Thursday, December 31, 2009
"This will be fast..
I promise!" I told Sam as I logged on to check up on everyone's pages! Well, it was for me, but he's sighing big sighs of patience next to me with frequent reminders of I'm waiting Mom. I guess the only thing worse than having to share a computer is having to share a bathroom, huh? :) Any way, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas (belated) and Happy New Year to you all! I've got some fun pics from it all to share, but that will have to wait for another spare moment. ;)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I've got a boring blog page, but...

...well, I'm just lucky to have time to spare for a new post every now and then. So, like others of you (and you know who you are) I've been away from my blog for far too long. Mostly for the fact that I've missed jotting down some of those precious moments that go by so quickly.
Here are a couple of those that I have to write for myself more than any one. Yesterday was Aviendha's 2nd birthday. She and Ginny were having their own celebration for it in the kitchen while I was on the phone. Ginny had set up a little tea party and turned on the radio. So while Christmas music blared across the kitchen, they ran to get into party clothes. Ginny chose the sleeping beauty dress and Ne-ne chose three uninflated inner tubes (the colorful kiddie kind for use in a swimming pool) that she had draped over her head and shoulders. When I came around the corner they were both twirling away to Frosty the Snowman. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a picture or video; I'd left my camera in the car all night and it was too cold to take anything recognizable when I fetched it. :(
Then she's recently learned to tell a joke, at least at 2-yr-old's level. I would ask her what we should have for dinner/lunch/snack and she'd grin and say "butter". Nooo, I'd reply with a smile. Then I'd repeat the question. This time she'd say, "sugar" and laugh. Again, I'd laugh and say no and repeat the question. Her punch line, "sugar and butter" and then she'd just gigle at herself for being so clever! I love this age!!!
A few weeks ago our family had the stomach flu; a really nasty strain that hit hard and fast--within 72 hrs all but Adam had it and were over it. Well, Sam was one of the first to get it. He woke up early feeling yucky, lost his cookies a couple of times (without telling me about it until I stepped in it in the laundry room), and then laid in my bed and took a nap. But after about an hour of extra sleep he was up and feeling fine--no fever, chills, nothing to indicate he'd been sick. Since I didn't know at this point what we were all in store for, I attributed it to the candy he'd eaten from Sharra's drawer before he came upstairs. He's usually pretty good at staying away from things with nuts or peanut butter, but every once in a while something gets through. His symptoms fit this bill perfectly so off he went to kindergarten that afternoon with the injunction that if he felt sick at all again to please call me.
After school I asked him how he felt during the day and in true Sam fashion he answered, "Well, I did feel a little sick while Mrs. Murdock was talking about some boring stuff. But then my brain told my barf to go back down in my stomach. It didn't want to and some of it came up in my brain and swirled around like this (and he made the "crazy" motion with his finger next to his temple). But my brain was stronger and pushed the barf back down. Later the barf came back up to my brain and swirled around in my head behind my eyes like this (and he made a circluar motion in front of his eyes), but my brain told it to stop and go back in my body, so it did and then I felt ok for the rest of the day."
Another Sam moment was one evening while I was getting the girls bathed. Sam exploded through the bathroom door and rushed to the toilet (yes, I know another bathroom story--what can I say, he's a boy!). Ginny put up a big fuss about having to smell his pee and he should go use Mommy's bathroom. Sam retorted that he had to go right now and you don't want me to pee my pants do you? She still screamed about the smell and he turned to her calmly and said, "It's ok Gin; just pretend it smells like peaches."
Sharra loves to draw and will decorate our house with her projects any chance she gets. At Halloween she used almost a whole ream of paper to make a haunted house. She covered each paper with vampires, mummies, spiders, and ghosts. Then hung them in a curtain around the bottom of their bunk bed, all around the walls and closet doors, and even up the stairwell. Thanksgiving she perfected her turkey and made a book titled "The First Feast". Christmas, she's left reminers to be good with pictures of Santa all around the house. Ironically, while I'm typing this she came upstairs to ask if she could draw while having quiet time (she's home sick today). :) Oh, and this morning she told me that she thinks she'll be an artist when she grows up.
Ginny is noticing how she's "getting bigger". Almost every day we have at least one conversation about something she's noticed that means she's "getting bigger." Old clothes don't fit well, she can reach the countertop without a stool, she can lift Aviendha onto the couch, and she can carry Stephen around by herself (a nail-biter to watch, but she can pull it off!) Recently she's been staying in her own bed ALL night and she's been very proud of her bigger self for doing this! We're proud too, and thankful as she's a kicker while asleep!
Finally, Stephen has been dubbed "smiley boy" by his siblings who are thrilled (as we all are) when he smiles at them. If he's smiling they all have to drop what they're doing to come see. He's very much doted on around here, and at his age, that's prefectly ok!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
1 month..almost!
Stephen is four weeks old as of yesterday and will be one month on Friday! Where does the time go? He's fussing in the carrier as I type so this will be quick, but I just wanted to get some thoughts down before they disappear. The Sunday after Halloween we had a big scare with the little guy. I was fixing dinner, Stephen was in the baby carrier behind me, and Adam and Sam were playing on the computer in the corner of the kitchen. Enough supervision right? Not quite. Aviendha came in with a pack of Sour Patch kids and decided to share with the baby. She'd shoved two of the things into his mouth, and halfway down his throat, before I realized exactly what she was doing as she "visited" with the baby. He was resisitng a third which allowed me to figure out what was going on as I turned to check on them. The first was right at the front fo his mouth but the second was all wet and slimy and stuck to the roof of his mouth just at the point where he was half choking on it. I whipped him upside down and started back blows to see if I could dislodge the thing. It was stuck good. Then I tried to sweep it out with my finger. Thank goodness for long finger nails. I was able to hook a section of the thing and pull it out without pushing it in any further. Whew! It still gives me the chills when I think about it all.
I have some really cute new pics of him I'll have to post later; hopefully tomorrow. The girls are watching home videos with my camera downstairs and I have to wait until they are done, so, stay tuned!
I have some really cute new pics of him I'll have to post later; hopefully tomorrow. The girls are watching home videos with my camera downstairs and I have to wait until they are done, so, stay tuned!
Monday, November 2, 2009
The baby


OK, so, where to start. We're all adjusting well to Stephen's arrival into the family. The kids all still rush upstairs in the morning to our bedroom to be the first to hold him. They are all eager to help fetch diapers and clean clothes, etc. I survived yet another c-sect and am actually now feeling quite well. We even attempted a family walk around the neighborhood yesterday. It pooped me out, but didn't cause any major pain--so huzzah!!
A big thanks goes out to my parents for the freezer full of food! SO helpful--you have no idea. Thanks, thanks, thanks! And another thanks to my mom-in-law for all the time she put in up here helping with the kids. We were well-cared for by all--thanks!
I can't believe Stephen will be two weeks old already tomorrow!!!! I just try to treasure each little moment as they disappear. This week he's been smiling in his sleep and it's SO cute. He's got a dimple like his big brother and I think he's going to be a little blondie too! Stephen's such an easy-going little guy it makes it all the more sad when he's upset over something--gas has been the biggest issue so far. I think I need to lay off the chocolate to help him out. -sigh- what we mothers sacrifice for our kids! ;)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
5 days to go!!!
Ok, I've got Aviendha on my lap bouncing away to a Spanish radio station Ginny found and is blasting through the kitchen right now. Actually, it's rather fun. I've discovered I love listening to conjunto music. And it helps out with the bit of Spanish Adam's trying to teach the kids. Just makes it a bit difficult to type this entry. :)
So only five days left. Am I ready? That's what everyone keeps asking. Five kids?! Am I crazy?! Am I nuts?! Did I think this through? Well, of course we did and to tell the truth I am still quite sad about it being our last baby. It's been a hard decision to take the necessary steps to cut off baby production. We both know that there are no other little spirits waiting up there to come down to our family, but I still can't help but be sad over the ending of this stage in my life. :( They just don't stay little long enough!!!
-Sigh- Well, I won't be sad to NOT be pregnant again. This one's made me feel so old. For that reason alone I am really looking forward to being done. And then there's how excited the kids all are to meet their new brother. Every morning Ginny asks when is the baby boy coming? And then she's upset with the answer. Until Tues when I was able to say next week, rather than my usual answer of "soon." She gasped and got a big smile on her face; then she ran off to announce it to her siblings that it was only a week till baby boy is born. :)
On a completely different tangent, I am so relieved to have gotten the 72 hour kits put back together and back in the closet. Every 6 months, general conference week, I open them up and have the kids try on their clothes and take out the perishable foods. The kids are allowed to eat whatever they want from their own bags and I find clothes to replace the ones that don't fit.
In theory it sounds simple, but it always turns into a huge project, since the kids always want to see what they have in their bags and be a part of it all. Whew! I'm just gald to have been able to pack it all away again yesterday. Yes, for those of you doing the math, I've been working on that project since the Sunday of October conference.
So only five days left. Am I ready? That's what everyone keeps asking. Five kids?! Am I crazy?! Am I nuts?! Did I think this through? Well, of course we did and to tell the truth I am still quite sad about it being our last baby. It's been a hard decision to take the necessary steps to cut off baby production. We both know that there are no other little spirits waiting up there to come down to our family, but I still can't help but be sad over the ending of this stage in my life. :( They just don't stay little long enough!!!
-Sigh- Well, I won't be sad to NOT be pregnant again. This one's made me feel so old. For that reason alone I am really looking forward to being done. And then there's how excited the kids all are to meet their new brother. Every morning Ginny asks when is the baby boy coming? And then she's upset with the answer. Until Tues when I was able to say next week, rather than my usual answer of "soon." She gasped and got a big smile on her face; then she ran off to announce it to her siblings that it was only a week till baby boy is born. :)
On a completely different tangent, I am so relieved to have gotten the 72 hour kits put back together and back in the closet. Every 6 months, general conference week, I open them up and have the kids try on their clothes and take out the perishable foods. The kids are allowed to eat whatever they want from their own bags and I find clothes to replace the ones that don't fit.
In theory it sounds simple, but it always turns into a huge project, since the kids always want to see what they have in their bags and be a part of it all. Whew! I'm just gald to have been able to pack it all away again yesterday. Yes, for those of you doing the math, I've been working on that project since the Sunday of October conference.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Precious Family Pics




Loved Conference messages this weekend. More than that I loved the quiet and calm family time we were able to spend while enjoying them! Countdown to baby day--15 days!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
End of Sept...really?




Well, I haven't been great at staying caught up on this lately. School starting has settled us into a routine, but I def have less time avail for this stuff. oh well. Here's where we're at right now. I have less than a month till baby boy comes. He'll arrive sometime before or on Oct 20th. Sam and Sharra are enjoying school still, even though they complain about having to get up and go. Today starts the first round of SEP's (parent teacher confs) for the year. Luckily I have both of them scheduled for today so then we can relax for the rest of the week.
Aviendha recently got her new contact and it stays on much better! I took the girls in for haircuts and they turned out really cute! And just on a fun side note, I recently made kapusta (a vinegar-based cabbage salad that's traditional fare in my family growing up) for dinner. I knew that Sam and Sharra would eat it and guessed that Ginny would turn it down (she's not fond of any veggies that are green right now). But I wasn't sure for Ne-ne. She LOVED it--ate five helpings! Good thing those polock genes got passed along! :)
Adam is kept busy at work and for that we are extremely thankful! As for me, well, I'm trying to get everything prepped for juniors' arrival. Halloween costumes made, baby gear out and organized, and unfinished projects completed! Life is good for us right now.
Monday, August 31, 2009
August was...

Ginny went on this obstacle course with a sibling or Adam so many times I lost count. She also was the one to make it the highest up the climbing wall before losing her nerve--if she hadn't looked down I think she would have made it to the top!





So, this was August. B'day weekend for Adam's dad, the end of the summer reading program party, and a trip to the park with just us to celebrate the coming of school. More relaxed, yet still flew by and now we're into school and "fall" and canning.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Playing Catch Up








I feel like that's all I do these days, but with school started and a more regular routine getting established, I'm hoping to be a bit more on top of it when junior arrives! Speaking of, we've decided on a name (a boring name according to Sam)--Stephen Thomas Mackelprang. Yeah, I know we're breaking tradition of naming our kids after literary characters, but since this is our last, we thought we'd shed some honor on forefathers this time. Junior will be named after both grandpas. Less than two months to go!!
Sam and Sharra both started school last week. Both are loving it, even if I'm not loving them being gone! I freely admit I have a very hard time letting my little ones go. I hate the change, but know it's part of life. Since it can't be stopped I cry a little and then get used to it! My job in between the send-offs and turning points is to prepare them for those steps. When they handle them successfully, then it's job well done for me, bittersweet though it may be!
Ok, enough! Here are some pics of what we've been up to for the past little while. I probably won't have time to put them all up today, but I'll try to get back to it sometime this week!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Seriously now!

Not a great pic, but you can't have rainbows with out the rain. It's crazy how life kind of floats along so easy and carefree at times and then in a second or two changes to stress and struggle, where it's hard to reconcile the two. News of heart surgery, layoffs, cancer, and financial issues from family and friends all in the past few days really bring things crashing down! I wish luck to all those struggling right now and want all to know that we're here to help. And for those who won't ask, and you know who you are, know that we'll be there anyway! And for the times we can't be, a loving Heavenly Father is always there!!
Monday, July 20, 2009
A Month of Farewell Events


















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