LadyMayandMJ

Engrossed in her art and laundry duty days

Our Weekly Laundry Schedule

Monday.....Bubs

Tuesday....The Buddy

Thursday...The Dollies

Friday........Me and Hot Hubby

Everyone does their own laundry. We've been operating with this system for a few years now and it has been great!  I was always so frustrated when it came time to sort the laundry because it just seemed to take me hours to sort out whose was whose??!!!!  The goal is this....said child puts in hi/her laundry in the morning, switches it at lunch, or some point in the day and then they fold and get it back in their drawers by the end of the day.  That is if it works like clockwork.  If not, like most times, it is in their drawers by the next day.  Both boys have been dong their laundry for a few years now on their own and the girls just need help transferring between machines.  except baby Blu....she often needs help folding but  ya know what, she does a good job when she wants too and she's not even three:)

I think when they all see eachother doing chores, know this is what you do in our family, they just do it. They are caring for their things, they learn responsibility, life skills, teamwork, and character building and so on.  If their attitudes prevent them from working well then, that just earns them........drum roll please.....more chores!:):)  And not one likes that!

If my child is capable of doing something, no matter what it is in the house, cleaning toilets, unloading dishwasher, wiping handles then I say, "Giddy up baby and welcome to cleaning our home!" 

I used to have the mind set of,"Oh, I don't want to burden them, or they'll have their whole life to do that". Then I woke up out of my stupidness once I saw what I was creating in NOT teaching them chore responsibility and I've never looked back!  My job is to teach and train and guide them for His purposes.  I am not here to make them happy.  What is happy anyways? Getting what you want? Getting it easy? Forget it. I prefer to use the word joyful.  Joy is a fruit of the spirit and it is a choice.  Everyday to choose joy in all that I do and to teach that, to teach joy while scrubbing toilets...well then, they really can do anything:)

 

I had one shot left on my camera, the sun was about to go behind the trees so I had to get it.  It was the kids idea and I was so glad I captured their vision:)  This is also my first entry into this i heart faces competition.  So fun!!! I look forward to seeing what other people entered in this category.

Boy Miles

The story of Baby Miles is powerful.  I will have to get a clip of his story from the family because it is sure to inspire and give hope.  God is at work in this man's life (does He ever stop though:)  But for now these pictures will have to do.

Sweet Wee Friends......

I think it is funny how I caught these wee sisters in the same position, giggling in their mama's arms.  There is no place quite like being wrapped in the arms of your mom.

This photographs are from way back in the summer.....seems like forever ago. Up at the cottage running around naked (the kids, not me that is..lol) hot tubing, lake swimming and friends. I have wanted to share some of these pics but time is just not standing still for me these days!  What on earth?

We bought and sold our house in one week, last week.  Craziness, yet through it all I was very peaceful.  Which for me is huge because in my own strength I am a spaze (sp) through and through.  It was orchestrated so perfectly it really just made me cry.  I felt like God was doing something because I can tell you, I was sure doing nothing! Everything just came together and I am nothing but overwhelmed with thankfulness...and excitement!

We've been keeping an eye on the housing market for over 2 years, since we started homeschooling, just to see if anything might pop up that fit us perfectly.  And in all that time nothing has come up.  Yes, I've found many homes that imagined us in, redecorated and made it all work for us (in my head) but there was always some element that never quite fit totally.  Until this.  I won't go into details as there is much time ahead of us before we leave our most lovely street, filled with neighbours we love, and those who tolerate us....does anyone want to live next to a family with 5 kids? Especially if the mom wants more?  I do stay tolerate with joking affection because we really do have the best neighbours, gracious and warm and kind....I am so thankful they've put up with us....well, really me, especially during a very dark time in my life when all i did was scream and cry (that was after babe #4 and I definitely was not well).  That is another story completely!

I am off to turbo jam in the basement...I am feeling very motivated this week.  It does help when ones' almost 13 year old son tells you your bum is really big! after you come down in a pair of jeans that you haven't put on in 3 years.  Awesome!  Remember, I've been wearing skirts for the past 3 years and the other day I thought I'd put on some jeans..just to see........but then he drops the bomb on me. Proof! I say to my husband 'that wearing a skirt hides that shape and size of ones buttocks'. ...lol.....I hope you all are laughing...I certainly was.  The skirt was back on after that. 

I did have a friend tell me that maybe I just need to buy a new pair of jeans.  Is she kidding? I should be able to fit into my jeans I wore pre no kids right?  (well, they are really only after #4...#5 took my body to a new place I haven't been able to bring it back from) I could go on.......

Some Little Bits

"Blu what are you doing in there?"

"Wasting toilet paper Mama."

Awesome.....and she was:)

"MJ what would you like for your birthday?"

"Mama, all I want is my very own new skates."

And here they are..she wore them ALL day the other day while we did school.   Up and down stairs, sitting at her desk, up eating lunch, going to the bathroom.  I think they were on her feet for 6 hours. Don't you love using the gifts you get?

For Sale!

My Jessica Claire Shoot Sac is for sale.  Brand new and comes with the festive cover.  Contact me if you are interested:) This is the cover here...it is soo cute!!!

The Dolly Turned 5....

please note the stripey tights with the dotty shirt....she picks out all her own outfits with joy and pride....they are full of color and flare accentuating her uniqueness..spicey and sparkly, just like her personality.

Her her birthday day she asked if I could put her hair in braids and she also requested they be photographed:) For her birthday meals (I cook whatever they ask) she asked for the pizza she gets on her date night.  But then she said," No mama, I can't get that because everyone won't be able to have it."  OK...I almost wept.  She is sacrificing her birthday meal for the needs of her siblings who are on a restricted diet because of their Galactosemia.  She doesn't want them to be left out, even on her special day.  "When we go to Great Wolf Lodge mama I will save my birthday pizza until then."...Love her.

She loves any kind of chesse.....especially the really old stuff.  The stinkier the better.

Yogurt, anything dotty, dotty tights, dotty shirts, dotty skirts, her orange hair and freckles, she loves her dolly sisters, her big brothers, sleepovers she just told me (she has only been with family) loves gymnastics, drawing, crafts, giving, practical jokes! she loves those, climbing on anything and everything, tricks and flips, taking risks and laughing, God and Jesus.... most of all she says...I know she loves her little life and gifts she is given everyday in just being in this family and traveling along this road together...oh, and her new bottom bunk with the dotty sheets ofcourse:)

Living a Dream

I have one of those lists...the dreaming kind of lists.....where do I want to go one day, what things have I always wanted to try kind of lists....some of mine are....go on a family ski vacation when we are all able to ski together, to to Israel, take a hip-hop dance class and back up dance for somebody...anybody really,,,,could even be for my kids and that would be fine...take a gourmet cooking course, learn how to sew (so I can make my own aprons!!!! for crying out loud..I have this great idea and just can't seem to make that come to fruition) have a family band and travel around the world singing together, kind of resembling the Vontrapp Family singers...but my Bubs doesn't think that is a cool thing to do.  He says because my singing sucks.  But then another thought...what would I do in the family band....I have always wanted to play piano.  Never had lessons as a child but now look out Johnny Reid I think I can be in your band! My dreams are coming true.  I am finally taking piano lessons!  Sitting playing piano after supper while the girls sing along with me.  HOW GOOD IS THAT!!!  It doesn't matter that we are singing "Mr. Frog IS Full of Hops" or "Ice cream Cone" I am living one of dreams right now and absolutely loving it!!! Wish I post a video of us gals singing away.  Blu is the loudest and so funny to watch her bob along beside me.  They all squeeze onto the piano bench beside me (Blu on my lap) and we sing.
Here is a photo of the piano where I work my Old Mac Donald magic....and btw...see that pillar in the corner..it is for sale and I will accept almost anything to sell it...I am open to cheese and wine as a trade at this point....ANYONE???

Here I come....

thanks y'all! I am ok now...lol...and I was before...uh kinda, but sometimes you just have to tell it.  It was supposed to be silly. Thanks for all the encouraging....so fun to talk organizing with some of the pros! And I even had one of them come to the house!  Nothing like labeling EVERYTHING! and drinking wine.  Thanks Stef o' HOly of the Organized:)

I have been seriously whipping it all into shape over here.  Like on a new level.  The kids have to be able to put things away and the only way they can is to have labels on things.  This also helps my little readers and helps me remember where it all goes too.  There is nothing like a organized space to turn you on...did I just say that? lol....well then..uh hem....but my perspective helps me...the way am I living like this?  As God is a God of order, I want my home to be orderly.  I want to pass along, teach, train model for my kids, how to be organized. How to sort through their things.  Is it time to give things away? Are you being weighed down with your stuff? Are you hording or idolizing your stuff?  so this weekend I went through the buddy's entire room with him and we sorted through everything.  Put it all in specific bins...with labels ofcourse and it was  a nice to time chat about some of his things.  His collections he has safely stored...bottle caps, random keys , rocks, sticks and some unmentionables.  I bought him some wee bins to put in his drawers and he organized them.  Now when he asked to put something away it all doesn't have to be get thrown into his laundry bin and can go in the right home.  Just wondering why I didn't learn this 12 years ago? Maybe because I dind't buy decorating magazines?  I have been missing out.  Truthfully, there is so much pride that come with accomplishing small tasks, learning a new skill, be able to share it with others and know why they are doing it.  My way is not the right way but they way I want our home to honor God..in all that we do.  And always a good thing to remind them and myself....people matter, stuff doesn't.  This stuff you are organizing doesn't matter at all.  The people you share it with does.  And if they can't share their things joyfully, and selflessly then they need to rethink the item.  Does it have a negative hold on me?

I do have some hoarders in the house.  People who get the things and like to just look at them.  Not play with it and don't like others to play with it and before they know it the time has gone and they've never played with it. Never shared in the joy with someone else had they used their item.  Missed out on the relationship but got the stuff that sits on the shelf..doing absolutely nothing!  But it is a journey and part of growing in their character one day at a time.

my new fav from the cottage......love all their expressions.

Sisterhood Deliciousness

I just adore this girlies.  They were one of the first families we met when we started homeschooling 2 years ago. There are actually 5 kids..the BOTHER of theirs wasn't a girl so he couldn't go in these shots:) But equally adorable.  All these girls have the gifts of kindness and selflessness and friendship.  Yes, I am know they bicker but to my kids they were as delicious as home-made apple pie.  Mmmmm......and I will miss them so much this year.

We;ve been getting back into the grove of school and it is going slowly.  Growing pains and such.  Mine and  the kids.  Getting used to a new schedule....ok..who's kidding who......my kids don't listen....but I am not sure if that is not the total issue...I blame myself really.  I am not organized enough is usually the reason I tell myself that is why the kids are the way they are....if only I was more organized I'd be the King of the Castle and they'd be the dirty rascals. Each day I start with, well, how am I going to get more organized today? Then I fail and I failed so badly today that I just sat in the girls room and cried. I am officially ridiculous!!  I do admit I have no decorating bone in my body and I want my school room to look and be organized and I simply can't make it work. Hot husband has officially fired me from making any more decorating decisions.  He is a lovely man to have put up with me trying to figure it out for our entire marriage and I do suppose one does come to their breaking point.  He did and I was fired. (Can we say...lime green spong painted living room?)So, let's call it what it is..pride.the sin of all sin (is that right?) Should I just hire a person gifted in organization and pretty room making skills and call it a day and put the rest of us out of our misery? Because right now I am on the verge of another major room change (and if you know me....you know it is getting bad). I've already cut me hair for a quick change and don't want to make that mistake again...HA! ....Lady May was consoling me saying, "Don't worry Mama it will grow back."

So, what is it? I want to make  sure that we are operating at the fullest potential of our home.  Maximizing our space, making sure it works for everyone's needs.  The tricky thing is that with so many people their needs (or my perception of their needs) keeps changing. People grow, offices move in and out of the house, I need a studio then I don't, then we homeschool and in there 2 more babes are born.  Lots of musical rooms.  Lots of heavy lifting and not so nice words.....I have learned over the years that I am to keep my mouth shut when moving with a man.  You can't even tell them they are doing a great job because they are so furious when things are not fitting down the staircase built in the early 1900's when furniture was designed for smurfs and the end of the dresser has pegged them in a very uncomfortable spot.  Sometimes I do  pipe in ..."You have really big muscles and are so strong and I love seeing you sweat.." I usually get a not so nice remark.  So you see, I don't say anything.

So here i am at 12am wishing I now someone who knew anything about design and organization and loves the color brown.  Maybe I can post some pics of my dilemma and get some thoughts.

Over and Out!