Never Give Mamma a Pair or of Scissors!

So a few weeks after the baby was born I decided the boys needed a haircut. They had gone all summer, it was time for a cut.

The idea of taking them to a barber so they could scream and cry in public didn't appeal to me, so I decided to pick up a pair of clippers and do it myself. This was something Andy had always done, but I had watched it often enough that I should be able to did it myself, right? WRONG!

Here's Christian after his buzz cut.





Here he is after being bribed with Friendly's ice cream.


Poor Ben got the worst of the deal. Andy had always given him an actual hair cut - not the just shave it off buzz cut we gave Christian. You actually had to have some idea of what you were doing to cut Ben's hair. Unfortunately, I didn't.




Oh well, it'll grow back out. In the meantime, I'll ask around for a good barber. Anyone looking to buy a pair of barber clippers for cheap??

First Day of School

Katherine started school this month. Public school that is. I love our home, I love our neighbors and neighborhood, but I hate our school system. It's really, really bad. How bad you ask? Well, the school that Katherine is attending hasn't meet their "Adequate Yearly Progress" goals for SIX YEARS!!!


So why is Katherine in school you may ask .. well, she's there because she wanted to try school. She's 8 and really ready for greaer independence. She was ready. The school is directly behind our house, she literally walks up a short hill and is at school in about 1 minute. We enrolled her in 4th grade instead of 3rd and I think that will prevent her from being too bored. I hope.



Here's Katherine on the first day of school.

See that grin? Yeah, that's why she's in school. I'm a sucker for that grin.

Is she still grinning you may ask ... well, sometimes. She really likes her teacher, but the teacher's assistant is a very unhappy woman who takes it out on the kids (IMHO). She gives Katherine (who has chosen to go by "Katie" at school) a hard time and every morning for the past two weeks Katherine has been complaining of a stomach ache because she is so nervous about dealing with this woman.

Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do as the principal is strongly against switching classrooms and won't do it unless there is a good reason. I might be able to get a switch if our pediatrician states it's necessary for Katherine's health, but do I really want to go that far?

In my opinion, this is part of the learning process - we learn that sometimes people just aren't nice. I'm really watching the situation and Katherine and I talk about her day every afternoon. Both Andy and I are reinforcing that Katherine is a very smart and wonderful girl and we love her very much. We also tell her that while she must obey this assistant, it doesn't mean that the assistant is right. It's not an easy lesson, but I think it's important so we continue. As there is NO WAY my kids are going to the local middle school (which starts at 5th grade here), I'm letting this year be a learning experience for all of us and will pull Katherine back home next year.

For now, I'm enjoying the chance to spend a little more time with Sarah (who started her school year this week) and the boys. I do feel very mom-ish as I get her lunch packed in the morning and see her off to school, then make sure I have a warm treat for her when she gets home as we sit and talk about her day. It's fun. It's for one year. We can do this.

So Long Summer!

Today is the first day of school for Katherine, she's starting 4th grade at the school that is directly behind our house. She walks out our backyard (which is on a hill) and into the playground - doesn't have to cross a street or anything - love it!

Sarah chose to continue home schooling. She's half-way through 2nd grade (we got "ahead" of our schooling while in Alaska) and is now reading well-above her grade level. I think they both made the best choice for them, for now.

With Katherine at school, Sarah, Ben and Christian watching Word World, and Sammy sleeping, I have a rare moment to reflect on the summer and update our blog. It's been such a great summer, idyllic really. Here's a brief recap.

Of course, the highlight of the summer was the arrival of little Sammy.

Love the arm resting on the cushion on this one!

First day home from the hospital - Sammy sleeps a lot. We love Sammy.

Our church had a Pioneer Day celebration in July. It was so much fun! Potato sack races, one legged races, cookout, etc. We all had a blast - Sarah loved the potato sack race!

Here are a few of the kids learning the rules for a game. Our Bishop is the "Gnarly Harley" dude in the red bandanna. We've known Shane for 5 years now and love him as a good friend and an extremely cool Bishop!

"Mommy!" Christian knows how to make my day!

More fun: LAKE DAYS!!

Here are our sand babies - the kids (and a few parents) took turns burying each other in the sand. WAY too much fun! Check out all the grinny faces!

Sarah and Paige

Ben really got into it, but Christian decided to just bury his feet.

More friends at the lake - our favorite thing to do this summer, it was pretty much an every day occurrence.

We had a lot of fun this summer. I've had many people ask how we did so much - with me being so pregnant and four active kids. The primary reason we were able to do so much is that I was blessed with truly wonderful kids. They make being a mom of 5 much easier then it looks. The key, for me, is logistics. Getting everyone ready, diaper bag packed appropriately for the day, and out the door can be tricky sometimes. To help with the logistics, this summer we implemented Operation: Teamwork.

Team #1:

Team Captain: Katherine (age 8)

Special Agent: Ben (age 3)

Team Captain Katherine was in charge of getting Ben dressed each day, helping him clean up any potty training accidents (luckily there were very few), set and clean-off the table for their team for each meal, and keep a general eye on him during the day.

Katherine and Ben both have very similar personalities. They are very smart and independent thinkers. Katherine decided quickly that Ben should do more chores then what mommy makes him do, so she trained him how to set the table, get completely dressed, and even help her with her chores. It's been fun watching them work together.

Team #2

Team Captain: Sarah (age 7)

Special Agent: Christian (age 2)

Team Captain Sarah was in charge of getting Christian dressed each day, changing him, setting and cleaning off the table for her team, and overall keeping an eye on Christian throughout the day.

Sarah and Christian have similar personalities as well. They both love music and were able to accomplish more when they put it to song or did their "marching music" while picking up clothes or toys. She had a harder time changing Christian - more then once she would run around after him saying, "sit DOWN Christian!" but once she made it into a game, it went much better!

We "practiced" being in teams all summer so that when Sammy finally arrived I would be able to focus on him for a short while knowing the kids were alright. It worked out really well. The kids got along better and I think both Katherine and Sarah have a better appreciation for obedient children!

Operation Teamwork, and our summer was a great success!

More Sam Pictures

The kids and I really enjoyed having Andy home this past week. It was hard to take him back to the airport this afternoon. We keep hoping and praying that Andy will find a job here soon as this 5,000 mile commute sucks!

But on a happier note...here are some more photos of baby Sam.

This is when he is about 2 seconds old. Julie, my wonderful midwife, was so excited and told me over and over how cute he was. She's obviously a very intelligent woman. :)

I actually cut the cord myself. It was quite the trick (those things are strong!) Julie held Sam (and kept his privates away from the scissors), Amy (my awesome coach) helped hold his head WHILE balancing the camera, and I cut.



Ahh, momma love. This is when I snuggle and tell each child that comes to us to hold onto that image of Heavenly Father whose presence they just left. Remember Him, I always plead, remember because it's so easy to forget down here.

My little frog.

Sammy was so happy to get back in the water. Unfortunately, this has not continued - he cries every time I give him a bath! Maybe I need to add more water so he can float more like in this picture? I love the feet proped up on the side of the basin!

Body clean, eyes gooped up, shots given, he's officially ready to be held. Maybe some day I'll put him down, but for now, I'm enjoying holding him as much as possible.

Welcome Samuel Elisha Brown!

Sam is here! He was born on Wednesday, 8/18, at 11:40 am. I started timing my contractions at 6:20 am, called my good friend Amy and labor coach at 6:45 am and asked her to come get me as the contractions were 4-6 minutes apart and intense. We got to the hospital and I was almost a six. Admission, epidural (ahhhh), and at 11:40 we had Sam! It was such a great experience; I missed having Andy there, but it was neat having an "all girl" environment - just Amy, my midwife, and a really great nurse.

Sam's stats:
8.5 lbs.
20 inches
blueish eyes
cute little froggy! :)

You can see pictures of him on Amy's blog: http://maisymak.blogspot.com/2010/08/doula.html

I'm home from the hospital, I was home by dinner on Thursday, and we pick up Andy at the airport tomorrow morning (Saturday). I'll post pics myself over the weekend, but for now, check out Amy's.

All In Due Time

Today is my due date - but alas, there is no baby yet. Both my girls were so good about giving mom a break and coming early, but all three of these boys are in no rush to leave! I thought with Christian I'd have to swallow some dynamite to get him out!

Andy will be here Saturday, we'll see what happens between now and then. We'll post good news and photos as soon as we have them.

The Dawn of My 4th Decade

I turn 40 in the morning. 40. Me. There can be no denying it now - I am a grown up.

I remember, as a kid, thinking of what my life would be like as a "grown up." My dreams would float between being a mom clad in a long dress reading to my two girls while nestles on a picnic blanket under a big weeping willow, to a "high powered" career woman busily walking along Madison Avenue.

My "grown up" years have actually contained elements of both. Although instead of Madison Ave, in my 20s I walked with purpose down Peachtree Street in Atlanta - going to client meetings and "power lunches." In my 30s, instead of reading under a weeping willow, I read under maple trees and have added two boys to the two girls in my dreams (with a third boy to join us within the next few weeks). My life has turned out so much better then I dreamed.

This summer, specifically, feels like a gift directly from Heavenly Father. I love being home in New Hampshire; and New Hampshire truly is my home. Alaska was beautiful and wild and rugged, but New Hampshire is where my heart is happiest and I am at peace.

The kids and I have spent the past month playing with our fabulous friends...

Picking blueberries...

A

And swimming daily at several of NH's gorgeous lakes.

We love being back in our "cute little house" where everything works and my dishwasher softly hums as I write. It is bliss. The only thing that would make it perfect is if Andy were here with us instead of in Alaska and this return was permanent. We are still hoping it will be though!

But, regardless of where I spend the winter, my heart will be here in NH and for today, I am thankful for the gift of my summer in New Hampshire. It is the perfect way to start my 4th decade.