Mom, can I have a mowhawk?

Oh my. Tell me he's not going to be trouble someday?!

In a moment of boredom, the kids found a creative outlet playing with my clothespins in the backyard. They tried everything from hairdo's, clothing accessories, tails, and later built towers and bridges by linking them together. Hmm. Might need to get them their own set for Christmas or birthdays this year.

Praise God!

(even for the little things.)

It's a miracle!! Our icemaker in our refrigerator has begun to make ice cubes again, after a 2 year hiatus! The fridge is only 4 years old, but for some reason (right after warranty) it quit making the precious cubes. I love ice...could eat it for a snack, and can't have a cold beverage without it, so I was annoyed. My being annoyed wasn't enough to warrant a service-call fee, so I tried taking it apart on my own, and finally just settled for the good old-fashioned ice cube trays.
Suddenly, out of nowhere (while we were camping this weekend) the thing fired up again. We came home to ice cubes all over the freezer. Yahooooooo! Mama's got ice cubes again.
God is good.

camping memories

I have so many wonderful memories from the weekend. It was our first time camping with the kids, at least camping in one spot for any length of time. Last year, we rented an RV and traveled to a wedding in North Carolina, camping along the way. But we had a 2 night respite in a hotel to break up the trip and enjoy the wedding. This was a bit different. It was simpler in some respects because we weren't constantly packing/unpacking, changing seats into beds and back again so we could hit the road. And yet, it was challenging at times too, trying to keep the kids entertained and ease them into the notion that doing "nothing" can be enjoyable too. We played our share of bean bags, roasted plenty of "mallows", canoed, spent afternoons at the beach, went for nature hikes, and of course just thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors despite the 90 degree temps.
My brother was kind enough to loan us his camper, which sleeps 9. We packed along a tent, which the 3 oldest were happy to claim as their own, so everyone had a spot. The first night was a bit tricky, getting everyone to settle down to sleep, but by the second day, it felt like old hat. My parents stopped out to celebrate Frank & Rose's birthday on Saturday evening. The kids could have stayed up all night listening to their Grandma tell stories around the campfire. On Sunday, I could hear Emma repeating the stories over and over in the tent to the little ones who were asleep for the stories the night before. Too cute.
I'm still struggling to figure out how something could be so incredibly relaxing one moment and hectic/stressful the next, but overall it was wonderful. I enjoyed cooking over an open fire each night, and everyone agreed the food tasted better than grilled, hands-down. We went an entire weekend without television, Nintendo DS, computer, even phone. (I had the cell with us, but it stayed plugged in, charging in the camper for use if necessary.) Amazingly, none of us missed any of it. I would love to have a camper of our own one day to take advantage of more days at the lake with the kids, who haven't stopped sharing stories about their weekend. Surely these are memories to last a lifetime.

Rosie, showing off her birthday "princess" gifts. (This was certainly not part of my minimalist packing.)
John and I sitting for a few moments around the fire. Supper's nearly ready.

Sam and Charlie...scheming up something, I'm sure.

Alice and Emma challenged Dad and Grandpa to a serious game of bean bags.

A view of our site...never a dull moment, for certain!

note to self:

With regards to camping, one can never pack too many pairs of undies (for the kids that is.)

You see, I'm am forever the over-packer. It's just me. But I went outside of my comfort zone and became a minimalist for just this one weekend. With 12 of us sharing only a few square feet of space, it seemed necessary to pare down. So, I gave strict orders for each of the kids to grab only the necessary items...3 outfits (one for each day, and I really didn't care if they matched!) 1 clean pair of undies (cause we probably would only take the time to tackle the shower house once.) and no extra shoes (only what they had on their feet when we left the house.)

Figures, that Frank (who's potty training) went back to diapers in the first hour, Grace and Sam both blew out their flip-flops on day one, and kids who are camping need more than one pair of clean underwear! I made one trip daily back home (thank goodness we were within 5 miles) for shoes, underwear, sweatshirts and ice. Not bad for first-time campers. Next time, perhaps we'll wear the same clothes all 3 days and just pack 3 pairs of undies. (hee, hee...that'd save space, not?!)

Happy Birthday Frank & Rose!

I'm having trouble figuring out just where the time could have gone, now that Frank and Rosie are 3. Yes, THREE years old!! Oh my.
We celebrated their big day while camping at the lake this weekend. (More on the camping later, but for now a pic of the happy, growing pair.)

packing up

In the spirit of trying to cram as much fun into these last two weeks before school starts, we're packing up for a very mini vacation. The kids have been begging to "go somewhere" all summer. (that's code for somewhere overnight...preferrably a hotel with a swimming pool.) Unfortunately hotels and major traveling is just not in the budget. So instead, we're heading just a few miles down the road to Lake Loramie State Park for a few nights of camping. My brother was kind enough to loan us their camper for the weekend. We loved the RV trip so much last year, I think this will be fun for everyone. He brought the camper by today, so we can take our time packing it, and planning where everyone will sleep, etc. We could probably squeeze us all in if we wanted, but the oldest 3 or 4 are looking forward to a little independence and are packing along a tent to sleep together outdoors. It looks as though the weather is going to be beautiful. I've got to get grocery shopping tomorrow so that by Saturday we'll be ready to pull out.
Pray for us, and more importantly for the folks camping next to us, whoever they might be. They're going to need the prayers most!

facing the inevitable...

I hate to even say the "s" word, but it's approaching fast. So I did what had to be done, and took the kids shopping for school supplies tonight. First step was to have Alice and Emma condense the 4 different grade-level lists into one giant manageable list. With John at work, I was taking all 1o kids to Walmart with me. Things needed to be efficient and organized so we could get in and out as quickly and effortlessly as possible. We have 6 going to school this year...2 kindergardeners, a 1st, a 3rd, and 2 fourth graders.
After locating and sorting through last years' scissors and pencil boxes to see what was still useable, we finalized the list and headed off.
The kids did amazingly well, despite the busy aisles, and always long check-out lines. Little Lucy was in an umbrella stroller with Alice chauffering her around. Charlie, Frank and Rose were buckled in one of those 3-seater carts. (I actually sent Emma into the store ahead of us to locate a cart with all the buckles intact, cause lets face it...if they can get out of the cart, the battle is already lost!) This left the 6 oldest school-goers ready to grab supplies and toss them into the cart. It makes me smile (and feel a little guilty all at the same time) that our kids are so excited to be getting new things, that they don't even buck or whine when I explain they'll be getting the 25cent generic folders that they can decorate themselves in lieu of the Hannah Montana folder that costs quadruple that. They're just too dang excited about getting a fresh pink eraser, it doesn't really matter! I tell you, it's the little things. I did cave on some Swedish fish candy at the checkout (to be opened in the car, cause yes, I need that leverage right up until that moment when everyone's buckled in their seats!)
Anyways, sorting through the treasures when we got home was a whole 'nother ball game. Even the toddlers pulled out old backpacks from the toy box, and begged for a pencil to call their own. We had a couple to spare, so everyone left the table happy. Everyone packed their supplies into their recycled backpacks in anticipation of that big day, exactly 2 weeks away. Oh my.
I'm soooo not ready for homework, alarm clocks, soccer schedules, and remembering who needs to wear gym shoes on which day. My head spins just thinking about it.
Oh, but then I imagine quieter days with just my 4 youngest at home, and wonder what we'll think of to make our time special while the "big kids" are away. I think I should have put playdough on our home "school" supply list.

for giggles: our list
6 jumbo pink erasers
8 folders
4 boxes crayons
2 pair scissors (already had 4 at home)
4 small glue sticks
2 large glue sticks
6 bottles elmer's white glue
....I know, what on earth do they do with all that glue?!
4 packs watercolor paints
10 boxes of tissues
#2 pencils (for everyone!)
8 dry erase markers, fine tip
4 yellow highlighers
1 deck of cards (learning to gamble during recess?!)
3 packs colored pencils
1 red pencil
1 notebook
2-12 packs of post-it notes
2 clear plastic rulers (we already had others at home)
2 red pens
2 packs loose paper (15o pages, wide ruled)
2 binders
2 clip boards
2 ultra-fine black sharpies

10 kids running wild, 1 cart, 1 stroller, and 1 package swedish fish to reward them for good behavior. Whew. we did it!

more weekend pics...

After spending the night with John's sister and her family in Columbus, we headed to Utica, Ohio to check out the Velvet Ice Cream factory.

The kids enjoyed their ice cream at a mini ice-cream parlor set. Yummy!
14 of the 15 kids checking out the restored water wheel outside the factory. (Lucy apparently dodged the camera...she's good at that!)

We found a little off-the-beaten-path river bed there where the kids all waded and enjoyed finding/throwing stones.

Love this picture of Lucy and Daddy. This is a favorite spot for her as we take nature walks. She must feel on top of the world, and safe on Daddy's shoulders. (and I don't think John minds having her there either.)

Skipping stones into the river below. Yep, life is pretty good.

check out this crew

We received many looks, and comments as the 18 of us (John and I and our 10 along with John's sister Martha [her husband Steve had to work]and her 5)forged the fairgrounds on Friday. Many folks wondered if we were part of a church group, or scouts or something. I enjoy sharing our big family blessings with others. Here are our 10, and their 5 New Albany cousins who joined us, and welcomed us all into their home for the weekend. Yes, at moments it's crazy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! We have been blessed indeed!


the crew of 15 kids posing patiently in the bleachers of one of the cattle barns...and then being just plain silly!

weekend in pictures

We had so much fun this weekend, it's hard to put it all into words... so I won't. I'llll just share a few pics of our crew (and a few cousins) enjoying the Ohio State Fair on Friday, then the Velvet Ice Cream Factory on Saturday. Memories are made of moments like these...

Our 10 met Pink Panther near the entrance of the fair.

City gals get a taste of the country as Alice (in pink) and Emma (black) try their hand at milking a cow. (Several of the younger ones took a turn as well. Too cute!)
Kissing cousins (Kate and Lucy) sharing a sandwich and a few babbles about their adventures that day.
Mary found a little lamb (and Charlie, Frank, Alice and Rose too!)
A fair visit wouldn't be complete without checking out the "Buckeye Big Boar" (or as Alice tells: the "fattest hog in the state!") ...more than 1200 pounds!

hate the humidity...

but I'm loving what it does to her curls!

My sweet girl

(okay, she'll roll her eyes and gag at the use of the adjective...nevermind the fact that I'm using it to describe her!)
Emma's my tom-boy. Baggy boyish t-shirts, basketball shorts (the longer the better) and sneakers with everything are her staple wardrobe elements. She'd wear her favorite (lucky) socks for days on end if I'd let her. Fashion is not at the top of her priority list (it may not even be on the list.) She'd never comb her boy-short hair if I didn't enforce it, and spitting is not beneath her. She loves all things sports-related, is competetive, smart, well-read, and has a heart of gold. Painting her toenails is not something she allows me to do often, but when she does it's usually a cool shade of blue, black or school colors (orange and black). She can most often be found under a shade tree with a good book, or in the top of a good shade tree climbing as high as possible.
You can imagine my shock and surprise when she chose these shoes and dress for the wedding we attended this weekend. Oh my. She looks like a (gasp!) girl. Excuse me while I get a tissue to dry my eyes...


Always fashion-conscious, Alice posing with all dressed-up Emma. As mentioned before...you'd never guess they were twins.

Seeing red!

Today, seeing red is not such a bad thing. It means we have our first tomato ready in the garden. It's just a bit too pink to pluck yet, but tomorrow...Yep, I can taste it already. Sliced, warm with a bit of salt and pepper. Mmmm. My mouth is watering.
The plants have been loaded with tomatoes for sometime, and in a few weeks, they'll be coming faster than I can shake a stick at them. The onions and peppers are coming along nicely too, and will hopefully come together to make some wonderful salsa, which I love to can and enjoy all winter long. Mmm. Bring on the nacho chips. I can hardly wait.

blue ribbon af-fair

Okay, this is completely bragging...but I'm the mom, so what the heck.

Alice and Emma both participated in judging at our county fair for their respective projects (Alice-cooking, and Emma-Ohio Birds) and both did very well. As first year 4-h-ers' we really had no idea what to expect as far as the judging process goes. When we arrived to see kids dressed up to match their projects (i.e. a young boy dressed as a cowboy to demonstrate his knot-tying abilities, or a girl all decked in red, white and blue to go along with her Fourth of July themed dessert) the girls got a little nervous. I was nervous for them too. But I know how much time they'd both put into their projects and that they knew their material, so they'd be fine. And they were. Both girls were graded an "A" by the judges and recieved a blue ribbon for participating. I was thrilled for them. They looked surprisingly calm as they each spent time interviewing with a judge, answering questions about all they'd learned and accomplished. I was so darn proud of them. You can imagine my reaction then when I got a phone call today from our County Extension person, that Emma took first prize in her Conservation division, and will be taking her project to the Ohio State Fair.

That's right, her humble little homemade bird feeders and information about the birds she observed landed her First Prize. We're planning a trip to Columbus next Friday so she can participate in judging there, and see what comes of that. She called her Grandpa (John's dad) right away. John and most of his 11 siblings were active in 4h growing up and she thought Grandpa Schmiesing would be tickled for her...and he was. Oh, I tell you...I'm just so darn proud of them both...maturing right before my very eyes. (sigh.)

Alice talking with the judge about her "Mini Meals Magic" project...

...and at home with her Breakfast (sausage, egg, cheese) casserole just out of the oven. Let's roll!

Emma with the director of activities at Otterbein St. Mary's where she donated her homemade feeder (built with John's help) for the residents of the Memory Support unit to enjoy.

...and displaying her 2 homemade feeders and poster she presented for judging at the fair.

St. Martha

Feast Day, July 29th

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).

I'm digging Martha, and all she seemed to be feeling when Jesus visited that time. She had hosted Him and his friends before, and was good at it. I'm sure she enjoyed her work in the kitchen, taking great pride in attending to all the extra duties that come with having guests. But just as the bread was coming out of the oven, the fish was probably burning in the pan, soup boiling over and there sits younger sister Mary...at Jesus's feet, which was just not acceptable, especially when there was so much to be done. A few whining words to Jesus ought to get her back in the kitchen, but it doesn't. Rather Jesus reminds Martha gently of the importance of hearing/listening to His word. I don't believe His intention is to belittle Martha her job, instead to point out the fact that His word is lasting, the way to eternal life. So how do I find that balance? Not an easy answer...I'm clearly a Martha...a work in progress. But, perhaps in offering our days work as a form of prayer, doing everything to serve Him by serving others we begin to live His holy word. I think a slow-down from time to time is necessary too, although admittedly difficult in order to think, pray, and more importantly hear the words Jesus is speaking to us...through ordinary people and circumstances. Sometimes we have to leave the dishes and cleaning for a moment, and just sit at his feet and listen.

A prayer: St. Martha, patron of housewives, food service workers, and laundry workers, pray for me that I too may graciously serve Christ. Help me to choose the "better part," to not be distracted by my daily labors, rather to be attentive to His holy word. Amen.

a little stir crazy...

~picnic dinner at the lake (grapes, string cheese, cookies, pretzels, and peanut butter sandwiches)
~playing in the sand (rakes, shovels, buckets, squirt guns)
~swimming at the beach (can you say sand in the britches?!)
~10 kiddos taking their turns in the bathtub, scrubbing sand from all the nooks and crannies (just a little water and sand to clean up from the floor when they're all done)
~followed by some warm buttery popcorn, and what else but a good Christmas movie.

Yep, should be good sleepin' tonight!

off to the county fair

Okay, let me start by singing..."The fair is a veritable smorgasbord, orgasbord!"
Better yet, I'll just let you see it again for yourself...


Alice and Emma joined 4H this year, and are both bringing projects to the county fair for judging. Emma chose a project called "Ohio Birds" which required her to build a couple simple feeders and watch to identify 20 or so different birds. It was fun and fairly simple. It also led her to build a nice wood feeder with her Dad's help, which she later donated to the Retirement Community where I work. I think the residents there will really enjoy it. She had judging last week, and scored an "A" on her project. We'll find out later how she placed among the others.
Alice chose a cooking project which has had us busy in the kitchen trying all kinds of recipes. One last late night in the kitchen tonight, and we're off for judging tomorrow. I've complained with her a bit about how much I've spent on groceries for all her unusual recipes, but in all it's been a wonderful experience as she's gotten quite good at reading recipes, following directions, and feeling her way around the kitchen...even learning about cleanup. (Yeah me!) She'll be fixing a breakfast egg/sausage casserole tomorrow morning. I've made it hundreds of times myself. It's super simple, no-fail (I hope) and should be a good first-year recipe for her to try. I'm excited for her, for them both...and perhaps even more excited for when the work is done and we can visit the fair next week, check out the various booths and exhibits...and of course enjoy all the good food!! (What can I say, I'm a rat at heart apparently.)

Happy Birthday Charlie!!

My little man is 4 today. Our "CHarley Davidson" as Grace first announced him to the world, born July 27th, 2005. It's Charles David, but with grandparents and an uncle who are Harley owners/riders, you can see where the confusion came in.
He's number 7 in our line-up. I remember having a bit of fear and anxiety before he was born that this was to be the one that would "put me over the edge" so to speak. I imagined constant chaos and perhaps even mayhem with seven children. What we found instead was a child that brought peace into our home, even more love in our hearts. He was a perfect fit...pure joy.
He is four now...and a boy...so at times the chaos ensues, but he has me wrapped around that chubby, dirt-stained little finger. My world is better because he's in it. I love you Charlie!

I promise I'm still here...

Sorry to those of you who are kind enough to still check in on us from time to time. I promise my days are full of blog-worthy moments and yet, by days end lately, I feel as if I have nothing to say. Just too pooped to find the words, I 'spose.

This little moment, which I was lucky enough to catch on film melted my heart instantly. It was Sunday, getting ready for church. That hour before 10 o'clock mass is often racked with chaos, yelling over missing shoes, and other silly nonsense. I try to have clothing laid out the night before, but there's always some drama. (A friend once suggested this was Satan's way of spoiling our mood, and attempting to turn us away from the Mass). Some mornings I have to wonder. Anyhow, this past Sunday Rosie was frustrated that she couldn't find someone with a spare moment to help her with her shoes. Without missing a beat, twin Frank was there to her rescue...trying his best to help her buckle up. How sweet are these moments?!

Touche` Satan. Love never fails!

couple pics from the weekend...