Sleep...brain fog...and being happily insane!

So a friend of mine and I were talking on the phone last night. We were talking about the fact that as mothers we don't get enough sleep so it's no wonder we're going insane! In our conversation she told about a study that had been done on human beings in which they were not allowed sleep. Some of the people LITERALLY went insane. My friend had come to the conclusion that it was her lack of sleep that was causing her issues!
I can't wait until I am at the lords feet because I sure have a lot of questions for him. For instance: Why would he give children so much energy? Why doesn't he save the excess of energy for us Moms that NEED it?

I have decided that I am suffering from a serious case of BRAIN FOG. (this IS an actual term) Hence my inability to keep it together (smile) Honestly, I am perfectly happy. (mostly) I feel like my last post might have miss led some people. I LOVE my life, my children, AND my husband! I just don't do well on no sleep! :) Just ask my husband about my 2 1/2 hr naps? A cousin of mine suggested lots of b12...It's worth a try.

I do get a little bummed when I start to examine my faults. I always backslide a bit before I figure things out and improve myself. I know I'll be fin and happy in the end. Each time I go through one of these "phases" I come out a little further up the mountain. I guess it's kinda like the song..."You take three steps forward and one step back, and you come a little closer. Take three steps forward and one step back and you've started on your way...Now look around see how far you've come. It's hard to remember where you've begun..." duh duh dum... I forget the rest but you get the idea.

Well any I just wanted every one to know that I am okay. I Don't need a suicide watch or any thing. :) All is well in the Land of Leschorn! The queen just feels a little off her rocker. She will be found competent enough to rule eventually!

Just Thinking Aloud...

I've just been in such an odd mood lately. I'm not really depressed. I'm just more...thoughtful. I've been searching out distractions and nothing is working. Though I must admit that I have learned quite a bit about the FLDS cult, the SCA, baking and sewing; none of that is REALLY what I've been looking for.
I don't know how else to describe it except that it's like when you want something really yummy to snack on but can't quite put your finger on what you want so you start pulling out ingredients to see what you can come up with. Cookies? Nope. Out of butter...Pie? Uh, not enough eggs...So you go for the cake stuff...can't be chocolate, no cocoa! You end up closing up the cook book and leaving every thing you pulled out, on the counter. You walk away unsatisfied and discouraged, thinking about how you were just missing one thing from each recipe. It's very FRUSTRATING!
Well, that seems to be my life lately. Not just in one or two aspects but every part. I find my self thinking "if only" quite a lot these days:

• If only I had more dresser space my little girls' clothes would be more organized.
• If only I didn't have the two youngest so close together I would be able to expect my children to be able to sit through a devotional with the older kids in the morning (you try teaching 6 kiddos about peace in the home when you have one baby in your lap crying while the other is whacking them in the head with a toy!)
• If only I had some help during the day I might actually get through all of my kids' school work for the day.
• If only I weren't so tired all the time I wouldn't yell so much!

I could go on but I'll spare any readers who haven't already fallen asleep while trying to follow my ramblings...Any way, as I was thinking tonight, I found my self throwing an "If only..." pitty party. I feel like I'm just missing one thing from each part of my life to make every thing perfect. Why is that? I leaning towards the maybe that's "how God planned it" answer (my old stand by) But, I'm not sure that's gonna do it this time around. Because if "there must needs be opposition in all things" where's my opposite?

Where's my perfect. Wheres my one perfect morning devotional? Wheres my one peaceful, non-exhausting, slept all night, day? Where is that moment that I walk through my house with out seeing piles of "too small", "too big", "good will",or "to be folded" clothes?

Doesn't it make sense that we would need a little perfect every now and then just to keep us going? So I could say "Hey, you know what? I got all the school work don one day last month maybe I could do it again."

All I want is ONE of those ingredients so I can make my treat and ENJOY it!...I'll take laundry surprise...or a homework pie... or my personal favorite, how about brownies with a side of peace and quiet?

Any was sorry for boring you. To be honest I'm so tired that I don't even know if this post made any seance. No great words of wisdom to put here at the end. Just a some what troubled feelings that I'm still not happy about or at peace with...blah...blah...blah...

Johns Blog...

Would all of those people who agree that John should be writing more on his blog (instead of watching old Star Trek reruns via the Internet) please make themselves known! LOL!

Here's how it goes...

Malachi: I have a bloody nose.
Me: Quit picking it. (with out turning to look)
Malachi: Okay...Uh, Is this enough to stain a wall?
(enter blood soaked tissue...note blood spatter on clothing and blood covered hands)
Me: Is there blood on my wall?
Malachi: No...(looking very thoughtful) just on mine.
Me: Why is there blood on your wall!?!
Malachi: Because I drew a picture.
Me: With blood?!
Malachi: Yeah! I wanted it to look like a battle like at the Renaissance Festival. (sweet toothless smile)

Note: There are no pictures because I did NOT want a repeat, and nothing gets a good encore like a photo op! Just know that it was gross!!!!

PS This is why we stock up on Clorox Wipes and Magic Erasers!

Blogging Beauties!

I recently allowed my daughter Rose to start a blog. (let me know if you haven't received an invite yet and want one) Considering the fact that she is only nine I have been really surprised to see how well she has done. It helps with her writing and typing at the same time. She is able to express her feelings in a way that she has never done before.
Now that she has started getting replies and comments from people she is excited to write more! My Sarah has now caught on to the fact that this is fun and she is missing out. Sooo...She got a blog too! (let me know if you want an invite for that one too!)
Any way I am just so happy that both of my girls are journaling (in a way). It sure beats holding them to a table and using a traditional pen and paper! Instead of insisting that they have to write at least five sentences and having it take an hour. I am finding that I can limit them to 15 min of blogging time and expect a paragraph. I LOVE IT!
Keep up the good work girls! I love you!

Kids at the petting zoo!

Okay so I'm working on spacing issues...BUT ANYWAY... Here are some promised pictures of the kiddos at Rawhide's petting zoo. They had a blast! Maggie just kept chasing the baby goats around and trying to climb on the pony!


The baby goats were obviously a favorite! Who doesn't love babies? My personal favorite was the baby Camel !

Just for Laughs...

... I thought I'd let you know that I experienced one of the most embarrassing moments in my mothering yet!

The other night we were at the Rainforest Cafe with my sister, her husband and their two girls. All went pretty well except for the fact that my Hannah and Shannon's Kira were afraid of the storms.

Any way, as we were leaving my Gabriel walked over to another table, smiled sweetly, leaned down and licked a chip on a man's plate! I thought I was going to DIE! The people at the table took it well and even offered him the chip that his tongue had touched!

I offered to pay for their meal but they just laughed and said it was okay. The two tables near by were laughing as well! One guy teared up! I did too but NOT because I thought it was funny!

In hind sight it is pretty funny but I must admit that at the time I would have paid someone else to claim him as their child!

Jail Birds...

I'll post more pictures of our trip to Rawhide when I have the time. But for now, these were so cute I just had to put them up! Grandma paid 5.00 to be locked up with all of her grandchildren. Hannah wasn't feeling to good (she's been in bed with a fever all day today) so we didn't make her go in. We even added Abbie at the last minute but the masses were scattering at that point!

PS. Doesn't Maggie look right at home behind those bars?

Abbie's Among Us!

Just thought I'd take a moment to post these pics of Abbie since she is normally just hanging out in the stroller durring all the fun activities we're doing while everyone's in town! She really is with us. Aunt Missy took these while we were all hanging out at the pool on Thursday!

There will be no pictures posted of that day because none of them came out good!(sigh...)

A Great Day to be Knighted!

Our whole gang went to the Annual Renascence Festival last Saturday! There were 12 kids age 9 and under! It was so much fun! There was a knighting ceremony that was taken very serious by several of the kids. Where they all promised to do one good deed during the day to prove their loyalty to the crown.

We loved all of the characters that were walking around! This was a pirate. He was impersonating Jack Sparrow but my kids have never seen that movie. So Frankie and Josh were happy to tell them all about it.

While Daddy took the boys to look at "guy stuff" the older girls rode on the big swan swing and the Kira and Hannah got to ride on the butterflies.

The dancing was one of my favorite parts! I loved watching the kids learn how to do it!

Hannah was THRILLED to see a "real PRINCESS" coming toward her and suspended her normal shyness to give her a huge hug. Kira was there too but did not step out of her comfort zone to get to close.

Aunt Missy spent most of the day holding babies (as usual) and attracted the attention of a court jester who was quite impressed with what a "great aunt" she was!

There was a live action joust and we got to meet some of the knights afterward! The picture didn't turn out great but I love my boys faces...You can just tell they had a BLAST!