Enjoying Motherhood

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-02T21:23:00.014-08:00

We spent our Memorial Day Weekend camping in Homer Alaska. This was our view from out campsite. I love Alaska so much. There are not many places where you can camp right up next to the beach for a whopping 34.00 a night. The kids loved the beach. We spent so much time there that we didn't see much else. I had originally wanted to go halibut fishing but instead settled for this

It's not mine (it is not even real) but hey I can dream that I caught the big one. Instead of fishing we spent the time:

Combing the beach

Finding cool stuff like this:

Digging for razor clams....and actually catching one (boy are they fast!)

Flying a kite...

...And subsequently losing said kite. :( (it's the little dot in the distance)

Building a sand castle

And having a bonfire out in the midnight sun.

All in all a terrific weekend :)

What homeschooling is all about

2010-04-05T13:10:00.012-08:00

Caution: dissection pictures included. Not for squeamish!!!

There is nothing sweeter than seeing your teenage son sit with his little sister listening to her read.
When your kids go to school you miss out on fun things like dissecting frogs, worms, fish, and grasshoppers.

Even the little pipsqueak likes to learn.

Someday he is going to be quite the starving artist!!!

I love how the older kids love to "teach" the younger ones. It is great for them too since it helps to re-enforce what they have already learned.

The #1 thing I have learned being a homeschooling mom: The best way to learn math is snuggled on the couch with your big brother.

It doesn't get any better than this!

The not me monster strikes again

2010-04-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you ask a 13 year old boy to take out the trash. Apparently it is too much to ask that one put on shoes before going outside to take out the trash. It is finally warming up here in Alaska and the ground is muddy.

I can't wait until the snow is gone and the ground is dry. Then I am going to have my carpets cleaned. They certainly need it with this kid.

You will laugh about this later

2010-03-23T14:34:00.007-08:00

A comment made to me time and time again by older more seasoned mothers. Mothers whose kids have often flown from the nest. I have been uttering these words to myself for the past few days. You see my 13 year old is driving me insane. He is half man and half boy and I never quite know which one of him he will be at any given moment. There are time when he is so helpful, so thoughtful, so mature that I can't hardly believe it. Then there are days when he thinks it is a good idea to unzip the futon mattress and crawl inside. Just because. I mean why not right? My younger children who have used that bunk bed set before him never thought to do it. I guess it takes maturity to think to do it. I don't know. What I do know is that once you ruffle the filling inside a futon mattress it will never ever be sleepable again. It is in fact much like a cheap pillow that you wash and then dry. It all bunches into a ball and no matter what you do you can never get it to be pillow like again. And so I will have to say over and over in my mind that I will one day miss this. That someday I will have wished I took pictures (actually for the purpose of this blog I should have) and will laugh hysterically about it. Apparently grandchildren get a kick out of this sort of thing. Until then I will just have to breathe, count to ten, and pray a lot.

Happy Birthday Princess

2010-03-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

My baby girl is now 7. Where has the time gone?

For her 7th birthday we had a family party at home with the princess cake. Then the next morning we had a crazy fun filled party at Chuck E Cheese. I opted for the 10 am party. I am very glad I did. It was crazy when we left and people where lined up out the door. At 10 am you practically get the place to yourself. Plus they give you an extra 100 tokens for booking early.

Nothing says I love you more than...

2010-03-15T12:03:00.001-08:00

Cinnamon Rolls!!!

I finally got around to making my hubby and kids their most desired and longed for breakfast. To ensure that I would indeed make them DH told everyone at his work that I would be bringing them in Monday morning. Nothing like forcing the hand there LOL.

Recipe: here.

The biggeset baby

2010-03-11T07:42:00.001-09:00

Living in Alaska gives the oportunity to see neat stuff like this.

Writing on the Wall

2010-03-09T09:33:00.004-09:00

"My mommy is mean and she makes me wash the walls after I color on them. Why doesn't she like my beautiful art work? "

(note to self. always check the date on camera when changing batteries. He wasn't even born in 2004...lol)

Only In Alaska

2010-03-05T19:00:00.001-09:00

I am seriously wondering if there is any other place that has a carnival in the middle of winter. I am not sure who is crazier. Them for having one or me for going....TWICE!!! *sigh* Put this on the list of crazy things I do for my kids.

I talked them into riding in the helecopter. At least this way they had some shelter from the snow/wind.

My daughter on the other hand didn't take my advice. LOL

Guess I'll Go Eat Worms

2009-10-31T14:24:00.000-08:00

yes indeed, I most certainly did feed my children mice, snakes, and bloody worms.

Happy Birthday Brandon!

2009-06-24T16:01:00.004-08:00

Never!! I repeat never tell your excited 4 year old that when he wakes up it will be his birthday. He was up 3 times last night. It doesnt help that in Alaska it is daylight 24/7. He really did think he slept all night long and that it was indeed time to get up and celebrate. LOL

Collin baked and tried to decorate the cake. Brandon had other ideas. It still turned out super cute!!!

Here is Collin bummed that Brandon won't let him help decorate the cake.

Here is Kimberly cautiously going for it. "please let me help!"

Pantry Tips

2009-05-19T15:01:00.007-08:00

A well stocked pantry is a wonderful way to keep your food budget low. The problem lies in remembering what you have and not forgetting what you have bought. A simple way to do this is to write each item that you buy and then put a slash next for the quanity that you have. Then when you use up that item you put a slash the other way (making an X).

<---- I use this free printable . It can be found here. I do the same with my freezer.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T12:21:00.003-08:00

Happy Mother's Day! I hope that you all enjoyed your day!

Mine was good. This year Daddy was so busy that he didn't get a chance to take them shopping for me. I didn't mind at all because I didn't want anything. Daddy felt bad though and so when we made an unexpected stop at Wal-Mart on Saturday he gave the boys 10.00 each and told them to meet us in the front in 15 minutes.

My 10 year old bless his heart bought me the above. He thought he was getting me a wreath to hang on my wall. He didn't realise that it was meant for my grave. We all had a chuckle over that. I told him I would go to the craft store and buy him a wooden wreath that he can hot glue the flowers on so I can hang it up. I think this just might be my most memorial Mother's Day present ever.

The Good Mama Crown

2009-04-28T13:42:00.002-08:00

Some days I don't feel like a very good mommy. Being a mother is a lot harder than it looks on the outside. In fact I think most people do their best parenting before then have kids. I know I did.

With my first child I was able to live up to my own crazy expectations. Reality hit when I had my second child. Now 5 children later I found that diapers could hold a lot more than I thought, that babies didn't need to be bathed everyday, and that I was not above bribing to get my children to do what I wanted them to. yes, I have been stripped of my good mama crown.

When Mama Caves

2009-04-16T13:57:00.004-08:00

Last night I went to the store hungry...with kids.....and a hubby. Each of those things is bad alone but when you combine them they well......make me end up with a Huge economy size box of Reese's Puff Cereal.
So this morning I got to lounge around on the couch while everyone ate HUGE bowls of the stuff. About an hour afterwards not only are my kids "starving" but they are now running and screaming throughout the house. Seriously?!?!?!?!
Sigh, when will I learn?????

BUSTED!!!!

2009-04-09T22:03:00.003-08:00

When you have 5 kids you know something is up when one of them gets quiet. Here is what I found DS#4 doing one afternoon.

Introduction

2009-04-09T21:29:00.002-08:00

I am not exactly sure why I started this blog. I guess I just wanted a piece of the blogsphere where I too could put my thoughts on marriage, motherhood, and faith. I am by no means an expert at well....anything. Yet, as a mother of 5 I am asked advice time and time again. Motherhood is hard and without encouragement it can feel like we are going to be buried in diapers, toys, and laundry forever. Hopefully, this blog will not only offer some encouragement to you but also give you something to laugh about.

Enjoy!