The Origin of inner-sanctum nicknames

Somehow each of our children has evoked some term of affection that sticks for a rather short duration. These are names we use only in the intimacy of our family unit, and rarely outside the home. The evolution is simplistic. They occur without any special thought or effort on our part. Jack was "Jack-a-roni" which strangely turned into "Jack-a-rone-stone" (?). Spencer was "Spency-wence" Not original, I know. Accordingly, it didn't last for long. Ethan is "E-man". The adult in a child's body, with a child's impulse control, is as applicable today as when he was 4 months old. Strangely, Olivia and Susannah both share "Deucey-do". The origin of that one is in large part due to them being feminine.

You see, their father turns to absolute mush for any babies, but when he had girl babies, he just lost all sense of, well, sense. He would pick them up and start baby-talking and saying, "You're so cutesy, woosie, deucey". Frequently for expediency, it would be shortened to "Deucey-doo!" as he would pick them up and twirl them around, which later evolved into "the Deuce". "Where's my deucey-doo?! " or "Hey! Deucy-doo!". Strange, babbling, baby talk, but it works for us, and it has stuck.

So when Reed came around, being masculine in nature, he did not qualify as a "Deucey-doo". He did however, quickly become "Reedy-boo". (Or, if you're Susannah, "Weedy-boo")

But this week, Reedy-boo evolved into:

Reedy-Boo-Boo

We hope to drop the second "boo" in about 3 weeks.

(This child is a sweet one I tell you!)

What you Dream if you have 4 sleep deprived nights and then decide you need to go to an hour long Zumba class.

Your dream starts off with really, really craving Frosted Sugar Cookies. In part because after looking at the Zumba instructor and several other attendees, you realize that if you want to fit in here, you need to stop eating them, and you figure you'd better go get some while your metabolism is recently kicked up.

You then decide that as long as you're at the famous Carlo's Bakery (you did know that's where you were, right?) that you need to sample a few of those luscious cakes. So you pick out a few to take home.

Then you realize you can't possibly carry them all on your own to your car, so you ask the friendly employee for help. You are beginning to get nervous about how your husband is going to look at you as you walk in with all these cakes, and try to start thinking of a logical explanation. In a nano-second you realize there isn't one, and you decide to put that out of your mind for now. Must. Get. Cake.s.

She walks with you to a separate building where the cakes are actually made, and you start passing by all the bakers as they are leaving for the day.

"Wow!" you think. "That was FRANKIE!"

But then, be still my heart, headed the same direction you are, is none other than the host of Cake Boss, (steel yourself)

RYAN SEACREST*

But you are cool, collected. You brush with celebrities every day. "Hi, Ryan!" you casually remark as you descend the stairs alongside him. Ah, yes. "He must be impressed with how easy-going I am. Not one of those awkward gawkers." But finally, as you are about to part ways in a hall, you figure, "I really ought to take a picture. To show the kids." So in your coolest mom voice you say, "Would you mind if we took a picture?"

He graciously consents.

As you hand your cell phone to the nice girl helping you, you become suddenly self-conscious of exactly how outdated your phone actually is.

Then Ryan Seacrest puts his arm around you, and you can't help but notice that he is holding you especially close, and especially tight. You are about to say something about your husband, lest he begin thinking the two of you might have a future, when your 6 year old daughter wakes you up.

You know, the 6 year old daughter who had to come home from school after throwing up, even though you insisted her tummy didn't really hurt this morning? It couldn't after all.

You needed to go to Zumba.

*I swear on my love of Sugar Cookies I do not have any actual attraction to Ryan Seacrest.

But if I was 14 I might.

If you give a Reed a cupcake....

He'll want some Daddy to go with it...

A boy after my own heart.

Sometimes I completely impress myself.

And then I have a normal day.

Like one where at least 1 of my children has kept me from sleeping through the night, or I have to leave the house. Or someone is sick. Or it's not a full moon. You get the idea.

But sometimes, I do a really great job. And then I feel great about myself. And then I think how much better I must be than somebody else. So the Lord grants me a normal day again.

And I get over it.

Until I pray desperately for some sense of relief, or the ability to do more than it seems I think I possibly can, and I manage to pull off something pretty awesome again.

Obviously, today was more along the lines of normal. But that's ok. I'm due for an impressive day within a week or so. So when I post about it, don't be intimidated. (In case that's an issue for you)

Dappled Apples!

For the first time since we moved to MN, we managed to get to the apple orchard!

I looooove going to pick apples. It just feels so "Fall-y". Not to mention, the apples make the BEST apple pie filling, which I make and freeze for later. I am very, very picky about my apple pie. If I'm going to blow 600 calories on a slice, it had better be up to snuff. So I make my own.

I would can my pie filling if I knew how. I keep hearing it's easy, but I can never bring myself to invest in the equipment to do it. The apple orchard manages to get a larger chunk of my cash than I always plan for to blow any more money on jars. Besides, if our power goes out here in the winter, I can stick it in the back yard to keep. Assuming it makes it past Christmas anyway.

So here are a few pics of our adventure! It even amazes me to see how big my own kids are getting, scary!

Even with the shadow, he looks cute!

Something about "Monkey's swingin' from a tree..." comes to mind...

I'm wondering if my lips have always looked crooked when I smile?

The biggest apples were up really high, so Jack had to help. I think this may be the last year he gets on his Dad's shoulders!
Olivia was happy to help as well.
Reed was just chillin'

What?! I have a blog?

Since my last blog post:

I have turned one year older

My oldest child became taller than me

Reed sprouted 2 teeth (a nighttime bonding ritual I can't imagine missing someday)

Susannah became hyper (usually cute, but not when she screams "for fun")

I crawled across the end-0f-summer finish line and sent 4 of them back to school, most notably, on a bus. yipee!

I also realized:

I'm getting better with age

even if my thighs aren't.

Being crafty is not now, and never will be, part of my soul.

And the metaphor I've been saving for weeks is:

Having 6 children makes you feel like the ball in an old-fashioned pin ball machine. You know, where you are constantly pinging around the board with lights, and bells, and chaos until you sink down the hole. Then 2 seconds later you get shot out of the start position to do it all again.

But its fun, even if it is crazy.

My day was really off to a fine start until...

the nice older gentlemen holding the door open for me remarked how spoiled my baby is to be carried around "like that".

Pleasant enough conversation until he said, "Who's doing the spoiling, mom...(obviously waffling)...er, grandma?"

Lucky for him I was wearing sunglasses, or my evil, laser glare, the one that makes my husband pee his pants (almost), would have melted him on the spot.

I then went home and burned the faded denim capris that I'd been wearing that I have long suspected made me look older than I am. I also think I need to buy some wedge sandals instead of my comfy and ever so practical cushioned flats. Stat.

The longer I let this one marinate, the worse it gets.