The real victories

I think we talk a lot about academics and sports when it comes to our kids' achievements but isn't it true that it's some of the behind the scenes victories that us mamas breathe the biggest reliefs about....

For example-  it only took 6 therapy sessions at 80 dollars a pop but daphne is now able to sleep without her TV on all night long!  Move over backhand springs and spelling contests-  this took some big guts believe it or not!  And she's doing it and I'm so thankful she is able to feel more peace at bedtime!

Also,  for years maisie and I battled every morning over baths and hair and socks and clothes and real sensory issues that paralyzed her and made mornings and getting ready so stressful!  She now wakes up before me,  showers,  gets dressed and is ready before the rest of us with little tears!  This is new this year and its huge!

I'm so thankful for these little victories and praying for their continued success in these areas!!

Travel journal 6-- on the road again (in oregon)

Daddy and I got our coffees and we are heading your direction super frogs!

We didn't get to our hotel til 11:30 and I didn't sleep til midnight so my eyes are a little tired!  But excited for the next leg of he journey- don't get to see southern oregon very often.

Text me today and let me know how you all are doing-  I heard you all made it into the talent show!!  Yay!  

Love you all-  mom

Travel journal 5???- Driving

We are driving through some really pretty Californian rural landscapes tonight!  The sun is down and we are trying to keep our eyes open because we still have awhile to go to our hotel!

We had a nice dinner in a tiny farm town called Williams!  I won't lie-  daddy and I had a hard time deciding on where to stop and there may have been some grouchy parents for awhile.

But mostly we were hungry and tired and we have since made up!  I think I'll take over for daddy soon!  

Get some good rest and so your best in your game tomorrow maisie and your beam try outs doodle bug!

Mom

Travel journal 4- it's ours guys!

We finally finally finally made it to the dealership and took our new suburban for a spin!!!  

It's awesome! You will love it!  We are both sooooo sleepy but ready to head outta on the next leg of our journey!

Here's some pics-  start thinking of a good name!  

Travel journal 4- it's ours guys!

We finally finally finally made it to the dealership and took our new suburban for a spin!!!  

It's awesome! You will love it!  We are both sooooo sleepy but ready to head outta on the next leg of our journey!

Here's some pics-  start thinking of a good name!  

Travel journal 3: DMV wait

We landed beautifully and got our really cute rental jeep easily and headed out on the California freeways to Pittsburg, California.

We were starving so we found a subway and enjoyed a good lunch!  

Our momentum and sails were deflated a bit when we got to the dmv however..... There is a 2 1/2 hour wait here and all we need is a little thing called a trip permit.

I brought my book and daddy is making some work calls.  I think I'll stroll next door and buy us some healthy snacks for the rest of our trip soon.  

Other than that we got up at 345 am so I am very sleep!  Missing you all!

Mom

Travel journal entry 2: the airport

It's 5am little people!

We are at Capers Cafe at the airport.  For my adult readers I have just ordered the house red - a first for me this early in the morning haha!

Whenever daddy grabs rubys suitcase I laugh cuz it's so girly!  He doesn't seem to care -  don't think anyone looking at him would think him girly so it doesn't bother him:)

We are excited to get to sunny California and eventually to see the new (to us) vehicle-  a 2003 suburban!

Have fun at school and Henry mind your manners for grandma!

Love mom

Travel journal: entry 1

Hey guys,

Tonight we had a wonderful dinner w grandpa at pf changs at the Bridgeport mall.  It was good to sit and catch up!

Then grandpa dropped us off at our hotel near the airport-  it's nothing special-  but there's this cool picture above my bed.  And yep-  I get a queen bed and dad gets his own too.  

Our wake up call is at 345am!!  I'm glad it's early because if I'm sleepy on the plane then I may be able to sleep the trip away!

I'll write more when we get to the airport in the morning!

Love you oodles -  especially worried about you sweet ruby!

Take care of grandma -  she's not used to 4 kids and a Tate!  

Mom

Good memories of our snoopy snow cone machine...

Tonight ruby and I went on a date.  First we dined at her favorite place -  Ruby Tuesday's,  then we went shopping to spend some of her hard earned money!

She chose a snoopy snow cone machine just like the one I had when I was a kid.  It was only 14.99 and I thought it better than some of the other choices.  

Well-  now I know why my folks didn't get it out much.  It's hard work!  And now we have machines like magic bullets that do this job faster.  

I guess we could still take it back-- Walmart is good about that.  But maybe old school methods are good too!  I just am worried that it'll sit in the cupboards.

Help-  what to do?

Mixed emotions

Idid post a picture on Facebook today but I didn't want to scroll up and down and see everyone's this and that.  That desire wasn't there anymore.  But I definitely had moments over lent that I felt like maybe I had missed something that I cook have been in prayer for or just in the loop over.  And mostly I want to keep my extended family aware of the big things - especially my sweet grandma barb!  

Hoping to keep it to one day a week at first and then we shall see.  I just don't want wake up and get right on it again.

And I had no motivation to put this on Facebook cuz I don't feel completely great in my own skin right now.  So -  no I don't want everyone to see it but I definitely want it for my own memories-  it's us this year and I love it!  Love this little family of mine.

Blog means my inner circle -  Facebook means outer circle!

The night befores........

The night before holidays is always such a big process for us moms.  Yes,  my husband had to make his own dinner tonight because I was at the store buying all the food I am contributing tomorrow.

Earlier I bought shoes for all 4 kids... And one of them was very picky (again).  It was spendy and exhausting.

Way earlier today I was at Walmart buying their Easter bunny presents-  small as they are-  they are important!

There are new tights and new earrings and we painted toe nails tonight.

And there is laundry swirling even as I type and wet dresses hang drying.

The van will need to be given a once over in the am cuz I don't want anyone stepping in gum or bumping an old banana-  it could happen!  

A bigger breakfast is anticipated on these mornings and a whole lot longer is needed for getting ready-  we now have 4 girls wanting hair straightened in the am....

Yes-  these EVES are later than usual and  tiring and I.will.miss.this.someday.....

Counting my blessings - especially in little groups of fours....(tonight they are all sleeping in the same room too- be still my heart)

Black Friday

In anticipation for Easter the kids and I did a special craft today!  They are called resurrection pots.  Fun too that we had our friends the Shavers here for the afternoon and night.  

This is what they will look like in 10 days....

Ruby's trip to Disneyland

When I took daphne to Disneyland I wrote about it...same with maisies trip!  I facebooked plenty of rubys trip but I figure I ought to write a little bit about it here too!   Those one on one trips are so special and I know Pam loves reliving them here too!  

Here's rubys brand new suitcase and some of her new treasures for the trip!  I adore this picture for some reason-  maybe because the anticipation/shopping for a special trip can be some of best parts!

When we said goodbye to the family daphne handed me this card to be read on the way!  I mean how in tune is my first born to her mama?!  I about balled!

Ruby was pumped for her first plane ride-  but her ears hurt really badly...remember that Pam?!

Pretty sure ruby was meant for the palm tree life-- at least she exudes sunshine like warm California!

I think we swam that first day because it was really hot and we were tired from our early flight!  I went across the street and got her this scuba kit.  She literally flipped her way thru the hotel on the way to the pool with goggles and snorkel ready to go! Such a hoot!

Our Cali friends and former neighbors braved the traffic and met us at our hotel that night for a fun dinner and night swim!  Love me some Becky time!  Miss you friend!!!

I don't know what could be more special than some alone time with this girlie-  Pam on my deathbed this gift will be right up there on the most wonderful thing anyone gave me in motherhood!

Here we are about ready to go on our very first ride and my personal favorite-  Peter Pan!   Look at rubys sweet excited face here!  These are one of those moments in time I wish I could travel back to and cherish again!

We bought her belle dress at the Disney store before our trip and she was so thrilled to meet her look alike princess!  

Of course this was the year that the megahit Frozen came out and stole all the little girls' hearts!  You wouldn't have believed the line to meet Elsa and Anna - but luckily we met another family that stood in line for us!  We only got to meet Anna but it was pretty special!!!

Rubes was very brave and did all the roller coasters in Disneyland!  I love her face here!!

Waiting for our shuttle one morning!

Ruby was a whole year older by the time we took her and I know it helped a lot!  She walked like a trooper and I don't remember any tears or huge exhaustion -  us 3 gals stormed Disney taking in all it's magic!  Some new things were the car ride and the world of color show--the only bummer was that pirates and small world were closed.  Other than that though we saw and ate and road our hearts out!

And then we came home to this--ready to give the other kids their gifts and face the world again!

Boys!

Im still getting used to this.....