Good McLean Fun

Ever been curious about fasting? Seeking God through discipline and denying oneself is the core principle.  Gotta say, I did a full fast for 3 days (no food, only water) followed by the Daniel Fast (only fruit, veggies, whole grains, and water) for 18 days in January 2010 and I prayed for blessings for my family, but specifically for my children.  A year later I was pregnant with twins. The pregnancy was without complications, the deliveries couldn't have been easier, and since birth they have been healthy, hearty little boys, thriving. I don't know if God rewarded me because of my fasting a year before, I don't know if God has kept sickness and disease away from my children because of my actions and fasting. But what if He has? What if He did? What if He is? All 4 of my children are beautiful, smart, funny, and healthy. I'm going to go off track for a sec, to address the idea that fasting is just an...

I love December so much! Santa Claus comes to town, Jesus celebrates his birthday for the 2,000+ time, candles get lit, family gets together, and then the whole thing culminates in a goodbye to 2012.  Although yesterday marked the twins turning 15 months old, which is shocking and scary how fast life is going, I still consider December to be pretty fantastic. My birthday kicks it off, and even though I had to turn an ugly number I still enjoyed getting pampered and shown extra affection by my family and friends. Ryan even bought me a new laptop to mark this birthday. I haven't had a new computer since I was a freshman in college, and it was such a fond memory, getting my own room for the first time in my life, AND a new computer!  So this private treasure brings back fond memories and I'm in love with this thing.  It smells like scotch tape and the keyboard lets me just fly. (I like the smell of scotch tape--can't explain.) December isn't with...

It's been brought to my attention that my blogs are long.  I will be making efforts to rectify this in future posts, starting now. During last election day I was in the hospital having Juliette. (Yes, I voted early.) Like many, I'm really over reading facebook statuses that only involve this election. I know it's super important. I know dialogue about issues can open lines of communication and perhaps education. But for many, our minds are made up early on and your status isn't going to sway that.  It's nice to feel like your opinions are being heard. I suppose that's why we can't help but write about them. But I feel so uncomfortable during these divisive times. Truly, I want us all to work together for good. And it is hard for me and probably you, to look past snarky disrespectful political posts and comments. You vote, I'll vote, and then let's work together. I will pray for our elected officials, as always, no matter the outcome. And if you...

Times they are a changin. I'm 29 for only about another month, and then I'll be that other age. Sometimes I think about that other age and really have no qualms with it.  All of my friends have hit that number or are right behind me. I don't want to be associated with those who don't know who Urkel is anyway-- those who never knew the thrill of playing Oregon Trail on the only computer in the classroom .   Sorry, you have lost all your cattle in the river and will soon die of dysentery. T hose kids who don't know what a Popple or Wuzzle is. How sad for them. But on the other hand I am having a really hard time letting go of some things, and I don't enjoy being shocked into being old.  For example. I heard on the radio a new coffee place was opening, and the young adult scene was welcome to come hang out specifically on a certain night and time. How fun! I keep listening for the details. "...so come on out all you young adults, ages 18-23, Friday nights...

The first two T o be honest, it was not as hard as I expected.  I nursed my other two until 11 months, and experience was a big factor in helping me to know that I could succeed. I was nervous while pregnant, not sure how it would work. I had 3 different twin breastfeeding pillows, not sure which would help the most. I read every blog, pamphlet, and book I got my hands on.  I thought I wouldn't get any sleep, or I'd be too busy nursing to care for my 3 and 5 year old. But once the babies came, it was really much easier than I anticipated and came very naturally to the 3 of us. W e had a great delivery, both born vaginally at 37 weeks 1 day via induction (I was BEYOND ready. I couldn't move, breathe, sit, stand, bend, hurry, sleep--you get the idea), 8 minutes apart. I had my epidural (thank you God) and didn't feel much. When baby A (Jackson) came out (6lbs 9oz), we were all pretty flustered with excitement,  but soon got focused on Baby B (Lincoln), who upon Ja...

Now that the school year has started we've got a pretty sweet schedule going, and the twins take a consistent nap every morning for about 1-2 hours while Juliette and Luke are at school. During that time I make some yummy ice coffee and settle into the horribly uncomfortable wooden computer chair no one in their sane mind would ever purchase, we probably found on the side of the road years ago. I check my facebook page and get caught up on the happenings of my peeps, I send some emails usually focused around my church responsibilities, do some calendar checking/planning, etc. Sometimes there's nothing very engaging so I get up and do more productive things, like picking up rocks and pins and hairballs and marbles all over the house that will find their way into my babies' hands, then mouths. But today I was engaged. I fell headfirst into reading mommy blogs. I became connected with another mom pregnant with twins a few months earlier in her pregnancy than I was, living in...

I really want to write about the chaos that lead up to my little sister #4's wedding night and the postwedding nonsense, but it only happened 2 days ago so I feel it's a little t0o fresh to write about just yet. If I never get the good vibration that it's acceptable to blog on the subject, just know that YOU HAVE NO IDEA what efforts were put into the wedding before and after. You have no clue how hard Samantha tried to keep everyone's best interests (financial and emotional) in mind as she planned. You don't know the names of everyone that prepared the shrimp you ate, the cake laborers, the water bottle labelers, the name card printers, the flower arrangers, the research assistants, the clean up crew, the breakdown crew (one in the same), the painters, the gluers, the hot sauce team, the salad mixers--let me just stop. But a gorgeous wedding with such beautiful details doesn't just happen, and without Samantha's vision and research, and a whole lot of fami...

Why do I enjoy crafting, planning, and putting together these kids' parties?? Let's work this out: I am not very innovative. I am good at borrowing ideas from the internet. I am semi creative, but not crafty.  I like to organize the people around me, but don't really organize my own life very well. I wonder if living here at the crazy bin has given me the excuse that I can't be organized because of my circumstances, when in reality I just can't be organized because I'm not wired that way. I like to be in charge. I suppose I like the sound of my voice. If I were you, I would listen to me. I would follow me.  I would want to be on my team.  So how can I get the validation that my soul desires if I can't act out these urges for control and power as a stay-at-home mother?  Ah ha! I will invite 2 dozen children to be my "guests" at a party and force organized fun upon them all... I just ordered 2.5 lbs of green apple licorice sticks from www.candydire...

Stop. This blog is not funny, or an easy quick read. This is merely a documentation of the traveling and events of May 30-June 3 2012 from my perspective. For other much funnier anecdotes and differing perspectives of this trip, see Janell Shirk, Brandi Goldstein, or Sylvia Gonzalez. I know each would have lovely things to say. Furthermore, you may notice this blog entry is written in both past and present tense. I am aware. I could not make up my mind. Please disregard. When I finally stopped procrastinating and decided I needed to really focus on packing for the big trip to Maryland, it was the day before our flight. I can only efficiently pack when there aren't any babies on my hips, so when they finally went down for a nap that morning I quickly ran to the fridge to get a small snack before the heavy duty packing commenced, and as I opened the fridge door, 11 eggs came crashing down on me. Some fool didn't push the tray back all the way that morning. So I spent...

Be forewarned: www.themediocremom.blogspot.com  is different than my www.mediocremomblog.blogspot.com .  The former has a teenager, her last post was in 2011, and she admits to hating her son and frequently having to suppress the urge to slap his snarky face. She's pretty funny though, so if you have teenagers and you're wanting to feel better about your parenting skills and patience levels, you should read an entry of hers. But more about me.  This morning I find myself enjoying some quiet time while the almost 8 month old babies are taking a nap at the same time, and Juliette re-acquaints herself with cable television (just reconnected yesterday after having quit Comcast, then gone running back to them with tail between legs because Abuela is a miserable being without Dancing with the Stars). I started regularly drinking coffee last week after having realized that I actually do enjoy the taste, I just didn't enjoy that hell-hot temperature most people like to put...

Blogs are very exposing. I am finding that everything I want to write about concerns other people, and I can't very well point out your flaws and complain about annoying types of people if those people end up reading this. I pride myself on being a great diplomat, working well with all different personalities, striking compromises, reaching common ground, making peace, yada yada. But if all of you find out that I'm really just suppressing my grievances under my smile, it's not going to work out for us. So again. I'm having a hard time finding topics that aren't going to ruffle feathers. I suppose it's safe to start close to home when one is pointing out flaws. Some of you lovely friends of mine are new friends, or long distance friends, or just really smart friends, and you've never been to my house. Let me paint a picture for you, of all that you're missing. Those closest to me know I live in a very, how shall I say this--eccentric house.  Currently ...

When I look in the mirror I see the me I've always seen, perhaps altered by a few more smile lines than I remember when last I looked, and the debut of crows feet that have stamped their way onto my face when I wasn't paying attention.  But I don't look so different from 23 do I?  Am I in denial?  I know I'm dangerously close to 30, and to me, that IS old. I still am shocked that last summer I attended my 10 year high school reunion.  I am flabbergasted that the girls who are now pledging my sorority were born in 1995.  My baby sisters are done with college, one with her masters, and they're getting married. My parents (who don't look any different to me than they did 10 years ago, except maybe improved)  are grandparents 7x over.  I have 4 kids people. FOUR. Granted, I cheated a little and got a 2-4-1 deal, but still. I'm a grown up, a mother and a wife. I'm an adult. (I have to tell myself that regularly because I sometimes don't belie...

I'm pretty standard, I have no real skills or specialized education that will enhance your life if you follow this blog, and I probably won't be disciplined enough to add posts on a regular basis. But everyone has a blog, and frankly I'm sort of jealous. And like the title reads, I'm just mediocre at everything I do, not especially great anything, but I have to believe at least some part of me is blog-worthy. I'll probably just use this as a way to document my life and the lives of my children, since my memory is so poor I can't tell you what I wore yesterday, let alone the weights, times, lengths, Apgars, etc, that so many mommies can spit out so easily.  I can't remember first words, funny kid-isms, or what you do to soothe a teething baby, although at this point I've had 4. I used to keep diaries as a kid, and by the time I was in high school I had finished my 4th. So this should be cake--except now I'm 29, I live in a crazy house with a dog, a ...