Yes, I am still alive and kicking. Sorry for not posting for a week but I have been so tired and not feeling well. When you have a family all your energies need to just go into surviving and taking care of our daily duties, which is exactly what I have been doing. To post would have ment to use my brain which was to tired to use. So here is sit, still tired and not feeling the best but I wanted to let you know I am still here.
Have a blessed day ~Shannon
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Get to know Joshua Landon.
Now you know....Joshua Landon!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tales of a military wife....
I am so proud of my husband for serving our country. He has worked so hard for where he is today. But it doesn't come without many sacrifices to the family. There was a time that I absolutly resented Gary for coming into the Army. Here I was sitting at home for days, months, years on end without my husband, all the while tending to the children and taking care of all the other duties that there are. I had to also pick up on all his tasks. I was repairing things, mowing, doing the trash, car cleaning, taking vehicles in for oil changes....the list goes on and on. It really wasn't easy and still isn't but we get through it.
But as time has gone on I have learned to appritiate my husbands job and the roll I play. While he is working long hours at the office or deployed for years at a time, I realize we are truely blessed. Blessed that he has a job, blessed that we have health insurance, a home, food to eat and each other. Soon the children and I addapted. We still miss him very much while he is away, we just adjust our routine. I go into supermom mode, having to be much more orginized. I have to put my thumb down quickly on bad behaviors that arise so the children don't walk all over me. They outnumber me so I have to be on my toes extra!!!
It's not a easy life to live but it is ours to live and I wouldn't change it for anything.
Be blessed. ~Shannon
But as time has gone on I have learned to appritiate my husbands job and the roll I play. While he is working long hours at the office or deployed for years at a time, I realize we are truely blessed. Blessed that he has a job, blessed that we have health insurance, a home, food to eat and each other. Soon the children and I addapted. We still miss him very much while he is away, we just adjust our routine. I go into supermom mode, having to be much more orginized. I have to put my thumb down quickly on bad behaviors that arise so the children don't walk all over me. They outnumber me so I have to be on my toes extra!!!
It's not a easy life to live but it is ours to live and I wouldn't change it for anything.
Be blessed. ~Shannon
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Laundry Monster
Do you know him? Does he visit your home? Are you scared of him? In my house we get that ol' monster from time to time, but hey, we do have a family of 10. That's a good excuse right. NO!
You are probably wondering where I am going with this, right? Well, today I am doing a load of laundry and my NEW washer is making this awful sound during the spin cycle. So I call the appliance repair place and they can't get us in till MONDAY....MONDAY people. How can I function without washing clothes for a family of 10 till Monday. Oh I am in dire straights. So, since we are on the laundry subject I thought I'd let you in on how laundry works in our home to keep it flowing smoothly...(well, as smooth at it possibly can...I told you the laundry monster rears his ugly head sometimes.)
I try to put in a load of laundry at night and put it in the dryer before heading to bed. In the morning I get up before the little ones, put in another load and fold the one in the dryer from the previous night. When the load in the washer is done I usually put one more load in. So that makes it roughly 3-4 loads a day that I do. And if I'm really on task, they will get folded and put away (Diana don't you say a word!) Doing it this way pretty much keeps up our laundry. I try to do sheets and blankets on the weekend. Now, my oldest 3 children do their own laundry. They are old enough and they don't mind doing it at all. Soon our 10 yr old will be doing her own. I think it's great that they have this responsibility and it will make them more self sufficiant as they become adults.
So there ya have it, my laundry memoirs. Have a blessed evening. Oh and by the way, I am sipping my yummy java that my wonderful husband made me (as he does every evening.)
~Shannon
You are probably wondering where I am going with this, right? Well, today I am doing a load of laundry and my NEW washer is making this awful sound during the spin cycle. So I call the appliance repair place and they can't get us in till MONDAY....MONDAY people. How can I function without washing clothes for a family of 10 till Monday. Oh I am in dire straights. So, since we are on the laundry subject I thought I'd let you in on how laundry works in our home to keep it flowing smoothly...(well, as smooth at it possibly can...I told you the laundry monster rears his ugly head sometimes.)
I try to put in a load of laundry at night and put it in the dryer before heading to bed. In the morning I get up before the little ones, put in another load and fold the one in the dryer from the previous night. When the load in the washer is done I usually put one more load in. So that makes it roughly 3-4 loads a day that I do. And if I'm really on task, they will get folded and put away (Diana don't you say a word!) Doing it this way pretty much keeps up our laundry. I try to do sheets and blankets on the weekend. Now, my oldest 3 children do their own laundry. They are old enough and they don't mind doing it at all. Soon our 10 yr old will be doing her own. I think it's great that they have this responsibility and it will make them more self sufficiant as they become adults.
So there ya have it, my laundry memoirs. Have a blessed evening. Oh and by the way, I am sipping my yummy java that my wonderful husband made me (as he does every evening.)
~Shannon
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
When life gives you lemons......
make lemonaide. We've all heard that phrase many times but what does it really mean? In my opinion it means turning bad situations into good ones, being a "glass half full" person rather than a "glass half empty" one. This is the phrase I am pondering today. While I sit here (sipping my 2nd cup of java) thinking about the sick kiddos, all my daily tasks I need to complete, the pile of laundry that is waiting for me, what I will make for dinner.......and so on....you know what I'm talking about. I realize all the good things I have to be thankful for, thus "I'll make lemonaide". I am blessed with a home to live in, food to eat, vehicles to drive, health insurance, my freedom, great kids, a wonderful husband, my husbands job....I could go on and on.
I say all this because I do not want my family to sit idle anymore. I want others to turn their lemons into lemonaid. My kids being at the top of that list. Instead of complaining about having spaghetti again for dinner, they are thankful they have dinner to eat, instead of complaining they are board with their toys, they are thankful for having toys....you get the picture. We all need to "make lemonaide" more often.
So with saying all that, here is what my plan is for our family. We have a place here in Watertown called, The Impossible Dream. It is a food pantry and does a food line for dinner. I am planning on taking my children there to have them explain what they do and to see if there are any volunteering opportunities for us. My desire is for our family to see all that we DO have instead of complaining of what we DON'T have. We are truely blessed with all we have, and we give God all the glory for it all.
So don't delay, make it a priority for you and your family to "Make lemonaide".
~Shannon
I say all this because I do not want my family to sit idle anymore. I want others to turn their lemons into lemonaid. My kids being at the top of that list. Instead of complaining about having spaghetti again for dinner, they are thankful they have dinner to eat, instead of complaining they are board with their toys, they are thankful for having toys....you get the picture. We all need to "make lemonaide" more often.
So with saying all that, here is what my plan is for our family. We have a place here in Watertown called, The Impossible Dream. It is a food pantry and does a food line for dinner. I am planning on taking my children there to have them explain what they do and to see if there are any volunteering opportunities for us. My desire is for our family to see all that we DO have instead of complaining of what we DON'T have. We are truely blessed with all we have, and we give God all the glory for it all.
So don't delay, make it a priority for you and your family to "Make lemonaide".
~Shannon
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sick, sick, and sicker.......
Well, I am officially surrounded by sick, sick and sicker....aka, Joshua (sick), Londyn (sick), and Emilee (sicker). Joshua has had a cough and runny nose, Londyn just has a dry cough that's hung around for weeks, then there is Emilee who has it coming out at all ends. I'm thinking I need to put on the tall rubber boots, goggles, and a rain slicker (the kind fishermen wear). We are running here and there cleaning up all sorts of bodily fluids amist taking care of all of our other daily tasks. But Gary and I are experts in "Orginized Chaos". Don't ask me how we do it, we just do. It's times like this we like to call "Survival Mode". You know those days don't you?
So lunch is now made, sick, sick, and sicker are still SICK and we continue on with our day.....
I posted a weekly recipe as promised. It is a family favorite and feeds a large family easily. Let me explain why I chose this recipe first. I have been promising my dear friend Diana (which by the way has her own wonderful blog: oldworldsunflower.blogspot.com) this recipe forever. We like to swap dinner ideas, so I decided this would be a good way to get it to her. So Diana, here ya go! I hope your family loves it as much as ours does.
We make bruchetta bread to go along with this recipe, so I will post that at a later time. If you make this, I would love it if you would post a comment letting me know how your family liked it and if you tweaked it I want to know what you did.
With that, I will bid you a good day. Enjoy it, be blessed and keep sipping that java....it makes everything seem so much better.
~Shannon
So lunch is now made, sick, sick, and sicker are still SICK and we continue on with our day.....
I posted a weekly recipe as promised. It is a family favorite and feeds a large family easily. Let me explain why I chose this recipe first. I have been promising my dear friend Diana (which by the way has her own wonderful blog: oldworldsunflower.blogspot.com) this recipe forever. We like to swap dinner ideas, so I decided this would be a good way to get it to her. So Diana, here ya go! I hope your family loves it as much as ours does.
We make bruchetta bread to go along with this recipe, so I will post that at a later time. If you make this, I would love it if you would post a comment letting me know how your family liked it and if you tweaked it I want to know what you did.
With that, I will bid you a good day. Enjoy it, be blessed and keep sipping that java....it makes everything seem so much better.
~Shannon
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentines Day 2010
Good morning all! First I'd love to wish my mom and stepdad a wonderful anniversary today. I love you guys so much and hope you have a great day today (if you are able to get out in your winter wonderland). Next, Happy Valentines Day!
Do you have your cup of Java? I've definitely got mine, and it's much needed this morning. I'm using my cute Martha Stewart Christmas mug (yes, it's still out, I love it). So I get home this morning at 6:00 am (I work part-time 3rd shift on Fri. and Sat. at Wal-Mart) to make a Valentines breakfast for my fabulous family. I put a bouquet of flowers out for them and made chocolate chip heart pancakes...M
mmmmm. I set out each of their gifts and cards and by 7:00 am was off to bed. Which brings us to the present...I'm up still sipping my java and enjoying my day with my family.
mmmmm. I set out each of their gifts and cards and by 7:00 am was off to bed. Which brings us to the present...I'm up still sipping my java and enjoying my day with my family. Saturday, February 13, 2010
Well, here goes...
This is my first adveture into the world of blogging. My intention for creating this blog is to share my daily life experiences on raising a large family and to share my likes and dislikes with others. To share experiences, thoughts and opinions...and to just "get it all out". You know, we do need to do that sometimes to feel refreshed and renewed. So with all that said, join me with a cup of java and share in my daily musings.
~Shannon
~Shannon
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