AHHH...The Smell Of Chlorine

Speaking of cellulite...I am trying to swim mine off. God knows I'm not a runner but throw me in a pool and I can swim. Just give me a cap(so my hair doesn't turn bright green) and my favorite goggles and I'm off.....I look real cute(like the lovely picture someone put of me in my high school yearbook)I love to get a good workout by swimming and I love the smell of chlorine. It gets me going haha... I know weird huh? I guess the smell just triggers memories. Memories of swimming as a young kid in our backyard with my brother and sisters. Memories of me swimming on the high school swim team (minus the yearbook picture). Or maybe it's just the smell of my husband:) He always smells like chlorine and sunscreen:)
I can't run long distances but I can swim forever!

While I was swimming laps yesterday trying to melt away all my baby weight before summer and covering my kids little bodies in sunscreen it took me back to the best days of my youth. Summer days! Swimming pools,water volleyball,water gun fights, sunscreen,the beach,the river,jumping off the houseboat,water skiing, tubing (NEVER AGAIN)watermelons,mom's tuna sandwiches,otter pops, summer skirts, flip flops, corn on the cob, BBQ,lemonade stands, I could go on and on.... I love the squeals and giggles and happiness that comes from our backyard!

Our own paradise:)

Here's some pictures I took of my kids.... I can't wait till Summer!!!!

Geared up for the water gun fight!



Nothing like a chunky naked baby in a bucket:)





Miss hot stuff....



Lovin the hollyhocks!





And to get the cutest summer pictures ever... just give your kids watermelon and snap away!!!






Who can eat their watermelon the fastest?


Smile!


Love his long lashes!











Landen picked these off our blueberry bush for a quick snack:)




Another thing I will love this summer is our garden! We are growing so many things. So, when the kids are constantly saying,"were hungry" I will just say.... Go pick something!(just not your nose)
After a full day of swimming the kids and I made carrot cake....out of baby food! It was actually really good.


I love making memories with my kids... As summer draws near what stands out as your favorite memories? What are your plans this summer?

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And I know my girls always wear BIG bows and flowers in their hair but today they are sporting BIG PINK bows for April Rose! In honor of "Hoping in Pink" Day
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p.s. I sure got my work cut out for me with all this diaper talk. I am looking a both sides. (thank you everyone for taking your time to talk about poop and diapers on my blog) I never thought diapers could be so interesting LOL
Have a good day!
I'm off to do some laps:)

Got Cellulite?

I do, but I can assure you that it's not at all this cute!

Look at those ROLLS!!!! LOL


I'm busy uploading pictures from the weekend, while I sit here and nurse this chubby little one. (these pictures are just a sneek peek)
Thank you to everyone for the advice on cloth diapers. My girls rollie pollie buns are for sure going cloth....I just have to figure out which ones to use. Who knew there were so many diaper cloth companies out there!!! Thank you! I will check into all the ones you have given advice on:) Looks like I have some research to do and some rolls to go clean now:)
Gosh, I wish my dimples and rolls were this cute:)

Diapers

Ok mom's I'm just dropping in real quick to ask you about diapers. I have been thinking of switching to cloth diapers. I know, it's my 5th baby and I am just now switching! I have just about tried every diaper out there except cloth. Any suggestions??? Do you use cloth? Why or why not? What brand do you use? I am hearing they are easy...yes easy! Share please!!! I'll be back on to post some recipes (don't laugh) I know I'm the worst cook but these recipes I'm about to share got 14thumbs up from my family (is that right) yea 7 in fam 2 thumbs each... haha jk...(and you wonder why my kids have a math tutor) Thanks Karissa!!! (can you tell it's been a long day) I'll also be back on to show off the cutest pictures I took of my kids over the weekend...but I'll leave you with this.


Just some inlanders wishing they were locals again....



check out that crystal clear pool..haha

hang loose!

Knock Knock...

Who's There?
Olive
Olive Who?
Olive these kids with all my heart!

I liveOlive right around the corner from The Graber Olive House and didn't even realize what it was.
Olive my jokes and I guess I'm the only one who thinks there funny because your not laughing are you???haha...It was funny at first but then my kids were like mom that is old now stop! LOL
THE HISTORIC OLIVE HOUSE is home of world famous Graber Olives grown and produced by the Graber family since 1894. (you can find them all over the world in stores like Stater Bros) A rare delicacy has been created in Graber Olives: meaty, with a superb nutlike flavor. The natural full ripeness and flavor have been preserved by selecting and carefully processing only the fully tree-ripened fruit.
Because of the unique flavor and full golden appearance of the Graber Olive it has become a favorite hors d'oeuvre...the gourmet's delight! It is appropriate to any menu, perfect to serve on any occasion and is enjoyed by all. Because taste and appearance are different...and wonderful...they are a favorite gift...a unique treat for family and friends!




Californians of today are indebted to the foresight of the Franciscan missionaries from Spain who planted the first olive trees at the Mission San Diego de Alcala in 1769. Olive trees flourished in this land of favorable climate and soil and were enthusiastically planted on the great ranches which made early California so colorful. It became a tradition of the early Californians to set their tables with plenty of fruits and wine, and including olives whose nut-like flavor and healthfulness were highly esteemed.

After purchasing land in Ontario in 1892, C. C. Graber discovered olives, as cured by the earlier ranchers, to be one of the finest food delicacies of California. After research and study of this method, Mr. Graber cured several barrels and the following season a much greater quantity was demanded by neighbors and friends who had eaten from the original barrels. Thus began Ontario's oldest existing business.

And now, since 1894, Graber Olives, fully tree-ripened with delicate rich flavor and succulent texture, continue to be enjoyed by generations of families not only in California but throughout the world.

We got our own private tour...(since we were the only ones there) and because we had enough kids to make up a class haha...
We started the tour with a LONG 12 minute video in a gift shop filled with GLASS BREAKABLE EXPENSIVE things...I ended up buying some fancy wrapped treats from the gift shop to keep the little ones quiet and PRAYED REALLY HARD that the kids would behave.
They did (whew!)


Our tour guide was so sweet and patient with us. She took her time explaining everything and answering ALL the kids questions










We left there with some olives and olive oil...
Then we talked about the benefits to eating them (My kids loved them!)

In the mediterranean countries of Europe people eat a lot of olive oil. It is common to eat bread or toast just dipped in olive oil. Because of the daily use of olive oil the people that live in these countries suffer less from heart diseases than people of other countries in Europe.
The use of olive oil has a positive effect on the cholesterol level in our blood.
Because olives grow in a warm environment and the fruit has to protect itself from heat and bright sunshine, olives contain a lot of fenol-like substances. These substances could possibly play a role in the prevention and cure of thrombosis and arteriosclerosis.
It is often said that olive oil causes problems with the stomach or intestines. This is simply not the case. Olive oil is very easy to digest and mild for the intestines!
Test it yourself
So We did a little (science experiment)
spill some olive oil on your hands you can easily wash it off. It disappears fast in the sink and you don't need a lot of hot water and detergent to wash it away. Because your body is like a glass of water it reacts the same.
If you have eaten some olive oil your body will evaporate it within 1½ hour via your pores. This means your body can handle it easily and does not have to waste any energy to digest it. This works differently with baking butter and other products, especially those based on animal products. In this case you have to scrub hard and need hot water and detergent to dissolve the fat in the water so it can be washed away.
So....
Use more olive oil!!!
Oil and butter based on vegetables are to be preferred but olive oil is best of course and you can fry everything in it. To put it shortly: everything you eat should be based on fruit or vegetables. You will look and feel much healthier and younger too!

Oh, and I even picked up on some recipes for Fig's. I have a Fig tree and never knew what to do with them...I love talking with old ladies:)

OH, and how dare me forget to post this picture of Faith's 1st piano recital. She played a solo, "He Is Lord"


She is doing so well practicing for both her piano recital and her violin recital in 2 weeks. I'm so proud of her!
I am feeling like a new women! Now, that I slept the weekend away...I think it was God's way of getting me to rest a little and to slow down. It worked, I needed it and now I feel better! Thank God! oh, and I even lost a few pounds haha! (don't you love how us women think)

I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up...

I think I'll just lay here and pray that my husband kids and pets can all take care of themselves...Mom's out sick!
As I lay here typing I am in pain. I have been in bed since 6:30 last night. I just got up and it's almost 1pm. I threw out my back (gosh, I'm getting old) or just having this many kids really puts a strain on your body. Then on top of that I had a fever due to a breast infection. I am feeling really out of it. Everyone is at the baseball field right now and I am home alone. I just got a text from my mom that Austin hit the ball into the outfield for a great double. That just makes me feel even more guilty for not going. I should of just sucked it up and went. I am hoping I will be feeling back to normal by tomorrow or sooner. It's hard being a sick mommy! I did get some good news I came in second for the awesomest homeschool blog I didn't even know I was up for it...thank you to whoever nominated me and whoever voted for me. Makes me feel a little better:)
Have a good weekend..I'm off to sleep again (I don't think I've slept this long in years!!!!!!)

Don't Let The Flag Fool You!

Every Mother's Day I put out this cute little flag my kids got me...




It's looks so cute with my white picket fence and all my roses in full bloom. But....I'm pretty sure I have the neighbors laughing at that! As they knock on the door and inform me I have two escapees, then have a good laugh at me as I chase my half naked messy faced kids with full loaded diapers, (baby in hand and dog biting at my ankles) down the street. I can see them rolling their eyes at that flag that flaps in the wind that is placed outside my house. I'm sure they have been tempted to take it down when they hear yelling from the inside of the house too.

Another Supermom moment!



p.s. check out the dirty feet, that just proves I have clean floors!

I Need To Hang This On The Fridge!

This week has been ruff...A friend sent me this poem to encourage me and I thought I'd share it with you all...


A Poem to Encourage Mothers
by Nancy Campbell

There are those who would spurn the vocation of mothers
And say of careers, it's inferior to others,
I'll have to admit that it's not easy work,
It's relentless and from it you cannot shirk.

It takes all of your energy being a mother and wife,
Requiring daily commitment and a disciplined life,
It demands all your resources of patience and love,
Long-suffering and wisdom from the Father above.

It takes self-control and continual endurance,
It needs constant faith and great perseverance,
It means total sacrifice, forgetting your self,
Sometimes you think that you're left on the shelf!

And what about time? It's no longer yours,
It belongs to all those who come in your doors.
Claim your own rights? No, they're all gone too,
Like your right to sleep the whole night through!

It's not so easy to crawl into bed with a book
Or go off and dream in some quiet little nook.
It seems like you're totally losing your life
To be a good mother and a submissive wife.

But oh, faithful mother, please do not despair,
In God's perfect plan you do have a share,
To fulfill your destiny planned from creation
Which is to nurture children and BUILD A NATION!

You're walking in the footsteps of Jesus your Lord
Who sacrificed all, His life He out-poured,
He didn't cling to His rights with selfish futility
He didn't claim any privilege but walked in humility.

He gave up His life to save millions of others,
This principle works in the lives of all mothers,
When you lose your own life you'll find it again,
A rewarding life, without guilt or shame.

So lift up your head, embrace your calling so high,
You're in God's perfect will, there's no reason to sigh!
You may often feel worthless - don't listen to this lie,
Your influence goes higher than the clouds in the sky!

As you nurture and train your God-given seed,
As you sharpen these 'arrows' by word and by deed,
You shape the nation - you determine its course,
Your mothering's not wasted, it's a great mighty force!

As your children leave home and go into the world
The proof of your training will soon be unfurled
You'll influence countries where you've never been,
And down the generations its effect will be seen.

Your work is so powerful, no wonder it's tough,
But God is behind you, He's the GOD WHO IS ENOUGH,
His strength and His wisdom He will give to you,
He stands by His promises which are totally true.

He'll always be with you right through to the end
As you follow His leading and deny the world's trend,
Each morning you wake, your strength He'll renew.
He'll fill your home with His presence and His blessed peace too.