Do Hard Things

I was sick for a few days this past week but feeling better.  However, #4 Boy and #6 Boy both threw up last night.  As I was driving #3 Girl to school this afternoon she was telling me, "It's hard not feeling well and taking care of lot of little children."  (I am sure she was quoting something I must have said over the last few days).  I don't want my children to get the wrong impression.  It is hard, but it is worth it.  As I was telling the children how I wouldn't want to be doing anything else beside being their mother, I also included that 'I can do hard things' and so can each of them.  #4 Boy decided to share one of his stories.

#4 Boy's story:  I was at the bunk bed ladder but didn't want to climb it.  Dad was there and he held onto it.  He had me get on the first step.  He then said, "go up another step"... no, he didn't say that, but he wanted me to get up high enough that I could see into his eyes.  I climbed the ladder.  Daddy said he was strong and could hold the ladder.  

I love that #4 Boy was really thinking about what I was telling him.  That we can do hard things.  I love that he was able to think of a time that he was able to do something that was hard for him and that with his father's help he was able to climb the ladder.

I believe this could be a metaphor for life.  We are often scared to climb the ladder, even if we have taken that first step before, the ladder seems high and hard to climb.   Heavenly Father is there.  He doesn't climb the ladder for us, it is something we must do. He is holding the ladder.  He is strong.  He is watching over us.  He is protecting us.  He is encouraging us.  With His encouragement and the comfort of knowing that He is there, we are able to climb the ladder one step at a time.  We are able to go up each step until we are able to see into His eyes. 

Valentine's Day

I love how much the children enjoy each holiday.  Valentine's was no different.  The older children had fun creating valentine boxes (#2 Boy was the only one who had to bring one to school but the others joined in the fun).  

#2 Boy's valentine box house

They loved waking up to Valentine treats from Grandma and Papa

#1 Girl's valentine box building

After school the children gathered around the table and opened each valentine reading who it was from mixed with comments of "ugh... he gave me one that says he wants to be mine" or "Hey, I got another one of these!" 

After school delight

Dad brought home some lovely flowers and some candy for me to enjoy...and I gave him a project to work on :-)  I put his baseball cards that were just sitting in a box into binders and now he has been rearranging them!

 

The greatest highlight for me was the children making a Valentine Mailbox for our family.  We all had the chance to write or draw valentines for each member of the family.  I loved hearing them excitedly work on their valentines for each other.  I loved their excitement as each valentine was pulled out of the mailbox after dinner and delivered to the person it belonged to.  I also loved watching each recipient show appreciation and love as they looked at/read their letters and thanked the person that made it to them.  It made me smile to know that they also included drawings for the "newborn baby" that isn't born yet...that were delivered to my belly.  It was a very sweet evening!

holding the mailbox

#1 Girl's valentine to me...she even included a poem!

#6 Boy looking at his valentines

Dad looking hot and reading his valentines

The action and excitement!

I love seeing my family love one another!

Scheels - Something to do

My hopes and plans for doing something kind of fun while the kids finished being off track didn't work...at least not what I had planned.  They had fun the last few days some of that was spent at home and running errands.  They were all excited though when I told them I would take them into Scheels.  It's a new big store that went in last fall and we drive past it on the way to Costco so the kids have watched it since ground breaking.  They loved the big fish tank at the entrance and also the animated Presidents but they were not as excited about the large animals (which surprised me since we have been to other similar places and they like the animals).  #2 Boy told me, "I know they won't, but it feels like they are going to come alive and get me!"  I was also delighted to find a play area in the children's section.  They had fun running around on that for a while.

Some of the kiddos with the moose...no one would go behind it.

The kids all loved the Presidents and we spend some time listening to what they had to say

They also had fun climbing on the car

Mass Chaos

#1 Girl helping #6 Boy up into the play area and they had lots of fun together

It was a great escape, though I must say the kids were sad they couldn't go on the huge ferris wheel.  There was a minimal height limit (not allowing the younger two to go on it) and also a height limit that had to ride with an adult (which included almost all my children).  There was no way to work it out!