House Headaches

I have a house headache. A house headache is different than a real headache. A house headache is defined as "Utter and Complete Frustration with the House that Requires All Your Money and Free Time." Or, to simplify the definition a bit, let's call it, "Why Didn't We Rent?"

In the last five days, I have:

--talked to the insurance company multiple times regarding our kitchen floor
--taken pictures of said floor to send to the insurance adjuster
--gone to several flooring stores about replacing said floor
--had two people come to do estimates on replacing the floor, with one more still to come
--listened woefully to a flooring guru tell me that we have rotting wood under the kitchen floor, which will quickly become hazardous (i.e., loose floorboards) if we don't repair it
--stared mournfully at the growing water mark on our dining room ceiling
--had a tree expert come to our home to do an estimate on grinding a stump in our backyard, only to be told that we have a tree that is going to be a huge problem in a few years
--taken the van in, yet again, because of strange sounds it is making, only to be told we need to funnel another $1500 into it. (This comes after a new transmission last month.)
--trimmed the hedges out front, only to discover an insect infestation...
--researched tent caterpillars, since our front yard is infested with their tents and larvae, which will be born next spring
--gotten down on my hands and knees with a flashlight to see if I can find the source of the water underneath our washing machine
--cleaned endless "output" off the carpet thanks to Nathan, who is--sort of--potty training

I think I'll go to bed now. Maybe I'll wake up in 2010, after we've moved away.

The Bookseller of Kabul

I just finished the book shown below, The Bookseller of Kabul.

Frankly, I think any woman living in this day and age should read this book. It's an up close and personal account of a family in Kabul, and it is fascinating and heart-wrenching. You'll never look at your own life in the same way again. And you'll finish it determined to do something to improve this world.

Six Months

Has it really been six months since this?


Time has been a blur. I remember, in the first few weeks at home with the babies, absolutely insisting to my mom that it was Monday and, therefore, a towel-washing day.

After a bit of confusion on my part, she told me it was Thursday.

I wish I could say such confusion only happened once. Or twice. Or thrice.

My brain in 2008 = Mush. Remember those commercials with the fried egg that said, "This is your brain on drugs"? Translation to my life: "This is your brain on twins." I have felt mentally sub-par, always sleep deprived and always with an infintesimal number of thoughts swirling in my brain at once. And always with at least one baby hanging on, nursing, while I fold laundry, make phone calls, read stories, and so on.

It has been a wild, exhausting, and at moments, exhilirating six months. I can't believe we're already at this point. But I sure love those twins.

Happy Birthday

This is my dear friend Rochelle.

I think she is absolutely beautiful.

Rochelle celebrated a big day yesterday. She turned 90 years old. I got to talk to her for about an hour on that day, and our conversation, as always, lifted my spirits and put a smile on my face. Spending time with Rochelle, even if it's on the phone or in a letter, is balm for the weary soul.

What's more, Rochelle is my kindred spirit. Maybe to some of you that sounds crazy, considering our age difference, but she and I have many similar interests and, as Rochelle would quickly say, we are both what she calls "Highly Sensitive People."

Rochelle has had a rich and full life, although not without plenty of challenges. She has so many experiences to share, so much wisdom to give, and I love hearing the stories of her life. I particularly love hearing about her time in the Canadian Air Force in World War Two. On military holidays, she wears her hat and jacket from her days in the Armed Forces.

Rochelle does so many things, and does them so well. Foremost among her many talents is her ability to paint. She paints absolutely stunning folk art. Her home has many, many pieces of her artwork, and one of my most treasured possessions is a piece that she did for me. It sits on my dresser to this day. Rochelle is also a divine cook, and she gardens and writes beautiful essays. She has even written a novel, and I was privileged enough to get to read it.

I met Rochelle when we moved to Hershey over eight years ago. She sat in the pew behind us at church, and I turned and introduced myself to the lovely lady sitting there. That brief conversation quickly led to dinners at our home and hers, to lots of phone calls and get togethers, to shopping trips and Pride and Prejudice movie marathons, to many wonderful memories.

Although she and I have both moved from Hershey, we have kept in touch. Rochelle is one of the only people I know who still writes letters via "snail mail." I love her for it. I love receiving letters from her, with her flourished handwriting, always full of interesting news and tidbits. I have a whole box of them, and I will keep them forever.

I have two favorite memories of Rochelle during our time in Hershey. First was having her in our home on Christmas Day 2003. The second, and best, memory took place just a few days before we moved to Virginia, Memorial Day of 2004. In the midst of packing our apartment, I suddenly realized that the National World War Two Memorial would be dedicated that holiday weekend. The lightbulb went on, and I suddenly knew that I had to go to the dedication and take Rochelle.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She and I spent a wonderful day in D.C., just the two of us (and thousands of others!), and it was such a privilege to be there with her. Many times that day, people stopped her in the street to thank her for her military service. We also spent a brief time at the Holocaust Museum that day, and as we were there, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the chance to be in that hallowed place with a woman who was one of the many whose efforts ultimately led to the liberation of the concentration camps. It was a powerful experience and a powerful day.


Anyway, I pray that this lovely woman's life will be happy and full of friends and laughter as she enters another decade. I adore her.

First Teeth

Isaac and Madeline both sprouted a tooth today, in the exact same place. Talk about timing. They must have been coordinating things when I wasn't around.

Deep Thoughts

Um, don't let the title of this post mislead you.

Today I was doing dishes, yet again, and musing on random things. Very random things.

Have you ever noticed, for instance, how many baby items start with the letter 'B'? (I used to have much greater depth of thought. Motherhood has sucked it out of me, at least temporarily.)

Here goes:

Baby
Bassinet
Bottle
Bunting
Bumbo
Bib
Breast
Burp
Bouncer
Bjorn
Blanket
Binky
Booties
Bumper
Bath

I know, I'm pathetic. But if you have any to add to the list, feel free!

The Twins at 5-6 Months

Our fabulous duo is rapidly approaching the six-month mark.

Here are some very recent pictures.

(I'd say they're outgrowing the bouncy chairs! I turned my back for a moment and returned to find them hanging off.)

(Pinching each other is a frequent occurence.)

Below are pictures of our sweet, precious Madeline--the most content baby on the planet. She rarely ever cries, and she is the snuggliest baby I have ever held. She also watches everything and seems to be extremely perceptive. She is the spitting image of Clara as a baby. Emma calls her "Little Tsunami Hair" since her hair never lays down and has multiple cowlicks. And yes, her tongue is constantly hanging out. It has been so since the moment she was born. Little Madeline is a huge blessing to our family.

Below are pictures of our little man Isaac. I think he looks a lot like my dad. Isaac has a much more intense personality than Madeline and can sometimes give us a run for our money, but he is also a real sweetheart. He wants to be held and snuggled and loves to flirt with pretty ladies. He is constant motion...watch out for when he's mobile! He also gets bored easily. I like to think that means he's brilliant :) We love our cute Isaac!

1st Day of School

Clara, my first grader, I love you.

Emma, my third grader, I love you.

School bus that stops in front of my house, I love you.

First day of school, I love you.

After all, what's not to love?

I love the new school supplies, the "getting ready" with a few new clothes for the kids, the back-to-school haircuts, the open house, the letters and postcards from the school, the early bedtimes.

I was really ready for school to start this year. This summer has been kind of a long one in our house. It has been a major challenge for me to mount the daily entertaining of three busy children, what with two babies in tow. I have been perpetually exhausted. But we survived and lived to see this day!

Here's to a great school year to one and all!

Petting Farm Visit

We had a great time at the local petting farm last Saturday, but it was, as always, a bit humorous.

Nathan was only interested in the wooden train.

The camel and I became good friends. She and I had a few tender moments where I fed her and she slobbered on my hand. I showed the nervous kids how to feed the animals, even though they have done this many times before...
...but in spite of my best efforts (and my hand covered in animal saliva), the girls just stood and stared, while the animals stared back.

Kitchen "Mishap"

Blessing #1: Brian was home and not me. If it had been me, I would have grabbed the kids and run, letting the house burn down.

Blessing #2: Brian sustained only minor first-degree burns on his face.

Blessing #3: We need only a new kitchen floor and some repainting of cabinets, not a new kitchen--or a new house.



For those of you who are wondering, Brian was heating some oil on the stove, as he often does, since he is a great husband and happily helps out in the kitchen when he can. The oil overheated and quickly burst into leaping flames. In his haste, Brian picked up the pan (oops!) and dropped it, as it was incredibly hot, onto the kitchen floor. Fortunately, he was able to contain the fire and prevent major damage to the house, not to mention to himself. We are counting our blessings. For the last four days, I have continued to find soot in the kitchen and surrounding rooms of the house. It's amazing to see how much impact a small fire can have.

Ode to the Red Placard

Confession:

I had a handicapped placard.

It was my friend, my good friend, for six months.

It has now expired.

Goodbye, friend. May you render faithful service to another deserving expectant M.o.M. (Mother of Multiples). I will never forget you nor your kindness to me in my hours of need.

Teenage Boys of Unknown Names

To Local Teenage Boys of Unknown Names:

High School Football Dude, do you really think you're cool? Do you really think so? Is that why you sit in the back of a yellow school bus and smile broadly at the motherly-looking brunette driving the minivan, and then you scribble on a piece of paper, "WANNA GO OUT?" Oh my, I guess I should be flattered.

Trio of Truants, do you really think you're powerful? Do you really think so? Is that why you walk along the main drag and throw stones at passing cars? At passing bicyclists? Did you laugh hysterically when the stones hit your targets? When the drivers pulled over to check their cars for damages? I want to know--did you laugh when the police pulled up after that motherly-looking brunette driving the minivan called and reported you, with a telling description of your trio's deeds?

Local Teenage Boys, you may not be cool now, and you may not be powerful now, but I have faith in you. Somehow, you will turn out alright. Most likely you will, miraculously, transform into good men--capable and productive and honorable. Someday, three of you may sit across the dinner table from me, and I will proudly call you my sons-in-law.

Into the Woods

After years of hearing about this play, I finally saw it. Loved it. Loved loved loved it.

Thank You

Nathan was full of thanks today for many things. My favorite was this:

"Thanks, Mommy, for cleaning my bum."

Enough said.

Recent Reads

Wonder of wonders, I have done it. I have finally finished not one but two books since the twins' arrival. It's all thanks to our three-week sojourn in Utah, where I slept in until 7 a.m. and got an occasional nap. Miracles happen.

But I digress. First, there was Three Cups of Tea, a remarkable account of a man's crusade to build schools for the neediest children in the remotest areas of Pakistan.

Next, there was A Long Way Gone, a truly sobering book about a child soldier in Sierra Leone.

A few rhetorical questions--questions that we all ask many times in our lives--have swirled repeatedly in my mind since recently finishing these books:

1) What do I really do all day? Greg Mortensen is just an average guy who decided to do something...and it snowballed into so very much. Why aren't I doing such things, too? What do I have to contribute to the masses of humanity in need? (I of course know the simple answer to this, but I do wish I could find a way to contribute more to the world beyond my little sphere.)

2) How is it that I am so abundantly blessed when others have so very little? A good education. People who love me, and whom I love. Food. Shelter. Safety. A bed with blankets. Running water. Not to mention the Gospel. What is my responsibility because of these blessings?

3) How many children are suffering at this moment? How many parents want to provide for their children and can't? Again, why is my little family so blessed?

I take some consolation in scriptures such as Isaiah 25:8, which states, "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." But ultimately, I know that the answers to so many of the challenges in this world lie in our individual willingness to reach out in understanding, bridging gaps and strengthening hearts and hands that are suffering.

These two very simple books add to the miles of books that have preceded them in bringing up big questions, timeless questions. There aren't easy answers. But they certainly reinforce the idea that we are citizens of the world--not just citizens of our communities--and that we can each have an impact.

Bear Lake

Emma, playing dress up.

Brian, Jen, and Emma, riding the waves.

Two sisters, searching for shells.

Isaac, chillin' in the car seat.

Madeline, getting her afternoon snack.

Clara, floating contentedly for hours.

Nathan, riding out to sea.

My Future Olympian

My girls have been inspired and awestruck by watching the Olympics. After I explained to Clara that gymnastics was too dangerous for her to pursue as her Olympic dream, she settled on swimming.

Quoth she: "I guess I need to practice my front float."

Yes, sweetheart, you sure do.