meltdown morning

Stewart had one meltdown after another this morning. All over little things like wanting chocolate milk and then not wanting it and making it known my throwing it. I was trying to figure out what to do with him to make it all better. I tried holding him and loving him. He hated that! I was beginning to wonder if he was sick. Finally, I decided I had to get him out of the house (and constrained in his car seat)!

All we did was get a new water filter and some water-softener salt. But that trip got us out and gave us all a change of perspective. Ale! Alleluia! While I'm sorry we had to use gasoline and emit pollutants, it was good to get on the phone and talk to Mike's mom for a few minutes and connect with someone (one of the only times I can have a phone conversation is in the car with my bluetooth).

After naps, Marshall, Stewart and I cleaned their room up a bit and I put their clothes away in drawers (not laundry baskets) for the first time in over a month. I had finally had it with filled-up laundry baskets becoming permanent fixtures in our hallway and bedroom. Now, the boys dressers are in their bathroom. This will make it so much easier to put their clothes away after they are asleep (when I usually get to it) without waking anyone. Tiptoeing is required when three little boys share a room- one awake can quickly turn into an unpleasant thing.

The picture is of how I felt yesterday. Maybe I'm a bit better now... I think.

a pissy mood

I'm in one (a pissy mood). Maybe it's the rain? Can't be, I actually like the rain (it reminds me of the "rainy season" in Quito).

Maybe, I need these kind of days to make my life more dimentional. But... the thought of it's value doesn't make it feel less pissy.
It could be because I didn't leave the house all day and I'm feeling the need to get out into the world. Also, Mike is gone tonight for a meeting so it is making for a long day with no end in sight.

Why isn't "my world" sufficient? You know, that I have to get out every day and do bunches of "extra" things?

I feeling like I'm already failing in so many ways. (Yes, I still monitor my value by the order or lack of order around me and my production.) I'm usually frustrated with myself, that I can't complete all the things I want to the way I want to do them. I'm not even talking about the "failures" I feel as a mother (i.e., loosing patience, anger at my kids, consistent "screen time", etc.).

Also, I am feeling stiffled. Creatively, there is this huge desire to work. But where will I find time?

And if I'm feeling this now, why do I think I can add Marshall's school to the picture?

Blah! So many pride issues to fix. Can't someone fix them for me? You know, like Jesus? He doesn't work like magic, solvong all problems instantly?

Don't comment (on my sarcasm either). I'll feel better tomorrow.

Bumper

We finally added another girl to our house... does it count if it's a girl bunny? We got her at the Indiana State Fair today, mostly because of a very pushy little sales girl named Melody Marshall. She kept saying, "You're interested then?" and then re-negotiating the price and trying to add in another bunny or two or a cage. So when she asked, Marshall's eyes lit up and I posed the question to Mike and so we did it.
Meet Bumper, because that was Marshall's favorite ride at the fair (bumper cars).
We biked up to the fair, leaving the house at 8:30 a.m. We didn't get home until 4:30, and we arrived with three tired boys. Because we biked, we couldn't bring Bumper home so we enlisted mom and dad to do that for us (since they met us up there and had a car). Thanks M&D!
Marshall keeps running in to check on her, and is a little scared of getting scratched when he holds her. Stewart squeals in delight when he looks at her.
We had a pleasant time at the fair but we stayed a little too long and spent way too much money on food and rides. I guess we think that since it's only once a year, it's not a big deal and we like the tradition of going. The biking made it extra long but it also made it quite fun, and a way to burn off the best milkshake of the year.

little legos

I just looked in on my boys.


Sleeping.


They are especially amazing
when they are sleeping.

Oh yeah, Nigel is pulling his whole body up and even getting his knees under him. He rocks back and forth on his hands and knees, and scoots backwards. Time to make sure the little legos are picked up, the new phase of choking hazards has begun.

playgroup... oops

Thought we had playgroup this morning at Carrie's. I was mistaken- it's next Friday.

I tried to salvage the boy's hopes for something fun away from home, so we went out for a picnic at Meadow Oaks Park (I think that's what it's called) in the Old Northside neighborhood. It's one of Indy's little secret places, where you can tuck yourself away in a tiny corner of nature. (The sign says it is a Victorian Walking Garden.) It comes complete with a fountain (that's not working now), a gazebo, walkways, benches, and some calm shaded garden spaces. One of the best things about going there with kids is that it is gated, shady, and there isn't an obnoxious plastic play set that has everything surrounding it. It's nice to get away from the "entertain me" philosophy of most other parks. And the kids love it just as much if not more.

We met two doggies, GiGi and LuLu and observed 10 or more empty beetle shells after eating PB and Honey sandwiches.

Before the park, we ran by the bank. The boys enjoyed googling over two incredible "cool cars" at an auto body detailing place next to the bank on East St. The guy who was cleaning them said they could look and take photos and he even opened the "wing" doors up so the boys could look inside. Marshall and Stewart were in heaven.

Kaori's kose' box

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A box with the word "Kose'" was delivered today for Kaori. After a Ratatouille dinner, we had "Christmas in August" at the dinner table. All three boys got a "Jinbei" (pronounced jen-bey) from Kaori and her parents, Tsuyoshi and Shoko Matsuo. This is the traditional costume of Japanese men (the Kimono would be the costume for women).
After getting Stewart dressed in his, Marshall finally agreed to try his on and decided that he loved it. Maybe he loved the idea of being a Japanese warrior (what we told him the costume was), or the maybe it was the idea of competing with his younger brothers in wearing what they so easily agreed to wear. I started calling them Jinbei One, Jinbei Two, and Jinbei Three. We snapped some photos of them together and then talked for awhile before bath and bed.

Stewart, Nigel and I had a good time gently touching and listening to the owl and bell wind chime. Tomorrow, Marshall and Stewart will try the special cookies that were in the Kose' cosmetic (the company that Mr. Matsuo works for) box. I am especially excited about the map of Japan and the Japanese "Everyday" newspaper. Thank you Matsuos!

Mostly though, we are so thankful for having Kaori with us for the last 15 weeks. We are so sad that she will be leaving soon, but are hopeful that we will stay connected. Mike and I agree that her presence has enriched our lives this summer.

Things I like about Kaori: her openness to be fully present with us, her expressions and laugh, her love and patience for our children, and the way she puts us and those she is around at ease.

madison, wisconsin

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We left the farm party a day earlier than normal because we wanted to see Madison. A while back, Mike read an article about Madison and how it is a good town to bike.

After deciding to stay in the Best Western on Capitol Square, we set out for a bike ride down State Street. This street is really great because it is a bicycling and walking street, where cars aren't allowed. There are cool shops on both sides for 4 or 5 blocks. The street runs right into a square at the University of Wisconsin. Then, when you cross the street you're at Lake Mendota and there is a trail that runs right along the lake. So we biked all the way to the end of the trail, watching the sailboats the entire way.

We had sandwiches at Potbelly's and then ice cream at Cold Stone before a dip in the hotel pool. Bedtime was supposed to be early, but the kids were so wound-up that it took forever (could be the sugar?).

The next morning, we biked down State again, had Einsteins, and while Mike took Marshall and Stewart on a new trail, I went birthday present shopping. I realized (again) that I'll spend way too much money on my neices because girls clothes shopping is the best.

After we met up again, packed up our stuff, we headed out to the outlook of Lake Menona and ate our thai noodles while enjoying the view.