This is my rowdy crowd.   My girls operate at about 100 mph.

There is not alot that can stop my girls in their tracks……………………..except maybe LICE!   ewwwwwwww….

Micah (bless her heart) came home from school on Friday afternoon (3 hours before Shabbat) complaining that she thought she had lice, because her head was itching so bad.    Well, she was right 🙂  So we got busy and started kicking some lice butt.   Is it as horrible and traumatic as I thought it would be?  No.  But it is not my idea of fun either.  Where is Richard???  Oh yeah, he is having the time of his life in Israel…………  What are ya gonna do?

This is the newest Tarheel fan.  Probably the cutest too.  We start brainwashing at a very young age.  Can’t afford to end up with an Illinois fan or anything horrible like that.  🙂

Hannah loves gymnastics.  She runs 100 mph for a full 45 minutes.  She jumps and climbs on everything she can get her hands on.   I basically try to keep up.  I don’t know who is more exhausted at the end of our little class.  Zeke is usually strapped to me, bouncing along, having the time of his life too.  Let me just say, nap time is a wonderful thing 🙂

Now this pit is a favorite of the children.  I thought it was pretty cool too until I tried to get my big butt out!  I began to have a mild panic attack as I tried to crawl out, and those harmless looking foam blocks started sucking me down like quicksand.  When I was down to my neck, the teachers noticed the look of horror on my face and came over to offer me a hand.  I can’t believe I am admitting this, but it took 2 of them to pull me out!  This is not one of my proudest moments.  The other thing is that when you do start to come out of this hell hole, those demonic little blocks might release you, but they will NOT let go of your clothes!!!!!   You are so busy just trying not to appear like a hippopotamus being hauled out of the mud, that you aren’t focusing on holding on to your pants.   And as my close friends know, I have been liberated from wearing underwear.  (although after this I might re-think that one)   Let’s just say that there are alot of little 2 year olds running around with the traumatic picture of my bare butt in their heads.   Thank G-d there is not alot of long term memory in this crowd.    And people think that being a stay-at-home mom is boring.

Well we started our day with birthday cake and presents.  (two webkins, one from Noah and one from Hannah)  Which by the way, Hannah was able to keep secret from Micah.

We all sang Happy Birthday…..including dear old dad 🙂

then we got everyone off to school and Micah got ready to SHOP! 

We spent 100$ to the penny, had lunch at Potbelly’s, then watched a movie, “Hotel for Dogs”. 

Micah ordered up the best day we have had in Chicago in months!  It was 60 degrees.  So we went home, packed up the little ones and went outside for an hour and a half.  This was the best gift of all.   Of course we had to have “wacky mac” for dinner along with more birthday cake, and got a great suprise when Papa Jeff showed up for dinner.  I have to say, it was a great day for all of us on Micah’s 8th birthday. 🙂

some great pics to come of baby zeke from my favorite photographer, martha abelson.  but this is my favorite of zeke in the belly.   sweet hannah is already loving on him. 🙂

Here is one of my favorite pictures of our great family.   Zeke is still in the belly in this shot.  Martha Abelson is the talented photographer.  visit her website at mabelsonphoto.com 

Hannah and Micah like to make each others birthday cakes.  So today Hannah and I made Micah’s birthday cake.  Micah turns 8 yrs. old tomorrow.  Hannah decorated this herself!   Good job baby!   Tomorrow we will have this cake for breakfast.  Then Micah gets to skip school and have her mom and 100$ to spend for the day.  Can’t wait. 

Micah is very creative with her clothes.  She has her own sense of style and is confident enough to wear it with flair!

Well, there are a lot of “walks” these days.  The “Walk for Breast Cancer” .  The “Walk for Juvenile Diabetes”.  The “Walk for Leukemia”.  And although I totally support these “walks”, the “walk” I care for the most is the “Walk for Sanity“.

Walk for Sanity = Walking 2 to 4 times a week, for at least an hour, with your girlfriend…..rain or shine, to help you keep a grip on your sanity.

Now this is the basic definition, but there is much more to it than that:

It all depends on finding just the right girlfriend to be your partner in the “walk for sanity”  She has to be able to keep your pace and your secrets.  She has to be completely non-judgemental and totally validating at the same time.    Someone that can handle whatever string of curse words you feel the need to let out, or….whatever prayer you have to offer up.  Someone who understands that she is the real reason your  husband is still alive and well.  Someone who can commiserate about the injustice of gravity, yet assure you that you look amazing in your Target sweatpants, even without a shower.  Someone who totally understands when children and husband’s needs get in the way of walking, and yet, still finds a way to get out the door.  

As you can tell from my description, this honor can not go to just anybody.  It is a tall order and it takes time to find  the right partner to make it work.  I have looked for this someone ever since we moved to Chicago 6 years ago.  I tried many walks with many girlfriends and none were “the one”.  Either they were too fast, or too slow, or didn’t listen, or didn’t talk!   It has been such a hole in my life.  I settled for long walks with just my own thoughts for company, and I felt secretly jealous of those people I knew who had long-time “walk for sanity” partners. 

I have now found “the one” .  I can’t tell you how “sane” I finally feel!  This is toning your tushy and top quality therapy (for free) in an hour.   Jodi,……….thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.   And as much as I thank-you, my family thanks you more.