My Job

Yesterday Sariah and I were folding laundry and she all of the sudden said, "When I grow up I want to be a worker woman". Not really knowing what she was talking about I probbed deeper. She then replied that she wanted to go to work like Daddy does every day. I was a tad surprised as she has been my most nurturing child and has always talked about "when she has babies"... I asked her if she didn't want to grow up and have babies like Mommy. Then she hesitated....

In this moment of hesitation my mind drifted back to a time when Seri was about 4. I was having a conversation whith a friend who was saying that she had once asked her young daughter what the girl thought her mommy's job was. My friends heart dropped when the daughter replied "to clean our house and sweep a lot.". My friend would have described her job as taking care of her children and in this one moment felt as if her actions had decided what job she performed was more important in her child's eyes.

So, tempting the fact that I may hear those same words from my childs mouth, I asked her.... "What do you think Mommy's job is?" How my heart jumped for joy when she replied with a huge smile "To take care of your babies!".

Then came the clinch line "and keep them from making messes..."

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Being an only child sucks. For me at least.  I remember begging my mother to have another child so I could have a sibling. Always being envious of those who had siblings.  Even today I really wish I had a sibling I was close to whom I could call and chat with, share the holidays with, etc…..  I suppose this is one of the factors that contributed to my desire to have a large family.  A desire to give my children those relationships and experiences that I will never have being an only child.

I enjoy watching their relationships and dynamics change and I often day dream about what their relationships will consist of when they are older.

One of the benefits to home schooling is that the children really have the opportunity to spend a lot of time together, learning, playing, growing.  I think this gives them a unique perspective and sense of empathy for one another.

So here are just a few pics of the younger ones to show their love for one another.

I love how TJ has his hand in the raisin container while fast asleep and the joy on his face when he looks at his baby brother warms this mommies heart.

Nugget of wisdom

Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or do without….

I think when it comes to kids clothes I always want to get the most life out of them that I can.

Fortunately my children seem to grow up more than they grow out at the beginning which enables me to employ these tips.

#1. Cut the feet off of footed pj’s when your child gets too long. You can usually get a whole nother year out of em.  (wow, check out that grammar :)

 

I usually cut them right below the elastic so it still holds its shape and this way you don’t even have to hem them if you don’t want to.

Yes, that’s TJ in purple PJ’s. Stop laughing now.

#2 When your girls out grow their jeans, especially if they are the cute embroidered kind, it is  super easy to turn it into a skirt!  Cut off the legs at desired length, undo the inside leg seam, lay flat and sew in a triangular patch from the reserved leg to cover the whole in front and back. Wa La!

Sorry, the hem job hasn’t been done on these……

Amazing!!!!

Within ten hours of my post about the wonderful artwork that my walls have been accumulating, my door bell rang.

i was expecting a visit from a friend who had said she wanted to bring me breakfast, what I wasn’t expecting was the entourage that she arrived with! I opened my door to find her, her husband and five other friends (one of whom is eight months pregnant) on my door step bearing pain, painting supplies, doughnuts and orange juice!  I was so shocked and then remembered that I was still in pj’s and not wearing a bra….

After stuttering in amazement I excused myself, got properly dressed and came down to find that they had already begun painting in one room.

We are not talking about just a make-do job either.  They moved all my furniture and stuff to the middle, taped the windows, walls and ceilings, removed plug outlet covers, laid painting cloths and got the job done professionally.

All I could do was sit and nurse Kaden and mutter my astonishment.  See, I am used to people bringing meals when I have a baby and gifts, or bringing meals when we are sick, dropping off cute little things anonymously (ding, dong, ditching)  and things like that.  But when is the last time you heard of someone showing up un-announced and un-requested to fulfill a job you have been wanting to do for ages but haven’t?

Reminded me of a time when communities really pitched in and helped one another. Not that I have really experienced that kind of thing in regards to my home but I have read the “Little House On The Prairie” series….

Within two hours my entire bottom floor, front room, living room, hall, stairs and kitchen were painted and they left just as quickly as they came.

How lucky I am to have a friend who sees the desire of my heart and feels called upon to show her love for me in this manner.  How lucky I am that people still believe in service without recognition and in giving up a Sat morning for it.

I ADORE my new walls. I never thought of how much they were truly aggravating me, having to look at the coloring and finger print smudges day in and day out.  Always having to apologize and make excuses for it when people visited my home.  I know it didn’t truly matter in the scheme of things, but it was embarrassing to imagine them thinking about how I couldn’t control my children enough to keep them from dirtying up every surface they come into contact with.

I hope you guys know how very thankful I am for you and for the many things you do, not only for me but for a lot of people.

Now if you excuse me, I am going to go sit and drool over the beauty of my un-smudged white wall.