Snow, snow, snow!

We're snowed in at our house today, so we're playing with all the new Christmas toys we haven't had a chance to play with yet.

Easy Bake Oven mixes. . .the jury is out on how these pretzels will taste, due to some confusion over 3 1/2 teaspoons of water as opposed to 3 1/2 tablespoons of water. . . The outcome of Mommy's save the day technique of gradually adding flour to thicken the mixture is yet to be determined.

Primary Science Kit. . .many volcanoes have exploded on my kitchen island. I am now out of vinegar and baking soda, and my food coloring supply is greatly decreased. Many happy boys are wearing safety goggles and giggling. I mentioned to my 9 year old son that a scientist would never just dump the ingredients into the beaker, but instead he would measure them. My son replied, "Not if you're a mad scientist! Muhahaha!!"

Leap Frog Dominoes. . .fun game, good learning tool, somewhat difficult with toddler crawling on the coffee table during the game.

I have a few more activities on the agenda before we call it a day. The highlight of my day thus far has been the 3 hour nap my husband suggested I take (well, he suggested the nap, my body suggested the 3 hours). I can't imagine the last time I napped so long or well. Hallelujah!

In other news, our dryer stopped working on Thursday aka laundry day. I finished all the wash and dried all of it at the laundromat. We have a repair man coming on Tuesday, so I foresee another trip to the laundromat in my near future. Sigh. I am thankful, though, that if something had to go, it was the dryer and not the washer.

Never a dull moment around here!

I'm still here. . .

Hello dear readers,

I am slowly climbing out of the pit that is post-Christmas clean up. Today being Epiphany, I am preparing to officially de-Christmas the house (which is a bittersweet proposition).

These chores, and the general I-am-a-mommy-to-five-children-who-need-me is taking up the vast majority of my time. As usual, when life is especially hairy, I often think of blogging, but can't always make it to the computer to put coherent thoughts down.

I'm not sure this was a coherent thought either, but I hope to return here to the blogosphere soon. As soon as I can come up for air.

Happy Epiphany!

My (not so) secret addiction

Last week, a crisis occurred in our house. A near tragedy. A situation which caused me to practically hyperventilate.

Our internet was out for 3 days.

Dear reader, I felt like my right arm had been cut off. There was so much to do, so many people to communicate with, documents to print, bills to pay. . .and NO INTERNET on which to do it all.

I resorted to old fashioned ways of getting it all done. I picked up the phone and actually called people and I begged my husband to pleaseplease print out my forms.

It was a decidedly difficult time. I wish I could say that all this technology-less time made me reminiscent of the good old days when we weren't able to have whatever we wanted rightthisveryminute.

I can't, though. I truly, truly missed it. It is amazing how quickly I have become dependent on the internet for most everything: recipes, yellow pages, communication, shopping. It's a little hard to remember how we ever lived without it.

Our problem was finally resolved with a new router and cable. I was embarrassingly ecstatic!

Advent One

Says my four year old:

"Mommy, after I wash my hands, can I play with an electronic device?"

Okay, I'm really tempted to click "publish post" and count this as a post, though it is a mere 18 words. I have been quite negligent in my bloggy pursuits of late, not for lack of desire, but lack of oomph, and also time. Things are running at a fevered pitch around here, and finding a few minutes to organize my brain seems to be too lofty a goal.

Now that Thanksgiving is past, we are full speed ahead toward Christmas, and with it comes so many more things on my to-do list. Decorate, write (and print, stuff and stamp!) our Christmas letter. Bake cookies, shop for, hide oh-so-carefully, and then wrap 1,298 presents. Though I truly love the season, a girl can get overwhelmed.

Tonight, though, was our first Advent midweek worship. My husband was able to sit with us (something we enjoy about 4 times a year), so I was able to semi-worship. Actually, I had to take our youngest out in the narthex, and while she walked around, I followed along and sang to my heart's content. It was quite nice! I didn't have to worry about leaving all the other kids behind alone in the pew (quite a dangerous prospect), so I was able to focus on what I was singing (mostly, since my dear little one was interested in the staircase several times). Anyway, it was very good to be able to turn my heart and mind toward the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

Not to give and get presents, not to have extended family get togethers, not to bake till our tummies are full, not to decorate our houses to the nines, but to worship the Christ Child.

E'en so Lord Jesus, quickly come!

What I'm reading

I love to read. When I was a child, I read every waking second, and this has carried over into adulthood.

But lately, I'm finding I have difficulty finding time to read. Making meals, cleaning the floors (17 times a day!), breaking up fights, playing games, wiping bottoms and providing taxi service has seriously cut into my reading time.

In fact, I haven't read a book since my husband and I went away for Labor Day Weekend. I have checked out several books, all oh-so-interesting, only to be returned (mostly on time) without ever having been opened.

But yesterday, I started a book, and by golly, I am going to finish it before its due date.

What is this book that has finally captured my interest enough to warrant letting household duties slide a bit?

I'm sorry to report that it is "Brady, Brady, Brady", the real story behind the iconic sitcom as told by the creator and producer.

Don't be disappointed in me! Maybe the next one will be The Pillars of the Earth or some other lofty tome. . .maybe.

Things that make you go hhmm. . .

Says my four year today, out of the blue:

"Mommy, Sonic can run faster than Jesus."

Say what you mean and mean what you say

Living with five children is never quite what it seems. . .

What I say: Please stop playing with that noisy toy.

What I mean: If I hear that toy sing one more song, I am going run screaming from the house.

What my child hears: Blah, blah, blah. . .play with that noisy toy.

What I say: You cannot have a cell phone until you are in high school.

What I mean: No matter how many times you ask me, we will not allow you to have a cell phone until high school, and even then, we don't really want to pay for one.

What my tween hears: If you ask me often enough, I will eventually give in and buy you one before your eleventh birthday.

What I say: Please put your laundry away.

What I mean: Please put your laundry away.

What my child hears: Please put your laundry away whenever you get a free minute, even if that means hours from now.

What I say: Stay in your bed after I tuck you in.

What I mean: For the love of heaven, if you get out of your bed 5 times like last night, you will never see the itouch again.

What my 4 year old hears: If it's an emergency (such as a need to talk about Sonic, or to tell me that his brother is looking at him) it is absolutely fine to get out of bed as many times as necessary.

What I say: No scream!

What I mean: Please stop screaming in the middle of Toys R Us! People are looking at us and my ears hurt!

What my baby girl hears: I love hearing you make that noise! That's why I keep giving you all this attention every time you do it! Please don't stop!