Calm?

Not really - but... we have a whole lot of togetherness going on. Everyone in the house all at once. Took my cold shower yesterday morning - took the whole brood to D's for lunch where my veggie dog was burned beyond tasty - was late to our original choice of movie, Megamind, because we were carting the teen back and forth from sleepover to lunch to house to shopping and had to see the Jack Black, Gulliver's Travels, which wasn't that good - spilled my chai tea latte in the theater (HUGE sticky puddle) - just one of those days......

Did get to relax and watch a Harry Potter movie with little ones late night - then... engaged in a midnight game of Scrabble with Olivia, Olivia B and hubby (should have photographed game board - we had words that I'm not sure were words.....) - snacked on homemade nutroll, cookies, and other holiday dinner leftovers all day - played with our new air hockey table and Hungry Hungry Hippos - got the boys signed into a ski school for MLK weekend - so..... mostly good. Ebb and flow - yin and yang ;-).

Enjoy time with those close to you this week if you can :-).

A view from the sickbed...

Just had to post an update..... Lil is up and around - acting like a kitty - eating salad and mac n cheese - taking an aromatherapy bath and watching movies. Poor Milo is still down and out ... though I have waited on more Tylenol to get him on a better dose "schedule" in case we need to take him this evening (and he keeps asking if he can go), and.... gladly, the fever has not returned with such force - if it has at all, it is very lowgrade. Poor little boy is lethargic and often moans that his stomach or his head hurts (just like Lil did yesterday) and then.... has moments in which he is chatty and semi-cheerful - sits and sips his drink.

And... I did get ahead in my editing / writing project, I am charging all the camera batteries for tonight, I even have everyone's outfits laid out plus I am doing a big load of laundry. Why do I place such huge importance on these things - these performances - these little snippets of my kids' lives? I mean, so much more on a daily basis is just as important - the little things they say - even our "sick time" with them ;-). I guess it is because these moments are BIG in these little lives - filled with pride - surrounded by family and friends. We DO want to remember them, and we do want them to be perfect. I am beginning to think, however, that perfection is overrated ;-).

Oh - the things we "make it" through (and I have yet to get these sick little ones out in the cold to get my kindergartner - hubby working on some deadline projects and Olivia caroling at Shadyside Hospital for Oakland Catholic today, a noble thing :-), but no one can help me... all good :-)... Managing to get work done, supporting our kids in their endeavors, staying attentive to extended family, and... well.... just making it all work. Pats on the back to all today :-)!

So... stay well, all. SOMETHING is going around AGAIN.

Marveling...

... at my yin and yang again. And, forgive me - I am in writing / editing mode today so am long-winded and insufferable (and omnipresent), I'm sure.

So... Enzo made me a Christmas card at school today. Just me. On his own. It is on notebook paper, and I love it. He also relayed how great his day was because he was one of the first to get to school today, and he got to try on his crown (he is one of the three kings) for the Christmas pageant. A good day. Milo and Lil were fine; even Olivia seemed to have a nice day (but boring - despite the rocky start ;-).

Recently, I responded to an informal thread on Facebook and, somehow, the questions our kids ask came up. So ... I am marveling at what they DO ask... Anything from "Is our Christmas tree still alive?" A good one, to... "What do aliens eat?" A loaded one, and... finally, "Why don't they let me use my jet pack at school?" Of course, the latter warrants the return question, "What jet pack?" I also marvel at the fact that I still find Lilliana dipping her french fries in her drink fascinating (probably because one of my cousins did something similar AND because it is equal parts cute and gross) - so much so that I want to film her - and... Olivia talking to Milo, and... Enzo, with his tongue out in concentration, drawing....

I do not, however, marvel at how I can cook, get one in the shower, help one with his homework, AND NOT freak that Lil has peed on the bathroom floor, the teen is complaining that her food has gone cold or that, while I cook, I also have to stand near the bathroom while Milo.... um.... uses it.... um ... then "requires assistance". That bit stresses me a little.

Anyway, trying to keep it all in perspective.....

Oh ... you know my type, and it is NOT pretty.

I'm stirring a bit pot of spaghetti with sauce - just gave one of the kids Coke because he asked and I can't stop what I'm doing to redirect to something healthy - I have two kids playing the Wii - one in the front yard waving to the neighbors as they pass in their SUVs (she's two and should be IN the house) - one turning her nose up at the water bottle I've provided (too small) and had earlier parked her wet, soggy, bathing suit clad bum on my antique chair - where I sat, and... that's why my baggy sweatpants have a wet mark on them (guess who? NOT the high schooler / middle schooler - gasp) - the milk is lying in a heap of convenience store bags in the front hall where I left it with the white bread hamburger buns for a quick lunch or dinner over the next few days - my cell phone is on the floor - the dish pile in the sink is higher than I've EVER seen it - three laundry baskets sit in the hall, piled high (not to mention the two in each bedroom) - there is popcorn thrown from one end of the tv room to the next - I can write my name in the dust on just about every surface on the first floor (those of you with cleaning people are laughing at me now, aren't you ;-), and YET, I did not sit for a meal today - I am dehydrated - I have had a headache for the last three hours - I forgot to do, not one, but two VERY (and I do mean very) important things today in lieu of chauffeuring, schleping food, breaking up fights and cleaning up the piles of toys in our yard and in our bedrooms.....

So... my neighbor, the champion baker, just sent over a plate of HUGE, gooey, melty chocolate chip lovelies, and... after I have irresponsibly distributed them to the kids before dinner (did the same yesterday with cinnamon rolls - high five), THAT is what I will have for dinner :-).

Hubby working late - so thankful for his diligence :-). Cherishing my wee Lil and how she asks us to "Peez" help her with things all day (so sweet). My Milo is trying to be good - drinking his juice in the kitchen instead of traipsing through the house - Enzo is my handsome tanned boy in his white retro t-shirt, trying to help me clean-up today - and Olivia makes us proud with her commitments to sports and babysitting and friends, etc. Might read to my boys in a bit... play the word game with Lil (after a sudsy bath)... and already bought Olivia some treats she likes (post-workout). Hubby and I may enjoy a stress-free evening yet ;-).

How are all of YOU GUYS doing?

Going to visit Mom this weekend. Trying to get out to a band and a cookout in the next week or so. Going to pick up a cousin from Peru (in DC) next week. So.... be seein' ya in the trenches as usual.