Lunch....

MMMMmmmm.... Lunch today is so simple and so yummy! Apples, Bananas, Oranges, Pineapple, Peaches, and Mozzarella... And so much less stuff in my refrigerator too! Yay!
Well, that is it, a short and SWEET blog update...

A week in review.....

Wow, it has been a week since I wrote last. I think I was getting in the hang of blogging for a while but it has been an eventful week. I seem to remember several times thinking to myself... "I need to blog about this..." but have not had the chance to sit in front of the computer uninterrupted. I do not have the ability to read (or write) while there are things going on around me... If I am on here, chances are good that my family is in another room. And I am happy to say that my family and I have been in the same room for much of this week, though my blog has suffered, my family has not. ;-)

Well, whether or not you understood any of that rant, I am now going to attempt to recap my week...
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Tuesday 26th- Happy birthday Franny! My step moms birthday. Well, Lets see... I was babysitting Brynna all last week, and we had a field trip planned for the Fire Station Tuesday. I got to take advantage of my great big van. Another family in our school that lives close came with us to the fire station. It was so much fun. Mommy M, and her 4 kids, J, S, T, and little miss K. (since they are not my family I will not divulge their names on the internet... ) With me and my 4 plus Brynna. We had 11 in my big ole van and lots of stuff to go with us. It really was a lot of fun. Thank you Mrs H for planning this. It was so much fun. Our homeschool group tries to get together with all the kids and do something fun every month. This month one of the ladies planned a trip to her husbands work... the Porterville fire station.
The group before the tour...
Jer
Brynna
Steven
Bekah
Heather
The group watching Captain H and listening intently.
After he put on all of his turnouts, he let the kids come and "snoop" and feel and learn...
Our group in the shade when we were just about done with the tour...
Then we went to her house for sacked lunches and play time... She had a slip and slide up for the little kids and a zip line up for the big ones. The mommies got to enjoy sitting in a beautiful shady area of her yard that was green and had a fountain running through it... It was heavenly!
Waiting for their turn on the zip line... Steven, Rebekah, Heather, and J
The slip n slide....
Steven on the zip line (he is 3... well, until Saturday)
My attempt at creative photography... Brynna on the slip n slide...
And the mommy spot!

We got home in time to get the boys down for naps and get the girls ready for swim practice across the street. Mrs M watched them for me while I watched little miss K so the younger ones could still nap and the bigger ones could still swim. I love being across the street from the pool. Well, THAT was TUESDAY!
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Wednesday the 27th- Chiropractor, Costco, Big 5 for a black competition swim suit (cheaper than $40) the strawberry stand (two flats for $2) The nursery for big buckets to plant new tomato plants in ($2 a piece for 15 gallon buckets) and dirt to fill them with (free if I shoveled it myself, which I did!) Then I had to figure out a way to fit all of that stuff in my Suburban.... with 5 kids in the car. I managed! Though I did leave the buckets of dirt in the drive way for my super heeman hunny to move when he got home. Those were really heavy.  And back home in time for naps. Short as they may have been. Swim Meet at 5:30 and play practice at 6 (or whenever we got there which turned out to be 7) Daniel took the girls to the swim meet while I waited for Brynna's mom and fixed dinner to go... Took it to the meet in time to see my kids compete. I was SO proud of them.
Bekah free style
Heather free style
My boys cheering the girls on!
Rebekah back stroke (which she had NEVER done before EVER!!!)
Heather back stroke (Her favorite stroke)
And once again, my attempt at photography... look how big that suit is on her... don't worry, we found a smaller one now.
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Thursday the 28th- I cannot remember that we did much of anything during the day, which after the previous week was really nice! though we did have swim practice, and team pictures, it was a rather uneventful day. Very nice indeed!
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Friday the 29th-  the girls both had dentist appointments. We had a family trip the the dentist for check ups a few weeks back and the girls needed some work done... Friday was the day. My wonderful mother in law watched the boys for me (I was not babysitting) and I took the girls to get their work done.... THEY DID AWESOME! I love the dentist that was working on them he was so friendly and good at his job. We were out of there in less than an hour and that was both girls. Bekah was supposed to have a root canal, but once he got in there, decided against it. Heather had a filling. Since this was the first time the girls had had anything done (except Heather who was put under and does not remember it) the dentist decided to only do one quarter of the mouth at a time so they did not bite themselves.  They came home and took naps until their numbness wore off. Big lunch and then cookie baking for the play. Concessions are provided by the cast and crew and since we were officially part of it, we baked. The kids had fun with that.

Then the play. A Midsummer Nights Dream put on by Woodlake High School. I was really impressed. We hadn't gotten to see any of it so far because my kids had really small parts so not really any practice required. But they did really well, and Jer and I got to sit in the audience and watch it. That was the best that he has ever done with sitting still for an extended period of time.
Oberon and Titana fighting over the small child (MY child... )
"Tis Fairy time"
Oberon steals my baby from the sleeping Titania
Then after the play we got to hang out in the band room playing with my niece. Daniels sister came down to see the show. It was really nice to see her.

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Saturday the 30th- we visited Visalia. Win Co, Sport Chalet, Target, all over the place... home in time for naps and back to the school for the second showing of A Midsummer Nights Dream. Though this time the kids stayed and did their parts under the supervision of their grandma while Daniel and I went to an AWANA leaders banquet. We took Jer with us and ate and played games and visited with other AWANA leaders and came home in time to get the other three from the show and home to bed. MMmmmm BED!
All those grown ups caught throwing their food....
AWANA leaders games get messy...
He was so sweaty... I decided to play with his hair... funny boy!
Musical Chairs....
Got....
Brutal....
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Sunday the 31st- Church. We took Steven into church with us this week. All of the kids went to first service Sunday school, and then Daniel and I went and picked Steven up and took him to "big church" with us. The three of us sang together, prayed together and listened together (for a while). When Steven got bored, I pulled out a deck of mini cards from my purse and he spent the rest of the time sorting them. by color, by suit, and then by number... it was very entertaining for him. After church, home for lunch and naps. When the kids woke up we watched Old Yeller over dinner.

I had never seen that before. We have owned it for a while now and I have always been afraid to watch it because anytime someone mentions it, they make a REALLY bid deal at how sad it is. It was a really good movie.
Anyway, after the movie, we took advantage of the daylight and went outside. Daniel mowed and weed eated, the kids played, and I ... watched with enjoyment.  Well, I watered plants and picked up as it was needed, but for the most part, I just enjoyed myself. I have been blessed with a great life. Ohh, and after the kids went to bed, Daniel and I had some home made strawberry ice cream and let the dog in the house... that was ..... n.i.c.e. .... work, but nice. I think we will have to do it more often to get any peace while she is in. She is just not used to it yet. 
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Well, that was my week. With the length of this blog, I either need to have less eventful weeks, or blog more often. Perhaps a combination of the two would work best...
Until next time....
-Me

A great weekend

So, Saturday was wonderful.... a short night, but a great day. The BBQ was.... interesting... friends showed up later than I expected, but that turned out to be a good thing. The BBQ was not working properly... We ended up eating at like 7 instead of like 5:30, and the Ribs were baked not BBQ'd. But it was still good. The beans had extra time to finish cooking (they would not have been done in time if we were eating on time) and the kids played really well together. We brought the dog into the house because she is BIG and intimidating and she did really well too. (I didn't think she would like being cooped up in her kennel while the kids were running in and out, but she was resigned to it) We only had one behavior problem, and though it was a little embarrassing, It was resolved in a short time and didn't occur again. All in all, the evening was a great success! (Friends, you can disagree if you like, but I enjoyed it)

The excitement came the next morning. Once again, I stayed up LATE.... Daniel and I talking about the evening and other topics that kept us animated for a while. Then, shortly after we did fall asleep, I was awakened my my oldest son SCREAMING for help... I ran in his room to find him covered in vomit. Poor baby got sick in his sleep. I carried him and all his bedding into my bathroom (the biggest tub we have) and comforted him and cleaned him and got him situated and tried to go back to bed... morning came about 2 hours later. As I was getting the kids ready for church, I noticed my youngest one.... COVERED IN WELTS! Under his armpits, behind his knees, along his diaper, all over his tummy.... Poor baby was blistered. Daniel took the kids to church and I went straight to urgent care.

I have NEVER seen anything like this before... I was paranoid! The Urgent Care doctor was not. He calmly told be that Jer was having an allergic reaction and not to worry unless he started having problems breathing. That was it.... He even told me that he would normally write me a prescription for Benadryl, but since Jer is only 2, it was not worth doing... He assured me that it was not contagious and that if Jer was feeling well enough to play, there was no reason not to let him.

We joined the rest of my family at church and I kept Jer with me. I really enjoyed having him with us in church. Singing with him and praying with him and just being together (at least the three of us). I think we are going to have to try that more often.

Anyway, Sunday at 2 was our schools graduation and we were supposed to be helping with setup, so when service was over, I went to go get some pizza to feed the kids. I also picked up some Benadryl topical for Jer's inflammations. The poor guy was getting worse. Anyway, he (and the rest of the kids) did very well through the graduation ceremony and reception. While we were there, a friend came to check on Jer and reassured me that this was consistent of an allergic reaction and not to be too worried. Apparently her kids have had allergies and skin irritations. She was such a great blessing to me.

Sunday night we came home and popped pop corn and watched a movie and just spent time together. We got to bed early and SLEPT WELL!!!!

Then this morning, Daniel let me sleep in until 8 and when I finally woke up, I found that he had made me coffee and there were blueberry muffins left over from breakfast, and he was planning a picnic/walk to a park with the dog and the kids and a few balls. So much fun!

We played kick ball and ate grilled cheese sandwiches and enjoyed the breeze. It was lovely. When we got home the kids laid down for naps, all except Heather and we watched Ivanhoe and paused every so often to explain some of the history to her. We just finished up dinner and now we are playing a game before it is time to get ready for bed. It has been a great weekend. I adore my husband. Life is so much more enjoyable when he is home...

As far as the allergic reaction, I don't know... today the majority of welts seem to be fading, still some on his legs and his back, but better than they were, but now his eyes and nose seem to be suffering the brunt of it. He is so swollen. We have NO idea what caused it. All I can guess is that maybe it was the marinade that I soaked the ribs in. It just seems so strange... Oh well, he is feeling well through it. He was playing so hard this morning that he ran full force into the corner of the hallway and gave himself a HUGE fat lip. Poor baby has had a rough weekend.
Well, that has been our weekend.... I have loved it.... all (though I think I could have lived without the trip to the Urgent Care) I will chat with ya more later. I am going to go enjoy bingo with my family.

OH.... an added bonus.... THE HOUSE IS STILL CLEAN!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!

So Blessed!!!!!

So, I did get up and take the dog for a walk. I took her to swim team practice when I took the girls. And I did have Heather do her "journal entry". Though, not until the next morning. Then yesterday I had a terrible headache all day until about 6:30. My hunny came home from work and made breakfast for dinner. The kids loved it. I loved not having to do it. After dinner (and a few excedrin) I felt so much better and "started" the day. I CLEANED!!!!!

Let me back up a little bit... On his way home from work, Daniel called me and asked if I thought it would be a good idea to invite some friends over for dinner some time this weekend. I mentioned that our house is in shambles, but that could be fun. We would just have our work cut out for us.

Well, he decided to invite TWO families over. So.... tonight we will have 6 adults and 9 kids enjoying our 1700 sq ft home. (Clean or Dirty) So last night when I got my 2nd wind energy for the day, I decided to make use of it.

I started by carving the ribs up... We got a GREAT deal a few weeks back and froze them. I carved them all up and put them in a marinade and looked around to feel accomplished and realized what a MESS my kitchen was in. Not only was there all of the normal catch all stuff everywhere, but now my counter tops were also blood splattered! EEEWWW! What started out as cleaning up my mess, turned into a full on cleaning spree.

All the clutter is gone,  the cabinets are organized, the dishes are done, the stove is clean, all the appliances are wiped down, and I even dared to do something I have NEVER DONE BEFORE!!!!! I mopped the kitchen floor!

Now don't get me wrong, I am sure that when I was a little girl I chased my mommy around the kitchen and tried to "help". And do not think that I have never cleaned my floors. I have 4 kids, a hubby and a dog, not to mention that I have never been a "neat freak", my floors not only get dirty but they also NEED to be clean. HOWEVER, I have NEVER, successfully mopped a floor... Until last night. I usually go around the floor on my hands and knees and clean, with a scrub brush and rag, one kitchen tile at a time until it is done. every time I have ever tried to use a mop before, it just spread the dirt around to make the floor evenly dirty instead of clean with a patch or 10 of gross spots. I didn't see the point in wasting my energy. I FINALLY bought a mop about a month ago because it was on sale at Smart and Final and got up enough umph to use it last night. (With help from the expectation of LOTS of friends coming over)

Well, as someone who knows...... THE MOP IS MY FRIEND!!! I got so much done. And it didn't hurt my knees. Or my back, or my elbows... you get the point.

Ok, Ok, so I cleaned..... I guess you get the point.

Well, I finally went to bed at around 3am and slept! I had to finish filing away all the stinkin' paperwork that piles itself on the counter top first though. But anyway, This morning I got up and had coffee and continued where I left off, but with help.

Apparently the condition of the kitchen and dinning room was enough to jump start the rest of the family in cleaning mode. The girls cleaned and organized their bedrooms, did the laundry, and finished up in the bathrooms. Daniel has been busy all morning. And the boys have either been trying to help or happily staying out of the way.

THEN... Daniel got the wonderful idea to go for a walk to the park. He made sandwiches and we all walked to the park (about a mile) with the dog. It was so much fun! When we got home, the kids laid down for naps and we are finishing up on the house. YAY! What an awesome day!

Ok, well, that is my update for now... I will join my hunny in the forever task of cleaning and decluttering and organizing. Until next time,
Enjoy your day!

Going to START....

So, I get on here in the morning to drink a cup of coffee and "wake up". I read lots of different blogs and the day washes away. Every once in a while I get up and play with the kids or read a book or two, but this thing has been eating me alive for the past few days. URRG!!! I sit here reading about other people who are doing (or at least trying to do) what I, myself want to do.

I have realized two things while being consumed by the internet:
1- I have more to talk about than I think I do... I could blog if I just set my mind to do so. (I usually do not think that I have anything to say)   ..... and ......
2- While I sit in front of this computer "learning" how to do the things I want to do or "getting inspiration", I am still just SITTING IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER!!!! I may as be on the couch in front of the TV.... My life is passing me by.

SO... I have decided that instead of spending hours on here after my kids have already gotten up, I am going to start DOING the things I am wanting to do.  Like reading with my kids, cleaning my house, gardening, canning, playing with and training my dog, loving my husband, cooking dinner (and preparing for it too).

You would think these are all common sense things, but somehow, they have gotten pushed to "a latter date" because I am to "busy" reading about how to do these things best. I will still get on the internet, but for only a set time, and I think it will need to be at the end of the day, or during nap time.... I will blog (or at least try to more often) and I will get my kids doing the same. I want to keep logs of what we have done and what God is doing in our lives, but I have been putting it off.... My oldest needs practice in her writing. What better way to practice than my "killing two birds with one stone"?

I think today I will start with this blog and having the kids answer ONE question in a notebook.... Maybe... What would you like to learn about over the summer and why? For the younger ones I think I will write it out for them and help them write their name and date nicely. Then, I think we will take our dog for a walk.....

That is it... for today! That is what we will do. Ask me tomorrow if we got it done. Please. I need the accountability.
Well, until tomorrow... I hope!

Not sure I have told everyone....

So, now that it is almost upon us, it occurred to me that I may not have made any formal announcements.... My family is in a musical that is showing on Friday night. It is called Music Machine. It is all about the fruits of the spirit. You know, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Goodness, and Self Control.

There are three main characters, (Nancy, Stevie, and Conductor) and a large supporting cast. Heather and Daniel are Nancy and Conductor, and the rest of us are among the supporting cast...

There is only one showing of it, so if you are interested, Friday night in Visalia, 7:00pm at GCC (Off lovers lane)
Anyway, I am so proud of my littl'ns. They are working so hard to get their lines and blocking. Heather has a ton of lines and Rebekah has a dance. Steven is the token little kid, so he has a few small parts, and Jeremiah is the little one that comes in on my hip... I am just a moma who drops her kids off and picks them up and makes the most of her time on stage....  :-) But anyhow, it should be a lot of fun, so you are all invited.

Just a lovely reminder...

"Oh, mothers of young children, I bow before you in reverence. Your work is most holy. You are fashioning the destinies of immortal souls. The powers folded up in the little ones that you hushed to sleep in your bosoms last night, are powers that shall exist forever. You are preparing them for their immortal destiny and influence. Be faithful. Take up your sacred burden reverently. Be sure that your heart is pure and that your life is sweet and clean." —J.R. Miller, The Family