What I've learned

Well, here it is. Grab your notebook and pencil, I'm about to unleash my boundless wisdom on motherhood and children. It should be groundbreaking...so prepare yourselves! Here's a list of the important things I have learned. Maybe it will help you. Maybe it will help me!
1. Kids don't know what the word "swallow" means. Don't ever tell a child to swallow their food unless you're sure they know how to do it! That's a mistake I've made more than once!
2. Sometimes mommies cry.
3. You'll say things that you'd never imagine such as "Don't eat your shoelaces," "We don't put our head in the toilet," and the ever popular "Do I have to turn this car around?"
4. Laugh. Laugh a lot. Out loud. Even if it's fake and forced. Even if it sounds strangely erratic and makes the kids look at you like you have lobsters crawling out of your ears.
5. Sometimes, the only way to live through the pressure is to get in the car and scream out loud. There's something very calming about letting that pent up energy out. I KNOW I'm not the only one who has done it.
6. Heavenly Father is over ALL and wants you to be hopeful and HAPPY.
7. Repent.
8. It's not a big deal if playdough gets stuck in the carpet. Once it dries you can vacuum it up.
9. Buy WASHABLE art supplies. Even if they're more expensive.
10. Marker and pen wipe easily off the fridge.
11. Fingernail polish takes fingernail polish off the sink but not the wall.
12. Strawberries can be washed out of the carpet but bananas can't.
13. Pray. A lot. Even more than you laugh.

Oh I'm just full of them. Don't worry, with a little effort, you too can be as good as me. Ha hA! All right, let's just admit it. I have absolutely NO IDEA what I am doing. Last night someone complemented Jas and I on the behavior of our children. Usually we're the freak show. Those of you with kids may know what I mean. You go anywhere and the stares follow you. Like the other night when we took our kids to the art museum and the security gaurd followed us through the whole exhibit. (I had it under control. They kept their hands in their pockets or on the stroller which Liam was strapped into for safety.) But today, I decided to embrace who I am: A lucky mommy of 5 who has no idea what she is doing but is nonetheless enjoying the ride! What is the best thing you have learned from kids? (yours or someone else's)

Natalie's Blessing

Beautiful dress made by Grandma
17 Kids 7 and under
6 infant car seats
6 babies
Lots of screaming and Yelling
Good food
Wild Party
Sacred Blessing
+___________________________

=A Really Special Night

Art Time

In an effort to spend mre time with my kids, I started a midday activity affectionately called "art time." We've done some fun projects-the biggest hit being simply painting with water colors. I'm looking for new ideas. Does anyone have any suggestions of low-cost=easy-to-do art projects? I'm all ears- or rather, eyes.

Our Guy Kid

I was busy when I last posted and didn't get a chance to do a post for Ben on his birthday. So let the brag session begin! Wen Ben was born, people looking in the nursery window would identify their cute relative and then exclaim "Oh my gosh! (we're in Utah) Look at that one!" and point at Ben. He was so cute with chubby, hairy shoulders and chunky cheeks. He weighed a whopping 8 lbs. 12 oz. and came out facing sideways. He's always been very creative and active. I think the reason that we had twins is because he REALLY wanted to be a big brother and have siblings to play with. He's a good brother and loves to play with Natalie now. Ben is smart. He's way ahead in reading at school and can play "Jingle Bells" and "Ode to Joy" like nobody's business. He was my buddy when it was just the 3 of us. We would spend hours outside together. As a baby, if he was crying all I had to do was take him outside. (Usually.) We're so glad we have him now as he is such a help with the younger kids. He has lots of nicknames. The one that really stuck is "Benny Penny" because he has swallowed almost enough loose change to buy an ice cream cone. Liam idolizes him and copies everything he does. Thanks for being such a good example Ben!!

President Uchtdorf said MY baby was pretty

Jason and I were lucky enough to be able to attend a seminar given by Pres. Uchtdorf to the pilots down at UVU. He talked on his love of flying and how to balance it with family and church responsibilities. I really appreciated his wife Harriett's remarks. We got there early so we got to sit on the front row and shake his hand. When they saw Natalie, both he and Harriett said she was beautiful. It was an uplifting experience. I'm always amazed at how the spirit FLOODS the room when a general authority enters. How can one be in the same room as such a man and not believe? We literally felt him before we saw him.

Halloween 2008

I think this year Halloween went really well. We went to Jason's work party with the kids where they ate some sugar, then home where they ate some more, then trick-or-treating with more sugar, and then the grandparents for the rest of the sugar in the world. We only had one child throw up from the sweet stuff. Trick or treating was nice because it was so warm. It was fun to see all of our ward friends and neighbors out enjoying the fall weather together. We also had a nice relaxing visit up at the Findlay's where we watched 'The Russians are Coming' (Findlay tradition) as the kids slept off their sugar highs.