Will update sooner or later...

Well, it's been kinda crazy around here. I haven't been around to blog too much lately. We were on vacation and while on vacation I received the news that my maternal grandfather had passed away. It wasn't a shock, he had been in hospice care for about 6 weeks, but it's still hard none the less. Harder still was the fact that my parents were on a mission trip in Mexico and I was tasked with getting a hold of them and passing the news on to my Mom...very sad. Then I had to call others in my family as well. I actually made John make most of the calls...I'm very weepy with that stuff.

Even harder than that is I'm not sure he was saved. He never showed evidence of it in his life, nor showed the desire for Christ. My parents and I would try and talk to both my grandparents when we would see them on vacations and such, but they never wanted to talk about it. Now I wished I had tied him to a chair and made him listen...but then it's not my job to save, it's God's, and He has a plan bigger than mine thankfully. His funeral was quite sad in that I think their pastor is not saved either...at least there was no evidence in the "message" he gave.

So anyway, I haven't felt much like blogging lately...although much has happened in our little world so I should. And I will. I just need to get back to my little home school world and our schedule.

So, until then...

New invention please!!

I really need someone to invent something for me. Would someone kindly invent disposable clothes? I mean, someone came up with disposable diapers...thank you very much Mr. Man whoever you are! Can't we apply the same principle to clothes? It wouldn't be as difficult as disposable diapers cause you don't have the need for absorbency. Well, maybe in the pits area.

I am so tired of laundry. I do like a trillion loads (and yes, it is a trillion cause I've counted as I've done them) and then 2 days later (and yes, it is 2 days later) there's another trillion loads waiting to be done. I'm staring at the stinkin' stuff right now. Ew. Don't want to. Wish the kids were old enough to. At least I've got them folding and putting away the clean clothes. That's a huge help. And no, the clothes are not folded perfect but I really don't care if I go around wrinkled. The fact that I can find A) clothes that fit B) clothes that are clean and C) clothes that match is HUGE in my book!!

Maybe I should just have the kids run around naked and only get dressed when we go somewhere. Hmmm. That's a thought I'll have to give serious consideration to. Although then there'd be all these naked butts on my couch. Ew. Gross.

So, I'm back to asking someone to invent disposable clothes. Seriously. Please.

That's my Marsh-Man!

Conversation Marshall and I just had...

Marshall: Mommy, see my ears?

Me: Yeah.

Marshall: Did you see them move?

Me: (looking closely)Yes, I guess they did move.

Marshall: Yeah, I'm like a dog. A dog can move it's tail. I can move my ears! But I can't move my butt cheeks. I've tried. But I just can't. And my penis. I can't control my penis.

Me: (Laughing my butt cheeks off!!)Well, yeah, I can tell that from the bathroom!

Success!

Couch cushion covers clean.

No shrinking, shredding, or shriveling.

Lots of sweat getting them back on!!

Children given speech about no eating or drinking on couch anymore.

Will give hubby same speech later.

I rock!

(Okay, I know y'all are probably thinking, "what's the big deal? I've washed my couch cushion covers a million times"...well, I didn't know you could. There I've said it. I know they have zippers on them, but I just thought that was to get them on in the first place. I didn't know you could wash them. I'm glad that's off my chest. I feel much better.)

Let's Pray...

...that I haven't ruined our couch.

It's been getting pretty dirty what with five messy, sticky, drippy children running around. Not to mention the dog and 3 cats.

I decided that I should try and wash the covers of the cushions. They are in the washer about to be put in the dryer and I am praying they don't shrink, shrivel, or shred. If they do come out as they were before...although clean of course...pray my children don't hear any words come out of my mouth that shouldn't as I'm trying to squeeze the cushions back into the covers. They make those suckers tighter than a frogs water-proof behind!!

Anyway, I'll let you know how it turns out. My hubby won't be too happy if I tell him we need new couches!!

All is quiet

That's right. It is quiet around here. Well, there is still the yelling, running, laughing, fighting, whining, loud talking, wrestling, and what-not-nonsense that has always been around. But the crinkle is gone.

Almost as quickly as Marshall...see previous post...Cooper has conquered the toilet. No more diapers except at night. He refuses to wear one anymore. Not even in the car when I'm sure he's going to let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. But he doesn't. He just lets us know when he has to go, and does. Sometimes he just brings us his underwear and lets us know he's just gone...see previous post.

Just wanted to let the world know that after 8 1/2 continuous years of changing wet, stinky, sometimes downright nasty pants (and sometimes other body parts as well, depending on how nasty the pants were), it's over. Sad. Happy. I don't know which one to choose.

Whoever said...

that potty training girls was easier than boys is full of...well, full of what goes in the potty!!

I've been delaying potty training Cooper just because...well, I don't know, laziness? Knowing he's my last baby? Thinking this is the last little tushy to make that cute crinkling sound as he runs around in a diaper? Everyone telling me to "he's a boy, wait until he's at least 3!"?

Well, whatever the reason, I just decided that I should at least try. I mean, Marshall (and I am NOT exagerating at all people) potty trained himself. He said he wanted to use the potty one day at church...before he was 3...I rolled my eyes and said, sure honey. He went and that was all she wrote. No accidents. None. Not one. Ever. Used the potty from that day on. Don't know why he chose that day. Don't know how he did it. Don't really care. It was over before it began in my book! So much easier than Madison had been since she pooped her panties til she was 3 1/2.

So with the Coop, on Monday I put him in his big boy underware. Told him what to do. He sat there. Did it and he got his candy that I promised. I have to say, I was slightly shocked that at the first try he accomplished his goal. 45 minutes goes by. Same story. It has been 4 days, and he has had about 5 accidents, but in my mind, that's pretty darn good. And he's been going when I'm not even in the bathroom with him. I'll be in the basement and he calls to me and says he did it. I go check, and yes, the evidence is there that he has indeed relieved himself by hinself.

Today was huge because he hadn't yet pooed in the toilet. But I was again in the basement and hear his little voice calling to me saying he had done his business. I go upstairs and find (faint of heart should stop reading here...seriously...last chance) a huge stinking poo bomb. I didn't know he could do such a large doo-doo. I'd never seen anything that big in his diapers before. But there it was. I made such a racket over it oohing and ahhing that the other kids came running...my other four and the three friends we had over...that's 9 people all crowded into a teeniny little bathroom. Cooper starts high-fiving everyone out of joy and pride.

My baby is growing up. And I'm ready to be done with diapers...I think!

I'm Ba-ack!

This is really just a test to see if I remembered how to do this...I didn't. It took me forever. Well, and the fact that the whole system had changed, and I had to create a new account or something like that. I'm not sure what I did exactly. I'm computer illiterate. I don't know what I'm doing most of the time.

Well, it's late and as I said, I just wanted to do this test. I don't think anybody even reads my blog...maybe a few did at one time here and there, but really, how long could I expect those few to continue checking after a few months has gone by.

And Karen, if you are reading this, please excuse all of the mistakes I've made in grammar, punctuation, etc...it's REALLY late for me and I'm not all that good at that stuff when I'm not tired!!

OH NO!!

What does not make for a happy mommy?

White laundry, red crayon, dryer.

Oh yeah.

That's what happened to me today.

I almost died right there on the basemement floor.

I'm in the midst of doing laundry and packing for our trip to Florida that we leave on tomorrow. Everthing is going great. The house is reasonably clean, I've wrapped all the presents, have all ingriedients for the cookies I'm going to make later in the day, kids are happily playing together, lending a hand to me when needed. I go to get the white load out of the dryer so I can get the last few items to pack (mostly socks and panties for the girls, although there are also some white turtlenecks they need too) and I am met with a sight foreign to me.

At first, it doesn't register. I'm confused. I thought it was some trick of the dim light over the laundry area. But confusion turns to shock and then utter disbelief as I pull out item after item and it is smeared with red streaks. AHHHHH!!! is all I think. Okay, I actually did let out a small, quiet scream...can you blame me?

I IM my husband at work thinking he'll rush home to help me in my hour of need. Nope. Just offers sympathy and a computer hug. Thanks. Just what I need. (I didn't really think he'd come home, I didn't even ask, but I guess I was hoping he'd just offer?!)

I quickly google how to remove crayon stains from laundry. I love google. I mean I LOVE GOOGLE. I was able to find information on how to remove the nasty stains using 4 different laundry soaps, bleaches, stain removers, etc., none of which I have in my home. I'm desperate so I throw clothes at the kids (yes, we were all still in jammies), we all jump in the car, run through the rain to Publix, buy the stuff, run home, do what I was told on google and HOLY COW...IT WORKED!!! Well, not perfect. But honestly, I don't care about the socks (except the lacey ones I just bought the twins) or the panties. But the stuff I scrubbed and worked on, it's spotless...SPOTLESS!!!!!!!

So, if this ever happens to you. Just email me, or google it. Did I mention I LOVE GOOGLE!!! And this stain remover called "Zout"! I love Zout!

I love fall!

It's official! My favorite time of the year is fall.

We went to the "Apple Pickin' Jubilee" in Ellijay this past weekend with some friends from church and had a blast! The kids had such a good time with all the activities. There were pig races, pedal cars, tractor trikes, hay ride (okay, there's no hay, but that's what they call it!), zip line, playground with massive in-hill slide, petting farm (with the cutest puppies, kittens, chicks, lambs, goats, and even a calf you've ever seen!), you can milk a real cow, a bee demonstration, cloggers, singers, and of course apple picking.

And really, is there anything more delicious than hot apple cider donuts with cold apple cider to wash them down? YUMMY!!

We picked a huge amount of apples. So far we've had apple slices (obviously the easiest to manage!), made homemade apple sauce (which John declared was the best part of Monday's dinner), and apple bread (which all the kids except Halle declared they did not like. Oh well, more for me and Halle!). I'm going to attempt to make apple butter and apple jam. I just have to get the neccessary tools for such an undertaking.

It has been wonderful smelling the cinnamon in our house for the past few days. That plus having the windows open has sealed in my mind that the best season is, and forever will be, fall.

Nasty Camel Crickets...

...or any bugs for that matter.

Madison has this intense love for anything creepy and crawly, or cute and cuddly. It doesn't matter. She just loves animals and bugs. Go figure that I would have a daughter that loves nasty little creepy crawly things. (Well, I do love animals too, just not the bug thing!)

So as I'm sitting here checking my email, they find a camel cricket which is quickly named "Hoppy". They run upstairs to get a container and before you can say jump, "Hoppy" is living inside. I did make them release him outside. Madison actually cried as she said, "Farewell Hoppy. I will miss you and your jumps. Don't ever forget me. I love you."

She's so weird!! Gotta love her!

Wow!!! I actually remember how to do this!

Okay, it's been WAY too long since I've blogged. I guess I just got lazy. So, I'm back and now let's see what I can blog about. Um, oh, I know, my mattress story...

So, the other day Cooper is sleeping (yeah) and the others are playing nice and quiet in Madison's room (yeah again!!). I was so in need of some quiet "mommy time". I'm relaxing, reading, enjoying my time. After about 45 minutes I think I should just check on the kids. They're not being "uh oh, it's too quiet" quiet, it's just time to check.

I open Madison's door and am staring at 4 naked children with Madison's mattress hanging off her bed. It takes me a minute to focus. Then I notice they are wet. Hum, wierd.

Me: "Where's the water?"
Them: Silence
Me: "Where's the water guys?"
Them: Silence
Me: "Last time, where's the water guys?"
Them: (all at once) "It was Madison, it was Marshall, it was Halle, it was Emma."

'Whatever', I think as I reach over to pull her mattress back on her bed. When I do this I realize it's SOPPING WET!!!!!

They were sliding down Madison's mattress when Marshall got the idea that it would be "FASTER" and "FUNNER" if it had water on it, like a water slide. They were naked because they knew they'd get in trouble if their clothes got wet...true, but I don't understand how that concept couldn't be transfered to the mattress...kids.

Oh, and then Madison decides that's the perfect time to hand me a bucket full of pee. They were having such fun they didn't want to leave the room to go to the bathroom. Great. Nice. Thanks. I was assured that none of it was on the floor or mattress. Again, great. Nice. Thanks.

Such is my life. Oh, and did I mention we've started homeschooling these little loves?!

Only in the movies...or our house!!

Okay, so there are scenes that can only happen in movies, right? Nope. They happen at our house all the time. Like today for example. It started right after John left for work. The kids toilet was not working, John forgot to plunge it before he left. Not kidding that 5 minutes after he left, the toilet in the master bath overflowed...thankfully nothing gross in there, but it's still gross none-the-less. I know what you're thinking, why didn't you plunge it yourself? Well, I'm plunger-challenged. I can't do it to save my life. Don't know what's so hard about it, but I am incapable.

So, we're doing pretty good. The kids toilet will flush, just not everything goes down...so we use their toilet for our "business". About 3 o'clock, I hear Cooper stirring from his nap and I think I should take the dog out quick before Cooper really wakes up for good in about 2 minutes. (She's inside today because it's rainy, and I can't leave her out. She's in her crate because she's such a wild beast, she just tackles the kids...but she really does love her crate.) So I have the leash in hand opening the first lock and I hear a scream coming from my room and running. The girls were watching a video. I quickly close the lock, Dancer starts barking and pawing like mad at the cage. I run upstairs to find Emma running down the hall vomiting as she goes.

So, now I have two toilets that don't work, a vomiting child, vomit all down the hall and in my room (plus all over a library book...nice...my shoes...nice...and a bag of Christmas bows under the bed...nice again) Cooper screaming in his crib, a dog barking downstairs, and Halle standing on my bed crying and saying something, which by the way, she's not wearing pants because she for some reason refuses to poop in the potty and I refuse to let her wear pull-ups and I'm sick to death of cleaning poop out of her panties, and I'm unable to make out what she's saying (stupid twin-speak) and I think she's telling me she's just pooped in my bed! (Thankfully she was just pointing out the vomit!!)

I throw Emma in the tub after a quick hose-down and tell her to just play for a minute. I try calling my mom who had taken Madison and Marshall home from VBS. No answer. No answer on her cell phone, it's not even on, just clicks right to voicemail. I am screaming into the phone, "That's what they're for woman...turn it on!!" and realize I've just left that on her voicemail. I frantically call John because I need some serious help here. He says he can come home if I really need him. I tell him to give me 5 more minutes to try and get Mom but to be ready. After 5 minutes, no mom. I try calling him over and over and over and over...where the heck is he? After 30 minutes (I did get Cooper up finally after about 15 minutes and just put a huge box to block the hallway) I get my mom and ask her to come over right away and to bring some carpet cleaner because I'm out.

Mom comes to my rescue and I scrub the floor. I use an entire bottle of carpet cleaner. I call John and have him pick some up on his way home, cause I need to clean it again. That's what I'm going to do right now.

So that was my day. Aren't you jealous?

Ten Things...

Ten Things I Love About Cooper...in no particular order...and there could be a bazillion...

1. anywhere you touch him, he's ticklish

2. his fuzzy blonde hair

3. the way he gets excited and kicks his legs and shakes his head like a madman

4. the piggy face he does

5. his open mouth, teethy, sopping wet kisses

6. he'll eat anything without complaint

7. he loves being read to

8. he clings to me as we're walking down the hall in the morning when he first wakes up

9. when you say it's time for night-night, he grabs Hilton and runs to his room

10. he's only got one mommy, and I'm her!

Flylady

A dear, sweet friend of mine from college, Londa, whom I haven't seen in about 10 years (LOVE AND MISS YOU GIRL!!) told me about this website a few years ago. flylady.com If you have never heard of it, go to it, it is awesome and soooo helpful.

Now, like I said, I've known about this for awhile and have visited in the past, but have never taken the advice and put it into practice. Well, I finally did a few days ago. The site basically helps you "declutter" your life and keep your house up and running without killing yourself. It's all about baby steps to getting your house into shape.

My kitchen has NEVER been cleaner. I'm not kidding. Not the day we moved in, not when my in-laws are coming, not when a babysitter is coming over, not when we're having Bible study...NEVER. I rearranged some drawers so that even our huge container of pens, pencils, sharpies, scissors, etc are in one drawer with paper, tape, paperclips, etc. The only things out on my counters are things I use everyday: coffee pot, toaster, can opener, and cutting board. That's it. Oh, and there is hand soap by the sink. Nothing else.

I even cleared all the kids drawings and pictures off the fridge. I did leave 1 picture of each child on the side, but that's it. Magnets, gone. Doodles, gone. Coupons from pizza places, gone. Cute stories cut out of newspapers, gone. (And I did save the kids drawings, just not on the fridge anymore!)

My husband came home and declared that the kitchen was AWESOME. He had never seen it look better. So now I'm on to our bedroom today. Why is it that the one place that's supposed to be a retreat always looks like a dumping ground? Not anymore.

One down, two to go

We've had a very sad day at our house. A beloved member of our family passed away yesterday, but it wasn't revealed until today... at least to certain members of our family.

Sammy the fish has gone to the great fishtank in the sky. Sammy was Marshall's fish. He actually took the news quite well. I told him as we were walking in Wal-Mart today. The kids always have to look at the fish, and well, I thought it a most appropriate time to disclose the unhappy news. He had a very sad face at first, then saw the African Frogs (they are these really cool frogs that live underwater...they don't need air!!), his face lit up, and he asked if he could get one. I told him to wait until we went to the pet store. The fish from Wal-Mart never fare very well for us.

As Sammy was flushed down the toilet Marshall said, "Swim to the ocean dear, sweet Sammy. You were the best fish I ever had." He was the only fish he ever had, but I guess Sammy doesn't know that, or ever will for that matter!

So, now we are down 1 fish, with only 2 left to "swim to the ocean". I am not going to replace them as they die. Just remove the tanks and hide them until the kids can clean them themselves...I can only do so much ya know!

Pulling Teeth

Okay, not literally "pulling teeth", but sometimes that's what dinner feels like. I know I've posted about this before, but for goodness sake, could I please get a break?

We had ham, corn, green beans, potatoes, and for good measure I threw some applesauce on the plates cause the kids love it so much. Before the food was on the table we were waiting for Marshall to pray (he was in the bathroom). Madison kept saying how she was "starving". Marshall arrives, we pray, I present the food. We then have a conversation that goes like this:

Madison: I don't eat meat.

Me: Um, did you eat a hamburger last night at Wendy's and ask for another one?

Madison: Yes.

Me: Then you eat meat. Do you love Chick-Fil-A's chicken nuggets and eat a bazillion of them?

Madison: Yes.

Me: Then you eat meat.

Madison: Okay. I don't eat this meat. What animal is it?

Me: I'm not telling you and it doesn't matter anyway cause you're eating it.

Madison: (Well, she didn't actually say anything, just sat with her arms crossed and her lips in a tight thin line.)

Me: You're eating.

Madison: (Crossed arms, lips in thin line.)

Me: Eat or go to bed.

Madison: I'm not hungry...I ate a lot of lunch and breakfast.

Me: Didn't you just say how starving you were?

Madison: (Thinking for a minute) Yeah, but it went away...I'll wait for breakfast.

I could go on, but I won't, it would take too long! She did eat after I informed her her choices were to eat or go to bed. She tried to negotiate just being in her room, not from this momma I told her. And after she began eating she said it "wasn't so bad and I know I'm eating a pig,. You know like 'Babe' pig. How can you make me eat 'Babe'?" I had to cough to cover up my laugh.

Now there may be some of you who think my stand is wrong, or too harsh. However, I am sick to death of throwing away food. I used to cook for 7 people (the number in our family). Not anymore. Now I cook for like 3 1/2 because none of them eat very much. They do have their favorites that they eat and eat and eat, but I think you can die from mac & cheese or PB&J poisoning, can't you? And I am very thankful that they all really like veggies and LOVE fruit. It just irks me that when I actually spend the time to cook a well-balanced meal they don't appreciate or enjoy it. Maybe as time goes by...but I'm not holding my breath!! Oh the drama of dinner.

LOVIN' SUMMER ALREADY!!!!

I am soooo incredibly excited it is summer!! I don't feel the need to rush the kids to bed "on time", don't feel the need to get dressed (in my jammies 2 days in a row now!!), don't feel the need to be a slave to the alarm (actually slept 'til 8:30 yesterday...unheard of!!). And as an added bonus, I am actually doing more cleaning than ever, yea me!!

I am also sooo incredibly excited to homeschool this coming year. I've actually begun with Madison. I got the news a few days before school let out, and it was no surprise just hard to hear, that her teacher had to recommend she repeat 1st grade. I love her teacher. She has been so great this entire year. She'd give extra books for Maddie to read, I'd give her notes to let her know which pages Maddie was good at reading so she wouldn't feel bad during oral reading in class, and she is VERY supportive of our decision to homeschool. She actually homeschooled her 5 children too.

Anyway, she said she hates to ever have a child repeat a grade, but especially Madison. She has everything but the reading...and obviously that is very important. So we are spending the summer trying to get her reading at grade level. But it's so nice to not have her tired out after school and not wanting to do extra work. We just do it and it's done and she can go play. She's already doing great. (And for those of you wondering, they do phonics at her school, but it's just not clicking with Maddie. I even used the "Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons". There is a small percentage of children for whom phonics is not the best way to learn to read, and unfortunatley Maddie seems to be one of them...we'll see.)

Right now, Madison and Marshall are upstairs making things out of Kinex for everyone in the family. I love toys that let kids be creative. Madison just made me a row of flowers, complete with leaves. Too cute! Here comes Marshall, he's made me a giant "M" for Mom!! Sweet!

All right, I know this blog has been kind of random, but it's summer man, and I just can't think straight!!

Sick Days

I've been sick for almost a week. Well, I'm not really sick anymore, just still very tired. Not the tired that I need to sleep, but the tired that I need to rest after just a little bit of doing anything. I started out with a little tickle in my throat on Tuesday and by Thursday had horrible sinus pressure, headache, body aches, and a fever of 102.5.

It had been a busy week. The last day of preschool for the kids, Marshall's graduation from preschool, auction meetings for me (somehow I am helping acquisitions for the auction my daughter's school is having next year even though we are homeschooling next year...I am such a yes-person), cleaning up my classroom, T-ball game, the list goes on and on. Needless to say, it's hard for any mom to get sick, let alone a stay-at-home mom with 5 very dependent children. "SUPER DAD" TO THE RESUCE!!

My husband is simply the best. I asked him to come home from work early on Thursday because I was wiped out (note the 102.5 temp!!) He did with nary a word about how much work was piling up on his desk or how he had only been at his desk for about 45 minutes that whole week thus far because of all he has to do with others at his office. He swept in and took over childcare, child feeding, petcare, and pet feeding. He made me dinner. He kept the kids quiet so I could sleep. And when I begged him to stay home on Friday, he did!!! (And in all honesty, he did work from home due to a "wonderful" invention known as the Blackberry.)

I was diagnosed with a sinus infection on Friday afternoon by a doctor I don't really like and was sent home with the appropriate antibotics to cure such a hanis illness. (I have to confess that part of me was hoping the doctor would say I was in need of hospitilization due to dehydration and extreme fatigue...no such luck!)

As of today, my husband is back at work...he's very glad of it too! He repeatedly said over and over how he was going crazy. I think he gained a new admiration for me and my schedule. He didn't understand it before...now he does! I love him for taking care of me and the kids.

DISGUSTING!!!

So the kids are downstairs trying to find a book for me to read to them before bed while I'm checking my e-mail. Madison chooses "Junie B. Jones...I Am Not A Crook". I love Junie B. books. They are hilarious! Marshall chooses a sing-a-long "Jesus Songs" book. How sweet, I think to myself.

Then as I am about to log off of e-mail to go and read to them, Marshall screams, making me about pee my pants. I look over and he is pointing to a completely flat, smashed camel cricket on the last page.

I'm leaving it for John to clean up when he gets back from his men's retreat!! (And by the way...whose idea was it to have a men's retreat on Mother's Day weekend...that's all I'm sayin'!)