Being a MOM

I was looking into these blue eyes this morning, just loving the moment.  I may not ever get to use the bathroom alone, quilt whenever I want to, sleep by myself most nights, cook dinner without someone on my leg or on my hip, but I love being a mom!

I just squeezed and loved and hugged this little bundle this morning.  They grow up too fast.  I love a warm cheeked baby when they have just woken up with a big smile.  Enjoy the moment today!  Hug your little ones, and love them.

You may even have "daughters" or "sons" that you haven't birthed, and who are just as precious.  I spent 30 minutes on the phone this morning with one of those "daughters" of mine. I care for her like my own daughter.  I feel Heavenly Father's SO STRONG love for her----I am just one of the funnels for it, His hands here.  Parenting doesn't just happen within the walls of your own home always.  So many are taught by your example and love every day.  As women, we are "mothers" to many.  Thanks to all of you out there!

Liquid Messes

My children are sick again.  It is really disgusting that I haven't posted anything on this blog since the last time my children were sick.  My children really don't get sick that often.  We seem to be a fairly healthy crowd, but this winter has been a whopper.  Since the beginning of December we have been tackling the green nose river and cough.  No one had it especially long, but after going through 8 people, it can take 8 weeks----the past two months.

Just yesterday, I thought, "I think we are finally healthy."  I hadn't even wiped a nose for two days.  The weather was amazingly warm (for January) in the 50s, and I opened up ALL of the windows in my house.  Out with the bad air, and in with the fresh air.  It was wonderful, and the house felt so fresh and spring-like.   

Fast forward to 4:00 am this morning.  My six year old comes running into our room to tell me that he doesn't feel good, just in time to project from the mouth all over my carpet.  Yuck!  Well, the day had to get going some time, right?  

We have been dealing with him fairly well today, and bleaching everything.  He has been sick from the other end as well.  How on earth can we be cycling through another flu bug?  Or are we on the same one again?

Eight hours later, now my two year old went running to the toilet.  She has been fully potty trained for almost a year, but sickness is something else.  Lets just say things exploded all over the floor before getting to the toilet.  Who cleans up these messes?  I looked around for volunteers, and found out it was me : )  

I just have to laugh about it.  Thank goodness for paper towels, bleach, bleach, and febreeze!

I must apologize if anyone is actually reading this.  I know it is absolutely disgusting.  Couldn't I have any other inspiring mother stories this winter besides sickness??????  

I just don't want to forget these times when they are gone.  And this is a bit of a stress reliever for me after being pinned in the sick house for two months!!!!!!!

If anyone else out there has sick kids this winter, you aren't alone!

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..................