WOW!  I have really fallen off the blog bandwagon!  I went on here to see if my blog even existed anymore and... surprise!! It's still here!! So I decided to pick up where I left off.  Hmmm.. lets see, I think I was 33 weeks pregnant last I wrote.. I can explain... lets see... Oh right!!

Introducing Brooks Christopher Palmer... Arrived March 15th in a rush with no time for an epidural... and thats about how it's been ever since!! NO TIME for an epidural, or anything that I might need!  

But turns out, you dont NEED an epidural, it just makes things more pleasant!   HA!

Ok so enough about my grueling labor.  And on to life with 4 kids!! OMG... I had NO idea how much my love could keep expanding for each child... I am so humbled that God has trusted me to raise four of his babies.  I also had no idea how much work it would be!! I mean, you can try and explain to someone that its the "motherload" (which is how a friend with four kids tried to warn me!) But you have no IDEA until you are living it.  The best way for me to explain is that its kind of like a hamster wheel.  I have to keep running what feels like in place (dishes, laundry, keeping seasonal clothes updated, getting outdated clothes in the bin for the next kid, buying weekly birthday gifts to buy for everyones birthday parties, spreadsheets at christmastime, getting groceries, making meals, cleaning up after meals, picking up toys, taking out the diaper trash..) You get the picture?  I have to keep running in place just to move forward one day at a time.  There is so much to do!! It's actually completely overwhelming and humbling that so many other women are out there doing this same thing.    All four of these children are precious gifts from God... Just look at them...

Here they are... the FAB FOUR.

Their spirits absolutely burst through the computer screen to me...

 My bathing beauties... just enjoying a day at the beach on a cold winter night...

They have so much fun together (sometimes) and fight like... well like siblings, the rest of the time!

Sometimes, like the photo above, it's so much fun... but a lot of the time I'm not taking pictures because I'm in over my head!  But... I feel like in the last few months I've begun to feel like I have my feet back under me.  Brooks (the perpetual mommas boy) seems to be easing up a bit, I am sleeping through the night most nights! (except tonight because I guess I'm so worked up that its christmas tomorrow!) And I  finally seem to have some time to take care of me.  REMEMBER ME??? I hardly can.  

OK OK so I usually dont look so dressed up... but I can tell you that I felt AMAZING when I dressed up that night, and so I am trying to make "taking care of me" more of a priority.  When you look good, you feel good.  Usually anyway.  The other thing that can make you feel good is... These guys...

or a weekend like this

Our 7 year anniversary "getaway" trip! 

OK so how was that for a catch up?  I'm back! And I'm hoping to write on here with my thoughts of inspiration because writing feeds something in my soul... and it helps me reflect on my life, and remember important things... the things I want to remember at least!  So thats it!! My deep thought for today is... MOMMA is better when she's taking care of herself!! Put your oxygen masks on first moms!

33 weeks pregnant

Ok - so I haven't posted in FOREVER!!!  First I wasn't posting b/c I wasn't announcing my pregnancy yet - then I didn't post because I felt too SICK and TIRED all the time and it was all I could do to keep up my regular life without recording anything fun or funny... and then I just got caught up in the business of school, being cookie mom, holidays etc... and now- here I am... 33 weeks pregnant.

I am trying to relish the feeling of this little boy growing inside me... feeling his little feet moving and pushing on my huge belly.  We found out in November that we were having another little boy!  Chris and I opened the "envelope" by ourselves one day in the house... we planned to wait but the suspense of having that envelope in the house was too much!  We were so excited to have a boy - two and two... how did we get so lucky anyway?

The kids are very excited about their new brother... possible name ideas right now...
Brooks, Brady, Chase, Hudsen, Austin (I like), Cruz (Chris likes)

Not sure how to decide for sure... but hopefully it will become clear before he gets here... Now that we've gotten past Christmas, and our trip to Colorado... its time to start to get ready for baby!  I am excited :)   I love babies...

Some pic's...

Three Muskateers

Sisters :)

Maddoc trying to keep up with my crew

Jack's buddies... Hayden, Blake and Tye

Chris and his white trash golf tournament

Cuties :) Sometimes they're sweet

Bowling on Chris's bday

Happy 35th Chris!

Jack playing dress up...

Olivia and her buddies... 

Just pal'in around on mom and dads bed...

School starts this week!!!

I am extra excited about school starting this year... for obvious reasons.  Livi starts second grade this year, she got the teacher we've never heard of - but is in class with two of her buddies, so we're excited about that.  Jack is starting preschool again - and Ellee is going to preschool one day/week as well... do you knwo what that means?  I will have THREE hours to myself every week!  Not to mention 8 additional hours with just Ellee to run errands.  She's a piece of cake to run errands with compared to taking all three of them to the store with me like I've done all summer.  Truly theres not a whole lot I HAVE to do.  I dont have to browse around the bookstore, I dont have to go get coffee, I dont have to go shopping or go get a bagel... but I can't wait!
The balance of mommy time is perfect when school starts.  I get to still do all my mom duties... making meals, snuggles at bedtime, hearing about their fun days they've had... but we all get a little space away from each other... Jack and Olivia get along so much better with a little space - and I feel so refreshed when I can get everything done  in peace.
Now for the end of summer... we've had a fabulous summer.  It started off with a bang.  June was awesome.  We've done swimming lessons all summer.  I taught baby swim for Ellee and Jack and Olivia took lessons afterward and everyone made lots and lots of progress.  Olivia wouldn't even put her face in at the beginning of summer... now she can jump off the diving board and swim across the pool.  Jack can float on his back for 8 seconds and while he expends a lot of energy "swimming" he still can't get anywhere yet - but he's made tons of progress.  Ellee has no problem going under water.  She was the model student in my baby swim class... always with a huge grin on her face and exclaiming loudly "Again, Again!"   We also swam in our neighborhood pool a LOT in June.  Not sure what else we did besides swimming.... went to the zoo, had playdates, went to the lake... but mostly we swam.  July was exciting in the beginning... 4th of July party, Ellee and Jack's birthdays, then Chris's bday... but then the massive heat wave hit.  I mean... it was over 100 degrees for like 2-3 weeks.  It felt like we were snowed in.  We did a lot of indoor playdates... and it got old... fast!  I started wishing for school.  August has been great... great weather... we are getting dozens and dozens of tomatoes from our garden - (Chris's garden) but the kids love to go help him water his tomatoes... We've had Lotawana Day, where we broke the world noodle record,,, the Kenney Chesney concert, wine tasting (for us only!)  Olivia's had book club, girl scout camp, handwriting camp, drama  camp, gymnastics class, family reunion on Chris's side, all sprinkled together with plenty of golf for Chris (once for me) birthday parties, fireworks and lots of popcicles... it has been a great summer... but all good things must end - and I'm ready!

Here we come school :)  I'm so excited to go browse around a bookstore with a iced latte :)

Tribute to Kaya

Kaya

You have been the best dog I could ever ask for.  You taught me about protection... by the way you guarded the kids.  You taught me about love - by your unconditional love you demonstrated for all of us every day.  You taught me about compassion... by the time I had a miscarriage and you jumped up on the bed and lay by me as I cried.  You taught me about forgiveness... if we left you home alone all day - you would still run to the door to green us with your tail wagging.  You taught me about passion... by the way you would stare intently at that frisbee until someone picked it up and threw it for you... and about focus... by the way you couldn't think about anything else if the frisbee, ball or stick was around.  You were my first baby.  I used to feel guilty that I had to leave you in the car when I would run into the grocery or post office... but I would bring you into the school where I used to work in Breckenridge on the weekends.  I couldn't bear the thought of you laying at home alone.  We used to go on some massive snow walks.  You would get snow caked into your paws and then lay down and chew it out... then get up and gallop through the snow again.  You and I logged many miles together my friend... you helped me walk off baby weight three different times... and let those kids hug you, and pull on your tail without ever a snarl or a snap.  You understood.  And you were so so very smart.  And so loyal.  

We used to let you out to go potty and if we forgot about you for 10 minutes.. there you were waiting patiently in the window.  Kaya.  I love you so much.  Thank you for teaching me so many life lessons.. I  miss you... I miss you every night when I dont have to step over anyone in my bedroom... and every time I clean up crumbs from under the kids chairs.  I miss you sweet face laying on the steps when I go upstairs early in the morning... and I miss your bark when someone arrives at the door.  

I will always love you.  

Happy Birthday Ellee!

Well, the one thing about having two kids birthdays in the same week is that  you get to do a double party! Or triple party as it was this year, because we included Huck - the kids cousin.  It was a hit!  

Ellee...

Happy Birthday sweet girl!  Its hard to believe you are already two years old!  You amaze me every day with how much you understand of this world - and you are doing and saying new things every single day.  You love to sing.  You sing in the car (Favorite song is "Tonight's gonna be a good night" by Black Eyed Peas.)  You were just singing the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" theme song a minute ago.  You will often be listening to what I say to Jack or Olivia and go do it for them... for instance I'll say something about shoes and you will go to the boot bench and get everyones shoes for them.  You are talking sooo well.  Its almost amazing to me because you're my baby!  And you can talk! In full on sentences!  You love Jack and Olivia so much.  You would do anything for them.. or with them.   It's been a fun summer of spending lots of time together... going to the pool.  Once we got you the right bathing suit you love it... but the one piece suits weren't cutting it.  You couldn't get to your belly button... which you like to rub constantly.  While you suck on your bubba.    You love reading books, you love watching "Kippa a dawg!"  (Kipper the dog) with Jack.  You still have just the sweetest fine strands of hair curling up in the back... And your round baby belly.  You love running around "nakey!" and love going "fwimming" (swimming) and you love your "nilk" aka Milk.  :)  I absolutly adore you Ellee.  I love everything about you.  I love getting starbucks with you "scone! scone!" while everyone smiles at how cute you are.  Sometimes you carry Rosie the train with you, and sometimes a purse.  You are very easy to have around b/c you are so easy going.  Especially for a toddler... you dont throw many tantrums and you are just finding your way in this world one day at a time.  I love being your mommy.  I feel so blessed to have you in my life.  I've been savoring your squishy baby body and your baby smell because I know it won't be long until you dont really seem like a baby anymore.  I love you so much, you are so full of love and life and sweetness.  xoxo  Mommy

Happy Birthday Jack!

Well, I'm writing the birthday letter here on my blog again - b/c this way it gets done, and it won't get lost!  

Jack Palmer! 

I can't believe you are four years old!  You have been waiting for this day for months... as if something magical or special will change about you when you turn "fouw".  Then the other day you started telling me you were "almost five."  We had your birthday party up at the pool.  You were so excited to open presents... it was all about the un-wrapping.  You sort of cared what was inside, but I think we could've wrapped up anything and you would've loved it.  Your buddies there were Hayden, Tye, Jake and Blake.  Phillip your other buddy couldn't make it.  But you were just a ball of energy and enthusiam... as you are every day.  Jack, I love you so much... you have so much joy contained inside you that sometimes it just comes bursing out VERY LOUDLY in your voice.  Ok, thats every day...  And you have a heart of gold.  If you do something wrong to one of your sisters your very quick to say "I'm sowwy Owivia".  You are very very easy going and laid back... but with a lot of enthusiam at the same time.  I dont want to under-estimate here your expressions and how animated you are because EVERYONE comments on it.  You make so many people laugh, and so many people smile because you are just so darn cute.  Your passion for trains is high on the list.  You are a collector and an engineer with those tracks.  You told me that you want to be a conductor when you grow up.  I hope I get a ride on your first train if you do.  :)  I keep thinking the Thomas obsession will wane, but so far it's going strong.  You know the names of all the trains and when yo get a new train, you insist on sleeping with it.    You have become a great swimmer this summer, and love jumping off the diving board.  You are just so much fun to be around Jack.  I just can't wait to see your little personality continue to re-fine itself and so lucky to be the mommy that gets to help shape you into the sweet boy your already are... and into the boy you will become.  I love you, Mom