Finally a relaxed weekend!!

Well, I certainly am not doing very well with this blogging thing. I have already forgotten about it most of the time. But hopefully, having 5 kids cuts me a little slack.
Things around here are doing pretty well. Nothing too exciting going on. It was a nice weekend. My sister came out Friday to visit for the day. It was so much fun, I certainly missed her while she was on vacation. Happy to have her home and I know she is happy to see me! haha.
Saturday morning, Brian decided to go out hunting. Keep in mind, he has not been hunting in a few years and was totally unprepared. But he decided to go, he sighted in his gun Friday night, and apparently he was all set. Meanwhile, Friday night, Amy and I took the kids to Marino's for dinner. The kids love when Aunt Amy visits, she always, gets us to do fun stuff! But it was fun and it distracted the kids from the parade that I didn't want to go to! I am a great mom! But it was sooo cold, and with the baby.... Well, lets say it would have been a long night.
So Saturday, Brian went out hunting, so the kids and I had a lazy morning. We have no had one is soo long. It was wonderful. That afternoon, maddie and I went out for some one on one time (well, + Emelia of course) It was fun! Maddie is my little shopper. We had lunch did some shopping and got her haircut. Later that night, Brian and I went over to U of M, to visit Uncle Denny and Kevin. They were both doing great!
Finally, on Sunday we got the house picked up a little and then had some friends over to visit. My friend Casey her boyfriend and her daughter Meghan came over. We had a good time. I have not seen them in 5 years!! Crazy!!
The only problem we seem to have these days is Miss Isabella and her lack of going to the bathroom. All of a sudden she just goes in her pants. I really don't understand it , and it is driving me crazy!!  I am not sure how to fix it, but am constantly battling with it.
But all in all it was a good weekend. It was fairly relaxed, about as good as they get around here, so we just enjoyed it!!

a second blog

Well, after a very unexpected conversation. I have been doing some thinking. I think that I am going to start a new blog. Yes, because I have been doing so well on this one. My fans are demanding a second one! LOL! So anyway. I am very excited to start putting together some bits and pieces to of  my new blog. It is going to be on the one thing that I can kinda do. Save some cash, and have fun in the process!  Of course, this is a constant project for me. I have only recently realized just how important it is to save some money. Not that I hated it before, but now I have a better appreciation for it. And am working very hard at it.  I am not sure of the exact angle yet, I am thinking of 2 different directions. Hmmm, what to do, what to do.

Isabella

This entry is dedicated to my precious daughter Isabella. Her and I have had a lot of extra time together since the school year started. It is basically just her and I. Emelia is here too, of course, but she is not truly interacting with us yet. It has been so wonderful to have all this special time with her. I think it is much different this time around. I can now truly understand how fast it really does go.  You hear it time and time again, some old lady in the grocery store "Enjoy this time now, it goes so fast!" Ok lady whatever. As my child is screaming and fighting with her sister and the baby is screaming and you just need to get some milk and bread with out losing your mind. But now I get it. It is here and gone before you know it. Isabella is already talking about wanting to go to school with the big kids, get on the bus in the morning and having lots of fun there. (FYI, she is going straight to 1st grade, she doesn't want to do kindergarten :) I love hanging out with her. We do have our differences, and she does drive me crazy some days. But her knew favorite saying just melts my heart. She tells me "I love you mommy, we have a good family". It truly sums it up. We do have a good family. I love my kids so much.
Isabella just turned 3 and it is such a fun age. For some reason, my kids are always so whiny at 3.  I actually dread it more than the terrible two's. But it is also incredibly fun! She is constantly learning stuff and is so sweet and truly thinks I am her bff. I love it, I wish I could just bottle this up and keep it forever!!
 I love you Isabella!!

Election Day

Okay, it has been quite a while since I have been on here. Which is not a good sign since I just got this thing up and running!! But it has been super busy around here. Brian has been working super late at night. He is  working on a project for a class he has to teach. It has been a huge pain in the butt. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. So, I have hope that things will get back to normal soon. Well, normal for us anyway!!
Today is election day. I am very encouraged by all the changes that are happening. I think that the people of our great country are finally realizing what it happening and using their votes to make a difference. This is so great!  I am so thankful for the right to vote and hope that everyone uses this ability to make this world a great place for us and our kiddos!! 

Tiny Humans

I realized today that at our house we are drowning in our own clutter. I have always known it was there, but could usually deal with it or make it manageable.  But today, I was just exhausted by all the stuff.  With three kids in school now, the amount of papers that come home are absolutely ridiculous! Everyday I am emptying out backpacks and have no where to put anything. The kids proudly hand me everything they have worked on all day and I just sigh. What to do with it all?? Because, of course, the kids watch it like a hawk to make sure I am proud of it and to see what I do with it. I can only say that it "must have fallen into the garbage" so many times before they figure it out. Now, keep in mind, I do keep all art work and anything extra cute, I am not completely evil. But how many pages of traced letters do I really need? I have tried talking to them about how "mommy can't keep everything" but someone always ends up with hurt feelings.
But besides the papers, there is stuff everywhere.  Toys, clothes, pacifiers, blankies, lunch boxes back packs.  Not to mention how much room the baby takes up. How much room does a tiny person need? Every room of our house is invaded by some large object of hers. Jumperoo, high chair, co-sleeper, glider and on and on. Our house has a great amount of bedroom space, but we are a little short on the finished living space. Someday we will get our basement finished. But right now, the savings account has not given me a thumbs up for such a large project.
I am desperately looking for ways to get more organized. Anything from school papers to remembering to buy butter BEFORE I start cooking dinner, to keeping track of who's field trip is when, so I make sure I get a sitter in time!! I would love some advice on any of this. I am curious as to how everyone else makes it work

Am I really doing this??

Okay, I have been considering doing a blog for quite some time now.  I think I have finally decided to move forward with it and I think I have my sister to thank/blame for that, she got her's started and it inspired me to finish mine.  I am not really sure how this works but will just take it one step at a time. I have been doing that a lot lately. The one step at a time method seems to work really well. I wish I would have started it earlier. But what I do know, is that I have no time to make my blog pretty. So, sorry but you will have to be happy looking at a average page. I will be lucky to get my thoughts down at night before I collapse in a heap.
I am hoping that this will be a good record for me to look back and remember the "good ol' days" of having young kids. But other than that, it is just my rantings!  I hope you enjoy a glimpse into this crazy, fun, sometimes disastrous but always full of laughs attempt to raise 5 kiddos.  Or as I call it my life =)