another busy day.....

I took care of the couch monster. The sheets and towels and socks and shirts and skirts and blankies (and found Sonja's backpack).....and I vacuumed and cleaned counters and did laundry....then I talked to my aunt, who lives in another state, about my uncle who is dying.....we went to visit him.

Sadness. Just plain tearwater tea. Owlwater soup. My sister Cheryl and I, and my daughter Emily, and my niece Becky, who is 12 days older than Emily, went to see him. Nursing homes are awful places, in my opinion, and although this place was decent-looking, the air of despair and the sound of the bingo game going on in the rec room is just plain depressing. Then we entered my uncle's room. I knew he was in rough shape, but just seeing those beautiful blue eyes in a withered old face, years beyond my uncle's true age, was shocking. He mumbled and took off his oxygen mask to try to talk to us, but he didn't make any sense. He did hear us though, and he calmed down when we spoke to him. We told him that God loves him and has forgiven him, and that we love him too.

So.....he doesn't have much time left, and I hope to go see him again. Tomorrow night is Aaron's induction into National Honor Society, and I should go to that. And honestly, the thought of going to visit Jerry again is dreadful. I know I am awful, but what do I say to him? Emily says I should just talk to him about anything, just to be there with him so he is not all alone. hmm.

After our nursing home visit, I went with Emily to Toys r'us for some Easter candy, (and I took a quick peak at the dollhouse stuff, because I am still like 8 years old), then we went to Aldi, the store I have been in three times in four days and got some bread and chocolate, and trail mix for Mali's trip to Norway. Oh, how we wanted to go home then, but we got a call that Abigail needed a certain white shirt from a certain department store, and could we stop and buy it? Since Abigail is starting her new job soon, we decided we would stop and get it.

Mirielle made a beautiful taco salad for dinner for Mali's birthday, and we brought home some frosted cookies, her favorite.

This has been almost impossible to write, the two little girls are still up, Paul is here, and I am tired and distracted...maybe tomorrow I'll be able to write better.

nine

Nine is just a number. Nine kids go to school from this house each morning. (plus Mirielle goes to college, but she's no trouble, so I won't count her). So nine. Just a number. Aaron is the oldest school kid. I made him a cheddar cheese bagel half, and a cinnamon raisin bagel half this morning. I asked him about his trip to Ottowa, and he said it was fun and he went to downtown Ottowa and it was cool and they hung out. Okay. I didn't see Mali and Margaret this morning because they went to the gym with Mirielle, then straight to school. Samuel: he had on these shorts.....I thought they looked awful, and it is not spring yet, but.....he loves the transition to shorts, and when it gets sunny here and over 40, it sort of is spring....Kathryn: she brought her Egypt project to school today. Rosie-the-bad-dog was trying to escape through the gate when she was leaving, and I thought her whole project was going to take a tumble down the stairs, but it didn't. Just gave me one more gray hair. And Rosie escaped, and chased the bus down the road, barking. Then I had an hour before the second trip kids had to go out the door. I made them some bagels too, and they chose snacks, either oranges, apples, bananas, or some pretzels. Jonathan couldn't find his library book, and Sonja couldn't find her backpack. Suzanne and Sonja wore their new outfits and sneaker/shoes, and Evelyn was a bit jealous. And, Evelyn was having a bad hair day. She said, "I hate my hair! It is SO stupid!", to which I replied, "Tell that to God, He made you..." Okay, that wasn't very nice of me, but it quieted her down pretty quickly... Here is Jonathan in his new jacket, and Suzanne and Sonja...(Evelyn was in no mood for photos this morning.) Suzanne and Sonja have both had their hair cut recently. Sonja has curly tangly hair that would bring her to tears, so now it is short and managable. Suzanne's was fine, but she wanted it cut too, so she could brush it herself. This picture is before their hair was done. I much prefer longer hair, but when it makes the mornings miserable and causes pain, what good is it?

So, now they are gone, wah, and Camille is up. She is playing dollhouse, and Rosie-the-bad-dog is chewing up a nice hair pony. rrrr. And the house, oh it is a mess again. How does it get this way? I know I have been gone alot, but jeepers. The clothes monster has visited the couch again, along with a load of clean sheets, and a load of clean towels. The little girls played dollies and got out two double doll strollers, there is a ride-on tractor and a little pink ride-on, two sit'n spins, a few of Jon's trucks, and a whole slew of dollhouse stuff, plus a bin of plastic soldiers and a dolly carseat...and that is just in the living room. The kitchen: pizza pans from last night to be washed, the cups and plates that didn't fit in the dishwasher last night, and over by the door: oh my goodness, boots and snowpants and coats and jackets and wet socks from their outside play.....where is the maid when I need her? You know what would be nice? Like 4 or 5 maids, just on Monday. They could sweep and vaccuum and do a few loads of laundry, and clean the bathrooms and straighten the books on the shelves and hang all the snowpants in the foyer....and maybe even give Rosie-the-muddy-dog a bath. (Yes, the snow is melting, and that makes mud....Rosie doesn't watch where she steps. I have to towel off her paws when she comes in the house).....

A carload of maids is not coming over, so I guess I should start myself. I don't know how it gets this bad every Monday. And we are having company next week too, so I wanted to do extra, like sort through the growing pile of papers on top of the microwave....ha.

And just to justify myself a little, even though I don't like to justify myself....it is cluttered in here right now, but not sticky and gross. The tables are washed and cleaned off, and the floors get swept several times a day, and the dishes in the sink are rinsed. That is one of my big nagging points, I make them rinse their dishes when they put them in the sink. How can one be a mom and not nag? I am trying to perfect my nagging methods though, by making sure that I am kind and gentle.....it is hard to find that fine line of letting things go and teaching them responsibility, yet being good to them....I could easily just scream, but that is not what I want to do. And now I fully realize that I am rambling....Charlotte Claire is up now too, so I have more than enough to take care of. More work than you can shake a stick at, as my mother used to say.....oh, and Camille has pooped and it went up over the top...bye!

sunday, day of rest, ha.

i think it is funny that I used the same title last week. I guess I don't learn. So today, we went to church. We stayed around for a while for choir practice, then home by two for a late lunch, and then off I went with Mali and Margaret, and sweet little Sonja K, shopping, again. This time we were on a quest for a dress for Mali Rose, tomorrow is her birthday! She is turning 16 years old, which cannot possibly be.....the day after she was born, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. She is our seventh child, and she is beautiful. Anyway, our dress quest was unfruitful, but I told Mali it was an expensive dress because I bought an Avatar shirt for Sam for $3.60, a pair of boots for Sonja for ten bucks, a Dr. Seuss shirt for Mali, and some other things....so we didn't end up with a dress, but we spent some money. Not too much, but enough. We also stopped in Aldi for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, ha. $60 later, we were done in there....

It was nice to walk through the mall holding Sonja's hand, she enjoyed being my baby for the afternoon. We had a miniture snowball fight in the parkinglot, and ate Reeses' Peanut Butter Eggs in the van on the way home. (I figured out that if I bought enough for each kid to have one, it would be $9) So, I will just buy a big bag of mini ones from Bjs. (and buy big ones when I only have a few kids with me)....

The nicest thing today was walking in from shopping, and finding Mirielle in the kitchen with Kathryn, Evelyn, and Suzanne, making the pizzas. And Emily was here visiting, and playing with Jonathan.

It is now bedtime for the little ones, Paul is reading stories, Margaret is watching the Academy awards. Rosie wants out, and Camille wants cuddles. I can't say that I don't have time to write here anymore, but is is seeming that way the last few days. I want to see about visiting Uncle Jerry tomorrow, so I have to check some things out and make a few phone calls.

flower girl!

Camille Anaya is a flower girl, but not THE flower girl....Charlotte Claire is going to be the flower girl for our friends', Esther and Tim, who are getting married in May. Here Camille is with her daffodils.

Charlotte Claire and Camille last night, playing fishing game and trying on their new $1 hats from Target. Today I went shopping with my friend Esther, and her Mom, and Charlotte Claire. We picked out the dress for C. C., (oh, she was so cute trying them on, but I didn't want to take any pictures and ruin things for Esther)...then we bought shoes at Target, and went into Walmart for a few things. What a day. I got home here and swept up and vacuumed and picked up a few things, and finally took a break. But Jonathan and Sonja just got back from spending some time at a friend's house, and they are both acting up. They want Poptarts, and NO, it is dinner time. I KNOW I should be in the kitchen, but ahh, it is nice to sit down. Actually, I am going to take a major shortcut tonight, and heat up some frozen bagelbites and make a salad.

I am sad. Not totally immersed in sadness, but sad. I have an uncle, Uncle Jerry. He is the younger brother of my dad. My dad had eleven brothers and sisters, and they were close when I was growing up. One of his brothers died of a heart attack, then another, then another, then one of cancer, then one (Jerry) accidentally killed his wife by strangling her with a dishtowel (I worked for a year at an insurance agency with his wife, M, and I know first hand that these two loved each other and spent all their time together. Drinking alcohol and getting into a fight can be deadly, I guess). Anyway, Jerry spent some time in prison, and my father always visited him and sent him things. Now my father is gone, only a few brothers and sisters are left, and Jerry is dying. He is down to 75 pounds, and kidney dialysis is doing more harm to his body than good, according to his doctor. I am not close to this uncle, but I feel such a responsiblilty towards him, because I know of all the family, my father would be there for him. The surviving family members don't seem to care. His sister who is involved in the medical decisions lives in Ohio and has no plans to come, she said she has already said her goodbyes. She said we can get together in the spring and scatter his ashes and then go out to dinner. EXCUSE ME? Oh, I am frustrated. I think my sister Cheryl and I are going to to and see him. No one should have to die alone. By the way, Jerry has one son. One son who is married with a few kids, and has not spoken to his father since his mother was killed when he was sixteen years old, over twenty years ago. He will not forgive his father. Sadness. Just plain sad.

Oh well. I am feeling the pressure here to get moving and make that dinner. Camille is jumping up and down and saying, "Snacky dinner, snacky dinner!"......

home with the girls....

my three girls, Charlotte Claire, Camille, and Rosie the dog. We were going to go to the pool tonight, but logistically it just didn't work. Paul had to drive the kids to activity club in the big van....Abigail went to Delaware today for the weekend, so she couldn't help drive tonight...and Emily stopped by for dinner before working her nightshift. Joseph and Aaron are going to Ottowa tonight for the weekend. busy busy busy.

I am sort of disapointed about the pool, but not devastated, because I am tired enough. I have been battling a headache with ibuprofen, and the thought of getting out of the pool and out into the cold makes me okay with not going. The girls saw me pack up the suits and towels, but they are okay too. I gave them a nice warm bath and let them splash for a bit. I had selfish motives in that though, I bought lavendar and chamomile Babymagic baby bath, and I wanted to wash their hair so I can smell their heads.....ooh, they smell so yummy.

dinner time, break is over...

Emily is over to visit us, and the dinner is being put on the table....chicken, salad and waffle fries. I went out and about today with my sister-in-law, our lunch date was cancelled but we went out anyway. Aldi, Target, KFC for lunch, and Price-Chopper. We know how to dawdle, and have a good time. She has 12 kids, and I of course have 16, so we have no end of things to talk about.

I am feeling guilty that they are starting dinner without me.....

pictures

Camille walks around the house in all sorts of outfits....her boots are on the wrong feet. One would think that they would get it right at least 50% of the time, but it seems like it is 100% of the time, wrong feet. Mirielle's famous cake balls....they are deadly delicious.

Camille

Blanket sleeper and tu-tu....

Rosie

And now I will join the girls...we are watching "American Idol"....