No (Extra) Rest for the Weary

I finished my route in decent time this morning, and since I was still quite tired after staying up WAY too late last night, thought I'd jump back into bed for an hour or two, until the littles got up. When I got home and headed into MY warm and cozy bed, this is what I found....
Norman had abandoned bed earlier, after being kicked one too many times. Trying to sleep with these two is NOT for the faint of heart. Kicks to the nose, head butts to the shoulder, and a variety of other injuries, all innocently inflicted by sleeping children, are entirely possible. It really is just easier (and safer) to be tired!

Here are a couple shots from our park trip Monday. Benjamin was being a bit camera shy, but Max is always happy to mug for the camera! Thomas was too busy running around playing football and I didn't get any of his amazingly acrobatic football catches ( or near catches, as the case may be!!)Who knew Oreos could BE so messy??!!

One Tired Mama!

I am about to head off to bed, but thought I'd take a moment to update about our last couple of days!

Monday we went to Meadow Farm to play and have a picnic. The boys all had a good time on the playground and throwing the football. We left around 1:15 as it had gotten quite warm! We came home and ended up just kind of kicking around the house. It was too hot to do much outside and we were zapped from the day.

Today Max fell with his cup in his mouth and ended up with a bruised and swollen lower lip. He's a tough lil fella and is doing just fine, but the first sign of blood coming from any one of my children sends my heart racing! I took the boys to Grandma's this morning so I could go to my Dr. appointment. Baby's heartbeat sounds good and everything is on target! Good to know! After Grandma's we just played around the house until I left at 6:30 to go to my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Year End Finale Event. We went to Laser Quest and played two 15 minute games of laser tag - SO much fun, and quite a workout!! -- then headed to Bottoms Up for an amazing pizza buffet! You can't beat their Chesapeake pizza - white pizza with crab meat - YUM YUM!! We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed our time together!

Well, I am home now, tired with a full tummy and the babies are asleep, so I am headed that way myself! I will post pictures tomorrow!!

Poor Man's Pool Party

We have been very blessed in so many ways that we really just have to overlook the few areas we are less fortunate in. While many of our neighbors and friends are at a pool, either in their yard or a community pool, we are doing our best here on Indigo Road to fit right in with the "pool opens Memorial Day weekend" theme. How do you think we are doing??
Luckily for all of you, I took these right before heading to work at Applebee's for the evening last night, so you have been spared the trauma of me trying to squeeze into my swimsuit to cool off with the littles! I try to be thoughtful like that!

Well, we have an fun day planned. We are meeting mom and Rich at the playground at Meadow Farm this morning to play and hang out. We will have a picnic lunch there, and then head home for (hopefully!) naps before it gets up to the predicted high of 90 degrees.

I am hoping for a chance to get to Barnes and Noble today to pick out a couple of books with my Mother's Day gift card. While the theory of having a cool train table in the kids' book department to keep the littles happily occupied while mom leisurely picks out her reading material is a good one, the practical application of the idea always seems to end with Max screeching at the top of his lungs, Benjamin hollering "NO, mine!!!" and Thomas sighing "Mom, they both want to play with the Percy engine! Make them stop!!" NOT exactly a soul-satisfying experience at trying to choose fine literature!!

Also on my list today and the rest of the week is taking care of loose ends so we can go on vacation!! I have been working my paper route 3am-6am, 7 days a week since the middle of last June. I have had 3 days off in that time - one in July when my van got rear-ended, Christmas morning when I was switching over to my new route, and once in April when I had a HORRID stomach flu and could barely make it out of the bathroom! (Sorry - tmi!) Anyway, the paper route serves the need we have for me to bring in some money, while saving us child care expenses and lets me be home with the kids. Bad thing is, the hours just suck. Sorry, but there is no other way to put it! Especially for a night owl like me! In addition, in order to take a day or more off, it is the Independant Contractor's (me!) responsibility to find, hire, and train a substitute driver! NOT a small feat when I have to show said sub how each of 375 customers wants their paper delivered and where! Lucky for me, my friend Trevor, who first clued me in to the paper route gig, subs on a semi-regular basis and is available next week to work my route for me! I will be taking him with me the next 2-3 days to show him the ropes on my route, and then, after delivering my papers Sunday morning, we are mountains-bound!! I can't wait!!!! I hope to be able to sleep past 3:00am and do a whole lot of relaxing and enjoying my family!! I am SO looking forward to it, you have NO idea!!

Well, time to get everyone up and going, ready for our day! I did get all the boys' clothes sorted and boxed this weekend - NOT a small task, let me tell you!! and want to get some of my stuff sorted out this afternoon, so I need to get things going and get up from this computer.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day, as we remember the amazing sacrifices made by so many to ensure our freedom and saftey. We owe them so much...

In Rivah-time

Yes, it is almost summertime, which around here means it's Rivah Time! Today our Homeschool Co-Op kicked off our Thursdays With Friends with a visit to Osbourne Boat Landing. We get together once a week, casually, at a park or somewhere fun to let the kids have some time to continue building friendships, and allow the moms some time to fellowship and share. We played up at the AWESOME fenced in playground to start - no pictures as I was too busy chatting:o) - then had our picnic lunches and headed down to the River, a nice 10 minute walk strewn with wildflowers and honeysuckle vines! When we got to the pier, we got to see a really BIG ocean freighter, which was kind enough to blow its horn at us (which the kids LOVED!!) !Then the kids got to throw rocks and sticks into the water from shore - Benjamin was only interested in going in ankle deep. Max, on the other hand, would have been happy to go for a dip, I think!One of the homeschool dads, Mark, was there and gave us rides on the boat - Thomas had been out with the big boys earlier in the afternoon. Max didn't like the wind, but once facing backward on my lap, he fell asleep. Benjamin enjoyed it when we were going slow, but not so much when fast! I loved it, and it reminded me how much I miss going boating!!
We played around the pier and boat ramps for awhile, then the moms headed back to the grassy area while the littles played on the sandy (alright, muddy) beach, and Max napped . After we had been there about 45 minutes, when I look over, instead of seeing Benjamin throwing rocks, he is laying down in about 4 inches of water, splashing and laughing. I asked him what he was doing, and he said "trying to swim." It was priceless!! So cute!!While walking up the path back to the playground, where our stuff was, Benjamin slipped and rolled a bit down the hill. He was unhurt, but looked at me with sad eyes and told me "I'm sorry, but I dropped your flower when I fell off the mountain!" You have to forgive a kid for that! :o)
We're now home and showered, ready to have some dinner and a quiet, early to bed evening! I got a good sunburn, but the kids are clean and unburned and VERY tired! SO is mama! Gotta love Rivah time!

Boys and Toads - with apologies to Grandma

I will preface this post with a disclaimer - there are pictures of a toad and boys interacting with with a toad in this post. There, that should absolve me of any responsibility for shrill screams that may ensue from the viewing of such materials!

We have spent the better part of yesterday and today playing out in the backyard. This afternoon, when Norman opened the door to the shop, the was a cute toad sitting on the floor! The little ones got very excited and we watched it hop itself into a corner. I ended up picking it up (I believe Thomas gets his dislike of bugs and creepy-crawlies from Norman, who was none to anxious to touch the toad, let alone carry and move it!) and taking it out the the corner of the house near a water source and the neighbor's garden. Max and Benjamin were fascinated, and even Thomas ended up coming over to take a closer look.

We are headed to Grandpa's for a short visit, then my MOPS small group has our End of MOPS Beach Party tonight from 7-9:30! I am looking forward to having some away me time!!

Exciting Day on Thursday!

Thursday was an exciting day for the Gallahers. We found out that the new baby we are expecting in mid-October is a.........

well, what do you think it is? Odds are, huh, with 3 boys, we would have a good chance of having a boy, right? That's what I was thinking.

Well, yesterday was our 18 week ultrasound and we found out we are having a little GIRL!! Yes, a GIRL! We are all very excited and still a bit flabbergasted! I have NO IDEA what to do with a girl!! I've gotten very good at faking enthusiasm about the Phoenix Suns, and dealing with the dirt and grime of boyhood, and learning to not panic when you see your second-born being hauled 7 feet up in the air in a toddler swing by his older brother! I have not a CLUE as to how to deal with a little pink sweetie who is going to be (mark my words!) SPOILED ROTTEN by her doting Daddy and 3 older brothers! Oh boy, things are going to get even MORE interesting around here!

Benjamin and Max both came with us to the Ultrasound yesterday. Thomas had his final Boys' Co-OP yesterday that was all about creating Mentos and Diet Coke explosions, and decided he would rather do that than come along for the ultrasound. He was able to come to my ultrasounds for both Benjamin and Max, so he's kinda blase about the whole thing at this point! Max was VERY quiet and still on Daddy's lap while I was being scanned. Benjamin was FULL of questions (no surprise there, eh?). He was VERY funny, because he kept asking questions, and when I would attempt to answer them, he would say " Excuse me. I'm not TALKING to YOU. I'm Talking to HER!" Meaning the sonographer! Apparently he likes to get his information from the experts, thankyouverymuch! Certainly not an amateur like me!!

Anyway, baby looks good, weighs in at 9oz, and all her measurements and features look perfect! We are so excited and feel so incredibly blessed by this little one who will be joining our family sometime in the beginning to middle of October! Norman is thrilled to have his girl in the works, and I am SO glad to be over the queasy, early pregnancy yuckies! It's going to be a great summer!!

Here is the photographic evidence of our little GIRL!! (It's going to take some getting used to, typing that!)Not the best quality, but its the best I can do this early in the morning with two little helpers!!

Yes, It's Been Awhile

Yes, I know I haven't been here for over a week! Sometimes, life just gets a bit busier than normal and takes me away from Cyberland. This morning, however, everyone is still asleep, so I am taking a moment to get things back in order, e-mail and blog-wise!

Prom was a success all around. Thomas and Kaylee had a wonderful time, and while he has NOT been as forthcoming as I would like, he has shared enough for me to know he really had fun and was not disappointed in the evening! I'm glad they had a good time.

The past week found me trying to get the littles' clothes situation straightened out. The weather we have been having has been CRAZY (See the Snow in April post!). I have had winter clothes, shorts, jackets and swimsuits all out and USED, all within the past 3 weeks! I am hoping it is now safe to put away the winter stuff, but then again, it was chilly this morning when I did papers, with my breath hanging in the air! GGGRRR!

We did find time for fun last week, in between Max having yet another ear infection, one that required back to back antibiotic injections Wednesday and Thursday, and me getting a NASTY cold Saturday night into Sunday. (Happy Mother's Day!) Norman and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on Wednesday the 9th by having a nice dinner out together at Steak and Ale. 15 years just boggles my mind! Here's to the next 15!

On Friday, the boys and I went to Three Lakes Park to see the newly renovated Nature Center. The little ones LOVED the turtles, and Thomas enjoyed pointing out all the snakes in the aquariums in the center, to the squeals of Benjamin! We checked out the lakes, played at the playground for awhile, then headed home.

Saturday, we went to Meadow Farm to play with the mini air rockets Thomas got, and the golf set Ben and Max got on Friday. They had a great time! We stayed about an hour, until the rain began!

Sunday I did papers, came home, showered, and fell into bed with a yucky cold. The boys gave me adorable cards, gum, mints, and candy, and Norman gave me a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble! Now I just have to escape long enough to be able to spend it!!

We have a busy week coming up....I'm working 3 Applebee's shifts, I have my last MOPS meeting until fall :*o( on Wednesday, Thomas has Boys Co-Op on Thursday, and a variety of other errands and tasks! Never a dull moment!!

Prom Night

Yes, it IS hard to believe that I could POSSIBLY be old enough to have a child old enough to go to prom, but it is true!! Thomas and his friend Kaylee are off to the Mechanicsville/New Kent Homeschool Prom. We took some pictures here at home,

Then headed off and picked Kaylee up and took more pictures at her house...


and the two of them are at Applebee's right now, having dinner, and once they are done they will call their driver (me) to pick them up and take them to the dance!!

I am very proud of myself - I cried last night, when Thomas tried his outfit on, but held it together just fine tonight here at home and at Kaylee's house. Thomas should be very proud (and relieved! He gets flustered by weepy mom!!)

So hard to believe how fast they grow up...

Update ***********************************
As I was under STRICT orders NOT to hang around Applebee's to watch Thomas and Kaylee eat, this is the only picture from that part of their evening...

Since dinner was finished early - 5:45 - and the dance didn't start til 7:00, we stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's for a quick hello, and MORE pictures.....


I then whisked them away to their fun-filled evening of excitement. I will pick them up at 11:00 and take Kaylee home. I hope it's all they have imagined it will be!

Mothers of Boys

truly deserve some special medal or certificate or something. When I had one fairly reserved, not physically daring young boy, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Now that the oldest has become a limits-pushing, barriers-testing teenage, and the little two (AKA Chaos and Mayhem) have joined the ranks, I have to say there is rarely a boring day around here.

This afternoon I wasn't feeling so great - only got three hours of sleep last night and had a doctor's appointment that involved a blood draw, so I asked Thomas to watch the littles out back while I rested a bit before working at Applebee's tonight. Max got tired and came in to nap. Once he laid down, I peeked out the window and saw this....

After asking "What in the WORLD are you DOING???!!!" it was explained to me that it was like the show, The Deadliest Catch--Benjamin is the crab pot, dragging the ocean, then being hauled aboard ship by the mighty fisherman. When I pointed out the title "Deadliest Catch" does not exactly calm a mother's racing heart, they both just laughed and Benjamin screamed, "I LOVE IT!!!!" Yep, that's my boys. I am just glad Max was sleeping - they probably would have hung him by his belt loops from the side to act as bait.

Trouble, I tell ya! Nothing but trouble right there!