Henry is often plotting against Max. Look at this evidence.
Luckily Maxwell has a nice Daddy...that is there for him when he needs him.
Monday, March 14, 2011
do you like WWF?
If you answered yes to my first question...then you'd love being at our house a lot of the time.
Henry is often plotting against Max. Look at this evidence.
Luckily Maxwell has a nice Daddy...that is there for him when he needs him.
Henry is often plotting against Max. Look at this evidence.
Luckily Maxwell has a nice Daddy...that is there for him when he needs him.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
on a lighter note
Henry and Maxwell have a new hobby....one that is hard for me to accept. They both like to climb on our pubstyle chairs and then onto our table. Then after milling around for a while, they realize that it would be a hard task for them to get down...so what do they do?....they cry and whine. You can frequently find them on the table crying because they don't want to attempt to get down. I don't get the lure of the table but maybe they just want to see what it's like to be on our level for a while...or maybe it's that there's usually food on the table. Which brings me to the next problem. How can we possibly eat dinner with 2 toddlers running around on the table trying to help themselves to everyone's food but their own? I've resorted to telling Andrew, Ashley, and Holly to guard their food with their lives...but how fair is that? Last night I'd had enough and told the older kids to eat on the counter over by the sink so that the boys couldn't get to them. Oddly the kids didn't like that idea and perhaps didn't think they should have to eat on the counter by the sink. weird.
Holly has been grouchier than ever today. She makes it a point to wake up at 4:30 every once in a while just to shake things up. In spite of her bad attitude she let me take some pictures of her cute little self today.
Hard to believe this little girl can have such a foul temper sometimes. But...it's true. She also makes it a habit of yelling at me in public restrooms. She rarely wants me to come into the public restroom with her...and when I do...she goes into her little stall and yells "HEY...DON'T COME IN HERE!". Hard for me not to laugh really loudly...like I want to follow her into the bathroom. Anyway, what a sweetie.
Holly has been grouchier than ever today. She makes it a point to wake up at 4:30 every once in a while just to shake things up. In spite of her bad attitude she let me take some pictures of her cute little self today.
Hard to believe this little girl can have such a foul temper sometimes. But...it's true. She also makes it a habit of yelling at me in public restrooms. She rarely wants me to come into the public restroom with her...and when I do...she goes into her little stall and yells "HEY...DON'T COME IN HERE!". Hard for me not to laugh really loudly...like I want to follow her into the bathroom. Anyway, what a sweetie.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Doing the most good
Our house has had it's annual sick for weeks in row time now so hopefully we're almost out of the woods. With the exception of a few cases of pink eye and some hacking coughs I'd say we've paid our dues for the year in terms of sickness. Right now the 3 youngest have pink eye...and a terrifying thought came to me today. You're never immune to pinkeye are you? If we don't stay on top of this it could go round and round until we would be a great cast for a horror film....like this guy.
ok so not really...he's way too sweet to be in a horror movie...maybe more like a "just 20 cents a day" commercial. If you don't remember that...then you're too young to be reading this. Anyway, poor Max....and now Henry and Holly. However, if you're going to be classified as sick, I'd pick pinkeye every time.
That commercial brings up something that I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've posted about something similar to this before. Lately I've been feeling what I would describe as the winter blues...boredom...not feeling fulfilled...whatever it's called. Anyway, so the family and I decided to venture out to the mall on saturday to shake things up a bit. To my surprise everyone in town was there. It made me more aware of how much people shop to give themselves a little pick me up. I know because I've done this and still do sometimes...a lot of times. It works...as does going out to eat...eating anything tastey...watching your favorite show...and probably so does doing drugs(though with swifter negative consequences often times). Anyway all of these things are quick fixes to boredom and seem to fill a void...but ultimately do nothing in the way of helping me have a fulfilling life. It made me a little sad to see how many people do this...and at the same time it was comforting to see that I wasn't alone in being so offbase. All this led me to believe that I need to spend my time on worthwhile things if I want to feel like I'm living a full life. But..man that's hard. I feel like I'm doing that when I'm being a good mom....that's hard to measure though. Sometimes being a good mom means your kids are furious with you. I guess ultimately doing service is the best way to feel like your life has been worth it...like your time was well spent. So in thinking about this I came across a website that talked about bakesales you can do to raise money for kids in Uganda...for things like running water, education, medicine, shelter, etc. What a great idea...and what a great way to get your kids involved and caring about people and understanding that not everyone has it as good as they do. The website was www.thecupcakekids.org for anyone who is interested. Anyway, from all this I started thinking about my life and the huge contrast in the way I live versus the way these kids live. How can I possibly live like this when there are so many that have nothing? How can I possibly justify new shoes..like brand new...when some people..especially kids...don't have enough to eat or aren't getting the medicine they need? I've talked to Daniel a lot about this lately and the only thing I can come up with is a sort of lame justification. I say that each of these small pieces(wearing new clothes, having a nice home, going out to eat with my famiy) is for a bigger idea...a bigger goal to create a safe and happy environment for my kids...to create memories...to fit in society where we will do the most good if we are accepted and have more doors opened if we aren't extreme...or perceived as whackos who live in the forrest and off of the forest. I then think but you can accomplish that goal with much less..and start thinking of ways to sell my house and live on less. I've got a feeling this will be a mental struggle of mine until I die. Why should I ever go to Mcdonald's when someone could use that money for something needed for basic survival? So, should I just give all my extra money to foundations that say they are doing the most good for the less fortunate? I don't think so...I mean giving to charity is good and I do give some money to charities...but I guess I selfishly want to be a part of the service so that I can see the results. Daniel and I have recently thought seriously about adopting a kid from Africa...talk about extreme...but after talking to some women who have done this...it seems that the only need for adoption is for kids that are older or disabled. That humbled me really fast....when I realized I wasn't the kind of person to actually take on something like that...I guess I feel like I would if I didn't already have 5 kids who already need so much of my attention. I guess I have a lot to think about in terms of how I want to move forward and spend my time. I hope I can come up with the right balance so that when I die I can look back and be proud of the way I spent my time and know that I did the most good with what I had.
ok so not really...he's way too sweet to be in a horror movie...maybe more like a "just 20 cents a day" commercial. If you don't remember that...then you're too young to be reading this. Anyway, poor Max....and now Henry and Holly. However, if you're going to be classified as sick, I'd pick pinkeye every time.
That commercial brings up something that I've been thinking about a lot lately. I've posted about something similar to this before. Lately I've been feeling what I would describe as the winter blues...boredom...not feeling fulfilled...whatever it's called. Anyway, so the family and I decided to venture out to the mall on saturday to shake things up a bit. To my surprise everyone in town was there. It made me more aware of how much people shop to give themselves a little pick me up. I know because I've done this and still do sometimes...a lot of times. It works...as does going out to eat...eating anything tastey...watching your favorite show...and probably so does doing drugs(though with swifter negative consequences often times). Anyway all of these things are quick fixes to boredom and seem to fill a void...but ultimately do nothing in the way of helping me have a fulfilling life. It made me a little sad to see how many people do this...and at the same time it was comforting to see that I wasn't alone in being so offbase. All this led me to believe that I need to spend my time on worthwhile things if I want to feel like I'm living a full life. But..man that's hard. I feel like I'm doing that when I'm being a good mom....that's hard to measure though. Sometimes being a good mom means your kids are furious with you. I guess ultimately doing service is the best way to feel like your life has been worth it...like your time was well spent. So in thinking about this I came across a website that talked about bakesales you can do to raise money for kids in Uganda...for things like running water, education, medicine, shelter, etc. What a great idea...and what a great way to get your kids involved and caring about people and understanding that not everyone has it as good as they do. The website was www.thecupcakekids.org for anyone who is interested. Anyway, from all this I started thinking about my life and the huge contrast in the way I live versus the way these kids live. How can I possibly live like this when there are so many that have nothing? How can I possibly justify new shoes..like brand new...when some people..especially kids...don't have enough to eat or aren't getting the medicine they need? I've talked to Daniel a lot about this lately and the only thing I can come up with is a sort of lame justification. I say that each of these small pieces(wearing new clothes, having a nice home, going out to eat with my famiy) is for a bigger idea...a bigger goal to create a safe and happy environment for my kids...to create memories...to fit in society where we will do the most good if we are accepted and have more doors opened if we aren't extreme...or perceived as whackos who live in the forrest and off of the forest. I then think but you can accomplish that goal with much less..and start thinking of ways to sell my house and live on less. I've got a feeling this will be a mental struggle of mine until I die. Why should I ever go to Mcdonald's when someone could use that money for something needed for basic survival? So, should I just give all my extra money to foundations that say they are doing the most good for the less fortunate? I don't think so...I mean giving to charity is good and I do give some money to charities...but I guess I selfishly want to be a part of the service so that I can see the results. Daniel and I have recently thought seriously about adopting a kid from Africa...talk about extreme...but after talking to some women who have done this...it seems that the only need for adoption is for kids that are older or disabled. That humbled me really fast....when I realized I wasn't the kind of person to actually take on something like that...I guess I feel like I would if I didn't already have 5 kids who already need so much of my attention. I guess I have a lot to think about in terms of how I want to move forward and spend my time. I hope I can come up with the right balance so that when I die I can look back and be proud of the way I spent my time and know that I did the most good with what I had.
Monday, February 21, 2011
my boys
Henry and Max love pictures. They can't get enough of em.
In other news Max has been labeled the crazy one. He has had some crazy falls lately due to his crazy actions. He's had a couple bloody noses...and I don't think any of my other kids have ever had a bloody nose. Anyway, if that doesn't convince you of Max's craziness perhaps this will...
It's just somehow not quite as cute when you have blood dripping from your nose Max.
Last week(before the virus from heck swept through our home)....Daniel and I went to get the boys for bed. We found them happily watching a movie with their sisters. Well Henry was watching and Max was busy climbing all over Ashley. Max...why can't you be a good little zombie like your siblings when a movie is on?! I know this quality will serve him well.
And finally, I found out yesterday that Daniel really cannot tell Henry and Maxwell apart...without looking for a pinch on Henry's ear. I thought he just told people that to amuse them...but no...he's quite serious. Someone the other day asked if the boys knew their names pretty well...and while they should....I've discovered Daniel after spending an hour or so with one of the twins...calling that twin by his brother's name. So, if they don't quite have it down(they do)...who can blame them. Anyway, I tell Daniel and everyone else that I just see a different face when I look at them...Max has a Max face and Henry a Henry face. Maybe I'll always be the only one who can tell the difference...I feel special. :)
In other news Max has been labeled the crazy one. He has had some crazy falls lately due to his crazy actions. He's had a couple bloody noses...and I don't think any of my other kids have ever had a bloody nose. Anyway, if that doesn't convince you of Max's craziness perhaps this will...
It's just somehow not quite as cute when you have blood dripping from your nose Max.
Last week(before the virus from heck swept through our home)....Daniel and I went to get the boys for bed. We found them happily watching a movie with their sisters. Well Henry was watching and Max was busy climbing all over Ashley. Max...why can't you be a good little zombie like your siblings when a movie is on?! I know this quality will serve him well.
And finally, I found out yesterday that Daniel really cannot tell Henry and Maxwell apart...without looking for a pinch on Henry's ear. I thought he just told people that to amuse them...but no...he's quite serious. Someone the other day asked if the boys knew their names pretty well...and while they should....I've discovered Daniel after spending an hour or so with one of the twins...calling that twin by his brother's name. So, if they don't quite have it down(they do)...who can blame them. Anyway, I tell Daniel and everyone else that I just see a different face when I look at them...Max has a Max face and Henry a Henry face. Maybe I'll always be the only one who can tell the difference...I feel special. :)
Monday, February 7, 2011
A few WORDS of advice
When you're playing scrabble over the internet on your ipod with someone....doesn't it kind of defeat the purpose if you're using a word generator? As some of you already know, I love a good word game, specifically scrabble. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I found out I could play as many scrabble games at once as I wanted on my new ipod touch that I got for Christmas. Anyway, you can play random opponents who also have this app...which I do. Now, I consider myself a reasonably good scrabble player, but there's one random person I play who always beats me. Okay, I beat this person once, but barely. Anyway, you can request a rematch which I usually do if I lose because I thought maybe this person would help me sharpen my scrabble playing skills. So, I've played this person again and again ...and again and again I'm put to shame. I recently asked this person if they've been to the scrabble olympics...or nationals...and they said in a very serious way that no they had not been to such events. Anyway, we kept playing and I kept losing. So, today I finally asked if they use a word generator. You have to be a real scrabble nerd to know what this is...and I only have a vague idea. I think it's some sort of program where you say you have these letters and this many spaces and it will tell you a word...probably something you've never heard of if you have to use such a program. Anyway, it's CHEATING! So here I was thinking man this person is good and I'm just not that good....when all along they were using a word generator. Who does that?! How can you feel good about a win when you CHEAT like that. That's like going hunting and bringing a dead dear and planting it in the woods and then after a while going out to collect it and bragging to your friends that you always get one. It's worse than corking your bat or using steroids in professional sports...because this is SCRABBLE and who cares if you win or lose. So the moral of the story is, if you're going to play scrabble, do not use a word generator unless you want to win.
Monday, January 24, 2011
so much to say...so much to say
I have a lot weighing on my mind so I feel like I have a lot to say. Sometimes...oddly those two things don't coincide. First I have made a couple of cute Valentine's things....though I'm wondering now if they were worth the time I put in....sure they were...they brighten things up and that's always a good thing. Here are a couple of pictures of my copied crafts....as in not my original idea...but someone else's. I'm thankful for crafty people who share their ideas on the internet...saves me a lot of time and embarrassment.
I'm assuming in both of these you can tell what I've made and then what was in all likelihood made in China and not by me. It's theraputic....making things....and feeling like it was worthwhile....a net benefit.
That brings me to what's really weighing on my mind...whether or not to have more kids. Tomorrow?....next week?....next year?....in 5 years? Daniel and I of course currently have 5 kids all under the age of 7...the oldest is 6.5. So, I think I have the answer for tomorrow and next week. And random people I meet while I'm out also seem to have the answers to those questions once they see how full my hands are. More than once I've said to a stranger who looks at me pityingly.."I think we're done having kids"....and they've replied "Ya think?" Interesting how we have it all figured out for other people. But I digress. So back to the question...do I have more kids? Since the twins were born the answer for Daniel and I has mostly been No. We've been in over our heads for some time and will probably continue to be for a while. And wouldn't it be nice to have a "light at the end of the tunnel"....to dream of a time when we could get more sleep and change fewer diapers. But...more importantly would our current children suffer because of a decision to add more to our clan? If I was doing a pros a cons list it'd look something like this...
cons
1. our family is so large we can't go out to eat or anywhere without causing a scene
2. Daniel and I would be signing up for 18+ more years of work/worry
3. less attention for each current child
4. kids cost money
pros
1. we are already so big that we don't go anywhere anyway so why not make the party at our house
2. isn't life about doing things that are worth while and what could be more worth while than raising a happy healthy human being
3. more siblings to play/talk/be friends with
4. great tax deduction and credit and oh yeah can you put a price on the joy of watching your son or daughter's first step....or first smile...or all
the memories
Those are just a few of the things that come to mind and may seem way too simple. Anyway, I just can't get this question out of my mind and don't feel like I have a clear answer. Of course I don't have to know today....but wouldn't it be nice if our lives were all mapped out for us and everything went according to plan? I wouldn't want to not have kids so that I could nap, shop, or go out to eat more.....none of those things bring me great happiness....sure maybe temporarily but when I'm on my deathbed I know I won't be saying thank goodness I had those 10 years to nap whenever I wanted and wasn't bothered by anyone.....or my favorite memory is when I spent all day shopping and going out to eat.......no it'll be a collage of things from my family life that'll bring me the most joy.....the thing I'll be the most proud of. Well there're my deep thoughts for tonight....now maybe I can sleep.
I'm assuming in both of these you can tell what I've made and then what was in all likelihood made in China and not by me. It's theraputic....making things....and feeling like it was worthwhile....a net benefit.
That brings me to what's really weighing on my mind...whether or not to have more kids. Tomorrow?....next week?....next year?....in 5 years? Daniel and I of course currently have 5 kids all under the age of 7...the oldest is 6.5. So, I think I have the answer for tomorrow and next week. And random people I meet while I'm out also seem to have the answers to those questions once they see how full my hands are. More than once I've said to a stranger who looks at me pityingly.."I think we're done having kids"....and they've replied "Ya think?" Interesting how we have it all figured out for other people. But I digress. So back to the question...do I have more kids? Since the twins were born the answer for Daniel and I has mostly been No. We've been in over our heads for some time and will probably continue to be for a while. And wouldn't it be nice to have a "light at the end of the tunnel"....to dream of a time when we could get more sleep and change fewer diapers. But...more importantly would our current children suffer because of a decision to add more to our clan? If I was doing a pros a cons list it'd look something like this...
cons
1. our family is so large we can't go out to eat or anywhere without causing a scene
2. Daniel and I would be signing up for 18+ more years of work/worry
3. less attention for each current child
4. kids cost money
pros
1. we are already so big that we don't go anywhere anyway so why not make the party at our house
2. isn't life about doing things that are worth while and what could be more worth while than raising a happy healthy human being
3. more siblings to play/talk/be friends with
4. great tax deduction and credit and oh yeah can you put a price on the joy of watching your son or daughter's first step....or first smile...or all
the memories
Those are just a few of the things that come to mind and may seem way too simple. Anyway, I just can't get this question out of my mind and don't feel like I have a clear answer. Of course I don't have to know today....but wouldn't it be nice if our lives were all mapped out for us and everything went according to plan? I wouldn't want to not have kids so that I could nap, shop, or go out to eat more.....none of those things bring me great happiness....sure maybe temporarily but when I'm on my deathbed I know I won't be saying thank goodness I had those 10 years to nap whenever I wanted and wasn't bothered by anyone.....or my favorite memory is when I spent all day shopping and going out to eat.......no it'll be a collage of things from my family life that'll bring me the most joy.....the thing I'll be the most proud of. Well there're my deep thoughts for tonight....now maybe I can sleep.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
each and every day
The handsomest firefighter you'll ever meet. Who wouldn't want to be pulled out of a burning building by THIS guy right here?!...maybe someone who wanted to live....but I digress.
Holly had a stomach bug the day before her birthday party. As a result we had her blow out a scented candle from bath and body works instead of blowing all her germs on her cake. Maybe a little too cautious....but for anyone who remembers what the throwup flu is like.....can you ever be TOO cautious?
Does this look like the face of a little girl who is about to get a piece of icecream cake? I wish I looked that gorgeous when I'm pouting.
It's never too cold or too snowy to jump on the trampoline! Good thing Daniel and I were too lazy to take it down this winter.
Rahrrrrrrrrrrrrr! That's what I think of when I see this picture of Hank. Really is there any better thought for this. He's gonna be a heartbreaker.
With the Nelson's at our house for Christmas, the kids were having a blast together! Fighting...playing...playing....fighting....what are cousins for?! :)
Christmas morning was awesome with Nathan, Jessica, Greta and Elise to join in the celebration!
I think Max was trying to give me a talking to. Word to the wise...take out the binky when you're trying to look stern. ps...doesn't he look handsome in his sweater pullover?!
We made all the grandkids pose for a picture. I'm impressed by the number of kids looking at the camera...or forward for that matter. It really was a Christmas miracle!
The house that Max built!
Holly had a stomach bug the day before her birthday party. As a result we had her blow out a scented candle from bath and body works instead of blowing all her germs on her cake. Maybe a little too cautious....but for anyone who remembers what the throwup flu is like.....can you ever be TOO cautious?
Does this look like the face of a little girl who is about to get a piece of icecream cake? I wish I looked that gorgeous when I'm pouting.
It's never too cold or too snowy to jump on the trampoline! Good thing Daniel and I were too lazy to take it down this winter.
Rahrrrrrrrrrrrrr! That's what I think of when I see this picture of Hank. Really is there any better thought for this. He's gonna be a heartbreaker.
With the Nelson's at our house for Christmas, the kids were having a blast together! Fighting...playing...playing....fighting....what are cousins for?! :)
Christmas morning was awesome with Nathan, Jessica, Greta and Elise to join in the celebration!
I think Max was trying to give me a talking to. Word to the wise...take out the binky when you're trying to look stern. ps...doesn't he look handsome in his sweater pullover?!
We made all the grandkids pose for a picture. I'm impressed by the number of kids looking at the camera...or forward for that matter. It really was a Christmas miracle!
The house that Max built!
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