Days with the Dorans

There is one piece of jewelry that I own that I get more compliments for, and I think that perhaps I should go into sales (well~ if this teaching thing doesn't work out... and who knows what the future of education is in this country...). Three years ago, I went to an art fair with my mom and found the coolest little booth full of jewelry. I know that there are loads of people at fairs like these that make their own jewelry but this was different... The idea behind this couple's jewelry was that you get one setting and you can switch out the stones~ which actually weren't stones at all but... MARBLES! I loved the way that the big chunky ring looked on my middle finger and I LOVED that I could change it to match whatever I was wearing! (That picture on my finger isn't the best. I wear it on my right hand so to take a picture was REALLY difficult.) I can honestly say that I have probably worn this ring nearly every day since I've gotten it! While I brush my teeth ...

Zach is our Silly Goose (which is why we refer to him as the Goose). I often find myself chuckling about the things he says (or how he says them) and think I should write them down. I know I write about my kids often here, but really~ I should keep a notebook in my pocket when it comes to Z. Jeff said the other day we need to start making lists of ' Zachisms " because they are so funny and we know that one day we will probably forget many of them. Today on the way to church (Jeff was already there playing electric so it was just me and the troops), Z said, "Mom, we need to go to the head store. I think I need a new head." I had no idea what he was talking about, but then I looked back at him, he had his head slumped to one side and when I looked at him he burst out into laughter! At church a woman asked if we have a lot of music in our home because clearly our kids like to dance (we go to a contemporary service- hence Jeff's electric). Z often dances in the aisle...

It was a big day for me! I went shopping with my princess to get a new (bigger) glove that would be perfect for having a catch! Ali Jane has been learning about the four seasons in kindergarten and to me this season ~spring~ is all about one thing.... BASEBALL (or really softball)! I love the smell of spring. Melting snow means one thing... I remember being so excited to get out there and have a catch with my dad, and now I can't wait to get out there and have a catch with my daughter! Of course I look forward to having catches with my boys (especially after Joe's coach suggested that 'dads' make sure to have a catch with your sons prior to practice), but today was all about me and my girl. We were off to do some shopping to get her a new and bigger glove (and other necessities). I had to laugh when she came downstairs with a dress, sparkly shoes and (though you can't see it in the pictures) bright blue eye shadow and pink cheeks! Joe wanted to know why she ...

I will often go to bed after tucking in the kids only to find them moments later in our bed... usually with a book... usually no where near tired. A few nights ago such was the case and Ali Jane came in to tell me that she forgot to show me an invitation she had received for a birthday party. Moments later she was joined by Z with a book (It didn't matter that we had already been there- done that for the night- We clearly have another book lover in the family). I looked at the invitation and noticed that the party was on April 16 th . April 16 th also happens to be the date of the Littles ' school's Easter Egg Hunt and more importantly... Z's birthday! I mentioned this to Ali Jane and without a moment's hesitation she said, "Oh Z. Nikki and Sammie are going to be so sad when I can't come to their party but they will understand that you are my brother and I just love you to much. I can't miss YOUR birthday!" My mouth about dropped to the floo...

This Saturday night Joe is enjoying a 'sleepover' with his sibs ... last night however, he wasn't so happy. I had a staff meeting Friday morning and so was off to school earlier than usual. The kids were up and dressed and ready for school. My dad was helping get their breakfast ready and I was out the door (my dad watches the Littles on Fridays and gets the Bigs on the bus). During my meeting, I got a text that Joe was sick and didn't want to go to school. Though he hadn't seemed at all sick when I left, I remembered back to when I DID send him to school and he came home and I felt like the worst mother in the world. Yesterday in Joe's eyes (for a while anyway), I probably was the worst mother in the world. When I called to check on him during my lunch, my dad told me to hold on because "he was playing with Z in the basement"- I was FURIOUS! I got on the phone and grilled him- wanting to know that if he was sick why in the world he would be playing ...

The day before St. Patrick's day was a busy one for me. I knew when I picked Sean up that something was wrong. His eyes were a watery mess and his nose was running like a faucet. Jeff made an appointment for him and we (Sean and I) were off to the doctor. After a 45 minute wait in the office, I learned that Sean had two "HUGE" ear infections and eye infections in both eyes. I was off to drop off prescriptions and then I took Sean home so Jeff could get him his bath and ready for bed. Moments later, I was back out to shop for things for my classroom, pick up the prescription and finally back home to give Sean his meds , finish up work and get to bed! I was returning emails from work late into the night, when I heard Joe get up from bed. He came into our room and used our bathroom. I was surprised and thought he must be half asleep. Soon after, he came back to my room and asked me if he could use our sink because his was messy. After he washed his hands, I heard...

I'll admit it... I am a bit of a blogging addict... It really takes no time for me to whip out a blog (after kids are in bed)- I have a blog for my family (that you are reading) a blog for my therapy (aka Pause), a blog for my job and lesser known blogs that are not public. I started both Joe and Ali Jane a blog in kindergarten. What I have done is taken pictures of their art, and writing and documented it on their own blog. This made it easier for me to 'recycle' some of their writing and projects. I do keep things with hand prints on them but everything else I take a picture of, put it on their blog and then it's off to recycling... This may sound like a horrible thing, but to keep all their work (like I used to from preschool) was overwhelming. Now I know I can take a picture (type their words) and publish. It takes me no more than 5 minutes and I know eventually I will be able to publish a nice book of all their schoolwork one day (If you have thought of blog...

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I have no memory. Other than 'big' events in my life (turning 10 years old, being bullied in junior high, meeting Jeff...), much of my past is a blur. Thankfully I have always been a keeper of diaries and so when I read them, some of my 'past' comes back to me. I can't recall what it felt like to be a student in K-12 or even going to college classes. My undergrad is a blur (and not because I was a huge partier ). Thankfully, I have always been a 'writer' and love that I have insight into how a second grader thinks (me!). I also must say that I LOVE pictures- and have two beautiful scrapbooks that I made for Joey and Ali Jane's first year of life (sorry, Z and Sean). Scrapbooking became harder with the more children (less time) we had and it was also expensive. I have cabinets full of things in the basement gathering dust because my creative juices don't have time to flow... The solution to my poor mem...

For Christmas, Sean's Godfather (Uncle Mike) got him the cutest fork, spoon and bulldozer set! My first thought was how very sweet it was of him to remember Sean. My second thought was that they need to make bulldozers like that for adults (goodbye extra bread)! My third thought was I wonder if Sean will ever eat with a utensil... We have tried using a fork at mealtimes for an eternity ( OK , so I am exaggerating a little- seeing that Sean is only 17 months old-). I've put food on his fork for him and even held it to his mouth in hopes that he might open up just a little and take a bite... but alas- he just grabs the fork with one hand and uses the other hand to pull off the food and shove it (directly) into his mouth. The fork then usually ends up on the floor next to the two dogs whose favorite place in the entire house happens to be under Sean's highchair! So today I was shocked when I picked Sean up from school. He was the only child sitting at the table and soon ...

Ok , I'll admit it, our house can get quite loud... if it's not guitars and amps, or dogs barking, it's kids ( ok , I'll admit it- most of the time it's kids). We do 'loud' really well in this family and we have a great time doing it. Since I finally got things organized in the basement, it has been great having the kids go down there (which allows me quiet to read... have a conversation with Jeff...), but tonight one piece of equipment wasn't down there that they wanted to play on... THEIR FATHER! They all decided it was time to use daddy as a jungle gym and it was great fun. I grabbed my camera and while most of the pictures turned out fuzzy (since they were going so fast), I did get a great video of Sean laughing. It's fun that he is getting in on the play with the Bigs and I love that he is also starting to laugh socially... they laugh, he laughs. It's become a game to see who can make Seany laugh the hardest (and the volume goes up).....

If I were a president, I will make sure that everyone can read and help the whole wide world and care for people that are hurt and love them. -Future President Alicia Jane Doran (And I think if the politicians took some cues from my kindergartner, this world would be a better place!)