Turbo-charged

When I need coffee, I need it. Like really need it.

This morning was one of those times.

I don't regularly have it because I like to savor it, drink in its caffeinated bliss on special occasions. Since I don't regularly imbibe caffeine, I will vouch that its effect on me is pretty astounding. It is like my own personal turbo boost that I save for days when I'm particularly dragging. I also read recently that caffeine increases seratonin release in the brain, making you feel good. No wonder I feel I can conquer the world with a cup of Starbucks in hand.

So, back to this morning and my need for coffee. I go to the pantry to get a filter and alas, we're out. How in the world can one let 100+ filters run out? Apparently, me. At this point, if you're a regular person, you hop in a car, drive to the store, and buy a thousand new filters to last until kingdom come (and prevent you from ever being in this situation again). In my world, this option does not exist--I have one child off to school, another to ready for preschool, another still walking around in his jammies, and yet another who has been fussy all morning and is already in bed for her morning nap. I'm strapped. No filters.

I call Mimi and Papa--perhaps Papa can bring a filter to me when he comes to pick up T to take him to preschool? No luck. They don't have drip filters. Shux.

I say to J that as soon as MG wakes up, we're heading for Starbucks and the grocery store. This somehow makes me feel better.

15 minutes later, in walks Papa, carrying a coffee prepared for me by Mimi. Not only does it have caffeine, but also froth from her espresso machine. I couldn't help smiling from ear to ear. I was saved (and so spoiled)! Are they good to me or what?! They are gems, for sure.

One downed coffee drink later...

The seratonin is taking effect. Happiness. Thank the good Lord!

I leave you with a gratuitously sweet pic of J from our venture yesterday to the botanical gardens...

Smiley J, who does love to steal drinks of his mama's coffee!

God bless,

Wee Willy Winkie

For awhile it's been a bit of a mystery to me (and Geoff) how in the world we're supposed to put four young children to bed at the same time. Especially on bath nights! Especially when doing it by ourselves! We have been attempting to learn this craft for the past 9 months with minimal success.

We do baths every other day in our house (to keep our sanity) and this usually works out well because the boys usually aren't dirty enough for a bath after one day. After two days, though, the smell starts (lol) and that's when it's time for dunking! :)

Tonight was a bath night on top of already being later thanks to t-ball. We were running against the clock, underdogs from the get-go. In the midst of potential failure, though, came a mama brainchild that may become a new G-Ville tradition. I've apparently found a way to conquer bedtime with four children. It's what every former-teacher-mama loves--STATIONS!! Rock Station #1, Teeth Station #2, Jammy Station #3, and Book Station #4. I'll elaborate further...

Here's the skinny on how our night went--

I feed MG a formula bottle every night, but on nights when the boys need a bath and I'm alone, the girl has to take her bottle wherever she can get it. Thankfully, she's always good to go and very flexible. I gave her her bottle in the bathroom while the boys undressed and climbed into the tub. She finished, they played, and I brushed her teeth and got her dressed while supervising the boys in the tub. When we were finished, I dashed to her bedroom next-door, laid her down in her crib, gave her a quick kiss, and dashed back to the bathroom, quick! (To ease my nerves, I could hear all three boys talking while I dashed, so at least I knew they were safe.) Whew! One child down.

Next came boy scrubbing and hair washing, following by the "Who wants to be first out of the bath?" Inevitably that means M will jump out (he's so competitive--I love it) and so he did--to Station #1, The Rock Station. The boys do this funny thing when they get in their plush, hooded colored towels (Thank you, Aunt Liz!). They crouch to the floor and curl up to look like a colored rock. "Yook," J says, "Yook at the yeyyow rock!" It is really cute. Incorporating this into our stations is a must!

After M's green rock, I had him move over to Station #2, The Teeth Station, where his toothbrush was waiting. I quickly brushed and then let him take over. He rinsed and I handed him his jammies for Station #3, which was outside the door in the hallway. He proceeded to get dressed on his own. Meanwhile, T was out of the tub and becoming a blue rock at Station #1. Afterward, he headed to #2 and out came J, our yellow rock, who huddled on the floor. M was now done with Station 3 and asked, "As my reward, can I go ahead to the book station?" "YES!" I responded and away he went down the hall to read books while we finished.

The stations continued for the other two, who need more assistance in the process, but are learning self-control and independence by doing the necessary task at each station. T soon ran off to the room to read a book, followed closely by J. I quickly tidied the bathroom and then walked into their bedroom (they are now all in the same room--post to follow!) to find them quietly reading. What a difference calling it a "book station" made to their psyche and overall approach. They were ordered, the evening was structured, and everyone knew what to expect. Magnifico! Our reading time was so blessed (mostly because I wasn't strung out from having to corral three wild bedtime boys!) We proceeded with prayers, then bed. It was bedtime poetry in the making.

Bedtime stations. Who knew?!

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town...

Spring Sport Start

Two weeks ago, the boys had their first soccer practice and were *so* excited! T is on a new team--the Bobcats, but with a friend from school and many more in the works. He had a great time! M and Coach Daddy GG are doing awesome with the Cheetahs again this season. GG is coach extraordinaire, as we all expected but are delighted to see. Their first practice went swimmingly with Coach GG running the kids through drills and games that made it fun for everyone. He has a bunch of first-timer players, who got into it right away. We are so proud of our Daddy!

The hardest part now is that the boys' games are scheduled right at the same time (different locations) for the next few weeks. :( This means I can barely catch the tail end of most of M's first games. Thankfully, our May schedule seems a little more spread out and will allow us all to do Soccer Saturdays together. So good!

Check out #13 in the crazy hat!

The last sports item of note is M's T-ball, which started last week. He is a first-time player and really excited about it! We've known all along he's a lefty batter, but were unsure on his throwing arm. This past week proved he's also a lefty thrower too (despite being right-handed!) He is just so much more natural on the left! So far, so good. Now we have to hightail it to the store and get him a left-handed mitt! Tt-ball is Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm, which is already presenting a challenge for me getting all of our crew ready, fed, and out the door by 5 for practice. I assume it will get better as the weather is nicer and I get into more of a groove with routine. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Running the bases at his first practice. Go M!!

Happy Monday all!

God bless,

Sitting Back, Appreciating

What a wonderful weekend it has been...

We've been able to commune with family, with good friends. We had a blast with Red and family--we were having such a good time, we took nary a picture. Shux! We'll just have to let the memories live on in our minds. Highlights for me included chatting with Red at the kitchen table, watching the kids play in the yard, relishing an afternoon hail storm and seeing the kids' excitement, eating a yummy dinner, the result of fruits of labor, watching basketball and talking Church in the late hours of the night. Goodness.

I've been able to run and meet goals; to go beyond myself. You can't beat a road race that just feels good. I felt strong and focused the whole way and was pleased that my goals were reasonable for the amount I was able to train. I would have liked to get more runs in, but for now, my kids need me more than the gym does and that's okay. As long as I can go out and enjoy a run or two like this one, I'm a satisfied mama.

I've been able to worship my Lord in Mass and at home; in prayer; in marriage. I am reminded how good Lent is for GG and I.

I've been able to kick back this afternoon and revel in extended family and the prospect of a fun evening of catechesis with family friends of ours.

I've been able to love friends in their time of need and feel their love in return. Nothing like the goodness of helping others. I need to remember this always.

To top it off, the sun is shining to make a beautiful day.

God bless you,

Thoughts for Thursday

Hello dear ones! How are ya??? With t-ball starting up and soccer now in full swing, this week has completely gotten away from me. While I have a moment, here's a glimpse into life in G-Ville...

What am I cooking?

This gal's awesome Enchilada Mess. It is a very delicious, make-ahead-of-time casserole'ish dish that we all love. The corn tortillas totally make it. Amy and her family are very dear to us from our Notre Dame Law days. At the end of our three years, she and her husband put together a recipe book with photos and recipes we all contributed. I love to cook from it and and think of my dear, fellow ND law wives. It is really heartwarming.

What are my weekend plans?

We are so excited to be welcoming Red and her family for the weekend. They are coming from afar just to see us, which is amazing and so special. On the docket for our time together is my 10k Saturday morning (Go B-mama!!), some local hot spot visits later morning, the boys' soccer games in the afternoon, and lots of good down time in-between. Thanks for coming Red family, we can't wait to see you!!

What are my prayer intentions for the day?

For this little girl, who has just endured double spinal fusion surgery, and for her family. God speed, dear Harlie!! You are one incredible little lady!! We are honored to live down the street from these friends and are looking forward to welcoming them back healthy and on the mend in a couple of weeks.

What can my children do instead of watching TV?

Play on the computer? Lego.com? Just kidding. I know it's basically the same thing. What about heading to t-ball practice to watch our oldest brother start this new sport? Add in hill rolling and grass-picking and we've got a new form of entertainment!

What have I done for my marriage this week?

I have given lots of hugs. I have attempted to listen before speaking. I have been open and honest. The result? Overall goodness.

What am I reading?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. So far, so good. I'm liking it's southern spin.

What's challenging me lately?

To be honest, M's piano practice. He is doing so well and his teacher is loving his progress. The weekly "to-do" list, though, is rather daunting. For a fledgling player, this translates into *a lot* of time commitment necessary from teacher mama. And let me tell you, we are devoting a good part of our afternoons to this endeavor! Thankfully, the youngest two are usually napping at the time, but that leaves T in the lurch. I think I need to speak up to the teacher and let him know we are a little swamped. Less is more. I want to be sure M continues to enjoy playing... Thankfully, he is really good so far about heading to practice when I ask. This is SO much better than I ever was!

Something that made me think?

The current situation in Libya is a bit overwhelming. I have been reading various reports and articles and spending some time talking with GG about the whole affair. It is amazing to me that a man like Qaddafi has remained in power since the 1960's. That's one impressive (and sinister) regime. It is difficult to know whether or not international involvement in the affairs is the right move. We recently welcomed back my BIL from Afghanistan and I can't help but question whether or not our military can handle more international involvement. Whether our motivations in Libya are sincere (ousting an evil tyrant) or selfish (for oil access), we are now involved and there's no getting out of it.

Shamrockin' 2011

It's about time we give proper credit where credit is due...

CONGRATULATIONS GG! WAY TO GO ON YOUR HALF-MARATHON!!

The whole family traveled to Virginia Beach this past weekend to cheer on our GG in the Yuengling Shamrock half-marathon. It was grand fun!

We moseyed there mid-day on Saturday, arrived early, and dropped GG and the two middle boys off to pick up GG's race packet at the expo. We got our first dose of goodness when as I was waiting, a first row spot opened and I got it! Thank you, Lord! Sometimes it really is all about the little things for me. The boys were soon back and away we went! We checked into the hotel and quickly changed into bathing suits. GG and the two older boys were quick to the water, while I stayed on the side of the pool with the little ones in my lap. J was really scared (he had been expecting a baby pool), so he was really happy to stay dry and close. Little MG knew nothing different and enjoyed watching her big brothers in the pool.

Time was running short, so we ran up to the room, changed, and headed off to Mass at a church down the way. After Mass we jetted back to the hotel to meet our friends, K, B, and baby C, who were also in town for the race. We all ate dinner together and enjoyed each other's company. Dinner was uneventful aside from a near choking episode (MG chewing on a french fry) quickly resolved and a frisbee thrown in the restaurant (T--thankfully he hasn't learned to throw well yet! :). Yes, that's our version of uneventful.

We lingered a bit over dinner before heading up to our rooms. We jammied and read stories before assigning M and T one double bed, J and Daddy the other, MG to the sink area, and B-mama to the sofa bed (lucky me! I insisted since GG had his race) GG put on some Gregorian chant music (via my iPad) and the boys quieted and went to sleep easily. MG was out and GG and I spent a little time reading before hitting the hay. As we went to bed, little did we know neither he nor I would sleep much in the hours that followed...

Cue a loud chainsaw-like noise every time someone above us flushed the toilet or used the shower/sink. We'd fall asleep... REEEE... get the baby back to sleep... REEE... get the baby back to sleep... REEEEEE... You get the picture. To say it was infuriating is a complete understatement!!! I was so angry, I went bleary-eyed down to the front desk at 2am, demanding a full refund on our room! For those of you who know me know it takes a lot to get me to this point... but I was SO there!!! The situation was pretty miserable.

The man at the desk offered us a new room, but I wasn't about to move our entire family and luggage to new digs at 2am. Instead, he promised to pass the issue to the manager at the next shift...

Alas, we "slept" through the rest of the night rather fitfully. At 3:30am GG and I moved MG's crib into another area of the room that was less noisy. Thankfully the boys slept through it all. GG and I were able to catch a few winks until it was time for GG to wake up for his race. Poor guy. I just felt so bad for him--on top of not sleeping well, he had a weird stomach/vertigo thing going on, so I knew it was a lot asking his body to run 13.1 miles! But he did it!! And he did great!!

G-Ville cheering section--thank goodness for our blanket borrowed from the hotel! They totally owed us!

7am cheering sweetness

Friend K and snuggly C

We missed cheering him at 3 miles by a nanosecond (I was getting the last of the kids out of the car as he zoomed by!), but caught him at mile 9 to offer some much needed encouragement. He was apparently hurting a bunch, but from our perspective looked really strong!

Here he comes!! Shedding pants and shirt that were tied around his waist!

Heading off toward the finish line. Go Daddy!

>We stuck around to cheer on K's hubby and then headed toward the finish line, which took a good 45 minutes or so... *Finally* we were able to link up with our guy and give him the hugs he deserved! He needed them and was feeling pretty lousy, so we all headed back to the car and went back to the hotel.

The awesome finishers, looking happier than they feel!

Back at the hotel, we gathered our things and checked out. I managed to get 50% off the room rate and a complimentary future stay. I was satisfied. We ended our time with a romp on the beach for the boys to enjoy some sand and surf.

Congratulations to our wonderful GG! We're so proud of you.

We'd follow you anywhere to be your biggest, loudest cheering section!

Hugs,

Success!

We went for the dress for the classic photo--just the feminine touch to set her apart from her brothers!

One of Daddy's favorites

Mommy's fave--*love* the big smile! She most looks like T in this shot.

I'm so happy with the outcome from our session Friday and so glad to get it over with! We started off with a guy taking the shots and little MG wouldn't give him ANY sugar. Nothing! Poor guy. I had to politely tell him that she seems to prefer women over men... sure enough, we waited for the next available female photographer and were home free! Whew! Now, to get on those frames...