Tilly is the mama fox that is currently residing in our backyard with her fox pups. This is what we have found out about "Mr Fox". It is a Mrs., not a Mr. She is a mama which is why she looks very bedraggled, yet very fierce. She has made a nest under our deck. She is a smart fox, having built the nest in a very protected, warm (up next to the house) spot. So far we have only seen one baby fox - the pup is very dark, small and sort of looks like a kitten. Really cute. Marky was the one who said that we needed to name Mrs. Fox. Tilly is the name bestowed on her. I can't remember what Marky named the babies. Tilly is a very protective mama; as we have observed her, she has a pattern of scoping out the perimeter around where the nest is built before she lets the pup out. She makes a large circle and then sits in the yard where the pup comes out to her and snuggles up next to her. She is very interesting to watch, now that I know what she is doing. I'm no longer freaked out about her presence, now I'm more intrigued. Animal Control assured us that when the pup(s) get big enough she will move them and we won't see her anymore. I wonder when that will be!! I will be sure to keep you updated on her (our!) adventures!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, Monday
I've been singing that song in my head all day long, the one by "The Mamas and the Papas". I don't know why, except for that today is really Monday. And it has been a Monday. Not a bad day in any sense, just a day that was hard to get going and keep the enregy up for the whole day. Patrick did indeed catch the nasty flu that we've all had. He has been so sick all weekend long. I've tried to keep us all out of his way so that he could rest. I'm so sad for all of us that we've been so ill. I feel like time has passed us by while we've been at home getting better. For now, I think most of us are feeling better. Everyone has been sort of "snarky" and "snippy" with each other which I hear sometimes mean that kids are feeling better; someone even told me today that I was "owly". Had a scowl on my face... I didn't intend to be that way, but I guess that must have been how I was feeling. I guess I was just feeling tired. Hopefully a few more good nights sleep will help the whole household get back to feeling normal. Despite Patrick getting sick, we had a great weekend. Lots of friend time for the kids and me, church, lunch at my mom and dads house, reading a good book, rearranged furniture. All pieces to a great weekend. I moved the piano into the family room and moved a couch into the front room. I like it SO much! The family room is much too small for 2 couches, but I just couldn't give them up so one night when I wasn't sleeping I thought up this idea and it worked!! Rearranging furniture is the best way for me to get a new, refreshed perspective in the house. It doesn't cost anything, you get stuff cleaned up, you declutter, and it all feels like new!!! I still have some cleaning that I need in the few rooms I rearranged, but since my book is so good that may not get done for a day or two. Meredith went back to school today after nearly 2 weeks off; she was so excited to see her friends and her teacher, who got married 2 weekends ago and has a new name. Marky and Maddie both brought home amazing report cards today. Straight A's for Marky and since Maddie doesn't use letter grades yet, her marks were all Satisfactory. We are so proud of both of them. All 3 of the kids love school and demonstrate that in such different ways. Marky in how conscientious she in in her school work, Maddie in how enthusiastic she is about her friends and her kindness towards others, Meredith in her excitement to learn new things. So, that's what's happening around here. And I guess I'm happy to say that I'm glad Monday is almost behind us. Now, off to try to finish my book - it's SO great!!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
SNOW DAY!!!
I'm so happy!!! As predicted, the snow is REALLY coming down outside!!! It's really pretty and blowing very hard. Kids went to school for 2 hours and then I went and picked them up to stay at home for the rest of the day. SNOW DAY!!! I'm guessing there won't be any school tomorrow either. PARTY TIME!!!! 3 of the kids are on antibiotics, and I am feeling MUCH better - the road to recovery seems much shorter than it did a few miserable days ago. Looking forward to whatever the day brings. I hope that you are warm and snuggly today!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Click click click
This is what was left on the table tonight after I cleaned up dinner. I didn't even realize that they were on the table until I had cleaned everything else off and was reaching for the last thing.. Meredith's ruby slippers. "There's no place like home." Poignant for me since this week has mostly been spent, well, at home! And I believe it, really! There isn't anyplace that I would rather be.
Before we got sick...
...we went to the park! Snow is in the forecast this evening, but on Friday, the weather was beautiful. Michael, Meredith and I took a walk to the "blue park" which is about 6 blocks away. I was just starting to get the aches and chills so the walk seemed like it was more like 6 miles, but I am glad that we were able to take advantage of our early spring weather.
Sickkos
We are sick at our house. It has been an incredibly yucky few days. My guess is that we have the flu... the real, live flu for which we declared we did not need shots against this fall. At least that is how Patrick tells it because HE got a flu shot. Hmmmm... Next year, you can be sure that we are ALL going to be getting flu shots. Having the flu has made me:
- crave Fresca and chicken soup
- go to Walgreens in my pajamas
- not take a shower for 3 days (I have taken plenty of baths to try to get warm so I think I am clean?)
- not do the laundry all week long
- nap without feeling guilty
- not clean anything, except the kitchen
- let the kids watch movies all day long, unless they are napping
- SO thankful that I am very rarely this sick
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Foxy
Ok... it's 11:15 on Saturday night. About an hour ago I went and checked on the kids and just happened to look outside the front window. Mr. Fox was in the front yard, standing on our little walk-way. I opened the front door to scare him and threw a rock at him. He chased the rock as if he were a dog. So, I just went to the back door to check the lock, and what do I see? MR. FOX IS SLEEPING ON OUR DECK!!! This is FREAKING me out!!! The fox is just laying on the deck. WHAT??? This is just too weird. I know it's just a fox not a lion, but it is just a little to strange for this city girl to have a wild animal snoozing 15 feet from her bedroom window. Now THAT is a reason not to sleep. Sigh... Mr. Fox sure doesn't seem to mind. This is just ALL I need. Lord, help me!
Spring Break
This week has been Marky and Maddie's spring break; Meredith will have hers next week. We have had such a beautiful week together. The weather has been so terrific. I love the anticipation of all of my spring bulbs coming up out of hibernation. So far, the crocus have said hello, and there are a few brave daffodils that have bloomed. I know that a spring snow is just around the corner but watching these happy plants come up gives me hope that the warm weather is really coming. Earlier in the week, we drove down to Denver to see my grandparents, the kids' great-grandparents. We took my mom with us, so there were 4 generations visiting together. That's a pretty cool thing. I don't get down to see my grandparents as often as I would like to, but it was nice to visit with them. Both of my grandparents are very musical and so I thought they would enjoy hearing Marky and Maddie play the piano for them. I'm sure there are pictures of me playing on this exact piano! Memories! While we were there, a car accident occurred directly in front of the house. Once we got over the initial shock of the crash, it was pure entertainment for us. We saw a firetruck, police, motorcycle cop, and a tow truck. It was a dream come true for Michael! All of his favorite things!!! For supper, we met Poppop at Macaroni Grill and enjoyed a dinner out. That night, the girls had a sleep over over at Grandma and Poppop Oman's house. Michael and I went on a little date to Target. He even got me some flowers!!! The rest of the week we have spent playing with friends and toys, sleeing in the living room and just taking it easy. Thursday, I took the girls to the beauty school and we all got manicures and pedicures. The kids loved seeing the place that I went to school. Michael went over to his friend Giovanni's house to play while we were getting our nails done. After a yummy lunch at IHOP, we went and got Michael and then share our equally fun experiences with one another; I think that he was pretty happy that he had gotten to play with his buddy instead of endure nails. All in all, it has been a great vacation. The past 2 days, Michael and Meredith have had high fevers so we've been watching a lot of movies and taking a lot of naps. The sun is shining brightly this morning, so hopefully the three of us (that is all that is at home right now) can get outside and enjoy that today. Happy Spring!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Weekend
This past weekend, Daddy and the kids had a special time together. Friday night they went to the Holiday Inn Express to stay and play in the swimming pool. We love staying at hotels - pools, breakfast, television, travel size shampoos and soaps. Holiday Inns are so kid friendly, plus with all of Daddy's traveling we usually have the benefit of a free night! Patrick said that the kids had a great time swimming and playing at the hotel. Saturday, they all drove down to Golden to the train museum. They rode a train, played with some Thomas trains, and had a wonderful day. I was MIA on this trip because I was long gone my own trip. My friend Susan and I drove our way across Nebraska; me to see my sister Lisa, and her to see some college girlfriends. We both had delightful times at our prospective destinations. Friday night my sister and brother-in-law and I went to a really great restaurant called "The Mill". It had the atmosphere of a "Hard Rock Cafe" and very yummy food (and drinks!). We had to drive a ways to get to it, but that just made for more fun talking together in the car. EARLY on Saturday morning, we drove to Omaha where my niece Ashley was to compete in the Midwest Spelling Bee. It was quite an event, with only the best spellers in the Midwest present. Ashley did such a great job! She survived through many difficult words and got out with the obscure words "dearth" and "pundit". I've never heard of those words, and we were pretty sure that the man giving out the words hadn't heard of them either because he didn't pronounce them clearly OR correctly. Most of the spellers met their match on those 2 words. Ashley was disappointed, and yet still proud of herself for how far she had come with her ability. It was awesome to be apart of it. The rest of our day brought shopping, shopping, eating, and more shopping! We had so much fun!!! All except for Lonnie... he probably should have gone to see a movie or taken a nap rather then try to keep up with the 6 of us girls. It was a blast for me to shop with my sweet nieces - they are such unique and special individuals. Each of them has their own style of clothing as well as their own way of spending their money. My niece Brittany, who is 9, has quite the eye for putting outfits together; I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up with her designs on a fashion runway someday. The weekend was perfect. Lots of laughing, great conversations and wonderful togetherness. I missed my family so much, though. It was great to get home and give them all hugs and kisses. I am so blessed that Patrick is so creative with the kids and willing to do more than just sit at home with them while I'm gone. They had such a great time together I don't think they even knew that I wasn't with them. This coming week is spring break and we are so excited for the time off from school. It is going to be a great week!!!
Busyness
Life at our house has been business as usual, but over the past week it seems as if the business was more "busyness". Daddy was traveling, I was in charge of leading the Brownie meeting, everyone needed their hair done before spring break, Maddie had her talent show, we were all getting ready to go away for the weekend, and the list just kept going. It was a great week - when the chaos was under control. But how do I keep the cap on the chaos?? I love our family life, even when it is busy, but I DON'T like chaos. It robs me of all joy, and I find myself wishing for things to end rather than enjoying the present moment that we are living in. I have really been wondering about this over the past week. The only answer that I have for myself is to take it one day at a time, one event at a time. Yes, I have to do some planning, but I really need to make sure that I don't get overwhelmed with all that there is to do because then it turns into chaos. I am sure as time goes by I will get better at the busyness. My greatest desire for our family is to have balance in our home, so it is to that end I will keep directing our days. Here are some pics of some of the things that we have been doing!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Flashback
The kids were playing in the living room, and "Mama Mia" was on the CD player. I hear these words... "Let's swing him!". My instincts kick in as I remember a similar incident, baked into my childhood memory bank, of my older sister and I getting the BRIGHT idea of swinging our younger sister, with un-supervised eyes upon us, boldly waving our older sister flags... The result.... DISASTER!!!! So, I said to the girls," NO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have no idea the history behind my pleas. Years ago, my older sister Lisa and I were left in "charge" of the house. Really, Lisa was in charge, I was just the younger side-kick, so for the record, it was all her fault.. We got it into our heads to SWING!, yes SWING! our little sister by her arms. WHAT POSSESSED us THIS IDEA!!!!! Were we CRAZY? Well... it ended up crazy , that's for sure. Renee, aka little sister, ended up flying her little self into the coffee table knowcking out a few teeth, BLEEDING ALL OVER, and causing the most amount of sister guilt that ever could be produced. That little sister ended up going to the hospital for stitches, and these 2 big sisters would forever be scarred by their "very poor choice". Of course, in my mind it's always been ALL Lisa's fault. Because of course, she was the one in charge :). So when I heard MY kids come up with this CRAZY scenario this evening I promptly, and of course CALMLY screamed "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Trouble averted!! :) They listened to their poor mom's cries. At least for now.... :)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
For Lonnie...
You might be a redneck if...
In case you can't see in the pictures, the clothes line is being held up with a garden rake, and the rake is being stabilized with an extension cord that is attached to the fence. GENIUS!!!!
How to make a banana shake - by Maddie
Maddie gave a "how-to" speech at school on Friday. I was so proud of her. She tends to be very shy at school, but while she was giving her speech she spoke clearly and with a lot of courage. In typical Maddie fashion, the most important part of her speech was sharing her finished product with everyone in the class. On her list of things that she needed to bring was 23 dixie cups - just for letting everyone else taste her banana shake. What a CUTIE!!!!
