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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Happiness at the Foot of Mount WashMe

Children are a blessing. Oh, yes, they are! From their sweet little cherubic faces to their stinky little feet.

But I am not one to shy away from calling a spade a spade. All these little munchkin type blessings create a pile of work for me. On top of the schooling and refereeing and teaching through life's lessons, there are dishes to be done, floors to be swept up, and laundry, laundry, laundry and more laundry.

It may not be the room that I choose to spend much of my time in, but the fact is, I spend weeks of my life scrubbing stiff-necked stains, switching loads from one machine to the other, and folding clothes for the six people who live in this house. In order to help me keep my sense of humor and make my work easier to whistle my way through, there are a few rays of sunshine in my laundry room.


And there they are. That sign keeps me grinning even when I am wrestling with a tomato stain on a white shirt. The minute I ordered it from Emily, I giggled each I entered the laundry room. And that was before it arrived!

And directly under that sign? My very favoritest laundry detergent ever! If you are in search of a super laundry cleaner that is all natural, made with a Mother's Love, and allows you to support a great cause, then here is the very answer you have been looking for: Hope Suds. My friend Lora and her family also believe that children are a blessing. They are currently awaiting the arrival of child number six...all the way from Uganda! In the Lord's time, they will be adding that much more laundry to their pile.

So what makes you smile when you enter your laundry room??

Friday, July 23, 2010

I Ain't Never Had Too Much Fun

The local theater is hosting a free movie summer series. So, if the movie being played is suitable for our kids, I load them up and go and meet friends to watch the movie. Then, usually, everyone comes back to our place, since it is so close, for lunch and a bit of play.

It is a beautiful thing. Truly.

Except when you walk out of the movie theater, get nine children loaded and strapped into two vehicles, then notice a flat tire on one of those vehicles.

Not just low. Oh, no. We don't do anything half way 'round here.

I hopped in my van, pulled if forward a couple of spaces, got out to help Jen strap children (some hers, some mine) into her car, and noticed I had a low tire. By the time we got everyone buckled in, the rim was all but on the ground.

And it was HOT, y'all. Southern fried hotness on asphalt.

At noon.

With nine hungry kids.

We evaluated the situation, piled all the kids into Jen's car so they could sit in cool air conditioning and watch another movie, and commenced figuring out what to do. Call Road Side Assistance? Not on your life! That could take a few hours. Call one of our husbands? Yep. Hers, in fact, since he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and mine was in dress slacks.

While we waited for Ken to arrive, we located, loosened, and put to use the jack. Did you know that there are step-by-step instructions for changing a tire included with my mini-van? Instructions with pictures!!! And there is a notch on the jack for the spot on the van where you let it rest. It is so simple.

So simple that I totally grabbed my camera to take pictures and let Jen do all the work. I am a dainty and delicate flower.


And we're still friends, y'all!

We, er, she got the spare tire loose, and the jack positioned. I turned a time or two to get it jacked up, but she did the dirty work. Being the good friend that I am, I allowed her to wipe her hands on my white kitchen towel that was inexplicably in the van.

I did have to change the really nasty diaper that Anna produced. The super nasty kind that leaks through and onto her clothes, and since I was carrying her, mine too. Apparently I am not that dainty and delicate after all. At the very least, I wasn't smelling like a flower.

Meanwhile, the children we're, well... they were.


When Ken showed up, the kids started piling out of the other vehicle and begging to help. Good thing Ken is patient. It took several minutes longer than it could have because he let everyone help who wanted to help. Thomas and Micah took a special delight in being momentary mechanics.


Except those who couldn't help because their bladders were calling...

Oh, yeah, a true Mommy to Many Little People, Jen was armed with a travel potty for all those who were in need. She is my hero, people!

Eventually, the flat tire was lifted off and we all marveled at the screw that was completely embedded in the tread. Then the dummy tire was placed on and the help picked up right where it left off...

Finally, we were deemed road worthy. We came on to the house, and threw pizza in front of all the kids. Jen and I relaxed on the couch and visited.

After I changed into some fresher smelling clothes.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Things I Don't Want To Forget - Looking Back

Joshua and I have been reveling in all of Anna's language skills. That kid will try just about anything! It has had us reminiscing about phrases and funny little words from the other kids as they began talking. Sweet little words squeezed through fat cheeks and rose bud mouths. Funny little sayings that we just don't want to forget.

Which is why we have this handy-dandy little blog. To jot these things down so they don't get lost over the years.

All of our kids still use the word 'ah-suh-lee' (phonetic translation). Thomas created this word and it means 'actually', 'also', or 'instead of'. I hear it two or three times a day, and I only realize that it's not a real word when someone outside our family comments on it. I think I have even used it a time or two!

Sarah Grace used to crack us up when she would come to us and ask 'What doin' dere?' It was usually said in a small voice from a very tired little girl. Generally when she was already mildly upset. The classic case was when Joshua was giving her a bath one evening. She tearfully looked up at him and posed the question, 'What doin' dere, Daddy?' He gently answered her with 'Well, Sarah Grace, what does it look like I'm doing?' 'Wah-sin meeeeeeeee!' came her reply in the form of a quiet wail.

Elizabeth charmed her Daddy and twisted him a few more loops around her finger with her super sweet 'Dad-nn' and her cuddles. She is still the most exuberant child to greet him as he comes home from work.

Our Anna keeps us guessing. She does adorably cute baby things that none of our others ever bothered with. She totally loves playing peek-a-boo. She will cover her bright eyes with her cherubic little hands and then peek out, laughing as she says 'bee-pie!' She gets the giggles at the drop of a hat, and she is a little magpie. She will repeat anything!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Deck The Halls...

Do any of you remember this? Well, this girl is already in motion. Hobby Lobby dragged out the decorations and got my mind spinning up.


I won't say what I'm up to (yet), but I will say I have high hopes of actually making my new home look holiday-ish this year! And there just might be, maybe, perhaps a cutie-pie give away involved.

So if you hear me whistling Christmas Carols, don't judge me. I have failed far to many years in a row now. And I have this whole house begging for a big, colorful, festive, family Christmas!

What are some of your favorite holiday crafts? Dish! I need some fresh ideas!!!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Little Moments

There are pieces of each day I treasure. Snippets I tuck away to recall when the 'training' of the children overwhelms me.

Anna's uninhibited baby laughter as I blow raspberries on her bare belly.

The sweet snuggles of children waking up from nap.

The giggles of the Thomas and Sarah Grace cleaning up the dining room. For an hour straight.

The soothing singing of Elizabeth as she tends to her 'babies'.

Those few moments of pure innocence in the evenings as I tuck the girls into bed and they share whatever is on their minds with me and then we say prayers.

These are the images, the sounds, and the scents I summon to mind. The things I choose to remember about today. Lord, please let all the frustrations be lost in the fog of my brain, but help me to keep these precious points of light clearly focused upon. Amen.

tuesdays unwrapped at cats

Monday, July 12, 2010

Eat It Or Wear It?

Or both. If your nineteen months old and unbelievably cute.


I had Saturday and Anna all to myself. One of our more adventuresome tasks for the day was to work on cup training with her. Hence the half moon worth of towel to keep the inevitable spill from getting to the school books.


She didn't spill so much as she did smear. Her snack of cookies and water quickly became a game of Dunk Cookies In Cup To Make Squishy Cookies And Then Practice Finger Painting.


That there is edible art, folks. I wouldn't eat it, but she sure enjoyed it!

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

It's All About The Clothes With This One

Sitting at the dinner table last night, Thomas took special notice of Joshua's t-shirt. It was emblazoned with UAH. We explained to the kids that Joshua had gone to college here and received a diploma.

Sarah Grace looked questioningly at me and asked me where I had gone to college. I told her that I had gone to a special school where I learned to be a massage therapist. Then we had to explain 'massage therapist' to the kids.

Sarah Grace paused for a minute to finish chewing the food in her mouth and gulped it down.

"Mama, what does your t-shirt look like?"