what a day.

oh, what a day.

1.  jakob told me at 5pm last night that he needed black pants for band the next day.  shopping is hard in this small town...

2.  jakob told me at 7:30am that he had a concert at 8:15am... we were rushed getting everyone dressed.

3.  during the concert, i took a picture and the man next to me whispered, "Did you know that your daughter just left the auditorium?" 

4.  i spent a LONG time looking all around the school for a missing 5 year old in a black and white striped shirt-- all of the middle school teachers in the hallways were helping me search.

5.  we found leah, sitting with friends of ours in the auditorium.

6.  lily saw me looking for leah and started screaming, "I want my MOMMY!"  It was loud and lasted the whole time she was running towards me out of the gym, during the patriotic assemble.

7.  I had leah and lily in the hallway for an hour, while the assembly commenced and couldn't leave because todd had my keys in the auditorium.

8.  AFTER the assembly, i dropped leah off at preschool with a promise of spankings when she got home, and I headed to the dmv.  nice, nice mommy.

9.  both little girls fell asleep on my way there.

10.  i didn't have the right paperwork AND i have to re-take the drivers test BEFORE i can get an Oregon licence.  The lady said you need to know specific Oregon laws, like how much alcohol you can have before being illegal.  BLAH!  I left without accomplishing my task. HATE THAT.

11.  had to drop anna's lunch off at her school.  pick leah up.  go home for an hour.  wake up eve and return to the elementary school for another assembly.

12.  the kids were better this time.  not easy, but better.  i brought lollipops.

13. i had an hour after the assembly before school let out.

14. went home, put the kids to bed, went to the bus stop to wait for my girls... they never came.  woke the little girls up from naps, called the Elementary School and had them looking all around for my lost girls.  drove to the middle school and found all 4 of my big kids waiting there for me.  called the elementary school back to say "All is well."  anna insists she told me they were walking home today.  {i wondered if i could start a child hunt at the highschool and have every person in this town thinking i have way too many kids?!}

15.  dropped the girls off at activity days.  got a cell call from the professor reminding me to call about my "using a cell phonewhile i drive in oregon" ticket.  found out i'm currently in contempt of court with a higher fine and i need to head to the court house tomorrow morning.  BLAH.  i would have known the cell phone law if I would have taken my oregon driver's test earlier, huh?

16.  took the littlest girls and the boys to the donut shop.  tried to look around at a Vintage House Parts store, but they said NO KIDS.  i have no idea why?  now, my girls are wearing rain boots and neither have socks on or hair done...  my baby has had no real nap, and she is still smiling-- what a trooper.  {wish i could say the same for the mother.}

17.  got jakob's hair cut at a small town, a bit weird, barber shop.

18.  picked up the big girls-- anna was so excited that she learned how to knit.  ellie cried for an hour and threw her knitting needles across the room, because she can't do it.  she broke a needle and cried some more.

19.  todd cooked dinner- ramen noodles and veggies.

20.  todd and drew went to the church by 6.  at 7 i took jakob to the church and drove drew home.  i sat in the car talking to sweet friends in the church parking lot... whining all about my cranky day.  (grateful for friends, embarrassed for my complaining)
21.  home, cranky bedtime for kiddos, i stayed up too late trying to buy some 25% off clearance clothes from crazy 8 for christmas.

22.  leah woke up at 5am with a sore throat.

23.  eve woke up at 5:30am to eat and stay awake (that actually is REALLY good for her).
24.  i went back onto crazy 8 to reorder stuff... all night long it haunted me that i bought leah size 5 things instead of size 6... and, i forgot church shoes-- she has none.
25.  i'm sitting here typing as my life awakens around me-- and i have a prayer in my heart...
PLEASE, help me make this a better day than yesterday!!
amen. 

ps.  as i read over this post i wonder... what will my kids remember about today?

will they remember that i was there, with the little kids, trying to be present, trying to show them that they are loved and remembered and just as special as a child without 6 siblings?

will they remember a cranky mom or donuts?

will they remember the fun of older siblings, or being dragged from school to school during nap time?

will they remember that i got them black pants or that i read the paper at the beginning of the school year and still didn't buy them until the night before?

every day is wide open with choices of how we spend our time...

i have consecrated my moments to mothering, loving, and building God's kingdom.

i'm not sure how well i did yesterday.

but, everything i did was well-intentioned.

thank God i'm not "done" yet.

still learning from the vetrans.

never stop starting.

have i told you before some of my favorite parenting advice?

never stop starting.

sometimes, as i'm re planning my life i get discouraged and i think... shouldn't i have this figured out by now? 
and the truth is-- I have had it figure out.
many times.
but things change and so your routines need to be re-thunk. 
(yes, i know that is not a real word.)

i asked the professor to stay home for the morning and we had a mega-planning meeting.

he is so good for my "too many ideas i get overwhelmed" mind.
todd calms me and helps me to prioritize and be patient with my "things i wish we were doing better" list.

sometimes i feel bad for our marathon meetings.

but then i think... we are running a company here- together.

and, we need to plan.

"Fail to Prepare and Prepare to Fail."

it is SO good for us to sit down together, with an agenda and just strategize.

Want to see our agenda?

We're trying to get a one year supply of stuff that we buy-- so we ended with a list of everything that we buy (it's a first draft).

OK--  Here it is...

Want to see the new jobs we're doing after school?

OK-- Here they are...  (we rotate every week)

Want to see my effort to become more ROUTINE and DISCIPLINED in the morning, after school, and for bedtime?

OK-- Here are my new signs...

I didn't have time to make everything pretty-- just practical.

We introduced our plan of attack for Family Night... and then practiced at meal time and bedtime.

Already, i notice a BIG improvement.

(Except for one child- who has a tendency to kick against the pricks.)

My blog is not a place where I brag about my practically perfect family.

Maybe I would, if we were practically perfect.

But, I try to be real. 

To show you where we are and how we're fighting for better tomorrows.

Tomorrow, we are going to ROCK at our after school routine.

again.

just sayin'

planning...

this is me today.
i'm planning.
my kids are NOT on a great system.
did you know that moving changes systems?
chores, piano practicing, dish days, putting away laundry--- blah we are all mismatched, wishy washy.
I know, it's been too long.
It's hard to say, "Go put your backpack where it belongs", when you really don't have a designated spot for backpacks.
Or, go practice your piano, when i haven't bought the new books they need.
Today-- I'm going to hammer down my life.
Having a good PLAN saves SO MUCH energy and time.

Today, i'm re-planning.
Tonight, i'm re-assigning.
This week, i'm reminding and being consistent...
Next week, my life should be structured again.
Oh, i can almost taste the sweetness of an ordered after school routine.

Guess what??!!!
We got a PAYCHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
our FIRST REAL paycheck in 5 years!!!!!
(yes, we did underestimate taxes by $1000... but still-- real, live money!)
i feel like the sweet grandmother at the store that opens up her handkerchief to pay with her saved nickels.
everything i purchase is precious and planned.
oh, how budgets are hard for me.
i love to come up with a plan, but i'm not great at sticking to them.
this year I WILL BE MORE CONSISTENT.
even if it kills me.
oh, life is good and getting better...

new friends.

we're making many new friends here... but, we're not so good with names.

one little guy came over, his name is Dunkin-- and he is SO cute.

Leah said, "I know a song about you... diddle diddle DUMPkin my son john, went to bed with his trousers on." 

That same kid had a little/BIG accident all over our downstairs bathroom.

My bid kids love to refer to him as Dumpkin.

poor guy.

Then, yesterday another friend watched my girls while i was at the dentist.

She was also watching a cute, cute girl named Madyx.

Lily said, clear as day, "Mom, I shared my fruit snacks with Maggot."

i laughed.

Oh, my kids are a pregnant mother's nightmare.

sorry about the pronounciation issues... we're working on that!

{these pictures are from a sunday after dinner game of scripture charades-  can you guess the stories from the pictures?} 

drinking in today.

at our house, we have lots of craft projects that look like trash.
i love them.

if i could have a cup of today, i'd drink it every morning.

today was full, and busy, and fast, and slow, and... perfect.

at our house, we play LOTS of peek a boo.

my husband is out of town, for a week.

something changes in me when he is not here.

it makes me sad.  it makes me feel like i have a dysfunctional marriage.

honestly.

when my husband is out of town, my life is so GOOD.

better.  kind of.

yes, i miss him.  but, i love who i am when he's not here.

it's not him.  he's great.

i'm afraid he's too great.  so great, that i'm lazy.
lazy-er.

i depend on him too much and i don't reach my full potential each day.

when he is out of the state, i know it's me or nothing.

and i always rise to meet the challenge.

i get so much done.  i'm a better mother, all day and all night.
i feel powerful and capable and my home is peaceful and orderly.

at our house, we memorize scriptures.  someone is always erasing a part or adding messages on the white board. 
anna has written this particularly long scripture many times over.  she has it memorized the best.  i LOVE it!

why do i function better when i'm alone? 

it's just not right.

at our house, my girls love to decorate.  i LOVE it.  anna's self portrait... she said, "we are painting portraits at school, and i really think mine is the best."  ellie's glitter pumpkin.  anna and ellie collect leaves and pine cones on the way home from school, i loved their excitement "i know!  we can just decorate with these things."  they add to our display daily. 

i need to drink a cup of today, when he's here.

he deserved a few sips of today, too.

at our house, the counters have rattles and diaper bags and our theme scripture for the year and more reminders-- 
Be Kind.  i need reminders everywhere.  i think i'm a words person.  words and rattles.  i need them.

i was putting away baby clothes last night, and i cried.

tears.

my baby is wearing 6 month clothes.

no more 0-3 months, no more 3-6 months... 6 month plus.

i love watching her grow. 

but, i might not ever have another 0-3 month little girl.
ever.
i might.  but, i might not.
it makes me sad. 
sad in a reminiscent way.
i LOVE 0-3 month little girls.  LOVE THEM.
it reminds me to FEEL this moment.
this 6-9 month moment.
to hold her, to love her, to appreciate this time.
how i wish i was better at loving my children where they are.
loving them now, not two sizes from now...

at our house, there is always a 'to do'... to do- clean up breakfast and lunch packing.

lily pulled a towel into the bathtub this evening and i bonked her head while she was laughing.
i said, "No.  That is not funny.  That is a wrong choice."
she said, "Sorry Momma."
all of my kids were horrid in the bath, when they were toddlers.
and, it IS funny. 
i should have laughed and let her feel the heavy, wet towel in the bathtub. 
i should have wrapped her up in it and pretended it was her blankie. 
but, she's in bed now.  that moment is past, and i missed it.  really, missed it.

at our house, i have reminders EVERYWHERE.

i called the middle school band teacher, who i love, and told her that i couldn't come in on Wednesday mornings anymore.

i've been volunteering one morning a week, while lily went to a friend's house, leah was at preschool and todd worked from home with baby eve.

i love being involved at the kids school.
i tell myself it is so important.
but really, i was just alphabetizing music. 

sometimes I would try to help a kid who didn't know how to play the french horn, but i don't know how to play the french horn either, so i wasn't much help.

this isn't my year for volunteering on a regular basis.

i still have too many young kids at home.  i'm needed here.
i felt SO good after making that call.

especially since she wasn't in her office and i could just leave a stuttering, apologetic, 'call me if you ever need anything', message.

pathetic, i know. 

such is life. 

at our house, laundry is consistent.

i'm starting to love my home here.

it's starting to show our fingerprints.

after i sent leah to preschool, i just snapped pictures of my life, and loved this day.

i'm home with a cute, feisty, opinionated, darling #7.

a sweet, quiet, opinionated "pink", friendly #6.

and, a very consuming, full of life, active, happy, independent #5.

Three little girls and me, all day long.

i get to make dog houses and bake bread and do laundry and go to the store and take pictures and study and plan and read stories and play play dough and ... it is so fun.

at our house, the oregon fog is just beginning.

then, school let's out and our life is bustling.
Busy with funny, funny older girls who tell me every detail of every thing that happened at school.

And busy with organized, flourishing boys who are so independent and mature and yet still silly, teasing brothers.

We get to see soccer games and track meets and award assemblies and play-dates.

at our house, we take naps.  both eve and lily were asleep minutes after these pictures were taken.

I get to pack lunches and make dinners and find the crisco so they can make cookies after school.

We write current events and i define random words that they don't know yet, like oh, i can't think of one right now, but i always smile at their cute language choices.

this is my master bathroom.  our house has lots of toothbrushes, we have hundreds of toothbrushes. 
is this a sign of my disorganization or of our good hygiene?

i LOVE being a mother.

i LOVE it.

i love it more tonight, because we cleaned the whole house today.

and, i did the laundry.

and, i unpacked some stray boxes that have been on my to do list for months.

and, i did feed my kids homemade wheat bread as an afternoon snack, and brought blondies to the cross country award assembly... but, we went out to dinner at LosRoquitos for burritos take-out which are probably still spilled in the back seat of my car.

my kitchen is cleaned.

my kids took baths and showers.  

i even sent my boys to bed a bit earlier than usual, and i went in and laid by each of them.

i rubbed my hands through there hair and just loved them like i used to when they were little, and not so independent.
how i love those boys.

they are really growing up.

my babies.

my babies are still under there, by the way. 

their skin is still the same soft, their hair still the same spiky, they still smile through their eyes at me when i kiss their cheeks and tell them that i love them soo much. 

that they are good boys. 

that i am so blessed to be their mother.  

that they are little brats sometime...  

we started with one dog house, as each kid entered the picture, they needed a new house.  when my big kids got home from school they really wanted to make the houses that they designed- multibox houses.  today, we cleaned up.  tomorrow, we are building!

oh, how i love them.

today wasn't an easy day.

i yelled at kids who didn't love cleaning the house.

{but i did tell jakob he was the cat in the hat, with the vacuum.  anna and ellie were thing 1 and thing 2.  their job was to pick up everything so jakob could vacuum.  i told jakob that he had to tell them what they had to pick up in RHYME.  it was so funny!}

i had an older child pee in her pants?!!  what?

i had kids sneak candy and lie about it.

i had kids turn on the tv when i told them no tv.  

{leah had to write 10 times  NO TV.  NO TV.  NO TV. - it was cute.}

at our house, leah and lily play together all day long.  lily is lost when she has no sisters at home.  leah kept telling lily to bang on her house and try to hurt her.  she was inside saying, "Nope, still doesn't hurt."  funny kids.

i thought i burned my house down, because i left my soup on the stove when i went to the award assembly and then i was gone over two hours.

todd called right when i got home from running around with all the kids and he heard royal chaos in the background... i'm not sure that i expressed to him how much i was enjoying my day.  :)

it's 11 o'clock and i'm still awake... not smart for a mom whose baby will still be up four times tonight.

at our house, we don't teach how to write S's the right way or how to say "my name is lily" because we like backwards S's and "my name is Willy" better.
And, we forgot to write the dog's name on the house.   "Him".  that's his name, the dog, Him.

today wasn't easy.

but, it was good.
every day should be this good.

at our house, ponies stand in line.  someday, we won't have any more ponies standing in line...

 every day IS this good... i just need to drink it in.