Family :)

With the recent news of my sister expecting, and with Christmas around the corner, I can't help but think of family:) And what family means to me:)
I am expecting my 5th, and as soon as you pass baby #2 people are always curious, "well, how many are you going to have?" And I would say "I don't know."
I grew up with 2 brothers and a sister, and I loved having siblings! Although we are different personalities we are all so very close and love each other and would do anything for one another!
My husband grew up with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He too is close with his family.
And now there are so many nieces and nephews on both sides of our family for our kids to grow up with and enjoy. Whenever we are all together there is always lots of fun:)
I can't help but think of two ladies, both in their 80's, one lady only having 2 children and the other having 6. The one with 2 children has 4 grandchildren and no great grandchildren. The other lady (who I proudly call Grandma), has 18 grandchildren and soon 22 great grandchildren! When we all get together there is over 50 of us, and I love it! There's kids running around, lots of conversations, and lots of laughter.
Now don't get me wrong, I understand that majority of people want 2 kids, and that is fine. Or there are medical reasons why people only have 2 children.
But have you ever really asked yourself, "why only 2 kids?" Could it possibly be our society really only caters to a 4 person family...Dad, Mom & 2 kids. Our society says to us everywhere only 2 children and if you dare have anymore than your allotted 2 then you are just weird and you must have something wrong. Could it be that people actually like children and enjoy having them? People ask me why I have 'so many kids', but I ask, why only 2?
There are lots of people who's hearts ache to have even 1, and yet can't, or some who have a child and their hearts long for another, and trust me when I say that my heart aches and bleeds for those in that situation! I realize how blessed I am to have my children!
I guess what I am trying to say, is that I do NOT judge others for having 2 children, whatever their reason may be, but please do not judge me for having more than 2.
With having more than 2 children we are asked, 'how do you afford it?' Fair enough question. It depends on how much of a bargin hunter you are, and if you are ok with waiting for sales, or buying second hand, or receiving hand me downs? I already have most of my kids summer clothes up in my closet with tags still on and still in the bags. I bought them at the end of season this past summer. Another question we get is about spending quality time with our children. There are lots of opportunities running to the store that my husband and I will take turns just taking one child. There are also times when 'The Girls' go out, or 'The Boys' go out, and then there are times when I take the boys and my husband takes the girls. You just need to be creative and cease the opportunity when it comes. I am not against children playing in sports, piano lessons, dance, etc, but you can be so busy racing here and there that you are lucky to have one supper a week as a family. Again, it is one of those things that people wonder how in the world could I spend quality time with my children, but a family with 2 could actually be busier than I am with 5.
There are so many assumptions and questions about people who have more children, and please feel free to ask me your questions.
But, whatever size your family may be, I want to wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS:)