Baby School

Maryanna and Peter set up little chairs so they could get up close and teach their little brother all sorts of useful information. Maryanna was teaching him Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Peter said "I'm teaching Henry Math. I'm starting with 2+2 because I think he already knows 1+1."

More Simple Sewing

I call these "heirloom peasant pillowcase jammies". Emily gave me the pillowcases which I believe belonged to my Grandma and I knew I could put them to good use. I have seen many pillowcase dresses but my girls weren't in need of dresses - they needed cool comfy jammies. Then again, there is a fine line between Jammies and day clothes in our home ie. Peter's Spiderman shirt, "postpartum pajama days", and Maryanna's experimental outfits.

Last night I traced a dress pattern from a Japanese sewing book (I have quite a collection now - thanks Marie'! and will blog about it later). The actual sewing was quick except for my mistake in making the elastic too tight (twice! caution don't sew when you are over tired). Anyways, I'm happy with the outcome and especially like how they are so soft and worn in. Hopefully I won't get the urge to iron them like I do other nightgowns - there's just no time in my day for those finest of details. I'm also hoping Clara is officially over her diaper curiosity because these jammies aren't so "safe".

Summer Twirl Skirts

I love this pattern.! I purchased it last summer and had so much fun with it I had to make one for all my young nieces (that is over 20 skirts). They all wore them for the square dancing event at last summer's family reunion and now I regret not taking a picture of them all together. What makes this skirt so fun is the way it flys up parallel with the ground when the girls spin.

Maryanna out grew her skirt so it was time to make just one more. I figure I'll be making at least one a summer up until she out grows the pattern which ranges from 90-150cm.

The hardest part of this skirt is cutting it out and if you have a serger it is super quick and easy to whip up. I used contrasting fabric for the waistband and a rolled hem for the edge. The pattern is designed to have an uneven hem which I didn't like so I cut it even. This project was a great way to ease back into it - it just may be my summer of very simple sewing.

Summer Solstice

We celebrated Summer Solstice a few days late this year. Friday night Paul made an evening trip to Costco with a few of the kids and then Saturday slipped away from us - we were so busy with catch-up projects that we were almost begging for more daylight. So here we are Sunday night and this is how we celebrated:

During dinner the kids picked out different food items from their plate each representing the sun and earth. There were sliced cucumbers, strawberries, and peaches. Actually, we were informed that the scale of the items was off so James cleared his plate which became the sun and out stretched the other hand holding a miniture strawberry. He then proceeded to demonstate the rotation of the earth but got frustrated because the strawberry was irregular in shape.

There wasn't much more talk about this natural occurence until later in the evening while picking up toys we heard James shout, "quick the sun is setting". The kids sprung up from their scattered toys and raced outside (If only I could get the same quick response when I call for mealtimes). It was just before 9:00 pm and we were all gathered on the north corner of our street, a few minutes later we watched the sun sink behind Antelope Island. Maryanna said the clouds were so pretty, Clara kept running into the street, William and Peter had their eyes fixed, and James was trying to estimate the angle of the sun in relation to a near by lamp post. We then went inside and ate some rice crispy treats. On the short walk to our front door Paul informed me that I looked a little funny out on the sidewalk in my tie dyed jammies, I thought the same thing about Maryanna who was barefoot and just in a shirt and pull up.

It may not have been as eventful as last year's celebration where the boys camped out in the backyard and stayed up late playing Borderline Africa (their favorite card game), but I'm glad we paused for a few moments out of our somewhat chaotic life and reflected on the beauty of nature and passing time. I can't believe we are halfway through 2008!

I also think James is cute - still in the shirt and tie he put on at 8:30 am.

These pants are fun!

Yesterday I took the kids to one of their favorite "vacation" destinations - Mapleton. It was just a day trip and they begged me to go on a trip with Daddy so they could stay overnight, Emily's house is just too much fun for them.

The kids were busy playing with their cousins and the baby was happy in Natalie's arms so this allowed for PROJECT TIME! Finally! It had to be something quick though. I thought we might try making some t-shirt pants just like my friend recently posted on her blog - check it out - she includes a link to the very simple instructions.

Emily and I went through her garage sale pile and pulled out a few t-shirts, Natalie then grabbed a t-shirt from her brother who is currently serving a mission in Greece (sorry Johnny - we'll do tye dying again sometime). We followed the instructions but discovered we had no elastic. So here comes the "desperation turns to invention" part: instead of elastic we found some old Shadetank tops and found that they have enough stretch to use as elastic. We cut the piece wide - about 12" and then folded it in half and stitched the raw edges to the waistline of the t-shirt pants. This extra wide waist band is then folded over where ever it looks flattering and feels comfortable. I really like the contrast of Natalie's hot pink waist band with the navy tie-dyed pants. Emily's looks great as well - check them out here.

I used the T-shirt I made last year for Paul for 4th of July. They are fun to wear and perfect for "wild time" dancing at 4:00pm. I especially like the comfy waistband as it helps with the postpartum midsection. I think I may wear them this 4th of July. I also appriciate William's ability to take pictures out of focus so you can't see how tired I really am.

My Daddy by Peter

In this picture I am one week old and I was cuddling with my Dad. I knew my Daddy for 4 years and I like him this much - from here to Africa.

I like him because of perfect things like sharing treats, bringing me to Michigan, and doing funny things.

The funniest thing of him is making Brentwood (his old Teddy Bear) come alive. Sometimes he will fly or swim all around and tackle the other stuffies.

Today I made my Daddy a jiggly banana split with a banana, whip cream, cherries, and Jello snacks. I sprinkled orange and black sprinkles on top. It tasted yummy because it was so gooey and Daddy shared it with me.

When I grow up I want to be a good Daddy just like Daddy.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I think you are one of the bravest men in the world...I thought that the other day while I was out at the grocery store with all the kids. You never worried about the burden of providing for and being responsible for so many children. You never even worried about taking us all out in public with fear of what could happen or what people might say. Infact, you not only took us to the grocery store (Meijer's) but all sorts of cool places like museums, the opera, train trips to Toronto, road trips to Florida and northern Michigan, camera stores, gun stores, sushi resturants, car dealerships, pet stores, and hospital rounds to visit all your patients. These were all good times and memories that could fill several posts on their own.

Most of the time I shared your company and attention with all the other little girls but sometimes I got you all to myself. That was typically down in your bullet making room where I would watch you carefully measure and pour. I took part in the task by lining up the shells and handing you the primers, sometimes I even got to pull down the press. I guess I never took to bullet making like I did sewing but I sure enjoyed hanging out with you. It was a time I could freely talk without shouting over other voices, a time I was sure my little voice was heard. I knew you were listening because you would knod your head as you worked, periodically respond with a "yeah", and sometimes even chuckle as I unloaded all my silly little girl thoughts.

I got older and there was less time to spend helping you make bullets as I was busy with homework, sports, and talking on the phone with boys. We still had our Saturdays though and I enjoyed riding the horses with you, it was an escape not only from farm chores but also all the activities that kept me too busy for bullet making.

Besides bullet making and riding horses you had several other hobbies like bee keeping, gardening, motorcycles, hunting, photography, leather working, cooking, computers, birds, and fish aquariums. Not only did you have every gadget, tool and outfit to go along with your hobbies you also had one or two "pals" to enjoy them with. I'm not sure what you enjoyed more the actual hobby or the time you spent hanging out with your "pals". Either way I think your favorite actitivity was that of being a Dad.

Thank you not only for sharing your many interests and hobbies but also for teaching us how to work, how to get along, and how to have fun. Thank you also for showing the same care and love to our own children as they are now the ones who sometimes watch you make bullets and get to go on outings like Bear Lake and Cabellas. Thank you for everything! Your family of 100+ individuals is truly blessed by your example, presence, and love.

We love you Dad!

"Wild Time" at Wild Oats

Some moms call the time between 4:00 and 6:00 "the witching hours", I prefer "Wild Time". The kids are going to be crazy, hungry and restless so why not have fun with it. During these hours I typically blast random music and allow the kids to run up and down, in and out, and all around the house. I sometimes end up dancing with the little girls while trying to pull dinner together. It is a time to unload all our goofs.

Today during the "wild time" hours I decided to take them all to Wild Oats (which is actually now Whole Foods) as part of our Father's Day preparations. The kids were actually pretty good except for one meltdown of a child throwing himself down in the middle of an aisle. There was a quick recovery though and everyone was on their best "we're out in public" behavior as soon as I offered treats for those who cooperated. The girls picked out ginger cookies, Peter grabbed some Odwalla fruit bars, William picked out some Orange/Veggie Vruit juice boxes, and James insisted on a package of Nori seaweed.

So "Wild Time" at Wild Oats really wasn't that wild (it could have been bad though as I almost knocked over a display of green tea infused Lemonade all in glass bottles - its hard to see over all the kids). What made the trip somewhat uncomfortable was all the heads turning our way half knodding as they counted each head in our company. There were other customers and employees worthy of stares themself with their arms covered in tattoos, half shaved heads, and interesting ornaments pierced through their nose and ears. But no, I was a new breed of freak - the mom who takes 6 kids 8 and under to the grocery store. I could feel the piercing eyes of the lady in her exercise clothes behind me at the checkout and then there was a classy older couple with only two purchases that did a triple take as they headed towards the exit. Seriously, is there something wrong with taking 6 very well behaved children to the grocery store?

What made me feel better was an old bearded man who I could tell was staring at us for some time. He was eating a sandwhich close to the checkout and then from the window could see the whole 10 minute process of me loading up the car. I waited another 5 minutes before pulling out as it was time to pass out the treats and congratulate the kids on their excellent behavior. By this time the old bearded man was out of the store and unlocking his bike just in front of our car. He asked me if all the children were mine, I replied yes and then braced myself for some comment on over population. Instead he said "that is wonderful, they are all so beautiful, you are very blessed" and then took off on his bicycle before I could say thank you.

So I guess for some our presence provides entertainment if not joy, but to others we just may be annoying. Either way a family's gotta eat and I can't always get a babysitter so Costco, here we come! I will say though I am very gratefull for the kind words from the old bearded man. I will try to remember them the next time I am out during the "wild time" hours and things aren't going as smoothly as they did today.

Catching up to Daddy

For a couple of months I've been wondering if Peter and William's clothes were shrinking. We just recently checked and marked our growth chart and discovered it was them - not their clothes that were changing. These boys both experienced quite a growth spurt in the past six months and I guess that also accounts for all the food we are going through. Just this morning we went through a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread, bunch of bananas, a box of LIFE cereal and half a gallon of milk in one meal! That is not including Paul and I. Paul was off early to work and since our prepared meal was already consumed before I could sit down I resorted to some leftover spaghetti and meatballs for breakfast (actually it tasted great and when you're hungry and nursing you'll pretty much eat anything). I'm just starting to wonder what my food bill will look like when these kids are teenagers.

As for the growth chart, I made it almost two years ago out of some scrap lumber, scrapbook paper and decoupage glue. One side displays standard measurements and the other metric because for some reason the boys are sticking to metric. Using a sharpie we mark it twice a year for each child.

Both Paul and I grew up charting our growth on a specific wall. Nowadays families tend to move around a bit more so our children's "wall" had to be transportable. Another unique feature of this growth chart is it reaches above 6 1/2 feet tall just in case they actually do catch up to their Dad. If they do it will be worth recording because it is still fun for me to visit Paul's Mom's laundry room and see his growth of 7" in just one year!

On a side note, today Cathy asked me what projects I've been up to. I told her, just one - growing kids, so I thought I should blog about it.

As if I needed more laundry to do

Each of the kids just got a new Sigg water bottle to stay properly hydrated this summer - they love them! It is still quite a novelty so one of my boys kept drinking out of his bottle just to fill it up again. He drank almost 32 oz. of water within one hour but not only was he thirsty, he was also very tired. He was soon fast asleep on my bed. I too was asleep but then woke to some commotion coming from the closet. Apparently this child was in such a sleepy state that he made a wrong turn and instead of turning left towards the toliet he turned right and entered our closet where he began relieving himself. Luckily Paul, who was up reading was quick to catch him and then redirect him towards the proper location. It wasn't until the morning when I began collecting laundry that I remembered what had occured. It felt great to start my day out laughing and it is also a good thing I was so behind on laundry that most of the affected clothes were already dirty.

Off on Adventure

By William

This is a picture of me looking for wildlife on Antelope Island. We went there with Nanny and Poppy. We went lots of fun places with Nanny and Poppy last week.

First I went to Michigan. We went to the Science museum, Horton hears a Who, and Dave's creative arts studio. Then we all went on a train for two days. We went from Michigan to Illinois and another train all the way to Grand Junction, Colorado. The train was so much fun. Then we drove to the Grand Vista Hotel in Grand Junction, Colorado and stayed there for a little bit. The next day we went to a national monument called The Colorado National Monument. We saw some chipmunks and some lizards and we went to the gift shop and bought some dot-to-dot books. Then we drove to my house in Utah. It felt good to see my family.

We had more fun in Utah with Nanny and Poppy. They took us to the aquaruim, the planitarium, the natural history museum, and Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. I like having fun with them and wish I could see them everyday.