Cheaper by the Dozen???

I'm beginning to be awake enough to have the state of the house really bug me. Nate and the kids have been doing a great job, but it just needs some deep down cleaning. I decided to start with the laundry room because it is the smallest and easiest. After that, and practicing calligraphy with Megan and the new set she got for Christmas I attacked the kids bathroom out of necessity. Still a small room, but by no means easy, thanks to Derek's and Eliza's creating a pink tooth paste original mural all over the wall a few months back. (Yes, it's been there a few months. That's how badly that bathroom needed a good cleaning.)

While in the bathroom I started wondering about my kids' dental habits. I hadn't been paying attention. I knew Megan brushed and flossed every day, but I wasn't so sure about the others. The fact that all the toothpaste was on the wall and there were no toothbrushes to be seen in the bathroom started making me feel extremely neglectful and slightly disgusted.

I made a chart (I feel like I'm always making charts, must be my parenting style) and headed off to WalMart for new toothbrushes and stickers. I grabbed a couple generic four packs of toothbrushes like usual and then saw the fairy and cars toothbrushes. If we were making a effort to do better at brushing, why not make it more fun? Besides, it seemed like my kids were always losing there toothbrushes and I never knew who's was who's. No one would misplace a Tinkerbell or Lightning McQueen toothbrush, right? I knew it would be a big treat, since the kids hadn't had special toothbrushes for a while and usually only got them in there stockings or Easter baskets. (Aren't I a fun mom? Don't answer.) I also had to buy special princess toothpaste and train toothpaste for Derek. Besides as a medium for expressing his artistic talent, Derek doesn't like toothpaste and will not use it. I hope this new kind would do the trick. New habits do not come cheap. Who would have thought new toothbrushes could cost close to $30?

When the kid saw what I brought home they were excited. I worried about them losing the toothbrushes and germs when they wanted to play with them, but I showed them the package of plain toothbrushes and told them that is what they'd be getting if anything happened to their character ones. Derek was thrilled about his toothpaste and not only has used it, but puts the tube back in the box when he is done. Tonight at family council I'll introduce my chart (oh, no, mom has another chart) and the stickers and we'll see how it goes.

In other news: Megan, Michael, and Emma all have parts in Beauty and the Beast. They also are on Destination Imagination teams. Merian broke her collar bone, Eliza loves to sing (Jingle Bells HEY!, being one of her favorites.), and Derek is always inventing. He found a glow stick inside a paper cup makes a handy lantern.

Everyone enjoyed playing in the snow and getting in the hot tub at the Johnson's cabin and I'm not ready to get back to school tomorrow!

It's another girl

We took the kids to the ultra sound. Even though they were all hoping for a boy, they have been good sports about another sister. I'm glad that the ultra sound means we are half way done and hopefully I'll be feeling relatively better soon. Seven is a good number: lucky number seven; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; seven kids in the Von Trapp family; the Magnificent Seven. I don't think we'll have another chance for a boy.

The kids have been AMAZING! The last few months have been a blur to me, but somehow the house is staying pretty clean and when I had to fill out their monthly home school report I was surprised at how much they have gotten done. The credit all goes to them. They've been carrying on without me.

Emma loves to dance. I can't wait to see her in the Nutcracker. Megan loves mutual and Michael has Chris Baugh as his new scout leader. Merian's teacher told her at conference that she is the best writer in the class. Derek loves studying geography. He was in heaven when we had a unit with pictures of mountains last week. That inspired me to make a mountain/volcano cake for his birthday. We formed a vanilla ice cream mound and covered it with brownies. The candles on top were the fire. Eliza is a very cheerful girl and is constantly singing. Her life is a musical. There's a quick update. I need to write more often because I know there are things I've wanted to write, but can't remember now.

I got to go to Michael's soccer game on Saturday. He is really getting into it and doing a great job. It was FREEZING! but all the boys still did their best. When it was time to leave he pleasantly surprised me by picking up my camping chair and carried it to the car for me. What a gentleman! I love that guy.

Emma also had her first Nutcracker performance on Saturday. She said it was so much fun. She was really cute in her part.

Megan has been memorizing her part for Tombstone Tales. It is a living history program put on the CREHST museum. I can't wait to see her performance!

I'm not writing as much as I should! I need to get the kids to do it.

But I just wanted to record that after I took Marian to school I was laying down on the couch. Derek went upstairs, got a blanket from the girls bed and covered me up. Then he asked if I wasn't feeling well. He is so sweet.

One of Eliza's favorite things to say lately is, "what are you doing?"

Uncle Philip and Aunt Erin, or Big Edna as she has the kids affectionately call her, are here for Aunt Kim's wedding and we have been busy. Yesterday we went swimming at Memorial while Michael was in swim lessons. (He is getting so muscular with all the marching and swimming!) Then we had a picnic of Little Caesars pizza before going to pick blueberries. The kids imagined they were Indians. Our family alone picked eight pounds. We've been eating them all day and even had buttermilk blueberry pancakes for dinner.

Today we went to the sprinkler park. Eliza saw a seagull and grabbed my hand. As we followed it she kept saying "bird." She was excited to see it closer but careful not to scare it away.

I've been giving the kids each a night to plan and help prepare dinner. They have fun looking through the cookbooks and making their lists. I hope this is something we can make a habit of. Merian chose to make a whole chicken, something I have never done before. I always just get the boneless skinless chicken tenders from Costco. I feel they are healthy, a reasonable price and I don't have to mess with all the junk the icky that comes with a whole bird. So the kids were pretty impressed when Merian and I got it out of the package and into the crock pot. Derek took it all in. He and Emma were a little bit grossed out, I think. Merian was very excited and happy. When we got to dinner she said, "we're eating a real live chicken." Derek, who usually loves chicken refused. "I'm not going to eat a dead bird," he said with disbelief each time we asked if he wanted some. He served himself some mashed potatoes and then asked for the "sauce" (gravy).

Megan has been babysitting a lot lately and Michael even got to take a job that she was called for because she was at another job. With all their activities and things, it's kind of ironic. Just as soon as I got babysitters, they're gone all the time! I'm excited for them. It's fun to see them become more independent and watch their abilities increase.

With Megan and Michael gone all the time Emma has stepped up to be a wonderful helper. She makes my life easier and more fun! I keep telling her she makes me heart smile while I watch her do all the nice, mature, service that she does.

Emma and Merian are done with tennis and, along with Megan, will start swimming lessons next week. We went to Memorial pool as a family last night to let Merian try out the pool since she was a bit nervous. She was brave, learned that she can touch the bottom with her tippy toes and it now excited to go again! Derek kept wanting to go down the slide. I'll have to get him into swimming lessons starting next session.

Michael is going to march in the Fourth of July parade tomorrow. I think he is enjoying himself. I'll have to see about getting him private lessons for next year.

I love eating lunch at the park each day. Because I'm not busy fixing lunch or cleaning up afterwards, I get to talk with the kids and really listen to them. It is so much fun!

I love, love, LOVE summer! The greatest thing about being a mom is staying home with the kids in the summer time. I get to go to the pool, the park, the library, out to Sonics, the free movies, to play in the sun, to occasionally relax in the warm afternoons by reading, taking a nap or watching a movie with the kids. I'm looking forward to our camping trips and any other day trips or adventures we decide to take. I am so lucky! It's like being a kid again!

On Thursday we went to the wading pool while Michael was in swim team. I was surprised by how brave Eliza was. The water does not bother her at all. She could fall or have a wave go over her head and she's just up and laughing. She wanted to crawl around like Emma and Merian and wanted to be in the middle like them, even though it is deeper there. When Emma tried to lead her closer to the side she gave her trademark, "no!" She doesn't really shout it but she is sure of herself. Later that day while we were eating lunch at the park she was excited to finish so she could throw her garbage away. She had so much fun she threw everyone else's away too!

Megan got back from girls camp today. The leaders all told me how cute and happy she is. She's just everyone's favorite!

Michael is enjoying summer band and swim team. I'm so proud of all his hard work!

Derek has been telling knock, knock jokes all day. He is so funny!

Emma and Merian recently got a queen bed from Grandma Lewis. It worked out great because they were sharing a twin bed anyway. Now they are even off the ground! To celebrate they have been doing an extra good job of keeping there room clean. They're awesome!

Did I get everybody? Here is a sample of our daily summer schedule so we can remember it years from now.

5:00 I get up, go running, clean the house
6:30 Nate leaves for work so he can get home early and be with us!
Wake up Meg and Mike
7:00 Meg and Mike leave for summer band
7:15 Wake up Emma and Merian
7:45 Leave for tennis
Derek and Eliza ride scooters and play with Asher during tennis
9:15 Get home, tidy rooms, practice piano, laundry (the kids are starting to do their own, I hope this helps with the piles that sometimes/often accumulate inside/outside the laundry room), school work, Grandma Lewis comes over to work with Merian
10:00 Snack
10:30 Leave to pick up Meg and Mike
Swim team/play at Memorial park or in the wadding pool
11:45 Kids eat lunch at the park
12:30 Reading time/nap time
Quiet time/chore/project
3:00 Snack
Start dinner, the kids are going to take turns helping me
5:00 Dinner

We are planning on making each night of the week for something. Monday is FHE, the rest of the nights can be designated for yard work, swimming, family bike rides, and other fun things.

I didn't include going to Sonics for Happy Hour (this usually co insides with mowing the lawn), the bookmobile and park, mowing the lawn, the water park, and other fun thing we are doing.

Like I said in the beginning, I love summer! I hope I love home school just as much!