Toilets and hard water

So, I'm curious, does anyone have a magical solution for hard water stains in a toilet bowl? I've tried several different cleaners and my latest fad is a big bottle of COLA just soaking all night. It works ok... but I keep thinking there's got to be something better out there. I can put in the elbow grease and get the hard water lines to be gone... but they come back within the week!! I want an easier solution! : - )

What can 2 FOUR year olds do in an hour?

I cleaned the kitchen while they played downstairs. Little did I realize that their play meant bringing every toy OUT of the toy room to build a fort....

Then this afternoon (YES, in the same day), I taught a couple of clarinet lessons and once again, they were just playing in Cole's room. What could they possibly do? I didn't think they'd take every pillow, blanket, and toy from a three room radius to one spot!
Here's a little highlight from last week. The weather has been BEAUTIFUL.

This is a very full car and noisy!
As you can see, we're a busy house and it's hard to keep up with us!

RUNNERS!

I need help from all you fellow runners, working-out fanatics, bikers, ETC. I need new music. I've been running to the same music for MONTHS and MONTHS. It drives me nuts how I hear a song and I already know what's next... and it isn't very motivating. PLUS, only a few of my songs are really fast enough for me. Not that I'm a fast runner, but I guess I'd prefer a faster pace (I don't go far, I am a short girl!). So, PLEASE, start telling me your favorites to run/workout/whatever. I'm hoping for lots of great new ideas!

Mother of 5

Well, I'm exhausted. I'm sitting here and enjoying the SILENCE of my house.... even if it is just for an hour. (I'll fall asleep quickly!) I'm watching my sister's 2 girls for a couple weeks while she and her hubby are working/vacationing. It's a long story - and I don't need to say all the details. Anyhoo - I feel like I have two sets of twins. Ella is the same age as Cole (6 week difference) and Maiya is the same age as Danny (6 month difference). Her kids have been GREAT - honestly great. But, I'm exhausted! When they all get along - they get along beautifully. When there's fighting.... it's SO LOUD! I think the toughest time is dinner time... patience has thinned out (not just mine) and kids cry louder and louder to get my attention. It's entertaining and comical! I really need to get better organized at dinner time! So, how do families function with this many kids - EVERY DAY?!?! I think you are amazing. And I also remind myself there aren't always 4 kids under the age of 4. It's a handful. I have to admit that I'm grateful that my mom will give me a break for the weekend. I need to recharge my batteries for next week!

I do have 1 funny story for the week. Cole's BFF is Connor. They are constantly running back and forth to each other's houses everyday. Well, Ella has joined in and made it a trio. Like I said earlier, sometimes they get along GREAT, but there are moments that they both become stubborn and don't do what the other demands. So, on day two - things weren't going quite as SHE wanted. Without my knowing, Ella went to Connor's house and told his mom she had to come get Connor (from my house) . Of course, the mother thought, "Is something wrong? Did he do something?" and she came rushing over to our house to see what was going on. By the time we figured out what had happened and that there were no problems to be worried about, all 3 were happily playing together again. Well, writing it out didn't seem nearly as funny, but it was funny on Tuesday. I loved how Ella took control of that situation and made it clear that Connor was getting too much of Cole's attention! Things have definitely improved.

October

Well, the pictures are backwards - but I don't feel like re-ordering them right now! We've had a fun-filled month! Activities such as - Hayrides, corn mazes, a Halloween boat cruise (it was shorter than short), pumpkin patch, jumping into piles of leaves (and my trees still have leaves on them - this is from the neighbor's trees!), a costume party, church trunk-or-treat, and of course, Halloween. We did carve our pumpkins - just last night! The day after Halloween needs a little celebrating too!

Quote of the month by Cole....

"Mommy, I'm so mad at you! GRRRR! I'm so mad (pause) that I'm NEVER going to get married!"

I didn't see that one coming!

sigh....

What's in a name?

I like to think about my different names through the years - I think the process defines who I am and what I'm all about:

Lea
Lea-Pea
Lea-Da-Tortilla
Lea-Wea
Miss Saville
Sister Saville
Hermana Saville
Mrs. Nelson
Sister Nelson
mmmmmah
Ma-Ma
Mommy