Six Siblings Share a Room

Six kids in a room? How do you do it? 2021 Verision.

Yesterday we added a triple bunk bed to the mix. The room has gone over multiple arrangements and changes over the years. In its current form, all 6 kids have a twin bed and 3-4ish have their clothes in the room.

The twinks share a 3 drawer dresser/entertainment console in the living room. Their dresses and other hanging clothes are in the kids' bedroom closet.  Sunshine has a Plastic 3 drawer dresser like thing, that doubles as an end table in the living room. Basically a place for Mom to put her coffee.

My oldest 3 share this 10 drawer dresser. With hanging clothes in the closet.

The boys have the wooden bunk bed. Bear and the Twinks get the new bunk. They ALL got the bed they wanted. A miracle really. 

The closest generally is bit tidier. When the kids put their hampers away 4 fit perfectly. Then I wash all clothes, one hamper at a time and eliminate the need to sort. For the most part all the kids but the 2 year old can put their own clothes away. Winning!

Next on my agenda is a fresh coat of paint for the walls. I have scrubbed a lot of crayon, marker and pen off the walls over the last decade and at this point more paint comes off the toddler artistic expression. I would also like to take up the carpet and refinish the hardwood floors (which are in marvelous condition) and put a nice big rug (that is also washable). I am also playing with the idea of removable wallpaper. 

We have been reading the Chronicles of Narnia Books 📚. There are 7. We staryed the 4th in the series this week.. Anyway, with that in mind I have been dying to put  wallpaper similar to below inside the closet.

The idea of removable wallpaper also has me considering an accent wall or maybe all the walls! The Hubby isn't convinced, though the closet is still doable.

The bottom left I would actually love to do in dining room, with the chair rail. Now the floral might be a bit too feminine for a room with boys, but they will be getting their own room in the basement. What do you think? Would you give wallpaper a go?

Halloween 2020

Friday afternoon the kids and I hit the down town trunk or treat and mainstreet businesses circuit. We went with a friend and her two boys. 

My little skunk wanted to scamper off and was constantly being chased or carried. Big sister Elsa declared she would share candy and carry the bag. The Twinks, aka Fox and Unicorn also decided they wanted to share and the fox toted around their candy bag. Spartan Locke (Halo baddie) and the Wraith (who was supposed to he High Volt but his mother didnt have her act and craft supplies ready intime) were both capable and happy to have their own bags for goodies.

We didnt hit all the businesses but enough to keep the dentist in job security.

Then came Saturday, the actual day of Halloween! We decided we would just hit family inside of going door to door. Plus it is reminiscent of my childhood. Living in the country we hit a handful of neighbors. Drove to 4-5 places, spent a half hour visiting on then on to the next hacienda. 

We hit Grandma's first. Because Aunt C and Uncle R were getting ready to go out to supper and the boys hadnt been returned from the farm by their father. We turned on the garage light, and set a chair with a bowl of candy underneath and headed out. I couldn't find bug's Wraith costume and still didn't get the ambition to whip up the costume he actually requested. (Mom Fail)

I love getting the kiddos picture with Grandma each year. Bug went as a Farmer for the rest of the night, because he was still dudded up for chores. The Big D changed at grandma's. All in all happy kids, plus we kidnapped Dad and made him come with us. We only slightly regretted that choice after he stayed and visited with one of his Uncle's after we loaded up in the car for the next house...and continued to wait for another half hour. Luckily the kids had bags full of sustenance, sugary, crumbly, sticky making Mom vow no more food in the car ever again sustenance. 

Phew. Happy Halloween. 

Not a Sports Mom in the Making

Can I confess something? I hate TBall and possibly baseball in general. Positively unAmerican, I know.

Bear claims she likes TBall. We are hanging in because it is only twice a week for three weeks. Two more days and we are doneskis. In my mind it would be adorable to watch like when my niece played soccer in Kindergarden. Rockette kicks and a herd of adorable little people grouped together running down the field. Lots of big smiles and clapping. Everyone can kick a ball.

In TBall everyone can hit the ball...no one can catch the ball. It is painful to watch, especially my daughter who cries in front of an audience and clings to the coaches, can seem to figure out how a que works, and brings makes me question is okay to quit or do we tough it out and finish what we start? It might be that 4 is too young and next year she would have done better. She isn't quite independant enough for me to sit on the bleachers and watch, which isn't good for a mother who struggles with micromanagement and is trying to back off.

To be honest on the first day she some how thought baseball would be like ballet. She desperately wants to learn ballet. I wish they still had classes, but it isn't in the budget to drive 80+ miles for a dance class. She wanted to try something, she picked TBall. I now remember why I didnt signup her brothers for things this young. Why didnt I remember the hell that Preschool Music & Dance was when Bug was a tot? They all are their mother's children at this age and seem to panic when the number of people grow too large. How do I help them overcome something I haven't mastered in my 30s?

Baseball I am sure as a sport you can be exciting, probably when played with skill. Unfortunately you move too slowly for me, and I would likely also be the player in the outfield digging in the dirt daydreaming.

On a postive note, when she does stand and move forward in line she gets a huge smile on her face practicing the move/play/thing they are supposed to do. And she swings a bat pretty cute.

A Glimpse In the Future

My future grandchildren will have some unique monikers.

Big D says he will name his children Thing 1, Thing 2, and Billy Bob.

Bear chose Sparkle Bright and Jim.

Bug picked my name, his Aunt B's, Great Aunt Brenda for girls and for Boys his dad's name, Richard, Rick, and Junior.

The conversation came up at supper tonight because Big D thought we should call his twin sisters Thing 1 and Thing 2 and I felt we could just use their names. Promptly he named his future children. Bug said not to worry because he says "the future wife won't allow it".

Expert Level Excuses via Bear

I have Strep Throat and have been worried about the rest of the family catching it. Day 2 of meds so probably not contagious, but keeping an eye out in case someone already did catch it I told the tribe to let me know if they aren't feeling good or if they get a sore throat.

Last night little Miss 1,001 excuses, rises and ways to avoid bedtime informed me she was sick. She decided to go with her throat as the culprit and ended up sleeping on the couch because after 4 trips in and out bedroom and riling up siblings it was easy to sequester her, and also just in case she wasn't bluffing.  Fairly sure she was bluffing. No complaints all morning or afternoon.

After supper-

Me: How is your throat today? 

Bear: Oh it's pretty bad! 

Me: What is bad about it? 

Bear: Well my throat is just allergic to meat and asparagus.

Still not a fan of any meal I cook that isn't pasta or poptarts.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Fridays will be a weekly wrap up of snippets of my favorite things from the week.  Because I am me, we are kicking off Favorite Things Friday on Saturday.

• Toddlers kisses and the exaggerated puckered lips

• Twins holding hands and running through the house together giggling

• Big D's school work helpfully pointing out to his teacher that "My mom's feet are big". 

• My husband coming home earlier than expected.

• Hearing my older kids reading to their siblings.

• Bug organizing a concert and helping his brother and sister work on and practice their songs.

• The director getting stage fright when it was his turn to sing.

• Getting the mail and opening more Christmas cards than bills.

• Timing right for the kids and I to watch their Dad get loaded with mud from the lake project.

• Taking a long shower and not having the door knocked on once, or having any conversations through the door.

A Memory is a Picture Your Heart Takes

 One of my more recent favorite pictures.  Big brother and his littlest sisters.

The Bedtime Hour(s)

The time of excuses, and "need to tell you something", quarrels over how far open the bedroom door should be or if it should be shut, and a healthy dose of crying. Drinks of water pleas and numerous trips to the bathroom, and some more crying.

Nursing babies, tucking in a toddler, bedtime prayers, and reminders for lights out. Hoping to get the dishwasher loaded but valuing any possible minute of sleep more.

Trying to hang on to the small string of sanity that began fraying 45 minutes before the whole routine started.

Attempting to remember who has showered and who needs to. Feeding the family members who come home from the farm after bedtime and getting them to take off their muddy clothes before they dive on a couch. Get them cleaned or fed first?

Getting the twinks settled and my husband asking a question. Doesn't he know by now if the sense me move or hear my voice they wake up and the crying starts all over!? Resisting the urge to say "your turn to parent" and remembering he has been working for the last 14 hours and is tired too.

At the end of bedtime prayers I ask everyone in the family to pick one thing from their day they were grateful for, the best/favorite part, and thank God they were able to experience it. I do this more for me. I am emotionally spent at this point and it can be hard to feel grateful. There really is so much to be grateful everyday though.

A Lesson in Giving

Last night I took the boys to the basement with their tote we use as a toybox. I dumped it out along with all the other toys downstairs. A few side notes: toys that a parent had to pickup went in a garbage bag and was relegated to life in the basement. Also, prior to our descent, I had thrown away all broken toys and sorted out a good share that were long gone and donated to St Vincent's Thrift Shop. The remaining toys were to be sorted in 3 totes of equal size.
1) Toy box for everyday play
2) Donation
3) Storage/Rotation/Sentimental Toys

Box number 1 was quickly filled, the other two remained barren. I dumped the toy box again and delivered a pep talk. I would take care of toys for the girls. Each boyo would pick 10 toys per basket. Then we would repeat the sequence in groups of 5 items.

Oh the tears shed of forced discarded favorites. How an item not meritting a rank in the top 20 still qualified as "one of my favorites" and "so special to me" astounds me. Items one child donated were plucked out by the other and traded for items in another tote. More tears, more gut-wrenching decisions. It was painful all the way around. Reminders that sets counted as one item, whether as a keeper or a donation. My oldest is clearly more attached and sentimental. With cries of "How could you want to donate that?! It was a Christmas present!" After a few rounds I deemed the rest would be donated. More sobbing and wailing. Another Oscar-worthy speech about children in the world with no toys to their name and witnessing children with 2 totes full crying about parting with toys they had forgotten existed.

Honestly it wasn't the warm fuzzy life lesson I was hoping for. Hearts weren't filled with the joy of giving.  wasn't a patient parent carefully imparting and passing down wisdom to my offspring. After taking their box of treasures back upstairs, my son's Catholic guilt reared its head and he decided he should have given more and been more generous. I wouldn't describe him having a relieved face when I said we could always give more and sort through toys again on another day.

This morning though I deemed the mission a success. Bear alone has been a carpenter, doctor, batman, and princess before my cup of coffee was cold. The boys have been more interested in playing in their room than begging for more television time. The amount of toys are more manageable and easier to keep picked up and apparently more fun. Win-win-win.

For a better lesson of giving, I am considering taking the big 3 shopping to pick out a toy or two to donate. And putting together a shopping list for groceries to take to the Community Cupboard. Experienced parents, please share how have you taught your children to be generous and giving?

Billboard Classics

I mentioned The Farmer in the Dell is a current kiddo favorite. However, it is not THEE favorite.

The number 1 song that is ever requested in our house, and begged to be played on repeat if we are in the car is.....The Final Countdown by Europe.



The Big D once asked me to sing it for him while we were working on our preschool lesson at the kitchen table, then held up his hand and said "stop mom, the car sings it better". 4 is the age children begin to appreciate and decipher talent from tone deaf.



All three children love it. Bear, who I was concerned about not talking yet, will say Ninal Dowdown (final countdown) by hearing reference too or the opening. Toes of the song. She dances and sings while we watch football....and randomly in the kitchen when the need is felt. She points a lot, grunts, says Mom, Daddy, shoes and Final Countdown.



I will admit, no matter what errand we are running seems infinitely more important. Supper to the field? Getting the mail, garbage to the dump....really anything. We are on a mission, don't mess with us.



The boys sing and argue over who will be in charge of making what instrumental sounds. The Big D likes the tongue out wiggling minion like lalalallala for the electric guitars, while Jbug prefers a high nasal method. There can only be one drummer and much discussion over why the planet Venus is in the lyrics.



Mostly, the Final Countdown is deemed a superhero song. Along with Metallica's Ecstasy of Gold and Tessie by the Dropkick Murphys.



So now you know the top 4 hits of our little household.
#1 Final Countdown
#2 Ecstasy of Gold
#3 Tessie
#4 The Farmer in the Dell

Small Blessing #258

I am fortunate.  My children aren't nearly as picky eaters as I was. (Though the Big D is going through a not eating the color green unless its a salad stage.) I would have ate cheerios 3 meals a day. I hated pancakes and french toast...and also tacos.

My kids like pancakes.  I wouldn't say they are my favorite,  but I dont hate them. I actually like them with blueberries or chocolate chips. The kids love them plain or with any combination of things I have thrown in. Made from scratch or a mix, with whole wheat flour and honey or white flour and sugar. To them it's all good.

My kids also like french toast. Again plain or with toppings and additions. For the record I also like french toast these days.. .though probably  everyday.

This morning was rough. I stayed up too late reading a book. Then I was up too early with the baby. So I layed like a lump on a log curled up on the couch while my children swore to be dying of starvation and thirst. Finally I stirred and I heard "couldnt we at least have toast? ANYTHING we are soooooo hungry". I looked at the time and was embarrassed at how late it was. So I made french toast.

So quick and easy, yet still has the look of a thoughtful meal. And it struck me. I was such a pain as a child because I didn't like any breakfast meal that was quick and easy. (Aside from cold cereal). I'm sure Mom had the same kind of days I do. Same list of chores and varying amounts of sleep...and she DIDN'T drink coffee! Seriously Mom, how did you childrear without caffeine?

Signs of Spring

Bear enjoyed getting to be outside in the nice weather.

The jury is still out as to if she enjoyed her big brother "helping" her drive.

  All the kiddos were big fans of seeing the baby chicks.  Now its Springtime.

The boys have been taking turns (and sometimes tag teaming) going with dad to the farm.  My oldest recently watched for the first time a calf being born.  He described it as "a little gross, mostly cool and awesome.  Do you know where baby calves come out Mom? I do....the BUTT!!!!!" 

You can be thankful I didn't share pictures of that.

Photo Bomb - Winterish 2015

Merry Christmas

Captains Underpants?

Kiddos crafting.  Winter means lots of indoor time.

Helping Dad clear the driveway and play with the new skidsteer.

New Loot from Christmas.  

Puzzles and Boardgames.

Howdy

Little Miss Mess Maker

Tissues taste delicious

Take a picture of my plane....ok, now take a picture of my silly face...

Tongues are always wagging around this joint.

The 3 Amigos