Flying Solo - How A Mom of Many Gets By

Hello, May.

Hello, Blog.

You seem to be at the bottom of the list these days. 

Last week, Bob and Jerrod flew to Arizona to help my parents out as they prepare to move into their new winter home and this also gave Jerrod a chance to spend time with his grandparents before he leaves for Marine boot camp.

On the home front, we soldiered on the best we could without Daddy and big brother.

Here is a bit of how I coped, home alone with eight kids.

I didn't suffer much, a testament to my awesome kids!
 
With my extra driver gone, I got reacquainted with Big Red and was back to being taxi-driver-mom, a wake up call for how spoiled I've been this year.

I found eggs at Wally-world. Here's hoping these last a week. 

I am totally not kidding.

After the airport run, we went to a science museum to see a dinosaur exhibit. 

Joy panicked and cried real tears. We are still getting to know our girl.

 When they opened the moonwalk, we went right over.

 I am grateful that Joshua can do these kind of activities.

 Joy is not shy when it comes to keeping up with the boys!

 No surprise that Trey got the highest bounce.

 Micah is all about the fun!

 Time for an update on Joy's progress. 

It's been slow going and other than her brush with the dinosaurs, she is a happy girl.

 The boys shared the inside of a piano.

Forget retail therapy, my saving grace this week was taking the kids out to eat.

We are good at sniffing out Chinese buffets which accounts for Joshua's jello smile!

I blew our entire food budget taking my kids out to eat not once or twice but five times this week. Pure gluttony, but I didn't have to shop, cook, or clean-up which was a huge sanity-saver.

Interestingly, Joy does NOT like Chinese food buffets very much. 

About all we can get her to eat is the egg-drop soup.

On Tuesday, I had a beautiful bunch of young ladies sing Happy Birthday to me!

We made a sugar free cake and the candles were what we found in the cupboard. 

Remember those eggs? We used a dozen for the cake and frosting.

 49 and counting!

One afternoon, we stopped for some cheese pizza and had a picnic because spring is here and for a few weeks we can be outside before the black fly invasion.

 Pouring over Lego magazines.

Joy is independently mobile pushing her oxygen-baby in the stroller.

Joshua is so close to taking off on his own. 

His confidence and endurance are a little shy of success. 

I hope he can do it.... before he can't.

On Sunday, with temps in the sixties, 

we landed at the ocean after a fun stop at IHOP. 

Wide open spaces and sunshine do wonders for my mental health.

 Joy wasn't liking the bare feet business but the wagon was a hit!

We missed Dad because usually he spearheads the kite flying. We had three up at one time and let's just say there were a few near misses in the tangle department.

 You can sure tell when this boy is happy.

 There are all kinds of ways to fly a kite.

Erik was our professional wagon puller! Grateful for a big kid who is willing to cater to the littles.  

I am happy to report that Bob and Jerrod returned safely to a well-fed and relaxed family. 

I guess you could say we had our own little vacation while they were gone.