My Five Little Monkeys

Kinda Fuzzy.

And by "fuzzy", I mean lots of things... I mean gosh, how can you NOT get all kinds of warm fuzzy feelings when you look at those babies? Those chubby cheeks, those squishy arms! The adorableness... It certainly makes my insides go all kinds of fuzzy.
However, it also makes my brain go fuzzy. On a million different levels, FUZZY. First off... I have no idea which child is which in this picture. Who is Evan? Who is Jack? I'd love to say with the utmost of certainty that Jack is on the right. More so because that's how it went in MANY photos... Jack was put in chronological order, thereby always ending up on the right hand side of the picture. But this leaves my mind entirely too fuzzy... Who is that kid? Is that one the one that I think that it is? Is he who I think he is? Meh. Doesn't matter. He's still cute. Brushed back into the confines of my mind... We'll refer to this period of time as the "Jevan months" because no sooner did we think we were talking to Evan, would we recognize it was Jack. Or vice versa, making many names sound like Jevan... Not quite Jack, Not quite Evan... Jevan.
I also had to do the math for when this photo was taken. The boys nearing 4 months old... We were in the Outer Banks, their first vacation. As far as this trip goes... It's all kind of a blur, lots of fuzz. The fuzziness that enshrouded my first few months as a Mom to these guys is in all reality a little scary. I'm really glad that I have our old blog archived, a virtual scrapbook of sorts. It too though, portrayed very little of what was really going on in my world... I know that there was no mention back then of the Post Partum depression, the frustrations with understanding my children and where I fit into their lives, struggling with living up to my own expectations of being the best Mom possible and seemingly failing at every turn... I don't recall mentioning any of that in the blog. Perhaps because it was all fuzzy even then? Was I living in a haze even then? Or was I just trying to fool myself into thinking it was all OK?
Regardless, that fuzz got me through that first year. I just wish I could remember who the kid on the right is. And perhaps one of these days, I'll let you in on how these past few years really went...

Inspiration Lost.

I swear to all of you...I'm not dead.

I cannot quite seem to figure out which end is up lately, and quite literally I've found that blogging about it isn't helping me find my way. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining...  My life is awesome, it's just that lately I've been trying to figure out my happy medium. It seems like once I get to a place where I think things are kind of sailing along and going fairly smooth, things get really choppy... I do have to stop and ask myself at this juncture though, Isn't this life? Isn't this kind of what it's all about? The challenges...

I think sometimes, no matter how much I pretend that I'm ok with it, I'm tired of being challenged. I'm tired of things not being smooth sailing, or in the least bit, predictable. I'll be the first one to tell you that my life isn't boring, but I'm pretty sure that you didn't think that anyway. I will however be the first one to tell you, It's OK! I'm fine with it! I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince here. I guess I think the more I tell myself that it's all OK, that it really will all be OK. And in a whole lot of ways, it really IS OK. Like I said, I love my life, my life is really awesome, but it's these speed bumps, these constant challenges being thrown in my way that are keeping me on my toes... I think part of my issue is that I'm really kind of tired of living my life wondering what's next. That's actually a big part of my issue right now. And that my friends, is getting OLD. I don't want to have to wonder when the ball is going to drop. I'm not trying to be pessimistic but you see, when the ball has fallen as many times as it has, it leaves one to wonder right? I have a point right? RIGHT? Be on my side people... STICK WITH ME HERE.

Anyway. I think I'm done. Actually I'm totally fibbing, I'm SO not done. I'm sure I have tons more things to talk about... None of them are really things that anyone wants to hear about though, so perhaps I'll just reserve them for another occasion. I also have tons more things to talk about  pertaining to the kiddos, school, vacation, and Disney World! Hopefully I'll be more up to the challenge of posting in the next few days. Sometimes just getting over the initial hump of this post, after such a long hiatus, is what I need... But I'm not making any promises. Maybe that will make me feel more inclined to talk...

Oh, and for those of you who were looking for a follow up post to Mommy Kitty! She did in fact deliver her kitten... That's right, KITTEN. Singular. She just had one little baby. She delivered exactly two weeks to the day that we got her... We are in deep deep smit with the Momma, the baby however, he's just OK. He started off sweet as pie, and now he's mean as a snake. Maybe it's  because I dress him up like a leprechaun? Probably not, but regardless he's mean. Like spitting, hissing, growling mean... Think I'm gonna have a hard time finding a home for him? Yeah me too. Thank God he's cute, perhaps I can get rid of him based on looks alone. Heh...

Is There A Doctor In The House?

In case you thought I wasn't busy enough? Today I thought it would be a great idea to become a Foster Mom.
Yep. You heard me right. A Foster Mom.
To a Cat.
I love cat's... I would go so far as to say that I have a major soft spot for cat's. I hear a sob story, and instantly my heart and my door opens up. It's pathetic really.
In any regard, I'll be keeping an eye on this absolutely stunning kitty for next couple of weeks. Or at least until she gives birth... Oh, what? I didn't mention that? Right, yes... She's pregnant.
I'm going to be a grandmother. I'll be sure to take a picture of her sweet little face and share it with you all as soon as she comes out from underneath of the bed. Until then...send towels and boiling water.

**Edited to add** The Momma has emerged and is happy to be here, she is adapting VERY well and has eaten A LOT! She is a little lonely I think, and just wants me to lay with her in her room... It makes me a little sad to leave her! Poor little girl! Isn't she the sweetest!?!

Minivans Of The World Unite!

I'm a minivan Mom. I'm not really ashamed of that. Really I'm not. I've noticed though that people who ride motorcycles, they have like this secret wave... I want to do that.  I want to have a secret wave that I can do to all the Mom's out there who actually are in love with driving their Minivans.
When I was first resigned to the idea of having to drive my van, it was kind of like a death sentence. Jon and I both had compact cars. We had decided that with the pregnancy would come a new, more family friendly vehicle. We had pretty definitely decided on the Chrysler Pacifica. We still see them on the road today, and do a little "awww" like it's a memory of when things were easier? I dunno. Regardless we didn't end up with the Pacifica. We ended up with a Chrysler Town & Country and Triplets. Aka: The Mom-Mobile. I wasn't thrilled. Hauling my hugely pregnant butt out of it the first time though, I was ecstatic. I had been hauling my hugely pregnant butt UP off the ground of a Honda Civic. This was glorious in comparison.
So now, this all brings me to today. I'm still driving the same minivan obviously. It's only been about 4 and half years... Perhaps my expectations are just too high, or perhaps Chrysler just has no idea what the heck they were doing when they made these minivans. I've run into nearly every problem imaginable with this vehicle, and now, my love for being a minivan Mom? It's starting to turn into more of just a "like"... I don't so much loooove it anymore... I just sort of like it.
For instance, I've had this squealing coming from my back tires now for at least a month. We know it's not the tires... Oh no, that's not even possible. Know how I know that? Because I JUST replaced all four of them, before the van even turned over 40k miles. Yeah. Winner Winner. Anywho, the van, it squeals like a pig. I take it to our handy dandy auto mechanic to have a quick listen to it... For those of you who know me, I'm a pretty pride filled person. I refuse to go into a garage and be one of "those people" replicating all the noises my car likes to make... It's not pretty, people laugh at those people... I'm not one to be laughed at.
So I go waltzing in there, and I'm all "Oh Hai... yes... My van makes a squealing noise in the rear axel area upon acceleration" And of course then they say, "you mean it squeals when you brake? Like your brake pads are wearing down?" So then, THEN I'm forced to explain that no, it is definitely when I accelerate...and this leads me to making the most annoying pig like, wub, wub, wub noise... It was Fabulous. Then to top it all off, my van decided today was not a good day to "perform". Noises couldn't be replicated...
Needless to say, if you drive by me, and you give me a new Minivan Momma secret handshake sort of wave, and I flip you off? Don't be alarmed, it's just been one of those days... Because all the way home my van was singing a tune reminiscent of "sooooey"...

Pssssketti!

Oddly enough, up until last week, my children have never had spaghetti. Weird, I know. They've had macaroni and cheese, tortellini, different shaped pastas, but never have they had simple spaghetti. Truthfully, I don't know why. I think it just sort of slid under the radar. Last week, Jon and I were having it for dinner. William asked if he could sample some off of my plate. I gave him some, which then turned into him eating four plates of his own... He clearly liked it. The only one in the family who has literally no interest in any type of pasta, is Evan. He won't even look at it. Refuses to touch it. All the other kids though love it to pieces... Add it to the menu folks, good to have another meal to rotate through!

A Penny Saved.

I get a certain kick out of saving money. I'll admit it... Before I was a wife, Before I was a Mom... I had no CLUE of what the average price of a gallon of milk was. Ask me how much a certain Vera Bradley bag was retailing for currently, and I could rattle that info off in a hot second. Food prices? Not a chance. Nowadays, I'm able to tell you the average price on pretty much anything in our local grocery store. I get a real sense of pride out of that. I get a real boost out of knowing that I may not be bringing a dollar TO the table, as far as a paycheck is concerned, but the least I can do is keep the dollars we do have IN our pockets.
I've learned a lot from online gurus that tout their expertise about shopping with coupons... Getting hundreds of dollars of groceries for cents on the dollar. I'm SO not there yet. However, I'm getting there. It takes me a long time in the grocery stores, and I thank GOD that my kids love to go there with me. I don't always take them, but sometimes I need to!
Here was today's shopping trip. It wasn't my best trip by any means... However, I'm amazed still that I can save so much money without THAT much effort!!
In my order, I had:

• 1 Kix Cereal 12oz.
• 2 Contadina Tomato Paste 6oz.
• 6 Dole Mandarin Oranges
• 5 loaves of Bread
• Filipo Berio Olive Oil 51oz
• 2 Welch's AquaJuice
• 6 Friskies Cat Food
• 2 V-8 Fusion Juice
• Snyders MultiGrain Chips
• Giant Pureed Tomato
• Bleach 96oz
• 2 SoBe Water 20oz
• 2 Dole Lettuce Blends
• 2 International Delights Creamer
• 2 Johnsons Baby Soap
• 1 Jumbo Huggies Diaper
• 10 Flowering Bulbs for Garden 
• Triaminic Nasal Spray
• Giant Brand Nasal Spray
• Giant Brand Tylenol 24ct.
• Vicks Soothing Vapors Plug In
• Vicks Soothing Vapors Pads
• 5 Smart Ones Meals
• 2 Breyers Ice Cream 48oz
• 2 Bertolli Oven Baked Meals

The total for all of this...$146.69

I paid...$74.90

A savings of almost $72. I did this with a combination of deals going on in the store, as well as nearly $25 in clipped coupons. The hard work is totally worth it... Totally Totally worth it...

Good & BedFellas

A few months ago we moved William into a big boy bed. Our other two boys, we decided just weren't ready for the transition at that time. Part of it was because they truly weren't ready, and part of it was because their big baby of a Momma just wasn't ready. Having them sleep in anything other than cribs seemed far too grown up... Far too, big, scary... I just wasn't ready for it. Fortunately for the boys they were able to show me that the world isn't all scary, and helped me to transition them into a big queen size bed on the floor. Remember we were finding them sleeping together ALL. THE. TIME. in a baby crib? Too sweet... Anyway, the bed on the floor has been very practical. I haven't been afraid of them falling to the floor with a crashing thud. No worries of them jumping on the bed until the slats underneath come crashing to the floor below. Also, the boys have been able to sleep together whenever they choose... There's nothing more heartwarming than going in to check on them and finding their small bodies intertwined, hands clasped, both laying in the same position... This past weekend however, Jon's parents got a great deal on two toddler beds. Since we already had our mattresses, it seemed logical to make the next step to try to offer them their own beds. If they would like to continue sleeping together, they could, albeit they'd be a little squished... But if they didn't choose to do so, they had their own separate beds, as individual little boys should. The beds are perfect, and I think the boys were in love with them. I took some photos of them seeing them for the first time, but honestly they all came out looking like crap... When going to check on them last night I found Jack curled up in Williams bed (which is where we have found him on many of the recent nights...This is what has prompted the idea of separate beds!) and Evan on the floor between the two new beds... It was if he couldn't decide where he wanted to sleep. Poor fella...
I will leave you with a photo though... This little guy has been under the weather, along with his brothers and sisters for about a week now. The past few days with the holiday and all seem to have gotten the best of him, and he's taken a nap 2 days in a row... Today I allowed him to nap peacefully in my bed...While I sat in my chair and enjoyed some peace and quiet. I enjoyed seeing him doze, his obvious need for his body to rest. What I didn't enjoy was when he woke, he peered up at me wordlessly,  playing a sort of peek a boo around our bedroom wall... He then looked at me, and said "this piece here?" Pulling at the hip area of his sweat pants, "it's wet."
UGH.
My sweet, slumbering, baby boy...pissed in my bed. That little... UGH... Well you win some you lose some right?

A Fresh Start...

Hi. My name is Jessica. You might know from such places as, this blog and perhaps Facebook. I have been a little lax over the past few months, I seem to have lost my passion for writing. I'm not shocked really. It seems to happen to me every few months... I go into a bit of a writing depression. I fall behind on what I feel are "noteworthy events", and then I begin to kick myself for not journaling them all. I try to continually tell myself that it's my blog, that I'm not doing it for anyone other than me...But that's not really the truth now is it? I mean you're reading it, and it's likely that you know a few other folks who pop by on occasion. So really I'm not just writing for myself... I'm writing for a select group of people who are genuinely curious about what's going on in my world...
As for what's been going on? To sum it up briefly... Lots. We've had lots going on. Really, it's far too much to backtrack on now. And really let's all be honest, the past is history. I'm not going to flip through my datebook and try to rehash the most noteworthy events of the past 6 months and try to fill in the gaps. Nobody enjoys that. My writing previously has been pretty spontaneous, and I'd like for it to continue that way. I will say though that I've been happy... I've been content... And most importantly, we've all been healthy. I'm an incredibly busy Mom to five incredibly adorable, intelligent, nearly perfect (in my opinion) children... I am going to do my best to hold myself accountable for this blog again. It's important to me, and I know that it's important to some of you as well...

This Baby? Happy!

Thanks to the great folks over at Team Mom, my Kids and I were given two new books to read. Never being one to turn down a good book, especially a new one... Who can turn away that new book smell? We jumped at the opportunity!
Leslie Patricelli, is the creator of seven board books starring the adorable bald baby. We had the pleasure of meeting this adorable bald baby, up close and personal in one of Ms. Patricelli's books named Baby Happy, Baby Sad. In this adorably sturdy board book, our bald baby tells his tale of what makes him happy and sad... Losing his balloon, squeezing his cat, being sick, seeing his Daddy! All of these things make baby happy and sad...
We were thrilled with this book because of it's fun illustrations, as well as the easy to read format. With a new reader in the house, it was great for us to see Evan associate the word to the picture... Even occasionally making the baby cry and sound sad.
Leslie didn't stop here with Baby Happy, Baby Sad... She is also the author of 7 other board books, and 2 delightful picture books. Ms. Patricellli has an awesome knack for illustrating her books just perfectly, enabling little minds to be silly, and really to just let imaginations run wild...

Thrifty Thursday III

I'm just wondering, when was the last time you took some time out for yourself. I don't mean sneaking off to the bathroom with a book tucked under your shirt, and I seriously don't mean feigning illness just to get an extra few minutes in bed in the morning. We've all done it. All of us. In some way or another, we've all neglected ourselves as Mom's.
One of the cooler things about my life as a Mom is my Husband's ability to recognize when I need a break. It may have been after a particularly stressful week, or perhaps after a long week of appointments and meetings, where my brain is tired. Just like I appreciate how hard he works for our family, he too appreciates how hard I work for our family. In order to get a break, I used to just sneak out of the house when Jon got home. I would go shopping and take some time for myself.  I never felt relaxed though when I came home, and felt probably more tired than I did when I left!
About a month ago, Jon was reading our local newspaper, when he came across an ad for a local Wellness Center and Day Spa. The ad said that they could do a full one hour massage for just $45!! Don't you know, Jon was on the phone that night calling to get an appointment for me? Sweet, I know. I was floored, and beyond excited. A massage? $45? I couldn't be, we knew full well that a hour massage was at least $60 if not $80. It must be a misprint. It had to be.
Jon and I are massage afficionados... We have had massages all over the world! On every vacation we go on, our first plan typically, is what type of massage we will have, and when we'll have it. It's certainly something to look forward to. Needless to say, for $45 I wasn't holding my breath on this being the BEST massage in the world, however I figured even if it meant me laying quietly in a room for an hour while someone rubbed my feet? How bad could it really be? Let's be honest with ourselves. $45 is a great deal...
When I arrived at New Leaf, a mere 10 minute drive from my home, I was pleasantly surprised by the professional staff, and the warm atmosphere. This was certainly not "the home of the $45 massage". This was an environment of relaxation... I was so happy to be there, and immediately at ease. I met my therapist Candra and she went over the paperwork I had been given to fill out. She was incredibly thorough and so pleasant... Meeting Candra though was a bit of a shock though. This little girl may weigh, I'm guessing, 90lbs soaking wet. Absolutely adorable, but teeny. Noelle could've given her a run for her money! I explained exactly what I was looking for in my massage. An hour later, when my massage was over... I was in absolute bliss. I never could have imagined that such a tiny person could have so much strength in her hands... She worked out knots that I didn't know that I had, but did it in such a way that was immensely relaxing and soothing and not at all painful. I immediately made an appointment for Jon to come in, especially since the cost was merely $45. He too was in awe of her technique. He said that he never thought she would be able to work out the muscles deep enough for him, but much to his surprise, she did a phenomenal job. We both commented that Candra's massage was topping our list of the top 5 massages that we've ever had. EVER. Right here in Winchester... How is that even possible??
I've made sure to continue to see Candra not because my muscles are all bound up, but because I feel like I deserve an hour to myself every few weeks. I love to have the time to myself, and to really relax. This week I even brought in my own CD to listen to... That was incredibly enjoyable.
New Leaf doesn't just offer massage, they are a full service wellness center. They offer steam treatments, body wraps, ear candling, hot stone massage, customized weight loss programs, and Reiki. The owner, Kelly Peacock is a Reiki Master and has been successfully practicing since 1999. Those of you not familiar with Reiki can find more information here.
Kelly handles all of the wellness aspects of the center.  There are many people that come to visit the center simply for weight loss counselling. New Leaf follows the same guidlelines as the AHDA, so it's not something that we've all never heard of. Kelly is someone to help guide you through your weight loss journey, understanding also that it's not always about weight loss. That it may be more about improving your life, and bettering your future.
Long story short, I'm no longer feeling the pressuree to decompress while trying to grocery shop, or making up fictitious stories about why my belly is so bloated (meanwhile it's actually a stack of magazines under my shirt...)
I'm just going to take my husbands advice and get a massage... It's something to look forward to, and it's really nice to see it on the calendar a few days away. Because if you're anything like me, it's always nice to have something to look forward to!