Outside Workout

I decided that I'm not getting to the gym enough so I thought I'd do some exercise here at home. I went outside to do some calisthenics...mostly lunges...my old routine from physical therapy. I bundled the kids up and took them out to play while I got some exercise. It went pretty well....sort of.
Tuba spent the time in hysterical laughter watching me and trying to copy me. Mr. P spent the whole time asking me questions in rapid fire and trying to lift my weights. Busy Guy and Sis were actually playing...which is why they were out with me. They did keep running or riding into my path. Baby George was perfect...well perfectly stuck in one spot! The kids handed him toys...that part was helpful.
I did my routine thinking...WOW, this is KILLING, I'm REALLY in bad shape. I was pooped and wondering how sore I'd be the next day.
HOLY MACKEREL...I underestimated...I was more sore than I've ever been! We live in a tri-level house and I have to go up and down stairs all day long. UGH..big problem when you can't even walk! It took 3 days to feel normal again.
I'll head back out to do more lunges...maybe half the amount this time...and then work my way up. Also, I discovered that on my cable package is a workout channel. I'm going to do the yoga today. Maybe that will help me limber up a bit?


Happily playing...Sis was moving too fast. All her photos were blurred:)

Post workout snack...for them...at least it kept them out of the way while I stretched.

Here we go again!

Here's Sis's newest trick. I came in and found her after she had pushed the chair across the floor and was having a dandy time tipping over glasses of water on the counter. Then she proceeded to show me how she climbs up and down.

Boy Town

I grew up with sisters and was never a tomboy so it always cracks me up when I see the way my boys play. Here's two of the latest.

Busy Guy showing me how his Ninja is flying on top of his tinker toy space ship.

Mr. P and Busy Guy line army guys up on the railing and then use their Nerf dart guns to shoot them off.

All Smiles

Here's Busy Guy minus his tooth. He is such a trooper. Cam took him to have it pulled and reported that Busy Guy didn't shed a single tear! He's a tough kid. He's thrilled with the tooth loss. The tooth fairy brought him an action figure and he got to pick a gift from the dentist too. Now Mr. P wants to know how much longer before he gets to lose a tooth too!

The Calendar

Look at these little boys...this was last March on Busy Guy's birthday. They've grown so much in a year.
Having 5 kids makes the turning of the calendar such fun. Lots of birthdays to celebrate. All the kids know who's big day is coming next. They start talking about the theme, the kind of cake, the party as soon as it's their turn...even if it's months away. So, we've been talking about Busy Guy's upcoming birthday since Sis's at the end of Dec.! We should be well prepared.
Along with birthdays we also celebrate Patron Saint days and homecoming days for our babes born in Ethiopia. There are many combined days which make them even more special.
We'll start with March since it's the next big celebration.

March: Mr. P's Patron Saint is St. Patrick. We always have a big Irish dinner to celebrate. Busy Guy was born on the same date...what a great thing! I think of my boys sharing this special day even when they are grown.

April: Baby George's Saint Day is April 23rd.

June: My Patron Saint is Martha and is celebrated on the 4th. Mr. P's birthday at the end of the month and the beginning of what we call the Birthday Season!

July: Sister's homecoming date is the 6th. A mere 4 days later is Baby George's birthday...and then at the end of the month is Tuba's birthday and Patron Saint Day. Tuba's saint is John the Warrior.

August: Cam's birthday rolls in the first week of August. Sis's patron saint is Lydia Seller of Purple. She was named Lydia by the nannies at the orphanage in Ethiopia. It just so happens that Lydia's Saint Day is on Cam's birthday! What a special day for Papa and his baby girl. Also, in Aug. is Busy Guy's homecoming date. He came home on the 28th which is the Patron Saint Day of Moses of Ethiopia...of course...his saint.

November: Cam's Patron Saint Day is Nov. 16th...Saint Matthew.

December: My birthday is mid Dec. and Sis's is at the end of the month.

Not to mention all of the extended family birthdays, major holidays, and our anniversary. So, you can see that it's always a party at our house!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside My Window...is beautiful sunshine...cool and crisp and lovely.

I am thinking...about taking the kids for a walk today.

I am thankful for...my cold getting significantly better today.

From the kitchen...dinner tonight is spaghetti and meatballs. We are having our big Valentine dinner. Cam worked all weekend so we had planned our special dinner for tonight.

I am wearing...sweats, t-shirt, bare feet.

I am creating...a beautiful table with my Valentine dishes and linens...all the way from France!

I am going...to get out of the house today. I've been inside for 2 whole days with my bad cold.

I am reading...The Reader for book club. Very good.

I am hoping...my cold goes all the way away today and I return to health...and not get sick again this Winter.

I am hearing...Mr. P watching Spiderwick and Tuba watching the washer go around.

Around the house...colored block are all over. Sis, Busy Guy, and Tuba were making towers this morning and haven't picked them up yet.

One of my favorite things...is Valentine's Day and our annual Valentine dinner with the kids.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Busy Guy is getting his tooth yanked on Wed...papa is taking him. No school today or Tues. for mid-winter break.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Who does this look like? He's such a little Berg!

Children's Museum

We had the best time yesterday at our local Children's Museum. We rarely go...maybe once a year. It's kind of expensive...$7.00 for each of us. Finally I figured out that we could get a membership for the price of going twice!!! Sheesh...should have done that math sooner. And...Grandma Sue paid for half of the membership for Busy Guy's upcoming 3rd birthday. Grandma can take the kids with our membership too.

Cam and I took everyone except Tuba who was at school. We played for a good 2 hours. So fun.

Baby George rode on Cam's back the whole time...happily.

The water play room was a big hit.

Busy Guy was sooo wet that we had to take his shirt off and let him wear just his coat!

Of course Cam played as much as the kids:)

The Fireman room was the best!

Mr. P taking after Nana and Grandpa Bill.

This is the roof playground.

Sis and Mama hanging out...Sis was badly in need of her nap but had such a great time.

Laundry, Laundry

I've been asked many times about the laundry around here...how much is there...do I fold it...do the kids help...etc.? So I thought I'd show you how the laundry around here is done.

First...I have lovely new front load LARGE capacity washer and dryer set!!! They wash about twice as much as my old set did...makes the job way easier!

I try to put a load in to wash every morning. Sometimes I load it at night and then turn it on in the morning. I need to do about 3 loads a day to keep caught up. Some days I do more. I pull off all the sheets on the same day and do them. I put them back on the beds as they come out of the dryer...except for our bed which I do rotate two sets of sheets. Usually Sat. or Mon. is my day for sheets.

This is the laundry basket in our hallway. It takes about 2 days to get this full. It's a huge basket...can't really tell from the photo but at least Busy Guy and Mr. P could fit inside it! The 3 big boys clothes go in here along with towels and my items. The babies have a basket in the nursery for their clothes. I wash separate loads...the baby things together, the main basket things together and loads of towels alone. Cam has his own basket next to his dresser. Yes, Cam does his own laundry. I had to ask him to do this...I couldn't keep up...and this way he will know if his scrubs/socks/undies are clean when he needs them. I can't be to blame;)

When things come out of the dryer I put them onto my bed for folding. My bed is always covered in laundry. Usually at night after the kids go to bed I fold things. On a really tired night I have to push it off the end into baskets for the next day.

I have these baskets at the end of my bed waiting for folded clothes. Towels are folded onto my bed and then put into the linen closet. The first basket is for Tuba and Mr. P...in separate stacks. The next basket is Sis, Baby George and Busy Guy...the last basket is for my clothes. When the basket is full I take it to the room where it belongs and put it away. Then the basket is empty and I fill it up with dirty laundry and carry it back downstairs to start the process over again.

None of the kids are really old enough to help me yet. They could probably help with folding and putting away but I'm in survival mode and don't want to be slowed down;) If they can't find what they need in their closet they know to check their basket...and not to mess it up! Sis has had a few fun times of pulling everything out of the baskets and tossing it all around the room!!! I guess that's motivation for me to get it put away quicker. She also loves the sock basket! I have a little basket where I put the socks with no mate. I go through it once a week and match things up. Sis loves to throw the socks around like confetti on New Year's Eve.

I Love Cupcakes

Who doesn't love cupcakes? I truly love them A LOT and think they make any day better.

Here's Sis in her cupcake shirt. She got a whole cupcake outfit for her birthday...so cute...cute as a cupcake!




This is for Mrs. Meier and her class! I know they love the cuppycake song. We've been singing it all day. Such a sweet song. Go to http://www.cuppycake.com/ to see the family who wrote/sang the song. Here's the lyrics...

You're my Honeybunch, Sugarplum
Pumpy-umpy-umpkin, You're my Sweetie Pie
You're my Cuppycake, Gumdrop
Snoogums-Boogums, You're the Apple of my Eye
And I love you so and I want you to know
That I'll always be right here
And I love to sing sweet songs to you
Because you are so dear

And...my latest favorite blog...all about cupcakes! I go look at the beautiful and creative cupcakes each day...heavenly. http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/

This is from Boston Bakery http://www.sweetcupcakes.com/

If you want a really yummy cupcake...go to QFC and I think Hagen. Get the Two-Bite cupcakes in the bakery. They are made in Canada and are all natural...like butter, sugar, etc. NOT nasty lard. They are divine. We like the vanilla the best.

Can cupcakes be a hobby?

A New Day

Today is a new day. Yesterday was a hard day. Cranky babies...cranky and stressed mommy...cranky husband. It was a day that the rhythm just seemed off. I'm grateful for today...for a new start. I'm grateful for my kids who forgive me my shortcomings...ie: crabby short tempered bad parenting. I went to bed (as I do many nights) exhausted and feeling bad about various things said or done. But, I awoke today ready to have a fresh start...to work harder...to smile more...play more...be more patient. I have this great prayer taped to my monitor. I read it this morning as I often do.

Oh, give me patience when tiny hands tug at me with their small demands. And give me gentle and smiling eyes; Keep my lips from sharp replies. And let not fatigue, confusion or noise keep me from sharing my child's new found joys. And most of all, help me to look above when at times I think I have no love. For You have promised to bear my load as these precious lives unfold.

So, after nap time the boys and I are making Valentine cards...glitter and glue and pink and red hearts. My favorite holiday! It's going to be a good day.

As for Busy Guy's tooth. The dentist said the abscess is popping and draining out the front...I know...EWWW! It gets big and then pops and then starts over. He said we could leave it since it does pop and drain or we can have the tooth taken out. We are opting to have the tooth out. Cam doesn't like the idea of an infection so close to the sinus/brain and I don't like the idea of a chronic infection and the effects on the immune system. I wonder too how much pain it causes him? As sad as I am I think it's best to have the tooth out and the infection gone. He will go in next week (yet to be scheduled) to have it done...AND Cam will be taking him!!! Busy Guy is all excited...as the Tooth Fairy will come and bring him a gift. We'll see if he still LOVES the dentist after next week:)

Ohhhh Man!

So yesterday I took Busy Guy and Mr. P for dental appointments. Busy Guy has an abscess at the top of his front tooth. Which tooth...well...of course it's the one that he broke a year ago AND the one that he just banged again recently!!! We are going today to the specialist to have it looked at but I've already been warned by our family dentist...the tooth will probably be pulled! Whaaaaa! I know it's a baby tooth but it will be about 4 more years before he gets the adult tooth in....whaaaa. No, I don't think it looks cute...no, I don't think it makes a good story...at least not right now I don't. Give me about 5 years. I'm sure the pediatric dentist will remember me...I'm the nutty Mama who cried in his office, went home to think and then came back to have the procedure done (they took out half the tooth a year ago)....whaaaa! I'll update later. I'm the only one...including Busy Guy who is having any trauma over this...so lots of sympathy in the comments is a good thing:)

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY February 2 2009

Outside My Window...it's not sunny, not rainy, not foggy but just a typical cold blah Winter day. And...the yard is in need of Spring.

I am thinking...that I should have taken a shower while the babies slept but instead I played on Facebook...I'm so addicted.

I am thankful for...the wonderful weekend I had with Cam and the kids.

From the kitchen...garlic sauteed chicken with broccoli and couscous for dinner.

I am wearing...sweats, white t-shirt and slippers.

I am creating...lists of things that need to be done.

I am going...to the dentist today with all 5 kiddos...yikes. Busy Guy and Mr. P have dental appointments.

I am reading...as soon as The Reader arrives from Amazon I'll start it. I read it about 8 years ago and it's my book club selection this month so I'll re-read it. Of course I don't still own it because I love to purge things.

I am hoping...that Cam gets home in time for dinner tonight.

I am hearing...Busy Guy is watching cartoons.

I am laughing...about Busy Guy. This morning as I buckled him into his carseat he said, "Lock and Load!". Such a boy;)

Around the house...babies are sleeping, dishes need to be done, laundry needs started, beds need made, my work is cut out for me today.

One of my favorite things...is Valentine's Day...my favorite holiday...and it's coming soon!!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Pick up Valentine cards for the boys' classes, order groceries, make soup.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Sleep...sweet...sleep

Join in the fun Simple Woman's Daybook at http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Outing

On Saturday we needed to get out of the house...do something fun...not spend any money and be together. We went for a nice drive...got out and walked along the river...window shopped...and has the YUMMIEST cookies from a bakery (so we spent $10.00). The best cookie was dark chocolate chip with dried cherries and almond paste....oh....heavenly. I'm going to see if I can get the recipe. We had a nice time out in the fresh air and spent time together.