Fun with the Cousins

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt!

*Ava wasn't hurt, S had a [very, very] little bloody nose. Two minutes later, he was back in service and joining the dog-pile.

Our Long Awaited Vacation

My grandparents moved up to Washington a couple of years ago and we hadn't gone up to visit yet. We attempted to on 3 different times, but something always came up. Nothing was going to stop us this time. We worked it out so I could take the first part of my econ final as usual, and then the second part I would email my answers to my professor by the deadline and give her my scantron Monday morning.

After finishing the first part for one of my finals, I came home, we packed up the van, and off we went. All 6 of us, 3 suitcases, 1 pac-n-play, 1 stroller, 1 baby bjorn, 4 carseats, 3 water bottles, 1 sippy cup, 2 backpacks (filled with toys, books, and food), and 1 diaper bag, were on our way!

Here's a quick recap of what we did:

(As written by N) "Over the break, I... went to Seattle. I went to the Space Needle, held a fish, and beat my Grandpa at Yahtzee."

All of it is true, especially the Yahtzee part! N had never heard of Yahtzee, and before the night was over, he beat Poppa 3 times. [That boy must have some Gage blood.]

Day 1: Off we went. The kids (minus Z) were really good. The 3 older ones were great on the airplane. S was a little scared at take-off and landing, but Daddy kept making faces and telling jokes to keep him distracted. Z cried for the whole flight, minus the 15 minutes prior to landing.... talk about cranky pants!

Immediately we were amazed at what fresh, clean, crisp air smelt like. It had been a LONG while since we have experienced that. Best of all, we got to use our coats... go figure, the middle of October and we got to wear coat! :)

We got our rental and headed north. We arrived to the house about 9pm, unloaded, and the boys immediately found some toys.

Day 2: I slept good. Daddy got up with Z during the night because he was crying, but I didn't hear anything. (Daddy says I did hear Z because I'm the one who woke E up, but I don't remember a thing!) The boys got to meet/play with their "girl" cousins (Gianna and Ava.) We went to lunch, then went around Whatcom Falls. [Z was still crying and being cranky!] We got back, then the 3 older went on the trail with Daddy and Poppa, while I stayed with Nonna and a sleeping Z. The girls were antsy because the boys were taking too long (they were gone for over 2 hours).

Day 3: Attempted to go to Seattle. (note the word attempted!) We were almost 1/2 way there, but Z wouldn't stop screaming. We did a little shuffle of carseats, E & I played musical chairs, offered him some milk, nothing was working. We decided to take him to urgent care because he was extremely irritated with something, and he would occasionally tug on his ears. We headed back and took him to the doctor.

Diagnosis: "He has a stuffy nose and the sniffles. Don't worry though, it can sometimes be confused as something else."

[My thoughts: Are you kidding me? Shall I remind you that we brought 4 kids, 5 and under, on a 3-hour flight flight. We're on vacation and I KNOW that I will hear crying at some point.... I hear screaming and fighting all day long, really, I'm used to it. But this out-of-control screaming that this kid is doing, isn't just me confusing an ear infection for the sniffles! We (people like E & I) don't go to the doctor over a stuffy nose. Sniffles and stuffy noses are just like "he probably has allergies or something" even if it lasts for a few weeks. Did I mention he is the youngest of 4 children?]

Yes, he has a stuffy nose, AND a very strong will for getting his way. If he had an ear infection, we could chalk his fusiness up to not feeling good, but instead, we were faced with the reality of our child wanting his way, and wanting it now! (i.e. not being restrained in a carseat for more than 2 minutes)

After the kids went to bed, we played a little card game.

Day 4: We took 2 cars to Seattle. (the screaming boy was NOT going to have his way. Sorry, but we are on VACATION, and you're crankiness will just have to wait!) E took the younger 2 (who didn't make a peep the whole way there) and the rest of us went in the van. We had lunch, went to the Children's Museum, Space Needle, and Pike's Place Fish Market. N got to hold a fish, and then we found a vendor that will selling fresh donuts. [Yumm!]

On the way back, we took a restroom break and E kept eyeing the Fish Market. I joking asked, "Are you sad you didn't get to catch a fish?" and he immediately [embarrassingly] admitted that he was.

"I wonder if you have to buy it, just in case you don't catch it?"

"Just go ask. If need be, we'll buy a fish so that you can catch it."

Look who's lucky day it was!

Z cried the last 10 minutes of the ride home, but E was still on cloud nine from his fishy adventure, that he didn't really mind.

Day 5: We had a yummy breakfast and left for the airport. After confusion of whether we would get our original flight [they had overbooked the flight by 4, and 3 of us were part of that 4. Towards the end, they would allow 4 of us, but not 5 (Z was a lap-child), which meant that one of us got to go with all the kids, and someone would have to stay. (Did I mention that we had 4 kids, 3 suitcases, 1 pac-n-play, 1 stroller, 1 baby bjorn, 4 carseats, 3 water bottles, 1 sippy cup, 2 backpacks, and 1 diaper bag? All of that, and one adult? Oh, that's funny- Talk about a sight to see!)

At the very last minute, a single guy gave up his seat because he had watched all the drama unfold (our willingness to take a 6.5 hour later flight to make it easier for the airline, but then SW wouldn't compensate all of us becase 3 of us were still "unticketed") BUT we made it home, and on time.

Hooray! We had an absolute blast. The boys had so much fun with their cousins. We loved seeing Grandpa, Grandma, Troy & Julie (and the girls too!). Everything was green (yet another distant memory) and people were nice. Seriously, it's like a whole new world. People don't drive crazy, they say hello, and love being outdoors. Oh, it was awesome. We can't wait for the next time we can go visit.

Here's some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Poor G

G wants to be a cuddly big brother, but underestimates his power. He's very strong, and doesn't realize how rough he's being, even when he's just being lovable.

(yes, our children do wear clothing, just not in these pictures!)

ok, that's good. I'm not so sure I like this snuggling thing.

Now I really don't want to snuggle.

I'm screaming because I want you to leave me alone, not because I want kisses.

Here's a happy brother, perhaps he'd like to snuggle.



Nope, not him either!



Let's try this again.... Nope, he still doesn't like it!

S's duck lip (a week later)

Scenario: I'm cooking dinner, E's in the living room playing with thing 1 and thing 2. S was playing with Z in the boys room.

Disaster waiting to happen: S came running down the hallway, bent over, "driving" the big monster trucks (one in each hand). The rubber tire got funky, caught on grout, S's face planted straight into the tile floor.

Result: Busted top lip, sliced upper gum line from lip to front teeth. Still a happy boy, just with a big-o duck lip! TBD if he'll be joining his brother in the rank of sporting a dead front tooth. So far things look pretty good, but it's still healing.

Alright already

I am: an overachiever and a perfectionist.
I think: people think we're insane for all we've taken on in the last few months.
I know: outsiders see my side of the family as being closer than we really are.
I want: to be on vacation already.
I dislike: sick babies, people touching my face, and black pens.
I miss: Chicago and it's cold winters.
I fear: that one of our sons will become "lost" again in his own world.
I hear: N & G wrestling in their room, despite it being quiet time.
I smell: nasty! I'm hoping to take a shower after I'm done posting this and finish emailing my world religions professor.
I crave: to stand face-to-face with God and ask him why he had to think so highly of me.
I cry: only when people are not looking.
I search: the internet in hopes of finding solutions to "fix" things I'm experiencing.
I wonder: if I'll ever overcome being a perfectionist, and learn to let things go.
I regret: not busting my butt earlier this semester so I don't have to play catch-up..... I don't totally regret it though because the kids really needed my attention.
I love: my husband and all the things he does for our family.
I care: about my GPA. I expect nothing less than a 4.0 from myself.
I always: over analyze financial decisions.
I worry: that the boys will eat us out of house and home when they're teenagers.
I am not: so good at always eating only because I'm hungry... sometimes the food just tastes really good!
I remember: the first time I was awake during an entire c-section (with the second) and how strange it felt to have him pulled out.
I believe: that God has a sense of humor.
I dance: like a black girl.
I sing: along to songs I probably shouldn't know the words to.
I don't always: follow the dr's recommendation to not use q-tips. (Do I really need to explain how impossible it is?)
I argue: with the kids, but never with E.
I write: papers really, really well... now if only my writing transferred over into my oral conversations.
I win: monopoly every time.
I lose: my cool more times than people realize.
I wish: I could make things the way I'd like to have them, but I can't.
I listen: to music every day.
I don't understand: why some people get things handed to them.
I can usually be found: doing twenty things at one time.
I am scared: for the pain my friend and his wife will endure if their baby does not survive more than a few days after birth.
I need: to take a shower and finish doing my homework.
I forget: what my stomach looked like without a c-section scar.
I am happy: when the kids are playing nicely together AND my house is clean.

Tag #1 done.... #2-3, still to come! =)

Everyone who has read this and not done it, consider yourself tagged!

Mommy always wins!

I have a lot of pet peeves. One of them (besides the "usuals": black inked pens, people touching my face, people touching my butt, people stepping on my feet, loud noises, clutter) is doors being slammed. It's a scar I've carried with me ever since traumatic things happened during childhood, and I haven't been able to overcome it. Something about slamming doors just brings out the craziness in me. A few weeks back, G was a little over-the-top for me. He was being horrible (licking- saving it for another post), so I asked him to go to his room. Of course he didn't listen the first time around, so I waited 30 seconds and then instructed him (again) to go to his room. He stomped his foot and did the "uuhh, no" thing. Ok, apparently he needed a little helping finding his room. I took his hand and guided him to his room. He threw himself on the ground in protest, but I left it (him) alone and walked back into the other room. Just as soon as I reached the kitchen (it's the first place you reach when exiting the hallway with their rooms) he slammed his door. Umm, did he just do what I thought he did? His 5 year-old brother quickly confirmed what I thought I witnessed before I could even finish my thought.


I walked back to his bedroom, opened the door, and warned him not to slam his door again. If he did, he wouldn't like the consequence. I turned around, walked back down the hall.... WHACK! Oh, nuh-uh, he didn't just do that.


As I was walking back to his room, I could hear him fiddling with the knob. By the time I got there, he had locked the door. You wanna play that game, little boy? Mommy can play too. The difference.... MOMMY ALWAYS WINS! I don't care if Daddy at work right now, you will NOT be doing that in this house...




Try slamming your door now, Mr. G!

*update: after 2 1/2 days, he "earned" his door back. He hasn't done it since.

I know, I know

It's been forever! Things have been very, very busy to put it lightly. Our camera finally bit the dust [it was 4.5 years old- prehistoric in the tech world] so we were without a camera for almost 2 months. We finally got around to ordering a new one so we would have something to take pics with for G's birthday party. I finally got around to uploading pics from the old memory card and stumbled across these from 2 months ago...

More posts to follow (hopefully soon)...