A WORM!!!!

So today had been a good day but a long day. I finally sat down to eat around 8:30pm. I had all the kids tucked in so I decided to sit down and watch some tv while I ate. I was sitting on the floor and noticed something by the molding. I asked Paul what it was. After close examination he says "Huh, it's a worm." What, a what. Is what I was thinking but my legs were already outta there. I dashed in to the kitchen totally grossed out. Thank goodness the kids were all sleeping otherwise it would be Heidi the science teacher who just loves worms and all of God's wonderful creations. Instead, it was Heidi from Jr. high who can't stand bugs and hi tailed it out of the room yelling "Ewwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!" Now my sister is like the ultimate bug killer. She lives in a rural area which has stunning mountain views. However, along with those views come some very interesting creatures. I mean not just your run of the mil scorpions and tarantulas but like on Tuesday for instance....she found a bug in the hallway that she described as centipede. I told her that I thought they felt really soft on their backs. She said ummmmm, it actually had pincher's on the back. EKKKKKKKKKKK. I love her so much and she has to be one of the bravest people I know. I told her I would have paid the bug guy $100 to come kill it for me.

Anyway, I guess tonight was a blog much to do about nothing. LOL Hope you are having a great week and please..........watch your step. :)


PS obviously no picture is needed or wanted for this entry.

We found our church on CRAIGSLIST!!!

So a few weeks ago I was at my wits end with the girls' room. There room is probably about 10feetx11feet so fitting two twin beds in is really tight. After 8 years of proudly proclaiming we would never, I mean never buy bunk beds........we gave in. (We were afraid they would get hurt) We just felt they needed a little room to play and spread their wings a little.
We searched and found a really nice set on CL. When Paul called to work out a pickup time he realized we had bought something from these people before. Indeed we had, we bought a really cute cat and dog shower curtain set. (We had flowers in the kids' bath and thought we needed something a little more neutral for the boys now.
When Paul went to pick the beds up it was too tight to fit in the van. So the couple offered the husbands help and truck to bring it to us. How cool was that. Anyway, Paul spent at least 30minutes chatting with the guy on the front porch. When he came in he proudly told me, "I found our new church." This struck me as odd or really it was God. I have been really struggling with some issues of the church we have attended for about 5years. Paul on the other hand has always loved the church so I figured finding a new church wasn't in the cards.
So Paul and I talked for quite awhile that night. We both agreed that the distance and size of our church was a little too much. (easy to get lost in 12,000 people. :0) So we decided to give this new church a try.
Paul and the kids and my mom and dad went last weekend. I stayed home sick with Preston. When he came home he said he enjoyed it and thought it might be the answer for us. My mom and dad, who have been looking for nearly 5 years, seemed to enjoy it too.
I finally got to go today and it was awesome. He preached straight from the BIBLE. He has an expository style of preaching. I loved it. It was really neat having someone explain line by line what is being said.
The kids seem to really enjoy their classes as well. I think this could really be a time of growth for all of us and that is so exciting.
Now I am off to bed after I smother my lip in carmex. It's amazing how I can go through the pain of labor and yet a cracked lip can still hurt so bad.

Happy week!!!

Brownie batter and backyard swings

So yesterday was the first day in a long time I really felt like a "good" mom. We were babysitting a few kids from our homeschool group due to a death in their family which required attending an out of town funeral for the parents. So needless to say with 8 kids running through the hosue, the day was all about the kids.

I was a little overwhelmed at first. I'm the type who quickly offers my help and then moan and groan to God and anyone who listens(sorry Cat) about dreading what I willingly got myself into. I know the bible is pretty clear about being a cheerful giver with money and I am trying to practice this with time too.

Anyway, the day went really well much thanks to my hubby. He is way more laid back than I am and goes with the flow. I am more of the dam that gets in the way of the flow sometimes.

So by mid morning I just chilled out. I thought, all that is going to get done today is taking care of the kids. You know what, that's ok.

Garrison was having melt down after melt down so instead of spanking, time outs and both of us crying......we made brownies. I plopped him on the counter and he and I made a delicous batch of brownies. He was covered in batter and I didn't even care. He was happy and so was I.

The rest of the day rolled really well. We spent some time mowing the yard. Then all the kiddos took turns swinging on the backyard swing with me. It was really nice just enjoying each other. I went to bed feeling like I had really spent my time doing the most important things. Obviously there are chores to keep up with but a day like this was just really nice. :0)

Today, I feel a little behind with school. I always manage to get the 3 R's done but sometimes neglect the fun parts of science and geography. It all comes down to planning and I am really going to work on that this weekend.

All in all it's been a nice week.

We did have one very sad event this week. My sister's sweet dog passed away. Raisin was an incredible and loyal pet. I kept telling Cathy how sorry I was and how we will all miss her so much. I cried with her on the phone telling her I wish there was something I could say to make things better. I hate when my sister cries. It's not often, but I hate it. So please keep her and her family in your prayers. I do believe dogs go to Heaven and I am sure she is already getting some good snuggling in from my big

brother.

Doesn't even compare

This morning I was feeling overwhelmed with some money issues. i was really wrestling with the frustration of having mroe month than money.Staring your morning off with 2 calls about payments being due prompted this struggle. It's not medical bills or car repairs that have caused us these problmes but just irresponsible overspending. This is something Paul and I have struggled with for the better part of our marriage. We have made huge striedes but still have muh work to do.
So I was feeling quite sorry for myself for the place we are at financially and so I went surfing for awhile. Quickly I found the blog a fellow MFW user/blogger who had just lost her precious baby boy during her 20th week of pregnancy. (For those who don't know, we lost our little boy Carter during the 23rd week of pregnancy in Feb '06) So her blog touched a nerve and I began reading her previous posts. Then I cm accross a post with the Casting Crowns song "Praise you in this storm". Thsi has been what Paul and I call our "Carter Song" since shortly after we lost him. The words are incredible and completely describe how I felt/feel.
After watching the video and of course shedding more tears, I realized how I was really missing the mark this morning. Sure, money is tight and it is frustrating but GOD is BIGGER! Hasn't he proved that to me? He scooped me up and carried me in His arms when we lost Carter, will he not walk with us through this as well? This struggle does not even compare to ANY we have already faced. Yes, Paul and I have made mistakes to cause this but God is still here. He will provide in ways we NEED and I know that. He showed me that yesterday when a neighbor showed up at our door with 5 stunningly beautiful dresses for the girls to wear this winter. Amazing how in 24 hours I could let myself doubt Him.
I am beyonf blessed to call myself a child of God, his child.

Here is the video if you would like to watch it. :0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7i5L6kFT0

Hot glue and a chicken head???

These last few weeks, no more like months have been so crazy. I seriously have wind blown hair from life blowing by so fast. The crazy thing is most people I talk to feel the same way. At first I thought maybe having 5 kids causes you to feel like you are in perpetual motion but I think it's a majority of our country. I was on the phone with a friend who has 2 kids and I asked her if she felt really busy. She said absolutely. I was so amazed that she felt the same way.
So why is it that we have made so many fantastic technological advances but yet our time seems more limited than ever. We have appliances that help make our life easier in so many valuable ways yet......we feel like we have to stop and grab fast food because we either don't have time to shop or even if we did when on earth would we cook it????
I think our kids feel it too. I remember when I was young and I felt so carefree. I could lay on my bed for hours and not feel like I was going to be days behind for enjoying a leisurely afternoon. Jac stormed out of the room muttering how she wishes she could have "just one Saturday to do what I wanted". I know, at first I thought well listen here little missy, you don't call the shots on how the days run around here. I admit I was pretty upset over the fact that she feels like the days should revolve around her plans. But, then tonight I think it really hit me that the kids needs breaks too. There are days we have errands up the wazoo and I am sure it is overwhelming to them. It is to me too.
So as of tonight I am quiting the days of running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I am officially hot gluing my head back on. (You know I could have said rubber cemented my head back on and that sure would sound a lot less painful than hot glue......but)
My mom and I, both are all star quality procrastinators, often tell each other you make time to do the things you really want to do. It is so true. So this week I am going to try my best to take out all the things that just don't belong......right now. I hate to say it but I think browsing.....no stalking craigslist is going to have to be put on hold for awhile. I know there will be someone else that will be the first to find that listing of 10,000 Christmas lights tangled beyond belief free to whoever is willing to detangle them but......that's just going to have to be ok.
So if you are reading this thinking......that crazy lady must just not manage her time well. (you are right :0) ) Please share something that you have done or changed in your routine to create a little more time in your day.
These days of toddler and babies will pass so fast and I don't want to miss anymore than I already have. So if you have time, :0) , please lift me up in prayer for getting all of these things straightened out.
Ok, 6 minutes until I promised myself I would be in bed so that should be just enough time to cruise craigslist one more time right......I know...I'm going to bed. Good night

Turning the corner on colic :0)

I know it's hard to believe this sweet little face can be Mr. McFussypants isn't it? Mr. P-body has ben so colicy for the last 6-8 weeks but we really feel he is turning the corner. It has been a long several weeks to say the least but every day gets a little better. I am so thankful that we have these incredible little people in our lives.

Isn't he such a cutie!!!!!

I just love this pic of the kids. They really are a tight little bunch and it's so awesome to see. Sure, they have their fair share of fights and then some but then you have moments like these and your sanity comes back.

School is going FANTASTIC. Amazing what a difference a year makes. Last year I spent so much time wondering if we were doing the right thing. What if I was making a huge mistake? What if they don't learn anything? Now we are a year down the road and I can see tremendous gains. I really helped them learn. Not to mention all the little lessons they have helped me learn these last 12 months. I still have the lovely "yellow school bus" days every now and then. But I am so thankful to be in the spot we are today. Some days Paul and I look at each other in shock and wonder what are we doing!!!!!!!! But most days we look at our life in amazement for the life that we have. Tonight, I feel very blessed.

10 pm and still awake waaahhhhh!!!

No matter how hard I try, I cannot make it to bed before 10pm. It's so funny to think back when I was younger. Staying up until 10 was a big deal. Then staying up even later than that was huge! I can remember nights that I stayed up all night and still felt great the next day. Now if I am up past 11 I can plan on two fully charged cups of coffee just to try and roll my lifeless, tired beyond belief body out of bed. I'M GETTING OLD!!!! Apparently not really getting but I done got!