Homemaking Burn Out

Sometimes I get in this burnout mode. Literally I'm so burned out I don't even want to wash another dish.  I DON'T want to cook another meal.   I don't want to wash another load.  I think what burns me out at times is how I often feel my ship is sinking and I'm furiously trying to rescue it.  If I ever do let go for a day or two and just relax with my kids, that'll be the day a member from one of our perfectionist families show up.  Not kidding.

Yes, I have a chore list for the kids that they follow at the same time every day.  I keep trying to tell myself that it's okay to have toys across the house.  But it's not just that, I'm pretty sure my kids change their clothes several times a day unneeded because the laundry piles just grow faster than it actually should. Cleaning up after themselves no matter how many times I remind them is almost nonexistent.  I LOVE to bake with all my heart, it's a therapy for me, but the clean up in the kitchen is a monster.  Even though I did freeze some meals, I didn't do the full 30 days. Instead I'm freezing meals for Sundays so I don't have to cook.  That leaves me 6 other days.  

I love, love, love, love having a large family and wouldn't trade it for a hand print free home.  I wouldn't trade it for my old desk job.  Nor would I trade it for my 40 hour a week paycheck.  I think moms just go through these times that she feels more like a super loser than a super mom.  Especially after having a bad day or a really hard and unproductive week. 

I decided it's about time for some serious, serious decluttering. Every day I have to AT LEAST find 10 items to donate. It's really hard for me to do that.  Not because I love things but because I always find a use for everything.  Just sick of the clutter that is making cleanup so hard for us as a family.  It's not fair to my husband, me, or my kids.  I have to SIMPLIFY badly.  When I first moved into my home we didn't have any of this clutter. Maintaining the house was SO easy that I got to spend a lot more time playing with my kids and taking them fun places. I need to get back to that.

Anyway, by Saturday I told the kids "We HAVE to get out and do something!  So I took them swimming since the weather is beautiful.  We had a lot of fun and it just felt really good to just let go of the frustration I was having and get out of the house.  Sometimes getting out is good medicine for a homemaker.  Coming back I always feel really refreshed.  Especially after church on Sunday.  I really need to learn to have a weekend off from everything and just have fun on the weekends. That's what I did on Saturday and Sunday and suddenly I don't feel so weighed down anymore.

I will praise you in this storm.

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?


My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Pssst...can vote here!

Chicken Enchiladas

I'm worried I won't remember how I threw everything together but it turned out delicious so I'm gonna write it down real fast. 

Chicken Enchiladas

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1 (4.5) can chopped green chiles, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) package Cream Cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup of sour cream
• 1/4 cup of ranch
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken, cooked and shredded
• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• Chopped cilantro
• 1 (4.5 ounce) can chopped green chiles, undrained
• 1 can of refried beans
• 10 flour tortillas
• Enchilada sauce (can or homemade version)

1. Stir together mushroom soup and green chiles, spoon 1/2 cup mixture in bottom of 13x9 baking dishing coated with cooking spray.
2. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, ranch until smooth. Stir in chicken, 1 cup cheese, cilantro and chiles.
3. Spoon 2 TBS of beans, 1/3 cup of mixture down center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas, and place seam side down in baking dish. Pour remaining soup mixture over enchiladas and top with remaining Monterey cheese and then chedder cheese on top of that. Sprinkle cilantro over it.
4. Poor enchilada sauce over it.  (In picture you can see I didn't use a lot.  Some of my kids are picky of how much).
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 tsp hot chili powder
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon of cocoa
• 5-7 tablespoons of sugar (depending on taste desired)
• 1 can of tomato sauce

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high high heat. Saute onion until tender. Stir in garlic, oregano, cumin and cinnamon, paprika; saute for a few minutes.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, flour and chili powder, stirring until sauce thickens. Slowly whisk in chicken broth and sugar; reduce until sauce reaches desired consistency. 

Remember, keep adding the sugar till the sauce doesn't have a bitter taste. So add to your liking.  I think I added 7 tablespoons but I can't remember.  I'm still tweaking this so if you have any good ideas for the sauce after you try it, please let me know!  :)

Baby Pronounced Dead at Birth Comes Back to Life

I loooove stories like this and they make me cry.  Watching it, you can imagine the heart wrench and sorrow. Then you see hope and immense joy as their miracle happens. I had to share with my blogging friends!

Need some encouragement today?  Visit Zsuzsanna's blog.

Kids Keep You Young and Age You at the Same Time

Gosh, the kids always say things to make me either jump or laugh my head off.  I'm telling you, kids keep me young and age me at the same time.  I'm not sure how that works but HOLY COW.

Click on picture to view larger

Today Ivy said, "Mom, I want boobies to the sky".

I said, "Ivy, someday you'll have boobies but not for a long time."

Ivy: "Well, I don't want them for awhile because right now I can walk around with my shirt off. When I get boobies I can't."

Me: "Ivy, you should still wear a shirt so go put one on."

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The other day Kyle was sent home from school because he threw up.  On Field Trip Day!  Poor guy.  That just seems so wrong to get sick on a fun day.  What are the chances?  Well, the school called home and gave us the story of doom.  At least it was doom for some other kids too. 

While saying the Pledge of Allegiance, Kyle threw up and it hit the two kids in front of him.  It was their field trip day too.  They had to be sent to the nurse' office to hopefully find some spare clothes.  Yuck!  Kyle got sent home.  He has such a good attitude.  He never, ever complains about getting up and going to school every morning.  Chaz and Ryan?  Ohhh, their stories get more and more creative about why they can't go.  Seriously, this needs some working on.  Some day they'll work jobs. The right attitudes need to start now.  

Easy Homemade Pizza-Updated

I updated this recipe since before I hadn't made my own dough.  This amount of crust is more Chicago style so if you like less crust, just take away from part of the dough or even split it in half.  I will be doing that next time since I do like as much crust.


I had been putting it off because I didn't know how to make pizza. Boy, was I missing out!  

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Yummy and easy homemade pizza.

Finished pizza. Pick your own topping!

Homemade Pizza Crust (Thicker crust)
To see make a thinner crust, scroll to very bottom

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Stir water, sugar and yeast together until dissolved. Add the olive oil and the salt. Stir in the flour until well blended. Let dough rest for 10 minutes.
2. Pat dough into pan or on to a pizza stone using fingers dipped in olive oil. If desired sprinkle basil, thyme or other seasonings on crust. Top with your favorite pizza toppings and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated 425 degree oven.

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• Roll out dough on pizza pan and then push corners into edges of circle so it resembles a round pizza.  :D  Sprinkle garlic powder over it lightly.

Rolled out homemade pizza dough

• I mixed together equal parts of tomato paste and tomato sauce.  Then added in about a teaspoon of Italian Seasoning. Salt and pepper if you like. Then spread amount you like over pizza crust.

• This is where you hide your vegetables.  I sprinkled chopped red bell peppers and onions.

• Monterey Jack cheese. However much you like. We like a lot.  ;)

• Then add whatever toppings you like.  My favorite is pepperoni and mushrooms.

• Then I sprinkled Italian Seasoning over the top. This ingredient really, really adds to the taste.

Baked at 450 degrees for 12 minutes on pizza pan and the last 3 minutes directly on rack.

MY FAMILY LOVED IT!

Charles said it he is in heaven now that I can make it and to please make it at least a couple times a week.  Hurray!  Success in the kitchen and I didn't kill anyone in the process.  :D

P.S. We like a thinner crust than what I made in these pictures.  Here is adjusted amounts:

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour

Hugh Grant Pulls One on Tabloids

I've always disagreed with the issues of Papparazzi chasing Hollywood stars.  I don't care what anyone says, the ways that some "reporters" or photographers get their news should be illegal. Hacking into voicemails?  Wildy chasing them in the streets?  I don't know if you've ever got a chance to watch a video of a photographer verbally assaulting a hollywood star, driving her to tears, just so he could take a picture and call her wacky.  There is something seriously wrong with it.  To me, anyone that says "Well, if they don't like it they can get off the stage" makes me think they are just jealous.

I was cheering for Hugh Grant in this article called "Hugh Grant 1, Tabloids 0" because he gave them a taste of their own medicine by recording a set up phone conversation.   


Don't get me wrong, I don't care what goes on in the Hollywood world.  Frankly, I'm so tired of the magazines in the groceries store while I'm checking out.  I know it's all a bunch of crud so I never bother to pick them up.  I guess I'm just so disgusted at what kinds of things they write about and accuse.  SO WHAT if any, IF AT ALL, were true, how is it my business?  It's not!  People go to watch movies because they enjoy the entertainment.  Of course our sinful nature loves to get tidbits of garbage on someone so we can feel better about ourselves, but would we want to be treated that way?  No way.  


When, oh, when are they gonna put some restraints on these companies?  It's out of control. 

BabyBond Nursing Giveaway!!!

Since I am not nursing, BabyBond sent my friend the BabyBond nursing sash to review.  After a couple of weeks of using the product, this what Heather had to say about it.  :)

"I have really enjoyed using the baby bond. I like it because, it covers ME and not my baby. He is an active little one and doesn't care much for being covered with a traditional nursing cover. It is usually a constant struggle to keep myself decent! That's where the baby bond was different. I remained modest and covered and Benjamin could look around. I love the Baby bond! I only wish I had gotten it sooner."

I would have loved something like this also when I was nursing.  I'd be sitting the mall and the baby would sometimes kick the covers off since it was draped over him.  I always had to make sure in the winter that my baby was still getting air through the thicker blanket.  This way, with BabyBond, you can nurse without covering your baby.  

Information about the product

BabyBond nursing sash covers mom, not her baby. Please visit our website for detailed description or view our products online at Amazon.  BabyBond Original is worn with shirts that are accessible to nurse from the top and has a built-in burpcloth and matching pouch storage pouch. BabyBond Flex is worn with shirts that are accessible to nurse from the top and has a removable burpcloth and matching pouch storage pouch. BabyBond Couture is adjustable and can be worn with shirts that are accessible to nurse from the top or the bottom. It rolls up into itself to store. BabyBond is machine washable, 100% cotton, and made in USA.

Guess what?  BabyBond is giving one away to one of my lucky readers.  It's easy to win!  Contest Ends April 29 at 3pm.

All you have to do is:

Be a follower of my blog or subscribe via email 

(1 entry. Please leave comment below w/ your email address)

Bonus Entry:

Follow BabyBond on facebook and/or Twitter

(1 entry.  Leave a separate comment below w/ your email address)

Bonus Entry: 

Follow Yes, They're All Mine and/or Amazingsix on Twitter 

(1 entry.  Leave a separate comment below w/ your email address)







*********
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Is It Accurate to Describe Motherhood As An Actual "Job?"

I ran into this article called:

Is It Accurate to Describe Motherhood As An Actual “Job?”
You can read more by clicking on the link but to be honest, the way it's written left a bitter taste in my mouth.  Is it just my imagination that it seemed very negative?  What are your thoughts?

My comment on this:
I don't know.  I mean, I do VERY much consider this a job and a life style.  I quit the boring job I had to actually take care and raise my kids. I work much, much, much, much harder than I ever did working out in the field.  (Sales, receptionist, customer service).  I can't believe how many skills I had to gain with the six kids I have. It amazes me all the time.  Yes, it's a job and also relationship.  I never, ever imagined how much work would come with being a mom.  I'm not just cuddling a cute baby all day long.  I'm cooking, cleaning, organizing, debating, driving, changing, etc. The list goes on.  When my kids are all raised someday and I enter the work force again, working a retail job or any kind of customer service again will be a breeze for me.  "What?  You want me to take that call?  I get to sit in a chair uninterrupted with no diaper changing?  Huh?  I even get breaks throughout the day with no interruptions?  Wow!  What did you say?  I get a PAYCHECK?  Holy cow!"

LOL, just some thoughts I had on this. Made me laugh thinking out loud about it.

 I'm not putting anyone down that has to work.  Please don't get me wrong.  Back before I had a family, that was hard for me and some people work very demanding jobs (like my dad).  I just think this war and debate between women can be a little silly.  Everyone just has their own personal opinions on it.  That's that.

Can vote once a day!

Once-a-Month-Cooking

Click on picture to learn more

I decided it was time to give this a try. I'm in the kitchen for hours a day with cooking and cleanup.  I was scared to try it because I didn't even know where to start.  After doing some research on Amazon, I looked for the one with good ratings and family friendly recipes..

I'm really impressed with this book because it lays it out step by step literally!  ALL I had to do was take the book with me (or write down a list) and buy all the ingredients for the first month's recipe plan.  Check this out, it even lists them by section you are in the grocery store.  So no hopping around the store because you forgot something back in the dairy section.  Just remember that you are using your full money allotment for groceries.  

After I got home I put everything in the fridge, cupboards, and pantry, which took a loooong time.  Then I  went to the next page about the assembly order.  I just had to turn on the oven, bake my chicken for 50 minutes, and while that is baking, start chopping up everything it lists.  Vegetables and then later the meats.  Once that's done, now you just start making the meals and freeze them.  It's so easy because there is no guesswork in it.  They made it so easy for you to just follow it. So as long as you can measure, chop, assemble by instructions, and turn on an oven, you're good to go!

By the way, they didn't send me this book to review, I bought it on my own out of desperation for some extra free time with my family.  Yesterday I did all the chopping and today I'll be actually cooking and putting all the meals together to label and freeze.  My fridge is packed full so this has to be done today.

Yesterday was Sunday and I had to make something.  Since I was already chopping things up and the chicken was cooked, I was able to go ahead and make one of the recipes called Picadillo Chicken Pizza.  One thing I forgot was the olives and I know that was an important ingredient. It still was yummy and I can't believe I made it!  First off, this is such a long way from the girl a year ago who couldn't cook that well.  So if you say you're not a good cook, let me make you feel better.  I've been married 12 years and I've only been really cooking in the last year, maybe 2. That's stretching it.  I have proof.  I've been blogging for 5 years. I've only been posting recipes in the last 6 months. Two years ago was when I finally HAD to start learning to cook to start saving money.  We ate out a lot because we loved adventures and discovering new places.  Since our income has changed, I had to buckle down and learn to not only be frugal but how to actually cook.  Before I only had maybe 4 recipes under my belt that I really knew.  Thank God Charles has stayed with me through all my crazy cooking mistakes that first year of really trying. It must've been true love for Charles to stay with me through our first year of marriage being that he was served Pasta Roni every single day.  Ha! (I wonder if that's why he was so excited about his promotions.  More money meant more eating out.  Less Pasta Roni). The wonderful thing about all this?  I know longer cook from unhealthy sections of the store.  Most all of it is by scratch so there won't be a whole lot of processed foods going into our mouth.

Anyway, I'll be cooking all day so if any of my family comes to visit, you can find me in a kitchen!  LOL.  


I'm really focusing on Character Qualities at home so let me see if I can find one that applies.  Hmmmm..... Got it.  I found a few!  I'll explain why.

1. Orderliness vs. Disorganization

Preparing myself and my surroundings so that I will achieve the greatest efficiency

1 Corinthians 14:40

(This one because I'll have less cleanup and everything is planned a month in advance.  Less cleanup means more free time with my family.)

2. Hospitality vs. Loneliness

Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those God brings into my life.

Hebrews 13:2

(This one because some of these meals serve more than my family size so inviting someone or a family over will be a cinch.  I love good fellowship and it could really help someone to reach out to them. This way the food is prepared and I can just relax with them.)

3. Creativity vs. Under-achievement

Approaching a need, a task, an idea from a new perspective

Romans 12:2

(Yeah, this is definitely stepping out for me.  But I love a challenge and always love learning something new.)




Psssttt.... Rate here!

Lets Talk About Poop

The mice are a week old now and just getting their fur.  It's been such a delight watching the birth and see them grow.  I can't believe I'm excited about MICE being multiplied in my house.  Kind of scary, right?  I now have 9 mice.  Thine House Now Has Nine Mouse.  Heh heh.  Trying to do a Kate plus 8 rhyming theme there.  Don't know if that made sense since it's technically mice.  I wouldn't touch them till now just to make sure mom won't reject them in any way.  I HAD to clean their cage.  Just couldn't take the smell anymore.  Ack.  Just passing by it made me want to pass out.  BUT they said NOT to clean the cage for a bit so I waited.  Now to get the bunnies to stop pooping in their cage. Well, you know, bunny poop is fantastic fertilizer.  Doesn't burn delicate gardens as much as chicken poop.  I just thought you guys wanted to know that.  Between Caleb pooping, my mice, rabbits, dog, and chickens... I should just be called The Poop Lady.  Instead of The Bird Lady.

Anyhow, here are the cute little ones. I had to clean their cage and temporarily put them in a bowl. Mommy was faithful to keep feeding them.  Apparently I have to turn them over in a bit to separate males from females.  I haven't felt like doing that just yet.  Also, I love animals so I don't want to sell them to the feed store knowing they'll probably be snake food.  I know it's natural and snakes have to eat but they are NOT eating my babies.  That's for sure.  I would feel so EEEVIL.

After I sanitized the whole cage, put new soft stuff down for them, the mom built her nest back up, I realized I hadn't clue their little blue igloo.  I'll just have to wait because I don't want to disturb them right away again.  The mom just gets perturbed whenever she has to fix her nest area.  I can't wait to see when the babies try to keep escaping and mom has to keep dragging them back in.  That's like the toddlers and the teen years all in one.  Ha.

This video is just after I put them back in their newly cleaned cage.  (Except for a cleaned blue igloo).  She is gonna try to take her babies back inside.  However, the 3 she takes in start nursing instantly so mom can't get the other ones just yet. When she tries to leave the cage (towards end of video), she ends up dragging the babies out with her that are still attached to her. Was funny!

How Much Sports is Too Much?

Charles, Chaz, Coach, Ryan

From what I've seen with families in sports, I've gotten pretty scared to dabble in it.  I love the sportsmanship and learning to work in a team.  Also, it's just nice to get them out of video games and actually exercising.  Do you remember when you were little and all the neighborhood kids would be playing outside?  I wasn't playing with Barbies, I was riding my bike or jumping ramps. :)  Sports was a privilege to be a part of.  My street is completely empty of kids.  Every now and then I put my chair in the front yard and tell my kids to grab their bikes and skates.  Time to get some Vitamin D and exercise.

Chaz and Ryan chose basketball this year.  Because of the age requirements they were able to be on the same team.  Awesome!  Most of the kids on the team were new to basketball.  Chaz has played before but Ryan never has so Ryan got the Most Improved award!  We didn't care so much that they played for the champions, just that they played like champions.  I couldn't believe the last night they played.  There was a dad there that didn't like a call so he threatened the referee loudly and said he's gonna take the ref out and beat him with a bat.  Why was that guy not kicked out?  It was really sad that the kids had to witness that.  I really feel for his kid.

We all came to support Chaz and Ryan in getting
their metals.  :D

The book I'm reading, A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family, talks about how to juggle different kids in sports.  The more kids you have, having each kid in 3 sports now just sounds crazy.  So like Mary Ostyn, we also decided each kid would play in 1 sport a year and if we can, we rotate.  Ryan and Chaz just finished basketball season and now that the time is open again, it's Kyle's turn to pick.  Kyle is thinking about gymnastics.  :) I can't imagine if they were all in sports at the same time.  I don't want to have that Taxi Mom sticker on my van.  :P  Another good idea she had was not starting sports till the 1st grade. This is when they have a better idea about what they want to do.  So, with only 3 kids rotating in their sports, we'll see what happens when 3 more are old enough to join the rotation.

Kyle's cake face

Kyle asked if we alllll had to go to celebrate Chaz and Ryan getting their basketball metal.  I said "You bet!"  After he realized cake was involved he was happy he went!  Boys and their tummies, tee hee.  I have to admit, it was really awesome cake.  Coffee would have been a great addition to it. But that's just my coffee addiction talking.

Oh, by the way, I am having the worst luck with my alarm clocks lately.  I think it's about time to go get another one.  It's been real spotty when it decides to work. When that happens, the kids miss their bus.  They are home again today.  Not that they are crying about it but it's definitely making them spotty in their attendance at school.  Today was even a fun half day.  I apologized to the kids and gave them big hugs.  Of course I like to hog them to myself but that's gonna have to wait till summertime.  Even weirder is that when my alarm does work, sometimes I sleep straight through it.  Has that ever happened to you where you dream of an annoying loud beeping sound but you can't figure out the source?  In my dream I'll be running around trying to turn off all these alarms.  When I finally do wake up and shut off the actual alarm, it's about 30 minutes past and I'm annoyed. Yuck.  Not a fun way to wake up. 

Expect Chaos

I'm continuing my studies with A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family.  I can't tell you how much it has fed me and really spoke to me.  I am writing on here because I know that when you study and talk about it, it sticks longer in your mind.

Last night baked in the kitchen for 4 hours straight and by 7:30pm I was completely spent. I didn't even have the strength to clean up my kitchen afterward. My thoughtful husband laid me down in bed, gave me my book and went to take care of the kids.  By 8pm he was already praying and reading the bible with them in bed.  Although my body was tired, my mind wasn't.  So I began to read the book.  Even better, I started a bath so I could just completely relax and hopefully get some encouragement and ideas.  I have to share a chapter with you that really helped me.

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It's obvious what they got caught with in their crib

Expect Chaos
    Obviously, mothering in general involves a certain amount of chaos.  Whether you have one child or ten, there will be times when the nine-month-old flings oatmeal on the carpet or the three-year-old throws up in the night-three times- and the seven-year-old loses his shoes-again.  But in a large family, the frequency with which this stuff happens can be overwhelming.  
    My advice?  Expect chaos.  The more fully you embrace the chaos factor, the happier you'll be as a mom.  If you expect laundry to breed in an immoral fashion in every corner of the every bedroom every day, you won't need to fall to your knees screaming at the discovery that you are once again six loads behind.  Simply set the timer to run a load every hour all day and end the day with a laundry-folding party for everyone planning to wear clothing the next day.
    Chaos happens. The key is to find ways to deal with it, and usually that involves making your kids take their fair share of the responsibility for the cleanup.  After all, they made the mess.

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Ashley started laughing because we were laughing so hard

This section of a chapter alone completely rejuvenated me.  It was 10pm by the time I got out of the bath and I had my energy back.  What did I do with it?  I went and completely cleaned my kitchen and washed the dishes.  I even mopped my floor.  My kitchen was spotless and I was a happy camper.

Chaos just happens.  My kids aren't robots.  They are gonna have emotional, klutzy, fighting, angry, tired days.  Not every day.  Just different kids on different days have their breakdowns.  Forget the stinking dishes and sit with them on the couch.  Read a book, talk about their day.  Whatever is needed. I'm so tired of worrying what the house looks like when my kids are desperately needing mommy.  Don't get me wrong, I always try to give an ear when my kids need to talk to me and even tend to keep my calm when something bad happens.  But I feel it on the inside more.  I've learned to master my outer emotions.  My grandmother told me that if I have to cry, go in my room for a few minutes and let it out.  Even if I'm super angry.  It's better to let it out in a pillow than freak out on the kid.  There are times when I'm literally melting on the inside with stress but keeping a smile on my face.  No, I'm not being fake.  I just want my kids to know I'm in control and they aren't going to manipulate me.  Kids love to get reactions.  Especially crazy freak out reactions that make mommy's face red and smoke come from her ears.  LOL.  I just don't want to push away my kids so I can load the dishwasher.  My kids are only home from school from 4pm till bedtime at 8:30pm.  Seriously, I'm sure I don't need to be doing any housework between those times.  Making dinner just by itself takes time.

By the time I was done cleaning the kitchen I discovered that Ivy was still awake in her room.  I invited her out to share some homemade cupcakes and drinks.  We played for 3 hours.  :)  It was wonderful not worrying about the millions of other things that still needed to be done.

I was pregnant with my 6th and we had 4 extra kids for a week

A funny memory I have is when I was pregnant with my 6th and we watched my friends kids for a week while they went away together.  I learned to cook and clean after 9 kids. It was hard work!  It's always hard when you go from 2 to 7 kids or 3 to 6 kids.  So when you babysit and are stressed by it, don't freak out.  Most of us usually only have 1 kid at a time to get adjusted to while growing our families.  LOL.  MOST of us at least unless you are Jon and Kate Gosselin.  Tee hee....


Can vote once a day!

Comments on Family Size

Recently on my facebook page, Yes, They're All Mine, I left this comment:

Twice in one day I was told I don't have kids, I have a litter. I'm exhausting the world's resources, hurting my husband by forcing kids on him, etc. To that I say "I love my family and there is nothing you can do to make me change my mind about it. Might as well stop trying."


I'm reading a great book called A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family and it's an excellent book.  I have to share with you a page that made a lot of sense to me.


   "Some people will come right out and call you crazy.  More tactful souls will think of ways to ask without quite asking.

"Won't you be glad to be done with diapers?"
 "Aren't you glad you're not nursing anymore?"
 "Isn't it nice that your kids are getting so independent?"
     
The questions can get tiring.  Once we broke the half-dozen barrier, however, people started to lose hope that we'd ever make normal choices anytime soon.  They began to opt for the resigned but still curious, "When are you going to do it again?"
    
I've wondered why people seem so interested in another family's choices.  In many cases I think they're simply seeking to validate their own choices. 


A large family disturbs folks: it makes them reexamine their own choices."


     
I've noticed that even little girls have their own ideas on mothering and tend to be bossy while playing together.  The idea of bossing seems to be endless as moms constantly compare themselves to each other and think that we're all going to think alike. We're not.  There is no one certain mold. Yes, there has been times that we soared financially and had plenty of money to eat out, goof off, go on adventures as a family.  Other times we've hurt so bad we were counting our pennies.  Just depending on the economy.  There have been times I was brought to my knees praying to God because I wasn't sure how we were gonna make it the next week.  Through the bountiful times and through the dry valleys, God has continued to provide. 

I was proud to be an aunt for
the first time when I was 17

I'll never forget something that happened to us back when we had 2 kids in 2001. I knew I wanted more kids but looking at our finances, it just didn't seem feasible.  While my husband was working a man came in that he'd never met. He walked up to Charles and said, 
"I don't know why but I feel like God is wanting me to tell you that He has a blessing on families.  As you have kids God will provide. Just trust him."
We couldn't believe it and it was no coincidence by any means.  This is back when we lived in a tiny apartment with debt.  


About 2 years later an evangelist came in our church that I'd never met and he called me up.  He said that I need to really pray about decisions and listen to God.  God is really going to help us but we need to learn to hear His voice when praying about something we are having to decide on. Sure enough within a couple of months we made two huge decisions.  Buying a car and buying a new home.  When things were looking bad, I just had to remember to listen to Him.  By the tuggings in my heart, we were able to make good decisions and avoid the bad.  We now have a car, minivan and a large van to fit our family size and we were able to have a home built within our financial means without going over budget. Did I mention we also had paid of all our debt?  God has been so good to us.  


God DOES have His blessing on family.  Whether you have 1 kid or 20, don't let anyone pressure you into thinking kids only exhaust the world's resources or that you are doing a disservice to your other kids.  My kids often beg me to give them another sibling. I feel that I have the perfect fit right now and I'm enjoying what God has given me for this season of my life. Who knows what the future holds?  


As much as I've studied the bible I just can't seem to find any scriptures where God says to limit family size or use some birth control.  Let me know if you find one. 


Interesting articles to read: The Truth about Birth Control

Mother's Day is Coming!

I look for creative ways to give my mom a note, card, or gift.  I don't always like to just drive over to the store and pick out a generic card. I mean, it's nice sometimes but it's just neat to be creative and try something different.

Snapily.com let me make an animated printed gift and I loved the result!  I picked out a Mother's Day themed card and which pictures I wanted to use to make the animated card.

It came out so neat looking and I guess what shocked me even more was the low price.  I'm excited and I'm already working on making another card.  This is a unique gift you can't find anywhere else and much less expensive than a store bought card. Plus it's personalized!

Want to see how mine came out? It changes pictures as you move the card so I thought it's be really neat to show our family picture when we were young and then as teens. I loved it!

Info about Snapily.com
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• It's Easy! - Upload your photo/s to view an instant preview
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