Yes–I know “what causes it.”

And yes–WE LIKE IT.

The irony of this whole thing is that once I found out I was pregnant things stopped going missing in our house.  That had been a big problem, too.  I had a journal go missing that never has been found.  I looked for it for months and one day found the bookmark I used in it stuffed into the back of a kitchen drawer.  Weird things like that.

Anyway, fast forward to the birth of Simon which was a quick pitocin-induced but otherwise normal hospital birth (no epidural or any other form of pain management except my Bradley techniques).  Our nurse was new to “natural births” and freaked out when I started pushing.  In case you have no idea what it’s like to feel the urge to push, try to imagine that you have to take a really huge poop and can’t control it.  The poor nurse lady tried to tell me to stop pushing because my doctor wasn’t there yet, but she had no idea that my body had taken control at that point and there was no way my uterus or Simon was going to wait until it was convenient for anyone else.  Simon birthed himself right onto the hospital bed and my doctor sauntered in ten minutes later.

When we had his pictures taken at the hospital, we knew we were in for it:

Does that look like the picture of innocence?

It’s been a wild ride ever since.

Corey came home with a clarinet.  He had decided long before he even started middle school that he wanted to take band instead of choir because he already sings with the church choir.  Not being one to want to push him in directions he doesn’t want to go, I left all the decision-making up to him.  Even the choice of instruments was completely in his hands.  I didn’t suggest any particular family of instruments either (I played both the flute and the French horn throughout my school years so it didn’t make much of a difference to me).  Personally, I love the sound of the clarinet and I hope he sticks with it.

Simon has made excellent progress in Kindergarten.  Pre-K was an absolute nightmare and he came home at least once a week with referrals.  I was also called to come pick him up on numerous occasions because of his insolence.  This year, he has been so well-behaved that I honestly think someone may have switched our little Imp with an angel.

Aiden.  Oh, Aiden.  That child is chock full of imagination and mischief.  I have several stories to tell that I’ll get to in some later posts.  They involve socks, rockets, and singing feet. In the meantime, I must post this picture he drew last night. (Click to make it bigger)

Timothy is slowly learning how to use the potty. I think he’s taking a break this week because he’s been all sorts of snotty. Allergies are running rampant throughout the household and I pulled two boogers the size of peas out of his nose this morning. When he is feeling more himself he is actually able to make it to the toilet. I’m quite impressed.

Jamie is busy. Busy busy busy with school, both his own that he teaches and the classes he just started at ASU. He decided to go back to get his Specialist degree so he can earn tons more money. Feeding four boys has turned out to be more of a drain on our bank accounts than the current gas prices.

Lucy and I have been fighting about her sleeping habits.  There was a laundry basket at the foot of our bed that I used to keep all my Zumbawear in back when I washed it every other day.  Of course, it was just sitting there with a mish-mash of other clothes but she was sleeping in it all the same.  So yesterday I pulled out her laundry basket (the one with all her kitty blankies that she hasn’t been using) and I put it in place of the other one.  Then she went out into the living room and climbed into a different laundry basket!  The nerve!  I decided then to wash all the blankets and put them back in the basket as if they were freshly-washed laundry.  I win.

Finally, me!  As of today I am done with my big ugly Cam boot.  I graduated back into my lace-up brace and have permission to drive again.  This is fantastic news for pretty much everyone.  I was bumming rides off of everyone I knew to get to and from rehearsals and concerts, doctors’ appointments, and anywhere else I needed to go.  Jamie was tired of having to pack everyone up just to take me all the way downtown.  Frankly, I was too.  I miss driving.  The van is currently in the shop, though, so I’ll have to wait another day or two to actually get to it.  The air conditioning was dying.  I found it to be cruelly ironic considering this has been the hottest summer in eight years (according to one local weatherman).

I also took a break this week from nail art to get myself a set of gel nails with French tips.  My poor nails were looking haggard without polish.  Using a base coat was helping but as the weak, peeling, yellow part of my nails were growing out, they just kept breaking.  It wasn’t the polish that was peeling and chipping–it was my nails.  So I sucked it up and went for fakes.  I’ve tried acrylics a few times in my life but never really liked the way they felt.  I do like the gels.  They’re thick but just as thick as my natural nails are when I pile on all the layers of polish I usually use.  I’m going to give these another day or two and gussy them up a little.  Right now I’m enjoying the simplicity of this manicure.

Evidently, Simon thinks I make the best ham.  I have probably made ham about five times in my life and I’m pretty sure my oven does not go up to 700ºF.  It’d be worth a try, though.

Simon was the only boy in the Wesely Choir this year.   Aren’t they adorable?

Only six more feet to grow!

• We survived a total of six Christmases without bloodshed, tears, or screaming (not counting Christmas Eve or the dress rehearsal)
• The boys declared this the “best Christmas ever”
• SNOW!!
• Jamie tried to sing “White Christmas” while I took a video of Scraps examining snow for the first time and he couldn’t get through it
• Under his breath, Aiden said, “He really is real” when I showed him and his brothers the picture of Santa we “caught”
• I’m going to San Diego!! *

*Really! I have airfare booked and everything.  I leave in less than two weeks!!  I also have some brand new purple Zumba clothes that I want to wear tonight but am not sure if I’ll just look like a total dork.

Discuss.