We just had A Crazy Lunch. In order to have A Crazy Lunch, you need 5 children (give or take) and only one mommy. Let the children talk as much as they want, and allow them to request whatever they want. Fulfill all demands. Allow one of them to go ahead and place bits of hot dog on their brother’s head. Allow your two year old to yell for “more soup”, selfishly, while he watches you give his big brother some. Listen to the laughing and loud talking while you run back and forth to the sink, the stove, and the fridge. If possible, have Crazy Lunch on the day after daylight savings time, when you get the sensation that you lost an hour somewhere, and you can’t seem to catch up.
Be warned, though, that Crazy Lunch usually ends in a catastrophe. I can’t tell you what will happen at YOUR house, but at mine, it ended when David lurched himself across Ethan to grab some fruit, spilling Ethan’s freshly-filled bowl of soup all over the place. That was the end of our Crazy Lunch. David was removed from table with A Loudly Spoken Sentence, and had to finish his food in another room, while still wearing the yucky soup-soaked sweater.
After the Crazy Lunch was over, all talking and laughing was forcibly ceased and all requests for any further item was denied. Children were removed from room as soon as they were done with lunch, and put in bed with math work.
Tomorrow’s lunch will be MUCH more controlled. Only a fool would allow another Crazy Lunch any time soon. If you feel like “Rules at Mealtime” is only what “mean mother’s do”, you are wrong. Don’t be tempted to make crazy meals a regular occurrence. It is a trick of the devil, to make you INSANE and your children SLOBS! The children need to learn manners, or the mom will be embarrassed and turn red when out in pubic.
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I fully intended to blog earlier, but as my above little story hinted, I was behind all morning because we all slept until 7:30-8:00 which is an hour later than usual.
David had speech therapy this morning and it went well, and he had to work hard. She has finally noticed that David sucks in air when making the “s” sound in the middle or end of a word and so today begins what will no-doubt be a long process of re-training him to make his “s” sound like everyone else in the world. He also needs to learn to buzz the “s” in “is”. Would you pray for him in this area? Please? And pray for me, I really need to be working with him everyday at home in a serious way, and I just haven’t been doing it. I correct him during normal family life, but he needs more than that.
This weekend was nice. On Friday night Rich took us out for pizza and we had a great time as a family, laughing and talking together.
On Saturday we went to Barnes and Noble and I picked out a book for each of the children. As a homeschooler, I get a 20% discount on our books. Caleb ripped open a “Percy” train and we had to buy that, too. He can’t have it, though, because I don’t want him doing that again.
We went to church on Sunday. I stayed home with David on Sunday night, I was so very tired and Rich told me to stay home and rest.
Pictures:
These were taken on Friday. I had begun to empty the dishwasher but was interrupted before I could do the silverware. When I went back to the kitchen, I found Caleb working at it! This was his very first time helping Mommy in the kitchen. What a cutie-pie, of course I had to get some pictures of him.
His feet crack me up.
He had to stretch, but I think he did a real good job!
This was the big accomplishment on Saturday. I took the DVD’s out of their cases and put them in a fabric, zippered cd-holder. It holds 25 movies and saves SO much space! I’m really happy with this, even though the kids had a panic attack when they saw all the cases in the garbage. They thought I threw away their movies.
These are photos of David and me at the stream, in one of our Favorite Thinking Spots. The evergreens are a delight to me, especially when they are bright with sunshine.
The snow has melted, and the ponds are slowly melting from the outside in.
Here is the “long” pond. (not really that long, but longer than the other one)
This is David’s bean experiment, all his idea. He found a package of seeds out on the porch and wanted to plant some. So we did, about a week or so ago.
The boys are still constantly playing with legos.
But Grace would rather read.
Okay, I must get back to the work I love best! Motherhood!
And, guess what? David told me yesterday that I should be a baker when I grow up! That will have to be a future option. LOL
Have a great day, all!
Good to be Home 
LOL…yes I totally agree crazy lunches (or dinners) are an evil plot from the devil! Hey, I didn’t know homeschoolers got a 20% discount on books! Yay! You just go in and tell em you are a homeschooler? Your pictures are beautiful as always! I wish I could take pictures 1/2 as good as you!Have a great day!
@mamaof2bugs – You have to show them some kind of proof. I showed them the letter I had from my local public school, but you could show a membership card from a homeschooling organization. They sometimes have special events for teachers and homeschoolers can go to them, as well. Thanks for what you said about the photos! Very encouraging indeed!
Your crazy lunch sounds like something I have at my house more times than i would like. 🙂 Getting a CD holder is a great idea, I love anything that can save us some space. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Crazy Lunch sounds real interesting… much more interesting than crazy lunch at work!
I do love your pictures, Shanda. They tell such stories, even without the words.
Oh, those crazy lunches! The devil interrupts our dinner more than our lunches since my boys go away to school. You have actually inspired me (AGAIN) to invite good manners to the table. We kind of haphazardly eat an allow our children to be excused when they are done instead of waiting…now if they asked to be excused, that would be one thing, but they just assume they are excused and often don’t even take their plate with them!
I just wanted to let you know I purchased the book Mere Christianity, but I haven’t had a moment to get into it. I will let you know my thoughts when I do. Thanks for the suggestion.
Awww…when you grow up! You must be the funnest mom if your little ones think of you as one of them! I can just imagine your home being a wonderful place to grow up in! You are doing a great job Mom!!!
xoxoxo Cat
Crazy breakfast, crazy lunch, crazy dinner. It’s always crazy around here! Right now I want to go crazy. One year old throwing a temper tantrum as I type!!!!
Awww… what a great little helper to put away the silverwear without bing asked
My 15 year old brother STILL plays with LEGO… he has a whole room, basically, filled with his prized plastic bricks! He has gotten to the point where he designs and builds all his own models, and orders sets just to get specific pieces! I fear sometimes that he will grow up into one of those 35 year-old- men who builds LEGO for a living…..
Crazy lunch should no doubt end with mamma holed up some place with the bottle of Nutella and perhaps a few dove chocolates. (Yup, this mamma went shopping today and brought a small stash home).
aaaggghhh! You wrote of that crazy lunch with such good humor but I bet it was tiring. Your home is so blessed and happy…we enjoy visiting with all of you in your writing and pictures. Keep going mom…you are wonderful! I wrote an extra long post yesterday of one session from the whole hearted mom conf. ….take a look. I hope it will encourage. I will do the other three seasons and another extra session as I find time.
I think Caleb is adorable…how cute that he did that all on his own. I always call my little ones my helper….since they are practically attached at that age. Silverware is one of the first jobs I have given…but not as early as Caleb. Good for him! Love the woods pictures…esp you and David! Have a blessed rest of the day! Jenny
We have more crazy meals than I care to admit! It seems everyone is always going in different direction now though, so I cherish even a crazy dinner, if we are all together.
Hugs
your everyday life is such a blessing and encouragement to me! I thank God when I think of YOU! =)
I am more and more blessed each and every time I read one of your blogs. Your outlook on motherhood is inspiring!
Does it matter the gender of the 5 children? And it sounds like you reccommend not doing these crazy lunches back to back? 😉
Seriously, I understand. Hope your day smooths out.
I love your space saving with the movies. We did this with all of our cd’s last year, it’s wonderful. But mostly we still have VHS kid stuff, just cheaper and we’re a little behind the times! I may have to upgrade just so I can enjoy another space saving chore. Good work!
Prayer sent ~
I have a big smile on my face after reading your blog today ~ entertaining, to say the least ~ LOL!
Crazy lunches had the way of bringing psycho mommy out at our house…EEK! Luckily I matured and she doesn’t come around very often anymore Yah for Caleb helping…what a good boy.And the close up of you and David in the tree is wonderful!I like photographying closes ups of Lego lands tooand I just read the book Grace is reading this summer, becasue a teacher commissioned me to make her a stained glass mouse with VERY large ears
@SkyL1ght – I still like playing with Legos and Im over 50! That is one of the bonus if having children, you get to play with their toys with them and be a kid again. I’m saving our Legos for grandkids
Believe me when I say our lunches are crazy enough. I would never trust it to go down here! LOL
Having grown up as the oldest of 12, I can totally identify with the Crazy Lunch (just not as the Mom…yet…)! Your sense of humor is just AWESOME! Again, very engaging and entertaining writing – SO fun to read your story!I’m glad about your weekend – Pizza Hut + Barnes & Nobles = fun! I’m really glad you mentioned the homeschoolers’ discount – I’m going to remember that! Have a great week!
I totally feel ya’ on the CRAZY lunch! We (I) run a pretty tight ship here, but for the past month or so, I have been under the misconception that maybe if I just relaxed a bit, like some other HS mom’s do, we would all still be ok. So, we have been sleeping in a little bit longer (and guess what’s the 1st thing to get shortened… devotions!) Then, by afternoon, we’re running around feverishly to get things done. The same goes for mealtimes, activities outside of the house, chores… You name it. I am an orderly person, I thrive on organization and routine, yet my hubby is not that way. (LIGHTBULB MOMENT! Hubby has been working home for the past month or so…) Anyhoo, we have to get back on our regular routine, or we’re all gonna kill each other… (maybe not kill, but FREAK OUT!) Thanks for your honesty and bein’ real with us out in xanga-world!!
You should turn this crazy dinner into a cartoon script and submit it to a homeschool magazine or news letter. I love the last frame…in bed with their math books. Way to go! BTW…when you grow up will you teach me to bake? I’ll be waiting. 🙂 Loved the pictures and peaceful setting that surrounds you. Happy day!
How in the world is Grace old enough to read that big of a book!!!!! It can not be!
And since I love Pooh, the thinking spot pictures made me smile.
DST has really screwed us up too! I feel like I’ve been behind all day! We are late-sleepers, so the kids were still sleeping at 10:30am today! I did not get up as early as I would have liked either. My 2 year old loves to help put the silverware away too. And my 4 year old also likes to tell me what I’ll be when I grow up. 🙂
I love your pictures. Especially the one of Grace reading while brothers are playing, that is great!! We did the DVD’s in the fabric thing and love it. Yes, it really saves room!! Take care and hugs!
I noticed the lightbulb thing before my name after the post and wondered out loud what it was….David started to answer “it means…” and I put my cursor over it and said…”oh it means I’m online now.” David said , ” oh, no, It means we are brilliant….” LOL I thought that was cute.
I love the bean experiment…always fun to see those shoots come up! love the last picture with Grace so into her book and all the boys around the legos!
its all so cute Shan! I’m sure very hectic some days but reading your blogs about your life moments is funny, amusing, comical, and refreshing! I got my schedule! Maybe now we can talk dates?? Love, Lish
You’re smart to catch speech problems now! I will pray for you. I have an almost 8yo who has, recently, “learned” to lisp and now does it constantly. Drives me nutso, “Thith ith Rithy’th thpider.” !!!! LOL !!!! We correct her every time she opens her mouth because it’s already begun waaay too ingrained in her speech. Two of my three spent the day on the sofa reading after their “crazy morning.” They broke the blinds in their bedroom arguing over who was going to open them. Grrrrrr
I love the last picture the best! 🙂 I feel like we get a little real life ‘glimpse’ into the heart of your home. Your children are precious!
LOVED this post, Shanda. My favorite is the comment David made to you, LOL that is too funny.
I love this post — good for Caleb for helping (without being asked, I assume), and for David thinking that you should be a baker when you grow up! I’m glad for you that the beans are growing so fast — that must mean that spring is coming and you’ll be able to spend more time outside!
Oh boy. I remember crazy lunches! I think they account for some of this white hair I am wearing! Sweet pictures of your little helper, there.
C iao, sono/Je suis martino digesu, un Cinese che abito in Hongkong, Cina. Sono un voluntario per i andicappati. Possiamo essere amicizie? Dio ti ama immensamente. Auguri. my blog is網誌是http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/mar-gesu， 謝謝你，願主的平安及祝福常與你同在。耶穌基督無限的愛你，祂為你我的罪惡而釘死在十字架上贖罪，來訪認識祂吧。God loves you so much that He dies for you. Trust Him.
RYC: Yes. After you posted about having Nutella it reminded me it’s been too long since I had any!
Ha, ha, I can laugh out loud at your crazy lunch, but when it’s at my house I’m usually pulling my hair out and yelling, “I’m not a short-order cook and this is NOT a restaurant!!” Since my older two boys are at school, lunches are often quite peaceful around here with Will (almost 5), Hank(22 months) and myself, but when they’re all here. . .whew, it’s exhausting. Dinners are so much better because Tim is home and I strategically place myself at the far end of the table, AWAY from Hank and his messes. . .that is a sweet and small way Tim shows me he loves me, but taking care of Hank at supper time since I do it everyday at b’fast and lunch. Hope today’s lunch is a bit more sane. . .
Your crazy lunch sounds like my house:) Only less kids:) I have a hard time getting on track with the DST to. I love what you did with the DVD’s. My husband has been after me to do that, which makes sense because the cases take up way to much room. Your pictures are very good, as usual:)
I agree with you about the manners thing. I’m so glad that I was a stickler for that when my children were little.
The pictures of the little one and the silverware just melt my heart.
That is so cute how he helps out! I photographed some legos a few weeks ago and it was so hard to do! Your shots came out really really great! The contrast of Gee reading with the boys playing behind her is perfect!
I had no idea about the 20 % discount, that is very cool!
Crazy lunch- now I know what to call it! Great pictures of your little helper. My littles love to “help” with the dishwasher. Sometimes this means that dirty things are taken out as soon as I can put them in, or that clean things are taken out and put directly into little mouths. I really like your thinking spot in the tree. I so long to live in the country!! Hubby may be making an offer on a house out of town soon. I’m trying not to be impatient, but rather to be thankful for the roof that is over our heads. Love your post- as always!! Be blessed, dear Shanda!
oh this is wonderful — the last picture is like my four boys too! They love legos! and Morgan, baby girl… she loves schooling and though she can’t read she writes letter all day long ! 😉 just delightful picture there at the end. You feel as though you are there.