Small Town Driving

For many year I have been familiar with the neighborly steering wheel wave. Thanks to Cumberstone Road I had been in the habit of raising one or more fingers off the wheel to acknowledge the neighbor driving past. So moving to New Harbour, the Bristol Mills Maine was not a huge cultural change for me.

But one thing I had not experienced until moving to this sweet mid-coast region was the social aspect of driving in town. I now an acquainted with enough people (La Leche League, Library story time, narrating puppet shows all over town, Weight Watchers, St. Patrick's--I get around!) that driving through town becomes a fun gathering of friends passing each other with friendly smiles, waves, shouts of "Hello!" etc.

For an extrovert like me, this is a dream come true! And as far as I can imagine from my days riding the subway in Toronto, where you are packed in like sardines and working hard to deny the existence of the people around you.

Keeping Little Boys in Thier Beds

I have 3 little boys. Two of them sleep on their own little beds. Weggie shares the king with John and I, though I'm looking forward to him moving into his brother's little bed when the older boys move up to twins next month (4 weeks 1 day till the move!).

But the weather has gotten cold. Even when we have a fire, we bank it at night so nighttime is chilly. And anyway, last night was our first fire of the autumn. Someone exclaimed "This is weird. The house is so WARM!" Yes, dear--that's called comfort...

Boys have been migrating in the wee hours into my bed. I am a loving, and patient woman. Compassionate, and slow to anger. But I am also gaining girth with a new baby within, and struggling with the timeless challenge of getting comfortable with a big belly. I don't look kindly on small children encroaching on my space. Two nights ago, rather than struggle to lift large children (in the day they are little, at night when I'm 25 weeks along they become VERY BIG!) back to their beds, I went and crawled into Thaddeus' bed. It's basically a crib mattress on the floor.

For some reason I had a dream that I was paralyzed from the waist down and moved around in a wheelchair. My curled up legs did not feel good after a couple of hours of that!

So last night we put extra blankets on the heat-seeking boys' beds. At 4-ish I got a hot water bottle for fussy Thaddeus. Tucking him back in, with three blankets, he complained he was still cold. With each blanket he said "Cold. Cold. Cold." Even at 4 am I could appreciate his great comedic timing. I told him I had a surprise. Put together the water bottle, and VOILA!! Baby in his own bed!

Let the day begin!

Christmas Sweaters

Babci made these lovely sweaters for the boys. Sure hard to get all three in one place at the same time without them causing bodily injury! Sweet boys!

Leisurely Work

Getting up, showering, putting on attractive clothes, a bit of make-up, and blow drying your hair before going outside to sand and paint your new cabinets is REALLY FUN!! Feminine, powerful, creative.

Borrowed Computers

I'm on one. . .but ours is at least in the house! John has to start grad work soon so we will be getting hooked up. And I found the Camera--get ready for some "trip in review" posts!

I'm looking into taking the CNA class (Certified Nurse Assistant) at the local hospital in an effort to support the family while John is in school. This is a BIG step for me--since I am totally a stay-at-home-mom at heart. But I also see the goals we have as a family, and see that at the end of 2 years we will be in a MUCH better place if we keep those goals in view. GOD is Good--and I am feeling excited about these changes!

BUT--I did start weeping when I opened the Thank-You note from Ecce Veritas, with all the students and instructors in front of Holy Rosary. I am happy to be home--but miss the ease of my modern life in Oregon. . .CNA work=Modern Life. . .my new mantra.

Thankful Thursday

I came upon this tradition from the blog-o-sphere, and I like it.

1. I am thankful for Jettie and Lauren, my own personal space/time worm hole makers, who came over today with both food, and packing skills. The upstairs is well on the way to packed-up.

2. For dinner already made, and dishes already washed.

3. For a husband who is working hard both to earn $ and to find us a place to live within 20 days! (St. Joseph, pray for us!).

4. For the family we will be driving with, and their generosity in including us on their journey so we can be reunited a whole month earlier.

5. For daughters who are thrilled to buy some fleece and sew mittens and a scarf for their friend.

6. For the nice people at the body shop who attached the trailer hitch for no extra charge.

7. For a freezer full of yummy pork.

8. For a warm house. Plenty of wood. A clean chimney.

9. For 5 children now immune to chicken pox.

10. For night prayers and snuggles with all my sweet babies.

New Schedule. . .

Week 1:Nurse three children through Chicken Pox. Stay up late. Care for the needs of one, rest for a moment, move quickly to care for another. Repeat ad infinitum. Care for fussy baby all day. Nap with him. Have insomnia from all the napping. Live on Halloween party leftovers and meals made by an 11 year old (pb&J and oatmeal). Ask for help from friends.
Week 2:Pack.
Week 3:Leave.

Motivation

John getting home from a day of work had been a big motivator in my daily schedule in the past. That is not working so well right now. I try being motivated out of pure charity--but I'm not so refined in my spiritual growth to manage that consistently. Tonight I was feeling a definite lack of motivation. A quick talk with a dear friend helped me gain perspective. "Good Allison. Don't be motivated tonight. Put on some comfy clothes and rest. You have been doing so much for so long. It's OK to take a break." OH YEAH! I do a lot. I feed and educate and comfort, and do a minimal amount of cleaning at least. . .I volunteer, help friends, feed pigs, and blog. . .I lactate, pray, read, and make music. . . yes, I think tonight I'll rest (except for this post of course!)

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Guess what we had?

Cold cereal. No. Not homemade Granola. Store brand cornflakes. But there were local blueberries too. . .and we got to church on time and fed!

I'm also simplifying in other areas:

• Pig killing will be ASAP.


• Paper plates are SO in style.


• Child labor laws don't apply to chores--despite what the girls say.


• Excessive volunteer work is not on the to do list.


• I'm begging Mom to come down in November to help.

Despite the challenges, and missing John, I can see the blessings emerging. Mostly I see myself learning to be with the children in a new, more relaxed, more playful way. When "fun Dada" isn't around it falls to me to play the games, go on walks, maybe even wrestle with this lovely brood of babies.

Pros and Cons

Husband gone Pros:
Search all his pocket and find $40 extra cash.
More room in the bed.
Fewer parenting conflicts.
Time alone to pursue personal interests after kids are asleep.
Less cooking.
Less Laundry.

Husband gone Cons:
More room in the bed.
Can't delegate difficult parenting situations.
Too much time alone gets lonely after 2 weeks.
Dishes and laundry are more fun with a friend to help.

At the Air Show

This past weekend was the "last" airshow at the soon to close Naval Air Station. We do love the blue Angels. We are Navy people. BUT--I can't give much vital info about the planes. Quote of the day goes to Thalia ; "I wish Dad were here. He'd tell us all about these planes." I tried to fake it with things like "That one is really grey. Look that one says NAVY on it--must be a Navy plane huh?" But they weren't fooled. John is the expert.

The Good the Bad and The Ugly

On the good side of things--I have educated, fed, and clothed several people this week. All dishes are done, and the downstairs is decluttered.

Bad: My neck is hurting like it hasn't hurt in years. I have an appointment with an osteopath in 3 weeks! I may visit my old chiropractor out of desperation.

Ugly: My bedroom. I think there are 5 or 6 loads of laundry (clean) up here, along with some of the remnants of the downstairs declutter job.

but. . . John is getting me a cell phone today!! (visualize clouds parting and a beam of brilliant resting on yours truly!) Alleluia!

Fun on the Farm

How to get the kids to work really well together and follow directions well? Just have all three well fed pigs escape from their yard at 6:30 pm. The well fed part in important since they were not influenced by the yummy food we were trying to lure them with.

Everyone did a great job herding them--especially MC and JH. A neighbor friend who was over held baby. I have no idea what Tadeu was doing--staying wisely out of the way I guess.

Pig are back home.

When it was all over JH summed it up well,"That was like war Mama!"

Only 2 months till their date with destiny!