A little science anyone?

We had an interesting day yesterday... (warning - potential grossness factor!)

All in the name of science and learning I thought I'd share two incidents that happened. The first occurred as I went to take out the garbage and recycling to the curb. Oops, in the garage I found the reusable bag that we had stored all of the trash and recycling from the car ride home. We like to bring home anything that can be recycled as we know that the restaurants won't. I usually have a bag for trash, for the green bin and for recycling in the car that we then easily dispose of once we get home. Well, dinner had been Swiss Chalet. And that had been Sunday and it was now Thursday morning. And it had been hot. Very hot over the last few days. So yep - I shrieked. There was a lot of white moving going on let me tell you! So once I had collected myself, I (much more calmly) called the kids to come and take a look. After showing them and explaining what it was I then cleaned out the containers and bag - very quickly and carefully. The wet bucket I dumped down the sewer. I can't believe how many there were. YUCK!

Onto science incident number 2. I've been really disturbed over the last month or so that there have been what appeared to be mouse droppings on our table in the back yard. One of those things that gives you the heeby geebies thinking you have the little critters running over your things. Especially where you eat. There have been no signs of them in the house but still. And it is a nuisance - always disinfecting the table, keeping the kids clear, making sure you aren't dropping the droppings on the deck. You know.

So yesterday I have all the kids (7 of them) ready to go swimming and of course it is warm and there is no shade there. So I go to put up the umbrella. and there are droppings. So I clean it up. Then I open up the umbrella and there are about 3 wasps under the umbrella. I quickly grab the spray and (gasp I know - sorry Sarah) but I sprayed them. I hate them around the kids (and to be honest, me). Anyway, I then notice this dark blob that is not moving. Upon further investigation and then some jumping up and down in spine tingling heeby jeebiness, I realize I have just sprayed a BAT.

About a month ago when I went to open the umbrella a small bat had been hanging in amongst the folds and I obviously disturbed it and although it scared me, I thought oh well and away it flew. I don't really have anything against bats. They are just a little freaky and startling. Usually more scared of us then we are of them. So then I realized that the droppings were from the bat and I had probably just killed it with the spray. By this time the kids were wondering what I was up to and came to investigate. Once I realized it was actually living and was in fact still sleeping (and Drew convinced me to just let it be???) I did just that. But there is something about eating your lunch under a sleeping bat that just didn't sit right so we didn't. And if it continues to make its home there, well... Let's just say I won't be eating there a whole lot. The kids continued to check on it over the course of the day and it was still there until we checked after dinner. There wasn't any sign of it there today.

So there you have it. A few lessons for the kids. A few lessons for me. I tend to startle easily but once I get over it I really do find the animal kingdom rather fascinating. All a part of the circle of life. Shall we sing?

I like clean floors

Today I learned that I really like a clean floor...no matter how long it lasts (and around here that is not long).

It was a bit of a frustrating day around here. I think it all started when Mitchell stirred around 7:30 am. Lately he's been doing that but then I nurse him a bit and he has been staying alseep until 9ish. This morning I was thinking that he might be needing to pee and also wondering how this timing is going to work once school starts next week. So I peed him - and then he was up. And then when he was showing signs of tiredness around 9 am he only fell back asleep for about 1/2 hour. Not nearly long enough. I tried several times over the course of the day but basically,between interruptions and not really getting upstairs when he needed me to, he didn't end up getting a good nap until 3:30. Then he slept for an 2 hours. Pheww. He AND I needed that. I think he got a total of 20 minutes in there around noon.

Let's just say it made me a little crusty. And the kids paid for it, well Drew too but we're not going there. I had promised the kids that they could swim when he went down (he had been miserable while I made lunch so once it was made and served we high tailed it upstairs). The kids then all got ready to swim and then he woke up. Ahh! Well long story short we made it through and I was glad when he finally went down and stayed down. Funnily (is that a word?) the kids asked for some "quiet time" where they could watch some tv while I took him to bed. Are they in tune or what (nudge nudge wink wink!)

So where is this all going? When he finally went down to sleep my precious time was used doing the dishes and loading the dishwasher, putting all of the swim clothing away, sweeping the floor and quickly washing it, serving more snack, sweeping the floor again, saying goodbye to the kids and talking with the diaper lady and then, then, since he was still sleeping !!!! I went to work on the downstairs computer - where I got literally 14 minutes before he woke up. Amazing. But you know what? The floor did it. I know it got dirty only 10 minutes afterwards but it brought such satisfaction that it was actually cleaned.

I know. Sometimes it is just the small things. Now if I can get the little guy to sleep with all the hub bub around here!

He slept on his own!

whew! I just got a few hours where Mitchell slept in the stroller bassinet - inside! This is like the second time that this has happened - he has slept outside at the park but most of the time here

• dusted the first floor
• put away my and household laundry
• finished zucchini cake
• tidied first floor
• tidied master bedroom
• sorted some clothes given and loaned to Mitchell
• drain treatment (again!) for the master sink
• reorganizedMarlee's closet to allow space for (some of) Mitchell's things

And where were the kids during this? Playing with Bendaroos, making a scavenger hunt for Kyra with the playdough eggs and then playing with playdough. And now, we are doing tidy up and about ready for lunch and Mitchell is about done his! Let's hope the afternoon goes just as well!

I have spent most of the day doing...

...nothing. Except watching Mitchell that is. I could watch him all day. A few people have mentioned how different this little guy will have it - since our other guys are older and out of the house a few days a week, I will have this little guy all to myself for a lot of the time. And I am a different parent now then I was when I first had Matthew. A lot more relaxed. A lot more knowledgeable. Hopefully a lot more in tune with what he needs. And so far it's cool to just sit and relax and get to know him.


That's not to say that the house and everything around us isn't driving me a bit crazy. When I knew Mitchell was going to be entering his sleep time I did get a few of those nagging things done - not as many as are on my mental TO DO list though.

• sweep stairs and upstairs hallway (check)
• vacuum upstairs bedrooms (check)
• wash bathroom floors (check)
• load of laundry
• put away large booster seat that has been on the pool table for three weeks
• put away easter bucket and decorations
• do a blog post (check)
• put carpet back in front hall
• take library books back
• do thank you cards
• SCS scrapbooks for auction (that's coming up soon!)
• figure out where to put Mitchell's accumulating wardrobe (we'd figured out about sleeping but somehow forgot about his "stuff")

This not being able to lift is starting to have its toll. And I don't want to burden Drew too much with a honey do list when he gets home too. So I'm practicing my patience. It will all get done in due time.

We're Home!

Well we have made the transition from a family of 5 to 6 (except that Cierra isn't here right now) and we are so glad to be home! I have to say that it was so nice to look around at the living room Drew prepared that I shed a quick tear. Don't get me wrong - the hospital was fine but there is just something about home.

Drew transformed the living room into my own little haven for the next week or so. I am going to try to be good and not use the stairs very much for at least a week (although I will need to shower!). I guess just because I'm not stopping the daycare I want to reduce the stress on my body in other ways as much as possible - and I also think the bed might be more difficult to get out of then the couch. That and Marlee still joins us regularly in bed and I'm not sure how this will work with Mitchell. I also know that once I allow myself to start going up and down the stairs, it won't be long before I regularly want to use them. So Drew got the couch ready for me to sleep on, the pack and play with the diaper station all ready and he even brought down the tv from our bedroom. It's quite a sweet deal.

We were able to leave the hospital around 12:30 and made a pit stop at Taco Bell take-out for lunch (I'm sure that is comparable to the ducosate sodium I have to take LOL!). Drew got us settled and then he went back to work. The kids were so excited to see us home after school, it was really sweet. I think Marlee in particular found me being away a little hard. She was a little emotional at times but held her own well. Again though, just glad to be home. Grandpa John brought them home and stayed at the house until Drew got in - a little odd for me to be waited on but I could get used to having someone do the dishes, prepare the snacks, tidy up - you get the idea!

So this is the plan for the next couple of weeks - I have someone in every day to help with the older kids and to do the drop-offs and pick-ups for school. All in the hopes of taking it easy for a few days so that I am really ready to do the walking. It does allow me some time to rest and get back into things slowly. It is so nice to have such willing friends and family to help out.

Now if I could just get Drew to stop making me laugh!!!

Barefoot and pregnant and in the kitchen

Drew seemed to get a big kick out of this cliche moment... and doing the dishes none-the-less!

Our house, in the middle of our street...a lesson learned

Today's lesson prompt reminds us to look at all we learn from within the walls we live in. Our home has come to mean so much more to me over the years. Even within this last year as we spend more time here and in our neighbourhood I am learning how much our home has to offer us.

We are comfortable here. We have a great neighbourhood of friends. We have a great back yard. We are not the richest in our neighbourhood but we are blessed beyond measure. We are close to the beach, to great parks, to shopping, to the school, to our friends, to forests, to ponds. Our family and friends like to be here and that says a lot. It is the perfect size for us. At one time I wanted bigger - that just means more to clean. We are creating a lot of incredible memories. We are forming some wonderful new friendships and relationships here - especially with new school friends. Life can be crazy around here but that's half the fun. There may be little changes we want to make but I love where we are right here - right now.

I learned that I love our home and wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now.