It's today, it's today!!!

If you haven't heard, Mindy Gledhill is coming to my house tonight for a concert!!! I've been cleaning like a mad woman, attempting to cook yummy treats and the like, and wishing away both the rain and my nervous stomach. But I've made excellent progress, and so except for one errand I need to run my goal today is to keep this one entertained: Keep this room looking like this: (do you think anyone will notice the Tinkerbell kitchen?) And to make more things like this: And then of course, the outfit. What do you wear when you are hosting a concert? I'm pretty sure I have the perfect one in mind. Do sweats seem perfect? They will after tonight. But, no, I'm not wearing sweats. Silly. It will probably be something that I think looks fantastic but that is not nearly as comfortable as my pajamas. Which I will be changing into at exactly 10 o'clock tonight. So if you're still around, be prepared. My pajamas are made for comfort, not how they flatter. Ok? Well, wish me luck. Luck that the rain holds off, luck that my stomach holds it together, and luck that everyone gets here ok. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow! Toodles. PS. Even when I put that little br thing in the html, my spacing still disappears. This is starting to get annoying. Annoying I say!!

Tomorrow...

It's one of Washington's finest moments. I promise.

Image from Mindygledhill.blogspot.com

And I am busier than the bees in the springtime, the ants in the fall, the squirrels.. you get the point. I'm getting ready for MINDY GLEDHILL to come. Tomorrow! Still want to come? I have tickets left. At this point around 10. Don't miss out. It's going to be AWESOME. And I don't use all caps lightly folks.

Concert. In my house. How many times can you say that in one lifetime?

Eating breakfast and a Springy, Eastery mantel

In efforts to change the decorations on my mantel to coincide with holidays and seasons (a first for me)I found two new things for my spring mantel. The larger wreath was 3 bucks on clearance, and I spray painted it with a variety of spring colors. And the egg wreath was 2.50 in the dollar section at target. I grabbed a few other things from around my house and moved things around until I had an aesthetically pleasing configuration. I'm pretty pleased with it. And then a question. Does anyone else's children insist on eating standing up? Julia still does this without constant reminders. And now it seems that Nora is following in her footsteps. She'll sit when I tell her to, but she looooves standing while eating, or her favorite? Sitting on the counter and eating. Oh well. Cute, youngest of 6 children little girls pretty much get to do what they want. At least that is what she thinks.

P.S. I still can't figure out why the spacing I create when I composing disappears when I push publish. Any ideas? Jeff? You would know.

Reading in bed

So once again, I got the bug to move children around and into different bedrooms. For some time now Anne Marie has been wanting/begging to be in with her little sister Nora. So I did it! And now there is an extra room that we can use as a playroom. Anne Marie was very lonely all by herself, and I was TIREd of all their toys spilling out of their rooms. So this set up gives me Hiigh Hopes that bedrooms will stay tidy. I like clean bedrooms. I don't care so much if a playroom is clean on a regular basis. And since it is only Henry, Nora and Anne Marie are the only ones who play with toys anymore, it doesn't feel quite as overwhelming to have them all in one room. My only hangup was what to do with Anne marie's bed. When I moved her in with Nora I used a white bed frame we already had in storage, so that it would match the existing decor in Nora's room. And that left Anne Marie's black bed. I didn't want to take it down quite yet, because what if I get another mattress and we use it for a guest room as well? So instead of having to decide right away, I just left it. And it has become the area of the play room where we can read in bed. (For some reason my spacing isn't working in blogger, and I'm feeling too lazy to try and fix it. so sorry for the huge paragraph) Cheesy, I know. But I've read to both Henry and Nora in that rocker, and they thought it was the bomb diggity that we were in the bed. Yes they did. So for now it stays. Unless of course I change my mind again. Which, I'm known to do:)

Finding solutions that make my life easier

When we moved into this house, we realized that with the birth of child number 6, our kitchen table was no longer adequate. So Jeff made a new leaf for it. It was a good functional piece, but without the tools or the desire to spend money on awesome wood, it could not be wiped down like the rest of the table.

So I came up with a brilliant (in my estimation) plan on how to get around it. All growing up we had some sort of plastic covering over our dining table to protect it. From us.

I took that idea and improved upon it. I found the fabric I liked, layed that down on the table, then laid down the clear plastic stuff you can buy by the yard at fabric stores( I got mine at Walmart) on top of that, and then stapled the whole thing to the underside of the table.

Exhibit A:



My, my, my children are little in this picture.

This worked so well, and made me soooo happy.

I found, though, that around 6 months the plastic overlay would start to get past being able to just wipe down, and we would throw it out. That's fine. 12 bucks every 6 months, I could handle that.

And then we were gifted my in-laws old table. The table that can seat up to 14 people. The table that is wide enough that you can have a fully set table and still have plenty, and I mean plenty, of room left for the actual dinner and serving trays.

So while it was perfect for entertaining, it no longer fit a normal width of fabric or the plastic overlay. Hmmm. What to do.

Well, I searched for wider plastic. None to be found. So I sewed a table cloth-I had to since the table was sooo ginormous. No regular size fabric or table cloth would fit it.

And then I layed the plastic down in 3 strips so it kind of overlapped, and I called it good enough.

Except it wasn't. The kids would run their hands under those overlapped parts, liquids would spill and seep under the overlapped parts.

And while I could just leave it all off and the table is perfectly sound and easy to wipe down, the 80's oak just wasn't appealing to me and I wasn't ready to strip it and paint it white. Which is my eventual plan.

Enter...fate. Whilst perusing Fabric.com, I found something called laminated cotton. Ever heard of it? Well, I had not. It's basically stuff you would use to make a rain jacket, or covers for outdoor furniture.

And it must be gaining in popularity because there were quite a few lovely patterns to select from and the best part? It came in 58 inch width. Which meant it is wide enough for my table!!! No sewing involved, and no plastic overlay to replace!

It arrived today, and I must say.. I love it! Passionately. It's like it was made for my kitchen.

Don't you think?







Oh, and guess what? Just 6 days til Mindy Gledhill is in my house!!!!! I still have a few tickets left. Get them before their gone!

Happiest of birthdays to you Charlie

9 years and 9 months ago, I found out I was pregnant with our 3rd child. I instantly knew that I carried a little boy. How did I know? No idea. I just did. I began buying boy clothes before we'd even had our first ultra sound. I tormented Jeff with questions about which boys' names he liked best. When I told my midwife that I knew it had been a boy before I ever saw the ultrasound, she literally scoffed at me. But I was right. So there. When Charlie was born I was so thrilled to love him so entirely and completely. I had been a little worried about what I would do with a boy since up til then my world had been two little girls. But I knew instantly how to love and cuddle and kiss that little, round, ball of baby chub. He was perfect and I was in love. As Charlie grew and grew and grew (he has always been my little giant) I was amazed at the energy he had. Amazed at how nothing could keep him in. He escaped the house for the first time at 16 months old. I didn't even know he was gone until my neighbor brought him back. We went through different childproof handles, locks, everything we could think of to keep him from wandering off without me. But he always found a way out. At a younger age than my other children, I had to relax on how much I worried about it. Because despite my efforts, he refused to stay inside if he really wanted to be out. That doesn't mean I relaxed on keeping him safe, but I just knew that a certain amount was out of my control. Now, as Charlie is getting older, a lot of things I was told were typical boy behaviors certainly are. But a lot of Charlie's personality has nothing to do with him being a boy, and everything with him just being who he is. He hates being told what to do (don't we all) and he really won't do anything unless he wants to. Hang the consequences. But he is a good boy. He does naughty things. But they're along the lines of eating the last two brownies that I told everyone to save. Or drinking the last of my bottle of pop after I told him he couldn't have it. Or getting on the computer even when I told him no and reading past his bedtime. But he is kind to his friends. He lets his little brother play with him. If Anne Marie gets hurt Charlie is right by her side comforting her and helping her. And I know kids who may not take the brownie when told no, but they look on with apathy at the pain of others. Not Charlie. When I hurt my back a year and a half ago, I had to crawl up the stairs to my bedroom, crying the whole way. And Charlie went with me, crying with me. Concerned about his mom. And for me, that's worth a week of sneaking brownies. So Happy Birthday to my first born son. I love you my darling boy.

I spy

Little boy feet.

And........I still have 35 tickets left for Mindy Gledhill! Don't miss this! Unless of course you have to miss it and then I completely understand and will still be your friend:)

If you aren't coming because you just don't want to, well, I'll still be your friend too. I will just pity you missing out on the best concert Maple Valley has EVER had to offer!!

To do list:Have a concert in my house-check!

So guess what?

Mindy Gledhill is in fact coming to my house!!!!!

I love this girl. She has it all, talent, looks, sense of purpose, and she makes great music that is uplifting and happy and just down right good.

And did I mention, she's coming to my house?!!!

And you're invited.

March 31st, here, at my house! 7 pm-be there or be super square!

10 dollars at the door. What other concert could you get such a lovely intimate setting, AND only pay 10 dollars for?

If you can't make it to my house, Mindy is touring right now, you can go here to buy tickets.

In the Northwest, she is coming to Olympia and Yakima, and to Portland. So whatever you do, wherever you are, don't miss it!

Mindy also released her new video from her latest album. Enjoy. And email me if you want to come!

Green Waffles anyone?




Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Brava!

I happily like to share (translation:brag) about my children's talents and successes.

It's what a mother does, and it's what this blog is really about, see. It's keeping a record for them so that they can look back and go, "Oh yeah, I am awesome!"

We have a naturally theatrical family. I don't know exactly how it happened. Both Jeff and I acted in high school and we are known to have dance parties and carry on entire conversations in the style of James Cagney or Monty Python. True story. SO maybe that has something to do with it. Probably.

As our children have show interest in performing, we have always encouraged and supported that. So when I sit in the audience listening to Kate's choir solo or watching Julia shine as "perfect speaking child", I secretly wish I could be up there too. It's addicting in a wonderful way. The applause, getting to pretend to be someone else and feeling that you gave your all.

Since November Julia has been rehearsing for the musical My Son Pinnochio: Geppetto's Story.

She played 3 different roles in the play, as did many of the kids, and I got so emotional watching her on stage, her voice clear and beautiful, her expressions delightful, her focus inspiring.

Am I a proud mama or what?

She has 3 performances total. Two last Saturday and one this coming Saturday. So if you're in the area and want to see a really well done middle school production, come on over!

But here we are after her performance. (Charlie went with me the night before, otherwise he would be in these pictures too! and Henry and Nora were with a babysitter-thanks Olivia!)







It was wonderful!

Arrrgh matey!

Remember me telling you a few days ago about Henry's obsession with girls dressup clothes?

Well thanks to my dear friends and neighbors, Kim and Colby, Henry was gifted an awesome, boy, pirate costume.

In fact, he loved it so much that he wore it all day Friday when they gave it to him, fell asleep in it that night, wore it all day Saturday, and was quite annoyed when I peeled if off of him for church on Sunday.

And when we got home from church, he promptly put it back on. It comes with a pirate hat too.
What's not to love?






Sleeping adorable boy + pirate costume=awesome!

Mindy Gledhill-oh how we love her

Hey guess what?

I just emailed Mindy Gledhill to see if she would have a concert in my house!!!

She's coming to the northwest at the end of March and she has said she would like to have a concert in someone's home one night while she is in the Seattle area. So I thought, why not me? And I emailed her, just like that!

If you're not familiar with her, you must become acquainted with her music. You must! www.mindygledhill.com She is fantastic, creative, and has a voice like butter! I'm telling you. We are huge fans in our house.

So if you live in the northwest, and would love to see Mindy Gledhill at my house, keep your fingers crossed!! Please!!! Lets get this talented woman to Maple Valley!

Thank you and good night.

Why I started blogging

Yesterday morning, after Kate and Julia left for school. I stood watching my other children.
Anne Marie and Charlie were finishing up their breakfast before leaving for the bus.

Henry and Nora were beginning their day of play, dress up, and making a mess. Which is what children do. At least in my house:)

And I started thinking about taking pictures of them in these candid, real life moments. The moments that made me want to start blogging in the first place.

And I realized that maybe I've lost sight of that. Instead of the family journal and online memory maker that I wished for this blog to be, it has become something else. A place for me to vent, a place for me to share more about myself. A place to be witty and clever (occasionally) and a place to feel loved by friends, family and even those previously unknown to me.

But I want to get back to why I bothered in the first place. It was so my children would have vast amounts of memories that could be associated with their pictures. And so I could brag about how awesome they are.

The rest of the things I blog about will still happen. But I just needed to refocus on how I allot my time, and what is important to me.

And they, my six cherished children and their handsome father, are the most important thing to me.

Seems hairspray has more than one function.

While our trip this last weekend was so much fun, it did have one negative side effect.

It seems that when we threw all of our belongings back into our suitcase at our friends' house, my hairspray somehow attached itself to one of Jeff's shoes.

Attached meaning it was pushed against the shoe in just the right angle to completely empty it's entire cannister worth of hairspray inside of Jeff's shoe.

No big deal, right? Well, other than a twisted insole and the pungent smell of Tresemme, we didn't think so.

And then as Jeff was kneeling down (luckily back at home by this time), his shoe completely fell apart.

It just popped apart. It seems that as well as being good at getting pen mark out of clothing, and gum out of carpets, that hairspray is also proficient at dissolving the glue that holds shoes together.

Who knew?

Which makes me wonder, what the heck am I putting in my hair?

Not in my twenties anymore.

We had a fantastic weekend. Fantastic!

We got to hang out with some of our favorite people. No kids. Lots of delicious food. Fabulous concert. And laughing til I peed myself. Just a little.

I love the friends that you don't have to see everyday ( or even see every 10 years) and yet you can still pick up right where you left off as if no time has passed.

But the thing I realized, is that I am not physically capable of staying up til 3 in the morning talking, without paying for it heavily the next two days.

We got home at 8:30 last night, after having been up til 3 the night before.
We tucked the kids in bed and we were out at 9.

When the alarm went off at 6:40, I literally thought, "why is the alarm going off? it's still nighttime!"

After almost 10 hours of sleep, Jeff and I were still so tired, and it has yet to be any better.

Anyone else feel this way?

I'm hoping that by tomorrow I will feel normal again.

Big thanks to Brad and Karen for hosting. Big thanks to Karen for helping me gain 2 pounds in 24 hours thanks to her INCREDIBLE cooking. And big thanks to everyone for helping me feel 25 again. At least mentally.

And SUPER big thanks to my brother in law Scott for driving the 4 hours home while the rest of us slept.

Now I think I'm going to take a nap. Oh yes I am.

Duty fulfilled

Well, my brush with the judicial system is over.

All in all it went pretty well.

I read two books, ate a mountain of snacks, and drank 3 or 4 diet pepsi's.

I was one of 20 jurors who never received an assignment. We were told we were going to get one, then they came on the loud speaker and said that the judges had decided to wait until Monday and that we could all go home. Our duty was fulfilled.

Yay. For. Me.

Not really. I was actually pretty miffed. They had a big shpiel ( is that how you spell that?Frances-I know you know:) on how grateful they were for our service and that they realized what a sacrifice it was for everybody.

But I do wonder at our tax dollars at work. Isn't there a better way to streamline things so that you don't have 25 people sitting around for a day and a half for absolutely no reason at all? People that are being paid to just sit around?

It baffles me.

And I know that for some that sounds great to sit around all day doing nothing. But for me-super boring!

All I could think about was all the things I needed to be getting done, but was not.

Oh well. I did read two really good books that I highly recommend.

Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
and
Winter's Garden by Kristin Hannah


Well, we are off for the weekend. We are going away to pretend like we're newlyweds again with 3 other couples. We all met our spouses at the Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about 15 years ago and between the 4 of us we have 18 1/2 children. (I'm not the one with half).

Our friends Karen and Brad are hosting and she talks a little about it here.

And next week, I will be talking about Dressing Your Truth. My friend Jill had asked about Kate's reference to being a Type 2 with a Secondary 4, which is part of Dressing your Truth And I will explain that, finally, next week.

Have a great weekend!

Summoned

I have jury duty tomorrow.

Weird, right?

I got called back in August, but the TLC was coming to film for HomeMade Simple so I deferred until March 2nd.

I didn't know my lovely sister in law Amy would be 4 days away from her due date.

I didn't know that Julia would be in the middle of the last week of rehearsals for her play.

We'll see though. I'm not too worried they'll pick me (but I also don't want them to not like me, does that make sense?)

I'm not too worried because I'm a stay at home mom of 6, very conservative and I tend to always side with the victims in any kind of abuse case.

So I'm pretty sure I'll be dismissed the first day. Or I can wear a chakita banana head dress and talk really loud while continually blowing my nose and talking about the government and pharmacutical companies planting allergens in the air.

And that will get me out of it as well.

I really believe that this is a civic duty, I do, that's why I didn't try and get out of it by writing an excuse. But now I'm wondering how anyone, victim or accused, will benefit from having someone on their jury who can only think about getting home to their kids?

This will be interesting. Of course I probably won't be able to blog about it until it's all over, but I will keep you informed of any other people there who are obviously trying to get out of jury duty.

Someone dressed up like a mob boss? A ninja costume or a stripper outfit? That, I will tell you about.

Later skaters.