s.o.s.

could somebody please come walk my dog? he has a huge fenced in yard, but for some reason, he just doesn't wish to stay put. that's why he frequently runs away.

i would pay you to help the 11 year old with his faces of history costume for his big presentation on friday. he's dressing up as jesus. no big deal. the thing is-i don't sew. he also has to think of some food to coincide with his presentation that also coincides with his research paper. by friday. wine, bread and{swedish}fish is what i suggested. sound good? okay okay, grape juice. geez.

the 13 year old could use someone to proofread his biology genetic map? he showed me the probability of my having another child with some kind of genetic abnormality today. he's a charmer that one.

i would love an extra hand in the kitchen. this morning i made my signature pumpkin bread like i have a million times before. only this time i forgot the baking powder AS WELL AS the baking soda. tell me, what kind of baker does that?!

the Mister is all kinds of crazy right now. calm and steady, but ever so busy. good thing he took me to dinner and a movie this weekend otherwise i might really be feeling neglected.

and then there's the crazy weather we have been having. snow. ice. it has me packing for the south-literally.

the littlest came to get in my bed last night{which was fine because the Mister didn't come to bed til 8am}. when i asked what prompted his night visit, he explained, "i was lonely". 

o, dear me. do you ever have days, weeks, months, years like this? our lives seem like they are getting crazier and more hectic and ever so frenetic. and i am just hanging on for dear life. you know that scene in the movie the incredibles when mr. incredible gets his bum kicked by that robot/drone? yep. that is so how i feel. like i am getting slapped over and over on a big boulder. and just as i catch my breath, whack. it happens again. 

today one of the boys had an orthodontist appointment. i spent 20 minutes scrapping ice off my car. left the other 3 with school work til i returned. hurried to the appointment only to realize she wasn't up for braving the ice. i left a very detailed voice mail as i drove back through the icy streets. upon my quick return home, the oldest sympathetically jotted down an outline for a software program{for 37$}that would enable this doctor to be able to access her appointment database from home{what a ridiculous excuse to give your patients on why you stood them up}. i plan to sell it to her tomorrow{with a markup}when we return for the rescheduled appointment.

perhaps life will slow down a bit. due to his lack of practice, our 11 year old was forced to quit guitar. we were paying for him to hang out once a week with a really cool guy. he can do that for free in nashville. but then last week he started fencing. so his electric guitar sits in the corner whilst he jousts with the fireplace poker{thanks, honey for that genius idea}. 

speaking of genius, today i was helping the 9 year old with what i thought was a simple math problem only to realize...i never taught him how to do THAT kind of math. funny how that happens. if you don't teach, your kids literally won't learn. and guess who i have to blame? not the public schools.

but that's okay. somehow the 6 year old knows how to do the 9 year old's math so he can teach him. well, when he isn't wrestling the dog. 

o, the dog. yes. the one who was bathed in my bathtub with my favorite aveda shampoo. and then was blown dry followed by a little sandalwood essential oil rub down. the Mister took a whiff as he pondered aloud, "if i ever come back as a dog, i want to be YOUR dog." my dog who smells great, but who rarely gets walked. and who runs away. a lot.

and it's only monday. 

xo,

your girl friday

What I am enjoying today...

• Wearing an apron and pearls all day long
• Hearing my boys play instruments
• Enjoying the beauty of spring with a boy who loves dirt

• The surprise of flowers in my yard
• Beautiful children's books that adorn our mantle nicely and remind me TO READ TO THE LITTLEST!

• Planning a trip to the National Aquarium for the 3rd boy's birthday
• Boys who ask to mill grain with the handy dandy hand mill and then accidentally spill it all over the floor
• A romantic husband who sends me a link showing he has purchased the dehydrator of my dreams (I am really excited!)
• Laughing at how excited a dehydrator makes me
• Boys who spill granola all over the floor and usher in the dog for clean up

• Hearing the 5 year old tell me I am as pretty as a spider (we are reading Charlotte's Web so it's a nice compliment)
• The excitement of telling the boys that we'll be making our own dehydrated food as soon as aforementioned new gadget arrives 
• Seeing little bits of green (my favorite color) all around

• Boys who managed to capture our runaway dog and bandage a brother's cut finger from whittling without needing to disturb mama's afternoon siesta
• Planning our trips to Tennessee for our almost-teenage boy's birthday and our friend's wedding
• Prayers for people we do not know by the ones I know best
• Some yellow sandals that are coming my way to make up for the 3 pairs the dog has chewed
• Trying NOT to laugh when the 5 year old says the f-word:f-a-r-t (IHATETHATWORD!!!!)

• Discussing The Hunger Games in a hushed voice with one boy who has finished it whilst another one desperately tries to read it without hearing what we are saying

• Single parenting my four boys whilst my Mister works from DC for 3 days-straight
• Peach preserves the neighbor brought down just because she is a McCutcheon
• Taking our runaway dog to his puppy class
• Four boys who are begging to go ice skating tonight (sans the Mister who will be in DC)
• Remembering all the fun had on my Nashville porch
• Realizing that there is purpose and promise in ever detail of our lives

...and you? What are you enjoying today?

New Kid on the Block

Hey, new kid. You are soooooo cute with your big brown eyes and your goldie locks, but let's get one thing straight-I can totally take you. 


Look. I raised 4, count. them. Four little boys. I get up every morning at 4am to ride a bike-fast. I homeschool AND mill flour. You think you're tenacious? How about breast feeding while getting over mastitis. Done that, buddy? Didn't think so.


So you can try your little dog and pony show with me. I will laugh like it's the first time. But here's a little secret. Believe it or not you are not the first little guy whose poo I have scooped or chased down with a trashy mouth or taught to sleep through the night. You are not the first boy who has tried to woo me with his rascally ways. In the end, I will dominate. 


Consistency is my superpower. You can try to slide one by me (ie my red sneaker). You may think you have the upper hand after the 110th time of going for the red mitten, but chasing you down only makes me stronger (and allows me to indulge in more chocolate). So keep it up. I will get in better shape so that I can take you for longer walks. I will continue to win this little game of "maybe if I walk quietly she won't notice the shoe in my mouth." And when you do wear me down, I will never let you know it. I'll just put your doggie behind in the crate. 


Don't get me wrong. We adore you. When your eye swelled shut, you saw the panic and love as we rushed you to the doggie e.r. You know that I didn't enjoy that whole rectal temperature thing they had to do on you. And I really do enjoy making your homemade doggie treats from leftover turkey bacon. The way you follow me around and lie on my feet while I make dinner is darling.It's just that in my 13 years of motherhood, experience has taught me that a boy with self control is sooo much more enjoyable. And we intend to enjoy you for many, many years to come. So don't misinterpret my "No biting!" or "Come, Kipling." "Down, boy." I mean them as terms of endearment. We are so glad you are here. And as soon as you learn that I am the alpha dog, life will only be that much sweeter. Okay? xo Mama

THE best for last

I am a mother to 4 boys, 5 if you count the dog. This one is my favorite. He doesn't talk back. He follows me around, sits at my feet, comes when I call and sleeps in a crate. It's a good thing he came last!

The gift that keeps on giving

My dear father has been wanting to get us a dog for a while now. I finally said okay. O, we lurve our puppy.