I had an idea to post last week, then, six days ago, then three days ago. Yeah, I'm finally getting around to it. Now I have to put them all together.

Last Sat. we went to a party at Dan's cousin's house. They live by a lake and own a boat. We had the joy of being taken on a boat ride- a first for my kids. It was so fun, and funny. They were all in life jackets. It was pretty cool out, especially with all the wind. The kids had a really good time and did better than I thought. They weren't scared at all, even when we were going really fast. It was funny to see them stumble around as they moved from the front to the back. It was cute toward the end when we were going really fast, Rose was kneeling in the front seat, holding on, her hair blowing in the wind. Dominic was in the front with me, his eyes barely open due to all the wind.

Sam just looked, and looked, and sat with Dan.

Then on Sunday, we headed to the Great Darke County fair. We left mid afternoon. We had jackets on then. It was unusually cool that day, and we had jackets on the whole time. What a far cry from those memories of sweltering hot fair days! So we were nice and cool. We looked at all the animals. The kids really loved the chicken barn this year. We just enjoyed walking around and eating anything that struck our fancy.

We went to the fair again on Wed. with my mom and dad. It was a lot warmer, but still not sweltering. We looked at some of the booths, but the highlight would have to have been the rides (thanks to my parents!). Sam rode the carousel for the first time, clinging to me the whole time, but not crying. DD and Rose liked it, and mom and dad were riding in the seats behind us. The kids rode a few other rides, and were having so much fun. I asked if they wanted to go on the dragon one (little roller coaster). Yes, yes, yes! as they ran toward it. I had to laugh. They had no idea what they were in for. They got in and I took pictures and everything. Then the ride started and went around three times. My kids were the only ones not holding their hands up. they were holding on to the bar for dear life. I could see the panic in DD's face, and Rose's clenched jaw. So the guy stopped the ride, let my kids off, and then started the ride again. I was really proud they went on it. Rose admitted it was a little scary, but okay. A little too fast. DD was grumpy about it, saying he didn't like that ride. I asked if the hill made their stomach turn upside down, DD said it made his whole self turn upside down. Hard to do much else in the fair after all that excitement. We got a bite, and the kids were wanting to play games. We made our way back for my kids 'last ride' before my parents headed home. Then we watched them spend their own money on a game. A game that was way too much money for the cheap toy they chose as a prize. But we let them do it, it hopes of someday teaching them that, basically, those games aren't worth it! Sorry, Dan and I are just too practical, and thrifty! We tried not to kill it for them and let them actually have fun playing the games and getting a prize. And they did. Rose's dart gun is still being fought over by all the kids.

I had an appt. Friday and things with baby are going fine. I'm waiting to feel movement, and noticing my belly grow a little more. Rose likes to pat my belly and smile and say something about how big it is getting. Sam points to my belly when I ask him where the baby is...after he points to his own belly, and DD's.

Making progress

I can't believe we rode our bikes all the way to the park today.

About a week ago, we drove to a auto shop around the corner, dropped the van off, and all took a bike ride home. Sam decided he didn't want to ride on the tricycle that had a convenient handle on the back for me to push. He walked the whole way home, while I pulled the trike. Rose zipped from block to block, waiting at each for us. And then DD. He has a 16" bike with training wheels. He's still a bit nervous about riding it, but I know he can. We went a about four blocks, walking the bikes across each intersection. Then it happened. DD came upon the end of the block sooner than he thought, had to swerve around Rose, and then braked hard. But he was starting down the ramp to the street. It was all too much for his little training wheels and he just fell. So he walked his bike after that. I kept coaxing him to get back on. He did at one point. He went so slow, though, and kept braking every few minutes, I had a hard time walking behind him. So he go off and walked again. I finally told him, that after we crossed the street (this is about eight blocks after the fall), he had to get back on the bike. He fought it. I insisted. We worked it out that I would hold on to the back of his bike (while pulling the trike). So we went about a half a block that way. He took off, and rode all the way home (about half of the distance of our trip).Yeah!

So today, I told Rose she had to ride her 'big' bike. She does fine without training wheels, but we recently got her a 16" bike. She fell once because she doesn't know how to handle the height with stopping. We practiced several times in the driveway, and I held on to her bike as she learned to stop and put her foot down before the bike fell over. So I thought we'd ride to the end of the long block. We made it all the way there, even with Sam riding in the tricycle. We did so well, we kept going to the bike path that takes you to the nearby park. It was great!

We're at that stage with Sam, where he says something like "eeld", "eeld". And you look him right in the eye and say "what????" "eeld", "eeld". I give up "kids, what is he saying?" Dominic says something totally off the wall. My dear Rose "shield, Mom. He's looking for his shield."

Oh! How did I make it through the other kids without Rose to interpret?

I like Sam's word for popcycle: "ickle"

Despite my complete and utter neglect of my dear garden, it keeps producing! Such an odd assortment of things, though. Like a bowl full of grape tomatoes, only two or three romas, a zucchini or two each week, and cucumbers...more than I would like. Not that we don't love cucumbers, but these are baby ones, meant for pickling. Normally, that would be great, if I felt like pickling them. I'm doing good getting laundry and dishes done- no energy left for the poor cucumbers. I feel soo bad about that. (Never grew a baby and a garden at the same time, so I'm learning).

I guess it wouldn't be so bad if the cucumbers were the right size. Almost all of them are too big, which taste bitter if you just slice and eat them, and can cause 'soggy' pickles if you pickle them. And I can't figure out for the life of me why they're so big! I'll go out there every few days and see if there's anything needing picked (there always is). The cucumbers are either itty bitty, or huge. I just can never seem to pick them at just the right size. I can understand when I'm really lazy and don't go out there for a week or so, but it just seems like these huge cucumbers were just and inch long when I was out there last! Oh, well. I still think I'm going to make soggy pickles anyway. At least I hope to find the energy to one of these days...soon.

I shredded and froze some zucchini today. I felt so accomplished!

I also made a decent dinner! Meat- from a recipe- lots of veggies. It was very yummy, and again I felt so accomplished.

Sam is so cute lately!!! I'm finding that he's playing more and less clingy to me. He is talking more. He'll repeat a lot, and is putting two words together more and more. He does great at saying meal prayers with us (only about 25% of the words, but he follows with us saying them!). The same is true for other routine prayers, like tonight it was the Angel of God. We ended up saying it three times, and he said it with us each time. Yeah! So cute how he says all his words.

He's also really good at following directions. He's the first of all my kids to respond when I say something: 'get your shoes on.' Within minutes, he's bringing me his shoes, while the others aren't even aware I'm talking. 'Let's have lunch.' He'll go in the kitchen and sit at the table, waiting for me.

Yesterday we were cleaning up the living room, a job my kiddos are just not very good at. There were toys all over the floor. I told Sam he had to pick up the little people, since he got them out. He sat there and filled his whole box with people...all by himself! It was so cool! DD helped him cram the lid on, and once in place, he lugged this box, which was big for him, all the way down the hall to put it away. I wish I had a picture of that little kid, leaning and walking, carrying this big rubbermaid box by the handle, as he trudged down the hall. What a trooper. Need more like that one. Except the clingy, tantrum part. And the inherent messes he creates.

Hey, he's two. What can I say. I'll definitely take the good with the bad. The good is just sooo good. It far outweighs the tantrums and messes!

It's August. Then September, which means school. Lots of folks on DCHN are talking about planning for school and all. I feel like I should be too! I did go through all our books today, and cleaned off Rose's school desk. I feel like a nut, because I actually listed all the books we have on a few different google documents. I thought, if I do this now, it might might be easy to add any new books I do get to the list. Here's hoping it will help me stay organized.

I am excited, though about this year. I feel like I have a goal this time. I have most of the books and things for Rose, and lots of little workbooks for Dominic. Not sure what I'm going to do with Sam.

Too tired to blog, too tired to do anything! Ugh, can't shake this fatigue! I know I'm supposed to need more rest, but I guess I can't get used to being only half as productive as normal.

We went camping in IN this past weekend. Went to Pokagon State Park with some of the Langes. We had a great time. We got a late start Friday, so we didn't get there till about 9:30p, then we had to set up our 'mansion' tent. It is pretty big. I think we finished around midnight.

Saturday was fun. Breakfast was nice and fun to cook. We went hiking while some went horseback riding. We headed to the beach but the sky was really overcast. The kids swam for about 30 min. and were too cold to continue. We headed back to camp to make a great dinner, then after sending the kids to bed, sat around the fire till we were too sleepy.

Sunday was rushed. We went to Mass, others packed up, and we all met at the lodge for brunch. They had a wonderful buffet, that filled our bellies for the rest of the day! We packed up after breakfast, filled our water bottles at the spring in the park (that was so cold and yummy), and then hit the road.

That's the trip in a nutshell. I'll tell more details and pics later.

Then, upon coming home, I made the wonderful discovery of lice in my hair. Ugh. It is so annoying. I'm just thankful the kids don't have it.

And that's all I'm going to say about that.

And that's where I am now. Tired, amidst piles and piles of clean laundry, on a clean, vacuumed couch, in a vacuumed, once toy-free living room...tired.

I am proud that I managed to declutter and clean a bit of the kitchen today. I think I'm going to clean the whole house, really clean and declutter, one room at a time. I don't think I'm necessarily unclean, or have and unclean household, but this lice thing makes me want to clean everything, and keep it clean...forever.

Oh, but then I'm back to the tired thing. I can only do a few things a day before I'm exhausted. Darn. What a wicked combination.