ages 4 and up

Aidan has a new thing. He is now "4 and up". If anyone asks his age. That is what you'll get. He always wants to know when he's allowed to do something. So, we'll read the package and it will say ages ? and up.
He can also write his name now. But he likes to play a little game.
"Mom, what letter comes next"
"Aidan, you tell me."
"No, mom, you tell me what letter comes next because you know how to spell everything."

Yes, No, Maybe Could you repeat the question

Having 5 kids can be completely overwhelming sometimes. Yesterday I was standing in the kitchen with 4 out of 5 kids plus my brother all trying to talk to me. Each person was asking for something. "Can we watch a cartoon?", "Can we have a piece of candy?" "What are we having for dinner?" "When is dad coming home?" "Can we go to the pool?" All I could think of was 'calgon, take me away!'.
I was so overwhelmed that I just yelled "NO". And to the one who wanted food, my answer was "what ever you cook."
I think I need to start having people raise their hands before speaking. :)

What's that sound?

Oh, wait. It isn't anything. That's right, there was a moment today when I didn't hear anything. Well,actually I heard the sweet soft breathing of sleeping Peter. I heard the air blowing through the building and then I heard my thoughts. Wow, I assumed they had been lost forever. The next thing I heard was the best. I heard "every time we take this bread to be your body and declare your blood is in this cup. We proclaim your death and resurrection and a hope that you will raise us up." I hadn't heard this memorial acclamation in years. As I knelt in front of the tabernacle what better song to come into my head than that. I am always praying for this or that and I am always asking God for something, talking. Talking is what I am known for, right. Well, today I listened. I am not sure that I heard an answer but I did hear the calming quiet and was able to let go and just be. I wasn't asking, expecting or even pleading for God to do or be anything. I just wanted to, needed to, be close to peace. I wish that I could find (make) the time to have that peace everyday. For 30 something years I have always had to talk and today I realized that prayers can be answered in silence. I left the church only asking God to help me to do what He wanted me to do. I didn't leave feeling like I had the answers to all of my pressing issues but I did feel closer to God and better about myself.

piano recital

The piano recital was perfect. All of their practice really paid off.
After Jake returned to his seat, I said "Jake, you did great. I don't think you made one mistake."
He said "I know mom, I can hear myself when I play."
nice, huh

Happy Mother's Day to me.....

3:30 Sat morning I nursed Peter, woke up Tyler and headed to Fairhope, AL. My Granny (mom's mom) had a heart attack and stroke. I had a mini break down on Friday and decided that I needed to go and see her. We got there around 9 or so. I stayed for hours visiting. It was the hardest thing not to cry. Granny, along side of my mom, raised me as a daughter. Poppy walked me down the aisle and now they are both frail. Granny paralized and sick and Poppy sick with worry. It was the worst way to have to see your grandmother but it was also great to be with her and wish her a happy mother's day. My mom had to settle for a phone call, she is currently taking care of my brother in B'ham in Cardiac ICU. My dad's mom spent Saturday in an ambulance on the way to B'ham b/c she is still sick from her surgery. My step mom, Kay, spent her mother's day morning slaving over the stove to give me a grand b'fast before I headed back to Atlanta. I arrived in Atlanta early afternoon to a clean house, steaks and hugs and kisses. Happy Mother's Day.

4 out of 5 isn't such a great thing

I took Aidan and Peter to the dr today. Now, I have 4 out of 5 kids on anitbiotics for ear infections. Jake is the only one not currently taking an antibiotic. When Lucy and Noah got it, I thought maybe it was due to swimming. But Peter isn't even getting into the pool so that wasn't it. Peter also got an inhaler and now is being a wild man. It is crazy to see what drugs can do to your kids. I am glad he can breathe but man is he wired.
So, I think that my pediatrician lives in that swank neighborhood b/c of us. I think we average three visits a month there.