Life in the Haynes Lane

I'm too lazy to go through my pictures right now to find some to post. We've been busy, busy, busy. But I'm not sure doing what. Life, I guess.

Sariah has been on her bedtime routine for 2 weeks now. She's improving slowly but steadily. She is still waking up at night, but now she will stay in her own bed and go back to sleep on her own. Keep your fingers crossed, because last Friday night was a disastrous, demon-possessed child night, and it came sorta outta the blue, and I've no interest in doing it over again.


Meanwhile, I've been working on a routine to get Samuel down at nights. I'm not ready to let him cry it out yet (largely because Sariah is a big enough job right now), but we are working on reading a story and singing a song and laying down not-quite-asleep in the hopes that we can prevent our current toddler sleep issues for the future.

Caleb started football again this week. I know, ALREADY!! So far he's been practicing to play QB and he looks good out there. He's having a lot more fun this year, too, so I'm really excited for him. Plus, he offered me the indescribable opportunity of feeling his sweat-drenched shirt yesterday. What more can a mother ask for?

Rex is growing up on me. Every time he smiles his permanent teeth grin, I can't believe how time flies. He had a first sleepover last weekend, which likely won't be repeated anytime soon, given that Zach's mom reported they talk more than any girls she ever knew.

Lizzi's home, Lizzi's home, Lizzi's home! I'm so glad my girl is home again. But she starts middle school in a few weeks. How can this be?

And speaking of how things can be ... we discovered today that Hannah has apparently shot up in growth. We knew Caleb was growing, and Elisabeth has kept pace with him, but all of a sudden Elisabeth and Hannah don't have to stand back-to-back to prove who's taller. No doubt about it--Hannah is the tallest by several inches. Who knew?

As for me, besides mothering these teaming hordes, I've been on vacation, been to PTA convention, am planning another short vacation, am PTAing like crazy, and just the general hubbub of activity around here. I think I need to take a deep breath ... and keep on truckin.'

Hugs to all!

Good News, Not-So-Good News

This little monkey slept through the night in her very own bed. Woohoo!!!

And this little monkey did not.

Good times.  :)

It's Hard Work Growing Up...

...especially when your mom is making you do so against your will.  Sariah is learning to sleep through the night without joining us in bed.  It's only taken me 3+ years but I've finally had to draw the line.  I'm flippin' exhausted (which is a very bad thing for my depression, incidentally).

Translation: last night was a reeeeeaaaalllllly long night.  But we did it.  I made her cry in her room on the other side of the gate until she fell back to sleep.  It was about an hour.  It was a long hour.  But I'm hoping that a few more nights of endless agony for us both will reward me (and her, too!!) with a full night's sleep in the very near future.  It's all about the sacrifice, right?

But in the category of tender mercies, Samuel slept from 8:30 to 5:30--he even slept through the hour long joy ride.  Woohoo!

Baseball!

It's time for a massive blogging catch up. We just have to take it one post at a time. :) Caleb had a really great season with an awesome coach. Got lots of hits, stole a bunch of bases, and played almost all of the positions. Cool!

The Other Cousins!

Since I'm backing on the blogging ball (2nd day in a row, woohoo!!), I thought I would post pictures from our little trip down to Texas to see my brother and his daughters.  We had a blast, and the hula hooping was fabulous ... but forgive the pictures; I took them from my phone while it was really messed up, so they're not that great.  Guess what!  The new iPhone has a flash on it.  Wouldn't that have improved these pictures tremendously?  Just sayin'....

The Cousins

When Lizzi left to visit her grandparents in Kansas at the end of May (for a month!!!!), I had grand intentions of posting on this blog everyday so that she could see what we were up to and not be so homesick.  Ha!  You know what they say about good intentions.  But here I am, finally posting pictures for her.

Yesterday, we went to Cindy's birthday party at the park.  We met the new cousin, Zach, and reacquainted ourselves with the rest of them because it's been awhile.  Sariah had to stay home because she was sick, and Caleb didn't want to be there--trust me, you'll be able to tell.  Still, the rest of us had a good time.  I loved getting pictures of the three babies; they were born in late December, early April and mid May.

And can I just tell you how in love I am with my own babies--all of them.  When I look at these fantabulous pictures, I am reminded how wonderful they are.  Aren't they beautiful!?

Happy Birthday!

To one of my favorite men in the whole world: thank you for all the blessings that are mine because of you in my life.

Well Worth It

Today's Writing Prompt: Too late

What was the last time you stayed up way too late? Was it worth it?


Last April, when I was getting ready to go to New York City (without the kids, whom my mom was coming to stay with), and we'd just found out our house had sold and the inspection was the day after I left.  I hate being tired, so at first I thought it wasn't worth it, BUT I was able to have a lovely nap when I got into town (without the kids, did I say that already?), and you know what, it was worth it!  And the inspection went fine, too.  LOL!

Sariah's Party

An Oklahoma Story

Everyone knows by now that we survived the May 10 tornadoes in Oklahoma.  The Norman tornado(es) were much too close for comfort.  We only had a fence panel knocked down, and we put it back up within an hour (the dogs, unfortunately for Bob, were not blown away by the twister).  Our kids were completely terrorized, but I was grateful for the last 14 married years with my husband.  He communicated a lifetime's worth of information when he called my name on May 10--I knew to pick up my 3-year-old out of her bath and take her and all of the children to our safe spot immediately.  And all he said was, "Tracy!"  It was the first tornado he'd seen in 38 years of living in Oklahoma.  Poor Caleb saw it as well.  Hopefully, this will be their last sighting for a long, long time!

In the mean time, some pictures from around our side of town from May 10 and May 11.  Can I just say again, how completely lucky and blessed we feel to come out of this intact?!?!