The REST of the weekend...and little bit of today

So, I basically gave you the wrap up of Saturday...but let me finish up with the remainder of the weekend...

I think I might have even mentioned that I'm a bit sick...not the kind of sick that requires you to snuggle in bed and lay there until all the germs have disintegrated...nope, I've been blessed to have the kind of sick where I"m still "semi-functional"...

How this translates into everyday life is: "Oh, pull up those boot straps lady and get a move on...there's lunches to be made, floors to be vacuumed, toilets to be unclogged...hop to it!"

The back of my throat looks like a snowstorm erupted...but feels more like a rocky volcano exploding everytime I swallow...

No fear though...I hoofed it to the doctor this morning, got the whole swab and gag routine...listened to me breathe, checked my ears...you get the idea...

It was at this point that I was given my diagnosis:  "You have a COLD"

WOW...stellar report, I know:)  To be honest, I was kinda hoping for something like Tonsilitis or some other form of a bacterial virus so that I could stock up on some good ole antibiotics and kick this "cold" in gear...

But no...

It's wonderful concoctions of ice water, warm tea, gargling with salt water, and lots of REST for me...

I'd like to interject that it was at that moment in the conversation that I giggled a little...I had to gently remind the doctor that I was a mother...of 3 girls...one of which is FOUR years old...at home...all day long...

REST isn't necessarily in the "repretoire" of things to do in the "day and life" of Little Munchkin...

And therefore I fully expect for this COLD to settle in and take up residence for awhile...

In the effort of "pulling up one's boot straps"...we went to the pumpkin patch to finally get our pumpkins...just in time for the "holiday" (if it is actually called that?) 

Because Mommy had 4 photo shoots prior to the pumpkin patching, you will notice all her make up is completely smeared off and what you don't see is the Venti White Chocolate Frappe that Italian Stallion stopped and picked up for her as he chauffeured the children so we could meet up together...

It was an interesting adventure...as we tromped through the fields in search of perfect pumpkins...amidst the squishiness of mud through our shoes and the screams of  "I've got like 10 burs in my hair MOMMY!" (and they did...it was like the remake of Ramona & Beezus...and if you haven't seen that movie, I'm sorry b/c I can't find a youtube clip of it, so you'll just have to trust me on that one and continue reading)

Anyway, we found our pumpkins and I had just enough gumption to get just a few pictures to document the outing...

I'm getting sick and other news...

I can feel it coming on...

I should have seen it coming...through the lack of sleep, the being hacked upon in the middle of the night, the cuddles close to my face and then "ACHOO" right in my eyes...

It's right there....at the back of my throat...waiting for the most INopportune time to flare up...

And so, it was such a comfort to come home after having photo shoots in the morning, soccer game in the afternoon and more photo shoots in the evening...to see this as I pulled in the driveway:

Nothing quite comforts like a warm fire and some gooey SMORES:)



And, just watching my girls enjoy some family time around the ole campfire...and getting goo all over their faces:)

This weekend is going to be busy...it's my photography time of year and although I thoroughly enjoy this outlet, I will be honest that I miss the quiet, lazy days of fall...

This afternoon marked the end of another season of soccer for Sweetpea...and for the first time in FIVE...count them...1, 2, 3, 4, 5 seasons...we actually WON...The past 4 seasons we've gone without a win...oh, we got a couple ties maybe...but lost most of 'em...

Not this season...Nope...we went UNDEFEATED...how about them apples??? I'd like to say it was the stellar coaching by my incredibly talented Italian Stallion...or perhaps it was the fact that 6 of the girls have been together for so long that something must have sunk in...

or maybe we just played younger teams that were really bad because the organization had pity on us....

But, whatever it was...we had a GREAT season and I enjoyed screaming my lungs out on the sideline, like every good soccer mom knows to do:)

 Not sure what she was all perturbed about in this picture...but, she's not much of a "performer" or "spot lighter" like her mother...more likely than not, she KNEW I was taking a picture:)

It's just been an all around great season...

Tomorrow is another busy day...but looking forward to spending time with some great people:) Have a beautiful rest of the weekend!

In Case you Missed It...

There was a brief time period here where it wasn't raining, the wind wasn't knocking you over and whipping your daughters' hair into umpteen knots...where leaves floated to the ground and mud wasn't oozing from the grass...

During this time, we were able to catch the opportunity to play in the leaf piles and photograph the colors of fall...

In case you missed it...you can live vicariously through these pictures:)

Gift Ideas:)

I know it's been awhile...

What have we been up to besides mounds of laundry (did you expect anything less?) and taking a gazillion pictures in the month of October? 

Well..we have obtained some old veggie tale tunes and have been singing about monkey tails and SUVs...

Yes, well...after you have enjoyed that exhilirating rendition of song...just imagine it playing for hours on end in our car...head banging included:)

Needless to say, my brain isn't necessarily functioning on a level fit for mature blogging purposes...

Therefore, in this "wait period"...i.e. the time in which my laundry, dishes and old shoes pile up in heaps in my hallways and closets...the time where my behind is parked behind the computer screen editing pictures from all the photo shoots from the weekends...the time where we run out of toilet paper and have to use ripped up paper towels or kleenex because Mommy keeps forgetting to purchase them at the store b/c she's so scatter brained and only remembers staples such as nutella, Pepsi and possibly the eggs...*ahem*

Yes, so...what I started out wanting to share with you was a neat gift idea for a special mom in your life:)  I discovered a shop on Etsy that has just been FABULOUS:)  Not only is her service incredible, but I happen to love what she makes:)

I wanted to share these awhile ago, but I thought now would be better in case anyone needed some ideas for the upcoming holidays...You can find her shop HERE

And now I'm back to the usual...I promise to visit again soon!

Another Family Tradition:)

We went to a Pumpkin farm today...

Oddly enough we did NOT get pumpkins...

However, we DID do a bunch of other stuff!  Oh MY did we have fun! 

As you probably know, I'm big into traditions and memories...and sadly, because I can't ever seem to REMEMBER any of the "memories" myself, I have to photograph everything so that I can at least TRY to recollect the event:)  Which is probably why I like "traditions"...or rather...REPETITION!!!

Anyhoo...we always go some sort of apple picking (which I mentioned in an earlier post) and pumpkin patchin' (which I will mention here:)

This year, we were introduced to a new place...I will admit that I wasn't too keen on trying something "new"...but I was ASSURED that I was MISSING something if I didn't go...and we all know that I don't like to MISS OUT on things...

And so, we googled it out and discovered that it was only a mere 15 minutes down the road...so off we went to explore...

((I want to interject here that this occurred after a evening of which noone got much sleep...I'm just adding that because I may or maynot include the whining and constant "carrying" that took place because everyone was "tired and hungry" after about 2 hours...but, I will NOT be discouraged!!! It really was worth every penny...

Italian Stallion and I had attended a work function that did not finish up until around 1 AM...the event was full of grown men sulking over the Buckeyes big loss and me sipping white wine with the ladies as we nibbled on large amounts of sugar...

The girls spent the evening at Nana and Popi's where Little Munchkin was introduced to Charlotte's Web THE MOVIE...this might not have been the smartest move on Mommy's part as we have not finished the book yet and I forgot to mention the ending...We found out later that Peanut had to cuddle my youngest to sleep that night because of the sadness...Lil Munch made to sure to mention to me first thing in the morning, "MOMMY, did you know that Charlotte died...she is DEAD Mommy...DEAD!  It is too sad!"  ))

Okay...so enough about all that...let's get back to that rip roaring fun at the Pumpkin Farm:) 

It started off with the trampoline bouncy thing...I don't know what it was, it was huge and orange and the girls bounced...a LOT!

  Next came the pedal carts...I'm not convinced that it wasn't just like riding a big tricycle...but you put John Deer on something and the girls think it's a tractor...and off they go!

Next we moved on to the Tube Rolling...Daddy came up with a way to spin them while on their knees...he's so cool...:)

And the younger two had to settle for the Banana Bus instead of the zip line...but, they made do:)

It helped that there was also a giant "sandbox" filled with corn kernals...we kept wondering what would happen if they moved it OUTSIDE in the SUN...would it become POPcorn?

The last thing we did was a hayride, but at that point, my body had just gone through a moment where your heart goes up into your throat and think, oh my goodness, I might just lose it...so, I put the camera down for a bit...

Sweetpea decided that since she was tall enough, she could do the Zip line...I'm all about challenging one's self and taking "risks"...but, I think it applies more to MYSELF rather than my children...and to see her so stinkin' high in the air...good grief...and then, watch the video...she literally ZIPPED by!!!

So...that was our morning...and then I headed out for 3 photo shoots...and then I came back home and sat around the firepit while my girls read books and Italian Stallion and I reflected on what charmed life we lead:) 

Thank you Lord:)

Well, YOUR Momma...

do you remember those jokes?  The "yo' momma" jokes? 

It all centered around being able to give the best 'jab' or 'put down'...

They aren't just "jokes" anymore...I think it has turned into a "disease" of sorts...a "sickness", if you will...

I like to now call it the "One up 'em" disease...

I have currently diagnosed Little Munchkin with the "yuck"...

Don't get me wrong, I "catch" it every once in a while...although it shows up in more subtle ways...I like to call it "braggin on my kids" or "sharing a prayer request"...Have you ever caught this "cold"? 

It was out in full force today with Little Munchkin...she had to "one up" her little friend at the zoo today...holy moly...it sounded like this...

"I'm going to hold MY mom's hand with the RING on her finger!"
"I'm going to have APPLES for MY lunch"
"I'm going to ride the LEAD horse on the carousel"

My older girls give it and take it at school too...
"Oh, my mom got me a bunch of pencil grippers...oh, you don't HAVE any?"
"I have a DS and an IPOD and an theater system in my basement...(smirk, smirk)"

What is it in us that thinks that by putting someone else down, by "putting them in their place" that that actually elevates our "standing" in our peer group? 

Ohhhhhh, wait a minute, that would be that thing called SIN right? 

All in the name of "trying to relate" to others...we have to tell the "best" story, we have to be the best (or the worst) just so that we get center stage, we get the spotlight...sometimes it's for the praise, sometimes it's for the pity...regardless, it's a focus on ME! 

I had to pull Lil Munch aside plenty of times today to talk about her tone of voice, her heart...MAN, that is hard trying to explain that to a 4 year old...I struggle with trying to instill confidence...a sense of "you don't have to be walked on" in my children...but at the same time, a heart that is compassionate and generous...

I'll be honest...I don't want my kids to get bullied and shoved around...I don't want them to always be last, to always get the leftovers...but at the same time, I want them to WANT to give to others...I want them to put others needs before themselves...UGH...it's like this huge contradiction...and trying to 'parent' it correctly is taking every ounce of prayer and patience and pleading with God for wisdom. 

don't get me wrong...we had a great day...it was fun to see the animals and brush the goats and swat at the bees:)...but, I'm a bit worn out...I find myself struggling with the same things that I'm trying to teach my girls...I crave attention and validation and affirmation...from people...and I don't want to...and I don't want my girls to feel like they have to "show someone up" just to get noticed...

Oh the heart issues...that's where it really matters isn't it?  It's not all about eating your broccoli and watching too much TV...THIS, the HEART, is where the battle lies...

I'm determined friends...I don't know the answers...I haven't figured them out in my own life except to do a lot of apologizing and admitting when I'm wrong...but, I will NOT give up in these precious gifts that God has given me in my girls:) 

Mission Completion!

So, I ran my 5K this weekend at my alma mater:) 

Let me begin by saying that the old corn fields and midwest weather didn't let me down..oh no...nice spitting rain, blowing wind and temperatures in the 30s was JUST the thing to drag my sleepy bottom out of bed at O' dark thirty...it also took about 2 phone calls and a handful of texts while laying in the dark on my hotel bed from fellow alumni classmates to roll me out the door...

I'll be honest...I was cold, we kept the girls up until 10:30 the night before, swimming...because THAT is what staying in a hotel is all about, AND did I mention it was COLD? 

However, my good friend Lori, whom I haven't seen in 15 years said she could rally...and Sara...well, she's not only a running pro, but an incredible encourager as well...

And so, I hauled my lazy bones out of bed, managed to brush my teeth and donned my running attired...adding gloves, an extra long sleeve shirt and earband to the ensemble due to the above mentioned COLD!!!and headed to the lobby to "get the show on the road"...

This is the before picture...if I could caption it, it might say something like: "Yes, I'm absolutely and utterly ridiculous...my eyelashes are already frozen!"

We ran together throughout the whole race...along side Josh who kept our head in the game...my arthritic, cracking ankle keeping time with the pace and I think I complained enough about the wind and the cold to perhaps cause Sara to stealthfully put the volume up in her ipod:) 

She was patient with me throughout...even when I pushed her off the track oblivious to the fact that I was running the wrong way...

We finished strong though...and sat through the winner announcements...I was quite shocked to hear my name called in the 31-39 age bracket...but, I'm more reticent to discuss the fact that in just a few years I will be in the next age bracket...

To be completely fair, I must confess that Sara purposefully held back so that my leg crossed the line first...and Josh, the crosscountry runner extraordinaire...he so could have run circles around us the entire way, but just plugged along! Kudos to CU students!!!

As is to be expected, it took me a longggg time to make a decision on what to purchase with my newly achieved $10 gift card to the college bookstore...but after much thought and  whining "come on Mommy, just make a choice!" prodding from my husband and young girls, I purchased a nice travel coffee mug...And just to reassure you it will NOT take the place of my hard earned 4.0 mug from freshman year!

So...our day continued as I finally got to have a shower...the only "mishap" that I wasn't prepared for, was the fact that my body was so cold that when the hot water hit my body, I felt like I was on fire...therefore, I had to keep cooling down the stream...thus turning my hot shower into lukewarm and hoping that my fingers would bend properly so that I could actually "style my new hair cut" 

It all turned out okay and we headed down to the parade for the morning with Uncle Graig & Aunt Sara and all the girlies...

You know it's cold when your daughter has to hold her gloved hand over her face because she can't handle the whipping wind...

G's Aunt Kathy had us all decked out with personalized bags to stash the candy...and she even got out there in middle to make sure all the people in the parade recognized the line of little girls awaiting their sugar high!

Our parade time was followed by the 15 year reunion gettogether...it wasn't a huge turnout, but it was nice to spend good quality time with the few! 

It was a wonderful day...the girls loved seeing Mommy & Daddy's old stomping grounds...although we decided NOT to show them the "make out" spots...(holy cow, did Ijust admit to that here on this blog?) 

We were amazed at the changes taking place at the university...I remember at one point looking at the "Kids" in the parade and asked, "Are those high schoolers or college students?"  to which my daughter replied as she saw the group coming behind them, "Hey, Mommy are you from the class of 1961?" 

Let us now be rest assured that I will never have to worry about getting a big head or thinking any too highly of myself...thank you dear ones;)

We made it home at a decent hour and are now heading to bed to dream about WARM lands and hot coffee:)  Thank you friends for making new memories!!!