9 kids

I've got to be on my toes all day (7:45-6) making sure 9 kids (ages 11-2) are engaged, safe and happy. I put shoes and socks on to make that happen! Kids are excited to have friends over. I've got lots of ideas to keep people busy.
Afternoon update: Kids brought a bag of snacks and activities. They were in surprise bags that were opened after challenges were done. Between that and bubbles and playing and play dough and Studio C and music reading ... Everyone had fun.

Here the kids (minus Abby and Jill) right before pick-up. They were taking turns on the Kindle.

Ross left for work this morning before 6am and left work at 8pm because they shut the power off.

Day Four of Swimming

With Ross's "working late" schedule (with his approaching deadline) I haven't made an evening trip to the grocery store in a while. Looks like I need to make a fieldtrip this morning and hope the kids cooperate and people keep their comments to themselves.

Today is "slide day" at swimming lessons. Each class gets a chance to do the pool. Jill doesn't like it at first and then starts laughing on the way down.

Abby read 13 of her books so far. She has plenty still to read. We have a pile to drop off.

Jane woke up a 5am with a croupy cough and had a hard time breathing. She was happy to go back to bed with her cold water bottle.

Allen cleaned up the floor of his room and vacuumed it. He also read Calvin and Hobbes and started a new chapter book at his "reading station" in the living room.

Emma wanted me to get out the Lincoln Logs for her to play with yesterday during quiet time. She likes the figurines and horses that go with the set.

I hope to finish a book (Maisie D #4), work more on my talk and prepare for tomorrow--I'll be watching four more kids from 7:45-6pm.

Lighthouse Puzzle

A puzzle can be very theraputic. I've had this 750-piece Thomas Kinkade puzzle box on my shelf since our first Christmas in California. The long folding table was left empty in our room after Saturday's work day and it's function gave me the idea it would be perfect to start a puzzle. I started the border on Sunday while Ross and I went over the week's calendar. And I finished it yesterday. It was nice to sort things out by color and work on sections at a time and walk by and do a piece her and there. I've done puzzles before but never one completely by myself from start to finish. I kept my bedroom door closed so avoid little helping hands, but the stack of books and videos from the library have kept interest during these hot 100-degree days. Last night I taped the puzzle together and hung it on the wall. I thought the picture was very appropriate it being a lighthouse. We've seen several lighthouses this past year on both coasts and the whole idea of looking to a light (our Savior) for a guide gives me assurance during this time of waiting and deciding in regards to employment. It was nice to work on a different kind of project and distract myself. Life is a lot like a puzzle. Piece by piece doesn't seem important and sometimes it's hard to determine where something fits, but stepping back and resuming later sometimes helps. The overall picture is amazing once everything fits in, but you can't see that very well during the process.

9 Feet Deep

I hear from Allen that the election takes place today because we were too busy yesterday to have it. Honestly, I've done a good job at avoiding it because I'm not sure who to vote for :)

My puzzle is coming along, working on an alphabetized list for Ross this morning (he has an interview in Tacoma next week) and we had fun at the pool and ice cream place as a family last night.  The kids' swimming skills have improved since the beginning of summer. Much more confident in water, especially Abby who was going off water slide completely alone into 9 feet (went along great with David and Goliath story in the car for FHE) and swimming to the edge. There was no way she would have done that months ago. She also finished another Nancy Drew book last night. That girl is cranking out books, but it hardly makes a dent in the piles of ones she has in her room, categorized and ready for reading! In the living room Allen has set up his own library/book store station. I've been trying to hire him to read to sisters even more. I'll try again today. That might persuade me in the election process. :)

Offices Closed for the "Holiday"

-A new swimming session starts today!

-Since Saturday was a "holiday" and yesterday was a "holy day", then today is a clean-up day.

-The kids voting event didn't take place because it was "Christmas" here and offices were closed :) They were also closed on Sunday so today might be the day.

-Tonight for Family Home Evening Emma is teaching a lesson about love. The kids will use library certificates to get free ice cream cones at DQ and then we'll go to the family pool for free family swim night.

The Alphabet Game, four times

It's ward conference today, meanimg that the stake leaders were taking care of Sunday School and a youth lesson which was about recognizing the spirit and receiving answers to prayer. I sang in the choir during first meeting. There was no choir practice, all Sunday things (reading and journals and indexing) were all done before church so I started a lighthouse puzzle in my room. I haven't done a puzzle in ages. Ross made fried rice for dinner, I made Ross Bar treats (O'Henry type, but Ross's preferred style with only milk chocolate chips) for his hometeaching families as we made some visits together. While we were out in the van our family played the find-every-letter-of-the-alphabet game four times all the way through!

Five Pizzas and then the Nutcracker

To finish our holiday... Five small cheese pizzas (free with library certificates), eating to Christmas music, Studio C season 3 holiday episode, dancing to Nutcracker, root beer floats, baths, bed...

Christmas In July

Cabin and ATVs in the Unitahs for the Schmidt Family Reunion in June
Helping, hugs, happy is summer theme. Enjoying swim lessons too.
Ross works crazy Jan-Apr!
I like my daily morning routine (SPOSBIE) that starts at 5am.
South Carolina and beach for the Tucker Family Reunion in July
Traveling for Ross: Dallas (interview), Seattle, Pasadena. Houston (interview), San Fran
Monthly temple trips, weekly dates
Allen and Abby finish 4th and 2nd grade
San Francisco over Valetine / President's Day Weekend and Sequoia & Kings Canyon in April.

In minutes here and there Allen reads, records, and reports facts!
Need kitchen help or art project done or a big sister to play/read to youngers? Ask Abby.

Jane makes "new friends" everywhere and always has a cloth.
Up and out. Jill's vocabulary is increasing!
Library visits weekly, We max out cards easily.
You wouldn't believe Emma's secret hideout. She even keeps it organized.

***
Half-year summary, "Christmas morning" excitement just to have daddy home, wreath and a few decorations, presents (2 new books, art kit, candybar), parents lunch out at Flame and Fire (Brazilian meat feast), seasonal music for the day, tasty treats, and holiday from chores!

Pioneer Movies and Floats

"We can choose to be like the Mormon pioneers, who maintained a spirit of gratitude during their slow and painful trek toward the Great Salt Lake, even singing and dancing and glorying in the goodness of God." —Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Grateful in Any Circumstances"

Saw 17 Miracles yesterday, we'll watch Legacy and Ephraim's Resue today and prehaps Mountain of the Lord tomorrow or Sunday. Root beer FLOATS for desserts (because we missed the real parade floats in SL--something I went to every year as a kid). And one library event this morning. I counted 10 pioneer ancestors on my family search email today. In some ways the constant moving in our life makes me feel more appreciation for the pioneers. They had few possessions and their FAITH drove them as they experienced the unknown and hardships. The Lord was aware of them, allowing trials to strengthen them and then buoyed them up when they needed it. I'm thankful for my heritage.

"Those faithful Mormon pioneers … were willing to put everything on the altar to sacrifice for and defend their God and their faith." —William R. Walker, "Live True to the Faith"

Happy Pioneer Day!

Howdy from Houston

Two emails (with pictures) from Ross:

This is where the Rockets play. Within walking distance of the hotel and firm.

This is in the bathroom at the hotel.

End of Swim Session 1

Three of the five kids graduated from their swimming course. A new session starts on Monday. What will be tricky is trying to move up 3 to a new level while keeping all five at the same time. I called yesterday and made someone really confused on the phone.

Hugs and kisses to Ross. Library event this morning and today's main task is bathroom cleaning. Each child is assigned a bathroom. I think a pioneer movie during quiet time sounds like an excellent idea, but only if we have popcorn with it! Tomorrow we'll do another one to celebrate pioneer day. Stories about my family (brothers) were a hit this week while we talked about Joseph's integrity over breakfast. Great family history activity during pioneer week! 

Which World?

Last swim class for this session is today. Yesterday when we stopped at the fountains for lunch a parent from Jill's swim class came over to say hi. He had mentioned another fountain place in the city they like to go after class. I couldn't think of another sprayground that was working under the drought conditions and he mentioned it was by the Galleria. "You know where the Galleria is?" My mind first jumped to Houston (because has an upcoming interview there and we've been looking at maps and talking about the area) and then I realized I was in the wrong "world" and then it jumped to Dallas's Galleria and then I realized I again was in the wrong "world" and then I realized it was the nearby mall. It's pretty weird when your brain is wired with different stores, streets and neighborhoods and it jumps back and forth to familiar places, but then you realize those were from a past "world". Sometimes I have to remind myself I live in California. That might not be the case soon though. I some ways I feel like a missionary waiting for my next "transfer".

T is for Tuesday

Today: breakfast, chores (vacuum top floor, toy room, dinner prep--Zuppa Toscana and peasant bread), freetime, swim, lunch at fountains, rest/read time, computer, table time (stamping), dinner. Starting a new book called The Forgotten Door. Ross has a mock phone interview this morning. I cut his hair last night in preparation for his interview on Friday. Also set up blogs for Allen and Abby.

Tonight: Young Women Camp Conclusion activity where the girls finish up stuff before camp next week--do certification, camp crafting (pillowcase, t-shirt) and practice the skit, if there is time. I will stop over at Walmart after and pick up a week's worth of groceries.

Twins in Teal at the Sink

Busy day yesterday but a morning meeting wrapped up nicely, two lessons went well, my piano solo was pleasing, choir was good, home teaching visits were done, and Jane taught us about sharing for her Family Home Evening, and ice cream sundaes were enjoyed. Here are the twins washing hands at the sink before dinner. This is the last time for that dress and I thought it was cute they both wanted their hair french braided. They aren't identical twins so same dress and hairstyle is the closest we can get.

Today we've got swimming lessons and our fountain lunch fun as well as chores, reading, and our regular Monday to-dos, like mopping, microwave and music time. Ross is working late. I hope to start a new book/series called Peter and the Starcatchers.

Read-rest time and Abby's posters

During rest/read time yesterday Jill napped and everyone else read. Ross took a break from working and took some pictures with my phone.

Then Abby created more vote-for-me posters and hung them around the house. They said their election was next Saturday.

Weaving and Park Trees

Cleaning out the cupboard and found a weaving project Allen did at school.

We ride bikes to the park yesterday morning before it got to hot. Older kids rode bikes around, Allen identified kind of trees with his book, and little girls played on the toys.



An online treasure

Abby, Allen and I spent 30 minutes past bedtime last night looking at the blog--seeing old pictures, reading funny dialogue I recorded from years ago, laughing at baby photos, and talking about what they could remember. They were fascinated. "Mom, how did you do that? How do you put the pictures on? Is it hard? I want to start my own blog!!" We'll see if their interest holds and we create a new blog for them today. That whole ordeal made me smile because I keep a blog mainly for them, so they can have a record of our family, and they finally are old enough to appreciate it.

Ross is working most of the day  and we'll do our dinner tonight since he got home late last night. We did split a Slurpee and enjoy the rest of the guacamole with chips once he got home. Nice snack and nice visit.

The kids and I will hang out today. We need to do chores, organize a few boxes, have their presidential election, go to the library, redeem ice cream cones reward at DQ, maybe enjoy an afternoon movie (depending on how much we get done), maybe create their blog and get ready for Sunday. It's gonna be busy with a beehive meeting before church, piano solo in Sacrament meeting, beehive lesson, Ross subbing and teaching Jane and Emma's class lesson, choir, FHE, home teaching appointment for Ross and our home teachers coming.

And one the beauty of this post is I'm still in bed, blogging from my phone and things are still quiet.

Quiet Painting

The girls did painting yesterday during rest time. They came up with quite the collection of artwork, mostly done by Abby and Jane.

Running for president

Both Allen and Abby are running for president. This morning after breakfast they had a "government meeting" with little sisters and tried to get them excited about voting for them. They came and told me they were running for office and they both really wanted my vote. Apparently my vote counts for 3 kid votes and three little sisters are all voting for Abby. I heard them talking about it all making signs. It wasn't until after swimming that I walked by and saw their posters taped on the wall. I told Allen I was impressed by his four posters to Abby's one. Abby said she'd be making more.

And something totally different, all kids went down the waterslide today with their swim class.

Puppet Show and PB Dinner Sandwiches

The kids are still talking about the silly jokes from the puppet show on Wednesday. One part of the plot in particular involved an alligator and the song "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and they thought it was so funny. They shared about it at dinner.

Since Allen complained about dinner on Tuesday I told him he'd be in charge of making it the next night. He made sandwiches. Abby took the orders and wrote them down and Allen was the chef.

No complaints from him tonight and he was the first one at the table. Abby, on the other hand, did some whining. I told her she can make dinner tomorrow.

Late Father's Day Photo

Here's that cute picture I took of storytime that I could NOT find for Father's Day. I'll post it now. Ross is a great dad! On the actual father's day (June 22) he drove us home--over 11 hours and across 4 states and never complained.

He works really hard. In fact, here's his getting-home-schedule this week and for the next several work days -- late, nromal/YW, late, normal, late, all day, rest / FHE, late, normal / YW, late, flying, late, all day. When we got home from our second family reunion and I gave him a hug before he went back to work and said, "I'm going to miss you", I was totally honest. We really haven't seen him much. Between work and applying for jobs, he's swamped. I got a cute line in an email yesterday afternoon as he was "likening scriptures" unto us from his daily reading: Nephi and his family spent 8 years wandering in the wilderness after they left Jerusalem.  We've only been wandering for 7, and we get to cook our meat....  

One Hour: Two Duplicate Shopping Trips

Last night I did a horrible thing. I went to Walmart, had $122 worth of groceries all bagged up in my cart and then realized I left my wallet in the glove compartment in the other vehicle from swim lessons. I had no other option but to leave my cart there and they said everything would be put back. I rushed home, got my wallet, drove back to the store and stated over. The first time it took 30 minutes to grab the groceries and the second time it took 20 minutes. Too bad two items weren't there and I had to substitute/forego and the purchase was a dollar under the first time. Shopping twice (for the exact same stuff) in one hour is exhausting. Talk about deja-vu! Gotta have milk, bread and bananas though among other things.

This morning we are attending a puppet show at the library, returning/checking out books, and then going to swim lessons.

Hello pool, fountains and picnic

Hello pool, fountains and picnic. That's our noon routine for the next four weeks.

Tonight for YW is skit practice for camp. I'll do some grocery shopping after. No scouts or activity days meetings. Both groups are taking a hiatus (one is lacking leaders) for summer.

One other cool bit of news is our home school now offers a TK (transitional kindergarten) program for kids with late fall birthdays. Basically it's a half day kindergarten program free though school system since others go full day. I got a letter that Jane and Emma have been added to the class, so if we stay here we're set. And they are excited about that. Not sure where we'll be yet though. Ross only has 8 weeks left. He had a local interview today and has one in Houston next week. Still waiting on others too.

Beaching It Every Morning

Referring to last week...
Every single morning, Mon-Fri, we went to the beach. We'd check with other families at the reunion about their morning plans and usually they'd say "we're beaching it". The beach comes with three inconvient "s" things--sunscreen, sand and salt, but the water was pleasant, the time spent visiting was enjoyable and the event was unique. Not only did we visit the beach, but we also made a fieldtrip to the movies, the hosptial, firework show, ice cream out, a lighthouse, a nature preserve, old plantation ruins, a mission call party, and the outdoor swimming pool. The kids LOVED being with family and cousins. Jane called everyone her "new friend". Here are oddles of pictures from our camera, starting with us waiting for the beach shuttle. At the very end is a short video clip of the plane, with Ross making Jill laugh at Minnie doing flips.