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.