{contract}

Ryan presented this to me this afternoon, for my review before he typed up the final copy. He also wanted it to be reviewed by an attorney.

In case you can't read it, here's what it says:

CONTRACT

Subject: Allowance

This contract states that the parents of Ryan __________ will agree to give $5 every 1 1/2 weeks. The payment will be given to if jobs are done and room is clean. It can only be payed in checks or cash.

Mom_________________________________________

Dad_________________________________________

Forget being an architect or doctor (his current plans), I think he needs to seriously consider law school.

{the storm before the calm}

I think they got it wrong. In our house, it is not the calm before the storm, it's the other way around.

Once 4pm hits, the storm starts building, and by 4:45pm it's in full swing. We're talking torrential rains, 50 foot waves, 200mph winds, and fierce thunder and lightning. It hits its peak at around 5:45pm, and by 6:30pm it has finally started to reach calm status.

I can see why it happens. That time of day provides the exact ingredients for that perfect storm...tired, hungry, and grumpy kids, a mom trying to make dinner (and having it be nutritious to boot), homework and cello practice needing to be completed, and babies who need to be fed and require attention. Add in those nights where someone in the family needs to be somewhere, and the whole thing intensifies.

I have done what I can to prepare--steps I take to reduce the intensity of the storm, and that helps some. But in the end, as the captain of the shipt, I need to hunker down and realize it's all part of the job. That keeping the ship afloat is what's most important, and remembering that this life at sea is exactly where I want to be.

{the single life}

The other day I took Henry into the doctor, and by chance it happened to be a day that Rick was off work. So, it ended up just being him and me.

It felt a little strange to be taking just one baby out of the car, and to be able to carry him in without a stroller. When you have two babies, that never happens, and it's never that easy.

Afterward, I really needed to get to the grocery store, and suddenly had the thought---what do I do? I can do two babies, but one? He wasn't sitting up yet, could I actually still put him in the front of the cart? Would the buckle work, and keep him upright? Did he need a blanket? With those questions racing through my mind, I called my good friend for help. I know, it sounds funny, but I honestly couldn't remember. She assured me it would be fine, and off we went.

As we walked through the aisles together, and even as I dealt with all the normal struggles involved with taking a baby grocery shopping, I realized how much I was enjoying myself. It was just so fun to have that one-on-one time with him--where he had my complete and full attention (which is almost impossible at home). I sang and laughed, and we had a great time.

We have always made a strong effort to have separate time with each of our children. We recognized from the beginning that these special times on their own would be important--especially with multiples that share pretty much every aspect of their lives. After this experience with Henry, I realize that it needs to start much younger than I thought.

I have struggled a bit with the fact that my babies get held half the time. I can't hold them both at the same time very often, and with two 3 year old girls running around, it's not nearly as much as I want to, or have the ability to. I feel like they grow up twice as fast as Ryan ever did--maybe because I don't get to experience it in quite the same way. Would I change it? Absolutely not. I could never wish for it to be any different.

Like everything in life, there is a learning process, and sometimes the greatest lessons are learned by accident.

I think I will be making a grocery store date with Jack...very soon.

{a little bit of this, a little bit of that}

This week has been one of those where a lot has been going on--but not really. Does that even make sense? I have a few minutes before the babies go down for their nap, and I'm taking a small break in between loads of laundry. Perfect timing for blogging, right?

-Ever since I started blogging (I can't believe it's been 2 years!), I intended it to be my journal--a way to document our daily life through words and pictures--and so that my family and friends that live far away had a way to keep connected to us. It has kind of morphed since then, including "meeting" people I would never have met any other way, and sharing and gaining thoughts and ideas on a variety of subjects. I have loved every minute of it.
About a year ago, when I realized that I was just not going to have time to do digital scrapbooking (or any other kind--even though I really enjoyed it) I started thinking about publishing my blog into a book, so that my children would be able to look at and read about their life through my eyes, and also to know me--what I was thinking and feeling as I raised them. Now that I have finally decided to go ahead and do it, I have found myself wanting to blog about the very basic things in my life--those true day-to-day items that may seem insignificant now, but will someday give my children a glimpse into their childhood, and fill out their memories. So, if you are a reader, I hope you will understand when I talk about seemingly mundane and trivial items, because one day, they will be treasured.

-Can I TELL YOU HOW MUCH I CANNOT WAIT FOR SPRING? The weather has been teasing us unmercifully the last week, with record high temperatures, a light breeze, birds chirping, and that ever-lovely smell. You know...the one that's so yummy, but you can't quite explain? It doesn't seem to do it justice to call it an "outside smell", because it's fresh, and clean, and wonderful! My windows are open, the heat is turned off, and I'm reveling in the beautiful weather. Even laundry doesn't seem so bad today!

-I'm gearing up for a big weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it. Our church is having a women's retreat tomorrow night through Saturday morning, and it's being held at my house (hence all the laundry--gotta wash all the sheets and towels!). Rick is taking the kids to a hotel, and they will be able to live it up swimming and walking across the street to the pizza place to eat dinner. I just can't wait to have an evening with good friends, good food, and pure relaxation...while wearing my pajamas. I really can't think of anything better than that!

And just because...

{seven months}

Is it true? Can my babies be seven months old? I just want to squish them all the time...and I do.

{11}

I think there must be some kind of internal switch---one that goes off inside a boy around age 11 and triggers a starvation mode. Seriously, Ryan hasn't been 11 for very long, but I'll tell you, this boy can EAT.

By 11am this morning, he had eaten an overflowing bowl of cereal, four pieces of toast, two grilled cheese sandwiches, and ice cream. Last night I made chicken pot pie, and he ate half of it, then a bowl of cereal when I told him he had to save some for his dad. I am finding that I need to ramp up the quantities I make for dinner, especially the meat portions. I knew this would happen one day, but I'm afraid I was unprepared for how soon it came to be.

So...the grocery store has become my second home. I feel like I am always there. I buy groceries that I think are going to last for a specific amount of time, and then when we run out of food three days later, I realize I have sorely underestimated how much he eats.

The grocery budget is a whole other subject. And it's only going to get worse.

{another milestone}

This week, my life will drastically change once more. Me, dramatic? :) Perhaps just a little, but it is significant.

My Henry has outgrown his infant carseat--he has now exceeded the weight limit, and is no longer safe in the seat anymore. So...we ordered new carseats this past week, and they have arrived and are waiting to be installed.

Why, you might ask, is this a big deal? Well, no longer will I have the fabulous Snap 'n Go stroller, nor will it take a mere 30 seconds to click them out of the car and into the stroller. It will now require much more time and effort to buckle them in and out of a carseat, then in and out of a stroller.

Another dilemma? I was not prepared for this during the winter--and since the infant carseat has a delightfully warm fleece insert, the need for extra warm clothing has not been a necessity. It has since become a necessity, however, and I will be spending the next couple of days trying to round up something for them to brave the snow and cold with.

And if I'm honest with myself, I feel a slight tinge of sadness too. Moving out of infant seats means they are getting older, and I'm just not ready to confront that quite yet. So, we will just make a new game plan, and somehow it will all work out.

Wish me luck. Getting to gymnastics at 9am has just become slightly more challenging.

And darling little Jack...he just goes along for the ride. :)

{happy valentine's day...and some randomness}

(Picture of the week...we love Saturday mornings!)

Happy Valentine's Day! The smells of Zuppa Toscana soup are wafting through the house, and the kids are busily making homemade valentines at the kitchen table. I have the perfect view of beautiful red tulips (my FAVORITE) sitting on the kitchen island. It's just a really good day.
I woke up to the music room decorated with balloons and a valentine chain card--it's a tradition that Rick has continued since we've been married, and I love it.

Here's some other bits about our house this week:

• 5 kids, 2 adults, 2 carts, and a double stroller make for a very long caravan, and quite the scene. Our Sam's Club trip yesterday was an adventure (albeit a fun one), especially because this was our annual "stock-up on everything" trip.
  
• Yay for Survivor! This was THE best opening season show yet. We watched the premiere with our good friends who love it too, which makes it so much fun, especially when we are competing to see whose picks make it the farthest!
  
• I did a cartwheel in the middle of our family room this week. Kate has been begging me for weeks to teach her how to do one, and I have done my best to teach her how. I think it's time to sign her up for gymnastics. Anyway, she wanted me to show her how to do one, so I obliged. I think I stretched something, lol. It's been over a year since I've attempted anything like that.
  
• Jack and Henry do not like baby food. I even bought bananas, which as some of you know, is a big sacrifice on my part. I know they need more than just bottles now, but they will have nothing to do with rice cereal. I have tried mashing up our table food, and they don't like that either. More time? Different food? I just don't know.
• Henry is going to be squeezing into his shorts this summer. I bought most of their summer clothes last year, on clearance. The only problem? Henry is now moving into the size I bought. If it wasn't for my compulsion for them to match, everything would be fine. :)
  

{henry and his helmet}

Well, despite my very best efforts (really it bordered on obsessive), Henry got his helmet yesterday. After our experience with Kate, and knowing how much more common it was with twins and preemies (of which he is both), I went overboard trying to prevent it.

They slept on memory foam (they sleep a lot), were propped up on their sides, never laid on anything hard (and always more than one layer underneath), etc. Even more frustrating (in a good way), Jack is totally fine. Apparently some babies are just a lot more susceptible, and Henry was the unlucky one this time around.

I was feeling frustrated this week, but then I realized how incredibly lucky we are. I have had two sets of twins, both being premature--but no NICU time. They came home with me after three days, and have been healthy and happy babies. We beat the odds, and if wearing a helmet is the worst that ever happens, then we are really blessed.

And after seeing him and his cute cheeks in his helmet, I can't help thinking he is the most adorable baby ever.

{basement playroom...part 1}

After finding out we were having twins again, last year we began the adventure of finishing our basement on our own, so we could use our then playroom upstairs as the nursery. Well, it certainly has been a journey, and a huge learning experience. We still have plenty to do (finish trim, put in the ceiling, complete the bathroom, add baseboards), but we love it, and the kids love it. In a few weeks we should have furniture, a heater (it's freezing down there!), and even more completed. It has been taking up a lot of my time, but I have totally enjoyed it.

I just have to say, Rick did a great job in the basement...he has always been a talented woodworker, but knew nothing about drywall, electricity, plumbing, etc. Because I was pregnant, I couldn't help at all (other than give direction :) ), but with some help from friends and my dad, he has been able to pull it off.

I'm just relieved to have it almost complete. A playroom really is a mom's best friend. Especially when it's in the basement. :)

(5 signs that it's busy season}

I'm really not complaining. Okay, maybe a tiny bit. I'm not married to a doctor that's on call all the time, nor do I have a husband that travels more than 6 weeks a year. He works a lot of hours, but he's able to be home quite a bit too. However, come the first week of January, I might as well not have a husband until March.

He's a CPA, and an auditor for a large Fortune 50 company. These crazy 8 weeks are what we lovingly (ha, ha) refer to as busy season. Sometimes I think it would be easier if he was out-of-town for the duration--it somehow seems harder, knowing he is 10 minutes down the road, but we can't see him.

He works really hard, and granted, I would rather be in my cozy house than in his office, but some days I feel like I may not make it through alive.

So, here are some of the signs and symptoms I display during busy season:

• Dinner becomes something I can make in under 10 minutes...every single night. My kids love it though, because I'm serving all their favorites--macaroni and cheese, Ramen, grilled cheese, etc. Ryan did ask Rick the other day though, when he would start being home for dinner. Ryan was worried we would never have an actual dinner again.
  
• Bedtime gets even earlier--it is a serious countdown once we hit 4:30pm.
  
• I actually considered going to McDonald's for more than one meal this week, which is something I have never done before. For someone who hadn't really been there since high school, until just the last couple years, that's saying a lot.
  
• Clothes? Who needs clothes? Pajamas work just fine.
• I start talking to myself. I've had some great conversations too.
  

Don't worry...all these symptoms are temporary, and will disappear as soon as March 1st hits. So, if you see me wearing pajamas, flip-flops, and muttering to myself, there is no need to call anyone. I will recover and be my old self soon.

{better late than never}

I really thought I was going to make it. I set my alarm, laid out the clothes, and had a game plan. Everything was going smoothly, until the babies decided they didn't like the plan.

That was the end of that.

I'm slowly figuring out just how early I need to get up on Sunday mornings, in order to get myself and five kids ready for church by 8:30am. Without Rick.

Hopefully by March we'll be on time.

{2010 Family Theme}

We decided that each year from here on out, we would have a yearly family theme, along with a coordinating scripture and song. I really love this idea, and already we have had fun with it.

It took the good part of Sunday afternoon to come up with our 2010 family theme. We had some great suggestions, (princesses were a common idea) but we finally came up with something that we want to work on as a family, and one that even the littlest ones can grasp on to.

I love that it gives our family a specific direction, and will hopefully provide many teaching moments. It will also be our teaching guide for each Family Home Evening, which helps me plan for the year!

So, without further ado...

~CHOOSE THE RIGHT WAY~
Sweetpea Family 2010 Theme

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
-John 13:17

"Choose the right way, and be happy. I must always choose the right!"
-Primary Songbook

{I can wait}

(Please ignore the spit up on their clothes. That's what I get for taking their bibs off to take their pictures. )

When Ryan was a baby, I was always in a hurry---in a hurry for him to roll over, to eat solid foods, crawl, walk, talk...and the list goes on.

Well, things have changed. I want my boys to meet their milestones, but I'm not in a rush for that to happen. Right now, I'm in what I call the "twin honeymoon phase". It's the time from when they sleep through the night, until they become mobile.

For example:

• I can actually take a shower and not worry about locking them in the bathroom with me, or waiting until they are napping.
  
• My regular routine during the day has continued pretty much as normal (adding in feedings, putting down for naps, etc.), while they look on from their Bumbos, swings, or blankets.
• No baby gates, or worrying about life-threatening falls down the stairs. Or conspiracies to help each over or under the gate.
  
• Feeding time is easy--4 bottles a day, plus a little rice cereal with bananas added in.
• When I put them down, they stay there!
• They are still in infant seats, hooray! Once they make the transition into toddler seats, my life changes. No more keeping them asleep as we run errands, or go to church. It's a whole new ballgame getting 2 babies that can't walk in and out of the car, into stores, or into the house by myself. However, Henry is quickly approaching the limits for his car seat, so I'm praying we just make it at least until March. I can't even imagine church with two girlies, and two babies that need to be held the whole time.
  

Plus, I love having babies. That age between 5 and 9 months is one of my favorites...lots of smiles, happiness, and chubbiness. It's also the time that goes the fastest, and it always seems that before I know it, they have turned 1, and become toddlers. (Which I love too, btw, but the baby stage is much more elusive.)

I am savoring every moment. I am enjoying each and every day, and even when it's hard, and I'm tired (and maybe haven't showered for a day or two or three), I am trying to remember that time will pass, and then I will wish it back again.

So, I can wait.

JACK:




HENRY:

{tobogganing}

Living in a cold place has a few perks, thankfully. Just a mile or two from our house is the city forest, and it's one of our favorite places. During the winter you can enjoy a toboggan run, sledding hill, and cross country trails.

Yesterday some good friends came over to watch our babies, while Rick and I took the oldest three to go tobogganing. It was SO fun.

The toboggan we were using (thanks guys!)was super long, and easily fit all five of us with room to spare. It also was REALLY fast, which we loved, because our goal was to make it to the very end of the track before stopping. We made it, too! Miss Kate is our resident daredevil, and loves to sit in the very front as the driver. In fact, when Rick took them last week, she sat in the driver position all by herself, since Rick couldn't hold her and Emma at the same time. People were even taking pictures, and commenting on our crazy girl. I wonder where she gets it from. :)





What a perfect day!