4.22.19 Are we there yet??

Is it June yet? I feel like we are in fast forward mode until June. While we are enjoying lots of successes for hard work, we are constantly robbing one side to cover the other. 

Days with kids are full and long. Sometimes we are productive sometimes we serve and sometimes we survive. mostly I feel like we are in survival mode. I take pictures to remember. My mind is numb from overload nad my body is rebelling falling prey to some germs ... I have lost my voice and that makes being in charge a lot more hands on. My ears work just fine and I hear my rebellious pouting kids saying how much they hate me. Oh the good days of being a mom. 

Some proof we have been living. 

We finally got to the peanut lesson in our math curriculum. I have used this with 8 kids. I have got to this lesson only one other time, with Harold. I remembered it through the years but just haven't been consistent enough. I am finding a chart on the wall is highly motivating to me. I love checking off something and then seeing tha for the rest of the month. We did REALLY well in March, with the longer sunny days and end of year we are not doing so well in April. Try try again is our motto here. 

While the kids loved the peanuts we bigger people have been cleaning up peanuts for too long, will not be buying three pounds of them any time soon again.

We are glad to have a grandma that loves dark chocolate as much as us. We were happy to share a birthday cake with her. The girls being silly for the camera. 

Afton so happy to get a letter in the mail!! Exciting times.

We did a whole week of easter. We colored eggs- I just let them color all the eggs they wanted with some good color pens I didn't worry about cooking them prior. What do you do with dozens of hard boiled eggs? Only a few broken eggs ended up on the floor. They colored pictures we watched videos we discussed the easter story. I feel like we covered it well. Was there a special part? No not really, I liked the kids easter program when I went alone. I'm thankful they were thinking about those words and ideas for the months prior. We just keep adding more we never reduce what we do...I'm not sure what to cut so we don't. But it's good to be full and we are blessed to have helpers, that's the next post.

She is getting stronger and more independent. She loves to watch what is going on. Her favorite spot is where she can look out the window. I don't blame her that's my favorite spot too!

We got pigs and are working through pig pictures for 4-H reporting. 

It's still pretty wet out there. I made the boys bail this out after pictures. Man was it stinky. Lots of laundry trying to keep smell free here. Which leads to lots of laundry on the line and lots of fun running in it. The lines are so used they hang very close to the ground thus the little girls can help more. Conundrum to move the lines up...Spot the free spirit enjoying the nice spring weather?!

Life is good it is full but always reshuffling to fit the most important things in each day. I wish for more order and routine but don't want to miss a thing that is important our could be beneficial to others. We are blessed with health and strength, happiness, and enough.

4.11.19 the younger crew

I got a text at 10 reminding me of meals on wheels then promptly forgot until I got a questioning text at 12 if we were going today. We rushed to get in shoes and coats and zoomed to town. We love meals on wheels. Most of the recipients have been on the list for years. We know their locations and we love to share some lunch. Monday is a great day for us because there is a lot to handout and we have a lot of hands!

I love meals on wheels it is an easy way to do some meaningful service and the young kids can participate fully and confidently!

At home Bruce is so thankful for older brothers who have so many neat hobbies.

Millie is my happy helper. She is reliable and smart. She is a joy to be around. 

A rare moment when dad came home when the sun was shinning. Obviously the kids are watching the scary part of the movie. Good thing dad was their for protective support.

Oh we have so many normal days not filled with huge challenges or excitement. I still feel like I am holding on for dear life trying to get the important bases covered. I'm thankful for strength and ability to endure and sincerely hope our efforts are enough. Sometimes we do far more and sometimes we do less, you can't go full speed all the time!
I loved this reminder I read just prior to conference it is the basis of my hope and confidence that we don't have to be exciting and broad or even orderly, but we are focused and holding the line:

Linda S. Reeves

said  in a general conference message from 2014:

 "Some of you have heard me tell how overwhelmed my husband, Mel, 

and I felt as the parents of four young children. 

As we faced the challenges of parenting and keeping up with the demands of life, 

we were desperate for help. 

We prayed and pleaded to know what to do. The answer that came was clear:

 “It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still

 in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone.

 The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home 

are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.”

We were trying to do these things, but they were not always the

 priority and, amidst the chaos, were sometimes neglected. 

We changed our focus and tried not to worry about the less-important things. 

Our focus became to talk, rejoice, preach, and testify of Christ

 by striving to daily pray and study the scriptures 

and have weekly family home evening.

A friend recently cautioned, 

“When you ask the sisters to read the scriptures and pray more, 

it stresses them out. They already feel like they have too much to do.”

Brothers and sisters, because I know from my own experiences, 

and those of my husband, I must testify of the blessings of daily 

scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. 

These are the very practices that help take away stress,

 give direction to our lives, 

and add protection to our homes."

I again am seeking to immerse myself in the scriptures. This practice helps me be more centered and at peace. The clutter has not changed, the crying has not ceased, and the requirements are just as heavy. Yet, I am able to work methodically through my day and prepare to share my testimony and learning with my children as they bring home problems, questions, and various trivia from their days. I am thankful for the strength to bear my burdens and to love my family as is today!

4.10.19 General Conference and the tree

The conference weekend was filled with lots of quiet listening and then some quick rounds of parcheesi. We have some serious parcheesi competitors here. I took a rare turn at playing against these very competitive kids. 

Outside Uncle Eric and grandpa worked to remove a tree stump. It was an all day job. These trees are the perfect example of biological fitness. They are prolific re-seeders and put down a truly awesome root system.

It took about an hour and various positions of pulling with the trac tractor to finally break loose the roots. In between pulls the crew would chop roots and dig more dirt trying to free the stump from the ground.

The multitudes of roots and the enormous hole.

Of course we ate well and enjoyed time with friends. There was a lot sword fighting, climbing into trees and coloring that happened this weekend.

And of course we enjoyed the traditional brigham young donuts. Grandma is a kind host. It's heartwarming to watch the kids learn how to prepare the traditional feasts. And add their favorites to the mix. Aliza whipped up some pies with grandma and Aunt Monica.

The words and testimonies shared are beautiful, instructive, warning, and thought provoking. Sharing the experience with dear family and enjoying the time honored rituals makes it intensely comforting and nourishing. I struggle with some of the changes - the ease of hearing conference at our leisure sometimes makes us lax in watching it in real time. There was something good about all stopping and joining in purpose and conviction to watch together, but the ability to review time and again is good too. I find myself wishing I could pause like I do the rest of the time to think one by one about the messages presented. Always a way to complain I guess. We are blessed I'm thankful for living prophets who teach and bless. Life is good and we are still full from the feast- spiritual and physical from the weekend.

4.9.19 The crew

I learned years ago that if you want conference to be a more pleasant experience make sure you do what has been asked in the weeks prior and you won't feel so guilty. Hence I did some ministering, and made sure we went to the temple before the conference weekend. It is a new/satisfying/challenging experience to have so many that can go to the temple. I love their desire to go, sometimes I miss alone time with Greg, and yet I'm thankful for the new way we go worship and serve. The kids take turns sitting with little miss rotating through their turns serving in the temple. I love that we are able to do so many names. 

They also are hard workers and strong kids. We were sorting cows to sell and found this brand new baby in the allyway all the cows would be walking through so Anna moved it to a safer location.

The sorting crew discussing strategy.

Almost finished.

Little miss showed us how grown up and strong she is by assuming the crawling position. Still no forward movement yet but she is moving around in circles and rolling off of any high place she is placed on.

We are abundantly blessed with health, strength, love and opportunity.

4.7.19 Picnic

Our one forray from our hometown during spring break was our annual trek to our beloved hills and the large dam. Oh so many years of going there have made this a favorite place for our family. I am happy to be helping keep the promise I made to my grandfather before he departed that we would still go to the hills even when he was gone. We had the normal bacon, beans, hotdogs, chips, vegetables, marshmallows and smores. We watched the kids play in the water and drank in the peace of being out in nature for a while. 

My mom ever the adventurer showed she could still ride a bike. She's always been a good example of trying new activities. I remember playing catch with her and my dad. They both had bikes in the garage and kept our bikes in working order. My siblings and I did a lot of bike riding when we were kids. I have not been so supportive of that endeavor, here's to doing better in the coming years.

The hills are coming to life! Traditions are such important anchors to remember the old, to enjoy the new and to give occasions to look forward to with sure confidence they will happen! I'm thankful to be part of a family that enjoys and helps make this possible. I'm happy to share the time and peace with my family and hope to be able to keep this up for years to come.

4.7.19 Dress Up

Part of spring break was an attempt to clean out our junk room. Part of cleaning around here is getting rid of excess. I was attempting to create some order when the little girls decided the extra material would make perfect dresses. The got busy styling beautiful creations on each other and viola elegant ladies began parading around my home. 

Life is always more fun when you use your imagination! Livy was the head stylist, of course. 

Bruce has decided it's time for Alia to start walking. he was helping her. 

And after a small workout Aliza offered some rest. Everyone loves the older girls, this was a normal night of getting some loves from Liza.

Life is good together. The best part of spring break was the break from the constant running that seems to accompany school weeks. We ran on our own time schedule we rested, we watched movies, we cleaned, and we played simple games at home. Sometimes I feel bad we aren't exciting but I also know I don't have a lot more to give and thus need the down time and need the extra help loving all the bodies around here. I'm thankful the big kids are willing helpers and I'm thankful for the sweet innocence of the littles that adore and love the big ones. Life is good even if we just live out our lives on this small part of the earth.

4.1.19 Little Pumpkin and co.

Lia continues to love her people. Being that she has become mobile has necessitated better seating for her. The high chair is a perfect restraint and elevated option of viewing life. She was getting a new do as Harold washed the dishes recently. She was not upset about that at all. She loves her big brother. 

Her other brother loves to snuggle her too. He loves his Wia too.

And in case one apple wasn't enough the girls thought she might like to select from the many in the box. Oh sweet baby you are living a life of constant adventure and totally surrounded with love. It is so heartwarming to watch the older kids drink of her sweetness and replenish their wearied souls. I love how the younger ones learn to love and nurture someone less coordinated and smaller than them. A baby is a precious addition of learning and loving to a family. We are thankful for our sweet pumpkin head. She truly brightens our home.