Nolan's little instruction book for life

Nolan: "Hey Mom, I have a new rule for me"
Me: "yeah, what's that?" - at this point thinking it is going to be something profound as he is clearing his breakfast dishes without being asked....
Nolan: "I think I need to have dessert before I take a shower from now on"

Time flies

Wow, I knew it had been awhile since I posted something, but 5 months? Really? I have a million posts in my head and just no time to post.

Goal #1 - find the time
Goal #2 - just do it

Goodness, it's not like this crazy bunch doesn't give me enough to write about every day.

Thank you Nawnie

Simon came running into the family room yelling (I believe he has one volume - LOUD) "Mommy, mommy it's a robin bird. Look there's a robin bird outside."

I took off running to see if a bird had once again been trapped in our screened porch. Birds trapped in our porch are a pretty common occurrence and my fear is that Beamer will discover a bird "toy" during one of his potty outings and bring it in the house.

As I looked out the window I was pleasantly surprised to see a beautiful bright red male cardinal perched on our bird feeder and the female sitting on the branch behind him. Breathtaking.

At this point, I am surrounded by 5 little bodies pushing past me to see what Simon is talking about. They too have seen many a birds frantically trying to find the porch door to try and find their way out.

"Simon that is a cardinal, isn't it beautiful"

"Look mommy it's a batman bird", Mary Kate said with such pride.

"Mary Kate it's a cardinal"

"Oh a batman cardinal, look it's a batman cardinal mommy"

I think she is now understanding that Batman and Robin have nothing to do with the birds that are ever so patiently waiting for me to snap a picture. See my birds and I have an understanding, when they visit I frantically search for my camera to try and get the perfect "thank you Nawnie" picture. I think I may have just captured it. I was able to tip-toe onto the porch and zoom in on our visitors.

So why the "thank you Nawnie"? Some of my fondest memories of my maternal grandmother (Nawnie) are sitting on the couch in her living room with her looking out the window and talking about the birds. Usually within reaching distance you would find the 3 inch thick dark green Audubon society book that helped us to correctly identify the birds that were visiting on any particular day. The cardinal and blue jays were the ones we would always get the most excited over. They always seemed to be in abundance when Nawnie and I would bird watch. Since Nawnie died nearly 19 years ago (gulp!) every time I spot a cardinal or blue jay I flash back to those times and am reminded of the love of a grandmother. I am also reminded of how thankful I am to have my own mother to be a "nawnie-type" grandma to my kids.

The red cardinal holds a very dear spot in not only my heart, but in my sister, my mother and brothers hearts. There are days when things aren't necessarily going the way I would want and as I am driving along a cardinal will fly past my car. In my head I'll say a quick "thank you Nawnie" as I have been reminded to love, to be patient and to be truly thankful for the blessings that I have (no matter that they are screaming their heads off in the back seat!).

Peanut, Peanut Butter and JELLY!

Mary Kate and Simon were wrestling around tonight before dinner when Andrew made an observation...

Andrew: "the two of them are like peanut butter and jelly"
Me: "what do you mean?"
Andrew: "don't you understand food comparison's mom? they are always stuck together like peanut butter and jelly. They are always with each other and playing together."
Me: "oh, gotcha"
Andrew: "yeah and you know when Simon is in jail, Mary Kate will be the one to bail him out"

I would have been ok with the analogy up until the bailing out of jail part. Note to self, work on Andrew's expectations of Simon's future.

You're Welcome Riley

On the way home from guitar lessons tonight...
Ri: "mom thanks for letting me be born"

I'll take it as a compliment

Ri: "mommy you look just lovely"
Me: "thanks Ri"
Ri: "even when you were mad, you looked just lovely"

Back to school appreciation

This morning went surprisingly well. I must admit, I was expecting a very slow morning with a lot of "hurry-ups", "don't be pokey" and all the other "have you ......'s?" that go along with a typical morning. To my delight, things moved smoothly. I even got the back-to-school picture with all 5 kids! Never any easy task especially with Simon's dislike for group shots.

Supplies were labeled last night and backpacks filled. This morning lunches were made and children fed and not once did anyone (that's me) lose their cool. Woo Hoo!

The kids walk to school, so although it was drizzling a bit we were out the door (without umbrellas, they are on my to-buy list) by 7:55. Only had to step over 2 piles of dog poop on the sidewalks (seriously people, clean up after your dogs) and 1 pile of puke (poor little kid must have been really nervous).

Simon, Mary Kate and I came into a quiet house (well with the exception of a barking dog) and sat down for some breakfast. I checked my email and had a wonderful note from hubby that made me cry.

Just wanted to tell you that you are a Very Very Good Mother and Wife! Our kids are very blessed to have you as their Mom. Getting our elem school aged children out the door fully prepared, while offering to help the teachers, while entertaining the youngest, while getting them to after school sports, while responding to calls and emails from friends, while making my lunch and coffee, no complaints....etc.We are all blessed to have you and you should get a big dagum gold star. I love you. BP

I had been holding things together so well watching Andrew lead the pack as a 5th grader and Riley venture into a new building as a 3rd grader and then little Nolan, how did he become a first grader? The kids are all growing up so quickly and it was this morning that I wish I could make time stand still. Can't I hold them close a little bit longer? Do they really need to grow up? Thankfully, all the boys still seek out a big hug and kiss from me and like to be tucked in at night and snuggle on the couch for a good movie or sit at the table for a competitive game of cards. I pray the days never come to an end. OK fine, someday they'll have to snuggle on their couch with their own kids, but I hope to be held in their heart as they do these things with my grandchildren (gulp!).

Now as I sat at the kitchen table typing, Simon and Mary Kate have been sitting across from me with paper, crayons and scissors quietly playing together. All of a sudden, I felt this very strong tap on my shoulder and I looked up to find Simon cutting Mary Kate's hair!!! Now I believe this tap was Mary Kate's guardian angel. I said a "no" that had to have been 5 syllables long to Simon. He got the point and put the scissors down a little shocked that I would stop his hair cutting. Fortunately, not much was cut and it really isn't noticeable at all, but enough to warrant me taking a picture of the clump I collected.

Here's to a continued good day with creativity on paper rather than hair :)

Warning for Riley's future girlfriends...

Riley: "mom I'm never going to marry a girl that burps, pukes, toots and gets sick a lot"

Whew, glad we got that covered. Hopefully, he'll be a bit more forgiving when his wife has morning sickness....