How to get to church on time

Growing up my sisters Cheryl and Emily got us 7 younger girls ready for church each Sunday. They would spend time searching the house for matching socks, tights and bows then lay them out with our neatly ironed dresses the night before. I think they still do it with their own children - or maybe they've trained their oldest daughters to help out just as they use to. Either way evening preparation is a great idea. Saturday really is a "special day" when you've got 6+ kids and church starts at 9:00 am.

So here's hoping we can make it there on time with no surprising hold ups. Here are a few from the past:

-Trying to find parking on Broad St. in Philadelphia on the day of the Mummers parade

-All the kids dressed bathed and ready to go but just as we were loading the car Peter, who at the time was just 2, got into a jar of Nutella

-We were getting kids into the car but couldn't find William (he was 4), I searched the house, Paul was looking up and down the street. I was so nervous for the 10 minutes he was missing. We spotted him in the other car all buckled up ready to go just waiting for the rest of us.

-Not too long ago I gave Peter the treat of having the bath all to himself. The girls were pulled out and dressed while Peter played. I turned my back for a minute and there was Maryanna all dressed and climbing into the tub.

I don't know why it takes so much force and energy to get out the door on Sundays. I suppose it is to humble us- remind us of our weaknesses and make us more teachable. Whatever the challenge though, it is worth the effort. What a great blessing it is to have a day of rest, a day of worship, and enjoy a few hours of reverence in our week. I loved this story in the Ensign and will think of Paulo Tvuarde next time I think the task of getting to church is challenging.

Inventive Kid Toys

I like to wear my babies and have at least 5 different contraptions to do so. I think the kids are also catching on to the trend because this is what William did with Daddy's Blackberry case.

There is something so funny and cute about the image- a softer side to a blackberry. It also made me think about some young girls, maybe ages 7-10, I saw at the playground. They were sitting up top on the monkey bars talking on and playing with their i phones. I've also heard of children as young as 6 years old with their own blackberries - just to keep in touch with parents.

Maybe I should invent "stuffie technology" - it would look somewhat like William's teeny beanie baby, "Baby Tito", except you could lift a flap on the belly to expose a key pad and screen. That way kids could still be kids and enjoy the use of gadgets and technology. When they were at the playground they could actually play with their phones and if they were in need of a little extra comfort from their parents not only could they read the loving text but also snuggle with the soft device that delivered the message.

Actually I believe in low tech toys and more primitive forms of communication such as looking at someone in the eyes and listening to their voice. But I am glad Daddy has a blackberry to help him get his work done and even more impressed that William was able to find some fun with it.

A Boy and His Book

I didn't know what was taking so long when James was sent out to collect the trash bins. This is what I found when I went to go check on him, he was turning pages with his chin and slowly shuffling up our driveway.. He didn't even blink or flinch when I ran out again to quickly snap this photo. So I gently nudged him and helped him complete the task.

Later that evening I asked him to tell me something interesting about the book he was reading. James anserwed "which one"? I said "the one you were reading today". James' response was "well I read 3 books today". I'm guessing that is almost 600 pages!

At first I felt guilty for not planning anything fun and engaging but I had to remind myself it is Summer - and at least he wasn't playing video games all day. I did however make a new rule - no books at the plyground. That came after William's paperback bindindg split while trying to read and go down the slide at the same time.

"Just in case" suitcase

I thought Maryanna was potty trained for good last fall. Unfortunately we experienced several months of regression as we were recoverying from illnesses, pregnancy complications, and a new baby. When we returned from our trip I suggested that it was time to start wearing underwear again.

So here she is dragging two very special suitcases ($1 each from a garage sale) around the house with her. I asked her if I could look inside them. She was happy to open the first one and announced, "I got lots of underwears". She opened the other one and it contained a pink bouncy ball, a book about horses, a pretend credit card, and a not so fresh pair of underwear. Maryanna was quite wise in being prepared and even more clever in covering her tracks. I may even allow her to bring her suitcases to the playground "just in case".

Other than re-potty training nothing much else to blog about except we are suffering from a strep throat epidemic. I came home from our trip with a bad sore throat and stomach ache, a few of the kids also complained of stomach aches. I blamed it on all the junk food we ate in the car but thought to see a Dr. when I developed a high fever. So maybe it wasn't the bugels, junior mints, and lifesaver gummies......but "just in case" I'm packing a cooler of fresh fruits and veggies for our next road trip.

Just for Amusement

James
"I want to improve the invention of the automobile - this seatbelt is digging into me!"

James and William
Overheard from the back of the car: "Back up, back up, are you talking about George W. Bush or George H. W. Bush?" response "You know just the regular George Bush".

William
"Mommy, Daddy guess what sea creature I am" We guess a shark, a whale, a hammerhead shark...."wrong! I stumped you, I was an oceanic white tipped shark"

William
"Mommy I made friends with a bumble bee....he followed me around the pool all day"

Peter
"Why don't we just buy this rental home and stay here forever"

James after hours of reading Tom Sawyer
"There ain't no napkins here"

Paul
"Suz, you are the only person I know who uses more sunblock than Al, your kids look like mimes"

Paul
"Why are you hanging out in the shade"? I respond "I'm trying to bring back historic beauty trends - not only being a little plump but also very fair"

Maryanna
Well there are no audible words to recreate the memorable moment of our trip when Maryanna ran straight from the car and grabbed a cactus. It was a good thing tweezers were on my simple packing list.

Swim, Eat, Sleep

Throw in a few good books, a 1,000 piece puzzle, and a pile of dirty diapers - that pretty much sums up our trip. Very simple and very fun!

How Mommy got her Groove Back II

Paul knows just when I need a get away and has been great at planning and executing postpartum recovery trips. Last year we went to Spain. This year he found a great deal on a rental home in Scottsdale, AZ. The trip was planned and booked last Friday and within 24 hrs. the whole family was packed and in the car off to our destination.

The theme of this trip was "Simple Livin'". Each child had 1 suit, 2 outfits (with exception of the three 2 and under - 5 for the infant, 4 for the 1 year old, and 3 for the 2 yr old), 1 book, 1 stuffie, and 1 pair of shoes. Laundry was simple, pick up was simple as was our food, every meal we ate outside and literally hosed both the children and eating area down after we were through.

We even played simple games. One night we planned to watch a movie but couldn't get the complicated surround sound system to work, we played catch with a roll of toliet paper instead. The thrower asked a question and the catcher had to answer it in as many words as were dragging toliet paper squares. I was especially amused when William asked me to describe how it felt to have a baby, I had 17 squares to describe my feelings.

So even after a 15 hr travel day with our whole family I feel refreshed. I just may adopt a bit more simplicity in my daily life. Time to gut out more toys and clothes, and start eating all our meals outside.

*this magic moment was captured by our young photographer William