A Momma of Five. . .

A couple of years ago, I was at an Easter party and a woman said, "You have four?!" She continued with something like, "Aren't you supposed to have this wild eyed, crazy face look?" Well, now I am a momma of five, and I love it. That is not to say that I don't have my down days. I have plenty of them. Those of you who have been to my house will recognize this picture and if you are around me enough you know that I am always giving myself the "I can do this" pep talk.

Some days though, despite my best efforts, just don't work out like they should. Some times this puts me in tears, but laughing is so much more enjoyable than crying so I try to find the humor in it. Sometimes, like this past Monday, the humor was pretty easy to find. . .

First some background:

Friday night: We get home from soccer games a little after 9pm. We pack for our weekend trip to Washington DC. Last minute, we remember to grab our swimming suits that are hibernating in our crawl space and find that our hot water heater has leaked all over our crawl space. After doing an initial clean up of the water, we leave shortly after midnight and check into our hotel around 3:30AM.

Saturday night: We are passed out across our hotel room, completely exhausted. Around midnight, I hear banging at our door. It was security. Apparently our late arrival Saturday morning caused our reservation to be canceled and nobody was supposed to be in our room. Why they decided to check it out at midnight, I haven't figured out, but we did get extra points out of it. . .

Sunday night: We go see Jenny Oaks Baker play at the temple's visitor's center. It was amazing!! Shortly after midnight, we return home to a soggy basement and a broken water heater.

Then Monday morning happened. This is how I described my morning via email to my dear friend. This really isn't me at my best, but sometimes life happens.

Today I looked like what everyone expects a mamma with 5 children to look like.

First we go to violin lessons minus our music books and one violin. We turn back around to try again only because we have a REALLY nice teacher and a piece to practice for church on Sunday.

While J1 & J2 are at lessons the rest of us go to Michaels. After feeding Eli who is in a starved panic we head in the store and I notice that my children are wearing church clothes from yesterday. None of us showered or changed because, well, for one, we didn't get back home until after midnight and two, even if we had time to shower and dress we don't have any hot water. . .

Anna's cute dress makes her look like she just walked out of a Gap commercial except for the messy hair, the stinky diaper, the chocolate milk stain from dinner last night that covers all the front of her dress and tights, oh yeah, and don't forget the missing shoe. . .

I'm looking pretty fly myself with messy hair, no contacts and pants that don't quite fit yet but are all I found this morning in my closet (minus Reed's jeans which somehow found their way to my shelf but really are of no help to me on a morning like this.). Yes, the jeans really finished my kit especially when my hands were completely taken with merchandize and I couldn't keep pulling them up which means there were a few knitting grandmas who I'm sure blushed when they got a peek of what was hiding underneath. . . ;)

We were making Joey look like a GQ model which is saying something since we all know what Joey is comfortable wearing out in public. . . I'm just glad they didn't stick to the "No Shoes, No Service" policy when I sent Anna through with my 3rd coupon and $10 bill.

Despite the crazyness, we had a great weekend.

We went to the Air and Space Museum with some friends of ours - it was really cool!

The kids enjoyed watching some planes land from the tower.

The temple grounds are so pretty at Christmas! It is a favorite Christmas tradition for us.

We got on the 4th row to see Jenny Oaks Baker. She is one of our favorite violinists. You can hear her at our home all year round!

And our trip to Michael's resulted in super cute Christmas trees the kids made.

I decided to try digi-scrapping. . .

. . . and it was fun, easy, and free.

My Montage 12/14/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

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Boston or Bust!

We had an AWESOME trip to Boston last week. It was long and busy but definitely worth it! Here are some highlights. . .

Day 1: Lexington and Concord.

It was Patriot's Day which is a state holiday in Massachusetts. The re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord was held at 5:45AM. So, naturally, we got up at 3:30 to get there at 4:30. We were able to see pretty well, although the really posh seats were taken by 3AM- now we'll know for next time. ;)


After the battle, we went to a pancake breakfast held by a local Scout Troop. As you can see, one in our party was less than thrilled to wait in line.

We spent the rest of the time seeing the sites in Concord and Lexington including:
*Minute Man National Park- Where the boys completed the requirements to be junior rangers.
*The Paul Revere Capture Site
*A Tour of the Orchard House (where Louisa May Alcott penned Little Women)
*A look at the outside of Wayside (home to the Alcotts, Nathanial Hawthorne, Margaret Stanley)
*Old North Bridge (the "shot heard around the world")
*Walden Pond
*Sleepy Hollow (the resting place of many famous authors who lived in Concord)

Jacob being awarded his Junior Ranger Pin (all the boys got one)


Me at Walden Pond and at Sleepy Hollow. . . History and Literature all packed into the day- I was in HEAVEN!
The kids were troopers this day. Up at 3:30 and to bed at 9- we were all exhausted but had the best time!
Here are some pictures of the kids marching along the Minute Man Trail, shooting their stick guns at all the "regulars" (which happened at about every third tree) and having a victory shout when they ran off the British Regulars!





A relaxing and oh so healthy dinnner in the coolest booth at Fudruckers!

Day 2: Quack Quack

Tuesday we started off at the Science Museum. Just seeing the fascination on their faces made that trip worth it!

Joshua is my little scientist and he seriously could have spent a week just exploring EVERY exhibit here. I felt almost cruel to tell him that we only had a couple of hours to spend here. Although at the end of the day, Reed took Josh and Anna back to the museum while I had a date with Jacob, Joey and some really good Italian food.

Late morning we did a duck tour which was so fun. Our guide was a crack up. Her name was Cow Girl and came donning a cow girl hat, cow girl shirt, and a holster complete with a banana gun. She even did a nice William Tell arrangement bopping her mouth- not quite sure what to call it exactly but it was pretty good! She was funny and she knew a lot. We got a good feel of Boston on this tour and got to practice our quacking sounds.

We took a break in the Boston Public Gardens for a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful time to go. The trees were in bloom as were the tulips and the swan boats were out. It was a nice relaxing break!
In the afternoon, we did most of the Freedom Trail. This is a red or brick line that you follow through downtown Boston. It goes by all the important historic sites.

We ended with a swim at the hotel. . . ok, Dad and the kids did that while Mommy and her baby bump took a little nap! :)


My Little Scientist in Science Heaven!

A Ride on the Subway- They were so excited about that.

Joey got to be the first Junior Duck Driver of the tour.

Cowgirl showing off her amazing talents, sense of humor, and vast knowledge!

Boston Cityscape viewed from the Charles River

Enjoying a Picnic Lunch

The kids on the "Make Way For Ducklings" Statues.

The beautiful Tulips!

One of the Freedom Trail markers

Jacob and Joey Playing at a fountain in front of the Old North Church

Joey and I going Italian

My Dinner: Veal and Eggplant Parmesan: I know, daring for me considering how I've been feeling, but. . . I figure, since I feel icky most of the time anyway, why not enjoy at least something tasty every once in a while!

Day 3: Fishy, Fishy
Wednesday found us at the Aquarium. It was fun. There were fish. Not much else to say. . .

We had some yummy seafood for lunch. Well, Reed and I did, the kiddies were adventurous and had chicken fingers, cheeseburgers, and pizza- original, I know.

In the afternoon we went on the USS Constitution and drove by the Bunker Hill Monument.

Then swimming for the boys and naps for the girls. :)


Getting ready for the Deep Sea 3D I-MAX show at the Aquarium.

Enjoying our seafood- and of course Reed and I enjoyed a bowl of New England Clam Chowder!



Exploring the USS Constitution

Day 4: Plymouth Plantation

Thursday we packed up and headed south to Plymouth. It was a great way to end our exciting history "field trip".

On the Mayflower there were guides dressed up in the time period of the March after the pilgrims landed. I learned quite a bit from them. They did a great job.

At Plymouth there was a Wampanoag Village as well as the Plymouth Settlement. Again, we learned so much from the people there - they really did an outstanding job.

After that we headed home which took a tad longer than expected. We got home at 3AM! That morning the children had another field trip to the symphony which I had set up months ago. It was fun but we were SOOOOOO TIRED!! At 11:30 Anna went down for a 9 hour nap! The boys had soccer and then we all crashed!

Since I can count everyday last week as a school day, we decided to take this week off! A much deserved brake to put our home back in order.

Plymouth Rock

Inside the Mayflower

A Day with the Puritans

Hangin' with the Natives

Yes. . . that is a loin clothe he is wearing.

Oh, and I almost forgot- before we got to Boston, we had a weekend at Hills Creek State Park. We stayed in cabins with some awesome friends! It was tricky to pack for a camping weekend AND a week in Boston and it was a very LONG week- but it was all worth it!

Around the Camp Fire

Reed made us chicken foil dinners- yummy!

S'mores- of course!

Hiking with Daddy

What I Didn't Know About Homeschooling

So I found this written by a woman whom I have never met but I feel is a kindred spirit. So often when I read her posts, she speaks right to my heart. Often times they bring me to tears. I read this and I related to this so much.

Our decision to homeschool has done for me more than I could have ever imagined. I see that God has a plan in it for me and is changing my heart in the process. I often get the comment, "Oh, I could never homeschool, I don't have the patience. . . " Now I am not out to tell others what God's mission for them is but I know that there are so many virtues that I want and need to develop, patience being one of them. And I guess I figure that now is as good a time as any to learn them.

Surely, my God is as interested in teaching me to walk with Him as He is my children. Surely, I am grateful that my path to learn these virtues has my children at my side. And surely, I know that I do indeed need His guidance every hour and that without Him, I can do nothing.

So here are some of her thoughts so beautifully expressed. . .
What I didn't know about homeschooling

A Thunderstorm to Love

My boys loved the thunderstorm this choir makes - and the drum man. The whole thing made me smile. . . Enjoy!

I Love Bananas Coconuts and Grapes (grapes)

Jacob's Cub Scout pack had day camp last week. They had such a fun time. I chaperoned one day and Josh and Joey came with me. They also had such a fun time. I had to borrow our friend's BMW to transport so many children (5 cub scouts and Josh and Joey - oh, and BMW= Big Mormon Wagon aka 15 passenger van :) ).

The highlight of Cub Camp: Weapons. Take your pick. . . Bow and Arrow, BB Gun, or Sling Shot. . . or all three! Now, I don't have an aversion to learning how to use these. In fact, Reed and I have been meaning to go to a shooting range with one of our dear friends so we could learn to shoot ourselves. Unfortunately, that family just moved to North Carolina so that will have to wait even longer now. Anyway, as I was taking pictures, I kept thinking to myself, "Is my five year old really learning how to shoot?" Yes, he is and he did pretty well. They actually have these stations set up very well and they are very strict about rules and safety so I was fine with all the boys learning. Oh, and Mom tried some too. . . it was my first time shooting and I got bulls eye. Just call me Annie ;). (Yes, I know it was just a BB Gun) I tried the others as well. Another mom got a picture of me with the sling shot.

The boys also love learning silly songs about bananas, ravioli, and a bunch of other silly things only little boys can truly appreciate. And of course there are the standard Scout skits about invisible benches, the fly that's mistaken for a raisen etc. Again, I think it is a little boy thing. . .

They also made a couple of crafts while they were there. This year they made a tool box and an ocean craft (the theme was pirates).