You've Been A Friend

Monkey, I bought you when I was pregnant with Kinley and Raya...

And Kinley loooves you. You've taken many naps...

You've had a ton of hugs...

And you've even been to the pool...

But you are one tough monkey, or "monk" as Kinley calls you.

You are her little buddy - and what could possibly be better than that??

Oh Lord, please let me always remember that sweet smile, those snowman pj's, the fresh smell of the bath, and the way her curls fall in her face as she plays with the loose stitching on him.

He's a keepsake for sure. I think I'll save him and give him to her when she has a babe of her own :).

You have a treasure in your house like this, right??

Weekends At Home (And Homemade Chocolate Granola)

I adore lazy weekends. We usually have more on the calendar than we need, so a quiet weekend is always nice.

I packed the kiddos up and ran some errands yesterday. We went to Hobby Lobby to pick up some craft supplies and such. I was actually looking for a new frame, but by the time we got to that department we were in pre-meltdown mode. You know the stage right before the actual meltdown happens? Yea, that's where we were. They're little, it's expected.

I do love going to Hobby Lobby.

Except for that one time when one of the girls put a handheld fan up to her hair at the checkout, which resulted in an interesting hair cut. Ah, memories.

They've had fun with what we bought. You won't find decor like this in your latest Pottery Barn catalog :)...

They might not match our color scheme, but OH how they love them.

The kiddos are always a fun bunch to run around with. I might come home with a few more grey hairs, but I love 'em. Some of you might have seen this cell phone pic on Facebook...

I don't know why we make the employees so nervous. Ahem.

But anyway, we are just relaxing at home this weekend, soaking up some chilly sunshine in the trampoline, and making some of our homemade chocolate granola bars...

Oh, and little Lincoln will spend a lot of time doing this...

He loves to stand at those doors and look outside. I think he is just as ready for Spring as we are :).

Till later!

More Answers

It's Friday! I thought I'd answer some of those questions people asked a while back when I said, "go ahead, ask me anything!". Sorry for the delay :).

Oh, and I had a better mom day yesterday, hope you all did as well. I even put my yelling voice away and brought out my "inside voice". Can't you just imagine the children telling you to use your "inside voice'?? Ha, makes me laugh. Motherhood is an adventure, that it for darn sure.

Anyway. On with some questions...

Do your children do chores?

Yes, the older ones especially. We have a chore chart, nothing fancy, but it works. The older girls are responsible for putting their clothes away, clearing their dishes, cleaning up the basement (where we spend a lot of time playing and such), making their beds, picking up things in their room, and my favorite...listening the first time. That last one is a doozy. It's no necessarily a chore, but it is great that it is always on the chart as a reminder.

Seems like a lot of stuff, but in reality, it isn't. None of those things take them much time at all. And hey, there is a good amount of us, everyone needs to chip in :).

They don't always do every single one of those each day. They are pretty consistent but they are still kids. IF and WHEN they do all their chores everyday for a week, they get a treat. I bought a variety box of goodies from Sam's and they pick from there.

The younger girls (3yr olds) also help as much as they can, or as much as they understand for now. I have even had them take their clothes to their room and just lay them on their beds for me to put away later. They also help pick up and such.

Do the girls share a bedroom?

Yep, they sure do. The older 3 are in one room, Kinley and Raya are in another, and Lincoln flies solo.

Do we have a Household Binder?

No, but I can see the awesome benefits it would bring. Do you have one? I'd love to hear more about it if you do.

Could we see ourselves with another set of multiples?

Ummm, sure. Why not? Might as well pile on as much crazy as possible (insert sarcastic tone). You can see how we feel about adding more kiddos here.

How did I come to know Christ?

I grew up Catholic, went through all the main traditions and everything. I was invited to a college/career Tuesday night service at a local Christian church by one of my best friends back in 1999, I was a freshman in college. I continued going weekly and ended up accepting Christ in November of that year. My life has been forever changed by Him, he made all things new, that's for sure. That service actually became a church plant and our family still attends there. They just had their 10 year anniversary.

How did the girls react to Lincoln being different than them?

Well, we haven't had to explain a ton, because they can clearly see the difference - although I think it came as quite a shock that boys were that different :). The thing that made me laugh the most when we first brought Lincoln home was Kinley and Raya repeatedly saying, "Look! I used to have one of those when I was a baby!". I think they thought it would just fall off eventually? I would always reply, "Um, no sweetie, you never had one, they're only on boys."

Do we have a daily schedule?

Yes, absolutely. Actually, I've recently changed our routine up a bit, and added some more things. I'll save that for a different post :).

Soooo, there are some answers. I can always answer any questions about our family, not that we're super interesting :). I'm pretty open...within reason.

Happy Friday, friends! Hope you have a great weekend!

A Cross (But Loving) Mother

Welcome to the land of no sleep. Population: Us.

My patience seems to have gone out the window, my friends. Along with my sanity. And my non-yelling voice. And my ability to not bury my stress and feelings in a bag of jelly beans.

I shouldn't be short with the kiddos. After all, it's not their fault I'm tired.

(Well, technically it kinda is, but I don't want to point fingers.)

We had a great Valentines Day, made upwards of 75 cards, and baked some goodies...

We've had enough red food dye to last us till July.

My tiredness has led me to the end of my rope where I tend to stand and yell things about deserving time to myself and such. When the reality is, even though a few minutes of peace would be nice, deserve is not a term I should use (even though this world tells us we deserve anything we desire). Everything inside these walls that makes up my job is grace.

Deserve is a strong and demanding word that we use, even after we've received SO much.

His many blessings are enough, motherhood is enough, new mornings are enough, those sweet kisses are enough, He is enough, and I need to be constantly letting Him be my refuge - my "timeout" to refuel.

His strength is the only thing that can pull you through on these crappy mom days.

I've been a crappy mom today. There, I said it.

This little family is grace in my life. Giving unconditional love. And filling the roles of the most understanding human beings I've ever known - no one would put up with me like they do.

Laundry, folding, sweeping crumbs, wiping noses, cleaning up the flu bug, giving baths, changing sheets, rocking babies, and making meals. Repeat. And then repeat again till you feel like you might collapse.

It's all grace. Redundant at times, but always grace. I'm trying to remember that.

I like to think I'm not losing myself in this calling as much as I am finding myself in this calling.

So I thought I'd post a prayer/poem that my mom gave me, she kept it close while we were growing up. I'm sure some of you have read it before. I like to look over it when I'm on a "mean mom" stretch. It's a good one...

A Prayer For Cross Mothers

Oh God, I was so cross to the children today. Forgive me. I was discouraged and tired - and I took it out on them. Forgive my bad temper, my impatience, and most of all, my yelling. I am so ashamed as I think of it.

I want to kneel down by each of their beds, wake them and ask them to forgive me, but I can't.

They wouldn't understand. I must go on living with the memory of this awful day, and my unjust tirades.

Hours later I can still see the fear in their eyes as they scurried around trying to appease me, thinking my anger and raving was their fault.

Oh, God, the helplessness of children. Their innocence before the awful monster - the enraged adult.

And how forgiving they are, hugging me so fervently at bedtime, kissing me goodnight.

All I can do is straighten a cover, touch a small head burrowed into a pillow, and hope with all my heart that they will forgive me.

Lord, in failing these little ones that you have put in my keeping, I am failing You. Please let your infinite patience and goodness replenish me for tomorrow." -Majorie Holmes

Hoping someone else out there needed to read that as much as I did :).

Our New Favorite Crockpot Dinner

Ahh, a new week. I am thankful for a fresh Monday :).

Eric was actually out of town all week last week for work during our 2012 Flu-fest. I was so happy to see that man walk in the door Saturday...and the kids, they were just as happy as I was.

Well, maybe not just as happy.

Anyway. I tried out this new recipe over the weekend and I must share it because I believe that it is a total crockpot win. WIN, I say. It's called Cream Cheese Chicken Chili...

Here are the ingredients from the original recipe. This is the single recipe, I double ours...

1 can black beans
1 can corn, undrained
1 can Rotel, undrained
1 package ranch dressing mix
1 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 8 oz package light cream cheese
2 chicken breasts

Drain and rinse black beans. Place chicken at bottom of pot, then pour out whole can of corn (undrained), rotel, and black beans. Top with seasonings and ranch mix. Stir together. Place cream cheese on top. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir cream cheese into chili. Use 2 forks to shred chicken. Stir together and serve.

Just FYI - My chicken was frozen so I cooked it in a separate crockpot, shredded it when it was done, and added it to the rest of the chili in my big crockpot. And I added more corn and beans.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can change it a tad according to your tastes. It is so good, and I highly recommend making yourself a double batch and freezing it. Perfect for busy days.

 Above is the pic from the recipe, mine looked a little thicker. Try it, its a crowd pleaser!!

Hope you had a great weekend! Happy Monday!

We're A Pretty Good Fit

We've been sick with the flu here, as I already mentioned. And in our house, like yours I'm sure, it spreads like wildfire.

I have it. The kids have it. And it's ugly, sisters.

BUT, today is better than yesterday so that's a huge blessing. I've graduated to sprite and graham crackers. God is good.

You know those weeks when the hubby can't take off work cause of a big project and that whole "he has to work cause you need a roof over your head" thing takes precedence over the sickness. Well, that's this week for us. Of course.

But God always teaches in the ugly moments (as well as the good moments).

Its been amazing to see through these achy eyes how He has created our family to work together like a well oiled machine. That our "normal to us, big to everyone else" family was put together like a puzzle. Everyone has a place.

Everyone brings something unique to our table that we all need.

This group, this crew, this rowdy bunch...we need each other.

Ella. Oh my sweet Ella. How she is growing fast. I've said a million times that she's ahead of her time, an old soul, and was kind of thrown into a leader role because of how fast our family grew. There have been moments when I've even felt bad about that.

But that was Gods plan to put her first in line. I cant help but think of my miscarriage before I got pregnant with her that devastated my 22yr old heart - but ultimately led us to Ella. She is specifically wired to be my oldest. She's a gift.

In a really bad flu moment of mine, I turned around and saw Ella standing there. I swear she could feel my pain. And when I looked at her I guess she could see it in my eyes because she said, "I know, it's ok...".

Melts my heart that she said that.

When did she start comforting me? When did she pick up that motherly vibe that came out of her so naturally?

Kinda brought tears to my eyes when I thought of it later :). I guess even on our worst parenting days, something is going right.

Reese is a words of affirmation kid and also has the most tender heart I've ever known. Char is strong and a huge cheerleader. Kinley and Raya keep us laughing with their 3yr old humor and innocence. And Lincoln is a constant reminder of the fresh grace of God, and that a drooling grin can help cure a bad case of anything.

All of them are pieces of our puzzle.

All of those characteristics are things God knew this family needed to make it run as it should. I'm not sure there is anything more important than cultivating a strong family unit inside these walls, one that works together like a team. I hope by God's grace that we are somewhat on our way to that.

We sat around the table tonight eating chicken noodle soup and talking about our day and how we hope that we all feel better tomorrow. Sometimes I'll ask, "Ella, what is your favorite thing(s) about Reese?", and so on, and so on with each kid. It is such a great dinner convo, I love it. They eventually get silly with it and we have some good laughs.

This little tribe is a breath of fresh air even in the midst of a chaotic week. A sweet reminder of His love during a few ugly days.

We aren't a perfect puzzle, but I'd like to say we're a pretty good fit :). I'm just hoping we're all on the mend soon!

I'm On A Mission...

To clean the whole house in hopes to wipe out every germ that is lurking around here.

I'm gonna pull out the big (disinfecting) guns around here, my friends. I'll be on a Clorox Wipe binge if you will.

As soon as I get better, that is. It's no good when mom is sick too.

My poor little ladies. They have just been passing the bugs back and forth. Ella is the only one who hasn't caught anything (knock on wood!!).

Poor Reese hasn't had anything to eat in over 24 hours, except for some Gatorade.

Could someone send me a memo next time we're sick and remind me that RED Gatorade is just as red coming back up as it was going down...and that it stains carpet...and that its also not easy to clean off the bathroom wall? Was that to much info? Sorry.

(Oh and this is random but I spilled a huge candle FULL of hot wax on our carpet. RED wax oddly enough!)

(Help a sister out, how do I get that out of the carpet??)

(Red is now my least favorite color.)

Oh well. Just small things in the big picture of life, I guess :).

So anyway, needless to say, I have a lot of disinfecting to do around here. And I have some little loves to hold and rock till they feel better. I am willing to do that whenever they need it.

Here's hoping everyone starts to get better soon, and I can start playing catch up on everything!

Random Thoughts, It's A Gift

Formally titled, "Friday's Aren't For Forming Full Thoughts".

-It's been insanely unseasonably warm around here, I'm assuming that's the case in a lot of places. On Wednesday Eric and I went out to dinner and I wore flip-flops. In February.

-We've been eating some of these, they are new around here. I never have had them before and they are wonderful! Blood Oranges, anyone?

-Flash cards and word searches. That's all Reese and Char want to do right now. And it makes me smile so big because I am a word search nerd. Like I buy the giant books of them.

-I gave up caffeine. I know. It's almost like giving up Target. So I've been making my water fancy and I love it...

-I'm also kind of on a smoothie kick. Green smoothies that are just so great for you and taste yummy too! I'll share our favorite recipes soon.

-Lincoln. Is. In. To. EVERYTHING.

-We made some of our homemade salsa that we adore, you can get that recipe here!

-Laundry. Need I say more??

So I guess that's it for now :).

Hope you have a great weekend!!

Together

we have done mission work...

we have seen 6 loves on ultrasound...

we have heard 6 first cries...

we have lived in 2 homes...

we have laughed loud...

we have made mistakes...

we have we traveled near but not far...

we have been through good times...

we have been through bad times...

we have sought marriage counseling...

we have fought for each other...

we have seen each other through...

we have braved 2 sets of multiples...

we have spent many wee hours rocking babies...

we have had many birthday parties...

we have picked many pumpkins...

we have chased after Him...

we have lost 2 pregnancies...

we have stood outside the social norm...

we have re-modeled a house...

we have made that house a home...

we have embraced a journey we never imagined...

we have had many Saturday night dates at home...

we have laughed...

we have cried...

and we have rejoiced.

Together.

For 9 years today.

Here's to many more. Happy Anniversary, babe :).

(9 Months)

Oh I love that kid.

And his (hovering) big sisters.

They're a pretty good bunch :).

Hope you have a great weekend!

You May Be Up To Your Eyeballs In Motherhood If...

You received a final notice from the library saying one book is 64 days overdue. It's crossed your mind to call them and invite them over for a "book search" palooza.

You said "Thanks, buddy" to the cashier lady at Target.

(Thanks, buddy!?)

(I called her BUDDY)

Moving on.

You would pay for your items at the check out, but to find your wallet you have to first pull out a diaper, a jar of baby food, a stuffed animal, 4 pacifiers, an extra pair of 3T underwear, and a bag of pretzels.

Your purse looks like a piece of luggage.

This morning you heard yourself yell, "why are there Dora underwear on top of the coffee maker!?"

There is gate at one set of stairs and a chair laying in front of the other set to tame a little crawling and curious child.

You've waited an hour for the diaper fairy to come change the baby but she never seems to show up.

The price of gas all the sudden doesn't seem so bad now that all the kids are asleep in the car - so you drive around in peace and quiet for 45min.

You use a wipe to clean your kids face only after you've tried to get the job done licking your thumb and doing it. (why do we do that??)

The term "Pedi" has been replaced in your vocabulary with the term "Pedialyte".

After hours of kids chatter, you drive through Starbucks to just remember what an adult sounds like.

You're convinced texting was created for moms.

You get up in the morning, get kids moving, dressed, fed, washed, bathed, combed, kissed, hugged, picked up, carried, fed again, loved on, chased, squeezed, disciplined, laundry in, laundry out, dishes done, beds made, floors mopped, dinner cooked, kitchen cleaned, homework, flash cards, play Sorry, play peek-a-boo, play tag, play Simon Says, pj's, teeth brushed, bedtime....and somehow you STILL wonder why you don't have the energy to make it to the gym.

You have spit up and/or slobber on your shirt. And down your sleeve. And possibly even on one of your pant legs.

"Me time" is also known as "grocery shopping".

There's been a time when you've said to another mom, "I don't usually let her just eat packet after packet of ketchup..." in the middle of Chickfila. You've realized though that some fights aren't worth it in a room full of curious bystanders.

You find a chicken nugget under your drivers seat.

Multi-tasking is like a 6th sense.

Your heart is never running on empty in the love department.

You'd do it all again...and again, and again.

Oh the craziness of motherhood :). Crazy...but so worth it!

I'd Like To Do This...

for as many years as possible...

(a few of you already heard me say this on facebook :))

I'm sure so many of you feel the same, right?

Sleep And Other Things That Don't Exist

1. Sleep.

At least not an uninterrupted full nights worth. All the kiddos sleep through the night, a full 10ish hours. But lately it seems that someone is always sick, throwing up (on my side of the bed), having a bad dream, up to use the restroom, etc. That's ok though, I always try to remind myself at 3am that I can catch some zzz's later, they will only let me rock them back to sleep for a short while. Right??

2. Using the crockpot too much.

I love that thing. And it has come in handy lately since the neighbor kiddos often stay here as well...

I've got some new recipes I'm going to share soon!

3. Self control when it comes to Valentines Day candy hearts.

Some hate them, I love them. However I decided lately to kick the candy-sugar habit. The conversation I had with myself about it went something like this...

"I'm giving up sweets.

Well, maybe I'll let myself have something on the weekends.

Alright, I'll allow myself one treat 3 days a week.

Fine, I can have one sweet every night after a long day.

Never mind, I'm back on sweets."

It was a stressful convo.

4. Hearing Lincoln laugh at this gear-toy-thingy...

Anyone else have kids that looooved the gear toy??

5. Clean floors.

I had forgotten when a baby starts crawling they eat everything off the floor...its like a constant reminder of how dirty my floors are! Wait, did I mention that Lincoln is crawling?? Well, he is!! He is like a human vacuum, though. For real. I have to follow him all over the place...he's wearing me out :).

6. Cheeks that are too chubby...

Speaking of the little guy, he's got some squishy cheeks that get loads of lovin'...

Don't you just want to reach in there and squeeze them :)??

Well that's all for now.

Happy Friday, all!

You Are More...

than the cook...

more than the chauffeur...

more than the referee...

more than the cleaner...

and more than the lady chasing her kid down aisle 8.

A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31: 10-12)

You are more than a number...

more than a size...

more than an exercise...

more than the latest trends.

and more than the worlds pressure to be perfect.

Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Proverbs 31: 29-30)

You are more than a soccer mom...

more than a pto volunteer...

more than a field trip chaperon..

and more than the one who's always pushing a stroller and wearing a baby while cheering her kiddo on.

She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. (Proverbs 31: 15-16)

You are more than the sock sorter...

more than the lunch packer...

more than the math teacher...

more than the cupcake maker...

and more than the one who tucks their shirts in, wipes their faces off, and sends them on their way.

 She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet. (Proverbs 31: 20-21)

You are more than  the potty trainer, bath giver, and the crumb cleaner.

You are His.

Living in His sweet grace.

Clinging to this giant role.

Bringing up these little treasures that call you mama.

Sought after, chased down, cuddled up next to, kissed on, waited for, and adored by those He's entrusted to you.

You have the most important job with the greatest benefit package.

And today is another day to embrace that gift...this calling.

Enjoy it, it's fleeting.

Just a re-post today...because I've had to remind myself of these things this week :).

Going Public

I never really thought I'd write about school. Mainly cause I don't want anyone to ever think that we feel there is a "best option" or only "one right choice" for school. We feel the exact opposite.

And honestly, it can be a touchy subject. And touchy can turn into mean comments. And mean comments make me want to throw things at the computer screen. You understand.

So lets come at this from a "this is what God has led our family to", and not a "our way or the highway" approach. Lets discuss what He has called each of us to, shall we? Awesome.

Our kids go to public schools.

It's true. And for a long time I didn't talk much about it cause it can almost feel taboo among some Christian folk. Not ALL, I said SOME.

Please hear my heart when I say this, I do not mean it in a bad way, because I too am a hovering mother...I can hover with the best of 'em, my friends. I just think that it is easy to get comfortable in our Christian circles, to obsessively shelter our children, and sometimes forget that there is a whole world, not to mention a community that you live in that needs to hear about Him.

Public schools need Jesus too.

We don't look at it as "sending our kids into the warfare of public schools" like I've heard so many times from other moms who have choosen not to (that statement makes me a tad crazy, btw), we look at it as sending our family into a place where we can shine His light for hearts that may need it.

Our kids are leaning at a young age to stand up for, and share their faith. That can't possibly be a bad thing.

Do I think its possible that they will get exposed to some things earlier than if I homeschooled? Sure. Do I know that they will hear things that need some extra explaining from us at home? Of course. But do I believe that Jesus smiles when Ella tells a classmate that we don't treat people in a certain way because God wants us to love each other? With all my being.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't just give them a good-luck pat on the head and send them on their way, we are actively involved. I have sent some emails and talked to the teachers about things that I'm sure when I walked away they said, "wow, that woman needs to relax." But that's ok, I just want them to know I'm always there and asking questions. I even went on a field trip to a museum when I was 38 1/2 weeks pregnant with Lincoln...that had flights and flights of stairs...and no padded benches for my aching hips...and my only pair of jeans that fit were SO tight. Ah, memories.

A child's core beliefs, morals, and faith start at home, and are nourished and strengthened at home.

I am a firm believer in that which is why we talk a lot around here about anything and everything. We talk a lot about our faith, our family values, and what is expected of everyone.

I have also tried to start talking to the girls very early about things that might become embarrassing, tempting, or heard at school later on down the road. Just the other night when I was washing their hair we talked about appropriate things and inappropriate things, and what you do in those situations. I try to keep our chats laid back, calm, and very matter of fact so they don't ever think twice about asking me any questions.

Not long ago Ella pulled a feminine product out of my purse and inquired about it. After I thought for a second I said, "well, grab a juice box and pull up a chair, kiddo." Ok, I didn't really use those words, but I did tell her what it was, although I didn't go into a long explanation. I figure I have a year or two before that convo gets here.

I'm rambling, aren't I? Sorry.

Every school has trouble. Every school has partying and the "wrong crowd". And every school is going to have good and bad qualities. Deciding what is best for your family is between you and the Lord, no one else's opinion matters. Go with your convictions.

And for the record, we have talked a lot off and on about homeschooling, cause I am completely open to it if the Lord calls us there.

Down the road, will I pull one of the kids out of school and teach them at home if we thought it was necessary? Absolutely. But right now, I don't feel called to homeschool our kids, which can be looked down on at times especially since it is pretty common among bigger families. I've come to be ok with that though. I know that we are doing what God is calling us to for the time being, and that is what matters most.

We know that God placed us right where He wanted us when we moved a little over a year ago. We are in a nice community with solid schools, and I am thankful for that.

I love our "Christian circle" of friends, and I love being among company who share our passion about our faith. But I completely feel drawn to build relationships with other mama's who don't have a relationship with Him. I just can't imagine where my joy would come from on my worst mom days without His promises and confirmation of my calling - and if I can, I'd like to share that.

Our hearts feel pulled to jump right into the middle of our public school and get involved. And that is exactly what we have done :).

So now it's your turn. I shared where God has us in the school department, where does He have you??