New Hair Due

I'm sitting here, eating Matt's homemade cookies like there's no tomorrow.  Oh my, so yum!  I think that's a new tradition which is starting: Matt comes home on the weekend, makes chocolate chip cookies, and then when he leave I plow them down!

Not the best way to deal with him leaving, but it does seem to calm me down--which is always great.  I'll try to run it all off anyway.  I figured out a way to get in some mileage with all the boys!  Stuff 'em all in the toddler trailer (which is also a running stroller).  Add an iPad full of Tom&Jerry, we we're set!  Got in 12 miles this last week, hope to get closer to 20 this week... Just trying to work it in.  See, I can jog Isaac to school, which round trip is 3.5 miles.  Do that at least once everyday, plus some extra run time with just Eli and Titus and BOOM-BABY!  







Okay, about the new due.  Yup, I got one.  And I love it!
My head of hair was driving me up the wall.  Seriously.  It's hot here, but it is really humidity which is so oppressive.
I kept looking at Anne Hathaway, with her shorn head, so envious of the brunette beauty.  I told Matt what I was thinking about doing, and he said, "Yeah!  Do it!"

So here I am, all done.  It's pretty great.
(Though on Wednesday I'm having someone come over to my home to help me figure out my hair.  I think I want to go shorter in areas, it's a little too poofy in a couple spots --and I need to know if my cowlicks will let me do that.)

I keep thinking about who I can be for Halloween.  The possibilities are endless!  Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang, Charlie Chaplin, etc.

I Could Hit a Stranger

This maybe deserves just a little slap... on the hand.

I'm in the Ace Hardware store, the boys are getting into the sunglasses display.  But really they're not acting as curious as they are capable.

Retiree couple behind looks at my boys, looks at me, and the man says, "My, you got your hands full."

Me, "Yes sir," and I rush out the door with the boys. 

I want to hunt this guy down and punch him in the face.  Right. Now.

I'm loading the boys into the 4runner from our very unsuccessful Home Depot trip.  A 50 year old (okay I'll say it) "redneck" comes up to me, like really close, and asks, "Can I ask you something?"  

I hesitantly say, "Okay..."

He continues, "How'd you think you got so many kids?"

Shocked and not knowing how to respond, I think I let out an "Uh?" 

He pats me on the shoulder, smiles, and yells, "Look in the mirror, sweetheart!"

I shrug him off and finish buckling my boys in: totally embarrassed and horrified. 

What I learned from today.

- Apparently I have a lot of kids. How'd I miss the memo?

- I'm pretty sensitive when I'm tired, hungry, and shopping in home improvement stores. 

- I could hit a stranger. 

Isaac's 6th:

Isaac is 6, and he had a wonderful birthday celebration.

My parents and Matt were both able to come for the weekend, and the boys played hard!  Practiced soccer (Eli and Isaac are both signed up, each their first time) in our yard, ate yummy food and yummy cake, opened presents, built LEGOs with Matt, and then Grammie and Gramps took the boys to the beach.  

Isaac's actual birthday was during the week, and the school treated him right!  He got to wear a birthday hat all day, he took yummy brownies for all of his class, and everyone sang him happy birthday. (Not to mention Grammie and Gramps went and had lunch with him.)

However, after school when watching a bit of Star Wars, Isaac completely crashed.  At first I thought it was exhaustion, but with a fever and cough I realized it was something a bit more.  So Isaac stayed home the day after his birthday, and the one after that.  Kept on Tylenol he was just fine... perk to being sick, Isaac slept in my bed for two night.  I slept on the couch.


So Isaac is six.  He's like a real boy now.
He was telling me that he's going to be seven next, and I think I about fell over.  Seriously child, why do you have to keep growing at such a fast pace?  Couldn't you age, like say, every 2 years instead?

"He missed the ball, but look at his flexibility!"  says Matt.

Titus and Isaac rocking and playing to one of Matt's prerecorded songs. 

Eli and Titus helping Grammie clean up the kitchen. 

Yup, this cake was a train wreck.  Was very yummy, and the large cupcake mold turned out well, however the frosting was WAY too soft, and it all fell apart.  Star Wars themed cake barley survived. 

Titus kept blowing out the candles, which made Isaac upset.  He thinks he's pretty cool.

Relighting the candles. 

Look at that cake.  Hilarious! 

Yup, Matt and I put our presents in a Lowes yard bag.  

Showing off toys to Nana and Mume via Skype.

Hour spent with Daddy building LEGOs: priceless. 

Isaac on his bday.  Really feeling awful, and trying to put on a brave face.
His security blanket, thankfully, is always around to offer comfort and support. 

Eli Weeps

Titus is asleep, and Eli wants to watch a show.  But I feel like we are all "showed out" today, so I offer a compromise: why don't we watch some family videos instead? "Sure!" says Eli, "a Eli baby one." I think that's just fine.

The home dvd starts and it's an up close of Eli, 1 day old, laying in his hospital bed.  At first 3 yr old Eli is really excited to himself, but as the video continues with baby Eli being help ever so gently with wires all over and hospital beeps going on, 3 yr old Eli starts to get concerned: "Why Eli not home?"

Then the video goes to a post surgery clip, which really gets Eli worried--I quickly skip over it and go to a home recovery video.  But Eli doesn't like that one either: he sees himself on the couch with oxygen on, he sees himself cry in pain, he sees himself with a large cut down his chest.

Present day Eli starts to cry, and I skip over the rest to one where Isaac is playing around.  Now big alligator tears are pouring out of Eli's face, and he wails, "Baby Eli has owie... Oh no... Eli! Hurt!"

I hold him, tell him he's okay, that baby Eli is okay, and we don't have to watch those again.  All the while my heart is breaking, and tears are about to pour from mine own eyes.



Poor child.
His last surgery was barely over a year ago, and though he probably doesn't recall the events, I think the emotional memory is still very present.

Isaac Knows

1) How to take care of us own:

- Brothers are hungry, so why not bring down the chocolate Cheerios and feed them and yourself in the wee morning hours before school starts?

- And why not do this again on Sunday, taking the left over homemade croissants, passing them out to your brothers and self while waiting for Mom and Dad to get up?

2) Birds:

On our way home from school, a large flock of birds were on the side of the highway.  I pulled over: these things looked amazing and sinister!  

"Isaac, what do you think those are?" I ask.

"Vultures, cause they have a curved beak," he confidently replies.  

We watch the birds for a good 5 minutes.  And they watched us and picked at something white on the ground.  Creepy.

3) How for he's willing to participate:

Isaac's K class performed a short song during a PTSO meeting.  

Isaac did not want to go. 

After talking to his Grammie (via phone) about it, he was persuaded to go--but he only wanted to do the "turn around part." Okay, that was fine.  He didn't need to sing, but it was important to go and participate because we told his teacher that that was what we were going to do.  

Before the song started all the kids turned their backs to the audience.   The song began, the kids turned around and sang their "hip-hop Humpty Dumpty" song.  Isaac stood there, smiled at us, and looked at the other kids (who were singing and dancing) like they were all weirdos.  He did not appreciate the girl next to him trying to get him to dance.  

He knew what he wanted to do, and that's what he did.  

Finally Arrived at "Normal" Saturday?

Matt came in Friday afternoon.  Which was a most welcome relief to us all.

.........

We woke up Saturday morning bright and early.

And the lawn mower was calling my name:
"Shannon, I'm hungry.  Please let me chew up all the crazy tall grass that is abounding in the yard.  Shannon, please!  You haven't used me in 11 days, and I'm going through withdrawals!"
8:15am I put on the least flattering clothes imaginable and head out to answer the cry.

Matt stays in and plays puzzles and LEGOs with the boys.

The first bit of mowing goes... well.. clumpy.  Apparently mowing on a lower setting, with tall grass, which is all morning dued up, is the perfect recipe for a mess.  
   Neighbor Mr. James, a man who is a retiree and always willing to give us a hand--or tool--, comes over and inspects my handy work.  He's looking at the lawn with a critical eye.
   "Mr. James," I say, "Don't look at the lawn just yet!  I'm still working on it, and I'll get it all fixed up!"  He laughs and hands me directions to his grandson's birthday party.
   After explaining the directions and turing to leave, he says, "You know you can borrow my blower, and just spread all this" *gesturing to the clumps of mowed grass* "around."
   "Thanks, Mr. James, we'll figure it out," I say while waving and laughing.  

I continue with the mowing, and figure out how to mow with the least clump-age.  (Mow in a square, with the clipping going to the outside.)  I take a break to ask Matt and the boys to help pick up sticks in the back.

They come out at the same time when a professional lawn man comes and asks if he can give us assistance, "I just hate to see people up to their knees.  Just looks awful."  After reassuring him that we're okay and we'll be fine, he turns and leaves.  But gives one word of advice, "Mow once a week through the end of September, then in October start to mow every 2 weeks.  In November, December, January, and February mow once a month.  Start back again with every 2 weeks in March and April, but from May on go every week."

The man and boys of the house start to pick up sticks, sprinkle fire ant killer on mounds, and start to whine.  The boys go in after some good stick picking-up work, and watch a movie.
I finish the lawn.
Matt blows the drive way, lawn, side walk, and patio using the blower Mr. James came by with.

Matt and I came in from our labors and pretty much pass out on the floor.
We have 3 hours till we need to be at Mr. James' grandson's birthday party.  Once we're able to get ourselves up we shower, feed the boys, bounce the boys in a blanket, get dressed, clean up a mess of washable paint that Titus made, and talk to a neighbor about a play-date.

During all of this Isaac had a "mad moment," you know, where he just couldn't get happy.  He ends up running to his room and slamming the door.
Matt says, "I'll go talk to him."
"No," I say, "I got it."
I go into the room, hand Isaac some chocolate chips, and start to read a book on his bed.  He comes over, snuggles with me, and we begin to talk about the book.  I smell his hair, hold his hand, and remind him that "we all love him."
"I'm ready to go play now," he says and heads out the door.  "Hey Dad, I'm happy now."


At the birthday party we have a good time, though we quickly realize that this is more of family affair than anything.  Mr. James and Mrs. Gloria have been worried about us, you see.  They want to make sure we have friends in the area;  it was very kind of them to invite us.
The boys play with the grandson and his cousin.
The boys love all the new toys, the backyard with egg laying chickens, and Isaac really enjoys playing in the sprinkler hose!

Matt and I learn much about the family: where they vacation, how much babies weighed at birth, how many siblings everyone has, and (more importantly) what college football teams everyone cheers for.
And we eat!  Or I at least me and the boys eat.  We can put it away at parties.  Matt, however, eats like a bird.

At cake time Mr. James' grandson, who turned four, asks Isaac to stand by him because "Isaac is his best-friend."
It's time to go and we leave with many pleasantries, pirate goodie bags, and a dozen fresh eggs.


On our way home the heavens open and a monsoon pours.  We decide to detour to Wal-mart--diapers and milk are much in need!  Oh, and ice cream.  And bananas.  Erm... and yogurt, spinach, strawberries... and oreos.

Once home we enjoy ice cream, then pick up the house.
Puzzles are once again discovered, and we put them all together.  Then Matt and I wrestle with the boys, playe airplane and superman on our legs, and really have a pleasant time.
(These boys are pretty wonderful, you know.)

Bedtime is super exciting because everyone gets to wear Batman and Robin LEGO pjs, and Daddy reads Brown Bear What Do You See?, which is a huge hit in the house right now.
Tuck-in time and prayers are said, and the boys go down without a fuss.

Matt and I are able to have a quiet evening together.  One filled with cleaning the kitchen, comparing out ESPN College Pick'em picks, and a few episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

I check on the boys later that night--I drag Titus out from underneath the bunk-bed and then realize that Eli pooped in the toilet.  He didn't wipe his bottom well I so clean him up and laugh at his reaction to a cold wipe on his bum during the dead of sleep: scrunched nose, and saying mumbling "Oh... no..."

.............

It was a good Saturday.
One filled with each other, and good fun and good work.  There was no "I have to go study for 3 hours," or "I'm off to the National Guard."  It was just us.  It seemed like such a normal Saturday, I almost didn't know how to process it.
But this Saturday was good, and awesome.  I could get used to this.

Vintage Gold Couch!

I must introduce our "new" couch, since you'll probably see it in a lot of pictures.

A week, or less, before I left Boise I found this thing at a thrift store.
Matt, "How was your night with Helen?"
Me, "Oh good!  It was really fun.  I'm going to miss Helen a ton... um, also, I bought a couch."
Matt, "You what?!"
Me, "Yup, it's everything I ever wanted.  Since I hate our current couch, this one will replace it nicely.  And that means we won't have to shop for one when we get to Savannah."

And so Matt and I picked it up a few days later and placed it in our garage.  Matt sat on it.  Checked it out.  Really wondered if I was serious about this thing.
After sitting on it for a bit, playing his guitar, he became a fan.  Like I knew he would.


I've looked up the brand.  It's a good solid couch, probably made in the late 60s or early 70s.  And the boys love it!  It'll stay with us for a while.  Maybe not the most comfortable thing to snuggle in, but it can handle the boys' play.
Case and point, last Sunday night:

It started with this picture which I took, and I asked Matt to replicate it with all three boys.
Below:  Titus thought my outfit was missing a few key aspects.  Stickers needed to be added. 

My 3 supermen.  Capes for all!

And they're off! 

The couch is very bouncy!
Which = Awesome! 

Isaac started to get some air!

Eli got lost in the couch on this bum-first jump.

Matt wanted me as a prop.
I sit in the forefront, while Isaac jumps behind.  It looks like some great jumping attack.  

Eli didn't understand, and literally tried to jump over me.
He got embarrassed by it, and started to cry... poor guy.  

Me and Eli cry, while Isaac jumps.