Positive Day

A good friend had this posted this morning. So technically I'm stealing sharing this from her. She found it here . Go ahead, click on that link!

I swear that little girl created this day just for me. We've been having some 'less-than-perfect' days. You would think that since I was gone from 3 of our 4 kids for almost 2 weeks, I would come back refreshed and ready to take on the world. I was. But somehow life gets in the way, or rather I let it. Then it becomes mass chaos. Our kids are not angels, nor are they 'outta-hand'. They are just normal.everyday.active. kids. Yesterday while all 4 napped I browsed the blog world and found MANY blogs from parents who have sick kids, parents who lost their babies, people that lost their spouse...(I wish I would have saved them, so I could remind myself just how lucky I am) It made me hang my head in shame for what I was complaining about. I do love my kids. Very much.

Some positive things in my life...

• my 4 kids.. all healthy and normal - whom we conceived and carried with no problems
• my husband.. who loves me as I am and his patience
• our family and friends
• my parents
• my 4 kids
• my in-laws
• my faith
• my health..and my families health
• my 4 kids
• our house in the country
• my husband still has a job in this uncertain economy
• we are able to eat our meals together - home raised meats, garden fresh vegts
• I could go on and on.. but you get the point

So from now on I WILL look at the bright side of things. I do realize this is my 'Mommy' blog - to share my thoughts, feelings, fears, joys and whatever else, so my posts will not always be bright and sunshine.

6 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture

**************************************

Sunday afternoon we had a picnic at my in-laws. Benji and Carolyn are far too busy to stand still, let alone have their picture taken with Mommy. (We're gonna have to work on that)

We can always tell when lil Katie bug takes our picture!

This week has been 'uneventfully' busy. Does that make sense? We've done nothing really, but have been constantly busy! Tomorrow we FINALLY get to go to the fair/rodeo. We've been impatiently waiting all.week.long. Hopefully I'll have more Mommy and me pictures to share next week.

Trying to keep a smile on this crazy Monday-

The other day we got an impromptu offer from an old friend and her kids to stop over for awhile. My heart chin hit the floor as I realized (we had just gotten back from TN...) the house was a mess DISASTER. She has 4 kids too. (I'm not saying her house looks anything like mine- but she'd understand better than anyone else why my house looks like it does.) I've thought about this alot since then. If you are coming to visit us to see our HOUSE, you'll likely be disappointed. If you are truly coming to see US, we know you won't mind the state of our house, clothes, or anything else. So before you think of popping in, remember this:

• The door will always be open to you.


• I can almost guarantee the house will NOT be picked up.


• We likely can scrounge up something to eat.. not saying it'll be a 4-course meal or gourmet.


• With 4 kids, (5 yrs and under) our house is always hopping, never quiet, dull, or boring.

So that being said.. when are you gonna stop in for a dose of messy house, rowdy kids?

Do you have a cleaning schedule? (Do you do certain things everyday.. or only on certain days of the week)

• I've heard of 'Fly-Lady'..but not sure what I think about her. What do you think about her methods?


• Our house isn't finished yet.. inside or outside... so keeping it 'clean/organized' is basically impossible. I do love our house, but I can't imagine/wait for the day it's ALL DONE!


• Toys! How can 4 kids possibly get bored with all these toys?


• What is your 'rule' about your kids toys? I don't make them pick up their toys constantly ALL day, just before bed.. (most of the time) Every so often I go thru and reduce their toys, and rotate them.

Today we are having a MAJOR case of the MONDAY'S! It may have something to do with:

• Leaving spur of the moment for almost 2 wks, coming home to a messy house.. piling our luggage on top of..and still trying to dig our way up to the surface.


• I have too many little to-do projects on my list that I've kept putting off.


• It rained alot this wk end..making outside work and play not very much fun.


• I have an ear ache.


• The kids (and me) are excited for the county fair/rodeo/truck pull this wk end.

I've decided I put too much stress, energy and time into having a perfect house. When in fact I really don't want a perfect house. Yes, I'd love to have a clean house, with everything in it's place. But then that means my kids are all grown and not living at home anymore. Nobody that lives in this house (besides me) cares if it's messy, turned upside down. But they do care when I short-change them of their precious time that can never be replaced. So today, instead of doing the deep-cleaning I thought about doing.. I'm going to go back and read more books with my kids. THEN maybe at naptime I'll tackle some of those projects.. OR maybe I'll snuggle with them while they nap!

5 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!**************************************


Whew!!! 1-1/2 weeks later -- we're finally back from Nashville. We had a great time, but it was great to see the other 3 kids last night! So naturally, this weeks pictures only will include John!

These trees lined the street the motel was on.. they smelled WONDERFUL!!
After a week of being cooped up in a motel, in the middle of town with nothing to do with a 22mos old- we decided since we were going to stay longer, we'd rent a cabin at the near by campground! I'm not sure if John or me liked it the best!!

We spent our days either in the kiddie pool, playing in the sand/playground, or exploring the campground!

I have many more pictures to share from our trip.. but they'll have to wait until later.. I have piles of laundry and 4 kids to play with today! :)

4 of 52

********************52 Weeks*******************
52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!**************************************

I'm cheating a little bit this week!

Hopefully by the time this is posted I will be miles away, with Benjamin in Nashville. Possibly with no kids this time! These pictures weren't taken this week. But they were taken this summer. I also have already posted them on this blog - on this post..

My kids enjoy love taking pictures on our camera. I'm so glad I switched to digital. Can you imagine developing all those prints? :)

My little big helper - Benji Katie bug.. not happy she had to take turns with the cameraCarolyn has stick-straight hair. We used curlers overnight. So that day she had 'princess' hair!
Momma Bear

3 of 52

********************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!

**************************************

4th of July- Mommy & Katie (courtesy of Carolyn)

My 4 kids and me..

(I promise this will be the last of my bday pictures. These were taken when we celebrated my bday with my in-laws this past wk end.)Our lil family Helping Mommy/Auntie open her presents After the realized the ice cream maker didn't actually have ice cream inside it.. they went off to play.Maybe even more rare than a picture with me and my kids, is a picture of just me by myself.

What IS really important

Whenever I think about writing a post.... someone else does one so similar I feel like I'm just copying them. This time it was a dear friend, so I'll give her fair credit for her work (not that she would even mind me doing one of my own, but....)

Awhile back I had a moment day where I realized that some things just aren't as important as they seemed. I had my day planned out, or so I thought. Much to my delight (insert sarcasm here), my plans were changed because of another. It really shouldn't have been an issue at all, because it wasn't all that important: my plans nor the reason my plans were changed.

So often we lose sight of what is REALLY important. Not the things that we THINK are important. But the things that truly, really matter to us. I've been keeping a mental list of things that I value and couldn't live with out. Things that I've discovered are worth fight over. Not necessary in any order, but here some of them are:

• My faith/beliefs


• My husband and children


• My family and my in-laws


• Love


• Simplicity


• Honesty/Trust


• Happiness


• Laughter


• Health

The things that mean the most to me can not be bought with money. The things that can be bought with money don't hold much value in my eyes. So why do I worry about keeping getting my house clean, when I can be enjoying simple moments of happiness and laughter with those I love?

So what is REALLY important to you... and what ISN'T so important after all?

Wyatt!!

Almost 22 mos ago, a cute baby boy was born. 3 days after our John to be exact. It is not my place to share his story. That story belongs told by his parents. But I will say this... In some ways I hope he never knows what he went thru the 1st year of his life. Nor do I wish he learns of the tears, struggle, heartache that his parents went thru to get him. But I do hope he realizes just how blessed he is to be where he is today. I know with out a doubt that he will know just how much he is loved by his family.I used to tease Tanya, she had her 2 kids the easy way. (no pain, no weight gain, ju$t a baby) As a Mom to 4 kids, I know what it's like to be pregnant for 40(+) wks, impatiently awaiting for the moment to arrive. I know the pain and joy interwoven at delivery. I know the feeling of holding your baby for the 1st time.

Yet, she did not give birth to her 2 children... she waited impatiently for the arrival of both her kids (much longer than 40+ wks that I had to). Although her pain wasn't from delivery, she had her own intense pain that followed the birth of both children. A pain that lasted far longer and much more deeper than I experienced in my few short hours of labor. They both had the joy of holding their children for the 1st time. They experienced so much more than I ever would have to dreamt of facing having my 4 kids.

Now I realize, I had my 4 kids the easy way. And she, not by choice, had her 2 the hardest way. Whether your child grows under your heart, your in your heart... your child is your child no matter what.

Congrats Tanya and Charles! You've waited so long for this day! Savor and Enjoy this moment with your little family today! Can't wait to celebrate with you! (ps- I didn't mean for this to get so long, drawn out and sappy)

A good reminder

'Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy.
They just promised it would be worth it.'

This week has been eventful, and we didn't even go anywhere. One of 'those' weeks. Having 4 kids makes any day busy, regardless if you have plans or not. Not to mention our weather has been way to cool, with light showers to dampen our spirits play time.

Then you add 1 Mom who has way too much that she needs wants to do. Toss in 4 kids who just want to have a mess fun time. Don't forget about the garden that needs major weeding. But taking 4 kids to the garden is do able not worth the extra time and effort. So now we wait for Daddy to come home, so this 1 Mom can go alone to the garden. But just like most everything: The mess will wait until I can clean it. The weeds won't go anywhere. My husband will come home late and then have to work on his truck, so he can leave bright and early the next morning, while I lay fast asleep under the covers. Dreaming of my mess and weeds!

So until then I'm going to read this quote every morning, every night, every time I get overwhelmed....

2 of 52

********************52 Weeks********************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!**************************************

First of all, I quickly realized last week, that there is no way I am going to be able to look at EVERYONES 52 wk posts. Sorry- I'll do my best to make my rounds. I also realized I jumped on this bandwagon at the perfect time, on my bday weekend! I manage to score many pictures of me and the kids/hubby/family. We went back to my parents house (on the other side of our state). It had been 1 1/2 years since we'd been there last. (We've seen my parents many times in-between that.)

We had to wait until mid-afternoon for Daddy to come home. Here we are not so patiently waiting for him! John was likely running around, terrorizing the house :)

A 'watermelon' DQ ice cream cake..YUMMY! I happen to love this picture. Maybe it's because each kid is doing their own thing..that makes them each so special.
Maybe this was the highlight of the trip, not that seeing my parents, sister and being at home wasn't.. seeing my G'ma. 87 years old. She was equally thrilled to see some of her great grandchild, as they/me were to see her.

4 generations- my gma, my mom, me, my kidsWe FINALLY got to see my lil sisters apt. My 4 kids are a great form of b.control for her (besides the fact that she's not yet married) :-)
Our family..watch your mailbox- we made copies of this one! :)Me and him- I may or may not be standing on my tip-toes. He's 6'7". I'm 5'6"ish
okay.. maybe I am :)

** I am scheduling this post ahead of time, because my Thursday will be busy. So if I don't get my post linked.. feel free to do it for me.. please! thanks!! :)

Tag!! You're it!

I was tagged by Darcie.

The rules:1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.
2. I'm going to Tag three people.

What is your current obsession? Getting organized

What are you wearing today? Capri's, T-shirt

What’s for dinner? good question.. something quick and easy- maybe tacos or sloppy joes

What’s the last thing you bought? Groceries/supplies for our 4th of July picnic

What is your favorite candy? Almond M&M's

What are you listening to right now? My 4 kids playing with their happy meal toy..Ice Age Dino

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? To a place we found on our honeymoon in Montana.

Which language do you want to learn? I'm content with just English. Maybe Spanish.

What do you love most about where you currently live? Where should I start-- its in the country, surrounded by pine trees, close to family (in-laws), it's safe, my husband built it himself..

What style is your current home decorated in? We don't have a particular style, as we're not done finishing it yet. Little western theme in the LR, Deer/Bucks in Bathroom.. :)

If you were a time traveler what era would you live in? Little house on Prairie days

What is your favorite color? Blue

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? It used to be my worn out jean skirt..but now its my new Capri's

What were you doing ten years ago? At 19 yrs old, I was still living at home, working, having fun with my gals.

Describe your personal style? Not sure I have a style.

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on? Family time, or maybe buy a pool for our kids.

What are you going to do after this? Hopefully put all 4 kids down for a nap, finish laundry, cleaning..

What are your favourite films? Ones that make me laugh.

Your favourite books? Other than the Bible, I don't read books (too often).. I loved Little House on the Prairie books growing up.

Do you collect anything? Dust bunnies :) As a teenager I collected those Kim Anderson figurines.

What makes you follow a blog? It's someone I know, their blog is interesting to me.

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today? Watched the kids help with 113 new baby chicks we just got today!

Ann's Question: What makes you comment on a blog? If I know the person, or if its something I can relate too.

Amy's Question: What is your favorite thing to do when you have some free time? If it's just ME- work in the garden, otherwise spend time with my family.

Question:As you know I home school --If you could would you? Do you agree with homeschooling? We are (planning) to home school our 4 kids. I know it's not for everyone, but we feel its the best thing for our kids.

Melissa's question:If you owned your own business, what would you sell/provide?
I have no idea.. maybe be a photographer?!

Mimi's question:Would you rather live in the city or the country?
Country.

Darcie's Question: Do you let people see the real you, or what they expect you to be? I try to be the 'real' me. Around those that I don't know too well, I may be a bit more reserved on certain things.

Heather's Question: Do you always give your honest opinion, when a friend is trying on clothes, regardless if it looks bad or good?

Now the 3 I tag
- Neisha
- Sam
- Amber