who's in charge?

Isabel: "Mommy, what will I do as the flower girl in Uncle Joe's wedding?"
Me: "well, I think you will scatter flower petals on the aisle."
Isabel: "I think I'll pass flowers out to people."
Me: "maybe, we'll have to ask Uncle Joe or Karrie."
Isabel: "Uncle Joe will know what I'm doing?"
Me: " we should probably ask Karrie b/c she's the one in charge"
Isabel: "she's in charge over Uncle Joe?"
Me: "yes, that's the way it works!"

heeheehee....she might as well learn now!

Fun Summer pics!

Just some fun pics from the summer so far!

at Indy Children's Museum with Grandma

K was so into the Bumblee Transformer...I love the way he leans on Dad!

the Hotwheels exhibit was mega-cool

this would've been the perfect pic if Iz would've looked up!

Sam designing his own Hotwheels

Isabel's Hotwheel was of course, pink!

bowling with Ma

cheering for yourself is a major part of bowling

Isabel and her pink ball

Sam's action shot

Izzy in her dress for Uncle Joe's wedding

the back

Sam's suit for the wedding

and his back:)

his handsome face

Part of Kalen's suit

handsome devil

K's back

Kalen and Daddy practicing bowling on the slip and slide

everyone helping!

Kalen is Izzy's princess shoes

My cute boy!

an another "Sam says"

after watching an episode of "Real Housewives of Orange County", Sam (7yo) informs me "Mom, you should totally do that show! You are way different from those women, you have a lovable family, you are a perfect mom, and you have a dad (he means husband) that sometimes gets a little angry!" heehee....I love my kid!!!

And Isabel.....

The other day Isabel comes running to me with something on her finger.  She found it digging in her nose.  Lately she has had nosebleeds so she was worried b/c this booger was red.  She says "so I shouldn't eat it b/c it's red."  I tell her "well Isabel, it's probably a good idea not to eat anything that comes out of your nose!"

And Sam says....

 "Mom, you are the best mom that I've ever known.....so far."

Kalen starts talking

last night right before the kids went to bed, we all climbed up on the couch together. I made the comment "oh, we're all on the couch together: Mom, Dad, Sam, Izzy, Kalen and Baby" Kalen jumps up and starts screaming "There is NO BABY! NO BABY!" It's the first time he's ever said such a long sentence and ever acknowledged a baby! We were laughing so hard about two hours later; we just kept talking about it:)

Emotional rollercoasters anyone?

So June was not the best month for me....I found myself often asking "am I really ready for this?"  And it wasn't always in reference to the little bundle of joy in my belly.  Throughout the past month I ended up "spotting" a few days and ended running back and forth to the doctor about every two weeks just to check the baby's heartbeat.  Add that to two pediatrician appts (one routine check-up for Sam and one sick visit for Isabel) and taking Isabel to the lab to have 5 vials of blood drawn (not fun for anyone involved!).  And I end up dragging around three active children to various places, all while on "limited activity" from my OB.  And on the days when I'm not taking them on mandatory appointments, we were confined to the house because I was afraid of doing too much.  Often with the kids destroying the house and me not having any interest/energy to clean, I would say "Greta, are you really ready for this?"  Am I really ready to give of myself every single day often with little gratitude or sympathy?  I know, right?  It's a little late to be asking yourself this:)
Then last week, after a great visit to the Indy Children's Museum, we came home to no electricity.  It was tough getting everyone to bed that night but we survived and the electric came back on that night.  Not too rough.....until two days later, the second wind storm blew through and knocked out our power for 24 hrs in 90 degree heat.  Oh, and the kids and I watched our swingset get picked up by the wind and blown into the neighbor's fence (can you say traumatizing?)!  But hey, count your blessings, right?  At least it was the swingset and a fence as opposed to our house and anything else!  Still after having three young children in the house with no electricity, I ask "are you really ready for this?"
And the truth is that I don't think I am ever ready for this!  We never know what challenges we'll face and what we view as challenges, others might feel are simply adventures!  Life is not predictable.  I can never be prepared for everything!  I sure can try but honestly, anyone who says they are prepared for motherhood is delusional (and she may have been driven mad by her children).  I'm scared to death to add one more child to this mix that I call home BUT I will do it! Why?  Because I will never be ready for this but at least I'm giving it my best.  And when my kids are older, they will laugh at their mom but they will know that she loved them through any and all circumstances! And that's what it's really about!  When you're old and a little bit batty, your kids and grandkids will say "Mom lost her mind a long time ago but she's always had her big heart!"  At least I hope that's what they'll say!  Either way I guess this emotional rollercoaster that I've been on this past month is okay b/c rollercoasters are fun, right?  Well, I'll keep telling myself that anyway.........

swingset meets fence