In light of keeping it real, I'm sharing what I've been up to. The good, the bad and the (very) ugley. I've hit a real lull/wall in the past couple of weeks. However I'm determined to pick up and move on in a big way!
More teeth for lil J (first molar even and that last eye tooth is still hanging just under the gum) means more sleepless nights coupled with sinus trouble, a couple root canals needing done (just waiting for the appt times to come around) and in a few migraines and yeah it's just been comin' up roses here.

First a little a purty inspiration (yeah, cuz I really need some around these parts):

... tornado alley would be far more accurate at the moment than to say this is my kitchen.
warning-(look away if you're easily disgusted). Also a formal apology for not nearly as good a picture quality as it could be. Seriously, would you wanna search for your camera in all this? So yes, more phone pics... plus I figured who really needs sharper images of this mess?!

sorry for the delay in getting back to things here at my blog.

Late last fall we (our immediate family) were able to make a trip back to Michigan (my parents'/grandparents' home state). It was the first time we'd been able to schedule a visit in a few years (starting a seasonal biz is a huge time suck). We were able to visit with both of my grandmothers (both of my grandfathers had passed many years before). We knew there were signs that the end of their time here may not be so far off. Deep down I'd felt great guilt that we hadn't made it back to visit for so long. The kids were growing by leaps and bounds and I wanted the younger ones to have a few (good) memories at least of their great-grandmothers. I know it sounds corny, but a peace settled over me during that visit. Both grandmothers were in rare form during our visits. You could see their authentic selves/spirits coming through in spite of the toll the aging process had taken. Good new memories and a great awakening of some of those forgotten memories for myself! I knew making time for the visit then had been the only choice I could have made.
Late last Thursday my mother called about my paternal grandmother. Hospice had been in tending/monitoring for a couple weeks when she started refusing to eat. Early last week she was refusing to drink. They knew her days were numbered. My Grandma Lou passed on in the wee hours this morning. She had a rich life, full of friends and family, work as a nurse for many, many years to help support her family. She was a short spitfire of a woman. Her humor was infectious. Her empathy/sympathy for others ran deep, but she was at times stoic as well... not wanting others to see how deeply she was affected. Her favorite flower were yellow roses of course. The deep red rose was my late Grandpa Ralph's favorite (her dearly departed hubby).

Sorry for becoming rather MIA. The last couple weeks have been super busy & exhausting for this mama. To say my blog has taken a back seat, is probably a grave understatement. First N had a cold that turned into a sinus & double ear infection all on the heels of a previous ear infection. Then N spent the night at a friend's house. Said friend has 3 cats, a dog and a rabbit. All those allergens threw N into an allergic/asthmatic tailspin for the following week. Baby J had a cold, then two teeth appear (makes #5&6), then another cold and is now working on the top two teeth opposite her new bottom teeth. Yes, of course that means more sleepless nights.

After our bout of the tummy bug making it's rounds through all the kiddos, mom's energy levels have been completely zapped. Luckily mom has managed to escape the wrath of the tummy bug & colds... but has sacrificed more sleep than she's probably lost in many years. To top it all off DH took off on a biz trip this past Saturday.

I know other mothers frequently pull off the single parent mode with traveling spouses, but I honestly have to say I'm so grateful I don't have to put on that hat very often. I find it to be very draining (I don't relax as readily & feel like I'm on constant high alert). Add to that I never sleep well when DH is away. Scarce to mention the additional night wakings, bathroom trips & drinks of water for the kiddos while he's been gone.

Yeah, it's been a bit crazy here. DH gets home tonight, so hopefully we'll be easing back into normal around here very soon once again.