Another thing I don't agree with......

OK so I guess this post may be a little different from my others. I normally talk about my kids or what I am doing on a particular day. I am getting a bit frustrated with many things that are going on in the GOV. When I hear about something I try to make a good judgement. I feel like I am pretty down to earth and very easy to get along with. I don't put up much of a fight UNLESS it is against something I really feel important. I don't like to put up a fight but with all the things that I see where our country is headed I am wondering if I a going to have to put up some fights.

This article below really got me. I am sure most are thinking that the Pres. is just trying to help the kids and make them smarter. But I do NOT agree that this will help make our kids smarter. Well maybe their tests scores will go up but there are alot more important things that top notch scores. What about family time? What about just being a kid? I already feel that my kids spend a lot of time in school. I get Caleb on the bus at 7:40 and he doesn't get back into the house until at 4:30 p.m. SO that isn't long enough you say? After doing homework and dinner and prayer and scriptures it doens't really leave much time for anything else. What happened to kids going outside and exploring and playing and just being a plain ol' kid?

OH BUT NO. The gov. has to tell us how the kids should spend their time. I feel that they are trying to take over the responsibility of being the parents here. Can you imagine if the kids have to go to school until 7 pm? HOLY COW. I try to get my younger ones in bed at about 7:30. That leaves NO time for family and NO time to do much of anything. OH but at least our kids will be smart right?

Our summers are spent visiting family in another state. HMMM I guess that isn't important.

And I am not really concerned that some other countries go to school longer. If I wanted that I would move to that country.

I understand that many families have both parents working and it may be hard to figure out how to work around getting the kids and having people watch them but that is all part of being a parent. That shouldn't play a part in having our kids in school longer.

OK so my next point is the tax dollars for this. The kids will be in school longer which means some how we are going to have to fork out some money for the cost.

Can you tell I am against this? Can you tell I want to spend time with my kids. I want my kids to enjoy their life and not spend the entire time in school. For all those reading this think back to when you were in school? How much did you learn? How much can you even remember? You know what I remember about my growing up years? It was time spent with my family. I remember our camping trips. I remember how much my parents loved me and wanted to be with me. I remember that whatever they did we did too. I remember fishing with my family. I remember my dad taking us ice fishing. I remember a time we added on to our small mobile home. We took the logs and got them ready BY HAND. Then as a family......we all worked together to build an addition on to our home so we would have more room for our family. WE raised chickens and had a garden.

Now as far is school is concerned....I barely remember the teachers I had. I can't remember much before the 4th grade. That might just be my bad memory but what I am trying to say is that there are many more important things in life that are more important than a child sitting in school for 10 hrs. a day. So then some of you may say, Then why don't you homeschool?

I have thought about it...didn't last long....but it was a quick thought. I have my personal reasons that don't need sharing here but it doesn't have to do with spending time with my kids.

Ok this post is way too long. I just needed to get this off my chest. If it comes down to this I will fight for this to the end.


WASHINGTON -- Students beware: The summer vacation you just enjoyed could be sharply curtailed if President Barack Obama gets his way.
Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.
"Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas," the president said earlier this year. "Not with Malia and Sasha, not in my family, and probably not in yours. But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom."
The president, who has a sixth-grader and a third-grader, wants schools to add time to classes, to stay open late and to let kids in on weekends so they have a safe place to go.
"Our school calendar is based upon the agrarian economy and not too many of our kids are working the fields today," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
Fifth-grader Nakany Camara is of two minds. She likes the four-week summer program at her school, Brookhaven Elementary School in Rockville, Md. Nakany enjoys seeing her friends there and thinks summer school helped boost her grades from two Cs to the honor roll.
But she doesn't want a longer school day. "I would walk straight out the door," she said.
Domonique Toombs felt the same way when she learned she would stay for an extra three hours each day in sixth grade at Boston's Clarence R. Edwards Middle School.
"I was like, "Wow, are you serious?' " she said. "That's three more hours I won't be able to chill with my friends after school."
Her school is part of a 3-year-old state initiative to add 300 hours of school time in nearly two dozen schools. Early results are positive. Even reluctant Domonique, who just started ninth grade, feels differently now. "I've learned a lot," she said.
Obama and Duncan say kids in the United States need more school because kids in other nations have more school.
"Young people in other countries are going to school 25, 30 percent longer than our students here," Duncan told the Associated Press. "I want to just level the playing field."
While it is true that kids in many other countries have more school days, it's not true they all spend more time in school.
Kids in the U.S. spend more hours in school (1,146 instructional hours per year) than do kids in the Asian countries that persistently outscore the U.S. on math and science tests -- Singapore (903), Taiwan (1,050), Japan (1,005) and Hong Kong (1,013). That is despite the fact that Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong have longer school years (190 to 201 days) than does the U.S. (180 days).

A much needed break

We have some friends in our ward that also have five kids. Their kids are like our kids. We will just say they are all busy and like to have fun. About two weeks ago we watched their kids. Three spent the night. They have a nursing baby so he went home after their date (running a 5k). Then one of their girls decided she wanted to go home too so we had them wake her up so she could go home with mom and dad. We are planning on swapping monthly for an overnighter.

SO last night was our night. WE took our kids over to their place around 4ish and they all slept over and then they got them ready for church this morning and even got their before we did. They had 10 kids (5 girls---5 boys) to get ready this morning. Can you imagine what that must have been like?

Something that is pretty funny about Don and I is that we can NEVER choose what we want to do. And by the time something has been decided it is pretty much time for our date to be over. We stopped off at the mall. Don wanted to show me how it felt to lay on a Sleep Number bed. I can pretty much sleep on any bed except if it is rock hard and fall asleep. Don, on the other hand, needs better support after injuring his back at basic training. I wish we could afford it for him but they were expensive. So off we went walking around.

We went to Olive Garden but the waiting time was supposed to be 40 minutes. NO THANKS. So then we ended up at a 50's, 60's, 70's restaurant. It was cute and the food was good and the service was AWESOME. We will probably go back.

The whole time in the car was basically, "what do you want to do?". We couldn't come up with anything. It was pouring down rain so that left a lot of the things we like to do out of the question. WE stopped at the store for milk and then looked at renting a movie. Nothing looked good so we went home and put in one we already had but that I hadn't seen. Both Don and I and alot of other people know what happens when I start watching a movie and it is a little bit late. YEP...I fall asleep. I have NO idea why but I can remember even growing up I did this. I remember my best friend loved watching movies but she would get so mad at me when I fell asleep. And that is why I am NOT a movie watcher. I would much rather go bowling or play miniature golf or other type of games. So I was determined not to fall asleep watching The Da vinci Code. I did SO good for a while but my eyes started getting so heavy and I knew....I just knew what was going to happen. I could feel Don continually looking over at me to see if I was still awake. And then if happened. He just smiled and turned it off and let me go to sleep. We decided maybe we could finish it during the day. :)

It was such a wonderful time being with Don alone. It was a great boost for our marriage and it helps me to be a better mom. It also is a great example for our kids. I want my kids to know that Don and I value our marriage and think it is important to do things together so we can be strengthened.

I am grateful for people so willing to take my kids. I rarely ask others to watch my kids. It is a tough job that not just anyone can do. But thankfully we have a chance to swap childcare once a month with this awesome family. I am so eternally grateful for this because I know it isn't easy taking on 10 kids at once under the age of 11.

Gratitude

I feel pulled in every direction lately. Helping one with homework here. Helping console one that is crying. Being there with open hears to hear the one who is excited. Figuring out how to control the ones who are fighting. Spending time with each individually. Trying to keep the houe clean. I think the word of the month in our family is MOM.

Mom....he won't leave me alone.
Mom....can you come here.
Mom...where is ?
Mom...guess what?
Mom....he hit me.
Mom...I need you.
Mom...I'm hungry.
Mom...Can we watch a movie?
MOM>>>MOM>>>MOM>>>

AHHHH HELP ME. So I have been thinking about some things lately. I know I need to have a better attitude. I need to be better at bringing more peace into the home and being able to get things together and keep them together. I am not totally sure how but I better figure it out soon.

As I was driving home from taking the kids to school today I started thinking about the things I am grateful for. I have so much to be grateful for and sometimes I forget these things and let the stresses of the day take over. When I do that NOTHING seems like it is going right but I know I need to stop and take a look at all the amazing and wonderful things the Lord has blessed me with. I need to keep my ears and eyes open and see and hear the tender mercies of the Lord. I know there are many.

So here are some things I am grateful for today:

1. A somewhat peaceful night with the kids last night as Don attended the temple.
2. The mornings when I get up early and study the scriptures while it is quiet.
3. The beautiful fall weather. I just love the colors it brings.
4. My health. I attempt to exercise every morning and I love how I feel afterward. NOTE: Afterward. I don't much enjoy the during. :)
5. My kids. I can say this now. Three are at school and the other two are enjoying a show while I am supposed to be exercising. I will.... just as soon as I get this written. But I am grateful for my kids and I am trying to learn how to be more grateful for the patience I SHOULD be learning
while raising a large and not so easy crowd.
6. Music. I love music and wish I were more talented in this area but I can enjoy and admire those with the talent. I love Hilary Weeks. There is a song that I have been playing over and over and over these last few days and it will never get old. I have copied the lyrics below. The first part is her singing and then the last part where it is as if the Lord is singing is sung by a guy. I don't know who though. Would have to ask Don. But it is amazing. If any of you have a chance to get her CD's DO IT. She is wonderful.


Another dayI'll try again
But can you tell me
Will the hurting ever end?
I've been taught
And I believe
But it's been awhile
Since I've been on my knees
But I need you by my side
I don't have the strength
To make it on my own
And Lord, do you hear my prayer
How soon will you answer me?

I know you're weary
I know you've had all you can bear
And now you ask of me on bended knee
I promise
I'll be there
I've watched you struggle
Yet I can see how much you've grown
Child, could you feel my power in your darkest hour?
You were not alone
Be still and know that I am God
I'm by your side
Whom shall you fear
I'll give you strength my child
I am here
Be still and know that I am God
And there's no prayer
That I don't hear
Lift up your head
My child
I am here

School record BABY

SO Caleb came home from school today all excited because in P.E. they did the front plank. This is something I am very familiar with. It is something my online personal trainer had me doing. I started out doing it for 15 sec. and moved up to 30 sec. It has been awhile since I have done this type of exercising so I am sure it will be a bit of a struggle for me to do the 30 sec.

So when Caleb told me that the record for the entire school was 5 minutes and that he held the plank for 5 minutes and 12 seconds I was EXCITED. I was more than excited. I was so happy for him.

To see what a front plank go here http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/upload/35118/images/front-plank-exercise.jpg

Good job Caleb. You are awesome.

Funny kids

Here is the before picture of Rachel and Mayah's room before we painted it. We went to Lowe's and they decided on purple.

Here is Rachel painting the room. She did a pretty good job. WE ended up running out of paint and one wall remained white for quite a while as we were busy finishing other things around the house. But finally we got some more paint and finished that last wall yesterday.

Here is Mayah showing off her side of the room. She put up some of these wall stickies. Do you notice anything about the butterflies?

A few more wall stickies.

Here is Rachel's side. OH BUMMER. Should have had Rachel sitting on her bed while I took this one. She was busy playing. Her white picket fence headboard was $30 on craigslist. LOVE IT.
The girls are so funny. Sometimes they say the cutest things and it just makes motherhood that much more interesting. A couple of days ago Rachel was in our bathroom as Don and I were talking about making pumpkin bread. I told him we didn't have any pumpkin and Rachel YELLED, "WE CAN MAKE BIKINI (ZUCCHINI) BREAD. It took Don and I awhile to stop laughing. I think that bikini bread would be some pretty darn good stuff.

Then today while I was trying to get Mayah to make her bed and pick up her books she started whining. She wanted me to help her and I told her I would if she could be a big girl and go in her room and start. She then said that she was only a big girl on Saturday. HMMM REALLY. She said she was small now. So she is only a big girl when it is convenient for her. Pretty typical I'd say. She seemed pretty big when she wanted to ride the rides at 6 Flags. And she was a big girl when she went potty in the toilet. She was also very big when we played baseball for Family Home Evening and she wanted to use the bat. But when she has to work she is small. QUITE SMART if you ask me. I wish I could be small when it came to working. But I guess I have to put on my big girl shoes and get to work.

A week ago I took Ethan and Mayah to Target. We were just sort of window shopping. LOL. I was trying to get ideas for the girls' room. Mayah started talking about Cinderella. She said she was Cinderella but then she quickly let me know that she didn't want to do all that cleaning.

6 Flags

Yesterday Don's work had their company party at 6 Flags. The kids were super excited just like last year. But this year was alot more fun. The kids are a bit older and can enjoy the rides more. They served us lunch and all you can drink water and pop throughout the day. I love seeing my kids happy. I loved it too. I went on the Superman ride with the kids and that was a little scary. This ride was very high up and once you got to the top it dropped you STRAIGHT down. I was laughing so hard but only because Zach had NO expression on his face. In fact, he looked like he might puke. I was a bit worried but it was kind of funny too. Then, finally, the ride stopped and I looked over at him and he said, CAN WE DO THAT AGAIN. I couldn't believe it. Caleb rode a couple of seats behind us with some guy. He was TOO COOL. After the ride he found us outside the gate and came and gave him a high five. Caleb said he was giving him some tips on how to make it 'really fun'. I would do it again. I wish we would have had more time to do the other big scary rides but we always run out of time after eating lunch and giving the younger kids some time on the small rides.

Don made 10 loaves of homemade bread and then got really creative. Check out the picture for his creation. The kids were already in bed by the time it was done so they will have to enjoy it in the morning and I know they will. Not only did he bake bread he cleaned up his mess and did the dishes and loaded and started the dishwaher and mopped the floors and wiped the table. AHHH I love him so much. He is really good to me. PLUS PLUS he helped the kids go on a leaf hunt and helped them make leaf booklets while I took a LONG nap. Gotta love a man that does this. You are the best hon.

Big and Beautiful

The other night Rachel found this outside. WOW. Look at how big it is. Compare it to her hand. And it was so gorgeous. It was actually dead when we took this picture. But it had pretty markings and it was a light green sea color. I am amazed at the bugs and creatures and living things that we find in our new area.

Our neighbor across the street has seen two different bears. One went into his garage and bit a hole in their garbage can. He was on the smaller side. The other was in his front yard and he was almost late getting to the bus to pick up his son because he was waiting for it to leave. He finally opened the window and yelled and it left. This bear was HUGE (he said). He got some pictures of it. Both of these happened during the day. I told him as long as he kept his 'friends' on his side of the street it would all be OK.