First Talk!

Giving a talk in sacrament meeting is a nerve wracking thing. It sends me in a state of nauseousness just thinking about. Today is a big day, it's the day that our 12 year old, Harris, is giving his very first talk in Sacrament Meeting. YIKES! I'm sure he'll do great, he practiced it in front of me several times last night.


I'm very antsy for him. Since we have a couple of sick kids I stayed home with them while Ron took the other five to church. I'm nervously watching the clock gauging the time that Harris will be done passing the sacrament and will take his seat up on the stand. I can visualize it all perfectly. He'll walk up there so handsome and tall, sit down, then the Bishopric member will announce the rest of the program. The representative from the Young Women organization will speak first and then it will be Harris' turn. At the podium he'll slouch a bit, not standing to his full 5'10" height and probably will not make any eye contact whatsoever with the congregation. Due to the length of his talk the adult speakers will be thrilled to have Harris speak before them. He was asked to speak for 4-5 minutes but I think it's closer to 8 or 9, depending how fast his nerves have him speaking.


Of course with this being January the topic they assigned Harris was goal setting. We used a portion of a great article from the September 1979 Ensign titled, "How to Eat an Elephant—Or Plan Your Life (As the Case May Be)" by Kent S. Larsen. Great article! We only used about the first third of it (YES, I still help my kids with their talks!) I'm sure the butterflies are storming his stomach right now but as soon as he returns to his seat he'll feel a flood of relief to know HE DID IT and it'll probably be another year before he's asked to do it again. Speaking in church is just inevitable!

I Need to Get Started Again!

I was so excited about starting the blog thing. Started it, got a few blogs in and then just faded away. I do have to say that in the seven months absence I have written MANY posts! They just weren't posts you were able to read.

It seems that when I'm experiencing an event or have a special moment I write a blog post in my mind. I even proof read it and visually picture the photos to be added and then...that's it, it never makes it to my computer screen. I will try to do better at capturing those mental posts where others can enjoy them.

We've been BUSY! But with seven kids what else is expected! We're all basically healthy although at this moment Camille has a bad head cold, Hannah has a fever and I have some intestinal something going on. Many birthdays have come and gone, Hannah is now ONE, and several more are coming up.

Capturing our adventures and just life is why I wanted to do this blog, something my kids can enjoy and friends and family from afar can peek in and see what's up with US. Since we're still in the resolution month of January I think I'll add "writing more blog posts" to my endeavors for this year.

It's Not FAIR!

How many times have we heard that line? Okay, to be fair, how many times have we said that ourselves? "She's so cute, it's just not fair", "Look how fit she is, that's not fair", "I wish I could go on trips like they do" etc.... But hey, Life's NOT fair. Although I have momentary lapses of reverting back to childhood, complaining (in my mind only, of course) about the unfairness of life, I have grown up and realize that's just how life is. With my adult perspective I'm actually thankful Life isn't Fair. Where would the fun, growth and challenge be?

Well, since I have 7 beings in my home that haven't yet reached that conclusion not a single day goes by that I don't hear the phrase, "That's not fair!!!" Here's the latest one:

One of our goals this summer is to get our home organized from top to bottom. I told the kids that by Friday, June 27, their bedrooms need to be deep cleaned and organized. Yesterday I gave another friendly reminder. One of my daughter's reminded me she would be gone all of next week on a fun trip with her friend. I nicely informed her that she could spend the next two days doing it, making sure it was done before she left. "But...", (okay here it comes),..."That's NOT FAIR!!!, she wailed. Everyone else gets to play today and I want to play too." My response, "You're right, it's Not fair it's just the way it is. If it WERE fair then each of your siblings would get to go on a week long trip as well. But instead, while you're off playing for a week we'll be working, cleaning the house, strawberry picking, making jam, etc...."

When I first had the wailing and gnashing of teeth that life wasn't fair, I used to panic and try to set things "right". Anything to get rid of the noise that wailing and gnashing of teeth make. But now when I hear the cries of "It's Not FAIR" it usually makes me quietly laugh and yes, it's also brought on some out loud belly laughs from me.

Sweet Hannah Kate

Today Hannah is 6 months old. That went by so fast. She's growing up and learning new things daily. Hannah is now 18lbs 14oz and 27 1/2" long. Her hair is thinning (taking after her daddy) and also getting lighter. She can sit on her own, although not for long periods of time, is a momma's girl, her first two teeth came in this week and of course she is SMOTHERED in LOVE!

Ron and Tanner said while I was gone they were playing a little game with her. When one of them held her she'd turn and reach out to the other one. As soon as she was in the 2nd person's arms she'd turn around and do the same thing. They tried to show me when I got home but of course she wouldn't do her little monkey trick, she only had eyes for me.

Hannah's first time in the pool! Cousin Elle is among the many that dote on her.

Hannah can't resist a cup when she sees one. We went out to Applebee's for her Grandpa's b-day. The empty cup was enough to entertain her.

Here's a video of Hannah. Yummy Yummy, her first time to eat solids! She couldn't get enough. Bekah was the lucky one to feed her first. (After me, of course)

Schoooools Out For Summer!

As of three hours ago my 5 school aged kiddos are out for the summer. ARGHhhhh! I love my kids, I truly do and every other year I would say, "I can't wait for summer".

This year seems different. I think it's because we have such a wide range of ages, with one being an infant. My younger kids are content to swim at the pool, hit a different park each week, do the summer reading program at the library and all the fun events, going to the free movies downtown, and just hanging out with neighborhood kids. My bigger kids aren't entertained as easily.

At this moment I have three 13 year olds sitting on the couch eating their convenience store stash as they watch t.v. There are two neighborhood girls here visiting Camille, one for Harris and a friend with Dallon. That makes 12 kids at my house. I guess that's not too bad, I know families with more kids than that. How DO they do it?

I am looking forward to not having to wake up at 6am to get kids going in the morning. Of course Hannah's schedule is my schedule and that's about the time she wakes up (hmmm, we'll have to work on that). I'm looking forward to no homework, at least no homework assigned by someone else, I'll be giving some out. (I know, I'm such a mean mom! I've heard it before, nothing new). I'm looking forward to neighborhood, cul-d-sac, gatherings in the evening. Moms and dads visiting while the kids run around and play. I'm looking forward to family togetherness, tons of fresh fruit, the canning that goes along with it and possibly a trip to Switzerland (Ron has been working hard and we're waiting for end of year, June 30, to see if he qualifies for the company trip). I'm looking forward to getting my house organized. (One of the perks to having a large family; more helpers, or "slaves" as my children would say). And I'm looking forward to lazy days by the pool IF we ever get some summer weather. Here is Camille with her friends Summer and Preslee as they walked home from their last day of 2nd and 1st grade.

Who would have thought they'd be needing coats.

BRRrrrrrr!!!!

I am FREEZING! Yes, I know what day it is, June 10th 2008 (at least that's what my calendar says). It feels more like January.

• My wonderful husband bought me a hot chocolate from Dutch Bros.
• As I drove to the store my car thermostat said 47 degrees
• I stood outside visiting with my sister (as she sat in her WARM car) after sending my kids off to school. The sky got grayer, the air cooler, and a small mist became heavier. ENOUGH ALREADY ... I said a quick good-bye and ran inside.
• I've been shivering while working on the computer, finally gave in to do the dishes. AaaHhhhh, HOT water!! To bad I only have breakfast dishes to do.

I shouldn't be complaining. Soon enough we'll have 90 degree weather and I'll be sweating from no AC. I'll enjoy my cold day cuddled in a blanket, in cloud cast darkness watching a movie or reading a book. Make that a warm blanket. I'm off to put one in the dryer.

Ooops, still learning