Sometimes I wonder that. I have been entrusted with them most precious blessings here. It is a great responsibility to raise them and take care of them. Sometimes they stomp around and say things to each other like, "That IS the last time I am going to tell you!", or "I am getting SICK and TIRED of this...!", and I just wince. Because I have NO idea where they heard things like that. If only they did as I say, not as I do. Then it would be easy.
I have been working with Charlotte Claire about listening to me the first time I tell her something. She is very independent, and she will just go on her merry way, totally ignoring me. This is not her fault. I have let her get away with it. The path of least resistance is easiest, but not good for the child. For example, I tell her not to do something, she does it anyway, and I say, "whatever, not a big deal"...that is teaching her not to listen.
Jonathan is a good good boy. He is soft-hearted and kind and funny and smart, but he has a temper. He gets stubborn, and he gets mad. I am trying to work with him to recognize when he starts to get mad and stop himself....last night he wrecked a perfectly fun (okay, it was a bit crazy, Charlotte Claire didn't quite get it and thought it was a personal insult when the other kids found a match)matching game. He was fine for the whole thing, but then he got mad about something, and just started yelling. I told him to stop, and he swatted at me. No sir, not nice. Absolutely not. I had him sit in a chair, and he was steaming mad. He told me how much he did not like me. I just ignored him. He finally calmed down, and then he told me he was sorry. Anyway, it isn't all fun and games here.
I won't get into all the boring details of all the little things I deal with all day, but there is much work that isn't housework. To teach them respect and how to listen and that screaming fits don't get them what they want....it requires a sacrifice from me. Of course I am on my knees praying for wisdom and patience. God doesn't just give children and walk away.
I have enjoyed my kids more than ever lately. I have just made it a priority to connect with them. Everyone KNOWS that housework is not as important as the kids. Everyone KNOWS that kids grow up fast and we need to listen to them and enjoy them. But to actually DO it is another thing. To put down the broom and pick up the sobbing child...or to listen to a boring dream without strumming my fingers and phase them out, thinking of all the things I should be doing....to actually listen when they answer the standard, "How was your day?"..... Yesterday afternoon I rested on the couch with Jonathan and Charlotte Claire and Sonja, we were just talking about their days. I had to literally lie down so I could concentrate on listening to them....because when I am up and around I get so distracted. I have found that being more diligent to connect with them has paid off though, and it is well worth it.
I need to go wash my long tangly hair because I have to:
1. Go pay the school taxes.
2. Pick up Abigail.
3. take Benjamin to sign up for his GED (homeschooled high school is not recognized in NY state)
4. Mail some bills.
5. Drop Mirielle off at college,
6. Take Abigail, Benjamin, Joseph, Margaret, Kathryn, Jonathan, Charlotte Claire and Camille to Denny's for the free Grand Slam.....
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
pictures from a crazy evening
Camille was fussing. Suzanne tried to pick her up to comfort her. Camille did not want Suzanne to pick her up. She kicked and screamed and made Suzanne cry. I told Camille that was not nice, and she should say she is sorry. So she got a tissue and went over and told the crying Suzanne not to cry, and she was sorry. Suzanne had to laugh in spite of herself, so 6 or seven of us started laughing, and Camille thought it was funny too....
Suzanne literally collapsed from laughing.....
These two little girls got into my bag cupboard. I am embarrassed to say that all these bags were in that small cupboard....do I shop enough? Plastic bags are not good toys, as we all know, but they did not empty the cupboard to play with the bags...no, they had other ideas....
Hide-and-seek!!
Yes, they keep me hopping.
These two little girls got into my bag cupboard. I am embarrassed to say that all these bags were in that small cupboard....do I shop enough? Plastic bags are not good toys, as we all know, but they did not empty the cupboard to play with the bags...no, they had other ideas....
Hide-and-seek!!
Yes, they keep me hopping.afternoon coffee break
I complain about my dog Rosie because she is really bad. She got outside today and went straight to the neighbors' house. She did not come home on her own accord, so Joseph went and dragged her home. But....the sweet side of Rosie: Charlotte Claire was having a cinnamon raisin bagel, in Rosie's cage, with Rosie in there. I just think it is funny that she listens to a child that is way smaller than her. She didn't even put her nose near the bagel. She loves Charlotte Claire, and Charlotte Claire loves her.
Today I thought I would vacuum the kitchen....I had to keep my eyes on the girls too, of course, which is hard because one of the things I like about vacuuming is the way it drowns everything out....anyway, I notice them heading towards the bathroom....by the time I got there, Camille had taken her poopy diaper off because she "HAD TO GO PEE!!" I cleaned her up and decided to give the two of them a bath. Of course I couldn't just return to vacuuming and let them take a bath by themselves, so I cleaned the bathroom instead. Then I got them dressed and gave them cookies and milk, and did the vacuuming. By that time, Camille was saying, "I want you Mommy, I NEED you, Mommy..", so I told her as soon as I washed the kitchen floor I would read to her....anyways, she fell asleep on me, then woke up when I put her in her little green bed.
I don't even know what my point was. I guess it is that even though I only have two sweet little kids here and one bad dog, and I am going in circles. I love it that they want me though.
Tomorrow is "Free Grand Slam Breakfast At Denny's Day"......I just might go. Abigail and Joseph and Charlotte Claire and Camille, and I. hmm, it is legal to keep all the kids out of school to go to Denny's? It is from 6am to 2pm. I don't know if I will really go, it will probably be crowded.
Mirielle brought home apples and oranges and pears and cantaloupe and milk from Aldi. And tomatoes. It all looks so yummy on the counter, and I am thankful for it. The apples and oranges are only $1.39 and $1.49. Not bad at all.
The kids are watching "Arthur", and it is distracting. I just heard the burner turn on in the kitchen, and I yelled "What are you making?", and Mirielle said, "Nothing"....I said, "Don't tell me nothing!"...she is making cafe au lait. yum. It is SO cold out, 19 degrees. I cannot send the kids out there to play. So on days like today, I don't mind if they watch "Arthur".....
Today I thought I would vacuum the kitchen....I had to keep my eyes on the girls too, of course, which is hard because one of the things I like about vacuuming is the way it drowns everything out....anyway, I notice them heading towards the bathroom....by the time I got there, Camille had taken her poopy diaper off because she "HAD TO GO PEE!!" I cleaned her up and decided to give the two of them a bath. Of course I couldn't just return to vacuuming and let them take a bath by themselves, so I cleaned the bathroom instead. Then I got them dressed and gave them cookies and milk, and did the vacuuming. By that time, Camille was saying, "I want you Mommy, I NEED you, Mommy..", so I told her as soon as I washed the kitchen floor I would read to her....anyways, she fell asleep on me, then woke up when I put her in her little green bed.
I don't even know what my point was. I guess it is that even though I only have two sweet little kids here and one bad dog, and I am going in circles. I love it that they want me though.
Tomorrow is "Free Grand Slam Breakfast At Denny's Day"......I just might go. Abigail and Joseph and Charlotte Claire and Camille, and I. hmm, it is legal to keep all the kids out of school to go to Denny's? It is from 6am to 2pm. I don't know if I will really go, it will probably be crowded.
Mirielle brought home apples and oranges and pears and cantaloupe and milk from Aldi. And tomatoes. It all looks so yummy on the counter, and I am thankful for it. The apples and oranges are only $1.39 and $1.49. Not bad at all.
The kids are watching "Arthur", and it is distracting. I just heard the burner turn on in the kitchen, and I yelled "What are you making?", and Mirielle said, "Nothing"....I said, "Don't tell me nothing!"...she is making cafe au lait. yum. It is SO cold out, 19 degrees. I cannot send the kids out there to play. So on days like today, I don't mind if they watch "Arthur".....
who won the superbowl?
I don't like to use the phrase"You could hold a gun to my head and I wouldn't know the answer"....but....
We changed the channel so Mirielle and Mali and I could watch the last episode of "Emma" (Jane Austen)....the boys went over to their cousins house but had to be home by nine because of New York State driving laws, and Aaron is only 17. When they walked in and saw that we weren't watching the game anymore, they were mildly disapointed. Paul didn't care, he had his computer on and kept track of the score, plus he wanted some guitar playing time....
Our pizzas came out excellent last night. I took some pictures of them beause I am lame like that, but I don't feel like getting up and getting the camera. Charlotte Claire had one dough, which she liberally floured, good thing flour is relatively cheap. It kept her quite busy, and she made a hole in the center so I cut it in half and let her decorate two small pizzas. The best pizza was the butter/olive oil w/garlic, cheese, and red peppers, chopped tomatoes, onions and oregano.
Mirielle is going to stop at Aldi for me today when she goes to college. Or maybe I'll dress the little ones and drop her off at class and go and then pick her up...hmm. I love going out and about. Aldi has oranges and apples cheap again. When we went to Wegmans the other day, we bought apples and bananas and accidentally left them in the van, where they promptly froze to death.
We are almost out of milk already. I made bagels for the kids' breakfast. (all of them went to school, wah!) We used to have a second refridgerator, but it stopped working, and it ins not even on the list to get another one. It was handy. We just go through things so quickly. I know I could go less often and spend less money, but I like to have fresh produce, and it goes so fast!
Well, I need to decide if I should really go out when I don't really have to. There IS some laundry here to do....and the sink is overflowing, again. And the counters....and the floors need sweeping and mopping....and....hey, I think I will go to Aldi!!!
We changed the channel so Mirielle and Mali and I could watch the last episode of "Emma" (Jane Austen)....the boys went over to their cousins house but had to be home by nine because of New York State driving laws, and Aaron is only 17. When they walked in and saw that we weren't watching the game anymore, they were mildly disapointed. Paul didn't care, he had his computer on and kept track of the score, plus he wanted some guitar playing time....
Our pizzas came out excellent last night. I took some pictures of them beause I am lame like that, but I don't feel like getting up and getting the camera. Charlotte Claire had one dough, which she liberally floured, good thing flour is relatively cheap. It kept her quite busy, and she made a hole in the center so I cut it in half and let her decorate two small pizzas. The best pizza was the butter/olive oil w/garlic, cheese, and red peppers, chopped tomatoes, onions and oregano.
Mirielle is going to stop at Aldi for me today when she goes to college. Or maybe I'll dress the little ones and drop her off at class and go and then pick her up...hmm. I love going out and about. Aldi has oranges and apples cheap again. When we went to Wegmans the other day, we bought apples and bananas and accidentally left them in the van, where they promptly froze to death.
We are almost out of milk already. I made bagels for the kids' breakfast. (all of them went to school, wah!) We used to have a second refridgerator, but it stopped working, and it ins not even on the list to get another one. It was handy. We just go through things so quickly. I know I could go less often and spend less money, but I like to have fresh produce, and it goes so fast!
Well, I need to decide if I should really go out when I don't really have to. There IS some laundry here to do....and the sink is overflowing, again. And the counters....and the floors need sweeping and mopping....and....hey, I think I will go to Aldi!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
blogging is therapeutic....
Okay....Sunday mornings are hectic. I will spare the boring details, but getting 15 (Ben doesn't go, and Emily and Abigail have their own place now) out the door after breakfast is crazy. A few of the older ones had PopTarts for breakfast in the van. Needless to say, the place gets left in tornado-like condition. We get home, everyone is hungry for lunch. Then they go play and do homework and read and I try to relax a bit....but the house bothers me, and it IS Sunday, a day of rest...today I got busy anyway, and hung up snowpants that were in the wrong place, and sorted shoes and hung up coats and picked up clothes and.....and I was tempted to call the kids for the things they left around, but it IS Sunday....then I got frustrated, because Camille didn't stay in her little green bed today for nap, she is tired and following me, Charlotte Claire stole some plastic drawers from Suzanne and emptied them out so she could put some things into them, Rosie has been chasing Jon's remote control car and barking....so I told everyone that I GIVE UP. I DO not care HOW messy it gets in here.....and then I sat down, checked my blog, and lo and behold....I re read Martha's comment, and Bonnie's comment....and realized, again, how lucky and blessed I am. Yes, it is messy in here. And the frustration I feel is not just going to magically disapear. I need to work through it, suffer through it. So I am thankful for the reminders and the encouragement.
We are going to watch the SuperBowl. I have no idea who is playing, wait, is it the Saints and the Colts? My little girls know more about it than I do....anyway, we will watch it, and I am going to mosey out to the kitchen and makes some pizzas.
It sounds nice, doesn't it? And it will be nice, by the grace of God. Because by that grace I will keep my cool and be kind and patient. That in itself is nothing short of miraculous, because Camille is crying and fussing because she missed her nap, and I have a huge headache because I forgot to have coffee this morning. Seriously, I forgot to have it. I have taken ibuprofen, and had an afternoon cup, and it is diminishing, but the only thing that will help this is peace and quiet. Just kidding, although that did cross my mind.
So with the Waffletown all over the living room floor, and the dog now tied up in the front yard barking.....I will venture out and start those pizzas. I would give like a million bucks right now for a nice hot bath and a glass of wine...and some cookies. (as long as we're dreaming, I always throw in the cookies)....
We are going to watch the SuperBowl. I have no idea who is playing, wait, is it the Saints and the Colts? My little girls know more about it than I do....anyway, we will watch it, and I am going to mosey out to the kitchen and makes some pizzas.
It sounds nice, doesn't it? And it will be nice, by the grace of God. Because by that grace I will keep my cool and be kind and patient. That in itself is nothing short of miraculous, because Camille is crying and fussing because she missed her nap, and I have a huge headache because I forgot to have coffee this morning. Seriously, I forgot to have it. I have taken ibuprofen, and had an afternoon cup, and it is diminishing, but the only thing that will help this is peace and quiet. Just kidding, although that did cross my mind.
So with the Waffletown all over the living room floor, and the dog now tied up in the front yard barking.....I will venture out and start those pizzas. I would give like a million bucks right now for a nice hot bath and a glass of wine...and some cookies. (as long as we're dreaming, I always throw in the cookies)....
Saturday, February 6, 2010
sunny saturday....
I wish I had as much energy as Rosie. Seriously. I took her outside, came in and changed a diaper, did some laundry, cleaned up some random things (one thing I have learned: do not smell underwear to see if they are clean or dirty, simply assume they are dirty and hamper them), changed Jon's bedding, had a wonderful omelet (red peppers, bacon, mozzarella cheese, and onions) compliments of Paul while the kids ate the pancakes he made for them, cleaned up the kitchen and did the dishwasher, changed another diaper, cuddled my spoiled and sweetly clingy two year old....and I am out of steam. One would not guess in a million years that these floors were swept and mopped YESTERDAY! And since the living room is our playroom there is dollhouse stuff, duplo blocks, and Jonathan's train set, along with a LittleTikes tractor trailer and shopping card, a huge Tonka crane, a set of army men, Jon's bag of Webkins, and a few books scattered around just for good measure. I don't exactly mind, although it DID look nice in here yesterday. But I like that the kids are where I am.
Emily has invited the kids over to her house for dinner tonight. She has no tv and no toys, but my guess is that they will have a pretty good time anyways. Emily is fun. She is smart and giving and motivated, she can laugh at herself. She loves and appreciates the kids, and she has always taken the time to do fun things with them. I would really like to go too, but somehow I think they would like it if I didn't.
Camille has a cold. She isn't miserably sick, but just enough that she wants to snuggle more than usual. She has been saying, "I want you", to me for a while now, but now she is starting to say, "I need you, Mommy." And of course I like it. Not that she doesn't go play and read books and get into things, she just will suddenly remember that she loves me, and hold out her arms....sometimes she tells me to go sit in my chair, because she knows that then I will be accessable for hugs. Hey, I don't mind.
I don't have concrete plans for today, but I am thinking of going to the small grocery store in the next town because they have 4 coupons to triple. Is it worth going to the store just to get four things for free or close to it?
The older kids are now eating breakfast. I have been tempted a few times through the years to put an end to the 24 hour kitchen, but I want a house that is a home, not an institution. It WOULD be handy to have them all report for breakfast at 9 am., but...ha, they would hate it. The younger kids will be wanting lunch soon, but the pancakes are still out. ( The early birds get the bacon.) We do have dinner all together every night though. Not that there aren't times when we are halfway through and one of them walks in and says, "Oh, I didn't know we were eating!"....(usually Sam).....
There is so much going on here that I cannot concentrate. Suzanne's SIMS family (computer game) just had a fire in their house, Paul is playing his guitar, Mirielle is looking at a tourist booklet for Prince Edward Island, home of Anne of Green Gables....she want to go there. Sonja is playing dollhouse with Charlotte Claire, and Camille is....uh-oh....oh good, she is in Evelyn's room with her. Phew, I was already dreading the mess and there isn't one.
Emily has invited the kids over to her house for dinner tonight. She has no tv and no toys, but my guess is that they will have a pretty good time anyways. Emily is fun. She is smart and giving and motivated, she can laugh at herself. She loves and appreciates the kids, and she has always taken the time to do fun things with them. I would really like to go too, but somehow I think they would like it if I didn't.
Camille has a cold. She isn't miserably sick, but just enough that she wants to snuggle more than usual. She has been saying, "I want you", to me for a while now, but now she is starting to say, "I need you, Mommy." And of course I like it. Not that she doesn't go play and read books and get into things, she just will suddenly remember that she loves me, and hold out her arms....sometimes she tells me to go sit in my chair, because she knows that then I will be accessable for hugs. Hey, I don't mind.
I don't have concrete plans for today, but I am thinking of going to the small grocery store in the next town because they have 4 coupons to triple. Is it worth going to the store just to get four things for free or close to it?
The older kids are now eating breakfast. I have been tempted a few times through the years to put an end to the 24 hour kitchen, but I want a house that is a home, not an institution. It WOULD be handy to have them all report for breakfast at 9 am., but...ha, they would hate it. The younger kids will be wanting lunch soon, but the pancakes are still out. ( The early birds get the bacon.) We do have dinner all together every night though. Not that there aren't times when we are halfway through and one of them walks in and says, "Oh, I didn't know we were eating!"....(usually Sam).....
There is so much going on here that I cannot concentrate. Suzanne's SIMS family (computer game) just had a fire in their house, Paul is playing his guitar, Mirielle is looking at a tourist booklet for Prince Edward Island, home of Anne of Green Gables....she want to go there. Sonja is playing dollhouse with Charlotte Claire, and Camille is....uh-oh....oh good, she is in Evelyn's room with her. Phew, I was already dreading the mess and there isn't one.
Friday, February 5, 2010
candy from daddy
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