(Almost) Wordless Weekend Recap

This is for the hubby who is in the woods and likes to relax and listen to the outdoors surf the net while he waits for deer.  Here's a recap in pictures...and a few words...of our Saturday.

Homemade jail for JohnJohn to keep him out of the boys train tracks...

Nutella stuffed French toast for breakfast...so yummy!!

A trip to see Big Mama.

Well behaved boys deserve to let of some steam at the cool Fairhope playground...

Lunch out with GranGran.

Stroller ride/walk to Old Dutch for ice cream.

A good day.  Good boys.  Tired Mommy!  Come home, Daddy, we miss you!!

Somtimes I worry...

that I don't spend enough quality time with number three.  Don't get me wrong, I spend a lot of time with him, but it's not like it was when Philip and Daniel were his age.  With them, I did puzzles, craft projects, read books, etc.  With William, it's laundry, cooking, and cleaning.  Really, it is no wonder the kid's favorite toys are a grill and vaccum.  Let's face it, running a household of six is busy work, so when two are off at school and John is asleep, William and I work.

So I worry.  I worry that he only consistently knows one color...green.  I worry that he only knows one letter...W.  He can spell his name and John's too.  But he doesn't know a single shape.  I blame that on me and the lack of time I have given him.

Truth is, though, he's by my side whenever he is awake.  No matter what I am doing, he wants to be doing it too.  He talks incessantly, but that's okay.  If he senses my tension rising, he gets quiet and then hugs my leg.  He softly says, "I wub you, Mommy."  Without fail, he says it at the right time, every time.

He carried around this picture of his Daddy and great-grandfather (and namesake) all morning!

Don't get me wrong, he says some not so sweet stuff, too.  The other day he crawled into the glider with me while I was nursing John.  Struggling to find some room, he looked at me with his big blue eyes and said in the sweetest voice, "Mommy, you got a big ol' boohiney."  Nice.

Yesterday, we got two off at school and one down for a nap.  I chose to neglect the three loads of clean laundry on my bed that needed to be folded and put away and a kitchen full of dirty dishes.  I asked William if he'd like to go read some books in his room.  We read several.  He then asked if I would lay down with him and "listen to the rain."  Sure, buddy.  We both fell asleep in his bed.  Pure bliss.

There's something about this number three.  He is pretty attuned to his surroundings...easy going...and surely he'll get those letters, shapes, and colors sometime!

A Guest Post By Daddy

Anne asked me a while back if I was interested in writing a post for her blog, particularly given all of the time we have been spending as a family at the hunting camp.  At first, I was a little skeptical.  I enjoy reading Anne's blog, but I never really have considered having a blog myself.  The more I thought about it, though, the more I liked the idea.  This is such a special time with our kids, and I really need to be better about preserving some of the memories that we are making.  My job forces me to focus on and remember so many different things that I oftentimes worry that there is not enough "room" in my memory bank to take in and store all of the things we are doing with the boys.  So, here we go!

My hunting camp in Uriah, AL has always been a special place to me.  I don't own the property or anything, but I am a member of a club that has over 6,700 acres of property under lease.  I started going up to this property when I was probably around 8 or 9 years old.  My grandfather (my mother's father) was a member at the time, and he would invite my dad and me up occasionally.  My grandfather's interest in hunting waned, and my dad assumed his membership.  Excet for four years during my late high school and early college years when the club was in turmoil due to landowner issues, I have hunted there ever since . . . approximately 25 years!

As Philip and then Daniel began to get old enough to go to the camp, I followed in my father's footsteps by taking them with me.  It didn't matter that they could only sit still for an hour or that I had to carry them everywhere we went or that their favorite part about going was simply riding the four wheeler.  The important part was that we went together and spent time together in one of God's greatest creations . . . the woods of South Alabama.  After my dad died in 2010, the 2010-2011 deer season was a blur.  I went last season, and I took the boys, but I don't really remember a whole lot about it.  In fact, I don't have any specific memories other than the buck I killed (and the kids had left that morning, so they were not even there to share with me).

In the summer of 2011, I made a resolution of sorts to spend more time at the camp as a family.  Lord knows we pay enough money for it, so I figured we should get maximum usage out of it.  In the pre-season (i.e. early September through mid-November), we went as often as possible.  We would go to clean the trailer, check on stands, clear shooting lanes and generally just hang out.

Once the season started, Philip, Daniel and I hosted a client of mine and his daughter.  We had a great time, and the client's daughter even killed her first deer.  The boys were so excited to be a part of the action, and that is really what I enjoyed the most.  Just seeing their interest and having them want to be in the woods with me was such an enjoyable experience.  We even brought the entire family (including Roxy!) up for Thanksgiving Weekend.  While John did not get much out of the trip, I would not have left him in Mobile for anything.

Before the season began, I promised each of the three "big boys" a weekend at the camp by themselves with Daddy.  While I think it is important to expose them all to the outdoors, it is also important for each of them to have a little "one on one" time with Daddy.  December was crazy busy with some serious work obligations, Christmas parties, etc.  However, Philip and I were able to sneak away for a night at the camp followed by a full Saturday of hunting (or at least as full as it gets with a 6 year old).  The morning started slow with us not seeing anything in the first 45+ minutes.  I was doing everything I could to pass the time, including taking pictures in the stand.  Here is one of Philip bundled up. 

It was quite cold and windy that morning, but P hung in there like a trooper.  While things started a little slow, once they picked up, it was incredible.  Deer started popping out from everywhere, including 4 does that walked within 20 yards of our stand.  All in all, we saw 17 deer that morning in a little more than 2 hours of sitting.  That afternoon we went back out and saw another 10 deer including three spikes that huddle about 35 yards in front of the shooting house.

William and I went the first full weekend of January.  Now, if I did not admit that I was a little nervous taking a 2 year old for a two day hunting trip, I would be lying.  But William really amazed me.  Unlike Philip and Daniel, William has no problem curling up in my lap and taking a nap.  In fact, I think he looks forward to it.  He usually sleeps for about 45 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes.  That makes a 2 hour sit very doable in that we can read some books, eat a granola bar, look through the binoculars and do a few other similar things to pass the balance of the time.  Here is a picture of William asleep in my lap on our Saturday morning hunt:

This nap actually presented quite the learning experience for Daddy.  As a hunter (and in my professional life), I have learned that you have to plan for numerous contingencies, expect the unexpected, and think through every possible situation you can think of so that when that moment presents itself, you are ready to take the shot.  In this case, I was happy just to have William fall asleep.  After about 15-20 minutes of not seeing anything and no longer having anyone to talk to (has Anne ever mentioned that the child likes to talk?), that happiness turned to boredom.  So, I did what any 21st century hunter would do . . . I pulled out my Blackberry and started surfing the Internet (so much for peace and tranquility in the great outdoors, right?).  About 45 minutes into William's nap, I heard the breaking of limbs and the crashing of hoof beats.  I looked out the window of our stand and see a deer running full speed across the clear cut in front of me at about 140 yards.  Slowly, as if coming out of a fog, my mind starts to process the situation.  The deer has antlers, and the antlers appear to extend well above his head.  I grab my binoculars and, sure enough, this is, from what I can tell, a pretty good buck.

Now, if William had not have been there, I would have noticed this buck immediately, I would have grunted and/or whistled at him, got him to stop and then had a few seconds to get a good look at him and possibly take a shot.  With William in my lap, I was frozen with an inability to figure out what to do.  How was I going to get my rifle up without waking William?  How could I slide William to the floor to position myself for a shot?  How was I going to get this deer to stop running?  In the end, by the time the deer made it to the tree line, I had successfully accomplished two things:  (1) I woke William, and (2) I avoided sticking my gun out of the window of the shooting house (end sarcasm here).  Before kids, I would have been disgusted with myself.  Now, I could have cared less.  All that was important was that I got to experience that event with William by my side.

Here are a couple of more pictures from my trip with William:

W noi noi'ing in the shooting house

W and "Friday" in the shooting house . . . he insisted on bringing his dog!

W "driving" the John Deere Tractor!

W and Uncle Cameron building a shooting house out of Duplos!

Thus far, Daniel has passed on his oppotunities for a weekend at the camp alone with Daddy.  He may need to be "pushed from the nest" (i.e., home with Mommy), but I don't want to force the issue at this time.  He still loves to be there with his brothers, and this past weekend was no exception.  Anne and I packed the whole family (Roxy included again) this past Saturday morning and drove up to the camp.  Uncle Cameron met us there and spent the better part of the weekend with us.  Thanks to MLK Day, we were able to stay until mid-day on Monday before having to head back to reality.  I was guilty of not taking many pictures while we were at the camp this weekend, but while we were out in the woods helping another member of the club look for a buck, Philip and Daniel decided that they wanted to take some pictures with Daddy's phone.




This weekend was really a blast.  We did not see many deer, but I could not have had more fun.  Whether we were riding the Big Red, sitting in a shooting house, playing football in the field or just sitting on the poarch and talking, I savored every minute of it.  As I mentioned earlier, the hunting camp is a special place for me.  It is a place to get away . . . to unwind . . . to let go of life's stress.  When I am up there, my only concern is which section to signout for and where to sit.  Now that I get to bring these boys along and share these experiences with them, it has taken the hunting camp to a whole different level.  While I never intend to force any particular hobbies or vocations or sports or whatever on my boys, I do hope they grow to love the outdoors like I do.  I don't care if they want to shoot anything.  I just want to spend time with them at the camp.  Talking around the fire in the Pit.  Throwing the football.  It doesn't matter what we are doing, just so long as we are doing it together.

The following picture is a sunset William and I witnessed on our Saturday evening hunt a couple of weeks ago.  I am sure the sky looks like this from time to time in town, but, for whatever reason, we miss it then.  It is only when you get out in the woods and slow life down a little that you really, truly appreciate things like this sunset.  And to get to share that natural beauty with one of you kids . . . well, to sound like a good South Alabama redneck . . . it don't get no better than that!

An update...

I write to you with a grateful heart.  Right now I have two babies asleep and two at school.  Rare, considering it is 10:30 am, and William does not nap anymore.  This morning his attitude was less than agreeable.  I calmly told him if he told me 'no' one more time then he was going to time out in his bed.  Immediately, at the top of his lungs, he yells 'no'.  Now, dear readers, don't judge him.  He's pretty exhausted from a fun weekend and usually quite the even tempered child.  I carried him to his bed.  He did not cry.  He calmly asked me to take off his shoes, and I haven't heard a peep from him since!  Thank you, God, for this unexpected quiet time!

Sorry for the lack of posting.  Last week brought a dinner for 14 guests, and it about put me under.  I worked hard cleaning the house, and in the process realized how hard I have not been working at cleaning the house.  I enjoyed putting my energy into it and loved that it looked (and smelled!) nice for my guests.  It was fun, but I am glad to be back!

We spent the weekend at the hunting camp...all six of us and Uncle Cameron.  Yes, he's a brave man!  We had a great time, but I am sad to report that my camera never left Chris' truck.  The boys enjoyed running around the camp with their Nerf guns and going out to the woods with their Dad.  Curls went every time Chris' offered to take him and cried his eyes out the one time Chris chose to hunt alone!  The attachment between those two is strong!  I enjoyed some time outdoors and time to read.  I started and finished a book up there...love that!

Another update...JohnJohn is now eight months old and quite the monkey.  He's pulling up everywhere.  Here's his first attempt...

Crawling around...in and out of rooms...trying to get into everything...the dishwasher, the trash, the toilet...yuck!  His personality is developing so fast.  I filmed this clip this morning at breakfast.  It's his new favorite trick.

He's pretty cute!  Everyone else is settled back in their school routine.  A quiet half of January left for us...and for that I am thankful!

What I love (and don't love) about Sundays

Sunday mornings are hard.  From the time my eyes open, it is busy.  I typically procrastinate and don't have the boys clothes ironed and ready for church....despite promising myself the week before I wouldn't wait.  There's breakfast to fix...Catechesis lessons to look over...myself to dress...a bottle to pump...boys to dress...etc.

Chris is sometimes around...sometimes not.  If work is busy, he typically works Sunday mornings and meets us at church.  If it is hunting season, he's in the woods.

Once I am dressed, I have to get the boys ready.  The arguments begin...'I don't want to wear a belt' or 'I don't like this shirt' and on and on.  I remind them that Sunday is my day...I get to pick out their clothes on this day.  "You can change as soon as we get home," I remind them.

By the time I get in the car, my mood is already spoiled.  We are running late.  I have to drop two off at the nursery...sometimes there are tears.  I have to hurry upstairs to prepare the atrium.  Philip and Daniel sometimes help me with this task...quietly wetting sponges and filling vases with water.  Sometimes they run up and down the hall...dodging choir members and lay Eucharistic ministers...playing Star Wars.  The tension is mounting...

Then it is on to CGS.  The mood is quiet, reflective in the atrium.  My boys always settle down in there...do their work as they are supposed to do.  But there are others....some children need constant reminding of how we act.  One little girl loves to escape when no one is looking and hide in the boys' bathroom.  More tension...

CGS is over.  Time to hurriedly clean up the atrium before church starts.  I'm busy...more running in the halls for Philip and Daniel.  It's okay, I think, they need to let off some steam...because now we are off to church.  Chris is there...but 11 out of 10 Sundays he's ushering...thus leaving me in the pew with two wiggly little boys for the first part....four wiggly little boys after the peace.

Trinity is one of the few churches that I know of that does not have a break for children.  My two older boys sit through the entire service.  To be honest, they do it pretty well, but it is hard.  Hard for them...hard for me.  They color for a little bit and then argue over who gets to sit in my lap during the sermon.  They repeatedly ask when is it going to be over.  It is hard work.  I constantly wonder how my parents did it with five!  I rarely get anything out of the service. 

Except this week.  As most of you know, we are without a rector.  Father Matthew left last fall and we do not even have an iterim this time.  Sometimes Father Powers officiates...other times it is a random supply priest.  This week...random supply priest.  He said what I needed to hear.

The Gospel reading was that of Jesus' baptism.  He spoke of the moment when Jesus was baptized and God proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased."  The priest...sorry don't remember his name!...then told us that after Jesus' baptism, he went into the wilderness for 40 days and was tempted by the devil.  It was God's proclamation, he surmised, that allowed Jesus to withstand temptation. 

Before the priest could connect the dots, I got it.  Oh how important it is for my little boys to receive that unconditional love from me.  How important it is that they know not only that I love them, but I am pleased with them.  Just how they are.  Wiggles and all.  They need to know it now and definitely later when the temptations arise.  If they know it and feel it from their parents, they will be able to know it and feel it from Him.

I leave uplifted...thankful for these words that have clicked for me.  Once out the door, I can relax.  Now what I love about Sundays can begin.

Now there are long naps for some.  For me, today, I put John in bed.  Philip and Chris go participate in a Fun Run downtown.  I crawl in bed with William and Daniel.  We read some Curious George and then all three fall asleep.  I love this about Sunday's.

I usually get in the kitchen and cook...a full dinner sometimes...tonight just sides for a family dinner at Dottie's. I can cook without dodging little people.  Chris entertains them...I lose myself in the kitchen.  I love this about Sunday's.

Then there's family time.  Sundays have always been about family time in my life.  Read more here.  Tonight, it is an Epiphany feast at Dottie's house.  Dottie leaves no detail undone.

There's a nativity set for the boys...complete with the three wise men.

We drew names for the 'boy Bishop'...Daniel wins...but thankfully we all get crowns...

We read a story about the wise men's visit...

Then we had a wonderful meal...complete with King Cake for dessert.  William's piece contained the bean, so he will reign next year as the Bishop!  Can't resist posting this picture...sorry, Chris!

A fun night...a great way to end a tiring, uplifting, fun Sunday...and a wonderful holiday season!

Some Thoughts on Getting Back into the Grind

At the beginning of the Christmas vacation, I was asked by a friend if I was "one of those mothers that actually enjoys having my kids home from school."  Absolutely!!

Christmas break was great.  I loved that we could spend the mornings in the bed....all four boys and me!  We snuggled...we stumbled downstairs and decided spur of the moment what sounded good for breakfast.  We ate things like cereal for breakfast (not usually done during the week!) and cheese and crackers for lunch. 

We played outside a lot.  We read.  We took naps...sometimes all of us...except Philip of course.  We built things out of Legos...our most impressive structure was a building with an elevator.  There was no plan.  We bathed early and drove around looking at Christmas lights before Chris came home.  We baked lots of sweets.  All in all, we just had fun.

Here some pictures from our simple times at home...



William and Daniel grill with Daddy



Philip and Daniel paint their own target for shooting practice



Three of the four battled ear infections over the break....thank God for PopPop!

There are defining moments in a parent's life...moments when things change and we must adjust. Off the top of my head, I can think of several...of course the moment I became a parent; the birth of Daniel and learning how to care for more than one child; Philip dropping his afternoon nap and the reality that I now had a child by my side from sun up to after sun down; and now Philip being off at Kindergarten.
He now spends more waking time at school than he does at home.  I miss my boy and that is what makes vacation so much fun.  I realize how fast these years are going and how I really just want to soak it all in. 

Our short vacation makes me long for summer....warmer weather, no plans, and four precious little boys!  Can't wait!

An Invitation

"Life is nothing without friendship." -Cicero

Two years ago, I wrote here that I thought the Springfields were crazy to invite our wild family of five to the lake for New Years.  Well they did it again...this time the six of us traveled to the lake for a relaxing New Year celebration.

We had a blast...relaxing...watching our eight kids play together.  Caroline has filled her mother-in-law's big shoes as an incredible hostess. 

I'll share some shots without the commentary...

Upon returning home, Chris asked each of the boys what their favorite part of the trip was.  Here were their answers...

Philip: playing Wii
Daniel: gathering wood for the bonfire and the boat ride
Philip: oh yea, I liked those a lot too!
William: the bonfire
Daddy: spending time with all of my family
Mommy:  sorry to confess, but I think it was those 15 minutes on the porch where no one knew where I was and the late night talking with Caroline!

Caroline and Frank, you are the best of friends.  Friends that we can be completely ourselves with.  We don't get embarrassed when the kids have potty accidents, overstimulation melt-downs, or when Chris falls asleep on the couch before 9:00 pm.  We are grateful for our friendship and look forward to many more chances to get away together!