Laundry

It really seems like laundry is never ending. I feel like I'm always doing laundry. A couple weeks ago, I ran out of laundry detergent and used that as a great excuse to not do laundry for an entire week. Here's how much laundry I did this week.

Sunday - washed, dried & folded a load of towels and a load of dark clothes (2 loads)
Monday - put away the two loads from yesterday
Tuesday - No Laundry
Wednesday - washed, dried & folded a load of white clothes, a load of dark clothes, and a load of towels & baby blankets (3 loads)
Thursday - put away the three loads from yesterday
Friday - wash a load of dark clothes (and then totally forget about them until Saturday)
Saturday - dry, fold and put away the load from last night (1 load)

That makes 6 loads of laundry this week. And only one day that I didn't do some part of the laundry process. I've tried doing all the laundry in one day, but it's too much to do all at once.

Hidden effects of birth control?

I read this the other day and want to THANKFULLY say I've never experienced any of these comments or attitudes. It's talking about the "hidden effects of birth control." 

Young couples are thought irresponsible when they get pregnant right away.

Seriously? I don't know anyone who thinks that. Or has said it out loud. And I know a lot of people. Opinionated people. I know people who wait 2 years, 5 years, 10 years. Huh, I don't know if I know anyone who got pregnant right away. People thought we were raring to go, but we waited a year. And it's a good thing, too. We fought like cats and dogs and had a lot of adjusting to do. I can't imagine being pregnant and prepping for a baby on top of that. 

Was it planned?" is no longer deemed a rude and quite personal question, but in fact, is seen as a natural question.

Again, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say this. To me or anyone else. 

Children are often seen, and even referred to, as an "accident."

I have heard this. And I don't think it's necessarily negative. Maybe a less emotionally charged word is "surprise." But it means the same--we weren't expecting this. Surprise is usually positive, and no one ever wants an accident. 

Large families are often seen as incredible (and thus, put on an undeserved pedestal) or insane (and thus, sneered at behind their backs).

How large is large? 20 kids seems unreasonable and probably irresponsible. Coming from a large family of 7, I scoff at 10. Double digits seems ridiculous. But that's my opinion. If some couple wants to have 100 kids AND can provide for them, why would I care? 

Anyone who has clearly NOT bought into the birth control culture at any point is seen as fair game for jokes, criticism, or invasive questions, because (it is assumed) they "chose" something different.

This woman must have a lot of negative experiences and crappy friends. Again, I know A LOT of women who have never used "birth control" and are not made fun of at all. This lady is jaded. 

By extension, because they "chose" their family size, the larger-than-average family is often expected to never lack, to never struggle with discipline, to never be tired, etc. even by Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

She needs to get off her soap box. She's just having a bad day. 

A young professional women is "throwing her career away" if she opts to stay home with her new baby.

Really? I threw my career away and I've never had any negative remarks about it. I have had some other moms say things like "I couldn't do it" or "How can you do it" but I don't think of them as negative. Just like I say "I couldn't get my kids & me out of the house by 7 every morning" or "Do everything I do AND work, no way." 

Couples are often shocked and dismayed when they struggle with infertility.

To put it bluntly, this woman is a pious bitch. Couples are shocked and dismayed about fertility because it's supposed to work for everyone. Whether you use birth control or not. People were all designed to make babies. It has nothing to do with controlling when you make them.  

I wonder if this author has a problem with Natural Family Planning? Is her problem just with the pill or other hormonal contraceptives? Condoms? Paraguard? 

Loving the kids

I read this article and cried just thinking about losing one of our kids.

Reading stories like this always make me remember the times I've yelled at the kids, been impatient, locked myself in the bathroom to get away for a minute.

And then I want to wake them up and snuggle-buggle them.

Instead, I recommit myself to being the kind of parent I want to be.

Shrine Circus

We went to the Shrine Circus in St. Paul on April 1. The kids have been asking about the circus for a long time--I'm not sure where they heard about it.

They had a great time.

Finding our seats

The acrobats were our favorites.

Jamey LOVED the Cannon Lady!

Easter

Here are a few pictures of decorating Easter Eggs. We made 5 dozen.

We took a few pictures before church.

We Don't Say That Word

Months ago, I told the kids "we don't say that word." That word was "stupid." They were calling each other stupid, and I was tired of hearing it. More than that, I want them to be nice. I digress.

Recently, Jamey was in the bathroom with the door closed, and Bethany said "This is so stupid." Jamey opened the bathroom door and hollered out, "We don't say stupid!"

There's getting to be quite a list of things we don't say around here:

1. Stupid
2. Hate
3. Dumb
4. Shut Up (or anything that sounds like it or begins with "sh")
5. Idiot
6. Mean

I'm going to add to this, because there are a ton more words the kids have decided we don't say. It's pretty funny. 

Turning 35

I celebrated my 35th birthday on April 6.

The Run
Jeremy & I were going to go swimming together, but the pool was closed. Instead, we got up at 6:30 to run. We ran almost the same route. From our house, down the trail to Cleary Lake. Then he went around the lake, and I went part-way. We met up with about 1.5 miles to go and ran home together. It was a fun way to start my birthday.

Breakfast
I was planning to make scones, but I forgot. As soon as we got home, Jeremy picked up pastries at Edelweiss Bakery in Prior Lake. Yum! That, along with some coffee, perfect.

Swimming Lessons
Ivy & Jamey had swimming lessons. Then we grabbed smoothies.

Lunch
We made lunch at home and let Livy take a long nap. And we had Red Velvet Cake! My favorite!!

Cliff Fen Park
I saw this park a while ago and have been eager to take the kids to play. There are a lot of climbing toys and tons of kids to play with. They loved it!

Sculpture Gardens & Loring Park
This is one of my favorite places to take the kids downtown Minneapolis. They love running around and scaring me to death on that huge bridge.

Joe's Garage
This is seriously my favorite place to eat ... ever. Love it!

Sebastian Joe's
Okay. Maybe this is my favorite place to eat. :)