A few more pictures and then....

I'll come to terms with the fact that vacation is really over....

at least until next year :)

Our vacation was wonderful but as was probably to be expected when you take four little boys on vacation, it was a lot of work. A lot of fun....watching them play in the sand and splash in the water... but A LOT of work.

There's the actually getting to the beach part- dressing them, finding sun hats, shirts, gathering toys, chasing them down to slather on sunscreen, etc etc, and then the actual walking/ carrying them down to the beach part, and then the keeping track of them once there part.

So often they seem to run in all different directions despite trying to corral them into being interested in one idea. Once beach time is over and everyone is guided/ carried back to the house, the de-sanding process begins in the outdoor shower, followed by finding dry clothes and then trying to keep them happily, safely entertained inside the house which was not baby proofed. I know it sounds like I'm complaining and I'm not trying to. I'm thrilled to have these four little boys to care for!!! They are our life. But sometimes the everyday "work" part of parenthood is just. so. exhausting.

One evening Chris was watching the babies while I showered and put on fresh clothes. We I returned, I notice the clock:

Holy cow, it's 7 p.m! Already time for the trips to go to bed!..... although I could have sworn it wasn't that late.... had my shower really taken that long?? Well, I loose track of time frequently so.....

then I hear Chris across the room trying not to laugh while whispering to my mom, "Don't tell her!"

Yup, he'd actually MOVED THE HANDS OF THE CLOCK to read bedtime. Apparently desperate times call for desperate measures.

Well played my love, well played.

Yes, parenthood is a lot of work and sometimes it's feels that hard. At home and on vacation.

I'm thankful that Chris and I can laugh together (most of the time). The clock time switch-a-roo alone had us deliriously laughing and got us through the next hour until it was really time for bed. I'm also thankful for random moments of isn't this amazing that help us keep our eyes on the ball. Like when Colin said out of the blue one day, "Mommy, you look really pretty today". He's never said that to me before and I'm sure his little three year old spirit has no clue how that innocent little comment made my week. But it did. Or how the triplets are all about giving kisses lately. I get no less than about twenty kisses from those three (and Colin still) throughout the day. It's a new skill for the triplets and they are on the prowl for lips to plant kisses on all the time.

Anyway, back to sharing a few parting pictures....

My boys digging away. That's what they do! Colin said that they were building me my very own "boathouse". Just what I dreamed of. :)

Every night my mom read to Colin and Macy. So special.

Lunch, al fresco

Walking the trips to the beach. Carter bless his heart, is worried that I'm not going, and wants me to carry him.

Let's go boys!

This is what an evening stroll looked like

Colin wore his "working boots" to the beach almost every day. Ahhh, it was so cute.

Cousins!

We'd looked forward to this vacation as a family for so long and Manistee delivered! We made so many good memories and spent such wonderful quality time together. I love being surrounded by my family.

I miss each of one of them so much already.

What to do once the sun goes down on vacation?

Dance!

Billy Joel seemed to always be the music of choice for these two dance machines.

At one point, Macy stopped dancing, turned and looked right at the camera. Isn't she darling?

Outside of my boy mom training

On Thursday afternoon, my mom and I watched the five kids.

My four boys and sweet little cousin Macy.

Watching Macy was no trouble what so ever. By this point, I feel pretty confident in my ability to take care of a child for a few hours. Feed them, change their diaper, dress them, play with them, maybe get them in a stroller, take them on a walk.... things like that. These skills all well within my wheelhouse.

Until....

Macy's hair tie falls out and she needs a new ponytail because she doesn't want wispys in her face.

I have just landed in foreign territory.

Sure I can put a ponytail in my own hair, but a little girls... never had to do that before. Heck, I hardly even brush my boys hair and when I do, it's more like me chasing them with a comb sneaking in a few brush strokes when I can.

Okay I can do this... I mean, how hard is it to put a ponytail in a two year olds hair??

Turns out, it's not so easy. My boy mom skills do not translate in this situation.

Macy was soooo patient with me! And she needed to be because I feel like it took me forever and a day!

 

Just look at her face though. She's probably thinking, "Why do they have this amateur doing my hair?!"

Everett watched the whole unfamiliar act go down from his highchair. He seemed both fascinated and a bit skeptical whether I could pull this off!

But I did!

Luckily, Macy can rock any look, even a slightly crooked ponytail!


P.S- if one of my boys decides to grow his hair long and rock a ponytail, I'm ready!

Scenes from a day at the beach

Tickle toes!

Mom-mom and Finn

Lookin' good Maddes!

Clearly Colin is working a jack hammer

Kyle, Macy

Everett and Pop-Pop. Everett gives the best spontaneous hugs! You just never know when he'll strike. 

Carter taking a snack break, enjoying his peanut butter and sand sandwich.

"Do I have to wear this hat?!"

Macy turns two!

Woohoo!

Mimi turns two!

Time for presents and cake in order to celebrate this cutie patootie:

After a wonderful day at the beach, we celebrated my niece "Mimi's" second birthday. She's almost exactly 9 months older than the triplets.  

Colin thinks she's the cat's meow and well, she is.

She's stylish,

Uncle G!

Funny.

Loves to encourage everyone to clap for any ole' reason 

and is just plain fun to be around.

Happy Birthday Mimi!! We love you so much!

My parents at the party too! 

Remember Mimi's first birthday?

Here we are

We are on vacation.

Settled in a beautiful beach house on Lake Michigan in the town of Manistee. It's a new place for us this year and we are loving every minute of it.

It's no secret that this past year has been challenging in many ways for our family. Both of my parents have had health issues. Both have been hospitalized on more than one occasion. There were times when we needed something to look forward too. A beacon of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

This was that light.

Sometimes while visiting my parents, especially when they were in the hospital, I'd instead picture them with my brothers, sister in law, niece and my own boys relaxing on the beach. Watching the grand kids play, laughing, healthy, feeling the cool breeze off the lake and soaking up the sun. I knew we'd get here.

It's beautiful. Not just the surroundings but just being able to be with my family. My brothers can make us start laughing so hard that my face starts to hurt.

There's no talk of cancer, or back pain or anything like that. Just lots of laughing, playing cards and catching up with each other. Deciding when to go down to the beach, which swimsuit to wear, when to come in for lunch, when it's late enough to pour that first glass of wine.... these are the big questions in my day.

Life is good and my heart is filled with deep gratitude.

Jookie!!

The one other thing I did on Saturday was visit with Jill Leibhaber a children's photographer, whose studio 'Jookie' is located in Rockwell Crossing in Chicago. She took pregnancy and newborn pictures back when Colin was born and we've kept in touch ever since. 

Last year I won a contest to be able to sit down and chat with her about photography, learn more about my camera and ask any questions that I wanted. What an opportunity! We met back in December and then had a follow-up on Saturday during my 24 hour "mommy break" in Chicago. She took soooo much time with me and as always I'm in awe of her talent! She's such an example of someone who is following their passion and doing what they're meant to do. Her pictures reflect that.

If you live in or ever visit Chicago, check out her work! Her newborn pictures are to die for. I went to her website just now and noticed that some of our photos, from when I was pregnant with Colin and when he was just 8 days old, are still featured on her website under Jookie experience. I haven't seen these photos in a long time.... and yet they still make me cry. That time in our life was so special. 

Thank you Jill for all your beautiful work and for teaching me a few tricks of the trade!

Chicago!

Chris arrived home safe and sound from London late Friday night.

Saturday morning, I took off for Chicago to visit my friend Laurie in Chicago and get some "me" time.

Much needed!

Hot Chocolate!! YUM!

I can't decide what my favorite part was.

Perhaps....

• Driving in the car, ALONE. No, "Mom I dropped my sippy cup", or, "Mommy I have to pee" (most likely after we just left the house), or Winnie the Pooh, the movie playing for the 100th time over the car t.v. Also, I didn't have to stop drinking three hours in advance of the trip so as not to have to stop and go to the bathroom with four kids in car seats. I had my coffee, my music and the open road. 

• Picking up Chipotle for lunch ALONE and then sitting with my dear friend in her perfectly air conditioned and quiet apartment, without anyone pulling at my arms and legs as I ate.

• My late afternoon siesta, reading magazines and napping JUST BECAUSE I COULD. 

• Dressing up for dinner, complete with borrowed make-up (because in true Jessica fashion, I forgot any and every bit of make-up that I own. Borrowing from my friend ended up being fun though! Like getting a make-over without the cost- heehee)

• Catching up with girlfriends over wine. 

• Eating a dinner that I didn't have to prepare!

• Getting to see my brother, who when we lived in the same city, used to pop over for dinner, to watch t.v. with me, or basically any time I needed him. We saw him all the time. Miss that kid.

• Sleeping in on Sunday morning until whatever time I wanted too!!! Waking up when my body decided that it wasn't tired anymore instead of upon hearing screams for mom.

Each of these things were little slices of heaven. I needed a break and Chicago delivered. 

After brunch on Sunday, having been gone just over 24 hours, I headed home feeling refreshed.... and let's be honest, a smidgen hungover. Just a smidgen. I can't hang anymore!

Upon arriving home, I literally ran from the car through the front door. I couldn't wait to get my hands on my guys! It was all welcome home smiles and hugs for about 10 minutes, and then someone had a meltdown over something, someone else fell and was devastated, another screamed for milk that couldn't be poured fast enough, another spilled milk everywhere and thought it was funny..... and on and on the night went. 

It was back to reality for this mom, only I felt more up to the challenge. Less frazzled.

Every mom needs a break. 

TAKE ONE.

.........


Someone who knows a thing or two about taking time for themselves?

This guy:

Complete with drool bubble

Taz, so good to see you too!

Dancing in the rain

Thursday, 10:30 a.m.

It was pouring rain and they were stir crazy, so we went out onto the front porch to watch the rain.

It was really quite beautiful.

I thought they'd stay on the front porch.

hahaha.

Carter just HAD to get out there and play in the rain. There was really no stopping him.

At first Colin yelled, "Carter, WHAT are you doing?! Come back!"

But then decided it looked like fun.

Slowly, one by one, the others joined him.

They splashed and played and basically got soaking wet.

Still in their p.j's

When they came inside, they were cold, wet and filthy. 

And smiling.

Guess who???

Only one more day till Chris comes home!! :)