36 and I'm on FIRE!!

This last weekend I celebrated my 36th birthday. Several people asked me how old I was going be I told them I was 35 and holding. One person said they would hold at 23. I said, "No way. 36 works for me. By that time I had had all my children and we are getting closer to little ones being out of diapers, those little ones talking, the older ones being involved in many things, etc, etc, etc.

You get the point.

Life may be crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way right now. There will come that time when I wish for crazy days cleaning up continually after the 2 hurricanes we call Spencer and Hannah. Or for the days that Todd and I have to "divide and conquer" to make it to all the appointments, lessons, meetings, and concerts that on occasion pop up on the same day around the same time.

But despite the fact that the actually birth day was something similar to any other Saturday I did have a great birthday (which ended up being more like a birthweekend. Let me explain.

On Friday, Todd and I went to one of my favorite restaraunts, Wasabi. It's the kind of place that you watch them cook everything right in front of you. They throw rice balls at you from the grill to try and catch in your mouth, and every chef there does the silly train with a sliced onion and oil. We went with our good friends, the Bryners, and we talked so much that we felt like were literally pushed out. We were the last ones sitting at the table even after they came to clean the grill and set new place settings. But the evening was so young still (only 7:30). The kids weren't even all in bed by that time. So we ended up going over to the Bryner's to watch a movie and came home more around 11:00.

On my actual birth-day by husband had to go finish a service project. I hear him tell the kids that for Mom's birthday they needed to keep the little ones quiet and let me sleep in. Can't argue with that one. So I slept in. Until almost 9:00. But when I came downstairs to find some sustenance, I was quickly shooed back upstairs so that my children could present me with breakfast in bed. (A quickly growing favorite for birthdays at our house). So I complied. But when Todd came home about an hour or so later, I was still in bed. Reading and talking to my kids. He couldn't figure out what I was still doing in bed. My only response was...."It's my birthday.". And it's not like I hadn't done anything. I had washed a few walls that I noticed had little black fingers marks, put the 2 whiny hurricanes down for a nap, and had supervised some of the kids' chores. But I got out of bed, (and here's where it becomes more like a Saturday) sorted and started the laundry and got dressed. It was very peaceful in that despite the fact that Todd worked in the yard all afternoon, he had all the kids outside with him. They worked hard and played hard while I read, did the laundry, and kept the house in some semblance of order.

You'd think easy right, everyone is outside. But those little bodies come in with red southern dirt all over their feet (it was 75 here on Saturday) and faces and want drinks, use the bathroom and so on. And just like the two little hurricanes, the older ones leave a wake as well.

But that evening before family prayer we had presents. My loving husband spent some of his allowance to buy me a new board game, which is also fast becoming a new favorite (Ticket to Ride USA). I don't know who was more excited. Me or the kids. We didn't do cake and ice cream on Saturday because the cake wasn't frosted. Who can eat cake without frosting??(Besides my sister-you know who you are). So we postponed that event for after Sunday dinner.

Sunday arrived. Early morning meeting for me. Church. Sunday (sacred) nap. Dinner. And then cake. Remember how I said I was 36 and on fire??? Well, I was quite literally. Here's the story.....

Rachel made the candles in a 36, although she was a few short and her 6 was backwards (just adds to the moment don't ya' think?) Anyway, the kids turned off the light, grabbed the video camera and started to sing. When the singing was done, they were all telling me to make a wish. Oh, what to wish for??? Health for every one of those little bodies around the table, health for myself so I can watch those little ones all grow up and become something great, of maybe that the work on the addition will go smoothly, or for a getaway with my sweetheart??? Oh, the decisions. Well, I think I decided on something and went ot blow out the candles determined that I was going to get them all.

And that's when it happened.

I blew the candles closest to me and moved to the opposite side of the cake to blow those candles out. When I realized it wasn't going to happen with one breath, I leaned back to catch another breath, when Russell yelled out, "Mom!! You're hair is on fire!!!". Luckily, Todd was standing right next to me and put it out for me. You see, I was styling with a new haircut I had just gotten a few days before and I now had what was called: long layers. Some of those long layers draped themselves across a candle I thought was out and I was now on FIRE!!

But despite the smell of burnt hair, the chocolate cake was very tasty and we all had a great laugh about it.

I hope you do, too.

P.S. I don't think we got pictures of the actual fire on my hair, but I think they got other pictures that I'll try and post later.

Spring, Where art thou????

I know in posting this blog I will receive several groans from you out there who are still sitting under inches if not feet of snow. But I have to say if the air is cold I would rather have snow on the ground to remind me that it is still winter. And also so my children know that it's cold outside. They think that if the sun's out that it's warm enough to go out and play, (sometimes without a coat) even if the thermostat only reads in the mid 30's.

Today was one of those days. Where the sky is a beautiful blue that makes you long for spring. But without the "Utah" winter coat and a sweater, you end up freezing on the trip between the house and the car. Ironically, by the end of this week Mr. Hinken, our favorite weatherman, says that temps will be more like spring. Does that mean that I can put away the turtleneck sweaters and knee length socks for short sleeve shirts and sandals???

Don't hold your breathe.

In East Tennessee it is not uncommon for the weather to show 3 different seasons in one week. So, I'll keep those sweaters close by and look longingly at the sandals that my feet can't wait to get into. And keep telling my kids that if the weather says 70, THEN they can wear capris. I just hope spring hurries, as all the kids are either wearing out or growing out of their winter things. And my outdoor loving kids are itching to play outside without jackets, coats or shoes for that matter. Spring needs to come and stay.

I'm sure you all feel the same.

Help Wanted?

I have the best little helpers (when they want to be). But I had to share this moment that I thought was pretty telling as to how much our little ones watch their elders.

This last Friday I made my bi-monthly trip to the grocery store. You know the one where after you get everything put away the shelves and fridge are full and the kids think life is good again because they have their favorite cold cereal and snacks to choose from.

Taking the babies to the grocery store is always an adventure. I usually end up being the mother that everyone is looking at because my child is screaming at me or the mother who can't wait to get out of the store so that we can all have a change of scenery. Between the babies pulling each others hair, hitting each other with items they find in the cart, or screeching at me because I refuse to open the box of crackers until we pay for it we usually don't make it out with everything. But this time we did and it only took an hour to do it!! We did have some wailing and gnashing of teeth because even after he figured out how to open the cardboard box and pull out the bag of crackers, I refused to open them for him until we paid for them.

But here's where the story really begins..... We get home and usually Spencer wants to help carry bags in from the car. He wanted to just sit in his carseat while I unloaded this time. But Miss B. (Hannah) followed me back and forth between the house and the car making sure the door was always open wide enough for me. We unloaded the car (including Spencer) and I proceeded to put the groceries away. While I was putting things away in the pantry, Hannah started dragging grocery bags over to me so I didn't have to come out of the pantry to get things. But then I noticed that Spencer was picking up all the empty bags and was placing them in the recycle bin in the laundry room. I finished the pantry things and then they both helped me drag bags outside to put things in the freezer. And once again, as I unloaded bags the 2 of them took them and put them in the recycle. Who could ask for better help?

Oh, and just for an update on the whole big boy bed.... I was right on the money. Spencer spent his first night in his own bed for the entire night but that was the ONLY night that he's slept through in his own bed. Daddy & I split time putting him back to sleep in his own bed.

This morning it was 4am when I heard the pittar-patter of his little feet. But that was the only thing quiet about it after that.

At least he still takes a nap!!!

I've done it!

I've finally done it!! After reading others blogs and feeling a bit like a stalker doing it I have finally created my own. I still have mixed emotions about it. Does that sound funny?

My husband wanted me to just take over the blog that he created but I wanted my own outlet and my own name. So here goes nothing, right?.

The sun came out today and it actually felt a bit like spring after the rain went away. But to my utter dismay, tomorrow will bring back the startling reality that it's still February and it's still winter even in the South. I'll have to send my kids to school in hats and coats and scarves where as last week they were in short and capris for a few days. (The rule at our house is that if the weatherman says it will be 70 degrees then you are allowed to wear shorts, capris, etc. My kids would love it if I allowed it to be dropped to 60 degrees but much to their dismay this mother believes that 60 is still spring temps and a jacket and long pants are required. Here is one point for me toward winning the "meanest mom in the world" award.

Today also marked a milestone for our youngest. We had to put him in a "big boy" bed as he has figured out how to get out of his crib. Yesterday, one of my older girls went in to get the babies out of their cribs. A few seconds later she hollered to me to "come and see". Those words at our house usually means that somebody is either doing something cute or wrong. I'm not sure what category this would fit under but child #7 was trying to climb into his twin sister's crib since he had successfully gotten out of his. At naptime I snuck a peek from the door to see how he did it but never saw anything. Until today.

Once again I snuck a peek before I barged in to get the babies out of bed to see if I could discover how he had done it yesterday. I saw him lift his left leg over the railing and then bring the other leg over to sit on the side of the crib but he never went out. He always fell back into the crib. So I walked in and sat on the floor and asked him to show me how he got out. It was one of those moments I don't think I'll ever forget. He threw both legs over and I had seen him to before, sitting a bit vicariously on the side of the crib and then like the daredevil that I now know him to be..... he let go and fell to the floor on his bum. I think my reaction scared him more than the fall because he came over to give his momma a reassuring hug that he was okay. But I wasn't.

My babies are growing up way to fast for me. I know they are my last and I can't believe that in a month's time they will be turning 2!!! They are mobile, agile and sometimes a bit hostile but I love them!! So today one crib came down and a "big boy" mattress was placed on the floor until we can go to the store to find mattresses for both babies. He fell asleep great tonight without once trying to sneak out. I had to check on him to make sure he was still asleep in the bed. His sister may be a little more sneakier when it comes time for her "big girl" bed experience.

There goes my full night's sleep again.