To Death with Superwomen!!

I cried today. Sat on the floor and cried. Not because I was sad or happy which is quite the norm for me but because my house was messy.  And I mean REALLY messy and I just didn't have it in me to tidy it.  So I cried.  I am such a baby.  I know that sitting on the bedroom floor isn't going to get my house tidy but it felt like the only thing that could be done as I surveyed the Sunday damage.  I call it Sunday damage because it is at its worst on a Sunday. Hey you try and get 8 people of various ages, with conflicting clothing preferences and hair style issues out the door to be on time or even early to church. Todays damage is made worse by a busy week and the kids having friends over which inevitably creates a hiccup in the household routine. (Definitely not saying that they were particularly messing or anything). My missing beater was found half licked in the flannel drawer, my washing of three days ago is still unfolded on the window seat and I let my one year old fall asleep in front of the Wiggles in his high chair.  Today has been one of those days!

People often comment to me (once they find out how many children I have) that I must be superwomen.  I should invite them to come and look around my house. I am not superwomen.  Actually I don't really like the term. Whether they intend it or not, it comes across that they think I am actually better than they are.  So not true!  Definitely not true!  I live my life and they live theirs and we each deal with whatever our lives consist of. 1...2....3 or even 13 children.  We are all coping, dealing with and living our lives to the best of our ability on any given day! When we label someone with a Superwoman status or put them on a pedestal we are actually being unfair on them by not really allowing them to be 'human' and have bad days AND at the same time we are lowering ourselves and what we are dealing with and accomplishing to the level of nothing special, nothing amazing. We are all amazing! We all ROCK!!

Yes I have six children (soon to be seven)  I love each of them dearly just like a lady with 2 children.  My bad days are just as bad as yours as are my good days. There have been days where I could of called them 'Days from you know where!'  I think back to them now and I can most laugh as I reminisce.  Like the day when I only had 3 children, my then 4, and 2 year old climbed and got a can of bright blue paint out of the shed, used a screwdriver to pry the lid open, found a pair of paint brushes and proceeded to paint the back of the garage 'bathroom bright blue'!  The garage that belonged to the landlord!  Superwomen was nowhere in sight!

Or the day when I was sitting in the doctors office with my 4 year old who was having an asthma attack, my two year old was terrorizing the room and touching everything in sight probably making sterile things unsterile with dribble and my 5 month olds bottom exploded and poo oozed out of his nappy, all up his back and down his leg and through out his car seat and was screaming because he didn't like it.  I am pretty sure the nursing staff was about to order me straitjacket! Either that or order me a whiskey. Superwomen - nonexistent!

Or the time when I was bravely stupidly grocery shopping with my 4 and 2 year old and I had a 4 month old strapped to my chest (fortunately the 6 year old was in school then) and the 4 and 2 year old were running riot as they tend to do.  They ran ahead of me and the 4 year proceeded to bite chunks out of deli cheeses.  I had a number of cheese in my shopping that day, expensive cheeses at that!  Superwomen - who is she?

Those are just three times in a whole raft of occasions where superwomen was nowhere to be found and she isn't around today either.   In fact I don't know her very well at all.  We women can be our own worst enemies and we can be good at tearing each other down too.  I remember just after I had my first baby I was just getting into the swing of motherhood (actually I still am) and I used to have a competition with the mother across the fence from me to see who could get their washing out first in the morning.  Of course she didn't know she was having a competition with me, but she always won! Grrrr.  Every morning I would feel like a terrible mother who was doing a terrible job. I am not sure anyone ever set that the benchmark for mothering, that was to see who could get their washing on the line first in the neighborhood.  It wasn't until much later that I discovered her hanging her washing out the night before!  Hmmmm CHEAT!

So if I or anyone else looks like they have it altogether. Stop and think its probably because of one of these things....
1) Been there done that!  A tantrum in the supermarket isn't that scary and terrible when you have had to deal with 67 supermarket tantrums before.

2) I am faking it til I make it! I am probably silently swearing inside my head or thinking of how I can get my kids back when we get home all the while smiling an angelic smile. I also probably have an already opened packet of TimTams biscuits that one of the kids have opened on the way around the supermarket and I have bribed them all into being good with a lollipop at the checkout.

3) I have older kids too!  Yes they maybe large in number but at least half of them can take themselves off to the toilet, know the meaning of the word 'no' (well sort of), can hold a crying baby and know where to look for the cans of crushed tomatoes if need be!

4) And I probably left my house in such a state that even CSI would have trouble making heads or tails of it.

But in saying all that....there are times where I do feel somewhat superwomen-ish!  Like when I have totally owned the huge washing pile that has been sitting there all week!  Boom - I have my cape on!  Or the time when I had succeeded in cleaning up the kitchen floor after my son vomited all over it and my waters broke on top of the vomit with my husband not home yet!  Boom - I am working that leotard!

Truth is we all have terrible times as parents, times where we can't see the wood through the trees and we think we are the only ones dealing (and reacting) to such things.  But we all have our superwomen moments where we winning at this mothering thing.  A round of applause and a big hand for all of us!

Autumn Arty Mess

I figure that if I am bored with schooling the kids then they are probably bored with the schooling schedule too.   I think its entirely unreasonable to expect them to be super excited about learning when I am ho-hum about it. Now don't get me wrong I am NOT bored with schooling the kids at home but more of a need to change things up a little. Well for at least a time anyway.  Here is where 'Radical Unschooling' becomes super appealing to me.  I have a number of philosophies around education and children's learning that I glean bits and pieces that I love from.  Some from the above site, some from the Waldorf Education philosophy, some from the NZ Curriculum, some from my own thinking and reflections. Anyone interested or thinking about Home Schooling (or just wanting to know more about people who embark on this crazy journey with their kids) should read or at least know about John Holt, who was a well known author who left mainstream education where he was a teacher and became a advocate for the home-schooling movement and later the un-schooling movement.  I will openly admit that while I totally agree with it and as much as I would love to, I am not brave enough or trust my kids enough to embrace the entire un-schooling philosophy.  

Anyway this week we had some fun and got a little messier than we normally do. (which is really pretty messy but that's what we do around here)  Google/Facebook/Pinterest has oodles of fantastic ideas for creative play/art/crafty things to do. One of my favorites is Happy Hooligans who feature things that are totally doable and are heaps of fun (be prepared for mess though - which is the whole point, KIDS LOVE MESS!)

So here are our...                                Fabulous Fall Collages

Step One:  Put your boots, jackets and woolly hats on get outside to collect some autumn treasures.

                                           

Step Two.  Put some paper or plastic down to protect your table or floor and squirt some blobs of autumny colours on paper.  Be warned if you children are anything like mine, there maybe some differences of opinion about what colours are autumn ones.  Stay quiet!

 Step Three:  Roll out some Gladwrap (cling film) and tear off a piece just a little larger than the paper and lay over paper.  Then get your kids to moosh all the colours around with their fingers.  You can lift off the gladwrap and re-position for ultimate colour coverage!

Step Four:  Lift off Gladwrap and discard!  Once dry, arrange autumn treasures on paper and glue (or sticky tape extra large bits) to painting.

Step Five: Once satisfied, leave to dry and hang for all to see!!

And since I keep getting asked for an updated pregnancy/baby bump photo I thought I would oblige and post one. Aren't I brave kind!

So here it is!

 20 weeks with #7! 

I have been blessed with this pregnancy as so far I have found it relatively easy.  I have had the normal extended morning (all day/random times) sickness but that is about it.  I haven't suffered from that horrible over-coming tiredness that I usually have had.  Thank goodness for that, I do not have time to be tired!!

I have one of the worlds most loveliest midwives and I just love it when she comes to visit! All the kids are super excited and of course the boys want it to be a boy and the girls want it to be a girl. I on the other hand can honestly say I really don't mind what this wee blessing is - we will be happy with whoever God has blessed us with this time.  I am praying however that this one won't be a whopper like Jesse was and will decide to be born the right way up. (or down depending on how you want to phrase it)

Bring on the next 20 weeks!!

More Living - De-stuff!

Yes that's right its a Toadstool! Right out of a fairytale and growing right on our front lawn.

 It might be extremely poisonous but isn't it just so beautiful! 

Just simply beautiful! *sigh*

Why you maybe asking, am I putting a photo of a toadstool on my blog that isn't going to be about toadstool?

Just because it is so simple yet so beautiful and that is more or less the theme of my post this week.

I just love them and NO ONE around here is allowed to bust them!!!

A few weeks ago I wrote a post titled 'Living More, More Living' (or was it the other way round?) Apparently according to my 'stats' it resonated with a great many of you. It seems more and more people are wanting to simplify their lives, to have less stuff, to be less busy and to live more and to do more living. Blog after blog, site after site is being dedicated to that very thing, especially to the "How-to" kind. So if there is so many sites out there to learn from why are we all stuck in the rut, still hiding under or in our houses filled with stuff or or on the brink of a breakdown from being busy all of the time.

We make no secret that we are all busy. And we all are. But what exactly is making us busy? Surely with all the time and effort saving devices that we have at our disposal we should be home free and living the life. But reality is that very few of us are. This has been playing on my mind for a while now probably due to the fact that at times I have felt that I am drowning in my sea of busyness and the STUFF that we have stuffed into our home. At times, even though I try really really hard to enjoy everyday, every moment of my life truth is I don't. I am often drowning in stuff, mess, clutter, things to do, places to go, people to text, to ring, to see, clothes to fold, meals to cook, dishes to wash, things to bake, things I should do, things I want to do, things I don't want to do (but have to), things I have to do. You know life in general. Messy isn't it.

We are all like this, all exactly the same. I have had enough, I really have. I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands. Out come the rubbish bags and boxes. Time to de-stuff my house. My wonderful husband actually started this process for me and cleaned out the girls room with everything that made it a mess and found new homes for them. Then it was out went all the little bits of toys, the tiny hair brushes, the toys with the matted hair, the puzzles with the half eaten pieces (don't ask), the felts (markers) that go sometimes. Everything that I deemed pointless. Soft toys! Really do we need ALL of them, do they really love them all? I know that when people buy kids soft toys I think they secretly hope that the soft toy that they buy will be the childs 'Velveteen Rabbit' and long time pal. Reality is they won't be. I had to go through the soft toys when they girls weren't around as I tried to do it with them and every toy that went into the 'give away' bag was named Zuzu and they desperately loved them and couldn't possibly live with out them. There were many many tears. So I gave up and left it to when they weren't looking. Now all that is left in their room is a wooden dolls house with furniture and a few my little ponies to live in said dolls house. (with matted hair I might add) Their tea set. A container of a selected few soft toys and a craft box and colouring stuff. Everything else it out!! The dress up box has a new home, where it can be monitored more closely. Their room looks good, spacious and functional. I may sound mean but at least I left their beds and blankets (joke). You know the most remarkable thing has happened since then. They play in their room ALL OF THE TIME!!! They have created the most elaborate games out of what they have, things that they have never come up with before. Why didn't I do this sooner!!! Why I ask!!

On to the boys room, I showed no mercy!! At least they are a bit bigger and didn't kick up a fuss (as much). Out with any toy that only had one purpose and hadn't seen the light of day since two weeks after they were bought (toy story lovers can stop reading now). Out with any toy that had even one bit broken or it didn't work. When I say out, I was actually selective because somethings were actually still in good order, they are being donated to local garage sale. I was ruthless. I have yet to go through the games and the puzzles. I am put off by the puzzles because I am going to have to do them all! I have done the bathroom cupboards (that was fun). I am amazed at how much stuff we have accumulated. I am usually the sentimental one and won't get rid of anything but not this time. The bookcase wasn't even safe. A whole box of books packed away ready to be read by someone else. The kitchen cupboard and shelves got a going over too!

Now when I look at all the stuff I have accumulated to give to the garage sale or out to the farm dump I am embarrassed, embarrassed because it is so much money that has been spent of STUFF. Almost brings me to tears, but boy does it feel good when I look at my 'de-stuffed' house. I feel like I can breath. Everything is easier to tidy and clean, easier to put back where things belong. There are things and areas that still need to be dealt with, like my um wardrobe. I think I'll need help with that because I look at it and feel too overwhelm by it. Its not for the faint-hearted, I will leave it at that.

Are we all addicted to stuff? Why do we keep just buying and buying, storing and storing? Surely we don't need it all, yes certain things are nice to have but those certain things are cluttering up our closets, our houses and consequently our lives. I have a tendency to think that we all like our stuff as it makes us feel important, might make us feel like or appear to others that we are 'somebody', an important 'somebody'. We tend to measure ourselves and others by our 'stuff'. The more gadgets, the more gizmo's, the clothes, newest toys determines - wrongly of course- how successful we are. And we all want to be successful in the eyes of others don't we? If we are all being honest of course we do. So here we are a society teetering on the brink of breakdowns because of addiction of our busyness and our 'stuff'. What do we do about it? Do we want our kids to go down the same path? Is this living? I don't think so. Societies that practice a more simpler way of living definitely don't have the same problems we do and I for one am envious of them.

                       We all have the same amount of time to spend, how are you spending yours?

My home. 

One of my most favorite places.

OK next week I'll try to write something a little more light-hearted.
 I'll try!!

A Moose in the Driveway!

Some may be wondering a little about the title of this post. Given that here in New Zealand we have no moose.  But the title is my new favourite say, my catch phrase if you please.  Its what I say out loud to myself or to whoever is with me when ever I maybe about to hit a speed bump (or pot hole depends how you look at it).

 

 

So let me tell you how this new saying of mine came to be.

It was Christmas Day and we were driving home at night from my sister in laws/ best friend house, it was late and it was dark. The kids were tired and chocca full of yummy Christmassy food as was both Jamie and I.  We were just about to turn down our road and I turned and I said to Jamie "What would you do if there was a moose in our driveway?"  Now I don't know if this is a good thing but he is quite used to my random questions and statements that I make, so he didn't really bat an eyelid and just said "I don't know? But it would be kind of random wouldn't it?"  Well yes and it would be very very highly unlikely that we would ever come across a moose in our driveway.  Like I am talking about being 99.9% sure that that would never happened. (As much as that would be kinda cool being that Jamie is an avid hunter and a lover of all things Alaskan) Hmmm he didn't know what he would do because he wouldn't be expected it, would he?  We left the conversation there and I noticed that five out of six of the kids were asleep and history tells me that waking kids up to get them out of the car and into bed is not a pleasant experience. Ever!

 

 So I said to Jamie "Right lets do this. Instead of expecting the kids to all wake calmly and walk into the house and put themselves to bed without a word of any sort... Lets expect at least four kids to cry, one to discover that their legs don't work anymore and will require carrying,  at least two of them will discover something bleeding and require plasters. All of them will need a drink and then to go to the toilet. At least half of them won't know where their Pyjamas are and will need another drink.  Someone will be itchy somewhere and need cream.  Maybe um two will need spew bowls because they feel sick (one may even vomit) and another two will need a banana because they are hungry.  Some will want the hall light on and some won't.  At least someone will ask for a story even though its like four hours past their bedtime.  And another will want a another drink of water and then spill it in their beds which require a complete pyjama and bed change.  IF we expect all that (and that's more likely that the above will happen than finding a moose in the driveway) if we expect all that and we can ready ourselves to deal with whatever comes our way in a calm and peaceful parent way. Anything less than the above will be a pleasant bonus! Amazingly only about half of that happened AND we totally ROCKED the whole bedtime parenting thing that night with peace and oodles of patience.  Like I mean totally ROCKED IT OUT!

 

So what's with the moose then?  My "moose" is all the unexpected things that could possibly go wrong that could potentially ruin your plans, make you late or steal your peace.  "Moose" can come in all shapes and sizes. Like your child's need to go to the bathroom 57 times while you are out. Or wet pants, spilled drinks, tomato sauce on the new dress.  Its the children who decide to swim in a mud puddle just before bed or the child who rings up from Grandmas late at night and wants to come home. (both of those have happened to me recently) Its the tantrum over the wrong shoes, its the poo explosion, its the scraped knee and the super heavyweight fight over whose pants are whose. 

 

These are the things that we parents deal with on a daily basis.  Sounds exhausting doesn't it. 

Um cos it is!!!!

 There is a saying that goes

"Expect the worst and hope for the best"

I used to think that sounded morbid but now I think its giving some great advice.

While obviously we can't plan for everything little thing to go wrong but my point being, that if we continually have expectations of everything going perfectly to plan all of the time then we are going to be sorely disappointed, our tail will be in a spin, we will lose our cool, our knickers will be twisted,  we will throw our toys out of the cot and maybe even slam a door or two.

And then comes regret.  We feel regret and guilt at losing our cool at our precious children over seemingly small things (but happen to be big when we aren't expecting them).

 

Pause and Breathe

(and again if necessary)

We are learning to do this. If we hear something break, an epic fight breaks out or a thud where there shouldn't of been a thud, we find ourselves saying "moose in the driveway, moose in the driveway"  It gives us a chance to pause, breathe and then go check out whatever crisis is occurring.

 

 

God knows I am not perfect at this, not by a long shot.  The thing with kids is that they are kids, things don't go to plan when kids are involved. They are still learning to be, to fit and to function in this world.  I know some might disagree but come on, be truthful. It would be some superhero family that could get out the door on time, with no yelling, no reminding of shoes, lunches, bags, reminding of time, of feeding of pets or sibling fights about who is sitting where and who sat where last Wednesday.  I tell you, if you expect a "moose" or two, expect something unexpected you may pleasantly surprise yourself at your ability to react in peace and patience.

And really who wouldn't want to be that parent??

 

"Moose" aka face paint

 

"Moose" aka Muddy shoes

 

"Moose" aka Wee girls attempt at tidying the linen cupboard.

 

 



 

Enjoy your week, Moose and all!! xx

On Being Sick!

I don't know too many people that would be putting their hands up wanting to be sick, but I REALLY hate it!!  I hate it with a vengeance!  I hate not feeling like I can do anything, not even the bare basics!  My house is a tip and my washing pile, the one that I have been working soooo hard at keeping folded and put away, has gone from woe to go in an instant!  Alas its back to being the Mount Washington!  Sad face for me.  Whats worse is that five out of six of my kiddies are sick too! High temps, sore muscles (which is turn means that certain little kiddies legs don't work), vomiting (for some) and coughing! OH the coughing its the worst.    My eyes are scratchy and my throat is hot (or is it the other way round) and all I want to do is sleep, sleep and sleep, which of course I can't, because did I tell you, I have the most annoying cough ever. Whats more frustrating is that I can't take any cough mixture because I am breast-feeding!  So I have to be content with sipping on warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey drink.  Jamie has vacated my bed at night because I am keeping him awake so much. Last night he pushed Casey over and sleep with him. Tonight he is making up the couch bed, only because Casey has been talking in his sleep and kept Jamie awake part of the night attempting to engage him in numerous conversations.

So we are well into the third week of having one of those good old fashioned 'shut ins'.  Another thing that is doing my head in (but not enough to be bother to do anything about) is that I am insanely over the TV, Computer and/or Tablet being on nearly all day and kiddies wrapped up in blankets and being sprawled all over the couch, floor and not moving. Did I say ALL DAY.  If I was 100% myself I might be inclined to wage war on this but as I said I can't be bothered.  They are quiet, well mostly if you don't count the fights over the TV channel, the pick of movie or whose turn it is on the computer or whose has had 25 secs more than their agreed time. I don't know how else I would keep entertained or quiet and rested five sick kiddies.  I am however, super super thankful that Jesse (9mths) is not at all unwell and that Jamie is able to be at home with us and is having a go at playing nurse. I say playing because it is not at all his calling in life and is doing this under duress. He is certainly not sitting bedside, spoon feeding me chicken broth and sponging my brow with a cool damp cloth but at least he is here and is coping very well with the vomiting, the whinging and the timetable for Pamol administration. Yes I did say timetable, one has to have a timetable when there is five of them all requiring various amounts of medication.  Our house is a disaster zone I tell you.

A plus side for being sick is that I finally have started and finish a book that I have been wanting to read for a while - awesome! AND I have pottered around and sorted out some clutter in 'high-risk clutter zones' at various places around the house - again AWESOME!! AND I have had some time (when I could wrestle the computer off the kids) to peruse the property market for dream homes and Trade Me for milking goats and bar stools. Come on what else do you surf the net for when you are sick?  I am hoping and I am praying that tomorrow everyone will be just that much better than they were today and that I and everyone else will sleep just that much better tonight.
Sorry no photos of said sick kids or nurse Jamie. I don't think that anyone of them would really appreciate me waving a camera in their face and you are certainly not going to get a photo of me in my current state.
Much love to you all Xxx

Ps I did find a dream house - anyone have a cool million? (I did say DREAM house)

Table - its where its at!

They say its around the dining table is where things happen, where families connect and memories are made and I would have to agree with them. (Who is 'them' anyway?)  Our table is where its at I tell you.

We have actually just bought a new - well new to us - table and it rocks.  Trade Me is super cool like that.  Now we have room for all our family to fit around, not that Jesse (8mths) is even sitting at the table - hey I can barely get food past his lips!  Visitors can sit in comfort and ease and not be squished in, sitting on chairs with wheels and elbowing each other in the ribs while they eat their meatballs.

Its not flash and has got its fair share of bumps and bruises, scratches and marks but hey it was coming to a place where its going to get loved on even more.  I really didn't want to be too worried if one of the kids pressed to hard with a ball point pen or accidentally engraved their name on it.

Consequently 'Mr Nobody' has accidentally-on-purpose engraved his name on it already! 

Table is big, table is square and table is sturdy.

Table is just what we needed it to be.

I love my table!

Table is hardly ever clear. It can be covered with washing (folded - I am going really well), schooling, coloured pencil shavings, books, breakfast plates and dinner mess.

Games, crafts and sandwich crusts ......

 

Below are some photos that I took one Saturday morning where 'Table' was doing the multi-purpose thing.  Breakfast was being eaten, Scrabble was being played and serious button sorting was going on.

 

Kaitlyn's dress that was made out of an old woollen jersey.

Buttons from Great-Grandmas button tin is seriously cool!

'Table' multi-purposing, up there with the best of them!

This was her original design but this Mama has major tantrum inducing problems trying to sew these on in this particular pattern.

I actually ditched this design and went for buttons around the neck instead.

 

You may or may not have noticed that I talk about our table as if it was a person.  It has been pointed out to me recently that I have this quirky (its quirky not weird thank you) habit of personifying innate objects.  'Table' is just one of them.  I feel sorry for long abandon things, have a hard time getting rid of unused items and am a general pain in the back side when Jamie wants to declutter.

I know that things don't have feelings or thought but still....!

 

We are so blessed to have 'table' move in with us and put up with being loved on in so many ways!

I just hope its just as happy as I am!

 

Does anyone else have a piece of furniture or a 'thing' that you insanely love?

 

 

Sleep

Sleep is such a precious commodity! Everyone is tired.  Stay-at-home Mamas/Working Mamas, Students, Dads, Grandmas, Poppas, Aunties, Uncles etc. Everyone is tired! Everyone could do with more sleep. I tell you there is no such thing as "sleeping like a baby!"  That over used totally ridiculous phrase conjours up pictures of sweet chubby bubbas lying ever so peaceful sound asleep in a beautifully decorated room in a cot with ironed-smoothed blankets  with matching curtains. Ha that never happens, well not in my house anyway.  I have said this before, Jesse doesn't like to sleep in a bed during the day.  He would much much rather sleep on the couch in amongst the palaver and chaos that is our daily living.  Sleeps more soundly and infinitely longer this way!

 

I had to take these photos because he looked so grumpy about going to sleep!

I cannot remember the last time I had a full nights sleep. Honestly! I even got up to my 12 year old the other night. Why?  Because once he starts with one cough it leads to two and then three and then we are all awake. So rather than waiting until he calls out to me I got up and brought him his inhaler and fixed the problem.  I wouldn't say that I am anymore tired than the next person. At present Jesse is waking from 2 to 7 times a night.  Sometimes I scoot him in and feed him and sometimes I just put my hand on him or touch my lips to his head and he goes back to sleep. Oh how I love that I get to snuggle, its like having my own mould-able hot water bottle.

 Some of my children are older and for the most part don't wake up at night needing my or Jamies help. The younger ones still wake up...for drinks, bad dreams, no blankets, the night light on, cuddles, the occasional wet bed and sometimes they are even hungry.  Sometimes we play musical beds, that's not uncommon in our house.  It is also not uncommon for me to check on the boys or girls before I go to bed and find the kids have rearranged their sleeping  quarters.  At present the Jayden (10) and Thomas (7) have pushed their two beds together into one giant bed and are sleeping like that!

There was a time a couple of years ago where the three boys decided to be in "Little House in the Prairie" days and all sleep in one single bed together.  They did that for a number of nights. During that time Kaitlyn and Sophie came into our bed one night and we joked (as you only you can on nights like that) that we only needed two beds for our entire family.  It is also not uncommon for me to find the kids sleeping on the floor, sometimes with their mattress and sometimes without.  Seriously who would voluntarily sleep on the floor!

Sophie and Kaitlyn decided to sleep in our room one night!

 It is a regular occurrence for me to find the kids have made huts after they have gone to bed and they have gone to sleep in there.

Jamie will often sleep on the fold out couch or on a mattress on the floor if one of the kids are sick.  For an entire week after Jesse was born he vacated our bed for a mattress on our bedroom floor so Jesse and I could spread out and recover.   We frequently all sleep in the lounge and have family movie night. ALL the mattress come off the beds (including ours) and they are set up in preparation for movie watching.  Funny thing is, is that on those nights EVERYONE has the best sleep-ever!  There is something to be said for communal living I reckon.

 It is true that some people need more sleep than others. I function on little sleep and for the most part I function well. Jamie on the other hand doesn't and will often take himself off for a nap if the day allows it. This use to (and if I am honest it still does to a degree) frustrates me, but I am S-L-O-W-L-Y accepting that he needs Nana-naps.  I don't enjoy going to bed early and would rather stay up late and enjoy some time with no kiddies wanting/needing me. I HATE getting up early, but I am working hard at getting up before 7am. Yes I know for some of you the day has started by then. Jamie can jump out of bed very sprightly indeed, be showered and dressed before I have even got one eye open! I am awake often at night, thinking, reflecting, planning and dictating essays, teachings and blogs (in my head).  In saying all this, sleep is important for everyone, its just that we all require different amounts. Sleep is essential for health, growth and everyday functioning.  All of us probably don't get as much as we should for one reason or another. (ha I just yawned - I must be tired) We ALL are busy with living our lives and could all do with a bit of slowing down, a bit less technology, a bit more activity/exercise/ a bit more of the outdoors, a bit more of 'being present in the now'.  Even God rested, so therefore so must you/I. Where are you sleeping tonight?

Goodnight lovely people!

 

 

So what are you doing this Sabbath!

One of those days (sigh)

Please tell me that I am not alone when I say ..."I am looking forward to bed and the day being over".  I wasn't the best parent today.  Today was hard. If I was completely honest I could of done with another glass of wine but no, I stared longingly at the unopened bottle instead - knowing full well that I would have to do extra push ups and crunches as punishment.

Seriously I don't know what happened today.
I mean really...

Who thinks that its OK to climb on top of the clothes horse (fully loaded) and that it wouldn't break under the strain of a 4 year olds weight.  I am down to one horse now (clothes not actual) and one horse isn't going to cut it especially when you don't have a dryer.  Its precociously balancing on the fire guard and the back of a chair at present and I am in serious denial that its no longer functional.

Who really thinks its OK to bring ones bike inside and ride it. Yes I know we have a big old farm house but we want to pretend that we have some etiquette, decorum and are semi-civilised.

Who really thinks its OK to threaten to throw wooden trains, monopoly pieces, pumpkins and snot-filled tissues at each other? Again see above for why not.

How many times do we have to be told to close the front/back door? 10, 20, 30....100 times. Seriously its not that hard.

We don't need to fight and argue ALL day, do we?  I say this because I KNOW at the end of the day, come bed time you will have ALL joined forces and united against us, 6 against 2 and staged a full on mutiny about going to bed. Why bother? Do yourselves and me a favour, remember that you do love each other and unite earlier on in the day.

Why does everything have to start hurting/itching/bleeding at bed time. Why do you suddenly become cold/hot/unwell at bedtime? Why do you need another drink, banana, cuddle, plaster and/or teddy at bedtime?  Why oh why do I have to kiss, hug and say prayers for Teddy's/dollies and weird looking plastic horses at bedtime? BEDTIME is just that, BEDTIME!!!

Why do you need to poo all up your back and all over your clothes just after I have dressed you?  I am sure I have told you that its near impossible to get a squishy poo-soaked singlet up and over your head without dying your hair, ears and neck poo-yellow.

Why do socks always disappear? Why wear gumboots through the front door and walk through the house only to walk out the backdoor? 

Empty toilet rolls actually go into the rubbish bin - not on the floor.

Why can't you do your own Maths and not your sisters? Why do you have to drop you pencil 222 times?  Find your own rubber, share your rubber, split your rubber in two BUT PLEASE STOP FIGHTING OVER THE DAMN RUBBER!

Why play inside when its sunny and outside when its raining? Why wear shorts in winter and then cry because you are cold? Why oh why wear shorts and a t-shirt and then take your blanket and pillow outside to lie under to keep warm?

Why do you have to shove the entire knife into the full jar of jam and then spread over bread, bench and floor?

Why are you sweeping the dirt with my broom? Why are you cleaning a pumpkin in the bathroom?

Why are you wearing your togs? Why are you running a bath now? No you do not need to practice using your flutter board!

Please give me the scissor. Please turn the TV off. Please get down. Please get off your sisters head.  Please don't wear just stockings to collect the eggs/mail.  No we can't go to the pet shop and buy a pet.

 No you can't play egg shops with real eggs. Why? Because you might break them and I need them for baking.  No you can't sell them at the gate. Why Not? Because we brought them from the supermarket. I know no one will know that, but I will.  Yes I know you can keep a secret!

Yes I know I borrowed five dollars off you. Yes I will pay you back. Yes with paper money even! Yes and soon.  I won't forget. I am sure you won't let me.

*sigh*

Two rows of chocolate later and I am off to bed.  I will live another day, to tell another story. Tomorrow will be....tomorrow.  Some days like this just happen. You either laugh or cry - probably both! I know I am not a bad parent but actually I am a pretty darn good one. But days like that do creep up on the best of us. One day my linen cupboard will be tidy and my towels will all be matching. One day my windows will be clean and I won't have to vacuum daily...but that means one day my house will be empty.  For me...the thought of that is very very sad!



Photo taken December 2012

Every cliché about kids is true; they grow up so quickly, you blink and they're gone, and you have to spend the time with them now. But that's a joy. - Liam Neeson

Breathe

I don't know about you but sometimes I feel like I forget to breathe!  Does that sound weird?  At times I feel so overwhelmed about all the things I need to do think I need to do, BELIEVE I need to do, that at times I catch myself holding my breath!

Someone please tell me that I am not the only one.

I have a lot to cram into my day and somedays I feel like the only one in the world that has as much to do as I do. (although realistically I know I am not)  I get frustrated.  I don't want to feel like this. I don't want to miss the small things because most of the time they are the most beautiful, the most important AND its usually the stuff that teaches you the most....if you let it.  I don't want to miss out on these beautiful moments just because I am battling with the things that I THINK I NEED to be doing.  Who says these things anyway?

I have to remind myself that being a home schooling Mama is more or less the equilivant to having a outside-of-the-house job of some sort.  Working Mamas still have washing to hang, fold and put away, still have bathrooms to clean and floors to vacuum, as do I.   Having 'Number 6' on the way has got me looking for ways to streamline, normal everyday household jobs...like folding washing.  And if you know anything about me you already know that I HATE folding washing!!!

Like having a Family "Life Skills" Lesson in folding washing!

I just know that one day someone is going to thank me for this!

I have to keep myself in check and even though it is cliche I have to remind myself and if I forget to do that, Jamie will happily remind me

"Don't sweat the small stuff"

It really doesn't matter that the kids have breakfast cereal for dinner every now and then.

It really doesn't matter if I buy a packet of biscuits to take somewhere because I just can't (or don't want to) squeeze baking in to my day.

It really doesn't matter if the dishes remain unwashed overnight and the floors don't get vacuumed that day (or if I am totally honest - a few days)

 

Can I hear gasps of horror?

Everything always gets done eventually!

 

I think children have a lot to teach us. 

 How to make something beautiful out of nothing.

 

 

How to amuse oneself by creating and having fun out of simple things.

 

Take one box of firewood and two little girls imagination and determination...do you know how many times it fell down!

 

 





 But...dare I say this, while all this creating, building and imagining is going on...sometimes I just need some peace and tranquility.  Two things that are a little (a lot) hard to come by in my house.   But even now and then, just once in a while I would like not to be living in a flippin kindergarten/school/art room/science lab/sports arena/wrestling ring!! Just sometimes I would like to be able to function without ducking rubber bullets, standing on lego, little fingers eating the biscuit dough,finding my baking utensils in the bedroom and plastic animals in my kitchen drawers!

 

Breathe Sharni, just breathe.

 

Its the "I love you Mummy" moments that make it all worth while.

Like....

Snuggles in bed,

"Mummy, you are the best" declarations,

Flowers picked especially for me,

The 11 year olds random hugs,

The 7 year old saving me the 'black and red' lollies cos he knows I like them.

"I just love the dress you are wearing" comments.

and all those other special things that children do for you.

 

No mountain of washing or un-vacuumed floors should deter us from basking in these small delights!

 

 

In school......

The Ragcoat by Lauren Mills

and

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson

 

One raining Monday morning, 'school' was replaced by making 'quilt pictures'!

We had a lot of fun, especially if you don't count the fights over the two pairs of sharp scissors. (I should of expected it really, 5 kids and 2 pairs of decent scissors)

 

 

 

Sophie looking decidingly cute as she takes it upon herself to check up the days school work! 

 

"Don't sweat the small stuff"

"Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest"

Proverbs 14:4

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Boy-dom

It was brought to my attention that I haven't written about my boys for while.  Yes that is true and I just have to say that I certainly don't love them any less.  I think that I am finding my girls play most intriguing at present.  Their play brings me back to moments in my own childhood and times spent with my own sisters.

But.....that isn't any excuse!  So in celebration of my boys I am going out to explore BOY-DOM!!

Boys aren't pretty, dainty and fancy in their play, no they are BIG, LOUD, FEISTY and ROBUST!

Bow and Arrows are so the thing at the moment!

It could be to do with the fact that I am reading Robin Hood to them at the moment as part of 'school'.

In their room I find....

 

Huts!!! 

 I kid you not this is a regular occurrence.  I have come to the realisation that they don't need beds because they very rarely sleep in them.

Even though Casey (10) says he wants his own room, I find him often asleep on the floor of his brothers room. Crazy! 

Creative mess?!

Jaydens 'pet' Slater!

One of the things that I love most about my boys is that they are real 'mates' with each other. They love to hang out, invent games and talk rubbish with each other.  We have an added bonus which is a BIG extended family. Jamie's brothers have got loads of time and energy to spend with my boys. Providing them with other positive and loving role models apart from their Dad.

I am so thankful and blessed to be apart of a multi-aged family and I pray that my boys only carry this on for ones that are younger than them and for ones that are to come.

My boys and the famed Uncle Sam just chilling out!

Sometimes I fret over providing enough 'learning experiences' for the boys but it was pointed out to me, they find their own!

I love the expression on Jaydens face.

 

I have learnt NOT to interfere and say dumb things like,  'What are you making?"  or "Perhaps you should do it like this"  Those are big No-nos!

Here is what they made, the three of them, together!

No for those who perhaps can't guess what it is, I'll tell you.

It is a fort.

For their knights and horses and army men.

Of course! Aren't they creative!

And just so you know...their room does look presentable again!

What are your boys up too?

"A brother shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams."

- Author Unknown