This has to happen

I have to post. I'm actually going around the house composing a post in my brain and it's making me nuts! It's a writer's thing.
So, I know I promised all sorts of things, like the birth story of my eighth beautiful three month old daughter. Well, let's see: she came, she is perfect, I'm alive. I think that's it in a nutshell.

Now, I have got to get this out of me: it's the HOW TO PLAN TO TRAVEL WITH A 10 PERSON FAMILY--FOR 3 WEEKS (or however long, but long).
I have to write this because my sister loves lists. I think it makes list people have a sense of control over any given situation. I like lists a little. But I'm not a list person. Anyway, I looked up FlyLady's list for packing before vacation. I'd link you, but I have no time (hence no posts), google Fly Lady.
Her list lost me when she said: first, your house must be left sparkling. Then she listed things like socks and toothbrushes. Ok, I don't need a list for that. I'm not going to forget my undies. And breezing past "leave your house sparkling" makes a gal like me (with 8 kids and a newborn) really annoyed. Because that little breezy remark, my friends, is the hinge upon which the whole possibility of vacationing rests.

Ok, so in the two free minutes I have left…here's my list:

You are leaving in 1 week (minimum give yourself 3 days; 2 and it's going to be ugly.)
Start shutting things down now.
1) cancel all activities but the most essential appointments. We are keeping piano lessons this week (to reduce the number we miss, and because it will keep the kids occupied while I work), but nothing else. Friends and family will stay away and keep any phone calls short. Unless they're dropping off a coffee. That's ok.

2) go postal on LAUNDRY. Do all laundry and you can pack (in fact, feel free to pack as you fold…I have no problem leaving half-packed suitcases in my living room for the days before travel. No one is visiting anyway, remember?) Otherwise put it in away so you can lay everything out and decide what to take later. But you can't pack if it isn't clean. Dirty laundry left in the chute or hamper for extended vacations? Ew. Not an option. If you're a big family, you have a lot of laundry--so attack. Full-on laundry mode until it's all done. Part B of this step is to tell your kids to wear the same clothes for a week. I'm exaggerating, but only a little. Make as little new laundry as possible, and keep up on it.

3)Kitchen. Do all dishes. Start simplifying meals, eat everything in your fridge before you go. As you get close, only buy things you can eat in the number of days you have left. By the day or two before you leave, you should be down to bare bones and take-out dinners. The day before you leave, clean out the fridge and wipe it down (if you have the ambition). Eating out the night before travel is a very good idea.

4)Bathrooms. Trash out. Bleach/scour.  Must be left pretty near pristine.  Do this at the beginning of the week, try to keep up daily blitzes and then give it a good going over the day before you leave. Don't leave 3 ½ baths to be scoured the day before you leave. Too many last-minute details creep up on you, and stress can shut you down as you get close to the end.

5) all of that trash now in the outdoor/garage trash cans? Make sure someone can get it out for the trash pick-up on the day it comes…otherwise you've got food rotting in your garbage cans for an extended period of time. It has bad repercussions. I'm just saying.

6) go ahead and take care of forwarding or holding mail, shutting down hot water/heat/air conditioning…my husband is great about the practical details, so I won't elaborate here.

7) Pack. Think through carefully and make sure it's all there. Lay stuff out that you don't want to forget to take. Start putting stuff on the kitchen table or counter so you can't forget it. Write things down as they come to you so you don't forget…we're getting very close to the end now.

8)make a fun trip to Target or the Grocery store for travel snacks, coloring pads, or whatever is going to  give the kids a little lift as you get through the grueling travel. (Books on tape, DVDs too, whatever).

9)I always leave this last, but it should probably be done first: stock that diaper bag! Extra outfits!!

10) if you are still holding up and not in fetal position on the couch as you imagine scenes at the airport check-in…go ahead and vacuum the house, all floors.

Shall we recap? Do nothing but laundry, kitchen, bathrooms, trash, pack (attn.: fun extras and diaper bag..ok, purse too) and vacuum.

 You're good to go!
Now, if you want that list of what to pack, go print it off at FlyLady. But you're going to have to do that laundry first.;)

Bon Voyage!

Chesterton Quote link-up

I haven't posted in ages, but I didn't want to miss this chance to jump back in!  No time for commentary today, but I think the quote I chose for this month speaks for itself. So, without further ado, here is my favorite Chesterton quote!:

“How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe?
How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? No. A woman's function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness.”
― G.K. Chesterton

Leave it to Chesterton to remind us why we do this!

Hello out there!

I'm going to blog again.  I'm going to tell you all about the birth of our eighth child.  I'm going to write about what it's like to bring home a sweet little angel for the holidays, into a big, bustling and very busy household.  I'm going to talk a lot about love and how babies just get absorbed into the family, no matter what number, and how there's always a perfect place for that new member.

We did lose the cord to upload pictures…momentarily (I hope).

But right now, that little bundle is asleep on me, and I need to go re-read that quote I stole about being the peace.  Eight children with my oldest just turning 12 is bursting with love and life… but doesn't always feel like peace.

Until then, Advent blessings!

I need this on my fridge

"Be the Peace. 

Advent can cause interior turmoil as we seek peace amidst the craziness of the secular world. Instead of struggling against the forces of the commercial Christmas, take a deep breath, say a prayer, and breathe out peace.

 See that we are a people set apart, a people who look East, to the star. Peace is not to be found in the stores and the parties and the rush. But we are to be found there. We live there and we bring Christ to those places. It's hard, I know. But stand up straight, square your shoulders, inhale grace, and smile. Now go forth, knowing that God's got this. He's stood in that line. More importantly, He's already paid the price. So, you can be a blessing to every clamoring, chaotic scene. You have Christ within you. You can be the peace."--Mom to Mom, Day to Day

Martinmas - Welcome Winter!

 I am grateful for the sunshine falling on the last of the fall leaves.  I am thankful for sunny days when my children can dress warmly and go outside to play.  We've had our first snowfall, and our first wintery mix storm systems with wind and grey and wet...those long dark days that tend to make a mother call a realtor and look for homes in Florida.  I have had moments where I've dreaded what the next 6 months will bring to the Northern Midwest we call home.  

But I've also tried to embrace the coming chill.  To create warmth and light when there is none to be found in nature.  And I discovered the tradition of Martinmas.  A week ago last Monday was the feast of St. Martin of Tours.  St. Martin was a Roman soldier who spread the light of Christianity to the dark pagan world of the Roman Empire.  One of his symbols is a ball of fire.  So, over the centuries, his feast day was celebrated by lantern parades.  Fire in the darkness, with song and celebration.

All lit up and ready to march!

On procession

We don't live in medieval Europe, so our procession was small, but we did sing and we did celebrate with hot chocolate after circling our home a few times.

We remembered St. Martin of Tours, giving half of his red cloak to a naked beggar, discovering in a dream that the beggar was Christ.

We didn't mind the cold or the dark.

We had light and warmth and joy of our own to bring...as we welcomed the coming season.

on our mantle

modge podge, tissue paper, more modge podge: that's IT! So easy, so beautiful.  Do this for candlemas if you didn't get to it for Martinmas. You could make these for Christmas or Easter.  I loved this project!!

I have to give credit to Jessica at Shower of Roses for the tutorial...you can see her beautiful feast day celebrations there!

I stole this quote

You can go to Amongst Lovely Things to see the beautiful photos posted with this beautiful quote.  Yes, it's probably hitting me more at just this moment...you know, what with contractions and all.  I'm tucking this one away for encouragement.

"Now a child is the very sign and sacrament of personal freedom. He is a fresh free will added to the wills of the world; he is something that his parents have freely chosen to produce and ... freely agree to protect. They can feel that any amusement he gives (which is often considerable) really comes from him and from them, and from nobody else.
 He has been born without the intervention of any master or lord. He is a creation and a contribution; he is their own creative contribution to creation.

He is also a much more beautiful, wonderful, amusing and astonishing thing than any of the stale stories or ... tunes turned out by the machines ... People who prefer the mechanical pleasures to such a miracle are jaded and enslaved. They are preferring the very dregs of life to the first fountains of life... It is they who are hugging the chains of their old slavery; it is the child who is ready for the new world."

-G.K. Chesterton


PS That "contractions" comment was not some sort of hint.  I get these for a long time before labor.  Or you could say I'm in labor for weeks. Whichever makes you feel happy...not sure which way I prefer to think about it...;)

Prelude to Winter

Yesterday was our first snowfall.  It was a beautiful snowfall which I kept meaning to photograph in my spare time, which is why I never took a picture.:)  I did make hot chocolate for the occasion, though not "St.Nick's Hot Chocolate", which I didn't have the ingredients to make, but is my all-time favorite form of hot chocolate.  (I'll post a recipe for that one of these days...)

So, although I can't show you the falling flakes, I can show you what I woke up to this morning: the sunlight streaming through the remaining fall leaves, and a pretty dusting of white over everything.

Has anyone else noticed that snowfalls bring clear and bright skies in their wake? It is always sunny after a snow day.

 I loved the last of the fall leaves nestled in with the first of the winter's snow.

We received our official "warning" of the approaching winter.  The day grew dark early, we made a run for a pair of boots and some hats and gloves for the few of us who still needed them. And I might just have splurged on a peppermint mocha while I was out...


It's a good thing we had just managed to capture a few of these beauties in beeswax before the snow hit:

I tried to turn this project into a science/nature lesson, having my  little ones trace the leaves with crayons and study them under a magnifying glass.  Kindergarteners can be very taken with magnifying glasses.  Bilbo kept saying "I never knew that!" as he looked at his leaves.  

My artistic and talented sister made hers into a gorgeous swag for her front door.  I could barely manage to string them across my mantle.  Occasionally I'll catch a whiff of the beeswax, which is just lovely!

Is it completely obvious that I'm trying to post sweet things to distract myself from the one very sweet thing that simply will. not. come. early?!! How this little holiday baby isn't making an early arrival is beyond me. I feel like I am going to pop! Bun in the oven? Ha! I've got the Thanksgiving turkey in here!!

But, truth be told, I could stand to wait another day since five of my kids have a dentist appointment tomorrow and it would be really inconvenient to have to reschedule those!  Always good to get things cleared off the plate before a baby comes. On the other hand, I'm sure my Mom and sister would just love to take my kids to those appointments for me!:)