Full throws of Motherhood

So you kind of think the early years are rough. Middle night feedings, spit up, tantrums and the sort. We all can't wait until our kids go back to school and life gets easier. Well its not, big shock to some of you out there. The emotional battles are definitely harder and more raging, the amount of arguing going on with me, sheesh. But this Saturday has tested my limits beyond what is normal for a individual like me, yes folks badge sewing and scrapbookin sort of. So first off I had to go buy Parker's scout uniform, read earlier posts to see my thoughts on that. I have no idea what in the world I am supposed to buy and like I always do, I just wanted to buy the bare minimum, no centennial patches for him or shiny gold stars that aren't a minimum requirment. So $45 later I left with the basics.  Then it was off to Hobby Lobby a mother in the throws mecca the get the necessary things for this project and the necessary things for my 2nd motherhood test, a poster for Cooper all about him. He is of course Student of the Week, and somehow all Parker's past teachers did not require such an endeavor, so for the first time I am having to get creative and artsy and put together a montage to show off to the class. So Hobby Lobby was going to solve both my poster and scouting needs. And being the great mom that I am, I tried to include Cooper in all of the process, because the instructions said to make this a family activity. So he picked out his favorite poster board its bright and his favorite color paper for his name. Anyway long story short, including swinging my scrapbooking expert friend Emily's house and after the kids went to bed, I tackled my projects. The boys tried to help but no, no, that wasn't going to do. So anyway, here is a picture of the final products. I will say the joints in my legs kill, sitting on the floor that long is painful,bohoo. And bonus points for those that figure out what is not correct on Parker's scouting uniform or go down and I'll reveal my errors. And again sorry I don't know how to format pictures better.

Ok, so clearly I cheated and used fabric glue, wow, it was so easy and I don't even know how to sew on a button, sooo... great for me. Kelly Harp and Rachel Sparks are gasping :). Anyhoo, ok so for all you scouting novices out there. I accidentely bought the bear gold slide for the neckerchief how often do you use that word? instead of the wolf slide and parker is a wolf so that will have to be switched out. And then secondly his pack number is acutally 119 but they ran out of 9s at the store, so he'll just have to join pack 11 until that comes in. And just so you know, I had to google how to tie that neckerchief and google where all those things go. because Parker already misplaced his wolfguide. Ok well, that is enough for me today, you got two posts, and I am tired and off to bed. After I unstick my fingers and apply some bengay to the ole joints.

Yoda and Syrup

So I already wrote about how my boys are into all things StarWars, well I indulged their obsession while on my trip to STL and came home with $20 StarWars pancake molds. We eat homeade Papa Sam pancakes courtesy of Ritchey every Saturday morning, so I knew these would get a weekly use. And the boys were so excited. So here is the final product.  Unfortunately Ritchey and I aren't Jedi's so it was a painful process, and even could have ended our marriage. Lots of tries, lots of Pam and some power struggles who me? But we pulled together, and got it done. And of course they lasted all of 3 minutes but the boys were so excited and its all about making memories.

Darth Vader's mouth looks all jacked up, that oxygen grill really is hard to achieve with pancake batter. And one version of him was really a mess, but we reminded them how nasty Darth's face looked under his mask, and that is what the pancake was supposed to look like. They totally bought it. There is a storm trooper too, but we still need to work on that guy.

My sophie.

Thought I'd post some pics. I just spent some nice time reading and drinking coffee while my kids watched their 4-4:30 show. I went to check on them and could smell right away that sophie was no longer watching quietly. No it was not a poop smell, and very nice baby smell, that of Desitin... everywhere. At first I picked her up to throw her in the tub, but then realized how greasy desitin is and didn't think water would help. So I plopped her back down at the scene of the crime, ya know, to get a good picture, wonderful me. Then thankfully wet wipes did the trick and she and her room smell so baby clean now. I guess it could have been a lot worse, it could have been poo everywhere. My mom likes to share a story how my sister and I spread vaseline all over a blue shag carpet, and then sprinklied baby powder all over it, yikes! Anyhoo, here are the pics, and just a few bedhead pics of Sophie just so you can love her as much as I do.

I'm back!

I am back from my trip home. So many great times, and discussions and so many emotions. I call it my trip home because yes, it is where I grew up, but I no longer have any family there, but the friends I have there are really my family, even though we have been apart for 5 years. And the overwhelming emotion I felt over the weekend was that STL really is my home. Which is kinda weird because I didn't really feel that way last time I lived there. But upon returning it just felt so good and so right to be there. And the funny thing is, I'll probably never live there again. That was another wierd emotion I had there. Its like I belong there and even still live life there, like I'm just on a long trip away, but I most likely will never live in STL again or around these women. I immediately picked up where I left off with old friends, like we had never left. Some I have seen, some I have not, one friend even lives in Singapore and happened to be in town while I was there, we were highschool and newlywed friends. We all stayed up late at night, visitig, sharing, crying, praying, laughing a lot, and one night getting our groove on!. It was weird. It was like I had been transported back to my "cool years". You know those years you don't have many responsibilities and definitely no kids. And actually this group of friends were a part of the cool years and then we all had babies together and became "cool" moms together. And sitting around the patio one night we shared what was going on in life, the highs, lows, and what's next. Lots of heartache shared, deaths, divorces, child issues, family issues, job woes. We were so introspective how in 10 short years so much can change. Now granted going from newlywed to career and 3 kid homes, is a huge difference, but I wonder if in the next 10 years we will see such drastic changes and movements by God, are the 20s just a crazy time, or does each decade do a number on you. I imagine so. Why are these women/families so important to me. We were only together 4 years. That is nothing in the scope of my life. Again, is it that age, we all navigated those crazy years of life together. I dunno. Or will I be blessed every decade with such a core community.

I also got to go back and visit my childhood home and schools. It was wierd. First of all, as you have all experienced, man everything seemed smaller scale. That hill I sled down 100x was like a mole hill. My giantly steep driveway, not so steep. I was a total snoop. I knocked on my old door, but no one was home, so I then preceded to look in almost every window I could. I must say the new owners have changed almost everything, and are into the aztec look, kinda wierd. But I sat and stared at all the familiar things, my bedroom window that I used to sneek out of, the path I walked a million times. It all seemed so familiar but so far way. I don't know what my deal was but my heart was racing and tears welled up in my eyes most of the time. I don't miss childhood, but I miss that connection to my past. As my earlier post mentioned, I don't feel much of a connection. My  mom, sister and I are closer than we have ever been, but there is still a void, my dad, and it is such a large void that it makes going back or thinking back, kind of empty, so I guess we don't do it much or talk about it much, so I guess I just had a flood of emotions going home. I guess thats good.

The reason I got to go home was because my close friend was throwing a huge bash for her 10th anniversary, it was so much fun, footloose and fancy free, but for her and almost everyone at the party, and odd time of reflection and joyful remembrance. So here's to the 20s, a wonderful life navigating, changing and fun time of life.

oh and if you are wondering how Ritchey and the kids did. Well swimmingly. They never made it to school on time once, ate out a lot, but most importantly had fun together doing things "daddy's way" which is different and much less efficient and rational than my way, but still gets the job done!

ok, so the pic to above is from back in the day, camping with friends pre-kids.

The pic to the right is the week before we left for LA, a going away girls night. So this would be mom's with toddlers.

Here we are hanging out on the patio after a weekend of late nights, pardon our appearance. And just so my friend Kim isn't mortified, she normally is gorgeous but this was after getting like 3 hours of sleep 2 nights in a row. And Rachel is training for a marathon, thus the happening outfit. Me, I'm gorgeous as always!

Oh, I'm normally gorgeous, except for my double chin. Ask me someday and I'll show you my trick to make it disappear for pics (which I'm clearly not doing here. This is what my friend looks like with more sleep, make up and a ravishing 10th anniversary mock wedding dress!

Leavin on a jet plane!

I'm ignoring all my to do lists right now to let you know, I'm leavin on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again! I am getting to take a trip "home" to St. Louis and to escape the realities of motherhood and life here for a while. A friend knew I was in need of a pick me up and time away and is whisking me away to come visit her and attend her fabulous anniversary bash. I miss St. Louis, it has been at least 3 years since we've been back. Its weird having no family roots there anymore, its like my childhood kind of vanished. Sometimes I wonder if my 808 Bridlebrook Life was real. With my father gone, and my sister, mom and I spread all over, and with my crazy life with the kids, it feels like that life was a distant dream. So I can't wait to go back and drive around and visit my old home and neighborhood. Ritchey says I should knock on the door and see if they'll let me come in a look around. We'll see. I also had the privilege to return to St. Louis for seminary years and build a whole other life there that has become a bedrock to me and my whole family.We built friendships during those short 4 years that will last forever. So I'll stomp around good ole Maplewood for a while too. I"m gone 4 days and 5 nights! That may be the longest I've been away from my kids, but Ritchey assured me to go and go for as long as I can. I"m not worried about Ritchey, he is a pro dad, way more patient than I ever am, and way more laid back than I am. And he has no qualms about eating out 3 times a day no matter how many meals I leave behind. But lucky for him he has angel parents who are going to come and help out during the weekend. I will miss my kids terribly and my wonderful hubby, but one great thing about getaways is that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I will come back a more patient and loving woman, that will last at least the 1st couple days back :) Anyhoo, so goodbye for now, I'm off to spend hours on end in good conversation, evenings out, soaking up old memories and enjoying the cooler weather. I'll give a full report when I get back and will post proof of life that my family survived without me.

Kanakuk Koffee Cake

We had a yummy Saturday morning breakfast today, kamp koffee cake. We got to visit kamp this summer but I didn't get there in time for Sunday  morning koffee kake, thankfully it is super easy to make so we whipped some out this morning. Minus the soggy eggs they normally served it with and the Tang like OJ, it was perfect! I'm pretty sure I'll be eating it 3 meals a day around here, it makes a lot and is so good. Only one other think I like close to chocolate, and that is cinnamon. Here's the recipe.

2 eggs
2/3 cup melted butter- cooled
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. evap milk.
3/4 c. water
3 cups flour
1 3/4 c. sugar

2 1/2 t. baking powder

1 t. salt.

Topping: I always make a little more- I love the topping!

1/2 lb brown sugar

1T cinnamon

1/4 c. flour

3T soft butter

Beat eggs, add melted butter, vanilla, milk and water. Add all dry ingredients to mixer. Beat until smooth. Pour into sprayed 9x13 pan. Mix topping by hand and sprinkle over top. Bake 350 for 25-30 min.

Sorry for the half eaten cake picture!

Knots, Badges and wolves oh my!

Ok, warning, if you are a lover of all things scouting, please don't judge me! So its official, Parker is a CubScout, and more specifically a Wolf Scout, or something like that. We caved. Scouting is a big deal here and at our church. Most of Parker's friends do it, and have been doing it. But we previously withstood the peerpressure and remained steadfast in not scouting. You see, I don't have anything personally against the scouts, hello, I was a daisy, brownie and graduated to Girl Scouts. But really it is so not Ritchey and I. We are not into camping (although I'd like to be). Not into knives or rifles or dare I say, citizenship. I know, those of you who are, are like, oh  my goodness what non-productive members of society. I don't even know how to sew, so don't laugh if you see Parker's badges pinned on or hanging on by a thread of glue. But you see, 7 year old boys are really into all the above mentioned activities. And we are figuring out that just because we don't enjoy something doesn't mean we should deprive our kids from trying them out. Sophie is already exhibiting vocal skills, and I definitely have no experience there. Anyhoo, so last night we trekked up to the school to sign up. It was a bit chaotic, I had no idea what I was getting into and so had some questions. We paid our very minimal dues (one reason we we're up for it), bought our Wolf book that outlines all the super duper things we get to work on with Parker, and took my seat. Then in came the color gaurd and we went thru some flag cermony (this is where the eyes started to roll) like I said, I am not into this and just had to laugh at myself sitting there giving parker his ropes and standing for the pledge and salute. and soon I'll be teaching Parker his secret handshake, oath and salute! I'm also trying to figure out what the bare minimum of a uniform I have to buy is. The yellow scarf and gold scarf holder are non-negotiables but the belt buckle and cap are-phew! I think Parker is excited. He was willing to put basketball on the back burner, because I am still holding to my conviction that we will not have an activity every night of the week, and in between church and Ritchey's evenings meetings, and the fact that scouts is every week ALL YEAR! we are going to have to sacrifice some of the sports we were hoping to have Parker involved in. But Parker was given the choice and he chose Scouts. Of course it wasn't fair that they sent a teenager to his class all decked out with his badges to give testimony about how cool it is and that they would learn how to camp and shoot bb guns. Yeh, i was a sitting duck when parker came home with that news. But we will embrace this new phase in our life. And one reason we finally changed our mind is, this is the perfect age, scouting or not, boys this age till I dunno 10-11 are into all this kind of stuff, even my techie, non outdoorsman husband was a scout for a while, and actually his mom was their den mom, so we're talking legacy here! Ok, well I must be off, gotta read all about this great stuff in our wolf book and figure out how to get Parker to do it all. And even in my short reading of it last night, I've figured Ritchey will be the primary activity chairman, so if you see him out and about in his short khaki shorts, cap and neckerchief, just salute and keep walking!

Oh and lastly, one thing I am into, here is a pic of Sophie and her new fantastic on sale Gap shoes. I hesitated at the pink zebra shoes at first, but the sale sucked me in, and now I love them. What on earth will they match? Well the secod pic shows they will match just about everything!