Summer Wrap Up

Here are a few pics from the rest of our summer.......


We were able to spend the last two weeks of July up at the cabin which is so good for the kids. They escape the heat and are able to get outside and just be kids. The Fahrendorfs came up for five days like they have done for the past several years and the kids have such a good time hiking, playing games on the porch, going down to the playground, playing soccer, making up plays, going on the zip-line, and just hanging out upstairs in "the dorm". It is so nice for me to spend time with Alisha and share our joys and pains of raising our families. After they left, the kids and I braved the parish camping trip and with the help of such wonderful friends, we had a really fun day playing in the creek. The next week Colin and Natalie came up and Mark was able to spend a few days up there also. I really do love the quiet, simple times up there. The first week of August saw us shopping for school supplies, having much missed friends over and getting together with the neighborhood clan for and end of summer bash at the Kalkbrenner's. The giant water slide was a hit with the kids and adults alike (although Mark and I had some scrapes and bruises!). I do love summer but there is always a part of me that is ready for the routine and rhythm of the school year. I am so thankful and feel so blessed that our summers are packed with memories the kids will take with them the rest of their lives.

My Sweet Surprise

Eleven years ago today, I was standing at this same parade on the 4th of July about 36 weeks pregnant. Little did I know that just 2 days later I would go into labor (3 weeks early I might add) and deliver a sweet, delicate little baby girl. You see, I was convinced I was having a boy. Everything felt the same as when I was pregnant with Diego. We did not find out what we were having so on July 6th, 2000, we got our sweet surprise. Juliana, you are a beautiful young lady and I have enjoyed watching you surprise everybody with your abilities. God bless you and may you have a wonderful year!

Making Memories

Our trip to San Diego has come and gone and these are a few of many great pics from the week. This is the second year we have gone with a large group of both our families and it really is the best. I have so many childhood memories from Mission and I feel happy for our kids that we are creating many of the same memories. The best part of the trip is the laid back, no schedule, hang out mentality that we all have. You find yourself falling into conversation with different members of the family, catching up, swapping parenting stories, and laughing a lot. We swim, we fish, we jump waves, catch ghost shrimp, and have the best relay race ever. Yes, relay race. Just picture 30 people of all ages running up and down the beach doing crazy events like dizzy wiffle ball and beach chair hurdles. Silly, crazy fun. Hope we can just keep making memories.

Happy Birthday to Me

I heard a lot of falling dominoes in the making of this creation. As a Mom, it is sights like this that make it all worth it. Nobody told them to do it. Nobody told them to keep at it when setting up dominoes can be sooo frustrating. Here I am, 37 years old, wife for 13+ years, mother of five, surrounded by creative love on my birthday. Happy Birthday to Me.

Season Finale

Whew! We did it. We pulled off another season - the best ever I might add. It has been so fun watching the kids play and seeing the fields come alive with family and friends. And there is the adorable Commish. Mark really puts his heart and soul into this league and I try to be as supportive as I can. He is a people magnet. I truly think his energy, happy spirit and inclusive nature have transformed this league.

Every year I wince a little when I think of how busy we are running this thing. When we are at the field, Mark is going around making sure everyone has what they need and the fields are top shape. I am most often in the snackbar feeling guilty that I never get to just sit and watch my children play. But we make every effort to see them as much as we can and this year was particularly fun to watch. Diego's pitching and level of play this year was exciting. Jules may be smaller than a lot of the girls she plays against, but she holds her own and FLIES around the bases. Elise was often put at pitcher because she could be counted on to make the plays. And Paolo - let me just say the kid gets dressed in full uniform 2 or 3 hours before his game starts and if you ask him, his team has one every game. Good times.

Well, I can't say I am not glad the season is done. Time for a little R and R and summer vacation!

Batman and Boogers

I am tired. It is the end of the school year, there are a million things going on and I am tired. Whenever I feel exhausted like this, I have to find humor and happiness in the little things. Today, it was Batman. I don't know why I thought this was so funny but as I walked down the hall this morning, this is what I saw. I think there may have also been a booger smeared across the wall nearby, but I didn't think anyone wanted to see a picture of that. Anyways, it just made me think of how funny kids are. I mean, most adults I know don't go around the house and shove toys in random places - but kids do. They also wipe boogers on the wall. Just enough to make me giggle today. And that is just enough to keep me rolling.

Center of the Universe - Speck of a Star

Being the mother of five children of various ages can be challenging. Each is at a different stage, has different needs, and I am often left wondering if I am doing enough. But something occurred to me the other day that brought me some peace. One of the trickiest parts of being a parent is making our children feel like they are SO special, SO loved, SO important - in other words, the center of the universe - while simultaneously helping them to realize that they are a speck of a star in the scheme of things. This crazy paradox keeps me guessing, trying new tactics and constantly re-evaluating my parenting skills. How can I love them and give them my all without turning them into little monsters who can't see beyond their own wants and desires? But so much of this epic lesson is inherently taught in daily life of a family, especially a large family. I can't be everything for everyone at all times and so they learn to be there for each other, be patient, and be prepared for things to go just a little different than they planned. Of course this usually happens in the form of a few shoves, some shouting and maybe even a few tears, but it happens.