The Firstborn rolled in from camp and rolled back out for a beach bonfire with school friends within an hour. This boy has a busy schedule.
While the Cats Are Away…
Friday, June 28, 2024
We watched Coco, cleaned, and went on a couple of adventures together. These people are so fun!
“The Cutie”
Saturday, June 22, 2024
“Mom, [Sol] just came up to me, hugged me, and said, ‘I love you.’” -Firstborn
“Then I said, ‘You’re such a cutie, [Sol]!’ He responded, ‘The Cutie wants a cookie,’ and pointed to the top of the fridge where the cookies were.”
The story was relayed to me after I encountered Sol running around with a treat, sticky-ing up the things I just cleaned. 😅😂😘🙏🏻❤️ All. The. Emotions.
Father’s Day
Sunday, June 16, 2024
The kids made cards on Saturday, food on Sunday, cleaned for him, and bought him a customized set of beer mugs. One of us may have had to finish a writing assignment before going into the pool. DH listened to bar prep lectures all day. #LivinTheDream!
Quintessential Parenting
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
DH has taken an insane number of these doctor appointment over the last two years. I grabbed the next 5 months of well checks. Good times.
Engineer Turns Eleven
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
“Which has been your favorite birthday so far?”
“This one,” he responds. It’s not every year you win $2,000 on your birthday. If I could explain how that was an answer to prayer and faith, you would be edified and filled with hope. It’s more of an in-person conversation. The bottom line is: the Lord cares about every detail of your life, including your social needs. God is so good!
The Engineer prays about things that are important to him. For example, he prayed for another brother before we had Sol. He prays for DH’s job. After buying one raffle ticket, he told Jesus that he could forego winning in exchange for an increase in both mom’s and dad’s salaries. If you knew what a huge sacrifices that was for him, you would be extra edified. Padre Paul reminds me: Sometimes you give something up and the Lord gives it back to you.
He went to Disney for his big present and requested Chipotle dinner with just him and mom and dad for his little present.
He brought Rice Krispies to school and was sung to again:
He also requested an ice cream cake which he would help make. He is particular and funny and loves his people. We are so blessed to have him in our family!
Height: 4’8”, 38th%
Weight: 67 lbs., 14th%
Previous Stats:
Birth, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth.
Sweet Pea Turns Nine
She requested a lemon cake. It was a fresher version of Starbucks lemon loaf. Lots of fresh lemon zest brought big flavor. She decorated the top.
She also had her hair done with me including a mineral treatment which pulled out all the green from the pool. She prefers her hair above her shoulders but asked me first what she should do. I told her it was her choice, although I retain veto power. We love our sweet girl!
She got an art set, a skateboard, and $50 from grandpa and grandma, which she spent at the Baker Street Bash. She went fearlessly on ride after ride. She brings high energy and enthusiasm. We are blessed to have her in our family.
Current stats:
55bs., 18th %
4’ 2.5”, 21st %
Previous birthdays:
See her at Birth, One Year, Two Years, Thirty Months, Three Years, Four Years, Five Years, Six Years, Seven Years and Eight Years.
Baker Street Bash
Monday, June 10, 2024
Some notable things:
The Engineer bought one raffle ticket and won $2,000.
The Engineer got some serious TLC:
DH is surprised:
The Firstborn immediately started a little side business earning and then selling at an up charge 2L soda bottles. “He’s going to be a lawyer!” a mom friend said.
At one point a Vietnamese mom directed me to her son, who was on a ride behind the Fifth. “They are best friends !” she said with the most delightful smile. I’ve never met or seen this kid; but what a blessing. ❤️😭
I incessantly texted DH while he was trying to study.
Fourth’s Art
Sunday, June 9, 2024
DH saw the wrecking ball and immediately understood. This is a testosterone-dominated household.
Leonine Potluck
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Took the Firstborn, who was amused by the behavior of other children from big families strikingly similar to ours. Oh look, they’re screaming. Just like our kids. This group is friendly and welcoming and professionally adept and helpful. I appreciate the genuine care I have felt while participating. Apparently, there are now 100 applicants for 30 spots. I may have been an affirmative action acceptance—the oldest fellow by far.
Mess Pie
Saturday, June 1, 2024
“Would you come look at something?” DH asks me ominously. My heart sinks. That phrase is never good. I find him outside looking at a wet stream running from the wall the dishwasher is abutted to. “I find water out here every morning. Is the dishwasher leaking?” (We would be purchasing our 4th dishwasher in 4 years if it were leaking, including the one that came with the home purchase.) “It looks yellow to me.”
Immediately, our female resident blurts out, “[The Fourth] pees out there every morning!”
“No I don’t,” Four responds in defense. “Maybe it was a possum.”
DH pipes in, “[Four], if you’re going to pee outside, at least pee on a plant, not my patio!”
DH turns to me and says in relief, “I’m so glad the dishwasher isn’t broken!”
“Yes. Thank goodness it’s just urine.”
—————
Later that day, I make my way to the kitchen to start dinner. The kitchen is trashed because 3 kids were home from school with pink eye. I start lecturing everyone about cleaning, tell them to turn off the tv and pick up after themselves. I have to clean the kitchen before I can begin making dinner. While cleaning the kitchen so I can make dinner, several children come up to me to tell me that they are hungry. I remind each child that the food would be ready faster if I didn’t have to clean the entire kitchen before I could make dinner. Thankfully, DH is also home and reinforcing all my lecturing and cleaning up the other common spaces. Exasperated at the number of times his little brothers sneak into his room and mess up his extended board of Axis & Allies, along with the rest of our home, the Firstborn decides to produce this very satisfying chart:
"How accurate is this?" he asks DH and me. The Fourth’s share of the pie is smaller until I remind the Firstborn of the issues #4 sometimes has with disposing of his own waste. “Oh yeah, that’s right!” the Firstborn responds. “He totally deserves more of the pie!” The Engineer takes offense at his alleged percentage; and I reminded him of the disassembled stapler—the only one we have—on my desk with the broken spring. “I did NOT do that!” he says, offended that I could even suggest it were he. I love how Five and Six are lumped together...
———
Later that day, I lie my head down to catch a cat nap before going out with DH that night. (Woke up at 4am, finals week…) Just before I can touch bottom, there is an aggressive knock at my door followed by Six crying in distress. I open the door to find this because our teachers think it’s an excellent idea to return any unused art supplies to the parents via their children:
—————
The next morning in my text message inbox after I sweep the kitchen floor:
This same morning I go to Mass. The homily is about the first reading and using speech to build people up, which seems directed at me. I console myself with the reality that I’m not actually that important. And, despite all of this, I love these people so much! Four sits down next to me, gives me a big hug, and tells me upon watching the above reel, “Mom, I like being in this family. I like my brothers and sister. I would be sad if it were just me. It would be boring.”
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