While sitting here trying to decide how to even start a post about the normal goings on, my train of thought went very quickly from "playing catch-up" to ketchup. Ketchup is really kind of gross when you think about it. Plus, it has absolutely nothing to do with anything that has been going on with us so it's kind of a waste of time altogether, don't you think? Except for my favorite meatloaf recipe which calls for ketchup to make the better-than-candy glaze for the top. So I take it back. Ketchup is sometimes very useful.
Did I seriously never even post about the first day of school? The snake in the garage? Geez, it's been at least a month since I blogged about how cute Jonah is! Where are my priorities?!
I have been lost in the funk of the move, reevaluation of how things are done around here, inner reflection and keeping everyone alive and happy...or mostly just alive until we figure out some of those other things. Things are great but rocky. I feel like most days I am barely keeping my head above water to accomplish the most necessary of tasks. It's why I have been in some serious reflection over the last little while. Unfortunately, when you are a scatter-brained busy Mom of 5, living somewhere that is distractingly warm, serious reflection gets interrupted a bajillion times a day. So, it's taking a while but I am getting there. If I come to any grand epiphany's that might be of use, I will be sure to share but really I am just hoping to find my groove that includes regular deodorant wearing, feeding my family quality dinners and maybe getting some exercise, among other equally important things.
But until then, why discontinue the brief recap of things which seems to be the current trend in my blogging? In any case, it includes lots of unedited pictures. And that's cool, I suppose.
So, we had a snake in the garage. I have a tendency to overreact when things like this happen and go out and buy things like mouse traps to catch things that may attract snakes in the first place, and a family of ceramic owls to line the back fence, just as a second line of defense. Then maybe interrogate all the neighbors as to how often I can expect such a thing to happen. Really I think it was just a case of a dumb snake that took a wrong turn.
It was a hog nose, thank you for asking. And Clark is very good at both catching and "disposing" of unwanted creatures. His request for cold, ice water to douse it, thereby lowering its body temperature and making it sluggish for the kill was returned with a lengthy raised eyebrow and dead eyes from me so he took the quicker "shovel route". I realize that some of you may not think it absolutely necessary to end the snake's life but seeing as how I abhor snakes and never ever want to see another anywhere near my house for any reason, be them poisonous or not, it was. Also, golf clubs make for a very good snake wrangling apparatus.
Aah, school supply shopping for four children. Just about broke the bank and drove me to the nut house trying to find white folders with pockets AND brads. But setting it all up in tidy piles and having them organize their supplies is kind of worth it in the end. That and them getting a good quality education, I suppose.
It rains here, a lot. I love the rain. We will get more rain in one afternoon than most places get in a month. It's fantastic. As long as there is not fantastic thunder to accompany, Jonah gets nekky play time in the back. It is absolute Heaven for him and pure entertainment for us.
Hazel got her ears pierced in a moment of boredom one afternoon before school started. I violated my own standards of age-appropriate piercings years ago when the other girls got theirs done so I figured why not one more? Plus, it was pretty easy to convince a cousin to go with us and that made it twice as fun. Now she asks only twice a day, how many more days until Halloween so she can change them.
We picked up schedules and went to open houses. We found classrooms, walked schedules and practiced locker combinations. The four girls are at three different schools this year. Quite a change from Virginia's K-6th elementary schools but I like it. They separate the ages pretty well (except for the bus, grr) and besides trying to keep all the bell schedules straight, it is working out rather nicely. They each have a cousin or a sibling at their school which makes me feel a little better about being so new and split up.
I had a birthday. I turned 35. I don't really mind getting older. I had a lovely day where I bossed people around and told them exactly what was going to happen so as not to have any unfulfilled unrealistic expectations. I even bought my own presents this year. Some years are just like that.
However, I didn't have to boss these two around...they arranged a delightful afternoon that was kid free and included a quiet lunch while watching a chick flick and eating food that only adults could enjoy. It was heavenly.
Sometimes the girls wrestle and it is entertaining. The trick is knowing exactly the moment to stop them - somewhere between the squeals of delight and laughter and someone getting hurt and stomping off to their room.
Then school started. The end of summer is always a bittersweet time. I enjoy the rhythm we have found being together and doing whatever we want, when we want to. But by the end of those months we are craving order and schedules again. Time to firm up those brains.
And yes, Haley has a big hole in her jeans. This is a perfect example of things that fall through the cracks. We did some school shopping, bought a million dollars worth of school supplies but somehow overlooked buying anything that Haley could wear on those long legs of hers.
I am left at home all day now, chasing Jonah up the stairs again and again and again.
Haley had a birthday. 12 is a big one. She has joined Young Womens at church and is fitting in quite nicely. This can be such a difficult age, stuck between kid and not-so-kid. She gets to wear mascara and takes the task quite seriously. I am desperately trying to get her to do something other than duck lips in photos...as you will see a few more times in this post alone.
It ain't a birthday celebration without a giant sombrero.
Then Mia turned 8. Another big age around here. Even though her birthday was at the beginning of September, her baptism had to wait a few weeks until everyone could be here.
My pretty little Mia, MiMi, Mims.
I love that any member of my family is willing to stop what they are doing and point out the sky. The sky in Texas is huge. I am grateful that a sight like this never ceases to stop me in my tracks, even at 7 in the morning in the Walmart parking lot on a Saturday. It's one of the things that I love most about living here.
Birthdays galore! Clark brings up the rear with the last of our little family's birthdays until the Spring. We celebrated him thoroughly. I even watched a little football with him that day.
There's nothing quite like snuggling with five kids that all have morning breath.
I am entitled to a little selfie every once in a while too. It balances out the hundred of my children that I find on my phone almost every day. Haley has even taught Jonah how to take one, and he does.
See the duck lip repeat offender? I told you.
My parents came into town for Mia's baptism. I love having my parents here. I love hanging out with them and having them near. We did all the important stuff we needed to while they were here, like eating good BBQ, shopping at Harwin and telling Christine and Alucia stories at bedtime.
And then Mia got baptized. Always a special day. She is such a joyful part of our family. I am grateful for her unique spirit and what she brings to our home.
Look at all these people! And we are related to every single one. I get sad that I don't live near my own family but I sure am grateful for my in-laws. They are wonderful people indeed.
And I cherish these pictures of Clark with his daughters as each one of them take this step.
(Try to ignore the shadows...we are amateurs people-although I do feel a need to point out that Megan did tell us to move, and we didn't.)
Did I seriously never even post about the first day of school? The snake in the garage? Geez, it's been at least a month since I blogged about how cute Jonah is! Where are my priorities?!
I have been lost in the funk of the move, reevaluation of how things are done around here, inner reflection and keeping everyone alive and happy...or mostly just alive until we figure out some of those other things. Things are great but rocky. I feel like most days I am barely keeping my head above water to accomplish the most necessary of tasks. It's why I have been in some serious reflection over the last little while. Unfortunately, when you are a scatter-brained busy Mom of 5, living somewhere that is distractingly warm, serious reflection gets interrupted a bajillion times a day. So, it's taking a while but I am getting there. If I come to any grand epiphany's that might be of use, I will be sure to share but really I am just hoping to find my groove that includes regular deodorant wearing, feeding my family quality dinners and maybe getting some exercise, among other equally important things.
But until then, why discontinue the brief recap of things which seems to be the current trend in my blogging? In any case, it includes lots of unedited pictures. And that's cool, I suppose.
So, we had a snake in the garage. I have a tendency to overreact when things like this happen and go out and buy things like mouse traps to catch things that may attract snakes in the first place, and a family of ceramic owls to line the back fence, just as a second line of defense. Then maybe interrogate all the neighbors as to how often I can expect such a thing to happen. Really I think it was just a case of a dumb snake that took a wrong turn.
It was a hog nose, thank you for asking. And Clark is very good at both catching and "disposing" of unwanted creatures. His request for cold, ice water to douse it, thereby lowering its body temperature and making it sluggish for the kill was returned with a lengthy raised eyebrow and dead eyes from me so he took the quicker "shovel route". I realize that some of you may not think it absolutely necessary to end the snake's life but seeing as how I abhor snakes and never ever want to see another anywhere near my house for any reason, be them poisonous or not, it was. Also, golf clubs make for a very good snake wrangling apparatus.
I love that any member of my family is willing to stop what they are doing and point out the sky. The sky in Texas is huge. I am grateful that a sight like this never ceases to stop me in my tracks, even at 7 in the morning in the Walmart parking lot on a Saturday. It's one of the things that I love most about living here.
Birthdays galore! Clark brings up the rear with the last of our little family's birthdays until the Spring. We celebrated him thoroughly. I even watched a little football with him that day.
There's nothing quite like snuggling with five kids that all have morning breath.
I am entitled to a little selfie every once in a while too. It balances out the hundred of my children that I find on my phone almost every day. Haley has even taught Jonah how to take one, and he does.
My parents came into town for Mia's baptism. I love having my parents here. I love hanging out with them and having them near. We did all the important stuff we needed to while they were here, like eating good BBQ, shopping at Harwin and telling Christine and Alucia stories at bedtime.
Let it be noted also, that the girls have begun a new "lizard log book". They go to the backyard, catch, measure and name the lizards. I need to buy them a name book because 90% of them are called Lyla for reasons unknown to me. I accidentally ran over one in the driveway the other day (they are everywhere!) and had to console Hazel half way to the bus stop. Lyla was a good girl, we were sorry to see her go.
