Potty Training

Well, this week has been interesting!  I decided I would take some old costume jewelry I had plus a watch to the place in town that buys gold and see if I could make a little spending cash.  I had my hopes set high.  Too high.  I have sold some old gold chains and earrings that are missing the match and done pretty well.  I had heard the man mention that he also bought good costume jewelry.  So, in I marched with my treasures.  He took one look at them and said, "Do you have small children at home?"  I answered that I did.  He then said, "Take these things home and let them play with them.  They aren't worth anything."  Bummer.  All my hopes dashes.  Just like that.

Gwen has started potty training.  That's one of my least favorite parenting tasks.  I am a firm believer in the "Naked and Elbow Grease" method of potty training.  Meaning that I leave their pants off because it makes them realize that they need to do something about the stuff coming out from between their legs.  The only problem with that is when they don't make it to the potty.  Yesterday we had 1.5 pee accidents and 1 poop accident.  I have to tell you, though, that the poop thing was not entirely her fault.  Yes, it came out of her body.  But, in all fairness, she was bending over and squatting down to pick something up when all of a sudden she tooted....and out came a bit of poop, too.  I don't think she knew it was coming.  At least it was on the hard floor and not the carpet.

Since my last few posts have been about Gwen, I thought I should fill you in on the happenings of the other 5 children who occupy our home.  We don't want one to feel more important than another.

Kyle, who is in 8th grade, has been trying to decide what his feelings are about high school.  I can tell you that I don't feel old enough to have a high school student, but nonetheless, we have been weighing our options.  I think we have settled on him staying at the local public school.  He's comfortable there...and the boy thrives on comfort. 

Now, I have to brag on my eldest daughter.  Last Sunday Gretta stayed  home from church because she had been running a fever the night before.  So off we went for 2 hours leaving her at home.  When we walked in the door at 11:30, there on the neatly-set table, was brunch.  She had made the entire meal (pancakes, fruit salad and fruit smoothies) by herself and timed it out so that it would be ready when we got home. 

Joel is feeling much better since my post about the mystery illness.  He's back to himself and is completely immersed in basketball.  He dribbles in the garage when it's raining and is outside every free moment when it's not. 

Ben is also playing basketball.  He's in a league with 1st and 2nd graders and being that he is a VERY TALL and THICKLY built boy, he's much taller than the other kids he plays against.  My husband even commented that Ben could have tooted and knocked one particularly scrawny kid over.  He looks like a moose out there! 

Charlotte is becoming Gwen's little mother.  They have giggle fits (and cat fights).  She LOVES to go to school...which is only a mom's day out program one day/week for 3 hours! 

Oh, and I better give you another "Gwen-ism":  "wub ew"....especially cute when she tacks on "mommy" at the end.  "Wub ew, mommy".  I love you, too, Gwennie!

"Fulf"

"Fulf" - definition:  a two year old's way of saying, "No, thank you, Mommy.  I want to do it all by myself".  Of course it does not come out nearly so sweet.  It's more shouted than spoken and has a very defiant tone.  Two year olds are notorious for wanting to do everything by themselves, whether they actually can or not.  Like buckling her own car seat, getting herself dressed, washing her own hair, brushing her teeth, putting on her shoes, zipping up her coat....doesn't she realize that I am only trying to help??  How much easier it would be if she just let me get the coat turned the right direction, the knots out of her hair before she brushed, the shoes on the correct foot?

Funny thing:  I can just picture God saying the same thing about me.  "Doesn't she know how much easier this would be if she would just let me help her?"  But instead, I run around in my own way shouting "fulf".  God is there waiting, wanting me to turn to help and ask for help, knowing full well that I can't do this (life, mothering, etc) on my own.  You know, I am convinced that God gave me my children (and 6 of them, at that) to teach me a thing or two!

Another funny Gwen conversation:
Me: "Gwen, why did you ________________?" (fill in the blank...spit food out of your mouth, throw your plate to the ground, bite your sister)
Gwen:  "Cuzth"
Me:  "'Cause why?"
Gwen:  "Ida know"
Me:  "That's a NO, Gwen.  You know we don't _________." (again...fill in the blank)
Gwen:  "OK Mama"  (said with an adorable smile on her face)
Then repeat the conversation 5 minutes later when she does it yet again.

Sixty Second Clean Up

I read an article in a magazine over the weekend about a 60 second cleanup.  I gave it a try last night and it's fabulous!  It won't suffice if you really need to deep clean, but if you are just needing to straighten up a room, it's a fun idea.  Here's how it works:  set a timer for 60 seconds.  Gather your kids and assign tasks if needed.  On "go", everyone works as hard as they can for 60 seconds.  I was amazed.  We did the family room and then the school room last night before bed.  They think it's a game and are willing to work hard and not be distracted for that time.  Who can't commit to 60 seconds!?!  Plus, with everyone working, it really can get done!  You should try it.  I would love to make the 60 second clean up part of our evening routine - especially for our family room and school room.  The author recommended that if you have a small room, like a bath, that you want done, that you do 60 second shifts...one kid at a time with a specific job while they are in there.  Fun idea!

Casserole Recipe

Tried this one last night on request from Ben (8).  He saw the recipe on the back of the mac n cheese box and asked for it.  There is nothing healthy about this, but it was pretty tasty and one of my kids even said it was a "top 10 favorite".  The recipe is on the back of the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Deluxe box.  I doubled it for our family.  Quick and easy...maybe your kids can even make it!

1 pkg Kraft deluxe mac & cheese, original cheddar
1 cup chopped ham
1 cup frozen peas, thawed, drained
1/2 c milk
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Make the mac & cheese according to directions.  Stir in ham, peas and milk.  Spoon into a baking dish (spray it first).  Top with cheese.  Bake at 400 for 15 min.

Two Mistakes

Mistake #1:  It's killing me.  I cut Gwen's hair.  She's got these beautiful golden locks with ringlet curls.  The back was getting a little long and sort of "mullet" looking.  Plus, with the length, it wasn't curling as tight.  So I thought a little trim would be good -- layer it a bit, take some of the weight off.  Not so.  Oh, I am in literal pain every time I look at her.  Very little curl....maybe it's just because it's too short.  More likely it's because I cut the baby curl out.  The front, top and sides are still curly, the back is just chopped.  Honestly, it looks rather stupid.  I just want to cry.


Mistake #2:  I invited Joel's basketball team over for an ice cream party this evening.  Plus parents and siblings.  We are at 25 people.  Now I'm regretting it.  We have a cabinet missing a door, trim around a window that needs to be replaced, a tiny, cramped kitchen (especially with 25 people in it).  Why did I do that???  But, I know that true hospitality is not waiting until your house is perfect so you can show it off.  True hospitality is inviting people into a warm home filled with love....serving from your heart, not your best china.  I have to get over my house.  It's NEVER going to look perfect.  I am NEVER going to have my entire "to do" list completed.  But, I can't let that stop me from having people into my home.  I have to get over wanting to "entertain" and start focusing on be hospitable.  So, here's to a fun night (and hoping people don't notice the missing cabinet door).   

Rite of Passage & More

Well, Number 6 has officially been accepted into our family....she pooped in the tub while taking a bath last week.  All of my kids have pooped in the tub (at least it's before they are potty-trained...is this just my kids??).  You know, there's nothing like sitting down on the side of the tub ready to wash them and looking in the water only to find a good size poop sitting in there with the two girls and the Barbies and other bath toys.  They were oblivious.  Totally gross.  I quickly pulled them out and put them in the other tub, took the bath toys to the dishwasher, drained the tub.  The dilemma then becomes how to get it out of there.  Before I had a chance to clean it, Hubby (knowing full well what was in there), told Joel to go shower.  It was a funny, albeit disgusting, prank.

More news:
Yesterday I woke up with a horrific UTI.  It came on very suddenly and progressed very quickly.  In about an hour I was feverish and feeling quite terrible.  After visiting the doctor and getting my prescription, I came home and laid down on the couch to wait it out until nap time.  I put the 10 year old and 8 year old in charge of the 3 and 2 year olds.  That's always interesting, but honestly, I didn't care what they did.  Nor could I have done anything about it if I didn't like what they were doing.  At 2:00, after the girls laid down for their naps, I climbed into bed and slept until 4:30.  When I woke up I could hear dishes clattering and other kitchen noises.  "Oh, no...please don't let them be making me a snack in bed" I thought.  I know, that sounds really caring, but all I could think of was the mess I couldn't bear to think about cleaning up.  I made my way downstairs and found my dear neighbor (she's a widow that my kids think of as their 3rd grandma) directing the kids.  She had washed and put away all of my dirty dishes, had the kids straighten and vacuum the entire downstairs and set the table for Valentine dinner.  She is such a dear woman.  My kids were proud of their work, and I was so thankful for a clean house.  Feeling much better today and so thankful for the access we have to medical care.

Over the weekend, Matt and I went on a date.  I love to go on dates with my man.  While a weekly date would be ideal, it's not very realistic given our schedule and budget.  So we try to go monthly.  We went to a yummy pizza place and then saw The King's Speech (stopping at the grocery to get our candy 1st to save a little $!).  It is fabulous.  We really enjoyed it and recommend it if you have not seen it.

Hope that you had a fun Valentine's Day with your family!  

Sigh.....

Warning:  I am in a foul mood.  The day started out nicely...early morning, no one else was awake, running on the treadmill at the gym (trying to get in shape for a triathlon in April), stopped at the grocery store to get each of the urchins a doughnut, home to shower.  THEN...mid shower I realized I forgot to pack lunches when I got home.  I was basking in the glory of "great mommy-dom" over the doughnuts (they are a HUGE treat around here) and just forgot to pack the stupid lunches.  I was running late because Fridays are my day off from homeschooling and so I don't feel the urgency to be back downstairs dressed and ready to read to the boys by 7:30.  I was enjoying my nice hot shower, even taking time to shave my legs (gasp!).  But, back to the lunches...I rushed out of the shower, threw on my clothes and ran downstairs, started putting 3 lunches together (2 kids + hubby).  Hubby had offered to drop kids off at school (wonderful treat for me) and they were ready to leave.  That's when I realized Gretta was not ready for school yet and she had to walk out the door in 3 minutes.  Now, let me 1st tell you this is pretty much an every-morning-thing.  The girl can't walk by the TV without stopping for a full 5 min -- putting shoes on is a 10 min ordeal.  Going upstairs to brush teeth takes a full 5 min just to get up there b/c she has to walk by the TV.  (I know, turn the thing off, you say.  Yes, but it's keeping Charlotte occupied while I get everyone else ready to start the day).  No one else has trouble with the TV on.  They can eat and watch at the same time.  (we raise talented kids, I know!)  Anyway, I was irked that once again I was having to say things like, "you are leaving in 3 minutes", "do you have your coat" (duh...it's only 3 degrees outside), "have you brushed your teeth" (another 'duh').  Finally, out they all run to van.  Only for me to realize that a gift she needs for a Valentine party is sitting on the counter.  (oh, and she left her laptop at home yesterday).  Then, I see Kyle's PE activity report which is due every Friday.  He had asked me to sign it earlier and I had told him I would after I showered.  But, then I forgot.  And so did he.  Can I just tell you, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE BACK OVER TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.  Ugh.  So begins the grouchy part of my day and it's only 9:00!  Now, here's the other thing that's making me irritated today:  I am taking the 4 younger kids to an indoor playground.  Fun!  Yeah, it is fun.  They burn some energy, I can sit and watch.  But you know who else is there....young, perky moms.  You know the ones.  Still in their late 20's, cute figure, cute clothes, flowing bouncy hair.  And then there's me...fly-away hair (our water softener is not working), cute t-shirt - but it's under my big, bulky, warm sweater.  Why do I care??? Why do I compare myself to them - or anyone for that matter???  God made me just the way I am.  He loves me just the way I am.  He doesn't like when I don't honor myself....it dishonors Him, too.  I am trying to combat this.  Maybe if I just wear a big sign around my neck that says, "There's a reason why I am like this.  I have six kids...so back off!"  Hmmm....that doesn't sound very loving and approachable, does it?  Probably not a good option.  I could sit meekly in the corner and glare at them....probably not what God had in mind either.  Guess I need to in there with my head held high, proud of myself and of my kids.  Because you know what?  I am doing something fun with my kids.  I am spending time with them.  I am honoring my kids and myself.  OK, God.  Please forgive me for not loving me.  Please help me to have a fun day with my kids and not compare myself to others.  Help me to be the woman, mom, wife you want me to be.