You Don't See That Every Day

We started school at home this week. So far after two days we are slowly adjusting to the "new" way of doing things. New after a summer of not doing, that is. I've already had to run down to the store to get items I forgot in my planning stage - spiral notebooks, index cards and such. And then there's the poor girl of mine who isn't doing any math this week. (She doesn't seem to broken up about this though.) I ordered the 3rd grade set of math books for her. Again. Poor girl, she's in 4th grade! (oops! Well, at least I am set for next year when my 2nd grader moves up!)

So here's an update for any of you who are interested in the facts and figures of our baby girl's life. We took her in for her four month check-up today; I came away with the idea that she is most likely going to take after her father's side of the family - long and lean. Her weight is 14 lb, in the 50%; her length is 25 inches, in the 90%! and her head circumference (I love this one) is 41, in the 75%. Grow, baby, grow!

Here's a question for you. (One-word answers acceptable.) If you were very hungry, what is the one food you would want to see when you open the refrigerator? For me ... hmm ... I would need to see either ice cream or blueberry bagels! I guess it would depend on the time of day. (and those are cupcakes in the above photo)

In my corner of the world this past week: I read a few magazines that had been languishing on my shelf; I watched an "old' movie, Forever Youn g , with Mel Gibson in it; I wen t to swim lessons for the kids, and dinner at friends' home; I laughed . I'm sure I did. Probably at my husband's antics - he's good at making me laugh; I made breakfast for lunch, since I never am up in time to make breakfast for breakfast; I bought just groceries; I sang Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti I listened to someone rant about their work; I learned that the adage "A watched pot won't boil" is easily linked with "an unwatched pot will boil over".

Baby K is 4 months old today. Length: 25 inches; weight: ? we'll find out next week at the doctor's office.

The application went into the mail today. My non-runner husband who is now a runner is signed up for his first race, a 5k in September. This is the same race I have run the past 2 years, but b/c of scheduling conflicts (ie. children to care for and a football game) I will be watching and cheering him on this year from the sidelines. But I am still running, although sporadically. I got to go on another run this morning; this time my oldest joined me on his bicycle. I only went a mile, and it was all good. I'm not mentally ready to push myself beyond a mile; perhaps in a couple of weeks. My body might say yes, but my brain is still in a "shouldn't I be in bed?!" zone. G and I have talked about running together, but his long legs and pace would be pretty difficult for me to keep up with at this point.

In my corner of the world this past week: (a little later than my usual Friday because of my beach trip) I read a couple of stories by Debbie Macomber - interesting tales about people and relationships in a small town; I watched the waves crash against the shoreline - but not long enough; could've sat there for a long time; I wen t to the farm, to my friends' home and to the beach; I laughed at my husband, because he can be pretty funny! I made peach jam and canned it for later; I bought a bunch of containers to organize the boxes in the garage - signs of mice in there and so we need to take care of that; I sang along to Toby Mac CD and Zac Brown CD on the drives to and from the coast; I listened to my children laughing as they ran down the sand dunes; I learned you're never to old to play in the sand.

It was my birthday yesterday and I got to go to the beach!! (can you tell it's the Oregon coast by this picture?!) It was a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday. My sisters helped with the kids, I got a free lunch out without the children, and I got to be on the beach - sunshine, happy smiling children, sand in my toes, (and a wee bit of wind). The 4 older kids built sandcastles and birthday cakes for me. We ran up and down a sand dune (me, only once, but they did it over and over again.) The day made turning a year older much easier.

It's a Couch-to-5K try again. This morning I went running on my own for the first time in almost a year! I made it one whole mile, without stopping, in 10 minutes. It felt so good! But it was hard to get myself out there. Everything in me screamed to go back to bed. It was only 6:15! I haven't been out of pajamas at that hour in almost a year also! What got me out the door? Not stubbornness , not self-discipline, not some great runner's secret. No, envy got me out the door. Seeing a skinny, flat-tummy girl running yesterday - that's what got me moving. Not that I'll ever look like that again (birthing 5 babies moves parts and pieces that don't go back). 5 babies - that's nearly 4 years of pregnant belly-stretching life. But the motivation to at least try and get back into my pre -baby clothes got me out the door and into motion. And it felt good. My husband has signed up for his first race ever, in September. In order for me to run with him I have to start n

It has been HOT out here on the West Coast. Some friends from church convinced us to hang out with them today. So we did something that we haven't done in a long, long, long time; we spent an afternoon at the river. What a blast! The kids had a grand time swimming in the river (brr!) And baby K didn't fuss at all. Do any of you (who are related to me) remember the camping trip at Grizzly Creek in California? When we went swimming in that creek/river and jumping off the rock? And the water snakes? ah, the memories. At least there were no snakes here!

In my corner of the world this week: I read another Sue Grafton book, "D" this week; I watched my youngest roll from back to tummy numerous times; I wen t to swim lessons for my kids 5 days in a row, and on the 5th day got a sunburn; I laughed at my 4 year old saying, "It better not be a severed head." I made grilled hamburgers for dinner 2 nights in a row; I bought only groceries this week! yay! I sang really loudly with the radio as I drove on the freeway with my girls; I listened to my two oldest bicker too much; I learned that cinnamon and seasoned salt containers look very similar when you are grabbing for one quickly to season the potato fries. Thankfully cinnamon doesn't taste too badly on fries.

I've had the following conversation twice this week with 2 of my children. Child A: "Mom, I'm almost out of underwear." Me: "I'll wash tomorrow." Child B: "Dad said you can wear your underwear 4 times before you need to wash it, just turn it inside out and backwards." Me: "He wasn't serious." Child B: "He wasn 't?"

Baby K has moved! This past week she has rolled from her back to her tummy. She had been getting caught on her arm, but this weekend she figured out how to move that. So now she's "on a roll."

We had a family reunion this past weekend. It's an annual event, started over 20 years ago. Anyone related to my dad's side of the family shows up at the appointed park, with food to share. We have games (and prizes!) and plenty to eat. Usually there is a baseball game later in the afternoon. And then when everyone packs up to leave, the siblings of my family plan some type of pizza dinner get-together. So it's basically another picnic day of food, food, and some more food. With a little activity thrown in to make us feel OK about eating so much!

Quote of the week, from my 4 yr old: "[ Cousin ] K is the queen. She just sits there."

In my corner of the world this week: I read "C is for Corpse" by Sue Grafton. Not my usual pick of book, but I am branching out. Skip some of her words and mental images and the mystery is intriguing; I watched The Gilmore Girls, season 3; I wen t to the park 4 out of 5 days; I laughed at my baby girls expression -- priceless! I made potato soup and applesauce (the sauce, 2 batches every day); I bought school books - OK, we ordered online and they are arriving this week. yay! I sang You Are My Sunshine over and over and over again as we drove home one night and baby K couldn't be consoled; I listened to Josh Turner CD's and a music in the park concert; I learned that walking through a wheat field might look like a photographic moment, but ouch it can hurt.

There are times when the expression on a child's face is priceless. I met a friend at the park today; it was quite hot out, and no trees at the playground. So we took a little walk; this particular park has a splash pad, which we have never been on before. Oh, how I wish I had my camera with me when I told my 4 yr. old to go play in the water. With her clothes on. She had to ask a couple of times to make sure I was serious. She checked again to see that I really did want them to play on the splash pad in their shorts and shirts, without a towel. Sometimes a mom just has to be spontaneous and put a (good) twist in the child's world.

What motivates you? Food is a biggie in my life. Since I spend everyday trying to keep 5 kids fed, and face a hungry husband at day's end, my life often seems to revolve around feeding times. I can't imagine the life pioneer women lived, making breakfast, cleaning up and turning around and making lunch and then cleaning up and making supper right after that. Well, I can kind of imagine that when I go camping, b/c it seems that way. But this is about motivation not food. Other motivators: cleanliness -- the house internally bursts every day when the children are around. Much of my time is spent combating that. Health -- there's this small problem with hives, and then the effort to keep the rest of the family fairly healthy too; Eternal impact -- ah, this one unfortunately gets pushed to the back with the hustle and bustle of the day (see the three previously mentioned motivators) But yet it is the most important isn't it? I haven't been feeling too motivated in some

We went to the park this weekend and met up with my cousin K and his wife, L. She has a new camera -which I would love to have - but for now I'll settle for letting her use my kids as practice subjects instead. The kids had a blast playing in the park with some of their favorite people while L snapped pictures. The ones in the collage are some of my favorites. If you click on the picture itself, it will come up for a bigger better view.