Special Time

Hezzie at Costco

I like to spend special time with my kids. It can be hard sometimes with six kids at home, but it has to be done. This was last week after Hezzie's second day at PAL Camp. He had to be picked up early and we took him out of camp. We took him to get a big slice of pizza at Costco as he requested.
He saved half of the slice for Joaquin. Joaquin was happy. Us mothers and fathers of big families need to make time for each of our kids to feel special. It can be a cheap date at Costco or it can be a special dinner in the evening. Let the kids talk about things we may otherwise not want to hear about.These types of things are opportunities for bonding, and building trust. Yes, we need to build our kids trust.
When my oldest was much younger we used to take a lot of walks. He was a chatterbox, so I would let him talk the whole time. I got to learn what he liked and how he learned. I got to learn so much, and he developed a great expressive language and vocabulary. Of course, as a teenager he doesn't talk with me like that everyday, but he does talk to me about the important things.

Ideas For Special Time

Museum visits. Some museums offer free days. A bonus to these types of visits is they are always a good temperature.

Help with meal planning and shopping. I know this can be annoying when sticking to a budget, but kids will learn so much.

Lunch at the park. Go to a new park and have some fun.

Walks! One of my favorite things. You can get to know your neighborhood and chat while doing it.

Library events. These are almost always free and help foster a sense of community.

Costco pizza. Low cost and you get to feel your belly and your soul while talking and eating.

Adoration Chapel. Go pray or meditate in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. Afterwards you can talk about religious traditions and why you choose to pass them along.

Photo shoot. Take to a local historic location and take some photos with each other.


There are so many things you can do. Get creative and have fun.

Love,
Momma

Wordless Wednesday: The Gathering Room

Monday

J

I'm really not feeling the love right now. I wish I could zip off in this cozy coupe with my kids flying behind me. I'm sick and when I'm sick I'm no good to anyone. My house is a wreck, and apparently that's not allowed.  

I hate that nagging thing that tells me I fail and everything is my fault. I know in reality I'm not a failure and yeah sure some things are my fault. But, come on EVERYTHING!?

You know, I'm not the most organized mom, too much organization messes with my own creative process. Clean it good, and my house looking colorful makes me happy as a clam. 

Tonight while the older boys were at Boy Scouts the younger kids played with Legos and we watched Scholastic videos. It was really quiet. 

 

It was quiet for a little bit....

Fun 31st

We had a great day. We talked about the founder of Girl Scouts. It is Founders Day. We ate caramel apples, went trick or treating at the library and trunk or treating at churches and the comic book store.

Life is pretty good. Now we are watching some Charlie Brown and settling in. 

Just Stuff

Happy Easter everyone!
It has been a pretty full weekend for us. Saturday I took the kids to Oceanside to celebrate one of their cousins birthdays. They played pretty hard all day and slept coming home. We then had a buffet dinner and then came home for the evening. We woke up early and all went to Easter Mass at Our Lady of the Valley. The kids have never been to Easter Mass and were surprised by the sprinkling of the Holy Water.
After Mass we went to Denny's for a cheap breakfast and I ended up with nachos. No gluten for me. I really wanted Moons of My Hammy or a stack of pancakes. I held strong a cried inside. The kids had a nice time and overall enjoyed the morning. We headed to my dads and the kids swam most of the afternoon.
Tanni Rainbow is four months now and thinks just because she can roll around, it's okay to try and scoot.

I really can not imagine my life without anyone of my children. They are all so unique and yet so much alike. I often laugh at my teenage self swearing off marriage and children. I felt I was so above that. My life was planned for the solitude of cat ladydom and typing on old typewriters, of course after I retired from the Marines.  I needed a way to support my book habit....but, that didn't happen.
I was talking with a lady recently about her son going to look at colleges. She reminded me soon that could be me. My stars! The oldest is 21, she lives close to her mamas and has two kids. I didn't think I had to think about another one growing up so soon. In reality Dexter is 13. When did I become the momma to a 13 year old boy? Oh, that's right in November. He is quite the kid, sometimes I have to laugh at the things he says. Sometimes, I have to tell him while respect his opinions I am his momma. He taller than me and is nearly in a size 13 shoe!
Joaquin is 10, and while he is still very young for his age I know he will soon be a teenager. When we have "conversations" he just laughs or walks away. He either is in the mood to know things or really doesn't want to know. He is doing so much better with his potty issues. It's not a miracle type of situation, however it is noticeable. He is also making friends, at his own pace.
Waylon, this kid is something else. He loves Cub Scouts and says he wants to be Eagle by 13. He loves to pray and is learning to voice his frustrations so we can help him. He thinks it's cool that I am his Den Leader and he loves when baby Tanni comes to things.
Hezzie, he is still in recovery mode from his surgery. He has developed a stutter, yet is talking more. He loves to give people things including kisses and hugs.
Maggie is loving Girl Scouts. She has a few collections of toys. She wishes she could be a Cub Scout and loves animals still. She loves to lead adventures and make videos. She is coming more into herself. She has a friend at Girl Scouts who she says is like her. A friend who is emotional and kind.

Jimmy is still in his recovery process, and finding his way back to his faith. He thought going back to the Catholic Church would be a struggle for us and that I would revolt. I have not and now I am more at peace with my spiritual self. The youngest three will be getting baptized soon!  Life is exciting and ecverchanging.

Happy Easter

Love

Momma

Just pictures

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Love
Momma

Salutations 2012

A few snippets of the year

Hope. 2013 is full of blessings and wonderment....


Love
Momma