Jeremy got back this evening...just before bedtime. He's upstairs putting Aaron to bed for the first time in a week...what a blessing it is to be able to tuck the big kids WHILE Aaron is going to sleep instead of making the big ones wait or rushing through their routine because there is only so much of me to go around. Not only that, but now when I take a shower and if Aaron starts to fuss, there is someone to tend to him so he doesn't get hysterical and take another hour to calm down and go to bed.
Parenting many children is just no fun without two parents...I really feel for those I know whose husbands are either deployed frequently OR work weird schedules. I've been there/done that, but not with so many children. I don't know how I'd do it.
So glad you're home, sweetheart!!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Gardening
I've never gardened in my entire life. I want to garden. I cannot think of anything that could save our family money and provide nutritious food the way a garden could. I don't really live in a place where a garden is feasible...I mean, I could build some planter boxes...somewhere, I suppose. I'm not really sure where as our home is under a very, very large redwood tree and a very, very large magnolia tree. They're beautiful, but they don't allow for a whole lot of sunshine for growing fruits and veggies. Then comes the issue of actually STARTING the plants. Where do I do this? I'd love to get some wonderful non-GMO seeds and start plants from seeds. Not only would it be a great homeschool activity, but it'd be the best way to ensure that we get the least expensive produce and the healthiest at that. HOWEVER, I only have 2 window sills in my house that get decent sunshine...and they're about 6 inches by 4 feet...how many plants could I possibly grow?
So, my thought, mission, idea, if you will, of the day is this: HOW IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO GARDEN? (Nevermind the fact that I cannot bend over AND breathe at the same time at this point). Hmmmm...I guess I need to research how to organize a community garden and contact housing to see if this would be something we could do. There is so much empty land around here that is just begging to be used for SOMETHING productive. It's really too bad we can't have chickens, too!
So, my thought, mission, idea, if you will, of the day is this: HOW IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO GARDEN? (Nevermind the fact that I cannot bend over AND breathe at the same time at this point). Hmmmm...I guess I need to research how to organize a community garden and contact housing to see if this would be something we could do. There is so much empty land around here that is just begging to be used for SOMETHING productive. It's really too bad we can't have chickens, too!
Friday, March 11, 2011
My Girls
I feel like I don't post enough about my girls. They're bigger and don't say and do all of those cute things that they used to do when they were little, but they're still absolutely darling.
I just have to say, I could NOT manage my life as it is without my precious daughters. They are such big helpers to me. They fold laundry, put dishes away, clean up after meals, clean the bathroom and most importantly, help me with Aaron. All I ever expect of them with Aaron is to entertain him for short times when I have to do something, but their help is INVALUABLE to me. I've been told that having babies gets easier after the 4th because of the help you have from the older children and I can attest to that...especially since my girls are quite a bit older than Aaron.
I need to make more of an effort to recognize the sweet and wonderful things my girls do...like giving random kisses, picking bouquets of wild flowers (recently it was tree blossoms and lavender!) or writing on the white board, "I love my Mommy"...those are the blessings of having OLDER children, who may not say and do silly, sweet, little child things anymore, but who have not lost one ounce of sweetness. I love my big girls.
**Edited to add**
This morning I just did NOT feel like getting up. I like to do the time change on Saturday so we have the whole day to get used to the new time, so when my clock read 7:50am (and I knew it was only 6:50am) I was NOT feeling it. I knew I should get up, but I've just been SO tired lately. I fell back asleep, knowing that if I DIDN'T get my rear up, it would mess up the whole day since I've got to work on getting Aaron on this new schedule--the big kids are no big deal when the time changes. So the next thing I know, my watch says 8:15am and I hear Aaron playing happily downstairs...I let my eyes close and fall back into sleeptown bliss...at 8:30am I decide I had better get myself out of bed...I go downstairs and there are all of my sweet children, Aaron included, playing happily, watching Arthur...what a blessing. As I said before...without my big girls I would not be able to do what I need to do. They are SUCH blessings.
I just have to say, I could NOT manage my life as it is without my precious daughters. They are such big helpers to me. They fold laundry, put dishes away, clean up after meals, clean the bathroom and most importantly, help me with Aaron. All I ever expect of them with Aaron is to entertain him for short times when I have to do something, but their help is INVALUABLE to me. I've been told that having babies gets easier after the 4th because of the help you have from the older children and I can attest to that...especially since my girls are quite a bit older than Aaron.
I need to make more of an effort to recognize the sweet and wonderful things my girls do...like giving random kisses, picking bouquets of wild flowers (recently it was tree blossoms and lavender!) or writing on the white board, "I love my Mommy"...those are the blessings of having OLDER children, who may not say and do silly, sweet, little child things anymore, but who have not lost one ounce of sweetness. I love my big girls.
**Edited to add**
This morning I just did NOT feel like getting up. I like to do the time change on Saturday so we have the whole day to get used to the new time, so when my clock read 7:50am (and I knew it was only 6:50am) I was NOT feeling it. I knew I should get up, but I've just been SO tired lately. I fell back asleep, knowing that if I DIDN'T get my rear up, it would mess up the whole day since I've got to work on getting Aaron on this new schedule--the big kids are no big deal when the time changes. So the next thing I know, my watch says 8:15am and I hear Aaron playing happily downstairs...I let my eyes close and fall back into sleeptown bliss...at 8:30am I decide I had better get myself out of bed...I go downstairs and there are all of my sweet children, Aaron included, playing happily, watching Arthur...what a blessing. As I said before...without my big girls I would not be able to do what I need to do. They are SUCH blessings.
So here's the deal, Facebook Friends...
As I stated before, I'm taking a break from Facebook. Unlike many of my friends, I find myself getting sucked into cyber land as an escape from reality more than I'd like to admit. There are many things that I need to do and want to do that I don't get to because I end up getting online and wasting a lot of time...and the majority of that time is spent on Facebook.
Today I was talking with my dad and he thought that it was a bit, I don't know, perhaps undisciplined of me that I cannot seem to find a happy medium. He seems to think that perhaps there are people that derive great pleasure from reading my rants and random thoughts and that I may be taking away from the lives of others by my lack of discipline and consequent NEED to abstain from social networking.
Soooo...what I've decided is that, since I've been wanting to blog a lot more and Facebook LESS, I'm going to SHARE my blog entries during this sabbatical time. So, although I have to log in to Facebook in order to share my blog posts, I'll make that exception. That way you can all still have a little peek into my crazy life and I don't have to worry about wasting hours on Facebook...basically, I'm important enough to share with you, but you're not important enough for me to check on you. JUST KIDDING!!!! Please understand I'm THOROUGHLY interested in your lives, and I'm sure I'll break my "fast" and check on you ALL from time to time...especially as I have a couple of friends who are due to have babies--some any SECOND! I couldn't miss that! :)
Today I was talking with my dad and he thought that it was a bit, I don't know, perhaps undisciplined of me that I cannot seem to find a happy medium. He seems to think that perhaps there are people that derive great pleasure from reading my rants and random thoughts and that I may be taking away from the lives of others by my lack of discipline and consequent NEED to abstain from social networking.
Soooo...what I've decided is that, since I've been wanting to blog a lot more and Facebook LESS, I'm going to SHARE my blog entries during this sabbatical time. So, although I have to log in to Facebook in order to share my blog posts, I'll make that exception. That way you can all still have a little peek into my crazy life and I don't have to worry about wasting hours on Facebook...basically, I'm important enough to share with you, but you're not important enough for me to check on you. JUST KIDDING!!!! Please understand I'm THOROUGHLY interested in your lives, and I'm sure I'll break my "fast" and check on you ALL from time to time...especially as I have a couple of friends who are due to have babies--some any SECOND! I couldn't miss that! :)
Boys are sweet.
I love boys. I really, really love boys. Girls are wonderful, but what they say about a mommy and her boys is true, they have a special place in my heart, probably mostly because they're so different, yet so sweet.
We got Lady Bug Land for the children for Christmas. We ordered our ladybug larvae and when they came and hatched, the children went outside scouring the plants for aphids. Thankfully (the only time this may be true) our flowers outside were loaded with them. It made the ladybugs very happy.
So the other day, quite some time after all of the ladybugs had passed on to ladybug heaven, Luke came in with a little flower for me..."Mommy!" He said excitedly, "It's FULL of bugs, too!" Hehehe...apparently he didn't realize the bugs were for the ladybugs and not for me! What a darling little guy.
Today he was the "flower delivery man" and kept ringing the doorbell and "delivering" flowers to me. Does it get any sweeter than that?
We got Lady Bug Land for the children for Christmas. We ordered our ladybug larvae and when they came and hatched, the children went outside scouring the plants for aphids. Thankfully (the only time this may be true) our flowers outside were loaded with them. It made the ladybugs very happy.
So the other day, quite some time after all of the ladybugs had passed on to ladybug heaven, Luke came in with a little flower for me..."Mommy!" He said excitedly, "It's FULL of bugs, too!" Hehehe...apparently he didn't realize the bugs were for the ladybugs and not for me! What a darling little guy.
Today he was the "flower delivery man" and kept ringing the doorbell and "delivering" flowers to me. Does it get any sweeter than that?
Just like babies.
I was thinking as I was putting Aaron down for his nap this morning. We are very much like God's babies. We depend on Him for food, for protection, for provision, for rest...for everything. There is not a thing we can do for ourselves, it all comes from Him. We go around, getting into things we shouldn't, making messes He has to clean up after and hurting ourselves...He continues to follow us, to protect us from ourselves (and other dangers) and wipes up after we've finished our own pursuits. Sometimes we get tired and throw ourselves onto the ground in an all out fit, and He comforts us, nurtures us and gives us the rest we need for our weary souls. Just like a good momma, only much, much better.
The reality of it is that even though we may have our own agenda (hopefully not QUITE as destructive as my 9 month old's), He is free to swoop down, snatch us up and put us on a completely different path. Just like when Aaron is on a mission of clearing out my cupboards and I close the door, grab him, strap him into his car seat and head out to go grocery shopping. He has nothing to say about it...he's just along for the ride. Yes, he can complain, he can cry or he can enjoy this new journey.
I was thinking about those people in Japan--facing the destruction of a MAJOR earthquake and tsunami...they were going about their own business when--WHAM--things changed, majorly. This can happen to any of us, whether it be a natural disaster, illness, sudden loss (or gain), anything. God is in control...He knows the future...either we can embrace His plan and seek to find joy in the trials and hardships OR we can fuss and complain...but it's not going to change HIS agenda. He has a mission...He has a purpose. So do we, but it's His that really matters.
The reality of it is that even though we may have our own agenda (hopefully not QUITE as destructive as my 9 month old's), He is free to swoop down, snatch us up and put us on a completely different path. Just like when Aaron is on a mission of clearing out my cupboards and I close the door, grab him, strap him into his car seat and head out to go grocery shopping. He has nothing to say about it...he's just along for the ride. Yes, he can complain, he can cry or he can enjoy this new journey.
I was thinking about those people in Japan--facing the destruction of a MAJOR earthquake and tsunami...they were going about their own business when--WHAM--things changed, majorly. This can happen to any of us, whether it be a natural disaster, illness, sudden loss (or gain), anything. God is in control...He knows the future...either we can embrace His plan and seek to find joy in the trials and hardships OR we can fuss and complain...but it's not going to change HIS agenda. He has a mission...He has a purpose. So do we, but it's His that really matters.
Mommy, what's your real name?
Luke was making me a picture on his Disney Magic Artist program this morning. He wanted to put my name on it--how sweet. He asked me my real name, which I'm SURE he knows, but I told him anyway. He asked me how to spell it. I was UPstairs and he was DOWNstairs, so I was kinda yelling each letter to him...after I thought we finished, he yells to me, "Mommy, what's your real name?" AGAIN. So I said, "Shequanda". He yells back, "Oh, how do you spell that?"
What a silly boy.
What a silly boy.
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