overheard

Gavin was in the bathroom preparing to take a shower when Sirena walked up and pounded on the door.

"Tell me that password or I will run the dishwasher and turn on all the sinks!"

A mumble was heard through the door and she walked away, singing happily.

I think they might just have this communication thing down!

house of chaos and contagion

Here we are on day 2? 3? 4? of chaos and contagion.

This is the current view in our living room.

The curtains are drawn to enhance the movie theater feeling.

Madelyn holding today's accessory- the cup. The cup is a definite upgrade from yesterday's accessory- the bowl. Yesterday, I barked at any child seen without their bowl buddy.

All of my large, easy-to-hit bowls were pressed into service, starting with the mint-green tupperware barf bowl of yesteryear up to and including my nice, deep pasta pot.

Panning to the right we have Sarah, who has escaped unscathed thus far, eating breakfast.

Continuing the living room tour, Evie in her swing. She loves the swing, a fact that saved my sanity yesterday when it was just Gavin and I tending the puking hoardes.

Mason also wanted breakfast. This may be a rather optimistic move, only time will tell. He is wearing mismatched jammies because everything else he owns is stained with evidence of sickness (from one end or the other).

Gavin, the hero of yesterday, has finally succumbed. Let me tell you- I would be bald and in a straight jacket if not for his noble help yesterday. He changed nasty diapers and dealt with even nastier, sickness-covered loads of laundry. Loads and loads and loads of nastiness. Plus, he got up in the midnight hours many, many times to change Mason's bed linens and empty his bowl. This heroic deed gave his mother a few, precious hours of sanity-saving sleep.

Now that he is one of the sick, we have given him the entire couch plus control of the movie choices. It's only right.

Last stop in our living room tour- Sirena and Nolan cozied up on Sirena's mattress in the middle of the floor. Sirena decided that trying to make urgent, midnight bathroom trips from the top bunk was a hazardous proposition. So, she prudently relocated her bed to a location that allowed for easier and quicker exits. Thankfully, she is on the upswing and may even eat later today.

It all looks so peaceful and cozy, yes? I won't traumatize you by photographing our laundry. I will say that the bathroom has never been so clean.

My routine yesterday went something like this:

1. nurse the baby

2. change the baby

3. change the toddler

4. empty the bowls

5. bathe the child

6. clean the bathroom

7. transfer the laundry

8. clean the carpet/floor/chair

Repeat

Anything else accomplished was a miracle. Today, however, is a brighter day. Only one child is hugging a bowl, and he, most thankfully, has good aim.

a one minute photo shoot

Although the weather was cooperative, the children weren't especially interested in sitting still for photos. I snapped these off in just under a minute, without even checking the settings on my camera. Thankfully, there is an angel somewhere who has mercy on frazzled, sandy mothers who *just* want a photo of all their children together.

Mason, Madelyn, Gavin, Mara, Sirena, Sarah, Nolan

All smiles...because this is the last picture!

wistful

On a hot, hot day, two very small people contemplate the unfairness of toddlerhood.

Nolan (14.5 mos) and Liza (17.5 mos)

See? Madelyn's having a great time out there...

Nina is clearly having a fabulous time...


Gavin, too.

Cousin, how long does it take to grow up?

Sirena Nina Mae

Eleven is a beautiful age, just ask our Nina.

Young enough to play with blocks and
old enough to help in the childcare at Bible study.

Here's our nature girl with the blasted dog.

(Notice the look of utter absorption on the dog's face? I am holding a ball, an object greatly desired, directly over the camera. He is actually quivering with lust for the ball, but this shot caught him between shivers.)

So pretty.

Sirena is our puzzle girl, she excels at math and all sorts of visual games. She loves plants and has a little plot to call her own and is our most-likely child to play outside. It's fitting that she is barefoot in her birthday photos since she doesn't wear shoes -unless forced- from March through November. Her feet are as tough as Hobbit feet (though hers are not hairy).

This past year has been a big one! Sirena began learning to quilt and has also added breadmaking and cooking to her skill set. I love knowing that I can turn her loose in the kitchen with a recipe and she can make it happen! Dare I confess that she is, even now, baking her own birthday cake? (From mix and it was her idea.)

She has a great sense of humor and a fabulous vocabulary. (Yes, this matters to me. I am a lexophile and, so far, she is the only child who shows any symptoms of catching this disorder.)

Sick

Sick

1) illness or pertaining to illness

2) disturbing

Sirena has thrush (a yeast infection in the mouth), and the simplest, least expensive way to treat thrush is with gentian violet. The problem with gentian violet, as you can clearly see, is that it stains everything, including teeth. We have been painting her mouth nightly, just before she brushes her teeth. It really highlights the plaque. I am told that it tastes quite nasty.

Daddy decided that the loving thing to do would be to join Sirena in her suffering.

WARNING!
GRAPHIC PHOTO FOLLOWS:

It's like Zion Lights gone wrong.
Quite frightening, if you ask me.

Love, true love.

Beach Photos 2005

Bryan and I with Mason, our youngest, at the beach last August.

Not my best photo, but at least I am in this one! More often than not, I am the one taking pictures. A few photos of the kids from our trip to the coast this past summer. We spent part of the day at Battery Russell, Fort Stevens. August is just before the "fall birthday season" at our house, so the kids whose ages are listed as almost are now officially the ages listed. (This is very important to Gavin and Sarah, especially. Sirena isn't too excited about 8, but Gavin loves being 10, and Sadie tells anyone who will listen that she is two.)

Mara Anne, age 11 going on 25

Gavin, almost 10! (in this photo)

Sirena, almost 8 as of this pic

Madelyn, 6 1/2

Sadie Eleanor, almost 2 (in photo)

And finally, my favorite picture of the family from the weekend...