I like this

(you know you should pause the player on the right... right?)

Plain White T's ... Rythm of Love

What Would I Do Without This Face?

Seriously.  I don't know what I'd do.

What a beautiful boy.

Oh ... My Baby is 1!

Quinn is 1 today.  My baby isn't a baby anymore.  I am amazed at how fast his first year has gone.  He has been an interesting baby.  He's so happy and smiles and is silly and fun.  He is also stubborn and spoiled (thanks to his 4 little mothers who carry him EVERYWHERE) and impossibly impossible.  After Kate I didn't think it would be possible to have another baby that was as difficult as she was.  I was wrong.  Quinn has been hard.  He is just so set in what he wants and WILL. NOT. BUDGE.  That's impressive for a baby.  I think he will grow up to be determined and amazingly successful. 

For now, we are happy and pleased he is here.  He's sweet and has the cutest little laugh.  He LOVES his sisters.  He's just really the best.  I adore him!

(and yes, this boy is different than the girls.  He's just more "boyish" if you know what I mean.  He likes to throw balls and likes to growl and wrestle.  It's fun.)

"I think it's a Trike-a-thon"

That is what Tessa said as she was waiting for Matt to bring her birthday gift in ... "I think it's a trike-a-thon" ... I said, "what is a trike-a-thon?"  she says, "you know, a bike with 2 wheels and then 2 little training wheels in the back."

I thought it was cute and funny.  She was thrilled.  As we were walking outside for her to ride it, she says "I'm so happy."  and then smiled a huge smile. 

I love scoring an ace in the hole with a birthday gift. 

How did she get to be 5?

Where did the years go?  Seriously.

Tessa Rose is 5 today!  Holy cow that's amazing.

Do you know what I love about Tessa?  She has a great smile.  She has the prettiest face.  She has a cute laugh.  She is mischievous and sneaky and shy.  Many people look at her and tell me she's a beauty.  I think it's just her little sweet spirit shining through. She really is a great little girl.  I'm so happy to have her in our family.

An Ending to a Beginning

Last night was our last night in this house.  We have lived here 4 years.  I've been pregnant and had 2 babies in this house.  We have grown so much in these last four years.  I feel a little sad to be leaving, but I am SO excited to what we're moving to.  I know we have outgrown this home.  We are literally busting at the seams.  We are excited to have more room to spread out and for Brielle and Linzi to get their own rooms. (they are sorely needing more privacy)

I know that the end of one part of life is just the beginning of a new part of life.  I am excited for this next phase even though I feel a tiny bit teary thinking about this big change.  It's big.  Moving is a big deal, right?  It's a little weird moving on our own ... we are just taking loads over by ourselves in a trailer hooked up to Matt's truck..  He and I carry the stuff out, put it in the trailer, drive it to the new house, and then he and I unload it.  It's been a lot of work.  I am tired.  My body is bruised (I bet I have 50 bruises on my legs ... they're very ugly).  It's nice to almost be done.  We probably won't move again (at least as long as we have kids at home) and I am glad about that.

Well ... goodbye city house.  Hello country house!

I'm Thinking of Moving Next Door to the Sandman.

I have developed a bad habit.  Or maybe it's just a habit that's formed out of necessity.  I need at least a couple hours of quiet, after the kids have gone to sleep, to myself.  Normally, during the school year, this is fine.  They go to bed at 8:00 and I'm only up until 10:00 or 11:00.  This summer has gotten out of hand.  They've been going to bed later and later ... usually around 10:00.  So I'm up until 12:00 or 1:00.  Then Quinn wakes me up at least once or twice still (yes, that's right, I STILL haven't gotten 1 full night of sleep since he was born.  Please feel sorry for me ... it's almost been 1 year).  After all of that, I wake up in the morning, too late ... 8:30, even *gasp* 9:00 on some days.  I'm ashamed to admit this has been going on, but there it is. 

I suppose once school starts, the problem will kind of work itself out.  One can only hope that weaning Quinn will help him sleep better at night too.  I often imagine my life in a few months to be packed with sleepy dreamy nights of no waking up, and getting up early in the morning, before the kids.  And best of all .... NO.  NURSING!  Don't get me wrong, I love the time I've been able to spend with Quinn, and it's been good ... but I'm ready to be done.  SO ready.  And I'm especially ready to sleep.  Without a baby next to me.  And for a FULL night.  With no interruptions. 

I guess I shouldn't complain about sleeping ... at least I'm sleeping at all.  I could be a vampire who can NEVER sleep.  Wouldn't that be frustrating!  (or awesome!)



(just kidding ... or am I?)

And the Move Continues

We moved probably 12 bins to the new house today.  And took 8 bags to the Goodwill.  (and we have 2 bags of clothes sitting here for Charlotte)  That's a lot of stuff to go through!  I have cleaned out my closet, and gone through all of the kid's clothes ... they're sorted and separated by size. 

5 children really have a lot of clothes.  It's CRAZY!  But we have to save the big girl's outgrown stuff for the little girls and that just creates a lot of bins full of clothes.  It's downright ridiculous.

Tonight Mom and I went through all the yarn.  That doesn't sound like too big a deal, but the entire front closet top shelf is FULL of yarn.  Together we had a lot.  Matt thinks it's awful.  I think I won't have to buy yarn for a while, and I'd better start making hats and scarves and blankets now.

It seems with how much we've taken out of the old house it would look really empty.  And it does, but somehow it's still a messy - empty.  I hope it's soon a clean - every thing's out - empty.

Moving is a nasty business.  I really dislike it.  I know I say that every time too, but man, it's NOT fun. 

I hope it's over soon.

Me and (insert any one of my children's names here)