Just Believe...

I've spent a lot of time lately thinking about where Julianne will end up next school year. We are considering a lot of different things, and I have not yet been able to decide on what to do. I pray all the time for God to show me a sign, give me a clue, or guide me in the direction that I should be going with this. I'm still waiting. But I am confident that she will end up where she should be.




So, this may not be a sign...but maybe it was a clue. As you know, I struggle with worry about Julianne being able to read someday...and in the long run, take care of herself as a grown person. I am told I worry about too many things, and that I worry to much, and that I am going to worry myself into the ground. Sorry folks, it's what I do. So, as of late, I have really been thinking about what Julianne is capable of and what (and who) she will become as an adult.





A pretty cool thing happened. As I was walking into my living room from my kitchen, something caught my eye. It was on my mantle. It had been there for God knows how long, but I'd never even noticed. I have pictures on my mantle. I also have little knick knack things too. Well....this is what I happened to *SEE* ...





So, Dear God....I got your message...and thank you.

Boob Tube Off!

One night last week, I decided that it was just time to turn our TV off. The constant background noise was finally getting on my nerves. So, to my happy surprise, the kids actually found a way to entertain themselves.

Julianne found a box of cards that I had purchased off ebay many, many years ago. She and Mason decided to make everybody and their brother a special card. LOTS of cards were made....with stickers and address labels and markers and tape. It was nice to see the kids having fun doing something other than watching TV.

Soon enough, Alena and Audrey joined in the fun. This went on for about an hour...which, with no TV, seemed like a lifetime. :)

And big sis, this is what she was doing...

Happy Valentines Day...

Happy Valentines Day to all. What a nice idea it is, to have a day set aside just to say "I love you" to those you love. The kids love it at school....and a lot of big people love it too.


I remember when "Valentines Day" was something magical..magical in the same sort of way that a birthday is to a little one. When I was young, I remember being filled with anticipation to see what special thing Mom would have for us when we got home from school. Usually it was a sweet treat, like a cupcake with hearts...or something like that. Whatever it was, it was special, and exciting, and something that only happened on that special day.

When I got older, and Jeff and I were dating, the excitement was still there, only different. I remember putting together this whole plan with a few other friends where we rented a limo, and did not tell the men, and then took them to a fancy restaurant for dinner. How romantic, right? I remember the "in love" aspect being magnified on Valentines Day.

Well, many years have passed, and life has changed...and it has been many, many years where I felt any excitement about Valentines Day. No extra love, no cards, no candy.... and not just from my husband, but from me as well. Blame it on being too busy, too poor or too lazy, it is what it is. This is how it went today....Jeff said, "You didn't get me anything for valentines day, did you?" me...."No." Jeff, "Good."

It's sad, isn't it. Not sad that we didn't get each other things, but sad that we have set our love for each other on the back burner. We have work, kids, school, tuition, bills....all that takes a lot of dealing with... and on my part, worrying about. I still love him. He (hopefully) still loves me. But we have lost something...and need to find it again.

IHM Talent Show 2010...

Fun fun fun!! That word sums it up for me. I enjoyed the talent show, and so did the kids. :) To be honest, I didn't mind all that much waiting out in the icy cold wind for an hour to be sure I got a seat. :) The conversations outside with the other moms were comical. :) ....and nobody liked waiting, let me tell you, but having been through this before, I knew I had to do it....and, since I've yet to be able to see my children in the Christmas program (due to lack of good seats), I was determined to be sure I got a good seat. And I did.

Mason sang and danced, and Julianne jumped to the song "Trading My Sorrows". I was worried that Julianne would not do anything but stand there, but she did what she was supposed to do!!! I was soooo happy! Mason had a last minute costume adjustment and decided he wanted to also wear his Halloween hat and cape. I had also made sweatshirts...Mason's said YES, and Julianne's said LORD. I think I smiled ear to ear during their entire song! Yay Kids!!!

Alena did a solo to the song "Butterfly Fly Away". She sang beautifully, and received many compliments on her sweet voice. :) I was so proud of her bravery and beauty.

All in all, it was a great mommy night. I only wish Jeff could have been there to see it too.

OK, Mom...don't kill me...

I know my mom will HATE me for showing ya'll this picture I am about to show you. But, hopefully, she will forgive me. Because she loves me, and that is what parents do, right...forgive you? :)

The above mentioned picture was taken one day shortly before Christmas. It involves Julianne sitting on the back of the couch, "fixing" Gramma's hair. She does this all.the.time. if you let her. Gramma lets her. I took a picture to add to my collection of "Julianne fixing Gramma's hair" pictures.

But something happened...and this is what my snapshot resulted in:




Gramma and I laughed and laughed and laughed at this picture! Julianne was actually choking her! Forever...this picture, and the memory of when I snapped this picture, will be one of my favorite picture taking memories. I love you mom.

I love this video...that's why.

BEDTIME DANCE-OFF...

Today was one of those days for me. For no real particular reason, other than the million little reasons, I progressively became crabbier and crabbier. It is becoming increasingly loud in my head...the chaos, that is. The chaos that is my home and my life, and my inner dialogue. I've got several things to work on...to change...and to face and figure out. If only I had the time and desire to do so.

So, as you can imagine, it is often loud at my house. Of course, having five children can be loud, but I also seem to have even louder than normal children. All of them seemingly trying to be louder than the next...all trying to get my attention at the same time. One of them is usually giving me attitude and testing me all the ever loving time. Another one seems to only have a dialogue of whine. One of them is in constant fast motion and living on the edge...forever testing the laws of gravity and Murphy's law. The other two are just LOUD and crazy.

I love them. I love them to death, and it is not their fault that I get annoyed quickly sometimes. Today was one of those days. I even told them that I was crabby, and that they should just not try and talk to me. That's terrible, isn't it....but I felt it was fair, and kind of me, at the time.

So, Monday night consists of perpetual movement, as usual. Get kids home from school. Do snack and play, and try to get some homework done. At 4:30, I take one to basketball practice. At 5:15 I take another one to "night school". At 6:00, go back and pick up the one from basketball practice. 6:30 is when "night school" is over. On the way back from "night school", I dropped off our first ever red box rental, and stopped and got myself a soda. And of course...when I got back from all that, it was time to sit down with my girlie who didn't go to school today because she was sick, and work on all 15 or so pages of homework that was brought home to her. (Geesh, I hate homework, even when it isn't mine....)

I know, you are all probably gone by now, because this is pretty boring...trust me, I know, I'm living it.... But, imagine if you will this scene. Mom is still UBER cranky, trying to help a child with all this homework, while one child sits next to me crabbing about her chicken patty being cut up, when she wanted it whole...and other child keeps climbing on me, crying because she wants a drink of my God Forsaken diet pepsi, while the ever moving boy is crashing into every wall he can find, because "it's fun", and then Ms. Attitude is crabbing that I took back the red box movie before she got to finish it. ....and while all this is going on OUTSIDE of my body, my inner self is thinking these sorts of things: What dressdown clothes am I going to get out for the kids to wear? Damn, I really need to clean and organize around here. I sure hope we don't end up owing the tax man a million dollars. Just what am I going to end up doing with Julianne next year? Who is going to get these kids to the talent show dress rehearsal on Thursday....blah blah blah.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo........ after dinner, it happened. God stepped in and said.."sit. enjoy." It started off with the kids practicing their Talent Show songs. Then, it turned into a "dance off" in my living room. The kids, all five of them, danced wildly in my living room as I sat on the couch, sipping my diet pepsi. They were having fun. True, honest fun. I sat there thinking to myself, that THIS is what today brought me. I will remember this scene in my head forever. They laughed until they cried, as did I.

I love my kids. Thank you God, for making me stop, sit and enjoy. Enjoy I did.