Brutally honest

Have you ever noticed that we usually show our best side to people? That's obvious... I know. But what we don't think about is that because people only see that "good side" of us, they often think that's all there is to our lives. There are a few blogs I follow where the women seem perfect, there project immaculate, and their children angelic. But what I love about these women is that every now and then they take a picture of their homes in less that perfect order, they post a picture of their children still in their p.j.s in the afternoon, snap a shot of themselves with hair disheveled and no makeup... all that normal stuff that happens here all the time. It gives me hope.

So here is a brutally honest post from our neck of the woods: This summer was going to be nothing but fun with my kids. That was my plan... chores in the morning, fun all day, happy family. Easy enough. NOPE. It is five o'clock and they are still trying, or I am trying (and crying) to get their chores done. Things have been less that peaceful today and I am just ready to fly the coup as soon as the daddy turns the door nob. 

I want my children to grow up to be amazing, hard working, righteous men and women. I guess I am feeling the sand and grit, the exhaustion and weariness that the great sculptors must have felt as they chiseled master pieces of marble from rough blocks of rock. The end result will be well worth the immense effort... I know that. But just as those master sculptors of old must have, I am ending a day with tired muscles and sore heart and I am trying to picture what my little masterpieces will be.

Vacation's over blues

We've just come back from a fabulous vacation (pictures to come)... and I think my kids have forgotten how to do EVERYTHING! One week away from the norm and they don't know how to make their bed in less that an hour. ARG!  Just before we left I felt like we'd found a great "summer chore and helper chart thingy." (Thank Ang by the way). And it was working really well. Now that we are back, AAaaaahhhhh! It's already 11:00 and they are still up there with the "don't leave your room until its clean" ultimatum. Maybe I should just get a good book and let it take all day.

Curly Girlies

The girls wanted to have curly hair for church and since we didn't have early meetings, I figured, "Why not?" I have so much fun playing 'hair do' with them. I guess it was worth losing a little curl with each baby if I they ended up with some of it.

Schools (almost) out for the summer!

I am so excited to claim my children back from the public school system! I think that I am more excited for school to get out than they are. I have been counting down the days and getting simply giddy planning all the fun things we're going to do together. Last summer we made a "bucket list" of all the fun things we wanted to do. We did almost everything on the list and I can't wait to do it again.

Hope you all are having happy summer thoughts!

Swim suit season

Was there ever a phrase more dreaded by women everywhere? "Swim suit season"... it sounds like a cruel tongue  twister. It's this time of year that ladies the world over are assessing their figures with dismay. When ever I walk by the newly displayed summer section in stores I can't help eyeing those tiny little suits and wonder if any real human being (not surgically engineered) can fit in one of those.

This "S.S.S." holds an even better challenge for me this time... I've just had baby number five. (Things are looking a little more like "S.O.S." around here). Each of my other children have been born in the dead of winter when everyone is bundled up in lots of layers and we all look like we have marshmallowy figures. I'm not sure that a swim suit is as forgiving as that closet full of sweaters or a nice bulky coat. Sigh!

Oh well. I LOVE the pool and our whole family LOVES to swim... so sweaters or swim suit (and swearing...oops. No swearing)... I'll be going for the sun and the fun. I hope you all have pleasant thoughts when it comes to S.S.S. and as little distress as possible. (A happy thought is all those "modest swim suit" lines that have come out! Hooray for cute and stylish AND modest!)

Saturday fun

We love Saturdays! There is always family fun to be had during the weekend. Unfortunately, this ended up being part of the skating fun the kids decided to have. Ben got a nice goose egg when he took a spill on his skates. Where's Grandpa and his mean butterfly bandage skills when you need him?

I'm back!

The first month after baby is always crazy and I knew that I wouldn't be posting for a while... that's why I quickly posted baby pictures while the adrenaline from having a baby was still in my system. We are all doing amazingly well and adjusting to having five kiddos. 

Quinton is the BEST BABY EVER!!! He is so good. That pretty much sums it up. He's just plain darling and GOOD! I am late everywhere, as I have forgotten to add 'getting baby ready' into the mix. With soccer times three, choir and swim team for our kids, things are busy! As soon as I get a few more minutes to myself (ba ha ha) I'll post pictures. 

Tootles til then!