many people we encounter seem to have similar comments for us--"you have your hands full!!" and "how do you do it?"--not really sure what "it" is...survival maybe? My version of "it" is getting my four kids fed, pottied or diapered, dressed, carted around, taught, loved, nourished, played with, etc...all multiple times a day, whilst also taking time for myself and my husband and looking remotely normal...my usual answer is, "I just do." God has so richly blessed our family with not just stuff to make our lives operate more smoothly, but also with incredible family, fantastic friends, a loving church, and some grace and mercy mixed in to "keep it real." I don't always deserve to smile at the end of the day, but most days I do anyway. With a large family, I am learning to really prioritize and constantly battle with what the world tells me and what I know God wants for our family. My mini-van is a mess--it is--and that's okay. My kids watch a healthy dose of TV--and that's okay. We do only let them watch NOGGIN and Disney, but I make no bones about the fact that the TV is on more than I swore it would be before I had kids. Our house takes some abuse and by the end of the day--as this photo study will show--it looks like several families have been living here. But...when Todd and I get in gear and do our chores at night, the whole thing is clean and ready for the next day's mess--because it will look like this AGAIN at the next day's end--the cycle could get depressing if you think about it too much. And then we have wrenches thrown in the day that throw off the normal rythym that must be dealt with--ie. explosive diapers, throw-up in the crib or booster seat, broken glass, spilled stuff...there's always something...add in laundry---OHHH the laundry...and cooking (when I have some energy) and dressing and undressing four people besides myself...I mean life is just busy and jam-packed from before sun-up to after sun-down. But let me say--lest you think I am saying all this to whine--that I LOVE my life! Kids are hard work--but mine aren't any harder or easier than anyone else's--kids are just hard period. One was hard--I remember!! My perspective has changed, but raising kids is hard work, but it's the best job I've ever had. I COULD NOT do what I do without Todd--he makes civilized life possible for us! He does dishes and is just the best dad any kid could ask for! He's also the best husband...and at the end of the day, when our house is a disaster and we're dog-tired, we simply enjoy the fact that even though life is hard sometimes, theres no one else we'd rather go through it with...
here's James pulling up on the steel shelves in our kitchen--they're there because our pantry IS NOT big enough
Miss Isabella, who is the happiest child we've ever encountered! She has an ear infection right now (her 5th since September) but she's still smiling almost all the time!
the kitchen in it's post-dinner glow...it looks like this until after the kids are all in bed and then Todd attacks the dishes while I fold laundry and tidy up the other messes you'll see...
another view--note that the Gator girls basketball game is on, not being watched (although I think I've caught the dog watching it some...)
Formula...we have one can open, bought another one today, and my friend Michelle gave us two sample cans (thank you!!!)--we got through this stuff in a ridiculously short amount of time--the cans represented here are about a week and a half supply--to the tune of $60+
ahhhhh some clean dishes waiting their turn to be put away...this thing is ALWAYS full! I guess we won't ever get to a place where we say "we've arrived" because there's always dirty dishes and clothes...always...why complain, right?
two undrunk bottles--this is the kicker right now--we make bottles for the babies and sometimes they drain them and other times they won't touch them--and you can't save formula after they've drunk even a little. So we end up having to throw out formula too, which just kills me! Tonight the babies were not interested...
the baby-pit--although I no longer try to even keep them penned in anymore...they bust through ANY barrier I set up for them
we have barricaded them away from the front door and the shoes in the cubbies, which they love to chew...
Todd reading bedtime stories--most likely Peter Pan--and the kids are enthralled
Zuzu all tuckered out and taking her place on the back of the chair, waiting for me to sit down with her
and here's me...still smiling...cheers
here's James pulling up on the steel shelves in our kitchen--they're there because our pantry IS NOT big enough
Miss Isabella, who is the happiest child we've ever encountered! She has an ear infection right now (her 5th since September) but she's still smiling almost all the time!
the kitchen in it's post-dinner glow...it looks like this until after the kids are all in bed and then Todd attacks the dishes while I fold laundry and tidy up the other messes you'll see...
another view--note that the Gator girls basketball game is on, not being watched (although I think I've caught the dog watching it some...)
Formula...we have one can open, bought another one today, and my friend Michelle gave us two sample cans (thank you!!!)--we got through this stuff in a ridiculously short amount of time--the cans represented here are about a week and a half supply--to the tune of $60+
ahhhhh some clean dishes waiting their turn to be put away...this thing is ALWAYS full! I guess we won't ever get to a place where we say "we've arrived" because there's always dirty dishes and clothes...always...why complain, right?
two undrunk bottles--this is the kicker right now--we make bottles for the babies and sometimes they drain them and other times they won't touch them--and you can't save formula after they've drunk even a little. So we end up having to throw out formula too, which just kills me! Tonight the babies were not interested...
the baby-pit--although I no longer try to even keep them penned in anymore...they bust through ANY barrier I set up for them
we have barricaded them away from the front door and the shoes in the cubbies, which they love to chew...
Todd reading bedtime stories--most likely Peter Pan--and the kids are enthralled
Zuzu all tuckered out and taking her place on the back of the chair, waiting for me to sit down with her
and here's me...still smiling...cheers
