Sigh.... I pulled a total lazy mom move, we just got back from McDonald's...

Oh well. The kids are happy and my kitchen is still clean, win-win, right? What really makes it pathetic is that tomorrow is pizza night. So that's two days in a row of me neglecting the nutritional content of my sweet angels' tummies. Followed by Halloween. Therefore the sigh.... Honestly, today has been kind of a bummer and I just didn't want to bother. Sometimes you get news about someone you know, and it just bums you out... Unnecessarily... You know EXACTLY what they do, how they live their lives and the awful choices they make. Nothing is a secret, when you find out the new info, you aren't shocked or in disbelief. You're just bummed. And sad that they just kind of nailed your front door shut with them unable to probably ever enter again. And so we went to get chicken nuggets. And yes, I saw the vile video of the processed chicken for nuggets. I still have to make dinner for Billy and I since I can't eat at McDonald's, but 5 of us are taken care of and it's not even 6 pm.

Onto happier things.... Have you seen the money lender video with Montel Williams? It came on yesterday and Emi looks over and points and yells, "Daddy!" Totally made my day, funniest baby happening of the week for sure. And for those of you unaware of the uncanny resemblance of my dearest and Mr. Williams, I present them both:

 Separated at birth......




So that's my day in a nutshell. Tomorrow night we're having kids over for movie night on the back wall of the house, I hope the weather stays mild. I'm going to try and make Halloween cupcakes for them and before you know it Halloween will be here. I'll be escorting (in age order...) an ice ninja, a zombie doctor, a candy corn fairy, a black cat and a dalmatian puppy. It's going to be awesome. I love my family.....


Egad: Randy and Evi Quaid... Have you heard they fled to Canada to escape the "Hollywood Star Whackers"?!

I know I'm a dork, but I love voting time....

I hate the constant telephone calls, but I like to vote. I wish everyone felt it was a duty to do so. I'm not going to get political, I'm not talking about who to vote for, that's your business, just go and do your duty as a citizen.  So this morning, Billy and I took the shorties and did our early voting.

Sunday we hit the pumpkin patch and I was so bummed that the littlest ones do not want adorable pictures for their mom. :) They thought the place was some kind of place to run laps. This is what I ended up with...

So they aren't terrible, but not quite the adorable, everyone loves everyone shots I was hoping for.... At least I got to check the pumpkin patch off the list. Now onto the Halloween Friday Movie night. I still haven't decided on the movie, but we have a projector and Friday night we're going to have friends over for the big kids and watch a movie out back on the side of the house. Simon and Emi will be asleep and I wanted something fun for the big kids--baby free. Luckily the weather has stayed quite warm, so it should be fun. We'll pull chairs and blankets out and just park it with popcorn and candy.

I should end this, I have mountains to do before the physical therapist gets here and I have to wake up the short ones...

Egad: Charlie Sheen has truly lost his mind.....
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/10/26/charlie-sheen-naked-trashed-hotel-room-report-says/?test=faces

Maybe black pancakes for Halloween wasn't such a great idea...

So last night was breakfast for dinner and I decided we needed black pancakes and Kevin and I did spiderwebs. Then late this morning I get bathroom reports and a diaper that was clearly, um.... blue. So FYI, black food coloring enhanced pancakes equal next day blue poo. I'm just here to inform. :)

The weekend is shaping up nicely, tomorrow we're hitting the pumpkin patch if Miss Emi is feeling up for it. Right before bed, she started quite a cough and was really whiny. Fingers crossed that we're not entering a new week of illness. So pumpkin patch for pictures, the last of the laundry, Billy is on yard duty, and the boys are knee deep in a book report. I was hoping to get Olivia's accent wall painted, but I just don't see it happening tomorrow. I can probably get it done during a nap this week, one wall doesn't take too long. We are redoing her room a little bit, new bedding and paint and curtains to mature the room a bit. Nine is a tough age, she still has a ton of stuffed animals, but wants to be older too.

I am trying to breathe slowly as I see November on the horizon. The babies turn 2 right before Thanksgiving. That includes the annual horrifying trip to the portrait studio where one child will be an angel, smiling sweetly and the other will be channeling the anti-Christ. And it's not enough that I am batting .500, the anti-Christ channeler decides that it's not as much fun to push me to tears alone, that other kid must also suffer. He/she pokes, hits, you name it. Then we're all crying and I call it a day. At least shopping for the outfits will be fun, I do like to do my part for the economy. I'm also hoping to get all 5 kiddos to sit for the Christmas picture and then Thanksgiving will be here and we all know what that means. My babysitter graduates and moves on in 3 weeks and Christmas shopping needs to be done before she leaves.

I think I'm going to end this now, especially as I reread the next 6 weeks or so and I feel the need to quickly get a bottle of wine open. Have a good one....

A morning spent at the Social Security Office....

I am ashamed to admit it, but a month before Simon and Emi's 2nd birthday, I realized that I have yet to officially change their names with social security. When they came to us through the foster care system, they had their names given to them by their birth mother and social security numbers. A mom more on the ball would have zipped over to the ss office soon after the adoption was finalized, but not me. :) But as of now, all government offices recognize my precious ones as official Ryanns. At least I beat their 2nd birthdays. And sitting in that office didn't kill me.

Then I spent the bulk of my babysitter time going from store to store looking for a bike chain cover. Let me just say that I am so over Bike Rodeo. My kids don't need a light on their bikes, because I don't let them ride at night. But we own the $15 lights for that one morning every year when Bike Rodeo commences. Same with those obnoxious horns. This is my older boys' last bike rodeo, and it may be the one thing I am happy to leave behind in elementary school. Needless to say, I came up empty handed and Kevin will have to be cover-free and lose 5 points. I hope I haven't damaged him permanently....


http://www.theonion.com/articles/quiet-riot-speaks-out-against-nations-poor-metal-h,18174/

My sweet girl learned an important word today...

Emi learned to say "coffee". No, it's not on the recommended list from the speech therapist, but probably a necessity in this house. :) We didn't have therapy today, so we really just spent the day at home and I tried to really do some Spring cleaning? (Fall cleaning?) around here during nap. I got half of the pantry done which was no small feat. Of course, Billy gets home, I do the big "TA DA!" and he just stands there. Grrr. I guess I'll just have to appreciate the pretty and organized shelves alone. You should see my cupcake sprinkles section...

School is really getting busy, I have at least one kid staying after school for some extra curricular every day except Friday. I am so lucky that the school is inside our subdivision, it makes it much easier to coordinate pick ups and to share with other moms. I am also lucky that our school offers so many options for the kids for free. They are in choir, 5th grades strings and once-a-month clubs start in November. We are truly blessed to have found their school and this great neighborhood. I hope we're as happy next year when Aaron and Kevin start middle school. Yikes, I am so not ready for that move. I see prayers and wine involved in that transition.

My wonderful babysitter is graduating from college in December and moving back home. I have been really lucky to be able to run errands all by myself twice a week for the past year, I know I am spoiled. So now the dilemma is, do I put them in a Mother's Day Out program, do we look for a Montessori, or a Goddard private preschool? I am really torn, I worry that because they are behind in speech that they won't be able to communicate, and I doubt that the teachers will know their signs. Simon gets really frustrated if he isn't understood, and so I don't really know what I am going to do. I could leave them home with me until the new school year, they would be better speakers.... I just don't know.

Hmm, I didn't mean for this to be a serious, what am I going to do post, I didn't know it was lurking. :) Last night I dreamt that Billy left me. Not only left me, but the kids were fine with it, cuz they had 2 houses now! I, of course, immediately woke him up at 2:30 to ask him how he could do that to me. Because that's what marriage is about. :) We're hitting our 13th anniversary in a few weeks, how has he managed to stay sane? I fully admit I am high maintenance. Not because I need lots of stuff or expect lots of gifts or anything. I just tend to speak before thinking, I talk too much and unfortunately, take things personally. Like I have said before, he is a good man.

RIP Tom Bosley, you were a big part of my childhood, you and Fonzy......

What's a Road Trip Without the Police Invited?

We planned to take the family to the Texas State Fair this past weekend, it's something that Billy's family did when he grew up and he wanted to share it with his kids. We had a great day on Friday, we spent the entire day there and I was happily surprised at how well Simon and Emi did. We took the jogging stroller and then I bought these....

Yes, I am that kind of mom. And those leashes were fantastic! They look like backpacks, the animal tail is the part you hang onto and the babies loved being able to roam. $10 at Walmart and totally worth it on a trip like this. We did it all, the rides...

The food.... fried chocolate, candy apples....

We really just had a great time together and I hope made some awesome memories for the kids.... Then it was time to pack it up and head to the hotel... 2 exits away and pitch dark outside, we hit something and the tire blew. We're sitting on the overpass on a Friday night with 5 kids waiting on a tow. Billy got worried about our safety, so he called the Dallas PD and that's where we added to the memories. :)

That's our back window, the cops gave us quite a procession at 10 mph off the highway and into a parking lot where the kids got sticker badges, we waited for the tow truck, some kids had to find a tree, and we took pictures with our rescue team.

They were great, they were great with the kids, and the concierge from the Marriott came in the Security SUV and drove the kids and I to the hotel so I could get the short stacks ready for bed. I felt bad that we had this big bump in plans, but as I listened to the big kids on the way to the hotel, I realized that they were talking nonstop about the whole trip. I mean ALL of it. They thought every bit of it was great. And so as I got everybody settled and Billy got back to the room, we finished the night off with "Suburban Commando" with Hulk Hogan, circa 1991. I have no idea what this movie is, but it was the last thing I watched Friday night and we laughed hysterically. I'm pretty sure it was the exhaustion from the day, but I want to share the Hulk....

What'cha gonna do brother when Hulkamania runs wild on you?"

Sometimes those holiday Mondays really mess me up....

I almost forgot the shorties had physical therapy today because all day I have thought it was Monday. We had a long three day weekend, Billy lost a cousin to cancer, I was sick for a good chunk and I am realizing that the end of year is descending upon me and I'm not sure I'm in the mood. :) I need to figure out Simon and Emi's birthday gifts and party date, since it's right before Thanksgiving. I also need to get my law office manager hat on, with the holidays approaching, it's my job to get Christmas cards and gifts ordered and sent off before I really get trucking on family Christmas stuff.

This week Billy is supposed to hear from a guy that (I'll keep this completely basic, I'll pretend I'm talking to myself) does prototypes. One of the next steps in Billy's venture is to be able to show a prototype of his widget to prospective investors. My fingers are crossed for him, the last offer was $100,000 because he doesn't just make one. Great, so if we crater, we get to keep 10,000 useless widgets in our garage with the Christmas tree. Fantastic.

I should be hearing footsteps at the door soon, my 5th graders should be home any second. Then homework wrangling begins... "What do you have to get done", "What do you mean you didn't bring it home", etc.... Definitely one of the more trying times of the day.

I swear one of the most embarrassing things to happen for me is when one of my FIFTH graders comes to me stuck on a math question and I have to say, "hang on, what are they asking for?" or "I don't remember that from school". I mean I expected that to happen, but not in fifth grade! I was never a great math student, but to get stumped by a 10 year old's assignment is mortifying. I guess it could be worse, it could've happened when they were 3rd graders. :) I look at those two boys and I remember flying to meet them and take them home. It feels like yesterday when Billy and I were alone with them in the hotel room, waiting for the ok to leave the state with our babies and staring at each other like, now what?! They were so tiny, 5 lbs each. And here I am now watching them in their last year of elementary school. They are turning into such sweet young men, but Kevin is already "not noticing" me in the hallway at school, or giving me a head tilt instead of a hug. Ugh, it's the worst. But this is what is supposed to happen, right? But boy, does it hurt. :(


.... Best thing of the weekend? My sweet Emi has moved from "momma" to "mommy". I just don't know why that sounds so much sweeter.....

Ugh, now it's my turn to feel awful...

Well, who didn't see this coming? You can always count on your family to share their germs. It could be worse, it's a long weekend, Billy is home to help and I have felt worse. It's like a raging sore throat, stuffy head combination, completely survivable.

Am I the only one planning Thanksgiving? Around here I tend to jump from one event to another from June (Father's Day and Billy's bday) and then I rest after New Years. Those 6 months cover all 7 birthdays, Halloween, our wedding anniversary, and the holidays through New Years. I rest January through May. :) So now that everyone has a Halloween costume and the decorations are out, I move on to the Thanksgiving/babies' birthday. Since Emi and Simon turn 2 in mid November, we are just planning a dinner at home with close friends and cupcakes. I figure when they start a preschool program and friends come into play, we'll start the big class parties. Thanksgiving will be tricky this year. 2 months ago my mom had to enter a nursing home for her Parkinson's. It had really become too much for my 75 year old father to continue home care. So now what do we do? Have him over for lunch, then we all go visit my mom in the late afternoon? Or is it just the 7 of us for the big meal? My brother and I are not close, so it will probably be a small affair, which is ok, we're going to have friends over a few days later to celebrate the babies' birthday and should be a lot of fun.

I have no idea why I just turned this blog into a Thanksgiving planner. On a related note, I just got a new gluten free ebook for Thanksgiving and I can't wait to flip through it to plan the menu. I should go, little ones need tending to....

.....Who is going to buy perfume from Lady Gaga? I just don't conjure up beautiful smells when I think of her.....

Now I need a nap....

My youngest are down for an afternoon nap and from what I can tell from the racket, I'm not sure they will actually sleep. Thursdays are hectic here, as soon as the big kids leave for school, Simon, Emi, and I hurry to get dressed and eat breakfast before the speech therapist arrives. The short stacks are 22 months and say very little, my sweet Emi Marie is now trying to mimick as much as she can. Simon is my strong and silent one, he knows a handful of words, but I have a feeling he will speak with actions more than words as he grows up. A few hours after speech and the physical therapist for their torticollis arrives and we work on that until 1. Honestly, I intensely dislike Thursdays, it's hard to believe that they lead to wonderful Fridays.

I have laundry mocking me from every bathroom, even some that made it to the laundry room floor. I always intend to do it on Thursdays and Fridays so weekends can be more time for the 7 of us and less time in the mudroom. I'd say I only truly accomplish this 60% of the time. There is so much to be done with 5 kids, but as I complain or moan about the work, please understand that I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't like laundry, or mopping, or begging someone to take out the trash and clean their room. But I love this life, and couldn't imagine any one of us not being here to annoy and love each other. It really is a wonderful life....

Billy has nicknamed Emi's blanket "Jackson". Am I the only one that finds that hilarious? I may be, we are meant to be....

As my oldest daughter falls asleep after upchucking....

I am sitting here wondering what my sleep pattern will be tonight. My poor Olivia didn't make it through the school day, and Emi started to get feverish by bedtime. I see a long week ahead for me. I mean, Billy and I instilled a great sense of sharing.... illness. Markers or art supplies, FORGET IT. But germs and barf, they are beyond giving...

I would have already typed at least 1 other paragraph, if not 2 by now if hubby would stop talking to me about various ESPN commentators. I try to care, I mean it's probably akin to discussing shows on Bravo (I admit, I just can't walk away from that channel). In fairness, I know he's glazed over when I want to talk about The NJ Housewives... We took vows, this is what you do for each other.

So I sit here, not watching the New England/ Miami game with Billy and Kevin with poor Aaron still doing homework. 5th grade has truly been a struggle for them both. We are trying to make them own it, not hold their hands and make them responsible for homework and studying. It's only October and it's killing me. I want them to be ready for middle school (God knows I won't be) but it's going to be painful, grades are lower and there's a little less peace around here at night.

I will end it with the good and the bad. Good news, the HEB brand gluten free pasta was fab, yay for $2.99 pasta! Bad news, moment of silence for Michael Vick's injury yesterday, he is now listed as day-to-day. He is Billy's quaterback in Fantasy Football.

Jumping in...

So here I am sitting with my laptop and wondering do I start with some type of mini biography for the first post or do I just start "talking". Everyone's first blog entry is going to be choppy, right? I am married to a great guy, we have 5 kids that span from 22 months to 10 yrs and life is busy. I love it, even when I'm exhausted, or can't figure out 5th grade math, or when Billy (previously mentioned great guy) leaves that greasy, disgusting pan in the sink that I know he left for me on purpose. This is exactly where I am supposed to be. I figure I will regularly mention my best friend, Cathy. We met in 4th grade, 31 years ago. We live maybe 5 miles away from each other and probably talk at least 5 times a day. She may also be my only blog reader, which would be kinda sad, since she'll be reading what we already talked about. I have Celiac's Disease, which means I cannot digest gluten, and desperately miss it. I should exercise more, I should iron, I should learn to garden. This is almost confession....

The newest endeavor for the Ryanns is Billy's soon-to-be company. He is a patent attorney and a few years ago he came up with a few ideas that he decided to patent himself. Now we're living in that what now, seed money, marketing, we have no idea what we're doing place. I'll admit to my eyes glazing over late at night when he is giddy with his science nerd-dome enthusiam, but that's just because it's his baby. He's worked really hard on this and it really has taken years to get to this step off point. Oh, and I would really like a new kitchen. So I guess I must be invested too.