Sometimes, things just work out

Our first week of school is (almost) in the books and it couldn't have gone any smoother. 

Monday began with the greatest gift of all time.  Lexi, at the ripe old age of 3 years and 5 months, gave up diapers.  Well, actually she had no choice because we used up the last box and I REFUSED to give in to another.  This attempt at potty training began just like my last attempt 3 months ago--she wore underwear, but this girl has THE MOST AMAZING BLADDER STRENGTH.  She held it for over 24 hours.  Can you even imagine?  She didn't pee until I put her in a warm shower and made her go in there.  I, again, was beyond frustrated, but then on the evening of Day #2, she did it and it just clicked and she's been going on the potty non-stop with a big ole' smile on her face.

Ella LOVES riding the school bus.  In fact, this bus riding thing has actually changed my oldest daughter into a civil, jump out of bed and greet the morning kind of person.  Last year when I was driving, there was moaning and grunting.  I had to be on her case to get ready.  Now she's on Emma's case because "THE BUS IS COMING!"  I even told her today how I have never seen her this happy in the morning.  Thank you Virginia Bus Transportation!

Emma is doing well with the change from home life to every day kindergarten.  She is a girl of few words when it comes to the details of her day.  She needs to get more sleep I think--I'm still trying to adjust everyone's bedtimes.  She said she made a new friend--a boy named Dawson.  I'm happy that she's already comfortable going and we don't have tears or scared feelings about leaving home. 

And now, I am sitting here in a quiet house.  The twins are still sleeping.  Josh left for work.  I have the option of going back to bed (which I've done a couple times this week, not going to lie) or being productive or taking a really long shower or sitting on the deck or...

I have quickly realized this week that I am going to have more opportunities to get things accomplished, relax, make some better suppers!  That lasts, however, until 3:30 which is when the girls come home.  Then it's back to reality!

Well, look at this...2 in a row! 

Went school shopping in Duluth with Ella and Emma.  I was happy to go because well, I kinda like shopping.  Ella is another shopaholic.  Emma, on the other hand, must have asked me a million times after the first store if we could go home.  Little did she know that she only had 5 more hours to go!  Ha! 

I must have heard myself say, "No, I'm not buying that." a million times as well.  I wish I could splurge, but I had to, at one point, quickly remind Ella of the fact that we are a family of 6 stretching a teacher's salary as far as possible.  I think she got my point.

We got what we really needed--Ella needed pants, they both needed shoes, and Emma needed an entirely new wardrobe.  See for the past year, Emma has slowly redefined who she is and that, my friends, is a full-blown tomboy.  And in just the past week, she has completely purged all girl clothes from her closet and drawers leaving her with not much.  It was a bit frustrating because there were numerous new (girl) things we bought earlier this summer thinking she would wear them for kindergarten.  And at that point in her life, she liked them.  

Am I bothered by this preference?  NO.  Am I concerned about what kids may say to her and whether or not she allows it to affect her?  YES.  She is who she is and I love everything about her.  Not exactly crazy about the wardrobe issue but we will make it work.  There are bigger problems than that. 

Change

A few months ago, I posted saying that I would do better at posting.  I think, however, I've been using all my free time reading other blogs when I should be sitting my butt down to record what's happening in my world.  That was my whole point in starting this--for my kids to read what crazy thoughts mom had about being a mom. 

I think I even started to compare my life happenings to others--were they as exciting, as funny, as earth-shattering, as life-changing?  And I have realized that by doing that and not journaling, I was cheating my kids.  My mom's journal to me and my siblings is worth the world to me.  I can hear her voice, her sarcasm, her wit.  I want to leave that for my kids. 

So to begin, I have a few random thoughts:
The 2 older girls start back at school after Labor Day.  They are going on a bus this year.  It comes to our driveway at 6:50 in the A.M.!!!  To give you an understanding of how early that is, we (and I mean EVERYONE) haven't seen any time before 9:00 A.M. in several months.  We are night people, I guess. We are going to be hurtin' units as we adjust to this crazy hour.

For the past 2 years, I have been the "bus" leaving our house with 4 kids at 7:52 A.M. and arriving in the drop-off lane at 8:05 (on a good day).  Now, they will be riding the bus for an hour to get to the same place. We shall see how they handle it.  I am feeling completely unsettled about this decision. 

I feel that the house is going to be unbelievably quiet this year.  The twins, (again, on a good day), will play together for hours.  Will I be bored?  Will I stay motivated?  Should I get a job?  Should I start working on my teaching license?  For the past 3 years, especially, there hasn't been a lot of down time.  And sometimes, I don't "relax" very well--gotta be doing something or I feel guilty.  I don't like guilt either.

I guess I don't do well with change.  I shouldn't feel that change has to be painful, or scary, or cause anxiety.  These changes in our household are inevitable.  It's just another chapter, not the end of the book!  

Feeling Lucky

This is our 2nd full summer at our home on Ely Lake.  And I just love it.  We have had quite the heat spell this July and have spent hours in the water.  The girls are getting braver and more confident in their swimming abilities.  They are OUTSIDE experiencing nature.  They are having too much fun to fight, or nag, or be cranky.  As July is coming to a close, I am feeling a little sad that it's all going too fast.  I kinda wish I could freeze these blue-sky, 80 degree, kids laughing and splashing kind of days.  Here's some moments from "the lake":

Josh got his wish...kids who like to fish! 

The Girls of Summer

Emma is taking advantage of an awesome
slide at the neighbor's dock.

Lexi with her 29" Northern caught on her
rod with a little help from dad.

Maija also enjoys fishing off the dock
hoping for the big one to bite.



Ella and Ero taking the plunge.



SLACKER

Hi.
My name is Stacie, and um,
it's been almost 2 months since my last blog.

SO SUE ME!!!

Ha!

Here's our life, or rather, the last 2 months in pictures.

Lexi (L) and Maija turned 3 on March 28th.  WOW...we've come a long way. 

They have grown from these sweeties to...

to these sweethearts and have become the best of friends!

I hope they always hold each other this close!  Lexi on the left and Maija on the right.

We celebrated Easter with candy, bunny tracks, and even real bunnies!

And this Easter was made even more special with a Baptism of Annika Mary.
Josh and I are the proud Godparents!

Due to MANY illnesses this winter, Lexi and Maija's birthday party had to be cancelled. 
So Emma shared the spotlight with the twins on her 5th birthday. 
We had a swim/pizzaparty for all the relatives. 
I had to include this pic of my dad lighting the candle on our SpongeBob cake with his lighter. 
We would have had many unlit candles over the years if it weren't for his smoking habit!  HA!

Em-Dawg celebrated on her own on her actual day. 
The girl has a unique sense of style at such a young age. 
And not many people can rock the camo-look like she can.



This is Emma on her last day of preschool.  She had a
blast and can't wait for kindergarten to start. 



Ella was busy this Spring finishing up dance lessons and preparing for the recital.
1 dress rehearsal and 3 performances in one week.  She completely surprised me. 
She went from tears and nerves prior to the dress rehearsal to rockin' her routines
with confindence.  She had a great attitude and really enjoyed performing.

Finally, Ella finished up her 1st grade year with some World Games,
a field trip to the Bear Center in Ely,
a bridging ceremony up to Brownies,and a wonderful report card. 

Many more pictures to come of our summer fun.  I know I can do a better job keeping this updated.  I should say that in Ella's report card, there was one area where she went from an "E" to an "S-" and I feel TOTALLY responsible..."Turns in Homework".  See, I was slacking in all aspects of my life, I was a well-rounded slacker, a slacker of many trades, HAHA!  I hit a rough patch.  Enough said!

Let Her Be Little

Last night as I was tucking in Ella, she started tearing up and I asked her what was wrong.  She's often been my little worrier about everything.  She then said she was scared to be a grown-up and wanted to stay 7 forever and that she didn't want me to get any older and die.  Holy cow...she then said she was scared to learn how to drive and then she began talking about career choices and making money. 

It breaks my heart a little knowing that she has these worries weighing her down.  I was the same way when I was little.  I worried about the craziest things and it can be a lonely feeling because when you tell someone what is stressing you, and it's silly, the person can blow you off and not even think twice about what you said.  I am trying not to do that to Ella.  I am trying to listen and understand and then reassure.

I hope she enjoys her time being a "kid" and even when she does have to do grown-up tasks, she can always be a kid at heart. 

REALLY??

Today started at 4:30 A.M. 

Ella was home yesterday with a fever.

She came down to our room, woke me up and needed some ibuprofen.

We walk upstairs.

I step in something very, VERY wet.

The dog has peed on the stairs...for the THIRD time in a couple of weeks.

Ella learns some new vocabulary at 4:30 A.M.

I give Ella some meds and tuck her in.

Before I go and clean up dog pee for the THIRD time, one of the twins starts to cry.

I go in their room, walk over to Lexi's bed, bend down to touch her, and gasp as I touch something very, VERY wet.

Lexi has thrown up.

Their birthday party has been rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday.  Deuce goes to the vet next Friday. 

REALLY???