Here we go to Boston....

We are out of school over Thursday and Friday this week, and have decided to take a quick trip to Boston. So far we've gone to the pool, (except Siobhan and I, as we forgot her diapers). Then we went out to dinner with my dad and Al's mom and aunt. Then, we also went to Target. Oh yes, for a Vermont girl, going to Target is essential. However, we went there at 8:00 PM, [oh yes, again, I am THAT MOM] so we only lasted about 30 minutes. It was akin to torture. But, we did get the diapers for the pool. The doors of the hotel are automatic, and Aisling referred to them as 'magical'. Today we are off to the aquarium. I'll keep you posted!

It's not a mouse!

Recently Al thought he heard a cat stuck in our pantry. After investigating, he discovered that Wyatt (whose room is right next to the pantry) was awake, and assumed that's who was making the noise. The next morning, while making lunches, Al discovered some, eh, proof that a cat had been in the pantry. He cleaned it up and we all went to work.

That afternoon, I went in the pantry to get snacks, and discovered that all the proof was not cleaned up. After silently cursing Al for a moment I began cleaning it up. I realized there was lots and lots of it....

I was having to pick things up and move things, because this proof was even under things. As I picked up a box of some insignificant product, there curled in a little ball beneath it was......

"NOT A MOUSE NOT A MOUSE NOT A MOUSE" Was what I could spit out. It actually was:
That, ladies and gentlemen, is a POSSUM!!!! In my pantry, with my food!
Only, when I saw it, it looked like this:
I truly am shocked that you didn't hear my screams.

We called a few pest companies who, for some odd reason, did't think our little friend was an emergency! Needless to say, I was not about to sit down to dinner just a few feet away from this guy, so we went out to eat. The kids did their best impressions of a possum:(Clearly Siobhan's is the best)

Our possum removal guy came the next day. He theorized that perhaps the cat brought in the possum. (I love my cats, I love my cats.... must remember). Another pleasant surprise was that the possum was actually injured. Yeah, yeah, poor possum.... but check out my pantry... (Be warned.... it's gross)

The whole pantry looked like that. A fried of ours said it looked like CSI.

Needless to, I got a brand spankin new pantry out of the deal. It is *sweet*. I almost with I could sleep there. Although, I said that about the new mudroom too, and now it pretty much looks like the rest of our house.... a huge mess of crap lived in.

I've wanted a new pantry for years, so I guess it wasn't all bad....

It ain't easy being green

Connor today gave me his explanation for why grass and trees are green.

"I know why the grass is green. Because leprechauns go there. Sometimes the grass is brown because leprechauns don't go there. Also the trees are green because leprechauns climb up them and stay up them. Then when the leaves change colors it means that the leprechauns have left their magic powers for a little while."

I don't think I am going to teach him about photosynthesis like, ever. His explanation is waaaay more fun!

He had his soccer jamboree today, and while the entire soccer season was full of warm beautiful days, today's marathon soccer event was held in freezing temperatures with scattered rain. That figures. But, on a good note, no more blood was shed.

less than perfect

Raising four children is turning out to be much more difficult than it appears.

I now have received an overdue fine from both the town library as well as the school library; I completely forgot about a hair cut I had scheduled, and didn't even show up. I am now living with ridiculous hair in need desperate of a hair cut because I am too embarrassed to call back. I did the same thing to my dentist not one, but two times, and got a little nasty gram from them asking me to either step up or go elsewhere; (I am therefore living with a chipped tooth in need of a crown, because I don't want to call them back either. I also don't want to admit that I actually need a crown for crying out loud). I've shown up late to work basically every day since I've been back, and I've developed a lovely little addiction to caffeine. We haven't done groceries in about two months, and the evening dinner routine consists of cell phone conversations of "Honey I'm the frozen food section. What do you want for dinner, and do we need anything else?" That makes for extremely unhealthy eating. Hence, I haven't attended weight watchers in a while, and shudder to think what the scale may say. Then there are the other days when I actually forget to eat, those are fun too. I basically pay my bills only when they send out those friendly reminders that say "Do you want your electricity? PAY UP". I have not, at this point, lost any children, but I am sure it's only a matter of time. I also have never left the house in slippers or anything like that, but stay tuned.

We went for our annual apple picking trip last weekend, and, as usual, had a blast. When I get pictures back I will share them.
Although here's one good one of Aisling:We did take the annual apple picking trip picture with all the kids.Here's one (not so great) picture:

Here's what it took to get that picture:


Also, what do you do when the baby cries? Share your Pokemon cards of course.We've started giving Siobhan cereal with dinner. I really, really wanted to wait until she was six months old. (She's four months and three weeks). However, this baby is truly a Frugoli baby! She's been eying us eating our food for about three weeks now, and last week started fussing and crying when we wouldn't share with her. apparently, she's been doing the same thing at day care, and tomorrow will start getting cereal at lunch as well. For what it's worth, Connor also started food at four months, only his first food was black beans while at the Hard Rock Cafe in Miami. It's the only thing that would console him!

Things I've said today

"Aisling, stop licking the car!"


Wow. That actually needs to be said out loud? Seriously? Who'd have thought.

Here's glue in your eye

We had our first experience with Dermabond last week. It's pretty fascinating stuff, and does a great job holding together the eyebrow of a certain six year old. Oh yes, while we've surprisingly escaped both stitches and broken bones over the past six years, we are now the proud owners of one scarred up eyebrow.

Connor had a soccer game last Wednesday. Within the last five minutes of the game, he came running across the field, hand over his eye, blood seeping through his fingers. At my last recollection, he had not been playing soccer, and I wondered what the heck he could have been doing on the sidelines. (With Connor, it could have been anything). Once we were able to get him to speak, we found out one of his teammates threw a water bottle at him. Apparently, it was a fierce bottle, with some sort of ice contraption in the top. At any rate, it left a sizable blue egg on Connor's forehead, as well as a long and fairly deep cut through his eyebrow. Of course, all the moms on the sidelines jumped to action and we were handed packages of baby wipes, various bandaides, tissues, and all sorts of blood absorbing products. Finally we tracked down a first aide kit and found some butterflies. A teammates mom put two butterflies over the wound, and off we went to the walk in clinic.

While on the way we talked about options, and Connor asked if he would get to choose. Poor kid didn't want any stitches! Thankfully, we did not need them. They did a great job at the clinic. We did have to wait quite a while, which is no fun with an exhausted kid and a baby, but that's life at the clinic.

Anyway, I would love to know what people were thinking of me while I was out buying my newly glued together kid Suzie Q's and Chocolate milk at 10:30 PM on a school night! Incidentally, although I offered him a day off the next day, he wanted to go into school to show the kids his new "battle scar" (his words!)

We'll add pictures at some point.... when I can actually get him to stop moving.

Cats, guniea pigs, and other musings

The cat presented us with a great science lesson tonight. "Hey kids, come watch the cat dissect a chipmunk". Were the kids grossed out? Oh heavens no. They thought it was cool. I tried to tell them that we too were having chipmunk for dinner, but they didn't believe me.

Siobhan had her four month appointment today. She weighed in at a hefty 13 pounds 9 ounces. She was 24 inches long. When Connor was four months he weighed 17 pounds 3 ounces, and he was 26 1/2 inches long. He was also pretty much eating entire steak dinners. When Aisling was 4 months she weighed 14 pounds 12 ounces, and was 25 and 3/4 inches long. Siobhan is the runt of our little litter! Siobhan also had her shots today, poor baby, and is sleeping upstairs.

Connor had his first grade open house tonight. Al went with him and Aisling. What was Connor most excited to show them? You guessed it, Zack's new cage.

Here's a quick trip to the Heather soapbox. There's a new movie out called "Tropic Thunder". I don't know a heck of a lot about it, but I do know that within the movie there are scenes that perpetuate stereotypes of persons with intellectual disabilities. Disability awareness groups all over the country have launched protests and what not. I just wanted to share with you a video that was made in response to this movie. It's a great video, and worth sharing with everyone you know. It speaks to the very heart of why I do what I do on a daily basis.

http://www.blueberryshoes.com./psa/index.html


How can you not love that face?!