noses and wiping hiney's. It is Lego's under my feet and me trying not to curse (but never succeeding). It is crumbs always on the counter and dirty cups multiplying faster than rabbits. 5 kids is homework, homework, blasted homework. It is fighting and nit-picking, shoving and name-calling. It is rushing out the door every morning and saying morning prayers in the car buckled up because we forgot to say them kneeling down like a good family. It is no money. Ever. Someone always needs new shoes, or new pants, there are diapers and wipes, and the food bill is higher than Mount Everest (see sentence above where they are ALWAYS hungry). It is always cleaning but nothing is ever clean. It is laundry piles all the time that are higher than the Mount Everest food bill. 5 kids is never having a quiet house, and never being able to finish 3 bites of food before someone needs something. It is being stressed out, a lot. It is wondering if you will ever have your body back, or even slightly close to what is was pre-5 kids. It is driving somebody somewhere all the time. It is people staring at you all the time as if it is 5 aliens following behind you instead of 5 children. It is wondering the same thing yourself at times.

But 5 kids is also 500 million times more love. And 500 million more hugs, and kisses. It is a bouquet of weeds that turn into flowers just for you. It is a house full of laughter. It is never being lonely. It is a car full of carseats. It is never having a lap big enough. It is pictures drawn for you with you next to Batman and Pikachu and you are the one with the big heart around yourself. It is melting to a puddle on the spot the first time you hear "I wub you" from each one of them. It is beaming with pride when someone compliments them on having such good manners while out to dinner, and at the same time looking over their heads at your Hubs and laughing with your eyes knowing they fooled someone again! 5 kids is laying in bed each night worrying and wondering if you gave enough hugs, told them "I love you" enough, or why did you let them cross the street by themselves they are not old enough yet, and on and on and on. It is a baby snuggled into the crook of your neck that you should put down for a nap but you cant stop drinking them in. It is wondering what the heck you and your Hubs did before having kids, and not wanting to remember. It is 5 people who think your kisses, hugs, snuggles, loves, can heal the world. It is tearing up every time you give away another baby item knowing that your time is over, but wishing for it to last a bit longer. It is being grateful and thankful every day for these 5 blessings who call you Mom.
5 kids is knowing I am the luckiest woman in the world. 

THANKS MICHELLE!

Think, think, think

Unfortunately, my Mommy brain can't remember all of the cute stuff the kids have done these last few weeks and I know there were several things I wanted to put down on the blog!  One I can remember is Azure counting!  My little girl is 19 months old and she can count a little bit.  I say one, she says 2, I say 3, she says 5, I say 6, she says 9. Sometimes we throw other numbers in there too.  :)  Azure is now able to swing on the rope in their room, although she usually needs a little help grabbing the rope above her head.  I sometimes move the kids stepstool in there for her to reach the rope.  Like her big sis, she is one tough cookie.  It takes a fair amount of strength to hold yourself steady on the rope and bring your legs out and up in front of you.  Those girls have some amazing muscles!  Azure is quite the talker for a little toddler.  She can say names.  She really likes to say her cousins names, Aria and Sophia.  She just said Natalie and Ortensia (sort of!) today.

Violet loves to give us kisses and once in awhile she gives us kisses on the lips. What a nut!  She loves to flip around and swing on the rope in their room.   She is very sweet and recently she climbed onto my lap and said, "I love being with my family."   Awwww!  My purple princess just about melted my heart that day!  Violet is now coming into Primary.  She both likes it and gets bored.  I know I tend to get kids involved in what i'm doing but I need more visuals and such for my primary lessons to help keep focus.

Cliffton can write sentences!  The setup he's used begins with either "I like to go to the ____," or, "We like to go to the ____."  He is one of the brightest kids in his class.  He understands his work quite easily and seems to enjoy it.  What has become a problem, as his teacher explains, he can't seem to focus well and often is lost in his imagination so he doesn't get his school work done efficiently.  I'm a bit unsure about what to do.  See psychologist, or specialized pediatrician?  His teacher thought a neurologist might have good help but also explains that he doesn't think Cliffton is a special needs child or that he must be more like the other kids.  He actually thinks he and Cliffton are very similar personalities and they really enjoy talking to each other (Cliffton almost always prefers talking to him versus his classmates).  He is concerned that our little mr. bug won't be able to keep up with the amount of schoolwork done in a day because he goes off into his own world and he's a little concerned about how little Cliffton interacts with the other kids. Cliffton is really shy and I know he's a more independent kid than most.  I would like some suggestions for how to bring him out of his mind more, interact more with kids, and keep focused on his assignment.

Christmas Day! 12/25/2012

Our girls did NOT want to get up at 7am!

So tired.

                                 

Cliffton giving hugs after prayers.

                                     

Violet got tons of make up!  She was in shock.
She loves it!  She also loves all of her nail polish.

PLAYDOUGH!!  and more

Captain Azure, 1st battalion, pink regiment, helicopter candy specialist.

Azure JUST LOVED Felicia's Mickey and Minnie.  Her hugs were too cute!

Azure's octopus toy with which we all play.  :)

My favorite present!

Richard's Avengers jams.  

                                   

Grandma and Papa at our Christmas morning buffet.  We love you!

Gorgeous ladies in red.  :)

Chutes and Ladders!

Some family pics!

                                      

We ran around by a little water fountain and then in a small park with the kids after  brunch.  Good thing we did  considering we ate like we wouldn't eat again for a week.  :)

My greatest little joys!  Violet, Azure and Cliffton.

Ok, when I wear plaid, I feel like a (much) heavier version of Lori, from AMC's The Walking Dead.  Yeah, Richard, Violet and I are big fans.  In our family, I'm usually the one stumbling after the kids, with outstretched arms saying, "Brains."  :)

Man oh man, I LOVE THIS GUY! He sure kicks law school butt.

                                

What an awesome Christmas Day!  Thanks Grandma and Papa for providing such great family time for all of us.  It was a whole lotta fun!

Christmas Vacation Dec. 24

Cliffton helped label the presents he bought for his sisters.

Our favorite family of 2 1/2!  Matt, Felicia and (her name as of this moment) little Eliza,
who is due to arrive in February.

Leading the family night music.  :)

Grandma and Papa are so much fun!

Papa is getting Azhie loves!  She is such a sweet cuddly lady.

The chocolate couple!  M & M

Violet loves her Minnie Ornament.

She really did have fun opening her little Tweety ornament.

Cliff!

Christmas jammie-jams!

Christmas Vacation pics! Dec. 23

Their favorite time of the day
 (unless we went swimming in the pool)

I love this guy!

Bubbles!!!

Cliffton before his haircut.
Our room had a screened in porch which was cool.

Although Sophia made very cute, happy faces as well, this was a common expression too!

The Ladies!  We missed Megan, Emily and Ella.
(Eliza is hiding in Felicia's tummy!)

Christmas

Christmas is so much fun!  I adore hearing the hymns and the fun Christmas songs on the radio this time of year.  I recall last year hearing them as early as Halloween which was a bit weird but enjoyable nonetheless.  We came down to Virginia to be with some of Richard's family and we've had a nice time.  This place is so beautiful!  We are in Ford's Colony in Williamsburg, VA.  I love our rooms!  The kids love the pool and the hot tubs.  It took a bit of coaxing though to get Cliffton to come with Violet and I outside, in the cold rain, to the hot tub out there.  It was worth it and we had some fun.  On Christmas morning, Richard and I loved watching the kids open their presents. Azure even got to rip them open this year (she's 18 months). Cliffton loves his new spy set - watch (I think its his favorite), flashlight, walkie-talkies, binoculars and oh so cool sunglasses (to be worn at night of course :P ) He also loves all of his playdough -thanks to Santa and Uncle Matt and Aunt Felicia. Violet loves her Princess castle - Thanks Grandma and Papa! Her dress up shoes from Azure are very much loved too. Azure really likes her octopus/ball toy that counts and names colors too. Its kinda funny - Azure also REALLY loves Violet's princess castle and Violet REALLY loves Azure's octopus. I think they're doing a trade...
Richard really likes his backscratcher. :) I loved spending time at the fabulous lunch buffet in Colonial Williamsburg and then picture taking and running around outside afterwards. Its been a LOOOONG time since this mama has done somersaults!! And in super tight jeans! Seriously a great feat. And yes, the jeans are still in one piece, thank you very much Jess (well, all of my sisters).  


Pics to come.