Survivor Mom Moments

Now it's time to record and remember the survivor moments.  I hear too many people say, "Oh, it was so wonderful when they were little.  Enjoy it."  I want to take that advice, but I also want to move on at some point!  I want to be the kind of mother that enjoys where my children are at today and tomorrow, find some way to enjoy the next stage.   My own mother and mother-in-law I think did a great job of enjoying the young stage and being happy once it was over. Maybe someday when I forget to enjoy the moment and I'm wishing my little ones were back I can look at this post and remember it wasn't all cute sayings, cuddles and round cheeks to kiss!

 Laundry day:  the first many loads are folded.  Only four more to go.  Who knew that seven people could create so much dirty laundry!

 Monkey see, monkey do, and this monkey can sometimes do funky things to the computer.  I don't think he's deleted anything - yet.

 This poor dog is once again tethered against her will.

 Ka-chow!  Didn't you know this is the latest in decorating?  But you have to be talented to get two slippers -- on different days, no less -- on top of the chandelier that is only twelve feet up.

 I've finally banished nerf guns to the basement.  I got tired of seeing this dart stuck to the window for a few months before I took the time to get the ladder out to get it (and the above-mentioned slippers) down.

 Dad & Jacob put lotion in their hair to keep it in place.  At least I can hand it to Drew that he was attempting something authentic.  Except they use a little bit less.  And they don't smear the other half of the bottle all over the mirror.  Twice.

 Camden has a thing for my shower.  He likes to load it up with shoes and toys and climb in. 

 I'm not sure what my boys are doing on the counter?!?

 This is a fun drawer.  Camden likes to take out the ziplock bags and fill them with permanent markers, pens, glue sticks, and whatever else he can find.

 Notice this cutie is squatting in his chair -- sitting is so yesterday.

 Why sit anyway?  It's easier to pull the computer plug out when I'm standing up.  I have not yet caught on camera (nor do I plan to, yikes!) the way Camden sits on the high chair tray. 

 You have to look at this one closer to appreciate it.  I get to clean this up at least 3 times a day.  Often it is accompanied by a change in clothing.  Honestly, I've stopped dressing Camden before lunch a lot of times because that saves me two changes of clothes and he has plenty of pajamas to burn through.  

I will admit, that every crevice of this high chair does not get the full cleaning treatment each time because I think why fix this now when I know it will be dirty again in another hour?  Kudos to my girls who scrub it up to perfection on their kitchen nights.

 We've just finished lunch, I have sent Jacob off to school, and my current dilemma is do I clean the filthy kitchen or go take a nap?  Just about every day the nap wins out.

 Someone has stinky britches.  He's not always happy to have that fixed.

 As you can see.

 And once I'm all done and washed up, I have another customer.  Really?!?!?  Shouldn't you be using the toilet by now? 

 More computer fun, but this time with some CD's.

 Drew really liked the chocolate bundt cake from Mandi's birthday.  I only caught him snitching some three times.

 I would hide, too, if I had just scribble marker all over my pants and dumped water out on my pants - and the carpet.  That's his new favorite thing to do.  Dump water on the carpet, that is.

 I had to take this picture of Hannah when we were doing trials for the science fair.  It took three afternoons, zillions of interruptions, about an hour of untangling string, and a babysitter to get it done.  There were lots of fun times but when I was trying to be a good mom for her and attempting to have an authentic scientific method AND trying to keep three boys herded out of the street and not riding their bikes through 200 feet of string I felt like she looks.  But maybe not so smiley.  Sorry I was not always the happiest camper, Hannah.  You really were so fun to be with.

 There is an adorable, round cupboard fairy that likes to rearrange things.

 Is it considered desperate when you let your kids play with their car seats just to get a few moments respite to clean up the house?  I actually scrubbed these down and had just put them back together and was ready to adjust the buckles to where they needed to be (they outgrew the old setting a few months ago) when Jacob & Drew strapped themselves in.  Of course, they each chose one car seat too small, but they had so much fun...

 "I'm a turtle, Mom."

They even ran races.  It kept them wonderfully occupied.  And it was maybe even worth it even though I had to remove a fresh coating of dog hair afterwards. 

Not pictured from this week:  Drew hole punching a page in a nice library book, Camden coloring in markers all over the love seat cushions, and both big boys climbing into Camden's crib with him.  The initial heavy impact bent the metal frame that holds the mattress and this new-to-us crib will never be the same.  Also not pictured:  Tyler taking the 12:30-4am shift on Camden's floor and me taking the shift after that while he refused to sleep.  And then me soothing a burning hot Drew at 4:30am the next night.  And at 4am the next night.  And sitting outside with him at 12am the next night to help soothe his croupy passageways, or dozing on the couch with him, or then camping out on his floor from 1-8am so I could help him every time he coughed or shouted out from nightmares.  Exhausting, but there were also some tender times in there as I soothed my sick ones.  And I will admit that it was kind of fun to be outside.  The clouds were low, the air was moist and cool but not cold, and it was so refreshing to breathe.