It's like a nagging itch in the back of my mind, this blog is. It's a almost-sort-of responsibility therefore I have some guilt about not keeping up with it for the people that had been reading it as regularly as I was writing in it. One of the things that holds me be is photos, sometimes I just don't have the ones that I want to go along with the words I want to weave. I've decided at least for today that I'm just going to dive in photo-free and just update.

Things have been going. I'm not one to play debbie downer so lets just say things are just simply going. There seem to be things coming at us from every direction possible and some that aren't. That's one of the things that takes up my time solving or trying to solve various issues coming up spawning from a single event some time ago.

The kids are great though. They are busy as ever, learning and loving and just being happy. School has been wonderful for Brody and Mason, I sure miss them while they are gone but they enjoy the interaction with others and all the activities they can do there. Orin sometimes wants to go to school with them and sometimes he's more than happy about staying home. He never actually gets to go but the days he wants to there are fits involved. Aidan is growing so big so fast, he's saying a few words, crawling like crazy, pulling up, and cruising the furniture. He is 14 months old now and it's exciting and scary coming to terms with the fact that he is my last baby. I know that I will still be able to hold other people's babies and babysit but it's not the same. The nice thing is eventually I will be done with diapers and bottles and sippys and all that stuff. It's all just the next leg of a long journey, full of adventure.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately, and there is nothing better that I can think of. I just love it. I finished reading Stephen King's new book Under the Dome. It was really good, especially if you devour books like I do and you want something that will last more than a day or two. The book is around 1070 pages. There was a joke on a community I frequent saying even if you don't enjoy the story the book makes a great door stop. I plan to make another post about books, but I'm not sure when, there are some photos I have to take for that one.

This is not much of an entry, but it eases my guilt of neglecting this blog, plus I'm not really in the correct mindset for funny puns and silly stories.

In Which She Gets Back To Business

So I've been missing since around the Fourth of July...I knew where I was but stayed away from this blog. I had things to share but for some reason I couldn't make myself. I just worked on my cooking blog instead. It's easier to cook, photograph and share. But I'm back and I'm getting down to business. This post is an update but so much has been going on I won't mention much. Then I will get back to my normal posts.

Brody and Mason started school

Orin turned two September 28thMy parents had a surprise 25th anniversary party (I forgot my camera...can you believe it? If you really know me you wont be surprised.)Aidan turned 1 October 8thOrin and Aidan had a joint party!Sometimes we just hang out...
We have been crazy busy every day of every week for the last few months. Even when we are laying around we are busy. I will update more now and will probably even make entries about a few of these topics. Stay tuned for some funny adventures and lots of cuteness!

The Joys of Boys

These are my beatiful sons, Brody, Mason, Orin and Aidan. They are my whole world. It's rare when I trek out with the troops and I dont get the odd, "Wow you have your hands full!" "Don't you own a TV?" "You know what makes babies right?" or the "Are you going to keep trying for a girl?" I just smile, give my polite answer and march on with my boys. I have people tell me that I must be crazy with so many little boys, but honestly, I would be crazy without them! They bring newness to my life every day. I get to see through the eyes of a child again when they see things.

I get to watch them dress up, and with simple fabric, a costume really changes you from a boy to a wild lion. Or maybe into a superhero, a superhero that has some dealings to handle with a lion.Watch a barn turn from a plastic toy, to a farm with animals needing to sleep and eat, and cars that in our house also need to sleep in the stalls.

There is always something they are doing that is exciting and fun. Something to learn all over again. I call them my angel boys, they are so sweet and behaved so well...most of the time!

Dear Stove...

Dear stove,

I am tired of your antics. Your behavior is just terrible. I don't know if you are just rebellious or if I have seriously offended you in some way. You know I really do love you. You know I only put delicious goodies in your oven and cook various yummies on your stove top. Yet you have decided to burn apart the connections to three of my four burners. Do you think it's funny to watch me cook a fairly complex meal with one burner? Do you think it's fun to watch me swear as I watch each coil die one by one? I know that you are working hard to destroy my last burner but I outsmarted you by replacing it when we were able to months back the first time to burn the connectors. Haven't I always made sure your stove top was clean? Why are you doing this to me, you know you are my favorite stove. I promise there is no one else in my life. I know I've used my parents stove, but I never loved it more than you...(at least that's what I will tell you, my parents stove behaves.) I feel like you've stolen a part of me...what? Don't give me that look, I didn't deserve this!

And oven...I don't even want to get started on you. Your display announces that you have obeyed my will and heated to the appropriate temperature...lies! All lies! Sometimes you are as much as 75 degrees off either way. Do you enjoy watching me squirm? Is it just that you crave my company so much that you've become so unreliable that I need to sit on the floor in front of you watching my cookies bake? You used to be so good to me. I've never even moved you, I've just washed you lovingly, and made you useful. I've brought my family around to loving you through the food you deliver via my hands. One of these days the laugh will not be on me! One of these days you may find yourself listed on freecycle. You might go to a home where you aren't scrubbed after every meal. How do you like that? Hmmm? I saw that fearful tremble. You should be afraid...very very afraid.

I Love A Parade!

Well we all love a parade! Hubby, the herd of boys and I all got to spend a fun hour and a half yesterday watching a parade march down mainstreet in Tiny Town. We loaded our double stroller with the babies, and the big boys walked.

It was a long journey fraught with peril...well OK it was 3 blocks of walking on sidewalks, waving to neighbors laughing and enjoying the sun! We made it up to town and took our seats on the sidewalk, peeking up and down the street waiting for our parade! On the east side of main street we could see the cop car with his lights a shining, ready to lead the parade. I handed out cracker snacks to the 3 oldest (Aidan is too young yet and ate right before.) We watched as the parade began. There were police cars and police boats. Fire trucks old and new from all the surrounding towns with their lights on and honking horns. There was the mayor and the grand masters of the festival. Marching bands playing their songs and putting on a show at the same time. There were our Vets that we yelled our thanks to as they drove past, thank you for helping to keep our country free! Princesses from our town and the surrounding towns waving regally from their thrones, crowns on their heads while my sons yelled "Look Mom, princesses!" Oh and candy! How could I forget the candy! Fist fulls and fist fulls tossed to our huge group of kiddies, who eagerly -almost as eagerly as their father- picked it up from the curb and tossed it into the bag we brought. Some of the floats were mighty creative, we had a blast watching them. Oh and then the herd of tractors cause you aren't a real farm town if your parade doesn't include dozens of tractors. As well as a small garden lawnmower driving up and down the road selling drinks to the parade watchers. There was also a float promising a free ice cream cone in the park afterwards. We watched and watched, and Brody waved until his arm fell off. Ok so maybe it didn't really fall off but it looked like it might be coming loose each time another float of princesses drove on past. Orin went off and on between wanting to be in the stroller, wanting to sit on the curb next to Mason, and wanting to be in my arms. If you were to look at all 500+ pictures that I took, you would be able to tell when I was and wasn't holding him because of the angle of the shots and the fact that I didn't have a hand to zoom in or zoom out. About 15 minutes into the parade, little baby boy couldn't fight the fact that it was it was an hour and a half past nap time, and he passed right out, lucky for him his cute little hat coveredhis eyes and he slept through all of the rest of everything. Next year he will appreciate it a little more and hopefully be able to stay awake. Funny how he is the child that refuses to sleep most of the time even late at night, but falls asleep during an extremely loud parade. I think I'm take him on daily walks just to get him tired out. Well all the kids, yes I will walk them to sleepiness. So after the tractors, police, fire trucks, horns, sirens, flashing lights, ponies, unicyclists (yes unicyclists they were crazy good), oh and a couple men on racing toilet bowls, the parade came to a close. We packed up our huge bag of candy, that honestly is bound for a shelf where it will stay unless daddy eats it or we host a party, right next to the Halloween candy. Our kids are lacking apparently they don't hardly ever get candy. They will get some but this is seriously half a reusable grocery bag full! So we packed up and headed down the side walk to the town park to get everyone their free ice cream. I wish I had the ability to navigate my double stroller and take pictures cause it was fun watching kids running and playing in the grass and on the playground, listening to the announcer talking about the bike give away in the large gazebo, the different booths set up selling antiques, crafts and fun little kid toys. We had to bypass the booths for the time being, but maybe next year we will check it out! We waiting in the line for awhile but man those volunteers were pumping out ice cream cones like machines! Way to go volunteers! Everyone got their ice cream and we roamed to an emptier area of the park to enjoy our cones. Orin took about 3 licks then handed it to Hubby and said, "Daddy, Have it" Hubby was very much happy to take the ice cream of Orin's hands. After the ice creams were eaten we started to walk back to home, and walked past the area where the food tent was set up and the cheese curds and corn dogs were being sold, oh and mini donuts. I meant again to snap a picture or 50, but the smell of the cheese curds were too much and we had to turn tail and get away from there. We made it home through the streets lined on each side with cars, returning to a Dexter dog that was very much happy to see us! Daddy carried the sleeping Aidan inside and laid him in his crib in the basement while the rest of us got all our stuff out of the stroller and headed downstairs. It was too late for them to take a nap so I got all my big ones snuggled on the futon to watch a veggie tales movie. All and all it was a very fun afternoon with the family, and we are all excited for next year!!

Business and Pleasure on the Water

Right before July 4th we packed up the kids and headed to my Grandparent's house (commonly referred to as 'The Cabin') for a couple days of fun on the lake and love of family. My Aunt H and Uncle R have 4 kids too, L, Big A, D and Little A. They brought up this awesome three seated tube and they got it all ready to get it out on the lake!

Little A, Hubby, Mason, L, and Brody loaded up on the tube ready to rock and roll. I wasn't nervous or anything having two of my babies riding on a tube on a huge open lake. A deep lake. Behind a fast boat. Did I mention it was fast? Not that I was scared or anything.


Before take off Great Grandpa looked up and pointed out a bald eagle flying above us. Beautiful birds, and there are a bunch of them around their home. I whipped the camera up and tried to get a good picture.

Everyone else looked up and enjoyed the beauty of this bird also.


Then hands shaking...I mean there not being scared at all I watched Uncle R drive out into the lake, on the fast boat, pulling half of my and (half of his) precious cargo away. I guess more than half of mine but Hubby is tough, if he can survive and up and close meeting with a semi truck, I'm pretty sure he would be fine on a tube. I tried to get this all out of my mind, it wasn't too hard as I sat on the pontoon boat over hearing Orin.

Orin was busy making some business calls.

I saw the hint of smile and realized his deals must be going in his favor.


I took that time to peek out at my tubers to make sure they were ok, I really wasn't overreacting or anything.

Then Orin informed me that the people he was making deals with weren't the smartest people, he felt degraded having to deal with people like this. But he decided to use this to his advantage because soon he clicked shut the phone having finished his business dealings. He came out ahead.

That face says it all, I feel bad for people having to negotiate business dealings with my 21 month old master mind. Then I had to break the news that this wasn't the time for business it was the time for pleasure, and demanded he hand over his cell.

He couldn't believe I would demand such a thing, TIME IS MONEY MOMMY! But I control how early bedtime is, he complied.

He pretended not to sulk, he didn't need that stinkin' phone anyway.

Aidan was really entertained by this whole Orin deal. Really he was. I mean it! Ok I lied, he was just happy to relax in Grandma's arms, listening to Great Grandma, Grandma, and Grandpa talk. I kept my eye on the lake and the boat circling pulling my precious cargo (children, cousins and husband all very precious!) Not anxious for them to hurry up or anything though.

Then they came back!!! I mean, yeah they got back and everything. They all had so much fun! I know this because Brody and Mason talked about it for days afterwards. Next time it will be easier, not that this time was hard or anything. I'm just so glad that they all enjoyed themselves. The tube had many go arounds, and it was a wonderful relaxing day on the lake!

Amazingly Adorable Aidan!

So a few posts ago I mentioned that because of the lack of photos I'd posted of Aidan as of late I wanted to do an entire post filled with words for and pictures of my fourth born baby boy. Aidan was one of our two surprise babies. And and amazing surprise he sure was! At first I basically just freaked out, "What!? I'm pregnant again? I just had a baby a little over 3 months ago!" Yes 3 months. After the surprise wore off and we got to so our little baby on the ultrasound it just made it more real and we realized, of course we needed four children, we hadn't thought so after our third but apparently someone else had other plans! I'm forever grateful for our little surprise, he was so needed. Aidan was also my easiest pregnancy out of all four, automatically making me assume that he had to be a girl. Did I mention that I thought all my kids were girls? I'm not good at guessing that's for sure. With my first two boys I spent from 8 weeks until birth throwing up daily, with the third I only threw up until 16 weeks, but my little fourth angel, not one time (except when I had the flu!) His was the perfect pregnancy. We spent that time playing with our three children, it was the first time that I'd had a really little baby and been pregnant (the others were 8 months when I got pregnant with the next) so that made things a little more tricky but not much, you just adjust. We spent a lot of time gardening, I was pleased to have grown quite large during this time since I got out of a lot of weeding (yay Aidan!) We went along right as rain with our growing family, and went out to the garlic festival with my parents. The garlic festival was put on by the sustainable farming association of minnesota, so there was so much information it was amazing, why am I bringing this up on an Aidan post? Because it happened the weekend before "the accident." Hubby's car accident happened when I was 30 weeks pregnant with Aidan. This was a crazy time and I'm always surprised I didn't end up going into labor, but I didn't thank goodness. Aidan and I were now incharge of caring for everyone on our own 24/7. At 37 weeks and 6 days little Aidan Anthony-Alan was born Oct 8th, 2009 weighing 6 pound 4 ounces. He was absolutely perfect, though the labor was pretty dramatic at the end. All and all it was around 19 hours long. Things were chugging along I got an epidural, then it pulled out and I got it put it, at just the right time too! After I got it put in I was 7cm, and then Aidan's heart started dropping. This happened with all of my boys when I was fully dilated and ready to push. I also know I can dilate those last 3cm in a minute when the baby is ready. They had me roll every which way trying to bring it back up and it wasn't working, I knew he was ready to come out but like they tend to do it was "the baby is in danger we need to cut you open and pull him out" They got me rolled on my left side and started rolling my bed to the OR. On the way they injected the numbing stuff into my epidural which made the next part of labor tricky lol. My WONDERFUL doctor checked me once more when we got to the OR and he said, "She's 10cm and the baby is right on his way out." Bless him bless him! Aidan was born with no surgery needed on my part, perfectly happy and healthy and immediately in my arms. Any worried or fears I'd had over the last few weeks of pregnancy while dealing with my 3 other boys and my husband with a broken hip, and various other injuries didn't matter anymore. My parents were there and they got to see him right away. He was the period to our family. It's been amazing to watch him grow these last nine months, and crazy to think about the fact that he's our last baby ever, normally around this time I would be pregnant again lol. He's so happy, full of smilies and has the sweetest laugh you can imagine. He's a huge mommy's boy, and is pretty shy for his age, ie doesn't like anyone who's not his parent to hold him right away. He's growing like a weed and has 3 big brothers that love him. Orin especially is loving his big brother-ness, and likes to bring Aidan his paci and blankie and bring him baby toys. It's very sweet. Aidan isn't quite old enough to participate in some of the crafts that we do or be able to be visible for some of the events since he's not mobile and is normally being carried or plays on the floor depending on the activity. I wanted to post this so that people know we really do have four beautiful boys, and adore them all beyond words. Sorry if this story is different than the normal tales, it's not so much the funny entertainment but it's important to express, and it's also late and night so excuse run on sentances and hopefully I haven't left out too much. Enjoy the photos!