I'm still here. Just so very tired. Very, very tired.

The Darkest Hour

There's that hour and a half in the evening, that time after supper but before bed preparations, that time slot that seems to drive you crazy but is also exciting because it means sleep is near. That time is hard when you are parents of small children. For me, it's the time that I dream of a cleaning my kitchen, and then having a quiet moment where all my little angles are quietly sitting and reading and the house is spotless and I feel great because I spent the entire day being productive and now I am entitled to rest. But that is not usually the scenario of that time slot. No, not at all. Some days I've been productive, but some days I've just managed to keep my head above the water. Most of the time, I'm so exhausted from the after school rush, the homework, and the supper prep that I just stack the dirty dishes in the sink and remind myself that they can always be cleaned in the morning. Then I just try not to lose my cool as the girls have obviously been injected with the adrenaline rush that all children seem to get right after they've finished supper. Who is supplying this stuff and why didn't they give some to me?
Honestly though, I remember finishing supper and then running off to play something with the other kids. It was a really fun hour of the day and as a child, it never occurred to me that I might be driving my parents crazy; that they might be wishing I would just sit and stare and just be.  But they never said anything, not that I can remember, and we played with so much enthusiasm and energy until it was time to get ready for bed. And these nights, when the girls get up from the table and start their games of hide-and-seek or coloring contests or whatever it may be, I just take a deep breath, remember how my parents treated me, and keep my mouth shut. And sometimes, I even muster up enough energy to join in their games. (Tonight is not one of those nights, but it does happen every now and then.)

After I wrote this post, I came in the living room and found the three older girls lined up on the couch reading books. And I smiled and thought, "Finally!" And now, five minutes later, we have one on the ground crying, one on the couch crying, one standing on a chair, singing in her loudest voice while she waves a swimming noodle in the air, and one trying to sword fight her sister with the remaining noodle. Well, it was nice while it lasted. :) 

Saturday

 This past Saturday was my father's annual open trip to the Trojan game in Little Rock. He goes to support the team often, but once a year he buys tickets for anyone that will show up for the game. It usually a good crowd of friends and family that show come and it's a really fun time of visiting, cheering, and dancing crazy so the camera will put us on the big screen.  

This is one of my nephews, Ryan. We have a special relationship.

I was trying to get a good picture of these two. 

It was a little difficult. 

Eily was taking a break from dancing.

And Claire never misses a chance to pose for the camera.

Just four blondes, cheering on the Trojans.

Eily and Aunt Kat chowed down on some free popcorn.

And they realized they had on matching pants! 

It was a really fun night even though our team lost in the last .03 second of the game. I'm already looking forward to next year's game. 

Sickness, Snow, and Staying Busy

I've been reunited with my desk top and I think that's going to mean steadier posting. It's just so much easier to post from here and also, when I sit at this desk, I'm on a mission and I don't get distracted. (Excuse me for a moment while I go check Facbook.) 

Apparently this is The Winter of All Sicknesses Known to Man. I'm ready for some fresh spring breezes so I can air out this place and feel clean again. We have been trying to stay busy despite the hacking coughs and fevers and this is some of what we've been doing. 

Nora plays with Samson every chance she gets.

Eily has been practicing her pull-ups. She's very impressive.

Nora has slept- a lot. 

A lot, a lot, a lot

I finally took these two to the dr. They had fun with the coughing masks the front desk provided.

I've been taping hearts every night on the wall in the girls' room since February 1st. They LOVE it.

Other than that, we've watched a lot of I Love Lucy, 

 danced, did a biology lesson , 

and I built this sucker. Let me tell you, it was no easy task. 

Look at that toilet. It took me over thirty minutes to figure out how that thing went together.

And this cabinetry? Don't even ask.

Dining Room

Living Room

Front of House
This took two days to build. I'm pretty sure I now qualify for a Master's in All Things Involving Paper Tabs.