Escaped

Recently we were made aware of a new activity here in RVA, and had to try it out for ourselves. (Apparently these are really popular on the West Coast? But we just recently had one open near us.) It's called an "escape room". It features several different rooms (they rotate them out as people have a chance to do them) where you and some friends are locked in, with nothing but whatever clues you can figure out from the room you are in, and an hour to get out. Obviously nothing bad happens if you don't get out in an hour, other than having your pride wounded a little.

It was trickier than I was expecting! Not scary, although they DO have rooms that are supposed to scare the bejeezus out of you...especially with Halloween coming up. It was a lot of crazy weird clues that we had to use to figure out the combinations to multiple different locks. That ultimately led us to figuring out the combination on the lock that led to the escape route. We made it out with about a minute to spare. (It actually was sooner than that...but we were stubborn and wanted to try and solve the last clue that we hadn't solved. We didn't need that one to actually get out of the room.)

It was SO much fun, and I really want to go back and do it again soon! It was great to just have a night out with some of our fav people. (Thanks to the littlest sister for wrangling 6 hooligans so we could make it happen. She's the most responsible adult I know. And she's only 16.) It's nice to occasionally BE the kid, and not worry about the kids. I always realize that when I do manage to "escape" my house. Seriously, guys...we need to get out more.

Baby Blessing Squared

There is nothing quite like a brand new baby. Well...except maybe TWO brand new babies. Oh my goodness y'all, I am such a proud "auntie" right now. One of my best friends in the whole world (we've been friend since high school, and were college roommates as well) recently had baby boy twins. We have the type of friendship that isn't affected by life's busy seasons, and the flex of change and growth, or even separate countries now and then. We both have been through crazy times where it's harder to stay in touch, but are always able to come back right where we left off. That understanding and flexibility is something I've always appreciated and loved. I'm glad we get to share this new phase together as well!

I may be a little bit biased, cuz they are practically family to me, but they are SO gorgeous. I was so thrilled to be able to take a few pictures of them in the hospital, and snuggle them for a little while. I am so excited for their parents, and for the future that I know from experience will be filled with sleepless nights, inexpressible joy, heart-stretching love, frustration, and growth. There is nothing like being a parent...and these two are going to rock it. They are such awesome people, and so deserving of these blessings that have been brought into their lives. Raising kids is one of those things you can't really explain...it's so much bigger than you...and I'm so glad that they are going to get to experience it.

I can't wait to watch these two little men grow up. I hope that there are lots of play dates in our future. (You hear that, Ellen? These guys better be at my house a lot once they don't need mama every couple hours! ;) I'm happy to give you a break and I know several -or four- hooligans who would love it!) They have such a bright future, and I know how loved and wanted they are. Grow well, baby boys...you are two very special people and I'm glad to know you and your parents!

Art Therapy?

Tirzah is always drawing or coloring this or that. She often makes cards for people, and my fridge is covered with things she's made. Coloring is her love language. ;) She also loves to give art tours of her work as well. She gives her pieces names, and gets extremely offended when a brother (you can probably guess which one) rips up a paper or crumples it a little.

Recently she handed me this paper, which she had spent a lot of time working on. She calls it "Dark Stormy Night at Chuy's". I could barely keep a straight face...she was so serious about it. We had recently had dinner at Chuy's, and as we were leaving a really bad storm happened. Obviously she thought this was needing to be documented in a piece of artwork. If we could get her to work on drawing her feeling instead of crying/yelling them...she would probably be the next Picasso.

In Case You Wonder...

...why I can't seem to be on time anywhere I go. I would just like to present to you, exhibit A)

I am incredibly grateful that they all want to be this close to me, don't get me wrong. I am also incredibly grateful for the bathroom in my bedroom, even though it's tiny. (We have 3 bathrooms in this house. It's really nice compared to the 1 we had in a previous house.) But the two of those facts combined make it really hard to get ready to leave to go anywhere in a timely fashion. (I mean, on top of the diapers that need to be changed and people who have psychological problems with putting on shoes and that someone keeps getting undressed instead of getting in the van and then someone always spills something right as I'm walking out the door) I feel like my bathroom is a clown car...how many people can you fit in there at one time? At least clowns are funny, right? 

The Blob

I have recently mentioned how Tirzah is my kiddo who will lay around like a blob...on the couch, watching TV, snuggled up with her blankie, for hours and hours on end. If she was left undisturbed I think she would lay there until she became a part of the furniture like a fossil. I am sometimes not sure how to handle her lack of energy in contrast to the other three's excessive amounts of energy.

Don't get me wrong, she has a ferocious personality, and can run wild with the rest of them, but most of her energy comes out of her mouth and her tear ducts. She doesnt particularly like an over abundance of physical exercise, and while her brothers would stay outside for hours she gets too hot and always seems to have a "cramp" in her side. We often take walks at night, and she has been known to negotiate with Jericho until somehow she is riding in the stroller while he is walking. She recently asked me could she have a wheelchair, simply because she was tired of walking.

I joke a lot about this particular aspect of her personality...but she is also my only kiddo who will sit for hours drawing pictures for me. She will often make me cards, and things to put on the fridge. If she hears it's your birthday you can expect she will sit at the table for hours making a card, or 50, so you feel properly celebrated. She may like to lay on the couch for 75% of the day, but I guess at least someone in this house sits down.

Homeschooligan '15

We officially started back to school today! (That exclamation point is serving to try and convince me that I'm excited. I love homeschooling my kids, don't get me wrong. It's just overwhelming to say the least especially in the first few days before you find that routine again, and I do so enjoy the summers where we don't have much we HAVE to do.) I'm kind of brain-fried at the moment and still need to take 4 kids to the library and to buy school supplies...so this blog might mostly be pictures of what the hooligans look like on this first day of school. Trust me, there's no fancy chalkboard signs or people with their hair actually brushed in this blog post. I mean, in theory I see myself actually doing those things, but let's be real here. Making sure everyone is still alive and smiling at the end of the day is key.

We had a good start...the hooligans were excited and eager to see what we would be doing. (I know this will wear off, but I'll take it.) Tirzah was up and dressed at 7am, and had already fixed everyone breakfast in anticipation of starting school as soon as possible. She's my little nerd, and I'm really proud of it. Merrick was even excited today, and Jericho wanted some school as well. I'll probably try and do a little informal preschool with him and see how he likes it. He really has two more years before Kindergarten starts...but if he's asking I wont say no. Caveman is his first language, so we might need two years to get ready for Kindergarten. ;)

We are now off to the library (which I should have done last week, but ya know, I was in denial and just didnt want to prepare and spend my last week of official "summer" inside reading over curriculum) to collect some books that Amaryllis will hopefully not lose or eat. At this point we will probably try to do school whenever she naps, cuz we all know she runs this place and when she is awake her subjects (the older hooligans) can't really do much else besides laugh at her and tell me everything she needs and wants. (Mom, Amaryllis needs a snack. Mom, Amaryllis needs her diaper changed. Mom, Amaryllis wants to eat these crayons. Mom, can Amaryllis use your iPhone? -Um negative on that last one. Oh, and the crayons, of course.)

Hope that everyone else had a great day back to school as well, and no crayons or library books were ingested.

Bora Barron '15

What can you say about finally taking your dream trip? I really don't have a lot of words to describe how grateful I am that I actually got to spend a week in Bora Bora. It was always just that...a dream. One that I figured would maybe happen when we were old, when I'd have to make sure Billy packed his hearing aid and didn't throw his back out. Oh, wait...I have to do that now. hehe. For real though, I thought this trip was going to be something that happened when the kids were all grown and out of the house, not now. We aren't well off by any means, but thanks to tax returns (have 4 kids...it does wonders for your tax refund) we were able to pay for most of this trip. We decided there were way more responsible and adultish things to do with our money, for sure, but was there ever going to be a "perfect" and more responsible time to take this trip? Nah. #yolo

I'm so glad we decided to go for it. I'm so glad that I have these memories to enjoy for the rest of my life, and to get me through the looooong cold school year ahead of me. (Oh gosh. I'm so not ready. Say it's not already September.) The trip really was everything I imagined it would be and more. The resort was amazing...and the staff was above-and-beyond friendly and happy. They waited on us hand and foot and made everything simple and easy for us. I said to many people that the pictures don't really do it justice, and it's true. It was more gorgeous than I even expected, and for all the hundreds of pictures I took it still just has to be seen to really capture it. The water is fluorescent blue and a million different shades, and the island is a gorgeous green velvety contrast to the white sand and blue water. There are flowers everywhere, and all kinds of birds and fish. I kind of felt like I was walking around in a painting all day.

We snorkled and swam and laid around. We shopped on the island, and slept long hours and just soaked up as much as we could. Neither one of us wanted to leave, even though we both talked everyday about how much we missed the hooligans. It was a much needed break for both of us, and we couldn't have ended up in a more beautiful spot to enjoy that break. I am missing Bora Bora kind of like a limb right now...I keep wishing we were back there for just one more day. I cried when we left, and we both agreed that we need to go back one day. Yolo, right? ;) But really, I am so grateful that we were able to live this dream of ours out. Thanks for the many of you guys who encouraged my oversharing and enjoyed it right along with us!