A Year With No Pictures

You like that title? Could you see me as the author of a book by that title on all the talk shows?  Or are you just thinking,  "Poor pregnant Sarah, can't remember how to blog AND post pics at the same time", which could also be totally true. Or maybe that I am just a little less organized than normal and have good reasons for not taking pics for the last few months. Good, because I think that's what is happening to me right now.  I either can't find the camera, the batteries have just died, or the phone was just dropped and needs some serious TLC to get it working again.
I was going to take pics of the snow we had at the beginning of October, with all the leaves on the trees, and all the damage it did to those trees.  Brandon built a pretty cool snow fort in the back yard, we had a huge cocoa and cookie party, and we actually got to use the fireplace for a whole 35 minutes before it got too warm. 
Nadia is a decade old.  Do you know how depressing and scary that is for me?  What do I do with a double digit girl? Apparently, don't tell her she can have a friend party after having a family party because it will get way out of hand and all brothers will expect the same.  I told her she could invite 3 friends over for pizza and a movie, on the 2nd worst weekend ever for us, and it has ballooned to 6 1/2 friends I think (don't ask about the half; too confusing) who will be here this Saturday evening from 5:30 to 8:30. Cliff was kind enough to reign in the time so it wasn't til 9:30 or 10, but there has been mutinous talk about lasagna and chocolate cake.  I can't take it.
One of the reasons I am so worried about it is the almost 8 year old and his photographic ears listening and memory when it comes to things he feels are fair or important. I think we are raising a communist boy.  He can't remember the second part of a two part command, like "pick up your backpack (#1) and hang it up(#2)" or "get your shoes on (#1) and get in the car (#2)", but he remembers that Nadia was told only 3 friends and now has 6 1/2  coming over.  It doesn't matter that when his birthday rolls around I will be the size and have the coordination of a beached whale.  It doesn't matter that we just found out that he has flat feet and some metatarsal bone thingy that needs correction, and may be getting him uncool corrective shoes because that's all we can afford, because Nadia had a great birthday week. And since it is all about being fair, he must be able to have all the same things.  Wonder what he'd think if we got him some cute boots and Littlest Pet Shop toys.
Benjamin at least will still love me after December.  I think.  If I can find him some Diego set that his friend who just moved got for Christmas like 3 years ago.  Yeah, I'm sunk. At least he's still cute most of the time.  He is trying to go through a defiant stage right now, but it really doesn't work that well when he hugs me after sitting on his bed in time out and tells me we are buddies.  Unless that is his plan, to try to manipulate me with guilt or gratitude.  About a week ago, we had burritos for dinner. Cliff made them.  Ben came over after picking through his and said he was proud of me while giving me a hug.  I realized later that he left the table after that, instead of sitting down and finishing his dinner.  I am in big trouble.
That just leaves our soon to be not youngest, Mr. C.  I think his favorite words right now are "fruit snack" "go out" and "esh", which is Calebese for shoes.  He is usually throwing them in your lap or trying to put them on your feet while he says it.  And of course, there is the dreaded "uh-oh". I realized what a terrible slacker I have been with child proofing this time around; Caleb is a tyrant in the kitchen and bathrooms. He has to turn things on if they're off, and vice versa, put things in the trash or pull them back out again if he decides they're still useful, so basically all those things that drive a mom crazy.  But then he says his most favorite word, "banky", makes me sit on the couch, and snuggles into my lap with him and his blanket.  That has got to be one of my most favorite times of the day.  Unless it's right in the middle of making dinner or getting kids out the door for school.  But we're working on it.