Motherof3brothers

Love her!

 

 

rain, rain, rain

Ok rain ....we get ya! we know what you can do, we have all recognized that Fall has come, now move on with your wet self. My lawn is one big puddle. My leaves are no longer pretty and crisp. And my cat keeps whining, like it's my fault she can't go outside and prowl.

 

 

 

 

 

(photo courtesy of "dreamer soul" of smashing magazine)  

Mark it off....

November 1st brings some changes....

1. Football Season has  officially come to a close. I am proud to say we left behind 3 wins for the Bears yesterday! Felt awfully good to leave on a up note. As much as I love football to start, by the end, I am really ready for it to be done. There is a ton of equipment. There is a ton of extreme heat in the beginning gradually changing to , rain, sleet  & mud. There is a ton of running all over Thurston county. There is a ton of planning and organizing, just to make it work. But also a ton of fun, excitement, discipline and entertainment.

I have spent the day washing uniforms, filthy cleats and sweaty pads. They are organized and situated and tucked away for the year.

 

2. November 1st also brings the Halloween hangover. We trick or treated with our extended Families again. let the crazy kids all run a muck in the neighborhood to collect tons of sweet loot.Probably our last for the  "bigs", so we tried to savor the chaos.

 

Nolen

 

Ayden

Ketner

Today we are a bit sluggish. Kinda grumpy at times.  Full of tons of goodness.

3.   November 1st officially begins the Holiday Panicsensations that tend to waft over me. I am devoted to keep it at bay.

4. Finally, November 1st brings....................................our first basketball practice!! yup that's right! Let's go Bears!

 

We wouldn't have it any other way.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4 more days...get spooked

Halloween is just 4 more days away. We have our costumes ready and waiting. This year I splurged. The past few years Ayden has come with us as we trick or treated with our large entourage of friends, but has not been  too interested in dressing up.

2008

I guess I shouldn't say uninterested, but unmotivated. He could never figure out what he wanted to be until the last minute but it was too late. In 2007, he decided at the very last minute he would be a whoopi cushion with his friend Jared as we were getting ready to walk out the door.
  2007

The last time he really had a plan and idea was 3 years ago.

2006

2006

I don't know if you can tell from these photos, but our rule is that we recycle our costumes. If we don't have it, or good-will doesn't have it or our friends don't  have it....we do not have it :) And we have made it work really well. But this year, we did it a bit different and out of character. The boys have all found costumes that they picked out of a catalog about a month ago. When the catalog arrived in the mail, they all poured over it. It was priceless to see our 13,11 1/2 and 10 year old all sitting a the counter together, cracking up over the possible costumes. I decided right there, i would splurge and get them the costumes they wanted (within reason) I wasn't ready to give up the excitement of Halloween just yet. 13 came way too fast....I'm sure the time is coming when we all agree the boys are too old. But for at least 1 more year we are gonna enjoy.

So as Halloween inches closer, here are a few FRIGHTFULthings appearing around the Young household:

spooky cats preying on unknowing birds.

Spiders spreading their webs throughout the yard

crazy milk carton skeletons waving in the brisk October air

the last remaining sunflowers spreading Autumn joy

Patio decorations awaiting trick or treaters

Homework arearestocked after 1st quarter has officially been completed.

Sadly, summer plants fill the compost bin

and Finally, Summer peaches waiting to be baked into a Autumn  pie
 

 
 It is so easy getting sucked into Autumns Delightful Spirit.

 Enjoy!

SAVOR! 
GET SPOOKED by fall!:) 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 

Tales of a Part Time SAHM

I sometimes think I have the best of both worlds. I am a part time SAHM (stay at home mom) and part time Labor and Delivery nurse. My  work hours have changed throughout the stages of my life. Initially I worked nights because it was the best choice for me when I had an infant. He slept, i slept.  This minimized the mommy guilt factor a ton. Then came 2 boys, this off and on again sleep had run it's course and I went to an evening shift. This was fabulous with 3 young toddlers. I played with them all day, put them down for a nap, my best friend came to babysit and 3 days a week I went to work. Alex came home early and handled the rest of the night. Ta da! Done.

Then school aged kids entered our lives and evening shift caused me to miss way more than I could afford to miss, so I went on call. Now i believe I have this split schedule down to a science. I work 2-3 day shifts a week.  My kids no longer need a babysitter. I have expectations for them when they get home from school that keep them responsible and occupied until I get home an hour or so later.There have been those few times in which I needed to readjust them by screaming into the phone that is held approximately 6 inches from my mouth... "in the name of all that is Holy, make this work or I will send you to a daycare!!!!yes even at 13!!!"

My family is my priority as it is all parents priority and that is how  and why I have been able to switch my hours around throughout our seasons. I mean this literally because my schedule changes based on my kids sports season. But there are days like today where I swear I would move into our triage room at the hospital and work around the clock , rather than tackle my to do list at home.

  

But as I sat drinking my coffee this morning, I was overwhelmed by some miserable stench that kept wafting from the fridge each time someone open & closed it.  "Cleaning the fridge" is #10 on my list of 14 things today, can I really put it off until possibly tomorrow ? No way I say as one of my kids actually notice the stench (which you know has to be bad if they are even noticing it) so I move it to the top.

1. Clean Frigerator!!!!

2. work on first pages of yearbook

3.contact NCC

4.Drop off coats to coat drive

5. Divide Lillies & Hostas

6. clean up craft room

7. finish bible study for this week

8. track NCC package

9. wash throw rugs

10. Call Dr. Jensen

11. update menu and make dinner

12. make pumpkin bread

13. copy photos for Mrs. gedde

I finished drinking my coffee of course,

took all my meds that keep me upright

and took on THE FRIDGE.   It took me until the very last shelf to find the carton of cottage cheese that was causing the aroma.  I took that bad boy apart!! I didn't realize that it would take so much concentration to get it back together, i was not prepared for that for certain. bUT HALLELUJAH!!! She is gorgeous now. Sparkly and shiny.

For those who know me well, you know this isn't the end of the story.

 I like to multitask :)

So while I was tearing apart my fridge, I was getting items #12 and 13 done from my to do list at the same time. Which was causing much more of a mess than any one person can handle.
Most times this type of thinking helps me accomplish many things. And most  critical care nurse such as me  would tell you it's the only way we survive.

Not so much today because it is 2:08 and I have only 7out of 14 things crossed off and I'm still in my Jammie's. But I have a kick butt clean fridge!!!  oh and pumpkin muffins.............whatever makes us happy eh? I feel like my life is like the story If you give a mouse a cookie. Can you relate...if you are a part time SAHM or a full time SAHM I betcha can....what's next on my list?

 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  

Spooktacular Birthday

We celebrated Kets birthday last night with a fabulous cake baked by Uncle and Lily. It was incredible.   They really out did themselves. It helped to make his 10th birthday super. I hope he can fully appreciate the cuteness of this cake, becasue I couldn't get enough of it!!!

 
 
 
 
 

10, ten, T*E*N*

My baby is 10.

 This, I must admit is a hard one for me. In June, Ayden turned 13 and I reflected a lot on that day. But, my BABY is 10.

He is no longer a single number. When you talk to someone about your kids and you say, “oh my youngest is 6” there is that understanding that you still have little ones, but “my youngest is 10” makes me realize time is going way to fast.

This little boy  has showed me how to TRUST.

 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in that secret place. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”-Psalm 139:13-16

 

Trusting was hard back then.. I had 2 babies already. They were babies. I would have 3 in diapers.
Nolen was still nursing, sleeping with us, and barely walking. Ayden would be 3 when Ketner was to be born. Just  3. My oldest would just be just 3!!!.We didn't plan for this!! I struggled through this worry for months. Not because I wasn’t happy to be having another baby boy, but because I worried that I couldn’t be the mother I wanted to be when I was pulled in so many directions. I want my children to know without a doubt that I love them. How could I do that with another baby?

As always, I made it through. We made it through….

When I was in labor with Ket, there was a time when everyone left the room, and I had one last moment of doubt. I sobbed. I prayed for strength and courage and patience and love. I prayed to be loved so I could give love. And boy was I washed over with love. When Ketner was born, Dr. Nelson placed him in my arms and I buried my head to his and cried.
I told him that he would be my joy forever and that I loved him., Without a doubt I loved him.

And we did just that…we carried on.

So today this Joy of ours is 10. Here are 10 things about Ketner that make our hearts sing.

1.     When I tuck him in, he says “I love you mom” and I say “I love you more”. It is our ritual, and if there is ever a time that I forget, he will repeat himself until I say it back correctly.

2. He is a friend to everyone. I love that he has a heart for disadvantaged kids. There are a few at our school and Ket always goes out of his way to high 5 them.

3.     Ketner is awesome at sports. Gifted is a word that I have heard to describe Ketner.
Hmmm…

4. He loves to read. He cannot stand waiting for his gift from Grandma Sally which is the 3^rd book in the

 

Mysterious Benedict Society.

 

(this is Ketner with one of his favorite Authors, Brandon mull, who wrote the Fablehaven series and Candy shop wars.) 

 

5.   Ketner is obnoxiously tall. He was born with the longest baby legs I had ever seen.

6.   Has a mouth full of braces.

7.   Is for the most part super easy going, unless he is tired….then watch out, he may become catatonic.

8.   He loves Sports Center and fantasy leagues.

9.   Ketner is super cautious. He rarely leaves my sight and has a gift for listening to his senses.

10.     Ketner is growing up too fast. Please, please slow down!! I am too in love with this kiddo to share him just yet..

 

 

 
   
 
   

 

Confused

Yesturday evening, I helped my sissy prepare her twin freshman kids for their first Homecoming formal dance. This preparartion has been weeks in the making. Piper was asked to go to the dance with a super sweet boy named Chase. He brought flowers over and asked her on their front porch. Very sweet. Parker wanted to ask a girl named Gemma to go. He struggled with how to ask her. Many guys were buying the girls cakes and leaving them on their front porches. He wanted to do something else. Finally, with much discussion and persuasion by his friend Alley, he decided to paint the Olympia High School "rock". Shell called me at about 8:00 and asked if I could help. Could I help??? Seriously, i am all over that. So we went and painted it and she LOVED it. Threw her arms around him in the hallway asd what 14 year old doesn't like that response.

So the Newmans have been preparing. dress? check. shoes? check. tux? check flowers? check. there was so much anxiety involved in perparing for this dance somewhat becasue ANdy has been deployed since May. Shell has had to do EVERYTHING. 

Last night was the night. Shell asked if I could take photos. I was so, so happy to be invited to watch this. I headed up to their house, with camera in tow at 5:00. Alex by my side. I entered the house expecting to see the usually party going ensemble, but when Parker came around the corner, all I could do was cry.

 
He was so gorgeous. Just as handsome as could be.
i realized right then, I absolutley love these kids as if they were mine. Without a shadow of a doubt. Seeing him there, all dressed up just flew memories at me.

back up 15 years......when Shell was pregnant, Alex and I lived with  them until we moved to Spokane in August 1994. Andy was being deployed to Panama for 2 years. They were  supposed to leave in the fall. Their house and all of their belongings was packed up and floating on the sea headed towards their new home.

 Before they left her OB wanted to make sure all was well  and ordered an ultrasound before they left the States. She wasn't sure what would be available over seas. Low and behold, they see TWINS. Well that haulted everything. (except their belongings). They needed to stay in the States for the safety of the babies. This was music to my ears as I had just about fell over in the fetal position the weekend before when I had to say goodbye.

From Spokane, I waited, and waited for these babies. My sissy ended up in the hospital for about 8 weeks with preterm labor. She delivered the day after my birthday 1-4-1995.  I remember  we had been home for the holidays and I  was able to spend my all days with her at Madigan. I helped ANdy get the room ready. I shopped for her. We showered them with baby gifts that Christmas. But I had to go back to Spokane to start my second semester of nursing school. Alex & I drove the 6 hours home with my tank full of my sissy.

The very next day, we got the call that she was going to deliver that evening at 34 weeks gestation. Man, o, man we frantically booked a flight home. Dad & Nancy picked me up at the airport. Alex was driving over. I remember driving to the hospital and we were all just giddy!! Dad stopped for gas, and he told anyone who would listen, that his grandbabies were coming!!

The twins were delivered healthy and beautiful. That day seems like yesturday. It really does. How can they be Freshmen going to homecoming?

 

fast forward 15 years.....

Shell & I drove Parker out to Gemma's house where they were having dinner. He was super nervous. We gave him pointers. instructed him on what to say when he first sees Gemma. Reminded him to shake her dads hand. We warned him of the disgusting dancing that is sure to be happening...he just shook his head and said, gross. When we pulled up to Gemma's house, he was beyond nervous. We walked him up to the door and he did everything right. He seemed as cool as a cucumber.

 
 

  

We met Piper at her friends house and she just glowed. SHe looked so proud and confident. She chose the perfect dress for her. When we arrived, the couples were all taking a group photo, so I chimed right in.

it wasn't until i took Piper and Chase aside that i saw how stunning she looked.

 

I am proud to say these kids transitioned Shell & I well into the highschool dance scene. We now know, each dance from here will somewhat pale in comparison to this

FIRST Homecoming DANCE.

 

 

My own, Baxters......

You know I'm a animal lover. I could never deny it. As i type this, Willow is  keeping me company by sitting on my papers  on the desk or selectively placing her lemur tail on my keypad.

Blossom is snoring to my right, Shasta is laying under my feet and the bird is ringing her bell and wolf whistling over and over again because she thinks I'm so pretty.

 My whole family shares their homes with animals.

My sissy has 2 dogs, a great dane names Rosey and a pug names Percy. 

2 cats, daisy & Elvis

 
 
and I believe 2 horses. (I hesitate a bit because this number can change rather suddenly :). Rosey's life is coming to an end next week.

 
She is getting old and irritable with kids that come to the house. Especially the teenage boys ( i don't blame her) and a bit unpredictable. This is the most rotten part of owning a animal. Shell was with me as I put my beloved Hannah down and I was with her when she put her beloved, Bella down. It breaks our hearts to pieces, but it is part of the story you write when you share yourself with an animal.

My mom has always shown me that when you have the right dog, she will be your best, most reliable friend. She has been single since I was 3 and  has ALWAYS had a dog by her side.
This amazing, independent woman camps and travels with her dog, all the time. She is never fearful when she is walking in very remote places and sleeps contently in the middle of nowhere with her dog by her side.

My dad is a softy for animals as well. Nothing brings out his tenderness like his Woogies, (dachshunds)
He loves them...with a large capital L. It's disturbingly freakish at times the way they talk to these dogs. But who am I to judge. My girls are as much a part of my soul as my boys.

If you've never experienced a dog look right into your eyes and know exactly what she is telling you, then you are missing some of the most valuable secrets to life.

Each of my dogs I have owned have loved me unconditionally until the end. One helped me through my first labor and later died in my arms unexpectedly just days before my 2nd son, Nolen was born. As i welcomed one sweet soul I mourned another.

 One dog I owned as a girl sat with me in my bed time and time again and let me drop tear after tear into her soft coat. SHe knew I needed someone on my side when my life was being shattered by abuse. Every night she tried to put my broken heart back  together. And finally, when I had enough strength to leave, she boldly came with me.

I have never lived without a animal. Never. My sorority had  a House Mother that had the most amazing cat with an even bigger attitude. but if you were lucky enough to be allowed to pet her, she welcomed you back with a twitch of her tail. I have loads of photos of dogs that i met along the way: "lola"- at a football game

This sweet baby great Dane while camping last year.

this goreous Fella at the ocean.

 and this his handsome guy in Kauai.

  
 
 

I write this because I watched a you tube video about a dog named Baxter

 

  When I am old, I want my boys snuggled in bed with me.

Alex spooning me, and as many "Baxter's" as my frame will hold. Could that not be the most beautiful transition into heaven you can imagine!! 

Happy 40th Birthday, OWL!!

 

The love of my life turned 40 on Sunday.!!. It was important to me that he feel so important that he glows. I sent him  a bouquet of flowers on Friday. on Sunday he went to Enumclaw and ran a 1/2 marathon (how he can just up and do that amazes me), and then I had a little surprise for him. I took him to dinner and we sat out on the patio and enjoyed some gorgeous waterfront scenery and a whole lot of surf and turf. After dinner, we went inside  for what Alex thought was just dessert, but I had arranged  the most lovely, group of friends around!!! the waitress was supposed to be aware of the little secret, but when I asked her if we could move inside because we were getting chilly, which was my code for...let's get inside to the party, she sat us on the total other  side of the restaurant!! She had no idea what i was whispering to her. So we sat at the booth. Our friends were waving at me from across the restaurant and at that point, all i could do is tell him that there were a few people here to celebrate with him. he looked over his shoulder and our group all had their menus covering their faces. It was fabulously funny. We all cheered and toasted Alex and devoured lots and lots of delicious desserts. including the best huckleberry cobbler in the  universe.

Alex is not necessarily a hugely outgoing social guy, so i knew a large party would not speak his language. but a small gathering of best friend Blessings hit the spot.

We came home and he opened his gifts: a waterproof biking jacket from his parents and a Kindle from us. He is in love...and has swallowed the bitter taste of  turning 40, with much sugar coating!!