Movie Night

Last night I had a good ole fashioned girls movie night, with a little twist because it was a moms movie night.

I don't know about anyone else, but when I was in high school I would have movie nights with friends at least monthly and sometimes weekly.  They were really simple -- just friends, a good movie, comfy clothes, and some snacks.  It was so much fun and such a nice refreshing time to hang with friends but recharge for the week... and it was inexpensive.

So, earlier this week I texted some mom friends and invited them over for exactly that -- a low-key, moms movie night.  I encouraged them to wear comfy clothes and bring their favorite movie snack and any beverage they wanted and come enjoy a romantic comedy without hubbys or kids.

I had three gals who were able to accept the invitation and it was such a fun night.  I chose five dvds from my collection (three with Meg Ryan, two with Julia Roberts) and then had the gals vote on which we would watch -- they chose You've Got Mail. 

I had some chips and popcorn available and most gals brought their own little movie snack for their own enjoyment, and it was just a really nice time.

We're definitely moms because the movie night started at 7:30, the movie was in before 8:00, and everyone was on their way home shortly after 10.  No late night slumber parties in our lives right now given our responsibilities at home, but everyone really seemed to have a great time.

Something I am trying to balance is how I get more time with other moms without always having children around too.  Having play dates with our kids while we visit is nice, but it isn't nearly as refreshing as getting a cup of coffee with another mom without children.  I would really like to make room for some more adult time in my life when possible, and fun movie nights like this seem like a great way to start that.

I hope we an do it again soon.  It was so nice to decompress with other moms with an inexpensive, relaxing activity, and it was so nice of our husbands to take care of the kids while we all got away for some fun.

 

Without Lying

I found this questionnaire on facebook and I thought it would be fun.  It definitely seems to be facebook specific though with some of the questions.  For reference, here is my facebook profile picture:

CAN YOU FILL THIS OUT WITHOUT LYING?

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?

 A straw (sipping water)

2. Where was your profile picture taken? 

On our front porch

3. Do you play Pokemon? 

No -- I actually can't name anyone who I know does.

4. Name someone who made you laugh today. 

My Hubby... and each of my children.

6. If you could move somewhere else, where would it be? 

Good question... possibly Western Michigan, possibly Lexington, Virginia, possibly Nashville, TN... but I've really learned to love life without humidity so I'm pretty happy where I am right now.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? 

I think so.

8. Which of your Facebook friends lives closest to you? 

My husband.

9. How do you feel about Dr. Pepper? 

It is excellent... but too much sugar so it has to be Diet

10. When was the time you cried? 

Last night

11. Who took your profile picture? 

A selfie-stick (with my Hubby pushing the button)

12. Who was the last person you took a picture of? 

I'm not sure if it was Tracey, Howard, or Caroline... they were all playing outside and I was snapping different pictures.

13. Was today better than yesterday? 

Yes - although this whole week is pretty awesome because Hubby is home and not working for this last week before being back to work for the year next year.

14. If you could have any career, what would it be?  

Probably a Montessori teacher... but I love staying home with my kids, and it is nice to get out of the house and still work with students who are blind, and I love teaching my college classes... so I'm pretty happy with what I'm doing -- wish everything paid a little more, but I'm very happy with what I'm doing.

15. Do you think relationships are ever worth it?  

Yes.

16. If you could talk to ANYONE right now, who would it be? 

I'm tempted to say my sister... but I love talking to my husband... but I really can talk to him right now, so I would have to say my sister.  Or, honestly, possibly my great-grandmother who had fourteen children including two sets of twins.  I definitely have some questions for her.

17. Are you a bad influence?  

Probably sometimes... but its a relatively tame poor influence when it happens (things like convincing Hubby we should order Chinese instead of cooking).

18. Does pineapple belong on pizza? 

NO THANK YOU.

19. If you have the remote, what channel are you watching? 

If it has to be live television, its ESPN or whichever channel is airing football or baseball.  If its recorded tv, it's probably a cute reality show I like, or a Netflix series I've seen before.

20. Who do you think will fill this out? 

I'm not doing this on facebook so this question doesn't really apply.

Now copy and paste; change the answers..Keep the fun going!!

 

 

Nervous... and Normal

So I haven't done a pregnancy update in awhile, mostly because I keep forgetting to have Hubby take a picture when I look nice -- or at least somewhat presentable.

I am 27 weeks along, and am less than a week from starting my third trimester, which is crazy to me, especially since I have never carried a baby to my due date.  Tracey was nine days early, the twins were almost 3 weeks early.  Maybe I'll carry this baby to 40 weeks or beyond... but I plan to be ready in about ten weeks just in case.

The truth is the past week has been a little crazy what with arriving back from vacation, trying to settle back in, and Hubby running security for a nearby fair and rodeo for five days.  In that week keeping up with the little ones has been tiring and the knowledge that a new baby will be here soon has been nerve-racking.

Tracey is just three-and-a-half (as of yesterday), the twins are one-and-a-half, and everybody still needs a lot of love, supervision, and guidance.  None of that is going to change in three months and with a new baby in the house I imagine our three oldest children will require even more love, supervision, and guidance.  I don't know how that's going to work.

But, this week as I began to feel more and more nervous about having a new baby, I realized that on the verge of my third trimester carrying Tracey, I was probably pretty nervous.  And, on the verge of my third trimester carrying the twins, I was definitely pretty nervous.

It is okay that I'm feeling nervous right now about adding a new baby into our family.  Just because this is my fourth child does not mean it is suddenly easy or no big deal to have a baby.  Our entire family dynamic will change forever with the addition of this new sibling, just like our family dynamic changed when the twins were born.  That fact that I'm nervous about it means that I know its a big deal -- which it is.

The truth is, we have approximately another ten weeks to prepare for the baby, and we will excitedly welcome the new baby when she arrives -- then we will figure out how to love, supervise, guide, and manage four children.  Being nervous just means something big is on the way, and something is, so being nervous is perfectly normal.  Knowing it is normal, makes me feel better.

 

Hip

From the hat atop her head to the band-aids on her legs, this three-year-old is hip.

 

Masters Pictures

Hubby and I will not be displaying all our diplomas in our family room for all to see (mine are hanging in the basement, Hubby's are hanging in his office)... but I do think I will be framing these pictures and hanging them on the main floor of our home.  I think these are really cool side by side pictures.

 

The Holster

Tracey has created a holster for her sword with a vacuum tube.

We think this is pretty awesome.

 

Even Fairies

Even fairies have to recharge...

 

Moxie

Knowing that we are expecting another baby girl has evoked a lot of sympathy from outsiders for Howard being the "only boy."  Sure, we would love for Howard to have a brother... and maybe he will someday, but Hubby and I have never felt sorry for him being one boy amidst three sisters.  Howard has moxie and confidence and he will do just fine.  In fact, he will be a wonderful brother to his three sisters.

Even as an 18 month old, I see situations like the one below with his oldest cousin, and I know he is going to be just fine... sitting still for a pretend haircut like a champ.

 

1000 Words

1000 Words

 

Determination

Howard showing determination...

 

Nice Crew... And Outtakes

At Hubby's graduation party we were able to get a few really nice pictures of all the cousins and Hubby's whole family...

Like I said, we got a few really nice pictures... and we got a few really funny outtake pictures.

 

Party Time!

Way to Go!

I'm attending a very important graduation ceremony today...

Dinner Party

Last night we had quite the dinner party... at least all the kids ate together... the adults, I can assure you did not.

That table seats seven very comfortably.

 

Pretty Much

Pretty much... especially two weeks into our cross-country family vacation.

 

11 on 11

So I forgot to take 10 pictures on the 10th, but I did remember to take 11 pictures on the 11th.  It was a really fun Michigan summer day.

Picking blueberries... Caroline really got the hang of it by the end of our outing.

Howard gave me a hug in the blueberry patch... just under the baby bump.

Picture with Grammie... Grammie had just given Caroline a spoonful of ice cream and Howard has his mouth open for his taste despite having his own cone in his hand.

My best friend from childhood came berry picking with us and it was so much fun to see her.  She now lives in New York but was visiting her parents the same time we are visiting mine.  It was so awesome to see her.

I'm pretty sure this cracker was fed to Lloyd a second after I took this picture.

Just some of the berries we picked in about an hour.

Time for canoeing.

Our kids love canoeing on my parents' little bay.

And then fun with the hose and watering cans.

Fun after dinner before bathtime... jumping from the coffee table to the couch.

Family Pictures

Its so nice to visit places where we regularly have extra people around to take family pictures of us.

 

Ahoy!

Ahoy there, Sailors!

1000 Words

1000 Words

 

What Do You Mean?

What do you mean this car was only designed for one child?  We shared a womb.  We can certainly share a car.