Not So Bad After All...

We are now on day 6 of no working dishwasher! When it broke, my first thought was, 'well, when are we getting a new one?' How could I manage without a dishwasher?!?! I love my dishwasher! What mothere doesn't?
And now I will confess, it really hasn't been that bad. I actually think it has been great. Do I even speak the words...maybe we don't need to get one? Right away my amazing husband came up with a great little schedule for the kids. My 7 year old washes the breakfast dishes, while the sisters dry and put away, 8 year old washes lunch dishes while others dry and put away and 11 year old washes supper and others dry and put away. I wipe the table and also help with putting away and some drying, but to be honest, I have barely done any dishes! What I also love about it is the family time together. Just standing around working together and chatting. It reminds me of my childhood. My parents only got a dishwasher when we were all married and out of the house. They would say they had four dishwashers...ha ha, groan;) I remember the laughing and joking around with my siblings as we did the dishwashes. It was family time. And although my parents have a dishwasher, they next to never use it. Still, when we all get together my Dad washes and the rest of us dry and put away.
So, all in all, I think it has been good for my family. It is fun. I think working together is good for them. But if my washing machine goes, then I will really be in trouble! :0

Finally Here...

I remember years ago when I had three little ones under the age 4. It was very busy. I remember looking at friends who had a 10 year old daughter and she would love having her little sister on her hip, and I was running after a toddler with a baby on my hip and I would think, someday I will be there. My husband and I would also dream of the day we had a babysitter in the house, and here I am:) My oldest now 11 and she loves being a little mother:) If I need to run to the grocery store I am able to jump in the van, by myself and quickly get what I need. No more getting 5 pairs of coats on, 5 pairs of shoes on, 5 seat belts to buckle up, none of that, just me quickly getting to the grocery store and back in less than 20 mins! The best part is that my daughter is loving this new responsibility! She too has dreamed of this day when she was old enough to babysit her younger siblings. Every time I leave the house, she is beaming with excitement and feels like such a grown up:)
And now, I see so many who are just starting out with their families. They have a toddler around their ankles and a baby in their arms, and I go back in time. I so badly want to help them with whatever I can do. I remember those days. Those challenging days. I just want them to know, it does get better! And believe it or not, although it may feel like time is crawling at a snails rate, before you know it, your oldest will be 11 too:) And as trying as it can be some days when they are young, the benefit of having them close in age is when they grow up, they become such good play buddies, (most days ;) ).
So, to all the moms with little ones, hang in there and cherish these days, they do grow...and quickly!

Wise Beyond Her Years...

My oldest just turned 11...crazy! As a special treat for our children, we let them pick out where they would like to have their birthday dinner. A few years ago, our oldest picked Jack Astor's, which is a very yummy choice:) Again last year she chose Jack Astor's. Much to our dismay, the uniforms for Jack Astor's had changed...mainly just the women's. We were very disappointed in the change. The girls went from wearing black pants to wearing, very tight (nothing left to the imagination, kind of tight), very short (they are unable to bend over without revealing their bottoms), black skirts. WHY? The food is really good!! Why do they feel the need to try and 'attract' with their clothing? As parents, we openly talk about what we feel is appropriate and not appropriate. We would like to raise well dressed girls that feel they don't need to use their lack of clothing to gain attention. So, this year, we asked our daughter where she would like to go for her birthday dinner and she said, "I really like the garlic pan bread from Jack Astor's, but they dress really inappropriately there. At Kelsey's the women dress more appropriate, I would like to go there." I was so proud of her for coming to that conclusion on her own. We didn't say anything or try to persuade her, she came up with the decision on her own. I really don't get it! I feel bad for the young girls and women who feel the need to dress in a way just to get attention from guys. And I am very disappointed in restaurants who are changing their dress code to having their female staff wearing very revealing clothing.

Best of Both Worlds:)

There was a bit of a situation that I really felt strongly about. So, the question was, to say something or not to say something? For the most part, I would definitely say that I am like my Dad, easy going, go with the flow, little things don't really bother me. My Dad hates to 'ruffle any feathers', and for the most part, I am that same way. I just want everyone to get along and be happy:) But then, there is that little bit of spunk in me, which undoubtedly, I get from my Mom:) So, I decided to say something. But the struggle is how do you say what you want to, and get your message across without being too passionate (and you make enemies), or too passive (they don't take you seriously)? So, I said what I felt I needed to say, and then I worried, how did I come across? Maybe I came across differently to each one that was there? Maybe some agreed, some disagreed, and some in the middle. And that is OK. We were able to have a good discussion and come to a conclusion that everyone agreed on:) It was kind of out of character for me,(and very much out of my comfort zone), but I did feel strongly on the situation. And after I really felt like my Mom would have been proud of me for standing up for what I believed in. I am thankful for that nice little bit of mixture (80% easy going, 20% spunk), that I get from both of my parents:)

Reality...

As mentioned before, I am a homeschool Mom, and for the most part I really do love it:)
This morning, I read a chapter of Charlotte's web, with the fireplace on, all of us snuggled on the couch, my ever so obedient children, who sat so perfectly still and listened to every word I read, um, well, it was kinda like that. I did read and the fireplace was on, and we were snuggled because there were 5 of us on a love seat!
When we were finished reading, I was really enjoying sitting on the comfy couch in front of the fireplace, (and I was feeling lazy), I got my 7 year old to bring the last bit of his schooling down to me. There we sat, (I would say cuddled, and he would say, we sat beside each other), and I was really enjoying the moment with him. I just wanted time to freeze. It's moments like these that I cherish so much and just love being at home with my family. These moments do happen and I love them so much, but it is not always a happy little scene. Don't get me wrong, for the most part things are pretty good here, and when I say pretty good, I mean, there are little misunderstandings as to who really had the toy first, but "I want the tv on Disney channel", "they ruined my picture", "Mom, I spilled the juice all over the floor". And in between all of that insert me, running up and down stairs changing loads of laundry, folding, looking at a child's choice of clothing and thinking, "it is ok, they are proud of what they chose to wear!"
All this to say, as much as I have those 'perfect moments' that I do love, I have a lot of just regular 'LIFE MOMENTS'. I want to keep it real! I don't want anyone to think I have it all together, a perfect house (which if you have been here, you know it's not.), perfect children, the only thing really close to perfect, I would have to say is my husband;)
I think we can get caught up in thinking 'everyone else has it together except me' frame of mind. We need to keep it real and realize, all moms have dirty faces and bums they have to wipe, loads of laundry to wash and fold, breakfast, lunch and suppers to make, and little quarrels amongst children they need to help resolve.
Cherish and enjoy the good moments! For the moments that are just 'life moments', take a deep breath and remember no one has a perfect home or perfect children, even that mom that you are thinking about right now and you want to say, "but she has a perfect home!"

I LOVE My Life:)

For those of you who know me, you might be wondering why on earth my title for today is 'I LOVE My Life'? For those who do not know, my husband is now on day 9 of basically bedrest after a very bad concussion. The thought for this blog came before his concussion and I knew I hadn't blogged in a bit and thought I would blog and then the skating accident happened. And now I realize that this is even better timing.
Just a few days before my husband fell skating I was thinking how much I really enjoy my life right now, and I have no regrets. My husband and I actually really like each other and really enjoy being with each. I honestly like my children too. I am really enjoying homeschooling them and building amazing relationships with them as well. My husband isn't a workaholic, we take time for each other and for our children. We are enjoying life, NOW! I know of people who work so hard all their life and look forward to retirement, but sadly they don't make it, or their spouse doesn't make it...then what? You work so hard for something you can't even enjoy, or enjoy it with those you wanted too!
If something were to happen to my husband, to one of my children, (and I hope and pray not!!), I can honestly say I have no regrets with how I have spent time with them and enjoyed them! (Trust me, I am really hoping to be able to enjoy great grandchildren!)
We get so caught up in life and the busyness of it, that we don't always enjoy it and our family TODAY!
There is an amazing song, that I just love, and I have played it so much in the past week.
The song is called In Your Arms, sung by Meredith Andrews. She is by far my favourite artist! She has 3 cd's and is also on iTunes, you should look her up...you will definitley be encouraged by her songs!
Please take a few minutes to listen to the song and be encouraged by it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2IcfoCmzTg

Do You Know What a Willet Is?

I will be honest, I had no clue as to what a dictionary willet was. I actually just looked it up for the first time right now so that I could post the dictionary definition.

You see, to my sons, their 'private part' is their willet. How or why in the world do they call it a willet, you ask? Well, a few years ago, when they were in the tub, my one son just out of the blue called it a willet, and it has stuck ever since.

And with boys being boys, it is not uncommon to hear, 'oh my willet!' Everytime one of our boys says something about his willet, (especially in public), my husband always turns to me and says, 'I am so glad they don't know the real word!'

My husband and I laugh about it, and think of their shock someday when they find out the real name:) But as for right now, willet works just fine:)

And for thoes who want to know what the dictionary definition is......
a large American shore bird, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, having a long stout bill, long legs, and a grey plumage with black-and-white wings: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes