"Boys are found everywhere—on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair
and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket."
Author: Alan Beck


Thursday, June 14, 2012

Summer Break Week 2



Our entire state seems to be ablaze. I took this picture from our upstairs window, just as the sun began to set. Proof that beauty can be found everywhere; even in tragedy.

On a lighter, and much bigger note, take a look at the ginormous egg we got from our backyard hens this week-


Have you ever seen anything like it?  It was "a double" as the boys call it (a double yolk).  Just like my children, my chickens are also gifted.  No surprises there.

Week two of summer break is coming to a close, and I continue to clean constantly.  My house is strewn with wet swimsuits, stray underwear, lone socks (always inside out and curiously wet), soaked towels, bubble wands, kite string, and crumbs from children snacking on the CONSTANT go.

Taken from my mom, I've always tried to maintain a house that could welcome unexpected guests.  Needless to say, the hurricane of boys in and out of my home has weathered me.

However, last night I came across a quote that just may save my sanity -

"Cleaning your house while your children are home is the equivalent to brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."

This is the testimony I so desperately needed to hear.  I have been reborn.


Friday, June 8, 2012

Week one comes to a close....

Our first week of summer break is almost over, and I can't believe how quickly it flew by.

My house has been infiltrated with children from near and far. It's loud, it's even more disheveled than normal, and it's become hard to keep track of who's coming and going.  We always have an extra body (or two...or three....or four) joining us for lunch or dinner, or crashing at our pad for the night. It makes me happy that the boys enjoy bringing their pals to our house. I can only hope they still want to make this their hang out as they get older. A girl can dream, right?

The numbers of children aren't the only things increasing within these walls.  The sum of random stabbings has also hit an all-time high.




Thursday, June 7, 2012

Look who's 5!


Happy Birthday to one of the sweetest boys I know.

The last 4 years have been filled with wonder, excitement, fear, imagination, love, adoration, and lots and lots of energy.

Just last week, I read an article that stated the average 4 year old asks 437 questions per day. You ask 632....I counted.

If not for you, I may have gone my entire life without ever dialing 911. Thank you for all of the 'firsts' you have given me.

I love you Bogie - to the moon and stars, and around the world and back again. Happy 5th Birthday! Love, Mommy

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Summer Break; Day 3

This is our third official day of summer break, and I want to share what I've learned.

*I spend the day cleaning. No really, I spend the day cleaning. Keeping up after 5 boys, 24 hours a day, is a dirty job. Lucky for them, I'm always close behind, dustpan and disinfectant in hand.

* My boys feel the need to eat ALL. DAY. LONG.  The next person who says "I'm hunnnnngarrrrryyyyyy" goes straight to time out.  Come on, I dare you.

*My children have a band-aid addiction.  Did they ask for band-aids round the clock at school?  Surely they didn't.  We've gone through an entire box in 24 hours.  Though it seems mundane, this topic is high priority at the next family meeting.  I realize I have much bigger fish to fry, but the whole band-aid fixation is making me nutty.  You're not bleeding?  Step away from the band-aids!  Try to sneak one, and you'll find yourself against the wall, alongside the brother who said he was hunnnnngarrrrryyyy.

*We're all getting along wonderfully!  I acknowledge that I most likely just shot myself in the hip.  I really don't want to jinx the camaraderie that is taking place here, I just wanted to brag a little.

*Perhaps the most thrilling news of all is that I can now handle ALL 5 boys at the pool ALL BY MYSELF.  I've taken them 3 times and today I even let them bring a friend.  That's right, 6 boys! Have you any idea how liberating this feels? 

The sprouts and I are having a lovely start to summer break.  If things continue to run so smoothly, I may never send them back to school.

(That was a joke)





Tuesday, June 5, 2012

I've spent way too much time this week fussin' and wrastlin' with my computer, trying to make it behave.  The recent inability it has to recognize any type of picture has me a bit despondent.

Life (and blogs) without pictures?  I don't think so.

This here's a test to determine just who won the wrestling match.

Attempt #1......

Fail.

Attempt #2.....

Well what do you know?! If only you could hear my shrieks of victory! (I got this picture to post in a very round-a bout way, but it's here....for the world to see.....and that's all that matters.)


This is our Priest, Father Alvaro, straightening Luke's tie on the day he made his First Communion.





And this is the two of them....tie straightened.











We now have two boys who have made the sacrament of First Communion. Three more to go. We love our Luke, we love First Communion (it's truly one of my most favorite days), we love our church, and we love Father Alvaro.

Life is good.

(I still can't believe I got a picture to post. I'm hitting 'send' before this computer decides to self-destruct.)