I love summer storms. Today, we sat on the front porch and enjoyed a magnificent view of our mountains blanketed in spring green with low hanging storm clouds hovering over the peaks while occasional sprinkles filled the gutter.
Is the green more vivid this year than in years past? This is my favorite spring in memory. Perhaps a May baby makes it so.
The kids and I have enjoyed many lightning storms from the porch in the past few weeks. I think we must have some of the most spectacular T-storms in the world here on the Wasatch Front. I've loved watching lightning shows since I was a kid.
Something else I am loving right now: My kids listening to Janeen Brady's Standing Tall series. Am I the only one who grew up on these ditties, like, Mr. Did and Mr. Didn't singing in the Land of Obey? And, Do You Know About Grandpa Gum?
Sophie just discovered the third track where they leave out one of the character's lines and she can read along like she is part of the story. She loves it. I loved that too when I was her age. I love that she loves it.
Our summer adventures began Monday morning with a trip to the Treehouse Children's Museum. Two of my sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and all of their kids (eight between them) made the trip to Ogden, so, I loaded up my crew to meet them. I was babysitting, but, my friends' oldest daughter was ill and spent the day with her grandma.
After losing each of my three-year-olds one at a time and each of them throwing a screaming tantrum (all of this in the first 10-minutes), we settled into a routine and had a most enjoyable time. So much fun in fact, that we stayed for FOUR hours!
I think these excursions will be even better when I get the replacement strap for my ergo (the carrier that deserves a post of its own, so great is my love for it), and, when I get more comfortable feeding Katie in public.
No sooner had we arrived home, fed everyone a late lunch, given Katie a nice long feeding and laid her down for a nap, then my parents called and invited us to Pop's (a 50's ice-cream shop). Tempting though it was to stay home and chill after our long outing, I could not say "no." So, the kids got two fun trips in the same day! And, though I promised myself, during the drive over, that I wouldn't order my own ice-cream, the brownies on the moon was just too, too irresistible.
Our summer adventures continued on Tuesday with more outings -- this time for business rather than pleasure. Monday night, Brian and I realized that we had both scheduled appointments at the exact same times. So . . . we divvied up the kids. I buckled up the three youngest and he piled in the four oldest.
My crew headed to the dermatologist (for Isaac) at 9 a.m. while they headed to bookstores to distribute "I Am Ogden." Right after Isaac's appointment ended, we were off to my pediatrician for Katie's 2-week-check-up. It is official. She is perfect. The Doctor said so. And, I could have sworn she is at least 10-pounds by now, she seems to grow right before my eyes, but she's only gained 4-ounces (8 lbs. 12 oz.). Perfectly normal.
Just before they pricked her foot for the PKU, Brian showed up to hand-off four more kids to me so he could make it to a meeting (about the book) at Weber State. It was a strange, strange feeling herding those seven kids out of the Doctor's office and out to the van. I looked at them scurrying ahead of me and the thought occurred to me, "This isn't exactly how I envisioned my future back when I was in college wearing dry clean only pants, ironing my clothes on a regular basis and going out on the town every weekend."
It wasn't what I envisioned. But, I'll take it. Because it's pretty great.
The other day, my eighty-something-year-old neighbor congratulated us on the most recent arrival and paid us a very high compliment when he said, "It's a pleasure to see people who take good care of their kids bring children into the world." His words made me feel so good.
And, truly, the pleasure is mine.
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3 comments:
There could be some MINOR details about the "I AM OGDEN" book delivery excursion you missed, of course, since you were doctor hopping.
The Wisebird Bookery stop would have been uneventful if it wasn't for the HUGE stack of plush puppets which instantly thrust the kids into a rain forest filled with strange animals all talking to each other and eating complimentary Starbursts.
Next was Hastings where the kids watched as a shoplifter bolted out of the building with some goods and the resulting commotion. Next they settled down around a table to drink their juice, but not before dropping one bottle and watching me wipe it up.
After that, it was a trip to the post office with its wide open tile floor, which by the way, also doubles as a Heely race track.
Then finally, the post office was basically next door to the doctor's office so we passed the time by making several laps through a huge, and very bumpy series of mud puddles on the side of the road. This drenched the Jeep with mud and water, kept the kids screaming for more and most likely took several months, if not years, off the life of my suspension.
It was TOTALLY worth it though. That's why you own a Jeep, right?
Ha! You guys should do a He said She said blog! Amy, when you describe your outings, you have such a cheery perspective. I imagine seven little freshly cleaned children in shiny shoes and neatly combed hair walking cobblestone streets when you write. Not so, I know. It's just great to see what a positive person you are.
LOVE that you know & have the Standing Tall Series too! WHO BROKE MY WINDOW....Telling the truth isn't going to be easy! Ha! LOVE them. I got a lot of mileage out of Mr. Did & Mr. Didn't and "don't you want to live in the land of obey." They bring back such great childhood memories and teach great lessons.
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