six kids in the kitchen

And here I sit. Sunday morning...ah. I actually slept until eight o'clock this morning, and when I got up Sonja had already taken Rosie pup outside. She had peed in her cage when she saw the kids getting up, and Sonja cleaned it up without even being asked! Sonja just turned 7 years old. What a sweetie.

So I wish I could say I made the kids a nice breakfast, but nah, today they made me a nice breakfast. They are microwaving sausage patties, toasting waffles, and daddy supervised Kathryn making some eggs. Here I sit, and they brought me some breakfast! Kathryn, Evelyn,
Suzanne, Sonja, Jonathan, and Charlotte Claire are out there eating. They are as happy as can be, sometimes they really like to do things on their own. And I am laughing because they are calling their waffles with sausage, "Patty sandwiches", and saying that McDonalds should make them...I don't have the heart to tell them that they already do.....I also don't have the heart to tell them that just because Kathryn is cutting up apples for them, it does not make that breakfast healthy. I do not buy sausage very often because it so terrible for us, but I don't feel like telling them that now. It seems rather cruel. Mommy bought that food, but it is terrible for you. Maybe I shouldn't ever buy it.....oh, the guilt.

Now Charlotte Claire just turned three, and she already knows the phrase, "My tomach hurts", when she doesn't want to finish her food.

We don't have church today, as many of our friends are visiting Ottowa to celebrate two 80th birthdays. It seems strange not to be hurrying around here like crazy.

Last night we (Paul, Mirielle,Joseph, Aaron, Mali, Samuel, his friend, Margaret,and I) watched "Valkyrie", a movie about one of the plots to overthrow Hitler during WWII. Disturbing. But it was heartening at the same time, knowing that the whole country wasn't brainwashed with hate. I am sure there were many many more who were just plain afraid not to go along with the propaganda. I just cannot believe that that many people were that stupid.

Oh, this is sweet, the kids are now cleaning up their breakfast. Kathryn is doling out the orders (hmm, she sounds familiar!), but they are actually listening to her. They are cleaning up the kitchen! I keep thinking that I should go out there, but they seem to be doing fine without me.

Our pool is almost empty....next comes the daunting task of cleaning it out and patching it. I just hope it works, so we don't have to replace the liner. I wish we could just bulldoze it and get a nice inground pool with a diving board....but even as I think that I see how greedy and unthankful it sounds...and the above ground does seem safer for little children. We have a fence around it, and the ladder is taken off when we are not using it.

Sam and his friend are now in the kitchen foraging. When they are all home, the kitchen is Grand Central station. There are still seven of them sleeping. By the time they eat breakfast, the little ones will be wanting lunch....that is just the way it is here. I have thought, for like 2 seconds, about waking them all up and making them eat at the same time, scheduling lunch, ha. Can you imagine how thrilled the teenagers, who have to get up for school early each morning, would be to get up with the birds on Saturday morning to eat together? ( I have also thought for like 2 seconds of getting them all up a bit early on school mornings to do a few chores before they leave. I do know some families that do that. I think my kids are a bit grumpy and sensitive in the morning, and I do not think it sounds like a fun start to their day. )

The movie, "Cheaper By the Dozen", the newer one, is so ridiculous. I remember after that came out, people would say about our family, "Oh, like that movie!"....no, on school mornings we do not have juice on the table in pitchers. On school mornings, they eat what they individually want, except for the younger ones, I make something for them.

I have been thinking about this blog, I have been writing almost daily, mostly twice or sometimes three times daily for almost 2 years now. What surprises me is that I don't run out of things to say, boring as they may be. I write because I like to write, it puts things in perspective for me. Some blogs are very pretty and attractive, I do not care to spend time prettying mine up. (although I do enjoy reading others that are pretty and creative). I also don't have a sitemeter or feedjit. I have no idea how many people read this. I just want to write what I want to. I also DO want readers to find help and encouragement when they read this, because I am well aware that God has given me much grace in my life - I strongly want to share that, and if I seem to elevate myself, I do apologize. He deserves the credit. It would be pure joy to me if even one person who read this turned to Him in times of trial and got help. I also am very thankful for all the "bloggy friends" I have made in these last few years. I enjoy your blogs too, and totally love the comments. So thanks for bearing with me!!!