Future priest and future police officer and of course our incredibly silly, sweet and dramatic princess.

The first day of school yesterday was filled with mixed emotions. They were more than ready to see all of their friends and I know they will do great despite not being excited about the academic part. Summer flew by, but I am looking forward to being settled (as much as we can be) into some kind of routine. One thing is certain there are two little people who will be missing their big brothers.

Grace walking into the kitchen carrying Kolbe’s support cup for baseball and holding it up to the water dispenser on the fridge.
G: Please mama, drink of water.
Me: No, we can’t use that.
G: Yes, mama! Drink out of this cup. Drink of water from this cup!!

K: Grandma that shirt you are wearing looks like it is from the olden days, like 1989.
The next day…
E: That shirt is better, looks like it is from the new-en days.

Running out of the pew during Mass and slowly returning with a smirk on her face.
G: Hey meany mom! Hey meany mom!!

Discussing whether we would be able to make it to one of Aaron’s work functions.
E: I think you should just go Mom.
Me: Not sure we could find a babysitter that short of notice.
E: Well, you can just order one.

Telling Aaron I was thinking of chopping my hair.
K: No, don’t cut your hair! I like it long. It’s pretty long and it makes you more beautiful.

Complaining to myself that I feel like I am getting sick.
G: I will pray you feel better Mama.

Driving by the hospital.
E: Mom, stop! We need to stop!
Me: Why, what’s wrong?
E: I think you need to go to the hospital and get checked to see if you are having a baby, I have been praying for sisters every night.

Getting Grace ready for bed.
Me: I don’t think we should put your pull up on yet, because you seem to forget to tell me when you have to go to the bathroom once it is on.
G: Usually, yep.

K: Mom, can we please have a pool.
Me: We don’t want anything deep right now with Grace and Caden.
K: Well, we can just buy a Master Lock like the one I want for my bike they will never be able to get in.
Me: Good thought, but we are talking about an inflatable pool.

G: Mom, Caden is poopy.
Me: Oh really, how do you know?
G: I ‘mell him! I ‘mell him mommy, he is stinky!!

I am a doer by nature, making lists, making a list for my lists. My mind always racing to the next thing that needs to get done or next place to go. I am a Martha always busying myself with something to do. When it comes to entertaining I am in the kitchen rather than enjoying my guests. When it comes to motherhood I always seem to be busy with a task while watching my children play.

Being a stay at home mom one would think I have so much time to just be, more often than not I manage to fill it with something leaving very little time for being. I go through the day and base my success on how many items I cross off my to-do list or what was accomplished rather than if time was spent just loving on those placed in my life.

This weekend some of our plans fell through leaving almost the entirety of Saturday and all of Sunday completely open. I had cleaned the house earlier in the week and was comfortably caught up on the laundry. The fridge was filled with leftovers, so I wasn’t stressing about dinner.

The older boys were gone Saturday morning and Caden’s teething had me up all night, so I decided to lay down with the little ones for their nap and ended falling asleep for a good two hours! I woke up to Aaron and the boys playing outside. The weather was gorgeous so I decided to take Caden and Grace out as well and my to-do list became history (until Monday).

It ended up being a weekend of carefree timelessness. Spending time together as a family without anywhere to go or any agenda to follow. Halfway through the weekend I admitted to Aaron that I was struggling a little to let myself continue to just be. He laughed and said he was a bit surprised himself and was wondering how I was handling it.

To be present to my family without needless interruptions. Interruptions and tasks that I create on my own behalf. Stress that I place on my shoulders as I strive to live up to a false ideal of perfection. Feeling the pressure of our fast paced society to constantly be doing while neglecting the just being.

As I reflect back on the last few days I need to remind myself that my children aren’t going to remember whether the floors were vacuumed or all of the laundry put away. Rather it will be the time spent and the memories made that will stay with them.

With summer approaching I hope to fill our days with carefree timelessness, simply being together. I am going to strive to fight the false notion that I battle which says that our summer will only be successful if we are constantly doing. Here is to focusing on being.

They always manage to keep it light-hearted around here and me laughing out loud from their cuteness. Grace is now verbal enough to join the ranks and also things she is older than her brothers, two going on ten. She is a little mother hen, picking up after everyone and keeping all of her brothers in line.

Clapping her hands
Grace: Come here Caden!
And attempts to pick up all 21 pounds of him with her 26 pound frame.

Hearing Caden fussing in his crib.
G: I will get him Mom.

Seeing some of Aaron’s clothes lying on the floor in a pile, Grace picks it up and looks at it.
G: Did daddy pee?

Lying on the floor next to Caden and touching his hand.
G: Tag, your it!

Digging through my makeup drawer and putting on some lipstick and then proceeding to hand me a red one.
G: Here mom, try this one.

G: Oh Kolbe, he is a boss baby.

Playing Church and Ethan was really getting into his homily.
E: Jesus wants you to say yes. He doesn’t want you to say no. He wants you to say yes. If you say no, don’t worry Jesus will come with his Shepherd’s staff and wring your neck and bring you right back with the other sheep.

E: Mom, I have a surprise for you!!
Me: Oh, what is it?
E: I am praying for twin sisters!

Kolbe: Mom, we need to have more babies. Everyone at school is having babies and we need to catch up to them so we can drive one of those really big vans.

Aaron: Uh-oh mom just gave you the look.
K: Yeah, that’s her stern look.

K: We have a new virtue this week.
Me: Oh really, what is it?
K: Magnanimity.
Me: What does it mean?
K: I have no idea, but it is a reeeally big word!

Gazing at himself in the mirror.
K: I look pretty fancy in this suit. It looks like I should be getting married or something!

This past weekend was a whirlwind and I am needing some major sleep therapy and a way to get rid of this cold-allergy combo plaguing me, but I am incredibly grateful for the joy and love of Jesus that we experienced.

The most important, Kolbe received Jesus for the first time in the Holy Eucharist. He was beyond excited about the day and couldn’t sleep the night before having been thinking about it all night. Right before Communion he leaned over to me, Mom I have the hiccups, He then told me that as soon as he received Jesus they were gone. I could not be more proud of this young man and look forward to what God is going to do in his life.

As I mentioned previously he had specific orders about his cake and while I thought it turned out beautifully, he was not pleased with it being a silver chalice instead of gold. The disappointment must have not lasted too long as he didn’t want any of the chalice cut into, but preserved for all eternity.

First haircut for my little man. I was in denial of the fact that he was in need of a trim, but his bangs kept falling in his face everytime he was on the ground crawling around. My Grandma did my first bang trim at six months, so since my Mom was in town she gave Caden a little trim. Rat tail is forever gone and my baby is so grown up.

And just for fun, first time feeding a giraffe. The new favorite animal at the zoo.

(source)

It seems Easter is creeping up on us this year, for me in part due to the cold non-spring, non-Easter like weather. Feels like I should be getting ready to stuff Christmas stockings rather than fill Easter baskets. I finalized the purchases last week, complete with copious amounts of candy.

In case you are in need of some last minute ideas I thought I would share what will be filling our kiddos baskets this year.

In addition to candy the kids’ Easter baskets are usually filled with typical spring outdoor items for everyone that they all can use (well not Caden yet, although he may try eating it) chalk, bubbles and a kite.

They also each get a small individual item, this year it’s baseball gloves for 2 out of the 4. A small musical ball for Caden and a pretty pink watering can for Grace.

We also like to include a religious item of some sort, usually a book. Here are a list of ones I found this year.

This will be a great activity book to help pass the hours on the road.

A step above a board book, easy to read to a toddler yet interesting enough for school aged.

A board book for Caden. I tried my hardest to find a chew book, but to no avail.

A friend recently mentioned to me about making Easter Resurrection cookies, such a cool idea to share the story of Easter. I may have to add that to our Easter traditions.