Freedom returns

Today we drove into the city with the four younger sons...a day of subway rides and museums. As we packed up to go, the boys scrambled to gather their Nintendo DS players, MP3 players, books for the car, and snacks I was struck by the realization that they were almost self sufficient. I had to gather my MP3, the camera, my tote of magazines for reading, etc. and that was it. I gave some instructions, but seriously they were all quite capable of getting ready - it was w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l.

Ok, I did pack a lunch/snack bag for all to share, but they were each responsible for the "I'm hungry" snack that would inevitably occur 5.7 miles from home! So, some granola bars, cheese sticks, drinkable yogurts, and a bag of freshly washed grapes and we were on our way!

The subway was a huge hit! We took the time to ride to extra stops just so they could enjoy the ride, and enjoy it they did! We managed to hit two museums with no meltdowns, accidents, injuries, etc. The boys were fabulous and we had a great day. I am amazed at how far we have come in this parenting. As the triplets (and boys in general) grow older I see our new opportunities. The years of "It's just too much work" have passed and I am in my head planning many jaunts out and about to explore -a trip to the steam engines a few hours north, hiking along the river, touring historical sites, etc. The possibilities are endless - freedom returns!

My word for 2009...

This year my word is Simplicity...

Main Entry: simplicity
Pronunciation: \ sim-ˈpli-sə-tē, -ˈplis-tē \
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural sim·plic·i·ties,
Etymology: Middle English simplicite, from Anglo-French simplicité, from Latin simplicitat-, simplicitas, from simplic-, simplex
Date: 14th century

The state of being simple, uncomplicated, or uncompounded


This year I shall embrace this word...to simplfy my life, reduce the things that bog me down, make way for the uncomplicated.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

So, Halloween is over and I have Thanksgiving and fall on the brain. I even revamped my blog colors to reflect the season. I went out shopping for some fresh fall decor yesterday and guess what I found?

C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S!

Everywhere!

ACK!!!

I have been bitten by the fall bug only to have Fa-la-la-la-la shoved at me everywhere I turn! Bah humbug! Ok, not really, but where the heck are the turkeys and the leaves?????? Apparently they morphed out, overshadowed by pumpkins and frankenstein and huge bags of candy and straight into Rudolph and Santa....

So, what's a girl to do? She hit the clearance section, where shockingly enough I managed to cull through the dredges and pull together something prety good! I already had an assortment of mini gourds and pumpkins from the trip to the pumpkin patch. I found a grapevine garland with acorns and berry effect. Next I headed for the basket section and I found a lovely dark brown to load up with the gourds and pumpkins.

Not what I had envisioned exactly, but nice none the less. I assembled it on the dining room table, gourds and pumpkins in the basket with the grapevine garland woven throughout. Not one comment from the members of my family. Apparently the men in my life (all six of them who live with me) are completely unmoved by my decor. But, I shall press on and gaze upon it's loveliness...at least until I put it aside for Rudolph!

Conversations From The Backseat....

DS #4 (7)...
"Mom, you can't run over the skunk. If you do your car will stink, and then WE will stink, and THEN, we'll have to take a bath in tomato sauce and I don't like tomatoes!" (After Mom notices a raccoon in the road. Apparently DS #4 is confused...)


DS #1 (9)...
"Every kid who's popular in the fourth grade has it. I'm popular, that's why I have it." (Speaking about his new book, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, to DS #3, age 7)

History.....

Last night we as a nation made history....

We elected our 44th President...

I voted...

I am curious as to what will come form this...

Crazy squirrels...

So, I get it, it's nut hunting season and the squirrels have, well, gone nuts, but come on. Don't cross the road UNDER my tires dude, all that work gathering nuts, gone to waste!

I am a mile and a half off the main road. It's takes a few minutes to get up there. How many squirrels can I kill along the way? Apparently the three that were dumb enough to run under my tires...

Enough already. I was tempted to turn around and go home after all the carnage, but seriously, it was safer on the main road, away from the squirrels.....

Observations of the day, a parents perpsective!

Want a glimpse?

DS #1 (16) when I asked him to log in to his email so I could check his activity he looked at me and asked if I was going to yell or speak calmly about what I would find. Um, guilty? Nothing bad, but he had broken a couple of limitation rules (which I already knew about from parental control reports, but...). Yep, we talked calmly and then I blocked his access for the rest of the week. No pouting, no fussing. Admitted guilt and accepted punishment...something is going right!

DS #2 (9) is up in his bed singing songs from the 70's and 80's (lots of Jackson 5). Why he isn't sleeping is beyond me, he's been tucked in for two hours and the house has been quiet for just as long. On the other hand I love listening to him...

DS #3 (7) On the ride home from school: "Mom, I will love you forever if you buy me a milkshake!" You know what, I did buy milkshakes and I do think that he will love me forever!

DS #4 (7) After consuming the milkshake prompted by his brother proceeds to look at me as we get out of the car and says, "Don't watch me, I have to throw up! I'm going behind the tree!" and he did, go behind the tree that is, where he proceeded to hurl multiple times. Lovely. Fortunately he was OUT of my van! Fast forward to bedtime...he brings me a note (he loves to write notes) "Dear Mom, sorry I threw up my milkshake. It was good." Um, which part, the milkshake or the hurling???

DS #5 (7) While running through the house DS falls, emits a high pitched scream followed by a wail. DS #3 calls out, "It's okay Mom, there's NO blood!" Alrighty then. I walk over to the injured one, "DS #5, are you okay?" "Yup, see, there's NO blood!" Perfect!