Like Mother Like Daughter

This morning I decided to keep Audrey home from school because she was coughing a lot and I didn't want all the parents to hate me for letting her infect all her classmates. At first, she was okay with this idea...I mean, she was going to get lunch in bed and I made her waffles and sausage for breakfast. I decided to keep her home at 7:30 a.m. By 8:10 she was coming to me, bored, telling me that she really just doesn't know how to "take it easy" and what is she going to do all day?

I often marvel (well, okay, complain) about my daughter's constant 24-7 need for stimulation and activity. I was doing just that (marvelling) this morning, while I was calling the school, making Wesley's lunch, sorting the laundry, throwing away random garbage, cooking breakfast, urging Ashton to go potty, painting letters, priming others, adding ribbon to still others, and putting some in boxes and printing labels, and updating my mental to-do list, and it occurred to me:

Maybe, just maybe, Audrey's problem is a hereditary one.

Oh...

And if there is another really really long absence, please see THIS BLOG which will keep you so entertained you might just forget about me altogether.

Some Pictures (to catch you up)

Happy Birthdays!!

Well, now I can say it's official (barring any oopsies in my future): I don't have any children under one in this household! Cole turned one on Thursday, Oct. 18 and he is a Joy! I will say that he's a very high-maintenance little joy, but he's really dang cute. He's developed this little habit of screaming in pitches that really should not be allowed in the human realm. Usually, unfortunately, it's directly in my husband's ear, which I'm afraid might not continue functioning at this rate. But he's also cruising, pushing a push cart and even letting go of stuff and standing for a moment. He's saying "Mom" and "Audrey" and a lot of other words that might or might not actually mean anything, and he loves to tackle Ashton and smother him with big fat open-mouthed kisses on the face. He claps and waves and proffers hugs to any random passerby. He LOVES drums and insists on using not one but two drumsticks at all times. And did I say he was cute? :-)

Wesley is SEVEN tomorrow! Man, do I feel old. He's enjoying second grade and everything on Nickelodeon, and he has a good buddy this year, appropriately named Bud, and they're over at each other's homes every day after school. I don't know why, but I just love how we answer the doorbell and see a little guy saying "can Wesley come out and play?"....it just seems so surreal to already have a child in that age group.

We didn't do much for birthdays this year. I'm trying not to throw too many parties in fear that all four kids will demand a huge party for every birthday, which is, um, pricey. So we're taking out Wesley and one friend for dinner tomorrow. And last night we had fried chicken and ice cream cake and sang to both of them.

All the kids wanted their pictures taken. Audrey said, "take a picture of me eating my cake!"

Wesley said, "Mom, take a picture of me acting like I'm enjoying myself!"

Cole said, "SCCRREEEEEEEEEEEEECHHHHHH!!!!!"

And Ashton said, "Take a picture of my mashed potatoes!"

To be Continued...

Off to church right now, but when I return I plan to post a LOT of stuff! Pictures too! So stay tuned! I apologize deeply for the complete lack of posts....but I'm ready to begin anew because I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown and I need BALANCE!!!!