Fruity!

I don't know if I paid much attention before, to realize that Nathan loves fruit, especially fresh fruit. He loves grapes, bananas, strawberries, oranges, raspberries, pears, apples, you name it, he'll try it. We try to keep fresh fruit in the house as much as possible, because the kids like it. But Nathan seems to love it. Rich went shopping a few days ago and this time brought home strawberries, bananas and grapes. The day he brought this home, Nathan brought me the whole bag of grapes and said "I want grapes mom." So I gave him a handful of grapes. A few minutes later, he came back and said "I want grapes mommy" So I gave him some more.

Yesterday, all he wanted to do was eat bananas. He must have eaten about four of them, maybe more, I lost count. Then I caught him with his head in the fridge eating strawberries. Today he is already eating strawberries and some grapes. I don't think he will ever have a problem being constipated LOL!

I think I found peace

No I don't mean with my kids. I mean within myself. See, after having Nathan and working it was hard to get to church. I felt really guilty, but when Sunday came along and I didn't have to work I started making up other different excuses. "It's hard getting six kids ready." "We always show up late, so why bother going at all". Until it got to the point where we hadn't gone in almost three years. I felt guilty because as a child my mother always had us in church. Rare was a Sunday that we weren't sitting in a pew. So to me, it just seemed like a habit and one that I broke.

As a teenager, I accepted Christ at a youth retreat. When I got married, Rich was going to be a pastor. Not many people remember that. But somewhere along the lines, I screwed up. I screwed up big time. And because I felt I had turned my back on God, he had turned his back on me. I know that's not how it works, but it's how I felt. Once in awhile I would feel this tugging on my heart and I knew God was there beating on it, trying to get me to listen and I turned a deaf ear. Years went by and we didn't go to church at all.

Rich made alot of friends with his fellow corrections officers. One of which wasn't a believer. But through Rich talking with him and ministering him, he accepted Christ and eventually became a minister. Rich asked him where he was preaching. It was only about 45 minutes from our house, so we decided to try it. I liked it, I think we both felt happy there. But as I've stated at the beginning, life got in the way.

Over the three years we didn't go, we've made alot of mistakes. It has gotten to the point where Anthony doesn't believe in God and I don't think Nicholas or Nathan even realize who God is. And that saddens me and makes me feel guilty. It saddened me to the point where last month, when I had the whole month off, I had wanted to go back to church. But again, I was led astray and didn't go. I made excuse after excuse. Until about three weeks ago, on a whim I decided we were going to church and that was it. We showed up a half hour late, but we went. Alot of people remembered us and they welcomed us back like we never even left. That felt good!

The next couple of weeks we made an effort to be there each Sunday, whether it was in the morning or the evening service, we went. And although I'm sure we surprised our pastor friend, he hugged each one of us and welcomed us back. That felt good! Each week, it seems as though satan is trying is push us away. No matter how early we got up, we were still late for church and on our way, we would feel like we should just turn around an go back home because we didn't want to show up late. But we kept going and made it anyway.

This week our church is having Vacation Bible School in the evening. The kids really wanted to go. So tonight we went to Bible School. I walked the kids inside and the women there just welcomed them right in. I'm not one to leave the kids with strangers, but it just seemed right. So I dropped them off and just hung out by myself.

My point in telling this, is when I was driving back to pick them up, I just felt this overwhelming feeling of peace. It felt good! Really good! It almost made me want to cry. I just can't describe the feeling well enough. I'm sure if there is anyone reading that doesn't believe in God, probably thinks I'm nuts now. But I'm positive if you are reading and you believe in God then you know exactly what I'm talking about. I just feel so peaceful. I'm really glad that on a whim I decided to go. And I feel confident that Anthony will believe again and Nicholas and Nathan will know God.

Technical Difficulties

Stupid playlist isn't working right!! Dang it! I worked hard loading all those songs too!! I'll have to look at it later and see if I can fix it!

Sorry!

Music Memories

I love music! I will listen to most anything, except maybe rap. I can't talk/sing fast enough to the music so it's no fun for me. And I love to sing! I used to think I wasn't a bad singer. I would belt tunes out in the shower, in the car, at home. I once thought I wanted to be a singer (dreams of a kid, huh). I would sit in my car at stoplights and sing as loud as I could, because in my dreams, there might have been a producer who was listening. Funny, huh? I was in the chorus while in school, I sang in church, I even had little solo bits here and there. And to me, it was wonderful.


Somewhere along the line, someone (a friend, I don't know) told me I sucked. And that took the fun out of it. From that point on, I thought I did suck, that I couldn't sing and I sounded terrible. I would go to church and be afraid to sing the hymns loud enough for people to hear. I would mouth the words and pray no one heard my awful voice. I would still sing lullabies to my children, but in the back of my mind I would think it sounded horrible. But you know what, I don't care anymore. If I want to sing, I'm going to sing and I don't care how bad or good I might sound.


Like I said I will listen to almost anything, country; 80's music; christian, rock, r & b; anything. I think I love country because the song always tells a story. I remember being a little girl and listening to the Oak Ridge Boys on the Barbara Mandrel Show and thinking Barbara and her sisters were so pretty and wishing I could be like them. I loved that tv show! I used to listen to my mom's old albums. I remember Alabama and a few gospel groups she had. I loved listening to them. Christian because it's inspirational. Rock because I loved the beat, the guitar solos and rifts. 80's music because, I grew up in the 80's. I loved all the hair bands (White Snake, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard) of those days. I still have pictures of me somewhere with ripped up jeans and hair a mile long and teased to sky. Man, I was stylin' LOL!

I also remember when I was around ten or so and my older sister (who reads this sometimes, so sorry Jodi!!!) who was five years older than me and the coolest thing ever in my eyes. Had an eight track player, how I would sneak and listen to it when she wasn't home. She had some cool rock and pop bands. I remember looking at the Village People and thinking what in the world, but not caring how they dressed or looked because I loved their music.

When I was a teenager, I loved to lip sync songs and make up dances to go with it. Charlie (my twin), Kim (my best friend growing up) and I won first or second place lip syncing and dancing to Rockin' Robin by Bobby Day at an oldies lip sync party with our church youth group. We were called Charlie and the chicks, get it? lol.

Later, I won first place doing Love is Strange (from Dirty Dancing).

[MICKEY:]Silvia...
[SILVIA:]Yes Mickey?
[MICKEY:]How do you call your loverboy?
[SILVIA:]Come 'ere loverboy!!
[MICKEY:]And if he doesnt answer?
[SILVIA:]Ohh loverboy!
[MICKEY:]And if he STILL doesnt answer?
[SILVIA:]I simply say Baby, Oohh baby My sweet baby You're the one...

At another youth group party. I did it by myself, complete with crawling on the floor like they did in the movie. The stupid stuff I did and remember huh?

So in remembrance of my love of music, I added some tunes to my blog. I added some of my favorites (some of them older songs) by some of my all time favorite artists. I tried to keep it light, don't want to rock my blog off the web, LOL! Maybe one day, I'll add some of the punk and rock stuff I like too. Until then, enjoy....

Confessions of a six year old

As I was cleaning the bathtub this morning, Nicholas came into the bathroom and said "Oh, sometimes me and Nathan pee in the bathtub."

God, I'm hoping that at the very least, he means they do it when they are taking a bath. LOL!

Oh what a great day I'm having!!

I'm trying to get some things done, because I have to work this afternoon. During all my cleaning efforts, the boys have tried their darnedest to make it harder on me. I tried to wake Amanda up for hours, Anthony was holed up in his bedroom playing on his laptop. Zachary spent to night at a friends house. I'm having a really bad day. And as much as I hate going to work, I think it might be a really nice break away from the mess and noise.

Earlier this morning, I hear Nicholas say "oh crap, you're in trouble now Nathan" and then "Hey mommmmy, Nathan broke your mug! My one and only mug that I liked because it was so deep and big. Not to mention it had my name on it. My mother brought it back from her trip to NASA when she went to Florida on her honeymoon. Do you know how hard it is to find anything that has the name Charlene on it? When I was a little girl and personalized things was a big trend, I was probably the only one out of all my friends that didn't have anything. I know, it's stupid to think of that now, but when you're ten, it's a big deal, LOL! Am I still bitter, hmm, I don't know, but I'm upset that my favorite mug was broken.

Then to really make it a great day (insert sarcasm here) Nathan found the key to my jewelry box, took out all my rings and then tangled up my emerald necklace. That was fun, going on a scavenger hunt for all my rings! Let me tell ya! Talk about panic attacks!!


On top of all that, I have heard non stop screaming all morning. Anthony was picking on Sarah and turned her tv show off, this was at noon and do you know at ten till 1 she is still screaming over it? Yeah, she's ten!

Who's idea was it to have such a big family? Uh, oh yeah - it was me! LOL!!!

At least when I get home from work tonight, and I'm tired as all get out, and my muscles will be achy and my feet throbbing, I will be able to sit on the couch without two little boys trying to sit on my lap. And it will be quiet because all the kids will be sleeping, so no fighting over who watches what on tv, even though we have six tvs in this house.

What a great day!!

How many messes can two little boys make?

Way to many for me this morning! I swear I have cleaned up about ten messes so far this morning. They have played in water, smashed freezer pops to make slushies, spilled milk on the floor, played with more water, dumped more milk on the floor, dumped out the toy boxes (which would have been okay, had they not been all over the hallway), smeared jelly and peanut butter all over themselves and the table. They have kept me quite busy all morning long, let me tell you.

I have to work afternoon shift today, so I'm trying to clean and get some laundry done before I leave.

I hate working! I really do, ever since I started working (and granted it's only part time) I have felt left out of all the fun stuff. Today my sister is having a party for my niece, she turned 16 last month. But I have to miss the party, because I'm working. It just irritates me. Hopefully, I can quit before too long. Ideally, I would like to go per diem (and only work one or two days a month) and work in the summer. Or maybe actually quit altogether and not work at all. I know I need to do something when school starts because last year, getting the kids up and doing their activities and making sure they got their homework done, was a nightmare. I know millions of other moms manage to do it, but it's not for me. Maybe when they are older, it won't be so hard.

Oh well, back to laundry and cleaning bathrooms and making sure little boys don't make any more major messes.

If you give a child a cookie....

You will get a hug and kiss!

I just traded four cookies for four hugs and kisses with my little boys.

Ouch, that hurts!

I knew it. It was only a matter or time until someone got stung by a bee. The kids are constantly running around outside without shoes. We've gone a few summers where no one got stung, so I think we were due. Sarah was the unlucky candidate. She was running around outside (without shoes, of course), and got stung right between her toes.

Sarah isn't one to cry over little things, I must admit though that she does have her moments of outbursts and whining. But for the most part, when it comes to getting hurt she's a pretty tough kid. Well, this morning, I heard this horrible shrieking coming from outside and the wailing continued until she made her way inside. And low and behold, Sarah got stung. She cried for a few minutes after Rich took the stinger out. Asked for a band aid, because it was still stinging. After about ten minutes, she was back to her usual self.

And now, she's running around outside, without shoes! Do they ever learn?!

Ultimatums

I was watching tv, when I decided to check a few message boards online, during a commercial. Nicholas came up to me and said "can I watch tv" I said Nicholas there are six tvs in this house, go find another one. He said "But, mom I want to watch tv on the big screen, there's nothing on the other tvs that I like." And I said, but I'm still watching it. And he said " Well pick something, the tv or the computer, but you can't do both."