This week my girls were very fascinated by crickets. We had one that sang for three nights in a row. My girls could hardly sleep because they wanted to go on a hunt to find Mr. Cricket (he was a Mr. you know because only the male cricket can make a noise to sing). The next day I have never seen two girls more excited to tell their Dad about the crickets. I thought, "Wow, if only I could find something like those crickets to get excited about". Then the next day...



I got on the phone for 2 minutes only to hang up and find the boys in the one and only room they are forbidden from. I usually am OCD with doors being shut in my house as you can imagine a pack of boys or a baby gang on exploration expeditions. Well apparently the bathroom door had been opened by one of the girls in my band and she not only forgot to shut the door but she forgot flush the toilet. You pretty much know the rest of the story...
Mom turns back for 2 minutes,
Boys bathroom radar goes off,
Boys give each other the gang sign,
Boys cruise to the bathroom,
Boys think yellow toilet water is pretty,
Boys put all 6 hands in and splash around,
Mom finds boys having the best time of their lives,
Mom trying to decide if she is mad, sicked-out, or wants to get camera because if you can't win, then join in.

(I'll post real picture later, camera difficulties)


Honestly I've never seen these kids have more fun. Now if only I could get excited about something as simple as crickets or playing in beautiful yellow toilet water. I used to get really excited about the ice in Basha's fountain drinks but I don't drink much carbonation anymore so that couldn't be my simple pleasure. What could it be then? I was bound and determined to find at least one simple thing to get excited about this week. I really was trying to let my kids help me rediscover how to live my life. Time was running out, the week was winding down as the calender flipped to Friday, I had to find something joyous fast. That's when it happened. I went to fill my car up @ Chevron (I have a thing for Chevron gas) and as I looked @ the price I almost jumped for joy when I saw that the price had dropped under two dollars. Seriously I almost smiled out loud (or something like that). To think it almost happened naturally and may not have even happened if I didn't have my kids to teach me how to live better and find joy in the simple things.

Coming out of the pantry..

We've got trouble here, it's not even Christmas and I've already gone through 2 boxes of these last week.

I love every cookie but Oreos , so why must I fancy you.  Well no more, I'm breaking up with you Joe-Joe's.  It's been a fun fling while it's lasted.  I'm ready to move on.

More and Less Freedom at the same time...

I love the above van and used to have it in model form. To me it always symbolized freedom. I always imagined traveling in it cross country with no regard to a clock. I'm kind of a free spirit who really has to work hard to have structure. Kind of a hippie at heart. (Don't tell my husband I wrote that, he's not so much a fan of hippies)  Most people would never guess that looking in from the outside because I really love lipstick and some other finer things. Speaking of lipstick makes me reflect on an experience.

{Image via Sundance Catalog}

In my younger years I went to a photo shoot for the Sundance catalog and they pretty much asked me to wipe off all of my lipstick because I wasn't fitting the "Sundance" mold.(ok they didn't actually say that)  As I left the photo shoot I somehow was left feeling like a ninny so of course I call the first person that always makes me feel better..Mom.  We sat and laughed @ the whole experience of me annoying the photographer. Moms have a way with helping you feel good enough and even better than good enough.  Fast forward to the point of life where I am now, about 9 years after the Sundance days and five kids in 2.5 years later.  When some people find out they look @ me like my crash course calling as Mom is like serving time in the big slammer.  The truth be known, in some ways I have never felt so much freedom.  I still day dream about taking off  with no ball and chains but also I've had enough experience to know that real happiness and freedom comes through serving and being molded, shaped and refined for a bigger purpose, none of which could come from living a life in a VW bus and always running from things that seem hard and restrictive.  Another thing that has been freeing is coming into my own and feeling more secure with myself. I still love my Mom to tell me that I am good enough but love that I don't need her to tell me as much.I guess you could say that a combination of finding myself and forgetting myself through this journey over the last 10 years is what has made me feel more freedom than I've ever felt.

Well there is actually one of my children who is reflecting on why he is actually experiencing less freedom.

Is there anything wrong with early snow board training?

I can't think of a better child to have to overcome a foot issue.  Out of all of my children he is the most determined thus far and that is why he is walking first despite his crooked foot.

Score 6 - 5

Score has been a tie @ the Vance household until todays announcement.  The arrival of baby She-Vance will give the girls the edge for now.  We couldn't be more excited for this lovely couple.  Congrats!

Weird that brother will be a Daddy. Better let auntie live her dreams of having another girl through you because heaven knows I don't need another kid that sleeps here @ night. I am only excepting resumes for girl babies that go home and sleep at other homes for now.
Oh the funness with dressing and decorating for girls.  I just put in another order to make some girls items so I hope you know what you want Whits.

Halloween

Halloween was great. It's a tradition to go to Nana and Bacca's neighborhood party. They always have homeade root beer, chili, soups and scones.
As you can see I have this thing for the islands so of course the girls were fancy hula girls. The boys rode to the party in Santa's sleigh (stroller adorned with battery operated Christmas lights and garland) as elves.

One of my favorite neighbors growing up sported the cool ride below. He thought he was only going to tote his grandkids for the night but all of the other kids had to have a ride too.



Wouldn't be Nana fashion without holiday packages.

Here are the elves!