Our Awesome Week

We had a busy week this week. But taking a minute to link up with

Marbleized painting with shaving cream for Divine Mercy with red and blue.

On Tuesday we went on a field trip to Sky Zone! So much fun packed into an hour.

On Wednesday we discovered that squirrels LOVE donuts and we worked on antonyms and reading. Nate is getting the hang of sounding out words quickly.

Thursday it was rainy and gross out. Torrential downpours and a crabby family meant art project time! We all worked on these abstract art flowers. We also colored in an immaculate heart medal. Since May is Mary's month

Today we went to the Nest to spend some time outdoors with friends. It was warm and sunny and just awesome. Until Grace threw up all over the place. So we came home.  We cleaned out the garage with the help of a giant dumpster and a helpful teen!

Then pizza and a movie before bed!

Totally awesome week until the puke. I hope the puke stays contained. This weekend we have a basement to clean out and a fence to put up!

Who wants to help?

Moving Away

For as long as I can remember in my adult life I have wanted to get out of Massachusetts. South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia have called my name for decades and I just feel so at home when I get there.

A big part of the need to move is my inability to handle the winters here. The cold makes my body hurt and my fingers and toes burn from October to June. I am anxious about snow and watching my husband drive to work in 6+ inches of snow. It's pretty, on a Saturday, when we are all home with no where to go. Otherwise. No, Just No!

The kids may miss it though. they love making snowmen and sledding. But poor Nate always ends up with hurting fingers. Sam refuses to wear anything remotely warm on his feet or body. I have to hide his shorts because he would wear them in the snow. Grace is always naked, even when it's cold. I can't keep shoes on her! Then of course there is the coats and car seat issue. such stress! then winter hats at the kids school that could spread lice. Months of bitter cold with chapped lips... just ewwww

Daniel and I have been praying about what to do. I have some family here and it is hard leaving them. There are a few things that make me worried about leaving the one place I have always lived. I can feel God tying up the ends I need to feel peaceful about moving. I can almost see it happening, as though I am watching a chess game of my life. I have no idea what the end result will be but I am starting to get some real peace about moving.

 We are going to florida in June and we are hoping to get a jump on moving then.

Prayers and Positive thoughts welcome

Bells-

Dinner Bells actually.

We all love food in this house. In fact if you ask any of the kids what their favorite things are their first response is always a food. In fact I asked them for this purpose.
What is your favorite thing?
Tyler- tacos(after fire)
Austin-John- Fish and chips (after guns of course)
Samuel - cereal in a box!
Nathaniel- Pancakes...with bacon and syrup.
Grace- cookies! momma! and fruit pie.
Evangeline - banana I would think. If she sees one from across the room she points and squeals.

I have been having looking for a way to help the kids feel like they have more stake in the household. I devised a plan for each child to have a day to cook. They choose the meal, make the list, and cook the entire thing. I help the boys and Daniel helps Grace on her day.

Monday- Nate
Tuesday - Tyler (aka Mexican night)
Wednesday - leftovers
Thursday- A.J.
Friday- Sam
Saturday- Grace and daddy
Sunday is all mine.

Sam wanted to make lasagna this past Friday and it was SPECTACULAR. A.J.'s  has been a win each week with a lemon dill Hake, stuffed burgers, and 2x baked potatoes. Tyler made some stellar Cheesy Chicken Burritos, and an amazing boiled dinner. Sam struggled the first week with focus and quit half way through. Nate made pancakes with hash browns, pineapple banana sauce, and bacon this week. Grace made chowder one week and grilled cheese the next. She wants to make fruit pie for dinner this week. We have to work on that one for sure.

We have been having fun and its nice to see the boys learning skills they are going to need in life. Grace really looks forward to Daddy cook time on "purple day"

Weekend away.

We went to "The Cabin" this weekend for Sam's birthday. There was much fun involved. There also happened to be a lot of fighting (between Sam and Nate) and a lot of wine (thanks Memere) but most of all lots of great stuff.
We enjoyed some time with Memere and Pepere.

There was much cuddling.

Evangeline turned 6 months old!

Sleepy half birthday

We found a cute little breakfast place in Littleton called The Coffee Pot. The food was pretty good and the coffee was OK. The service was AWESOME! Evie sat in a highchair for the first time. She bobbled around a little and the waitress came and duct taped her lovie to the table so she would get hurt. It was very sweet. Evie also enjoyed her first taste of cantaloupe.

Sister cuddles

first taste

We found a cute little swimming hole on Rt112 . The kids found a toilet shaped rock and some super shiny rocks as well. I got to play with my camera settings and the kids enjoyed jumping from the rocks.

We went to Chutters and checked out the longest candy counter in the world! We even found some all natural gum the kids could have.

Nate could barely contain himself

In front of the candy counter.

We discovered this weekend Sam loves to sing and it really annoys Nathaniel.

We cuddled by an Epic fire that Tyler built. Tyler rode the lawnmower and cut the grass and the boys helped him.

Tyler and his handy work

Wine and Snuggles. It doesn't get any better.

We met a giant wolf spider on a free stroller.(ok maybe not giant but big enough) and Nate was thrilled by it.

How was your weekend?

Grace was "tickled" with the flowers outside Chutters

No Click

I keep forgetting to grab my camera when I go out. So many missed opportunities for great pictures. I haven't posted much because things have been a little more up in the air here than usual. We have some house guests and while they have been wonderful, it's still a change.

We have had lots of fun too!

We had a pool party! A friend of ours from church invited the entire family over to play in the pool. Remember when Sam was afraid of the water?  He isn't anymore! In fact he has been difficult to get out of the water. He even went in without a giant life vest! This is the THIRD time in 2 weeks he has gone in a pool and enjoyed himself.

Some of the kids and I went off to a farm and learned about carrots. yes, carrots. We had a blast!

Then we all went to a playground with everyone but Tyler. I gave some of the kids a great lesson in what boogers are made of. It was a homeschool group meet up and it was a blast. The kids ran until they were ready to fall over. The information about the meeting talked about a big red slide. I thought , OK a big slide. I saw what I thought they were talking about and didn't think much of it.

Then I looked over at Samuel and Nate running for the break in the trees. I squinted a bit and notices stairs... and THIS

They weren't kidding about the slide. It was GINOURMOUS! The kids were using cardboard to make themselves go even faster! We enjoyed food and some great people.

Our house guests had their kids visit yesterday and sleep over (8 kids in one place) and it was great. I do enjoy all the different personalities.

Today I did laundry to make up for playing hookey all day yesterday.

Anyone want to help me put it all away?

Mud Pies and Mondays

We have started filling barrels with rain water for the garden. The kids love watching the barrels fill. They really love grabbing out buckets to feed the plants a drink. Sammy knocked it over. 30gallons of water down the driveway. It resulted in a huge puddle of mud. Big enough for Sam and Nate to lay down in it. They covered themselves in it. Nate filled his pockets with mud ,so that it ran down his legs. They doused themselves in it and played so happily   He had the neighbor girl cover his head and back in it. They filled buckets with it. I soaped them up and hosed them down to clean them off. They giggled and laughed and enjoyed every single minute. Then after they dried off, Nate  went back into the mud once more.. I remember mud as a kid. The soft silty feel of  it in your fingers, on your hands. The squish of the warm summer mud between your toes. The smell of the earth and the clean. Dirt has always smelled clean to me. I may or may not have even put my own feet into the mud with them.

It brought me back to a childhood spend in my grandparents back yard. Digging in the garden and pulling up rocks. Playing with earth worms and centipedes beneath the willow. It reminded me of my grandmother bringing out giant pots of boiling water to add to the pool so we wouldn't catch cold. It brought me back to the melted ice cream running down my arm, my aunt Angie bringing me milkshakes from across the street and Vavoo teaching us how to pop the grapes in our mouths without the skin. It brought me back to a simple time when time didn't exist and all that mattered was how much sunlight was left to the day. Authentic Childhood. It's what I want for my children. I want them to think back and feel the sun on their face and remember the smell of the air. I want them to know they were lucky to enjoy the sunshine. That boys can make pretend soup and girls can play in the mud. I want them to know it's ok to get dirty and have fun and climb fences. I want them to remember their childhood with passion and rainbows.I want them to look back and remember happy sunlit afternoons,warm starry nights, and every single moment in between.  

I don't want them to loose the happiness they create because they grow up. I don't want them to forget how amazing it all can be. Please Lord help us all to remember what fun it can be to simply make mud pies.

Magical Moments

We don't venture out often with Sammy to traditional places. We go when it's quiet, empty, and safe. That way when (not if) he melts down we can get out fast. We always have an escape plan.

When you have a kid like Sam , sometimes military tactics are necessary!

We dropped Tyler off at BU for 12 days of wrestling camp. The ride up and back was a little rough for Sammy since sitting still is NEVER his forte. We all survived it. We were coming over the bridge to our house and Daniel mentioned the carnival on the other side. I cursed under my breath. My darling husband wasn't thinking that Sammy had probably already had more than enough stimulation for the day. I wasn't happy, the question "how many blocks did I earn" had already begun being asked repetitively.

If we said no to the carnival, there would be a meltdown.

If we said yes to the carnival, there would be a meltdown.

There was no winning this.

So... we went to the carnival.

I prayed so hard that it would be ok. The last time we attempted anything of the sort it started with spinning pumpkins but ended with having to restrain him in the back of the pavilion as he tried to flip the table to get away from all the people.

I just couldn't take a repeat. 

Then the magic happened. 

PURE, UNADULTERATED MAGIC. 

There was almost no one there, and Sam took a minute to gather it all in. He got flappy for a bit and I was prepared to leave. Then he hugged me and told me I was the best mom ever. He tuned in to me, the world around him. For the first time in as long as I can really remember he was 100% present. He engaged. He went on rides. He loved the Ferris Wheel and the Polar Express. It was such sheer joy just watching him enjoy the fair. He asked to buy a water bottle. That was the best 3$ water bottle we have ever bought. We walked home the two blocks. We played on the cannons. We sang and we ran.

We snuggled and watched a movie.

And just like that, the next morning, he was gone. Disengaged and moody.
It didn't matter because now I have that wonderfully amazing night in my head. I know it CAN happen so there is hope it will happen again. What a blessed night we had,truly magical.

Fireworks, Cannons and Cars

I want to surprise the kids with an early morning outing tomorrow to the local beach. There are these giant cannons at the beach, and the town will be firing them off tomorrow. I want to surprise the boys with this, but I can't. In our house, if we include Sammy, there can be no surprises. Not even good ones. He cannot take the pressure of it and it makes his anxiety sky rocket. I can't just prepare him because he doesn't understand how to keep secrets.

he dug a hole and stuck his head in...

I will tell him in the morning before we leave, but not too soon before. If he has too much time to think about it, he will melt. If I don't give him enough time, he will melt.
Holidays are just plain tough. You can see how much he wants to enjoy the fun. He wants to be part of it. Sometimes, he is wonderful. Sometimes he keeps it all together until we get in the car and then he melts down. Sometimes, he looses it right where we are and I can't do anything but hold him and protect him.

We will go tomorrow for 30 minutes. We will end on a good note. I will set my expectations as low as possible. Wish me luck!

Field Day

Sammy had field day last week. It was held at the rec center since there is no longer a yard at the school now that construction has begun. It was mostly nice. They did have some indoor events which Sammy struggled with. It was loud and hot and muggy. They blew an air-horn to signify change from one event to the next and Sammy covered his ears in pain each time. It bothered me to watch that. Couldn't they come up with something better?

Once we were outside things were better and I could see Sammy's body language relax and settle. He played the first 2 or 3 games fine but during the last one I watched his body language switch. His fingers , which earlier were relaxed and silent, began their flight. A mile a minute. I watched him try to stop and place his hands in the "quiet hands" position I had taught him many years ago. Oh I hate having taught him that. His eyes began to flip around and he flipped up onto his tip toes just ever so slightly. To most people he was just having fun, but I know my boy. he scanned the crowd, he looked for escape, he looked like he was in pain. I mentioned to the parent beside me "Uh-Oh looks like were about to hit a wall". He came to me and buried his head against my chest and took a deep deep breath. He was shaking. He said "this is too much, I want to be done"

My heart was breaking for him. This should be fun! Instead it took all my boy had to be part of it up to this point. I brought him over to his aide Mrs.L. and had him use his words "I am overwhelmed I need a break". Four times he tried and couldn't but the fifth time he did. She told him to take a seat, and I watched his entire body melt. Seconds later they were lining up to get back to school for a cookout. He again started to become upset and bothered. The transitions were not handled smoothly. I reassured him we would meet back at the school and that I would eat with him. He got into line fingers flying beside him hidden to anyone who doesn't yet understand my boy.

I met him at the school, he was under the tree waiting for me. We had a lovely picnic and then played on the playground. He kissed me and said "so glad you came over mommy"  He asked his friend A to join us. I really like that kid. He has fantastic manners and social skills and he seems to really like Sammy, quirks and all. We all need a friend that loves us for who we are. Sam has a few. He has Miss S. and Miss L., Mr. M and Mr.A.

I dismissed him from school and he was all smiles. It was the bright spot in our otherwise horrific week.

I'll take it!