We had this picture taken a few weeks ago. I didn't really see how big of a family I really had till the photographer handed me the picture. And I said "Wow! There are a lot of us!"
There is much to be said for having a big family.
I make a Costco run every week, people always look at me these days- baby hanging over one arm, pushing my full cart one handed, Shilo trailing along.
A family of this size takes organization. Who needs to be where when. How much attention does each child need.
Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.
Some times we joke when people stare " do we have something hanging out our noses?"
Or when we take up a row at the play and everyone needs to comment on how many seats we have. I always tell my kids- better to have positive attention than negative, so smile, say thank you for the compliment and enjoy the fact that you will always have someone to do something with.
So maybe I have to work so we can do some fun things- like eat at the Salty's Buffet, take week long camping trips in Montana, go out to dinner for our kids Birthdays... but we feel like it makes the outing that much more special.
We enjoy the chaos of our big family and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
So for your enjoyment- a list, a few stats if you will, of what it takes to run this 'gig'
- one loaf of bread each night when making lunches
- 7 gallons of milk a week
- 3 rolls of t.p a week
- 2 Netflix movies a week
- 3-4 bags of popcorn a week on average
- one box each of ziploc snack/sandwich bags a month
- 2 dozen eggs a week
- 4 Costco size bags of chips a week
- 2 dozen cookies for lunches a week
- 3 gallons of juice a week
- 50-100 photos taken every week {try staying organized with that!}
- 12 lbs of fruit a week just in lunches
- 5 lbs veggies a week
- 50 lbs potatoes a month
- 10-15 lbs of meat a week
- 2- one gallon size liquid hand soap a month
- one pack of wipes a week
- a dozen diapers a day
Some might be planning their next cool trip, buying their next nice car, buying designer clothes, as for me, I have chosen to have a big family over those things for now. And sometimes my eyes turn green, and I wish I had it all...
Then I stop and thank heaven for the choices I have made. Play with my kids instead of buying them something, take a walk with them and just breath in their love. When I wish they were all in bed quiet, I try to remember that they won't always need me, won't always want to talk to me about their day, that I only get to have them all home for really a short period of time in the whole scheme of things, and I am grateful they chose me as their mom. That I chose to share my love, energy, patience, {income} and home with these 5 kids.
I guess this is just more of a journal entry than anything...
I just want to remember this time in my life.
