Tag Archives: Ceili Rain

It’s War!

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Actually, it’s not.  In February, when there was a warm snap (thankfully), we ventured out to a battle reenactment.  It was a Civil War battle that was fought near where we live.  We met some friends there and had a wonderful time.  I was expecting some rinky dink reenactment with not much going.  I have to say I was pleasantly surprised…in fact, we didn’t get to see everything they had set up.  Tents selling Civil War memorabilia and of course, wooden swords and guns (the boys were in heaven).  Zoe and I wanted to go to all the tents selling dresses…and we did hit quite a few (to which I kept telling Zoe I could make those same dresses for her if she wanted).  The battle was pretty neat and managed to see (and feel quite a bit).  We, being our first time and arriving late, chose to sit near the cannons.  They were extremely….extremely loud.  We knew they’d be loud but we didn’t realize that we couldn’t see, for the most part, when the cannons would go off.  So when a round was fired the first shot just made you jump.  Each time.

So here’s the pics from our day:

Zoe and Laura learned out to make rag dolls out of strips of fabric.  The seamstress had an extremely old machine that she used.  It was really neat to see and made me grateful for my new digital sewing machine!

Guess what all the boys liked!?!  They were filthy by the time we left but they had a blast.
The Confederate General (I think).  He was basically standing around telling people to not plug their ears and close their mouths at the same time when the cannons went off.  If you did…it’d hurt…really bad.
In history, a few weeks ago, we were reading about the American Revolution and General Washington trying to train his troups.  We read about a volley but I don’t think the kids quite understood what I was talking about.  I tried to explain it but nothing beats seeing in front of your eyes.  When the infantry marched out, they got to see several volleys!  That was pretty cool.
As we were leaving, we were all thirsty (and tired) so we found a place selling…
lemonade and other cool drinks (none with alcohol) in some really fun neat bottles…did you think we were turning our kids into whinos?!
Yep, Ace in front of the Confederate flag downing some nice ice cold lemonade.  It was fun.  You can pick out your bottle and then get refills.
Start ’em early!
Taking a quick break before guzzling some more.
And this is just a fun picture of Zoe!
I know there was a lot wrong and right about the Civil War.  I don’t think History should be ignored or disregarded because it makes us feel bad.  There’s a lot about the Civil War that is not discussed much in classes and I am so grateful for a father who taught me a lot about why the Civil War started (slavery was one of the issues…and just one) and the men who fought it.  He also taught me to be appreciative and somber because this was a war where families were separated and destroyed.  Not a pleasant exciting time.  We tried to drive that point home to the kids as we left.  We didn’t want this to be just a fun event but a chance for them to understand history in a more real way.  If you get a chance to attend a battle reenactment, I hope you do and remember the sacrifices that families from both the North and South made for their beliefs and loyalties.
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My New Love

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I have found a new love.  Sometimes, Ceili Rain just needs to be held…and sometimes, well…that’s kind of hard to do…trying to fix supper or teach or help another child.  So, I knew I needed some help.  Shortly after I found out I was pregnant, the ring sling became obsolete.  Aside from my “health/risk” issues…it just hurt my back and my baby bump was too cumbersome to work around with a baby to carry.  
What to do?  What to do?  I decided to research other baby carriers.  A friend from our Bamapalooza trip who, at 8 weeks, strapped, buckled, and adjusted Liam into her Ergo Carrier.  But honestly, the buckles and adjusting, I had tried before and never could get a comfy fit.  Now, all you die hard Ero Carrierites, don’t get hissy…I know you love your carrier but I also didn’t want to spend the $$ to invest in one.  Some people say thrifty.  I say I’m cheap.
I knew about this carrier called a Mei Tai (let’s just throw in the fact that for several weeks I called it a Mai Thai…may tie…which, if I believe, is an alcholic drink)… pronounced “my” tie.  The more I found about it the more I liked.  I could adjust it below “the bump.”  Pick out cute patterns AND it was affordable if I got it on ebay from a work at home mom.  Yeah!  When I had first seen the Mei Tai’s or Asian baby carriers (also called ABCs…but the encompasses carriers from Korea and other parts of Asia…the one I got is a mei tai type carrier), I liked them, but just didn’t want to spend the $50 for a small piece of fabric and a lot of straps.  But I got desperate…and ordered one.
And guess who loves it!?!  Me!!!  And Ceili Rain!  Now, granted…she’s not always thrilled that she doesn’t have a view…especially when I’m not moving, but she does enjoy a free ride and being close to mommy.  Believe it or not, there is zero back pain with this thing.    They do make some with padded shoulders and that would be nice, but I can fix that and add some padding if I wanted to.
 
Isn’t that the sweetest?!
I can also wear her on my hip, but right now, I think Bryant is making that a little hard to do. 
Now, I’ll always be true to the ring sling.  It’s easy to get a baby quickly in and out.  Makes for easy trips to the grocery store, etc.  But, for a long ride somewhere…my go to carrier is now my Mei Tai.
Shhh!  She’s sleeping!!!  That was a hard fought battle to actually get Miss Busy asleep but she was sooo tired…Raffe (the Giraffe) helped out a bit…and yes, he’s hanging by his neck.  She didn’t seem to mind.  Yes, she could breathe…don’t freak out, Grandmere and Ge!
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Snow Videos

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You’ve seen the pictures…and because I can’t bore you enough…here’s the videos!  Now, don’t freak and “x” me out.  There’s only three. I decided to not include the video where Mark decided to belch in the middle of my snow fight with Ace and Liam (you’ll miss Liam getting mad that I pelted him with snow and then wanting to throw snow at me).  Nor did I include the video where I was ranting about crazy drivers trying to drive fast (in our residential area) through the snow and slush when they are in the South.

Without further ado…what we look like in action when it snows!

Fowin’ Snow from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.

Here’s my conversation with Josiah if you can’t understand him on the video.

“Siah, whatcha doin?”
“Frowin’ Snow”  scoops up a big ol’ handful and gets pelted by Liam and then Ace.  “At Acccce!”

Zoe and Ace were practicing their business skills selling snow novelties!

Future Business Leaders from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.

This video is funny on at least two different levels.  First, Ceili Rain is so cute and when you say, “Yea!”  She’ll clap.  Mark got her to do it for the camera and was holding the camera and her at the same time.  Secondly, when Mark and I watched it last night, we realized how funny we sound when we talk “baby talk”  to her.  Mark is quite funny demonstrating this!  “Ahhh goo goo gaa gaa.”

Baby Talk and Clapping from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.

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Let it Snow!

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Because this is the first snow my children have ever seen.

Because this is the first time we’ve had snow like this since we moved here (with the exception of like 1 to 2 inches when we first moved to this area…nine years ago).

I’m about to unload a lot of pictures!  Get ready to see some snow folks.  This is Zoe when it just started coming down around 2 p.m.

Mid afternoon in our backyard…the snow in our area never stopped until late that evening.
Josiah stood at the window watching it fall and stated, “Whoa.  Dat’s a lot!”
Around six o’clock at night!  The kids could not wait and frankly, we just knew it would melt before they could play in it the following day.  And yes, we made Ceili Rain get out in it too!  All through supper she was staring at the window trying to figure out why everything was changing colors(at least that’s what she said in babytalk).
The boys just had to snowball fight…they actually didn’t make snowballs but just scooped it up and threw it!
See??
The best I could do with the camera in the dark.  It was hard to get it to flash at the right focus…the snowflakes were falling pretty hard.
Yeah, I was cold, had a cold, and very wet!
The first snowman.  As stated earlier, the boys didn’t want to make a snowman…they just wanted to throw snow…so the snowman was made by Mark and Zoe.
We measured it at about 8 that night.  Almost at 4 inches.
Sunny’s first big snow too!  She wasn’t quite sure what to think.  Notice the see saw??
Insert Cei Rai cute picture break here…
She loved watching her brothers and sister in the snow.
The next morning it was still there!  All SIX inches of it!
It was beautiful too!
 

Of course, the kids had to get back out in it….

And the boys had to throw more snow.

And, after talking to Papa via Skype and seeing his Shriner’s snowman, had to try and build one bigger than his!

And we had to sit our little Snow Bunny* in the snow…

“Who you lookin’ at???”
Ceili Rain got to visit Zoe’s mini snowman that she made, “All by herself.”

*Yes, “Snow Bunny” has socks on her hands.  Being that we live in the South we don’t need to find mittens, thick coats, and thick snow clothes for our children.  This snowfall was the most our area has seen in over thirty years!  So, socks it was!  She didn’t seem to mind too much especially when the camera was pointed at her.
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Bath Buddies

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Traditionally, bath time belongs to Mark!  He does a wonderful job throwing them all in the bath and getting them pretty clean.  It’s a chance for him to hang out with the kids and teach them silly songs and such.  I’m starting to get in on bath time too, since we now have two girls instead of mostly boys and one very independent girl.  However, last month my services just were not available.  And so, Mark was able to squeeze three boys and a little girl into their bath tub.  Not bad!

Liam enjoyed his quality time with CeiRai.
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Again…

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I apoligize for the absence…we’ve been dealing with RSV, sinus infections, a women’s retreat (that’s really not dealing with…more like relaxing), and now…a stomach bug…again.

Ceili Rain was sick for 24 hours on Sunday.  We thought it could be related to her antibiotic (she was the one with RSV).  However, I awoke this morning and paid a visit to the porcelain throne.  Twice.

I’m so done with these illnesses.  We have been sick for pretty much a whole month.  Please pray for our family and send some bleach over while you’re at it!  I’m thinking of dousing the house in it.

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