It's November!

I can't believe that I haven't posted since August.  I guess it's just been that crazy.

The LaRock for Delegate campaign started picking up in September and October, and thanks to hard work and lots of prayers, my father in law won the election on November 5th!  The kids and I pretty much just tried to hang on those few months.  We spent as much time as possible at the park and outside.  My boys are very active, and they love to be able to run around.  We also spent time at our local mall.  They love the play area and just the big space to explore.

Peter stayed busy with the campaign, and I can tell you, we were all pretty excited at the win.  Peter's change in jobs had worried me just because I don't adapt to change well, but I can see God's hand in it.  It has stretched me, and it has been such a blessing to see Peter growing and developing new skills and interests.

Now we have some more unknown with the session in January and February down in Richmond, but I know that the Lord will see us through; whether we go down with Peter, or we face some time without daddy.

The kids are doing well.  Isaac finally popped a tooth!  My kids are late teethers.  Hopefully he'll get the other teeth soon - poor boy.  He is generally so happy, and the teeth do tend to make him sad and grumpy.

Here are some current pictures of my cutie pies!

All three boys in one picture!

Marcus playing with little Isaac.

My baby is growing up!

Cutie.

Enjoying the leaves of fall.

Of Mice and Porches and Three Crazy Boys

Last week, as the boys and I were enjoying our lunch, I saw a mouse run from the kitchen to the dishwasher(which is currently sitting in the dining room.)  I was not at all surprised to see a mouse as this house is a work in progress, and it had been closed up for some time.  I set a trap and figured that would be the end of that.  Sure enough, the trap did its job, and the mouse was disposed of.  

The next night, Peter let me know that he was almost positive that he'd seen another mouse in the dining room.  This time we set 2 traps, and the next morning we had 2 catches, ew!  Right after Peter headed out the door the next day yet another mouse, (this one was a baby) poked his little head out and proceeded to check out the kid drops of food under the table.  I observed this little guy throughout the day, but, the noise of the kids kept him from reaching his own trap destination.  He just kind of acted like the place belonged to him.  That night, we decided to lift the cabinet where we thought the little boogers were coming from, and what a strange find.  The mice were all gone, (save the last little baby) but under the cabinet was dirt, of course, 15 to 20 play, fake mice, and 2 mouse traps.  We think maybe the family dog who lived here before had toy mice that it played with, and maybe mommy mouse collected them?  Whatever the case, it was a random find, but thankfully, the mice are all gone for now.

In other house news, Peter has been hard at work on the front porch.  He started out by working on the gutters.  The one in the back, once cleaned and put back up, has kept our basement from flooding each time we get a big rain, yay!  When he took off the gutter on the front porch, we realized just how rotted the porch was.  As you can see below, he has made great progress.  The front porch also used to have a green and white awning, but that we took down awhile back.  I think once painted, this place's porch will look pretty awesome.

Before

Before

After

After

Our kiddos are growing and changing so quickly.  Here is a brief update on each of them.

Sammy and I have been working through his Sing Spell Read and Write book, and he is nearly done with the first one.  Yesterday I sat down and thought through his first official school year, and ordered a few things.  I am really enjoying doing school with him, and I love that he is loving to learn.  He's started in a beginning math book, and I think that's his current favorite subject.  It is so fun to observe his little mind working as he grasps new concepts.  This summer he has spent alot of time outside, "chuffing and puffing" like Thomas the Train up and down our sidewalk.  He's also become a big helper on our shopping, library and park trips.  He loves to help me push Isaac's stroller.  As long as he and Marcus have a few feet between them, they get along very well.

Marcus is still our bundle of trouble, but he's a cutie pie who is also such a delight.  If Marcus is quiet it generally means he's into trouble.  The sink, the markers, the crayons, the tools, the putty, the finger nail polish.  You name, it, he'll get into it.  He has a hard time sitting still and focusing in on any activity, (unless it involves water or destruction.)  I look forward to the day when I can sit and read books with him, but for now, I just try and follow him around, cleaning up his messes, keeping him out of trouble, and getting his sloppy kisses, precious hugs, listening to his delightful laugh, and watching him learn and do.  Lately, when he takes a nap, he will have a hard time going to sleep at night.  Last night I was beginning to work out, and he popped his head around the corner and say, "You workin' out mommy?"  He then joined me and did a pretty good job :-)  As you can see from the picture below, he still thinks that he's the baby of the family.

Isaac is growing and changing so fast.  He's really chubbed up and he's such a happy baby!  Today he rolled over from his back to his tummy several times.  He is a hold me baby, who is happiest on my hip.  He wakes up each morning so happy.  He generally only gets up once to eat each night, and for that I thank him.

In The Good Old Summertime....

There is a happy, chubby baby.

There is a handsome dude in his underpants playing in the best fun in the world...WATER!  There are sprinklers

There are fairs with crazy chickens, and all kinds of cool animals.

There is a handsome little man at the fair who can't get enough of those funny chickens.

There is a cute, chunky baby checking out the fair.

There is ICE CREAM!

Hooray for ice cream!

There are TRACTORS...

and lawnmowers!

And, as always, a smiling chubba bubba.

"Why Good Morning Miss J!"

That was often the greeting I received from Rhonda Maki when she passed my office back when I worked at HSLDA.  She greeted each day in her cheery way, and proceeded to get to work.

When I moved to Virginia and started working at HSLDA, I remember being overwhelmed.  I started work during the busy summer months, and I can remember getting to the end of each long day of call after call and wondering just what I'd gotten myself into.  I will always remember Rhonda's willingness to listen, encourage, and go check with "dad", (the head of our department) to try and make things better/easier for each of us, if she could.  She was the supervisor in a department that was nearly all girls, and she really did a wonderful job handling all of us.  I think it's safe to say that she became a mom-like figure in many of our lives.

She was always so cheerful, and she had the best sense of humor.  I can remember seeing her with a huge pile of applications on her desk - big smile on her face, a small grimace, and then some quip like, "oh dear, oh dear, it's busy season."  We had some memorable callers, and I can remember recounting one caller to her, (who I think was actually in a mental institution), and when I got to the part about how this woman felt that she was queen of the world, the good laugh we shared.

As supervisor Rhonda would get the cranky callers, and as my office was right next door to hers, it was always entertaining to listen to her deal with them.  She was patient, but firm, and often, she'd finish the call, hang up the phone and and say, "Well!"

I remember that she her her husband started taking ballroom dancing lessons together, and it seemed that they were having such fun doing that.

Once when I was between housing, she and her husband invited me to stay at their place in their spare room for a month or two.  Rhonda was just like that - she tended to our needs like we were her own kiddos.

When I left HSLDA after I had Sammy, I continued working from home part time, and I always enjoyed catching up with Rhonda.  When I'd stop by the office, she'd always inquire about my growing family and wanted to see how we were doing.  She always talked about her dream to have red headed grand babies.

When I heard of her unexpected cancer diagnosis, I worried some, but Rhonda, being so full of life, I figured, had to pull through.

When Peter told me yesterday that they were thinking she wouldn't make it another day, the tears came.  I knew she'd been up and down, better then worse, then better, but I didn't expect her to die.  I really wanted to see God heal her this side of heaven.  But, His ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts.

I know that she's in a perfect place now, and I know that she's happy, whole and so full of joy.  She's probably dancing her heart out in her new body, exploring beauty that she was never able to see here.  I just know that I will miss her.  I know that she will be sorely missed by her husband, family and by the many whose lives she touched.  

We had a "hat day" once in our department.  Here is Rhonda, participating right along side all of us goofy girls.  This is how I remember her.  Happy, fun, and full of life.

I will miss you, Rhonda!  See you on the other side.

Part Two....

This is my best friend, the love of my life, and the most handsome man in the world - yes, biased here.

This last year has probably been one of the craziest since we've been married, but through all of it Peter's literally been my unflappable rock.  I've felt more emotional and exhausted then I have ever before I think, but Peter's remained patient and loving when I haven't been.  I know I'm one blessed woman to have him in my life and I pray that this coming year is especially blessed for Peter.

We all love you so much, darling!

My baby is conspiring against me I feel, when it comes to these posts, so I will leave it at that.

Happy Birthday, my Love!

Following in my tradition so far, this post is a bit late.  Peter's birthday is the 10th of July, which gives our family birthdays in March, April, May, June and July.  Fun times!

Peter has been hard at work on our new home, and I want to share some pictures.  Each room in our house needs work of some kind, some more than others.  The downstairs bathroom needed a lot of work, and we began there.  I was pretty determined to try out tiling, but, in the season of life I'm in, I have lots of ideas, but no time or energy to see them through.  After I did the research and purchased the supplies, my loving husband laid our tile floor.

He continued working on it, and today it is nearly complete.  Here are before and after pictures of the bathroom.

I am so grateful for Peter.  He's a hardworking man who has so much to juggle these days.

To be continued...baby is awake :-)

This is me a post about me.

It's about my crazy life these last few weeks, and reaching the cool 30's club.  I honestly am happy to have reached 30 and I feel like I've earned it :-)  Hey, I was carded 2 weeks ago at Costco, so I must not look 30 just yet.

I am currently sitting at Starbucks, sipping a soy, decaff, vanilla latte, (joys of the nursing mommy with gassy baby) having a quiet moment to myself, since we don't yet have internet at our house - gotta give kudos to my husband for this one, ahhh....

I am sunburned, but I am content, and I am happy.  Here I can begin my stories of the last few weeks.

Today was election day.  My father-in-law is running for House of Delegates, and in just a few hours we will know if he won.  Peter worked the poll here in Winchester from 6 this morning to 7 tonight.  Seeing how he was close by, and seeing how I like to spend time with him, our little men and I spent most of the day with him.  A sunburn is really the worst thing that came out of today.  The boys had a blast hanging with us, even Isaac was a sweetheart.  Sammy would ask folks if they were planning to vote, and, (after observing his daddy) opened the door for a couple so they could go vote.  It was so sweet and cute.  Marcus' short were too loose, and when we were talking with one couple, they literally fell down to his ankles.  Good times.

Today is one of those days that reminds me of how much I truly love my life and the people God has placed in it.  I needed today.  I needed to love on and spend time with all four of my babies.

The days leading up to today have been trying to say the least.  We moved into our new house last Wednesday, and it's a fixer upper, so nothing really feels "homey" about it yet.  It's kind of been chaos since then.

Things like adjusting from staying at Mimi and Papa's house to a fixer-upper house that was completely new and unfamiliar, a newborn who hit a really fussy stage a few days ago and began demanding constant holding, 2 and 4 year olds who enjoy making each other scream, lots of boo boos, (goose egg to Marcus' head from hitting on it on the only remaining radiator in the house, nasty burn to Marcus' hand from a grab of mommy's hair straightener, a bloody cut to Sammy's toe that had us both screaming because he was so afraid of the cream and band aid), and the stupid shrub in the front yard.  Okay, I must share about the shrub.  In our front yard there is a nasty vine of a shrub that has basically covered part of the fence and was starting to take over the front porch.  I really want it gone.  The whole yard is overgrown, but that shrub was driving me mad.  On Saturday I decided to try and cut it down.  Baby asleep, check.  Boys playing in the pool, check.  I began my task - so happy to finally be doing something other than hold my baby.  10 minutes in the two boys begin fighting, and baby wakes up.  I get baby and his swing, break up the fight and begin to cut again. 10 minutes later baby begins to cry again.  I hold him, and get him back to sleep.  Onto the bed he goes.  Take 3: 10 minutes later the boys begin to fight again to the point of having to go in for discipline, and the baby wakes up again.  At this point I drag Sammy into the house with Isaac on the other arm.  Peter, (who had missed the chaos because of the noise of the mower) helped me out a bit later.
I have been trying to get into the habit of looking for something to be thankful for in every difficult circumstance.  I tried for awhile with this one, and then gave up.  That shrub is still there, and I swear it's laughing at me!  That night I kind of lost it and started letting all of my frustration come out - thank God for my patient man.  When I got to end of my vent, I let Peter know that all I really wanted to do was finish that stupid shrub.  Maybe one day I will:-)

My birthday was a really tiring, long day.  I knew it would be, but there were really sweet moments, and it's those moments that I'm learning to cherish.  The pure joy in my kids eyes when we sing "Happy Birthday" and the candles are lit.  They LOVE birthdays and candles.  My husband's love and reminders of his love throughout the day.  The evening when the babies were quiet, when we got to work together on our house.  As I fell asleep hearing Peter say, "I've got the baby, you go to sleep.  I love you, you're a great mom, and a great wife.  Happy Birthday, love."  Yep, these are the beautiful moments in the midst of chaos.

It's funny, when I look back over the last few weeks, they were stressful, but not as bad as I remember them being.

Ah, Starbucks is closing, so I must close for now.


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