Boys

So today was a rough day. Crazy, not nice things between other people going on in the house that required outside help to get rid of and I have a nasty cold! Yep those 2 things made for a bad morning and then Sam had to come home from school early because he had a moment over not being the first one in line for gym ( he was having a rough day too it seems) and then he has to deal with Tommy who is use to having basically sole claim to the Wii while the other kids are at school (Cloe prefers to play with her puppies and watch barbie movies). Yah so I then go out to help my mother get some more of her stuff from out in my Garage and she hands me the book "Sunshine for the Latter-day Saints Woman's Soul". Now I have read this book before, but it has been a few years so I was looking forward to reading it again. As I settled down on the couch for a well deserved 2 minute break after breaking Sam and Tom up again I opened up the book, just to a page in the middle and this is the story that was there and oh did it make me feel better. Hope it brightens your day as well.

Boys
by Kathleen "Casey" Null

"Do you know what it means to have 3 or more sons?" asked sister Evans.
What is this, I thought, a trick question?
Sister Evans, experienced grandmother, has just spent early 2 hours sitting on a pew behind me. She couldn't have helped but notice that I have 3 sons, and a daughter who can hold her own.
"It means"- I decided to give it a try -"going through ten pounds of peanut butter a week."
"Yes, I know, but what else?" Her eyes were lit up with amusement.
"It means... always having grimy switchplates."
She smiled. "Well, granted, but what else?"
"It means learning to co-exist peacefully with a managerie of rats, birds, dogs, rabbits, fish, caterpillars, frogs, worms, and sow bugs."
"Oh..." she rolled her eyes in mock disgust, "I nearly forgot about that. But that's not quite it."
"OK. It means buying a years supply of tube socks every other month and having two sons per morning wail, 'I can't find any socks!"
"Yes I remember," she sighed, "The socks probably got up and walked away. But that's not it."
"Then it means living in a locker room atmosphere."
"Of course," she said. "But that's still not it."
"Then how about having three or more sons means never having to say, 'Help yourselves to seconds... there's plenty, you really should eat more.' "
"Well..." she sighed.
"Wait, I know, I'm probably just guessing at the wrong level. How about this? It means running a workshop to teach boys to deal with life when they go on missions and leave the nest."
"Your getting a little closer," she said impatiently.
"It means, preparing boys to hold the priesthood?"
"Is that a statement or a question?"
She didn't wait for my reply. "I'll tell you what it means. Being the parent of three or more boys means you can rest assured. If you can raise these boys you won't need to be tested any further."
Sounds fair to me.

Ah how that makes me feel better although if your one little girl that you finally had after having five boys is more of a handful than the five boys put together what does that mean then?

Happy 12th Birthday Ben!!

So it was 12 years ago on this day that I woke-up at 7am in the morning and thought *OUCH!* I was 5 days over due thanks to my wonderfully amazing smart talented and at times a little scary when you did something wrong Grandma Derkson (boy do I love her). She had come to me on my due date and put her hand on my lovely pregnant tummy and said in that "I mean business" tone that if my kid was smart he would wait until her birthday to be born. Yep thanks Grandma, my kid took that to heart and waited 5 more days. But that was long enough for him, he didn't want to be an afternoon kid so bright and early, 10 minutes after Mike's alarm went off for getting up for work, labour started. He called into work (Moneys Mushroom factory at the time... he would just smell when he came home, but it was good pay and a job), and my Aunt Mary Lyn (we were renting a room from her at that time) drove us into Calgary hoping that I would not have the baby on the way. We get to the hospital and waited for the doctor. Now about an hour into the labour I felt like I should be pushing but nothing was happening. The doctor I had at the time said that was fine even though I felt sure that something was wrong. I was fully dialated but hey what does a young mom know right.. so about an hour later we are trying to deliver and finally the doctor takes a look because she can feel the baby trying to push it's way out but with no results... guess what oung mom not so dumb after all my water had not completely broke and poor baby was pushing against it for over an hour!!! well she poped it and maybe 5 minutes later out came this beautiful purple skined (bruised from the pushing) white blode haired baby. His bum was as big as his head but he was the most precious thing I had ever seen. Poor Mike had to leave the room because he just can't hndle the sight of blood ( he got over that as we had more kids haha). He was wise from the get go, he proved to everyone, especially my Grandma, how smart he is from that very moment on. He is a generous soul who loves to help look after his siblings and he started this very young. When he was just 14 months old and Josh a couple of weeks we were walking to the store and Josh started to cry. Ben leaned forward (they were in the stroller together) and put his finger in Josh's mouth like a soother. You see hardly any of my kids would take soothers so I stole the idea from Prince Dianna and used my knuckles and fingers. Well he said his fingers were filled with Apple Juice and the funny thing is Josh loved it. We have been so blessed to have this special soul in our family! Here are a few pictures I took of pictures we have around the house of Ben growing up. (sorry I wish there was more but my computer that has most of my family pics is getting fixed and unfortunately my box of photo albums has been moved around to make space while we rearrange the house)

6 months old

1 year old

2 years old

almost 3 years old

6 1/2 years old

8 1/2 years old

9 1/2 years old

Taken today at 12 years old (what a handsome young man eh)
Here are some of the highlights from this past year.

He started out age 11 with continuing to show how smart he is by winning not 1 but 2 earls lunches during the battle of the books the school held.

He had fun playing shadow puppets with Cloe using our Blue curtain as a back drop...
still deep in thought

Josh and Ben joined the intermediate floor hockey teams and have a blast playing after school every wednesday.

He took some more swimming lessons and finally got the hang of floating.. kind of. The problem with being active is you don't have much fat to keep you afloat.

He joined the school relay team with Josh and had a blast showing Cloe and Tommy how to be great spectators as well. He really adores his sister and he's a really great runner as well.

He joined the schools Volleyball team in the fall now that he is a grade 6 and LOVED every minute of it. He has joined the Basketball team this season but as they don't have their first game until thursday, no pics yet to show of that.

He felt the highlight of this past year of being 11 though was watching the Olympic Torch run to our house and exchange runners right here. He hopes one day to be apart of all of this himself.

So there is my new Young Man... it makes me a little sad to say that as I just don't know how the years went by so fast. He has grown well and is an amazing person and I know he will do great in this next stage of his life. Now to end this birthday wish here is a little picture fun. When Ben was 2 He and my cousin Jenny went to have their photos taken together in a photo booth and this is what we got. Happy birthday Sunshine!!!

Just because...

Ok really I don`t have much to blog about other than to do it because I can and should. It is something I said I would do... I need to get back into doing regular things after so many years of things being up in the air.
It is nice to have the house back to just our family, but boy does it show how I got out of routine too because it seemed so pointless for so long. Ugh is it hard to get back. It was great to have the entire family being able to go to church today. The morning time and costco having changed sunday schedule to 2:15 in stead of 11:45. It feels good to have Mike going again and to see him getting his spirit fed as he is a calmer person at home.... however we learned through someones talk that we can not have peace in chaos which is sooo true. So this week we are really going to buckle down and get some peace brought back into this house. The want is there but where do I find the will when all I feel like doing when I look at all the disorganization that has occurred and want to bury my head in the sand and pretend it is not there? I will find it... Shiney sinks right ;) It will come to me as I get back into all my routines including regular personal prayer and scripture reading. I have a sneaking feeling that will really help. The really scary part is that I need to get it organized quickly as I have been called as Relief Society Secretary and I don't feel I can do my best in that calling if I am not doing my best in my home.
I am so excited and nervous about this calling all at the same time. The one and only time I have had a call that included anything to do with adults was a brief one where I was a Relief Society teacher many moons ago. Yep we are talking many kids ago and I was such a nervous reck then because I didn't know how I was going to teach these amazing woman who have had so much more experience than I have with all things I was teaching... and it was only a small branch with 4 to 5 other people in the room. Crazy eh. But like I said I am excited too as I take on a new journey and it is another motivator to get my life in order which is what I, in a way, have been praying for. The Lord answers in mysterious ways right. LOL. So here I sit now thinking about a talk that seemed to be inspired to speak to me and a new calling that seems to be pushing me and a home that is screaming for peace, So tomorrow I will get started, more than just the babysteps that I will use to keep on track, but really get started on bringing that peace into my home, for my kids, my husband, but in a most selfish way for me. I guess I need to sit down now and make a game plan....
Well it is getting late and if I am going to be able to get started tomorrow I should probably start with a good nights sleep. So I will end with a couple of pictures I took playing around with the camera settings and my kids who seem to Love being my test subjects.

(this is Mike trying to cheer up a teething Cloe.. those 2 year molars are a real pain)

Some Photo Fun

So I have been trying to make sure I do my homework earlier this week and just thought I would get one and share some of what I have taken Since Sunday. Input would be great as I try to decided which ones to hand in.

Hmmm... Starting at day 1 .. again.

So I suspect that as we as a family get use to being in this routine that there maybe a couple more start backs. Getting 8 people organized into the same thing is not an easy task. I think I took it for granted that it seemed to be going so well at first... yep that is because it was new and then the "boring" repetition kicked in and the kids and Mike not so eager anymore. So I spent a couple of days being a little extra busy so I couldn't "help" everyone else with their little bits around the house and my shiny sink fell in a matter of 2 days! Dishes being piled in it and I just wanted to scream, but then I remembered that it takes time and practice to really make a habit so we started over again. Yep that means today we shined the sink again... the whole routine. It was nice though because it wasn't as hard this time as it didn't get as bad as it was the first time. The dishes are not everywhere this time either or piled so high that I swear we could touch heaven. Nope just a small blip in getting things back into a routine so we start again and we will continue to do that until we have everything under control no matter how long it takes.

So I have started my photography course and even tried to do my first weeks assignments. It would help if 1. we had better sun for the light comparison pictures, and 2. I had my own car to drive to the place I know would be the best spots for taking the pics we are being asked of. I have taken a few though and even though I am not completely happy with them, I am enjoying myself. the 2 pics included with this post are a couple of my assignment picture (hence the writing at the bottom that I could take off for just this but then that wouldn't be real right?). Anyways I wasn't expecting to learn as much as I did in the first class as it is Digital Photography for Beginners, but I learned so much about the basics of my camera that I really feel I will get my moneys worth out of this course. I will also never use my auto setting on my cameras ever again unless I am having someone else take the pictures. Vague recalls of the course I took back in grade 8 are coming back with this one so I am really looking forward to what else I can learn. I do wish I had a friend taking it with me as that would make it even more fun. Oh well time to go. need to get the photos emailed to my teacher.

Forgiveness and trust?

I love my family, I really do. There are times I have to remind myself that I do, but really I do but when do you draw the line? I had mentioned before that I let them come and stay when they needed a place. I have given them food when they were hungry, and helped with money when we could afford it and at some times when we could not but they were in great need. But when they turn around and lie to you, or abuse your willingness to help to the point where it costs you emotionally, financially and such when do you draw the line? When they tell you something and you can feel with everything in you and your common sense says it's a lie do you confront them and have them lie to you more and turn into a big fight as they defend what they know is a lie and you know is a lie but they can't let themselves admit it because of pride and self preservation where do you draw the line? I understand that no one is perfect and I don't expect them to be, heck I am as far from perfect as a person can get sometimes and I love them no matter what, but when do you say enough is enough? When someone has continued to lie and cheat you and because it it your kids as well and they can't face that they have this problem when do you draw the line and say enough is enough? We are suppose to forgive 70 x 7 or more if needed, but how do you forgive someone while still having doubts if they mean their apologies or not help them again because you are pretty sure it will happen again? If you don't help doesn't that mean that you don't truly forgive them because you don't have that trust? This something I have struggled with my whole life to understand. And here I am in this same story again but different situation. And as you can see here I am finding myself pondering these questions again. The people concerned will be sorry, they will make attempts to make it better and mean it, they might even succeed in fixing this one like they have with others but what do I do? Ugh! It is at times like these that I wish I was the type of person to write other people off and never talk to them again. That would make this so much easier I think, lonely, but easier.

Procrastination...

So According to FlyLady today is Anti-Procrastination day. As I look around my house (and have a mini blow out with my hubby about it) we have procrastinated many things for so many different excuses. The main one is that we are always so busy. With 6 kids how could one not be busy, plus of course I was working 3 jobs, and had a calling as a cub leader and sooo much more that I let get in the way of keeping my family under control so we could have a good spirit here. The worst one of course is that we have had other people sharing our home for the past almost 4 years. There has always been someone who needs a place to stay or somewhere to store their stuff and I have always said yes. Weare suppose to be giving and such so I always felt it was my duty to say yes. Have we not been told since we were kids "If ye have done unto the lest of these my brothren, ye have done it unto me" So with that in mind how do you say no?? But then we also comanded to keep our families in order with peace and the spirit... so where do you stop with the one so that it does not affect the other? I have obviously waited to long to say no. So I am doing the work now. It all seems so over whelming. I still haven't pu away Christmas! Mind you last year we kept the tree up till almost december, but it was fake and didn't leave a mess of needles everywhere. So of course now I have an even bigger mess to clean up as I pack it all away. So was it worth it to have put it off? Of course I know this a head of time and still do it... ugh!
So here I am trying to figure out the best way to attack my mess and thinking about how many other things in our lives are affected by the same thing?How many times have I set aside my scripture reading time thinking I will get to it later because the kids are awake early, or late or other such reasons? How many times have I shorted myself on the blessings of a full prayer because I felt I had to rush so just did the 2 second standard instead of actually talking top my Father in Heaven? And you know you can find any excuse to put of doing exercise if you let it get in the way. Any small excuse can seem important at the time but when you look back think how stupid it was really. Kind of what Mike and I were fighting about today. We are trying to get the house under control including the dishes so the rule is if the pot (or ginormous bowl we used) is done soaking under the tap as we run the dishwasher it quickly gets washed instead of being put aside to be washed later. It is something we have to reteach ourselves to do as all of our many excuses got us out of that habit. So say something to him about the bowl he dumped this morning and set aside so he could use the sink and he flips and starts telling me how he didn't have time to wash it because he had to get kids ready and such. Less than a minute to wash the darn thing but he didn't have time? That is when it hit me on how bad we had really become with our ability to procrastinate. So how do we get back to not doing that without killing eachother is my new question to solve as I feel so angry about how my hardwork seems to get tossed to the side when there seems to be a good excuse. If this is how Heavenly father feels everytime I put off my proper prayer or reading my scriptures or any of the other small things he has asked then I am truely sorry and will try so much more now to not find excuses. The plus to that being that I will find the blessings that go along with it that I have been missing.