learning to let go...just a little

This picture is a great example of why I should always take at least 4 pictures of each shot I want. What a perfect lake day, cute kids, cute suits, awesome back drop of the lake....and then you have brothers squirming and fussing, Isabella with her arms in funny positions, and everyone pretty much has their eyes squinted shut.

Last Wednesday we were invited by a friend to come to her parents lake house. This is where she babysits for 2 kids that are neighbors with her mom. The little girl my friend was babysitting for was 8, and her brother was 7. The same ages as Isabella & Jack. The four of them asked to go to the raft across the bay on kayak's. Well, hmmm....I've never been asked that by my kids so I wondered what the right responsible answer would be. Isabella is a good swimmer, Jack can swim, but not strong. But this is one time I thought...I need to practice letting go. They wore life jackets and had the time of their lives!

This little dude however wished he was in on the action. He had a hard time pulling away from this chair. He was having a little protest I guess. After a while he went and jumped on the trampoline, played in the sandbox, and played in the lake a little.

This girl too, was a little unsure of letting her big sister go. Then again, how calming and fun just to watch the lake and all the activity on it.

Here they come, only to get a rope to tie the kayak's up to the raft....and head right back out.

Loving this stage of my kids life, where they can be a little more independant.

And then Isabella came up with the idea of towing one of her brothers behind her in a tube. That girl was worn out by the end of the day.

Loving the high dive...but not sure about doing it without a life jacket. I love that Jack worked up the courage to jump. He was hesitant at first.

And then Suzy gets a ride....she looks like shes doing the rowing, I assure you she is not.

Here is Meghan with her little boy, Keean and William. Thanks Meghan for a great day spent at the lake, and for the delish lunch!!! We had so much fun!!!

quote of the day:
Me: "Suzy, Where is Jesus?"
Suzy: "In my heart"
Me: "That's right, He's in your heart."
Suzy: "But I can't feel Him." (as she touches her heart)

Wow, and I was really hoping that I would live long enough to be a grandma.....

Yesterday we were invited to visit my friend Crystal at the lake. The day started off really cloudy, so she called to say maybe we better try for another day. I was thinking I better plan something quick-because the kids had been working really fast to get things cleaned up so we could go. Then BAM! Within an hours time, it cleared off & looked very promising. So we loaded the car with all the essentials for taking 4 children to the lake. While I kept running in to get things that I forgot, I heard blood curdling screaming from the garage. Muffled in a way that it was coming from inside the closed van doors. I'm thinking fingers got pinched, possibly blood somewhere. I go running out to see what is the matter. Nothing is the matter. Just good ol' fighting between all the chillins. He's touching my trains. She kicked my seat kind-of thing.

I began to wonder if all this work was really worth it. Will the fighting continue after we arrive at the lake? Will they just keep fighting all the way there? Will there be more whining and fussing once we get there? Or will the diversion be a welcome change and make everyone happy to soak up some sun and play in the sand? What is a mother to do? So I did what some of you may have done in the past. I made threats of which I had absolutely no intention of carrying out. Something along the line of, "If you guys don't knock this off and stop fighting, We will NOT go to the lake. We will go back in and all go back to bed"

Not necessarily the right way to parent. Not that I'm proud of how I handled it. But I was F.E.D. up! Ever been there Mama's?
Thankfully the kids took me for dead serious, attitudes changed, and we continued on with the scheduled programing. Which involved Crystal making lunch, me and all 7 kids eating it, and then going down to the lake to play. Did I forget to mention I slaved over a bag of chips that I donated to the preparations of the meal?

One of the highlights for our 3 oldest were getting jet-ski rides.

Here is the line up....Christian-8, William-4, Jack 5, Isabella-7, Madeline-5, Suzy-1, Harrison-3. Pretty fun that each of them has a playmate.

Today.....we started off with swimming lessons, and then an eye Dr. appointment.

Guess who needs new frames?

choice #1

Sweetness has a little crack in the side of her frames, which are getting a little small for her face after almost 2 years of wearing glasses. The frames she had are discontinued. :( BOO. And she needs new lenses since her eyes have also changed. Her prescription needs to be stronger. choice #2

I need some help. I'm not crazy about either frame choice. Her face is too big for children's glasses, but too small for adult. It's hard to find something in the middle. Does anyone have any advice? Shall I keep looking for more frames at different stores?

And moving on with the day....

Tonight we celebrated Jack's 6th birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's, just a couple days early. Yummy homemade pizza, pop, icecream and cupcakes.
And then there was tonight. 2 flats of strawberries in 2 hours. It was amazing!!! We recruited all the troops and got it all done. 5 batches of jam and the rest we crushed and mixed with sugar.

Be the first 3 to leave me a comment and I will bring you a jar. :)

Quote of the day:

Isabella: "Jack, you have to wait until you are 18 to get married."

Jack: "Well then I can't marry mama, because she won't live that long."