1908

One thing I have learned about living in a historic home is that I could never put a price on the sentimental value I have received since moving here. I like to imagine who lived here and what their life stories were. How they dressed, what they cooked, how they celebrated the Holidays. I think about this so much. Scarlett loves the old key locks that are original from 1908. She'll try to get a key in these for 20 minutes at a time, and I am not exaggerating. The kids also like to peek through to see what's on the other side. And in case you're wondering, the bedrooms and bathrooms are taped off with a piece of black tape. I hope that occurred to them way back then too. I would love to know everything they did way back when. For now I'll continue to wonder.

Devoted Dad...

One of Chris' favorite things to do with the kids, is lay there and let them climb all over him. This has a payoff for him, he doesn't have to wrestle on the floor. He doesn't have to run after them in chase. He doesn't have to stand or do much of anything at all. He literally just lays there and they pounce on him and he just laughs and takes it. This is a game I see absolutely no point in, and I personally would never in a million years want to be jumped on, but they love it, and he loves it, so guess I love it for them.

Grace is funny...

When I said "smile for the camera!" I just assumed we both were. I guess I should have known. Funny faces are much more fun.

Drowning...

We've all been asked the age old question "If you could be any animal, what would you be?" Well, I never thought I'd say it, but I think I would be rat. A drowned rat that is. I officially received the title Saturday when I went for an 8 1/2 mile run with my two running partners. It wasn't raining too much when we left but 5 minutes into the run, it was pouring and continued to do so for the entire run. All I was wearing was a thin white shirt for a top. I was literally shivering from head to toe. Boy did I learn a lesson. Thankfully 6 miles into the run, we passed a friends house who graciously let me borrow her sweatshirt, which helped immensely. Being sick with a horrid cold didn't help matters. Okay, so then I ran again by myself today, and what happened? Yep, drowned rat...again. And then I'm going to be running again tonight, and what do I see out my window as I type this? Pouring rain. I have never been so angry at rain in my life. Why do I live in Oregon?

Christmas Game Night

I feel so lucky to have so many awesome friends. Each month we get together and have "Game Night" where we just eat, play games and most importantly, leave kids at home. It's a time where I always end up feeling like a teenager again. It's also a time where I laugh so hard my cheeks hurt. Never fails. Christmas game night was at our home Saturday night. We had a couple come that are non LDS and we played a game where they had to guess which spouse belonged with who. After they visited with everyone for about 15 minutes they got to guess, and guess how many they got right?? ONE. One and only one. The 2ND time they did much better and within a short time they figured everyone out. We laughed so hard at who got put with who. Below are a few pics of who was wrongfully placed together. I guess if you didn't know them, you might think they belong together, but since I know them, it's just plain weird.

We also did a sweater exchange, and whichever sweater you got stuck with, you had to wear to church the next day. I actually lucked out big time this year, but poor Chris became a care bear. And what a cute care bear he made.

It was a blast and I look forward to many more years of good times with these awesome friends of ours.

Turning 33

I have to say that Chris did well this time. He got me a whole family of Willow figurines to represent he and I and our 6 children. He did a remarkable job picking ones that actually reminded me of each of my children. I only posted the one he chose for he and I because I'm just too lazy to post all of them right now. But, I am so grateful for this gift. I am not really all that sentimental, and I probably would have told him to not buy me something like this, but once I saw them, I just felt so warm looking at them and mostly pondering what they represent to me.

I'm actually okay with turning 33. I had more crows feet creep up on me this past year. This runs in my family, and I told my mom today that I'm happy about my crows feet because it reminds me of where I came from. We'll see if I like them as much in 10 more years. But for now, I'm just thankful to be alive and to have so many blessings pouring out on me daily. I couldn't be a happier girl.

Who is your hero?

Since we moved into our home, I have been looking for something uplifting that I could put in the kids' rooms. Not just plain random pictures, but something that would remind them of how great and wonderful they are, and also something that would remind them of who they are, and how important it is to be strong. I found a website online that sells posters called Real Hero Posters. I knew I had found exactly what I was in search for when I found this site. I pulled each of the kids in and they each picked a poster or hero if you will. These posters aren't little. They are so big and awesome. Each of the posters contain a question across the bottom that asks "Who Is Your Hero?" I won't go through the list of all the ones they each chose, but I did want to share the one Connor and Christian chose. They picked Samuel The Lamanite. They love this story because it's about Samuel from The Book Of Mormon who preached repentance but was not being heard or understood. He was brave despite the fact that people who didn't like what he had to say, were throwing arrows at him and trying to kill him. The Lord protected him and not one arrow penetrated him. It's an amazing story of faith. Each night as I say goodnight to my dear children, Connor asks every single night if I can leave the light on just long enough for him to read the story that is located on the bottom portion of the poster. And every night with out fail I say "Of course."

Santa Baby

I am a crazy for Christmas kind of person. I absolutely and positively love the Christmas season. We usually pull out the Christmas music the day before Thanksgiving. We have been listening to it not stop. It makes me so cheery! The girls wanted to dress up and wear their white church shoes, and sing to "Santa Baby." This went on for quite some time today. I'm starting to really get sick of Santa Baby...but seeing a few toddlers sing to it makes it worth it. By the way, I learned that according to Grace, a blush brush makes an excellent microphone.

Momma knows best

This picture makes me smile. You know when your a kid and you say to yourself that you'll never be like your momma, but then you grow up and your so much like your momma it's scary? That's me, only I'm actually happy to be like my momma. She's an amazing woman. She did hand down a curse to me though, when she told me before I even had children, that you have to bathe a baby every day or they won't be able to sleep. Ever since she told me this, I have abided by it faithfully. As they get older it doesn't matter as much. Apparently they can sleep without a bath as long as they are under three? I know it makes no sense, but personally I love bathing my baby because then I get to snuggle her and smell her and feel like she will literally sleep better if she's had a bath. I don't know if the myth is true or not, but when your momma says to do something, you just do it...no questions asked.

Running around like a chicken with my head cut off

This is a phrase I heard many times growing up in reference to the fact that there's always need to slow down or prepare ahead of time so as to avoid the chicken run. Only now this phrase takes on a whole new meaning for me. I started running for exercise about a year ago. I have ran in the past, but not very consistently. This is the first time I have ever been completely consistent with running. I have always put exercise as a priority, and believe me I have tried everything, from Buns Of Steel, to Tae Bo, to aerobics classes, to jump roping, and so on. But running?? Oh my, how I have always despised it. My worst enemy. Some how it has always kicked my rear in the worst way and no matter how hard I have tried to beat the beast of running (meaning breathe and keep from dying) it has always won. Finally (and this is the truth) after 10 months of running, 4 days a week, I have finally grown to love it. If you asked me last month if I loved it, I would have said no. But I noticed about a week ago when I went running alone, I could breathe. I only went three miles, but I could have gone 6 more, and still been able to breathe. It was wonderful and exhilarating. And ever since then, I want to run more!! It was a huge milestone for me, I had resigned to the fact that I would always hate it. I never would have thought it would take me that long to love it...but it did. It's a big thing to me. I thankfully have wonderful running partners, but now I know that if I choose to run alone at times, by golly, I can. And knowing I can, truly makes my day.

Thankgoodness...

...for wonderful, terrific older brothers that play ring around the rosie just to make their sisters happy. Is this a sign he'll make an outstanding dad? I'm thinking yes.

Warning...stop now because this may offend you.

But I'm going to write about it anyway, because it was really embarrassing, but thankfully I can laugh about it now. Yesterday I took the two youngest girls to WalMart with me. I had a ton of stuff to get..stuff for home, and Chris gave me a long list for office supplies as well. To top it off I had to pick the kids up in just a few short minutes from school. I hate to be late, especially picking my kids up so I was in major rush mode. I finally had everything on my list and was pretty much throwing my items onto the check stand. The boy checking was about 18 and was slowwwwwww as molasses. And I mean it too. I wanted to ring the kids neck by the time he had rung item #3. I had a big case of diet coke on the bottom of my cart that I didn't want to lift so I just said (and this is where the embarrassment arrived) "If your thingy is long enough could you just reach down here and scan?" I immediately realized how that sounded and I tried really hard not to look at this boy, but I hoped deep in my heart he didn't have a gutter mind and wouldn't even notice. I couldn't resist so I took a quick glance, and yep....the red in his cheeks and smirk on his face said it all. I wanted to crawl in a hole. So I basically just didn't look at him as he took another 5 minutes to finally get me out of there. I told my husband about it hoping for some sympathy but all I got out of him was a belly laugh that doesn't come out of him very often. *Note to self*...don't use the word "thingy" to refer to anything ever, ever, ever.

One of my favorite things...

Loving my baby. Gosh I love that girl.

Journals...

I dug out my old journal the other day just for fun. I decided to ask Halee and Austin if they wanted me to read some of it to them. It's a journal from when I was 17, almost 18. I was pretty surprised when they got all excited and wanted to. One week later and we're already half way through my entire journal...and Christian and Connor are listening in too. It's so cool to them because it talks of a time before Chris was in my life, and then when we met, and all the trials we faced. We're getting close to when he proposes, but haven't made it quite that far yet. They laughed pretty hard when I came to a part where Chris and I had met for the first time. I wrote in my journal that night and I said "Chris is a very nice guy, that will one day make some woman very happy, it's just not going to be me." Thank goodness I saw the error in my ways, because he's brought me more joy than I ever could have hoped for. I noticed in my journal that I was so close to Heavenly father. I had the strongest testimony. I still have a strong testimony, but realized that I need to do more to strengthen it. I get so caught up in my busy life, that I forget to take the time to do things that will help me grow. I never thought I could find an example in myself, but I have. I am going to try to be the person I used to be. Weird, I know. I also never thought my children could love hearing from me at that young tender age of teenage hood, but they beg me every night to read to them. I know now that journals really do serve a purpose. My children are learning that I went through tough teenage stuff just like them, and by leaning on a loving father in heaven, I got through it. It's pretty amazing.

Keeping it real...

I would say in general I am a pretty good mom. I tell my kids daily that I love them. I give them hugs. I listen to their problems. The list goes on...BUT, When it comes to family picture day, it's all down the toilet! Bad evil mom emerges, and I vow that next time we do pictures I will be more patient and relaxed. Gosh I hope that day comes soon. My friend said it best in quoting her husband, who says that there's nothing like ruining a perfectly good family day then to go and have family pictures taken. Isn't that the truth. And doing it with 6 kids? 3 of which are boys? Not easy. I must say though, I got a good laugh at many of the photo's and the expressions on faces. Here are a few, but believe me, there are at least a hundred more just like them.

Family Photo's 2010

My very patient friend offered to do our family photo's this year. She is very talented and loves taking pictures...plus she didn't charge us anything! That's my kind of deal. I only feel sorry that she had to deal with trying to get all of us to look good at one time. Poor girl. She did a great job though...thanks Tammy! In the next few days I will try to share some of the not so flattering ones...they are pretty hilarious. Here are a a few out of the 350 photo's she took.

Waldo The Swinging Monkey...

I don't know about other kids, but my kids are pretty much obsessed with Where's Waldo books. If they can get their hands on one at the Library, they are thrilled. This picture in my favorite red maple tree reminded me of their favorite book as I tried to identify where their little heads were after taking the picture. I also came to the conclusion that my boys closely resemble monkey's. Every time I wanted to take a picture, they were either swinging from a rope (they took the seat off the swing for now) or hanging from some random tree. If I believed in reincarnation, I would say Monkey definitely runs in our family.

What now?

Right before I went to bed last night I was looking at the above statue that was given to me for Mothers Day several years back. I started to feel sadness as I looked at it. I had it tucked away in a box for several years, not sure why, but recently pulled it out. I've noticed something in the last 6 months that I've had it displayed. Each time I see it, and really look at it, I get sad. Each time I see it, I literally get sadder, and sadder. I finally realized last night as I felt this sadness looking at this mother holding her baby, that I'm so sad because it represents what is being taken away from me each day as Scarlett grows out of the baby stage and into the growing up stage. I laid down in the bed pondering this, and thought, I know! Chris can just go pay $10,000 and get a reversal! Ya, that thought lasted about of 2 seconds. Then it came to me that life revolves around seasons. We're born, we turn into toddlers, we go to Kindergarten, we reach middle school awkward years, we turn teenager and drive our parents a little crazy, we get older and have kids of our own. We can't hold onto one scene in our lives forever. This thought excited me, because I realized that my current purpose is to give to my older kids along with my younger ones, and to not be so enveloped in having newborns (even though it is truly the best feeling ever) that there's not time left to give. I think I like this stage. And you know what? Bring on the Grandma stage too, because I'm going to love every minute of it, in several more years that is.

Prayers...

A prayer is a prayer right??? Even if it's done kneeling on your daddies back...

You drink it girl!

Maybe I am not civilized enough. Chris and I have had this discussion many times...not about me being uncivilized (even though this may be true) but about our difference on a certain issue. Why do I drink my milk out of the cereal bowl, when to him it's foreign?? Every time he pours cereal and milk for the kids, he pours them a cup of milk to go with it. "Why do you do that???" I ask every time. And my kids... I pour them cereal and they ask for a drink of milk, and I say "drink the milk from your bowl. They say "ewww, that's gross." All except my sweet little Grace who inherited my DNA in this one instance. Her and I can be uncivilized together I guess. Cheers.

Heart beating out of chest

I had a very scary experience last night in which I over reacted like I usually do. We were getting ready to do some trunk or treating due to Halloween being on a Sunday this year. It took me quite some time to get all the kids ready...I mean seriously... it takes time when you have so many kids. I was having a ball though transforming them into scary monsters and princesses when I realized I hadn't seen Scarlett for about 10 minutes. I assumed she was with Chris. I asked him if he had her and he said no, so I of course started looking, but I didn't hear or see her anywhere. I started asking for help from Chris and kids. I went out to the street scared that she could have somehow got out of the house, but she was seriously no where in sight. Even Chris (the normal half of us) was starting to freak out a little. Finally Halee found her tucked quietly inside a kitchen cabinet. I guess I know where to look next time my child goes missing. It was a very mean trick on her part as far as I'm concerned.

Let's Dance

After my run a few nights back, this is what I came home to. These three girls were snuggled up on the couch, listening to music while Austin snapped tons of pictures of them. We are without a radio right now...I think it broke during the move into this home. But what's a teenagers life without one? So, Halee and Austin found music on Direct TV, not the MTV kind where you see pictures on screen, just the kind where you listen with no picture. It's actually been fun! We listen to 80's, and 90's, and Y2k hits, and my personal favorite, Oldies. It helps the time in the evenings go by fast, and we just sit back and enjoy while Grace and Scarlett jump around dancing, sometimes Chris and I too. Having teenagers is actually a lot of fun.

How sweet

Do you ever look at your kids and see yourself through them? This happens to me often, in fact daily...maybe because I have so many kids. Grace loves to nurture everyone around her. She loves to help Scarlett in every way. She'll dress her, brush her hair, get her things. She doesn't just do this for Scarlett, she's this way with the whole family. She says to me at least once a week that when she grows up she wants to be my mommy and I will be her baby. Hmm...not sure how that will work. I love this about her. I personally love to nurture whenever and however I can. I guess that's probably a plus because of all our kids. I do however complain a whole heck of a lot too, I see that in my kids sometimes too. ;)

Lovely music

I guess Halee and Austin aren't the only ones who can play piano...

I'm just so done...

Does anyone else feel that they are living in a dream of laundry that just never ends?? Or maybe nightmare is a better word. I swear that less than 6 months ago I was doing one load a day...all was well. Now all of a sudden I have 3 loads a day...THREE!!! It's like, clothes magically appear in my laundry room playing tricks with my tired head. I have 3 words...Go..away..laundry. I'm only smiling in this picture because there's only 5 minutes left on my last load...see you again tomorrow washing machine.

Mom eating monster

When my sister April's 12 year son was a baby, my sis would get so excited at his cuteness she would pretend she was going to bite him. You know, like when you think your baby is so fliiping cute you just wish you could eat them. This picture gives me that biting feeling, like I could just eat her up because she's such a sweetie.

Dress up at a whole new level

This has been my house the last few days. The only way to contain their excitment is to dress up in anything and everything. Even Scarlett has been obsessed.