A Little Bit of Growing...and Changing

Yesterday after picking Alexys and Addy up from school, I was quickly informed that Lexy's class had embarked on their "health" unit.  The topic of growing and changing has been on Lexys mind since she first started fifth grade back in August, as I'm sure it was for many other like minded fifth graders.  As we are waiting for Apryl, Alexys was telling me ALL about what she and her classmates learned that afternoon.  Most of which she was slightly embarrassed to talk at length about so I kept my inquiry short for her sake.  I did keep telling her that everything she is learning is very normal and happens to everyone at some point in their lives.  Today however, I was thinking about my run-of-the-mill answers and or replies, and though maybe I owe her a little more than, "it's normal", "we all go through it.".  I guess it comes down to how much she really wants to talk about this so called "sensitive" subject.  Our oldest girls know they can come to their dad and me about anything, but some things are much harder to talk about.  Apryl has always been more open to the idea of sharing her thoughts and opinions on every subject, Alexys on the other hand is more reserved--for the first time EVER!!  I don't have any issues talking with her about sex and how babies are made, but for her, just the thought of her mother saying the word sex makes her cringe!  She was somewhat appalled that yesterdays class started off with another child asking what breasts were.  I thought to myself, just wait until later, the questions get better, or worse depending on how you look at things!  Final note~~good luck to fifth grade teachers everywhere who are going through this unit right now! 

Patience Test

pa·tience

/ˈpāSHəns/Noun

The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.





Synonyms

forbearance - endurance - sufferance - solitaire



This definition pretty much sums it all up!  Looking at those five wonderfully bright, energetic, wholesome faces, one would never suspect they could warrant someone (mostly their mother) to want to pull out their hair!  There is absolutely NO spot in this house that is safe from a child finding me!  They have even discovered how to unlock a bathroom door!  Now, the locked door no longer means "stay out", it is a challenge of all challenges.  "I know she has to be in there doing something spectacular, why else would she want to keep everyone out??"...I imagine to be the context of their thought process after they try the door handle several times only to be rebuffed!  After numerous kicks, punches and objects thrown at the door have failed to open it, I can usually count on a barrage of questions.  "Mom, can I come in?", is the standard lead off, followed by, "why can't I come in?".  I will get a fair amount of pleading with little fingers plunged under the door jam trying their hardest to wave at me!  There are times that I am actually not doing anything but trying to get a moments peace! YES, in the da#n bathroom!  I have nowhere to hide, they have taken over!  :) Trouble really starts when they realize I have gone in there to make a phone call.  "Who are you talking to?", "I wanna say hi to grandma!!".  No one in their right mind wants to talk to a child they can hear over the phone and through a door!  I think these kiddos have grandparents who are humoring them for the sake of my sanity!  About this time is when things get quiet because their brains are working overtime to come up with a plan to spring me from my "sanctuary".  "Bye, gotta go.", I say to whoever I was talking with, in a rush to stop all hell from breaking loose!  When the door does finally open I can see they are not sure whether to cheer and hug me or run away and hide!  I keep reminding myself that one day they will all be gone and I will be allotted as much "me" time as I can stand, so I should be appreciating every moment.  Whatever!  I want just a small slice of that pie now and I don't think there is anything wrong with that!

Cardio Sleeping

I am aware that there are many parents who enjoy sharing their beds with their little ones, I don't happen to be one of them! I have no issues whatsoever taking a little guy into our bed after a bad dream or when they are not feeling well, but only for a while.  Two nights this week Brenden has wandered sleepily into our room and made his way smack center to the middle of our bed.  To get to the spot he wants inevitably requires him to "jungle gym" his mother!  By that I mean climb up the bed and over me at any cost! One strategically placed elbow to the side of face and  my hair used as a pulley, he can now begin to settle in.  Being the sweet little boy he is, he likes to hold my hand until he can get back to his slumber, this makes my heart melt, so he is allowed to stay.  I think he has figured that out!  Fast forward an hour or so, dad totally in a deep sleep---I know because I can hear how deeply he is sleeping, and Brendens Restless Leg Syndrome had started up!  After a few roundhouse kicks to the back I think about hog tying the boy!  I also wonder how the h#ll his father is still asleep!! *Breathe deep mom*  Thinking, partially lying on his karate kicking legs might help, I fall back asleep, only to be woken up just a short time later by a balled up left hook to the eye!  This was my last straw, now dad is awake and is ordered to return what is now just "his son" back to bed!  I think maybe we need a larger bed, maybe.  With the way he sleeps I don't feel any size bed would help.  Somehow, I end up sleeping on a portion of the bed the size of a toothpick!  My arms hang off the bed, I fight for the covers, the pillows, MY space totally violated!  Nap for mom is in order for this afternoon! :)

Snow Day!

After waiting all school year, my girls have finally gotten the snow day they have longed for!  I was preparing yesterday for the snow, so I did the grocery shopping and stocked up on kiddo friendly snacks!  We are set to bake chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes, and watch movies with plenty of popcorn and hot chocolate,  my favorite kind of day...also wearing pajamas all day is a must!  Since we found out last night before everyone was off to bed that school had been cancelled, the celebrating started early!  I was reading an email and announced there was going to be no school, and I swear the girls would have heard those words from next door~~~much different from the times when I ask them to sweep or take out some garbage while they are seated right next to me!  How ever the news was heard didn't matter in the end, they were full of joy!  The three of them were quickly making plans for the night, including "staying up late challenges".  In our house you can usually expect something random to be drawn on your face if you are the first to fall asleep!  This morning has been one of relaxation and calm.  They are using their day off to be leisurely, and soak in the opportunity to not do a thing!  Mom is taking advantage too...hence the reason I'm writing this in bed!! :) Anyway, I hope all the parents and kiddos are using this day to have fun and just be with one another.  To all the others who complain about the schools being closed, get lost!  There are so many factors that go into deciding to close our schools, not just the amount of snow we wake up to.  Icy, icy roads being a major factor, frigid temps, two very good reasons not to chance heading out with my most precious cargo in tow! 

Busy Days

We are back to our warm weather schedule.  This is the time that not only bears and other animals come out of hibernation, so do the Morrison children. After our ever busy fall last year, I put everything on hold during the winter and had all the kiddos wait for spring.  It was a much needed break, and I'm anticipating another break is somewhere in our future.  We have Apryl in volleyball twice a week, Alexys has joined running club along with Addy.  Addysen starts ballet and tap dance tomorrow evening, while the boys are enjoying swimming lessons and getting ready to start baseball---which their dad is coaching!  The only thing that has yet to start is Lexy's acting class, I haven't found a time that works with the schedule, but I will! Matt and I both knew this time in our lives was inevitably on the brink, I could have never imagined just how busy I would be!  Simply filling out my calendar for the next few months was exhausting!  We all know if it's not on the calendar it won't happen!  Seven people live by that calendar, I freaked the other day when it wasn't where is usually is!  Not to worry, the calendar had just fallen down, it is back in it's rightful spot.  I laughed today when Matt asked when we might go camping! "Never" was my first thought, but I knew that would not fly with any of my family members, so, I probably need to put a camping trip on our calendar NOW!  Such is life with five kiddos!