Notes from a tired momma

So it's midnight. The house is beginning to come together again. The attrocious kitchen has been put back together and is near immaculate. The children are in bed, homework is done. The baby is fed, bathed (dinner did NOT go so well), laundry has been started in preparation for the next day (uniforms still need done). Litterbox has been cleaned, trash is out, finally a moment to myself.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life, and know that God has given me what He knows that I can handle, but sometimes, I just don't think I'm strong enough. I have found myself in the same conversation several times, people being jealous that I am married with a child, a house of my own, and again, I am very grateful for what I have, but often feel the analogy of hair ringing in my ears. Those who have curly dream of straight, those who have straight dream of curly. The life of a single person is hard, yet rewarding. That is the road of a mother and wife as well...And how do you ever find the time?!

We went to have one year pictures taken of Gianna for birthday invitations, and I asked the wonderful Sears photographer if she could sneak in a couple of the kids ;) I was very glad she let me. Unfortunately, Gianna had been sick with a fever for nearly a week (darn teeth and allergies), so she was not quite full of the smiles we hoped for. Still cute. We spent a little more than planned, but now have the copyrights to the pictures and can go in for buy one get one pictures and a free 8X10 whenever we want. Worth it in the end. It's so hard to watch them grow so fast. Definately starts to give you baby fever again... I feel myself sad that I did not caption the moments more on film or paper. Alas...

Speaking of, I would LOVE ideas on cakes or decorating if anyone has any they would love to share!

Gianna now has four teeth...we are waiting for the next two to pop in any day now. She has reached the first temper tantrum stage, many more to come I am sure. I am trying to wean her from mommy milk, and she is not liking that. She has also gained a new-found adversion to textures in baby food: noodles, rice, etc. She does not have a problem with human food of this sort, but doesn't like it in the baby food. Help? Suggestions anyone? She scoots it all to the front of her mouth and gives the worst face while squealing...truly something. We will have to try some trickery.

She is getting better at standing on her own, though she still is not found of it. She would much rather crawl and hold on to anything she can. She loves listening to music still, and I recently found a series of CD's that is perfect for her! I found them at Family Christian Store if anyone is interested. Four CD's for 12.99...can't beat that! She also LOVEs playing in pillows. This evening I found her banging on brother's door wanting him to come out! How cute...

Our neighbors brought their new lab down to visit this evening. Gianna was a little unsure, but giggled like crazy as he licked her face. I told Jes this could satisfy his dog craving! Needless to say, he was not convinced.

She is full of words. She is now saying "bye bye", "hi", "po" for please (more please), "Aaaaye Duh" for all done (a personal favorite), "mama", "dadda", "bubba", "uh oh", and occasionally she will attempt "I don't know", although it comes out more like "Aye duh doda" (adorable ;) She signs most of those words as well as milk and food and "oh no". Amazing what they learn.

The older two begin week number two of school and soccer. Jury is still out on St. Francis beginning to switch for three classes starting in the third grade. Opinions? I can see the benefits, but still think it is way too early. Homeschooling is looking better and better for Gianna ;)

I am also still researching cloth diapers. I have SO many questions though...and I wonder if there really is savings with the first child. The idea of making my own sounds very appealing though, I despirately need something to do for myself, project-wise. And I wish I could sew better, but there is only one way to learn!

We should hear back on Jes's job on Friday, prayers would be greatly appreciated.

I have been missing Colorado a great deal lately. Especially with the cool weather, I just step outside and miss the sound of the river, the mountains, the smells. There is just a peace there that I don't seem to have here. Perhaps it is just association with vacation...maybe one day.

I should call it a night...I have the early shift in the morning (kids that is :) Sleep well all.

CO pictures

In Crested Butte ~ stylin' new glasses

The whole crew

Just our fam ;)

Vacation

It's wonderful that Kansas will be having cool weather here in the next couple of days! We can possibly enjoy the zoo again! It will feel as if we are back in Colorado ~ minus the extraordinary view of course.

The trip was wonderful, and I believe it left the ENTIRE family with a desire to move to Colorado...maybe one of these days for all, possibly soon for some!

As Maisy likes to say, we took the long fun way to Colorado and the short boring way back ;) My whole family was able to go. We were worried at first about my father and Kelly getting there (work was on the line), but it all worked out! We headed out in the afternoon with a goal of making it about nine hours. We like to stop in Greensburg to see the world's largest hand-dug well, and were curious as to what remained there. None of us had seen it since the tornado went through the town. About half an hour from Greensburg, I could tell someone had soiled their diaper, but figured we could make it to town. Boy was this a BAD mistake. We pulled into a very different Greensburg, having difficulties even making it to the well, which stood all alone, and pulled up on the side of the road. I go to unbuckle her, and find a surprise all OVER the car-seat and ruining her outfit. What a way to start out the trip ;) As I am frantically using a whole pack of wet-wipes to clean up the mess, Gianna drops her first coin in the well with grandpa! We pulled into the local dillons (about the size of a QuikTrip with quite a bit considering), grabbed a bottle of Spray-and-Wash, and cleaned fabrics for the next half-hour. She was lucky enough to sit on a blanket in her car-seat for the remainder of the day ;)

After having her britches changed ;)

enjoying the scenery ;)

We arrived in La Junta the first night and went to an amazing Chinese restaurant we happened onto last time we went. The next morning, went to Mass...we showed up and they start playing Spanish music with the Spanish sound! We were a little worried Mass-times.org had not told us it was an all spanish Mass! Luckily, only the music was in Spanish (very Hispanic area of town apparently ;). The baby was so tired that, despite the loud music, she fell asleep. The priest decided to wake her up after Mass was over. Grandma cooled the baby off in the fountain afterwards.

We drove on into Almont, arriving late, to a BEAUTIFUL cabin. It backed right onto the river. We absolutely loved it, and will definately try it again. We even had a friendly bear that enjoyed getting his dinner every night in the trash can a block away! If you listened, you could hear him slam the lid shut every night (this we believe is what woke the baby up at three o'clock the first morning).

Bear tracks

The next day we went into Gunnison to do some grocery shopping and shop around town.

The first rafting crew

We went rafting in two shifts (the children we not able to go on the more difficult trip), and ALL made "the plunge" into the 43 degree water, jumping or falling from a rock! Maisy even braved it twice! a bit surprising coming from her ;) Jes watched the baby while we went horseback riding (he doesn't care for trail-rides) in Crested Butte. It was a beautiful trip and was a lot of fun, despite my saddle falling off, and my attempt to ride side saddle for 1/3 of the trip. We put Gianna on a horse afterwards...she was shocked and started shaking! Poor girl ;) We enjoyed a WONDERFUL day in Crested Butte after the ride. It was very nice walking around town and "shopping." It's a completely different place than Wichita ;)

Chase and Jes worked on his campfire skills and started a fire outside nearly every evening. We switched off making dinners at home too...Tacos, hotdogs (over the fire) with smores!, and Spaghetti. Everyone took shifts working on a puzzle that took nearly a day to finish. Overall, it was just wonderful to enjoy some family time...doesn't seem like you can get too much of it.

Our van did wonderfully, but my parents struggled to get up the mountains (until they put in some octane booster) and took nearly 17 hours to get back due to a bad catalytic converter. The kids were dropped off the night we got back to hop on a plane with Tan and Melissa for California the next day (they had a blast)! They are recovering better than I expected! We picked up the cat the next morning from being boarded, only to discover Kelly's cat had been mistaken for ours the first day (switched when they put them into their cages after getting them out to play). Kelly called us from the vets wondering if we were almost there and said the vet was wanting to talk to us. Going over worst-case scenarios did not prepare us for the news that our cat had been declawed instead of hers! Both families received free boarding, vaccines, and declaw. I was rejoicing, having lost the battle with Jes to declaw the cat (worried about babies getting hit when we're not looking). Jes was a bit fumed to say the least.

That's about it on the trip! More to come on Gianna later! Love you all ~