A New Year Begins

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass - it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

Busy beginning of a new year. Back to school, trying to make a committment to get to the gym, nasty cold passing back and forth between our children...Today I have 3 little ones clinging to me and Chocolate Cheerios all over my couch.
I am loving Jakey's little bald head. It is so sweet. So soft. He is growing so quickly. He's rolling around, playing with toys, and I'm afraid he won't fit in his cradle much longer. (Sarah and Jacob wear the same size diaper now LOL.) The last few nights he's slept in my arms. I'm just not ready to put him in his crib in the boys' bedroom.
Last week we finally got back to the swimming pool at the gym. It's so nice once we get there. The water is warm and our children have a lot of fun together. It's so nice that they have each other to play with. I held Sarah and played with her while Tom gave Leah a small swim lesson. Rachel, Noah, and Ethan swam together and went on the waterslide together. Brandon didn't want to go, so he stayed home and watched Jacob. It's nice he's old enough to babysit and it's nice that he enjoys watching his baby brother.
Tough week with the school bus. But now the school is involved because of another parent. A parent who is in denial of her own children's behavior. You can't even talk to her or her husband. When someone else has a problem with one of my children, that parent can talk to me and know that I will discuss it with them and with my child. It's the same if I have trouble with another child. I can discuss the problem with the other parent(s) grown-up to grown-up. This particular mother called me and yelled on my voicemail. Did she call to discuss it as an adult? No. She called to just yell and tell me that she was reporting my children to transportation and the schools. I felt like she was kind of being a "bully." Of course, she said her children did nothing wrong. Well, I'm sure by now she has learned differently from the school (and videotapes.) Better that way than me trying to convince her. There are many others having troubles with her boys. She may have just opened up a big mess for herself. Besides, I think it's pretty silly to say that a 6 year old little girl is being mean to an 11 year old boy. I know our boys don't get along, but leave my daughter out of it. That just makes me angry.
Next weekend I am leaving all this drama behind and going to Iowa for my "oldest" friend's 40th. I am so excited! We've been friends since first grade. Our 2 oldest will be staying with my sister, so we'll "only" be bringing 5 of our children. I wish we could bring all 7, but this way we only have to take 1 car. I will miss our 2 boys, but they love being with their cousins. They'll have a good time - and I am looking forward to seeing friends and having fun too.