The Great FB Migration: March 2012

March 1 ~ Another day, another house showing. Prayers today, please!

March 1 ~ We put in an application on the house: right size, right location, right price, GREAT landlord. Please pray that this is the house meant just for us. We should have an answer with a day or two.

March 2 ~ After three attempts to put Abigail back in bed last night, I gave up and let her stay. I ended up building a pillow blockade to keep her wiggly highness away from me. I have never seen a kid so fidgety!

How Shelby must be feeling these days . . .

March 2 ~ Still no news on the house: pray, pray, pray!!!

March 3 ~ We have a house! God is so good!!

Elyas while we pack around him.

March 5 ~ 

Baby Niner!

March 6 ~ True Story from 5:45 am --

"Mommy, can I have a bowl of grapes and pizza while playing the iPad?"
"Elyas, who let you out of your cozy tent?"
"I'm not supposed to tell you. I'm just here for grapes and pizza. And the iPad."

~comments~

Heather Martin: Nice thing about big families: there's always another kid to blame stuff on. PS. In your copious *spare* time, PLEASE write a book! I promise you: BEST SELLER! 

mom: And the culprit is . . . TUCKER!!!!

Debbie Cali: Hahahahahaaa! Cracking up here! Thanks for the laugh.

Clay Carr: his is a wonderful story. Remember to tell it to their children when they come to visit Grandma and PAW PAW. It will really be funny then.

March 6 ~ I just handed Elyas some tights which were still damp from being balled up through the wash and asked him to please set them in the dryer. Little Brain Boy took the tights, placed them into the dryer, closed the door, and proceeded to turn it on!!

New Elyas trick? Diaper mooning.

I just heard from our new landlord and the new carpet is being installed Friday! NEW CARPET! No, it's not the hardwood we'll have when we buy, but it's also not the original carpet from 1970 that we had here!!! The blessings just keep coming!!!!

March 7 ~ What exactly is the purpose of having the gas pump auto shut off at $75 when I have another $48.35 worth of gas to put in? If the goal is to emphasize that the price of gas is so high i have to swipe my debit twice, mission accomplished.

Elyas made it only 5 minutes into the movie.
Poor sleepy head.

March 8 ~ Enjoyed a delightful morning with our Isabelle. She now has plenty of shoes, clothes for her piano festival, and can finally say she's eaten at Red Robin!

Summed up beautifully.

March 9 ~ Rough night in Castle Rutherford. The boys multiple post 11pm nights have finally caught up with all of us. Mean mom made quite the appearance and now everyone is in bed: the Littles because that's where they need to be and the OARs because they want the extra quiet & rest. I'm going to bed to read.

March 8: Isabelle reading to Elyas

March 10 ~ Good morning!! Rutherford boys slept ALL NIGHT from 7:25 until just moments ago. And they each greeted me with a smile and a cheerful hello. Mean Mom should have a super cape.

Home

March 17 ~ Moving madness!!! We're 72 hours into all the craziness . . .

Isabelle & Tucker after performing at the RMTA 2012 Honor's Recital

Elyas at the recital

Abigail attempting to eat her yogurt pop at the table, just as she's been taught.

Elyas just can't keep up.

What 3 days worth of unattended clean laundry becomes.

After we tamed the mountain.

March 20 ~ Some family snaps.

March 21 ~ Elyas new favorite song: The Main Title Theme from Jaws. Weirdie.

March 23 ~ Elyas just came in and announced: "I'm hungry for cow."

March 27 ~ I'm tired of moving. And cleaning. And shuffling. And remembering where new places for things are. Whine over. Go back to your regularly scheduled cheerful posts.

There is nothing quite like laying quietly in bed and feeling the little flutter kicks from within.

March 29 ~ Day 4 of Rutherford Boot Camp. Manners and personal responsibility on the uptick!!

March 31 ~ Rutherford Boot Camp Update: 4 OARs cheerfully working on a make-up school day, Littles playing contentedly, no arguments, no TV automatically turned on, kind words abounding. 

Looking forward to week two!!

The Great FB Migration, February 2012

Feb. 1 ~  Nothing confirms tired like scrubbing your face & then reaching for your toner but grabbing the mouthwash instead, yet not realizing it until you're almost finished swiping your face while trying to figure out why everything is smells so minty. Do over.

Feb. 3 ~ Self: "Hey gang -- why don't we put on Phineas and Ferb?"

Gang: "Nah. We'd rather play quiet games together. Thanks mom."

Weird, yet nice.

Feb. 6 ~ 120 minute round trip drive for a 60 minute visit?? Absolutely worth it. Love those Brannons!!

Feb. 7 ~ 

My sons. Sigh.
(No worries, it's just clay)

Nikki Vilano ~ Do I DARE ask what this is....

Traci Morkassel ~ ????

Holly Conrad ~ Sometimes it stinks, literally, being a boy mom!

Linda Wood ~ Well, it's not those chocolate kisses you get for Valentine's Day!

Brooke Leah ~ OMG..... Please tell me that is dog or cat poop?? PLEASE!!!!

mom ~ It's clay. The deal was I could take the picture as long as I didn't disclose their gross, disgusting, & bizarre sense of humor until later. See, your reactions PROVE my reaction was normal!!

Christine Bassinger ~ I am so thankful you posted what it really is! I got on FB at midnight just to find out! I'm not kidding!

Linda Wood ~ Some little kids think out of the box...Smart!

Cindi Herzig ~  That is SUCH boy thing!!! And killing them just isn't allowed!

Feb. 7 ~ 

My favorite Good Morning.

Feb. 9 ~ You know what I would love to see happen? I would really like to stop seeing social programs with the word "FREE" in front of them. Instead, I would prefer to see something to the effect of: "Provided free of charge to you by someone else's generosity." There is no FREE.

Feb. 12 ~ Discovered another big family joy: a full on bounce the ball on a parachute game and we only had our family around to do it! Lots of laughing over here!

Feb. 12 ~ 

So THIS is what happens when a down pillow explodes in the dryer.
Cross that off my list of questions.

Feb. 14 ~ Our kids came across "Fellowship of the Ring" on tv and started watching. After a few minutes, the confusion set in. 

kids: "Where'd that scene go? They cut too early! What's going on??"

self: "Guys, remember we watch the extended because it's closer to the book."

kids: "This is a waste of tv time! Somebody get the DVD out!"

My little movie nerds. I'm so proud.

Feb. 17 ~ So, errands at Giant didn't go the way I envisioned at all. Two steps in the door and the garlic smell hit, causing almost instantaneous vomiting. It was like Middle School all over again.

Feb. 17 ~ So, we've packed about 30 boxes so far. Of books.

Feb. 20 ~ Introducing the olders to Jason Bourne tonight. Having older kids rocks!!!!

Feb. 20 ~ I think I finally found something that will stay down!!!!! Yippee for ice cream!!!

Feb. 21 ~ Eating my ice cream breakfast surrounded by jealous children. Mwahahaha!!!!

Feb. 21 ~ So after promising myself no more soccer again EVER, I think we're signing Tucker -- and ONLY Tucker -- up for the fall.

Feb. 22 ~ As we're driving, Elyas looks out the window and says, "Look at the sun! It's shining just for me because God made me so special."

Tucker's contented sigh from back seats; "It is so lovely to not have a booster seat. Getting big is just wonderful."

Three Cheers for Roadside Assist!

How to keep 5 boys entertained while awaiting the tow truck.

Meanwhile, Abigail was cousining with Sadie.

Feb. 22 ~ Tire patched, filled, and road ready!!! I love modern stuff.  Upon arriving home, Elyas announced: "That adventure was great!!" Be like little children indeed!

Feb. 24 ~ We find Elyas's feet peeping out from behind the door curtain. Keats walks over and says: "Whatcha' doin'?"

Elyas: "I need to hide. I'm pooping and it's really gross and I don't want to smell the air bad. Come back in a minute and I'll be finished. Then you can deal with my fanny."

Okay, okay. Even I am forced to admit the kid is ready to be potty trained.

Feb. 27 ~ As I match yet another daily batch of socks, I have one thought running through my head: I miss flip flops.

Feb. 28 ~ From Aime Langdon: Ok I think I missed the official announcement! Congratulations and I am sorry you are so sick. I know you have a houseful of amazing children to help you out through the first few months!

~comments~

mom ~ That I do. They are very cheerfully living on cereal, sandwiches, hand outs from people who feel sorry for us, and take out. Budget for this month is shot and I should probably care about that more. But, I really don't.

Aime~  Yeah for cereal, take out and people who feel sorry for us! 

mom ~ Yes -- especially for these who show their pity by bringing lovely, hot meals to my poor family!

Feb. 29 ~ Our massive running day with piano lessons, recycling drop off, weekly Goodwill donation, banking, Isabelle to babysitting, and misc. little stops in between. Countdown: 1 hour, 15 minutes. 

Perhaps, just perhaps, I should get out of bed.

Feb. 29 ~ The nicest young man came out to the van to helped unload our donation. I got into the car just in time to hear Abigail exclaim: "That dude has earrings on!" before dissolving into giggles.

Feb. 29 ~ My heart be stilled!! My darling oldest just came into the van excited about a Shakespeare quote from "As You Like It. " Life just got even better. Contented sigh.

The Great FB Migration, Jan. 16 - 31

Jan. 16 ~ Abigail. Green sweater. Red Hat Lady scarf. Pink princess sunglasses. Multiple neon hair flowers. Sparkly bracelet. Satchel. Lip gloss. (Post from Carrie Moore)

Jan. 18 ~ Dunkin. Ahhhhhhhhh.

Jan. 18 ~ Came home from having the oil changed in the van to a clean house and the sweet scent of freshly baked cookies. I adore these kids!

~ Aime Langdon: Do they train other children?

Jan. 18 ~ Pilates tonight consisted of 10 minutes of side-by-side action with Abigail, after which we paused for her to take a potty break. In the meantime, Elyas came over and curled up on top of my legs and promptly fell asleep. Muscles worked? Not many. Memories created? Oodles.

Jan 19 ~ Car cleaned (inside and out: thank you Cloister for doing the one job I hate the most), Sam's run, Echo Hill for our monthly 50lb bag of wheat berries, banking, Aldi for a case of nacho chips, then top the van off with gas. Breathe. 

Unload car and put away groceries, bake 6 loaves banana bread, oversee music theory while assembling two pans of chicken enchiladas (one for tonight, one for the freezer), vacuum kitchen and steam mop, pay bills & balance checkbook while supervising math with twins. Breathe.

Make Scott fresh coffee, leave to load back of van with wood, return to complete dinner prep, eat dinner as a family, enjoy cookies Shelby made, assign tasks (like bathing littles, finger vacuuming, scrub table, actual vacuuming), load dishwasher, clean kitchen counters & sink, read 4 picture books to mostly dry Abigail & Elyas, say evening prayers as a family, see Scott off to work. Breathe.

Brush teeth, tidy rooms, turn on vaporizers & heaters, begin audio books (Lord of the Rings & Harry Potter), many hugs & kisses goodnight, remind Shelby to start laundry after shower, complete Pilates while watching Harry Potter Ultimate Edition. Breathe.

Jan. 20 ~ Tucker during prayers: "Thank you God for my new unders. They're really cool."

Jan. 21 ~ Snow. Hello, dear friend.

Jan. 21 ~ Let me think. Which requires more physical exertion: turning off the bathroom light by flipping a switch as you walk out or carefully closing the bathroom door so mother won't see that you didn't turn off the bathroom light?

Jan. 21 ~  Just woke Scott up to go sledding. He stares at me in horror and says, "You didn't go yet??"  Um, no honey. I didn't take 8 children sledding all by my onsie. I thought that was a joy we should share.  Mwhahahaha.

Jan. 21 ~ Trying to decipher Elyas speech and we were guessing Daddy no-no? Ducky momo? Toby Romo? To the last he says with a grin, "No, that would be gross."

Jan. 25 ~ Tucker in the van today: "I don't know what it is I do not know. But I DO know that I don't know what I don't know." My little politician.

Jan. 26 ~ Watched "The Mummy" (filtered) today. Abigail walks over to Dawson and says, "The best stories have a girl in distress with a hero. You'd make a great hero, Dawson. You're mine, you know."

Jan. 26 ~  Shelby: "Hey dad, we watched The Mummy today."

Scott: "Really? I missed it! Well, how was it??"

Tucker: "It was terrifying and scary!"

Really?!? You told me it was "Cool and awesome and I want to watch it again!"

Jan. 26 ~  Here's to a night in which everyone has good dreams, no one wets the bed, coughing is non-existent, temperatures stay moderate, and therefore everyone sleeps through the night without the need to visit mommy before 6:30 tomorrow morning. It's a good dream.

Jan. 28 ~  Blech. Had to meet the landlord at the door in my robe, clutching a box of tissues with a raging fever and smile sweetly as they handed us (in violation of court order) the notice that our lease isn't being renewed. Yeah, we know. The mutual court battle last summer tipped us off. And, for what it's worth, we weren't interested in renewing!

Jan. 31 ~  

The Great FB Migration: January 1 - 15

We posted fairly regularly on FaceBook, but neglected the blog during the craziness that was 2012. And so, we'll be transferring some of our greatest hits over in order to preserve a semblance of our year.

Jan. 3 ~ Normal life resumes. Sigh

~ Uncle Scott: BOOOOOOOO!!!!
~ Laurie Shirey: Since when are our lives normal? 2.3 kids, 3 cars, 4 tvs? I think not!

Jan. 4 ~  Completely enjoying my time with my other mother.

Jan. 4 ~ True Story.

Self: "You may have 5 marshmallows in your cocoa."

Keats's grumble: "Marshmallow czar."

~ Matt Smith: Miniature of full-sized?
~ self: Mini. 3rd mug full!
~ Uncle Scott: Worst mom ever!
~ Matt Smith: Then I'm with Keats on this one. Nothing less than 15 mini marshmallows is acceptable. 20 is better.
~ self: Men. It's all just one, big boy's club.
~ Michael Frank: I mean come on. It's a no brainer. The kid's right, mom.

Jan. 4 ~ Today's goals for a jammie day were thwarted. I shall arise again only to try again tomorrow. I will triumph!!!

Jan. 5 ~ Jammie day here I come! After I drag myself out of bed, that is . . .

Jan. 5 ~ Another jammie day thwarted. Geesh. I am promptly changing back into my flannel pants and slippers when I get home!!!

Jan. 5 ~ Query.

I state: "Please pick up each & every toy, book, blanket. trash, food item, diaper, and weapon before you begin a movie."

They hear: "Please shift some items around and then ignore it completely while simultaneously letting me know you have accomplished the task required."

Where do I locate the translation button in order to change it back to "Mother is wise. Listen carefully to all she says and carefully complete tasks in order to ensure preservation of life within Rutherford-dom."

~ Kathy Pezok: That translation button usually doesn't reveal itself until the kids are old enough to have kids of their own. Then it is suddenly flipped and works retro-actively. Whether or not they admit the switch was flipped in a whole other topic.
~ Tara Maniaci Lueck: When you find it.....please let me know!

Jan. 5 ~ Dad being sworn in as Exeter Township Auditor.

Jan. 5 ~ Keats sans one front tooth.

Jan. 5 ~ I think that when we move this spring, we're going to be shocked at the sheer volume of Legos discovered everywhere. Then again, after what we pulled out from under the boy's bunk tonight, maybe 3-4 gallons worth is just to be expected.

Jan. 6 ~ Dinner at the Rutherford house. My baby boy!

Jan. 7 ~ When did sleep become an optional activity?

~ Peter Shore: When you had children?
~ Uncle Eric: I'd say somewhere between child 4 and 5 .....

Jan. 7 ~ Hmmm. Methinks that if you completed the task correctly the first time rather than trying to save time, you would have succeeded in actually saving time because now you must go repeat said task.  The power of motherhood.

~ Cathy Kaiser: LOL ..... Seems like I remember your mother saying something just like this!!!

Jan. 7 ~ Clean house, clean house, la-la-la, la-la-la!

Jan. 8 ~ Home with my Tucker enjoying "Braveheart" (filtered.) Many a great conversation about what it is to be a man.

Jan. 8 ~ Self: "In England, a jumper is a sweater."

Tuck: "Harry Potter's British!?"

Self: "Um, yeah. Didn't you notice their accents?"

Tuck: "I thought the just talked like that because that's how you read the books. Mom, you are American, right?"

Jan. 8 ~ Exhausted from a week of caring for sick children finds me sitting by the fire, enjoying my iPhone, and in general pretending I have no responsibilities. Thank you, Scott Rutherford!

Jan. 8 ~ True story:

Abigail: "Now hold still so I can kick you."

Dawson: Do I look crazy??"

Abigail: "No. You look like a boy. So you have to stand still so I can kick you because I'm a girl and you're a gentleman. Gentlemen never hurt girls. Daddy says so."

~ Aunt Miranda: Sounds so much like Caelan... Only she doesn't ask the other person to hold still.

Jan. 8 ~ Watching a close football game on the new Christmas tv and realizing that not once did a Little Rutherford head get in your way? Priceless.

Jan. 8 ~ Laundry Time.

Jan. 9 ~ Tucker: "I prayed to the Lord that I would win the mario race and I did. I must be His favorite."

~ Aime Langdon: I need this kid praying for me!

Jan. 9 ~ Dumbest game ever.

One Little Rutherford lays prone upon the floor.

The other Little Rutherfords take turns leaping off the bench and belly-flop-crushing the Little Rutherford on the ground.

Tears and sobs of "That hurt!" follow with regularity. Yet, the game continues with assurances of "Just try again!" and "My turn to be crunched."

Dumbest game ever.

Jan. 9 ~ Curled up on the rocking chair with the iPad watching a 37, 15, 13, 11, & 8 year-olds have a massive pillow fight.  I've never been so grateful to have a cold.

Jan. 9 ~ Scott: "Tucker, do you need a break?"

Tucker: (breathing heavy) "No. I like to beat people up and not get in trouble."

Duh, dad. Pillow Fight Battle 101.

~ Matt Smith: That's one witty kid you've got there.

Jan. 10 ~ Day three of this miserableness. So thankful we homeschool. So thankful our kids have learned to cheerfully live, serve, learn, & play together. So thankful that we have established a home routine which can be kept up with easily.

~ Pamela Penglase Carnevale: Btw, you wouldn't notice if I sent my 2 kids to learn to "cheerfully live, serve, learn, & play together." Right?
~ self: I'm not sure I would notice, but I'll bet they would! We're pretty weird.
~ Pam: We are pretty strange here too! I might try to threaten them with the Rutherford boarding school. My teenage daughter wouldn't like it but my 10 year old boy would love it (built in playmates.)

Jan. 10 ~ Abigail's First Haircut

~ self: Not first, second. Duh.

Jan. 10 ~ Light snore = out. Finally.

Jan. 11 ~ Isn't it lovely to have friends and family arrive to serve when you feel lousy? Thanks mom, Dawson, & Tucker for making our weekly milk run!!

~ Jenna Weis: I know some friends like that ...

Jan. 11 ~ Three crockpots going in the kitchen: one with breakfast, one with lunch, and one with two organic roasters which will be shredded and the bones steeped into broth. Even I have to admit it looks ridiculous.

Jan. 12 ~ Day 3 of continuous Lord of the Rings. Elyas appeared at my bedside this morning asking, "Can you put on Lord if the Rings, please." The youngers are finally indoctrinated. I'm sighing a job-well-done sigh.

Jan. 12 ~ Keats, Aidan, & Abigail are playing Salvation Army Santa. They each have baskets, bells, & Santa hats. They chime their bells while reciting "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and when the poem is done they cry, "Alms for the poor!"

Jan. 12 ~ My "sparkly" niece, Sadie

We're back .....

Be prepared! Impending posts upon the horizon. Full disclosure ahead.

moving madness

Yes, yes. Blogging has completely fallen by the wayside. We've been busy finding a new home, packing up the old, and settling in again.

We're not finished. It's been 19 days in this house and we are not finished unpacking. Yes, yes -- tis to be expected. This is the comforting explanation which I hear often. And to that I reply,

ppppppllllllffffffffffftttttt

I have never minded moving but I really, really like to get everything done quickly and efficiently. 19 days and still having boxes in the house is neither quick nor efficient in my world. Nor is it inviting or cozy to still have boxes about.

Now, in all honesty, our bedroom is the place where boxes go to await their disemboweling. We don't have boxes just stacked about downstairs. There is no way I could accept that notion as being par for the course.

I'm worn out. Between packing, cleaning, unpacking, cleaning, arranging, laundry, shifting, schooling, cooking, cleaning, training, encouraging, cleaning, baby growing, and still unpacking . . . I'm worn out.

But within the throes of it all, I want to remember to be grateful.

I want to remember how hard the final 12 months in our old home were. How difficult our situation became, how trapped we felt, how hard it was to decide to accept our situation with grace and patience and act accordingly.

I want to remember the trust we felt that God had the perfect home lined up. That as we looked at homes which would require so much compromise and turned them down because we believed there was better, it wasn't foolishness which drove the decision, but faith. The sheer joy which engulfed us upon learning we had been approved for the perfect home in the perfect location at the perfect price with the perfect timeline.

It has always been our goal to remember the sacrifices which came before. Whether it is reading about the choices of John & Abigail Adams which tremendously provided for the life we're able to live today or the letters from Scott's grandfather to his grandmother from Europe in the early 1940s as she kept the home fires burning and he fought tyranny or simply recalling managing to accomplish our laundry requirements in the basement of a third floor walk-up with three young children. We know that contentment in our current situation is much simpler to come by (and greatly enhanced by) remembering what was.

And so, I'm weary. But I am extremely grateful, content, and humbled by His continued blessings.

tech-nostalgia

Today is my mother's 63rd birthday. It still boggles my mind that she's in her 60's. I think that in my mind, my mother will be forever in her 40's.

I remember watching the gentle, quiet grace with which she accomplished every task. I remember her quiet voice in the mornings, her cheerful greeting in the afternoons once school was complete. Her joyful laughter running for home base while playing Dubach Family Hide & Seek late at night.

I remember her face glowing with sweat as she made three meals a day for over 200 people at Camp Manatawny before the kitchen had air conditioning. I remember walking past bulletin boards at the church building and recognizing my mother's handwriting. I remember the mountain of food she prepared and the piles of china she washed the Thanksgiving we learned the enlisted men on duty wouldn't have a Thanksgiving Dinner and my mother said, "That just won't do."

I remember camping in the woods, on the beach, and at lakes in the most 1970s camper imaginable. I remember Hamburger Helper cooking on the road, mom swaying to the rhythm of the camper's driving in order to make certain that when we pulled up to the gulf, we could hit the beach immediately. I remember long walks scouring the beach for shells by day and ghost crabs by night. And Thanksgiving around a card table at the back of camper while piping Christmas Carols out the PA system for the other campers.

I remember her patiently waiting in the car when band practice went late. Getting up early the next morning to make us breakfast and pack us lunch. I remember her driving us to the school by 8 am for football games Saturday morning. Then cheering us from the stands for competitions while huddled in blankets from the Pennsylvania wind. I remember the smiles and warm hugs at midnight that same Saturday when it was finally time to go home.

I remember games and laughter and stories and books and movies and getting sucked into yet another of mom's documentaries. Change for snacks at the pool, a refrigerator full of snacks in the basement, and making pies and pizzas in the cast-iron molds in the fireplace.

I remember watching mom spend time with her sisters and seeing her giggle, acheive cartwheels, and love on nieces and nephews with abandon.

Mom, I know it's your birthday. But thanks for the amazing gift of you.