i don't blog as much as i would like to. many times, i have felt like writing, but i can never seem to find enough time to do it. since almost all the cousins are here, the kids are being sufficiently entertained so i have a few minutes to write.

from behind my closed bedroom door, i can hear the kids out in the living room playing and talking. i can hear the clatter of wooden train tracks being constructed, the buzz of the fans running, and little voices singing "your a grand old flag..." they have also been singing "We Believe", a beautiful song the Ohio cousins have taught my kids.

tomorrow, we will be participating in our neighborhood 4th of July parade. we are doing a little marching band with some of our neighbors. my oldest will be on clarinet, next eldest on trumpet, me on flute, husband on snare drum, everyone else on kazoos.


time for dinner, so i will have to finish later!

life is good

Despite having a sick or injured child every week of this year so far,
Despite having spent this entire week off from school inside watching movies with sick kids,
Despite not seeing my hubby before 10 pm each night this week(except Monday),
Despite feeling like a frumpy, lumpy mommy,
Despite feeling old and forgetful,
Despite feeling completely unmotivated to do anything,

...I am very happy and grateful for all of my many blessings. I am grateful for adequate health insurance. I am grateful for the quiet time I have been able to spend with my children, loving on them while they are feeling icky! I am grateful that my husband has a job and he got a well deserved promotion and raise. I am grateful that I don't mind feeling frumpy and lumpy because it means I am comfortable! I am grateful that my kids remind me of their appointments and the things we need from the store. I am grateful that there isn't anything pressing to do and the things that need doing CAN wait 'til later when everyone feels better.

I must say that last weekend was very relaxing and rejuvenating. It was like we went on vacation without going anywhere. All four older kids went with their grandparents to visit cousins in Granite Bay, leaving only the youngest home with mommy and daddy. We slept-in for three days, took multiple naps each day, cleaned the garage and put all 5000 + science journals on 14 book cases. (Our garage is a regular library now.) Plus, we went to Applebees for dinner one night and Chipotle for lunch on another day.

It was very quiet at home and made the one left behind very lonely. She kept saying things like, "I really miss those kids. Do you think they miss us?" and "When can the kids come back home?" and "It's no fun here with no one to play with!"

The grand finale of the long weekend was a solo trip to Whole Foods! I got a vitamin water and didn't have to share a sip with anybody! As much as we enjoyed it, it was weird to have only one child for a few days. It was so quiet and uneventful. There weren't any fights to break up or disputes to settle. Of course there were fewer dishes and more leftovers, but family prayer was down right boring with no one vying for attention. And even though the little one HATED being left home alone, I kept telling her how lucky she was to spend one-on-one time with us. No one else would ever get that much undivided attention from us E-V-E-R! It was truly a treat!

resolutely resolved

happy new year!

i have read a few blogs of some friends and come to the realization that:

i have never really made concrete new year's resolutions. at best, i have some nice thoughts about what i'd like to accomplish throughout the year. every year, without fail, i come to the realization that i'm a wimp when it comes to accomplishing pre-set goals. it is mostly because i'm a spontaneous type of person. i have tried to make meal plans, daily routines, exercise routines, budgets, etc. but it just won't work for our family. there is too much uncertainty with our day-to-day lives to follow any specific routine. i could blame my husband's erratic work schedule; he has never been home at the same time two days in a row. but i know it is more than that. it is also due to my nature to let everything go with the flow. i don't like strict schedules and routines. i love for the kids to have ample time to play in the yard, color, or do projects as they please. i like to have whatever dinner i'm in the mood for on any given night, especially if the kids can make it. i hate feeling obligated to be places, even though i love going places. i don't like deadlines either! it all boils down to not liking stress of any sort! making new years resolutions stress me out.

since we don't have a set time for anything, i am resolutely resolved to do what i can when i can. despite my loose routine, i still feel like i accomplish a lot. (all in my own time, with as little stress as possible) of course, i would like to go running every day, play tennis and volley ball weekly, write on my blog monthly, go to the grocery store every other week, compose piano and flute music, get better at playing the violin and clarinet, get to church on time, do service projects for friends and family, sing with the kids more, bake gluten-free bread and goodies, hold daily family devotionals, do more scrap booking, learn french, keep a cleaner house, sew, read more, grow all my vegetables from seed, learn how to draw/paint, remodel the garage...the list goes on....

i do what i can, when i can. i even learn and do things i wasn't planning to do or learn. i think that makes me flexible...maybe?

anyway

i am anxious to see where this year leads us. i know that we will learn many new things. i hope that i will look back on this year with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for all the opportunities i know we will have to grow and progress.