Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Beach Getaway
A few days after I returned from California, Mr. Pickles took us all on a real vacation to Bethany Beach, DE. I say Mr. Pickles took us b/c my only requirement for this trip was that I wouldn't have to do any planning whatsoever, after already having to plan and execute two big trips. Mr. Pickles is amazing, y'all. He put this all together, with the only input from me being my opinion on a couple beach houses. I helped the kids pack their clothes and got together the beach stuff, but that's the fun part. He even made tons of food to bring (because allergies) and planned out meals (he grilled every day) and packed the coolers and everything.
A-maz-ing, I tell you.
There's not too much else to say about the days we were there. September at the beach is the best. The water is warm and the air is not too hot, and there are not many other people on the beach so it was quiet. We had to miss a couple classes and drama rehearsals of Miriam's that week, and had to come back a little earlier than we wanted b/c we didn't want her to miss her ice skating class. (High schooler's schedule pretty much dominates the family schedule.) I had considered bringing some schoolwork to fill in extra time so we wouldn't get behind, but when it came to actually packing I just couldn't do it. I decided we all just needed a total break from all responsibility (aside from keeping people fed, of course).
It was glorious.
A-maz-ing, I tell you.
There's not too much else to say about the days we were there. September at the beach is the best. The water is warm and the air is not too hot, and there are not many other people on the beach so it was quiet. We had to miss a couple classes and drama rehearsals of Miriam's that week, and had to come back a little earlier than we wanted b/c we didn't want her to miss her ice skating class. (High schooler's schedule pretty much dominates the family schedule.) I had considered bringing some schoolwork to fill in extra time so we wouldn't get behind, but when it came to actually packing I just couldn't do it. I decided we all just needed a total break from all responsibility (aside from keeping people fed, of course).
It was glorious.
Friday, December 09, 2016
California, here I come!
So in early September, my Uncle Ranger Dave became Uncle Deacon
Dave!! When I first heard that my retired California park ranger uncle
was going to be ordained to the permanent diaconate in Sonoma, I hoped I
would be able to make it. And thanks to Mr. Pickles' superhero status,
I was! Sadly we are past the point where traveling by air all together as a family is within our normal means, so only a small representation of the Pickles was able to attend with me. I decided to bring my bookend boys --
Jojo (oldest boy) and Dominic (youngest boy) -- while Mr. Pickles heroically stayed at home with the rest for the six days I was gone.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Summer Photodump
Because I'm too disorganized to post pictures as they happen, you get a whole bunch at once!
Well, I suppose technically I DID tell them to put the couch cushions back... just didn't specify which couches!
Well, I suppose technically I DID tell them to put the couch cushions back... just didn't specify which couches!
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| little miss instigator, right there. |
Tuesday, November 08, 2016
How to entertain a baby in one easy step!
Step 1: Intend to bring the no-longer-used baby tub down to store in the basement, but get lazy and leave it outside the basement door, where the baby who loves climbing on/into things can find it.
Ta-da! Instant entertainment!
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| wheeeee! I'm going nowhere but I'm having SUCH a good time! |
Make your voice heard!
On this most depressing of Election Days, please enjoy a political comic by our resident Humor Correspondent, Katie. (You'll probably need to click to read.)
I believe that's a candidate we can all get behind.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
...and Back Again
The Great Midwestern Trek of 2016! Part Dos.
So returning East from Chicago, we first stopped at South Bend to visit cousins. The great thing about big families is that when you get just two of them together, you have an instant party!
The South Bend cousins had recently moved into a gorgeous big new house with an awesome swingset in their backyard. We couldn't stay for long, just a few hours, but it was a good visit. We always have great conversations when we hang with them, as you would expect from a lawyer, a mathematician, and two homeschooling mothers! It's also encouraging spending time with other people who are in the same stage of life and trying to do this big, Catholic family thing well. When you feel freakishly different from the rest of society, with all eyes watching and critiquing your every move, it's comforting to be with others who are struggling with similar challenges -- and appreciating the same joys.
So returning East from Chicago, we first stopped at South Bend to visit cousins. The great thing about big families is that when you get just two of them together, you have an instant party!
Sunday, October 23, 2016
There...
The Great Midwestern Trek of 2016! Part Uno.
Soooo... every summer there's a big geekfest for Statisticians in a different city. When we heard this year's conference was going to be in Chicago, we thought, "Perfect! We can use that as the springboard for another Great Western Trek!" But a bit of the wind was taken out of our sails when we realized that Mr. Pickles would have to come back home right after the conference, due to the need to prepare for another important meeting soon after. So no Great Western Trek. :( However, we could still enjoy a Great MIDwestern Trek, getting to relish our time with our Chicago peeps without having to hurry through on our way to points west or east.
And then we learned that due to a tight work schedule beforehand, Mr. Pickles was going to have to fly into Chicago.
...by himself.
And stay in a hotel near the conference.
...by himself.
Which meant that in order to make a Great Midwestern Trek at all, Mrs. Pickles was going to have to pack, close up the house, drive 700 miles, and otherwise take care of 6 minors for 5 days all on her own.
Soooo... every summer there's a big geekfest for Statisticians in a different city. When we heard this year's conference was going to be in Chicago, we thought, "Perfect! We can use that as the springboard for another Great Western Trek!" But a bit of the wind was taken out of our sails when we realized that Mr. Pickles would have to come back home right after the conference, due to the need to prepare for another important meeting soon after. So no Great Western Trek. :( However, we could still enjoy a Great MIDwestern Trek, getting to relish our time with our Chicago peeps without having to hurry through on our way to points west or east.
And then we learned that due to a tight work schedule beforehand, Mr. Pickles was going to have to fly into Chicago.
...by himself.
And stay in a hotel near the conference.
...by himself.
Which meant that in order to make a Great Midwestern Trek at all, Mrs. Pickles was going to have to pack, close up the house, drive 700 miles, and otherwise take care of 6 minors for 5 days all on her own.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Long overdue Baby Update!
Dominic has been doing all kinds of amazing things!! I'll go month by month.
Welllll, he did NOT start walking at 8 mos -- however he was still quite mobile! After he mastered pulling up to a stand, he seemed to hit a plateau for a while, and spent some time perfecting his skilz.
His new-found mobility meant that he could now Get
Into Stuff. The good news: he can now entertain himself. The bad news:
he can... get into stuff.
His favorite thing was using big people legs to stand up.
Stairs are also PERFECT for learning how to stand. They are exactly at the right baby height.
We attempted to introduce Dominic to solids at around 7 months-ish. For a long while the relationship was shaky -- he much preferred "real" food (i.e., Mom). However, every once in a while the planets would align and we would find something he didn't turn his little baby nose up at.
Really well-ground oatmeal with apple sauce or with
pureed bananas seemed okay, too. In tiny doses. At the right time of
day (which varied). And as long as he was a little hungry, but not too
much. And he had to be sitting in Mommy's lap and holding his own
spoon. #mrpickypants
We were lucky if we could get a teaspoon into him -- meanwhile he wanted to nurse about every 45 minutes. That was rough. (Finally at 9 months he learned that eating was all right, and was able to handle more textures so I didn't have to super-puree everything.)
He also popped out six teeth! The first two came one by one, and then the next FOUR came altogether! After that we were finally all sleeping better, hallelujah. Those naughty incisors did not make their appearance painlessly, for him OR for us.
Speaking of Getting Into Stuff:
Nicky TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS! He was so amused by the whole process and giggled hysterically each time -- even though it was more like barely-controlled falling. His siblings are the best cheerleaders, and loved providing ample opportunities for him toland on his face practice taking steps.
Babies born into large families really have it made. For one thing, they never have an opportunity to get bored cuz their siblings are always thinking of fun things to do for them:
Apparently I spent the rest of May gardening because I have tons of pictures of the yards, but only that one for Dominic.
After a few weeks practicing his controlled falling, Dominic officially started walking!!!1!. Soon after that he figured out how to go from a squat to a stand without using furniture or conveniently-located big people legs.
And soon after THAT, he figured that he could actually go UP those magical stairs. Our baby gates were in a sorry state, so this is what we rigged up at first:
Our slightly more permanent solution until we get some new ones (after I scrubbed the dirt and spider webs off -- remind me WHY we were storing the gates outside again??):
Another entry in the Getting Into Stuff category:
Dominic hasn't said any real words yet, but he is experimenting with new sound effects. His latest are saying "oo" with adorably puckered lips, and a shrieking cackle that he uses when chasing his siblings.
Even though I'm sad at the thought that someday he will no longer be a baby, we all rejoice with him whenever he masters a new skill! Every age has been the best age, so far. :) And he is so, so loved.
7 months continued (March)
Welllll, he did NOT start walking at 8 mos -- however he was still quite mobile! After he mastered pulling up to a stand, he seemed to hit a plateau for a while, and spent some time perfecting his skilz.
 |
| aw, yeah, I'm all dat! |
 |
| Must. Stand. |
 |
| hmmm what have we here? |
 |
| look, Ma, it MOVES! |
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| power tooooools..... |
His favorite thing was using big people legs to stand up.
 |
| he LURVES my maxi skirt especially -- so many hand holds! |
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| these are awesome!! |
Finally, when you're the youngest of six and you can't run or hit back yet:
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| life is rough when you have older siblings |
 |
| but I'm so cute they just can't resist! |
8 months (April)
We attempted to introduce Dominic to solids at around 7 months-ish. For a long while the relationship was shaky -- he much preferred "real" food (i.e., Mom). However, every once in a while the planets would align and we would find something he didn't turn his little baby nose up at.
 |
| sweet potatoes are acceptable |
We were lucky if we could get a teaspoon into him -- meanwhile he wanted to nurse about every 45 minutes. That was rough. (Finally at 9 months he learned that eating was all right, and was able to handle more textures so I didn't have to super-puree everything.)
He also popped out six teeth! The first two came one by one, and then the next FOUR came altogether! After that we were finally all sleeping better, hallelujah. Those naughty incisors did not make their appearance painlessly, for him OR for us.
 |
| but look how cute my widdle teethies are! |
Speaking of Getting Into Stuff:
 |
| how thoughtful of them to put in a wall-mounted entertainment device just for me! |
9 months (May)
Nicky TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS! He was so amused by the whole process and giggled hysterically each time -- even though it was more like barely-controlled falling. His siblings are the best cheerleaders, and loved providing ample opportunities for him to
Babies born into large families really have it made. For one thing, they never have an opportunity to get bored cuz their siblings are always thinking of fun things to do for them:
 |
| baby-sized personal ball pit! |
10 months (June)
After a few weeks practicing his controlled falling, Dominic officially started walking!!!1!. Soon after that he figured out how to go from a squat to a stand without using furniture or conveniently-located big people legs.
And soon after THAT, he figured that he could actually go UP those magical stairs. Our baby gates were in a sorry state, so this is what we rigged up at first:
 |
| so ghetto. but hey, it works! |
 |
| as you can see this baby gate doubled as a lemonade stand |
 |
| not much better -- still held in place with bungee cords |
July (11 months! I KNOW!)
Another entry in the Getting Into Stuff category:
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| ooh! it's the happy box! |
 |
| how do I get them out? |
 |
| success! om nom nom |
Dominic hasn't said any real words yet, but he is experimenting with new sound effects. His latest are saying "oo" with adorably puckered lips, and a shrieking cackle that he uses when chasing his siblings.
Even though I'm sad at the thought that someday he will no longer be a baby, we all rejoice with him whenever he masters a new skill! Every age has been the best age, so far. :) And he is so, so loved.
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
The Annual Disease
So every year, sometime in the early spring, we get sick. I've never understood exactly why this is -- why not in the winter when everyone is stuck in inside and all the windows are closed all the time and germs have ample opportunities to spread? No, it's always as soon as the weather starts turning warm again. Perhaps it's because "spring" in The Commonwealth of Virginia means "that season when the weather can't decided whether it's still winter or summer yet." So maybe the constant flip-flopping between 80-degree days and 40-degree days -- as well as the days when you go from heat to A/C back to heat, all in one day -- take a toll on our fragile immune systems.
At any rate, just when I thought I'd dodged the bullet this year, the baby got sick.
There is nothing, no nothing, more pathetic than a sick baby. Just wookit dat widdle face. It's saddest because nursing, which is normally such a calming and nourishing time, becomes an exercise in frustration and mild panic -- since a baby with a stuffy nose keeps suffocating when he's trying to eat.
The illness made it through all the ranks. This year's symptoms were high fever accompanied by debilitating lethargy. (Only a couple brief cases of intestinal upset, praise be.) Mr. Pickles, hero that he is, took a few days off work to make sure we didn't all starve to death.
Our living room was converted into a sick ward. I was tempted to put a big yellow flag on our door.
Andy's fever got as high as 105, which was scary. Mr. Pickles had to take him to the pediatrician post-haste, since I
was completely useless, being borderline delirious myself. He didn't have strep, thank goodness. But the fever lasted for almost a week so we had to take him to get bloodwork done. That wasn't as horrible as it could have been -- he was a regular little champ. And it turns out his iron levels were really low! Surprising, since he is our resident carnivore. The low iron levels were making it hard for his widdle system to fight off the infection, so after yet another doctor visit we were assigned the fun and enjoyable task of trying to get a picky three-year-old with a healthy gag reflex to take those yummy pink antibiotics, twice a day, for the longest 10 days of my life. (We finally had success disguising it in strongly-flavored fruit smoothies -- honestly, I think he was objecting to the disgusting artificial fruity flavoring.) We were all leaping for joy on that 10th day, let me tell you.
We are also giving him iron supplements, which as anyone who has had to take the liquid version knows are vile, but which we have learned he will take cheerfully in plain ol' apple juice. (but not orange juice) (remember, picky 3yo) I guess all this explains why his favorite breakfast is an omelet with spinach. (and salsa, the weirdo)
Well, after about two weeks we all finally got better. Aaaaaaaand then the baby got sick again. :( But thankfully, the cycle stopped there. Miraculously, Mr. Pickles didn't catch it!
Boy, nothing makes you believe in the fallen state of nature like being sick as a grownup. It is NO FAIR. When you feel lousy, you have to hobble into the kitchen and make your own broth and get your own medicine and rinse out your own sick bowl and wash your own sheets -- PLUS do all those things for everyone else who's sick, too! And your unsympathetic beast of a five-year-old coming up to you when you're wrapped around your sickie bowl desperately trying to keep body and soul together, and saying "I'm hungry! What can I have to eeeeeeeat?"
Part way into my recovery I posted this on Facebook:
"I just want to take a moment to go down on my knees publicly and thank my mother for all the hours she nursed us when we were sick. Yes, I was an ungrateful wretch who didn't care how she was feeling and certainly did not fully appreciate her sacrifices and hard work at the time. Well, I'm appreciating the HECK out of it now. Thank you, [Mommy]!"
And also, thank you Mr. Pickles for working so hard to keep everyone fed (a Herculean task) until I became fully human again!
I'm also grateful for generally good health in our family -- I know so many families who are suffering through chronic disease or unexplained health problems. Anemia, or even food sensitivities, are nothing compared to that.
At any rate, just when I thought I'd dodged the bullet this year, the baby got sick.
 |
| :( |
The illness made it through all the ranks. This year's symptoms were high fever accompanied by debilitating lethargy. (Only a couple brief cases of intestinal upset, praise be.) Mr. Pickles, hero that he is, took a few days off work to make sure we didn't all starve to death.
Our living room was converted into a sick ward. I was tempted to put a big yellow flag on our door.
We are also giving him iron supplements, which as anyone who has had to take the liquid version knows are vile, but which we have learned he will take cheerfully in plain ol' apple juice. (but not orange juice) (remember, picky 3yo) I guess all this explains why his favorite breakfast is an omelet with spinach. (and salsa, the weirdo)
Well, after about two weeks we all finally got better. Aaaaaaaand then the baby got sick again. :( But thankfully, the cycle stopped there. Miraculously, Mr. Pickles didn't catch it!
Boy, nothing makes you believe in the fallen state of nature like being sick as a grownup. It is NO FAIR. When you feel lousy, you have to hobble into the kitchen and make your own broth and get your own medicine and rinse out your own sick bowl and wash your own sheets -- PLUS do all those things for everyone else who's sick, too! And your unsympathetic beast of a five-year-old coming up to you when you're wrapped around your sickie bowl desperately trying to keep body and soul together, and saying "I'm hungry! What can I have to eeeeeeeat?"
Part way into my recovery I posted this on Facebook:
"I just want to take a moment to go down on my knees publicly and thank my mother for all the hours she nursed us when we were sick. Yes, I was an ungrateful wretch who didn't care how she was feeling and certainly did not fully appreciate her sacrifices and hard work at the time. Well, I'm appreciating the HECK out of it now. Thank you, [Mommy]!"
And also, thank you Mr. Pickles for working so hard to keep everyone fed (a Herculean task) until I became fully human again!
I'm also grateful for generally good health in our family -- I know so many families who are suffering through chronic disease or unexplained health problems. Anemia, or even food sensitivities, are nothing compared to that.
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