Emma is 7!

Thursday was Emma's 7th birthday and we celebrated in typical Lindner style- just the 7 of us! I think this is my favorite way, since I could happily commit us all to hermitude. I don't mean to say that I don't like people, (I don't like a LOT of people) but my most comfortable place is here with my husband and kids.

Since I had a doctor's appointment in Odessa that morning, it was a mad dash to get Anna and Leah to their second babysitter of the morning (big thanks to both!) and McDonalds for the obligatory "Happy" Meal and lunch at school. She was so happy to see me...probably because of the "happy" meal, it made the whole morning rush worthwhile. Whatever it takes to give her a "happy" birthday. I digress. I suppose the icing on the cake was when I stopped suddenly at a light and her special request cake flew across Edward (the new Nissan Armada) and met a frosty end in it's box. We had our very own "cake wreck" (a great blog, by the way). I smeared the icing back on in a pitiful attempt at salvaging the cake (and saving myself the work of baking!). See pictures to fully appreciate the shame. It just goes to show you that it doesn't matter what the cake looks like as long as you cover it with "kiddie crap" (one of Dad's favorite sayings).

The birthday girl got High School Musical Sing it, which made for a weird afternoon of karyoke. We aren't really performers in this family, we mostly just like to sit back and make fun of them!

Since our family is so spread out, our birthdays tend to be also. Emma got birthday clothes from Grammy to wear to school and church this week, then the microphone of humiliation on her birthday, and Saturday a little more from her friends.

We had a few families over for a barbecue to celebrate again. Good food and lots of it, good friends and still getting the kids to bed at a decent hour. I'd say it was a success!

I may have used parentheses somewhat liberally...(you think?)

Read at your own risk: major update to follow!

Now that I have forcefully shoved three of my beloved children unwillingly back into school, I have had some time to download pictures, do some laundry, and realize how calm life can be...NOT!

But it is definitely time to put a few more events down for our adoring family and friends!

After coming back from Hobbs, we had a few short days till the Newey's came to Midland for a little before school shopping. Always fun to shop-till-you-drop and laugh till you wet your pants. Mika and I have a friendship that I have never found anywhere else- we understand each other so well and relate in such a fun way that we can't be in the same room without laughing. Our kids can go a year without seeing each other and are like peas and carrots again the minute they are back together. We miss them daily and wish they could have followed us here! Maybe Paul is looking to make a little change?

A short week later we were off for Wisconsin. I hate driving. We travel with more gadgets and entertainment that any three families and that's no joke. Three DVD players (five if you count the two in the two laptops we took) Nintendo DS's, gameboys, books, magazines, toys, and did I mention unlimited text messaging? Still, I guess I should've brought something for the kids! It always seems to take forever. We stayed in Kansas day one, and went on to Wisconsin in time for dinner on day two. So nice to get there.

For those of you who have never been there, I will attempt to describe it. Picture something out of a Norman Rockwell picture.

Little houses, over a hundred years old framed by lush, green yards and flowers that grow without invitation or tending.

Towns are small, but there is a bar on every corner. And bars aren't just for drinking, they are for family dinners, wedding receptions and sometimes bowling! The rolling hills are dotted by little two-story farm houses that peek out from between seas of corn and soybeans. Big red barns, silos and battered green tractors complete the picture. Doesn't that sound fabulous?

We are always treated to great meals and fun days with our family there. No matter how long we stay it never seems to be long enough. We pack a lot into a short amount of time- Cousins, Aunts and Uncles, the zoo in Madison, Land's End shopping, Cartoons in Grandma's bed, Rural Route 1 popcorn (and store!), Euchre, The fish fry at the Tower (also a bar! See?) Bowling and pizza at the Tower (bowling too!) Cobb corn roast (town named Cobb...hmmm.) and baseball game and fair, and eating as many times as possible at Culver's, Grab-a Cone, and did I mention shopping? We really packed it in!

Madison has this great little zoo- just enough to see and leave while you can still walk out, and also FREE! The kids took a ride on the carousel, and Grandpa couldn't resist jumping on too.

It is such a sad thing when it's time to leave. Not only do we hate to say goodbye, but there is the impending weight of the drive home. We stopped in Des Moines to see Tod's mom for a couple days, and it was a nice break in the drive. Tod and I even got to go on a date- we went to see the new Batman movie (a little unsettling, not terribly romantic). When we were driving home we had a blow-out on the interstate in Oklahoma (yet another car problem), and limped home.

The car trouble prompted some serious thinking- time to get a newer car. The ten-year-old model is wearing down and not as reliable as it used to be. We did a lot of Internet shopping and research and finally settled on this:

You like? Same size inside as the Suburban, but a little shorter and better on gas mileage! I wish I could say I could go get in Edward (aah, Edward. The car sparkles in the sun- it seemed like the right name!) and drive somewhere, but he is trapped at the dealership waiting for a new radio. So we are stuck with a little Cadillac crossover for a loaner. It stinks, never buy one! Too crowded! Not to mention, after all this vacation and car buying, we are flat broke, so no travelling for a while, but come on over for Emma's birthday and I'll take you for a ride!

Updates

Has it really been a month? How easy it is to put my blogging on the back burner- we have been in and out of the house, out of the state, out of the time-zone. I think maybe the easiest way to organize all the chaos is to go trip-by-trip.
At the end of July, we made a quick trip to Hobbs. It is always such a great time to see old friends, especially the Neweys. Mika is like my sister. we got such a workout with all the aerobic laughter. I don't think we stopped laughing even in our sleep.
Mika was throwing a Twilight party with our mutual friend June. It was a blast! We ate mushroom ravioli, drank Coke, and even had cheesecake for dessert. Then we hid out in the kitchen while some of the women battled ( and I mean BATTLED) out the question of the night- Edward or Jacob? I'm so glad it's settled now! Then we helped everyone make T-shirts, which was a lot of work, but it was fun to see everyone's personality come out in their shirts. Mine says bite me. Anyone surprised by that?
The kids spent the whole day playing in the backyard on the HUGE inflatable water slide. We may need one.
Paul was SO sweet to babysit all nine of our kids- what a brave man!
The next day we went to see The Water Horse, and then hit the pool. The kids loved the slides and different water toys. I am so glad I remembered the sunscreen, because judging by my burn, they would have fried! It was a very uncomfortable drive home.

Cuteness for a cause

Emma and her friend Madeleine have been planning for weeks to donate their hair to Locks of Love, and the day has finally arrived. At the last minute, Anna decided to get in on the fun. They took turns getting their ponytails cut off, hair washed ( which they loved) and cut and styled. It was their first time with a real hairdresser. What a fun experience it turned out to be! Emma was especially excited to share it with Madeleine. They are already talking about growing it out again so that they can donate another time.

Some pictures

Sam and Carly, the newest additions to our petting zoo Adam, Zach, Josh, Emma and Leah cooling off
Paul, Mika and "the chop"

Okay, Obviously I ran out of room...

Our travels

Okay, I can finally sit down and document the last week's events. We went to Bastrop to surprise mom with a visit. It took a while to get there, we got to Sonic for lunch right behind a scout troop-waited in the drive-through for an hour! Then we had our first potty emergency for Leah. It sounds tacky, but I was really pleased to see that she had the skill to go on the ground beside the Suburban. She loved "peeing on the floor" (more like gravel and mesquite) so much that we had to stop frequently for false alarms.
When we finally got there though, it was a great surprise. Mom was thrilled to tears! We did have to go do some grocery shopping that night though.
Sunday we went to church in Bastrop, which is always great because we can really fill up a row! Grammy was so proud! After church Catherine and her kids came over for a visit, and we got to meet baby Maj-Les (pronounced Mylees) for the first time. She is a beautiful, good natured baby and it was a blast to hold her and love on her! The zipline became the attraction once again. It was my turn and it was unavoidable. I had put it off as long as I could, and so at this point in the post, I must recount one of the more embarrassing moments of my life. I dont have many fears, but I am afraid of heights. The zipline is a good twenty feet in the air at the start. I climbed up the ladder and my poor brother-in-law helped me into the harness. We counted to three, and then counted to three again. Then counted again. The kids cheered and Jared tryed to hype me up ( which may have brought out my ugly side) and we counted again, and I clutched the rail. Finally after counting again, Jared gave me a nudge (which he denies ;)) and just like that, I was off. It was over as quickly as it began. I hit the brake at the end and my legs flew up in the air. I drifted back to the bottom to a stop. It wasn't until then that I realized I had been screaming, because at that point it turned into a wail. I was bawling like a toddler. I scolded everyone within earshot for making me do it. I nearly vomited. So shameful.
The kids played in the dirtpile and then took a wild and wet bubble bath in Grammy's whirlpool tub.
Monday we saw Wall-E, which was cute. Grammy fell asleep in the middle of it but woke up when Leah had to go to the bathroom. After the movie we went to the best burger dive in the world, The Road House, and fought the flys for our supper. Anna developed a major allergic reaction to something, and we had to make an emergency run to HEB for benadryl to cure the hives.
Tuesday we went to Catherine's house in Round Rock. After stopping at Sams for Grammy's camera and lunch, we went to IKEA- which was more fun than usual because Leah is finally tall enough, and potty trained, and could go into Smalland with the other kids.Then we went to admire Jared's houses in person. We could move in tomorrow-Beautiful! Leah christened the driveway with her blood when she tripped and cut open her chin, which prompted another emergency run- this time to CVS for steri-strips. Then we went swimming in Catherine's clubhouse pool which is a great family pool, as the deepest part is only 4' 6". The kids all had a great time and hated to leave... except for Anna of course.
Wednesday meant going home, after a stop in Fredricksburg for peaches and cider, and several stops for "peeing on the floor".
Thursday we had a moment of insanity and brought 2 gerbils home from Petsmart. They are called Sam and Carly.
Friday we went to Hobbs for the fourth. We celebrated with Tod's two brothers there, and their families. His sister Lisa came down from Albuquerque and we got a rare opportunity to play with her kids too. My best friend from Hobbs, Mika Newey, came over with her family and it was a wild night. Everyone rode the four-wheelers and played in the water. We ate burgers and watched the fireworks. Tod's brothers set off some of their own, but we halted by a visit from the fuzz! Apparently there is a burn ban in Lea county too? We got home at 2 in the morning.
It was an amazing and emotional experience to see so many people that we love so much. There is just something so fulfilling about watching the kids play with their cousins. It is too easy to forget how much your parents have to offer. It is nice that my dad keeps giving me bear hugs and calling me his little girl. It is fun to go shopping and giggle with my mom.
Even though it was a fast week, it passed all to quickly. Now all I have to look forward to is laundry!

Takin' a ride...on the potty train

Finally! Leah celebrated her third birthday on Father's day. It was not only a milestone, but a deadline of sorts. I have been trying to potty train her for a year. We decided that it was time to draw the line...no more sippy cups, no more diapers, no more...baby. So Leah got her choice of underwear and we got serious. I won't say that it is perfect, but we are almost there. Like so many other moments in motherhood, this one is bittersweet too. It means I am officially out of the baby business. According to Leah, "I'm not a baby. I drink big girl cups, I pee the potty, I brush my teeth, that I can do." Yes you can, baby, yes you can. "I'm not a baby."

It's so true. What do I do now that the years of being completely devoted to my babies are over? I guess now I have to turn some minute part of my focus back to myself. I am forced to stop rocking back and forth even when I'm not holding a child. I will have to relax when I hear a baby cry, because more than likely, its not going to be my own. I am now willing to pick up any baby, whether I really know their parents or not. It's scary but still so exciting. Happy Birthday Leah!