How To Make A Rainbow

OK, so here I go. I will now attempt to blog betwixt and between the feedings, diaper changes, pickups, dropoffs, cooking, cleaning, laundry...you get the message.

How do I begin? HMMMM......

My family is a rainbow, a colorful cast of characters who fill my soul with more love and joy than I thought it could house. They have made me whole. They are my pot of gold.

Cast of characters:

Me (Elyse) - 36 year old stay-at-home mom caring for 4 children (3 human, 1 canine). My family is my world, it sustains me and I need little else. With the arrival of the twins, I am a little anxious these days about being the kind of partner and mother I know I can be . I am determined to raise our children to be loving, considerate human beings who contribute to the well-being of this Earth and its people. Maybe my fellow bloggers can help me.

Cindy - Wife and partner of nearly 8 years. My rock, my soft place to land, my guiding light, my loveable, patient, neurotic, hardworking, garage-cleanin', yardworkin', powertoolin', no-cookin', freak. She is my best friend and my favorite person in the whole world.

Max - Our beautiful 4 year old Black Great Dane. Our 1st attempt at parenting. After all, practice makes perfect, right? If our children could be as well-behaved as he is, we'd be in the parenting Hall of Fame. Biggest baby in the world, but he is the sweetest (yet most anxiety-ridden) animal on the planet. He thinks he is responsible for the safety of our block, our yard, our house and everyone and everything in it. Needs a Xanax!

Olivia - 1st-born human child. She will be 3 in July. Strong-willed, extra-sensitive (these 2 qualities do NOT mix well in 1 person), sweet, considerate toddler who is already smarter than I will ever be. But I'm still in charge (for now). Presently, favorite word is no - even when the question is "Do you want ice cream?".

Emma - 1st of the twin beans to emerge 4 weeks ago. She is 1 minute older than her brother, to whom she bears absolutely no resemblance, while being the long-lost identical twin of her older sister. She is the noisemaker, slow eater and 1st to wake and cry - every time. Girls!

Jake - 2nd twin bean to emerge and the only creature in the house with testicles (Max lost his years ago). Poor little man. There is a sweetness in his face that melts my heart. He just can never be the horrendous creature that my friends warn me boys ultimately become. I am not a believer.