My husband is away tonight, so I am taking the liberty to sit and write now that the children are all sound asleep and things are finally settling down for the night. I rarely get to blog without constant interruptions so this will be a treat.
Today was our last day of summer vacation. We spent our time doing what I love best, spending the day at home. I would say, “having an ordinary day” but honestly, is there such a thing as an ordinary day?
It began when Seth woke me up this morning at 5 and I brought him to bed and nursed him. He fell back to sleep until 7 and at that time I went for a short walk with him, because the morning was so cool and peaceful.
We came back home and I made pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Seth can eat a little “cake” now, and it’s a very nice feeling to be flipping pancakes for six!
We usually give a pancake to the chickens. It’s just a thing I do, copying someone I admire, and read in one of her books (Tasha Tudor). The girls are so funny when they’re excited over a bit of pancake!
Our major chore of the day was sweeping and cleaning the garage and cleaning out the chicken’s cages. We have a shed coming, to use for a chicken coop, but in the meantime the chicks are all in the garage. The older group of 8 are in the dog’s kennel, and the 5 young ones are in a rabbit cage. The children worked hard for me and we got things nice and tidy again. Rich will be pleased.
I went for a short walk with Davy, who had a bee in his bonnet about monarch caterpillars. We searched for milk weed, and found some, but did not find caterpillars. As I was with just David, I took the opportunity to snap his picture.
He starts first grade tomorrow, and unlike half-day kindergarten, he will now be gone for a full day. My heart aches to think about him gone away from me and I wonder, “Did we make the right choice to send him to school?” I do second guess, which is why I am thankful for a strong husband, who has no doubts that this is the best for David. Next year, Lord willing, I will homeschool him with his older siblings.
Seth is continuing to crawl more and more. When David and I got back, and I opened the door to go in the house, Seth (who was being watched by Jacob and Ethan) started crawling toward me right away and made his way out to the porch.
Just a little note about his overalls. They used to be Ethan’s. I bought them for Ethan (my second born) the day I found out I was having another baby boy. That was almost 12 years ago now.
I hated to do it, but today I let Seth cry himself to sleep for his nap. I usually nurse him or rock him. But, he was fussy and didn’t want to do either of those things and I was hungry and hot and needed to have a break. I left him in his playpen in my room and went out on the porch. Ethan came to tell me, “Seth is wailing”, but I said, “He’s just going to have to wail”. Poor baby. But……………(a mama needs some space now and then)…….(and all the others were having quiet time in bed)………(I had to seize the opportunity)………..that ice cream sure tasted good! I got some of my book read, and did my devotions, too.
And Seth DID SLEEP. Like the sweet baby boy that he is. Although he did cry loudly in protest!
Oh, those arms! Those toes! That sleeping face! His baby stuff in the corner! What a yummy love.
When he woke up I was reading to David and Caleb and Jacob got to him first. Jacob is the “Little Papa” of the family. At one point today, when Seth was in the livingroom with the boys and I was in the other room, I heard Jacob say, “Be careful! Sethie’s very fragile! Sethie will crack!” And then in walked Jacob to me, with Seth in his arms, and he was kissing Seth and said to me, “Seth almost hit his head on the bricks!” Jacob rescued him.
I also had to rescue Seth today. He had crawled to the stairs and got stuck standing up and didn’t know how to get back down. He made “come rescue me, Mama” noises until I came.
Grace and I also found him here this weekend. This baby boy is amazing. None of my other children moved around like this so early. He’ll be 7 months old next week.
Dinnertime is so hard when Rich is not home with us. I usually yell and say, “Alright, no one say another word!” and tonight was no exception. Grace disappeared right as we were about to eat so I had to find her and for some reason they were ALL full of it, laughing and carrying on like the 3 stooges were in the room or something. I did a lot of groaning and tried to be patient.
Seth LOVED eating mashed potatoes for the first time.
After dinner I had some blessed quiet as I cleaned up the kitchen and the children all went outside.
When I was done, I grabbed the baby and headed out to see what they were up to.
I jumped up and down shouting, “They all smiled at the same time!” after I took this one.
If you lean in close, you can see Seth’s mouth open round and wide. This was his first trip down the slide.
We all went back to the house and I slowly but surely got everyone to bed, after reading several chapters of Homer, which I am DETERMINED to finish reading out loud to the older children. We enjoy the book, it’s just so hard to find the time. But, where there’s a will, there’s a way! Tonight we read despite the fact that the boys were tempted to play battle with their bionicles and not pay attention, despite the fact that David was sitting in just a towel, despite the fact that I had to keep swatting (nicely) at Grace because she was chewing her nails right next to me, and despite Seth’s busyness. I had to stop and change a diaper while reading details about the battle of Troy! Ha ha, life as a mother is NEVER ordinary! Praise God!
Good to be Home 
Wow! that was one busy day — love the picture of Seth sleeping and getting into the dishwasher — it’s been a long time since anyone’s done that around here!
Thanks for sharing your day. Seth is so cute in his brother’s overalls- what a great memory! Enjoy your quiet evening!
reading through your post reminded me of one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes, “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”wonderful shot of all the kids lined up down the slide.have a great night~ and enjoy the quiet!
Shanda~ What a sweet post. The pictures of the children are beautiful. I had those same doubts when my husband wanted all the children in school. It was so hard for me. This year I have 6 at home, one in highschool who is an A/B student and plays football, and one who is in the Marines. Time goes fast somedays. That’s why I love to snuggle my youngest sweetie who is 13 months and linger in that moment.
Don’t you hate when little ones have to cry it out. Ugh. One neat thing we did with our youngest when he was born was play sleepy bible songs everytime he went to sleep. Now when he is fussy I turn that music on (the same CD for the past year) and he instantly lays his head on my shoulder. I love good habits! I can put him down with or without the music but it always works wonderfully when I need it to.
And yes Seth does look yummy sleeping in his playpen. Adorable!
Thanks for sharing~ Cinnamon
I love the pictures! I love the one of all six on the slide. Your Seth is such a cutie–I know I say that all the time. I’m getting excited to hold my little one soon…2 more months to go!I pray that you get rest tonight. My hubby is out of town, too. Jessye
Yes, Seth is growing — and cute. Yes, the shots of all the kids are great, and I love that they can all play together so well. But my favorite in this post is the one of Davy — what a nice smile!
My oh MY oh my, those kids are all so good lookin’!!! I bet Seth could melt the hardest of hearts! I love how you were able to have a little ice cream break! There’s just something about eating a bowl of ice cream when no one is around to watch you eat it; like you can really relax and enjoy it along with the peace and quiet. Then when you’re finished and everyone is up and out and about, you’re ready to take on nearly anything! At least that’s how it works for me! Love, GAil
Enjoyed every word, Shanda, as I sit at the computer because I can’t sleep ~ because I had 2 cups of DECAF coffee tonight ~ will I never learn??
I loved this post!! I missed you I admired Tasha Tudor too and some of her sweet books are treasures…fun that you feed “the girls” a pancake. That is a fantastic pic of Davy…so cute and handsome all rolled together. What a fun baby Seth is, such great expressions he makes. I saw the dishwasher pic and said “UH OH!” I can see he is getting around. He looks part of the gang in the pictures on the play structure. Your kids are wonderful and I love seeing them all enjoy one another. I think Grace, Jacob, and Ethan must have all been eating this summer…they have grown like weeds.Thanks for sharing the sleeping pic of Seth…too too yummy!
Sometimes I see your pictures and read your posts and then I just sit back and say….. “WHEW!” However do you DO it?
busy, busy days….but but one day you’ll look back and think of these days as the good ol’ days!!
I loved reading about your day!
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for posting this. I know it might not seem like it, but it is a huge encouragement to me. You have reminded me that children are children, that momma’s get tired, that it’s okay to let them fuss and cry, and that it is all still a beautiful thing.
Your daughter is so pretty. Her eyes are full of mystery and intrigue. I don’t know if you love your kids more than most moms or if you are simply able to better express that love through words and pictures. Either way, it’s a pleasure to witness.
Your pictures are always so beautiful and an inspiration to me!!!! Someday your children will really thank you for every pic that they have of themselves growing up!
You cracked me up when you referred to your chickens as “the girls.” I love the country in you. I hope your night was a good one.
Hi Shanda,It’s such a breath of fresh air now that you’re back on! I love coming over for a visit! :o) I loved seeing your little one sound asleep, legs all curled up. -oh how I miss that! Have a wonderful day!
An enjoyable post! (As always) All the pics were neat! I especially like the one of Grace and the dog.I miss having a dog around……… Blessings!
i received a signed copy of the Tasha Tudor book, “A Time to Keep” When I was 6 years old. It was always my favorite book of all time. The pictures are beautiful.
Grace looks like she is becoming a quiet young lady. I remember pictures of her reading on top of her bedroom book shelves and traipsing through the water with her brothers. Are today’s pictures unusual, or is she pulling away from the boys and their rambunctious antics? Pretty girl!Amazing to see ALL the children getting so much older. It’s cool what your brief hiatus did – made us notice the children’s growth more than if we had followed your blog daily!!!
Loved the Whole post! The pictures of David was so cute! (Happy first day back to school David hope first grade is full of exciting new things and fun new friends! I love you! Aunt amanda) Ok so Seth is crazy busy…guess he is trying to keep up with the rest of the children! Can I have that picture of them all on the slide please?—- 8×10 in black and white its about time I get on large enough to hang on my wall 🙂 —- Have a wonderful day *and tell jacob to take something for his mouth pain, befor he goes for more spacers…* Love ya, your favorite and only SISSY
I think that was a wise decision to let him cry himself to sleep… sometimes that is the only way… and you do need your time too… He sure is mobile for 7 months!
Boy Seth is growing up so fast! I love that picture of all the kids on the slide! to cute!
Your blogs always make me smile 🙂
I love that picture of all the kids on the slide. I love this post. I love reading about your life, normalcy and all. Love you, Lish
I love everything you write. And you take the most amazing pictures.Sometimes, I worry that motherhood and I won’t be a good fit, but reading this, I can’t wait =]. Thank you.
lol sounds like a busy day … all your kids are cute lol
Love all the pictures. especially the last one with the kids at the bottom of the slide. it’s inspired me to find a good “real” book to read with Payton! have a great rest of your week!
All of your children are so cute. They are all getting so big! Thanks for sharing your day with us!
I’m so delighted that you are back to blogging again. : ) I hope you enjoyed your bloggy break. We certainly all need that from time to time, don’t we? I’ve got a new blog site, now. Just wanted to let you know. : )AleshaObtaining Mercy
May I predict that those eyes of Grace are going to kill some hearts one of these days.
I had those EXACT same overalls for my boys. . .bought them for Sam 11 years ago when I was about to have my first baby boy. . .and because they are a nice brand, they were still good when we had our last baby boy 3 years ago. . . 🙂 I like the idea of reading a childrens’ version of Homer. We too try to read aloud, but it does get very hard, esp. when Daddy isn’t home at night. . .that’s nearly impossible for me on those nights. I was trying to read Farmer Boy with them over the summer because I love Laura Ingalls Wilder so much, but with a family of boys I thought they’d enjoy Farmer Boy. I’m going to pick it back up after several weeks break and try for it again. But I may look for that Homer book as well.
i LOVE the picture of all 6 of them on the slide! Definitely a framer!