My Goal To Become A Mess....AND Be Happy About It

It's sweatshirt weather and that makes me happy. When I looked outside this morning it was all rainy and foggy and I thought to myself, "I am having a real Pride and Prejudice moment." For those of you who don't know what I am talking about that is my favorite movie and it's the way it looks outside with Elizabeth goes walking only to find Mr. Darcy who declares "You have bewitched me body and soul and I love, I love you." All I needed was Kyle playing the soundtrack in the background and I would have been there....he was brushing his teeth so he wasn't really helping me out but still...I digress from my original point. I sat down with my planner on Sunday and made my week goals (as usual) and actually written in my planner is that I am only allowed to pick up 3 times per day. The rest of the time is to be spent living my life and my life is being a mom. I have been good in the past to make sure I walk around behind the messes cleaning up. If I were to die tomorrow you could write on my headstone "the picker upper lies here-she managed to have her house picked up despite being the mother of five little boys." I have decided I don't like that inscription I would rather have it say, "here lies a woman who adored her husband and her children and they knew it!" So that has been my goal for the week. We made bird feeders yesterday and I spent a great deal of time coloring a pirate. I will have to keep writing it down as I fall into the trap all to often, but that is my goal, to let go. Someday my house will be neat as a pin and clean enough to eat off of the floor. Until then you are welcome to stop by, but I wouldn't eat off the floor (unless you want the cheerios the baby dropped) and we will have to move aside a stack of books and some rescue heroes to sit down. Wish me luck on my new goal!

A Little Perspective

As was obvious from my last post I have been one grumpy mama the last little while. I find myself wishing I was on a beach drinking something icy having a grown up conversation with my hubby....This week my dear friend who was joyously expecting twins lost both of them and is at the hospital delivering those little ones. My heart is with her today and her kids are with me. So today I have 9 kids under 9. I am always wondering what is the most important way to spend my time. I am always wanting to accomplish more and mark more off of my to do list. Today as I rock babies to sleep, make meals & snacks, clean up, make meals & snacks, tie shoes, change diapers, solve arguments, car pool to pre-school, and a hundred other things I am grateful that they are all here and safe. I know what is the most important thing in this moment and that is these 9 little people and their needs. I am grateful that when my sweet friend comes home from this horrible tragedy that she has eight little arms that are anxious to wrap their arms around her and tell her how much that they love her. I am grateful that I have little ones that need noses wiped and need me to love them. I will tell you honestly I have been trying to maintain order and have snapped at a few of the requests of me today. But, that stops right now....I have a trampoline to jump on and I am certain there are plenty of people outside that are willing to do a pile up! And to my friend today...I love you...How I wish this day wasn't happening this way for you. I can't do much but I will love your little ones until you get home and you can love them yourself. I wait for you with a hug, flowers and chocolate and just wishing there was something more I could do to ease the pain of this experience.

Goodnight Boys (And I Mean It!)

I love my kids. I feel that must be said before the following words are spoken! It is bedtime at our house and while I have visions of sweet little boys all kissing me night night and then rolling over and going to sleep that still hasn't happened....Tonight I got them all tucked in and settled down to read while the little darlings fell asleep. I read in their room so I get to listen to all of the winding down. This sounds like a bunch of monkeys hopped up on caffeine pills...So I sat down with "And Then There Was Light" and I am being inspired by this patient mother who helps her blind son succeed in the world..."Mom, I need to pee!" Screams Jamen. "You already went." "I need to pee!" Screams Grayson. "You are wearing a diaper." "But, I need to go!" I scoop him out of bed and take him potty. While putting the diaper back on Jamen says "Grayson say you don't want a diaper!" "I don't want a diaper" screams Grayson kicking. Jamen gets the lecture (again) about not telling people what to say and especially when it causes trouble. Mom settles down again. "RUFF RUFF" "Mom, Grayson is pretending he is a dog!" "Will you boys just settle down, that's the last warning and then I am going upstairs!" Things settle for 2.5 seconds. In the quiet I say, "I am sorry I was frustrated, I love you boys sleep well." "Mom can we all get out of bed and hug you so that we will feel better?" "Jamen, I have hugged you 6 times just blow me a kiss." Issac says, "when you are fustated you are following Satan's plan." "I know Issac I will try harder to follow Jesus' plan...." I guess Jesus' plan on teaching me not to get "fustated" is to have plenty of chances to have my patience tried...