on baby watch. Online of course. I am keeping an eye on  Twitter and Facebook in case Shynea from Penny Pinching Diva or Jennifer from Baby Makin(g) Machinehave gone in labor yet.  Shynea had a fall over the weekend but all is okay. This will be her fifth addition, a little girl Jennifer is at 40 weeks waiting for her first, also a little girl. Affectionately known as Spawnie and Lil’ J.  Both Moms and their families are in my thoughts and prayers.

I have been back and forth on this. I am looking forward to summer because it means a little relaxation. I want to sleep in and take a break from homework. My kids get a lot of it. I need a break from drop offs and pick ups. I really, really do. This is when I think no to summer school.  But then I think about what no summer school means. All four kids. Here. All the time. I’m going to try to plan for activities but that might not always work out. I think I will miss those couple of hours of peace and quiet in the morning. Ok, I know I will miss them. Summer school is only for five weeks. Four days a week.

Yeah, I am voting for summer school. Let’s just keep it real

Jazz came home with such an interesting award. The Quiet Can Be Strong Award. Her English teacher passed out awards to each of the students that described them. The award Jazz brought home had the Chinese symbol meaning peaceful and quiet on the front. There was also a message from her teacher that said ” You have amazing sense of self, strength and confidence“. On the back were encouraging words from all of her classmates.

Jazz was actually surprised with the way her peers see her. A happy surprise. Of course as her Mom I already see her as being strong and amazing. Ahh, another proud moment for me

The kids have noticed that school is almost done for this year. Yes, the official countdown has begun. There are 19 days until school is out for summer. I have to admit I am not totally prepared. I honestly thought I had way more time.  So I have to get on the ball. Summer is coming and these kids need things to do because I do not want to hear every day “I’m bored”. I  have a few ideas:

• A family Zoo pass. We can go there a few times a weeks. I can take all the kids and my nephew. That will cover exercise and give us something to do.
• For Jazz, a few of the high schools will have a evening recreation program just for teens. It is all summer long, Monday thru Thursday from 6-9 pm.  There will be swimming, music, enrichment classes and sport leagues to choose from. And it is free!
• The Park. I am thinking I can check out their event schedule and try a few things out. Maybe some outdoor concerts. We always can something to do at the park even if it is just playing, walking or fishing.
• Public Library. There is a lot of free things to do. Some of the events coming up include  family fun night with face painting and a scavenger hunt, magic shows, and bingo.
• Milwaukee Public Museum. It is free on Monday. We can pack lunches and make a day of it.

These are just a few of the things I am thinking we can do. What are your plans for keeping the kids busy this summer?

I am really starting to think this is my children’s favorite phrase. It seeems like lately this is how they start every sentence. But Nannah has it bad. She is the only one

• who has to share a room with a sister
• not allowed to do what she wants
• has to do chores
• who has a bed time
• whose mother tries to teach her how to take care of herself

and the list goes on and on. This week she is the only child in the whole world who has to iron clothes.  Yep, you listen to how she tells it, every other mom irons their kids’ clothes because this is what moms are supposed to do. Now you know I just had to chuckle. Oh how  I love to be “told” what I am supposed to be doing. By an 11 year old. I am not falling for it though, no matter how sweet the face

I do not homeschool and admire those that do. But I have four kids in school and it seems like the homework is neverending. All the way from my 7 year old to my 15 year old.  Are mine the only ones getting so much homework? It has gotten to the point where we have to get started “right” after school. Sometimes we barely have time for dinner and baths.

Even my husband has been feeling the pressure. I think this is the first time in a really long time that I have actually asked “When is spring break?”

I just may be a little exhausted. What do you think,lol?

Well TJ is playing in his first after school activity. We let him pick and he chose basketball. We were really excited about this. I sometimes wonder about how hard it is being the only boy in a houseful of girls. Even though the girls can sometimes be  tough it’s just not the same. Anyways the coach was waiting for enough players and the missed the first two practices. By the time they had their first official practice TJ was suffering from a little stage fright. It was actually kind of cute. He was standing there so nervous, biting his nails. Once I talked to him and assured him he would not be playing against actual high school students, he relaxed a little. The day of the game he was a little nervous, there were quite a crowd out there. He did finally get into the game. He was running and playing. He even got passed the ball once! It was a surprisingly good game. My son’s team gave the other team a run for their money. It was pretty close a few times. He is looking forward to the  next game.  Even Kayla has caught the bug! She walks around the house bouncing a ball constantly.  Her plan is to help TJ practice. Isn’t that sweet?

Before I had children I always said I will treat all my kids equally. If one gets something, so do the others. This year I realized how impossible that is. My oldest is 14 so it is obvious that she can do some thing the younger kids can not do. For some reason Nannah (10) thinks she is ready for a boyfriend. I honestly thought she was kidding when she brought this up. Whatever happened to thinking boys are gross? She was really upset when I told her no.She had tears in her eyes. I means for heaven’s sake, she is ten!! I understand she will be starting middle school next year but she is not even a teenager yet. I have a plan though. It is called “Operation Distraction”. I am going to sign Nannah up for a bunch of afterschool activities. I am hoping if I keep her busy doing things she is interested in, she will forget all about boys for now.

I have four kids and I admit sometimes they can be what you may call “strong willed”. Sometimes I wish I could drop them off somewhere but I really wouldn’t because I love my babies even when they are getting on my nerves. A few days ago on the news I heard the reporters talking about the Safe Haven law in Nebraska. I am pretty familiar with the Safe Haven Law. It is basically an alternative to infant abandonment. The infant may be taken to any hospital emergency room, staffed fire rescue station, or staffed emergency medical service station. At least that is what I understood. Apparently in Nebraska there is no age limit and people are dropping off minors as old as 19! There is a one parent who dropped off all nine kids ages 20 months to 17 years old. This seems crazy to me! All parents go through those days where you are just tired of parenting but to literally get your children together and drop them off at a hospital is just not a thought that has come into my mind. An article I read actually says Nebraska’s new safe-haven law allowing parents to abandon unwanted children at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significant way: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyone under 19. I can not even imagine the effect this will have on a child that all the sudden your parents just did not want you anymore and just dropped you off. Does anyone else feel this is just really sad?

Last weekend was Family Free day at the Zoo so I decided to get the kids and spend a few hours outdoors. We even invited my dad. I like to go to the Zoo with other adults because I always get lost. Are you thinking, “How does she get lost in the zoo?” Well I have a horrible sense of direction and I still get lost in a city I have grown up in. We had a really fun time. The weather was perfect not too hot or cold. It was really beautiful with all the leaves turning colors. It was not even that crowded and there were no out of control kids out so that is always a plus We took the zoomobile ride and saw the whole zoo. I liked that because my feet were killing me! TJ got a chance to see the fish and bats so he was on cloud 7. Nannah and Kayla got to see the snakes and laugh at Jazz because she is terrified of snakes, lol. It was a day of laughter and relaxation and I really enjoyed myself. I am glad we went even if we did get lost once!