That's a wrap!

Okay, my apologies first. Sorry-life is busy for a mom with 6 kids in December. I have neglected my blog, and myself. I love to put my rambling thoughts that run thru my brain here, and I just haven't had time. So, here goes to a new year!

I want to record what an amazing year we have had as a family. I will start on November 21, 2008. (I know not quite 2009 and that's what year we just wrapped up?)
BUT that is the day we left for Madi's amazing wish trip. I can't let that just pass by without mentioning it again. It truly was the best time we will ever have together as a family and we all feel so blessed to have had that wonderful opportunity. So we got 3 weeks of a free vacation, with no work, no school, and no worries. Just amazing time for our family to spend together. I have recently looked back at our pictures from the beginning of the trip and from the end, and I can't believe how different my children look. Will began the trip as the most unhappy boy, he just wore a frown on his face constantly. Madi being sick was the hardest on him, her first surgery was one week after he turned 1 and by the time he turned 2 (the day before we left) she (and I) had spend well over 7 weeks in the hospital on 5 different admissions. I don't think he knew security anymore, and it showed on his sweet baby face. We spent one week at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando, they provided us with a rental car, 3 days at Disney World, 2 days at Universal Studios, 1 day at Sea World, 1 day at Busch Gardens, admission to GatorLand, mini golf, an airboat ride, 1 day at Kennedy Space Center and we went to the Florida Aquarium. Let me explain what this place is like:an ice cream shop open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., a movie theatre, the dining hall was a gingerbread house, an actual yellow brick road to walk on, a castle where each wish child makes a wish and a star fairy glues it to the ceiling. They brought characters from Disney and Universal there so the sick kids could see them easier. They celebrate Christmas and have a birthday party every week so the kids who won't see their next one can have one more. Just amazing. The second week we were there we stayed at a condo loaned to us by one of Ella's friends parents. It was on the beach in Treasure Island, so beautiful. It was the first trip for all of us to the ocean and the kids enjoyed the beach more than DisneyWorld! The last week we were there we stayed at another condo outside Orlando that was our christmas present from Ken's parents. It was HUGE and my kids kept losing each other in it! We had such a great time together and we will never forget it. The other amazing thing they gave us when we left GKTW was a passport for free admission to theme parks all over the country and a special code for a large hotel discount at Staybridge Suites hotels. So this enabled us to continue an amazing piece of Madi's wish a little longer!
In January my temple boy Ben turned 6, February Ella turned 10. March brought good weather for Ken to start working again (good news!)and Will started preschool. He was not so happy about it! April working. May I turned 32 and Ken turned 39. OUCH! June kids out of school, everyone happy. July Emma turned 4, Madi had another surgery, and we got to go to Branson with the Dream Factory for a weekend. So much fun! Oh yeah, school stated again.:( In August Meghan turned 9 and we started to make some use of Madi's passport and spent 2 (free) days at Silver Dollar City, saw the Dutton show in Branson, and relaxed! At the beginning of September Madi turned 13 (crazy),Ken and her really wanted to go to Cedar Point in Ohio, for those of us who don't relish in roller coasters, it is the coaster capital of the U.S. They have 17 roller coasters, extreme ones, 120 mph straight up 40 stories roller coasters! It was on our passport so we went! We also got to see Seneca Caverns in Ohio while we were there. I would pass that one up next time, I hate caves! In October we got the last uses out of our free passes, we had a trip to Chicago to Six Flags Great America to check our their coasters. (They were good!) We ate some yummy deep dish and saw some museums. (All for free!) We went to Six Flags St. Louis for our last hurrah on Halloween with the Tuttle family (MO River Ward) and had an amazing time! Ben sang some karaoke on stage there, and I rode Mr. Freeze for the first and last time ever!
In November Will turned 3, Thanksgiving came and went, and another Christmas rolled around. This year we all decided it was time to scale back gift giving and remember what the season is actually about. I can tell you it was our best Christmas yet. We all enjoyed one present and enjoyed our family and the blessings Heavenly Father pours out upon us. I am not one who sends out brag letters and I'm sorry that I just wrote one, but I have felt impressed I needed to share this year with others. I know that without divine help we could not have been afforded the gift of time together this year, and our entire family is closer and happier because of it. I can't wait to see what 2010 brings, Ben has already lost his front tooth! Stay tuned!

I feel loved...

I am typing this with tears running down my face as I yet again have been so blessed by a loving, merciful Heavenly Father. Long story short paying your tithing is such a blessing and you are constantly provided for if you obey. You may not become rich or be able buy what you want, but you will have provided for you what you need.

Strength and knowledge

Sometimes you learn the most when you have to do something really hard. If your life depends on hanging on by your fingers on the side of a cliff, you will learn how strong your fingers are! If you are in labor, flying down the highway at 100 mph, and the baby won't wait, guess what-you just learned how to deliver a baby!
I learned how strong the emotion of protection is for a mother as I watched my daughter battle UC. I learned how to adovcate for my child's education with Ben's struggles. I learned how to love my husband more through marriage class.
I am learning that I have to protect myself from those who seek to control and burden my life with thier own insecurities. I have learned the commandment to honor thy father and mother doesn't mean you have to listen to everything they say, it means you live a good life. Everyday I understand more and more my individual worth, and how much value my Heavenly Father has for me. I am so thankful to have experiences that make me stronger and give me the abilities to value myself. Everyday is sometimes a battle, but if you come away learning something you are winning the war.

Sorry, you're overqualified...

Due to the cost of our health insurance premuims, I've been thinking about getting a part-time job. I was considering what I could put onto my resume and these are the positions I think I could list for my previous job experience.

I am a teacher, I teach anything from potty training to math. I am a nurse, and a doctor. I am the principal, the referee, the judge and the jury. I am the Chief Financial Officer as well as the Chief Operating Officer. I am the recreation director, the custodian, and the laundry lady. I am the seamstress, the interior decorator, and the IT person. I am the hairdresser, the cook, and the driver. I can command search and rescue operations, I have even delivered my own baby!

So, as I have thought about leaving my career as a stay at home mom behind, I realize how many ways I have grown. I also realize how much I have enjoyed it. I am so thankful for my husband and children, and thankful I have been blessed to grow and learn along the way.

Live today like it's your last...

I am not a complainer, I am a pretty positive person. I am done with today though. It has been one of those days when you just want it to end. Today it pains me to say, I was not a very nice mom. Now I feel kind of defeated, like I gave up halfway thru the race when I could have done better. I am going to pray tonight that those I reside with will remember what their part is to do, no one will have a bathroom accident, magically the laundry will disappear as quickly as it is created, and we will not have anyone give their stuffed animal a haircut. I can't believe it is only Tuesday.

This one's for you Dad...

Me & My Dad 1978

I've been thinking about my dad a lot lately. I think I have taken my dad for granted all my life and I just wanted to let him know how much I love him! My dad is an amazing father, but an even better grandpa. My kids adore him. (I joke with him that in his will he needs to leave me some money in his will to pay for therapy for Meghan because she will have such a broken heart!)

My dad has a very physically demanding job of working for AT&T as a lineman. He works in the heat, he works in the cold, he works in the rain or snow. On the rainy days when I run to my car to get in before I get too wet, he is out in it for 8-10 hours. He has problems with his back, his hips, and his knees. As I was thinking about his knee problems the other day the thought crossed my mind all the times he has done something physical for me and how much that may have made his problems worse.

My dad ran with me to teach me how to ride a bike, my dad taught me how to fly a kite, my dad held my hand and taught me how to roller skate. My dad would carry me when I could not walk, and pick me up when I wasn't feeling good. My dad chased the bus down when it forgot my stop, and let me cry on his shoulder when I got my ears pierced. He never complained when I crawled into bed with him and my mom nightly, and with his own two hands made my sister and me a bunk bed that my children sleep on today. My dad was patient as he taught me how to drive a stick shift car, and always got 100% on all the projects he helped us to make! My dad would take us to air shows, the Japanese Festival, fireworks, and even a few concerts I know he could have lived without seeing! (Milli Vanilli for me & New Kids on the Block for my sister)

So now as I have become an adult I appreciate my dad like you can only do when you are doing the same things for your kids. My hands reach for my children to help them do things he taught me how to do, and his hands helped to shape me into the person I am today. I don't know if I can do everything as well as he did, or if my talents are different and I will do something better that my children will appreciate me for. I do know I just wanted the opportunity to say thanks Dad for doing all the things you didn't have to do, but you did because you loved me.

Boo hoo, it's the swine flu...

My poor boy, Will, has been a sick boy. He started coughing early Sunday morning and by bedtime he was a feverish 103. We thought it would be best to get him some Tamiflu, so we got a fun filled trip to the ER. Poor Will, evidently St. Louis is out of children's Tamiflu and they are having to formulate it from adult doses and it takes terrible. He cries everytime it is time for a dose and says "No Momma, poop". That's a lot of talking for a boy who doesn't talk!

I hope it is a very mild case for everyone else in our house, and we all get it quick and over it quick! I hope this little piggy runs all the way past your home!