Catch Up...First Day of School....

Hard to believe that it was time to start school again....

I think this will be the year we remember that we "slummed" our way into the first day of school.  Look at those clothes!  Who dresses those children?   I think I was a little distracted in getting Eric ready and off to college.  Plus these boys will do anything to get out of shopping for clothes!  And, I guess it worked!   Well, atleast they are darn cute!  So, maybe no one noticed that they look like little urchins...lost and forgotten by their mother.

4th Grade!  How can it be that this boy is starting 4th grade!  And he got the teacher he wanted..hoped for..Mrs. LeFevre!!!

Michael and his good friend Brandon.  They both made it into Mr. Cook's class...and this made them very happy!

Yes, they are the cool 6th grade boys..the top dogs..the big cheese..... 

And ...with some coaxing..this young man let me take his picture on his first day back as a JUINOR!!  Holy Cow!

And, well, I am sorry to report that the 9th grade boy was  too anxious to get to school early and therefore would not pose for a picture.  Jon will be the new boy on the block at Albion Middle after going to Churchill Jr High for the past two years. He decided he wanted to be with all of his friends ..and football team ...so he was one excited boy, anxious to get his foot in the door and make a great first impression.  I am happy to report that he went to school with just the right clothes, his hair combed just right, and ready to be the big man...  (He is fun  ..funny...to watch)  I know he will make it a great year!  And we are happy for him!

So, after school I tried to be a cool mom and have cookies and milk ready for them.  It will probably never happen again, but at least I was really cool one day this year.    

I love these boys and here's to a great year!  And now we are off and running into a great year!  

The Song Of Summer 2010.....

Saw something like this on Cloverlane.  It rang so completely true to my own life right now..that I had to write my own version...




Mom .......
Mom.....
Mom......
Why do I have to...
When can I?
Mom can you take me...?
Mom can you pick me up...?
Mom I have to be at by...
Mom .......
Mom Mom.......
Momma.........
Mom come see this
Mom watch this
Mom he did ....
Mom why do they get to?
Mom
Mom
Mom.....
Mom I am soooo hungry...
What is for breakfast
What is for Lunch?
What do we have to eat in this house?
What's for dinner?
Mom haven't you gone to the grocery store yet?
Mom
Mom
Mom
Mom I need...
Mom could you get me...
Mom, where is....?
Mom can I go to...?
Mom
Mom why do I have to get up?
Mom why do I have to go to bed?
Mom Mom
Mom
Mom
Mom
Mom.......................

Notes Written on a Tattered Old Piece of Paper

I found an old tattered paper with some notes I had written on it when I was a fairly new mother, still just beginning the venture of establishing a home and family.   I wrote at the top of the page:

 "Rules for a Contented Life." 

 I think my oldest was about 5 years old.

It was interesting for me to note the order of the things I wrote.   Even more interesting to me is  how time and experience have taught me more about living a contented life as a family.  I don't think I have ever felt crazier than I do now ...trying to balance the activities, responsibilities and schedules of 8 people... 4 schools, two..no now three different piano teachers, sports, scouts, homework and on and on.

Even though I think I know more now about what really works to make home life more contented, it is more challenging than ever before to get that.

I would add new things to the list now such as reading scriptures each day as a family.  When we do this there really is greater peace and contentment in our home.  Another I would add is to spend a minute with each person...connect with each person even if it is for a few minutes.  Maybe I would add reading time with my little kids at night.  That adds a lot of contentment.  There are just some things that I feel I need to do each day.  I can go to bed at night feeling fairly confident that everyone feels they are doing well and feel loved.

This list wasn't meant to cover everything in family life but just touch on the things that truly make us feel content and happy.

Social:

• Eric: friend over atleast once a week -Eric was about 5 years old at this time
• Joseph, friend over atleast once a week -Joseph was about 3     
• Dinner with friends or family every quarter
• Game night with another family every quarter (Sun or Mon nights)    

A Day of Rest-Keep the Sabbath Day Holy:

• Special Sunday activities
• Sunday "stations"
• Traditional Sunday dinners
• Invite someone to dinner once a quarter
• Gospel conversations often and not just on Sunday
• Traditional Sunday night treats

Family/Recreation:

• Family Activity once a week
• Family Home Evening every Monday
• Create a very fun backyard
• Hobbies-do together
• Encourage and partcipate in sports
• Art
• Drama-Children's Theater
• Singing, perform
• Piano
• Nature/Outdoor activities
• Meaningful traditions
• Be sure to laugh often and much!

Money:

• Do not go into debt
• Be a wise steward of resources
• Save, then buy
• Live within Means

Education:

• Be actively involved in children's educations!
• Homework hour every day
• Work before play 
• Everyone read and read! 

    
Order:

• Follow routine
• Maintain cleanliness
• Children pick up each night
• Laundry baskets (everyone put away clothes in baskets)
• Dish duty
• Saturday work

Meals:

• Breakfast together as a family
• Dinner together every night

Husband/Wife: 

• Read together/talk
• Social Activities
• Physical exercise
• Temple Date once a month
• Make dates fun
• Formal date once a month ?
• Work together on something

Service:

• Once a week for someone--anything!

I can tell you with a doubt the area of "order" is sadly the area that I struggle with the most and drives me the most crazy!

I think I need to revisit this list.   Moms have such a huge role in the creation of calm and contentment in their homes.......   Every day I get up and realize that it is largely up to me how my home will feel that day and how we will interact with each other..  No wonder I am exhausted at the end of the day!!!

Lunch Date With Mom

Every once in awhile I steal away  one of my kiddos from school and take them on a lunch date.  Today it was Jacob's turn.  He chose I-Hop for lunch.  

That is one cute third grader.  I love third grader smiles.  Don't you?   And I love this age.  And I enjoy grabbing one on one time here and there with each of my boys.   (Scotty was at preschool)    

My Sweet Baby Scotty.....

Three Short Years Ago......

Those sweet fleeting newborn days......   there is nothing like them in this world.   How quickly time goes by... I can still vividly recall how that delicate soft cheek felt to kiss and nuzzle and and how sweet he smelled.  I hope I never forget.

The Hard Work of Motherhood.....

All since 3 pm......

-welcomed kids home

-got kiddos snacks

-went through backpacks

-reminded kids to put backpacks etc away

-cleaned up the kitchen again...

-went through the mail

-helped Joseph get the printer to work so he could print up a homework assignment

-handled various discipline issues

-made a couple of phone calls

-negotiated atleast 5 small tussles between kids

-took away the Wii after those tussles continued

-corralled all the kids up to do their jobs

-made sure kids practiced the piano

-Eric off to his piano  lesson..glad he can drive himself

-talked through an  issue with spouse

-Eric off to basketball with his Dad

-had a long drawn out heart to heart talk with one of my boys about the importance of not being critical and instead looking for the good in everyone...building and lifting everyone..yadah yadi yadah...
-emptied dishwasher

-made dinner

-ate dinner...encouraged and coaxed healthy eating and happy talk

-did the dishes with some help

-had a few laughs with everyone over Superbowl commercials we watched on youtube...so funny

-got Scott dressed again

-pulled the family together for family home evening..gratefully  listened to my husband share the family home evening lesson...grateful for a moment to just sit....and feel gratitude for the good dad my children have...

-cuddled with Jacob after he had been sent away to the "calm couch"

-helped Joseph make a family home evening treat

-cleaned up Scott who snuck off during family home evening and was eating the treats out of a large bowl headfirst and was covered with powdered sugar and chocolate

-little talk with oldest son about something on his mind

-snuck away to the basement TV and watched part of "24" with my big boys .... ( I would rather watch it on DVD and skip the commercials--but wanted to spend a bit of time with these boys )

-cut Joseph's hair

-swept the floor

-helped Michael with his Math homework..pre algebra

-listened to everyone's "hey mom's" which I love but by 10:00 pm I am getting weary....

-and yes tucked Michael and Jacob into bed about 10:00....oiye!

-putting Scott to bed in a few moments because he napped until 5 pm oiye!!  I know-- terrible!!


Earlier today I just didn't know if I could continue to do all this...  so what did I do?  I turned to my own mother who undoubtedly had many many hard days herself as a mother....and she listened and  bouyed me up and I felt her prayers added to my own and a higher power bouyed me up as well.   So....I picked it all up and kept moving forward....

This just is hard work....sometimes it feels like a war..trying to get everyone to be nice, be responsible, be respectful, remember about a thousand things, getting everyone where they need to be when and with what they need, and it goes on and on.....

And today is just an ordinary day....and Mondays are one of the calmer days of the week.  It is all good... just hard work.  The last three days have been particularly taxing..   But,   I know in my heart and in my gut that I am doing something very  important.  And I know I need to enjoy these ordinary and full days.  Because they will not last forever..and I will miss them.

I want to say I  am thankful today for the hard work of great women in my life...especially my own wonderful Mother.. she is one amazing, strong woman who walks by faith with love in her heart.

And....today I am thankful to my Mom who comforted me and helped me find the strength and hope to keep going...

 There are just days when we need our mothers, our sisters and the examples of grandmothers and aunts to help us keep calm and carry on!!   So grateful that I have so many  great women in my life to lean on and walk beside in this great adventure..