Writing

I continue to add blog posts to Growing Great blog. These two are some recent ones:

Expanding Minds

The Spark Is Still There

Found Picture

I found this picture on my Mom's camera. It's worth a thousand, if not a million words. The lighting, background, that face, it's all present in a remarkably beautiful picture! Taken in September 2011, in Traverse City at my Aunt Cindy's new house on Lake Michigan. I'm in love!

Easter Weekend

Having grown up in Northern Michigan I believe there is a bit of redneck in my family.  It’s not the stained wife beater wearing, beer can resting on belly, missing teeth kind of redneck, but the kind that makes us laugh and have a bit of unordinary fun. 

The Grandparents came down from Traverse City to celebrate Easter.  They arrived Saturday evening and then began our fun.  After seeing Grandpa Goodhue’s extensive trampoline talents (seriously, he’s pretty good on the trampoline, bordering on graceful even!) we brought the sled.  Yes, sled.  It’s not winter, there is no snow, but we have grass.  We also have a lawn mower.  Combined these two things bring oodles or laughter and good ol’ fun for the children.  We’ve hooked up the wagon before, but Grandpa’s suggestion on the sled was faster, smooth and took corners with just the right amount of speed. 

The children gathered around Grandpa Sunday morning after the joy of seeing their baskets had expired.  Grandpa Goodhue always has the coolest apps on his phone and one that let the kids drop bombs and wrecking balls on each other was a huge hit.  They giggled and anxiously waited for yet another video of an unsuspecting family member was destroyed by an incoming bomb. 

Aunt Ceecee came with her precious cargo later that morning.  Maizey was adored by all the children and loved on over and over.  All four of our children gathered around Maizey with protective interest.  They are going to be a great influence (or maybe a troublesome) on their little cousin!

We laughed, hugged, and enjoyed each other.  After a nice meal, and some desert, it was time to part.  Grandma and Grandpa had a long journey home.  The foursome gave out hugs and kisses and until the next meeting we will look back at the redneck fun had and imagine our next set of adventurous! 

Favorites Revisited

Noelle reminded me about these o on the last day of Spring Break we sat down and went over these questions with the children.

Noelle Rose:

Favorite Food: Salmon, chocolate cake, and Easter candy

Favorite Toy: Barbie's

Favorite Friend: Blake C., Olivia C., Emma, and Krisha

Favorite Color: Green and White (Go Michigan State!)

Favorite Animal: Horse, cheetah, dog, and cat

Favorite Object: My blankies and my Special Puppy

Favorite Movie/TV: Peppa Pig

Favorite Book: Ms. Mack

When I grow up I want to be: A vet

What is something that makes our family special?: Because we love everybody so much!

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?: Walk around and I would and scare people and go to Morgan Valley Farm and spend all day with the horses

Where is your favorite place in the whole word?: Burger King play place, McDonald’s play place, and Morgan Valley Farm!

Maximilian Charles:

Favorite Food: A jelly sandwich

Favorite Toy: My gun and my pirate ship and my rocket ship

Favorite Friend: Luke

Favorite Color: Purple and pink and red and yellow and blue

Favorite Animal: Bear and a whale

Favorite Object: Bobo and Fluffy Max and all my animals

Favorite Movie/TV: Lilo and Stitch

Favorite Book: Big Red Barn and Holler Loudly

When I grow up I want to be: Hockey player and a baseball player

What is something that makes our family special?: Birthdays on lots of holidays

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?: Give Mom a kiss and a hug without her knowing

Where is your favorite place in the whole word?: Chelsea Tree House (we’ve only been there once) and McDonald’s play place

Violette Adelle:

Favorite Food: Donuts

Favorite Toy: Um, a car

Favorite Friend: Landen

Favorite Color: Purple and Pink!

Favorite Animal: Joey (a white horse)

Favorite Object: A little pillow and my two night-nights

Favorite Movie/TV: Peppa Pig and Caillou

Favorite Book: Big Red Barn

When I grow up I want to be: A Doctor!

What is something that makes our family special?: Um presents!

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?: Um, hide!

Where is your favorite place in the whole word?: The barn where Joey is!

Zane Michael:

Favorite Food: Gummi snacks which he calls, “nacks”

Favorite Toy: Trucks and cars or anything he can push

Favorite Friend: He adores his sisters and calls them, “vivi and wellwell”

Favorite Color: Haven’t seen a preference yet from him

Favorite Animal: Horses, called “orshey”

Favorite Object: His fuffy (pacifier) and nannies (blankets)

Favorite Movie/TV: Not watching much TV yet

Favorite Book: Tractor book

Neglect

Oh, how I’ve neglected you blog. I have had many instances where I ache to type and put down the latest happenings and upload some adorable (in my opinion) pictures. Then a cry occurs during the day, another laundry basket beckons to be folded, or a child whimpers for my arms to be around them. Then night creeps up with exhaustion nipping at my heels. Zane, still waking many times at night as left me worn out and haggered. Bed or blog? I seriously think about this option. The 1200 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and my handsome husband ALWAYS seem win out.

So today seems like a great day. I turn on a movie, grab my laptop and begin to search for the camera. I search and search and search some more. I has disappeared for the time being. Shoved in some obscure place, it will eventually turn up. For now I’m left without pictures to jog my memory since my last post. I will strain to rack my aging memory and come up with our happenings.

Let’s see, a few weeks back my girl, Noelle, had a concert. Kindergarten adorableness was the prominence of the concert. The theme was Movie Magic and these ridiculously cute 6-7 year olds sang favorites like, “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” and “A Spoonful Of Sugar” to an attentive audience. Before the concert Noelle said she was so nervous and her stomach hurt. I assured her we would be watching and if she felt nervous to look at me, or her siblings. After the concert Noelle exclaimed, “That was so much fun and I wasn’t nervous at all!”. (As I am looking through pictures I notice that I did upload concert pictures!) I can’t help but beam with pride and smile. Yes, she is apart of a class, but her shy, tentative self singing without fear across her delicate face makes me happy. It’s a giddy kind of happy. I want her to be proud, strong, and confident. She will not be the class clown or outspoken one. She probably won’t be the leader of her class, and that’s okay. I hope that she can and will stand up for herself and be confident. It seems she is headed in that direction, and I smile on the inside!

The weekend of March 24th we packed up and headed to Grand Rapids to attend the wedding of a dear college friend. The children came along and we enjoyed our first hotel stay as a family of six. Preparation began a week in advance and to be honest I prepared for the worst. In the end we all had a great time. The kids loved, loved, loved staying in the hotel. Bouncing from bed to bed and back again, while running up and down the halls and swimming in the pool were all a child could ask for in the fun department.

The wedding itself was gorgeous. My friend look beyond beautiful in a dream dress. The love between her and her new husband was contagious and electrifying. During the ceremony the munchkins were mostly quiet and kept busy with snacks, phones, matchbox cars, and the joy a a new place to explore. During the reception my girls danced their little booties off. They couldn’t wait to dance and when it was time they ran to the dance floor hoisted their arms up, felt the beat and danced. They skipped, hopped, twirled and really put all of their bodies into dancing. I sat back and realized that I’m in trouble when it comes to Violette. She can really dance, she shakes her booty just right to the beat and moves in perfect rhythm. Oh yeah, we’re in trouble!

The boys didn’t make it out to the floor. Zane fell asleep in Tom’s arms and Max’s lids were too droopy to pull himself off the of the comfort of Dad’s other arm. Although no pictures of the wedding. I do have one of my boys, matching in green, looking very much alike with their blond hair, pale skin and general boyness.

This week is spring break. Noelle, Max, Violette, Zane, and I have no plans but we are enjoying every bit of our time together. Mornings are lazy with me surrounded by four warm, cozy bodies. We lounge and watch TV. Bad breath (theirs, of course not mine!), fuzzy night hair, and many blankets curled around arms and legs describe our mornings. It’s pretty wonderful! No real plans, just me and the kiddos enjoying playing and a bit of cleaning/chores.

Hopefully my camera unearths it self from the depths of hiding. We bought a new trampoline and boy, it’s been taking up a lot of our time. The older three are jumping by 9am and squeal with delight most of the day. After purchasing this, both Max and Noelle exclaimed while hugging us, “You’re the best Mom and Dad, EVER!”. We’ll take it!