I have officially decided that a mother coined the term Good Grief. Because seriously, all I have gotten from my kids today is grief. Its not the older ones, its my three year old and eighteen month old. Shall I make a list of a few of the things they did? Unrolled the parents toilet paper all over my bedroom and bathroom while I was teaching math to my oldest. I say parents toilet paper because I expect them to do it in their bathroom so we buy low quality TP. But they got into the soft Charmin in my bathroom. While in the bathroom, they dumped my garbage can, and colored on the walls with one of my husbands good pens.
Then, because it is math day and I have to teach each kid a different thing, I ignore it because, that in itself isnt so bad. So I lock my bedroom door so they cant do it again or make it worse. Put my eighteen month old in his bed, and I head downstairs to do the lesson with my second oldest. I figured it was mostly R who made the mess, so putting him down for a nap would solve it. NOPE. While doing my lesson in the basement with A, my five year old and my three year old are in the kitchen. Yeah....I JUST went grocery shopping. They found one package of each different kind of cracker and opened them all. Then they woke up R and let him out of his room. So now all the spilled packages of crackers were now crunched packages. I heard Rs voice and knew they had gotten him out of bed, only to discover that him being woken up from a nap wasnt the worst thing to happen to my kitchen. There is not one inch of floor without some crumb pile on it. They also took my highchair, hid the cushions for it somewhere and flipped the thing upside down and were using it for a race car. Just as I begin to get them in trouble, the four month old girl wakes up. So I leave yet another mess unattended to. I had to change a poopy bum.
Mom is busy changing a bum, lets do more bad stuff. So someone moves around my furniture in my front room to make stepping stones. Pillows from couch, ottoman, piano bench, and rocking chair, all in a circle to include the couch and chair in the corner so they can run around the room without touching the floor. I get the boys in trouble and start making them clean it up and I hear a container pop open and lots of little somethings go flying across the floor. That container was a brand new thing of raisins. And while I was directing my older ones to clean up their mess, my baby boy got into the raisins and tried to open them resulting in the violent pop off of the lid and raisins ALL OVER my hallway. I go to put him in his room and then sit in my room for a good ten minutes. That was another mistake.
While sitting in my room collecting my thoughts, my three year old finds my modpodge and decides to dump it all over my livingroom floor. YAY. I just got that clean and told my three year old he has to be in bed. Is he? no. Should I be worried....yes. If you will excuse me, I'm probably going to make brownies for the third day in a row this week.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Dirty Little Secrets
I have officially been homeschooling for a week now. And no...I am not very good at it yet. Preparing lessons, feeding children, cleaning the house, keeping the little ones from making messes, and teaching three homeschoolers makes for a hard day. And this is my every day. It isn't called easy, it is called life. Taking the easy way out is not fulfilling. Sure...it is easy, but that isn't always a good thing. This is my challenge, this is my calling. I was meant to be my children's mother. No...I am not very good at it, but I am trying.
I have gotten to the point where I can do two meals, a load of dishes, and teaching in one day. So...my house is a disaster. I didn't have the money to buy curriculum, but as a wonderful friend of mine put it, "All you need to do homeschool is the internet and a library card." I thought she was crazy...but it turns out, she was right. On the internet I found some old curriculum that is out of print...but it is free. The McGuffy Readers are free on google, and Rays Arithmetic, is also free. I downloaded them to my computer and printed out the first books. My father knows Spanish, and has agreed to do a Spanish class every other week with my children. Free of charge. I do have one paid subscription to a worksheet website that I love but the price is very low...and my awesome friend gave me a subscription because she loves me. But I when it is time to renew, I am SO going to do it. Love the website. It is called enchanted learning for those who want to know. But typically, I let the boys pick a subject, and then i research it, and then we have a lesson on it. At this age we are mostly concerned with learning to read. As they get older I will probably buy curriculum.
I'm not telling you to homeschool your children, we do this for our family because this is where we feel they will thrive the best. But today...well today was a "I need chocolate" kind of day. Unfortunately I would have had to take all six of my kids to the grocery store to buy a candy bar...yeah, I didn't need to spend that dollar anyway. So, I made cookies. It takes more time, but with a little bit of milk, it is just as good.
Being a new homeschooler I went online to find some tips on how to teach more than one kid at a time, and where to store all your homeschooling supplies. Almost every homeschool room I found was totally straightened up and full of expensive storage equipment. I couldn't do that, I couldn't afford that. I needed better tips...so I kept searching. Every mom who posts a video, posts it when things are clean. I don't know about you, but my house only gets clean after the kids go to bed, then first thing in the morning it is a disaster again. I know lots of people who feel like they are failing at one area or another in their life. Don't dwell on what you cant do, change your circumstances. You have more power on the world around you than you know. Don't sell yourself short. But take baby steps. Today I went running for myself, today was a success. This is what success looks like. So now, if you have made it this far, I give you my dirty little secrets.
(Edit: I didn't change myself at all before I started my video, I JUST came back from running my five k course, so my hair is in a gross ponytail, I'm sweaty and in grunge clothes.)
Yes it is a mess, but do you know what, it is getting better. I have gotten rid of STUFF, free stuff is great, but too much free stuff ISN'T WORTH IT. Don't live like that. If your house is always a mess no matter how much you clean, you have too much stuff. If you haven't used it in a year TRASH IT. If you feel like it needs to be donated, then donate it. But if you put it in a bag to donate it...and it stays in your house for more than a week, TAKE IT TO THE TRASH. Don't leave it in your house. I have taken out garbage bag after garbage bag from my home. Nine bags or more have gone out of my house, to NEVER come back. Now just look at the room you are in for a moment. Think of nine kitchen sized garbage bags full of things, toys clothes, random books and such...now DUMP THEM IN YOUR FLOOR. It is too much stuff. People get things because they are cute, and shopping is fun. I have serious hoarder tendencies. I love getting things. Shopping has always been something I love doing. When I feel bad, my first impulse is to go buy stuff. When I'm having a good day, do you know what I feel like doing? I want to shop. I love finding usable second hand things. The only problem is, when you have too many usable second hand things, they get buried and NOTHING gets used, and you get abused. No one likes living around clutter. You get used to it, but your soul still needs something, so you feel it with more material somethings....and compound the problem.
Look at yourself in the mirror and repeat after me, "I will improve my quality of life. I control my surroundings. If there is something I cant get rid of, I don't control my life, my STUFF does." Believe it or not, when I first moved into this house, it stayed clean. But I hadn't acquired things yet. We had a friend in need, we let her and her family move into our basement. Living with others is stressful...so what did I do? I shopped. I loved bringing home a new toy and giving it to my children. Seeing their face when they got a neat motorcycle made me feel better...but only for a moment. Then the moment would be over, and I would be back in a stressful situation. After the family moved out, I had a newborn. So naturally, I wanted new things for the new baby. Bought more stuff. Then we had another surprise and thirteen months after our son was born, we had our first little girl. But now, two years have passed, and I had collected, and stashed, and bought. And I was buried.
Do you know one reason why I run? Because it makes me feel good, and the feeling lasts. Do you know what I do now when I get the urge to go shopping and fill my house with more things, I spend time with my kids, and we run. I still get the happy faces, but not from giving of things, but from giving of time.
My wonderful mother helped me more than anyone. She would come to my house, and it would be a total disaster, but she knew that just helping me clean for a day wouldn't help me the next week. I needed to change, and I needed it fast. When you are the one living with piles of things every where and someone offers to help get rid of things, don't get offended. All they want to do is improve your quality of life. Next time someone offers help, take it. I admit, had my mother not pushed me, I probably would have spiraled downward. You get to a point where the mess is too overwhelming and you cant see a way out. And when you don't have a lot of money, you store things like clothes and toys. I had clothes for my boys stashed for five years down the road. Overkill...I didnt think so, what If we didnt have the money to buy clothes when they got that age? Do you know what...most of the clothes that I have, were given to me. People are generally good, and when they know you have a need, they are ready to help.
I have been fortunate to have a mother who wanted to help. She started slowly, by introducing me to a tv show, of all things. (no it wasnt hoarders) It was a show called clean house. And as I watched it, something clicked. Having your home overflowing with things is FOOLISHNESS. A house is a place for you to come home and feel at peace. I used to think that the only people who kept their houses clean were people without kids, or people with a lot of money to pay for cleaning ladies. Now, the kid thing is valid, but it isn't an excuse. If your kids get into things too much, get rid of some of the things they get into. Invest in locks for your closets. As evident by the video, I still don't have a total handle on this. But for me today was a success, my children were fed, I did something to improve my quality of life (running), I scrubbed my dishwasher so there were no more sticky finger prints on it, and I made cookies. No I didn't finish everything on my list, I needed to do a load of laundry, and a load of dishes, and I needed to sort my file cabinets, I needed to organize my school cabinet, I have to fix the bookshelf my children broke or find other places for things to go.....the list goes on and on...STOP IT. Don't dwell on what you haven't done, look at what you accomplished. Are your kids fed, happy, and loved, are your home circumstances slightly better today then yesterday? If so, then today was a success.
Mothers of the world, you control the future. Our children will inherit the earth after us, revel in the fact that you can change everything. If you want to make an impact, first make an impact with yourself. I'm on the up and up with my life, and I am not going back. I encourage each of you to join me. Join me in finding the joy in the journey, join me in re learning how to have a fulfilling life instead of a life full of stuff.
I have gotten to the point where I can do two meals, a load of dishes, and teaching in one day. So...my house is a disaster. I didn't have the money to buy curriculum, but as a wonderful friend of mine put it, "All you need to do homeschool is the internet and a library card." I thought she was crazy...but it turns out, she was right. On the internet I found some old curriculum that is out of print...but it is free. The McGuffy Readers are free on google, and Rays Arithmetic, is also free. I downloaded them to my computer and printed out the first books. My father knows Spanish, and has agreed to do a Spanish class every other week with my children. Free of charge. I do have one paid subscription to a worksheet website that I love but the price is very low...and my awesome friend gave me a subscription because she loves me. But I when it is time to renew, I am SO going to do it. Love the website. It is called enchanted learning for those who want to know. But typically, I let the boys pick a subject, and then i research it, and then we have a lesson on it. At this age we are mostly concerned with learning to read. As they get older I will probably buy curriculum.
I'm not telling you to homeschool your children, we do this for our family because this is where we feel they will thrive the best. But today...well today was a "I need chocolate" kind of day. Unfortunately I would have had to take all six of my kids to the grocery store to buy a candy bar...yeah, I didn't need to spend that dollar anyway. So, I made cookies. It takes more time, but with a little bit of milk, it is just as good.
Being a new homeschooler I went online to find some tips on how to teach more than one kid at a time, and where to store all your homeschooling supplies. Almost every homeschool room I found was totally straightened up and full of expensive storage equipment. I couldn't do that, I couldn't afford that. I needed better tips...so I kept searching. Every mom who posts a video, posts it when things are clean. I don't know about you, but my house only gets clean after the kids go to bed, then first thing in the morning it is a disaster again. I know lots of people who feel like they are failing at one area or another in their life. Don't dwell on what you cant do, change your circumstances. You have more power on the world around you than you know. Don't sell yourself short. But take baby steps. Today I went running for myself, today was a success. This is what success looks like. So now, if you have made it this far, I give you my dirty little secrets.
(Edit: I didn't change myself at all before I started my video, I JUST came back from running my five k course, so my hair is in a gross ponytail, I'm sweaty and in grunge clothes.)
Yes it is a mess, but do you know what, it is getting better. I have gotten rid of STUFF, free stuff is great, but too much free stuff ISN'T WORTH IT. Don't live like that. If your house is always a mess no matter how much you clean, you have too much stuff. If you haven't used it in a year TRASH IT. If you feel like it needs to be donated, then donate it. But if you put it in a bag to donate it...and it stays in your house for more than a week, TAKE IT TO THE TRASH. Don't leave it in your house. I have taken out garbage bag after garbage bag from my home. Nine bags or more have gone out of my house, to NEVER come back. Now just look at the room you are in for a moment. Think of nine kitchen sized garbage bags full of things, toys clothes, random books and such...now DUMP THEM IN YOUR FLOOR. It is too much stuff. People get things because they are cute, and shopping is fun. I have serious hoarder tendencies. I love getting things. Shopping has always been something I love doing. When I feel bad, my first impulse is to go buy stuff. When I'm having a good day, do you know what I feel like doing? I want to shop. I love finding usable second hand things. The only problem is, when you have too many usable second hand things, they get buried and NOTHING gets used, and you get abused. No one likes living around clutter. You get used to it, but your soul still needs something, so you feel it with more material somethings....and compound the problem.
Look at yourself in the mirror and repeat after me, "I will improve my quality of life. I control my surroundings. If there is something I cant get rid of, I don't control my life, my STUFF does." Believe it or not, when I first moved into this house, it stayed clean. But I hadn't acquired things yet. We had a friend in need, we let her and her family move into our basement. Living with others is stressful...so what did I do? I shopped. I loved bringing home a new toy and giving it to my children. Seeing their face when they got a neat motorcycle made me feel better...but only for a moment. Then the moment would be over, and I would be back in a stressful situation. After the family moved out, I had a newborn. So naturally, I wanted new things for the new baby. Bought more stuff. Then we had another surprise and thirteen months after our son was born, we had our first little girl. But now, two years have passed, and I had collected, and stashed, and bought. And I was buried.
Do you know one reason why I run? Because it makes me feel good, and the feeling lasts. Do you know what I do now when I get the urge to go shopping and fill my house with more things, I spend time with my kids, and we run. I still get the happy faces, but not from giving of things, but from giving of time.
I have been fortunate to have a mother who wanted to help. She started slowly, by introducing me to a tv show, of all things. (no it wasnt hoarders) It was a show called clean house. And as I watched it, something clicked. Having your home overflowing with things is FOOLISHNESS. A house is a place for you to come home and feel at peace. I used to think that the only people who kept their houses clean were people without kids, or people with a lot of money to pay for cleaning ladies. Now, the kid thing is valid, but it isn't an excuse. If your kids get into things too much, get rid of some of the things they get into. Invest in locks for your closets. As evident by the video, I still don't have a total handle on this. But for me today was a success, my children were fed, I did something to improve my quality of life (running), I scrubbed my dishwasher so there were no more sticky finger prints on it, and I made cookies. No I didn't finish everything on my list, I needed to do a load of laundry, and a load of dishes, and I needed to sort my file cabinets, I needed to organize my school cabinet, I have to fix the bookshelf my children broke or find other places for things to go.....the list goes on and on...STOP IT. Don't dwell on what you haven't done, look at what you accomplished. Are your kids fed, happy, and loved, are your home circumstances slightly better today then yesterday? If so, then today was a success.
Mothers of the world, you control the future. Our children will inherit the earth after us, revel in the fact that you can change everything. If you want to make an impact, first make an impact with yourself. I'm on the up and up with my life, and I am not going back. I encourage each of you to join me. Join me in finding the joy in the journey, join me in re learning how to have a fulfilling life instead of a life full of stuff.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
This started out as a facebook status.....
then I decided no one wants to read my complaints, so I figured posting here would be better. No clue why.
DUDE! Can today get worse! I swear these boys are out to get me today. The rest of the Orange juice on the floor, waking up the baby by jumping on her and slamming doors, waking up Dad in the middle of his night, not helping me clean up THEIR toy room, telling me theyre not hungry then eating my food, I left my merchandise at the store, and I forgot to purchase something I needed, cant go replace lost items cause I already have a kid down for the night and tomorrow is sunday so I have to wait till monday, realized tomorrow is sunday meaning I need to go find sunday clothes for everyone, found a nasty rotten apple in the basement where we are not supposed to have FOOD, incessant tattling, just realized I have to do baths for everyone. BAH! trying REALLY hard not to be in a bad mood.
ok, maybe Im not trying that hard to not be in a bad mood. but DANG IT! To top it all off, my youngest boy dumped a cup of water all over the keys of my laptop yesterday. Some of my keys arent working at all, so to write several things I have to find it somewhere else and paste it. ANNOYING!
Ok...lets try to make today better....
Finished cleaning the basement so the boys only have one bucket of toys out instead of five, now they can clean it themselves.
got a box of free clothes and lots of shoes for my kids
my children aren't fighting. they're being loud, but they're not fighting.
kids have all eaten so I can do an early bedtime
man....Ive been thinking forever. and its making my head hurt. That last one is my only salvation tonight. Time to put the kids ALL in their beds.
DUDE! Can today get worse! I swear these boys are out to get me today. The rest of the Orange juice on the floor, waking up the baby by jumping on her and slamming doors, waking up Dad in the middle of his night, not helping me clean up THEIR toy room, telling me theyre not hungry then eating my food, I left my merchandise at the store, and I forgot to purchase something I needed, cant go replace lost items cause I already have a kid down for the night and tomorrow is sunday so I have to wait till monday, realized tomorrow is sunday meaning I need to go find sunday clothes for everyone, found a nasty rotten apple in the basement where we are not supposed to have FOOD, incessant tattling, just realized I have to do baths for everyone. BAH! trying REALLY hard not to be in a bad mood.
ok, maybe Im not trying that hard to not be in a bad mood. but DANG IT! To top it all off, my youngest boy dumped a cup of water all over the keys of my laptop yesterday. Some of my keys arent working at all, so to write several things I have to find it somewhere else and paste it. ANNOYING!
Ok...lets try to make today better....
Finished cleaning the basement so the boys only have one bucket of toys out instead of five, now they can clean it themselves.
got a box of free clothes and lots of shoes for my kids
my children aren't fighting. they're being loud, but they're not fighting.
kids have all eaten so I can do an early bedtime
man....Ive been thinking forever. and its making my head hurt. That last one is my only salvation tonight. Time to put the kids ALL in their beds.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Everyone is Home!
Well for the past almost 2 weeks my mother has had anywhere from 2 to all 5 of my boys at her house. She has been one of the biggest helps ever. Even before I had Liv, she was there, ready to take on the boys for me. It has been a pretty peaceful week. After I got home from the hospital, it was just me and my baby for a few nights. It was wonderful. Then we brought back Mike and Xan. My sleep schedule was totally off because I would wake up with the baby. But the big boys were great. They knew how to get their own breakfast even without mom waking up. Cold cereal and Milk, then when I'd get up, with a little prodding, they'd clean up their mess, and load the dishwasher. Then we swapped Xander with Grandma for Owen and Rodney. The clean house....totally over with my 3 youngest at home. Once I got used to juggling the babies again, then it was time for Gavin and Xander to come home. We've been together for a few hours now...yep, it's a zoo. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I was even able to get a GOOD picture of all my kids.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Visit with Olivia
Gavin, Mike, and Owen with their sister.
Great Grandpa Adams and Olivia
Great Grandma Adams and Olivia
Aunt Lilly Holding the sweet princess.
Friday, May 31, 2013
We're Home!
Last night we were discharged from the hospital. It was so good to come home...even if we came home in a crazy amount of rain. Mike had to work, so it was just the two of us girls at home. Having my bed back was wonderful....but i'm already missing the magic nurse button from the hospital. Now I just have to go in the kitchen when I'm hungry.
These are some pictures of the family in the hospital, not all great ones...but we did get one of Olivia with each of her protectors.
Owen
Michael
Rodney
Alexander
Gavin
this is Olivia's Going home outfit.
Seriously...cutest little girl ever.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Sweet Olivia
She's here! Everyone say hello to our little Olivia. Even though she's right next to me, I still can't believe it. Baby no 6! She came last night just after 3am.
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She was 5lb 10oz and 19" long
Look at the skinny little stick. So cute and long.
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I'd post a picture with Daddy, but he was the one with the camera...and now that I can move, he's asleep. But when the other kids come to visit, we'll get a picture of daddy and Liv.
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This one, I just LOVE. Sweet baby eyes.
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