I think I can at least update...

I'm overwhelmed these days.

Momwise: How can our house be so full of clutter. In January, I spent a week emptying the kids closets and gave away bags of things. I want a week in my house without my kids. A week where I wouldn't have to cook for or pick-up after the kids. A week when I could empty their closets again without them whining when I want to give away a toy they haven't played with in the last 6 months.

Schoolwise: I've planned for school some, but I need to make a day trip to a copy center and get everything ready. Our weeks that were the most successful last year all began with me pulling out a file that had been prepped during the summer. With three kids, if I can't produce the nest lesson/page/activity within seconds, I've lost their focus.

Catwise: We've had Rex almost a year. I need to find a vet for him as he'll need his shots soon. And we'd like to take a vacation, but he requires A LOT of attention. It's hard to find a cat sitter that wants to spend a quantity of time with your pet. My mom is out of the question as she'll be going with us. I'm thinking we need to find someone to live in our house.

Knitwise: I wish for more time in the day....

I don't have a fancy title...

Ok...so I didn't win the bike in my sidebar. But, you can see who did here. I think she deserves it way more than I did.

Kidwise: VBS was last week at our church. It was so fun for the kids. I don't think I actually relaxed any more by not working at VBS. I was busy keeping 4 having fun while her boys were at church. 6 really understood things more completely this year, and after church on Sunday he prayed to accept Christ. I'm praying that he grows in his faith.

Healthwise: 7 had his ear rechecked on Friday at our primary care Dr. She was concerned enough to send us on to an ENT. We saw the ENT on Monday. There is a large scab on the eardrum keeping his hearing from returning to normal, but it appears that the hole in the eardrum is healed. The ENT looked into the ear with the normal scope, then took 7 down the hall to use a microscope. He can get the ear wet now...and we'll go back in 6-8 weeks to see if the scab has fallen out. Pray it falls out on its own, or we'll have to look at having it removed. =0(

Knitwise: The positives out of the Dr's appointments...knitting time for me. Bummer though because I ripped out all the progress I made. I'm working on the Sanity Socks from last August. I had a completed set, but one sock was too big. I decided it was worth frogging and making the socks the same. I've been so stressed out, I was knitting too tight and now that 2nd sock was 1/2" smaller (width) than the 1st. I'm starting on that sock for the 4th time!

Schoolwise: I can't believe our First-Day-of-School is less than a month away. I'm so not ready. But then...I am ready to be back to our routine.

Sorry there's no photos...this is how I started the blog when the little ones were 5, 3, & 1. Updates and stories. Things I needed to remember...and things I need to process. So many friends have been talking about the changes in blogging...and bloggers disappearing. I know life is SO BUSY. That's just it for me. But, this blog is SO important to my mental health...I'll continue...even if no one reads. The friends I've made here are just a bonus. I'll do my best to blog...even if that means less photos. I'm blogging from my laptop...all the photos are on the external drive with my desktop. Hmm...I need to figure this out.

Happy Birthday M!

I had big plans for M's birthday. The kids wanted him to have a themed party like theirs. We chose Prince Caspian. He loves all of Narnia...but we didn't own this newest DVD yet. I bought the Chronicles of Narnia Pop-Up book. I'd seen the Pioneer Woman mention it and I purchased it that day. I found Narnia posters at the 99cents store, and the kids colored the decorations. The boys had planned to wear their costumes for the party. Then, on the day of our party, I had to take 7 to the Dr and his eardrum ruptured while we were waiting to be seen. I picked up the cake on the way home from the Dr.

We didn't quite have the party we had planned, but the cake was amazing! I also bought M some new CDs.

***Since this post accidently was left in Draft...I'm posting it 9 months late.

Home from the Dr.

7's eardrum burst while we were in the waiting room. He's got an antibiotic. Hope the throwing up stops once the ear feels better.

I've got an antibiotic too. UTI for me.

Did I mention it's M's birthday tomorrow? Happy Birthday hubby! The cake is beautiful and since we're all feeling yucky there will be more cake for you.

Just Checking In...

I've had some fun posts planned in my head. Lots of Red White & Blue family fun. Some finished knits. Some kid art. But, the photos for all these things are on the desktop, and it seems I'm only on my laptop these days. I do need to update something...so here's the bullet points.

Healthwise:

• Only one kid had the tummy bug! That's a HUGE praise!
  
• I've not been feeling well though...something different though. I'm frustrated that I might have to go to the Dr. tomorrow.

Kidwise:

• Both boys have learned to swim! 2 down/ 1 to go.
• A lot of life feels like that (2 have learned to read, write, ride a bike, swim...and one to go...I don't want to miss the fun things that are happening right now...but I can see that my kids will demand less of me when all three can participate).

Momwise:

• I'm not sure if it's the laid back attitude of summer or what, but I'm feeling blue. I'm not sure how I want to fix this either.
• I'm not finding time for the things I need...reading, knitting, exercise.
• And I NEED to be purging too-small clothes from the kids closets.

Schoolwise:

• I'm working on planning school for next year. Mostly, this has me going through last years stuff and putting papers in the recycle bin. I'm also cutting up magazines for future collages (I save images we might need and get rid of the rest...boy did we have a lot of magazines.)
• I bought a cute ABC scrapbook for our Alphabet study next year. I've never really scrapbooked, but I think this will be a fun way to remember our year.

Knitwise:

• I CO for Cece (chic knits) for my mom. I hope I can have it finished for the start of school.
• I'm also working on finishing up some 2nd socks.

Guess that's it. I really want to work on Finding Joy in my everyday life. I think there's a book I need to buy.

*** ETA*** 7 (the one with the tummy bug that probably wasn't a tummy bug) threw up again this morning. This time I'm pretty sure it's an ear infection. I'm waiting until 9am to call the Dr. and try to get 2 appointments. One for him and one for me.

4th of July!

This is our favorite holiday. And it appears that 6 has taken the love of a propane torch from my brother.

Living in the Mundane

I read Kristen's Tuesday post over at "We are THAT Family" this morning.  By the way...I love her name. =0)  Oh, did that video speak to me.  Living in the Mundane....bleaching every surface that has been touched by barf.  Finding a wet pull up that had been put back into the PJ drawer by one 4 yo...and now washing all the contents of that drawer.  I am living in the MUNDANE.  It's my decision to be stuck here or to invite the Glorious to join me...and change my heart.  Go watch the video by Christy Nockels and then there's a free song to download.  Invite the Glorious into your Mundane.  I know I'm not the only one with STACKS of dirty laundry...and kids that spill when they eat...and a house that gets messy while we're all asleep.  

Update from yesterday...We're clear this morning...but my heart won't be settled for a few days when I can be sure this won't pass to other kids...or myself...or my husband.