This Week at Our House #36

1. John worked his first full work week in 6 full months. We are all so happy about that and have been praying and praying that he will be successful and love his job. We also fixed the minivan, so now we have two working cars.
2. I had a party for a couple of my friends who are moving away from UT on Saturday. I had the party at my Mother in Laws house because her house has a big beautiful yard that kids love. After the party we went to Relief Society General Conference. All summer long, I had been trying to understand what to "endure it well" means besides the obvious don't lose your faith. This week, I decided that it probably means how you treat people when things are hard for you. During conference, we were told that keeping your covenants means to love.  "Enduring well" is simply keeping your covenants, and that has a whole lot to do with how you treat other people. And then I was reminded that "charity suffereth long, and is kind...endureth all things" I love General Conference and how my questions are always answered. I can't wait until next weekend when I get to listen to all of the prophets and apostles.
3. Ruth went to the Bountiful High/ Woodcross High football game on Friday night. That would be her first sporting event. She had a lot of fun. I think Ruth has reached the age where she will be wanting to hang out with her friends on the weekends some more. 
4. Kate's math teacher told us she is both smart and a hard worker (we know that) so he wants to let her continue to work hard and possibly even get in some calculus before the end of the school year. That is great and all, but we really do not want math to dominate Kate's life
5. I went to parent teacher conferences for all of the Legacy Prep kids this week. Johnny's gym teacher told me that other parent's expressed concern to him about having a younger kid in the class. Now that is weird to have people I do not know worrying about my kids.His gym teacher told me there is no problem because Johnny was doing all the same physical things as the other kids, and while his size and nerdiness make him target for bullying, Legacy Prep is a perfect match for Johnny. There are only 11 kids in his class and being smart at Legacy Prep is a good thing instead of a bad thing. Johnny is actually fairly respected in the school for being young, knowing all the answers, and getting straight A's. Last year when Johnny wasn't caring about his grades or anything, I spent a lot of time in prayer over the matter. One early spring morning, I jogged past Legacy Prep and had the thought that this was supposed to be Johnny's school. I am very glad I listened. I am also glad that I listened and took him out of public school, homeschooled him. Johnny passed the Sacrement for the first time today. I loved how cute he looked as he tried to suppress a smile while passing to our row.
6. Adam loves sports! He wants to play basketball this winter and now that John has a job, I can say YES! Hurrah. I get this little bit of time each morning to talk to just Adam. He always talks about playing soccer at school.
7. Rachel is walking home from school all by herself. She is safe because there are so many neighbors that are walking the same route. A teacher was giving me grief about how I had a big kid jump out and bring Rachel to the car. When I told Rachel that we would need a new meeting place, she refused. So I am now refusing to pick her up at all. But, I think this little bit of independence has been good for her and we will continue to have her walk home.
8. Anya is already starting to read pretty well. She sounds out words with ease. It's nice to have a child where this step is easy. 
9. Joseph loves to build with legos. I think it is great that he likes to make things from his imagination. He would build with legos all day if I let him. 
10. When Josh's hands get messy he does 2 funny things. First, he says, "I have a sticky," then he stands by the sink with his hands in the air and says, "wash my hands!"
11. Arwen is walking more than crawling now. She is also getting into all of the cupboards and the drawers. As she walks faster, I suspect we will have much bigger messes.

This Week's Pictures

Adam filled a diaper with water and put it under Rachel's pillow. She slept on it and unhappily found it in the morning. This is Rachel and Anya coming to tell on Adam.

Kate's lego Dalek

Thoughtful Thursday: Patience and Work

I am s l o w l y learning to handle life better. I am learning to continue on without fussing and just do what needs to be done. This is hard. It may seem easier to throw a tantrum and have other people grudgingly provide you with what you want. It may seem easier to borrow money to fix what's broken so your life can go on in convenience. It is much more satisfying to put aside those needy emotions and just work a little harder, and allow things to take a little longer. Being patient and working harder take more mental and physical effort, but in the end, things turn out better. There's no money that has to be paid back and the people around you are not unhappy with how you have behaved. Patience and Work are true virtues for a happy life.

This Week at Our House #35

1. John started work on Wednesday. The company is an infant start up company that is in the process of developing it's new product. John did better than I thought with having to get up and get going. After 6 months of being able to sleep in until 10am, he even made it out and ready in time to take the 7:30 am crowd to school. 
2. I miss John around the house, especially when I have to buckle all of my little kids in the car to run a quick errand or take Anya and Rachel to school. But, I am oh so glad that he is a working man once more. Things continue to break down around here. The day the van came home all fixed, the minivan's little problem became a big problem. The dish washer is having it's troubles now too. I am going to get some strong dishwasher cleaners in there and see if that helps. If not, we'll probably go dishwasherless until after Christmas. That is okay, though. I am learning to handle more things like that.
3. Ruth has a lot less homework this year, so she is more cheerful, helps more around the house, and hangs out with me more. I love that Ruth sits and tells me her day-in-detail each day after school. It breaks my heart to think she will be leaving the nest in three short years.
4. Kate continues to fight the homework fight. The poor girl spends 8 hours in school each day only to come home with 2 to 3 hours of homework. Ruth had a rough 9th grade year like that too. Kate has had some nice things too. She has been put on as the lead artist and designer for the school plays posters and t-shirts. 
5. My dear Johnny turned 12 this week. He had a birthday party with all of his friends on Friday, a small family party on Saturday, and then today he received the Aaronic Priesthood and enjoyed a family dinner with his favorite Aunt and Uncle and his grandparents. Johnny is such a good boy. He always has been. I knew he would be before he was born. I am grateful I get to be the parent of this amazing boy. He's smart, good, friendly, and caring.
6. I always get a little time each morning to talk to just Adam. After I drop the older kids off, I have a 5 to 10 minute drive with Adam. Adam has never been very talkative. I have to ask the questions to get him speaking. I love it, when we do talk. Adam is just a sweet boy.
7. Rachel always hunts me down and then talks and talks and talks to me. Each day after school, I get a behavioral report of a few of the boys in her class. It's pretty funny. I probably know more baout how these boys behave in school than their parents do.
8. Anya and Joseph have become very close this school year. I love seeing them play together every morning. Unfortunately, their favorite thing to do is play with Kate, Johnny, and Adam's lego creations.
9. Joseph cutely showed his Grandma all of his Hero Factory guys and told her all about them. He was more obedient this week and when I told him not to climb the banisters, he got right down.
10. Joshua likes to knock Arwen down or lay on top of her and wrestle. Why can't he wrestle his brothers?
11. Arwen is walking a whole lot more. She is not walking 100% of the time, but she will go half way across the room before she falls down.

This Week's Pictures

Johnny's Birthday Party

Thoughtful Thursday: What Really Fulfills a Woman

I think it is interesting that when Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, they were given separate curses. Adam was cursed to have to work for food. Eve was cursed with pregnancy and child birth.

Genesis 3:16-19

"16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art,and unto dust shalt thou return."

The  Proclamation on the Family further tells us those are not just curses, but the primary and divine roles of the individual genders.

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. "


Today the world is not only teaching women that they must endure pregnancy and child birth, but that they must give up their nurturing nature, leave their children and work like a man for the support of the family. Most Women today are indoctrinated to believe that unless women work outside the home and earn money, they are worthless, and stupid, and have wasted their talents.

After 65 years of mocking and feminism and girls in school being taught that motherhood is a worthless pursuit, most women not only physically leave the home to find some "fulfilling" career, but their hearts have turned from their children. At best the ordinary woman complains about what she has given up to be a mother, feeling like she could have had a better life. At worst, a woman despises the fruit of her womb and aborts her child. As a recent and alarming trend, many mothers are just throwing away their new born infants.

Today, the heart of men and women have grown cold. As a group, children are despised and their needs are neglected for the pretended needs of adults. With mothers out of the home working to fulfill whatever she thinks will make her great and popular in the eyes of the world, Satan has, in one to two generations all but destroyed the family. Without the mothers there to nurture them, many children do not have the attachment and love they need. As a result, the world has ended up with an entire generation of people who feel "entitled". They seek for love by having unmarried sex and multiple sexual partners. They fall easily into addiction of pornography. They feel entitled to a job that will fulfill them and improve their self-esteem. Work is no longer about sustaining life. Work is about getting other people to notice they are special. Why? Because their mothers never gave them the one thing they needed most: their presence.

God knows what the most fulfilling thing a woman can be is-- a mother that gives her heart and sole to her children.

Management Monday: The Proclamation on the Family Celebration

The most important part of managing a family of any size is finding the time study and teach religion. Children need a guiding star if they are not going to fall for just anything that is exciting and popular.


For the next 2 weeks, Mormon Bloggers are celebrating the Anniversary of the Proclamation on the Family. There are three bloggers that are hosting many other writers to talk about the doctrine on the family found in the Proclamation. Every year during this celebration, I find a lot of good sources and good quotes to take back to my family to discuss. Sitting together and casually discussing scripture stories and church doctrine has been the most successful way of teaching our children. I'll just read an article and start to share what I am reading with my husband and children. Then a discussion begins.

Check out all of these wonderful posts at:

A Well Behaved Mormon Woman
Chocolate on My Cranium and
Mormon Mommy Blogs 

This Week at Our House # 34

1. This is the week I have been waiting for, for nearly six months. Exactly one month from the time our unemployment would have run out, John was offered a job!!!!! He signs the contract tomorrow. He can start anytime after that! So we made it. Well, not exactly, we made it to the light at the end of the tunnel. We will be out when the paychecks start coming again. I am trying to seriously curb everyone's "to buy when dad get's a job list". But, oh, we all feel lighter and happier, and safer, and just better.
2. I had my usual busy week with the kids in school and homework and all. By Friday, I was so tired that when John announced a job offer, I had a hard time switching my emotions from "survival" to "celebration". We went on the first date out in many months. That felt good. I can't wait to get back to normal worries and stresses. Thank you everyone for your prayers and faith.
3. Ruth loves high school and her haircut. With shorter hair, Ruth's hair is naturally wavy in a really good way. She is loving it. She doesn't even have to brush her hair now. It just falls in place.
4. Kate is struggling to manage school and homework and friends. I wish I had a good answer for her. I may have her drop down in math. She does not want to and she has a solid A, but her class is very, very time consuming. I don't think pre-cal at 14 will mean as much in her life as more friend and family time. She just really, really likes doing well academically.
5. Johnny finished his Faith in God for church. We were so slow about getting that done, there were times when I wondered if it would happen. Johnny is still doing amazing in school. That is not surprising. What is surprising is that Johnny is doing amazing socially.John and I would have never guessed that among our 3 oldest kids Johnny would have the easiest time making friends and making himself a part of the group.
6. Adam didn't realize that John got a job. He came to me about 5 hours after we announced the good news and said, "Wait a minute. Does Dad have a job?"
7. Rachel finished reading her first ever chapter book without help. I sure love checking off those milestones.I got to do Meet the Masters in Rachel's classroom this week. I always love seeing my kids in their school environment.I was going to volunteer weekly until John got a job. Well, John got a job. That is a good reason not to start volunteering.
8. Anya is starting to read a little bit. She's been pretty easy to teach, and I like that little bit of reading time that I get with her each day.
9. We have a loft room just over our front entry way and stairs. In the room there is only a wood railing before a long drop to tile. This week, Joseph has attempted to climb over that railing. That kid just keeps on giving me heart attacks. I will pray that he survives. If I knew a way to get him to obey me better I would feel safer.
10. Joshua wore his church clothes this week, but not the vest. He doesn't like the vest. 
11. Arwen is stepping around a lot more, but not walking yet. I think it will happen soon. She is also trying out temper tantrums, so I have been trying out time out.

Thoughtful Thursday: Never About Me

The number one most important thing I have learned from my children is that life is never about me.  My children have taught me that life is about us. My marriage is never about me. My marriage is about us. In fact my marriage isn't just about my husband and I. My marriage is about my husband, myself and all of our children. All about me is lonely.

Sometimes I get angry. When I am angry I think that everyone in my family should do what I want. I want what everyone does to be about me. What I think is best becomes the most important.

When I am angry, I am wrong. When I am angry, I am not happy. I am happy when I take everyone's needs, thoughts, and opinions into account. When we take care of everyone, that is when our family is the happiest. Family life, marriage, and parenting are never about me.

Management Monday: Homework Mayhem

We are well into the 2013-2014 school year. Homework is coming full speed and many of the kids have already had some major exams. With 6 kids now in school,  homework makes home schooling seem like a dream come true. Once car pooling ends, I become the teacher until dinnertime.

Much to my annoyance, we are getting plenty of homework beginning in kindergarten. This includes reading time, flash cards, and math drills. My oldest two often need assistance or questions answered in math. Sometimes we have to run to the store to get supplies for science experiment homework!! Really????

I need to find a way to manage this mayhem successfully. Currently, I make everyone grab their own snack. Sometimes I have homemade cookies or bread hot and ready and sometimes they just need to get some fruit or vegetables to tide them over until dinner.

Once we are all settled in the house, I have the 3 elementary school kids bring me their backpacks and I get everything signed off. (I think teachers are a little looney making parents sign for everything.)

Then I go by age. I start with Anya who is in kindergarten and needs me to do flashcards and have her read to me. While Anya is doing this Adam and Rachel are supposed to be doing their math homework. After Anya is finished, I start with Rachel.

Rachel needs to read. I must help her practice spelling words, do a timed reading speed sheet and make sure she understood her math.

Adam then has to complete timed math drills. Finally I am available for the older kids questions.

We have been having problems with Kate in the 9th grade. All of her teachers are giving her huge amounts of homework each night. She has been up until 11pm finishing her homework. Then she has to be up by 6:50 and off to school at 7:30. Today, I am starting something new. Kate is a perfectionist and works very slowly and carefully. When she gets home today, I will set the timer for 2 hours and Kate will have to work quickly and less carefully. She needs time to exercise, play, and spend time with her family. I do not think it is healthy to have school be 100% of her life. I suspect Kate will have trouble and cry for the first couple of days and then figure out how to get all of her work done in two hours.

Honestly, I resent so much homework for all of my children. It is excessive!!

Often I wonder what they're doing all day in school to come home with so much work. I hope we will be able to manage this school year and all of the ones that follow.

This Week at Our House # 33

1. We had a much better week this week. Nothing's changed with jobs, but nothing else broke. We got used to the hotter house. It's nice to know that our bodies can adjust. By the end of the week, it rained and the air got cooler.
2. We still do not have our van fixed. I fully expect to have it on the road before the close of the next week. After we know how much the van is going to cost, we will consider getting the furnace fixed. I had a nice girl's night out with a couple of friends Thursday night. 
3. Ruth had a good second week of high school. She's making some good new friends and seems quite happy.
4. Kate has tons of homework every night, and she is getting good grades. She is also starting to make friends. Kate's loves art and has 2 art classes.
5. Johnny continues to do quite well in school. He does not have tons of homework and he is getting good grade without much studying.  
6. Adam had a lot of homework this week. I am still hoping, this was a fluke and Adam won't generally have too much work. 
7. Rachel finished off her last week of vacation. She goes back to school tomorrow and is really glad. I am hoping that the next time she is off track, I can make her vacation fun.
8. Anya is doing great in kindergarten and beginning to read. She excitedly went to her first birthday party on Saturday. She's such a cutie.
9. Joseph seems to have settled into the school schedule and his own little home schedule well. I look forward to seeing him home this week as the oldest kid at home.
10. We were given a hand me down little suit for Joshua for church. Since his old church pants recently got a hole in the knee, I was quite pleased. Today while dressing Josh, John pretended that these clothes were going to eat him. After that Josh screamed and screamed. John struggled to dress him, but Josh just tore off the clothes and cried until I put him in his old clothes. Hopefully, dressing will go better next week.
11. Arwen has had quite the eye infection. I can usually get them to go away by keeping the eyes clean, but this one is stubborn. I think I will have to take her to the doctors this week. I wish the eye drops were over the counter. I hate having to go to the doctor for such a small and easy problem to fix.

This Week's Pictures

I got tired of my hair, so I cut it off myself.

This Week at Our House #32

1. Life's been rough. The fan on the furnace quit and we have not been able to run our a/c. The temperature got around 100 a few days this week. The hot house along with the broken van, a broken wii, no job, and a few other things have made it extra tough for John. He's been mopey. The kids have asked what is wrong with dad. I think he's just over burdened and really sweaty. On a bright note, he had another job interview this week, and he has two more this coming week. 
2. I am in the same boat with John feeling the weight of our situation very heavy. Even if John had a job a broken van, furnace, and wii would still be stressful. I keep thinking about D&C 121. It says, "If thou will endure it well..." Endure it well is not the same thing as to endure. Everyone who does not take their own life endures. I hope I am enduring it well. I try and I know John tries very hard to endure cheerfully. I hope we are doing okay. I started to get used to the school schedule this week. I still miss the lazy care-free, schedule free days of summer.
3. Ruth started at Bountiful High. She's loving it. She likes pretty much all of her classes. She has more friends. She is cheerful and looking forward to a good year.
4. Kate's having a tough time transitioning from home school to public school. She's had hours of homework each night and misses her family time. I think she is trying to make friends and enjoy her classes and teachers. But she will have to try and look for the positive.
5. Johnny has transitioned very well. He's doing great.He's getting good scores on his quizzes. He likes his classes and he is making friends fairly easily. He does not have much homework, but when he does, he does it right away. I haven't had to nag him at all.
6. Adam has been a bit tired and grumpy during the transition from lazy summer to school schedule. He has had very little homework. He likes his 3rd grade teacher, but misses his 2nd grade teacher.
7. Rachel had a rough week. She does not like being the only school kid on vacation. She's had to do a whole lot of chores all week because she's been fighting with everyone. 
8. Anya loves kindergarten. On Friday, she excitedly told me that she has 5 friends now.
9. Joseph wrote his name for the first time. I've been having him practice his letters and he finally got it. The small e has been hard for him to write. I made him practice 100 of them. After that, he wrote his name.
10. Josh has had a bad cold and now has a double eye infection. Poor little guy. His cousin gave him some train and car underwear. He loves them. I think we might try them out. I think I am going to begin potty training Josh.
11. Arwen eats now. She doesn't seem to be afraid of food anymore and eats a variety of things. She really enjoyed salmon tonight.

This Week's Pictures

My sweaty kids from no a/c

My sweaty husband

Ruth got her hair cut. This is the shortest it's been since she was 3. I think it looks great!