Gratitude

Much has been happening in our world and suffice it to say a blog post is not going to do it justice. Perhaps someday I will relate all the details, but for now I just want to express my thoughts about my parents.

I don't think as kids we ever really understand the love and devotion our parents have for us, I know I didn't. As we grow up and have our own kids, we come to understand that we will always be our parents' children.

I am so grateful to have parents who know when to just let me be a grown up, and when to step in as a parent. I can't say enough what it means to me to have their support, love, wisdom, guidance, and home to come home to. I don't know where we would be right now if it weren't for them.

So, hey Mom and Dad. I love you guys. Thanks for everything you have done and I am sure will continue to do for us.

Getting Organized

I have been home with my kiddos for so long, that I have sort of forgotten what it is like to have some kind of semblence of scheduling. I get up when I want. We eat when everyone's hungry. We go and do on our own time and in various different directions. As our life is about to change, and I am job hunting, and soon to be doing the working mom thing, I hate to say it but: It's time I got down to business and started really scheduling our lives.

Summer time is a good place to start doing this, because we won't have our three older kids going in six different directions due to school activities.

So, dear readers, I invite you to comment on my blog/facebook, and give me some suggestions for having a scheduled, yet not rigid life. I need to schedule chores, cleaning, summer fun, and hopefully, some learning this summer. I need to get out of the house, I need to do more this summer than sitting around watching the kids get into trouble.

HELP!

I Love You, Mom, The Goldest

I LOVE YOU, MOM, THE GOLDEST

I love you Mom, the goldest. I love you the color of shiny earrings on Sunday morning.

Dull gold in a pan. A gold, bright setting sun.
I love you the color of sweet cornbread on a plate, writing on a book spine.

Daffodils growing the spring. The sweet, cool honeysuckle in Nampa.

The depths of the core of the earth. The shiny electronics on the computer that brings you your blogs.

I love you, Mom, the goldest.

---With love, Jacob McPherson

I have to admit, this Mother's Day was probably one of the best I have ever had. My wonderful husband surprised me with a camera, since mine broke, and he knows how I love to gather memories from out life together, and the children's childhoods. Then, Jacob presented me with this wonderful poem he wrote in school. It is based on a children's book, but the imagery is all his.

Angelice gave me the sweetest little chore list, and her obvious appreciation for me was tangible. I held her for the longest time on my lap yesterday, which is kind of hard to do since she's almost as tall as I am now.

Ben, oh, Ben. Couldn't stop telling me how he learned to say "MoTHer's Day" He has trouble with the soft t-h sound still, and we are gently trying to encourage him to fix it. He'd say "Happy Mudder's....I mean MoTHer's Day!" all day yesterday. he drew me a flower, and then cut it out, signed his name on the back, and proclaimed it a bookmark.

Holly. Sweet Holly. She's actually such a stinker. But she smothered me in kisses and snuggled close to me when I put her to bed. She smelled like cheesecake and baby soap.

I love these little beings...these frustrating, loud little human beings who came from my body. My life, my everything.... I complain too much. I know they won't be little forever. I cherish every milestone, and revel in every tiny accomplishment. I am so glad to be their mother.

My mother taught me everything I know about loving these little monkeys. I cannot fathom what it must be like to have your children scattered to the four winds like dandelion fluff on the wind. I see why she jumps every time that skype call comes in. Her precious firstborn, and all he has accomplished...those beautiful children, living so far away. Her second, and her only girl, getting ready to leave her again... Her third child who she worries for and loved to snuggle as a baby, so far away...and doing so well. She is so proud of him, and is so happy that he has found the love of his life, and that she takes such good care of him and their beautiful chilren. Her baby, who she watched struggle, who she has come to admire for his strength and persistence...she watches him as he and his little family spread their wings, and prays daily that their dreams come true.

I can see in her eyes the way I feel about my own. I never would have understood the sorrow, the pain, the worry, the constant love that abides in my mother had I not had my own children. I understand now, the conflicting instincts to let go, and watch them fly; and to grasp and hold on with all your might at the same time.

We are connected now, in ways we never were before. I love you, my mother. Happy Mother's Day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLLY

I simply cannot believe our baby is two! Holly had a wonderful birthday party with a ladybug theme! I feel a little guilty because these chocolate cupcakes were so easy to make. And Ted made ladybug wrapping paper by buying white paper and ladybug stickers. He's so creative.

Anyway, she got a lot of summer clothes, which she really needed, and a story book from Mom and Dad (Thumper story book, of course!), a bathing suit and accesories from Grandma and Grandpa McPherson, and a baby doll from Grandma and Grandpa Frank.

It is spring time, here, finally, and Holly is enjoying a whole new world of bugs, flowers, and sunshine. She's such a sweet little thing, always cuddly, always ready to show love. She's saying some pretty cute things, too, like "Thank you, much, Mommy" which she says when I change her diaper, or get her lunch. Or, "Aw, dude, get outta da way!!!" when Ben blocks her on the stairs.

Our four kids sure make our lives LOUD, and CRAZY. But I would not change it for anything!

Our Camera Broke

I am sorry to update with no pictures! Our Kodak easy share camera was dropped one too many times, I guess.

But here's the "haps": Jake won his school spelling bee which enters him into the statewide bee to see who gets to go to the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. in May. He is totally jazzed and studies every night. He is determined to win. It is kind of nice to see him excited about something like this!

Angelice is enjoying 3rd grade, getting wonderful grades, making lots of friends. She is such a big help with her baby sister, and around the house. We have implemented chores around the house, because Momma is not a maid, and she is the only one that has not complained. She asks for more to do sometimes.

Ben is 5. Oh my goodness, he is 5! He is so looking forward to going to school like the big kids. And he is one of several boys in the neighborhood, so he also has lots of friends. He enjoys riding power wheels with Dax, Legos with Jett, and make believe play with Drew. And yes, he still has a huge sweet tooth, and doesn't think his day is complete without having a cookie.

Holly, Holly, Holly. She is almost two. And it shows. But we all adore her. She has real live teeth now, and is able to crunch and chew. Since she got her first molars a month or so ago, she's gained about a pound and a half. Which is amazing for Holly. She talks, and runs, and sasses me. It is funny to hear, but honestly, the children can't stop laughing, and that makes her think it is okay to mouth off. Yes, my almost two year old tells me to "go 'way!" And if I won't give her what she wants, she starts counting "One! Two! Free! NOOOOWWWWW!"

*sigh*. What are you gonna do?

Wow. I Am a Dork.

I just realized I already posted pictures of our trip to CA. There's some repeats in here. Oh well, I think my kids are so cute, everyone needs to see em twice.

Sorry bout that.

I am done catching up on summer, next posts are what is happening currently, promise!

More hiking

So pretty. We went from hilly grassland to deep dark Black Forest complete with granite canyon walls, and huge rocks in the middle of the path. I seriously felt like we were going to run into a little rock cottage built against the canyon wall with a witch and cauldron or something. It was a good day.