blogger mom

2012-01-27T20:07:00.000-05:00

Cora has a sinus infection and Dr. Hornstein prescribed the nastiest tasting antibiotic possible. Unfortunately she's allergic to amoxicillin, the yummy bubble gum stuff. Day 3 and I'm pretty sure she's taken about half of one dose. She spits it everywhere...usually all over me. Today I called the doctor's office to see what we should do. Their answer...chocolate pudding. Really? Is this a normal part of a toddler's diet? I explained that she has never had pudding and that I do not have any pudding in the house. They said it was the only thing that was strong enough to cover up the taste and to call them tomorrow after I tried chocolate pudding.

There was no way I was going to the store to buy instant crap in a box and give it to my almost two year old. But, chocolate pudding from scratch did start to sound pretty good. Out came my Better Homes and Garden cookbook. The Hartzler Dairy whole milk, real butter, real sugar, Frontier organic cocoa, cornstarch, and vanilla all went into my saucepan and 45 minutes later the rich chocolate goodness was ready to chill in the fridge. Wow...this is pudding, friends. Then I ruined it by adding a teaspoon of Omnicef to Cora's. Guess what, she spit it everywhere. She's not stupid. So, she still hasn't taken a real dose of her medicine, but the rest of us had some amazing dessert tonight!

2012-01-26T10:29:00.003-05:00

Thank you Michelle Obama.

She has taken on one of the most important issues this country faces, childhood obesity. We have been moving down a dangerous path at a very quick pace in the United States. Finally someone with a little authority has put the brakes on and is making us look more closely at what we are doing to our children. Sadly, I had to seek out this article today. It didn't make my regular news feed. My regular news feed was full of articles about our political parties. We are far more concerned about arguing and power as the election approaches than with what really matters. Maybe if the first wives from recent years were given the control we might actually get somewhere. If I'm remembering correctly, Mrs. Laura Bush's issue was illiteracy. According to Joe Noonen's sermon on Sunday, 70% of our inmates are illiterate.

Anyway...thank you again, Mrs. Obama. This sick mama would love to be able to give her kids the option of buying lunch on days when I don't feel well without worrying that what they eat at school may just make them sick as well.

2012-01-24T10:03:00.002-05:00

Rough start to the day at the Stetler house.

Baby girl with a fever and snotty nose was restless all night.

Eric was out of the house before the sun came up this morning.

Boys slept in, which was good, but it made for a super rushed morning to make it to the school bus. Trey Stetler has one speed...super slow.

In the middle of the morning rush Miss Cora located the open bottle of baby tylenol with an unsecure lid (sleepy mommy in the middle of the night) and hid behind the chair in her room to finish of the bottle, approximately 8 pills or "candies" according to Cora. I caught her as she was popping the last one in her mouth.

While on the phone with poison control, the three boys decided it would be a great time to serenade me with the loudest possible version of "Red Solo Cup" which is quite possible the dumbest song ever written. I hate Toby Keith.

It's 9:45. Cora is back in bed. The older two are at school. Evan just finished off a nice temper tantrum and has settled into Return of the Jedi. I'm blogging and should be showering.

All of this on a high stress day for me already. I will be representing our elementary school tonight at the Kenyon Winter Activies Fair and I have to be there by 4:30. I have taken on the role of volunteer coordinator at our school and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to do the job. For my personality this fair leads to a decent amount of anxiety. I'm responsible for coordinating schedules of about 150 students. Tonight I'm recruiting new volunteers.

AND...my heart hurts for my oldest. They lost last night in double overtime. Which sucks, but isn't the real issue. Riley didn't play at all in either of the two overtimes, and he's old enough now to know why. I was there for the first half and he played well, but the closer the game got the more time he spent on the bench. My heart doesn't hurt because he was benched, or because they lost. It hurts because my little boy is losing his sense of awesome...that innocence that each child has when they assume that they are the very best at everything. Little girls think they are awesome ballerinas, little boys think they are awesome football players...you know what I mean. Kids think they are awesome. Then one day we suddenly grow up, and we realize that maybe that isn't true...maybe someone is better than us. We lose our confidence, we become timid. Each week my 10 year old loses a little more confidence, a little more of his awesomeness...and as his mother it is simply one of the most painful experiences I have ever had. To me, Riley Stetler is simply amazing and I want him to know that every minute of every day.

So, here we go. Another day...a day without their daddy because he's out of town for a bit. Another day where I have the ultimate privilege of being their mommy and dealing with all the emotions that come along with that...joy, pain, guilt..all of it. This job is not for the faint of heart, but with God's strength we will try our best to take it all in stride and just love each other through it.

2012-01-21T19:10:00.001-05:00

We are half way through another school year. The boys brought home their report cards on Friday and we were thrilled with both their grades and their teacher's comments. Trey is a leader in his classroom. He is pushing other students to think creatively and problem solve independently. Riley is working hard. His grades (straight A's) and his state testing scores show that his extra effort is paying off. He has struggled with test taking which can be problematic in the public school system. His teachers have worked with him and his testing taking skills have improved dramatically. My two oldest are kind to others and respectful. They are such sweet boys.

We enjoyed a yummy snowy day treat this morning. I made doughnuts with my new doughnut baking pan. They were so, so good. A super healthy treat including a half cup of sweet potatoes and a half cup of winter squash.

Cora is constantly begging to play in the snow. She loves it. She refuses to take off her snow boots and carries her coat around the house just in case someone is suddenly willing to play outside with her. She took a beautiful walk in the woods with me and Evan on Friday and now she isn't content in the house. We are learning a lot about Miss Cora right now. She is an extrovert...she gains all of her energy from being out and about with other people. Both Eric and I love being home...it's where we rest and get our energy for another day. Not Cora. All three boys are more like Eric and I. I'm not sure what we are going to do with her. When she's been in the house too long she gets extremely grumpy. I'm trying to take her with me whenever I have to run errands and that seems to help her get her people fix for the day.

Cora's favorite friend to visit is Ms. Edith, the secretary at our preschool. Ms. Edith is very special to both me and Cora. Talking with her is often the highlight of our day. She loves Cora and Evan and always has a big smile ready for us. On Friday Ms. Edith told me that her husband of 41 years left her. She was trying so hard not to cry, but she couldn't hold back the tears. I could tell she was hesitant to tell me at first, but at the same time she needed me to know. My heart has been so heavy since then. I had no idea what to say to her...all that I could do was tell her how sorry I was and that I knew she was strong and brave. I can't get her off my mind today.

2012-01-17T13:51:00.002-05:00

Just finished my first batch of tortilla chips. Crazy to start with flour, cornmeal, and a few other ingredients and in a few minutes have a bowl full of homemade chips. Here are my reasons for making something that you can buy with pretty pure ingredients from the store.

1. I think I saved a few bucks...not that tortilla chips are super expensive.

2. Eating chips becomes a time consuming choice, not a mindless activity. If I'm hungry, a quick fix is a handful of chips from the bag. The quick fix should be an apple. Chips become a treat if I am making a deliberate choice to make them for my family, rather than a snack staple in our house.

3. No preservatives. I watched the ingredients go into the bowl and every ingredient was a good choice for my family. I can pronounce all the ingredients, so I now have moved chips from the food product category to the real food category.

It was fun. Healthy eating has been a priority for us for a long time now, but it's time to cut out some of the easy convenience foods we've allowed to slip into our diet.

2012-01-15T22:08:00.000-05:00

About ten minutes after my last post...the one about how much I love kids toys and will search for hours for missing pieces...Cora swallowed a Harry Potter lego head. I haven't found it yet, but I'm not looking too hard. I have my limits.

2012-01-14T16:11:00.001-05:00

We love toys and games at our house. Truth be told, I'm a little OCD when it comes to our toys. I have been known to spend hours searching for a missing lego piece or a game card. I love to organize the toys and then reorganize them. We try to be really selective and research toys before we buy them or ask someone else for them as a gift, and then we really use them. All my kids enjoy their toys, especially in the winter. All that to say, my dream job is to review toys and games!

So, although no one is paying me...or may care one bit about my opinion...here is my first review:

TRIO BLOCKS SUCK

Riley and I are working on a huge Harry Potter lego set, HUGE. We were able to easily complete an entire bag in 20 minutes. Then Evan asked me to help him with Trio blocks and my first thought was, "Nooooo, anything but Trio blocks." But, I found some inner strength (all that yoga is paying off) and set out on a new Batcave configuration. We bought Trio blocks because they were advertised as building sets for preschoolers. Evan is always so jealous of his brothers' legos, so we thought Trio blocks were the perfect solutions. Show me just one preschooler who could EVER snap Trio blocks together. It took me 45 minutes to assemble, and I only swore under my breath once. Fisher-Price, you've seriously let me down, and I'm a big Fisher-Price fan.

To give them a bit of credit though...Imaginext toys by Fisher-Price are amazing!

2012-01-13T08:28:00.001-05:00

SNOW DAY with my little people!!!

We started the day off right with some yummy, healthy cinnamon oatmeal pancakes!

I love snow days. I had trouble sleeping last night because I was so excited to check the computer this morning to see if we had the day off. Silly. This means the boys will have a 5 day weekend because they already have Monday and Tuesday off. I'm sure we (I) will be ready for school to start again on Wednesday!

Kentucky Bourbon candle is lit and cozy pjs will stay on all day.

2012-01-12T18:50:00.003-05:00

Riley had a friend over after school today. This is the second time he's come to our house to hang out after school (not PLAY after school, as I've been reminded often by my 10 year old). His mom seems nice, although I have had very little interaction with her. She seems to trust us to take care of him without really knowing us. I was getting ready to take him home before we ate dinner and he honestly looked like he was going to cry. He said he wanted to eat with us. His mom had plans with friends after work. He also lives with his grandma, grandpa, aunt and uncle. We tried to call his mom to make sure it was okay, but we couldn't reach her. He said the only person that would be home was his uncle, and that he would just be sleeping. He didn't think anyone would have dinner ready for him. It broke my heart. He sat and ate with us and then I took him home. I heard him whisper to Riley in the backseat, "It stinks when I have to leave your house."

Hurting kids are everywhere...the inner city and the country, in poorer families and wealthy families. Our house has become a place where kids like to hang out, which makes me super happy. I like that kids want to be here...I'll like that even more when they are teenagers because it will help me keep an eye on them! I enjoy getting to know their friends from school and watching them all "hang out" together. I want our home to be a safe place...for my kids, and for their friends.

New around our house...

Cora and Evan have started to really play together, which in a huge help. Evan is an excellent big brother.

Cora is OBSESSED with hide and seek. She's learning new words every day. She loves to clean!

Riley is doing extremely well in school. His practice OAA scores have skyrocketed. I'm not really concerned about state testing, but his teachers are and I'm glad he's doing so much better.

Trey has started his basketball season. ADORABLE. I'm loving Upwards. I cried when they called his name and he ran through the tunnel last week.

Eric and I are exercising again after the holidays wrecked our bodies. Running and yoga...it feels so good.

The Buckeyes need a leader...and a win against Indiana this weekend!

2012-01-03T13:59:00.001-05:00

All three boys went back to school today and Cora Jean is napping. After 13 days with all four kids, the quiet is almost disturbing. We had a wonderful Christmas break and I was really hoping for a snow day today just so we could keep everyone home one more day.

Our break began with four amazing days at home. Time moved at a beautiful, slow pace and we spent most of our days in pjs. The house was so peaceful. I wish there was a rewind button that would let us live those four days over again whenever we need a break from all the chaos.

I hosted Christmas Eve again this year for my family, which is always something I really enjoy. This was the first year that Grandma was unable to join us. The travel was too much for her and we really missed having her with us. But, my brother's family was able to join us for the first time in a few years and the boys had a WILD time running around the house with their cousin. We spent a few hours on Christmas morning alone here with the kids and it was so fun watching them open their gifts. We finished off our morning here together with a special surprise for Trey. He opened a book about training dogs, which totally confused him. He was completely shocked when we explained why he might need to read it...we are getting a dog this spring. I NEVER thought we would do this, but my sweet middle son wants a dog so much and his loves for animals softened our hearts.

We packed up and headed to Nana and Papaw's for Christmas. Usually we only stay for a day, but this year we spent five days with them because of Riley's basketball tournament at Capital. We had a great time opening gifts Christmas morning and were all a little too spoiled as usual. Grandma and Jen were able to spend the day with us...just a relaxing day with people we love. We invaded Nana and Papaw's for the week and I'm not sure if their house has recovered yet from our mess...but it sure was a good time!

Riley's basketball tournament was not the highlight of Christmas vacation. The boys from Knox County hit the big city and it didn't go well. Scoonie Penn's kid was playing on the court next to us...we were in a very different league. They managed to squeak out one win, almost won another game, and then just got slaughtered in the other two games. We drove back to my parents house with a very sad 10 year old. He was crying...and not just crying because they lost...crying because he knew that he didn't play well. My heart hurt and all I wanted him to know is that I think he's amazing whether he plays well or not. He recovered...fourth graders recover more quickly than adults, but his confidence was weakened by the experience, which is the exact opposite of what we want for him.

We drove back to Gambier and spent the next 20 hours unpacking and repacking for our trip to Cuyahoga Falls to spend New Year's with Eric's family. We had a very fun and action packed trip which included dinner at a Japanese restaurant where they cook the food in front of you (the boys LOVED it!), basketball, swimming, ice skating, family pictures, the kids gift exchange, the white elephant gift exchange, church with the entire family, and good hang out time at Chris and Angie's house. I was able to love on my three week old nephew, which was awesome. The kids had a blast with their cousins and second-cousins. It was a lot of fun!

And now it's all over...time to settle back in to our routine. I always enjoy January...if only we could get a little snow so we can spend some time hibernating! Happy New Year!

2011-12-22T18:11:00.000-05:00

These last two days have been perfect. Eric is home on vacation and the kids are out of school. We have just been relaxing at home...good food, naps, movies, video games, board games, legos...good times here with my beautiful family. So glad I ran around like a crazy person last week finishing my shopping and baking...it's made these last few days before Christmas a lovely time of rest in our home.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T13:34:00.002-05:00

I was watching some of the CMAs with my boys a couple of weeks ago and there were a few times I said to myself, "Wow, they need to tone this down if I'm going to be able to let my kids watch it." I've felt that way often as their little lives come into contact with our culture. Radio, tv, movies, superheros, celebrities, sports stars...all of it. Sometimes it just needs to be toned down to be kid and family friendly.

I just finished watching Tim Tebow mic'd during the overtime win against the Bears on you tube. The first commenter said that Tebow needs to tone it down. Really? Not in this mom's opinion. Tebow said at one point, "Win or lose...Lord I need your strength to honor you either way." Isn't that what I want to teach my kids. The sports world is FULL of awful examples...cheating, abuse, greed, and so much more. My kids love sports and love to watch it on tv. This mom is now a Broncos fan.

So, this morning when Evan saw that Sports Center was on, he ran to the tv and said, "I have to see if they are going to talk about Tebow. I love that guy." And that made me smile.

2011-12-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

Eight years ago I was lying in bed at Grant Hospital praying that my baby boy would arrive quickly. My water broke on the night of the 15th, over two weeks early. A c-section had been the plan, but when my water broke we decided to try a normal delivery one more time. By midnight I knew we were in trouble again. I wasn't dialating, again. My delivery with Riley was horrific and thought of repeating that scenario was terrifying. The nurses were determined that I would eventually dialate, meanwhile I was starting to have a full panic attack. My sweet doctor entered the room at 9:00am and told the nurses, who were not very happy with him, that we were moving forward with a c-section.

And so, 30 minutes later, Trey Ryan Stetler entered our family. He was our chubbiest and sleepiest baby. For the first 9 months or so he honestly had a pretty bland personality. All he wanted to do was sleep and he didn't interact with us the way Riley had.

If you know Trey now, you know that has changed! He still loves to sleep, but he is FULL of personality. Trey is extremely funny and bright. His brain never shuts down, he is constantly thinking. He still loves to snuggle, even though he is eight. I have high hopes that he'll still love to hug his mom when he's a teenager. We can't imagine life without Trey...he brings an huge amount of joy to our home! Happy Birthday, Trey!

2011-12-14T22:03:00.000-05:00

I just finished typing Trey's first research paper. Super cute. He has been researching the great horned owl. This was my favorite part...Wow, it sure is quiet. What? There is a great horned owl flying in the sky? Oh yeah, the owl is a silent flyer. It eats skunks, frogs, mice, rabbits, porcupines, squirrels, gophers, and weasels. If you want to see action you would need to see a male. But, leave quick after they eat. They throw up a pellet. Watch out!

2011-12-12T11:45:00.003-05:00

I received many gifts over the weekend. This is because I am spoiled. I realize this, and I've decided I'm okay with it. My parents treated me to a beautiful hotel, great food, and all kinds of special things from the Brown County shops. All of these gifts were amazing. When I think back about the weekend, however, the best gift I received was the gift of my parents time and laughter. While eating lunch at the Hob Nob on Saturday I was laughing so hard that tears were literally streaming down my face. I'm pretty sure the waitress thought we were crazy. It felt really good to laugh that hard. Now I'm home, and it's good to be home. I love my husband and my kids. They are each beautiful gifts. I'm a very lucky, and spoiled girl.

2011-12-09T09:10:00.001-05:00

Leaving in 8 hours for my happy place. The trip is very timely, stress is unacceptable in Brown County. Somehow, when your car turns right onto Main Street, stress is suspended until you pull back out of town. Love my parents for taking me. My dad has been traveling around the world, literally, for three weeks now on business. I know he wants to go home and crash on his couch by the Christmas tree right now. Instead, he's flying into Indianapolis and driving to Brown County to meet me and my mom tomorrow morning. He'll know where to find us in the morning, world's best coffee shop. I've already planned out all my meals, because vacation is really about the food. Breakfast at our amazing bed and breakfast tomorrow morning, followed by a second cup of coffee at the coffee shop. Shopping begins immediately after second cup. Lunch at Hob Nob, I'm planning on the breaded tenderloin sandwich with fries (don't judge me, I fully embrace my southern roots on this trip) with their special fountain cherry coke. More shopping...ending early for OSU/Kansas game. I'm thinking dinner at the Mexican restaurant...code for margarita. Then our bed and breakfast puts out this amazing spread of evening snacks. I realize that those reading this are completely uninterested in these details, but just thinking about it makes me happy and stress free. Now it's time to do all the things I have to do to leave my family for 2 1/2 days...

2011-12-08T09:09:00.001-05:00

Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God.I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41.My sweet mom called this morning just to read this to me. Thank you, mom. I think I'll take her advice today. The best thing to do while waiting is to praise. It reminds us of all the times God has shown up on time.

2011-12-07T08:06:00.003-05:00

Weird day yesterday...full of emotions and disappointment. Our house in Columbus is no longer in contract. Our possible renter is renting another home. Email after email yesterday with frustrating news. Eric and I were fussy, and then he worked a 12 hour day. Home alone with the kids last night. I medicated with media...unhealthy for sure. The best media medication was watching Twas' the Night Before Christmas with the kids, my very favorite Christmas cartoon of all time. Watching Penatonix sing Let's Get It On on Youtube three times in a row was pretty good as well. Yes, I am obsessed with this group right now. The kids and I watched a ton of their stuff last night and Cora and Evan have both mastered beatboxing now. Possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. Then the Michael Buble Christmas special. Justin Bieber should never sing Mistletoe again now that Pentatonix has covered it. Why do girls cry when they see Beiber, I'm missing something. Anyway, at this point I should have gone to bed. Instead I sat in front of my computer screen reading worthless news on the internet because I didn't want to go to bed until Eric came home. Silly...now I'm tired.

So we wait. We wait on our to sell or rent. We thank God for sustaining us this long and pray that He will continue to provide. Advent. Waiting. I think my goal for today will be to medicate with something better, something stronger. Maybe I will pull out the Christmas story collection we received from the Bruderhoff Community. It is full of rich, deep truth on the meaning of Advent. Maybe I will pull out my Bible, there's a thought. As for now, I'm leaving this computer for awhile.

2011-12-01T12:53:00.002-05:00

How do I begin to describe how freaking incredible it was to watch the Buckeyes win on Tuesday night. The Schott was out of control...so loud. The Duke Bluedevils came to visit and they seemed a little taken back by the crowd and our ability to completely shut them down. Coach K himself said it best,the Buckeyes kicked their butt. The entire experience was amazing and there is a good possibility that I will never attend another live sports event that will even begin to compare to this.

Watching the game at the Schott as well on Tuesday....LeBron James, Evan Turner, Greg Oden, Michael Redd, Mike Conolly, and Dwyane Wade. It was basketball heaven. Mom and I were quick to spot Kirk Herbstreit from the upper deck as well! He is hot even from way up there.

Dad...so sorry you had to miss the game, but so thankful for the ticket!

2011-11-25T13:14:00.002-05:00

Somehow this didn't get published back at Thanksgiving. Saw it in my drafts while I was working on my other post today.Flying Feather Four Miler...a super fun race day. We owe Jen a big thank you for running with us. Trey needed a special running buddy and Jen was a really great friend for running even though she doesn't exactly enjoy it! Riley and I were able to really push and we finished in 42:54. That was an average pace of 10:43. Trey and Jen crossed the finish line about 10 minutes later. We were able to cheer Trey on during the home stretch. I am completely wiped out today...more tired than I have been in along time. I should add that Evan ran the .2 of a mile Gobbler Chase as well. Then Nana was a big champ and stood outside in the cold with him waiting on our race to finish. The boys have plans to continue running, but it is going to change a little. Trey needs to run shorter distances than Riley, and he runs at a different pace. I am not sure how to run with them separately and train myself, but we will figure it out. Riley is planning on the quarter marathon in May, but that is the longest distance I am allowing him to run. Trey is going to try another 5K sometime this spring, but we will run it without Riley. Big plans, we will see how winter running goes...those plans may change!

Thankful for my beautiful family and a great day yesterday at my mom and dad's house. 30 days until Christmas!

2011-11-22T14:46:00.002-05:00

Riley played in a three team scrimmage last night. In the first half of the first game he looked a little lost and intimidated. This is league is so different from anything he has ever done before and I think that makes him feel overwhelmed. With one minute left in the first game his team was down by three points. Riley drove the ball to the hoop, was fouled, and made the shot anyway. This put him at the foul line with the opportunity to the tie the game for his team. He stood there, alone at the line, and I really thought I might puke. I know, it is fourth grade ball and it was only a scrimmage. But this is big time Riley. He made the free throw and tied the game. It took every ounce of restraint I could gather up to not stand up and scream, "That's my kid!". The other team scored and we lost, but in my mind Riley Stetler won. He received a ton of positive encouragement from his coaches and scored on a nice jump shot in the next game as well. Riley Stetler is a pretty great kid.

2011-11-12T13:42:00.002-05:00

Ran with my two oldest today in the MVNU 5K. I was so, so proud to be running with them. The official results are in...Riley finished in 35:47, Trey and I crossed together in 36:00. That Trey finished with 12 minute miles makes me very proud. That was with a few obstacles...shoes that needed retied, an extra sweatshirt that I had to carry after Trey threw it off, and an itchy leg. I think Riley could have finished well ahead of us. After about a mile he was really frustrated that Trey and I weren't running faster. I tried to encourage him to go ahead without us, but he didn't feel confident enough to do that in his first race. I'm hoping that he can start pushing himself, but I just can't leave Trey behind to run faster with Riley. Trey really picked up the pace for the last mile. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen him maintain that fast of a pace for that long. I think he really made up some time in the last mile.

When we finished they were beaming. They were very happy with their accomplishment. Over three months of training have led to this day. Now I'm really excited for the Thanksgiving race. It's longer (4 miles), bigger (3,000 people instead of 300) and their is a medal at the end to reward the boys for their hard work. Today they were rewarded with a doughnut at the finish line, which was the perfect reward for my two sweet boys.

2011-11-09T13:54:00.002-05:00

Last night we received a phone call from the potential buyer of our home in Columbus. He was calling to tell us that they were signing a contract on their home and would be ready to close on our home on November 30th. Needless to say...we were incredibly excited.

This afternoon he called back. His buyer backed out.

The disappointment was overwhelming. Fear attacked, followed by panic.

Sunday our offertory was "It is Well" and the words "whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul" played through my mind during communion and have been with me throughout this week.

I sang this hymn here alone in my house this afternoon. Fear and panic were replaced by a strange quiet calm. The peace that begin to fill my heart and our home was remarkable. It shouldn't really surprise me. I've been following Jesus for awhile now and the gift He gives us in His peace is always remarkable and saved for the exact moment when we desperately need it.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring. But, that's okay. I really mean that...it's okay.

2011-11-06T21:00:00.003-05:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year...no, not Christmas, college basketball season! The Buckeyes exhibition game was today and their first televised game is Friday night. Pre-season number 1, Jared Sullinger is back, AND my high school crush is now an assistant coach. Chris Jent is now on the coaching staff. I had a big time crush on him when he played for the Buckeyes and met him once, but found myself suddenly unable to speak when it was time to ask for his autograph.

Can it get any better than this? Yes, it can. My dad accidentally scheduled a business trip the same night as the DUKE game. I'M GOING TO THE DUKE GAME! I'm really going to try to not embarrass my mother. Not that I expect her to be calm and collected. November 29th!

2011-10-29T17:27:00.003-05:00

I have spent the better part of 6 hours looking for my keys. I gave them to Cora in a moment of weakness yesterday. One of the desperate moments when a mom will do anything just to have a little bit of quiet. I have looked EVERYWHERE. So, a new key will be made for a mere $175. Frustrating to say the least.

At 5:30 the phone rang...Trey answered. They asked for me or Eric, Trey gave the phone to Eric. Eric didn't hear anyone, didn't recognize the number...gave the phone back to Trey. Trey brings the phone to me while I'm cleaning poop out of the bathtub with a naked, wet toddler on the run. I'm yelling..."why didn't you bring me the phone earlier, that was probably the locksmith." I look down and see that the phone has not been hung up...I say "hello", really hoping no one answers. It wasn't the locksmith, it was the Kenyon basketball coach calling to tell us that Riley had made the travel team. Awesome...good first impression.

SO, practices start Tuesday. Two practices a week and games on Sundays. I'm really excited for him.

2011-10-26T12:21:00.002-05:00

Trey Stetler has pushed me to the point of exhaustion. That kid is amazing...he decides he's going to do something and you better not get in his way. He wakes me up early to run, drags me out to the gym well past dark, and makes Riley and I keep running to meet our goal when we are SO ready to quit. Seriously, my 7 year old is my personal trainer right now.

Three miles on a 200 meter indoor track is not fun. That's 24 laps in hot, sticky air. We had 24 small pieces of paper and we dropped them one at a time as we finished each lap last night...all 24 pieces. I had a stomach cramp because we left right after eating butternut squash stuffed with sausage and I was really tired. After 16 of those cards my knee started acting up and I announced we were cutting it short. Riley was quick to agree because he wanted to go shoot hoops in the gym! Trey basically shamed us into finishing and told us we were weak. Eight laps later we gathered up our pile of cards and left feeling very proud of ourselves and very thankful that Trey made us finish.

Little man is running in velcro Nikes. He's earned himself a trip to Front Runner on Saturday for some new running shoes. Jen...you should be proud of your running partner. You and Trey are going to finish strong at the Flying Feather Four Miler! Riley and I will try and keep up!

2011-10-22T11:13:00.001-05:00

Riley and Trey ran 3.5 miles with me this morning like it was no big deal. I'm one super proud momma right now!

2011-10-21T20:25:00.003-05:00

Date night with my husband...thank you, thank you, thank you to Nana, our awesome and free babysitter. She had a little Halloween party with the kids while we had dinner at the VI, coffee at Middle Ground, and browsed through the book store. By 8:30 we were falling asleep at the bookstore...we're old. I'm glad I'm getting old with him. He makes me smile.

2011-10-20T11:42:00.002-05:00

Basketball AP Top 25...#1, OSU

For some reason OSU is still considered a football school. Our football team is average, on our best day, and plagued by scandal. For the Stetler family, and the Pressley family, the really OSU season begins November 6th.

Here's the 2011-2012 schedule.

Pre-Big Ten season this year we will play Florida, Kansas, and DUKE. This is a very tough schedule before the Big Ten even starts. I'm nervous just thinking about it. Becky, my dear sweet friend, I love you more than I can explain...but your team is going DOWN.

2011-10-19T11:50:00.003-05:00

Yesterday when I picked Evan up from preschool a really cool storm was coming. As we pulled out of the parking lot it started to hail. I explained to Evan that the little balls hitting the window were called hail. He was quiet for a few seconds and then said, "Like the place bad guys go instead of heaven." I decided not to correct him, but I did ask where he had heard about "hail" since we haven't talked about Hell with the kids before. He said, "In Star Wars Hans Solo says to the bad guy that he'll see him in Hail." Little dude is funny.

This morning the boys found my hiding place for Christmas presents. Luckily I haven't purchased that much yet. I told them they better not even think about looking for my new hiding spot or the gifts were getting returned. Riley promised not to look and then said, "At least the spot you hid them in this year was better your spot you hid them in last year." Apparently, I'm not as tricky as I'd like to think.

Speaking of Christmas...thank you Dave Ramsey. We are a bit strapped financially, but because I have been putting a little bit away each month in the cash box for Christmas, I have the money I need for gifts this year. Less fights and more peace this Christmas at our house! I know Dave Ramsey can be a little abrasive and I rarely agree with him politically...but he knows his stuff when you need help organizing your family's finances!

2011-10-15T06:09:00.002-05:00

We have somewhat intentionally always kept sports and extra curricular activities pretty low key at our house. We've decided to quit things that were too demanding of our time together as a family (karate) and have limited activities during seasons when we like to travel together (two seasons of baseball in the summer were more than enough for us!). The boys know that they need to chose one sport season a year and that has always been basketball. Again, we've try to keep this simple. We've only played basketball with local community rec centers or the YMCA. The boys have always had fun and the practice/game schedule is manageable even with four kids. Last year they were even on the same team!

Things have the potential of changing a little after Sunday night. Riley has been invited to try out for a Mount Vernon basketball team that travels and focuses on preparing for the Middle School team. He attended a basketball camp at Kenyon this summer and the coach recognized his ability and sent the invitation to Riley at school on Thursday. It seems like we have entered a new phase of parenting in two ways. First, there is no way around it...our lives will get significantly busier as they get older. Whether they choose to be involved in athletics, art or music...the older they get the more demanding their schedules will be. Their homework alone is more demanding already! Second, we are entering the phase of their lives (at least with the older two) where there is the potential for great disappointment. The thought of this already breaks my heart. I would love to think that because Riley was specifically invited to try out, that he is wanted on the team. But, what if he doesn't make it. We'll register him and Trey for Upwards this year and they will have a blast, but he will know his first real disappoint...he will feel rejected. I don't know how to parent him when he feels this way. This will all be very new...a part of growing up...but new.

Thursday night at dinner he was excitedly telling his dad about the tryout. Trey very bluntly told him that he might not make the team. Riley said, very calmly, "I already know that, Trey. I'm just excited that the Kenyon coach thought I was good enough to try out." At that moment I said a little prayer that mom's have been saying for hundreds of years...Lord, please let my baby make the team.

2011-10-04T19:19:00.002-05:00

Back home after a three mile run with Riley and Trey! This was the first time they ran three miles and they are super proud of themselves. I think they are amazing!

MVNU Homecoming 5K...here we come!

This is PERFECT running weather!

2011-09-27T11:50:00.002-05:00

Cora found herself in the middle of a Batman battle last night and it didn't end well. She split her chin and so we spent the next four hours in the ER. She's all glued up with Dermabond and ready to go again today. Seriously, that child is never still. Trey's middle tooth was also involved in the collision and we will be heading to the dentist after school to let him take a look at the chip. Never a dull moment around here!

I know this sounds impossible, but the time in the ER with Cora was almost fun. She is just that kind of kid...she lives to have fun and meet new people. She wasn't in any pain, thankfully, and she loved all the attention she received from the staff at the hospital. This would be a good time to interject that I have been extremely impressed with Knox Community Hospital and I have no idea why they have a bad reputation. Anyway...She managed to score three new toys from people she met last night! Plus, Sing Off was on tv and she was shaking her little butt all over the waiting room. The later it got, the sillier she got. We were out WAY past bedtime.

I made it to bed by midnight and my sweet husband was up at 6:30 packing lunches, making breakfast, and getting the boys ready for school while Cora and I slept in until 8:30. He is my partner, and in an email this morning I told him that I really can't imagine raising these rugrats with anyone but him.

Doug Rex lost his partner on Sunday. Caleb, Lauren, and Audrey lost their mommy. Jenn and Michelle lost their sister and best friend. Rev. and Mrs. Prater lost their baby girl. Doug will now be raising their three children without his partner. I was there the day they were married. I remember her face beaming as we greeted them outside in the receiving line. Melissa Prater Rex was a beautiful woman, inside and out. She was kind, compassionate, and she loved Jesus more than anything else. I never knew her as a mommy, but I can only imagine that she was an incredible mother to her three beautiful children. My heart aches for them today.

ER trips are annoying and dentist bills are expensive. Two mortgages are nerve wracking and sometimes the daily grind is exhausting. But, very few of us have ever experienced the kind of pain and grief that Doug must be experiencing today. Lord, may Your peace fill his heart today. Grant him a strength that can only come from You as he raises his babies now without their mommy.

2011-09-21T11:58:00.003-05:00

Mr. Yoder, the nicest plumber on the planet, visited 9154 Killduff Rd. yesterday and fixed quite a few things regarding the plumbing in this house. This morning the smell has left the basement, we have water pressure, and HOT water. We have lived with lukewarm water since we moved in and a hot shower was a beautiful thing this morning...and water pressure!!! Those of you with plans to spend the night at 9154 Killduff over the next month or so should be very thankful for Mr. Yoder as well. Seriously, the showers at Alum Creek were better than ours before Mr. Yoder, Herb Yoder, came to save the day. Here's the best part, Herb was here almost two hours and he emailed me a bill for only $65 today, along with three estimates for other work we would like to have done on the house. If you live in Knox County and need ANY work done on your house, contact Carpenter's Sons.

2011-09-16T12:13:00.003-05:00

On my way to the Country Living Fair at the Historical Society in Columbus with my mom tomorrow! I can't wait!

This weather makes me almost giddy.

Cora's routine at Evan's preschool...

Enter through the special little kids door with Evan.

Strut her stuff straight to her best friend, Ms. Edith, the secretary.

Spin for Ms. Edith so she can ohh and ahh over how pretty she is.

Stop at Ms. Amy's room to show her what shoes she is wearing.

Run ahead of us to Evan's room so she can get to the baby dolls before I catch her.

Fuss when we have to leave.

Fall sound asleep in the car before we make it out of the parking lot for naptime!

This kid is a piece of work, as her Nana would say.

We got her hair cut today and she knows that she is not allowed to mess with the bottles of hair product on the shelves. She points at them as soon as we arrive and says, "no, no." She then moves from one person in the waiting area to the next, sitting next to them if there is an empty seat, and telling them not to touch the bottles. She has a super cute little bob hair cut now...not sure what her daddy will think about her shorter hair though.

This weather makes me almost giddy, but so does Landau winning America's Got Talent this week. I'm a such a reality tv nerd.

2011-09-15T12:31:00.002-05:00

The fall decorations are out, which makes me smile every time I walk in the front door. I got the box of pumpkins and leaves out yesterday while the kids were at school, so they were surprised to see everything out when they came home. Before I was even through the front door I heard Evan yelling and cheering..."It looks like a pumpkin mansion in here!" I don't know what that means exactly, but he was happy, which made me even happier.

It's 60 degrees, sunny, and windy outside. Perfect.

Cora is wearing her overalls with pink Converse and a pretty pink barrette. Perfect.

2011-09-09T11:39:00.004-05:00

I woke up this morning all ready to write a blog post about how tired, frustrated, and stressed I am. I've felt really overwhelmed all week because of new projects I have committed to and because of the mess we are in trying to sell our house in Columbus.

I was interrupted in the middle of my writing by my kids, and to be honest, at that moment I saw them as a disruption in my quiet morning instead of as a gift from God. Lord, forgive me. When I came back to my computer later in the morning I decided to take a minute and check Eric's facebook account. I found this...

Dear friends, please pray. i got a phone call from doug early this morning. melissa had to be intubated. breathing was shallow, difficult, and blood gasses were up. she is back on the ventilator. please pray!!!

You can see more of Melissa's story here.

Melissa has three young children and a loving husband. I know she would give anything to be in her own home this morning making her kiddos breakfast.

Lord, help me treasure each moment. My struggles are trivial...silly, really. A friend from college is fighting for her life. Please join me in prayer for Melissa today.

2011-09-01T08:32:00.002-05:00

Moving through our first full week of school. Transitions are not my favorite, but we're making it. It's been a long week for all of us, not bad, but long. Riley thought it was Friday this morning, and was a little disappointed that he actually had two more days of school. He's enjoying his class and teacher, but they are tired and miss their free time. We've had a rough spot or two with Trey, but we're working through it and his teacher has been extremely helpful.

My older two boys ran 2.5 miles with me last night! They are incredibly cute during our "training" times. It's fun to watch the adrenaline kick in after they have been running for a mile or so. They are all geared up for the MVNU Homecoming 5K and they are planning on running the 4 miler on Thanksgiving Day. 4 miles sounds like a lot for Trey, but he really surprised me last night, so we'll see. The funny part is they thought they were going to run the half in May. I had to explain to them that they might have set a goal that was a little too big...that maybe focusing on 4 miles is a big enough goal for quite some time!

Evan isn't wanting to run, but that kid is a speed demon on his two wheeler and is loving that he can ride without training wheels now. All this physical activity is so good for all of us...it makes me dread winter when the main activity is trudging through the snow to get to the grocery store with all four of them bundled up. But, let's forget about winter because today is the first day of September and I LOVE the fall!

2011-08-26T19:27:00.003-05:00

We've made it to the end of back to school week. It was busy with the kids going back to school and the students returning to campus at the same time. But, we've made it and it's been a good week.

The boys really like their teachers and have settled back into their routines quickly. Evan is happy to be back in his preschool classroom and told me on the ride home after the first day that because he is the only five year old, he is the king of the class. He also told Ms. Michelle that he went to Shitauqua (Chautauqua) for vacation. Awesome.

I went to the parent meeting with Trey's teacher. Wow. I've never met a teacher quite like Ms. Waugh. Her love for teaching overflows out of her every time she speaks. Her classroom is super organized and fun. Trey is going to have a great year in her classroom. I've only met Riley's teacher once, but I really like what he's saying at home. Her parent meeting is scheduled for this coming Tuesday and I'm looking forward to learning more about her classroom.

If there was a preschool classroom for 18 month old little girls, I may send Cora a couple of mornings a week! Just kidding...kind of. She is exhausting and never still for more than 30 seconds. She loves to read and her favorite book right now is Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown. She loves to have our undivided attention and to make us laugh.

2011-08-24T10:53:00.003-05:00

Riley and Trey are at school. It was so much easier than last year when they were starting at a new school. We came home and Evan said, "Well, what are we supposed to do now." I said, "I have no idea." The house seems super quiet and it's always an adjustment when the school schedule starts. It will take me a few days to get a new rhythm for our days. Tomorrow Evan starts his second year of preschool, we'll be leaving for his open house in a few hours. Here we go...

2011-08-22T05:51:00.002-05:00

It's back to school week, which means it's time to write my back to school resolutions for this year. I read in my blog archives my resolutions for last school year. I had six goals for last year. Two of them were complete failures! Three were successfully completed and on one of them there is room for improvement. Not too bad I guess. Here are my resolutions for this year.

1. Pack lunches the night before! My husband has been telling me for years now that he will help me with this and that it will drastically improve the peace for our mornings. I have known that he is right, but I really run out of steam after the kids are in bed. This is the year it's going to happen!

2. New homework center for boys. One of our resolutions for last year was to have homework done every day before dinner. We did this almost every day. However, doing homework at the kitchen table with the two littles running around watching PBS and eating snack did not work. Way too many distractions for Riley and Trey, who now have a significant amount of homework each night. So, I have purchased lap desks and school boxes which I loaded up with homework supplies for the two older boys. They have assigned spots upstairs, away from their younger siblings, to do their homework after school. This is a complete experiment and we'll see how it works. According to Better Homes and Gardens it's going to work fabulously!

3. Food prep on Sunday nights. This one is going to be difficult, but I know it would help and it's another thing my husband has offered to help me with in the past. I want to prep food for the week on Sunday nights...cut up fruit, make granola, bake bread or muffins, etc.

4. Pay preschool tuition early so it doesn't sneak up on me. This is one of the few bills I am responsible for because it gets dropped off at preschool. This was a resolution from last year and I failed big time. I have some kind of mental block when it comes to preschool tuition...I have had this problem since Riley was three.

5. Adding breakfast and after school snacks to weekly meal plan.

Two more days of summer and then back to school!

2011-08-18T11:06:00.002-05:00

After a beautiful sunny day at the zoo and Jungle Jack's Landing with Nana yesterday I announced to the boys that we would be moving bedtime back to 8pm to prepare for school starting in less than a week. It's time to starting getting organized again and prepare for a new school routine, right??

However, at 9pm we were barefoot hiking at Indianbluffs Field instead. The sky was so full of color at sunset and the temperature was perfect. There was no way I was putting these kids to bed! The barefoot hike was their daddy's idea and even though there were a few complaints about thorns and rocks with barefeet, we were all so happy to be out enjoying one of the last nights of summer together. The image in my mind of the short drive home with windows down, Toby Mac blaring through the speakers, and all four of them dancing in the back seat makes me smile still today when I think about it.

School supplies have been purchased and Nana took care of new school shoes on our trip to Easton this week. The boys know who their new teachers will be and are starting to get excited about seeing their friends again. But, we still have a few days left of summer and we're going to squeeze in a little more fun before it's all over!

2011-08-15T08:14:00.002-05:00

Vacation was AMAZING. I came home feeling super relaxed and rested. I came home feeling so blessed to have Eric as my husband and so thankful for my children. We needed this time alone together.

Highlights...

Riley and Trey were able to get up on water skis for the first time.

Evan went tubing.

Taking the boat to the middle of the lake and swimming for the entire afternoon.

Cora loved the boat, the lake, and her pink life jacket.

Dinner at the Red Line drive in, complete with waitress on roller skates.

Finished the second Harry Potter book with Riley...LOVED it!

Riley's 10th birthday. I really can't believe that my oldest is now 10 years old. He's an awesome kid that loves his family. We love him so much, he is a gift.

Watching them ride the rides at Midway

Best meal I've had in a long time with my husband at the Italian Fisherman. Sat outside by the lake on a beautiful evening watching the boats and Friday night fun at Beamus Point. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Pop Pop for coming up for the day to watch our kids. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 13th anniversary. Let me just add that Pop Pop took all four kids out to dinner, then out for ice cream, then brought them home and put them to bed by himself. We came home from our perfect date to a quiet and clean cottage. WOW!

The weather was great...70's and mostly sunny. We finished up vacation with Chick Fil A and Krispy Kremes in Erie on the drive home. A perfect end to a great vacation.

Now it's time to get ready for school.

2011-08-06T07:08:00.002-05:00

Today we are heading to my nephew, Clayton's, birthday party. We're excited to celebrate with Eric's family and for the kids to see their cousins. Clayton's a sweet little boy, I only wish that we had been able to spend more time with him and his adorable sister, Lily, this past year. All these kids are growing up way too fast!

Then it's off to the lake with Eric and the kids!!! A week of vacation with my husband and my munchkins before it's back to school time. I'm so excited! Thank you to Grandpa and Grandma for the opportunity to use the cottage and relax this week!

2011-08-03T12:24:00.002-05:00

I've been able to spend some time reading this summer. Riley and I finished the first Harry Potter book early in the summer. I have been waiting to start this series for a long time. I wanted to wait and read it with one of my boys. It was awesome and we have just started the second book. Riley and I have also finished the first two books of the Shadow Children series and we are working on book three now.

On my own I read The Shipping News. It was a great fiction book that deserved the Pulitzer Prize it received in 1994. I couldn't put it down and was sad to say goodbye to the characters when I was finished. I watched the movie as well...it was decent but in no way compared to the quality of the book.

The book I've really been struggling with is The Blueberry Years by Jim Minick. It was enjoyable reading, but disjointed and I had a hard time staying focused while reading it. I took a break from it for quite a few weeks and then came back to it this week. The second half of the book brought everything together for me and by the final chapter I was moved to tears. I felt as though the author was setting me free, giving our family permission to live and heal after the years we struggled through in Grandview and Franklinton.

I know that this move to Gambier was necessary for our family. We have always had a peace about this move, knowing it was the right choice for the six of us. My concern has been over what other people think...do they think we're running from Franklinton...do they think we're quitters. Do others think we've "sold out" on our idealism and dreams? I knew in my heart that wasn't the case at all, but what about our acquaintances and even our friends back in Columbus? Minick has these same concerns after leaving the blueberry farm he started but is leaving after 10 years of work and struggle. He writes:

"But why move?" we keep getting asked through the last season of blueberries...Finally we settle of the answer: we're moving for beauty. We tell the askers that we fell in love with another farm that just has so much splendor that we can't leave it, can't give up the chance to live there. I get a few odd looks from pickers when I say the word beauty, but I let it pass. I'm beginning to learn from this field of berries that sometimes beauty and business don't mix, that maybe our highest human achievement isn't monetary wealth but creative joy. I had hoped to find that creative spirit here in this field and I did for a while...And then I remember Thoreau. At the end of Walden, he, too, faced this why-move question, asked it of himself. And like him, as he shut the door to his shack by Walden Pond, I find I, too, have "several more lives to live." I want to go live them.

And then here is where he really gets me...where I felt like someone put into words the defense I've often wanted to offer for myself so many times:

The dense foliage rubs against my bare arms, and I gently part the canes in search of fruit. As I pluck a berry, I realize these bushes have taught us that it's all right to fail. Or maybe quit's the better word. It's okay to quit a cherished dream, especially if quitting opens such a wide door to more time to write and to hike wooded hills that surround us on our new farm.

2011-08-01T11:20:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was probably my favorite day of the summer so far. After church and lunch we left to spend the afternoon at the Honey Run waterfall. The boys went often with Eric last summer, but I always stayed home with Cora. This year she is old enough to join in on the fun. It is breath taking and once again I was amazed at the beauty of Knox County. This was only a short 10 minute drive from our house. The Kokosing River is very deep in this part of the river and the boys spent the afternoon jumping off large rocks into the river with their dad. Cora was up to her nose in river water and loved every minute of it. She sat under the waterfall for probably 30 minutes, just mesmerized by the movement of the water. It's the most still she's been in weeks! We were home by 6pm with tired bodies and hungry bellies from all the activity. When you've spent the day in the water, dinner tastes extra good...especially when it's an awesome new hot sub recipe.

There was only one problem...we are still so stinking tired today!!! Oh well, it was so worth it.

2011-07-30T11:36:00.003-05:00

The last two years have been full of transition for our family...a new baby, a big move, Eric's job switch, a new school for the boys...all of it has been a little overwhelming at times. We are beginning to feel like we have settled into our "normal" life again, which feels really good. We have time now to remember who we are and what we are passionate about.

This morning was a big step back in that direction for our family. Despite the chaos of the morning...and it was extreme chaos for some reason, we made it to the Mount Vernon farmer's market. It's almost embarrassing to admit that this is the first time we have been since we moved here. It was a wonderful farm market, every bit as big as the Clintonville market in Columbus, but without the extremely overwhelming crowd and confusion. There was a ton of variety and we were even able to meet a few farmers. I was very happy with the prices. The next big step will be when we are finally able to grow more for ourselves. We do have some beautiful onions in our garden right now!

Food and meal planning has been a little frustrating lately because of the size of our family. Our grocery bill has been growing rapidly and I'm really trying to find ways to get it under control. After the farmer's market we went to the grocery store and I was amazed at the total. I know that this will only become a bigger issue, one day I will have three teenage boys in this house. We don't buy any junk food and we don't waste anything we buy. It just takes a lot of food to feed this crew. It does seem like summer meals are more expensive because we eat more meat on the grill. The salmon for dinner tonight wasn't cheap. If anyone who reads this has any great cost saving ideas, please share.

2011-07-21T20:14:00.002-05:00

Cora insists on wearing Evan's spiderman underwear over her diaper. INSISTS. She also now insists on feeding herself. What a mess.

Yesterday I found Evan outside naked. His brothers dared him to run around the house with his clothes off.

Riley has invented his own superhero. He can often be found in costume...a cape and goggles.

Tonight after dinner Riley, Trey and Evan did a poetry reading they had prepared earlier from a new Shel Silverstein book we found at the library. Riley and Trey took turns reading and they acted out the poems with Evan's help. It was pretty awesome. This was followed by a family dance party with Cora shaking her bootie (which she does regularly) while standing on top of Eric's guitar case.

These are just a few things I don't want to forget.

2011-07-19T21:53:00.002-05:00

June was stupid busy and so I decided that July would be lazy. It's been wonderful. My body needs the rest.

We are sleeping in, taking naps, playing games, watching movies, swinging on the swing set, and eating ice cream. Eric had a late night at work so I loaded the kids in the car after an early dinner for an evening at the pool. They are old enough now that the pool can even feel lazy. We made came home for peach cobbler in our jammies and then off to bed. My house is messy and I'm behind on laundry, but I really don't care. I like my lazy July. I know how quickly this changes once school starts, so for now I'm living every moment of summer with my kids and embracing our rare lazy days of summer.

Here's the only problem. I'm not running because the pneumonia...not an excuse, I simply can't run yet...especially in this heat. That combined with ice cream and peach cobbler means that my jeans were tight today. I probably better ease back on the food until I can run again.

2011-07-18T16:24:00.002-05:00

My two older boys have come upstairs crying, each on a different nights, scared. They are scared of who might be outside our house and are afraid that they are not safe.

We sit outside and look at the fireflies and listen to the crickets. I tell them they are safe.

It was just Riley and I in the car today. He said, "Mom, remember in Franklinton when the neighbor choked me. I was so scared."

Wouldn't it be nice if we were given "do-overs" as parents?

2011-07-14T08:12:00.003-05:00

Off to meet Asher Smith tonight! I love new babies! Especially love visiting babies that belong to other people, a few hugs and kisses, and then back to their mommy who can stay up with them all night while I go home and sleep!

Went on a walk with my husband last night in our woods...I was able to breath well the entire time. I'm really hoping this means I'm on the other side of this pneumonia mess.

It's absolutely beautiful here on Killduff Road. The summer evenings are amazing in the country. We have our own firefly fireworks every night.

Enjoying the lazy pace of summer right now...hoping the second half of this summer goes slowly. Pack to school supplies are out at Walmart. I'm not ready to even start thinking about that yet!

2011-07-10T14:13:00.002-05:00

home.

what a strange two weeks. good in so many ways...the kids had a blast at the beach, but just a different vacation. nana was injured and i continue to battle pneumonia. eric left on tuesday of the second week for a conference in louisville...translation...a very tired papaw.

i go back to my family doctor on thursday to see where i go from here with this nasty illness. i feel better, but not like myself yet. it just makes me mad...mad that i missed so much of a much needed vacation. mad that i can't run. i made the mistake of googling "running after pneumonia." that was depressing. i may be out of the october half, we'll see.

despite the different circumstances...riley and trey were complete water bugs this year and evan became much, much braver in the ocean. cora, oh my. i don't even know how to explain my daughter at the beach. let's see...crazy, out of control, fearless, sand-eater, salt water drinker, flirt, toy stealer, beach lover. that's a pretty good start. her belly in a bikini is the cutest thing ever.

we've been home almost two hours, just me and the kids today for the second half of our drive. it went well, but i sure can't wait for my husband to get home at midnight. we're unpacked and i guess i better pile the four of them back into the van to get some food in this house so we don't starve. can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight.

2011-07-03T07:33:00.002-05:00

pneumonia at the beach sucks.

by Wed. morning i had to drag myself to urgent care. the nurses were amazing and kept me covered up with a warm blanket and a pillow in between the EKG, blood draw, peeing in a cup, chest x ray, and strep test. the chest x ray revealed pneumonia. the next two days were a blur, i slept constantly. i think i'm on the other side of it now, although my breathing isn't back to normal.

so, here's hoping week 2 is a little bit better.

2011-06-24T17:08:00.003-05:00

Here's a link to a blog post our photographer wrote after our family pictures this week. It was a little insane trying to get all the kids to cooperate at once, but Micki did a great job and has endless patience!

Getting ready to take off...leaving at 3am. This week has kicked my butt and I really just need to chill out and get healthy. Doing all of my jobs, all of Eric's jobs and being sick has made getting ready for vacation exhausting. But, tomorrow at this time I'll be all sandy and that's all the medicine I'll need.

Love The Zach Brown Band, love this song. It kept me moving today!

Time to wrap up the packing, load the car, and head to my Mayberry by the sea.

2011-06-22T15:01:00.002-05:00

Why did I think that this week would be calmer? Eric just left again for the Alive Festival which leaves me here with the kiddos to get us ready to leave for vacation. This would be difficult enough on it's own...but I'm sick as well. I've been fighting something since Saturday night. Evan came home from Eric's parents with a virus about 10 days ago and all the kids took a turn with it. When I got sick, I assumed that I had it as well. But they all recovered quickly and I can't shake this. Right now I'm blogging because I have no energy to do anything else and I'm to nauseous to really move.

So, I have this nice list downstairs of all that needs done over the next two days...a shopping list, a cleaning list, and a packing list...but I can't imagine accomplishing everything on that list.

Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow...I sure hope so.

2011-06-20T08:36:00.003-05:00

I'm a day late...but I still want to take a minute or two to write about my dad. My personality is a lot like his, and the older I get the more I realize that I'm more like my dad than my mom. We're introverts and jokingly say often that we just don't like people. We actually do like people, just not a lot of them at once or for a long period of time!

But, here's how I'm different from my dad...there is no way I could possibly be as kind and giving as my dad. In fact, I really don't know anyone who's willing to give away what he works so hard to earn to anyone who needs it. Obviously, I'm often on the receiving end of my dad's generosity. However, it's not just family...often it's strangers. My dad, quietly and with no one knowing, gave to the people of Franklinton...never needing to see results or to know how the money was used. And, I'm not just talking about one time, regularly. He gave to the kids in my youth group when I was a teenager to the point that some would have said it was foolish. Is giving away what isn't really yours ever foolish?

My dad is FULL of intergrity. It overflows out of him. His field, sales, lacks intergrity...it's full of men who are full of nothing but themselves. There is one reason my dad has been "successful" in the business world...his intergrity. I have the honor of working for my dad (which I should be doing right now) and I have now lost track of the number of times I have been told that the only reason they purchase his product is because they trust him. And, he is worthy of their trust.

I love my dad more than I could ever explain in this post. He's my dad and my friend. He loves my brother and I absolutely unconditionally. He treats my mom like a queen. He cares for my grandmother, his mother-in-law, like she was his mother. He loves Jesus and has always modeled following Him quietly with his actions.

Happy Father's Day, daddy. I love you.

2011-06-17T14:40:00.001-05:00

We've almost completed our first week of Stetler Family Summer Camp! I saw the idea on a website and decided it could be a lot of fun to have our own camp here at home. The boys have completely bought into the idea and they've been super cute about it all week. It's really nothing complicated...they gave their bedroom a cabin name, the kitchen is now the Mess Hall, and the bathroom is the Shower House. We have a main activity every day and a set of camp chores. It's been a good way to get them started on some habits, like making their beds, that I should have started a long time ago. The schedule for the day is posted on the refrigerator, it's a very flexible schedule because summer should be flexible. For our first full week of summer vacation we've enjoyed a magic show at the library, a picnic at the park, time in Columbus with friends, and the older two are enjoying basketball camp. It's been fun, but I am really tired. Eric's work schedule has been very demanding over the last two weeks and I've been a single mom for almost a full two weeks now. Luckily, next week is looking a little calmer for him and then we leave for VACATION!!!

There will be several big decisions to make once we get to Topsail...first, which type of fudge to buy first. Then there's always the difficult decision of which drink I should ask my dad to mix up after dinner. And then one must always carefully consider chair placement on the beach after thoroughly studying the tide. No one likes wet beach towels, they are heavy to carry the few feet back up to the house when they are wet and sandy. The biggest decision will be which swimsuit Cora should wear for the day...the ruffled bikini, the one piece tutu, the bikini top with board shorts...I'm so ready to drive south and park myself in Mayberry for two weeks. The boys told me they are excited for the ocean and Bubble Teas. Bubble teas are slushies with gummy bears in them that you drink through a big straw. The same store that sells Bubble Teas has Ladies Night with free Margaritas. Then there's the fish tacos at the Mexican restaurant. I could go on and on. I absolutely love going back to the same spot every year...the memories and traditions are such a good thing.

Before we leave we need to finish basketball camp, attend a friend's wedding, celebrate Evan's birthday with friends, spend five mornings at VBS, and PACK. Should be a fun week!

2011-06-08T19:02:00.002-05:00

School's out!

I'm so proud of my boys and how well they transitioned to their new school. They really had a great year. We have enjoyed our first year at Wiggins Street. The boys have been given so many great opportunities to experience hands-on, interactive learning this year. Trey didn't just learn about Africa...he participated in a play and a musical about Africa, and much of the music was Ghanaian folk music. He also helped with a bake sale to raise money for children in Africa and did a report and presentation on the African rainforests. This is just one example...it has really been a great year. And now we are looking forward to a great summer! The last two summers have been full of transition...pregnancy, new baby, moving...just ready for a nice summer this year.

Trey's award from his teacher..."Mr. Figure It Out"
Riley's award from his teacher..."Neatest Third Grader" (she's never seen his bedroom)

We also celebrated Evan's birthday this morning, even though his birthday is actually tomorrow. He and his brothers have just left to spend a few days with Mimi, Pop Pop, GG and Grandma Jan, so we had to have his giant pancake breakfast this morning. We'll keep celebrating all the way through June at parties with friends and family. I really can't believe he's 5. The other night he slept in my bed because his daddy was out of town. I woke up to see his bright eyes and his little hand on my face. He said, "Mommy, you're so pretty." Then he jumped up in his Batman jammies and said, "And do you think I'm handsome!". I absolutely adore this child. He's a little pip squeak, and he's so full of life. My sweet, sweet boy...I love you so much.

MY HUSBAND IS FLYING HOME RIGHT NOW! He has a super busy rest of the week and will be working most of the time, but at least he'll be back in Ohio!

2011-06-06T19:37:00.002-05:00

I just going to try and forget about today and start over tomorrow. Waking up to 28 dead baby chickens isn't a really great way to start out a new day. That was followed up with shots for Cora. Thankfully, our friend Justin came out to clean up the mess in the coop for me. I took him and his wife out to dinner tonight to show my appreciation and what he described in the coop was just awful. Poor Trey, his heart is broken. He put the two old hens away tonight and was in tears when he opened the coop door and his babies were gone. He wants to know if chickens go to Heaven.

It's been so interesting to learn the difference between caring for chickens and growing food in the city and in the country. Oddly, it's easier in the city. Much easier. I'm officially done growing anymore food until we have a secure fenced in garden. There are so many animals out at night and they had a midnight snack on my peas a few nights ago. So, the goal for this summer will be a nice, sturdy fence so that next spring our efforts won't be in vain. As for chickens, they were so much easier in the city. The most wildlife we had in Franklinton was our neighbors pet squirrel...I'm serious. Something very strong and determined broke through the screen door and the chicken wire to eat the babies last night. Definitely not a semi-tame squirrel.

So, we're learning a lot the hard way. Just think what the gardens and animals will look like though when my grandchildren come over to visit many years from now!

But, I'll sleep well tonight. There's a sweet little four year old (almost five!) with a head full of curls snuggled up asleep in my bed. As soon as I get my kitchen clean I'm going to go snuggle up with him.

2011-06-06T07:42:00.002-05:00

crap, crap, crap.

dead baby chickens.

eric is out town and i have totally failed at taking care of 4 kids and 30 chickens at the same time.

so mad at myself right now.

at least the kids are happy. i'm doing a pretty good job at taking care of them by myself. if only they were old enough to take care of the chickens.

crap.

2011-06-04T21:14:00.002-05:00

One of those evening you don't want to forget...

Word searches, Super Man 2, frisbee until our arms ached, Wheel of Fortune Wii. Then after the kids were in bed, American Pickers on the History channel...my new favorite show. An evening of simple fun with my kiddos.

2011-06-03T08:38:00.002-05:00

I've been a little concerned over the past few days about how I'm going to handle the change of schedule for the summer...all four kids at home, ages 9-1, to entertain and keep happy.

Last night I took the four of them to the Children's Garden while Eric was working late. We stopped at Dominoes to pick up the free pizzas they had earned coupons for at school. They all four played together the entire time...pretending on the train and train station. They were taking all kinds of trips together!

Came home, put the younger three to bed and settled in to watch the NBA playoffs with Riley. Midway through the first half we had to pause the game to tackle a very difficult conversation. One of those you know has to come someday as your kids get older.

This morning Evan wanted to watch these DVDs my mom made for the kids this Christmas. They are pictures, amazing pictures, of each of the boys starting from when they were babies. "You Make Me Smile" by Uncle Cracker is playing in the background. By the time we finished Riley's, the last one we watched, I was sobbing pretty uncontrollably.

So, here's the bottom line...I have no reason to be concerned about "entertaining" my kids this summer, or keeping them busy. Our lives are changing rapidly, especially with Riley turning 10 this summer. The days of the four of them playing pretend together on a wooden train are numbered. This summer I am choosing to cherish my kids, the easy times and the hard times. I want to soak in each day. I want to slow down, enjoy the sun, and just watch them play. I want to remember this summer because it won't always be like this.

व्यत्त

2011-05-30T10:04:00.002-05:00

Wyatt spent the night at our house last night. Wyatt is in Trey's class and they've become good friends this school year. He is from Danville, which if you know anything about the area where we live then you already know where this is going. Wyatt is a farm kid, a solid 80 pounds and almost as tall as Riley. He's all boy and his dad is a "man's man." Wyatt loves to hunt and fish and has already mastered the art of a "tall tale." I thought my boys were rambunctious until I met Wyatt. He's a pretty cute kid and they have a lot of fun together.

Wyatt told me he likes to get up before 5, while it's still dark so he can head to the garden with his shot gun to see if there are any deer eating in the garden. I thought this was one of his many stories, now I'm not so sure.

Wyatt and Trey got out of bed at 4am. They tried to wake Riley to go with them, but third graders must be a little wiser than first graders because Riley decided to stay in bed and sleep. They found the lantern in the box of camping supplies, got two water bottles and a bag of pretzels from the kitchen, and took off for the tree house with the paper jams guitar and the rubics cube. They made it to the tree house by 4:30, according to their report this morning. They woke us up at 5:30 to let us know that they had heard robbers in the woods and so they stayed hidden in the tree house for an hour. They managed to gather their supplies and make it out of the house without waking me or Eric, Cora, or Evan. I think I should be concerned about what they'll be able to pull off as teenagers! And, to ease the minds of worried grandparents and great-grandparents reading this post, Trey has been warned about how much trouble he'll be in if he leaves the house at dark alone again.

My husband is amazing. In about 10 days he built our boys a tree house, using every bit of spare daylight he had before and after work. He didn't do it half way either...this is a serious tree house. The roof is beautiful...green tin with waterproof roofing paper underneath. It is solid and sturdy. Eric had never built anything like this before, but that never matters to him. He finds a resource with instructions and just gets started. So, after 10 days and probably at least 10 trips to Lowe's, the tree house is complete. He used a book for ideas, but the design is his and I'm so proud of him.

The chickens, 29 of them, are now living outside. I'm so glad to have them out of my basement! The two old hens aren't sure what to think about these babies invading their coop. They are still be separated from the babies right now.

The garden is a sad little place right now. Time has been the issue, and not having a tiller. We decided that the tree house was the top priority right now and so the gardening has unfortunately taken a hit. The peas are flowering, and a few onions are in the ground. I have no idea what else, if anything, we'll take on this summer. Eric will be traveling so much for work that we have probably missed our window for this year. It makes me a little sad, but we can only tackle so much at once with Eric's work schedule. Hopefully we can start hitting the farmer's market and the visiting the Amish as the summer continues.

Happy Summer! If only my kids didn't still have seven days of school!

2011-05-29T09:04:00.002-05:00

We have now lived in Gambier for a year, we moved here last Memorial Day weekend. It's been a good year, a busy year. It's a lot of work getting in settled in a new town and a new home.

Here's a list of 10 things I miss from Columbus, in random order:

1. Target

2. COSI, the Columbus Zoo and the Franklin Park Conservatory memberships

3. Chick Fil A

4. Bible lessons with the Meyer's family, and sharing life with them daily

5. A short drive to my parents and grandma's house

6. Central Air

7. Parks and playgrounds that my kids have loved since they were babies

8. Dr. Sant

9. Jen's company and grown up conversations when I'm hauling my four kids around town

10. A master bedroom with a connected master bathroom

10 Things I love about life in Gambier, also in random order:

1. Quiet

2. Land and space to roam, run, and play

3. Wiggin Street Elementary School

4. Our home

5. First Presbyterian Church

6. Middle Ground cafe and the Village Inn restaurant

7. The bike trail and hiking trails that surround our home

8. My kids have a tree house

9. Watching wild life from our windows

10. The life our family is building together

When we look at our house and our property there is so much we want to do. At the same time, we've gotten so much accomplished in our first year here. There are times when we miss the conveniences of life in Columbus and we obviously miss our family and friends, but we are so happy here and so thankful for all we have here in Gambier. We're look forward to many, many more years here in Gambier.

2011-05-20T20:55:00.002-05:00

I'm listening to the sound of three wild boys running around the outside of our house like crazy monkeys with flashlights. They are playing cops and robbers. It's almost 10 o'clock and I keep thinking I should make Eric gather them into the tent for the night. Then I remember that for three years I put them to bed by 8 o'clock every night in the summer because the neighborhood was even worse during the summer months. They never saw a fire fly, never played hide and seek in the dark. We would take them camping at state parks and we would get so frustrated because they were ready to go in the tent or camper every night at dusk. They wouldn't run around like all the other kids at the camp site. Now I realize that they simply didn't know how to play like other kids, it wasn't a safe choice to run around and play at dark in our old neighborhood.

We've been here a year and we've spent a lot of time trying to teach them to play outside. For months they would only play on the concrete pad in front of the house even though we own 8 acres of land where they can run and play safely. I don't think they've been on that concrete pad once tonight. I'm sure we will camp at state parks again at some point, but our home is now our favorite camp site. Tonight they're sleeping outside with their daddy...if they ever make it to bed.

2011-05-20T12:54:00.002-05:00

Evan is doing well, he has recovered incredibly quickly considering all the work that was done in his little mouth yesterday. He's been a trooper. He's happily playing with the new Jedi ship he just bought at Walmart with the money Papaw gave him for being so brave. Just glad it's all over. Now for the bills to start rolling in...

It's Friday! So happy for the weekend of good weather we are expecting. Eric started the tree house with Riley and Trey yesterday. They'll be ready to get back to work right after school I'm sure. They each got their own hammer at Lowe's so they can work with Eric...they think they're big stuff.

Time to get dinner ready for the grill...it's summer! 12 more days of school for the older two, less than that for Pickle.

2011-05-18T11:52:00.002-05:00

The hospital just called, 11am tomorrow morning for Evan's surgery. I'll be SO glad when this is over. Praying the little guy stays somewhat calm. When he gets upset, it's very hard to calm him down. Just wait until he realizes he can't have breakfast in the morning...

2011-05-16T12:50:00.002-05:00

It's a big week at our house. Evan will be having work done on his teeth under general anesthesia at Children's on Thursday. We had a pre-surgery physical today which completely exhausted me. Cora is a handful at the doctor's office and they were running behind so we were there an hour before we even made it to an examining room. They did a complete physical including vision and hearing screening. They did a ton of developmental questions and he was super cute answering all of them. Then they pricked his finger and all hell broke loose. We were there almost two hours. Luckily, my mom is watching Cora on Thursday so I can concentrate on Evan and keeping him calm on Thursday. I'm just ready for it to be over.

I'm also SO ready for the school year to be over. The boys are really tired of school and they need a break. Tree house plans were sketched out last night and supplies are being purchased tonight. They are ready to spend the summer in their new boys clubhouse!

2011-05-11T13:41:00.000-05:00

It's 85 degrees in my house.

Evan lives in a make believe world. He is constantly pretending he is a super hero fighting a bad guy. He's got a new favorite super hero, God. The boy is obsessed with all things Biblical. It's a little odd and sometimes disturbing. We found him recently hiding all of his body, except his head, in the white curtains. The curtains were clouds, he was God. He yelled out from the clouds, "Hey Trey, I'll be God, you be Moses." Forget Batman and Robin, Evan's found the true source of power and Moses is his favorite side kick.

Last night I found him hiding under an empty plastic tote. He was pretending he was Jesus in a tomb. He jumped out and yelled, "In all His glory!". Like I said, it can be a little disturbing. I told Eric that we may have a future televangelist on our hands. I really have no idea how that kid's mind works.

Cora likes to wear her sunglasses. She loves jewelry and purses. These are not things she has learned from me. Her and her Nana are kindred spirits.

Riley and Trey are doing fine. Trey's begging for a dog. 30 chickens arrive Friday. Why in the world would I ever buy a dog. They are both really ready for school to be out for the summer. Should be a great summer...basketball camp for both boys, VBS at church, the beach, a week at the cottage, and the pool. I'm really hoping to work a Cedar Point trip with Eric, Jen and Riley in there as well!

It's 85 degrees in my house.

2011-05-08T07:58:00.003-05:00

13.1. 2 hrs. and 33 min.

It's finished and I'm really happy with how it all went. It feels a little like the day after Christmas. Weird to be on the other side of something you've trained and anticipated for so long.

I slept well the night before and the weather was perfect for a long run.

I ran for the first time last July, less than a year ago. I made it .2 miles before I had to stop and walk. Since them I have run alone each week...rain, snow, ice...sick kids, a husband with a broken back, shin splints, and a baby that refused to sleep through the night. I have never attempted or accomplished anything like this in my life and I'm super happy about it.

My family has been very supportive and my friend Kelsie has encouraged me constantly along the way.

The fun part is that this isn't the end, I'm just getting started!

Off to church with my parents this morning for Mother's Day. Would it look strange if I wore my medal? Probably.

My two oldest want to start training for the 5K at the Naz in November. How fun would that be if it actually happened?!

2011-05-05T20:54:00.002-05:00

Leaving for C-bus tomorrow afternoon. It's race weekend! I'm super excited and scared out of my mind at the same time! 13.1, what have I gotten myself into??

2011-05-05T12:54:00.003-05:00

I'm trying to get work done for my dad while the baby is sleeping and the house is quiet, but my mind is racing and I thought maybe if I took a break to journal it would help me concentrate on the tasks that need to be accomplished this afternoon...

Trey's class is doing a play for the rest of the school that is set in the rain forests of Liberia. As they have been studying their lines and rehearsing they have also been learning about Africa. Today I met his class on the middle path in town because they were having a lemonade stand and bake sale to buy mosquito nets for children in Africa These nets help protect children from Malaria. Trey has been so excited all week about this fundraiser. I sat today, sun shining on my baby girl in her sundress, watching Trey march up and down the middle path with a sign yelling, "Save the children in Africa." I fought back tears and I wanted to stand up and yell with him, "We tried so hard to save just one." Instead I gave him money for the cash box.

The grieving process is sneaky...you can think you are fine, that you've processed and prayed and your heart is at peace. But, then it nails you all over again. Then your hearts just aches, as much as it did back when you first started the whole process of letting go.

I emailed a contact regarding Nator yesterday. She was the last person to try and push our case through and probably worked harder for us in one week than anyone else had in the two previous years. She is no longer in Liberia but shared with me what she knew of Nator's situation. She said that Nator's nanny was raising her as her daughter. Her name is Angeline. So now, we will pray each night not just for our Nator, but also for her mom, Angeline.

2011-05-03T07:53:00.002-05:00

Going out in the rain to vote for MV schools today. Yes, the way we fund schools is ridiculous and I know that people often vote no because they are protesting the system. However, we are dealing with some serious cuts that effect my kids and the teachers they love today. For now, the system is what it is and our kids need our support.

I know this has been all over facebook, but I'm posting it here as well because it explains my thoughts very clearly. I found myself subjected to Fox News last night on the treadmill. This is my only response.

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr

2011-05-02T21:13:00.003-05:00

We have "good" insurance through Eric's work. That means we should be able to rest a little easier when medical needs arise. Today I was told that taking care of Evan's teeth is considered "elective." Hmmm...am I missing something here? Goodbye to what's left of my tax return.

I have a lot of thought swimming around in my head about the death of Bin Laden and all the coverage I've seen on t.v. today, but I think all that needs to be said is what my sister-in-law, Rachel, posted on Facebook today...

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord."
Ezekiel 18:23, 32

2011-04-30T19:33:00.003-05:00

Life has been eventful lately. After a very busy, but fun Easter weekend we received a phone call that Eric's grandfather, Maureen's dad, had passed away. Eric has been grieving this week for a man that I think he wishes he knew better and we've both been worried about his mom. On Thursday morning we received a phone call that my grandma was being taken to the hospital. Later that night we learned that she had suffered a massive heart attack. So, Eric left Friday afternoon with the three boys for Buffalo so he could be at his grandfather's funeral and I left Friday morning for Columbus with Cora to be with my grandma. They placed three stents in Grandma and she is now recovering at the hospital. To say the least, we are very thankful that she is alive. She's is doing much better than I anticipated and we're hopeful she'll be able to return home later this week.

2011 has been a little more "eventful" than I would like so far and I'm hoping for a calmer second half of the year. In the midst of the 2011 chaos I've been determined to continue training for the half marathon. We are now less than a week away for the big race. There's a lot more I want to write about this process, but for now I'll just say that I ran 10 miles today alone and it was pretty amazing.

I'm thankful to be home tonight, I love my house. I love that after living here a year I still feel like it's a vacation home that we're just lucky enough to get to live in permanently. I'm also thankful for my parents and the time I was able to spend with them this weekend in spite of the difficult circumstances. They are so supportive of me and I just like hanging out with them. I'm thankful for the dogwood tree that's blooming outside. I'm thankful my grandma is still with us. I'm thankful that my husband will be home soon with our boys.

2011-04-17T14:29:00.002-05:00

I decided to make this blog public again. The situations that led to me making the blog private are no longer part of our lives, so there just seemed to be no reason to continue making readers log in.

Riley and Trey have started their own blog. They have just added their first post, a story they wrote together. I was pretty impressed with their first attempt! Check them out here!

2011-04-14T20:01:00.002-05:00

Warning...reality television post...judge me if you must.

So mad my boy just got sent home on American Idol. I confess to having a serious crush on Paul. Dude has an amazing voice, so unique. And that smile...he's hot. I don't know if I can watch the rest of the season now. The only thing that would save the season is Casey winning it all. The last two weeks results have been jacked up.

On a more normal note...took my baby girl shoe shopping today. That child is so incredibly social and girly. She interacts with every stranger she meets and today wanted to try on every pair of shoes in the store. She strutted, literally, around the shoe store in each pair of shoes...polka dot capris and her big belly in a tank top. In her hair, a big white daisy...really I could eat her up. I really enjoy the time I get just with her for a few hours each week.

This week has been a little rough. Eric has been out of town for work most of the week, or working really late at events. We adjust to him being away, and then he's home for an hour or two here and there and it just creates a really strange rhythm. Next week should be a little more normal. We struggled with Trey this week, which has been a challenge to deal with alone. He's my sweet, sweet boy...and yet sometimes he's so hard to understand and figure out. Today was better, so that's good.

The weather is beautiful...peas are growing, lettuce and spinach are growing. Things are good. Plans are being made for a tree house, the chicken coop is being renovated. Baby chicks arrive in less than a month. Let's not talk about how many my husband ordered.

2011-04-06T07:12:00.002-05:00

Did I say I was happy the Wiggles were back in action at the Stetler house? My 13 month old screamed like a crazy person, case in hand, until I finally caved in and put the DVD on this morning. What in the world?! The really funny part is that all three boys are singing and dancing with her, which really makes her love the Wiggles. Must bring back good memories for the boys!

2011-04-04T12:13:00.003-05:00

The Wiggles are back at the Stetler's house, and I'm loving it! Cora is a big fan already! How could she not be really, the Wiggles are awesome.

Cora is now crazy fast on her feet. She's attempting to run, especially when her daddy comes home from work at night. She's in love with him. She's now capable of disobeying intentionally, and it doesn't help that her brothers think it's super funny when she disobeys me. Can't wait to see her toddling around in sun dresses this summer!

Trey is home! It was awesome to see him reunited with Riley. They were so happy to see each other. Pickle has been at Eric's parents for the last two days, so it will be nice to everyone back home together tomorrow.

We're off to a better start this week than last week, thank goodness. Now if we could just get a little sun and some warmer weather. There's a new John Deere sitting in my yard ready to get to work mowing, gardening, and hauling wood.

2011-03-31T20:11:00.002-05:00

Swimming through a big ocean of mom guilt this week. It's tiring. The undertow has been strong and keeping my head above water has exhausted me. The physical signs appeared today, hives. Some days, to be very honest, I feel like I really stink at my job. Not my job working for my dad...that's easy. I mean this job of being a mom to four kids. And at the end of week like this one I look back and have to say to myself, "What was I thinking? How in the world did I let that one get past me?". And yet, there is nothing I can do but move forward, try my hardest, and pray for strength and wisdom.

And, I miss Trey. I want my kid to come home.

2011-03-28T09:25:00.003-05:00

This could be a LONG spring break. Trey is the peacemaker when the three boys are playing together. He plays well with both of the boys and really is the key to the three of them playing well together. He's been gone less than two days and I'm ready to pull my hair out. Evan and Riley really struggle when left alone to play. The age difference is magnified and both of them become extremely stubborn. Trey also gives Cora a ton of attention when I need to get something done. I know she's going to miss him too.

I miss Trey. And not just for this reason...he's such a gentle spirit in our home. At the same time, I know he's having a great time in Florida with Eric's parents. He loves one on one attention and he'll get a huge dose of love and attention all to himself this week. What a treat for the middle child! Selfishly though, I want my little guy to come home soon!

We're on our way to my mom's for a few days. Unfortunately this involves two doctor's appointments, but hopefully a lot of fun with Nana as well! I'm off to the eye doctor today...pink eye exploded into a swollen infected mess. I look like something from Monsters Vs. Aliens. Evan's seeing a pediatric dentist tomorrow to have the mess in his mouth checked out. All I really want during my time in Columbus is a trip to Target. Oh how I miss Target. If you want to hang out and you live in Columbus, we'll be in Gahanna until Wednesday!

2011-03-26T09:11:00.001-05:00

By Tim Gardner, USA TODAY

After Ohio State's loss to Kentucky in the East Regional semifinals, star freshman Jared Sullinger offered some good news to Buckeyes fans.

Sullinger, who won the 2011 Wayman Tisdale award as the nation's best freshman, said that despite being projected as one of the NBA's top prospects he will return to Ohio State next year.
After Ohio State's loss to Kentucky, freshman Jared Sullinger said he would be returning to the Buckeyes next season.

"I'm going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year," Sullinger said, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Winning is that important to me. I don't like losing. This is not what I came here to do."

Sullinger said seeing Ohio State's seniors distraught after Friday's loss to Kentucky was not the way he wants his college career to end.

"This is not what I came here for, to sit here and see my seniors crying," Sullinger said. "I came here to win a national championship, to see them celebrate. I wanted to tears of joy with these guys."

Sullinger, who is projected to be a top five pick in the NBA draft, made it clear that his mind is made up.

"I'm a man of my word. Period. Point blank," he said.

While some may think Sullinger's words are just a knee-jerk reaction to a devastating loss, Ohio State coach Thad Matta said that Sullinger promised him two years before he came to the Buckeyes.

"He told me from Day One he'd be back for two years," Matta said. "He said, 'Draw me up a contract, whatever you want me to do, I'll sign it.' With him, his freshman year was as good as I've ever seen a freshman have. I think all the things he learned this year, with a great off-season, I have no doubt he'll be the best player in college basketball."

the end

2011-03-25T23:03:00.002-05:00

of another great season.

big tears at our house at midnight.

good bye to the seniors. what a tough way to end it all.

riley stetler..."I'll hate Kentucky forever. I hope they get throttled"

2011-03-25T21:51:00.002-05:00

why, oh why, did we have to have the late game tonight. I'm trying so hard to stay awake during half time.

We have been nailed again with illness. Strep, all six of us. Cora had a nasty allergic reaction to amoxicillin, which made yesterday a little scary for a few minutes. This morning, pink eye. Yes, I have pink eye. Which is just incredibly annoying. The good thing is that in the midst of the rough winter we have found a wonderful nurse practitioner who has taken very good care of our family. Evan has developed his first crush I believe on our new nurse friend, Katy. Evan also has some dental issues which are so not fun...that boy is beyond stubborn. The dentist calls him "apprehensive" but stubborn might be the right word. I should be easier on the little man, he's had a rough road already with his teeth injury and surgery so he just freaks out whenever he sits in the dentist's chair. We're off to a specialist on Monday.

Spring is coming...it has to sometime, right? We started serious work on our garden last weekend, back when it was 70...before the snow.

Trey leaves for Florida with Eric's parents on Sunday morning. I'm really going to miss him. A week seems like a really long time. But, he's super excited for this special trip. I'll be entertaining the other three during spring break next week. A change of pace will be nice.

That was a lot of rambling...but it passed the time. Game's back on. Oh crap, I'm so nervous I think I'm going to puke. Seriously.

Party in the O-S-U

2011-03-15T17:53:00.000-05:00

baby girl is fussy with a low fever. this is all that calms her down. she has no idea who miley is but this girl loves her buckeyes already. she requests that we sing this all the time now by swaying her hands over her head until we start singing.

My legs...

2011-03-15T08:02:00.003-05:00

suck.

These two legs would embarrass me often in high school...my knees popping out of place while I was walking between classes. I would lose my balance and it took me by surprise every time.

These two legs have Restless Leg Syndrome. If you've never experienced this, it basically feels like electrical currents are running through your legs making them jump while you try desperately to sleep. Every time I'm overtired, this starts up.

These two legs have TORTURED me through four pregnancies, getting worse with each baby. They become covered with ugly worm like veins and small spider veins and ache with an intensity I can't describe.

These legs are now beyond ugly because after Cora the veins didn't disappear. I look awesome in shorts, note the extreme sarcasm.

And now...drum roll please...shin splints. In August I began training for the half marathon coming up on May 7th. Surprisingly, my legs have been cooperating this entire time. I went from being a complete non-runner to training for a half. I've done this slowly over time and I don't feel like I've pushed it too far or too fast.
Things were going so stinking well. Now I'm giving it one last effort with ice and compression, but I'm so worried all this has been for nothing. What if my legs just can't do this. I hate these legs today.

During the last few years of my grandfather's life his legs just quit working. Doctors couldn't find a reason and all grandpa could tell us to explain how he felt was that they just wouldn't work. I'll probably be quite a handful for Eric to deal with by the time I'm 80.

2011-03-13T19:55:00.003-05:00

Just tried to add birthday pictures to this blog but I keep getting an error message.

Our one year old is walking all over the house! In the week since she turned one she has learned to go down the stairs, she has started to wean herself from nursing, she has started drinking large amounts from her sippy cup, and has become a very steady walker! I went to pick her up from the nursery at church today and there she was, sitting with all the kids in her own big girl chair at the snack table, eating her snack and drinking her juice. She looked so big!

We've spent a bit of time talking with the kids about the season of Lent this week. Evan's comments needed to be documented somewhere. After our conversation Evan asked, "Mommy, when God talks to you do you really hear His voice?". I tried to explain that God can speak to us in our hearts. He paused a moment and said very seriously, "In my heart I feel like God is telling me to give something up for Lent." Eric and I waited for his next words, wondering if our youngest son might be a little prophet. Then he said, "He's telling me to give up those old candy canes in the pantry." Yep, the ones he's never eaten. This was the same day he explained to a little girl in his preschool that there are actually three Gods..."God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit." Hmmm...three Gods.

Brackets are filled out already at our house. Let the Madness begin. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Overall #1 seed...awesome.

2011-03-06T19:58:00.000-05:00

We really enjoyed Cora's big birthday weekend! We had a great time celebrating on Saturday night and she loved having so much attention. I'll have pictures from her party as soon as I get them from my mom. I was really happy with how everything went and I'll have a lot of great memories from the night.

Miss Cora brings so much joy to our home. She is learning quickly how to make us laugh and we love watching her being silly.

My sweet little surprise...a gift I never imagined or expected.

Our baby will now become a little girl...and now our work really begins. Lord help us.

Rapid subject change...OH MY GOSH WHAT A GAME! BIG TEN CHAMPS! What a senior night for Diebler, Lighty and Lauderdale. We were screaming...loudly. In the middle of all the excitement I looked down to see Cora on the floor, staring at the TV, remote in hand, screaming right along with us! I'm sure she was yelling O-H over and over waiting for one of us to finish up with the I-O. Big Ten tournament next and then NCAA tourney time...bring on the Maddness!!!

Happy Birthday!

2011-03-04T07:44:00.000-05:00

My baby girl and my handsome husband share the same birthday. Happy Birthday!

2011-03-02T21:17:00.002-05:00

Margaritas with my mom...she's been here all day helping me recover from crazy week of sickness AND took me out to dinner at Fiesta Mexicana. She's pretty great.

And now it's time for some sleep...so tired after staying up late last night to watch the Buckeyes beat the crap out of Penn State.

Time to get ready for my sweet baby girl's first birthday this weekend!

2011-02-28T13:59:00.003-05:00

Four nights with very little sleep...one more trip to the doctor this morning at 9am.

The Kokosing River runs through our little village and several roads are flooded. The river is rushing and has spread well past its natural boundaries. The storm last night was fierce and the sky put on quite a show while I was up rocking my baby through the night, trying to help her rest despite the fever, wheezing and croupy cough.

A new day...
Our septic has been pumped and yard is no longer filled with waste. That's always a good thing.

We have the medicine we need to help Trey and Cora and we should be past this in another 48 hours.

In the basement our laundry room has been converted into our seed room. Inside little sprouts have popped up from the soil. Spring really is coming. It won't be long until our hands are stained with dirt from turning over soil for new garden beds. The spring we have been dreaming about for a few years now is here. This spring we will learn to work our land together.

2011-02-25T13:18:00.002-05:00

3 sick kids + 7th snow day of the year + 1 husband working all weekend = One tired mom

Have I mentioned my yard is full of poop? whatever.

Solution...another pot of coffee and iCarley Spaghetti Tacos for dinner!

2011-02-24T18:08:00.002-05:00

Back to the doctor with Evan today. Around 2pm he woke up from a nap screaming that his ears hurt. With tylenol, his temperature was 102. They wanted to see him right away at the doctor's office so I picked up the boys from school and we went right over. He has a double ear infection which explains the fever. Then she listened to his chest and back and he was wheezing with every breath. They checked his oxygen levels and gave him a breathing treatment. He was laying there, half asleep and crying with the breathing treatment machine running. I had flashbacks to the first time a doctor was this concerned over Evan's breathing, back when he was four months old. That was such a scary time for me. Evan is still my baby...in so many ways...and I was a little scared today as well.

The good news is that we are home with amoxicillin for the ear infection and we already own a breathing treatment machine and have a supply of medicine here for it. The other good news is that today we saw the nurse practitioner instead of the doctor at our new office and she was fantastic. We will definitely be asking for her rather than the doctor we've seen before when we need to go.

The not so awesome news is that this is Eric's late night at work, and he has to work late tomorrow night, and almost all day Saturday. crap. Looking forward to going to church together Sunday and coming home for the Buckeye game.

2011-02-23T20:03:00.002-05:00

My sweet four year old is sick, sick, sick. Nasty cough, so congested, and a high fever. He's really sad and pathetic. I'm really hoping this doesn't make its way through our entire family. We have a big first birthday party coming up and I don't want to deal with sickness right now. Plus, my half marathon training is going so well right now and sickness has a way of destroying my training schedule. That sounds selfish, but this means so much to me. And, it just breaks my heart to see little man sick.

I think we made it six weeks healthy, that's pretty good I guess when you have four kids and three of them are in school!

2011-02-17T19:46:00.002-05:00

Big announcement...tomorrow night Eric and I will be leaving the house without any of our children! This will be our first date since the night before Cora was born...almost a year ago. Obviously, time alone without our kids is long overdue. My parents gave us a gift card for Valentines Day and made us promise that we will use it to go out alone. So, as soon as Cora is asleep for the night we will leave for dinner at the Kenyon Inn and then go across the street for coffee at Middle Ground. Our friends Justin and Cassandra are coming over to put the boys to bed and hang out at our house until we get back. I can't wait!

It was 60 degrees outside today! The kids and the chickens played outside in the sunshine this afternoon. Days like this are teasers and the hard part is that everyone gets excited for spring. It's hard to explain to the kids that the cold will come back. Trey asked if we could start planting seeds outside today and Evan asked me to get out his shorts and tank tops!

2011-02-15T17:14:00.002-05:00

I'm a little hyped up about tonight's game. My lucky OSU socks have been on since 7am. They seem to be working because...

1. The sun is shining.

2. I heard Eddie Rabbit's "I Love the Rainy Nights" and the Judd's "Have Mercy" on the same day on the radio. What are the chances of that??!! Lucky socks, I'm telling you. Hearing one of them would have been exciting enough.

3. My kids are behaving extraordinarily well after school.

Eric and James are going to the game. I'm a little jealous, but happy to watch this late game in my pj's as well. I love beating Michigan St. and we NEED this win. Oh geez, I'm nervous. Letting R stay up late because I'm a super cool mom and because I want company!

Planning baby girl's birthday party. She's learned how to tell you what a doggy says this week and she's giving some awesome kisses out to her family...big open mouth wet ones! love her, love her

Valentine's Day was pretty great around here...translation, lots of really good sugar treats. I made Whoopie Pies, recipe from the Family Fun magazine. They were amazing and are now officially my favorite dessert to make. The kids had a blast at their school parties. We celebrated at my mom's house on Saturday and then Eric brought home some awesome treats for dessert last night. The sugar fest is now over.

Time to bathe dirty small people, get into pjs, and count down to tip off!

2011-02-12T21:25:00.003-05:00

A loss...it had to come sometime, right?

Eric is going to the game Tuesday. Hope the Spartan's keep playing below their potential. I have a feeling though that Izzo will have them ready for this game. We're getting close to March...it's going to be a good one this year.

2011-02-11T20:06:00.002-05:00

The snow seems to be over, at least for now. The sun was bright today and even though the temperature only made it to the low 30's, there was a hint of spring in the air that you could feel in the warmth of the sun.

My sweet nephew is having his first sleepover at our house tonight. My brother brought him up this evening. He is a super funny kid and he seems older than he is because he is so stinking smart. He just came out to my computer to deliver a pretend cup of juice and to tell me he loves me. I am a little nervous about having a toddler overnight. I hope he sleeps well in a strange house. He's sleeping on the floor in my room with Evan. He loves to be with his cousins and they play well together despite the age difference.

My baby girl is almost a year old. She is eating a lot of the same things we eat at meals now, although I think the lasagna last night was a little rough on her stomach. She is nodding her head for "yes" now and she has her own little word for "again". She is changing so much right now, she seems older each day.

Time to tuck in the little ones.

2011-02-02T21:45:00.002-05:00

Third snow day in a row for my boys tomorrow. Last night they slept on the king size air mattress in our room because we thought we were about to lose our electricity. The propane heater was in our room all ready to go if we lost our heat. We never did, but they sure loved their "sleepover" in mom and dad's room. They begged for another night on the air mattress and since school had already been canceled for tomorrow I thought it would be fun. Maybe a new snow storm tradition...sleepovers in our room.

I thought it was a bit premature to cancel school for tomorrow already. However, that was only because I hadn't been outside since early this morning. I went to fill the wood burner tonight and quickly fell hard down the stairs, hitting my head and landing hard on my back. It was next to impossible to walk to the wood burner, but I somehow managed without another fall. I have never seen anything like this, my yard is an ice rink.

The boys talked me into making "Death Star Popcorn Balls" today from their Star Wars cookbook. Not fun at all. I told them to savor each bite because I will never be making them again. These kids can talk me into anything on a snow day.

Finally, my house smells like poop. The weather, high winds and ice, has not been kind to my septic system. Eric is researching on the internet. I have no interest in research when my house smells like poop. I'm calling a plumber.

That's the snow storm update from our little house in the woods. I'm going to go join the sleepover in my bedroom now.

2011-01-31T20:39:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is February 1st and I'm more than ready to say goodbye to the month of January. I've already written plenty about the sickness that settled into our home for a solid three weeks. Then we finished the month off with a skiing accident. Last Sunday Eric went skiing with a friend and I received a call telling me he was being taken by ambulance to the ER. He has a broken vertebrae in his back and is still in a lot of pain. We have seen a specialist in Columbus, but there is very little that can be done...just rest and hope for a quick recovery. If he doesn't seem to be healing well, then we will have an MRI done to make sure that we haven't missed another injury. My mom moved in for a few days to help me out last week. Eric has gone back to work, but is unable to do much here at home. He can't lift Cora, can't bend over to tie shoes or change diapers. He can't fill the wood burner with wood or carry the chickens water back down to the coop. My daily routine now includes all the things that have always been part of his daily routine. I'm not a big fan of caring for the chickens on my own, but I'm LOVING taking care of the fire. I can't describe why really, just that it feels great to stoke the fire that heats our entire home and gives my kids a warm bath.

The chaos from last week left this house a complete mess. Today I was determined to get us back in order while Cora was napping. But, this sweet little four year old who completely owns my heart doesn't have school on Mondays. He was able to easily convince me to put my cleaning supplies away and play with him instead. We built with Trio blocks, played three games of Memory, and then decided to make cookies. He looked at me while he was licking dough off the spoon and said, "I'm going to remember this when I'm five. I'm going to remember making cookies with you." Quick tears came then and I thought about what a waste of time it would have been to clean the bathroom.

We seem stuck in the middle of winter now, another bad storm should hit tonight. Although I'm starting to get anxious for spring and warmer weather, tonight I find myself looking forward to a day inside tomorrow with my kids. Hopefully we'll be able to make some more memories we'll all remember when we are older.