2009-Our Year In A Nuthouse...I mean, Nutshell

*Rob done with Master's program...no job

*Moved in with Rob's parents

*Sanity hangs by a thread (flaxen cord...if you will)

*Isaac cracks head open...seven staples


*Mel and Rob weekend away

*Weekend away results in job interview with CH2MHILL

*Easter in Utah


*Rob accepts job for CH2MHILL...trip to Chuck E Cheese

*May--super busy month:
--Rob graduation commencement (So proud...way to go Roberto)

--7 years....wow....
--Wedding trip to Utah (Congrats Andrew and Lessa)

--Move to Tri-Cities


*Life starts to settle down--Melanie gets on medication (it's about time)

*Andrew and Lessa visit for 4th of July

*Conrads come for a visit--talk about a nuthouse...but totally worth it (4 adults, 9 kids)

*Baby #4 on the way


*Rob goes to San Fran....Mom and Christy come to visit...lots of visitors...we LOVE IT!

*School starts--all heck breaks loose


*Heck is somewhat contained

*Still pregnant


*Life still getting better---family starts smiling and laughing together :)


*Baby Brogan is born---rough start...all is well

*Baby #4...ANOTHER BOY!

*Fun holiday season (October-December) with lots of traditions



*Thanksgiving in Utah--LOVE MY FAMILY--annual turkey bowl, talent show and hike

*Wonderful (Star Wars themed) Christmas--trip to Spokane....FUN!



*Still pregnant...another Ultrasound---everything looks good


*Baby Aidan is born--mother and baby doing well

*Plans for New Years Eve....quiet, relaxing movie night at home....bed around 10PM.



Are we ready for a new year?

I don't know,

but HERE IT COMES!

Happy 2010 to everyone!

" I am going to PUMP YOU UP!"

The kids and I had a grand time this morning. We put on a bit of hyperactive aerobi-sized Christmas music and lifted weights together. What with it being Christmas break and I in desperate need to help the children "burn off some energy" (thanks for the idea Amy), I thought it was a good plan.

Good Times...Noodle Salad.

Gabe was quite impressive. I voted on him bowing out long before Cael but that was not the case. He stuck through...clear to the end.

His favorite moves:
Push-ups
Tricep dips
and most of all...lateral pull downs (he used THREE pound-ers baby)

It was fun. I hope I'm sore tomorrow.

Sign of a hard days work.

A life without my sisters would be no life at all!

I am blessed to be part of a wonderfully large family. I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters, all of whom I love dearly. Although I am very close to my brothers, and would not give them up for the world, there is something about the relationship between sisters that can never be matched or replaced. Our crazy female hormones, emotions, insights, and hearts bind us together in ways that are inexplicable. At least that's the way I feel.

Two years ago, I was trying my best to get through my first Christmas away. I was terribly home sick, suffering from horrible postpartum depression, and feeling isolated from my family.

While watching TV one night I heard a holiday jingle from a JCPenney commercial that left me with an overwhelming desire to be the one place I treasured most.......HOME. I still don't know what caused that particular jingle to settle into my soul that Christmas, but it touched me deeply. I LOVED it from the very first time and still get all "tingly" when I hear it.

In an attempt to connect with those I love, I downloaded the song, called each of my sisters (and my mom) and shared it with them hoping they would "feel" it too. Somehow it made me feel closer to them.

A few weeks later, Rob, myself, and the kids had the chance to go visit my family. During my families annual "cousin gift exchange" on New Years Eve, my sisters surprised me with a gift as well. Using their incredible talents (which are not few) they had arranged a musical performance. By means of guitar and beautiful voice they had put together and prepared an arrangement of my new favorite "home sick" song and sang it for me.

That memory will forever be burned into my heart and will continue to endear them to me forever. To know that they care that much about me is amazing.

So....to my sisters: Jennifer, Christy, Natalie, and Stacy....I love you. I'm so very blessed to have you! Merry Christmas!


Stay for a spell and listen to the song. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

When all is quiet....

Peace and quiet are rare.....very rare, oddities in our house.

It usually means one of three things:

1. Gabe is at school and the younger two are off playing by themselves (this NEVER happens when Gabe is home....he and Isaac have invented a new form of really loud, really obnoxious, really out-of-control play. The minute Gabe comes home, all heck breaks loose.)

2. The children are all tucked snug in their beds and for a short 8 hours (if we are lucky) they are asleep

or

3. They are doing something naughty


Apart from "being naughty" (which quiet I do not relish) I have recently had the pleasure of experiencing a few of these other quiet moments........and I have proof.


Yesterday I found Isaac playing in the box of winter clothes in the closet. Quiet, happy, and having a wonderful time.

This picture is of Gabe and Cael having their weekly "sleepover". It's such a special treat for them. I'm just happy they're asleep.

I look forward to many more of these quiet times in our household.

I know they come few and far between. It just makes them all the more sweet to savor.

Sorry Ms. B. Widow, there is only room for ONE alpha-female here

I was unloading groceries this morning and noticed a very shiny, very sleek spider crawling just outside the garage door. I was tempted to squish it but curiosity got the better of me. I got a jar and captured it. Turned the jar over and saw a small, red hourglass staring back at me.

Ms. Black Widow!

I decided to save her so that Rob can get a look at her when he gets home. I am a little weird-ed out about having her camp out in my house for a while but the kids are fascinated (and have been warned by punishment of death if they open the jar).

Gabe questioned why we didn't poke holes for her to breath and I replied that we were going to kill her, eventually, anyway.

"But mom....what if she has a family?"

"Well, if she does, and I find them.....I will kill them too!"

So the kids continue to play with the jar. A few minutes later I catch them shaking it and enjoying watching her fly all over the place. I stopped them immediately.

"Guys....that's now how we treat one of God's creations."

Gabe was clearly baffled....."but your going to kill her anyway."

To which I replied, "Yes...but that doesn't mean we have to torture her first."

Does that make sense to anyone else?

I had to explain that yes, we were going to kill her because she is/was so close to our home and could cause us harm but that it's not okay to be cruel "just because".

I'm sure I will get the pleasure of squishing her later. Rob's not really "the spider/insect killer" in our home. He gets a little squeamish. Not that I blame him. They give me the willies too.

Hopefully my children were taught an important lesson today. Don't ask me what the lesson was, exactly, but there was one....wasn't there?

Totally a case of pregnancy-related retardo

So...pretty much I am totally pregnancy-related retarded. I should be stopped.

This is how my morning went:

Drove to the store to fax some papers...

forgot the papers...realized halfway there....

turned around...

ran stop sign I had just gone through (totally by accident)...threw my hands up in surprise....

look over...there's a police man at the other stop sign....wait for it....wait for it....lights flash....

I pull over....he could tell I was feeling quite retarded (and he saw my reaction when I realized what I was doing (hands flailing)) and I have a perfect record....NO TICKET...thank goodness...

got home...got papers...

back on my way to the store....

wrong fax # (pregnancy-related dyslexia)...had to call the company again....Isaac wandered off in the process and I could not find him...whole store on alert.

Found Isaac....fax complete...couldn't wait to go home.

Maybe I should consider confinement for the duration of pregnancy?

This (as in above) is the reason they used to MAKE women stay hidden away until it was all over.

Seriously!

Our week in Utah

Me and my wonderfuls had the opportunity to go to UTAH for the week of Thanksgiving. It was awesome. We had such a good time. I was so happy to be there with my family. I love them.

I was so NOT ready to come home. Oh well.........

Here are a few highlights:

*stayed in a fabulous hotel on the way down and visited with Aunt Cherie, Michelle and family in ID.

*kids enjoyed TONS of time with their cousins....and me with my parents/siblings.

*night out with my husband....including a little Christmas shopping

*family pictures (23 kids, 16 adults....oh, and one teddy bear (Issac refused to let it go.))

*a trip to Chuck E Cheese (oh joy) with LOTS of cousins.

*awesome Thanksgiving day food and company!

*Gabe and Rob went flying with my dad. It was Gabe's first experience. He LOVED it (until descent when his ears refused to pop....ouch!). He took my camera and captured some excellent pictures/video's. Oh...and apparently he LOVED wearing the headset. At one point Grandpa had to turn off Gabe's microphone or risk hearing loss for both Rob and himself. :)

*Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl with the Conrads, Uncle Andrew and Grandpa H. Lessa and I sat on the sidelines and cheered. It was Gabe's first time playing in an actual "football game" instead of just playing catch. He was a little discouraged by his "non-perfection", but did an awesome job.

*Taking part in the "Thanksgiving night talent show." Again, 23 kids...17 adults this time...all crammed in one small family room. It was really loud but lots of fun. I forgot to take pictures....but I do have a video (thanks Jason). :)

*Annual "Day After Thanksgiving Hike" to "Thanksgiving Rock" (just some big random rock up Dry Canyon given it's name by my family). I must admit that hiking 5 months pregnant would not have been too bad except that the elevation change between WA and UT just about KILLED me. I won't complain. It was a good workout...in fact, my ONLY workout all week. I enjoyed it but was ever so happy to bring up the rear. :)

It was such a great week. We all had a super great time. I hated to go.





Did I mention I really didn't want to go home?

Oh boy, oh boy......

IT'S A BOY!

A growth discovered....in my abdomen!

About 15 weeks ago my primary care physician discovered a somewhat parasitic growth in my abdomen. It was small...but growing rapidly. She reassured me that these types of growths are rarely fatal and that everything would be fine but suggested I see a parasitic growth specialist to get another opinion. I did just that. The appointment went well. A lot of questions were answered and fears abated. There are no immediate plans for removal but removal and/or passing of the growth is inevitable and should take place in the next 19-20 weeks. It will be rather painful and will take a bit of recovery but I am confident I will bounce back from it in no time. How do I know? Because it has been that way every other time... I have had a baby! SURPRISE! (By the way...we had our BIG ultrasound today...everything (that they could see) looks good. Wanna know the sex? TOO BAD! You only get one secret at a time. Yeah....I am that mean!)

Total Haul.....if you like birthday cake that is

Today I went to Albertsons and took advantage of some pretty good deals. Here's what I ended up with:

31 tubs Betty Crocker Frosting (year supply...I HATE making frosting)
17 boxes Betty Crocker cake mix (that goes for cake as well)
6 boxes General Mills cereal
3 bags Chex Mix
2 boxes Fiber One granola bars

Subtotal: 157.01
Mf coupon used: -$48.40
Store coupon match: -$9.00
Store deals: -$65.96

Paid out of pocket: $33.65

Plus I still have $15 in-store Catalina coupons for future use

Grand Total: $18.65

That's just under $0.32 per item.

Not bad.

Anyone up for cake?

Our "Supers"

This year...like every other year was full of fun and traditions (besides getting awaken at 4:15AM... see previous post).

Preliminary Activities: Pumpkin tortillas (for the last two weeks) and pumpkin carving (last Monday). As for Halloween Day/Night......Mummy Dogs (new for us this year), Scooby Doo rental, chili and cornbread for dinner, costumes, a "Trunk-or-Treat", come home, go through candy (set aside all the yummy-goodness Cael can't have), put the kids to bed, mom and dad (mostly mom) feast on kids candy (afterall....all that candy is NOT good for them (wink, wink)).

All-in-all good times....noodle salad.

Pics:

Mummy Dogs


Cael wanted "bloody ones"


Our Superheroes


Glorious, well thought out, artistically orchestrated.........somewhat shriveled pumpkins

I wonder how many pounds I will put on this year?

Perhaps a bit too excited...

Gabe is REALLY excited for Halloween...perhaps a bit too much.

October 30, 2009
6:35 AM
"Tomorrow's Halloween....I can't wait...I'm so excited".... etc,etc for hours on end.

6:00 PM
Gabe: "I'm so excited for tomorrow...Cael, Issac...It's Halloween tomorrow!" Blah..blah...much more of the same.

11:50PM
Rob went in to check on Gabe before we went to bed.

Gabe: "Is it time to get up?"

Rob: "Gabe, go back to bed."

Gabe: "Are you dressed? Why are you dressed?"

Rob: "Go back to sleep."

Gabe: "Dad, can you get me up?"

Rob: "No...go back to sleep."

October 31, 2009
4:15AM
Gabe wanders over to my side of the bed

Me: "Gabe?"

Gabe: "Surprise....It's Halloween."

Me: "How exciting (dripping with sarcasm)...now, you have 3 seconds to get you bottom back in bed before I will drag you there myself."

He goes...kicking and screaming...but he goes.

4:22 AM
Cael shows up in our room and thinks it's time to get up for the morning......UGH!!!!!!

4:40AM
Cael: "Is it time to get up?"

NO!

5:15AM
Gabe: "Can we get up?"

NO!


...This all continued until 6:45AM when we finally let them out of their rooms to watch cartoons.



8:09AM
I announce (thinking that maybe...just maybe, the large amounts of sugar we have been consuming may have had something to do with our middle of the night awakenings):


"We will NOT be eating ANY candy or treats today. DON'T EVEN ASK. GOT IT!"




It sounds a little harsh, I know but....hey, they should know better than to wake me up repeatedly in the middle of the night!

Organized....even in the buff ;)

I sent Cael to get dressed this morning.

This is what I found when I went to check on him.

(I decided to spare him the embarrassment and clipped out the nudity)

It was hilarious. He even had his underwear tucked inside the pants.

At least my organizational skills rubbed off on ONE of my kids.

He He....just made me laugh.

2 great things

#1 Gabe rode his bike yesterday without training wheels. Our neighbor Lacey took them off and her daughter I held on to the back while he got started and.....off he went. He's a little frustrated because he looses his balance sometimes. I'm trying to remind him that things take practice. He's a bit of a perfectionist and wants me to put the training wheels back on. I won't give in though. Persistence is a good lesson to learn.

#2 Speaking of being persistent, I finally got a double jog stroller yesterday. FINALLY! It was awesome. I'm so glad. No more 80lb stroller!

Exasperating

Isaac wanted a cup of milk for lunch...so I gave him one.

I thought it would be nice of me to pour Cael a cup of milk too, while I was at it.

Cael starts ranting and raving about how I didn't ask him what he wanted and "I didn't say milk or water," and dumps the milk down the drain.

He calmly proceeds to his chair....sits down and say...."Okay, I want milk."

Now he is yelling and screaming because I wont give him more.

Exasperating!

A good chuckle....

Two things that gave me a good chuckle this morning:

This little ditty is on the back of Rob's body wash...

"If your grandfather hadn't worn it, you wouldn't exist."
(True dat)

And this one came from a note that was taped to Gabe's door a few weeks ago:

"Gabe and IsAAc olny
Cael STInKS
ThhhhPt"

Need I remind you that he reads Calvin and Hobbs?





I hope you enjoy these as much as I did!

The 3 "F's"

Long gone is the careless freedom of summer. It's replaced with shorter days, chilly breezes and the season of holiday traditions and football.

I love Fall. At least, I have in the past. But as the days shorten and the holidays near I am more aware of feelings of loneliness and being "trapped in by the darkness" than I have been in a long time.

It all comes down to the three "F's":
1. Family
2. Familiarity
3. Friends

I just want to be "home." It's funny because I never thought I would consider Spokane "home" right alongside Utah. It's not that I don't like the Tri-Cities. We have made some friends and met some really AWESOME people here but....I just not the same.....(yet).

At Women's Conference I looked around and saw very few familiar faces knowing that my Mom and sisters were back home sitting together and enjoying one another's company. I sat alone in the back. I can't remember the last time I felt so lonely. What a bummer. (I was very grateful to see and chat with a few girls in my ward afterwards....it lightened my mood considerably.)

Given time I'm sure I will "get into the groove" and feel better about my lonely circumstances.

But for now....

I just want to be "where everybody knows [my] name." That's not too much to ask, is it?

What do you say when you have nothing to say.......................


Nothing!

The End

Ugh....

Rob's out of town and I'm overworked.

The end.

All day school.....YEAY!

Gabe started his first day of first grade today (at least the first FULL day). How exciting.

I'm excited and I think he is too.

He is growing up so fast. It's hard to keep up with him sometimes.

He's excited to make new friend and learn new things. Oh, and he gets to take his lunch to school. Like a picnic....EVERY DAY! Exciting.

Looking forward to not picking up a child right before lunch. Makes the day ALL crazy.

Good Lucky Gabe-y babe! We love you!

Please welcome the newest addition to our family...

The Nordic Track Autostrider 990

Okay, so it's not a Precor (I'm a little choked up about that too) but I didn't have several thousand dollars to get one so.....I bought the "best I could afford" (right Mom?). I love it. Tried it out this morning.....super awesome!

BTW....it's a space saver too.....check it out!

So full of personality!

Isaac got into my make-up, another one of his favorite past times (since Aunt Christy came to visit, that is :) !) Not only did he get it all over himself but on the carpet too. Ugh!

Here Gabe is attempting to clean up his room. He often gets distracted and reads instead. I just thought it was funny that he was in his PJ bottoms, new school shoes and no shirt.

What can you make with a little brown sugar and flour? A BIG mess....that's what!

Me: "Gabe, can you watch Isaac while I take a quick shower?"

After he consented I proceeded to do just that. When I get out of the shower I hear Gabe in MY room and.....no Isaac.

Me: "Gabe...where's Isaac?"

Gabe: "He got into the food closet and is making a HUGE mess!"

Me: "Ummmm...okay...and where were you?"

Gabe: "It was too late...I couldn't stop it."

Sigh....

I dressed as fast as I could, not sure what I would find in the other room. I rounded the corner and found this:

Ugh....this really is his favorite past time. He's just never had so much time to enjoy it (without being intercepted, that is).

Gabe also happened to capture more Isaac mischief. I have never had a child with so many "tentacles" before. This kid is into EVERYTHING! Mr. Octopus Man!

Presents.....two weeks after the fact!

Almost two weeks after Isaac's birthday, we finally got him a present (besides a book that I didn't even wrap). Part of the reason is because Rob was out of town and we wanted to celebrate their b-days together (because I didn't want to have to eat TWO cakes in a matter of 4 days) and the other part....well, I'm just plain lazy. So finally here it is...the crowning moment (toot, toot, too toot)

Sooooo excited!

Picture from joint b-day bbq with neighbors.


Rob's actual birthday (leftover cake from bbq. He He!)


Okay...so we did celebrate a little on Isaac's birthday. Ice cream cones, candles, a happy birthday song and because Grandma Harding and Aunt Christy were visiting from Utah, he got to open presents from them as well. Not completely neglected.

These are pics from his actual birthday.

Today I danced!

Today I danced. Openly, freely, artistically. Enya's "Caribbean blue" was the inspiration. I was taken back in time to my junior year in high school. I opened up and set myself free. It was invigorating.

I feel happy, hopeful. As thought I may be climbing out of a deep, dark hole I have been buried in for so long.

This morning, I owe it to the dance.



--excerpt from Melanie's journal (yes, actual written journal) August 14, 2009. (Some day I might share it in it's entirety).

Menstration.....at HIS age?????????

A little time alone in Mom's bathroom+



a talent for vigilant observance and imitation=




It must be time for a stricter "privacy policy" between Mommy and Isaac.