more pictures...

Jonathan and Charlotte Claire...their concert was wonderful.


Camille and Charlotte Claire...




Camille took us to the kindergarten hall to see her picture.




Jon and his little sisters...he has 11 of them, but with five in a row directly older than him, and these two younger, he is pretty much surrounded by girls.










Waiting for their ice cream...

Yum, they chose Cotton Candy flavor...



And of course the picture of Suri and her kitty.

This evening I shall go out all dressed up in my bye-bye clothes for the third night in a row, to the graduation ceremony of the school of nursing. Mirielle and Aaron are finally finally going to be all done finished...except for the huge state exam, of course. Aaron already has a job, and Mirielle has an interview. I am excited for them, but will miss these days of having them around when they had late classes or days off. There is nothing like sitting around drinking coffee and solving the world's problems with a few of your college kids.

No school tomorrow! Four day weekend! I am planning an early morning trip to the grocery store, and then taking some girls to some places for some things they think they really need. I have been lazy about cutting coupons, but I would like to do that today so I am more prepared tomorrow. '

Blogging is interesting. I can't write about something that made me really angry yesterday, because it would embarrass the heck out of someone. Sometimes I have to be vague, or omit whole events because of that privacy stuff. My kids are used to the fact that I blog now, but they still tease me a bit about it, and are wary of what I might say about them.

I had more to say today, but I have a monster headache. I went to the pool anyway, but it got worse and I had to take more ibuprofen and an acetominophen, now it is dulling but still there.

pictures....

Me with my babies...they fell asleep on me the other night. Sweetness!

Okay, story behind the eye-rolling: Mr. Aaron and Miss Mirielle, all dressed up and ready to go to their nursing school convocation. Emily was taking pics with her phone, and I wanted to go back in and get my camera. Em said I could just use these pics. I said I didn't know how to get them from facebook.

I stole this one from Emily too...dogs in people-clothes are always cute, but Aaron is cute too.

Jonathan, his cousin Grace, Sonja K., their friend Irene...when Emily took them, "Waterfalling."

My three nurses...Emily, Aaron, and Mirielle....

Another one stolen from Emily...Miss Suzanne and her big sister Mirielle.

After convocation last night we went out to dinner to celebrate. Quaker Steak and Lube...and it was All-You-Can-Eat Chicken Wing Night. So. Need I mention I never want to go out to eat again? Too many wings for me! But I shall mention they were good...chipotle dusted bbq, hot buffalo....boneless and regular...yum.

I behaved myself during the pinning ceremony (Emily pinned Mirielle and Aaron), but it was not easy. The first speaker was thankful for this "auspicious" occasion, and it sounded like she said, "suspicious" occasion, and for some reason it was too funny. I swear, if Emily had looked at me with a smirk on her face, I would have lost it. But I wanted to behave and sit there like a regular grown-up, and not embarrass my kids. Phew. I did it.

Tonight there is an elementary school concert, which the younger kids are very excited about. Charlotte Claire has determined that she does not want to match Camille, because it embarrasses her when everyone asks her if they are twins. Dang. But I will respect that. Anyway. I am picking them up from school today, too. Not Jonathan though. He got all dressed and ready for school this morning, and then started to tear up...he is still not feeling so great, his cheek is still all chipmunk-y...and he was up too late last night. Our power went out from the wind and rain, after the younger kids were tucked into bed...so out they came as their fans turned off. Ya, we sleep with fans. We had a Power Is Out Party, complete with candles and scary stories. The living room was pretty full, and I figured that only Benjamin, Abigail, and Mali weren't here.

The power went back on around midnight, the kids were long back in bed and sleeping by then.

In addition to our elementary concert, there is activity club and choir practice at church. Some kids who are in A.C. aren't in choir, and some in choir aren't in A.C., so we have to figure out who is driving what and with whom and all that fun stuff. Logistics.

And now, to go and switch laundry...

hot and humid....

Summer has arrived! This morning I had to take Mr. Jonny to the dentist. He told me last week that his tooth hurt. Okay. I heard him. I filed it away under, "I'll think about it more later, it probably isn't too bad." Then next night he told me it really hurt. That was Thursday, and our dentist isn't open on Friday. Friday was his field trip. He kept holding his face, and saying it hurt, so I gave him ibuprofen. By Sunday his cheek was nice and swollen, and he was really hurting. I called the dentist first thing yesterday, and got him an appointment for first thing this morning. Well, not exactly FIRST thing. First, I had to get the princesses ready and on the bus. Anyway. His tooth had two small cavities which were filled, and showed no other decay, but there was a huge abscess, and it was a baby tooth (molar), with the new one already under it. So we agreed it had to come out. Poor Jon. The novocaine needle had to go right into the infected gum. He started shaking and I could see his nostrils flaring, I knew he was in pain...

Out came the tooth, and almost, down went Mom, but I managed to take a deep breath and not faint. Jon had asked me to please stay in there for the whole time, so somehow I did.

We are home now. He is lying on the couch with an ice-pack on his cheek. Poor kid. If I could hug all his pain away, I would. I would rather have it myself than to see him suffer.

I know, it's only a tooth, but it still had large roots, and it was yanked out. His face is really swollen, and he seems almost betrayed by the pain...like he is a child, and big people are supposed to take care of him, and yet...he is hurting....

He is going to take a little nap now. I am going to make myself work out, because I NEED to.

Even though it is hot and muggy.

This afternoon is the convocation ceremony, so I won't be making dinner here tonight, although most of the family will still be here. I will of course offer suggestions before I leave with Mirielle and Aaron:)

I don't like getting dressed up in Bye-bye clothes when it is so hot out. Blah. But. I honestly don't mind walking out the door sometimes. I am proud of Mirielle and Aaron, and am looking forward to seeing them get pinned. Their big sister Emily is going to pin them:)

And now I shall get Jonathan's fan for him, so he can snooze on the couch...perhaps I will switch laundry, then exercise....although I would rather crawl back in my comfy bed with my book....

monday morning and a house full of school skippers...

But instead of dwelling on who didn't go, I shall mention who DID. Samuel, Margaret, Kathryn, Evelyn, and Suzanne got on that bus this morning. Sonja K. isn't feeling well, she has this cold and feels stuffy and dizzy. Char barfed twice yesterday, which was interesting. She was all pale, she ran to the bathroom, then not long later was swirling and twirling around on the deck blowing the bubbles Emily gave her for her birthday, wearing a long dress that flared out when she spun...laughing and having a good old time. She came in the house and was still bouncing off the walls, then bam, she ran in and threw up again. hmm. Oh, and Jonathan has a tooth bothering him. I am not sure if it is one tooth trying to come in and getting impacted, or the one behind it acting up. I will let the dentist figure it out. Jon's cheek looks very chipmunk-y. So of course I didn't send him. It started bothering him on Thursday night, and the dentist is closed on Friday...so it had been a long weekend for Jon. Anyway, Camille has a cold too, plus there is no way in heck she would get on that bus without Jon and Char.

Joseph, who is between jobs right now, ha, will be glad to look after them while I take a swim this morning, thankfully.

Not that I so much feel like taking a swim. I am stuffy and blah, and could seriously hibernate today.

I took a long walk yesterday, then did a small afternoon workout in Margaret's room while she played the piano, which was nice except for my pounding head. Sinuses, I guess.

So when I get back from the pool, I will call the dentist and see if they can fit Jon in today. We seriously need some groceries, but I don't think he will be up for a stop at the store. We'll see. He is too big to ride in a cart, wah.

Char just said, as I coughed and choked, "Poor Mommy, I prayed for her, so she is going to get better alot faster."

Camille has on my huge polka-dotted bathrobe, and just told me that her tummy hurts really bad. Oh joy.

Now, I don't really like to encourage the kids to watch television, but I admit I just told them to turn on, "Curious George." They are fussing and fretting, those two little princesses. Char insists on lying on the couch, but Camille wants to sit next to her and won't just lie on the other end, keeps trying to move Char's feet.

Suri just sneaked down the hall and started chowing on the kitten's food. I heard her, so yelled for her to stop. She did, then came over to my chair and looked at me. I didn't pet her, just told her to lie down. She walked over to her mat bed, which she usually doesn't sleep on because she prefers couches, and just plunked down, looking at me. I was not about to call her a good dog, but I think she knows I still love her.

You know what I like almost better than chicken breast? Boneless thighs. More fat, more flavor, crispy in the oven.
We had some for dinner last night. We could live on chicken and veggies. And watermelon. Oh, watermelon season is upon us again, and maybe ours will grow in the garden this year. And, cherries are ripening! I love the summer produce.

Our garden is huge this year. 48 tomato plants, all different varieties. Melons and peppers and snap peas and lettuces. Our grapevines are surviving, and the rasberry bushes are multiplying. We still have to plant yellow squash and zucchini. And cukes. And radishes. Paul says it is therapeutic to walk in the dirt with barefeet. Suri thinks so too, she likes to walk right on the plants. I think it is more therapeutic to put my feet up and write, but to each his own. And I do like the veggies. I don't mind weeding and watering, either.

My son Joseph turned 22 the other day. I use his age to gauge how long we have lived in this house, he was a baby when we started framing it, and eleven months old when we moved in. That was a hard year because Paul went straight from work to the building site, and was here on weekends. My brothers and Paul built it while holding down full time jobs. Bob had at least 8 kids then, and Tom had five. Emily was six when Joseph was born, Abigail 4, Benjamin 2 and a half, and Mirielle fifteen months. (little did I know what was to come, my first two were the only ones to be that far apart. I lost a baby at 12 weeks between Abigail and Benjamin). Anyway. How I do go on....boring my own self. Joseph turned 22 last week, and we didn't do much for his birthday. He wanted some protein powder...I also got him a new pillow and a package of socks. Yeah, I know. He is an interesting boy. I know I am his mother, but his drawing is awesome. He can also write music and play the guitar. He is teaching himself graphic design instead of incurring so much debt in student loans. He is so respectful of me, he gets me. He has this perception, and when I really need it, he will say something so comforting. He will also help with anything around here I ask him to do.

Benjamin and his wife Ashley seem to be doing all right. They are moving from their tiny apartment to a two-bedroom house, since they are expecting a baby. Ben is taking college classes, and got an A+ on his first test. Ashley is feeling fine, and is super excited to be having a baby. I just hope he doesn't get deployed again.....

sick sick sick....

Silly Sammy Slick...sipped six sodas, and got sick sick sick. Dr. Seuss, of course. But I didn't sip six sodas. I just have a cold, and I am a big baby. My nose is all stuffed up, the coughing started. blah. So guess what? I am taking it easy today, which is very difficult for such an energetic young mom like myself. To just sit here writing, in my comfy chair, sipping coffee. My living room right now? Amazing. Two little princesses, sound asleep. One on the couch, one on a pile of comforters on the floor. One bad kitten attacking Char's feet. The fan is on, so I am also almost asleep. But don't worry, I can write in my sleep.

See, the princesses and Jonathan slept in the living room last night. Aaron and Joseph were their babysitters last evening, as the girls went to out to girls' fellowship. Aaron texted me (I was working at the baseball game concession stand) and asked if it was okay for them to sleep in here. For some reason, they love it. I was fine with it. When we got home, the house was all dark and they were all sleeping with Suri and Kitty.

Anyway. They must be still tired....they just zonked out for naps.

It is quiet and lonely in our house today. When you are a mom, you always need to know where your kids are. So here's where mine are today:

1. Emily, 28: Went to play in some waterfalls, probably to a state park south of here. She took Sonja and Jonathan.

2. Abigail, 26: Went to Michigan with Evelyn and some other girls from church.

3. Benjamin, 24: Stationed in Washington state in the Army. Probably just hanging out with Ashley today.

4. Mirielle, 23: At the hospital working her clinical rotation needed for nursing school.

5. Joseph, 22: Home.

6. Aaron, 20: Same as Mirielle.

7. Mali, 19: Working at McDonald's.

8. Samuel, 17: Huge airsoft tournament down near New York City.

9. Margaret, 16: Home.

10. Kathryn, 15: Ottowa visiting Janet and Joe.

11. Evelyn, 13: Michigan with Abigail.

12. Suzanne, 12: Ottowa with Kathryn.

13. Sonja, 11: Waterfalls with Emily.

14. Jonathan, 9: Waterfalls with Emily.

15. Charlotte Claire, 7: Home.

16. Camille Anaya, 5: Home.

Four kids home out of sixteen. It is too quiet! The little girls are awake now, although Camille is still all covered up on the couch. How cozy is that? It is cloudy out, a comfy day to be in here lounging. Now, of course you know there are niggling thoughts, telling me to get up and throw another load of laundry in, to wash up those dishes. I already swept the kitchen and put in a load of bedding, but that's about it. I just gravitated towards my chair.

The girls said Aaron made them grilled cheese, baked beans, and broccoli for dinner. Camille said that Aaron made her eat, "yucky broccoli." I love love love thinking of my big boys babysitting their little sisters.

It is such a gift to simply be alive. Add to that all the blessings, like the kids and having a home and enough to eat....time marches on, but I will not take any of it for granted.

Camille is lying on the couch, thumb in mouth, all covered up, kitty sleeping on her. Char is talking about the chorus concert next week. Now Camille is singing, "It's A Marshmallow World In The Winter", and Char is chiming in. Maybe I will just sit here all day and enjoy their cuteness. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time enjoying anyone's cuteness when I get busy and try getting things done. So there, I have justified my sitting here....

because I am my mother's daughter.

That was Mirielle's answer to my question. My question was...why do I always notice a child who breaks my heart?

Oh, I enjoyed the field trip. The sand and water table, and the stationary bikes that generate enough electricity to turn on a panel of bulbs. The motion simulator, which was a sub going under Lake Ontario. But the kids? I don't want to bring ALL of them home, no, today just one little girl. Why? She was shy. She looked like my Sonja. Her hair needed a wash. She watched the other girls, but they payed no attention to her. When she sat with two girls on the bus, one of them asked her to leave so they could be alone, which did not set well with me. I told the girl that was NOT nice. Then I talked with the little girl. She has the same Target sneakers as me. I told her that, and that I loved them.

I just hope her mommy and daddy love her and tell her how sweet and pretty she is.

And now...off to the baseball game I go..

sunny spring day...

And I made it to the pool this morning. And last evening, too. I told Paul this morning that I wasn't going to go, I need to switch things up, ect. And that I can't go tomorrow because I am going to the science museum with the third graders...Paul said, Go to the pool! Just switch up how you swim or something. So I decided he was right, and went.

Today I am picking Samuel up and taking him to a notary so I can sign permission papers for him to play in a huge airsoft tournament this weekend near New York City. Tomorrow, Abigail is taking Evelyn, with some other girls from church, to Michigan for the weekend. They are going up through Canada, so I had to sign papers for that, and dig out her birth certificate. Then Kathryn and Suzanne were invited to go to Ottowa for the weekend to visit my niece Janet....

Busy busy busy, I tell you. After my field trip tomorrow I will be heading back out to work at the baseball stadium.

This is the season of busy, when you have elementary school kids. End of year picnics to send snacks too, kindergarten graduation to send cookies in for,end of the year concerts, field days where they need certain color shirts, and of course the barrage of field trips. This is the first year I have been really free to go on them. Anyway, we have a kindergarten graduate, the last of sixteen....and two college graduates, Mirielle and Aaron.

In the midst of all this, I have the two cutest distractions I could possibly have, unless of course someone gave me another baby. Little kitty is adorable! When the kids brought him home, I was seriously like, "okay, more work." But. This kitty is a sweetheart. He follows me around with his little tail up in the air, bouncing and swatting things, meowing to be picked up. He is a cuddler and a purrer. He never misses the litter, and doesn't cause any trouble. He sleeps with Suri, attacks her mercilessly, and pounces on people's feet. And Suri, she is of course my little buddy.

I met a lady at the pool this morning who homeschools her four little boys. I asked her some questions about it...and when she found out how many kids I have, she said, "Wow! And you look like you have it all together!" Now, that is the most hilarious thing I have ever heard. Part of me was like, "I do? I look like I have it all together? Ooooh." But I know the truth. Ha. I can do lots of things okay, some things terribly, but nothing perfectly. I forget things, and I never seem to have everything caught up at the same time. I can do lots of laundry, then realize the windows haven't been cleaned in...well, I don't remember. Socks? ha. don't even talk to me about socks. Yes, we have lots of them. And yes, the kids wear matching ones. But most of our socks are swinging singles. All hanging out in a big laundry basket together.

Anyway. I do admire those who seriously do have their act together, I personally know a few people who do.

But I am not sure they would have dropped everything and gone out for coffee with their brother if their house looked like mine when my brother called, and I went with him.

I was thinking the other day that if I KNEW I only had like a month to live, would I do things I hate to do but feel obligated to do, like wedding/baby showers, graduation parties,...? Then I realized that although I perhaps have lots more than a month to live, my days ARE numbered. I have already been here for almost 48 years! Time isn't unlimited, spread before me in abundance. Then I thought...it doesn't really matter if I spend my time doing things I hate doing...if I am doing things out of a good heart, and if I have a good spirit, and a mind to be a blessing...if I don't give into my grumbling and complaining, and instead be thankful...then it doesn't really matter.

So. I could be a lot busier than I am. I could, for example, get up out of this comfy chair, and get moving. I suppose it doesn't matter that I have already washed several dishes and pans, swept floors, put two loads of laundry through, served some breakfasts and made some lunches, showered some kids and brushed out their hair, remembered permission slips and helped with spelling words, walked and fed the dog, fed the kitty, cleaned up spilled water from the kitty....dang, I am ready for a nap!