Milestones Not Documented!

Okay, I will be the 1st to admit that I always forget my camera. I have the best of intentions when I know I am going to be somewhere where I might want a picture to remember it. I usually always get the camera but then the camera usually gets left on the table. If it makes it into the van, then it usually gets left in there. I am also not a scrapbooker. To be honest, I just don't have the time, talent or money to take that up right now. I do put my pictures in an album in order. I am almost a year behind on that one too - but I DID just get my pictures developed.

One, thing I have been able to get on the camera were major 1st milestones. Brandon learned how to pull up yesterday. He pulled up on the window sill. The same window sill that Garrett 1st pulled up on. I have the picture of Garrett. The same picture of Brandon will never be. Why, do you ask?!?!? That would be because my camera broke and Best Buy sent it off to be repaired and I haven't gotten it back yet. So, instead of me having a great picture of Brandon pulling up in the window on his unsteady feet matching his own big brother's - I have nothing.

Life happens so fast. I often look back at the photo albums over my kids 1st years and realize it is all a blur. But I can look at a picture and almost remember what the moment was like. There will be no picture of Brandon pulling up to look back on. Oh well, I guess I can take a picture of him on his now "steady feet" pulling up to the window and just pretend!

We're Stuck in the Lake and Can't Get Back!

Sunday was my mom's 65th birthday. Happy Birthday Nana! My parents rented a condo for the week at Lake Conroe so we went up there on Sunday. My dad rented a boat for a few hours for some family fun. Nana and I decided to take turns on the boat while the other one watched Brandon. I went on the boat first. We were all having a great time. Brittany and Allison rode the tube behind the boat. It was a hot day but the wind and water felt great.


Then Garrett informed us that he had to go potty. No biggy!! He can hold it while we go back to shore - it was time for mom to change places with me anyway. Then we heard it - a siren sound coming from the boat. Then Brittany and Andy noticed the smoke coming from the motor. Wonderful - we have a smoking motor and a 2 year old who must pee!! We put in a call to the boat rental place and a kicking and screaming Garrett got a lesson on peeing in a lake.

It all ended well, of course. We got towed back to the shore, Garrett got comfortable. We arrived to find Brandon and Nana waiting for us at the dock. Only to find out, they had been locked outside of the condo for over an hour!

So what more could you want for on a Sunday afternoon - Boat died, Garrett cried about the potty and Brandon spent some quality time in the 98 degree heat. Ahhh, the memories we are making this summer!!

They're BACK!!!

Brittany, Allison, Caitlyn and Garrett made it back from Nana and Papa's house. I'm glad to have them back again. When you are use to noise and chaos all the time, the world just doesn't seem right when it is so quiet. They all had a great time in Fredericksburg. In fact, Caitlyn told me on the phone this week that she was having so much fun that she really didn't miss me. Ok, thanks - Caitlyn!!



I got lots of hugs and kisses upon their return and it was only moments of them being home before the noise and chaos returned. Ahhh, the sweet sounds of my life. Thanks Nana and Papa for the great week!

Houston, We Have a Washing Machine!

After 4 trips by the Sears repair man, hours on the phone with Sears representatives and countless tears of frustration, I finally have a working washing machine in my house. I don't think I have ever been so excited to do laundry in my life!! Okay, I'm on my second load now - I think I'm getting over it. Thanks again to all those who helped me during my month long hiatus from a working washer. May it never happen again!!

Song For a 5th Child

I have been dreaming of all that I would accomplish this week with the 4 oldest kids at Nana and Papa's. The list, of course, was way to long but I figured if Brandon cooperated I could get most of it knocked out. The week went by and while I have accomplished some things. I was getting pretty discouraged because I wasn't scratching off enough stuff off my list. Brandon had been getting fussy and transitioning from 3 naps to 2. So, I found myself going for stroller walks, holding him and swinging him more than I had planned too. He was supposed to be playing on the floor happily beside me while I worked. Didn't he get that memo?

So, last night I decided that I needed to get a lot done today. It was my last day after all and the house did not look ready yet. I was sure I could get Brandon to be happy while I did stuff today. Well, that hope was dashed when Brandon woke up crying at 11 pm last night with a fever. So, today instead of working - I have been holding, nursing and loving my sick 8 month old baby.

I was sitting here rocking Brandon with him on my chest looking up at my face. I realized that I was doing exactly what I needed to be doing. It didn't matter that the house wouldn't be "finished" tomorrow when the kids got back. What mattered is that I was sitting her holding my baby and singing to him. What a blessing it is that the other children were gone at this moment so I can love on just him instead of being pulled in so many different directions.

I tried to think of that poem about rocking babies while the house laid in ruin so I came on-line to find it. To my surprise it is actually called "Song For a Fifth Child". How appropriate since Brandon is number 5. It is a constant battle in the life of a mom with many children. Trying to find the balance between housework, children, husband, and a moment or two for yourself. Everyday, I am disappointed in myself. Either I spent too much time on myself, or the kids, or the house or the hubby. I can never seem satisified with how I spent my hours of that day. Today I chose to just love a little baby who only wanted his momma and I don't feel bad about it at all. The battle within myself will go on again tomorrow but for today - I'm rocking my baby and loving every minute of it.

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Me and the Sears Repair Man

Okay, I think my neighbors might start talking. There has been a Sears van in front of my house now many times over the last few weeks. I wonder what the neighbors much be thinking. Surely, it can't take 4 trips to fix a washing machine?!?!?!? Oh, but it can! My Sears man was here again yesterday for what was supposed to be the final trip to fix my washing machine. I'm sure that you can guess by the fact that I am blogging about this that my washing machine did not get fixed!! Now, it is the connector wire that is burned out. My question is why didn't the last guy check every possible aspect of my washing machine over before he left. He knew that they had already not ordered the correct parts the last time. My second question is why don't they carry any parts with them?!?!?!? This should not be that difficult I mean I called Sears because my washer is a Kenmore - it is their own brand shouldn't they have parts readily assessable for them. It takes a week each time they realize that they need a new part for the part to come in. To me that is just crazy!! I have been without a washer machine for over 3 weeks. It will be about 4 weeks by the time Mrs. Sears guy comes back.

Once again, I have been saved by wonderful friends who have graciously helped me with laundry. So thanks to Trey, Pam, Kathleen and Kimberly this time around. Everyone else watch out if they need to order another part on Friday. I liked to share my laundry wealth with all my friends.

While the Kids are Away - Mom and Dad Organize!

When we left New Braunfels, our car was a little bit lighter as we left Brittany, Allison, Caitlyn and Garrett behind. Heaven help Nana and Papa. The kids are spending the week in Fredericksburg having a good time between town and the country. Meanwhile, Andy, Brandon and I headed home. So, what are a mom and dad to do with only one baby at home? Lets see, so far we have cleaned out the garage, organized the backyard, gone through all the toys and cleaned out the pantry. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?!?!? Actually as any mom would know, the only way to get this stuff done is to do it without the kids around. Otherwise, they decide to touch and move everything you are trying to put away. I took a picture of the contents of the game room closet just so you would know the amount of stuff I had to go through. Some days, I wish I could just get rid of it all. I truly wonder if the kids would even miss it. But, unfortunately, most of it ended back in the closet. But hey, at least until the kids come back - it's organized!!

Vacation - New Braunfels

We went on vacation to New Braunfels starting July 5th. My parents rented a 3 bedroom condo and a cabin so the whole Meurer clan went for some family fun. We got to visit my cousin Kerri and her family along with my cousin Christie and her family on Sunday. It was great to see everyone.

Here are all the kids minus Reagan who I think was sleeping at the time.

On Monday, we went on a boat on Caynon Lake. The water was beautiful. Here are Brittany and Allison happy to be on the boat.

Here is Garrett helping Papa captain the boat.Caitlyn realized that the lake was just a big swimming pool.Somehow, they managed to even get Mommy in the lake. Okay, truth be told - they pushed Mommy in!!The resort that we stayed at had minature gold so we decided to play it one day. I didn't know there were so many ways to cheat at putt-putt. I think my children found them all. But everyone had fun - what's a little cheating among family on the golf course. Here is Garrett showing his golfing skills.

A trip to New Braunfels would not be complete without some floating down the river. We first had the kids do a little trial run at our resort to see if the kids would like it. Andy, Brittany and Allison then did a 3 mile float. We literally just dropped them off by a bridge and said see you later. The next day we did a shorter float with everyone except Nana and Brandon.

Here the kids are testing the waters.

Andy, Brittany and Allison made it back from their 3 mile float!

After a day on the river, every man needs a good chair and his favorite beverage. (aka beer for Daddy - milk for Garrett)

We also decided to head over to Landa Park while in New Braunfels. We got to ride the train and the paddleboats. We managed to get off the paddleboats just before the rain. We managed to go to a part of Texas that was in a drought and still get rained on everyday. We were happy for them to get rain but maybe next time it wont be on our vacation.

Here is Garrett, Allison, Nana and Brittany on the train.

Here is all of us on the paddleboats.
It was great with Nana and Papa there because Nana watched Brandon alot of the time so we got to do fun things with the older kids. Here is a picture of Brandon with Papa though just to prove he was there.