Living Out of the Dryer

Breaking and Entering...Into My Own Minivan!!

2011-05-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

Aahhhh....

It was a typical day in midwest homeschooling-finished-for-the-year-now-let's-do something-fun-ville. Some of those days include all points of interest shifting drastically. Last week held one of those days.

I had planned to work in a library visit with the kids, then run some small errands (which may appear small, but with all six kids...even well-behaved...except the 3 year old...it generally becomes bigger than said task seems). Everyone pottied (yes, I like that word..almost Old English as it rolls off the tongue) and were getting shoes on when the call to war was sounded.

"Mom! The van is locked!"

Sweat immediately forms on my brow at these words. I panic inwardly, then try to calm myself. It's okay...it's okay...surely he means that the keys are not in the van and it is just locked. Yes, that must be it. whew!

"Mom! The keys are in the van!"

No!!!

I try for outward calm as I head up from the basement to the garage. This is not good. How am I going to....spare keys! Yes! I bought spare keys! (perhaps now would be a good time to say that I had to call road service to my GARAGE before....twice.) I knew I had spare keys!! So, I try to remember where I put the spare keys so that if we were out somewhere, then they would be on me in case the door was accidentally locked.

Hmmm....

The backpack! That was where they were! "Kids," I call out. "Where is the diaper bag backpack?"

"It's in the van...behind your seat."

AAarrrrggghhh!!!

Slowly....anger replaces any attempts at calm. "Who was playing with the doors and locked them?" Of course, this is when the Not ME! monster from the cartoon 'Family Circus' is unveiled. I stare at six pairs of eyes.

blink......

blink....

Even Katie has the sense to remain mum. "Okay." I am super-frustrated now. "Everyone in the house. We are not going anywhere until I fix this."

I call my hubby and pray that by some moment of dumb luck he actually has the spare keys.

Fail.

I realize, with a sense of defeat, that staring down the keys will not be sufficient and I will have to call my auto insurance agent. The phone is ringing.

"Hello?"

*sigh* "Hi, Dad."

"What's up?"

...I'm sure you know what I said. So, dad being Dad, encourages me in my resistance to call by giving me some sound advice. "Can you get a crowbar in between the door and van body?"

To put it briefly, I had a crowbar, a screwdriver, and a straightened hanger involved in my madness...for an hour. In a 90+ degree garage, I was sweating with my dad on the speakerphone encouraging me for about 10 minutes....I decided when the tongue is getting closer to the confessional that I need to hang up with dad...first. So, I tell him I will work on it. Calmly walk my sweaty self and lock the door to the house (the kids are wisely hiding from me anyhow) and unleash the beast. I did, try to keep it to old school speak...way old school....

You puffed-up mushroom!

Loathesome Popinjay!

Jumped up pinchpenny nipfarthing!

It was in those moments that I, once again, truly knew that my thoughts that I had become a more patient person withered like dust in the wind. Oh Lord, how well you know me!

Well, least to say, I did get the door pulled away and managed to carefully get the tip of the bent hanger on the unlock release. I pushed.

That hanger bent like an over-cooked noodle.

White dots danced in my vision. They may have been sweat or utter defeat, but there they were.

I would have to call road service....and remove all evidence of my folly before they arrive!

I call road service. They ask for my policy number.

It's in the van, too.

I call my agent back and the ball is rolling. 45 minutes.

A group of young men get out of a vehicle in front of my house with some equipment that looks like and inflatable bath pillow and a fencing epee. They ask for my driver's license for verification. It is in the house. I turn to get it and open the door where my 3 year-old is wailing. A wave of crying and my 2 little guys yelling in a sword fight envelops the garage. The three young men look shocked into stillness for a moment before one of them speaks up.

"Never mind."

In the 30 seconds following that declaration, the door was unlocked.

Just like that.

I definitely need to get me a set of those thing-a-ma-jiggers.

And maybe a glass of wine, too.

And perhaps another spare key....

Alleluia! He has Risen as He Said!...and he created bacon!

2011-04-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you, God, for this past Lenten season.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for us.

Thank you for the blessings and enrichment that our sacrifice brought this Lent and the resulting fruits of that challenge.

I have seen, generally in retrospect, how God used me and the prayers we offered while offering up our meatlessness this Lent. Wow! I must say, the smallest sacrifice is not ignored. It is used for the greater good. And I have seen Divine Intervention at work again and again.

How blessed we are.

I must add, though......that the bacon on Easter morning was DIVINE tasting!!!!! : )

Thought of the Day...

2011-04-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today......

Well, today, I want to be living IN the dryer.

By myself.

Ok.....maybe with a book and.....a box of Trader Joe's Chocolates.

That's all.

Oh.....and a light.

Lenten Outlook~Week 4

2011-04-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

Well, we are still intact after being meatless during this week four since Ash Wednesday. I am thankful to say that my husband and children are all faring better than I had expected (note that 'cereal' is still a common dinner. *sigh*) There will be no vegetarian cookbook efforts coming from my kitchen anytime in the near future.

This morning, I was reading an article in the 'St. Louis Review', which is our Catholic Diocesan newspaper, about the origin of our sacrifice of being 'meatless' and the nature of fasting. It was very inspiring and historically the fast included, to all who were healthy, eating NOTHING all day on Wednesday (the day of Jesus' betrayal) and also on Fridays (the day of His Passion on the Cross). Over the years, the fast and sacrifice has altered to the standards the Church allows today.

It was an eye-opening day for me to ponder that any sacrifice, as dear St. Therese of Lisieux taught, offered with great love makes a great difference. I am attempting to do that. And believe me, that promise is when I realize my weak humanity.

So, it is the hope and the love that Jesus gave to us from the Cross that provides me with the strength and....joy, even....to give up this little bit of my life for a brief time.....even if it is in the form of cereal...and look forward again....to Easter.

Just in case there is any interest, I am adding a link to the article in the St. Louis Review.

http://archstl.org/archstl/post/practice-abstaining-meat-has-intere

Lenten Workout

2011-03-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Alas, we have just passed two weeks of offering up meat for Lent and I must admit it really has been a sacrifice. (What I generally do NOT admit to most is that there are more menus listed as: 'cereal' than I care to claim) I have tried a few recipes on the family such as: "Sweet Potato and Bean Burritos" and "Meatless Rendang".

Let me put it this way...after we had eaten under my creative watch for nearly a week and I informed the masses (as Dad was on a business trip) that there would be the above-mentioned "C" word for dinner, my dear son Noah whoops it up and states...and I quote..."Woohoo! Something good for dinner tonight".

I must explain to you the feelings I had at that moment. I do believe that my Lent has taken a slight bent from my intention, but isn't that always a bit true? I have had very good ideas for the past several years for Lent and had been derailed by a seemingly yearly bout of stomach flu with the kids or something that prevented me from offering what I wished to bring to God for a sacrifice.

It seems that both God and life have a better idea of from where my sacrifice should come. Perhaps it is many nights of "C" for dinner as a sacrifice. Perhaps I am learning to just be patient and, though my aim is sincere, my goal should be more to respond with grace and acceptance instead of our dear Martha in the bible who feels 'put out' that her service is not given more attention or accolades. A humbling moment for this momma, but a good lesson in itself upon reflection.

Mardi Gras......Well, A Dinner off For Me! : )

2011-03-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

It's Shrove Tuesday!

I am preparing for Ash Wednesday and my grocery list has increased itself in variety from the fruits and vegetables departments by quite a bit. I already bake bread weekly for our family's use, but I will try to incorporate more rustic and grainy breads into my usual baking. It will be somewhat a sacrifice to me in the planning and an increase in labor to put wholesome meals on the table, but part of my offering is to do it willingly and with a smile...and that means no grumbles as I will have to remind myself some of these days to come, which I humbly admit that I will struggle with. I may even have to put a post-it note on every square inch of the kitchen and dining room to remember, but I will try to believe that it will not go to that degree. We shall see what is in store for these next seven weeks.

For tonight, however, my Mardi Gras includes the children's decorating the dining room and a full meal deal from Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Ahhh....it has probably been six months since we've had fried chicken and I think that, coupled with my husband offering to pick it up on the way home, makes for a fantastic and relaxing afternoon (so I can fit in a blog post. LOL!)

Tomorrow, as in tradition also, we will fast and have two very small meals and Pakistani Mash Daal that I picked up from Catholic Relief Services several years ago when the rice bowls were handed out. We liked it so much as a family that we eat it frequently throughout the year, but it has become a family tradition on Ash Wednesday for supper. The recipe is below.

I remind myself, as the ashes to symbolize my sin are placed on my forehead tomorrow and the words, "Woman, you are from dust and to dust you shall return." are said over me, that life is relatively short and we are all prone to sin. It's all about what I do with what God calls of me that will make a difference to those close to me during my life. Know, love, and serve God with a joyful heart. That is the core of our calling as I am teaching my First Communicant from the Catechism.

Sure, I fail. Daily. But every day I will get up and try again to do better than yesterday.

I pray that you may receive many graces during your Lenten journeys this year.

God Bless!

PAKISTANI MASH DAAL: (copied from CRS web site; link below)

3 cups dried lentils
1½ onion, thinly sliced
5 cups water
1½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp turmeric
¼ cup oil
2 tsp ginger
1 Tbsp cumin
1-4 cloves garlic, chopped (to taste)
2 tomatoes, chopped
Salt (to taste)
Wash and drain the lentils. In a large pot heat the oil, and then add thinly sliced onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt and, cumin, and chili powder. Fry until golden brown and crisp. Add the tomatoes and stir well for about 10 minutes.
Add the water and heat until it reaches a boil. Put lentils in the pot and continue to cook at a full boil, stirring frequently, until the lentils are half-cooked. Finally, put on the lid and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve hot over rice.
This recipe serves 6 people.
Copied from: http://orb.crs.org/resources/recipes/recipe-archive/#pakistan

Lenten Sacrifice

2011-03-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

Every year I wonder what we, as a family, can sacrifice for the Church's season of Lent. Since our children are still below the age of individual sacrifice, we still do a family-type sacrifice so that all may participate and embrace the season of sacrifice from a young age. Most years, it has been the obvious candy or sweets or desserts we abstain from during Lent.

The past three years, however, were their own living Lent, as our children always seemed to start off the week of Ash Wednesday with the stomach virus and it would "remain with us" like the very worst visitor only to rid ourselves of the infernal bug and stumble into Holy Week half awake and weak. Though that certainly was good penance, I do tend to hope that this Lent will be different, as one can never wish for that type of seven week prayer life.

"Please, Lord....if the two year-old would at least stop getting sick everywhere..."

Since I am not pregnant and our smallest one is no longer a baby and I am not on a doctor prescribed low-carb diet...I thought we could do something very different from the norm, but still be a sacrifice for the family. So, this year, we are going to eat a vegetarian diet. My husband is...rightfully...concerned about the children's protein intake, so I am keeping eggs, dairy, and cheese in the staple diet.

The truth is that I grew up on a farm. A hog farm. Meat was an everyday staple in my diet and my father was a consistent meat-and-potatoes man. I do not think that I have gone more than 3 or 4 days without some kind of meat in my diet. Myself, my husband, and our kids all really like meat...especially beef and chicken.

I have never done something like this before, but I think that we are up to making this sacrifice. The truth is that I could do little more than make chocolate chip cookies when I was first married and I have come a long way through the tutelage of my cooking-background husband, but I admit that I am a bit daunted, but nevertheless ready (or more ready after reading about 10 library books on vegetarian cooking).

I expect there to be a mild rebellion with our children, but we shall see...

I will be posting recipes that worked well for a large family with a research sample of 8 and sharing a little of the humor and situations that are sure to accompany this journey.

And, as the words of the priest will remind us this Wednesday, "Woman, you are from dust and to dust you shall return."

Life is short. We will find joy in our sacrifices if they are offered in the right spirit.

Always with me are the words of St. Therese of Lisieux: "Do small things with great Love."

Amen.

Timeless Valentine's Day Gift

2011-02-14T05:56:00.000-08:00

In 1999, I had been married for 27 months and had a 17 month-old and a 3 month-old baby. We did not have a lot of money at that time. Valentine's Day was coming and I wanted to give Mike something special that year. So, I took an empty glass "Taster's Choice" jar with a lid and made it, through the help of my computer and some glue, to resemble a bottle of medicine by pasting on paper labels.

The front reads: "Happy Valentine's Day 1999" and the back reads: "RX: Take one capsule when you feel down, or sad, or just need a pick-me-up. Read it carefully to reveal one of the many reasons I love you. *Refill upon Request*"

These "capsules" or folded pieces of paper each have one of the reasons that I love Mike written on them. It is so inexpensive, but he counts this as one of the most special things I have ever given to him in our entire marriage. I use a small font and write out things like: "For changing the baby's diapers when I am tired" or "For letting me read and relax for a night while you watch the kids" or "For the blessing of our children.". He was reading them last night and broke out into laughter at some of the more humorous incidents I referred to and the more romantic ones I had written led to a sweet kiss.

Over the years, the things have changed greatly that I have been able to write more specific ones because life changes so much and your time together expands. He always requests a refill for Valentine's Day. So, this is always one of my gifts to him. It is nearly free and makes such a great difference. See if your spouse feels the same as mine does about these little "love notes".

Happy Valentine's Day!

Homeschool Funny of the Day

2011-02-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

This morning, as I was teaching homeschool, Noah looks over to me after I had graded his paper and asked, "Mom, what does a 'B' mean?"

So, I answered. "Well, a 'B' represents above average knowledge of the information."

"Oh..." Noah, then has a wrinkled brow, so I know that there is a 'D' understanding of my response. I tackle a broader explanation.

"Noah, an 'A' stands for an excellent understanding of what you learned. 'B' grade is above average.'C' is average. 'D' is below average. And 'F' is a failure to understand what you were to have learned."

Noah, still with a furrowed brow, looks to me and asks, "What about 'E'?"

Humanity in Simplicity

2011-02-03T06:29:00.000-08:00

I have come with many years of humility behind me to the realization that I am a fairly simple-minded woman. I was given, by God, a very high amount of emotion to my being and a healthy dose of imagination. Perhaps that is the impetus behind my love of writing and reading.

Over the years, I have wished myself different. More confident, more logical and less emotional, as that is where many of the sins I bring to confession stem from. Anger, impatience, lack of self-discipline, etc...

However, I realize that what God has wanted me to do was to just love myself. So simple! Not love myself more than God, nor my spouse, nor my children or family, but enough to forgive, accept, and work with the "clay" of myself that I have been given here for this brief time on earth. I can alter my outward actions and I can change those things and deny what will lead me to sin, but I have not been able to eradicate the core of myself, that which I have always thought lacking. But I was made in the image of God and that is not what He wished in creating me this way. He had a plan for me here, just as I am.

We all sin. We all suffer. Some of us suffer in a more obvious way. Some of us suffer in only the deepest depths of our souls. But, we do all suffer in some way. That is the simple nature of humanity.

In the depths of myself, I want to be a good and loving woman, a generous neighbor, pleasing to God. Every morning I wake up with the intention of living up to that person. It is the hurdle of fighting my humanity all the day long that is the real challenge.

But, there is hope at the end of every day. For Jesus IS Mercy. The Sacraments are with us still. The day is filled with "ora et labora" for my family, which brings me joy. I have been shown so many times, how God can show us His Divine Intervention, even in our small and simple needs. To remember a heart of gratitude for the things we have.

Finding the Joy in the Simple.

And as Bob Carlisle put into lyrics: "..We fall down, We get up, And the Saints are just the sinners who fall down, And get up...."

Quick Tip: Easy Instant Guacamole

2011-01-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

Here is something that I came up with today that worked fairly well for making instant guacamole. I had a small ripe avocado that I needed to use and made an instant guacamole for lunch today for me with a few tortilla chips.

Ingredients:

1 small ripe avocado

1/8 tsp. sea salt (or a pinch of iodized)

1 cube frozen cilantro...from Trader Joe's (or 1 tsp. fresh chopped, or omit...but less flavor)

1 TBS. prepared jar salsa

Directions: Cut avocado in half lengthwise. Remove seed. Scoop out pulp and mash in a small bowl with a fork to desired consistency. Add salt, cilantro (i used a fork to crush up frozen cube), and salsa. Stir and enjoy with tortilla chips or on a salad.

Catholic National Reader Goes 'Pulp Fiction'

2011-01-27T11:56:00.000-08:00

Well.....maybe not 'pulp fiction', per se, but my children (5 of 6 at this point) have all learned to read primarily through an old series of hardback books called "Catholic National Readers".

The Primer/One is always a favorite to the older children as the younger child is reading. They speak of remembering the reading of passages with fondness and enjoy hearing them even more that when they had read it aloud.

I think that the books are wonderfully challenging and the stories are full of nostalgia and "proper" English that I realize we have somewhat let go of, so the phrasing of some passages are confusing, though they are actually written properly.

Though most lessons are mostly benign and teach morals, there is one particular Lesson that my children have always read with a mixture of either horror, disgust, or hilarity....sometimes all of the above. (Hilarity is usually reserved for the veterans of this passage.)

That is Lesson XXXVII.

I am sure that, as the original book was published in the 1890's, that rodents were even more of a problem than the random assortment of rogue mice in a home or rats that proliferate within the various sewer systems.

However, this certain lesson has become the anticipated cornerstone for our older children when they know it is soon to be read by the younger sibling.

With an eagerness that would raise a brow in most, my graduates of the CNR Primer watch the reading child intently for their particular reaction to the passage.

I admit more inwardly to be slightly nauseous at the enlightening lesson, but I do allow this excitement and ceasing of all other activities and studies to...once again...relish the words of the author on this particular day.

Perhaps the author of this passage had a rough night with such rodents and thought to take his vexation out in words of alertness and caution as to the dastardly deeds of the four-legged pests.

Nevertheless, I shall keep you in suspense no longer......here is Lesson XXXVII of the Catholic National Primer.

" ...1.We all know what a rat is, or we think we do. Yet how few there are who can tell much about it.

2. We know that a rat has very sharp teeth, black eyes, and a long tail, and that it has its nest in a hole. But we do not know much more.

3. Then let us hear what a learned man says about the rat and its ways.

4. He tells us in one of his books, that he once saw two rats steal and egg. And this is how they did it.

5. One rat lay down on its back, and took hold of the egg with its paws. Then the other took hold of the first one's tail, and pulled it along, egg and all, till they came to their nest, when in went the egg, and the rats after it.

6. The same man saw three or four rats steal some sweet oil. The oil was in a bottle with a long, narrow neck, and Mr. Rat could not get at it.

7. But he did not mean to give it up. So one rat ran his tail into the neck of the bottle, then pulled it out, and let the other rats lick the oil off his tail.

8. After a little while, the first rat gave way to a second, and then took his turn at licking the oil."

...Well, I'm hungry!

Random Things Overheard

2011-01-18T16:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my random funnies for the week....most from 2 year-old Katie Beth.

1) (In church, no less...) "Mom, can I have the gun in your purse?" (Gum!!!)

Then she proceeds to literally yell this out louder when my attempts to ignore her fail and, of course, the parish now believes they have a woman with six kids "packing heat" in the pews.

2) "I wanna try the maggot! I wanna try the maggot!"

Which, after only a moment of panic, I came to find out meant the MAGNET that my son was using to totally empty out my husband's coin dish in one very long chain of change....say that five times fast...

3) "Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell, Tinker all the way......." (Most recently sung as a unique version of 'Jingle Bells')

4) "Clean up! Clean up! Happy Birthday, Clean up!" (Many of you who had 90's babies may recall the Barney 'Clean Up' song in which the word EVERYBODY is in place of my child's favorite phrase.) But, with so many birthdays in this family, I can see this thing happening...

5) Her favorite movies right now are requested by the titles: "Hi-Barbie" and "Barbie-Cracker", which are respectively; "Holly Hobbie" and "Barbie in the Nutcracker". As an aside, she also dances around the room like a ballerina and yells out, "I'm a cracker! I'm a cracker!"

How can we not smile?

Where Have I Been??

2011-01-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

Well, my dear husband graduated from college with his MBA in May of 2010! As is typical of a pending graduate, he began searching for a position in January of 2010 (1 year ago!) and it became clear that credentials and education were little match for the economy slump as over 200 applications were sent out and only 2 positive responses!

God has been so good to us, but he did not promise the ride would be smooth, nor lack for stress and more gray hair!!

He received a position as financial analyst and is working hard to promote Snapple and Dr. Pepper! ;-)

We managed to sell our old house and purchase a new home, not realizing the full impact of something called an "occupancy code" and what that would mean for our large family. In short, one of our new neighbors saw the 'number' of children playing in our back yard and called the code enforcement on us. We were served papers and the real test of faith and stamina began. It was hard for our children, as the calls and threats continued, we were faced with criminal charges for having too many children in our 2000 sq. foot home. (I am still not entirely over this emotionally, I believe). (Here is the math: there must be at least 50 sq. ft. of sleeping space per person in a bedroom designated for 2 or more and 70 sq. ft. per person if the room is qualified for 1 person. Bunk beds are obviously not counted as legitimate sleeping quarters for children.)

Yet, our Faith reminds us God is there through the Holy Spirit, working through others and showing His power in our daily lives and needs. Thanks go to some amazing and fantastic people we have met here, the support of our Peoria friends and our families and especially my parents, we made it through the difficulty. And, in hindsight, this was a very minor problem compared to the struggles that so many others endure. But, as you are going through something painful like that, you still feel the negative impact.

Now, the good news: We had money come in that we were not expecting that paid for the egress window that had to be put in the basement to render another bedroom approved to sleep 3 people. We both had the threat of police action against us and at the same time a Catholic policeman, who is also the father of six children, helping to put our window in.

So, I am truly thankful with all I have, I am so grateful to have a warm home, food for my children, our military men and women who are protecting us, a job for my husband that is supporting us, six beautiful children that I am blessed to homeschool, and a wonderful network of family and friends supporting us.

God Bless and Happy New Year!

Quick Tip....Grapes

2009-08-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

If you ever have grapes that have the potential of going bad...LOL! I know this is unlikely in a big family!....but we did have a trip we were leaving on and (I know this is nothing new), but I took a huge bunch of grapes and popped them into a Ziploc freezer bag.

These thawed as fresh as the day I put them in the freezer (which was about a month later) and they are also a yummy treat half frozen!

Noah Learns To Read......Almost....

2009-08-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took a walk as a family around the neighborhood. Mostly, for exercise. Inadvertently, however, it seems to entertain the neighbors. You see, there are only sporadic sidewalks in our neighborhood and so we have a system to get safely around and safely home. Whoever has the stroller and Katie goes first, then Nick, Noah, Abbie, Gwen, Matt, and then the other parent follows at the rear to keep the ducklings together. This "stair-step" effect sets off a reaction when we walk.

Everything from low whistles of disbelief to a little sweet girl saying, "Mommy, look! It's a big huge family!!"...God bless her! She was so excited!

Well, on this particular walk, we were trying to prompt Noah to sound out the green street signs. We came to our own street and wanted Noah to tell us which way to turn after reading the sign. He was struggling, so we helped him sound the letters out to come up with 'Golf'.

"Gu...ol....lef."

Then we asked him to repeat.

"Goal....eff."

Repeat again.

"Goal..iff."

Not...quite...

Then, Noah got that "aha!" moment and said, "I got it!"

"Go Left!!"

These are the times that try men's...I mean, Mommy's soul....

2009-07-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Only is it at 2am on day 5 of a sleepless week with 5 of 6 children going in and out of the flu, that you and your spouse will enter into the mind-warped zone of insanity and come up with a new term like...."chuckabucket".....

Sigh...

Top Ten Things That Will Probably Happen When Mom Is Sick

2009-06-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Things That Will Probably Happen When Mom is Sick:

#1-Dad will probably get to work and find that his to-go coffee

mug has coffee and SOAP in it.

#2-Someone will give the baby a marshmallow so that she may

explore many fibers, hairs, and items that will attach to her sticky self.

#3-The kids may make frozen waffles for breakfast and

use a whole container of chocolate syrup as the topping.

#4- A snack may consist of animal crackers with melted

cheese over the top and dipped in ketchup.

#5-The tinging sound in the background may be your

two little boys dropping their die cast Thomas trains

down the laundry chute.

#6-"Why don't you play a puzzle?" means that each child gets

out their own puzzle and proceeds to dump all the pieces to all

the puzzles into the center of the same table.

#7-Your babysitter for the day goes by the name...."Gamecube".

#8-You have a countdown to the second as to when Dad is

going to be home.

#9-Your child may have spilled a cup of juice and may have

wiped it up with a bath towel and may have thrown it down

the chute and it may have dyed your husband's underwear bright

pink when you dig into the laundry in a few days.

#10-Cereal for dinner!

The Easter Bunny WAS HERE!

2009-06-15T06:07:00.001-07:00

We definitely teach that the real meaning of Easter is the day Our Savior rose from the dead, but we also weave a tale of the Easter Bunny joyfully making spring 'presents' to hide as gifts for us to help celebrate that most wonderful day with us.

So, yesterday the kids were playing in the yard by the sand box. I know we have about a hundred bunnies living around our neighborhood and I noticed a new hole that was created by a rabbit to cool himself in the warm temperatures.

I looked at Nick and Noah and asked them to fill the hole with some of their sand.

Nicky looked over at me...crestfallen.

"But, Mom, we can't do that."

"Why?" I asked. "Did you make that hole?"

"No." He replied, looking troubled. "The Easter Bunny did."

I was trying not to smile. "Why would the Easter Bunny be here in June?"

Nicky, looked over at me and made a frustrated face (That little child face that clearly states that parents do not see what is right before their eyes) and stated, "He has to make them to put the eggs in them, Mom."

So, alas, this tale ends with a cute hole remaining by the sandbox waiting for eggs.

Fun: Summer Bubbles!

2009-06-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a recipe for homemade summer bubbles with everything I had on hand:

11 cups water

4 cups Ajax dish soap

1 cup light corn syrup

Directions: Gently stir together in a clean gallon container. Let sit overnight without lid. Then use whatever you have around the house to make the bubbles. We used: slotted spoons, a strainer, cookie cutters, and the best bubble maker was a metal cooling rack.

This was hours of fun for the kids.

Enjoy!

Easy Caramel Dip with Apples

2009-06-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1-8oz. brick cream cheese

1 cup brown sugar

1-tsp. vanilla

Apple slices

Directions:

Set cream cheese out at room temperature, to soften. When softened, add the brown sugar and vanilla to the cream cheese in a bowl and stir until completely combined. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with apple slices.

This is a kid and adult favorite at my house!

Silly Lilly

2009-06-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we visited the farm. On Sunday morning, we gathered in the kitchen and Kim picked up our little Katie to hold. Lilly, their dog, had to go potty, so Kim took her out without a leash. "She'll be okay." As she went through the door, my dad calls out, "You want to get the paper while you're out there?"

I feel like Kim has enough in her hands, so I join her and take Katie and go to get the paper. Mam and Pap's dog, Lady, follow me down the drive toward the paper box. Lilly, a tiny Shiz Tsu, has no fear of Lady (a much larger dog) and comes running behind and jumping at Lady's face. Kim, afraid that Lady will tire of this treatment and bite thus Lilly's head off begins calling Lilly, to no avail.

Lilly, continuing to snap at Lady, receives her first 'snap' back from Lady. Kim, now sensing danger, gives up the calling of non-responding Lilly and goes for a broom.....for what, I am still not sure, but I think it was the first thing she could find.

Lilly, is now tearing large circle eights and avoiding Kim at all costs. I am concerned that Lilly will end up in the road (where vehicles barrel down at around 60 miles per hour) and become puppy powder. I stopped half-way down the drive and keep Lady with me while Kim continues to attempt to catch Lilly.

"Just jump on her!" I yell. I have little experience with dogs, but Lady seems content to stand by me and watch Lilly. Poor Kim. Then unwise Lilly comes back to Lady and jumps at her face again.

Poor Kim sees this situation and simply states, "O.M.G."

I am now holding Katie and keeping Lady still to avoid adding anything to this scenario. Kim is now calling for assistance from my brother, Mike. I look at the house and see many observers in the windows, but no one seems to want to come and join the fray of: two women, two dogs, a baby, and a broom.

Finally, with the help of a bratwurst for Lady, Lilly is secured and placed in time-out, the paper is retrieved and delivered to said Pappaw, and two women in their pajamas screaming wildly while waving babies and brooms got their cups of coffee.

The End.

It's The Pits!......Well, the Fire Pits, Anyhow!

2009-06-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my brother, Mike, and my sister-in-law, Kim, were with us having a BBQ at our parents' farm on Saturday night. The idea of roasting marshmallows came up and it was early in the afternoon, so Mam and Pap decided to get a small metal fire pit.

Kim and Mike, who were going in to meet Vincent (new nephew), offered to stop at Walmart and get the fire pit. They did so and while my husband, Mike (we'll call him Mike#1), was grilling the supper, my brother, Mike (we'll call him Mike#2), was assembling the fire pit (we'll call it Fire Pit#1).

I was in helping my mom with supper prep when Mike#2 came in and said, "I can't believe it. There is no bag of screws in the box!"

So, I went out to the garage where Mike#1 is searching through all the plastic and cardboard for the rogue bag of implements, yet coming up empty. I ask Mike#1 if alternate screws can be used. This was a negative because they are 'special'. I sigh. There is no bag.

Mike#2 arrives with wife, Kim#1, in tow and she begins the search and goes through every piece that was present. She finds nothing, either, and asks her hubby, "...if alternate screws can be used." This was a negative because they are 'special'. She sighs. There is no bag.

So, the decision is made for Mike#2 and Kim#1 to return Fire Pit#1 to Walmart for a replacement.

45 minutes later, Mike#2 is out assembling Fire Pit#2 while Mike#1 is still grilling. However, they had run out of Fire Pits#1 at Walmart, so they had to get Fire Pit#2 (the more expensive fire pit) with a $20 off discount. Mike#2 was satisfied, because Fire Pit#2 was a better fire pit than Fire Pit#1.

Ten minutes later, we hear a loud, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!" bellowed from Mike#2 about Fire Pit#2. Mike#1 comes out to inspect the trouble. Mike#2 is cursing. Mike#1 is laughing. There is a missing leg in the box for Fire Pit#2. Mike#2 is frustrated, but is in acceptance mode. It is the 20 mile drive to Walmart that is angering Mike#2. Kim#1 searches for missing leg and is hoppin' mad and demands restitution! Angie#1 is pretty fired up, also. Mikes #1 and #2 attempt to calm Kim#1 and Angie#1, with little success.

Mike#1 states that dinner will not wait for Fire Pit#3, so Mike#2, Kim#1, and Angie#1 decide it will have to wait till after dinner.

Kim#1 is afraid to hurt Walmart manager#1, so decides it is safer to stay at the farm. So, Pap#1, Mike#1, Matt#1, and Mike#2 go to Walmart. They are not happy with the service at Walmart. They threaten to send Kim#1 and Angie#1 back to Walmart with Fire Pit#2. Walmart is scared and gives pre-assembled Fire Pit#3 to Mike#1 and Mike#2 as an offering. A dozen doughnuts and a watermelon were also purchased.

While waiting for Fire Pit#3, Kim#1 and Angie#1 and kids numbering 2-6 are outside playing and setting up a circle of lawn chairs. Angie#1 is fading. Kids #3-#5 are fading. Kid#6 is refusing to give in to exhaustion. Kim#1 and their dog, Lilly#1, are sitting and waiting. Misquitoes#1-#1,000,000,000 are feasting on Angie#1 through Kid#6.

Finally, Fire Pit#3 arrives. It is intact (see scared Walmart note) and is fired up for s'mores. Sadly, Angie#1 has, by now, faded completely and never gets to see Fire Pit#3 in action.

Now that's the Pits!

Top Ten Ways to Tell If You Have A Large Family

2009-05-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

1. Your vacuum is a wet/dry shop vac.

2. Your vehicle is so crowded that there isn't even enough room for a cup holder.

3. If you want to buy a vehicle that comfortably fits your brood, you probably also need a CDL license.

4. Recipes are always doubled or tripled.

5. Your 'style' request at a salon is: "Anything I don't have to style."

6. Your dining table options are: a $3000 Amish set or a plastic 8' table and chairs. (Guess what we have??)

7. Your washer and dryer keel over about once a year from exhaustion.

8. You have a 30 gallon trash can in your house.

9. Diaper companies send you a Christmas card every year.

10. You have to use a minimum of 2 carts to do grocery shopping.

Easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken

2009-05-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick (labor-wise!) and yummy dinner that is great for keeping the kitchen cool and making a delicious meal for all.

Ingredients:

3-6 frozen chicken breasts (I use some from a 3# bag of freezer chicken breasts)

1 to 2 cups your favorite bottled BBQ sauce

Directions:

In the morning, throw 3-6 frozen breasts (depending on your crowd size) into a crockpot. Cover with 1/2 of the amount of sauce (1/2 cup for 3 breasts/1 cup for 6). Cook 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 on low, depending on your schedule.

After that time has elapsed, take the lid off and turn to low. Take 2 forks and, using one in each hand, shred/separate the breasts in the crockpot (they will easily fall apart). When done, stir them in the sauce that remains and add the other 1/2 amount of sauce (or add till desired consistency.....I never measure, I just squirt it in.) and stir to mix. Cook a bit longer, or serve immediately. The chicken is great served in hamburger buns with chips and fresh fruit salad.

A Day At the Park

2009-05-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

We had a picnic and took the kids to Wildlife Prairie Park yesterday. It was wonderful and they have been doing many improvements there. We rode the train (both ways) and had a nice relaxing day hiking and stopping at the general store. They have a penny candy table there that is great and all the kids (and mom and dad) got a handful of candy for a total of $3.15! Good deal!

The black bear, wolves, bobcat, fox, otters, and cougar, were all out to show themselves. The buffalo were close and we could see a few small calves roaming out there. The elk were active also.

We did not make it to the 50 foot slide with the kids, but we are members, so we'll save that for another day.

Mike finished his last final for this semester on Saturday, so he has a month off school till the summer semester begins. I think that we may go to Cahokia Mounds this weekend or go camping. Not sure yet, but ready for summer fun!

'What'.....Is So Funny??

2009-04-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Earlier this evening, we were preparing for a walk around the neighborhood as it is 60 degrees out right now....heatwave!

I was in the closet in the living room getting a hat and jacket for Katie. In the kitchen, I overheard my husband, Mike, talking to our son, Noah.

Noah obviously did not hear Mike because he immediately asks, "What?"

We all have our pet peeves, but for Mike it is the reply, "What?" to something misunderstood. I next overhear him coaching Noah in the kitchen.

"Noah," Mike says, frustrated. "You do not say "what" when you cannot hear someone. You say, "pardon me".....

Noah, obviously not hearing or understanding, again asks, "What?"

"Noah!"

Mike tried again, bless his soul. "Do not say "what". You should only say "excuse me" or "pardon me" if you cannot understand."

"What?"

"Never mind!" (loud sigh from Mike) "Go get your shoes on."

By this time, I am laughing my head off in the closet. It is too funny!! Gwen comes into the living room at this time and sees me laughing.....

"What?" is Gwen's question to me, to which the irony of it all only makes me laugh all the harder.

So, I go to the kitchen to dress Katie in the coat and hat and Mike sees me giggling.

"What?" he asks, confused.

At this point, I am totally laughing and leaning on the table till tears are falling. I replay to Mike what I overheard and what Gwen said and the humor finally sinks in to him and he and Gwen and I are all laughing our heads off over all the irony.

Like a perfectly choreographed scene, Matt comes back in the door right then. He sees us all laughing and asks:

"What?"

'Pamper the Momma' Lunch Wrap

2009-04-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Take some grilled (or just cooked somehow) chicken leftovers chopped up to equal about 1/2 to 2/3 a cup. Then add about a tablespoon or so of Miracle Whip or Mayo and a tablespoon of dried cranberries and a tablespoon of chopped walnuts. Mix well. Place mixture in the center of a flour tortilla, fold the sides in and roll up from one end. Enjoy.

YUM!

On the Battlefield at Aldi

2009-04-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

Mike and I have been analyzing our grocery bill and have found that Walmart's increasing prices are not making that 'one-stop-shop-super-walmart-saved-my-life' as cost-effective as it once was.

So, we have turned to our other friend: Aldi.

In fact, it is twice as money-saving because it is 4 blocks from our house. It is great and the prices are low, but it has a few very odd 'quirks' that cause me to twitch. For instance, Aldi carries cranberry/peach chutney and dill infused marscapone cheese, but no baking powder........go figure.

Well, Mike and I went on our monthly 'big' grocery trip this evening. It was a 'hot night' at Aldi and the crowds were thick. I could see why with .69 cent eggs, $1.79 milk, and $1.49 butter. I was impressed. So, we filled almost 2 carts. Many who walk by us throw out the customary comments...

"Hey, you feeding an army?" .....Almost.

"What time do I show up for dinner?"....Har har...

I giggle at the usual comments and am fully impressed with a truly original line someone throws my way. Aldi is unique also in the fact that they have the most inexpensive and absolutely wonderful German chocolate I have ever tasted. Since they are based in Germany, so much of their food is from there and it is great. Another bonus. They have really come up with some competitive items like a brand of coffee that we got called "Donut Shop Coffee Blend". Well, it looked liked Dunkin donuts coffee, but the jury is still out as to whether it TASTES like it.

So we are armed with two full carts and are revving our engines for the actual sport which is Aldi. It's like a free workout. I am serious. You almost have to be doing some extra training for this part of an Aldi trip, but you'd better be ready because it's coming and there is no way around it.

That is the checkout.

These cashiers are tired, grumpy, and FAST. You'd better be getting those groceries up on that conveyer as fast as you can get them up there, because those groceries are going to fly....literally. There is a cart that is kept at the end of the line where this cashier is flipping them into the bottom as fast as they can cross the infra-red line. The beeps from scanned groceries sound like the EKG of a runner after a marathon while the customers are flinging groceries as fast as possible onto the line. Almost surreal. However, do not slow down, or the 'regulars' will be yelling their 'line rage' from the back.

"Come on!"...."This is taking forever".....

I dare not slow down.

So, the cashier, amazed even then at the amount of groceries we have is flinging and manages a comment.

"That's a lot of rice."....well, I guess a 10# bag is large....

I am, at this point..panting, however. I do manage a, "We....have a ....large family...(gasp!)."

"Lot a kids, eh? Let me see. I'll guess from the looks of things that you have 6."

Ooohhh.....an expert.

"Why, yes, we do." I am exhausted, but impressed. "How did you know?"

I have to know.

"Well, there are a lot of families that shop here that have a lot of kids."

A moment passes while I crawl to the register to pay. Breathe slowly....

Mike is already starting to bag and box all he can as quickly as possible when she delivers the next question.

I must have a sticker on my forehead.

We had no kids with us.

"You homeschool too, don't you?"

Bingo!

What is it with Paper and Danger??

2009-03-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

Being the mother of six young children, I am always in a state of awe and wonderment at the point that each of my children have fallen in love...in fact, become obsessed...with two things.
Paper and danger.
This has occurred with all six children at around the ages of 8 months to maybe...well, I'll have to do a future study on this one. It is like their palate has honed in on the flavor, texture, and otherwise utter blissful 'mouth-feel' of.....drumroll....paper. Yes, folks. Paper. That bland nasty white or colored stuff made out of trees that have been pulverized, chemicals added, and rolled out to a fine sheet. It ranks number one at our house in toddler dietary requirement. There is always some type of paper in Kaitlyn's mouth and she will pull on shelves, heedless of any danger (also a love of toddlers at my house) for.....paper. It's like I can read her mind..."Love paper. Must have paper." If there is paper in a fifty foot radius of her, she will do everything to get it into her mouth.
My husband always laughs...and winces...as the comics come out....well....you know.
Another thing highly desired is danger. It's like her guardian angel is checking us to be sure we are on our toes. If there is a set of stairs to climb, a shelf to pull, or a needle in a haystack...a baby will find it. Lost something small, metal, and sharp? Just put a crawling child on the floor and you will have it in mere minutes. They are like human metal deteators. And when they find it, you better be alert, because it will go right into the mouth. Amazing.
Recently, one of my other kids spilled a bunch of my mother's straight pins on the floor. All five of my children looked all over the floor (and myself and my mother) for at least half an hour to find them all. Wouldn't you know it, but every time we saw Katie, she had another we all had missed in her hands.
Mike did an experiment where he laid out a bunch of her bright and shiny toys in front of her and placed his Swiss Army Knife in there randomly (closed, of course) and sat Kate in front of the array of items. She quickly scanned the items and immediately grabbed the knife.
Scary...
Hmmm....I wonder if paper has any nutritional value......

You've Gotta Laugh..

2009-03-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

To say that our life is mildly crazy right now, is an understatement. Sometimes, however, exhaustion can take on something more exciting, like a poor imitation of The Three Stooges.

Yesterday morning, Mike was getting ready to walk out the door...and I was ready to take the rest of the coffee and down the whole thing directly from the pot...when I looked over and saw that he was juggling school books, a to-go cup of coffee(yikes!), and a garbage bag of trash.

So being 'wifey', I went over to open both doors (kitchen and breezeway) so he could get to the garage without dying his white shirt brown.

Here's where the fun starts...did I mention I was not quite awake yet?

I get through the first door okay, but I was in this gargantuan robe and as I opened the second door so Mike could step around me, I catch the robe on the trash bag he's hauling. This causes Mike to stumble and whack into the door. I tried to grab the coffee, which knocked an umbrella that was resting against the wall over onto the floor. So, as Mike recovers from his first whack and steps through the door, I grab the umbrella (I am vexed by now so I jerk it up off the ground) and unfortunately the umbrella catches the door and I whack Mike AGAIN now with the corner of the door in the side of the head. He drops the trash bag, but somehow manages to save the coffee and school books....and his schoolbooks from the coffee...well, both were saved from his ever-graceful wife.

Mike just sighs and looks at me.

Then smiles and kisses his "Oh-So-Helpful" wife.

Sigh....

Well, I at least I didn't spill the coffee all over him.........

Yet.

So, I did what any rational woman would do. I went back into the house and chugged the coffee directly out of the pot.

Oh, The Breads We Weave!

2009-02-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

Ah....homemade bread.

There is little accomplishment for a mother than the praise that comes from a little elbow work and a lot of flour. It's like we have created a masterpiece and the praise follows. This is the joy of Wednesdays in the wintertime at my house.

That is my bread day. During breakfast time, the kids are munching on cereal and I am mixing dough for four loaves of bread in a bowl. Then I knead it and place half into two greased bowls and cover them, clean my floured area, throw the dishes into the dishwasher, and I am ready to head downstairs for school and let the yeast and gluten do its job.

Then, when we come up for lunch, the dough has risen enough. So, I get the kiddos lunch on the table and take my brief snack in before I call them up from the depths of the house to eat....(or I skip lunch and eat the abandoned food they leave behind!)

I divide the dough, knead it again, and roll it into some kind of loaf shape. So, there are three loaves of bread. The final will be rolled out and buttered, then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and rolled and sliced for cinnamon rolls. They all rise again till ready to bake...about 3 pm. This night, we have "Brinner"...or Breakfast/Dinner. Cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, coffee, milk, and sliced apples with cheese slices.....or bananas or orange slices...whatever is on hand.

So, here is the recipe for "4 In A Day Bread"

Ingredients:

12 cups bread flour (I recommend 'high bouncer' from GFS)

1/2 cup sugar

2 packets or 5 tsp. yeast (GFS sells ~a year supply in a pack for $4.50 or so)

1/4 cup veggie oil

2 TBS. salt

4 1/2 cups very warm water

Directions:

Put 4 cups flour in large mixing bowl. Put sugar, yeast, and salt into bowl and mix with flour. Measure the 4 1/2 cups very warm water and add oil to the water before adding to flour mixture. Add water all at once and stir to mix. Then add 4 more cups flour in, stirring well after each addition. The last 4 cups will be more difficult to work in, so go one cup at a time till the flour will not seem to take any more and roll onto a floured surface. Knead for 5 minutes, or until soft and combined well. Prepare 2 large bowls with 1-2 Tbs. oil rubbed around the inside of the bowl. Split dough in half and place one equal dough round in each pan, turning once to cover with oil. Let rest as long as it takes to double. Cover with oil-sprayed plastic wrap to keep humidity in. (Dough is done when fingerprint stays without bouncing back.) Then, spray 4 loaf pans with cooking spray. Punch dough in each bowl (that is my favorite!) and divide each bowl's dough in half. Then knead that dough approximately 40 times on a lightly floured surface into a loaf and place each into a loaf pan. Cover with sprayed plastic wrap (I cut the ones from the bowls earlier in half and reuse.) and allow to rise again for 2-3 hours. Till about 1 inch over the top of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Tap on bottom to test doneness. (Should sound hollow.)

Cool for about 1-2 hours (if you can wait..LOL!) and slice thinly. Place slices in gallon freezer bags and freeze until about 4 hours or the night before needed and take out to thaw on the counter. Good for about 3 days fresh/after thawed.

Cinnamon rolls: That 4th loaf should be rolled out after the 2nd kneading to 12"x 8" or so. Lightly butter and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over butter. Roll from one shorter side to the other and pinch end where dough stops very well to keep from 'blooming' during second rising. Slice log in half, then each half in half until you have 8-1" slices. Placed on a greased 9x13 inch pan and allow to rise until double. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes, or until desired brownness has been reached. Some like them a touch underdone, but 25 minutes is about perfect. Cool.

We mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar, a few drops vanilla, and milk to desired consistency (1 tsp-1 TBS). Stir and drizzle over rolls. Enjoy.

Kiddo Funny Moment...

2009-02-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

Here's another Noah moment...

Last night, Noah lost a tooth. This is pretty traumatic to a little guy with Sensory Processing Disorder, but we made it through and always kept everything positive for him.

This morning, Noah found some money for his tooth in the pillow 'Ol Pappaw Markert bought for me at a small 5 and dime in Alpha, IL, when I lost my first tooth. Noah , of course, was thrilled to find "cash" under his pillow.

Mike asked Noah if he knew where the money had come from.

Noah, always giving a moment of thought to everything, replied..."The dentist!"

Frugal Food

2009-02-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

I know that everyone is feeling the economic pinch this year, for a large variety of reasons. Some of us have been 'pinching' for years. I decided to list a few frugal breakfast ideas and tips on retrieving those items.

My SIL, Mary Frances, has inspired me with her bread making. We visited over the New Year and she had made all varieties of delicious breads from rustic to french. During that time, she gave me a few 'insider tips' which has formed me into a '4-loaves-in-1-day-girl'. These four loaves take a little time and save a lot of money, not to mention the complements of fresh-baked bread from Mike and the kids. I will give the tips and recipe in my next blog.

Here are some frugal breakfast ideas:

1) Cold cereal...bought from Aldi or Walmart (I buy all the ones that are less than $2, as they rotate and this gives variety)

2) Oatmeal...I use the whole oats and stir in butter and brown sugar at the end

3) Grits....good with white sugar stirred in

4) Apples and cheese slices...each kiddo gets half an apple sliced thinly(it makes a pile of apples) and 2 or three slices of a brick of cheese

5) Toast and jam...from that homemade bread..can add a few cheese slices for variety/protein

6) Cinnamon Rolls...these are a weekend special at my house (I roll out the 4th bread dough loaf for these..see next blog..)

7) Pumpkin Chip Bread...topped with cream cheese, if desired....easy to throw together 2 loaves together and bake while homeschooling (freeze well)

8) Pancakes...also saved for a weekend breakfast...homemade and special! Leftovers can be frozen and microwaved for a weekday breakfast.

9) Toast and Peanut butter plus 1/2 banana....spread PB on hot toast for a treat!

10) Scrambled eggs and 1/2 slice toast

11) Hard-boiled eggs and 1/2 slice toast and 1/2 sliced orange (make the eggs the day before. the kids love to peel them at breakfast)

12) Cinnamon Coffee Cake...quick to throw together, but takes 1 hour to cook~I usually do this on a special occasion day and serve with bacon or sausage...

13) Muffins...you can find a basic recipe and add all sorts of things to the base. They will freeze well also to pull out the night before you want them.

Tips:

1) Watch your ads. If you can be diligent, Walmart will honor any ad that is a price for the EXACT same item. So, bring in the ads and save gas driving around for brand name deals. Mike and I do a 1x per month/2hour trip there for all the basics. We usually spend ~$150 in household and ~$200 in groceries. Then, over the rest of the month, we will buy ~$150 in milk, fruit, cereal, eggs, fresh veggies at Aldi.

2) Buy what you can at Aldi. You usually come out ahead price-wise and they really have upgraded their selection and healthier choices.

3) Make more from scratch. I have to now for medical reasons, but I have noticed we spend much less on groceries that way.

4) Think about using the 'Share' program, where you can get a lot of fresh foods for only ~$20 per month. You can even buy more than one. I have not found the 'ad-ons' to be the best for the price, but the holidays have some good deals.

5) Keep an eye out for marked-down items at the grocery that can be frozen. Our deep freezer was full last year of price-reduced items that we froze when we got home. This included meats, etc...they are always a few days shy of actual expiration.

I will post more later....

Kiddo Funny Moment...

2009-01-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

Somehow...a lot of these star Noah....

I was doing school with Noah today and we were talking about God's creatures. Today was farm animals. We were discussing how each animal helped us.

First, there was a chicken. Noah said, "They lay eggs we eat and we eat chicken."

Then, there was a cow. He said, "I know! They lay milk!"

LOL!!!

Recipe: Crockpot Apple Chop

2009-01-27T08:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a recipe that I came up with. It is very simple and my family has pretty simple tastes, but it goes great with mashed potatoes and does all the work itself.

Ingredients:

1-Family sized package of variety pork chops (they are fairly inexpensive)

4 or 5-small or medium apples (any kind)

1/2-cup apple juice

Directions:

Lay pork chops in the bottom of a 5qt. or larger crockpot. Core and slice apples and throw them on top of the chops. Pour apple juice over all. Let cook on low for 6-8 hours. You will have to be aware that there are bones in the meat when you are done, but it is delicious over mashed potatoes. Mike does put Heinz 57 sauce over his, but the kids and I like it as stated.

Enjoy!

Funny Kiddo Moment

2009-01-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday as I was going over Religion with my 5 year-old, we were recalling that the day before we had been discussing Adam and Eve. I asked him if he remembered them and he nodded that he did.

Then I asked him, "Do you remember where they lived when they had obeyed God?"

He looked confused for a moment and pressed his fingers into his forehead, as if to help find the details. I despaired him remembering, when he suddenly shot up in his chair.

"I remember!" He shouted excitedly. I felt a rush of happiness that he could recall the name.

"It was the God Ranch!"

Sigh....(but I couldn't help doubling over with laughter!)

Church and Children

2009-01-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

Church with a large family of little ones is a challenge for even a Saint. Every week, we do our best to attend Mass and keep the kids from erupting in the pew with anything from a loud noise, crying, talking, arguing, making body noises, or picking thy nasal cavity.
Those are just to name a few issues.
Mike and I have 'battled' getting to church for more than a decade and most of those years contain at least one child under 12 months. It has challenged us.....so much!

The typical Sunday finds us winding our way to an open pew and filing in. I kneel down and do my best to focus on prayer by asking God for help in being a good wife, mother, sister, daughter, and thank Him for all the blessings he has given our family.

Suddenly, I feel a shove against my back and realize that Nick and Noah are laying on the pew and kicking their feet at one another.

AARRGGHH!

Score:

Peaceful meditation: 0

Church Challenges: 1

So, I jerk them apart, usually by an ear, and remind them that God is asking us to be especially with him in adoration at Mass. Sheepish, yet suspiciously suspicious looks are staring back at me and my first finger, which is always pointed toward someone. So, I tuck my finger back into its holster and turn around. For at least another 20 seconds...

"Dear Lord.....Noah, stop it........thank You for all that You have blessed us with.....put the books back, Nick............please help, God! Amen."

Mike and I have decided to break our family up into defensive zones of control. We alternate between one with Katie and the older 3(who are fairly obedient at mass) and the other gets the two boys. This has, for the most part, worked out to some degree. It means one of us is walking Katie at the back of church and the other appears to be in a referee/wrestling/disciplinarian role the entire time.

I know that there may be a day in the future when I am sitting in the pew and thanking God for all I have and asking Him to help me be a better mother, wife, grandmother....and I will look over and see a mother with her little children.

And remember.

And miss.

So, I am doing my best to love every day and to embrace the vocation of motherhood that He has blessed me with. To also remember that ultimately, God knows my heart and knows my struggles and that He is understanding of my situation currently.

My Mass may be complex and prayers may be brief and in between a small skirmish, but He knows me and loves me and that helps comfort me during church when I seem to need Him so much.

A Kiddo Funny Moment...

2009-01-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

My birthday boy...Today!...has the flu. He has been ill for three days and I gave him something to drink when he asked last night.

"What is it?" He peered at the orange liquid with suspicion.

"Gatorade," I replied. "It will make you feel better."

He drank it and later called to me a request.

"Mom," he yelled. "Can I have some more of that alligator juice?!"

Too funny!

Oh...The Good 'Ol Days of Illness...

2009-01-12T19:15:00.000-08:00

Let me say this for starters.

For some reason, peppermint comforts me. I like the sweet and bitingly cool and refreshing flavor and scent of it. It comforts, soothes, and relaxes me.

This past two weeks have been filled with days and nights of fevers, emesis buckets, Kleenex, baths, showers for croup then followed by 5 minutes in my bathrobe outside in -5 degree temps to help 'shock' the bronchial tubes, dripping noses, pink eye, headaches, bleach, crying miserable kids, and diarrhea.

Did I leave anything out??

For some reason, my family likes to take illness in children to the heights that only a death-defying ride at Six Flags can provide. We don't just get one illness, we get them all at the same time in some wild round robin fashion where varying viral illnesses and bacteria jockey for their rightful place as emperor for a day...before moving on to the next unsuspecting tot. Then we will exchange that virus for this bacteria between siblings so at least everyone has one...dare I say three illnesses at the same time. I mean...we are teaching them to share.

Sigh...

So, is it any wonder that this drooling sleep-deprived dishrag of a woman is sitting here with Peppermint spritz body perfume sprayed on, drinking peppermint tea, and eating candy canes and peppermint Hershey Kisses?

Not to this girl, folks.

I'm just trying to hold on to sanity...and a box of Kleenex.

Life in Perspecive

2009-01-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

I am jumping in here with a 'life in perspective' moment. We do tend to, as humans, place too much weight on some things and not enough on other more important things in our lives. A saying that I cannot remember the origins of comes to mind. The saying states that if you hold a pebble right up near your eye, the eye must focus entirely on it and is unable to proper see much else. Stretch your arm out and hold the pebble as far away as you can. Only then is the pebble in its proper perspective and you are able to place that which you were so focused on away from consuming you and into a more manageable place and where it should be in relation to your life.

To expand upon our humanity, please visit this site, which will only emphasize where we really are to our universe. But, isn't it wonderful how special and important we are, even then!

www.kiroastro.com/writings/perspective

What to pack for Disney...

2008-12-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

I'm making a list..I'm checking it twice...

Well, honestly, I'm checking it about 30,000,000 times. How in the world does a mother pack for 8 people for Disney World???? There are lists galore out there that I have copied off the internet, but I cannot honestly seem to trim back more than jacking the house up off the foundation and shipping it down there based on what we will probably need. I am excited, but I am thinking about calling U-Haul rather than the van rental that has been scheduled.

My parents rented a 15 passenger van for the trip...God bless them! It will be my family, my BIL and sister and their 7 month-old daughter, and my mom and dad for a total of 13. Cozy! My eyes DID cross, however, when dad suggested that we only pack what could fit under the seats.

Mercy!

Then it came to me...Space bags! I have to take an inflatable mattress with us anyway and there is a reverse on the inflator, so I think this may be it!! Anyhow, say a prayer for me that it will work.

I just cannot see fitting my entire house under the seat...

Back On the Blog!

2008-12-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Wow...after much of forgetting passwords and such, I found my way back to my blog. I have plenty to write on and plenty of time to sit at the computer today because my infant daughter is ill with the croup and a nasty head cold so we are vegging out.
I hope that this will be legible and that I even remember writing it because after three days without much sleep, I am having a hard time remembering how to pour a bowl of cereal. My husband is in no better shape. His 36th birthday was yesterday...Happy Birthday, Honey!...and he is so tired from finishing this semester in his MBA program, working full time, PLUS spending any time with me and our six kiddos, I'm surprised we're not just sleepwalking.....wait.....I think we are. Not sure. I'll have to get back with you after some sleep. (eyes crossed)
The whole house has some head cold/croup going on so we sound like some tragic band in concert of sniffs, coughs, and "horn" blowing. In a fit of pique yesterday, I wondered whether we should make a go of some type of CD release.
We are, however, on the cusp of a trip to Walt Disney World hosted and paid for by my parents and my sister and BIL. The kids, though not running at 100%, were excited to have a week off homeschool and preparation for the big trip. My whole family, except on sister and hubby, will be going down there and we are looking forward to having a blast. I hear them in the background watching the free DVD from Disney and talking.......and coughing, sniffling, and crouping....
Baby is finally asleep.
Better get SOMETHING done while I have a moment..

Kiddo Moment

2008-07-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

My 5 year-old son, Noah, came into the kitchen last night and pointed to a box of muffins and asked for one. It was about 9pm, and my husband told him that they were for breakfast. Noah slumped his shoulders and left the room, so my husband and I continued our conversation.
Five minutes later, Noah returns with a huge smile on his face.
"I'm ready for breakfast!"

Little Sister's Wedding Day...Part 2

2008-06-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

Well....I look back down the aisle as I threw the offending wad of brown paper into the front pew...sorry, Dad....and 3 of my kiddos are carting down a garland to tie across the top of the kneeler that Chris and Steve will kneel on. My main job is to take some ribbon and tie it around the garland so it will not fall. I mean, how hard can it be to tie a ribbon?
Hehe....
Well, it turned into me staring at 4 or 5 ribbons thinking, "Oh, great! Which ribbons am I supposed to use?" Of course, I am fumbling around with all the ribbons and trying to "test" them to see if one is an emergency pull on it, or something. AND everyone is watching me, the woman (who has six children and is fully competent) try to tie a simple ribbon around a slab of evergreen so that the bride can come down the aisle. What I ended up creating was a stiff ribbon that would give Alfalfa a run for his money. There is this pretty garland and a stiff white ribbon standing at attention. Oh, well!
Yeah...that's why they pay me the big bucks!
Well, Chris sweeps down the aisle all beautiful in her dress. My main job is to make sure my sister is not strangled, eaten, swallowed, or injured by the train on her dress. Let me tell you...this train was beautiful, but it ran one quarter of the way down the church.
Okay, I tell myself, go straighten her train.
I do the 50 yard dash and have to actually run on the train because the aisle is narrow and my own dress is so full. Of course, when I get the dress straightened, I have to run on the dress again to get to my position and....smile!
This process was repeated many many times. Once, I actually was standing on the dress and my sister went to walk and was jerked back. (I can only imagine that what she was wishing me could not be repeated in the church).
So, the readings are done and I look back to see my two sons so decked out in their tuxes...completely asleep. One of the boys is actually hanging over the pew into the aisle. Then, Katie let out a loud toot of gas that only a baby can get away with. I overhear my brother-in-law say, "Good job!" ...awesome.
The vows were soon repeated and the church burst out to welcome my sis and her new husband. Everyone commented on how nice everyone looked and....."weren't you busy".....
It wasn't till we were on the way to the reception that I realize that I have written no matron of honor speech for the reception. GULP! I beg my husband and Becca and Arthur to help me come up with something because even though my husband and I worked for hours on coming up with something nice, all we had was....
"TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM!"
...awesome...
So, we are all frantically coming up with everything from Michael Jackson song lyrics to Dr. Seuss rhymes. I quickly scribble a few words from the heart on the back of a sheet of stickers because, of course, this is all I can find to write on while in a van and breastfeeding. So, the time comes and the Best man gives a long, involved, and so engaging speech. Like five minutes worth...
Then it's my turn.
I pull out my sheet of Strawberry Shortcake stickers and take the mike, all the while wondering how my 30 second speech is even going to be close to that speech.
Gulp!!
"TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM!"
(smile)

Little Sister's Wedding Day...Part 1

2008-06-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my little sister got married. It was a time of tears, laughter, and joy. I am the eldest of five children. This year has been a wild ride so far....we have had two births, two weddings, and two major trips scheduled this year.
Well, one of the trips occurred on New Year's Day. We drove 21 straight hours to San Antonio, Texas, to see my husband's family....no easy feat being 7 months pregnant with five small children in tow, but that's another blog...
My sister, Becca, had a baby 3 weeks ago and I had my 10 week old baby and, of course, we were blessed to be named co-matrons of honor. Did I mention we were both breastfeeding??
So, picture this scene....I mean do you know the challenges of trying to breastfeed an infant while strapped into a form-fitting-no-easy-access-stuffed-like-a-sausage-with-spandex-God-Bless-
This-Post-Partum-Body- bridesmaid's dress? My sister and I were quite...creative...with the feeding of our little ones, let me tell you!
But, I've gotten too far ahead...
We were to have our hair done at a salon at 9AM. Becca and I promise to juggle and switch babies while the other gets her hair done. So, I am taking care of our little girls and decide to go check out, Chris, my sister that is getting married. She sees me in the salon mirror and asks, "Why isn't your hair done??"
I tell her that I will check on it and of course, you know what happens...no appointment for me was scheduled. My sister is adamant that she scheduled me, but no hairdresser will help. I panic. Finally, I ask that someone...anyone....let me borrow a curling iron. Then, my baby starts screaming to be fed, perfect timing! So, Becca, who has had her hair done comes to my aid and I am breastfeeding while she is curling.
Well, by the time my other two daughters get their hair done, we are LATE! for the wedding. But, of course, we must stop at Walmart for sandwiches that were promised to the bridal party before the wedding. So, there is a near-hysterical bride who, one hour before her wedding is to begin, running...and I mean that...through the store juggling subs and pop in one of our dad's button-down tee shirts and her hair done with veil attached driving a cart like a mad-woman that would cause jealousy in an Indy driver. I mean, it was a site to behold and I was trying to help her as best I could, but I was NOT getting in her way! Did I mention that Becca is in the van now with two screaming newborns and my 7 and 9 year-old daughters.
Well, we get to the van and I open the back of the van. It is full of all the stuff we need for the wedding, so we start throwing all the Walmart stuff on top of that and I had forgotten how to collapse the stroller. My sister was not to be messed with at this point, so I just stuffed the stroller fully opened into the back of the van and we took off, only almost running over a few people. There was bloodthirst for anyone who dared get in Chris's way.
There is probably nothing more frightening than a bride late for her wedding with two sisters breastfeeding (yes, illegally, I know!) driving a WEE BIT over the speed limit to get to the church on time...which was 20 minutes away. GULP! I am just praying and breastfeeding and holding the "Oh, Crud!" bar conveniently placed at the roof near the passenger's door. My sister in the back has no such helper, but she is packed in with groceries, etc.
We tear into the church parking lot and Chris squeals the brakes, slams it into park. Of course, the other two bridesmaids are already there looking cool, calm, and fully dressed. That didn't help matters any.
We all three jump out of the van...all with our dad's button-down shirts on.
I swear...all the doors of the van opened and we literally EXPLODED out of every door. The stroller, pop, kids, us, groceries, subs, and wedding paraphernalia go falling to the ground and roll all over the place. There are the other two bridesmaids, Amanda and Dawn, frozen and staring at us. In fact, they had not moved since the Circus Van careened through the lot. Finally snapping out of their shock, they jumped in all at once to help stop the bleeding.
So, we shovel everything into the church and are throwing on clothes, dresses, makeup, finishing touches on hair...thank you Aunt Glenna (who is a hairdresser) for jumping in to help with "hair repair" for me! Husbands and groomsmen (who were calmly waiting for the food to arrive) are put into action...and we are finishing up just in time and literally running to the church door. The photographer is all about action shots with us at this point.
We finally get to the door and the bridesmaids are starting down the aisle, when I realize the worst....I have no Kleenex! I say this aloud and my dad runs to the bathroom to grab something. 10 seconds to aisle time for me...
9 seconds...
8...
I yelled to him, "It's too late, Dad! Forget it!'
But, he appears with a hand full of the brown rolled cardboard-looking paper and stuffs it into my hands....2 seconds....1 second....showtime!
I desperately attempt to stuff it down the front of my gown which is a strapless low, but not indecent bodice, but there was so much and it stuck out of the top and looked like a terrible wad in the center (try to imagine!-something like a third baby feeder), so I grabbed it back out and stuffed it into my bouquet. All this occurred with the entire church facing back and watching me and all the drama unfold.
Wonderful...
As I start down the aisle, I hear our baby girl start crying loudly...
Wonderful!
Here comes the bride....
Now, what to do with this wad of paper?
(To be continued....)

Final Intro: The Big Day

2008-06-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

As I approached the end of my eighth month, it was time to start Lamaze classes at our local hospital. I had gone to school there, being a registered nurse, and I felt comfortable there and was looking forward to classes. Looking back, I think it was my nurse’s training that made me a tad over-confident in the process. Mike and I made these beautiful plans. They were so detailed, they would have made it into “Auditor's Digest” without a problem. We had two suitcases. One was for my clothes, necessities, and the baby’s outfit. The other was for lotion, music, tennis balls, back rubbing items, the “birth plan”, focal point, stopwatch, …and the kitchen sink.
By the time my due date was close, I felt like someone had tied sandbags around my legs, waist, arms, and chin......I mean, chins. I was awkward and clumsy and so ready to deliver that any thoughts of pain paled in comparison to waiting for that day to come. Every week I went to the doctor, not only did I pack on five more pounds, but I felt as if there was no way that I could make it through another week and return for another visit. I was in full walrus mode. Even the extra-huge comfy shorts were mocking me.
It’s so funny how you wait so long for something. Then, when it finally comes, you want to say, “What? Are you serious? It’s really time?” I laugh when I think of that doctor’s face that night at the hospital when we asked if he was sure. He must have thought we were crazy.
I went from excited to throwing my hair clip across the room during a contraction. Any ideas that this would not be as bad as I thought went down the drain about then. The birth bag full of fun was opened quickly and one by one the “trinkets” were tossed aside. Well, by this time, I and everyone else in hearing distance, knew that I was no saint.
In the end, the entire bag of birthing tools was ditched. The birthing plan was ripped up…by me.
My nurse decided to go on break, and after a while another nurse popped her head in.
“Everything okay?”
The look on Mike face and a woman prying the wood off a table must have clued her in. After the nurse checked me, a flurry of activity like I’d never seen before began to unfold around me. Four nurses appeared from out of nowhere. Stirrups were flying in the air, baby monitors being turned on, bed altering, pans, gowns. It was unbelievable chaos.
Soon after, we had a boy. Then, fourteen months later...a girl. Then, two years later...another girl. Two more years...a boy. Another two...a boy.
Do you see a pattern here?
Then three years later...ha, gotcha...our sixth, a girl, now 10 weeks old.
And it has been quite an adventurous and exciting time since that day almost 11 years ago.

Mars and Venus Go Baby Shopping

2008-06-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

The time had come around the sixth month to begin the “big” shopping. Yes, I mean that in two ways. First, all baby supplies must be purchased. Second, those “they-will-fit-all-the-way-through-pregnancy-and-beyond” maternity clothes we bought were already residing with the potpourri and candles somewhere(see Morning Sickness post). Frustrated, I went all the way to the top after that. Everything I touched was as big as I could get it after that. In fact, I found this great pair of comfy shorts that I nearly lived in from then on.
The sad secret.
I still wear them.
And I’m not pregnant.
Then, a second ultrasound was done (See Ultrasound post) and the joy of finding we are expecting a boy was known!
Mike and I rejoiced at his health and growth and I was again amazed at how God blesses us so deeply with the gift of children in our marriage. The wonderful growth of this baby from the little Mr. Peanut Man was now about 11 inches long and weighed over a pound.
My mother and I had been waiting for this moment for months. The restraint we had shown in waiting for an announcement of gender was commendable. Now the barriers were down and we were shopping. Any store that lured excited pre-Grandmas and new first-time-pregnant women toward “must-haves” was visited. Mike, my dear husband, who noted the frenzy and wild-eyed look in our eyes excused himself from the festivities and kept an eye on the checkbook.
I hawked elite baby stores and department stores and sales and second-day stores and chose some things to be purchased regardless of the contemplation of “need” versus “later to be featured in a garage sale”.
Mike, who was now hiding checkbooks and charge cards, was on board with some necessities. There are some areas that I have come to find where men do not fear to tread.
With Mike, it was wood and wheels.
He actually jumped at the opportunity to shop for a crib and a new stroller. This surprised me until we arrived at the baby section of the local department store. Whereas there had been basically women in the stores mom and I visited, there were masses of men to be found in the baby furniture area.
I realize this is where they lure the men in.
Fifty different types of strollers lining two sides of an aisle and at least twenty types of cribs on the showroom floor. I actually saw a dad under a crib looking at the bottom like he was under a car. Others were shaking the cribs like they were wrestling a wild animal. This must be meeting some "must test" requirement within a guy that I am not aware of.
Mike’s eyes gravitated to a navy stroller with ergonomic wheels and seven hundred options. I think we actually spent more time looking at a stroller than we evaluated the purchase of a car. He actually stood on it and men were having races around the store in them to test: balance, shock absorption, braking mechanisms...a world of which I was not aware.
We bought so many things that ended up being "please come to our garage sale" items over time that I marvel at how we ever thought it was a "necessity" at the time. One thing I actually laugh about to this day is a trash can gadget for dirty baby diapers that we picked up that day. We paid about thirty dollars for it and there were these disposable bags in a container that had to be snapped in to the unit…Well, it holds about 10 newborn diapers at a time (okay, that lasts about 2 hours) and maybe 2 toddler diapers...maybe.
Hilarious!
I did not understand at the time, but I know now that there were sage women laughing when they saw the things we were buying.
And scanning the male frenzy in the baby furniture department, I also noticed these experienced women were nowhere near there either. (smile!)

The Great Flood...I mean, Ultrasound

2008-06-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

The morning arrives for my first ultrasound. If you have ever endured morning sickness, you know that water is the curse of the ill. Does that paper of instructions the nurse gave me say thirty-two ounces, or two?
Please, oh please, say two…
UGH! It does say thirty-two!
I hesitantly fill a large sports bottle with thirty-two ounces of water. Geesh, I better get going on this thing. I have only so much time to drink it all. I get twelve ounces down and already the room is spinning. I ponder the wisdom of continuing, but I gulp down 12 more ounces before I can think further.
Elevator going up!
So, being naïve and hopeful that I am after a visit to the bathroom, I actually refill the bottle to thirty-two ounces and try again. Again I am dizzy, but determined to get a perfect picture of our womb baby. So, of course, I try again.
And again.
And again.
My husband is unable to leave work to come to this first ultrasound, so I am flying solo. I have finally managed to down twelve ounces before dashing out the door and arriving at the radiology department at the local hospital. Still queasy and uneasy about not meeting all the requirements, I sit. And sit. And sit. And sit.
Though not all the water remained, I suddenly realize something awful. I need to relieve my bladder.
Badly.
I think to look for a bathroom, but realize that I cannot go until after the ultrasound. I attempt to distract myself, but the torture escalates quickly as time passes. I am actually breaking a sweat and my bladder is going into spasms. I realize that there is a good chance I will become incontinent right here in the waiting room. I frantically look around and try to take a head count of who will be going before me. I try to watch the overhead television. I try to read articles, but it’s no use.
My name is FINALLY called, but I cannot stand up. My legs are paralyzed. My bladder has rendered me momentarily unable to walk. I force myself upright and feel like a filled balloon is wedged on my front. Now I really feel pregnant. Time to work those Kegals. I am desperately trying to get a hold on things together when I am led to a room...walking like I've been glued together to my kneecaps...and asked to lay on a table.
Then I see it. A wand.
Oh, NO! She is actually going to press that on my bladder. I’ll never make it. I’ll never make it. I can barely hold it as I confess my water ordeal to the technician. I swear I saw her turn and laugh to herself.
Technicians have a dark side...I know it!
I make it on the table and I cannot talk as she starts her torture on my poor bladder. I am actually starting to make silent promises to it.
Just hold it together and I won’t drink more than four ounces at a time again. I promise.
I wasn't quite prepared for the tech to be pointing out to me the Planter’s peanut man... sans top hat, monocle, and shoes...but there you have it.
It was love at first sight.
Another mother's heart touched.
When the tech was finished, I jumped off the table, forget my pride, and barrel to the adjoining restroom.
I was so happy to see my old friend, la commode, for the first time in a long time.
And, everyone alive within my visual distance...who did not run away from me...got to see the sweet little Peanut Man as I trailed along the ultrasound pictures wherever I went.

On Maternity Clothes...

2008-06-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

The days finally came when I could not wait to get those maternity clothes on. I shopped and loved having a reason to go through the baby department stores and pick out all those wonderful items to show that I am carrying a child (first baby, you remember!). I recall almost trying to push my belly out a little more to make myself look more pregnant. It had something to do with a mixture of hormones and bathroom cleaning chemicals. It was a difficult feat at eight weeks, also, but I wanted to look pregnant.
So, there I was, walking in the mall. Testing my waddle and hoping the glow was showing, I perused maternity clothes aisle after aisle. There I am, feeling better...finally...and taking on the maternity clothes section on like a storm.
Being observant, I read the labels carefully.
Buy the size you normally wear. We have adjusted the rest for the growth during your pregnancy.
Oh, the inhumanity!
Wonderful, I think to myself after reading the label! I will gain the twenty to twenty-five recommended pounds and these will fit perfectly even after baby comes. I mean I lost a few pounds from the morning sickness.
Oh, the disillusion of an imbalanced woman!
Well, Mike and I put a good chunk of money down on my complete maternity wardrobe… Why not, we decided, they will last the entire pregnancy and if we have another child we can use them again.
To swiftly conclude this tragedy, I ended up gaining a FEW more pounds than recommended and those maternity clothes were never seen or heard from again after month 6. (Cue "Twilight Zone" music......
An aside: A wise woman once said this: With your first pregnancy, you cannot wait to fit into your maternity clothes. With your second, you wait as long as possible to wear maternity clothes. With your third....what do you mean?
Your maternity clothes ARE your clothes.
Yeah....that's me.

Morning Sickness

2008-06-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

I don’t know if there was ever a time before becoming pregnant that I ever became a toilet expert. I used to discreetly use the toilet and I had all these potpourri baskets, scented candles, and lovely décor in the restroom. I still don’t know why I was dressing the place like a showroom, but I did nevertheless.
Let me tell you, after two solid weeks of unending morning sickness, I could give you intimate details of the commode. Every nuance of that porcelain beauty was etched into my mind. I knew where all the water spigots were, the amount of time for it to refill after flushing...the whole nine yards.
I had my face in a place where a face was not meant to reside.
My mind was searching and I had a true moment of wonder as I contemplated a new life within me and my mind was scrambling to find a reason why my only celebration of that fact seemed to be in the bathroom facing where only unmentionables should visit. In the end, the potpourri, the scented candles, and the toilet fuzzy cover went to the trash can. A ill woman can become very bitter after spending too much time in a certain small unwelcome place. Not to mention that any flowery scent at all would send me right back to where I began and I wasn’t going down that road again for any candle or bowl of weeds.
Bottles of sweet cherry anti-nausea liquid and cola-flavored syrup replaced potpourri and moist toilettes replaced candles. In fact, it looked like a mini hospital. Instead of joyous dinners and glasses of sparkling juice to celebrate our early married days and impending parenthood, we were drinking a stirred down white soda over saltines.
One of the wonderful ironies of this is the fact that plumbers are super impressed at my knowledge of the stool. (smile)

In the beginning...Part Two

2008-06-06T03:37:00.000-07:00

There is that moment when that special someone I was dating turned to me and asked me that special question. No. Not the “on one knee” question. I meant the other question.
“How many children do you want?” he asks.
That is the moment that the sky opened and I felt as if I could hear some choir of angels singing and knew that something very important and critical was going to happen in my life to change it forever. I then verbalized something that I had never thought of saying until that moment. To make things more interesting, it felt as if someone else was speaking for me, because I heard these words come from my mouth.
“As many as God wants.”
Wait.
Who said that?
It was me!
Wow! That was deep.
I looked at the surprised and slight eye-widening expression of my then-boyfriend, now husband, and knew that things were going to be different from that point on.
And they were.
And the wedding bells rang.
We had discussed starting our family right away and so it came to be. One month and two weeks after walking down the aisle to become man and wife, I sat on the commode and stared at the two lines and felt light-headed with multiple emotions. Fear, excitement, and the wonder of creation all swirled within me and I could not wait to tell my best friend and love the wonderful news.
And shortly after that realization came time for the ultimate initiation into early parenthood.
Morning sickness.

In the Beginning...Blog Intro

2008-06-06T03:29:00.000-07:00

If there was ever a point to be made, it is this: having a large family is not for the faint of heart. It requires so many things to make it work that humor is what makes things lighten and brings more joy than frustration. The true stories in this blog are meant to be a humorous look at the occurrences that seem to frequent large families. I found that we have found more joy and laughter with each other and our friends and family and doctors and...well, you get my point ...when we cast a positive and humorous light on those times. This is what I hope you will receive from reading this blog. To smile and enjoy a good laugh and knowing that others are out there smiling with you. Large families are a blessing that is bestowed with much humility in this day and age. It is something to be proud of.
The title came when my family was attending a meeting and a friend of mine and I were laughing about the trials of getting each of our five and six children ages ten and under dressed for the event... trust me, with six children, any leaving of the house is an event! During this conversation of a comedy of errors to just reach the minivans, my friend mentioned that her husband had no clothes ready to wear, so she mentioned the laundry room. And his response with a humorous sigh was, “I’m living out of the dryer!”.
Eureka!
The blog title was born.

Living Out of the Dryer

Breaking and Entering...Into My Own Minivan!!

Alleluia! He has Risen as He Said!...and he created bacon!

Thought of the Day...

Lenten Outlook~Week 4

Lenten Workout

Mardi Gras......Well, A Dinner off For Me! : )

Lenten Sacrifice

Timeless Valentine's Day Gift

Homeschool Funny of the Day

Humanity in Simplicity

Quick Tip: Easy Instant Guacamole

Catholic National Reader Goes 'Pulp Fiction'

Random Things Overheard

Where Have I Been??

Quick Tip....Grapes

Noah Learns To Read......Almost....

These are the times that try men's...I mean, Mommy's soul....

Top Ten Things That Will Probably Happen When Mom Is Sick

The Easter Bunny WAS HERE!

Fun: Summer Bubbles!

Easy Caramel Dip with Apples

Silly Lilly

It's The Pits!......Well, the Fire Pits, Anyhow!

Top Ten Ways to Tell If You Have A Large Family

Easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken

A Day At the Park

'What'.....Is So Funny??

'Pamper the Momma' Lunch Wrap

On the Battlefield at Aldi

What is it with Paper and Danger??

You've Gotta Laugh..

Oh, The Breads We Weave!

Kiddo Funny Moment...

Frugal Food

Kiddo Funny Moment...

Recipe: Crockpot Apple Chop

Funny Kiddo Moment

Church and Children

A Kiddo Funny Moment...

Oh...The Good 'Ol Days of Illness...

Life in Perspecive

What to pack for Disney...

Back On the Blog!

*Kiddo Moment*

Little Sister's Wedding Day...Part 2

Little Sister's Wedding Day...Part 1

Final Intro: The Big Day

Mars and Venus Go Baby Shopping

The Great Flood...I mean, Ultrasound

On Maternity Clothes...

Morning Sickness

In the beginning...Part Two

In the Beginning...Blog Intro

Kiddo Moment