I am here. Yes, we have moved. It was stressful. Well, it began with our first set of movers showing up and letting me know they underestimated the job and could.not.move.us. Panic. Then call new movers in yellow pages and ask if they REALLY mean same day moving. Solve mover problem only to find out that our mortgage broker missed a deadline for document release! This equals spending two days bunked up with my husband's family and settling a day later.

Alas, we had a tremendous Christmas and we are very blessed. Everyone is settling nicely into our new home and adjusting to a new routine. Today, I finished painting the babies' "mermaid" room blue. Tomorrow I will get their room back together and hope to take my oldest daughter to pick out her paint color for her new room. I haven't located my USB cable to down load our holiday pics but promise to do so soon. I was able to decorate some for the holidays as well as try out a new garland idea from the Nesting Place. I will never look at my holiday garland the same way.

Anyhoo, time to go soak in the tub.... I hope you all had and continue to have a great holiday!

New House, Broken Nose, Attempted Auto Theft all within 36 hours

We found a house...yippee...my youngest baby broke her nose..boooo...and someone tried to steal our car..... What!

First, we finally found a house, got a great deal and our new settlement date is December 18th.

Yes, that would be seven days before Christmas.

It could have been worse, the other side wanted December 26.

Obviously, that was way out. So we decided to move the date up and we now have 29 days to move our household of seven, hold Thanksgiving for both sides of the family and get ready for Christmas.

Thankfully, I have been shopping for a while and I am 75% done for Christmas.

Sad to say, however, one of our favorite traditions has been to get our tree the day after Thanksgiving, We take the kids to a Christmas tree farm, spend the morning hunting, bring home the tree, have a big lunch in front of the fire and start decorating. We have been doing this for about a decade and we all look forward to it. I do believe it is one of my favorite days all year.

But chin up, we will have to wait until Dec. 18 to perform our altered version of bringing home the tree amidst movers, et al.

We found out yesterday about the house deal going through. So I decided to take the kids after school to show them our new house.

After we got back,I started to make dinner. Everyone was in the livingroom playing except the baby, who was in the kitchen with me. She is just learning how to walk and needless to say took a spill.

It was about 5:30pm. I did not see the fall, only was there for the aftermath. Which was minimal, some crying, some whining but then she wanted to walk around.

Done.

She ate dinner and went to bed with no change. There was no mark or swelling from her accident.

Fast forward to 9:30pm.

Babygirl wakes up fussy.

After several attempts to put her back to sleep, we finally bring her downstairs to tire her out.

When in the light of the livingroom, I notice that her face looks like she was in a street fight.

Both eyes swollen, the bridge of her nose is nonexistent and a bruise is forming over the whole mess.

I look at my husband and say.."OMG..I have to go to the ER"...husband says..."It doesn't look that bad"...but of course never tell a mother that and now panic has set in... I am worried about her eyes, vision, breathing, etc. all the while wondering is this from the fall she took earlier? Why didn't the swelling happen immediately?

So at 10:30 we are in the ER(with my Mom) and she gets x-rayed only to reveal that at one years of age with mostly cartilage making up her nose, she has broken the only bone at the bridge of her nose.

There is nothing we can do, we are told. Because she has so much growing to do, they won't know if her nose will grow in crooked until she gets older! WHAT!

Then, we are told they won't fix it until she is older. AGHHH!

Oh please send wishes that my babygirl heals and does not grow up with a SHREK nose!!

Arriving home from the ER at 1am, I put babygirl to bed and crawl in myself, mind racing from the events of the day and the monsterous to-do-list.

I finally settle in to a deep sleep only to be awoken to our car alarm going off in our driveway at 1:30am. We both jump out of bed and race to the window. We see nothing. We go downstairs and check the car.

The hood has been pryed ajar (setting off the alarm) and the interior alert system reads Attempted Theft. All of our house's exterior lights are on and I literally pulled in the driveway 30 minutes before! My heart was racing. I just could not believe it.

There is never a dull moment here. Which is usually good.

We have sold our house! We are currently looking for a new home! Oh the stress! We are scheduled to close on January 5! It appears we will be moving over the holidays, but I promise the last things that will be packed are our holiday decorations! So I apologize for not being around lately and potentially until we find a new home. But I am reading, if not posting and I do think about all of you bloggers out there! Have a great weekend. I, again, will be house hunting. Sigh. Wish us luck!

A New Love

Beautiful Fall Day + Starbucks New Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate = New love.

How did they come up with this? Who cares. Go and try it.
I tried it with a shot of espresso.
Yummy!

Take the Quiz here!

Your Preppy Name Is...

Judge Heisley Mead the Sixth But most people know you as Missy

What's Your Preppy Name?

Ah.. my two older kids are back in school. The house is much quieter (as quieter as it can get with a three year old, two year old and 11 month old at home!) But just these past few days have been different. I think the babies are much more relaxed. I can't put my finger on it.

Anyhoo, I am digging out my Fall decorations. However, I have two house showings tomorrow so I will have to wait to bring everything out. I love the Fall. I must have at least eight large rubbermaid containers to hold my decorations. I can't wait to see what the stores have this year.

We wanted to go to Keene, New Hampshire for the Pumpkin festival. Visit their site here: http://www.pumpkinfestival.com/ . The photo above is from their site. It seems like a great time. I think I read about it in Martha last Halloween. Alas, so did everyone else because all the hotels in a very large radius is completely booked for the weekend. So we are going to focus on next year!

I am also excited to have entered The Pink Clutch's Wicked Halloween Swap. I have a great partner and I can't wait to shop for goodies to send her!

Well, I am off to clean the house and get ready for tomorrow. Please send some "Sell Your House Wishes" my way!!!

Wordless Wednesday

A Small Ode to Summer

Ah.. summer is almost over. Labor day looms... and school starts next week. As I am anxiously waiting for the Fall, I am trying to live in the moment and relish these last few carefree days.

Here are few pictures from some of our adventures.

~family~

~canal musuem~

~crayola factory~

~birthday girl~

~swimming~

~parades~

~crawling~

~fair days~

~nesting~

~being silly~

~strawberry picking~

and

~moving~

Thanks for coming to visit me. Let's see what the Fall has in store for us.

A Little Love

I have been very busy. We are not yet in school so I have been cramming in the day trips for the kids before school starts. So far we have been to the zoo 3X(this place is awesome..fodder for another post), the Crayola factory 1X, the county Grange Fair 1X, Giggleberry Fair 1X (another great place), numerous playgrounds, one trip to Ikea(with their Smaland(sp?) my kids think we actually went for them!. And this week we have the Franklin Institute, the zoo(again!) and Sesame Place. This weekend I have to locate and access our soccer equipment. We will have three players this fall and guess what? I have a feeling that everyone will need new stuff.

Mix in all the BTS shopping and the house showings..oh.. I suddenly feel tired.

Anyhoo.. this is a picture of my two year old loving on my soon-to-be one year old. Sweet-yes? Ahh- pictures can be deceiving. Actually the scenerio plays out like this:

2yo: Mom, I ug (hug) her.

Me: well, alright. (more than alittle worried)

2yo:(laying on top off almost 1yo)

1yo: AHHHHHHH (screaming and looking at me as if to say How could you?)

But it really is all love. Crazy kids!

A Chair for Everyone

I went to Joann's fabric today and all of the cedar adirondack chairs were $29.99!

I love these chairs.

I wanted to create a similiar effect for my own backyard as in the image above. I ended leaving with seven chairs (enough for everyone), three ottomans, and two end tables.

So besides putting everything together (not looking forward to that) I have to decide on a color.

I do love the white yet I am afraid of upkeep. I do like the dark stain as in Potterybarn's Chesapeake Collection yet I don't know if the dark stain is crisp enough for me.

So if anyone checks in let me know what your thoughts are on color choices for these great chairs! Thanks!

These are plums from our tree. They are almost ready.

Okay, in an attempt to post more about myself and my life I stole this from Cancer Sucks Even With Lilly Pulitzer On Your Side. So here goes:

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? Four car seats and one booster. A portable potty...yes we are in training! Two strollers. Two beach umbrellas..some toys...and I'm sure a sippy cup or two.

2. When was the last time you threw up? Several weeks ago. Stomach flu.....awful.

3. What's your favorite curse word?

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today? My brother, my cousin Gabrielle and my cousin Jennifer. (We were at a family picnic)

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Sleeping if you can believe it. Actually everyone was asleep which is extremely rare. We have been very busy.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Putting everyone to bed.

7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? Sleeping.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club? No.

9. What is the last thing you said aloud? Here is your cookie (to husband) ..no not the toffee ones they are mine.

10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Coffee.

11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Coke

13. What was the last thing you ate? Pizza.

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Yes. I bought some t-shirts, capris, and a skirt.

15. When was the last time you ran? A few years ago.

16. What's the last sporting event you watched? My son's baseball game.

18. Who is the last person you emailed? Second Stride. An equine rescue in Kentucky who are taking our thoroughbreds.

19. Ever go camping? Yes.

20. Do you have a tan? No..I'm a burn and peel kind of girl besides the skin cancer thing.

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw? Only if it's a fountain drink.

25. What did your last IM say? You looked beautiful (to niece about graduation).

26. Are you someone's best friend? Yes.

27. What are you doing tomorrow? Potentially church and out to breakfast. We shall see how it goes.

28. Where is your mom right now? Probably still at our family picnic.

29. Look to your left, what do you see? Living room.

30. What color is your watch? I don't own a watch.

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ? Nicole Kidman

32. Would you consider plastic surgery? Everyday.

33. What is your birthstone? Pearl.

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Drive thru.

35.How many kids do you want? If we knew for 100% sure we would have a boy.. we'd do it. But our record hasn't been great for a boy. My mom is actually one of nine with a boy first and 8 girls. I'm afraid it's genetic so at five... we are done.

36. Do you have a dog? Yes, a little black cockapoo named Violet.

37. Last person you talked to on the phone? My mom.

38. Have you met anyone famous? Yes.

39. Any plans today? Family picnic.

40. How many states have you lived in? Just one, PA.

41. Ever go to college? All the way thru. Officially..M.Ed.

42. Where are you right now? Office.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? House on the market so getting it "show" ready when the realtors call.

44. Last song listened to? Somwthing from Dora the Explorer.

46. Are you allergic to anything?No.

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Dansko Professionals.

48. Are you jealous of anyone? No.

50. Is anyone jealous of you? No..

51. What time is it? 10:07pm

52. Do any of your friends have children? Most of them, yes.

53. Do you eat healthy? I try to eat all organic with a few "treats" here and there.

54. What do you usually do during the day? Take care of the brood.

55. Do you hate anyone right now? No.

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Yes.

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 38.

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags? Yes, as a teenager.

60. How did you get one of your scars? chicken pox as a kid.

There you have it. I hope to post more often...its so hard to pull myself away from reading everyone else's blogs! Have a great night.

So now that you have had an intro to the players in my life, I think I shall tell about my stumbling into the blogging world. A good friend of mine has a blog as well as a girlfriend of hers. After hearing how I should read their blogs...what can i say.. I found myself in alot of the women who are staying home to take care of their children, home and husbands! With five small children it has been difficult to navigate the playgroup circuit. Since I have had a small baby home for the past three years and throw in a nursing schedule...I have been somewhat shy on the social side. I relish in the daily blogs that I have found and continue to find each day. Since I have given up Starbucks (more on that later) for the time being , this has become the daily fix. I have for so long given up myself that I was becoming miserable and then when I would seek an indulgence just for me I would feel somewhat quilty. It is great to read how others are balancing motherhood. I love my children, now I have to learn to balance some me time too!

New to Blog World

That's right. I am a blogging virgin ready to take the plunge. Here goes....

I am a stay at home mom to five fantastic little ones. Here they are:

This is my big boy. He just finished first grade. He loves all things Star Wars, Spiderman and Ben-10. He desperately wants a brother but after four tries...I think I am done. Sorry SweetBoy!

This is my oldest daughter. She has just finished Kindergarten but hopes to move onto high school very soon. She is a spitfire and has lived up to the stereotype about redheads!

This is my middle child. She is not yet in preschool. She is in a difficult spot.. not yet a "big"kid and not one of the "babies". She is the epitome of sweetness.

This is my fourth daughter. Not yet two and quite a handful, we are very busy with her. She is incredibly funny and always makes us laugh as she learns about the world. She is quite the daredevil and holds her own as the fourth.

And my eight month old babe, who is also sweet and funny. Currently learning to crawl...it won't be long until she is running with others.

And...

My Mr. Fantastic! I am truly thankful for this man and everything he does for our family. I love him to pieces.

Well...now posting was not so bad. I hope you don't mind my setting the stage so to speak. I hope to write more about my recovery from motherhood as I reclaim, rediscover and remake myself.

More to come.