The Answer to Your Question is...

MOST DEFINITELY NOT.

Not right now anyway, and not for a while, and most definitely not until my husband experiences some divine intervention to tell him to keep on. JK. And if you have no idea what this is about, then you didn't have any questions.

When I Grow Up...

like father.....................like son

One of the questions I most commonly ask people is "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I still have things that I would like to become. Such as: a librarian...or a patient mother of five children.
I asked both of my boys (the one's that I don't have to decipher their words) this question and they both responded by saying that they wanted to be what their daddy does. Awww. So sweet. Right? Granted his job is very cool and it's a small niche to be a flying photographer (the unofficial title I just made up). That sounds so awesome, except they think he actually pilots the helicopter and plane. I think they really want to be pilots who take amazing pictures of themselves flying. And who wouldn't?
I do think it is lovely that they want to be just like their daddy. I am sure they will want to be a many great and wonderful thing before they decide to be a something that works in a cubicle. Like an astronaut, or an artist. Samuel seems to have loftier goals than Cooper. Cooper says he will be a security guard in Sam's factory, or to be a worker in that same factory (I am pretty sure he thinks that Star Wars toys are made there).
They remind me frequently that I am already grown up, to which I respond with surprised astonishment. I can't be the only one out there that still thinks of myself as 17. When I meet people and they are my age, I automatically think they are older than me. And you know I am getting older and grown up because the nurses treated me like I might know something during the delivery of my last baby (which I don't). Sam turns 8, and will be baptized in a few weeks. That is the biggest reminder that I am indeed in the middle of my life and well on my way to being grown up.

What I Failed to Mention...

I most certainly was so excited to see that moustache come off from my husband's face and I can't believe that I didn't share the before and after pics.

I would like to say some positive things before the memorial begins. First, it was a fun and very free hobby. Second, it was fun to have around for a little while, just not so long next year. Last, I will admit that we have wished he still had it for novel occasions, such as a Mario and Luigi birthday party.

Like here.

But it had to go. Something was wrong with our family picture. It was off balance.

The Problem.

The Confrontation.

The Compromise.

The Veruca Salt Syndrome

More commonly known as the "I want it and I want it now" syndrome.

We all have had it, or at least know someone who has , or quite possibly will get it, or maybe even cause it. Most of us are probably in denial on all counts.

The best example I can think of is a newly-wedded-wifey that wants her husband to provide her with the same fine chariot that her father is currently providing for her mother. Or something else along those lines, whether it be a house, a car, a vacation, a horse, a barn, whatever.

It can display in different ways, and it often causes a wishing away of time, and is perhaps the root of the sarcasm in my, I mean her, tone.

Maybe it's the new skill set Veruca wants. She wants to be able to pop n lock, but she just started and she still has a lot of practicing ahead.
Or maybe she wishes she could yodel for the upcoming talent show, but she hasn't taken the time to learn, so she won't be the show stealer like she really wants to be.
Or perhaps she sees her awesome older sister and is jealous of the fact that her children are all in school, and can't wait to get there herself.

My current (smaller and fairly unimportant) cases:
•Whatever the case, I can tell you that I have a uncommon case of the "I wonder if I will ever miss that moustache!" (Though perhaps there is an end in sight, and you will all know it when it happens!)
•Also I currently want a house of my own, to paint and to grow into, and I am having a hard time waiting.
•I would also like my child's teacher to return my phone call so that I can be happy and know what is going on and why the child doesn't have any spelling words.

Update Overload

Well, I just updated the ole blog. And I posted about a million pictures, since I have been so neglectful! Hopefully I will find brains to actually write with soon, even though I think people like to just look at pictures. However, this is all about me, right?
Samuel has begun the 2nd grade. So far so good. Cooper is rather impatiently waiting for preschool to start, so that he can play on their playground. Jacob is still reigning master of destruction, having successfully ripped the part of my couch that is under the seat cushions. Zaida is rolling a little and chattering a little. It's awfully cute. I am loving my kids right now. Collin, aka, Mr. Pringle is still sporting his stache, btu now with wax. It's amazingly fake looking. And he loves it. I am still rooting for the disappearance of said stache! But I love you anyway honey! And I am ardently voiding housework, but that is nothing new!

Star Wars!

The boys loved the exhibit. The costumes were fun to see, and they had some fun interactive things. Unfortunately, the land speeder was not one of those things...

The Milennium Falcon was of course, the highlight. The "jumped to light speed" and proudly wore there souvenir pins.



We visited Sean and Stacey and fam, including the newest addition:
Stella...
And spent a few minutes with my very wonderful Auntie Elna! I have so many wonderful memories of her as a child, and I am excited that we will be living near her soon!

We had a great time!

Zaida's Day

These are from the day Zaida was blessed. I really wish I had taken the time then to write down some of my feelings, but alas, I did no such thing, but she has been the very best baby and we love her so much. Sam sits by her play pen and talks to her while having his snack or whatever. I asked him last night, "Why do you like to do that?" He just said, "Because I just love her so much and she's so cute." I said, "Yeah, me too."

Eclipse Movie Night

All I am going to say is that we had fun. It was a chance to go with the loveliest gals of my acquaintance, eat junk, talk, be silly, and not worry about my kids! So say what you want, I am not a Twilight freak. It's not like I have posters or signs hanging up. And that was Holly's t shirt I was wearing. I will admit that I was probably not acting like my youthful age (22), and did pout a bit when I was reprimanded by a 11 year old for taking too many pictures.

The Dreaded Summer Rehash, Part II

Fourth of July Sparklers...
Cooper and Zaida...
Sad World Cup Cookies...
Sam's favorite activity: swimming...
Jacob and Zaida....

The Dreaded Summer Rehash, Part I

The Dreaded Summer Rehash, Part III

We have spent most of our summer playing and adjusting to life with the new babe. It's been most challenging for me, and quite possibly Collin, but I am sure it's mostly me, to get courage to go places with four. I think I can do it now. I figured out the swimming thing, even with three non-swimmers. I had many dreams about Jacob being in peril at the pool or lake, so I was a little hesitant. We have had so much joy just watching Zaida grow, and seeing the changes in Sam, Cooper, and Jacob as well.

Expected Departure Date: UNKNOWN

Some of you may have noticed that Collin has a new toy.
It is hard not to since it is planted right under his nose.

Moustache May turned into Toy Time.
He currently has no plans for shaving it.
He is waiting for the curls to come in on the sides.
Yay.

I am not a particular fan of my husband's latest accessory, but I agreed to let him keep it a little longer. I fear he will never shave it unless I make him.
(or he wakes up and half is missing-whichever happens first)
I have decreed that next year's prize mustache must be shaved June 1.
(and for the record, he agreed.)

Summer Fun?

While trying to convince my children to play outside in the pleasant heat of our backyard, amidst the ever-present biting mosquitoes, and non-confrontational carpenter bees, I think I promised them something about races and water balloons tomorrow. Wow, I hope it rains! Just kidding, I am not all frump over here. However, I did think of a few (meaning three) games that we could play in such conditions (heat, bees, and mosquitoes).

1. BWHF (Backyard Water Hose Fights) akin to WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation).
It would be nice if we had a three headed spicket with three hoses so my kids could drench the house, each other, make the yard a bog, and further attract yet more mosquitoes to multiply in my yard. Unfortunately, we only have one hose for our single headed spicket, so on to option 2.

2. Minute to Win it: Backyard Edition.
In this round, contestants compete against each other to see who can get the most mosquito bites in one minute. The prize? A bottle of Caladryl Clear to sooth those war wounds!

3. BeeMinton.
We have found it rather therapeutic to take our aggression (when we have them-so rare!) out on the bees that drill into the beams and rafters of our glorious back porch. So, give everyone a racket and see who can hit the most off the porch!

So what do you do in the summertime?

I knew my child had super skills...

So Sam is already good at multi-tasking. What more can a mother ask for. If only he could fit Jacob into this equation somehow, but come on! There has to be a limit to what a 7 year old can accomplish right?

So I am sure this is what they would like to be doing all summer, but I have news for them (and mostly for myself): This is not what it will be like. I would like to think that I will plan a fun outing every week, but alas, I am lazy and have a new baby and will use every excuse I can to stay indoors.

So these are the things on our agenda, but it is not planned or complete:

1. Learn Spanish. (Sam's greatest desire)
Luckily, I know just enough conversational French to get us by. Just kidding.

2. Go to the Star Wars exhibit.

3. Visit family.

So that's about it (so far), but I intend to add more items that will stimulate my children's minds. But I also know that if I make a huge, elaborate plan, we will never accomplish half of it. Did I mention that I have a new baby and have to feed her every five minutes?

So I hope you have a fun summer (and hopefully you don't dread all of your kids being home like I do-because one more is so much harder and all) and will give me some great ideas to entertain and possibly subdue my minions.

Some pics of Zaida...