Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This

Saturday was not my day- I was a grouch. My kids were driving me a little bit batty. I just needed to curl up with a book or something. I needed the whining to stop. I needed some space- some quiet time. I'm not sure what I needed but it was probably against my religion- ha.

 We did get all dressed up and got to go visit with friends at the church for the trunk-or-treat. Our church is awesome. It was fun and I got to visit with some of my very favorite people. Hudson and the girls went through the haunted house that the young men and women put together. They came out giggling and a little frightened. It reminded me of when I was a little girl and how much I loved haunted houses and getting scared. I love the neighborhood we live in and the people we are surrounded by, they are the best.

The costumes this year were pretty fun to put together. Here are a few sneak peaks- I want to take more pictures tonight. We are all paired off- Jared and Ella, Rory and Violet, Hudson and me. The three oldest picked out what they wanted everyone to be and I went with it. I love making their costumes every year, I love seeing them get so excited as they see their get-ups coming together.

I will say this- Hudson's head is NOT in any way similar to Jack the Skeletons. .  . especially with his big mop of hair!

At the end of October

Hudson and I have been busy baking his birthday cake and going to the park and watching Batman (the 1960's version) and other important birthday stuff like that. Tonight we are going out to eat to celebrate and then coming home for cake and presents with the family. We are excited for the weekend and all the Halloween festivities. 

We made a pretty awesome cake. Hopefully it will taste good too. :)

Four Whole Years of Boy

Today is Hudson's 4th birthday. He was born with a thick mop of dark hair and the most charming lips. He is so happy and easy going, he makes us all laugh with his jokes and goofy faces. He can be dressed up in a dress the girls put on him and there is still no doubt he is all boy. He loves painting and baseball, basketball and playing sword fight (make that any kind of fight). He loves to read books- his favorites right now are a book about pirates and one about the human body. He adores "peanut butter and sandwich," and soft pretzels with cheese, and hummus with pita bread or carrots. He takes a while to wake up in the morning and if he takes a nap, a long time to fall asleep at night. He kisses his blankie over and over and it annoys his sisters. His giggle is contagious and of course he finds physical comedy the most humorous- just like his dad. He loves his daddy and will do or not do anything as long as I tell him that daddy does or doesn't do it. He likes to use the "man" soap that is blue in the shower and comes up afterwards saying, "smell me mama, I smell like a man." His best friend is Gigi and one time I found them stripping down in the backyard to take a dip in the pool together. He also loves his cousins and is always asking when we can play with them. He is very sweet and when he says, "Mama, I need you." I can't help but stop and pick him up and snuggle him. He loves our Friday dates even if they are just going to Target and when dad takes him to the baseball game.

I can't imagine my days without this boy, he is my little man and even when he is a big man he will still be that to me in my heart. Happy birthday my dear son!

It's a Crazy Hair Kind of Day.

 Today was crazy hair day at school- we were running late but I managed to fix the girls hair a little extra crazy. Ella told Rory she looked like she had knobs on her head like that guy on Star Wars. Ella reminded me of a punk rock girl with her skinnies and teased hair. I have a feeling there will be a ton of conditioner needed tonight. . .

No, Hudson did not have his hair done special for crazy hair day- this is just how it normally looks in the morning. Poor guy is pretty sick, he has a bad bad cough. He sounds so sad. I had to take him in to urgent care this morning and get him a breathing treatment and steroids. He just couldn't breathe and was wheezing like mad. He is sounding much better now. I think I may be a pro in distinguishing coughs at this point, after hearing so many different ones from my kids. I knew he was in bad shape and what he needed. 

 Violet has crazy mullet hair everyday- those curls are pretty cute even if they are part of a party in the back. . .

My hair is not crazy in this picture- although it is in the mornings- but I cut my bangs and had to share. I think it may hold off the hair chopping for a little while, at least. I don't remember having crazy hair day in grade school. This is the girls first experience since they didn't do it at their old school- they pretty much think it is the best thing ever. 

The Great Dog Detective & Her Sidekick

Agent D (aka Daisy) and agent V are good partners. One throws the ball, the other fetches and doesn't even mind that it is only a few feets distance. One lays down and one sits- the one that sits is agent V, right on agent D. (luckily agent D is very easy going and doesn't seem to be bothered by this one bit.) One spits out food she doesn't like and the other eats it, because one is very picky and the other one eats everything. They follow each other around the yard and are working on solving problems like being too clean, eating as many pecans as possible, and communicating with the mysterious Luna (black lab) next door.

 I'm not sure what they would do without each other. Every baby needs a sidekick. It brings me joy.

Don't Fuss Dear, Get On With It.

I have neglected to post my little joys this week. I am going to do 3 today to make up for it.

1. Seeing my girls come home from school to play. . . . . school. They love school and help each other with their homework. Rory is quizzing Ella on her spelling words. Nice for me and nice for them.

2. Hudson always exploring, asking questions, going on adventures.

3. Violet- my snuggle bug. She loves to give me hugs. In between telling me no, that is. And the way she tickles everyone- including pets. She says "gikkle gikkle gikkle gikkle" while doing so.

Today my mantra is from the wise and lovely Audrey Hepburn, who probably struggled with an eating disorder before most people even knew about them. Getting to know the brave women in my meetings I have come to find that they are some of the kindest, most empathetic and humble people I have ever met. I know I have said this before, but every week I am just amazed at their strength, even though they cannot see it in themselves. But anyways, this quote is just what I need right now:

"It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so don't fuss, dear; get on with it."

- Audrey Hepburn

Rory Worries

Rory Look Mom, I have freckles!!

Rory has been on the nervous side lately. Nervous about if I am going to be safe on my runs. Worried if we remembered the keys. Nervous if she is going to be picked up from school today. This morning she was especially nervous and grouchy. I decided she needed to stay home from school. Just because. She needed some serious one-on-one time. I know it's only been a little while, but it seems to have made all the difference. She shopped with me at the Ranch Market while Hudson was a preschool, and while the littlest littles were napping, we did whatever she wanted to do which was this:

I love her lots, my little Rory Worry Wart. More one-on-one time is definitely in order. Hopefully this is just a stage she is going through. Any thoughts??

Dear Mimi and Pa,

We are soooooooo glad we got to come and visit. We had so much fun, we didn't want to leave. Thanks for putting up with our noise, mess, and vegetarianism. We love you lots!! Tell Emily and Darek we love them too. Mama had lots of fun shopping and getting her nails done (for the first time in 4+ years) and having a sister around to talk to. Hudson loved playing with Carter-despite the toy jealousy of them both- and everyone loved squishable baby Kinsley. All in all we loved being out on the farm and spending time with you!
Love, The Allens.

Forget me not day

It's been one of those days where I just adore being a mother. Where everything seems good and my children are adorable. It wasn't an extraordinary day, Violet still cried and fussed, the girls still fought, Hudson still jammed his elbow into my thigh while playing boy things, the money is still super tight and the laundry never ends. The feeling that nothing I do will ever be of note was still there- but I didn't care. I was content to just be a mother, lucky to get to be part of these kids lives. lucky to have a home to clean and keep in order. Lucky to have a husband who I can laugh with and who still sweeps me off my feet.

Why are some days so easy to keep in perspective while some days it seems impossible to do so. It's strange and most of the time I don't know what I did differently. But I am grateful for these kinds of days. And I am happy to be a little forget-me-not mother.

Gum Scoundrel

"I'm not giving you any more gum, no matter how cute you sound when you say that word." - - Jared

gum gum gum gum gum gum gum GUM!!!

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We are each others harvest, We are each others business, we are each others magnitude and bond.

We have been sleeping in the great room facing the huge A-frame cabin windows. Each morning we wake up to the sun slowly rising and I lay in bed for a while taking it all in. Violet snuggles up next to me and pats my face. Rory gets out of her bed and cozies in to bed on my other side. Jared and Hudson are on the other side of the bed and Ella is absorbed in a book. It is quiet and all we can hear is the sounds of the woods. It won't be quiet for long, not with 6 kids under 8 in the house, so I try to enjoy this time.

Like any morning we get the kids fed, dressed, and taken care of. Faces are wiped and dishes are done. But Jared and I get to run together this morning since Grandma and Emily are here to watch the kids. We go on a long run through the country, crossing fields and forests. We talk about lots of things, mostly about the earth and sustainability but also about what we want for our family as far as where to live and what we want to teach our children.

The past few days have been busy and fun. We got to visit Lawrence and eat at Free State, where Jared and I waited tables together when we were first married. We still dream about their food- fresh, local, and creative food, with specials everyday- and lots of vegetarian options. It is the place we both would pick if we had to eat just one restaurants food every day for the rest of our lives. (yes we ask important questions like that to ourselves all the time.)

The rest of our time has been filled with riding tractors, horses, playing cards, fishing, and being outside.

The littlest student.

Ella fishes.

Cousins Carter and Kinsley

Rory at Freestate

We wait for our table.

Cheddar Ale Soup- - - - MMMMMMMM. 

Those handsome guys.

Ella poses

At the Dusty Bookshelf, my favorite bookstore.

Hudson reads in the children's section.

Overexposed picture of Grandma and the kiddos.

Two beauties.

Lawrence has a ton of cool Murals. 

While in Lawrence, we took in the shops and sights of Mass street, I got to visit Wildman's Vintage- an awesome and thrift store priced vintage shop, the kids got to go to the coolest toy store we've seen and pick out a toy. Ella picked out a little horse-in-a-purse, Rory a sewing kit, and of course Hudson a cowboy holster with guns. It is amazing how booming the little downtown in Lawrence is, filled with people at all times of the day and night. Tons of good eats and unique shops. I love it.

On the way home we visited a few antique shops and then stopped at the store to get stuff for supper. Then the rain poured down for a while and then the clouds turned red.  Seeing that was just one thing that brought me joy.