about me . . . a post for my journal

So, as I was looking through earlier posts, I realized how much my short and long term memory has been affected during the last 4 years. I simply don't remember much these crazy, hectic, wild days--so I thought I would take a moment to write a bit about me and how I get through each day and what I love.

First, I have to comment on my love of word games. I LOVE them. My morning crossword is like a little shot of Valium to my brain. Some days I don't get time enough to get past 4 down, but I still love to sneak a minute here and there. I especially love my newspaper's daily puzzle because I can usually finish it and don't I feel oh, so smart then! See the kids haven't zapped all my brain cells!

My 95 point turn on Scrabble at the Christmas party. (grocers)

Yes, yes I did take a photo.

Secondly, What keeps me sane? Being able to create once in awhile. It doesn't happen very often--especially since I have no crafting area and EVERYTHING (incl. table and chairs) has to be brought out and put away before the kids wake up. But I do try to make the girls at least 1 or 2 dresses a year. Given my complete inability to follow a pattern--the results are usually mixed, but that's besides the point. I'm even learning not to despise gathering! If it's not sewing then I'm beading or baking. Whatever it is, it gives me a moment of sanity from the hum-drum of housewifery.

(side note: I had to wash the red and gold dress. I learned that washing something covered with mini gold dots in a regular load of laundry might end up bedazzling your entire load.)

The dress up kit I made for the girls for Christmas. Third--an adventure. It's not always possible, and most often the reality doesn't come close to the vision in my head--but I love having adventures with my kids--or if the fates permit--with friends and family. I love to plan a party, go on a trip, take the kids out to play. Of course we don't end up singing do-ray-Me through the Swiss Alps in matching homemade play clothes with perfect smiling faces that say "thank you mom for making such as effort on our behalf. Our brains are growing exponentially with all the sensory stimulation you are providing for us." No, I have one child running away with glee, one laying on the ground crying because the ground looked at her wrong, one (at least) happy and content, and one saying "I want to do bad choices" because in my effort to teach him about good and bad choices and consequences I introduced him to the concept that "bad choices" are an option. So, even if we take an hour to bundle up and get to our destination to only stay for 10 minutes because 3 out of 4 are crying (Ape Caves 2009) the point is we tried. Someday we'll see the Alps.

So for now, I take the kids out, have people look at me as though I'm crazy, and think to myself--'no crazy is staying home everyday with 4 kids under 5. Do you have any idea what they can do to a house???' shudder.

Say sister, mind if I lay my head right here?

Christmas and New Years 2010

Here's some pics from our Holidays! The girls got dress up kits from mom and dad, animals & puzzles & Tea party kits from the Grandma & Grandpa's. James got cars and trucks galore from everyone! He decorated the tree for us by hanging all the stocking on it--what else where those hooks for? Andrew got a top spinner thing which everyone wanted to steal. It was so much fun to see the kids finally get excited about Christmas--but not too much--they all slept till 9:30!

We enjoyed celebrating with extended family. The annual Camp family Christmas on the 26th, and Ralphs cousins stayed with us for a few days the next week. We made gingerbread houses and tested the bounds of sanity!

For New Years we went to the cabin with Grandma Sarah & Grandpa Ron & Aunt Debbie. We had a blast sledding in the snow and smashing ice at the lake. Clara insisted on being the chief sled puller to the lake. We all survived freezing temperatures when the fire kept going out at night!

2010--Counting My Many Blessings

2010 has been a year of tremendous trials and difficulties, but as is often the case, we have also received many great blessings and answers to prayers. Here are some of the highlights I wanted to remember. . . With a few random photos thrown in.

1) Visiting & Living close to family. Because of the great generosity of Justin's family we were able to attend his sister's graduation and visit with his siblings and extended family in Texas. Although the 100+ degree weather didn't help out Justin's campaign to get us to Texas!

Back in Washington I miss visiting with my sister Kate in Tigard before they (sob, sob) moved to Arkansas, but I'm grateful for the year they spent here. But on the other hand I am thrilled to get to see so much of my cousin Kristy since she moved to Vancouver. And she's been given the assignment of winning the Lotto since we seem to have parallel lives! After missing YEARS of family activities and holidays I love being close to everyone. It is such a blessing to be able to have wonderful family around us and in our hearts.

2) The sweet promptings of the Spirit: It was fall 2009 when I felt strongly that I should enroll James in preschool. Little did I know that path would lead to his diagnosis of SPD in August and getting him into the Vancouver Early Childhood Center for preschool. He has a long road of therapy and work, but I am so grateful we figured it out early so that we have plenty of time before he starts kindergarten.

3) Answers to prayers--even when it's not what you want to hear. After not getting a job I really thought was going to happen, I struggled with my faith in my ability to hear answers to prayers. The Lord patiently reminded me--yet again--that the promptings of the Holy Spirit I felt were real. One day as I drove down highway 99 I saw a couple and another man on the side of the road. Their car was still in the middle of the road. I suddenly felt I should offer them assistance. Something I DO NOT DO! I'm scared to even roll down my window to hand someone money in case they're really carjackers! The prompting came back. I said "Okay," and looped around. By the time I returned to them a fire engine and paramedics were there aiding them. The spirit quietly prompted me--"See they did need help. They've got it now--but I wanted to show you that you DO know how the spirit speaks to you. Don't doubt your answers to prayers." What an amazing experience and lesson in humility for me. Through the confusion and chaos of November a path we had not expected became clear. Instead of searching for a new job Justin decided to go back to graduate school. In just over a month he applied and was accepted to pursue his Masters of Public Administration at Eastern Washington University. Sometimes faith really is about walking into the darkness!

4) Andrew. Enuf said. But I will say more. I was not planning on having another baby so quickly, but the Lord knew the time was right for us. Andrew has been my little bundle of tranquility. When things get to crazy he calms me right down. He puts up so patiently when all his wonderful siblings hog mommy. Andrew the greatest gift we've been given this year and I wouldn't change a thing.

Pretty much the coolest Santa Picture EVER!

All, right. I'm not one to show off . . . Too much. But I'm pretty sure this has got to be one of the greatest Santa pictures ever. I think each kids expression could write a novel. Add your own caption!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Tree 2010 Update:
4' tree still in one piece!
Lights still working!
17 plastic ornaments never made it to the tree. All broken/Lost.
1 plastic ornament hanging on for dear life.

What I love about girls!

I have to take a moment to share what I love about raising girls! Kate and Clara are getting so fun. They are becoming little ladies and mommies--Clara a little more mommy than Kate!

**Kate and Clara--partners in crime! Just minutes after I took a picture of James' snack plate--which happened to be full of a bunch of junk food and cottage cheese--because James' had left all the junk and ate only the cottage cheese (thus making me feel like a great mom!) I found the girl's scavenging all the junk food!

**What I love about raising girls? Finding the babies they've put to bed all over the house! Here are two dolls Clara put to bed. She tucked them in and gave them kisses. Yesterday I found stuffed animals put to bed on the bottom 2 steps of the stairs and later I found another on a box in the entry way. This afternoon Clara was putting some tiny dolls to bed in my mom's room. Moments later Kate found them and wanted to take them to bed with her!

**The fight over "pretty pretties" in our house! Today it was over bead bracelets and shoes. They love to dress up and put pretties in their hair. It's so fun having little girls to dress up! Kate will sometimes have 6 barrettes in her hair.

***The obsession with purses, bags, backpacks . . . They love to turn anything into a purse with their precious things in it--which could be ANYTHING of course, but most often consists of dolls, animals, pretties, and food.

** Their quirks! After I put a hanker chief on her head one day, Clara loves to put towels on her head. She does it all the time! I'm not sure what the allure is, but then again a girl never has to have a reason for what she does, right?

***Kate LOVES to line things up. She put all her ducks in a row in the bath tub today and told me they were marching. Kate loves animals--especially cows, pigs, zebra's (which could be any ranch of spotted, striped or otherwise marked animal) and horses. She puts them in groups by type of animal and just watches them.

** Their fashion sense. Here Clara has paired a pink shirt with her brother's underwear--on sideways, and a blue head band. The girls love to dress up in their brother's clothes--especially pj's. They love to put on mommy's shoes and clomp around the house. They're always coming up with the funniest outfits they HAVE to wear.

Kate and Clara are so fun. They're becoming little mommy's and little ladies. Clara even once nursed her dolly at her belly button! It's such a blessing to be their mother. I feel like such a lucky lady to have two sweet, sweet girls. Speaking of girls--nap time is over! Gotta go.

Yo! Ho! A Pirates Life for me . . .

This year we had a gaggle of Pirates and a tag-a-long Cowboy for Halloween. (the costume I made Andrew was a *bit* small) But hey the girl's dolls will have something to wear! So Andrew got to wear James' first Halloween costume--nevermind he's 4 months and 8 pounds heavier! We had a fun time taking the kids around the block singing pirate songs and saying arrr-matey. It was a break through Halloween for us!


Quick! Someone call the Paranormal Network--

I think Blackbeard's ghost & his crew are haunting our house.

The Family with Justin's Masterpiece Pumpkins

Some thoughts to remember . . .

OK, so you know how we all have a running dialogue in our heads our heads all day long? Not just me, right? Well, every so often phrases pop into my head, sorta like when I sing that one certain Christmas hymn and can't help but sing "In Egg Shells and Mayo" on the last line. These are some phrases that just pop into my head all day long when the situation arises.


Being Pecked to Death by Chickens: What my kids do to Grandma every time she walks down stairs. Here in this photo the girls are both saying "come Grandma" and going in opposite directions. The Grabbing Hands Grab All They Can (with accompanying music): What Andrew does to my face anytime I hold him. Also when he's going for the spoon I'm trying to feed him with.

Kangaroos on Crack: My kids, especially James, when they're in wild mode. They just start going crazy, pulling open drawers, turning over furniture, banging things, laughing manically. Also Kate first thing in the morning. Kate goes from asleep to bouncing off walls in 0.2 seconds. Seminary is going to be a breeze for this girl. Clara on the other hand--we'll have to start waking her up somewhere in the middle of the night.
The Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth: Mostly when all my kids are crying at the same moment. Especially when it involves reciprocal biting between the twins.

The Pumpkin Patch!

Each Fall I become a hunting widow as Justin heads into the forest. This year I was determined to not miss out again taking my kids to the pumpkin patch for lack of a partner, so I invited Grandma Sarah along and we ventured out. Along with most of Clark County.

It was a PERFECT DAY! We had a great time in the hay bale maze, feeding the animals, shucking and grinding corn, watching them make apple cider, riding the kid tractors, taking the wagon ride to pick a pumpkin & finding the perfect (i.e. really small) pumpkin! I'm so glad we did it! Hopefully next year Justin can make it with us.

Just random

Since my other post is about my incredibly deep ponderings as a mother, I'll just keep it short. Here's some random pics I wanted to remember.

Andrew shows off his Momma's new haircut. Note to self:

DO NOT start cutting your hair just before church on Sunday.

Another Note to Self:

No matter how simple it seems to use the kitchen sink to wash your Wild Boy's feet--don't be fooled. Boys and bubbles=mess. (I was washing them so I could find the splinter in his foot and I (duh) walked away.) On the up note--half the kitchen got clean!
The first time Kate ever let me put pony tails in her hair!
She left them in for a WHOLE HOUR!

AAAAAHHHH! A girl after my own heart! My little Kate organized her animals and people on the bathtub ledge today.

I consider myself an Organizer at Heart--if not always in practice.

I always know when Kate has been in the room because she lines up her toys like this wherever she goes.

Just don't call me Voldemort

Okay, so as I was feeding my wonderful youngest child his first macaroni and cheese (through the food grinder of course) I had an epiphany. Why am I so tired all the time? Why are all mom's so tired all the time? Because we are constantly splitting our physical and mental powers by the number of children we have. Just like Voldemort split himself 7 (?) ways--I am split 5 ways--once for myself and then again for each of my children. So, while my brain is registering that my stomach is hungry (hum, ground mac n' cheese can't be that bad. Nope it isn't.) and I need to pee--it is also tracking the whereabouts of my oldest child and whether he is destroying the house, trying to remember if Clara has had her mineral oil and Miralax today, noting that Kate is standing on table trying to take her diaper off--and oh, yeah I haven't cleaned up her pee from the last time she took her diaper off this morning, and thinking that Andrew is probably ready for a drink of water and boy is the poor child tired but it'll be a moment till I can get him down for a nap. This goes on ALL DAY LONG. Gol! No wonder I need a nap!

Ah! There's the rub!

Okay, so as a sorta new parent, I'm still learning and figuring things out, right?! My latest dilemna--what do you when your child does something really sweet and cute for his sibling or something you've asked him to do a MILLION times, but honestly, it's still not okay.

Scenario 1:

Kate goes to time out in her bedroom for dumping food out on the floor AGAIN. After a few minutes, James comes charging up the stairs, fist in the air, Kate in the other hand, yelling "Wonder Pets to the Rescue!" I mean can you get any cuter than that? But, really Kate was still supposed to be in time out. Do you let it slide? I did.

Scenario 2:

James has decided that it is now HIS responsibility to keep the family room clean. So he goes around saying (and I quote) "Who made this mess? I just cleaned up this mess! What are you guys doing?! Stop making messes I said!" I have NO IDEA where he's heard all this before! ;p But the only problem is, he's ripping toys out of his sister's hands trying to clean up. And it's the middle of the afternoon--not exactly pick up time yet. While I want to foster his newborn desire to keep the house clean--goodness knows I need the help--I really want to avoid the fights and tears it causes when his sister's start crying. Sigh...How do I win both battles???

A few funny photos

Ok, so these are just a few random funny photos to remember. The first two are of Clara feeding Andrew. She was so sweet. She climbed into my lap and then told me to move. She just kept shoving the food in his mouth! Poor guy, a few times he got jabbed in the back of the throat. He looked like a jar of peas had exploded on him by the time she was done!

Let's just call this one "When Grandma Babysits"

That's all chocolate.

Huckleberry picking 2010

Ok, so how do you pick Huckleberries with a 4 yr old, two 2 yr olds & a 6 month old in tote? Well, a) very slowly b) without much hope of actually collecting berries as most will end up in their mouths! Justin and I determined that this year, and for the next few, huckleberry picking is a fun family experience, not an a opportunity to actually get enough berries to make anything. So that's what we did! We picked a few berries, hid from mountain lions (not really, just a favorite game of James' right now), had berry wars with the cousins, and took a very nice nap in the sunny side of the car (mom). The girls loved picking berries and playing hide-n-seek--which scared me to death when I realized that at their height they are amost impossible to see in the brush!

Port Ludlow

For our family vacation this year we trip to the beach up in Port Ludlow, WA--thanks to Stan and Catherine for letting us use their family beach cabin. It was awesome to wake up everyday and walk right out onto the beach. Justin had fun pursuing different forms of sea life. He even caught a few--3 rock fish, 20+ clams, 5 crabs, & 6 Starfish! We kept the clams and crabs. And actually, James & Clara caught one fish each! We visited Port Townsend & Fort Worden with the kids. It took 2 tries to go to the Marine science center in Fort Worden--the first day we drove up and looked back at the kids in the back seat--they were all asleep! So we went home and came back the next day.
It was so fun to finally have kids old enough to to stuff and get excited about the animals. James renamed crabs as "we eat that" in the grocery store! Each day he wanted to eat crab. Hahaha! Each night we built a fire and roasted marshmallows. It was such a wonderful get-away.

That was then . . .

As I was bathing little Andrew tonight it was so fun watching how delighted he was to splash in the water all by himself. I suddenly felt so bad, because honestly, it's probably the 3rd time he's had such a luxury. Most of the time his bath's consist of quickly dipping him in the water, rubbing him down with soap, rinsing him off, and then making a quick exit before his siblings accidentally drown him/poke out his eyes. It got me thinking about how I've changed as a mother from the first to the fourth child. So, in honor of this post, I've not only included some recent photos, but I also dug some up from memory lane.

What I've toned WAY DOWN as a mom of four:
1) Dressing--I've learned what battles to fight when it comes to clothing. Optional: any clothing at all when we're at home. Not Optional: diapers, pull-up's or underwear of SOME kind. Also, I've given up on onesies. They're nice, but honestly, it's just more laundry to wash and snaps to do, and not really necessary.

2) Any sort of personal care for myself. I remember the days when as a mom of one I wouldn't leave the house with out some sort of makeup on. Now I shoot for either makeup or hair done, but honestly quite a few days it's neither. And that's ok with me! I've also decided to go European and only wash my hair twice a week. Hey--that's an extra 10 minutes a day!

What do I put more effort into as a mom of four?
1) Feeding my infant. I remember wondering how people got their babies to eat rice cereal--James wouldn't touch it. Well, now I know--you don't give it to them with water. Now I freeze extra breast milk in ice cube trays to use for cereal later on. I learned this with the twins--they were much more likely to accept a new food if it tasted some what familiar. I also always add fruit or veggies to the cereal. I make much of my own baby food now.

2) Schedules. I remember with James I could just sleep in till 2 if he would let me. Now there's no such thing. James wakes up at 7 am. James wakes up Kate. James wakes up Clara. James wakes up Andrew. James wakes up Mom. We're all up now and very grumpy. No sleeping in here! To James's defense--that was just today--usually it's Kate who's my early bird. But, we follow a general schedule everyday that keep us, well if not sane, at least alive.

The Dinosaur walk at the Zoo

James was too scared of the dinos to get out of the stroller!

Here is a pic of my little Buzz Lightyear

Clara and her quintuplets.
She didn't quite get that when I was saying 1 dolly I meant put the other down, not pick one more up.

A flower from Grandma's garden.

I had to get a picture to show how the flower was bigger than Clara's face.

Andrew started solids last week.

He's not officially 6 months until Friday, but he was beyond ready.

He LOVES his real food. And sleeps better too.

Here's a picture from the past.

James' mischievous look is all too perfect!

Ahhh! Back in the days when the girls could and WOULD share a swing (or anything at all for that matter) at the park.

Love my little baldies!

James and Clara snuggling

things to remember

so as i type one handed with my left hand after having carpal tunnel surgery yesterday, i hope i can capture a few of the random moments from this month i want to recall.

first, I've been thinking lately about recording some of the things my girls do that are "twinish". They are really starting to play together. They'll just look at each other and giggle. One will throw her hands in the air and the other will copy her with a giggle. Clara is my little mommy and every so often she'll put Kate to bed with a blankie and dolly or push Kate in the stroller. They are both obessessed with doing buckles on anything--stroller, high chairs, car seats, back packs. They are both in "I do it" mode. It makes getting dressed and buckling car seats a VERY SLOW process. But I'm glad they are learning to do things for themselves. Yesterday morning all 3 of my kids changed their own pull-ups/diapers/underwear! They are both obessessed with shoes and spend all day changing shoes out. so, yes, we often go out with miss matched/backward shoes on every one--but hey, shoes are VERY LOW on the "battles to fight" list for me. They have both started asking after people. Yesterday during my surgery, Kate asked my mother "Where momma go?" waving her hands in the air. It melted my heart. They will dance together, play kitchen together. Chase James around--which he loves. He spends quite a bit of time trying to get them to follow him.
But mostly I don't think of my kids as a singleton and twins. They really act as a triplet set right now. For example, all are still using diapers or pull-ups at times (all though Kate is making fast progress to being potty trained, and James is pretty much there except for nights), if I get a sippy for one, I better have 2 more ready. Forget having a sweet big brother/sister moment with Andrew by letting them feed him a bottle. The one time I tried, I had 3 kids fighting to grab the bottle from him. I ended up having to get 3 bottles for the big kids, and breast feeding Andrew.
If I tell one child to stop doing something they shouldn't, I suddenly have 3 kids doing it. e.g. Kate put your diaper back on--suddenly 3 kids giggling with their pants on the ground. Clara put your shirt back on--3 kids naked suddenly. James come back inside--3 kids out the door. Same goes for if I try to do something fun/special with one child. Clara, let mommy read you a book--3 kids now elbowing each other for space on my lap. Piggy back ride for one kid--3 trying to climb on me. Potty training? "Kate, let's go sit on the potty and get a treat!" 3 kids now fighting over who gets the blue froggy potty. It literally takes 3 potty's to train one child.

It is quite overwhelming at times. James is going through a huge defiance mode right now refusing to do things and throwing things when he gets mad. Clara is immune to any sort of taste bud punishment for biting. Hot sauce mixed with cayenne peppers & chili powder? Not a flinch. Vanilla flavoring, vinegar? Asked for more. I'm not sure what to do to stop her biting. Kate has slowed down b/c luckily hot sauce was a threat for her.
It's definitely a wild ride. I try not to be too hard on us for not doing everything perfect--sometimes it's a "didn't get my teeth brushed till 4 pm" type of day and I guess that's just ok. But hey, it's not all bad--we had no cavities at the kids dentist appointment Tuesday!

AHHH! My little princess Clara and my little go-getter Kate

Bath time for 2 wild and crazy girls!

I love that my 5 month old only weighs 6 pounds less than my 2 year old Clara. Here's a picture of Kate giving Andrew a ride in the stroller.

R.I.P. Mr. Croako.

FYI don't put frogs in a plastic aquarium out on the back porch on an 90 degree day while you clean the kitchen.

My "triplets"

I know this time will pass in a second--especially since I had all my kids in 3 1/2 years! Doing my best to enjoy every moment and not lose my marbles in the process. On the other hand--my little guy Andrew is amazing. He's working on sitting up, can roll all around the room, grabs anything he wants. His teeth on the bottom are right there ready to come through. He is just a little flirt who loves attention from anyone. He smiles and coos adorable. When I come into the room he just about leaps out of my mom's lap to get to me. He is just the best baby in the world. Luckily he loves being in the backpack, because he spends a lot of time there!