Time Honored Traditions

Or, "How to entertain small children on a Sunday." I don't know about other parts of the world, but around here, we are big into feeding the ducks. Any ducks, with stale bread. We think it's great fun and the kids think it is hilarious. I don't know why. Nonetheless, we all do it and enjoy it.

These pictures are a few weeks old, but Daddy and Jack feed ducks, a rare sighting of Mommy and Jack feeding the ducks, Brooke with Daddy in the morning, Caroline during the 'witching' hour (Miss C cries from 5-6 p.m. every night. Yes, EVERY NIGHT. It could be a little colic. We don't know. The only thing that stops her is if I walk her around the kitchen. You understand that this is difficult as I fix dinner and tend to two other children. Sigh.) and Brooke with her favorite teether, Daddy's finger.

This is my second attempt at a posting, I was writing on how we are all fine and healthy, calmly enjoying the night. Then Jack turned off my computer by flipping the power switch. And we start all over again. Patience, grasshopper, patience. The business of gathering lobbying clients continues, today was a Springfield trip. It's right there, I can virtually see the potential.....just need one of these guys to send a contract! Do not despair, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Illinois. Maybe not for long, but for today at least. Happy Wednesday. Our friend and Brooke's godmother Harriet visits tomorrow. We are overcome with joy!

Blooming Where We're Planted

As Jack is currently screaming over the monitor about the injustice of having to take a nap on a Saturday, it is hard to believe that just yesterday we were calmly and peacefully observers in one of the great public parks of the country, Forest Park. As a reluctant midwesterner, (I swear, I tried to branch out to the coasts, no one has ever hired me) I sometimes forget about what a wonderful place we call home. Yes, it has some setbacks and is miles, miles, miles away from the ocean, but it does have great friends, great families, common sense, lack of pretention and gorgeous park settings going for it. After a very long visit by Grandma, Jack and I drove her to the airport and stopped off for lunch in the park. A lovely time was had by all.

FIVE MONTHS OLD

This week we mark the twins' 5 month birthday. They are rolling over, smiling and....gasp...yes, readers, I do believe we are teething. Our friend Kyle told us about these herbal drops he gave his daughters when Jack was little, I'll have to go out and find the voodoo drops later!

I am happy to report a healthy week, but sad to report that our toliet learning is going slowly. The good news is that it appears to be progressing, just not in the clean, sanitary ways I had hoped. Motherhood is nothing if not messy.

Our business opportunities do not seem to be panning out this week, a mixture of lack of time for research and client contact. A big excise tax fight is brewing in Illinois, I have made my presence known, here's hoping that I get a call back. Fighting back fears that leaving corporate America was a terrible, terrible idea. Oh, why, oh why, can't we have it all, all at once? And the work-life balance teeter-totter topples again.

In pictures, the entire family + Nana visit the Zoo, no, I didn't take pictures of any of the animals, I don't know why. Jack holds Brooke's hand in the car (seriously cute), the twins in their double snap n' go, Jack makes 'pancakes' in the sandbox, and Jack has the best seat in the house to see the elephants. Happy, happy Friday.

Mother's Day 2009

It is naptime for the children this Mother's Day, after a fight to get Jack down, Brooke is sleeping in her swing and Princess Caroline is practically holding open her eyelids with her fingers on my lap. And crying from time to time. Such is the life of a 4-month-old.

After a terrible month of colds and flus, I am happy to report that we are all in good health. Jack is taking the month of May off from his class, but we have decided to send him back in June and hope for the best. In a recent visit to the pediatrician, she suggested that we should assist Jack in claiming a new identity besides being my "baby," and that will help him get a bit more used to being a big brother. And so, we are lauding the benefits of being a big boy, getting to go to school, having your own bed, getting to wear a watch, sitting on the potty. We have also promised Jack a goldfish when he decides to give up his diapers. At least we are moving in that direction.

Having been mothered myself by an unconventional mother, I sometimes struggle in my new mommy role. Despite the difficulty that some days present, I truly have joy each and every day, something that I did not have before having a family. And so, we reach this day with great gratitude and renewed belief that dreams can come true.

Our Nana is featured in two pictures with Jack, reading Peter Rabbit before bed and then just today at brunch, smiling at Jack trying on her new summer hat. The mother-in-law relationship is touchy sometimes, but I think that the universe decided that I had enough managing with mother figures already and gave me a great one. She helps me more than anyone else with the kids and I am very thankful that she lives so close. Brooke (green) and Caroline (pink) model their dresses (they got dressed up for dinner with Grandpa Clyde). Dreaded tummy time is also featured. We are headed to the zoo post-nap, so will have more photos to share later.

Here's the bill for my services.......

Jack pulled out a subscription renewal card from a magazine this morning, handed it to me and said, "Here's a bill for my services." No, I don't know where he heard it. We laughed.

Since the last post, I lost my voice entirely and had a 102 temperature, etc. I was, of course, convinced I had the swine flu. (Didn't). I am still getting my voice back. The girls both caught what Jack had and went back to the doctor on Thursday. They have a cold. Brooke finally caught the brunt of it today, so we are working through that. I am trying to get used to childhood illnesses.

J returned from his golf trip and Nana saved the day, once again, while he was gone. She stayed up with the twins for an entire night and that did the most to get me on the path to healing. I hate being sick, as it makes my normally dark thoughts turn desperate, not a good look for anyone. Here's hoping that next week goes better. In the picture, Caroline shows us her sad eyes, which have a cold. Probably best that I was unable to catch Jack's blood-filled burst blood vessel eye.