So much happening...

Where to begin and how to end? What to share and who to tell about?

Sugar Daddy is at the ER with our J-bug, she fell. I have been telling her for a couple weeks to STOP spinning in the living room. She probably will now... When I was 4, I fell into the corner of a TV. I can still just barely make out the scar on my forehead, about where hers will be.

This is the 3rd ER visit in 5 days. This is life with 4 kids. Well, at least, thanks to Facebook (and my constant updates to it)- my friends gave valuable feedback that resulted in a much better experience for my hubby and eldest middle girl. He took her to Millers (Long Beach Children's Memorial). I shall not bring anymore energy to the re-telling of my 8 hour ordeal with my 3 month old, M-cube, on Saturday OR the second 4 hour one on Monday.

This is hard. It sometimes totally sucks. (Love what Danielle LaPort says about a little commiseration)

Thank goodness for my Cuppow Lid. Now I can use my mason jar for all my favorite travelling beverages. Because I am always on the go and I never get enough sleep so my iced coffee cubes (original post on my inspiration from Pinterest is here) come in handy and this lid is the perfect way to keep it all contained. Now how do I keep a lid on my hot emotions?

Also been loving my coconut oil for skin that is dry from too much wetness. Does that even make sense?

Oh and we started "school" this week- our not back to school breakfast was a bit of a bust this time around, but my resourceful and smart 5th grader saved the day with a simple, no fuss alternative. Instead of building waffle houses the kids had Rice Krispies with blueberries and whipped cream.

Being a "mom" to 4 small human beings is the most challenging thing I have ever done.

The need for sanity (and yoga mom revolution yogini, Laura Jane) led me to a group on Facebook called the Abundance Game, which steered me to a fantastic little App on my Android called Wechat, and that has given  me such pleasure- being able to connect with amazing people. They have helped me see that I am stronger and more resilient every day. I am an effective leader and I inspire my children to become their most authentic selves and to love themselves and their community. I am a valuable part of my community and I enjoy close friendships with other women who are raising their children in our "tribe".

Oh yeah and did I mention I was peaceful and happy at the dentist where I had to go for a broken filling today? My dentist is the coolest, not so bad on the eyes, most patient, gentle and explanatory dental professional around. He's in Costa Mesa is you need him. Dr Eric Vanek.

Now for something totally cool. I got invited to a screening for mombloggers and am going to be joining 40 other bloggers for a PR campaign through the Circle of Moms network... It sounds totally amazing!

Being in the moment. Letting the now unfold. Focusing on the simple joys of the present draw for my attention and how to choose the actions that support peace, happiness and following our highest excitement. Recognizing that I attract my own reality.


And I'll wrap up this ramble with a little suggestion for family fun. Penny Pitching. It is such a wonderful feeling to share parts of our own childhood with our kids. This one really drew in the whole family. I snazzed it up a bit from what we did when I was a kid of course, we are homeschoolers after all!! We included tape, a ruler and several ways to "win"...

Time Alone...

...goes way too fast. I hear them pulling into the driveway now. Have they really been gone 2 hours?

After a little Facebook-ing and Pinterest-ing, I got lost in this magical blog: http://www.barefootfive.com/

And here they come, traipsing up the front steps- my merry band of mess makers!!

I am complete

I clung to my friend Kate for a little extra moment as we hugged goodbye after a park potluck last Friday. She also has 4 children. There is an even greater bond between us now. I admire her a little more seeing that she has not only survived but thrived as her offspring now double outnumber her and her hubby.

Often people look at me with a mix of admiration and sympathy when I tell them I have 4 children. It is pretty much all I think about these days. I have 4 kids. All day long I am asking myself variations of the same 4 questions about all 4 children... 

1. Is M-cube hungry again?
2. Is C-dough poopie again?
3. Is J-cakes happy or sad? (4 year squealing is rather ambiguous)
4. Is G-pie sleeping too late?

Or "are they all in the car?" as I pull out of the driveway... These are the thoughts that cycle through my head as I try to go about the business of self actualization. Who am I? I have 4 kids...

“Three is still O.K.,” said Michelle Lehmann, the founder of lotsofkids.com and a mother of eight children who lives outside Chicago. “When you have four, people start raising eyebrows. When you go to five, people are like, ‘No way.’ ”

OK so I am someone people raise their eyebrows at.

David Letterman asks Jim Gaffigan what it is like to have 4 kids and he answers "Just imagine you are drowning... and someone hands you a baby!" Jim delivers more witty wisdom on his self Mr Universe show, which you can download from his website. Instant date night- just add takeout and a bottle of wine.

Being 1/6th of the way through this most difficult first year, I am becoming more adept at- well, EVERYTHING. I truly amaze myself at what I can get done in a day, and all those chores I have to re-do the next day, gets done even more and more efficiently.

Another interesting side effect is that I am finding it absolutely necessary to be authentic. There is just no time for anything other than the reality of my imperfect thoughts, often inaccurate observations and annoyingly intuitive conclusions. Authenticity is my badge of courage.

My life is full. One moment my breasts are filling up and my baby is rooting in my arms, the next my 10 year old is anxiety ridden over minor social dramas. Then C-dough throws something and J-cakes whines for it's immediate return, and he shouts "My do it!", and the baby cries. G-pie tries to recapture my attention to talk about her friends and M-cube settles in to nursing.

A moment or two is spent worrying over what the other mamas in my tribe think about their behaviors and the implications on my parenting... and then I take a deep breath and do the next thing that presents itself. Often remembering as I stand swaying and staring at a sleeping baby that I really need to call Holly and talk about Sundara Yoga Shala.

BIKINGocmama

Such glorious freedom.

Aptly appreciated on this eve of Independence Day...

Tonight I was thrilled to run out my front door shortly after Sugar Daddy arrived home with my loaner bike. A fellow homeschool mom (and Realtor should you be in the market) is letting me try it out before I commit to purchasing it, and it seems like a terrific bike. Between bouncing the baby to sleep, biking myself back to sanity nightly and barely having time to feed myself- I may lose these extra ounces quicker than I imagined.

Plus the short spin had me in a healthy state of mind, so while G-pie whipped up Mac & Cheese with Ham for the kids, I threw veggie broth, rice & tomatoes into the rice cooker, cut zucchini, yellow squash, cabbage and carrots and put them in the steamer basket above the rice and 20 minutes later, I then stirred in a little coconut oil and fresh basil - it was so simple and soooo delicious!

Breathing deeply of the fresh air, hearing the tires humming on the pavement and moving with speed and a purpose really healed me after a very long day filled with poopies, boobies, boo-boos and owies (it was one of THOSE days, I swear all 4 children must be having a simultaneous growth spurt)!

 This bike is an exercise in asking for what I wanted, seeking it and following through on the opportunities that arise.

 What will I create for the betterment of mama next?

Family Meals

So the arrival of our fourth mouth to feed has me all in a tizzy. I have M-cube's nutritional needs covered for the immediate future, no preparation necessary, always ready on demand and free! 

But the other 3 all have very different eating habits and tastes- other than their shared desire for all things sugary or sweet!

This past couple of weeks we have been incredibly loved up on by some awesome mamas who have brought us meals. It has made all the difference for me in being able to maintain our family tradition of eating at the table as often as possible- which has allowed us to bond as a family while we adjust to the new arrival of another human being to share our daily lives with.

Last night G-pie said she loved people bringing us dinner. And that she has enjoyed all of them -although the Pasta with Ground Turkey & Corn was her favorite- and the delicious star cookies that came with it! I loved the casserole dish and realized I should make more 1-pot meals. This one really made me think of my dad, who loved to add corn to pretty much anything...

Sugar Daddy's favorite was the chili which he simmered all afternoon, adding spices and seasonings... the hard prep work was all done, and he got to tinker with the flavor the way he loves to do!! An added blessing to this wonderful dinner- which I appreciated both ways. Such comfort food, and the aroma of the house all afternoon was delicious!

Last night we feasted on Salmon with Brown Rice, Garlic & Lemon Green Beans and Apples & Yams, with Girl Scout cookies for dessert. Totally gluten-free & dairy free. Packaged for ease & convenience- it came together like a gourmet meal.

We were also so grateful for the snack foods- and the soups that people brought, this one was perfect in it's simplicity and so good. It was a great way to give myself a boost before or after a marathon nursing session! 

Another mom brought soup too- these wonderful, wise women know how to supply a postpartum mama with nutritional needs and delightful indulgences, as well! 

This experience left me wondering how this might work even beyond the babymoon- and how it would be such a benefit to busy mamas. It is a great way to expand our own familiar menu and try things made a different way than we do.

Tonight I will be trying out a frozen meal from my friend at Dinner This Month: Chicken Pesto. I have been considering forming a meal assembly group through DTM. I am not sure if the recipes will fit with our dietary preferences, and it seems like a lot of work. I found this option- discovered on Pinterest: http://www.bigredkitchen.com/2011/08/how-to-make-mason-jar-meals-part-2/ for fresh food, sorted & stored in sustainable servers.

Right now I think I like this option best: http://livewellnetwork.com/Deals/episodes/Meal-Sharing/8352502.

Search OAMC- once a month cooking, freezer meals, meal assembly groups & meal sharing for other options.

KISS crafts

Keep It Simple Sweetie
J-cakes found a book in the pile I was sorting to sell or give away. She wanted to keep it. My first thought was, no way! we have so many craft books that we never use- and I suddenly stopped short hearing my own internal dialogue...

So I said sure. To make sure my end goal was accomplished (the ongoing quest to simplify our cluttered lives) I asked her to choose a book or toy from her room to trade for it. Win-win.

She sat flipping through it while her big sister read the dust cover of a Jean Auel book that looked interesting, (now that she has finished Hunger Games, she is in the market- suggestions?) and little brother tried to master the buckle on his old car seat. With M-cube asleep, I thought I might actually get those boxes of homeschooling resources sorted and priced.

Alas, J-cakes found a craft she wanted to do, and I decided we could quickly do a simpler, more sustainable version of it. The original project involved wallpaper scraps & poster board. Ours uses a felt board and shapes I cut quickly- as J-cakes looked at the book and told me what to cut- she wanted exactly the same items.

Even my big girl got involved: G-pie was the first to arrange it (precisely like the picture in the book).

I cut an extra banana, blueberries & a "cutie" for C-dough to play with (he pretended to peel & eat them over & over).

A sweet time shared by simply keeping it short and capturing the moment. G-pie has started on another project from the book...

No Sew T- Shirt Bags

Last night we did another handcraft from our always growing Pinterest projects board. This one was easy- a no sew tote or market bag made from an old T-shirt. G-pie & I both chose sparkly purple T's and it took less than half an hour. More detailed instructions can be found here... http://www.leethal.net/zine/?p=1344



This has me thinking about adding another workshop to the Learning Barefoot fall schedule- a projects, handcrafts and reduce, reuse, recycle series for girls (and their moms?)- there are so many options. There are so many creative and crafty homeschoolers out there. What fun to share the fun of making things that are useful and unusual.