Easy Reads

I think sometimes that the way that I cope with stress is to deny that it exists...

I just pretend that I have nothing better to do than to sit in a chair with a cup of tea and read a book. 

It's not that life is uber stressful by any means...I think I just have a lot going on in my mind...it doesn't seem to want to shut off...and then that grey matter starts having arguments with itself...and believe it or not, I often feel like "it" is arguing and I'm just sitting there listening to both sides...

It's "this" part of me that just sort of gives up, grabs a book and forgets...

There is a lot of emotion that has gathered in my brain about our decision to keep Little Munchkin home this year...couple that with the fact that we are, in fact, homeschooling her at the same time...coupled with the desire to spend lots of time with her during this last year of her being home and just ENJOYING being a 5 year old...

smoosh that together with loads of laundry, soccer games and practices, drama of a newly 5th grader...wonderings of whether I'm parenting correctly...or enough...if I'm challenging them enough, getting them involved in enough activities or dropping the ball...

throw on top of that, the desire for this new puppy to be a GREAT addition to our family...the desire to be the BEST trainer in the world (i.e a mini-cesar milan)

file into more drawers of the brain, the desire to do photography well, to grow a business in a way that still allows me to have my own schedule and hang with the girls at school without sacrificing time with them because of all the massive amounts of editing that photography procures...

and then you can add a pinch of guilt because I do have to spend time on the computer doing "said stuff" and that takes away from the kids, so then I think I should "buy" them something...and then my brain starts the arguing again, because who, in their right mind, tries to buy love and forgiveness???

Wow...hello insight into the crazy mind of this late night mamarazzi...

It comes down to my never satiated desire for validation/affirmation...I keep thinking that if I "hear' that I'm doing well, then I'll be okay...but it really doesn't matter how many people say good or bad things...I still struggle...

And now this leads me to wonder what in the world will the girls I have birthed become if their mother is a crazy-minded ninny who can't seem to stay in reality for a long enough time to get 3 loads of laundry finished in a day!!!

Oh well...

the latest book I have delved into to avoid my silly brain is this:

just another delightful read...the author was actually born in 1925..but she writes with a slight, more contemporary wit and humor...however, the storyline is still classic and sweet and just a sweet, quick read:)  I love those kinds best:)

 

That's it for now...I'm going to see if my brain will actually shut off for a few hours while I try to catch some zzzzz's...I've got a fun wedding to shoot on Saturday and I want to be at the top of my game:)

Update on Pippa

Well, it's been 2 weeks...

I have no real reference of "where" in the process we should be with regards to a puppy, having never HAD a puppy before...but, here's what's happening:)

She peed in her crate the first night she was here and has NOT done so since...I take her out to do her business around 11pm every night and we don't hear a peep from her until 7am.  Her crate is always clean in the morning and she stretches and gives kisses when I let her out in the morning.

We go for a morning walk (which has been a learning experience to say the least)  We FINALLY made it down to the end of the street without her laying down every 10 steps or so...or attacking her leash as if it were something to kill...or eating every rock, stick or leaf that happened across our path!  She does her business again and we come in for breakfast...she plays with the girls before school and then we take her out to the bus with us. 

When we come back in, she sits and falls asleep in Little Munchkin's lap while she watches a program and Mommy takes a break with a cup of tea:)

I then put her in her crate for some "quiet time" for about 1.5 to 2 hours...until it's time to head outside again to play, do some business and eat lunch...Little Munch and I play with her for about an hour...we use this time to work on "SIT" and "STAY"...adding to our vocabulary from "GO PEE" and "GO POOP" (which we use quite often)

Her "accidents" are now limited to the evening time and usually happen during dinner when I"m not watching her very much, but the girls are wanting to play...I should probably keep her in her crate, but I don't have the heart...she has figured out to pee on the hardwood floor instead of the carpet though, and for that I'm happy...at least for now...

Hopefully, we'll get this housebreaking thing down...SOON:)

Since she's part shepherd, we knew we'd have to deal with some of the "nipping" issues prone to that breed...I've got to admit that this is NOT a fun part...we've had plenty of tears already...but we're learning...Because she tends to put EVERYTHING in her mouth, I've had to literally pry her mouth open to extract rocks, etc...therefore, she gets a bit, shall I say, PERTURBED at me?  She then transfers that behavior into "play" and starts to growl when we tell her NO BITE...

Fortunately, our breeder had a great idea...we use a pop can, filled with rocks...we shake it LOUDLY whenever she starts to nip and that seems to stop her dead in her tracks...so much so, that at least with me, she won't try to bite me...infact, she'll open her mouth right up to my fingers, think twice and stop before I have to do anything...I hope this continues and that we can break her of it completely...

It's rather difficult for me to know whether what we're doing is right or normal puppy behavior...especially when we had the most PERFECT DOG in our dear sweet Bailey...noone compares to her...

I just want this puppy to learn how to obey and just love my girls unconditionally...I want her to just want to please and enjoy their attention...From what I've read, these sweet miniature aussiedoodles seem to be fantastic companion dogs...I just need to train her correctly...

That's about it on the update...for anyone that's interested:) She's a smart little thing and the girls are loving having her around...she hasn't been nearly as "awful" as the horror stories made puppies out to be...that's another thing for which I am grateful:)

I'll let you know how we're doing come Winter...

Mom mom mom mom Pippa pippa mom

My summer began with all 3 girls home...eager and excited to start with the vacations and trips to the pool...

We quickly fell in line with our many activities, often to the tune of:

Mom?  Mom?   Mom?  Mom?  Mom?

It was (and still is) the "music" that rings in my ears 24/7...and although I love being "needed"...and although I cry when I realize that they are slowly embarking on their adventure towards independence...

I MUST tell you that the constant barrage of MOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOM can be a little "taxing" if you know what I mean...

I thought perhaps with the approaching "first day of school" that the annoying sweet melody of my girls' voices would subside for a few hours a day...

but, I was wrong...though, 2 of the 3 are gone off to school (see pictures below)...my last little munchkin has voice enough for all of them...and now, adding to the delight of "MOM", we have added "Pippa  Pippa  Pippa  Pippa...Mom?  Pippa no, Pippa, Pippa, Pippaaaaaaaa"

Ahhh, the joys:)

It was a nice day though...Italian Stallion let me "off duty" for a bit to run some errands (this translated into stopping at the mall for a mini make over at my favorite make up store, buying FIVE dollar jeans at LOFT and slipping through the Starbucks drive through for a little "treat")

Here are the girls this morning...off to 5th and 3rd grade...5th grade was my favorite year of school and 3rd grade is my favorite grade to teach:)  woohoo

 

 

 

Little Munchkin had no problem watching the older two get on the bus this morning...nope, she had a date at the diner with her Daddy and Popi, so she was good to go:)

 

I'll keep you posted of how things go this week...

 

that is, if I haven't lost my sanity or can focus with the ringing of "pippa" in my ears:)

 

 

School is starting...

The first day of the 2012-2013 school year starts tomorrow.

Oddly enough, I'm not crying or moping around...I think I'm in a more pensive mood...or perhaps I've just been so wrapped up in fifteen million vacation memories (and pictures) and trying to make sure Pip doesn't poop on the floor, that I just haven't really let it sink in.

Sweetpea is entering 5th grade. 

I remember being in 5th grade...sweater vests were all the rage...along with monogrammed v-neck sweaters, feathered hair and scottie dogs...at least they were in my little po-dunk town:)

I remember reading Anne of Green Gables and writing in my diary...I played softball at church and played Barbies at recess with the girls...

Times have changed.

I've found myself having conversations with my eldest daughter that I don't remember having until I was at least in middle school...things are "coming down"...

Peanut is heading to 3rd grade...I think she's the one that has grown the most (not in size mind you...she inherited both of our mothers' genes and we'll be lucky if she hits 5 feet tall as an adult) but, she's becoming more and more aware of the world around her.  And for my deep thinking/feeling (yet not so verbal) girl, this has been a heavy load for her to figure out how to manage:)

Little Munchkin has a summer birthday and is 5 years old.  I STRUGGLED with this decision...still am struggling for that matter...but, Italian Stallion is pretty adamant about keeping her home another year...I'm 50/50 with this decision...As a Kindergartener, she's completely and utterly ready...with a mother as a teacher and two older sisters...good grief, she was academically ready at age 3 to go to school for heaven's sake.  Yet, watching our "almost" middle schooler tackle the fast pace of this world...he didn't want to make this a kindergarten decision...Really, it's probably not the best decision for a kindergartener...she'll be leaps and bounds ahead of others when she does go into school and we may even deal with some boredom...however, I.S. keeps reminding me that she'll be an entire year older when I send her on the bus to middle school, and high school and even college when she has to make the decisions that will affect the rest of her life...It has nothing to do with sports or trying to make her the head of her class...and I honestly think "work ethic" is something you gain not because of your circumstances, but because of the values being instilled in you at home...

I was the youngest in my class...graduated and then started college at age 17...I can't say that it was a bad thing...in my small town, I didn't even really notice I suppose...so, to be honest, we're just praying that we made the right call for her:)

we're making the most of it nonetheless...she and I have LOTS planned this year...lots of life experiences and FUN to explore:)

I'll let you know how it turns out...ya know, in about 12 years or so...

Sweetpea gets a locker for the first time this year...I made "instagram magnets" for her locker:)  She has her own little wipe off board and that crazy chandelier that I bought in a moment of weakness:) 

I'm glad she has something new to start the school year because we didn't get any new clothes or shoes or backpacks or lunchboxes...nothing...nada...

that's all for now...I have lots of editing and planning for soccer games and taking Pippa out to pee...OFTEN...I'm sure our days will continue to be full:)

Happy first day of school!

Meet Pippa

This is Pippa:)

She is our new puppy.

Yes, we got a dog.

No, I'm not going through "baby" withdrawal and therefore needed to somehow get a baby fix...although, perhaps, maybe that might have been a very small percentage of the reason why we felt it necessary at this time, as school begins, to wake up in the night to take a puppy out to pee and deal with "accidents" all through our house for no other reason that the pure pleasure of having a tiny puppy nip at our heels and bark at flies...

that was a very long sentence and I'm not even sure it qualifies as one in the first place...

but again, I'm off topic.

We have a dog.

Her name is Pippa and she is a miniature aussiedoodle...her momma is a miniature australian shepherd and her daddy is a toy poodle.  She was one of 4 girls...which makes her quite suitable for our princess household.

I'm happy to say that she likes her crate and hasn't had accidents in there.

I'm not so happy to announce that she finds no qualms about relieving herself pretty much anywhere else in our house:)

She's a big ball of fluffy, soft fur and the girls love her.

Italian Stallion came up with the name...I originally wanted Molly ...Sweetpea originally wanted Annie ...Peanut was rooting for Chelsea (because that's Daddy's favorite soccer team)...and Lil Munchkin had a slew of names that ranged from Bob to Sophia Elyssa Kate Puppy Girl

In the end, we decided that since she was of "Australian" descent, that she needed a British name...and what better name that one associated with royalty right?

Her nicknames already include Lil Pips, Pip and Pipsqueak.

She will probably grow to be around 20 lbs (or so)...

Currently she enjoys pouncing on balls, chewing on leaves, peeing on the carpet, giving kisses, and dropping down in the middle of an afternoon romp because I swear she just likes to watch me try to figure out how to get her to get back up again. 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I have a tad bit of anxiousness surrounding a decision to add this "member of the family"...mostly because I've never owned a puppy and I really don't want to mess it up...but, then again, my own babies have turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself...so, I'm hoping that if I keep my expectations reasonable, in a few (maybe more:) months, she'll be a gem:)

School is starting and my heart is all anxious about that as well...I can't really put my finger on it, but I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that my kiddos are growing up and becoming more independent...and therefore, I lose more "control" (as if I actually HAVE control over anything in the first place)...but in my "happy place" of my mind, everything is peachy keen when they are with me 100% of the time...it's when I have to let them go and semi-fend for themselves that I get a little worrisome.

Lil Munchkin and I will be staying home this year and hitting the books parks, pools, shops, libraries, play places, dog parks, cupcake stores...etc:)

I'll try to get back into my routine of writing again...I miss it:)  plus, who would want to miss my rivoting accounts of "Pippa, the dog from the world down under"???

The Legend of the Kahiki...

Long ago...in a "country" far, far away...lived 4 ridiculously immature, goofy, fun-loving, and loyal friends...

Who grew up and had many children (all of the female gender)...

And...perhaps, maybe...they are still as immature, goofy, fun-loving and loyal as they ever were...if not even more:)

.....................................

So, I pretty much stink at "make-believe" stories...but the premise remains...

We vacationed last week with our awesome friends...Let's call them the Awesome A's :) 

We made our way northward to pick up our children from their "Camp Michigan" with their grandparents and Auntie...and then we headed on our way towards the west...

It's odd, having grown up in the mitten state, that I never actually vacationed on the west side, outside of camp trips or a day trip visit. (at least that I can actually remember)  So, I was anxious to explore the white sands and NON-salty lake water...which I was told was MUCH better than the Lake Erie I swam in as a youngster...ahhh, sewage water:)  FUN:)

I was also very excited to introduce Sand Dunes to my girls as well...

Little did I know that Uncle G was looking forward to combining his love of Geocaching along side my sand dune desire...we discovered that this combination may or maynot have been a good "marriage" of sorts...

But, we pressed on...and all in all, the week was a success...

It started out upon meeting "Johnny" our smoker-friendly-voiced landlord who gave us the keys to a very old, yet charming beach house...right there on the lake.  The older girls immediately claimed the tiny upstairs apartment to which they began to scour and clean...and write up a chore list for the week.  (This lasted all of about 1 day...maybe just half a day, I'm not sure:)

We obviously had to head out to the beach to explore...at which point, the dad's showed their displeasure of the women folk claiming the beach, whilst they went out into the looming, cold waters...but, we marched on in our "camera-protection" plan and sand-sculpting ideas:)

 

We eventually got in the water (if just for a quick 5 minute dip)...and everyone enjoyed building sand castles, flying kites and playing frisbee on the beach!

...and capturing "monsters" on the beach???

 

Our house saddled up alongside the splash pad and carousel...both of which proved to be WINNERS in the girls' books...

We then meandered on over to the Sand Dunes...where Uncle G gave the run down...about the run down...to which no one really listened, but ran aimlessly down the hillside, sometimes falling face first, only to jump back up and keep going:)  This is not a good idea when you have over $5000 worth of camera equipment on your back..I repeat, it is NOT a good idea...

 but, I did it anyway...

We also continued our Geocaching while there...talk about "walking through the dessert on a horse with no name"...minus the horse...we gave up after 3 ups and downs and opted for ice cream in town instead.

The geocaching thing is mighty cool, I might interject:)  Uncle G introduced it to us and we have become quite addicted.  Whereas Italian Stallion enjoys the hunt and the "micro" finds...the girls like it better when they get to give/take a trinket.

We took a stroll to the lighthouse and of course, had some family photo moments...

The highlight however brings us back to the "Legend of the Kahiki" (like how I bring it all back around again?)  Way back when, when Italian Stallion, G, Sara and I all went out to eat...back when we didn't have to cut other people's food or share sips or take 15 potty breaks during the appetizers.  Back then, we laughed and relished our "maturity"...we bought these crazy Kahiki Mugs and have been "gifting" them back and forth ever since.

Due to the fact that we have each exploded our families and dinners out do not even come close to resembling "life back then"...Sara came up with the idea that we should "compete" for the mugs...as in, an Annual Family Competition!!  Awesome A's versus Terrific T's...nice, corny team names:) 

And so, the games began...complete with Opening Music and everything!

 

We made our Olympic themed flip flops for the competition as well!

 

By the end, we tallied the scores, we "made up some categories" and thus, the Terrific T's beat out the Awesome A's for the coveted Kahiki Cups!!! Sara was amazing with all her planning...from the cupcakes to the medals given out...she and Aunt Mel had it down!!!

I took over 900 pictures and quite honestly, could write and post about them all!!!  But, I will spare you (just this time) and plan to get them into a scrapbook at some point this summer. 

Thank you sweet friends for a memorable vacation...it reminds me how wonderful heaven will be someday...we soooo need to have mansions next door to each other!!!