Days with the Dorans

Usually I am so good at blogging our vacation adventures each night as they happen. This year I got sucked into "The Hunger Games" books and spent my evenings reading with the background sounds of the ocean... So here I am, hoping to kick some blogs out before I forget too much of the fun details! This year we were off to meet my parents in Myrtle Beach. We had thought that we would probably stop somewhere on the way down but to our surprise, the kids were great! We'd stop to get some food (the kids were thrilled with fast food), use the bathroom, stretch our legs, gas up the van and get back in and eat on the road. It was perfect and we actually made the trip in a day. Everything was going wonderfully until our lovely GPS (which I DID have a love affair with) decided to quit on us... in the middle of no where... and no, we rely on technology so much that we didn't have one of those... oh what do you call them... maps! Thankfully I recently invested in a SMART ph...

I'm learning now that simple things like doctors' appointments aren't always so simple for a 'larger' family. Our calendar is color coded and Jeff and I pretty much kiss each other on Sunday and say, "See you Friday". We are ships passing in the night and we often have to have a kid go late to practice or get help from my folks. Because of this crazy schedule, I took a day off work and the three Bigs and I were off to get our teeth cleaned! Since our appointments didn't start until 11:00, I got the Bigs on the bus and then Z and I took Seany to school. We hit a Tim Horton's (muffin and tea for me, donut for Z), got an oil change and then it was already time to get the Bigs from school! They were very well behaved and all got great reports on their brushing (I was especially happy to hear this about Z since I no longer help him brush his teeth!). They read books, did homework and did puzzles waiting for each other to get done with the cleanings. ...

As always Zach has said some doozies lately and thankfully now that I have a 'smart' phone, I've been able to say them into my phone and it writes them down for me so I don't forget. I thought I would save them for another Zachism's blog and after Z's practice (and some classic Goose), it was time to write that blog! * A few weeks ago Z got mad at his teacher (who also happens to be our wonderful dog-sitter). He told her she could no longer be his teacher and couldn't watch our dogs anymore! Thankfully he 'forgave' her (for whatever offense it was that may wronged him) and told her, "You can watch my dogs again." * While driving in the car the other day he said, "Mom. Do you want to hear my dream?" I told him I would love to hear his dream. It was quiet for a while and I said, "Zach, aren't you going to tell me your dream?" He replied, "Oh. I only tell people my dreams when I don't have my seatbelt on...

We have had such unseasonably warm weather that the weekends have been so much fun! We had a busy weekend with a Leprechaun trashing the house, Al's first softball practice, a birthday party, some family fun squeezed in, and me getting ready for my first "Mom to Mom" sale, but I am getting ahead of myself... On Saturday morning we all woke up to a trashed house! There was green Easter grass all over the place!! Sadly, Joe's leprechaun trap didn't work. The leprechaun ate some of the cheerios from the trap and took the coin, but he did leave each of the kids a plastic green necklace (which is the least he could do for making such a mess). There was also green water in the toilet and sink. We were surprised to see Artie (our Christmas Elf) watching over the madness but then the tooth fairy had said she knew Artie, so perhaps all elves, fairies and leprechauns know each other... After cleaning up the madness, we were (all) off to Ali's softball practice. I wa...

'Twas the night before St. Patrick's Day and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for perhaps a Leprechaun!!! Actually that is a lie... There was a LOT of stirring in this house and I'm shocked that it (finally) appears to be silent. Joe was sick with the flu on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week but the second he was better he was all business preparing for Saturday (aka St. Patrick's Day!) I came home from my meeting Thursday to signs all around the house and a leprechaun trap in the kitchen. Tonight (Friday) Joe took the Leprechaun trap to a whole new level including a restaurant that serves Cheerios, Beer, Water and Soda (aka~ all the good things in life). There have been giggles galore and I know that the mess that will no doubt overtake my house in the morning by the mischievous leprechauns will be worth it. The plan to catch them was certainly more creative than anything I could have dreamt up... I wonder if it will work! Here's the pl...

Moments ago Zach was in my bedroom. He told me he was looking for his rock and that he couldn't go to sleep without it. I had no idea what he was talking about. I barely got out the words, "A rock?" when he pulled back my comforter, grabbed a rock and said, "Oh there you are! I thought I'd lost you. Let's go to bed." Why is Zach talking to rocks? Why is he sleeping with rocks? And why in the world was there a rock in MY bed?? This is why we call him the "Goose". He was recently described as "random" and I had to smile as I remember my cousin calling my brother that once upon a time and nodding along. Yes. Random was the perfect description for Danny. And yes... random is the perfect description for Z. And so some random Zachisms from my recent memory for your reading pleasure. Unfortunately I haven't been blogging as much as I'd like and so I am sure there are other Zachisms that have slipped my mind. Here are a fe...

I absolutely love what I do (I'm talking about the job I get paid for), but there are certain occupational hazards that come with being a teacher... AND being a mom. I miss my kids' school parties and other events that may happen during the day and I have NEVER been able to see Ali's tumbling class because after I get done with work, grab the Littles and hurry home, Jeff is already back from dropping Al off. Last Wednesday though, I got a special treat... I got to be a mom! I was driving to school and I noticed that the lights by my school were out. I got a message from a friend and sure enough, our school had no power. I was PRAYING that school would get called because I knew that after school Ali had tumbling and the window was OPEN! My prayers were answered! They called school. We had to wait in the dark (and cold) a couple hours to make sure that all the parents were contacted and the children picked up and then we were free to leave. The moment I got home, I w...