The weeks keep going by so fast. we've been busy cleaning out closets and drawers....the clothes that were piling up upstairs. they've been sitting in bags waiting for me to decide where to put them. i hate piles/bags of clothes...I just don't have time on most days to go through all that stuff. anyway...most went to Goodwill and some got put away for the kids to wear when they grow into them. We put winter coats and shoes in the attic...and brought down summer shoes and clothes....that's the cycle around here. Save and recycle...then get rid of it....yay!

Kenny cleaned the craft area where the little kids had been rummaging through. So it looks nice up there now. It's a constant issue here with the things we have coming through the home. but it's not as bad as it use to be. I've weeded out quite a few baby things that someone else can use. Now that Savannah's 17 months old, we no longer need most baby things and don't have to keep them anymore. Of course, being sentimental and all, I like to keep special things... like Brandon's little suit that we took his picture in when he was 11 mos. old and the first pair of shoes his dad bought him. We were so young and naive back then...looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. We really had no clue. But what new parents do?....probably not many...you can't know until you know. All smiles and staring at babies, longing to be pregnant, wanting to know what it felt like. Jonah and I were in Wendy's weekend before last and there was a young couple, the girl was focused on a baby, with love in her eyes. I imagine she probably really wanted a baby and was fantasizing about how nice it would be.... it is, but fantasy is always different than reality. She'll learn it soon enough i guess like everyone does, in her own way and time.

We had a night out over the weekend. A nice dinner (expensive too...we had no idea how much the drinks were...but they were well worth it)....anyhow the steak and fish were excellent. Nice to have a good meal cooked for you from time to time, with a steak prepared the right way. I got an early birthday gift....some nice jeans that a friend told me about. Pricey, but they fit really good so I think they're well worth the money spent. While waiting on Kenny to park the car in the heavy downpour, I looked at a book on all the religions of the world. So many and so confusing. I can see how it'd be easy to get pulled into something that led you to the wrong road....bad choices. I know at times my life has been turned upside down by "religion"....not God, but religion. I like this video by the way...."why I hate religion but love Jesus"

I had a visitor today...a man selling cookware...I thought door-to-door sales was dying out but not at our house. He handed me a pair of free scissors for my time and next thing I know he wanted to use my stove. I let him in hesitantly because I didn't really want to buy any, but you know I just have a hard time saying no and salesmen are known to be pushy (i could never be a salesman then). and I don't like to hurt people's feelings. (I had to laugh though because I'm working on saying no more....such an easy word but so hard to say sometimes--lol). Anyway.....after some demonstrations and at least an hr. long visit, where I learned a lot about him, he gave me the price of the cookware and I was like are you kidding me?....$3700?!! i'll have to ask my husband about that. But he was a nice guy and it was nice cookware and I learned how baking soda water tastes different boiled in stainless steel vs. teflon (burning my lip in the process), and all the dangers of eating out of teflon pans. So it was a productive visit in that sense. He wanted to know how many people we fed and I said we had 8 children (I don't usually enjoy talking about how many kids we have just randomly in conversation....just because it usually leads into a bunch of questions like did you always want that many (no)....you don't see big families like that anymore (true)...i'll bet it's expensive (affirmative)...etc., so i guess it's easier for him to understand why we can't buy $3700 cookware....I'll have to stick with the more affordable, health-destroying teflon for now.

Brandon and Laura went on a youth group retreat over the weekend. The girls spent the night with their cousin. There's less and less kids here on most weekends now. When we only have 4 to 6 kids in the house, it's like a piece of cake. That would be so easy. The youngest 2 have been more challenging, because we're older and they have way more energy and we have less than we did, and we're a little burned out. I mean, technically, we have enough kids for 4 sets of parents with the avg. number of kids being 2. Two for us would be like having none. I can't even imagine how easy that would be. And usually, we have at least 3 more children over playing several days a week (which I don't mind as long as they can take care of themselves). so yeah....2 would be a breeze.

Kenny's out weed-eating again. Spring brings more outdoor chores. Rain (the pony) is not looking for Bunny as much. She gave up after a few days, I guess realizing she's not coming back....acceptance is good but hard to do sometimes. We're not getting another horse. That's a wise decision. I've been told lately that I need to focus on making good decisions and that's one of them. I'm not sure about the others, but at least a few are being made.

Well....off to see how long my husband's gonna be, because we're going to be eating a late dinner if we don't watch it.....which makes the night more difficult. But in this house, we're lucky to be able to function as good as we do on most days. I dare most people to try it. It will make you a little crazy--lol...but keeps things lively and interesting...never a dull moment. As we speak, Savannah's bringing in her dishes to have a tea party...so cute. see ya later...I think I'll have some tea.

our week

It's been so nice outside. Jonah put on shorts the other day just like it was summer. we're all feeling better. about half of us were sick at the first of the week. that's never a good thing as a parent to catch what the kids have. most of the time we don't get it. I haven't been sick all winter so i guess one day isn't too bad; however, there's really not time for it at all. that's the hard thing about being a parent of so many, especially young ones.....trying to take care of yourself along with others who can't take care of themselves. But I'm glad the kids are here when they're sick because there's nowhere like home when you're not feeling well.

the girls marched in a St. Patrick's Day parade. they had so much fun! here's a picture...the girls are in there dressed in green (picture link here).

Bunny, our old mustang, died the other day. she wouldn't eat, got sick real quick and that was it. I feel bad for Rain, the pony. she keeps neighing for her, wondering where she went. sometimes I think it's easier to leave than to be left behind. poor pony. i don't know if we're up to getting another or not. i'm sure there's one out there that needs a home...but we said we wouldn't get any more if anything happened to one of them. so we should probably stick to that. the horses are peaceful to watch though....one place i can go to get away where everything's quiet.

i took Laura and Brandon out to eat last night for Laura's pre-birthday dinner. she wanted mashed potatoes and chocolate pie, so we found a restaurant that served it. And we bought her some new shoes. then we shopped a little more. I found some cute sandals and a couple other things....don't we always? Definitely born to shop and look....I hardly ever get tired of it...I'm glad Laura likes it too...Brandon not so much...he kept asking if we were done, ready to get out of there--lol

Today Ben and I went to the lake, played some games, had some pizza, bought some dinner home for the rest of the family. The four little ones were at grandma's playing. It's nice having special time with each of the kids. I'm so glad it's spring in a couple of days! so much better than winter./div>

only 2 months late but here are some pictures.... I've taken only a few photos lately. My newest is harder to figure out so I don't use it as much. I like simple electronics. All the extras just make things more challenging when there's no time to be challenged. anyway, I need to upload some of the more recent ones I've taken when I get a chance.

Jonah using his imagination...I enjoy watching him when he plays quietly...right now he's into boats....Kenny just put together a wooden pirate ship last night; Livy and Audrey from a couple of months back....I love what Livy's shirt says....Dance like no one's watching....I wish it was as easy to live your life like no one was watching; Kenny, Laura, and Brandon headed to Winterfest concert at LU. I love my teenagers...they are awesome, kind people. I'm proud of them.

Brandon did well.....1910 out of 2400....on his practice SAT. hopefully he will do as well when he takes the official one soon.

Livy's (who's younger) is getting taller than Audrey....they're only 16 months apart and use to be the same size...Audrey's a little more petite.....she was so tiny when she was born....I think she'll always be petite. but don't let her size fool ya.....she's feisty and stands her ground if need be. She reminds me of my grandma.....sweet, kind, loving, but don't try to take too much advantage of her or she'll let you know it. Audrey's all for justice and truth. she was so sweet when we went shopping tonight, showing me things she liked for me to have. she's been looking for a picture of a bunny rabbit to give to her cousin. She painted a deer rock for her uncle. Always thinking about somebody else. I love that about her.

i saw an article about tween girls posting videos of themselves on youtube to get feedback on their looks. that is not a good idea. some people are always gonna say things negative no matter what you look like. i'd never ask what someone thinks, not that you'd ever have to because sometimes they talk behind your back anyway. i look at it like when someone makes rude comments about someone's looks, weight, body parts.....insecurity and jealousy might be part of it(or they really could mean what they say even though it's rude to say it, they'll say it anyway). It could be concern on something like weight, but even so it can turn into gossip which is never good. i just feel bad for kids growing up having to deal with these kinds of issues. it's hard enough being an adult dealing with things. people can be mean. i think that's one of the most important things in raising kids is to teach them how to be confident and secure in themselves. it makes life easier when you let things slide off your back.

we've been doing some pre-spring yard work today. It's right around the corner....the grass is getting greener, the trees are budding....that's a good thing. maybe i'll take the kids to the horse field. then I have to return a couple of things I bought last night. so better get busy. see ya.

this week

It's been a busy week. Nothing new or different as far as busy goes. It's always that way. I really haven't had time to write nor the interest, but thought I'd catch up a little bit. The winter is a draining season...thankfully coming to an end soon. It was cold and windy today though so it doesn't seem like spring will ever get here. the black kitty, who went back and forth between us and our neighbors for food, died. We're not sure what happened because he was fine yesterday, so the girls were sad about that, especially Emily and Audrey who love cats. So the first thing Kenny had to do coming home was bury him. The responsibilities of being a good parent never end, but it has to be done.
Livy wanted to play with one of my antique dolls. I let her, even though I knew it was probably a bad idea. Audrey came in a little later and said she broke it....so we had to glue the head back on. But I don't like to keep everything away from them because in the end it's really just stuff that doesn't mean anything. If it breaks, we can fix it....if we can't it probably isn't worth keeping anyway. then dinnertime....then clean up. Brandon's taking a practice SAT test. A lady who visits just to see what we're up to is curious to know how he'll do on that test in her words to see how much I've taught him. She seems more worried about it than we are considering her focus on what we do and how we do it. Hope he does well for her sake. i don't worry as much, other things maybe, but not that.

the kids spent the night with grandma and their cousin one night; went to see The Lorax, which they loved; I took a couple of the kids out to eat several times, on a rotation basis--that's the best way to focus on the individual child when they have my undivided attention. they like this time with me and I like it with them. the kids are doing fine by the way. i think all in all we handle things pretty well. not as easy it looks all the time. i have to laugh when people say adding another child is as easy as putting another potato on the table. really? that's a cute way to look at things, but there's so much more than that. i've also heard adding an extra child after 3 or 4 is not much of a change. i don't think that's true either. i guess it's incentive for people to keep having more or encouragement or whatever, but let's be honest, the more children, the more work....if you're going to do it...be prepared. and cheaper by the dozen.....who said that...don't believe that for a minute--lol. doesn't mean they're not blessings, but just saying the reasoning is not always accurate or judicious to throw out statements like that, making people believe it's easy. lots of kids equals lots of work...lots of joy too

Had a nice day over the weekend shopping with a friend who found me the cutest shoes, at a good price too...real leather and everything. I looked online at the shoes I've been buying and one pr I found for $39 was $108 online. I love good deals. In fact, I found all kinds of good things....some summer clothes for the girls, some jeans and shirts....I've already given a few things to Laura which she loved....couldn't wait for her birthday. I love seeing her smile when I bring her something. She deserves it.

So I really need to go through some paperwork that's piling up around me. My computer area is getting covered up...i write so many notes to remind me of things I have to do....if I don't it's a good chance I might forget. And Savannah loves to sneak in and steal my reading glasses that sit on my desk. She knows she's not supposed to have them but makes it a game to pick them up and try to put them on before I can get them back from her. They make reading so much easier...I have a few prs. laying around the house in case I need some. Something else to think about, but it's necessary at this point.

Well...off to sit by the fire...read a little bit....talk to my husband....get the kids ready for bed after that...watch a little t.v...hopefully relax. It's going to be a cold one tonight. See ya later.