You might be a Mother...

I seen this on a friends blog and had to share!! I love these days of busy Motherhood, and it's so nice to know there are other Mother's going through the same things.

You might be the mother of many small children if…

…you have 60 or more finger and toenails that you are responsible for clipping.

…you have the stretch marks and bladder control to show for your MLP (Many Long Pregnancies).

…there is sand in your bathtub.

…someone at the pool asks you if you run an in-home daycare, and you respond, “Yes, for my own children.”

…there is Play-Doh in your carpet.

…you can’t give anyone a ride anywhere because your van is full to the hilt with car seats.

…when your husband says, “I have a really sexy idea!” you secretly hope it has something to do with you sleeping in or him picking up milk, because that sounds sexy to you.

…you may as well own stock in a diaper company.

…when talking about your children, you use fractions. “Well, half of them are sleeping,” or “One third" of them take swimming lessons,” because it’s simpler that way.

…there is a toddler on your kitchen table right now.

…when you do laundry, it’s about 8.2 seconds before there are enough size 2T pants and miniature underwear to already make another load.

…you can recognize the phrase, “Boy, you’ve sure got your hands full!” in twelve different languages.

…you dream about playing Memory and Connect Four.

…you don’t introduce your children to chocolate milk, because you know that once you do, making it is all you’d ever be asked to do.

…you lie awake at night thinking about how much peanut butter is left in the jar in the pantry.

…you own grubby sweatpants. And nice sweat pants. And maybe even church sweat pants.

…if you harvested all the dirt from under your children’s fingernails, you could plant a small garden.

…your fantasies include getting a new outfit or at least a nice pedicure. For yourself.

…at the checkout at the grocery store, when stocking up for your family for the week, the clerk asks you, “You havin’ a party?” and you respond, “Yup, every day.” { I have SOOO had this conversation!!}

…if you had a penny for the number of times you were asked “Are they all yours?” you could buy China. But you’d probably use the money instead to buy Desitin and baby shampoo.

…when you overhear another mother say to her child, “What, do you think I can just pull cheese out of my pocket?” you have to laugh. Because it’s funny. And because you’ve said something similar before.

…you commonly find small underwear, wet or dry, laying on the floor near the toilets of your home because someone didn’t want to go through the effort of putting it back on.

…your husband can get away with not mowing for longer than your neighbors can, because Many Small Feet trample the lawn down in your yard.

…your friends at church can’t remember which child of yours is which. And sometimes you can’t either.

…you’ve had to get over your dislike for worms, frogs, toads, mice, slugs, ants, snakes and beetles with claws.

…you’ve masted the art of pretending to be sleeping when you hear small footsteps coming into your room at 6 am.

…it’s not uncommon for you to look out your window and see at least two children of your streaking through the sprinklers in your backyard. When you thought they were reading library books in their rooms.

…you can’t hold all of your children in your arms at once, unless they are all piled on you on the couch, which happens on a nightly basis.

…when reading to your children at the library, other parents and children join you because they think it must be story time.

…you wish you had a penny for every time you had to shut the door behind a child. This time you'd probably use the money to buy pacifiers.

…you have so many babies, that when you hear one crying on the baby monitor, you don’t even know who it is until you go check.

…your oldest son embarrasses you by asking another mother, “So, you only have two children!?”

…your family goes through more than a gallon of milk a day. Sometimes two.

…seeing nude youngsters on a wet trampoline doesn’t scare you at all.

…you are so accustomed to noise that when visiting a construction site, you wonder why everyone is wearing earplugs.

…there is more love in your heart than you could ever have imagined.

What about you? How else might you know that you’re a mother of many small children??

Do share!

Cousin Fun...

What do you get when you add 3 + 2 ???

                                                    ... = 5 and loads of cousin fun!!!

Last weekend my Brother from CO came to visit. He has 2 little boys, add them to my 3 boys and we have quite the row of active boys. But they have SOOOoooo much fun together, along with the squabbles and fights.

I can only imagine ALL the fun they will have in the coming years!!!

Jevan and Brandon

5 mths apart in age... the 'Best of Friends' and 'Worst of Enemies'.

2 wk. old Bradley

All the laughter & tears,

tractors and trucks.

Cookies and crackers,

juice in the cups.

These boys are growing up,

they won't stay little long.

Tho they are 'trying',

they are growing up strong.

But oh, the JOY they bring

as they jump,

giggle and sing!!!

Link to For the Joy of it.

Reflections of Me

Photo Credit

God has blessed me with 3 little boys!! Little ones He has given me to raise, to guide. I have 'Hearts to Nurture', to train and teach. God has given me a responsibility in these souls He has placed in my hands for a few short years.

Why then is it, that I feel like I am the one being taught?? Why do I feel like I am the one in the 'School of Hard Knocks', so many days?? How is it that they are teaching me???

When I ask them to do a job, why do they so often grumble and complain?? Do I grumble that much?? (I know it is partly a childish, sin nature.) When I hear their bad attitudes, their fights and squabbles, when I see them hurting each other, in listening to the tones of their voices... I realize they are picking up things from ME!! They are a reflection of WHO I am!!

I know parents who are soft spoken, slow to respond, and just calm in nature. Their children, more often then not, are the same way. But those who respond quickly and with sharpness, will have children who respond the same way. And when you multiply that by 2, 4 or 6, what does your house sound like?? I know for myself, just having 2 in the talking stage and 1 in the squealing 'until-I-get-what-I-want' stage, it doesn't take long and the house can sound a very unpleasant discord!!

My desire is to teach my children to be loving and kind, soft spoken and slow to anger. But for some reason, it seems they are teaching me more then I am teaching them. So I guess we will learn together!! Oh, that I can be a Reflection of God to my children.

Blessing Our Husbands

Father's Day, a wonderful time to bless the Father/Husband in your home, as well as the Father of your life. What a great opportunity to do something special for them. Many times I try to think of something creative... and this year was no different. (I did splurge on my man this year!! {He just doesn't know it yet.} And I can't wait to see his face!!)

But another way to bless the Husband/Father/Provider of your home maybe simpler then you think. And it may bless him in more ways then you could ever know.

A couple weeks ago, my cousin, posted on her blog this post. And it got me to do some thinking. {Not a new experience, by the way. smile} But at looking for ways to bless my husband in ways that he notices, understands and feels.

There are many books & writings out there on 'How to love your man', 'How to honor him, respect him', etc. Now don't get me wrong, they have many good things in them, good points and things to consider. But there are times I have noticed, that my man didn't fit the 'text book' kind. He didn't feel loved the way they said a man would. Do all of us as wives feel love in the same way??

What 'shows' your man you love him?? After taking Shy's question, "If the entire Big House Estate was in a state of chaos, and the mistress had time to rectify one thing, what would you hope it to be?". I took it to heart and began thinking about it-hard!! I decided to ask my own Husband the question, but I reworded it my own way. And pretty much point blank. 'If I had only 10 min. to clean the house, what would you want me to clean up first??' After talking a bit about it, I found out he likes the kitchen counters cleaned, dishes washes, and table cleared. The toy littered floors don't bug him nearly as much as I thought it might. Or maybe I should say, as much as I thought it sounded like he should from things I've read. I guess, eye level things are more important to my man.

So this year, I've commited to keeping those areas clean(er). I know not every day will be perfect. Dishes are not my favorite thing to do, and I'd rather do them on a once a day basis. So it will take more time on my part to wash them 2 or more times a day. But I must admit it is wonderful to walk into a cleaned up kitchen, free of dirty dishes. The counters are clean and clear, everything is just ready and waiting for another project to be started there. (I say project, because I make everything from lotion and laundry soap to breads and desserts.


I've been feeling blessed, just knowing I'm blessing my Husband in this simple way. He may not say much about it from here on out, but in my heart, I know he cares and is appreciating it. 
 

A marriage takes communication. I think it is one of the most important keys. I just happened to read this post, after following a Works-for-me-Wed. linky. And was blessed. There are still couples working hard on their marriages, when Satan wants nothing more then to ruin them. A wonderful, loving marriage does not happen overnight. And I'm so thankful for this journey of love I'm on, that started a long while ago. If I would have known all the things the past year would hold, I'm not sure I would believe it. But God is good, He can take the rocky places and make them into stepping stones. We just need to allow Him to do it. And I am blessed because of it.

Sweet Shot Tues.

My blonde haired, blue eyed, bouncing, baby boy!!

For more 'Sweet Shot's' visit 'Life with my 3 boybarians'.

Linked to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Mom's Chili Soup

My mom makes the BEST chili soup- Hand's Down!!! I maybe a bit bias, but I've tried many, many so called 'Chili Soup's', and they just don't come close. She got it from the Rose Dale Bible School in OH, for those that care to know.

Soup may seem a bit strange to be posting in the summer, but as rainy and cool as it's been around here, it's just seems a 'soupy' kind of day!! It's simple and fast to make. I often make a full batch, as it makes a lot for my little family, then freeze the extra for another meal.

Mom's Chili Soup

2lb Ground Burger
2 TBS Chili Powder
1 C. Flour
1/2 C. Onion Flakes
5 C. Water
4 C. Ketchup

1/2 C. Brown Sugar (or less)
1 can Kidney Beans

Fry burger until brown, with Chili Powder and Onions. Drain fat.
Then add flour, make sure kettle is away from heat.
Return to heat and slowly add water, while stirring.
Bring to a boil, then add Ketchup and Brown Sugar,
and kidney beans. Simmer until ready to eat.
Enjoy!!!

We also like to eat this with shredded cheese, or corn bread or freshly baked bread or rolls.
Printer Friendly version here.

Linked to-
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Benefits of Vinegar

Another 'Laundry Tips' Post.

I've been wanting to do another 'Laundry' post. But it always seems to get pushed off. Or I have something else I'd rather post. So today I'm going to do another one. (Not sure how many more I'll have.)

A while ago I started using Vinegar as my liquid Fabric Softener. And it works wonderfully!!! I read about it here.

Get cleaner laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.


 And then later I read somewhere, but forget just where right now, how it works to not have to use fabric softener/anti-static sheets in your dryer, if you use Vinegar in your rinse water when washing. So I tried it, and YES, it WORKS!!! I have not purchased any dryer sheets for along time now. And I NEVER have any static in my clothes when I dry in the dryer.

My washer has a cup holder for putting the liquid fabric softener in, so I just put 1/2c. or so in of Vinegar, fill the rest of the way with water, and let it come out when it is suppose to. -During the rinse cycle.-

Did you know the lint in your lint traps, on your dryer, are bits of your clothes being chewed up by the dryer?? I never really gave it much thought before a man came to our place to do a water test and we were talking about our water and the hardness, ect. And he was saying how a dryer actually is very hard on our clothes.

So hanging your clothes to dry is the best thing to do. For one it saves wear and tear on them, (They get enough wear and tear just by being worn.) in the winter it adds much needed moisture to the air, and it will save you lots of $$ by not using your dryer. And less you think I only wash on sunny days, and never use my dryer anymore!!! Remember-we are FARMERS!! We have to do wash on an almost daily basis, I don't have that option.

::More benefits of Vinegar in your Laundry Room::

• Keep bright colors from running. Soak clothes in full strength Vinegar for 10 minutes before washing.
• Get stained white socks and dingy dishcloths white again. Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring it to a rolling boil and drop in the articles. Let soak overnight. (I haven't tried this one, but I want to.)
• 
  Attack spaghetti, barbecue, or ketchup stains with a white distilled vinegar and water solution.
• Forgot that you left wet laundry in the machine and it now smells moldy? Pour a few cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and wash the clothes in hot water. Then run a normal cycle with detergent.
• Eliminate manufacturing chemicals from new clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the water.
• Remove deodorant stains by lightly rubbing with vinegar then washing as usual.

It works great for me. What ways have you found to use it in your Laundry Room??

You can find more tips and uses here.
1001 Uses for Distilled White Vinegar
131 Uses for Vinegar

You can use vinegar for MANY more things then just the laundry room!!! Just google it and you will be amazed at the things you can fine. From weed killers to being used as a medicine.

Linked to Works for Me Wed.