This One's for You, Nana Cheryl

I know I've been a horrible blogger lately. You'd think with 4 kids and a bff getting married I'd have a ton of material but I guess lately we've been sort of boring. And busy. Between my Disney work, PTA, church, kids activities and Girl Scout Cookies I feel like I've been underwater lately and am just now coming up for air. Here's a quick recap of what's been going on in our lives:

1. Homework. It sucks. Seriously how do I hate homework more now than when I was a kid? Oh yeah because my kids are way too tired, mentally, when they get home from school to care about homework. They fight, gripe, complain and whine about work that is most definitely not too hard for them. Why??? Again, I think it's because they are tired. But seriously...any parent who thinks their kids don't have enough homework can come do it with my kids any time. Homework makes me dread my kids getting older.

2. Language Explosion. The 2 year old has had an incredible language explosion. It's crazy how much he's talking. Also? Anyone who said boys don't talk as much as girls lied. He chatters all day long. All day. And loudly.

3. Girl Scout Cookies. Having 2 girls selling girl scout cookies is hard work. Getting all the orders delivered is harder work. Keeping the money organized? Nearly impossible. Not that this is a surprise but I am no math genius.

4. Disney Work. I am SO thankful that I have actually been busy with Disney work! I've gotten some great referrals lately and it's so much fun. Unfortunately my housework is suffering but oh well. I am apparently the only person who notices when things are dirty anyways. Hopefully one day I'll make enough to pay for a cleaning service.

5. PTA - Phew...the PTA is super fun but we've been busy lately. We're launching a huge fundraising program on Monday called Boosterthon. Then things will slow down. But I'm super excited about the program and can't wait to kick it off.

Bringing Home the Bacon

I got my first paycheck today!! Wahoo! It's been a long time since I've had a real paycheck and it's exciting! I'm having a great time with my Disney travel agent gig. It's So. Much. Fun. I've met some great people and reconnected with some old friends because of it. I am EXTREMELY grateful for all the support of my friends and family. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your words of encouragement and most of all your referrals! And to those of you who have booked trips through me I am eternally grateful for helping me get started! So, thank you, thank you, thank you!!

If you want to plan a trip to Disney or sail the Disney seas let me know!!

He Needs a Helmet!

It's a good thing we have insurance. This poor kid is forever getting injuries, most often to his head. Poor thing. Hopefully that smile will make up for all the scars that will be on his head!

Family Dynamics

My 4 year old went to spend a long weekend with her grandmother leaving a little void in our family of 6. She was super excited to get her own time with Gagi and I don't blame her. When you live in a larger size family it's not too often that you don't have to share something or someone.

I always find it interesting how when one of our munchkins is away the family dynamics change. First, it's SO SO much quieter when one is gone. Like amazingly quieter. Doesn't matter which kids is gone it's just quieter. The sibling dynamics are different too. Perhaps there's less fighting (that depends on who is gone) or there's more bonding between different siblings than usual. It's just different. I suspect we aren't the only family who notices the changes but again, I find it fascinating every time.

As "quiet" as it is with one gone we are always ready for that child to return home. The family just doesn't feel complete with one missing. So while I hope my Julia has a wonderful time with Gagi I'll be really ready to see her on Sunday afternoon!

I Just Have to Share

One of the things that keeps me organized is having a menu/meal plan for the week. I just have to have a plan. I'm so not one of those open the fridge at 5pm to see what I can come up with for dinner. That said one of my least favorite weekly chores is coming up with said plan. And I bet I'm not alone. It's just time consuming to flip through cookbooks and search websites for kid-friendly, fairly easy (I'm no chef) and healthy recipes. And for some reason my family just won't eat the same 7 meals each week. I was recently tweeting about my annoyance with this Sunday chore and one of my tweeps (thankyouverymuch @knoxsarah) suggested I check out e-mealz.com. So, since I was on the 'net anyways I clicked on over. And what did I find? The holy grail of menu planning my friends!! One click and I was in love!!

Let me tell you about this FABULOUS FABULOUS website. You pick a meal plan based on your family's needs - they have general family, couples, low fat, low carb, gluten free, Weight Watchers - old and new points menus to chose from WITH corresponding grocery stores. For example, I chose Weight Watchers new points program Walmart. I click on my menu and viola: a weeks worth of food and a shopping list customized for Walmart right on my screen. People, it's freaking genius! Now, the only catch is that you do have to pay for it - I had a coupon and paid $12.50 for a 3 month subscription. I tell you though - it's Worth. Every. Penny. The plan shows 7 meals and they are designed to feed 6 people - for us that's perfect. I think 7 meals is a bit too many - I do like to go out at least once during the week so I do between 5 and 6 meals depending on what's going on.

So..if you are like me and like having a meal plan but find the planning process draining then check it out. You can click right here. What are you waiting for?

Sick Day

It was bound to happen sooner or later. We haven't had it in awhile. The stomach bug hit our house. It started with Julia on Monday night. Thankfully it moved fast through her. After 48 hours of no one else getting sick I thought we were in the clear. Wrong, so wrong I was. I was sitting at dinner last night when I got The Text. The one that all mommies dread. It went something like this: Emma threw up twice. Ugh. Immediately my thought is "crap, she can't go to school tomorrow" (you see I've had them home for FIVE weeks...they JUST went back to school on Monday). I love my children DEARLY but there has been A LOT of togetherness lately. So I get home and Paul says he's not feeling so great. Emma's comfortable and resting. Great. We go to bed and awaken at 1am with Lily: "mom...I just threw up all over my bathroom floor." She proceeded to be up seemingly every hour getting sick. Poor thing. About 5am Paul tells me he's been sick all night. Stomach Bug Tally: 4 total. Then this morning when I went to get Jacob up I realized that he too had succumbed to the bug. Final tally today: 5.

I'm the lone survivor and praying, hoping, wishing it remains that way! Thankfully the bug seems to be passing quickly. 2 of the kids today are much better and Lily has been able to keep food down today. I've been busying cleaning and Lysoling the house!

Four Years Ago

Four years ago we lived in MA. It was the middle of winter. Paul was working an hour away from our house. I was 40 weeks pregnant with our 3rd child. I had begged and begged my OB to schedule an induction but it just never worked out. Thankfully my mom made the trip up 2 days before. I woke up in the middle of the night with contractions. I debated waking Paul up but decided to wait a little bit. Finally I decided it was time to to start timing the contractions. All of a sudden I heard (felt?) a POP. I got up...figured out it was my water breaking...and ran to the bathroom. I screamed at Paul to call the doctor. He was sleepy and couldn't get the numbers right - I had to yell the number like 3 times. I get myself together as he gathers a couple towels for the car. We got to the hospital about sometime after 3am. I walked into the ER and begged to please, please call for an epidural. I was already in a ton of pain. I got up to room, they assessed that yes, I was in active labor and they went to work getting my IV in, etc. All the while I'm begging for the epidural. Finally it came. And about 20 minutes later I was fully dilated and it was time. And at 4:31am a beautiful, healthy 7lbs, 6oz baby girl was born.

It's hard to believe that 4 years have passed since Julia Claire entered our family. We've moved twice, had job changes and another baby. She is such a sweet, sweet girl. I could not love her more. I'm so thankful we get to be her parents and have her in our family. Happy Birthday Juju...we love you!!