observations when mothering a "multitude"...

-we go through a whole pack of pudding cups at snack time
-my "one load a day" method of dealing with laundry is not working
-i was asked the other day if i was babysitting; i replied that "all these blessings are mine"
-delegating chores makes life easier... for me!
-when you vaccum (if you haven't for a month), the canister on the vaccum gets completely full
-17 freezer meals doesn't last nearly long enough
-we should buy stock in an apple juice company
-and the dairy
-and the cheerio company
-while size 3 pampers cruisers work perfectly well for the daytime, the size 4 is better at night
-while we're at it - stock in pampers is good, too
-3 bottles isn't enough if you forget to run the dishwasher all weekend
-neither is 10 dinner plates
-right now nothing scares me more than the idea of taking four kids to a wedding on saturday
-scratch that
-right now nothing scares me more than the idea that i could have missed all this because i was selfish...

relaxing Sunday...

I love Sundays.
Somehow - even with 4 kids - we still manage to get where we are going on time. I always thought that once you hit that number, you were just late everywhere! We still manage to get to church by 8:15 and THAT is no small feat!
Amy was hilarious this morning. I ironed these adorable little matching dresses for the little girls late last night. The dresses have a LOT of little intricate details that require ironing (which I LOVE to do!!!). This morning Amy said that she didn't want to wear that dress - that she wanted a different one. I am sooooo sorry Amy; I ironed it and you ARE wearing it!
We had a pretty busy day today. We had church this morning, of course. It was our last week teaching Sunday School. I have taught junior high Sunday school for 5 years (with the occasional break for Summer interns) and it is going to feel wierd to actually GO to a Sunday school class (once we resume them in September).
After church we grabbed a quick bite for lunch and then home for HAPPY NAPPY!!! I managed to squeeze in a little one :) and then it was off again...
We had a double wedding reception this afternoon. Two brothers - Andy and Toby - have weddings this summer; one already married and one will wed next month. Their folks hosted a reception at church so that we could celebrate with the couples (since both weddings are out of state). It was great to see the happy couples, but even more than that, it was SOOOOOO awesome to see Mom and Dad (of the grooms) so proud of their sons and the wonderful brides they have chosen.
Then it was off to shop and eat dinner.
I have to share my little "find" from today. I wanted a new pair of shoes for yet ANOTHER wedding that we are attending next Saturday. I was thinking about something... ummmm... sensible. After all - mothers of four have to have sensible shoes - right? Wrong! I opted for some terribly impractical Candies red patent leather, open toe pumps! I put them on and they were PERFECT! I just can't wait to wear them!
In general, I have been so afraid of taking four kids out to eat. I must say, though, that these kids are awesome and I wonder what I was so worried about! We went to Famous Dave's tonight and the kids did great. I ate WAAAAAAY too much!
So - I wanna share my heart...
people keep asking how Anna is "adjusting". I don't really know how to answer that question. YES - she is doing awesome as far as her comfort level; but that is just her personality. She is laid back and is generally a pretty happy kid. But - as far as her adjusting to us... I think she is starting to finally "get" the fact that I am her Momma and that I am for keeps. At the reception this afternoon, Austin took Anna's hand and led her off to introduce her to someone. She met the lady and then looked up for me and came - smiling - right to me. It thrills me that it appears that she is finally starting to like me (LOL) and see me as a more permanent part of her life.
So - I guess overall - Anna is adjusting well.
I have decided not to stress about it. Once again - none of this surprises GOD. He is fully aware of just how long this process of Anna's adjustment is going to take and I am choosing to trust him with it.

"I peed Anna her pood..."

Anna was still sitting at the table finishing her roll at supper.
Amy was done eating.
Amy got up from her chair and grabbed Anna's bowl.
Then we hear "I peed you your pood..."
(note - Amy says her "f" as a "p" sound - I dunno why)
We look over and see this

Did I mention that the little girls are getting along better?

again - the zoo

This is a great way to "chart" my kids growth! We try to take a picture with the kids sitting on the orangutan's hand every time we go to the zoo; I also take their pic in front of our front door and in front of the Christmas tree.

So today was the first time that we got a pic of Anna (and Amy, too, I think) with our little "friend".

If you scroll down to the next post you can see the first one we took of Ash - when she was about 5 or 6 months old! We have a TON of these pictures - although most are not on the computer (because that would require pulling out the scanner and actually scanning them in...). It's amazing how that guy keep shrinking...

wow...

...ten years just flies by...

I would have NEVER dreamed that I would be taking THIS picture today...

the little sisters...

...are getting along much better! Yay!!!

Anna had her "welcome to America - it's time for a physical" doctors appointment. So - in ture Momma Hen style - I loaded all four peeps into the niffy Tamivan and went to the clinic.
Taking four kids was NOT the problem... In fact - the older three rose to the occasion and were AWESOME! It was my newest little peep that had a hard time; there weren't even any needles involved... today. Maybe there was some serious doctor trauma in her life. Who knows. Hopefully she will learn to LOVE Dr. Leslie, just as Amy has.
In fact - Amy was such a super helper today! She let Dr. Leslie listen to her heart first - so Anna could see that it wasn't so scarey. Amy stopped shy of letting the doctor look in her ears, though.
All the while, Ash and Austin kept the waiting area entertained. I assume they behaved because people weren't clapping when we left.
Miss Anna is indeed 23 lb 7 oz and only 32" tall. I think that the reason that she measured 33" in China is because they did the ol' lay 'em down and mark the paper method. Anna isn't really "known" for staying still.

Things are going well in the chicken house. Rooster went back to work full time this week and we seem to be faring well without him (although we miss him terribly and wish he could work from home). We hope to go to the zoo tomorrow with Joy and the boys (and I have GOT to charge my camera batteries...).

Here are a couple of shots from this afternoon.



Amy and Anna having a snack

beautiful

ditto...

sisters sharing snacks and secrets?

no "good" pictures...

So I guess these will have to do :)

Seriously - these are some great pictures, but none of them are "good" in showing everyone's faces.

Here is a picture of the "little" girls wrestling Daddy on the kitchen floor on Tuesday morning.


And here are all my kids (I love, love, LOVE the way that sounds!) playing in the wading pool. I know - they are all dressed! The "bigs" were running around the backyard with the "little" girls chasing them around. Amy and Anna decided to splash their hands in the water. The bigs got in and grabbed the littles. Austin is actually trying to make his belly button "talk" (oh, dear - the things he is teaching the littles...) and Amy is fascinated!
It was a matter of minutes before Amy and Anna were naked and splashing and Ash and Austin were still clothed and SOAKED!

My littles playing "nicely" today.
It didn't last long...


A few random observations and thoughts from this still jet lagged Momma hen...

Usually when a three year old gets a new sibling, the said new sibling is a newborn. Newborns hog a lot of Momma's time and attention, but they are still months away from invading the three year old's personal space and taking their toys.

I think that Amy is still doing fairly well, but she is sooooo over "baby Anna". She still likes her (heck - she loves her) but it is really hard for a three year old to share... well... anything! She is testing boundaries and limits like crazy and I am passing the test with flying colors!

Jet lag really, really stinks!

I am so tired of being tired and I am equally tired of being wide awake in the middle of the night! I think the effects are compounded by the fact that I am the only one suffering! Anna isn't even suffering. She slept from 8:30 last night until about 8 this morning! So I push through, because... well, what other choice do I have?

I love being a Momma. I have had some serious time to ponder (mostly in the middle of the night) just how incredibly blessed I am! I am planning and preparing for the coming school year. I am keeping the "bigs" home this year. Insane? Yes. Worth it? Most definately! I have longed to "gather my chicks" together and instill in them the value of family. It is amazing to me that GOD planned that these four children would be siblings... long before he created them. I mean - think about it! Three women gave birth to these four children, and yet, they are siblings. There is some serious signifigance in that! I get excited when I imagine what kind of things GOD has purposed for these four! Wow.

So. I hear Chris pulling up outside with my Oreo Hot Fudge shake from Sonic, so I will wrap it up for now. And just so you know - jet lag makes me silly, but it also makes me think... a lot.

We're HOME!!!

As I layed out my "going home" clothes in Guangzhou, I chuckled to Amber - "my ruby red slippers - there's no place like home!" (refering to my red crocs!)
Oh - but the TRUTH in that statement!
All the horrid details of my trip home will come later. The truth is - it's drama, but it doesn't come CLOSE to comparing to this!!!


My family of SIX!!!

My little girls needed their Momma...

Tears in unison