Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!

I have been suffering lately from a self-induced lack of sleep. I stay up much too late, reading books or blogs or watching movies or what-have-you. Then I try to fall asleep, fighting the pregnancy-induced RLS urge to kick and wiggle my legs as I wait for my calcium supplement to take effect. Baby 9 decides this is the ideal time to do a little breakdancing and gymnastics before settling nicely onto my bladder so that I once again have to get out of bed and visit the bathroom...you get the picture. Before I know it, 6:30 am rolls around and I am gently shaken awake by my oldest boy to start a new day.

But not yesterday morning. Yesterday morning was glorious.

I woke up well after the sun had come up and tried to orient my brain to what day it was. Saturday? No... then I realized the vacuum was going. Allen was still home, and he let me sleep in! What a rare, welcomed treat. He had set his alarm to get up before the kids, make their lunches & breakfast and get them to school. After returning home he did the dishes, vacuumed, and straightened the house up. All while I was still enjoying a sweet slumber.

I love that man.

There's A New Toy In Town...

Do you think my little 3-year-old towhead will be more motivated to be potty trained if I offered him these lovable stuffed toys as a prize? I must admit, these are right up my alley as far as being disgustingly humorous, but it doesn't seem right to give them to a child to play with.

I'd love to have a set on my bathroom shelf, though.

Maybe these underwear would make potty training a little more fun for me to endure?

See for yourself what other goodies the "Pee and Poo" Company has to offer!

Ode to Brownies

I have been a bit obsessed with food lately. No, not food - treats. Snacks. Munchies. Sweets. Usually this is fine, as I am well-hated for being able to eat whatever I want and keeping my girlish figure, but during pregnancy? Hoo-boy. Watch out!

One of my latest obsessions has been brownies. I don't make them often, as I have been known at times to eat an entire pan on my own before anyone knows they were even created. (p.s. That is not a good thing.) And my favorite part of the brownie? The corner piece.

Yes, everyone thinks I'm kidding when I say that. Most people want the chewy, soft center cuts. Not me. I love the contrast of the chewy center to the crusty outside when I take a bite of these delicacies. Why a delicacy? Sadly, there are only four to a pan.

Until today!!

I am not alone. There are other corner lovers out there, or else this beauty of a creation would not be available. May I introduce:

The Edge Brownie Pan!

Genius! Pure genius! Crusty corners for everyone! No brownie left behind!

I don't know who wrote this poem, but it sums up my recent sentiment towards brownies:

ODE TO A BROWNIE

O brownie small, your life was brief.

You lasted but a day.

When I heard you call my name,

I knew I shouldn’t stay.

O brownie bite, you need to know

I did all that I could.

I picked you up, I ate you down.

You tasted mighty good!

O brownie, you are part of me.

I’ll always have you near!

Though small, you seemed to put at least

A pound upon my rear.

O brownie piece, your life was short;
It lasted but a day.
And now I see your brother here.
He’ll end up the same way.

What Is Your Integrity Worth?

Last Monday for Family Night our oldest daughter taught a lesson on integrity. She handed out different situations and had us read them and discuss what we could do to show integrity in each. One was something like this:

You are at the grocery store and you find a $20 bill. What would you do with it?

We talked about how it was important to give it to a manager at the store because it could belong to someone who really needed it and they may come back looking for it. And how it's not really your money, so it should be easy to show integrity and hand it in.

Flash forward to today. I was at the Dollar Store with 3 of my kids. As we went through the checkout, my little cowgirl found a penny on the floor. She showed it to me and then handed it to the cashier, who had this conversation with her:

Cashier: "You can keep that, honey."

Cowgirl: "It's not mine."

Cashier: "It's okay. You can keep it."

Cowgirl: "It's not mine."

Me: (remembering our Family Night lesson) "I don't think that whoever lost it will come back for it, sweetie. It's okay."

Cowgirl: "I DON'T WANT IT!"

Cashier: (looks at me, confused)

And then, without a second thought, Cowgirl's 5-year-old sister grabs the penny and says, "Fine. if she doesn't want it, I'll keep it." And into her pocket it went.

I'm glad someone learned something.

Family Fun!

I don't read many magazines, except for ones published by our church. However, I used to subscribe to Family Fun Magazine because of all the great ideas and advice they provide for holidays, vacations and, well, family fun. Once my subscription ended I chose not to renew it because I have access to all of the great ideas from the magazine online. I also joined Family Fun's reader panel (no subscription required), which means every once in awhile I get an email asking me to submit my own ideas on various topics. I send my ideas in, with no response, but that's ok because they send me a free craft kit for every 3 ideas I submit, and it's always fun to get a random package in the mail.

Well, GUESS WHAT? I got a phone call from the magazine today, and one of my ideas is going to be published in May's issue!

Watch for an article on family STRESS BUSTERS!

I almost feel famous.

Theme Week: Squirmy Sunday

Just a quick thought (based on personal experience at a meeting today) :

Have you ever noticed that when men are having a "discussion" they can yell and be frustrated and angry and voice their opinions, then slap each other on the back afterwards and all is well?

If women were to have the same discussion, they would hold it against each other for the rest of their lives, or wonder why so-and-so had to be so mad and hostile.

I don't like being present for such conversations.

They make me feel squirmy.

Theme Week: A Sequence for Saturday

I said I'd post every day this week...did you doubt me? I know, it's late, but it's still Saturday! Here's a fun sequence of pictures for today's post:

Watch our family grow!

(1992, Wedding Announcement photo)

(1993, Still Lovin' Denim! And check out the rise on those bangs. Awesome. One kiddo, 7 to go.)

(1995, Two cute kids, two happy parents)

(1997, Wanted to be sure the new little cutie was in a denim photo.)

(2000, The gender score is 2 to 2.)

(2001, Another little girl - we venture to the outdoors. Let's play "I Spy"...can you find the dinosaur?)

(2003, Boys: 2, Girls: 4)

(2004, A brand new boy to help even things up some.)

(2006, Our family as it is now)

Our most current picture is seen on the sidebar as well as a couple of posts ago.

Stay tuned (around September or October) for Our Family: 2008!

Theme Week: Flashback Friday

This is my "ugly sweater". You may have seen me wear it before. It is very accommodating - I can wear it all the time, pregnant or not (as seen in above photo, taken this morning by Allen). I wonder if people who see me wearing this ask themselves - "Why?" Here's the deal:

This was my Dad's sweater.

When Dad died, this was the only thing of his that I really wanted to have. I have fond memories of his wearing this sweater from the time I was young until the very end of his life. It brings back thoughts of Thanksgiving dinners at Aunt Jan's (who, legend has it, made the sweater for him), snow storms in Iowa and cold mornings in East Carbon. But it mostly reminds me of dancing with Dad.

As a little girl I would stand on his feet and he would dance around the room with me - music or not. As a teenager we would get crazy dancing to the latest Pet Shop Boys or U2 song as the music video played in the background on MTV. And near the end of his life, as I was helping to care for him, I would take his hands and help him stand from the kitchen table and walk, he forwards and I backwards, face-to-face, to the couch. As we moved towards the couch like this, he would occasionally stop. I would look at him to see what was the matter, and he would get a twinkle in his eyes and start to sway our hands back and forth then slowly move his feet up and down, still wanting to dance. Oh, how I miss dancing with Dad.

Yesterday as I was driving around town getting groceries, this song by Luther Vandross came on the radio. I have heard it before, but as it reached the chorus it was especially difficult to hold back tears:

If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him
I'd play a song that would never, ever end
How I'd love, love, love
To dance with my father again.

(Uncle Roy, Dad sporting the sweater, and Aunt Charlotte)

So now if you see me wearing my ugly sweater, you'll understand - there's so much more involved than just warmth and fashion.

Theme Week: Thursday's Thought

I have been thinking about this one for a long time, and it's still not going to come out right. I may write about my thoughts on the topic in segments as I am able to really gather and organize them in a coherent way. Anyway, here goes: Why do we have such a large family? I am asked that question in various forms more often than expected. And I guess the simple answer is this: Why not?

I have always loved kids, for as long as I can remember. In high school I told everyone I wanted to have 32 kids - the plan was to adopt 25 and have 7 on my own. I even kept a notebook full of names that I heard and liked. Sure, it was sort of a joke - mostly my way of saying that I wanted a large family someday. When I met Allen and found that he came from a family of 15 kids, I was amazed and impressed. After we were married and expecting our oldest boy, we were thrilled to discover that Allen's mom was expecting as well! Sometime after she had her last one, I remember thinking: Sixteen kids! When they are all married, she'll be living my dream - there will be 32 of us!

I love my family. I have an incredible husband who is loving, supportive and helpful around the house. My kids are wonderful - of course not perfect all the time - but such a blessing in my life!

OK, before I get on a "Big Family Soapbox", let me finish up this thought with my favorite responses to some of my frequently asked questions.

Are they all yours?

• No, this is not all of them; my oldest is at home with the other 5.

Are you going to have more?

• Check back in nine months and you'll see for yourself!

Don't you know what causes that?

• Water or sex, but I don't want to give up either one.

Are you going to get fixed?

• Well, as you can see by the size of our family, everything is working just fine.

Are you planning to have any more?

• I just figured out what I'm really, really good at, so why stop doing it?

Haven't you heard of birth control?

• Yes, that's great stuff for people with ugly kids.

Do you ever have any time for yourselves?

• Obviously we get a little time to ourselves, or we wouldn't have eight kids.
  

(And last of all, my favorite question which I get asked every time I am pregnant...)

Haven't you had that baby yet?!

• Yes. This is the NEXT ONE!

Jack-Don't-Give-Me-No-Flack It Is!

According to your votes, Jack-Don't-Give-Me-No-Flack would be our baby boy's name.

Hey You came in last.

We wouldn't have just called him Hey You, though- his name would have been Hayden Eugene; Hay Eu for short.

Would that have changed your vote?

Theme Week: Wordless Wednesday

These are a few of my favorite things...

Theme Week: Two For Tuesday

Today I will share 2 random things with you. I am going with: two pictures that always make me laugh.

Picture 1

The first picture was taken on a day where the little girls were being much too quiet. I went to see what was going on and found this:
They were so excited! "Mom, we made ourselves beautiful with markers!"

The Cowgirl had her face colored completely green - she said, "I am the Wizard of Oz witch!" Unfortunately, I had cleaned most of it off before I thought to take a picture.

The Little Princess said, "I AM A TIGER! RAAAAAAAAHHHHRRRRR!! Did I scare you?"

Picture 2

This is one of those pictures that speak a thousand words. It is by far one of my favorite pictures, ever. We were on a camping trip with some friends and the boys were doing a little fishing. When Allen caught a nice one, I took a picture. I didn't realize the look of complete disgust on our oldest boy's face until the pictures came back from developing. In case it's hard to tell, he's the kid on the right. (click on picture for a larger view)

Is that priceless, or what?

Theme Week: Mealtime Monday

I'm feeling crazy today. I decided I'm going to post something every day this week, following some random theme. Today I came up with Mealtime Monday. Many people are amazed that I can feed my family on $450 a month. This is not even difficult, really - I shop the sales and plan my menu, weekly, ahead of time (before going shopping) and it all works out great. Our family loves soups, and this is a favorite: Home Style Potato Soup. This makes a thick, creamy soup. Enjoy!

Home Style Potato Soup

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced celery
1 cup peeled, diced carrots (about 3 carrots)
2 cups peeled, diced potatoes (about 6 potatoes)
4 Tablespoons chicken bullion
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
1 quart milk
salt and pepper

Combine vegetables in saucepan and add just enough water to cover vegetables. Add chicken bullion and cook, covered, until tender (about 15 minutes). Meanwhile, melt butter in large, heavy saucepan (this is the pan your soup will end up in). Add flour to butter with a wire wisk until blended and bubbly. Add milk slowly and stir until smooth. Add undrained veggies and heat through. Season with salt and pepper.

(Serves 8)

Optional Variations:
-When serving, top with grated cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon.
-Add 2 cups frozen corn with undrained veggies.
-For a cheesy potato soup add 1 cup grated cheddar cheese after adding milk.

P.S. The photo is from www.dairygoodness.ca

Feelin' Crafty

My creative juices have been flowing lately. For some people pregnancy brings about a "nesting instinct", making them want to clean like crazy. As much as my husband would welcome that instinct in me, I have been feeling the need to create things.

I am in a card club where I make 2 sets of 10 cards every other month and then meet with a fun group of ladies to swap cards, enjoy treats and visit. Most of these ladies are very talented and I feel like I am submitting sub-par cards for the swap. However, this month I am excited about my creations. In fact, I can't decide between the 3 cards pictured above.

I have also had the desire to break out my sewing machine. I was wanting a headband or two, so I browsed the internet and found 2 styles that I really like, combined them and designed a pattern, then created some really cute headbands that my older girls have been using as birthday gifts for their friends.

Another creative outlet: I used to love writing songs and poetry until someone(s) made fun of a song I wrote about a decade and a half ago. Well, I even decided to venture out there again - I wrote a couple of poems that I think are pretty good. No more songs, though - I gave my guitar to my brother whose abilities were greater than mine. Maybe I could write a song for the accordion, which I do still play on occasion.

Maybe.

(Don't hold your breath.)