I'm alive...I promise

Seriously...can't keep up with the blog. Too much holiday "fun" to take care of the last few weeks. Don't leave me! I'll find something interesting to say soon (I know....why start now). All is well, just exhaustingly busy.

Rundown of my day

breathe in.....sigh.

This was today.

Wake up, shower, make breakfast, take a phone call, yell at kids to get dressed faster, bathe Macy, nurse Macy, dress Quinn, clean house, vacuum house, mop floors, go to the store, find out road is closed that takes me to store, reconnect with old friend at store (she looks amazing, I look like hell), drop some stuff off at Monika's (1st trip to her house), put away groceries, change load of laundry, nurse, feed Quinn lunch, convince him to nap, write paychecks to my teachers, type note for my students, put away towels, try to come up with ideas for Emi's birthday party, get mail, give bottle to Macy while waiting for carpool, pick up carpool, take kids to Dr. so that Parker can finally get the Swine flu mist (Thimerisol-free), work on homework with kids, start dinner, talk with Anne about spray paint on a new Christmas wreath, drive Emi to piano (2nd trip to Monika's), come home and make milkshakes for "milkshake Mondays", pick up Emi and drop off Parker (3rd trip to Monika's), get dinner on table, pick up Parker from piano (4th trip to Monika's), convince my kids to eat dinner, promise UNO game for FHE if they bathe quickly, discover an unfinished "Mike and the Motorcycle" project that is due for Parker tomorrow, play UNO, send a grumpy Emi and Quinn to bed, stay up an extra hour with Parker to finish the project, get him to bed, clean up kitchen, try to make lesson plans for classes tomorrow, throw in a load of laundry, write this blog. Phew!

I still have to unload dishwasher and write e-mail to Parker's teacher as to why his project is crap.

Bill is still at work.....

Seriously!

Just photos....

There will just be photos posted tonight. In years to come, I would rather look back and see these cute faces than read about how awful they have been the last few days. Selective memory.

The Halloween Routine

Ahh...Halloween. It sucks the life out of you. Fun, but oh so much work. Here's the rundown of October in our house:

We start by picking out pumpkins at Grandpa's garden. Even though he was out of commission past August, he still managed to get some great pumpkins and gourds. Then we decorate the house!

We must dress up for every class or party...here is Quinn at his Kindermusik party. He is Li-Li the lion.

Of course, I make my dance classes dress up as well. It leaves an interesting array of glitter and pom-pom shreds on my floor.

There are the school class parties...here is Parker at his. He is Luke Skywalker. I had a whole carpool full of Jedi Knights. Emi and I felt really safe driving to school.

And then we carve....one of those is the Death Star if you look closely. The puking pumpkin is a family favorite.

We decided to get creative with our plethora of gourds.

Our ward had a trunk-or-treat, so Bill and his Bishopric brothers went as KISS. I tell you, it's kind of confusing to see your Bishop in your bathroom putting on lipstick. This could warp me for years.

Does it get any hotter than this?

Cute kids!

I went as the Swine Flu, but my nose broke and I had to stick it on my face with electrical tape I found in Bill's car.

As if we hadn't done enough trick or treating, we had to go out at Halloween night as well. Here's Emi with Jade.

After the sugar rush of 3 trick or treat sessions (I totally recycled candy as to get some of it out of my house), we were all tired......

....and ready for sleep!

Alright, Thanksgiving...bring it on!

Grateful

Hi...it's late on a Sunday night...I had great plans of blogging about Parker's 9th birthday, Emi's 1st lost tooth, my BYU cheer reunion, a visit to my Dad's pumpkin patch, and the general cuteness of Macy, but just can't find the strength to do it. It's been 4 weeks since I became a mom of 4, and I believe that the adrenaline has completely worn off. It's all I can do to clean up the kitchen, do laundry, keep my house at a reasonable degree of cleanliness, get through homework with the kids, teach my dance classes, and produce enough milk in my body to keep a baby alive (of which, I am failing...very little milk). I am stretched, stressed, and exhausted, but seriously in a good way. I don't mean to complain, just trying to get used to the added demands on an already crazy life.

Which brings me to the reason for this post. My dad had a stroke exactly one month before Macy was born. I spent the last month of my pregnancy in complete fear of how I was going to do the new baby experience without the amazing help and care of my mom, who is famous for her care when new babies arrive. Bless her heart, she has done as much as humanly possible for her new life situation and it has definitely helped, but it's been different and I am so glad she is there for my dad right now. It has been a crazy adjustment, but I have been SOO taken care of by my friends that I have to just take a moment to thank you all! I seriously have been the recipient of some amazing service and I just want to let you all know what it means to me.

I have always considered my friends as my family...in fact, I am closer with many of my friends than I am with my siblings because I am so darned different than my brothers and sister. I feel as if I have many sisters right now cheering me on, and I love it. I won't embarrass any of you by writing your names, but you know who you are! I have had sisters bring me dinners well-past the required 3-day Relief Society rule, sisters who took Quinn for a morning even when I wasn't teaching, sisters who drove various carpools for me, sisters who held a fussy baby for me, sisters who tell me I look good when I still feel like a blob, and sisters who just smile at me when I need it. I could seriously go on and on about my amazing friends. I hope I can do the same for you, I just don't think I'm as good at seeing the need like all of you are. Be patient with me...you are all great examples.

So I am off to bed...and again, Macy and I thank you. We couldn't have done it alone.

Get to know Macy Jane

I have spent 2 blissful, yet exhausting, weeks getting to know this sweet little girl. So I figure you get to learn about her too!

There has never been a child more adored by her siblings....they can't stay away from her, which is somewhat problematic due to swine flu scares. But I'm glad she is well-loved!

She's my earliest child to enjoy the Gymani...maybe it's just out of extreme necessity that she was put under it early. She tends to be fussiest when I'm getting kids off to school, kids into bed, and right before dinner. When I can give her full attention, she's zonked out. She will stare at things for a very long time. I love this about her. She seems to look at me like she knows me. I love it!

She is the recipient of a beautiful blanket made by my mom. As if she wasn't busy enough, my mom finished crocheting this gorgeous blanket for her. I love that she has an heirloom from Grandma.

Well, she has her faults...she's not gaining weight. So I have had to start supplementing with formula. She has taken to it quite well, except she's spittier now. I weigh her in again tomorrow. She is also a bit nocturnal, but what are you going to do. Macy must know that that is the only way to get me alone.

Macy is wonderful. I still am in shock with being the mom of 4 kids. I had my first "take all 4 kids with me" experience on Friday as I tromped them through the Dr.'s office for shots. I was leading a parade with one in arms and 3 (4 counting Li-Li) in tow behind me. It really hit me! I can't imagine not having Macy here, though. I'm so glad we decided to go for it with one more kid. I'm writing this down so I can go back to see it in days to come. It's HARD to have 4!

Pics of Macy

Here are some much requested pics of my little sweetie:

(with Grandma and Grandpa Newman...doesn't my dad look good!)

(hanging with Parker....once his stomach flu was gone!)

So far, Quinn loves Macy. He says that all the time, though his tantrums would prove otherwise.

Bill and his bishopric buddies. I love that they didn't want to come empty handed, so they stopped at the store, bought a bunch of wipes, and then left the receipt in the bag. So funny!

Emi is in "sister" heaven

Seriously...I know she's cute. I can't even be humble about it.