Just nothing like it!

There is just nothing like waking up at 3:00 in the morning to your child throwing up all over you.........

I know, that means that I am admitting that the two year old WAS sleeping in our bed.  It is true.  But I know that there are more of you out there with a toddler asleep in your bed!  

And then of course, 10 minutes later, another comes wandering in and has thrown up all over his bed.  Love it.

Love the smells.  Love the chunks.  Love my husband gagging because he can not stand the sight.  Love stripping the beds in the middle of the night.  At least I accomplished all of this with a smile.  My husband did sit up with the baby who woke up during this fun episode and encouraged me.  Got to love that guy, even if he doesn't touch throw up.

Motherhood...........the good, the bad, and the ugly!  But it is worth it :>

Parent Scalping

Disney on Ice

We took our children to Disney on Ice last week.  It is something we have never done with them all, and something we thought would be a fun thing to do.  We have never been to Disney Land or World, so Disney on Ice is a little touch of the magic...........or so I thought.

The children were thrilled with the performance.  The ice skaters were amazing.  Lightning McQueen was a hit with everyone.  Tinker Bell could fly, loved that.  Even Mickey and Minnie were there.  My 8 month old was bouncing up and down on my lap with excitement.  So all enjoyed.  

But there was something else to the show that I didn't anticipate.  Of course, as you walk into the venue it is filled with sales booths--cotton candy, programs, popcorn, sno cones, and toys toys toys.  I had already prepped my children for that.  We ate a good dinner before arriving so that hunger wouldn't overcome us.  I told them that we wouldn't be buying anything.  Which should be my choice, right?  Since I had already paid enough for the show.  An advertised $10 ticket turned into $16 tickets with "handling fees," times all of the children, parents, and grandma.  

Disney has other plans for you.  Because you arrive early to avoid major traffic and to find your seat easily, you then have 20 mintues to wait for the show.  There are candy pushers walking back and forth on EVERY aisle, within a hand's reach of EVERY child.  I had come with some cash in case I felt like buying something---but it was $10 for a bag of cotton candy!  $10 for a sno cone---ice with flavor!  And all toys, crowns, bags, swords were $20 and up.  Am I the only one who thinks this is out of control?  I wasn't about to spend $60 on sno cones for my children.  I can appreciate having concession stands for those who do want it, but why do they have to walk back and forth in front of my children, dangling in front of their noses?  Maybe because they love to set children off into temper tantrums?

My children did do a good job at NOT throwing a tantrum for $10 of candy.  But it was sheer torture.  My 7 and 9 year old could understand that the prices were a rip off.  My 4 and 2 year old can be distracted easily.  But my five year old left in tears.  I had explained to him that the treats cost too much, and that we didn't want to waste our money.  I explained to him that he could buy three swords at the store for the price of one of those swords here.  I explained to him that we could buy 10 ice cream cones at McDonald's for the price of 1 sno cone here.  He seemed to understand a little, but the concept of money is pretty broad for him  (just like how he asked me today if he could buy a hamster with the 10 pennies in his hand!).  During the intermission when the salesman poured back into the aisles, my five year old asked, "Why are all the other kids getting swords and candy?"

What do you say to that?

I am just trying to teach my children the value of saving, being wise with your money, and all of those other valuable lessons.  I had $60 in my pocket.  Money wasn't the issue.  Being ripped off was!  Am I crazy?

So..........Disney on Ice....................wonderful performance, torturous for small children of big families who don't want to spend their fortune on treats!

Comments from Strangers

So yesterday afternoon I ventured to "town" with all of my children.  "Going to town" is what you do when you live in a small enough place that there isn't a Costco or Wal-mart to go shopping at and you have to drive to a bigger city to do so!

My children aren't perfect, but they were having a pretty good day, behavior wise.  Then, it happened.  Those comments I LOVE receiving from random people that I do not even know.

I was walking down the toothpaste aisle, and stopped my cart to scan over all of the toothpaste choices presented and prices that go with.  I admit, I do make people turn their heads.  I had one in the sling on my hip, one in the little seat of the grocery cart, two in the big part of the cart, and the two biggest walking along on their own.  And it was a good moment, no fighting, no crying---and I was nicely taking my time looking over my choices.

Then a lady approaches to reach in and get her own tube of toothpaste.  She smiles at me and says, (direct quote) "I HOPE all of these children aren't yours." 

I say, "ACTUALLY, they all ARE mine." and return the smile.

Was she serious?  Did she really mean to say that out loud to me?  My reaction shocked her a bit.  She made her toothpaste choice and headed to the next aisle.

I know that there are those that might think sometimes that I am the lady who "had so many children she didn't know what to do."  I wonder if they ever think that I HAD THESE CHILDREN ON PURPOSE.  I love them and wouldn't trade any of them back!  Imagine that....

I know there are others of you out there that have had one of these wonderful experiences of random comments from complete strangers.  Since having more than two children might make you a spectacle to others at the grocery store, BE STRONG!  You are a wonderful mother.  Being a mother of many doesn't make you crazy!  

Any funny stories to share?????

The Paper Route

Day 15..................of waking up at 5:00 am.

Is it selfish of me to sign my son up for a paper route so that I can get MY SLEEPY eyes out of bed?  Of course I haven't told him the ulterior motives involved.  He is thrilled to death to have his first REAL job making REAL money.  He has learned a life lesson too---he said to me on DAY 3, "Mom, I am less tired when I get up early than when I was sleeping in until 7:00."  So true.............We really don't need as much sleep as we sometimes think!

However, that doesn't make it EASY to wake up at 5:00 am, before the sun pokes his head up.  The alarm goes off, my body resists opening its eyes.  I sit up feeling so sleepy and get dressed because I have to.  These are the critical first five minutes.  This is the time when it is easy to just lay back down and go to sleep---but I can't now because of the PAPERS.  So I get through the hard part, and the rest of the day goes SO MUCH BETTER!  I have two more hours per day to do things---that is 14 more hours per week.  And these fourteen hours are QUIET, CHILDLESS hours.  As thankful as I am for my CHILD-FILLED hours, honesty must admit that I can accomplish triple the cleaning, the reading, the day-prepping in these quiet-filled hours.  It makes it so much easier to fit in the exercising, my scripture reading, my list-making, or just some time to ponder the day in quiet.

 So, it is working out.  My little son grown big gets to earn some money, and his mom gets to wake up every morning with him!  Day 15..............with A LOT of days ahead!

COURAGE

There are so many ways that moms have courage..........

But here is the latest, most poignant for me.

COURAGE is a mother who will bury her 3 year old son this week.  Her courage strengthens me as she continues to wake up each morning and face a new day with FAITH in her eyes.  Courage is continuing to hug and comfort her other four children, giving them hope that she is trying to hold onto herself.  

COURAGE is grasping to know there REALLY IS life after death.  She has always believed it to be true, but now she must KNOW for herself, for her children, for everyone that she will strengthen through this trial.

COURAGE is letting the tears flow, but moving forward each new day.  Everyone can feel the peace she has in her heart even though the pain is overwhelming.  She gives us all hope that we can face any trial that this life will bring, always trusting God as she always does.

COURAGE is never easy.  I love you Crystal!  As you face the hardest days of your life, may you know that you are a light to all of us.  Your courage lifts many, and your FAITH will strengthen many.  You are truly amazing..................

Good old fashioned birthday party!

I am all for the good old fashioned birthday party.  Do you know the kind?  

Where you hang up streamers and balloons that you've blown up with your own air.  Cupcakes for everyone and games to play.  Little fun favors to take home and a great time for all.

We had one today for my four year old.  I think that 90% of the fun today was preparing for the party.  My kids got to hang the streamers, blow up balloons, put out the plates.  We played PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY, and had a TREASURE HUNT.  

We opened birthday presents and blew out candles on the cupcakes.  They played on the 

slip n slide outside and jumped on the trampoline.

There didn't need to be a rented bouncy house with catered meal for all families involved.  There didn't need to be expensive presents or clowns performing after a magic show.  I have read articles recently that parents are spending THOUSANDS on their children's birthday parties---getting bigger and better every year.  Amazing.............could that really be true?  Check out the linked article.  It really IS true.

It makes me remember a story I heard last year.  There was a family.  They saved their money to have a SUPER memorable family vacation to a famous theme park.  They spent a few weeks traveling to see many major land marks on the way there.  They spared no expense so that their children could have a "once in a lifetime" experience.  At the end of the summer the father was sitting out with his son on the porch, reflecting on their summer.

"What was your favorite part of this summer, son?"  Of course, the father expected the son to reminisce all of the amazing things that they had done.

But his son said,

"My favorite part of the summer was that night that we laid out under the stars and talked."

It really is the SIMPLE things that our children crave and love.  

It made my day today when my four year old said before he closed his eyes to go to sleep,

"Thanks for the super awesome birthday party mom!"

You are welcome.......

I chopped up the cat....

How do you tell your kids that you chopped up the cat? A baby kitten at that.


One of my worst nightmares has now come true. I have always heard that cats sometimes crawl up inside the engine area of vehichles to stay warm, especially when you have parked a warmed up car in the winter. And THEN, if they are still asleep there when the engine propeller starts up.................it is just more than you want to imagine.
But it is summer. That can't happen, right? Well, it did.

I loaded up all of the kids to head over for a swim at the City Pool. Threw in the towels, locked the house, jumped in the car, and started it up. THUNK, THUNK, THUNK,..............my mind raced as to what could be wrong with the car. And then I screamed (inside my head) as I looked out of my window and could see puffs of fur. Sorry for the graphic details, it was a scarring experience! I started to cry, and the kids ask what is wrong, all I can say is, "No one look out in front of the car, look down."

All I can think is, "I am going to back up and my kids are going to see there own pet chopped up on the ground in front of them." There was just no good way out of this situation. I slowly backed up the car .....back......little more back................back........no kitten.........still no kitten......but I did see the fur puffs????................................

Nothing fell out. An answer to prayer! But it is in there. At least the children and I didn't have to visually witness it. I called the dad of our house. I told him that in the fine print of our marriage contract it says that HE is responsible for pulling out dead kittens from inside the hood of the car. I know, that is just terrible to say out loud! Just be glad it didn't happen to you!

Can Moms re-model?

I like projects. And when you live in an older house, there is always a PROJECT to be done. You just have to love re-modeling. Actually, I do. Today was tiling the front entryway. How do I fit this into my day? Well, as you know---a mother's day is already full of many responsibilities. There is NEVER extra time. So, some responsibilites have to be dropped for the day........


Such as rag-a-muffin hairdos (at least she put on matching clothes!), and babies unheld sitting in the walker.........



Unattended photographers taking pictures of their brothers..........




Make your own lunch day, and leave the mess all over the counter.......




Leftover food still sitting on the table at the end of the day..........

But WE did it! (Me and my 6 assistants!) We tiled the front entryway. Moms can do anything. For some reason, it is not quite like this for dads!

To all Moms--you are amazing!

I just want to say to all moms out there--you are amazing! I know that you don't get that a lot. Practically never. It is a job that goes unthanked every day.

For some reason, no one notices when the laundry is DONE, but everyone notices when it ISN'T. No one comments when the house is CLEAN but they have something to say when it is DIRTY. No one wants to call you when your child is WELL-BEHAVED, but they sure do when they ARE NOT. Everyone raves when you "make" CHICKEN NUGGETS for dinner, but they turn their noses up when you slaved for hours on a HOME-COOKED meal.

It is just our lot in life. We won't be noticed until we are gone. But we are making a difference! A great friend of mine posted this week about to "Please Praise the Mothers."
I am taking her advice.

I watch each of you every day. You work so hard. You are so talented. You give and give and give and give and give and give! Your work is worth it. God is watching. Others are too. Your children are the precious diamonds that take years of work to make. Your sacrifice will be worth it.

I have noticed. Others have too!

The 5K

Today, I made a phone call. My fingers began to sweat as I dialed the phone number. My heart started beating fast and a lump moved upward, inhibiting my breathing.

I registered for my first 5K. This really shouldn't have been a big deal. Oh, but it is.........

I imagine myself running along looking like this.....

But the reality is that I will look more like this----

with a lot of sweat running down my face!

That girl in the top picture has definitely NOT had 6 children. She isn't in her 30s, and she doesn't have to wear two sports bras to hold up the nursing ladies that are substatially heavier than normal if the baby hasn't fed for a few hours! (or even just one hour : )

Nor does she have the fear of wetting her pants because of those 6 vaginal deliveries that have left the bladder oh so not the same.

But that is OK. I can dream of looking like her. I am just glad to be running in my first 5K. I have never been a runner. I really still am not one. But some other mom friends and myself have been running (or should we say jogging and walking) three times a week to get our bodies into a little better shape. We are joining the 5K because the fear of humiliation keeps us exercising regularly. We are on our 5th week of the "Couch to 5K" program. You should try it. Apparently, it says that in 9 weeks it can get any couch potato ready to run a 5K. And since busy moms are moving much more than a couch potato, we figured we could do it!!!!

And most importantly.......................we are getting a free T-shirt to prove our craziness!

First Post

This is my new blog, for moms...............or anyone who's had a mom, or would like to be a mom, or maybe you are married to one.  I am mom to six kids, ages 9 and under.  How did I get here?  I chose it.  I have a college degree.  I was good at what I was doing, but I chose to be here.  Some days I wonder if I have lost my mind, but I never regret being a mom.  Some days I feel like I am going crazy, but I never regret being a mom.  Being a mom isn't easy, ask anyone!

I have another blog.  It is for the scrappy book part of life---posting pictures of the kids for grandma and grandpa, showing pics of the latest quilt or house project.  But this is my new place for the ups, the downs, the crazies, the stresses, the joys, and everything else in between of the job I call "mom."

Really, it is just a fun little outlet for me!!!