Slip n' Slime

Our boys attend the youth group at Pursuit. They have a lot of fun with friends and their leaders. A couple times a year the church hosts some epic events. This was the second year the boys came out for the chocolate syrup slip n' slime. There were four slides on the hillside next to the church; a chocolate syrup slide, a jello slide, a green slime, and a bubble slide for the younger siblings.

Some video and pictures on their Facebook page, too. A crazy good time for the boys and some of their friends from school. And I have been cleaning their clothes, the car, and the shower ever since.

Year 12

click here for my year 12 reflections. Or just have a good laugh at Matt and Winona.

When I grow up

  Everyone wants to know, what am I going to do now? This stay at home mom gig has certainly ended in some ways and in others, it hasn't changed at all. They are still demanding dinner every night, no matter how I reason that greater men have lived off cold cereal. I am presently using every spare minute to pray my guys are safe at school, go grocery shopping, pay bills, Craigslist all the junk in our garage, and catch up with friends. The future is not so clear. Maybe I will take some classes? Or maybe a job with just the right balance will come up? Right now I am having faith that the skills I've built in the last 15 years will be the perfect resume for the next 15 years. One goal I have is to draft a resume. I want to wrap words around all the late night rocking, boo-boo caring, snack mom-ing, car pooling, and Power Rangers watching days that I dedicated my twenties to.

  I guess at some level I always knew I was working myself out of a job. A more diligent woman would have held on to career goals and networking and all that. I just couldn't hold both. It was easier for me to live lean than to stay working outside the house. Now it feels empty in the house by myself. I think it's going to be the good kind of empty, though. The fresh start kind. And I know am being a bit dramatic. There is all the time they are not in school and Collin is only 8. (pretty sure that sweet boy is going to live with me forever)

  I am currently reading Anne Lamott and found this gem;

“When God is going to do something wonderful, He or She always starts with a hardship; when God is going to do something amazing, He or She starts with an impossibility. ”

― Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

    Timely, right? The same impossibility of me morphing into a soccer mom at 18 is at work now. The very same. He/She does good work with my mess. Cheers to dwelling in the possibilities!

Day job

Okay, time to write. Time to put this blog to good use. I know it is a digital scrapbook of my family that you all indulge me on but I want to share more. When I do write something, share it, and get feedback, that is the best feeling. I love hearing that anything I've said resonated or made someone laugh. I realize that my life with  my five guys is a story worth being told. My story, apart from these crazy kids, is also worthy. That is the one that scares me. Being vulnerable about Aubrey, aside from wife and mother.

 So, I have been diligent to journal for over a year on what it is I want to write about. And now the doing is here. Time to get off the runway and take flight. As fate would have it, I think I broke my toe last week. All of a sudden there is ample time to sit and write.

It feels like a rebirth to me, this new season. I have friends raising foster kids, some are amazing teachers, others are pregnant, and I am left with myself during the day wondering what is next. Feeling small but I am asking God to show me. Show me how the now and the next collide. Thank you for hanging with me, those of you who read, and comment, and cheer me on. If you are just here to see cute pics of my boys, that's okay as well.

But first, let me take a selfie

I have been sorting through pictures from this year. Every few weeks I notice some selfies pop up. I am, obviously, not against a selfie. Especially when it is clearly documenting a good hair day! This is the common thread I've observed in my selfies. I always want to remember my hair looking awesome. I even have a hairdresser, after years of searching, that understands the deep connection hair has to my mental well being. She and I discuss how my neurotic tendencies will be affected by whatever cut I am proposing. And wisely, she usually just gives me a trim ;)

After all, life isn't perfect but your hair can be.

Back to school 2015

Wants to be a pro athlete, coach, lawyer, or psychiatrist.

Wants to work in law enforcement or be a pilot.

Wants to be a pro lacrosse player or a forensic scientist.

Wants to be a voice over actor or own an ice cream parlor.

Back to school and the real reason this blog is getting any attention. The blue clothing color scheme was not planned but does look quite nice all together. My guys are all out of the nest this year. The oldest at a medical charter school and the younger three at a charter school in Boise. They had a good first week and made sure to tell me that it is way better than home school. Well then!

Year 11

Hi blog friends! I am at it again. Doing my best to post on the blog and catch up on the marriage series I started. My year 11 reflection I posted is here.

I love looking back over the years we have been married. I am hoping this format is not too confusing to read. There is a tiny tag under each post that says "mawwiage" you can click on to see some of our journey together. If you are not into the links, just enjoy these Halloween pics from our past. (Yikes!) 

Cousin Meet Up

The month of August started off with a bang. The Canadian Archuletas made the 16 hour trip down to states for a two week summer vacation. Kelly and Kirsten brought home their Haitian daughters, Kloe and Kinna, in January. We were all anxious to meet them as well as Konnor, born in October. They have six kids!

The cousins all get along remarkably. We did activities everyday. Play-doh, Legos, Hot Wheels, and marble towers were a few things we tried. I had anticipated a need for tactile activities due to a huge language divide  but the girls now speak English fluently. I am so proud of all they have learned!

Koen and Kace had a fun big kid sleepover at our house. Sno cones, movies, dance party, and a campfire made for good times.

Konnor was just a joy for all of us. He is the perfect baby, squishy and sweet. He was a trooper and let everyone love on him.

Pool fun every day. The girls particularly loved swimming and improved greatly over their time here.

I loved having nieces to color with, paint nails, or rock out with in the car. They kept requesting a "girl sing," only wanting to listen to songs sung by females :) 

Not bad for trying to get all 10 kids in a photo!

Finding appropriate entertainment was challenging. We watched Inside Out in the theater together, that worked well. Megamind and watching American Ninja Warrior were two other screen time successes.

Parker, now taller than Kelly! (we checked under all that hair)

We were sad to watch them pull away. So many new memories made, too many things to list here. But I have been treasuring them over the last couple weeks. My boys all said it was the highlight of their summer.

Sister Trip

My sister flew me out to Seattle last month to explore the city with her. We ate, drank, and walked our way through sunny streets all weekend long.

Tamales at La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard.

Brunch at Cafe Pettirosso in Capital Hill.

Coffee at Bedlam in Belltown.

I always have a great time adventuring with her. It's good to have a sister and as far as sisters go, she's the best. Not a lot of pictures but memories made in abundance.

Year 10

Hi y'all! Remember me? This blog? This marriage series I started? 

Good news! I left off on year nine of marriage and blogged about almost every year after. I am tip toeing back into the blog, trying to share here as well as Instagram. 

I posted about year 10 here and then we went off to Seattle to celebrate, those posts are here.