Fears I've Faced with the Help of My OS!

I have a bunch of random fears.  Normal fears, ridiculous fears, common and uncommon fears!  I have fears ranging from fear of heights, all the way to deeper fears, like possible abandonment.  Ever since I became a mother, I have been forced to face a literal spread of fears!  From the time I found out I was pregnant, I learned the importance of facing fears.  The birth process alone is enough to make you realize you don't have much of a choice when it comes to facing fears!  Can I get an "AMEN!" mommas?  ;)
One of the biggest fears my kiddos challenge me on, without even knowing, is my fear of heights.  I have not wanted to pass that on to my kids, so I have faked it like nobodies business when they are in the equation!  It always drives me a little bonkers when kids have fears, but no reason to have them other than absorbing them from the big people around them.  So that brings me to why I am afraid of heights.  As a kid, I ended up stuck on the top wheel of a triple ferris wheel when it broke down.. Er uh...  :(  Also, I have fallen off of the ski lift.  Not once, but twice.  No need to go into details, :)  but just let me tell you I love to ski and snowboard, and it is a shame you need to ride that thing to the top, because I pretty much refuse to go on it!  I am pathetic!  PERIOD!  LOL 
A few years ago, we took the kids to The North Pole.  I have never been much of a thrill seeker, ever.  I remember when I realized that in order for all of the kids to go on the gondola, we would ALL have to ride it...  I looked at Cory and he gave me a little hug and whispered in my ear "you'll be ok, you can do it."  I was white knuckled the whole time as my boys were thrilled and giggling and turning around to wave to their daddy (only adding to my stress levels!  LOL).  They loved it, I loved that they loved it, and I survived it!  I am pretty sure if I didn't ever have kids I would stick to my freaked out ways and avoid that stuff all together!  lol   This isn't the only thing I have ever done to face this fear, but just one of the many things I've done because my babies wanted to!   I have bungee jumped for crying in the milk!  What is wrong with me?  lol
When we were at Disneyland, I knew it was going to be a sardine packed trip of facing more fears!  LUCKY ME!  The worst was Space Mountain!  I remember looking at our boys and how giddy and excited they were running up the ramp to the top of the ride.  Then I looked at Cory and he grabbed my hand and smiled.  What a guy!  lol  Getting on the ride with them was a whole other experience in and of itself!  I was freaking out and if I could have would have gladly took the bail out pass and exited.  ASAP!  Priceless pic below... LOL  Me losing my mind, completely terrified, Cory too, Wyatt and Cody thrilled, and Nathan almost looks bored!  Mission accomplished!  They are not afraid, instead, totally opposite!  That makes me pretty darn torn.  Mostly because I know that entails more rides for me, but thrilled they aren't afraid!

Tonight, there was a pool party for my 2 oldest OS (offspring).  Our community pool has a slide.  I usually escape it minus once or twice each time we head to the pool.  Refer to heights.  It takes me all I can muster from my toenails up to make it up the stairs that 1st time (I usually get better with each run!) and the tricky part is doing it with a smile on my mommy face .  Tonight, the 2 oldest bolted to be with their buddies and there I was with my youngest, with a sparkle in his eye, gazing at the slide!  "Momma, let's go!!!!"  And up we went.  My heart raced that whole trip up (like usual!).  But then, after we went down and he grabbed my hand, with the biggest grin, and asked to go again, I realized my kids aren't the only ones growing up every day!  I lost count after 10 trips down.  Those little rascals don't even know what amazing little teachers and encouragers they are.  I am definitely the winner here!!!  So glad that God knows just what I need to stretch me out a bit!

Maybe one day, I won't think twice.  I'll just jump and go and not even hang on the thread of that particular fear again...  Some fears are healthy, some hold us back!  I for one, am so glad that I have such a strong team urging me on to be free from the ones that have held me back!!!  Fear is not from God, at least the unhealthy crippling fears.  :)  I'd like to think common sense overlaps with some fears!  ;)  Every day I try to cling to that truth!  Heights are just one that are easy to recognize...  Fear of loss, abandonment, or not being loved are all fears we all face at some point, and harder to see.  We are not supposed to live in fear and thankfully, because of Him, most days I live fear free!!!  He gives us an army to help us face these things every day.  I'm blessed to have the 3 cutest army members under my own roof!!!

Are you a gift waiting to be given???

BLOG WITHDRAWALS!!!  :)

As my life is clipping along at mach-10, I keep thinking of all these random things I want to write about!  Life has been a serious marathon lately and I can't exactly tell you how, only that I can totally feel it to my bones!  The sheer exhaustion that plagues my body by this time every day is proof that I am completely out of balance lately!  Oh well, such is life, right?  I mean, c'mon fellow mommas in the trenches (or just fellow busy peeps!), tell me I am not alone...  ???  :)
Something caught me by surprise yesterday and I knew I had to take the time to jot it down today, or else misplace the feelings I had all afternoon and into last night!  While at swimming lessons, I had the pleasure of chatting with a pregger momma.  She wasn't just your average momma.  She was adorable!  In great shape, and if I had to guess I would've said, maybe (like MAYBE!!!) 6 -7 months along!  She was keeping a watch on her 2 kiddos in the water and I would pass her as I was making my rounds, keeping my own eyes on the 7 I had in the water (my 3 OS, and 4 borrowed babes!).  I couldn't stand it.  I'm a sucker for all things baby!  So as we were both watching our kiddos in Level 2, I couldn't help but smile and talk about her adorable baby bump.  She rubbed it and said, "only 5 weeks to go!"  Picture my head snapping, because people!- I didn't look like at 5 months let alone 9 months!  I smiled and we chatted more...  She said she hoped she stayed in there for 5 more weeks because her (as in the baby, as she rubbed her belly, where this tiny baby girl was growing) "mommy and daddy wouldn't be in town for another 4 weeks."  Ya with me here?  I was asking all kinds of questions in my head....  You know you are too!  :)
Turns out this incredible mom is a surrogate mommy.  I AM SO GIDDY WITH DELIGHT AND GLEE OVER THE SELFLESSNESS OF THAT GIFT I CANNOT EVEN CONVEY THAT, EVEN WITH MY CAPS!!!!  I myself have considered doing that for a few different people in my life, and honestly I just don't know if I was made with the correct wiring for such a service!  You really have to know yourself well enough to know you can carry this baby, feeling the miracle of the growth process, take care of this priceless package, deliver this sweet baby, let it be part of your family for almost a year and then hand it over to another mommy.  No dollar amount can ever compensate for that emotional process (we didn't talk one second about that fyi...). 
I was in awe of this mommy who has obviously taken great joy in being able to give this gift to a set of parents that have longed for a baby of their own.  She herself knows the immense joy that comes from being a parent.  Enough to want to sacrifice her own body and all that goes with maintaining a healthy pregnancy!  She even plans on pumping for this family for the 1st month and then continuing on with the milk bank for the NICUs until she is done.  WOW!!!!  Having donated to the milk bank myself, there is no compensation for that whatsoever.  That is 100% a love donation.  I was walking on air talking to this amazing woman, smiling from ear to ear!  I honestly said I didn't know if I was capable of such a gift, she replied "but I bet you give selflessly in your own ways!  It is what makes our world a better place for our own children!"  AMEN SISTER!!!!  DING DING DING!!!  She nailed it!  My mind swirled all afternoon thinking about her...
I went to bed thinking about how much I love to give.  Thinking about how others are motivated to give.  Selfishly, I love the feeling in the depth of my soul when I know that I have made a mark, and worked for Jesus.  No matter what it is.  Anything as simple as keeping some one's kiddos for a date night, a note in the mail, or something huge!  I have always felt that the more you did in secret the bigger the reward for yourself and in your treasure box in heaven.  In fact, if I am being honest, I hate to be recognized when I get busted for something I tried to do on the sly, because it is much more impactful in my own heart to know that something was appreciated.  I feel like if you have to tell someone what you have done, you have only robbed yourself!  :)  To see a smile and true thankfulness, that is worth a pile of thank you notes with no addressee on them...  Maybe you don't even have to see it, just knowing that there will be a smile is enough.

To the world, what this mommy is doing could have many different reactions.  To the couple getting ready to meet their beautiful baby girl in 5 more weeks, this mommy is the world to them!  What would our world be like, if we downsized our recipients and just focused on making 1, 2 or a few people feel loved on?  I'm thinking that hearts could be transformed on a regular basis!!!  So, ya, get out there and bless someone in secret!  Go do something that makes a love mark on somebody's heart!

So much to say, so little webspace!

My heart has been pulled in about 48 different ways in the last few weeks...  Between sick kiddos, tax season, friends in the straights (and valleys and fires), my family's busy schedules, and well... just life...  I have had a hard time finding a balance for myself.  I have mostly been on the teetering side of unhealthy-out-of-whackness (yes, a word! LOL)!  Only now, just in time to start getting ready for a big family vacation (more to come on that one!), am I feeling a little more myself, walking a straighter line.

I am so blessed that I have a center.  A place to come back to, especially when life is chaotic!  God is my grounding wire!  I have a husband who is not afraid to tell me I have stretched myself too thin, or tied myself is crazy knots!  I have kids who aren't afraid to tell me when they have needs that need to be met!  **I have amazing boys by the way.  They communicate in amazing ways.  They express love like no other!  They love me in abundance and forgive me endlessly...  Talk about radiating God's love!...  I just had to share that sidenote!**  I try to keep myself sensitive to the Holy Spirit's nudgings, and have learned when I don't move, I usually get moved...  Sometimes brutally!  lol 

Something I have never taken seriously since I started on my walk and since I was given a 2nd shot at life, through Him, was the Sabbath.  In fact, I used to think it was such a foreign thought!  I mean, HELLO!!!!  I have things to do on the weekend!  I can't take a WHOLE DAY OFF!!!  I had heard of people doing it and I really didn't think much about it.  I have been on near total burnout for a while and low and behold, the whole Sabbath thing has been all over my world!  I finally gave in to this extremely foreign, difficult to apply and submit to, way of thinking!  I am on week 4 of honoring a day of rest every week.  Wouldn't you know it that the 1st weekend I submitted, and cleared our schedule, that was the night the kids got super sick and I was on my toes for 5 days straight!  I was so thankful God had me rest beforehand and I was prepared to take care of my children, and get this, I didn't even get sick myself!  Normally, I would've been so run down already that I would have nose dived, right behind my children and been sicker than any of them!

I have been taught how to apply healthy boundaries to almost all aspects of my life.. Some are harder to apply than others.  I have been able to untwist myself out of the ball that I got myself into.  I have gotten myself back to my priorities.  It's hard because, not only do I love God, love my husband, love my family and love my job, I just love people in general!  I love to be there for my friends, because they are my family too!  And because I have been blessed to acquire so many deep, real and fulfilling relationships, I want to make sure I invest in them and keep them growing!  Sometimes it is hard to figure it all out and make sure I am on target with were I should be and not just where I think I need to be.  I'm trying!  ;) 

When I am where I am supposed to be, the peace in my heart is unreal!  The peace in my home, is amazing!  Even in the trials and fire, when it is right, I'm alright....  Things aren't any easier than before, but I have had enough rest and enough time with my Daddy, to keep myself going and thankful for another chance every morning I wake up!  Life is good...  Maybe, dare I say, GREAT????  I think yes!

Balanced.. for now, until the next weight drops and I do this all over again... And inevitably fall off the shelf and give myself a new chip or ding...
K

Sick and cracked!

Well, aside from the honesty in that comment, lol, it basically defines the literal side of my home right now...  I have 2 sick OS (offspring), and am battling the bugs so hard, that my hands are totally cracking from the sterilizing and hand washing!  I have this thing about germy bugs.  I hate them!  Possibly more than the average momma!  Not in an OCD fashion, but I just loathe being sick, when my family is sick, or when any of my kiddos are sickly. 

Spending as much time together as we do, I try as hard as I can to keep the bugs to a minimum.  I teach the kids to wash their hands before they eat, after they eat, when they come home from school, you get the idea.  Even the babies can sing the ABC hand washing tune!  As much as I hate bleach and the toxicity of it, I give in when it comes to sick bugs!  My hands are hating it and are letting me know as much!!  But alas, there are obviously some bugs that I couldn't get my hands on...  Dumb BUGS!!!!

I have the boys (it went from 1-2 last night!  BOO!!) quarantined with strict STAY BACK orders!  I am hoping the victim list doesn't grow, but let's get real.  We have taught our boys to be kind and affectionate and above all, share with kind hearts.  They seem to perfect those skills when the bugs are lurking!  lol  Of course, right?  I had this awful realization after a long night with #1 (Where I got smacked in the face with the harsh past reality of that once sleep deprived mother of my newborns!  Up every hour not knowing how you are functioning, but yet, doing it.  lol Only now, the sweet OS was older and actually apologized the next day for keeping me up all night!  Sweet lil' man!) and remembered the day before, while walking home from our sweet day at the park, watching the 3 boys giggling, passing the gatorade back and forth...  SHARING IT!!!!  The mega symptoms started that evening at dinner...  YUP, the damage had already been done.  DOUBLE DRAT!!  GATORADE!!!  That's it, new rule!  No more sharing.. Well, for the week!  lol

I don't get too freaked out about the kids being together after they get sick.  My theory is, long before the 1st symptom, they have already shared those lil' sleep ruining, booger inducing, sad little sick face-making germs!  I try to keep them apart from each other when I know things are lurking or when I have reason to believe they are an attack waiting to happen.  Otherwise, not much you can do once they've all slobbered on the same gatorade bottle, or rattle, or sippy cup! 

So now I sit and wait for the next attack on the horizon.  I have a good army in waiting and am not afraid to engage them!  I aint afraid of no germs!  GERMBUSTERS!!!  :)

*** This was written on 2-22-11.. Not sure why I didn't post it..  It seems pretty complete now that I just read through it...  I'll chalk it up to lack of sleep and improperly functioning brain cells!  ;)***

Lovin' love!

Today (which is now yesterday) my heart has been flooded!  When I say flooded, I mean, the dam burst and you can hardly catch your breath, kind of flooded!  ;)  On so many levels I can't even begin to capture it and share it all!  We are all surrounded in a see of red and pink right now!  If I finish this before I fade out, because really I have no business sitting here doing this when I know I need to get up and make muffins for my birthday boy to take to school.. EEK!  But my brain is still racing and the messages going back and forth between it and my heart are just overwhelming me!  Ever have that?  If you are a woman, I'm going to guess yes, if you are a man, I'll leave the answering up to you!  lol
My weekend has been filled with many "I love you mommy's" and hugs and kisses from sweet OS #2 who turned 7 today!  His love languages are acts of service, words of affirmation and physical touch!  He was speaking loudly and letting us speak to him!  Was awesome!  I am smiling as I am sitting here (on my 2 feet strip on the left side of our king sized bed, that even when hubby is gone, I don't stray from, ever, I don't know why.. it's weird and even the boys make fun of me for it! lol) just thinking of him and his joy.  That boy, he knows what love is and how to show it!  NO DOUBT!  Without sounding a bit boastful, can I say that wherever his future wife is tonight, God is preparing her to be loved by one of the most affectionate man ever???!!!

Today, I have thought alot about what love is and what it isn't...  It isn't a feeling!  It IS an ACTION!  I can see all the love quotes that have been in my line of vision for the past week or so...  Love is patient, Love is kind, from 1 Corinthians 13:4.  Love is not affirmed by overpriced flowers and candy!  Love is not stressing out about a holiday that makes you feel like you have to do something, that you should be doing 365 days a yr!  Love is rubbing someone's back, big or small, while they throw up.  Love is the look you offer someone, with the smile that goes with it, to let them know you love them, and it will all be ok!  Love is what we are given with no strings attached from the most loving being of all time, God Himself!

Love is what I want spewing my entire being.  Even when the ugly parts seep out sometimes, I want to quickly catch that and repair any damage with love.  Love is not having to be acknowledged as being right, even when you are!  ;) (This could cover a multitude of my chinks!!! lol)  Love is ignoring flaws, even when they have the flashing light above them!  Love is that piece of me that feels absolutely accepted and wonderful just knowing I am loved by the King.  Knowing I can have every expectation in Him and never be disappointed with Him!  Love is accepting His love in return and sharing that with others!  ESPECIALLY those that live in my home, starting with STG, then all 3 OS, then everyone who comes in and out my door and in contact with me throughout my dailies!  Love is being kind when everything around screams something else!  Love is what I have with all of the men in my life, starting with God, then STG and then my OS, overwhelm me with and cause those leaky moments!!!  I am one blessed chick... and obviously, I am His favorite...  Just get used to it!  ;)  lol!!!

I don't need a holiday to remind me of all of the love in my life, but it sure does put everything into perspective.  It makes me stop and peek around the flowers, balloons (which after 11 years, STG finally believes me that there is no mixed message when I say I don't want those things on V-day or Mommy's Day, don't get me wrong, I love  me some flowers, I just much prefer a surprise!!!) and think about how blessed I have been to have all of the love I have in my life.  My relationships are rich and true and deep....  All 365 days of the year!!!  I just want to love the way He loves me and spread that out wherever He leads me!  My heart breaks for those who are hungering for love deep in their bones!  There is no greater feeling than being loved for just exactly who you are, and nothing more...  A quenching that can only be satisfied from the pure source Himself...

In love!!!!
K

Controversial Mommy...

I saw the most hysterical computer animated video the other day...  "Why I can't make mom friends.."  Funny to me in so many ways!  Seriously, out of all the mommas I know, I don't parent exactly like a single 1 of them.  I have much in common with many.  I have many differences with many more.  But, the only thing that matters to me, is that we are all doing what is best for our families.  Whatever that looks like!  PERIOD!  Short of abuse and neglect, it really isn't my place to tell anyone they are doing it wrong, based on my own theories, opinions and experiences.

In my line of work, it can be hard for me to find the balance of sharing ideas and theories of my own and full on forcing my ideas and theories.  Being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done.  I frequently, with gusto, seek out wisdom from friends who I value their wisdom and skills!  Knowing that it is hard for me, I try my hardest to always remember that this is the hardest job for all I love too!  No matter where you are at in your parenting, it is tough!  ;)   I try to have respect for everyone, again, as long as they aren't abusing or neglecting their children.  Even in those situations, my heart has the ability to look deeper and wonder what the whole situation looks like.

My own parenting is not perfect and is always changing.  Sweet tall guy (STG from here on out, ;)  ) and I are always having to look at things and tweak our ideas.  For each sweet offspring (OS 1, 2 or 3 from here on out) ...  Since they are all different, we can't use cookie cutter parenting.  They all speak a different love language.  They all have their own personalities in which  they embrace each day differently.  I know that you all have kids that may have similarities to mine, but none just like our sweet OS...  For me to think our ways are the best for anyone us but us is just silly!  When we have conversations (myself and the proverbial any other parent! lol), I can only offer what has worked for me, what I have tried on my own kids and any of the other 100's I have worked with.  If you can use and tweak only one of my ideas wonderful!  If you don't find any worth in what I offer, fine.  Same goes for me.  When I seek advice (and even when I don't, but get it anyhow, lol) and I can use 1 lil tidbit or know it isn't for me, great!  It is important to respect each other as parents because we both have the same goal, to raise amazing adults!  Or ok, at least that's how I feel.. ;)  lol

I try not to get into debates about some of the things I deeply believe in, because I am not going to change my mind and the other person probably won't either.  I parent largely based on my childhood and things that I want my OS to have instilled and things I want to avoid...  I have gained most of my philosophies and practices since I became a parent.  (Don't you just love when someone who either doesn't have kids or one that you don't value their skills, offers their advice up??  Always a personal fave of mine! hehe)  STG and I are doing our best to keep our children out of adult therapy sessions, but we have a therapy fund started just in case!  ;)  LOL  (More wise advice from a dear friend, who happens to be an AWESOME MOTHER!!!) 

If you are doing your best, I don't care if you bottle feed your baby, never potty train them, sleep with them till they go to college, spank them, sit them in the corner, or hug and talk, do all of their chores for them, let them bring a paci and a blankey to kindergarten, whatever...  Unless of course, I am taking care of them, (which if they are doing a few of those, we probably wouldn't be a good fit for each other!  LOL! but I respect you nonetheless for keeping them alive!), the only thing that matters is that it works for you.  The ultimate goal is to get them from birth to out on their own and able to handle it along the way!  If you can smile and they smile back at you at the end of the day, I'd call whatever you are doing a success.  EVEN IF, we don't agree!  ;)

One of my jagged edges is really finding the balance of biting my tongue or sharing lil tidbits...  I also know, thanks to God alone, when the conversation must stop to avoid long-term damage to a relationship, which can happen so fast with 1 sentence spoken or typed...  Parenting issues is a constant classroom for those things.  I want to share with people, but I know I am not the be all, end all of the how to do it rights, mom.  I am passionate about children, especially my own, but I probably love your kid (or if I met them!) too!  I have good intentions.  I hope you know my heart when we talk about what to do the next time a situation arises...  ;)  Because if I know my kids.. a situation is right around the corner!  ;)

Broken, glued, and lovin' life!
K



Remember when Snow Days were fun??

***  Note to self...  Auto save on blogger is bunch of yahoo nonsense!  Before hitting send or any other button, COPY all work.  So far my most favorite blogs have been zapped.. If it happens again, will be in the "shopping for another blog mode!"   That being said.. attempt #2 at my snow day madness!  ;)

The above prayer, I'm sure, can be heard after we say our prayers together and I close their doors at night.  I remember those days.  I remember hoping and praying and asking my mom to call the school.  Okay, I remember begging her to call the school and see if we had school!  Snow days were awesome!  I remember...  I really do!  Then something changed....  I had kids...  I started a business with more kids, in our home.  Somewhere in the midst of those changes, snow days lost their appeal.  Well maybe not snow days exactly, but freezing cold days have DEFINITELY LOST THEIR APPEAL!  ;)  lol  The one good thing about rewriting this blog entry, is that today, the bigs were back at school and I have a whole new perspective on this topic!  lol

God must have thought my kids had done their fair share of praying and rewarded them with not 1 but 2 glorious days at home with the crew!  ;)  I think He went a lil' far by turning the heat off and not just down, but who am I to question Him?  lol  Ok, so I do that alot!  ;)  The thing about below 0, is that you can't go outside.  If an adult can't handle it, a kid has no business trying!  And well, the state licensing dept agrees...  Anything below 15 degrees, dig deep into the brain bank and hope you find your best energy burning ideas in there, because you "aren't allowed" to go outside!  I was digging alrighty, but the kids had dug into their own banks and had their own ideas.  There were points I felt more like the student than the teacher for the past few days!  lol  Never a dull moment...  Just 1 of many things to be thankful for!

We played games.  We cooked, baked and ate!  We danced.  We had stair races.  We froze bubbles outside (which last 4 almost 5 minutes!  LOL!).  We played the wii (If you would have told me 2 yrs ago we'd be playing video games on a snow freezing cold day (accuracy is everything!) I'd have laughed in your face!)...  We watched movies..  In fact we watched more tv and played more video games than we normally do in 3 or 4 months!  It was radonkalous!  By naptime, I was ready to pass out and they were still going strong!

Colorado kids need their outside time!  It's crucial to their development!  Ok, so that may be taking a little bit far, but really!  Our kids are used to getting outside!  The fresh air, and running around, it's what brings on the naps!!!  I live for naptime!  I know alot of people wonder how I get that many kids to sleep at the same time every day....  it's a fine art, I classify in my "survival method" handbook!  ;)  I need naptime as bad as they do.  They rest up for the remainder of the day, I get to catch up on mine.  Sometimes I clean or do laundry.  Occasionally I get to have a friend over for a late lunch and coffee.  On the RARE occasion I put my feet up and read, and sometimes I just turn everything but the lullabies and monitor off, and just defrag from our day.  It's a crazy thing.  But it;s imperative for a good day to be called good, to have a good naptime!  My own chitlins (word?  tonight it is!) know that messing with naptime is worse than getting in my purse!  I get a little hypervigilent about stomping on the living room floor (right above the mats), being loud and flushing the toilets!  Naptime hangs in the balance when the Bigs are home, and so do they!  ;)  Add to that the fact the bigs are trying to contain huge amounts of energy that they cannot seem to rid themselves of and you can see why naptime, when they are home makes me want to eat an entire bag of cadbury eggs!  ;)  lol

There is always some sweet sweet times during these impromptu snow days freezing days...  We laughed hard during Twister where the littles wanted to be like the bigs and when they couldn't, they'd just push the bigs over!  You see the littles love the bigs and they are thrilled when they are home with them all day.  It always impresses me how the bigs love and adore the littles and want to be with them too!  I love that we really are a big unusual family unit!  :)  The Bigs were super helpful and even offered for me to take a nap, "they'd watch things.." lol  I wish I could have taken them up on it!  Sleeping in until 7 didn't hurt my feelings...  Eating yummy treats and great food with my favorite people under 10 was fun and I have the extra 5 pounds to prove it!  I'm not the only one who gets the crazy baking and cooking bug when the temps drop, am I???  And I got killed a record # of times at Candy Land, which was really starting to get under my skin!  I wasn't even trying to let them win!  Man!  ;)

Yesterday morning as I was getting ready for the day I started boo hooing yet another frozen day...  And then God softened my heart to the mommies and daddies who had no where warm and safe to be with their babies.  They would be thrilled to have a warm place to let their kids mess it up, to be able to play with them and love on them and eat warm treats with them...  It hit me pretty hard...  I pulled my big girl pants up...  Went down the hall, turned the thermostat up, and thanked God for such a profound blessing...  And had a pretty funny and great day with all 8, yes 8, kids.   ;)

Last night, the kids waited and waited for the call to come in about another frozen day...  No such luck guys...  They begged me to check the district FB page (my how times change...  my mom had to call the school and wait for someone to answer, my kids asked for a FB update!  LOL!).  I happily tucked them into bed at 8:30 to ready them for school today!  I couldn't wait to get up today, pack our snack bag, go out and start the big red van and head over to open gym with the kiddos!  It was going to be great!  Cabin fever no more! 

Bigs off to school?  Check!  Snack bag packed?  Check!  Start the van?  YA BUDDY (Good girl Red!)!  Check!  Potty, shoes and coats?  Cheee...?  Where's my #3?  "Mommy, I don't feel so good...  BLECKKKKK *and other hurling noises*..."  Shoes off, turn Mr Marty on the tv.. clean up throw up...  Realize that all hopes and dreams of escaping the walls of this cabin have been dashed...  #3 and I both shed a few tears...  the borrowed kiddos were easily distracted with the long time favorite, playdough...  I even broke out the WHOLE box of accessories...  Which was awesome, because they played like sweet ladies for over 2 hours...  #3 is feeling much better, but I am overcome with cabin fever and it aint' pretty!  I learned something pretty sweet about #3 today.  He doesn't know how to live without his girls.  He missed them terribly for the hours he was quarantined and begged me with big tears after naptime, "since he didn't puke, if he could come out of his room.."  I let him.. What the heck...  He's been cooped up in the same air for 3 days already with them anyhow... 

Scrapbook lady who made this, were you spying on me or what?  That's me on the right, kids on the left...  Tomorrow is a new day...  One that promises above 0 temps once more...  I hope to make it out of the house with my kiddos, if only for an hour!  But 3 would be best! 
I'm sure I heard the boys pray again tonight for "another great snow day!"  I refrained from opening the door back up and interrupting any prayers they were saying...  It was hard, but the urge was soothed by a handful of cadbury eggs...  Immersed in hot chocolate...  ;0)  A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do! 

Hoping you are all sustaining your weather with a smile like no other!!!
Fried and frazzed!
K