On Being A Rebel

Dutch women tend to have pretty clean houses. I grew up in a very clean house. My mom is gifted that way. She liked things clean. I LIKE having a clean house, but I refuse to try to have it perfect all the time. My children are not growing up in a show house. We LIVE here and LIFE IS MESSY. When Pete and I bought our first house I remember getting on my hands and knees to clean the wood floors every single week. Basically I was cleaning clean floors (because we do not wear shoes inside). Then we had Peter. I still did it every single week. Then we had Kate. I did it a little less. Then we moved and had Maddie. Since then cleaning has been totally different for me. I tend to not clean for company as it seems so many Dutch women do- I do the quick pick up clutter and wipe down surfaces for company, but the cleaning happens for my family. And it happens on an as needed basis- usually when we're at the desperately needed point. I really really don't like the PRESSURE that some of my friends feel or buy into that when they leave their house it has to be PERFECT. The PRESSURE that says everything needs to be picked up and swept and sparkling because someone MIGHT stop by. And don't be offended if you're reading this and you are one of those friends. I'm not writing this to put you down. I'm writing this because I think some of you need to give yourself PERMISSION to let it go a little. There is such freedom in being a rebel against "Dutch clean." Hopefully none of you will come over and think "ewww....your house is disgusting." But if you do, I'm sorry. As I type this, I have crumbs ALL over my stove from the sandwiches I made for our picnic lunch later. I have a counter covered with dirty breakfast dishes that I have not yet rinsed and put in the dishwasher. Our school/play/guest room is strewn with books and chairs people moved out of place and crayons and a HUGE overflowing basket of towels I haven't folded yet. Our living room has pillows and library books all over it. None of us have made our beds yet today. When I'm done here at my desk I will NOT be doing dishes or putting books away or vacuuming. I'm going to have the kids each grab a clean but unfolded towel out of the basket and we're heading out the door. Don't get me wrong, I do value order and organization and the discipline that children need to learn to pick up after themselves. BUT it's summer. It's a beautiful day and we're going swimming. When I get home I'll tackle the dishes and start supper while little people nap. And if someone HAPPENS to come over while I'm gone and they don't like what they see, they can feel free to do the dishes or fold some laundry! I have to be honest, I am THRILLED when I go to a friend's house and there are toys on the floor and crumbs on the table. Then I know that you weren't stressed out before we came and yelling at your kids to hurry up and pick up their rooms and sweep the floor. Please save your sweeping for AFTER we leave and I'll do the same.

February Gets Me Down

Winter is not one of my dearest friends. I tolerate it's presence for several months of our midwest life. In fact I almost like it in December when we are preparing for Christmas and the snow is new and pretty and we are cozy inside. Then in January I'm sick of this guest that can't quite get the hint and get out of town. By February I start feeling oppressed by the gloomy skies, cold air, early nights, and the fact that the weather we have to look forward to for the next six weeks (and some) is more cold, more gray, more staying cooped up inside. February also usually brings the stomach flu for our family. Well, we had that last week so maybe we're done with it for this year. I can hope. Basically, if we could just skip February every year all together that would be great. Some people really don't like March, but I say atleast March holds the promise of Spring. And so I can tolerate all the mud of March. But February, I loathe. In spite of the fact that there are a million things I should probably do right now, I am going to have a big mug of tea and do some knitting in front of the window where the sun is (surprisingly) streaming in at this moment.

Hiding a beach ball? and a yummy lunch

Well, it's been awhile since I posted any baby belly pictures so I thought I'd have Pete take a few on Saturday. When I came in the house to look at them I actually cracked up when I saw myself! Is there a beach ball under that shirt? And yes, there really is only one baby in there!

We didn't have anything planned for the morning on Saturday (other than a million things we probably SHOULD have been doing around the house) so Pete had a crazy idea that I easily agreed to. We drove an HOUR to have lunch at Chick-fil-A!! I know, it probably sounds insane what with the price of gas and all. And we also seem to always forget (after having 3 children that are GREAT travelers) that Ella does not like to ride in the car. But we survived the ride and boy was that a yummy lunch. I absolutely LOVE Chick-fil-A and miss it greatly from my days of living in South Carolina! Another place I miss- Sonic!!! And wouldn't you know it, there was a Sonic right around the corner from Chick-fil-A! I so wanted to just camp out in Lafayette for the afternoon so we could eat dinner at Sonic, but that will have to be saved for another ridiculously impulsive day.

This and That and pictures

Last weekend we celebrated Maddie's 3rd birthday by letting her build a bear and then having lunch at McDonald's (her choice)- and not just burgers, shared fries, and waters, but HAPPY MEALS. I just about cracked up when we were parking and Kate said, with astonishment, "are we eating INSIDE?" I then realized that I have lived in this town for three years and I'm not sure I had ever seen the inside of our McDonald's!

Oh my stars!



On Monday we had a few families from church over for a Labor Day cookout. The children all had a blast making rivers in the sand box and swimming and playing on the swing set. Isabella especially enjoyed her crunchy dessert- sand! Why, I wonder, do small children not learn after the first bite that sand is not a yummy snack?!

This boy always has his face in a book. I'm very thankful that he LOVES to read, but once in awhile the fountain of animal facts is almost more than I can handle. For science this year Peter is studying one animal per week for 20 weeks. He is absolutely devouring this animal encyclopedia. I am amazed at his ability to retain the information! HE is actually homeschooling ME. Here he is "cleaning up his school area" so that he could play for awhile before lunch. I guess he couldn't put the book away without reading about tarantulas first!

Sanity seriously threatened by....

- five days without a washing machine

- play-doh in the carpet

- ants in the dining room

- potty a la Maddie in the bed (my fault- forgot to put a diaper on her last night!)

- cat poop in the sand box (no, we don't own a cat. i actually hate cats- sorry to all you cat lovers, it's nothing PERSONAL! they just make me sick- AND they keep pooping in our sand box!)

- my sister was due to have her first baby on Saturday and he has not made his debut yet

- children with SELECTIVE hearing!!

- heartburn

What can I say? It's a Monday! Time for some chocolate therapy?!

Okay, feeling a little guilty for complaining. Let's see if I can turn this around-

-washing machine was fixed today. only had to use little borrowed one for one week
-it's just carpet?
-nothing like some added protein when Ella goes scavenging for crumbs off the floor
-washing machine is fixed so I "get to" wash Maddie's bedding right away
-atleast the kids can play on the swing set
-not sure there's a fix for the hearing problem
-ditto on the heartburn problem until this baby is born

So as for the chocolate, I'll enjoy it for a minute. Then I'll be eating some TUMS. Goodie. Good thing I like chocolate mint.

Maddie's idea

The other day as I looked for an outfit for baby, Maddie pointed out a blue and green striped one. I told her it was for a boy and our baby is a girl. Very sweetly and innocently- in her best manipulative voice- she asked, "can we name it a boy?" If it were only that easy!

Today in a Nutshell

- a little math
- the letter J
- Ben Franklin primer
- caterpillars
- sharks
- a little laundry
- cleaning the kitchen with Peter and Kate
- a chapter in Five Little Peppers
- a little rest
- car/ bike wash on the driveway
- swing set time and popsicles
- splash in the kiddie pool
- getting ready for Uncle Dan and Aunt Racine to come
- hot dogs and chili dinner outside- on the new patio furniture where we can all eat together :)
- a good day of "summer school"

Kids

I am sure I am not alone in this- sometimes I have to wonder, WHAT ARE THEY THINKING???? Peter is not supposed to be playing in the little pool this week. No fun because it is brand new and the biggest one we've ever had. But consequences are consequences, right? Well, under the guise of rescuing Kate from bugs in the water, he is IN the pool, scooping them our, BUT having way too much fun doing it. When I tell him to get out or it will be even longer before he can swim in it he complains of being bored. I do not like that word! So I told him to go ride his bike, but he'll need a shirt and a hat if he doesn't want sunscreen on right away. He HATES sunscreen. So he asks me to get him a shirt which I so graciously do. Upon taking said clean and fresh shirt from me, what does he do? He drops it in the pool to soak it before he puts it on! Well, go air dry on your bike, boy.

Having Issues

It's just one of those days. You know- the kind where you just can't keep up with the flow of life? I woke up with a sore throat thanks to my lovely allergy issues. I also have a headache most likely because it rained a good part of the night. I'm weird like that- I get "rain headaches."

I've been working on our eating habits around here- we definitely don't eat enough fruits and veggies. My kids love their applesauce, but other than that they are very picky. So breakfast (oatmeal, turkey bacon, and fruit cocktail) was a bit of a struggle. Peter gagged on a piece of fruit and puked in his empty oatmeal bowl. Kate was swishing one little peach chunk around in her mouth with a little too much water for a little too long then spewed it ALL over the kitchen floor and THEN walked in it. So we have issues with food. And messes. It's been kind of a gross morning.

I thought I should really get started on the ever growing pile of dirty laundry. Then I noticed the pile of clean laundry that needs to be folded and decided I really don't want to wash more until I fold and put away the clean stuff. So I decided to lie down on the couch for a little while- that will take care of the laundry issues, right?

This morning I woke up thinking "how is it possible that I'm only half way through this pregnancy?" Over all I feel good, but today I am so sore! I feel as though the baby has been practicing kung fu on my internal organs!

On a happy note, my WONDERFUL husband worked all weekend to relieve me of the stress of a project in progress. He got very little sleep and lots of painting done. From Thursdsay evening to Saturday evening he painted for something like 20 hours!! AND still managed to get a haircut, go to both Peter's and Kate's soccer games and attend a graduation party for our friends' son! Like I said, very little sleep.

So we have gone from this (under the plastic is our school stuff; kind of makes for difficult homeschooling!)

and this

To this!!

There is still work to be done- cabinets to put in etc. BUT now we can atleast use the room again! Yay!

Oh- and if I ever tell you we're painting something please remind me that Pete said he is NEVER painting again.

what's going on

-I am really bad at handling projects around the house. Pete is painting this weekend. I am soooooo glad it's getting done, but can hardly stand the house in the meantime. The messes, the smells, the lack of normalcy- AAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-I "only" have 4 kids and a 5th on the way so I'm not really that big of a spectacle, right? Well, apparently the guy working at the deli at the grocery store yesterday thought we were. His comment? "Wow, got enough kids?" I can never think of the right things to say at the moment. I think I just said something like, "no, not yet." Then he proceeded to tell me that it wasn't as "bad" as a friend of his who has 9. He kept going on and on about his friend and I just smiled and said, "sounds great to me." Of course, later I thought of all sorts of great responses. But never at the crucial moments!

-Yesterday I told Maddie that we were going to the "baby doctor" today to get the baby checked. She replied, "and take it out?" Not yet sweetie!

-So today I did go to the "baby doctor" and took all the kids and they did great. When the doctor came in the room she said they were being so quiet she never would have guessed I had four kids in there. Then she gave me a pointer- she said if they had all been loud she would have rushed in there to get us out of the place as quick as possible. Guess I'll have to work harder at training them to be loud and get into things when we wait at doctor's offices. Okay, maybe not.

-Okay, I'm tired and there really isn't much going on so I'll spare you anymore boring bullets.

Silly little quiz

I'm bare feet- what kind of shoe are you?


http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofshoeareyouquiz/

I woke up to a mess

Again?! Yes. Another mess to greet me in the morning! And again, it was my own fault! Never underestimate the explosive power of a carbonated beverage!



The good news? My freezer really needed a good cleaning out. So that's just what I did at 6:30 this morning- took everything (food, shelves, baskets, etc) out, washed it, and put it all back in- all without a drop of coffee in me! It actually made me laugh at my own forgetfulness that led to the "pop-sicles" that you can see hanging down from the basket.

just for laughs

I showed my mom the following funny videos and realized, unlike as I had thought, there are people out there who have not yet seen these. Get ready to laugh. If you've seen them already, you'll probably laugh anyway! (Be sure to pause the music on the right)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6uqj0_jQc

hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5g3aWmJPE8

I woke up to a mess

And I can't even blame the kids for this one. I should have taken that bag of trash to the can last night instead of leaving it by the front door! (Yes, in our neighborhood it actually is acceptable to have trash on your front porch. And yes, sometimes we do wonder about this very hillbilly town we call home)

bullets

* This time change thing is no fun. I really thought we were getting an extra hour (I never can keep it straight).

* I am huge already! Either I'm having twins or I have absolutely no stomach muscles left!

* My body has it's own special clock. At 4 pm I get queasy. By 8 pm I have a killer headache. Everyday. Without fail. Trying to fix supper while dealing with "evening sickness" is not fun. BUT I am soooooo thankful that I don't have morning sickness! That would make it difficult to maintain a normal routine of school with the kids.

* My house looks like a tornado went through it. A very dusty, laundry filled tornado. Perhaps in a couple of weeks I'll clean it?!

* Yesterday we all survived the Sam's Club, Walmart Saturday Shopping Extravaganza. Every once in a while we do that. Then we remember why it's better to have Pete stop and get groceries before he comes home from work. I'm sure in a month or so we'll forget and do it all together again.

* Ella is cutting her 8th tooth. She's had 7 for about 6 months now. I'm glad to see that 7 isn't all she came with.

* Ella started standing in her crib last week. She's so proud of herself as she stands up grinning at me as I am walking out of the room. I lay her down and before I get to the door she's standing. She just wants to be big. This is the stage where they start the falling all the time! She thinks she can stand and hold things, but then loses her balance and boom it's another head bonk. Just be a baby a little longer, Stinkerbella!

* Maddie has started doing something I've heard lots of other kids do, but not mine. She begs. She asks for something and I tell her no and then in a very sweet and pathetic voice she says, "please mommy?" Now where on earth did she learn that? We're going to have to nip that in the bud real quick like! And some of you wonder why her daddy came up with the nickname "Rotten" for her? It's said in love- don't worry.

* I think I finally came up with a good idea to reduce the amount of sock insanity. I love socks- cute, fun, wild socks. But I like them on feet or tucked away in drawers with their perfect match! Since the socks in our house do not remain in drawers or on feet, but under beds, in couch cushions, in the truck, all over the floors (you get the picture), I have decided that white tube socks are the way to go. I bought some for the girls at Walmart. The different sizes have different colored heels, but other than that, they are WHITE. PLAIN WHITE. Boring? Not when they are so easy to match up that my children can do it themselves!!! Why didn't I think of that years ago?

*It's 8:30. My body thinks it's 9:30. My pregnant bedtime if I am ever going to bet back on the treadmill at 5 am is 8. Gotta go. Have a great week

Going to the dentist and "So Big!!"

After working so hard to convince Kate a couple of weeks ago that going to the dentist is fun because you get to sit in a chair that goes up and down and it makes your teeth all fresh and shiny, I had to be brave. Last night I went to the dentist to get cavities filled. I had to say good bye to the kids explaining cheerfully that mommy has to go to the dentist while inside I was DREADING it. I left a great smelling dinner of slow cooked beef roast, potatoes, carrots, onions, gravy, and my new favorite rolls uneaten, but ready for my family to enjoy. I dashed out the door the minute Pete pulled in, already running a few minutes late, then arrived feeling nervous that they were going to tell me I'd have to reschedule because I was too late and then I'd have to anticipate all those yucky sights and smells again! They ushered me into "the chair" and I had flashbacks of the root canal I had a year ago. I laid back with my bib on and felt my body become tense. The smell of burning flesh that comes when they DRILL just about sent me over the edge. Then I laid there with my eyes closed because if I watch them handle all of those tools in and around my mouth, I have this fear that they are going to drop them straight down my throat and I will choke to death on a dental explorer. Thankfully me dentist is very quick and I was out of there in 30 minutes. So back home I went and was greeted by the beautiful picture of my husband and children gathered around the table. While I waited for the numbness to wear off, I read to the kids, enjoyed Ella doing "SO BIG!" for the first time, and got them ready for bed. Then I had my dinner, chewing very slowly so as to not chew on my own still numb cheeks.

Here's a poem for all of you who dislike going to the dentist

The Crocodile's Toothache
by Shel Silverstein

The Crocodile
Went to the dentist
And sat down in the chair,
And the dentist said, "Now tell me, sir,
Why does it hurt and where?"
And the crocodile said, "I'll tell you the truth,
I have a terrible ache in my tooth,"
And he opened his jaws so wide, so wide,
That the dentist, he climbed right inside,
And the dentist laughed, "Oh isn't this fun?"
As he pulled the teeth out, one by one.
And the Crocodile cried, "You're hurting me so!
Please put down your pliers and let me go."
But the dentist just laughed with a Ho Ho Ho,
And he said, "I still have twelve to go-
Oops, that's the wrong one, I confess,
But what's one crocodile's tooth more or less?"
Then suddenly, the jaws went SNAP,
And the dentist was gone, right off the map,
And where he went one could only guess...
To North or South or East or West...
He left no forwarding address.
But what's one dentist, more or less?

Overheard again

I just got kicked off the basement couch because apparently Peter and Kate need it to play policeman and policewoman (the couch is their car). I just heard Peter tell Kate that she and Rosie (beloved baby doll) can not be at the police station because the police station has too many problems for women. So she said she wants to be his wife. Then he said, "okay then you can't be here- you have to be at home and if you want to use a computer you have to use your laptop." I wish I could remember every word! They are just so stinkin' hilarious!

Overheard

The kids are playing firefighter very busily this morning. Kate sometimes just has to lie down for a few minutes. Peter was yelling at her to get up. She said, "I'm taking a break." He yelled, "You can't take a break in a burning house!" So true!

this and that

Okay, I know I've been really bad about blogging- or not blogging lately. So here's a little bit of what's been happening:

• I turned 31 last Sunday. On Friday, my sweet husband brought home a BEAUTIFUL chocolate and strawberry layer cake frosted in chocolate and covered with huge strawberries. He also got my favorite strawberry and cream cheese coffee cake. My parents came for the weekend, so Pete and I were able to go out for dinner while they watched the kids. We ate at Catch 35 in Chicago and had a delicious meal of Chilean Sea Bass and scallops. For dessert we had an unbelievable chocolate cake with a warm molten chocolate center and raspberry sauce. This food was the kind of delicious that makes you need to eat it with your eyes closed!
• Lanie Kloosterman went home from the hospital this week. Praise God for her continual healing.
• My mom was just here for a few days so I was able to get a lot done- took Kate to the dentist where she was very brave (we tried 6 months ago- didn't work!) and really earned the trip to Dairy Queen that we promised. I also took Maddie to get her picture taken- she's a ham in general, but terrified of that little room at JC Penney! I told the photographer to please just hurry and take some pictures before Maddie busted out balling (the lip was quivering right when we went in there). So I wouldn't say she's exactly smiling in the picture, but I guess she just wasn't very amused by Elmo falling off the photographer's head! We went to Fair Oaks Dairy and finally got to witness the birth of a calf! We had visited the birthing barn on previous trips to the dairy, but our timing was never quite right. We also enjoyed some wonderful ice cream and cheese and Peter learned some things about cows and milk. Thankfully (and surprisingly) he didn't have a bunch of questions about the cow birthing experience! While mom was here we also took a trip to the outlets in Michigan City, Indiana where I got some FABULOUS deals! Like pants for me for $4 and several items of clothing for Kate for next winter for between $1 and $5!
• This morning I got a little blast from the past- I went outside to take out some trash and my just washed hair froze!! It reminded me of the days of waiting at the bus stop as a kid and having crunchy hair! No, I didn't use too much gel (not until 9th grade anyway, but that is another story)- the cold air made my hair freeze.
• Kate asked Grandpa what the lines on his forehead are- his reply? "Wisdom."
• We got a new dining room table and chairs!!! So exciting that we no longer have Peter sitting on a folding chair and we can have company now without sitting on eachother's laps! It is cherry and black and is a wonderful place to gather with our olive branches!
• Peter started piano lessons
• Kate wouldn't go to storytime at the library! I tried to leave her and she SCREAMED!We've been going to activities there forever, but this was the first time she was to go in without her big brother. I didn't realize how much confidence his presence gives her! We'll try again next week.

Dig Deep

Time keeps going by faster and faster. It seems like just yesterday that we were hearing all that Y2K talk! And here we are at the beginning of 2008! I've never been big on "new year's resolutions." I need to make resolutions daily! To decide to start doing something, perhaps new, or perhaps again, at the beginning of a new year is quite overwhelming to me! Like when I decided that during my 29th year I'd get "in shape" (whatever that means!) so that I'd go into my 30's healthy. Well, I went into my 30's pregnant and HUNGRY!

So, I guess even though I don't like "new year's resolutions" per se, it is a good time to reflect upon what is working, what isn't and how I can change things. And of course it's always a good time to reflect upon how God has blessed us in the past year, give thanks to Him for His goodness, and commit our hearts anew to serving Him passionately each day! May He be our daily vision!

One thing I'd like to do this year is get more organized. Some of this will require help from my husband (building a closet, finishing off the spare room etc) but some I can do myself. I hate clutter. Clutter in the house clutters up my insides! Today I spent 3 hours decluttering my room including organizing my craft supplies. So I will be starting the new year with a clean room!
That leads me to the next thing- spend more time on my crafts! I need to allow myself the time to exercise my creativity. I want to knit something really soft in a yummy color- something that is for me!
I need to get babysitters on the calendar! I wait to long, can't get anyone, then Pete and I never go out. That needs to change!

There's a song on a new cd I have by Elizabeth Foster called Dig Deep. I think I need to play it each morning to help me with my daily and long term resolutions!

Dig Deep(written by Elizabeth Foster)

Dig deep girl, dig deep girl

For there's more below the surface than what you see girl

Too many people need your help to keep your eyes upon yourself

So dig deep, dig deep, dig deep
Build high girl to the sky girl

For there's more to this life than getting by girl

Too many people need to see the rock supporting thee

So build high, build high, build high
Reach farther, reach farther

For the one who made those arms can stretch them wider

Too many people need the touch of a purpose kind of love

So reach far, reach far, reach far
And dig deep, dig deep, dig deep