monday mumble

As always, I'm mad at myself for not posting often, as these crazy days will be but a distant memory, much of which I will forget....unless I write them down!  And I don't NOT post because I have nothing to say or that our days aren't as crazy as they once were (although I haven't gotten to the point where I miss living in a camper...)....it's just that I'm, well, busy!

Our sweet Selah is now 8 months old today...crazy crazy!  She started crawling a couple weeks ago.  Straight on her hands and knees, no army crawling, no scooting...this girl has places to go!

I'm liking the more laid back days now that school is over for the summer, although we have been debating over and over again in our minds where they are going to go to school next year.  We are almost set on a school...and even though I have a hard time saying it...it might just be a public school!!

In the beginning of May, we made a significant purchase, and bought a tanning salon!  Random, I know... It's a huge learning curve for sure, especially going right into the slower season, but we think that in the long run, it will be a good investment.  (Although we might end up selling it sooner than later since we never know where Nathan's job will take us!)

Speaking of Nathan's job....he has about 250 hot hours left in his apprenticeship and then he will "top out" and *finally (after over 4 years!) get his journeyman lineman certificate!  From there, who knows where he will go?!  Full time utility job?  On the road out to the west coast?  We shall wait and see!!

Yesterday, our 4 oldest were in a wedding!  Our friend (and young lady who used to stay with us) Ana and her pilot-fiance Caleb were united in marriage!  Ariella was the only flower girl and the boys were 3 of 5 ring bearers!  It went well, although Tiernan had to sit down mid-ceremony because he looked like he was going to pass out!  During a worship song, I looked over at Tiernan (who wasn't feeling the greatest...complained of being tired earlier while waiting for pics) and his face was super pale, I couldn't even see his lips, everything was just white.  His head was tilted to the side and I could tell he wasn't focused on the words to the song.  We were all standing, so it wasn't that obvious, but at one point, I even lunged forward (I was in the front row) because I thought he was going to tip over! I got his attention and said softly "do you feel okay?"  He just shrugged his shoulders.  I motioned for him to come over and sit by me, he did, and after a few minutes felt much better.  He said later that he felt like he was going to throw up!  Well, for everyone's sake, I'm glad that didn't happen!!

Breakfast in Bed Again!

So not long after Tiernan brought me the waffles in bed (I think the next day?  I can't remember, my brain has been tired lately! :), he brought me breakfast in bed again!  He came into my room and said "Mom, you look tired, could I make you French toast and bring you breakfast in bed?"  Ummm...lemme think...OF COURSE!

So off he went into the kitchen to make French toast...from scratch.  A little while later, he returned with a plate of 2 pieces with maple syrup on them!

I ate them and decided to take a shower before I came out of my room.  I was thinking I was going to go into the kitchen and find a huge disaster since the kids had been up for awhile and eating breakfast without my supervision.  So I prepared myself and walked in....boy, was I SHOCKED!  The kitchen looked like this!!!

Tiernan had cleaned it from top to bottom!  Not only did he make ME breakfast, he made enough for everyone and fed all his siblings, even Jaeg!  Then he cleaned the dishes, put the griddle away, wiped off the table and counters and even pushed in the chairs at the table!  I was so surprised!  What a proud mama moment!!

Some cleaning and purging around here!  Getting rid of things is one of my most favorite things to do!  This is in the master closet. 

Before

After

Who says a single stroller can't be used as a double?

Forts, forts and more forts...I get rid of the extra blankets so they strip their beds.  grrrr....

Breakfast in Bed

Last night Nathan and I were able to go out with a couple friends, Devin & Melissa  while the rest of our 10 children played at Bounce Adventure. We just brought the babies with and boy was that nice to sit and chat for about 3 hours! Speaking of babies...Selah's 5 months now!

And before our date, my parents came over and visited for the afternoon since we haven't seen them in a month bc they were in Arkansas with my sister and family. (Nathan was home from work yesterday, which has been a common thing around here lately bc of his back). The kids were happy to see Gma and Gpa and once Jaeg got up from his nap and mom and me back home from picking up the boys from school, he bee-lined it straight for Gma! He wrapped his arms around her and wouldn't let her go! He's Gmas boy alright! 

Nathan gets up for work at 4:30am each day and I get up with him. I've been trying to *stay up once he leaves too, which is sometimes super hard to do but I have been SO thankful on the days that I do. I just LOVE that quiet time in the morning! So this morning, since it's Sat, I decided to go back to bed and wanted to "sleep in". Well, I was awake of course (just not out of bed) when I had said for everyone to just give me a little bit longer and I'll come out. I wanted to rest! And then this happened....Tiernan walked in my room with this....

And says "good morning, mom!" Oh how can I resist that?! So I was up and even though Nathan and I have changed the way we (mostly) eat, I just HAD to have Tiernans waffles and whipped cream he so lovingly prepared for me :) what a sweet boy :)

Now back to making my menu and grocery list for the week!

Tiernan took me on a date!

Yesterday afternoon was a special day.  It was the first time I was taken out by one of my sons!  Tiernan has been wanting to take me out on a date, so after I picked the boys up from school, I thought it would be a good day to go!  Nathan was home because of the rain so he could be with the other kids.

Once we decided to go, Tiernan asked what he should wear.  I told him he could wear whatever he wanted.  He asked if he could wear his red dress shirt and tie.  And then he asked if he could wear a belt :)  And then he asked what shoes he should wear.  He was really getting into this!  So then I asked him what *I should wear?  He said "a skirt...a black one".  So dressed up in his shirt and tie and me in a black skirt and shirt, we were off on our date!

He wanted to take me to Arby's :)  (Mostly bc he saw a pic of a french dip sandwich that reminded him of a sub sandwich, so he wanted to try that.)  Before we got there, Tiernan prayed for the food in the van and also thanked The Lord for this special time that he and I could spend together :) We get to Arby's, figure out if we need the coupons, and then proceed inside....he even opened the door for me.  We got inside, figured out what we were going to order, and up to the counter we went.  Tiernan started, telling the lady what he wanted and then he told her what I would have too.  The lady said "You look very nice today!" and he said "thank you" with a smile.  Then I looked at her and said "He's taking me on a date."  She smiled and told me the total.  Tiernan took out his wallet and paid for the meal.  She says "You are even paying?! Wow! Where does such a little boy get money?  Do you do chores?"  "No" he says (which is incorrect but he was thinking of the money that he had in his wallet, it wasn't from chores...) "It's my birthday money.  My birthday was on Feb 23."  "Oh!  Well, I don't know too many young boys that would use their birthday money to take their mom out for dinner.  I think that deserves a shake.  Would you like chocolate, vanilla or strawberry?"  "Chocolate!"  "Now you have dessert, too!"

Wow!  The lady was so impressed with Tiernan's decision, that she gave him a free shake!

We ate our meal, just us two, talking about life.

He was excited to leave so he could ring the Arby's bell. :) ....he even remembered to open the door for me again.  I was liking getting "spoiled" by my boy!

Our next stop was Culvers to get a concrete mixer.  We had a buy one get one coupon that he used so he thought that was pretty cool. :)

Same thing there....we went up to the counter, he decided what he wanted and I told him what I wanted.  He told the lady "I'll have a mixer with sprinkles and snickers (yes, I let him splurge a little :) and she'll get the butterfinger."  She told *me the total.  *He pulled out his money, she smiled so I said "He's taking me on a date", and then we stood back a little waiting for our ice cream.

While we were waiting, a lady came up to us, who must have heard what happened at the counter, and she said to me "He will remember this for the rest of his life."

I sure hope so.  We want to make special memories with each of our kids.

He thanked me about 10 times in the 5 min drive home. "Thanks for letting me go on a date with you.....Thanks for going with me, mom".....

And I think he is starting to realize how much money going out to eat costs since he was a little taken back that he only had $3 left :)  I asked "Was it worth it though?"

And the answer was a big "yes" :)

Week of sickness

This week has been one of those weeks that you dread as a parent...one in which sickness runs rampant thru your house and seemingly cycles it's way thru everyone's body.

Sunday night Brayan comes up to our room "I just threw up". Oh *please tells that it was in the toilet??? "On the floor by my bed." Great! (One time, the first time, Tiernan ever got sick with the stomach flu when he was about 3 was THE only time EVER that my kids didn't make it to the toilet or the bucket. We made it a point from early on to teach them that! Apparently Brayan was too much into his sleep where he didn't wake up in time. So downstairs we went (& thankfully Nathan had taken mon & tues off bc he worked storm all wknd, otherwise I woulda been doing it by myself!)

So that was Sunday night and Monday he stayed home from school just more mellow than normal. Tues night, Ariellas turn. Except, unlike Brayan, she was sick all.night.long. She's been slowly improving but is still laying around a lot, not quite back to herself (it's sat). Then Wednesday Nathan wakes up sick. His class was rescheduled so it was either to work (at his new location in the cities since his job in Sioux Falls is over, yay!) or stay home and I was an obvious stay home! So him and Ariella layed in bed all day. 

Meanwhile this whole week Jaeger has had a horrible cold with a runny nose and nasty cough. And Selah has had a low grade fever for a few days and is also congested with a runny nose. Thankfully her fever is gone today but she's still snotty and not quite herself. 

Then today, I woke up with an upset stomach and just not feeling well. I had an errand to do in the morning (dropping stuff off at BA and post office, altho I missed the post office by 10 mins!) and once I got back from that, I've basically been in bed all day. 

I tried to rest and did actually sneak in a nap, altho it's super hard to rest, much less sleep, since I have a mostly crabby, but also very demanding -wanting to nurse etc, baby right next to me. And for awhile, the rest of the gang was quiet downstairs watching a movie. Then wen the movie was over, it was goodbye quiet! A very rowdy and noisy version of hide n seek was being played right below us. Sigh.

So now I'm in bed watching an episode of the little couple on netflix while Nathan puts the littles to bed. 

Tiernan just comes in here, climbs up on the bed and says "I'm going to pray for you"...and he continues to put his hand on my arm, closes his eyes and prays silently. Melts my heart. Underneath all the mischief, he has a super soft heart! 

Now I'm hoping for a good night sleep! 

Happy Monday!

 

Need I say more?? :)

Like Father, Like Son

I think I'm teaching them well :). (It's more like Nathan's just that good to me & Tiernan wanted to stay up later :)