Preamble, here. Part 1, here.

The Park

The kids and I unleashed ourselves onto the crowded park area like a breaking dam. Sun, slides and freedom! In case hunger were strike at a moments notice, I was armed with a cooler full of hummus, flat bread sandwich thins and clementine oranges.

White puffy clouds, cool breeze and green grass = Bliss

I soaked in the freshness of the air and sipped on my warm coffee watching my big kids run and climb. I felt ‘with-it’ (I was wearing my new sunglasses after all) and prepared (no need for fast food here), a great feeling, to be at peace, in the hubbub of the day.

We ate while the babies slumbered away in their double stroller. Hummus proved to be no substitute for pb&j. Ry and Molly ate plain bread and didn’t complain! The oranges refreshed our dry palettes.

Swinging time! Molly held her feet and legs straight out of the swing a hollered, “Look Mom! I’m pumping!” So cute. We even had Claire in a baby swing. Very fun.

Then I heard Ryan say, “I have to pee…real bad!” This declaration was accompanied by a crossed legged, crotch-hold stance. I knew I had no time. I told him to run to the bathroom within my eye shot.

He ran.

Then he ran back with a frenzied whisper, “It’s locked!” I whipped off my new ‘with-it’ sunglasses to squint and clearly read the sign by the door. CLOSED FOR SEASON

What season does it have to be to hire someone to maintain toilet paper? Ack! I can see Ryan’s eyes darting around, silently screaming, surely Mom has a key to the bathroom.

In the distance, I see a city truck slowly creeping along the road in front of the park. It looked as if it were patrolling dandelions or dirt on the curb. I wanted to scream, give us the key, he doesn’t even need to wipe! But, alas, the truck was too far and most likely only had weed killer in the truck.

So like every strong mama I slugged down my now tepid coffee to empty my to-go mug, snatched Leah’s baby blanket and latched onto Ryan’s hand. We ran for the nearest tall bush. You can fill in the rest from here. Let’s just say, the city worker won’t need any weed killer for that bush.

As we returned to the double stroller, I murmured a quick prayer. Please don’t let me forget later what my to-go mug was used for just now.

Crisis solved. I saw a fellow mama park goer flash me a dry smirk, as she had likely been there, done that.

More play time in at the park was enjoyed by all.

Until, I heard, “Mom, I have to poop…real bad!”

Off to the nearest store front…part 3 coming soon.

Love,

Jess

My days are all blending together. Thank goodness for my breakfast meal plan or I’d have to really question what day I’m living in.

Parks, meals, tears, farts, laughs about farts, more meals, toys, worship, books, worries, prayers, kisses, sleep, putting sleepy kids back to bed after sneaking in my bed, folding oh.my.word. the folding, joys, finances, time shared…

You get the idea.

I have big mushy life ingredients that mash together in a soup of treasured memories, present day routine & dreams for the future. Fluid yet chunky & good for the soul. Yes, I did just compare my life to soup. Can we move on now? Okay.

Some days stand out. You’d think it was the important days like the State Fair or Christmas. But, it’s always the ordinary days that stick with me.

• Like the time we declared it a pajama day and went to bed in the same p.j.s that we had on all day.
• When Molly found the tooth paste and used it as “paint” all over the bathroom walls, floors and doors.
• Or the time we spent every quarter we find in the van to buy ice cream cones at McDonald’s.

Yesterday was one such day. It started like any typical day (see the beginning of this post).

Then, we went upstairs to begin weekly allowance earning chores.

Ryan got right to work. Molly wandered in and out of the rooms, helping with chores, whenever she felt like it was her turn to use the squirt bottle. The babies slept.

Bathroom clean. Check. Bed made and stuffed animals straightened. Check. Laundry put away. Check. Extra helper chore. Check.

Next, it was time for errands.

After the babies were awake and fed again, we scurried toward the van in five different directions.

1. Ryan went straight for his bicycle and rode around the driveway.
2. Molly tried to find her shoes, bless her, she could only find one shoe of every pair she had.
3. Claire rolled around on a blanket in the entryway.
4. Leah rested, next to Claire, trying to put her thumb into her sister’s mouth.
5. I went to the kitchen, even though I had declared it was already time to leave,  to pack a lunch and pour more bottles. I had just realized it was already noon. Hungry babies and kids + errands in the van = not bliss.

In the van. Check. Can I please put “Get In The Van” on my to do list just so I can cross it off?  WAIT! Where’s my coffee? Oh yea, my to-go mug was on a shelf in the bathroom. Not sure when or why it was put there. None the less, I fly back upstairs to grab it, then, of course, reheat it in the microwave.

Two bank trips. Drive through, of course. The first bank was out of stickers and suckers. Really? Where is the manager? Is there not a Walgreen’s down the street? Buy some. Customer service these days. Of course, I don’t complain to the kids.

Instead, I try to bellow to the back of the van, some lesson to Molly about not getting a sticker because, “Little mouths shouldn’t say big hateful words!” (like, “I hate my car seat!”) Meanwhile, telling Ryan that the next bank will probably have a sucker for him, without letting Molly realize the only reason she’s not getting a sticker or sucker is because the first bank was out off them.

The second bank dutifully sent two suckers through the tube. I was sweet-talked into handing them over with promises from my kids to, “Never be mean their whole lives, to me or each other, ever again!”

Off to the park…part 2 coming soon.

Love,

Jess

Proverbs 31: 25 a

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity

Wake up. Splash water on my face. Feed someone. Kiss someone. Dress someone. Brew coffee. Wipe something. Remind someone. Hug someone. Drink coffee. Remind someone again. Feed someone else. Feed the first someone again. Wipe something else from yesterday. Hide in bathroom. Check email from my mobile phone while hidden in bathroom. Splash more water on my face. Reheat coffee.

Really Wake Up.

Then the day starts. Some point between wiping someone and wiping something, I dress myself with strength and dignity. When my feet hit the ground each morning, I want all the evil forces out there to say,

“Oh, crap! She’s up!”

But where does it end? How will I get through another day of life with my circumstances?

Will I  rumple into a ball from defeat? (rumple is like an ishy way of making a ball)

Will I ruffle into a ball from success? (ruffle is like a pretty way of making a ball)

Cause let’s face it, I’m going to end up in a ball. Preferably, a cozy place, next to my husband in front of a good movie or my laptop computer screen. Remember, I said my days are long? Falling into bed is not a figure of speech in my life. It’s the truth.

Let’s look at today. Some funny, strength growing things happened today. pause. I knew this would happen. I can’t remember the specifics about today. pause again. pray.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a look at my day. I am too rumpled and ruffled to write.

Love,

Jess

{The following post was inspired by Sarah’s post from the blog Clover Lane.}

My days might look like this:

Clean clothes to fold (3 full loads per day)

Kids to direct (too many “get off your sister” and/or “stop yelling” directions to count)

Dishes to wash (2 dishwasher loads per day)

Outdoor toy sprawl (one garage stall space full)

Ah, yes. Diapers! (5-6 changes a day X 2)

But, my life looks like this:

My days are numbered but my soul will live on forever. – JEM

Things no one ever told me before I became a mom:

• I’d catch spit up with my bare hands.
• I’d wear a princess crown for more than 2 hours after dress up time was over.
• I’d learn how to clean melted red crayon out of my dryer.
• I’d laugh so much at my kids, I’d cry.
• I’d consider a well made grilled cheese sandwich one of life’s greatest accomplishments.
• I’d see my baby grow before my very eyes.
• I’d wonder what life would be like without kids.
• I’d feel my heart actually grow larger.
• I’d never be the same.

Love,

Jess

I’m a visual learner.  I’m a visual brain stormer.

When it came time to put together some ideas about my blog redesign, I whipped up a collage to help me brain storm.  I created the image below at a cool site called Polyvore.

(Polyvore is a website that uses collective images to create fashion, interior design and art collages.)

Terrific Tongue

I entered Leah into the Cutest Baby Contest in the newspaper. Her link is, here.  The photo and description I entered is below.

I’m Leah Rose, the youngest of 4 kids.

I love my 3 siblings because they try to make me laugh by sticking out their tongues at me. Now, that I’m 6 months old, I can stick my tongue back out at them!

They think it’s adorable. Don’t you agree?

Love Cutest Mom,

Jess

Proverbs 31:20

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

Inspired by an upcoming service project at my MOPS group, I gathered items for midwife supply kits for an organization called Global Health Ministries (GHM).

GHM sends medical supplies to undeveloped areas of the World.  Look at the list below for the contents of a midwife kit which are used for the birth of a child.

ONE MIDWIFE KIT contains:
(Please use new or clean used items in good condition)

• 2 cord ties: 8″  heavy white knit/crochet cotton (used to tie umbilical cord)
• 1 razor blade (single-edge, safety-wrapped), may be purchased at a home improvement store
• 1 regular size bath towel
• 1 36″ square muslin or sheeting
• 1 wash cloth (thin)
• 1 bath size bar Ivory soap
• 1 newborn stocking cap (keep hand-knit ones very small)
• 1 small cotton-blend or flannel shirt (to waist only as the babies do not wear diapers)
• 1 receiving blanket
• 1 pair plastic or latex gloves (clean, not sterile), NO kitchen gloves

After seeing the list item White Cotton String (used to tie umbilical cord), I was compelled to donate to such a cause!

Imagine being a new Mom thankful for the simple razor blade, used to cut your baby’s cord, because you have no other sharp, clean tool. Wow!

I said a prayer of hope, for all the little ones and their mamas, that will use the items I prepared. My heart leaped for joy as I pictured slobbery newborns wrapped in the comfort of flannel and snuggled by their caregivers.

Ryan and Molly got in on the chance to open their arms to the poor. They loved picking out the items for the “little babies from Madagascar”. Leah and Claire helped by donating their preemie hats and a few bottomless tees.

Love,

Jess

Consider making mid-wife kits for GHM!

You all know how I love a blog linky party, right? Well, imagine my delight when The Nester invited me to her Mantel Party! Okay fine, she invited everyone and anyone, with any type surface, to the party too.

Mantel turned Dining Room Shelf

A few summer’s ago I scooped up a discarded fireplace mantle at a garage sale. I don’t have a fireplace but why would I let logic stop me?

I knew in my gut the fireplace mantel would eventually find a place in my home. Plus, I couldn’t bet the cost. The purchase price? One dollar. Yes, a single buck.

Here she is, with new life, as a dining room shelf.

The Details

I love looking at the framed photo of Pete and I from the year before we were married. We look like kids! We were (and still are) very in love. We had no idea that 8 short years later we’d have a mortgage, a minivan and 4 kids under the age of 5.

I turned my crepe paper centerpiece from Living with Lindsay’s $5 Challenge into a wreath.

My son Ryan contributed his artwork, an astronaut flying in space with a view of Earth, for the mantel. I just love that my white frame has a clip inside. I can quickly change out its contents to meet my decorating whims!

Baby Girl Nursery Decor

Here is a link to my post about decorating the wall above Claire and Leah’s diaper table. Man, I love having baby girls in the house again!

Here is a list of things to think about (in The Nester’s words) when putting together a mantel, wall shelf or table scape.

1. Scale–you want big stuff, you want small stuff, you want medium stuff

2. Layering–don’t be afraid to put stuff in front of other stuff

3. Height Variations–make sure you have tall stuff and short stuff

4. Texture–shiny, smooth, rough, glass, wood, soft, sharp? I can’t think of any more textures but you get the idea

5. Color–consider repeating the same color a few times

6. Natural–try to add in one thing from nature

7. Meaningful–kid made pottery, a grandma’s silver rattle, quirky photo, framed letter

If you are visiting from The Nester’s Mantel Party, thanks for popping by Just a Blink!

Love,

Jess

Molly’s 2 5/6 year old Portraits

My Mom begged encouraged me to get an updated portrait of Molly. I guess, the photo of Molly at 6 months was no longer doing-it for her.

Molly and I went outside, in the drizzly weather, to snap a few shots for Grammy-Lu.

I love this girl’s smile. She seems to be laughing in her eyes and giddy in her soul.

{This post was linked up with Sweet Shot Tuesday over at My 3 Boybarians.}

Love,

Jess

P.S. Do you follow the traditional milestones for photo portraits or do you take random snaps like me? Both are fabulous! Just remember to take them when you can because time flies when you’re having fun!

Proverbs 31: 25b

She can laugh at the days to come.

Top: Leah, Myself, Claire Bottom: Molly & Ryan

Where do I even begin? I’m laughing too hard, at my Easter portrait, to even write.

The hair, the eyes, the body positions, the missing husband, oh. my. word. Please laugh with me, not at me! Ah, the “perfect” family photo – so far from my grasp! You know you try to snap “the one for the wall” on Easter too, right? 

I just can’t help but laugh at my feeble attempt to capture the perfect moment.

When, really, I’d like to remember the simple little imperfect moments that happened on Easter.

• My resurrection rolls that popped open in the oven. I had to scoop out the marshmallows with a spoon while the kids weren’t looking, as to not confuse them by having “Jesus” still in the tomb.
• We ate jelly beans with breakfast.
• Witnessing several Baptisms at the Easter service – gives me joy every time I see one!
• Ryan ran around the farm (Pete’s Uncle’s house) in play clothes chasing chickens, getting dirty and hunting for garter snakes.
• Claire and Leah stayed in their Easter dresses all day without spit-up! My dress on the other hand…
• Molly loved to smack her lips with her new lip gloss from her Easter basket because it made her feel, “Fancy, Fancy!”

Laughing Daily,

Jess

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