Back to Life, Back to Reality

We've kind of fallen of the face of the Earth for the past month. Rob had a month off work to recover from his surgery and it was the first real break we've had in over a year, and the last year has been quite challenging. Rob didn't feel horrible after the first few days, he just couldn't sit in a chair for eight hours (or even one hour for a while due to the location of the incision) as his job required. He was able to help out a bit around the house and the amount he was able to do increased with each week. The older four kids were in school every day, so we got to spend lots of time with Eva and Laura and each other. We really needed it and it was wonderful! All things must come to an end sometime though and Rob went back to work this past Monday.

We are really looking forward to me finishing up school and being able to earn enough that Rob and I can switch roles! I LOVE being home with my babies, but I do not love cleaning the house (although I think I might like it better if I was actually able to complete chores, which doesn't happen often with little munchkins around, not that I'm complaining). Rob loves being solitary, would wear basketball shorts or pj pants every day if possible, and loves housework. I love being around people, love dressing up and looking professional, and would much rather be a therapist than do housework. We're actually getting close to being able to switch off! I have one class left after this quarter (the class in which I write the first 40-50 pages of a thesis) and then start internships! I am not sure yet where I'll be doing my internships at, but I'm applying next week and should know soon :) I graduate in about a year!

I'm so glad I'm almost done! It's been four years since I started and I've only taken one quarter off during those four years. I'm a bit burned out. Even though I took last quarter off, my motivation for school work was gone by the second week of class. It doesn't help that this class is one of the general requirements for all counseling majors rather than one geared towards my major. I'm not thrilled with the teacher either, but at least I'm already halfway through :) I have decided to adjust my approach to schoolwork. I have found it works best if I piddle around all week on fb and pinterest, developing my fb gaming skills (which are now razor sharp! I'm sure being able to line up three of the same candies in a row will help me get a job, right?), pinning amazing recipes I will never have time to make, until the very last minute, then the pressure I'm under to get my assignments done seems to exert enough force that I create masterpieces . . . like coal being turned to diamonds. Or at least that's what I hope is happening, because motivation is not my forte' at the moment.

Anyway, this is what we've been up to . . .

Our weather this year is brought to you by the words "cold" and "front". We seem to alternate between warm days and freezing cold days, usually on the same day. It has caused a bit of a problem with dressing the kids for school. If it's 30* in the morning and 70* when they get out of school (or vice versa), what do you have them wear?

One day the morning was absolutely gorgeous. Betsy and I (and Laura) went out to get pedicures and to lunch (this was near the end of Rob's medical leave, so Eva stayed home with him). We got home about 30 mins before it was time to pick the kids up from school. It was in the 70's and beautiful when I got home, but when Rob, Eva, Laura, and I headed out the door to walk to get the kids 30 mins later, we took one look at the sky and had Rob take Laura and Eva back inside. I think Texas storms rolling in are one of the most awe-inspiring things I've ever seen. It's amazing how quickly the weather changes! I took a shot of the sky while walking to school. The temperature dropped about 20* while I was waiting for the kids to come out and the raindrops started falling as they exited the school. We ran home and made it before it started pouring :)

I love that our kids love books! I caught a shot of Beth curled up in the front hall with a book ~

Another fabulous outfit brought to you by Eva the Fashionista!

We weren't able to have our traditional superbowl picnic party last year as we were driving back from Utah. This year we went a bit more low key than usual. We had nachos, cantaloupe, chicken strips, and a veggie tray. We also made a passionfruit punch to go along with it. 

The older kids take their responsibility of teaching Eva and Laura very seriously. They love trying to teach Laura to crawl or Eva to read. They have recently set up a "baby school", complete with teaching certificates on the wall. Laura and Eva adore it!

We really love doing things as a family! Even shopping :) We managed to fit five of the kids on one shopping cart at Walmart last weekend. Laura was strapped onto my chest in a baby carrier. FYI, they don't card you if you bring six kids shopping with you (we bought compressed air to clean out our tv).

Megan had a hard day at school last week. There is one girl at school that has picked on her for the past few years and she was particularly mean one day last week. Kiki and I took Meg out to dinner that night to make her day better :) We went to a Mexican restaurant. Meg got to try queso for the first time (that she remembers)!

Laura has lost a lot of the hair she was born with (like most of our babies). She's kept a line of longer hair along the top of her head. It would make a great mohawk if I added some hair gel! She also has the bazillion cowlicks most of our kids inherited from Rob. The combination of the two makes for a great Alfalfa style hairdo!

 I love how close Eva and Laura are! Eva loves showing Laura things like how to watch "the Lour-de-at" (the Lorax - Eva's current favorite show that she watches literally 5 times a day) on my new tablet.

We have been going through the process of sorting through our baby stuff and getting rid of the things we don't need anymore. There are so many memories associated with everything! It's really hard to know we will never use these things again :(

One of the things we're getting rid of is the bassinet. Eva discovered it and apprehended it to make a bed for herself. She even slept in it that night, although we moved it off the couch onto the floor.

And finally, recent facebook status updates ~

"If someone from the 1950's suddenly appeared today, what would be the most difficult thing to explain to them about life today? That I possess a device, in my pocket, that is capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man. I use it to look at pictures of cats and get in arguments with strangers."

It never ceases to amaze me how many urgent questions suddenly arise the instant I sit down to do homework . . .

I have ruined Eva's morning. I will not let her eat butter with a knife. Or even without one.

"I wake up every day planning to be productive and then a voice in my head says 'Haha! Good one!' and we laugh and laugh and take a nap."

We opened up the windows and aired out the house. Rob discovered Jack trying to climb up to the laundry room window, so we talked to the kids about not getting near windows open on the 2nd floor, explaining that the screens weren't strong enough to keep them in and they would fall. Megan's response: "So kids, if you want to lean against those windows, wear a helmet!"

Rob just incorporated the term "metaphysical" into a conversation with my seven year old about figure skating, Barry Mantilow, and Neil Diamond. My poor kids . . . 

Nothing says "I love you!" like your 4 month old screaming so hard she throws up all over Daddy when you have the audacity to attempt a quick shower. We have officially entered the "Mommy ONLY" phase :)

 
Whoohoo! Finally got to play with my tablet (that we bought to replace the one I bought on Black Friday that never worked) - about 4 hours after I opened the box. Apparently I bought Eva a tablet and she will let me use it while she's asleep . . .

Yes, that was my daughter doing headstands in the aisle during the middle of church today while wearing a dress . . . at least it was the 2 year old :)

Nothing beats driving down the road with all of us in the car, belting out a song at the top of our lungs :)

Recipe for a perfect winter day ~ lunch at a picnic table at Central Market with Rob, soaking up the 76* weather while Eva plays on the playground :)

How you know you've married a nerd ~
Our second tv croaked, but we didn't want to spend tons of money to replace it, so we bought one off craigslist. The one we got is in really good condition, but is much bigger and heavier than we thought it would be. Rob's response - "Well this would be helpful in an invasion. You drop this out the window and you'd take out at least two orcs. Maybe even a uruk-hai!" Peter Jackson must have cut the scenes in LotR where they drop tvs on Sauroman's army . . .

Back to life, where Rob has to go to work :( Eva has already asked, in a very accusatory tone of voice as if I hid him in the closet and wouldn't let him come out, where Rob is at least five times. Must figure out how to win the lottery so he can stay home . . . 

"When posting a facebook status, there is a fine line between 'what's on your mind' and 'I should probably see a therapist about this.'" 

Audrey in "The Lorax" = typecasting at it's best. 
Ted: "What would you do if someone gave you a tree?"
Audrey (Taylor Swift): "I'd probably marry him on the spot!" 

"Valentine's Day Cards for the real world:
When you walk in the door tonight and smile at me, my heart will skip a beat . . . 
Because your children have gone insane and I really need a break."

Note found in Megan's handwriting ~
Meat = food
Blood = face paint
Guts = sacrifices & bait (?!?!?!)
Bone & Hooves = weapons
Hide (skin) = warmth & trade
I don't remember letting her read Lord of the Flies . . .