Time for the Run Around

Fridays are our run around days. What I mean by that is we literally have to drive to two different activities in opposite directions to drop off and pick up the older two. The younger two get stuck in the car seat from the 3:45 when it is quick get in the car from the bus and change your clothes to 5:30 and finally picking big sister back up at tap. Along the middle is, drive one direction to drop of bear at karate by 4:20 then drive in the opposite direction to drop Logan off at Tap by 4;30 then drive back again to pick up son from karate by 5pm and back again to pick Logan back up at 5:30. Then arriving home at 5:45, trying to decide what and when to fix dinner for four children who are STARVING ( like they haven't eaten in WEEKS!!!!). Do I order pizza? Throw hot dogs inthe microwave? Whatever it is STILL takes time to prepare. AND THEY CAN"T MAKE IT ANY LONGER!!!!!
Now, of course, my husband just called and he has to send his car with an employee to a job site so he needs to be picked up as well. But on't worry, yes his does work in yet another direction, swamped by 5 o clock traffic. I guess I will just squeeze it in between the children. Of course I can do it... NO PROBLEM.... at least the younger two do not get carsick!
Would somebody please hurry up and invent the Teleporter?????

The Bear and the Bus

Sounds like a great children's book, huh? Well not so much in our house, however, things do tend to be going better. I have simply decided if he can deal with it in the afternoons, then I will drive him in the mornings. Heck, I have to have everybody up and fed and dressed, throwing them in the car for the 1/2 mile drive to school is the least of my concerns. I think it really comes down to the fact that Barrettt simply does not like the bus, maybe nothing horrible is happening, he just doesn't like it and that is okay. He is seven and you do not have to love or even like the bus as long as you ride it when mommy needs you to. So, the two of us sat down and talked about ways to make the bus ride better, things to do and say, and then I packed him up and he headed out. He says it is not great but OKAY and I guess I can live with OKAY, as long as he is alright, which he seems to be for now.
A good friend asked me how do we get our little guys (and girls) to come to us when there is a problem? I sure do not know the answer but at least for the time being Bear and the rest of them seem pretty comfortable telling me what is going on and what their needs are (emotional AND physical) I hope I have and continue to create a safe and loving environment for them all and then Chad and I do the best we can when each situation arrives.

What to write?

I am trying to be good about posting most days but I more than often stumble upon the quandry of what exactly should I write? Can my life me so exciting that lots ( at least I HOPE it is lots) of people read my blog and are interested in what I have to say...
I guess if you were not intereseted, you would not read any more... Oh well, back to the quandry? What to write? What do you want to hear about? Anyone?????????
Totally off the subject, does anyone know how to check and see how many hits you have on your blog?

Another Day in the trenches

Well the week has been going pretty well, despite the fact that Daddy is out of town. YES, he was out of town last night and called this evening and said it will be at least another day. Now some would feel really sorry for my dear husband, having to work far away from home late hours into the evening and waking early to continue working BUT think about it, WORKING FAR AWAY FROM THE FAMILY. No diapers to change, table manners to correct, homework to help with, dinner to cook and kitchens to clean, baths and showers to assist with, stories to be read, and kisses and hugs to be dolled out (sometimes more than once) Does that sound like a bad thing for him? Not so much. But do not fear, Mommy is here in all her glory to pick up where Daddy can not fill in, even if it DOES involve fixng broken TVs and DVRs, changing batteries in smoke detectors (so they stop beeping in the middle of the night), and taking the trash out.
We miss you daddy, hurry home soon! I am not sure if the masking tape on the Shark will hold much longer.....

A Fine Line

Okay... I am walking a fine line right now with my eldest child. He is having a hard time on the bus. So much of a hard time, that he does not want to ride the bus. He gets very upset before school and today even called me to come and get him because he was not feeling well. I do not know if he really did not feel well ( which I doubt because he was trying to ride his bike 1 hour after arriving home) or if he was afraid to ride the bus home. Something is going on and all I can get out of him is that he does not want to go. I have talked to the counselor at school and the principal. They said Barrett needs to figure out how to solve his own problems and stand up for himself if he needs something. My problem is this. I am a stay at home mom. He does not have to ride the bus. I can easily take him to school in the mornings and with a little trouble, pick him up in the afternoons; BUT, do I need to teach him to tough things out? Does he need to solve his own problems at the ripe old age of seven or is it okay for me to protect and shelter him a bit longer? I mean, really, isn't it our job as parents to watch over, care for, and look out for our little guys? Isn't it ultimately my job as a mom to protect him and help him feel safe and secure each day? I do not want him to grow up and be such a needy child that he can not take care of himself, but he is SEVEN...
I don't know what the right thing to do is... any tips????

4 Day Weekend

Really, do the kids need to be out of school for two days RIGHT after Halloween? I guess Chesterfield County feels like it so here I am attempting to do my typical Monday routine with ALL FOUR KIDS HOME and an extra friend. No big deal but this will not be a long post becasue I just heard screaming from outside. Anyways, Happy Monday and realize they are off tomorrow as well for Election day so another post might not occur till Wednesday but i will try. Have a great day!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Okay, Happy Halloween to all a day late. Here is the picture of my crew in their costumes. Unfortunately, they did not go quite according to plan. The PLAN was to have the Justice league.. with Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Superman, and Flash... What I got was Wonder Woman, Supergirl/Tinkerbell (notice the green wings), Superman, and a scary skeleton. Chad keeps telling me it is not about what I want but what they want to be. I tend to disagree, really it is about a cute picture!
The evening went well, my wonderful mom came over, ate dinner with us, then manned the door while we took all four in our cul de sac. THEN, Cooper and Parker went back to help NANA and the older two ventured out through the rest of the neighborhood. BUT, Cooper did not go before she handed her basket to Logan and asked her to get her some more "TANDY!" Gotta love her..... So, all in all, it was a good and noneventful Halloween with not too much of a sugar high last night or crash this morning.