Five Kids!

I wasn't sure how to approach this subject, its on a more serious note this time. I've thought about this so many times, but as I contemplated what to blog about this time, this is the only subject that kept coming into my thoughts.  I don't blog daily, just because when I do blog, I want it to really come from my heart and not something I have to force out.

While on vacation last week, we experienced the best of everything. I mean, come on, traveling with one child is amazing.....less money, smaller rooms, no fighting between siblings, you get it. Its nice and quiet.

We were watching Noah swim in a hotel pool on our last night, and the pool area was CrAzY! Each family had at least 3-4 kids, and they were all screaming. The acoustics were nuts, the pool chlorine was blinding, and it was just "yuck."
Mac and I sat there giving each other that "get me outta here" look.
But, as a parent, you sacrifice so your kid has a good time. Noah gets it, he gets us, and said he was about done. Wink. wink.

A lady approached me and said, "you really have it easy!" This isn't the first time parents have said this to me. I never know what to say. Sometimes my mood is just looking for a release and I let them have it. Other times I just say, "yes, I do."

This brings me to my subject. Why are they looking at me and judging me because I have only one child with me at this particular time? Do strangers know me? Do you really know me? There was a time I had 3 children under the age of 6, and one of them was battling a terminal disease. I was driving every single day to Madison for chemo treatments, radiation treatments, and trying to hold it together for the other two. I have flashbacks of pulling my three little ones in one red wagon around the 4-mile block! I have no idea how I did that, its hard enough now doing it alone! lol

Mac and I also lost a baby due to a tubal pregnancy. So do I say to these unaware people, listen....I have 5 children. And then have to explain to them my life history? No.

I was getting a pedicure a few days ago, and an older lady was sitting next to me and we started talking. She was saying how wonderful it was to be out. As we divulged more into our lives, she said she was getting ready to have her 2nd round of chemo. Which, as I know, will leave her in the house for days avoiding any type of germs, because her immune system is shot.  I then told her about Thomas and she was so heartbroken for my loss. But really, I was just as heartbroken for her. She said to me, ya know, people have no idea what each other has been through. This brought me back to my own thoughts. She said her life has really been humbled and changed due to her diagnosis. Gosh, do I get this!

So, what's my point? Look around you. Look at all the people you don't know anything about, yet you're making judgement's about them. There is always someone out there who has it a little rougher, if not a lot rougher. So give people a break. Smile. Your smile might be just what they need at that particular moment.

Camouflage, Crocs, and Carhartt

For years there's been one battle in our household that I finally surrendered to.
I consider myself somewhat fashion conscience, so when we go out for a date or business dinner, I tend to help Mac along. I always suggest the "cool" jeans I've bought him, that honestly do look good on him. He'll come out of the bathroom wearing his "dark wash" carhartts. He assumes that the dark wash makes them stylish. I can't tell you how many disagreements we've had because of a pair of jeans! There's even been a few times that I fought the battle so much, that we ended up not going out!

I will purposely put the jeans I like on the top of the jeans pile, hoping he'll just slip them on. Nope. I can always tell when he's out to make me happy and wears them, but I seriously think its a "man" thing to not give in. He will say to me, "I don't tell you what to wear, so don't tell me what to wear", or "I'm a 40 year old man, I'll wear what I want!"

I get it. If he was a wimpy man he'd probably do as I say, but Mac is anything but wimpy, and will not do as I say! He wins, again.
Which brings me to the conclusion that I no longer pick out his clothes. Life has become much easier, and going out much less stressful. The most control I have with him, is ironing his shirt.

But hold on, I haven't given up just yet to this household of male dominance. Noah appreciates me putting all his clothes out neatly for him for the upcoming week. I can pick out whatever I want, and get no grief.

But then, camouflage became a problem. What is it about this fecal looking pattern that boys find so appealing? I understand if you're in the service, but everyday life? Who are you trying to hide from? Thank goodness his school has a dress code against camouflage, or I'd be destined for waving the white flag.

Now that Noah is getting older, I'm finding the same argument with him that I previously had with Mac. But I'm not competing with Carhartt, I'm competing with camouflage and crocs! I will admit, Crocs are awesome for a kid to wear on a farm, At then end of the day, there's always a hose to make them look new again. But when you get in the car for dinner, and say, "what is that smell?", you realize the barn shoes are on his feet.  Not only that, but you see the camouflage top, shorts, sweatshirt, all of it.....camouflage.

He has said too me, "why can't I wear what I want to wear?" And so, it has begun with my 12 year old. Mac usually tells him, "do as your mother says, make her happy", which I laugh, because who is he kidding, sitting there in his dark wash carhartts?

So that's my story. I've a bit of control left, but I'm sure it is on the last year. There are some arguments not worth fighting, this being one of them. But if you see us out, please know, I tried to get them dressed for the occasion! Gotta love my farmer boys!

Bye, bye Explorer...

When Mac told me we needed to get rid of my 2004 Explorer, I was elated! I mean, who doesn't want a new car? When we bought the Mini Cooper a year ago, I thought it was "my car", but its kinda turned into a summer date car.

When you're talking practicality, the mini doesn't cut it. I drive four children to school during the school year, with my carpool, and put on a lot of miles. I'm on the road almost 2 hours a day, and have been doing this for 20+ years! I need something that's good on winter roads, and good for everyday living. The mini cooper is not that car! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the mini cooper, but you're not fitting 5 of us in it. And, Mac doesn't want to put the miles on it, or drive it in the winter.

Which leads us to this morning. I went out last night and got home to Noah telling me, "Dad sold your Explorer"! Which means, I'm getting a new car. I knew this was coming, but now I'm sad. As it drove away from me this morning, I shed a tear, yep, I did. Mac just shook his head and laughed at me. But thinking about all the fun times we had in that car is bittersweet.

I remember visiting my best friend's Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding anniversary down in Illinois. Noah and I went and decided that since their house was full, we would put all the seats down and sleep in the Explorer. We laid in the back, watching the stars through the sunroof. I seriously loved that night with Noah. 

When we woke up we both started laughing because a cat had jumped up on my car in the night, and was sleeping on the sunroof glass! Have you ever seen the bottom of a cat's body pressed against glass? Its quite funny. 

I remember driving down the highway one day and my hood blew up! I was crying, and quite hysterical. I called my handy, dandy husband and of course he took care of me. But now when I think of that day, it was quite funny!

The stereo rocked in that car. The girls and I would crank the music, put on the heat full blast, roll down the windows, and pretend we were in sunny Florida in the middle of winter! 

I've delivered many field lunches in that car. Open the back, and voila, breakfast, or lunch is served!

Driving my daughter to college was a big day for the Explorer. Moving my daughter out of the house. Moving her back in the house. And, yes, moving her back out of the house. 

So you ask why I'm sad to get a new car, that's why. I've grown attached to the trusty black beast. She's gone, but I'm sure the new car will be just as filled with memories as the last. 

I hope to see it driving down the road someday, it only went to Elkhorn. I will wave, and smile, from the seat of my new shiny car, with the heat on high, windows rolled down, and the radio up high......