Hodge-podge

Four of my favorite little guys are featured in this post, two of my nephews and my oldest rugrats. These pictures were taken up in Manistee a couple weeks ago. The kids met up there for a day of fun! The weather was perfect and they found a lot to do!

Hope you enjoy the pictures !

Tonight I was catching up on some of my favorite families and came across a part to a very fitting poem.

At least at my house anyway!
I thought some of you would enjoy it, I did!

So I share...

It is the last refrain from "Song for a 5th Child" by Ruth Hamilton.

"Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth, Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

For any of you who really know me know that my children are my first priority, I constantly put many things off to have the opportunity to soak up every special and routine moment with my munchkins. Sometimes I long for a break or wish my house was more "tidy" but at the end of each day, though usually exhausted, I know I spent the day just how I wanted. Dishes always wait, along with most other chores, and I get "me" time usually late at night when the house is sleeping, like right now. I love it that way, and I love that poem!

Anyway, new topic, hence the title.....

So Kaitlyn is only weeks away from her first birthday. I can't believe how fast time has gone, and the craziest shocker is that my little girl will be a big sister before her first birthday! Because I am anticipating a busy, sleep deprived month of August I have started early putting thought into my little beauties big day. Even though she turns 1 early in the month her party will wait until I can throw her the kind she deserves, the plan is for the end of August.

Tonight we ventured out and had her 1 year photo shoot. She was adorable as EVER before. Her Daddy took some amazing photos and I can not wait to share!

I've also been working on her 1 year video montage. My goodness has that been fun, emotional, and time consuming! She has accomplished and overcome so much in her first 12 months. Hopefully I will have it all ready before our newest brother arrives. I'll admit, the video is LONG. I keep trying to shorten it, but I am having a hard time. I hope despite the length many will enjoy it!

So along with birthdays come presents! I want to ask all the Moms out there...

What would you recommend?

What is your favorite toy/ book/ etc.?
She's not quite ready for the "typical" one year stuff, put she will be soon.

What toys do you love?

And what toys were a flop?

I'd love your suggestions!

I will end here tonight. Morning comes early and again it is quite late, not to mention the crazy storm outside. I have to get to bed while I can still hear it!

Oh how I LOVE a good thunderstorm!