Kids in July

Here are some extra pictures from July:

We did a lot of tie-dye - A LOT - in preparation for VBS. Here are our first three designs.

Dinner at Target:

All decked out for the pool!
Life Vest - Check
High Heels - Check

She has style!

Wesley's Mini-Me

 Our final play date before School Starts back:

Thoughts on Motherhood

I have tried to put into words the way it feels being a Stay-at-Home Mom. I have tried, failed and believed it couldn't be done. Then I read an article in Reader's Digest.

The issue was from May but it was still sitting out in my parent's guest room when we visited this weekend (I guess we don't get to Tennessee enough!) I picked up the magazine and started reading an article entitled "Questions that Will Save your Relationships." I never made it to the questions becuase of the tears produced while reading a perfectly articulated description of life as a Stay-at-Home mom.

I don't foresee every forgetting the feelings of being home with my beautiful children, but just in case, I wanted to capture the words from this article. When I'm older and reflecting back on this period of life or when I am watching my children as they take care of their babies, I want to remember just how confusingly glorious this job feels:

Excerpt from: Reader's Digest_05/2014

When I was a mama of three very tiny, very messy, very beautiful rug rats, we had DAYS THAT WENT ON FOR LIFETIMES. Craig left at 6:00 a.m. every morning and as I watched his showered, ironed self leave the house I felt incredibly blessed and thrilled to have so much time alone with my babies and incredibly terrified and bitter to have so much time alone with my babies. If you don't believe that all of those feelings can exist at once -- well, you've never been a parent to many tiny, messy, beautiful rug rats.

When Craig returned each day at 6:00 p.m. (he actually returned at 5:50 but took a STUNNINGLY LONG TIME TO GET THE MAIL) he'd walk through the door, smile and say -- "So! How was your day?"

This question was like a spotlight pointed directly at the chasm between his experience of a "DAY" and my experience of a "DAY." How was my day?

The question would linger in the air for a moment while I stared at Craig and the baby shoved her hand in my mouth like they do -- while the oldest screamed MOMMY I NEED HELP POOING from the bathroom and the middle one cried in the corner because I NEVER EVER EVER let her drink the dishwasher detergent. NOT EVER EVEN ONCE, MOMMY!!! And I'd look down at my spaghetti-stained pajama top, unwashed hair, and gorgeous baby on my hip -- and my eyes would wander around the room, pausing to notice the toys peppering the floor and the kids' stunning new art on the fridge...

And I'd want to say:

How was my day? Today has been a lifetime. It was the best of times and the worst of times. There were moments when my heart was so full I thought I might explode, and there were other moments when my senses were under such intense assault that I was CERTAIN I'd explode. I was both lonely and absolutely desperate to be alone. I was saturated -- just BOMBARDED with touch and then the second I put down this baby I yearned to smell her sweet skin again. I was simultaneously bored out of my skull and completely overwhelmed with so much to do. Today was too much and not enough. It was loud and silent. It was brutal and beautiful. I was at my very best today and then, just a moment later, at my very worst. At 3:30 today I decided that we should adopt four more children, and then at 3:35 I decided that we should give up the kids we already have for adoption. Husband -- when your day is completely and totally dependent upon the moods and needs and schedules of tiny, messy, beautiful rug rats your day is ALL OF THE THINGS and NONE OF THE THINGS, sometimes within the same three minute period. But I'm not complaining. This is not a complaint, so don't try to FIX IT. I wouldn't have my day Any.Other.Way. I'm just saying -- it's a hard thing to explain -- an entire day with lots of babies.

But I'd be too tired to say all of that.

Philip's Job

I have registered myself and the kids in several databases of local companies looking for people to participate in research studies. I have personally done three studies and made around $200.

I got a call this week about a study needing a 4 year old boy and the job paid $40! With Jackson living it up with new Legos and birthday money, I knew Philip would enjoy earning his own spending money.

It was a 15 minute study in John's Creek so we headed over that way for lunch and then Kate met us to watch Jackson and Elizabeth while I took Philip to work.

He really enjoyed the little study. He had to tell the workers which books he would like to see in a Kid's Meal.  He was all smiles after completing his assignement. He smiled all the way up to the front where he asked the front desk worker "Can I please have my money?"

Lego Store, here we come!

As we were waiting to be called back, Philip did a little reading.
He was very interested in the article though I did wonder how exactly he was processing what he read since the magazine was upside down!

Nashville Family

It was so nice to be with my family this weekend.  The fun started out Thursday night when Susan, Emily and I took Dad out for a very late Father's Day dinner. We ate at Sperry's and it was very nice and very yummy!

Sunday, we all had lunch at Mom and Dad's and took some family pictures. I think Mom will use one of these for her Christmas cards - they turned out "Grand" (get it - a GRAND kid picture!)

Elizabeth enjoyed watching videos of Leighton on Pop Pop's Ipad. 

And Elizabeth loved being with Leighton too!
Unfortunately, the feelings were not reciprocated. 

Cousins' Reunion

For the past several years, we have ventured up to Tennessee at the end of July for a visit and to celebrate Jackson's birthday. Last year, Susan organized a cousins' reunion for the weekend would be in town and she did it again this year too. Wesley has missed the past several cousin get-togethers so he was very excited to be able to join the fun.

It is always nice to get together and we had 4 generations represented:
1. Drubby

2. Mom (& Dad), Cary (& Terry) Jim (& Carolyn) and Uncle Melvin

3. Susan (& Tim), Emily (& Ryan), Leanne (& Wesley), Robert (& Claire), Sally (& Hunter) and Cary (David wasn't able to make it this year)

4. And then all the "Greats" Caleb, Joshua, Benjamin, Rebekah, Elizabeth, Jackson, Philip, Leighton, Caroline, Margaret, Anne Claire and Robert.

Flashers and Neyland (not pictured) even joined the fun!

Jackson turns 7!

Happy Birthday to the most creative & adorable 7 year-old I know! His imagination still is so strong and he loves to play and build with Legos. He's either going to be an engineer or on stage at Disney World when he grows up! I can't wait to see what the future holds for my angel!

His "stats" - Height: 45 inches (8 %) and Weight: 42 lbs (7 %) He's still a tiny little thing with a HUGE sweet tooth!

We celebrated the way we usually do - Chuck E Cheese, pizza and donuts!