Vitamin D Deficient

The last time I laid in the driveway like this I was telling Rob as he drove in from work to run me over. That was after we were first married and I was trying to figure out how to keep track of seven children under the age of ten. Rob got out of the car and said "Bad day hugh?" "That's an understatement."

This time it was as I was going to get the mail. After so much rain and cold I didn't realize how much I have missed the sun. I'm a sun girl. I love it hot. I couldn't help but just lay in the driveway and soak it in. Riley went and got me a pillow. Jacob came out and said "what are you doing Mom?" "I need some vitamin D...I'm deficient." Bring on summer!

The best

It was my birthday this week and this post is dedicated to my most amazing husband who worked so hard to make everything so nice for me. There is a lot of pressure on the guy beings how mother's day and my birthday are in the same week. It didn't help matters that I started announcing my birthday two months before it actually arrived. The reason for this is not because I am particularly excited about another birthday but because I feel it is my way to get back at my children for all the times they talk about THEIR birthdays months in advance. The night before my birthday, Rob went over to his parents house and made my favorite, white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. You know something is up when your husband comes home from work and tells you to take a bath. He didn't have to ask me twice whatever the reason. I noticed on my phone that one of the kids had texted Rob "She's out of the tub!" I knew something was up but no one would talk...not even Megan who I promoted to be my personal spy.
For mother's day Rob and the kids surprised me by planting flowers in my backyard. They had to haul so much dirt to do this and I know it took them a long time ( I was gone with Emily shopping and didn't get home until dark...I had no idea). The next morning the kids made me breakfast and we spent the afternoon with my family at my Mom and Dads.
I can't say enough about this group. I sure do love them and they keep me going (and going and going). Rob came home from work on my birthday and told me to leave and go shopping for a birthday present. He said he had everything under control and to go have fun. I was really surprised. Tuesday is my absolute busiest day of the week and to think that I could skip it all was really great. I came home to the best dinner. Rob knows that the Olive Garden is my favorite so he made yummy recipes that we could all enjoy together. By the end of the day he was beat. I know that feeling after carpooling kids around and making dinner. I feel so blessed to have such a great man in my life.
My favorite is the homemade gifts that my kids give me. Nothing beats a coupon book full of free stuff (like making dinner and a massage).
Nothing like a little birthday lunch with the girls to extend the celebration out. These are amazing women and I look up to them so much!
I can't help but laugh at this picture. I had to include it. These two were having a good old time salt and peppering each other's chips.
Thanks to my best friend Rob for making this week so nice. I appreciate him SO much and I couldn't ask for a better husband. Thank you kids for helping Dad and for being the lights of my life--you are the reason I was born. Thanks to my friends for their great examples and friendship.

Bad Chicken

So, I am going out to get in my car to pick up the kids from school when I happen upon this situation. My blood started to boil and chicken for dinner began to envelope my thoughts. I had just planted these flowers and now this chicken was making it home. I did the first thing that came to my mind and chucked that chicken as far as I could (which Rob told me later amidst his laughter that chickens can fly). Whatever. I felt better showing that chicken who is boss around here.

On the way back, there it was again. In my pot. "That's it!" I said in my most angry Mom voice. "I'm going to kill that chicken!" Well, that got Megan going and as I'm grabbing my camera for evidence I hear her say "Is Mom killing the chicken?"

I called Rob and told him he had until 8:00 that night to figure out what he was going to do with those chickens. I wasn't hysterical but I wasn't exactly happy either. Rob made it worse by saying "o.k. honey, we'll see you soon." That did not help the mood. How could he act so calm?

Rob thinks roaming chickens and pigs are natural. He lived in the Dominican Republic for two years and apparently roaming chickens and pigs were an every day occurrence. Well, we live in the good old U.S.A. and what is happening at my house IS NOT NATURAL.

I suppose this is yet another one of those instances where I will look back one day and laugh. I seem to have a lot of those moments around here. As for now, the chickens remain in the dog kennel where they are apparently pecking each other to death. At least they're not in my pot---for now.