Journal from a Pioneer Woman... sort of.

I was a mother of 8 this last week. I didn't cross the plains or eat skeeter pancakes or push a handcart thousands of miles, but I think I deserve some recognition, if only just a shopping spree with my birthday money. Here are my observations/lessons learned from the week.

You know you are being a good parent if your little kids adore you and your older kids are ambivalent to your presence.

Your whole house will never be clean at the same time.

Oh my gosh the laundry...

I am usually very conscious about creating unnecessary waste, but last week I used paper plates several times, and I don't even feel bad about it. It was either save the planet or my sanity.

Dinner time is much more entertaining with 10 people at the table.

Without proper meal planning you will spend a part of every day at the grocery store.

Something as simple as green food coloring can increase a child's happiness tenfold.

I need to call my mom and apologize for fighting with my sisters as a teenager. Playing referee es no bueno.

I want a king-sized bed.

If you every worry about your eternal salvation, just have 8 kids. 20 years of that should be enough of a refiner's fire to get you into heaven.

Snow Day!

I love this picture for 2 reasons. The first obvious reason is that it captures Alaina's first real snow experience. The second is that it was taken just after Caleb's visit to the dentist. (he he he).