They're HERE! "Homemaker's Best Friends"

So... the Delivery truck came and dropped off our new Laundry appliances. The children were jumping up and down, it was priceless!-they were more excited than us!
The appliances  were quickly set up with help from the "boys". Here's Isaac helping to set it up...

Isaac and Caleb love to do "man" stuff and this definitly topped their criteria list

Washer and Dryer Team

New Washer in use

New Dryer in use! (sorry its blurry)

Lovin' my new Gadgets! makes my life easier...

(LG HIGH Efficiency "Super Capacity" ULTRA Machines with SensorDry/Steam)

I really enjoy the fact that it is Super Capacity!  We purposed to get the bigger size drum because of the amount of loads that need to get done can now be reduced, which means more time for other things.

The children like it especially now that it's at their height (due to the pedastol feature) we paid extra for and can help me with more ease. We debated just "Stacking" them, but decided just to keep them on their own, but higher with the added pedastols/drawers. I'm glad we made the right decision. 

Now, all I have to do is get the proper "HE" detergent..any suggestions?? The first few loads i used ALLENS liquid laundry soap but I am wondering if anyone knows of other detergents I can use compatible with high-efficiency washers?

Truck...

 BIG DELIVERY TRUCK IN DRIVEWAY RIGHT NOW! YES!!

Pics to follow Soon!

Clothing in a Large Family

If there is one thing about raising many children, clothing is definitly a big part of running things smoothly.  When we first had but a few children, we got by with just buying cheaper brands. By the end of the season, the cheaper brand clothes were quite often worn out, which was fine since active children=healthy children!
I started getting a bit frustrated that alot of the clothes were not worth keeping and that is when we started to just buy good quality items, even if they were a tad more pricey than we normally would spend.  At the time, there were a few nice baby boutiques (SuN Valley and The Family Tree) that I found some really sweet things.

 Since then I have never looked back, and though I still sometimes justify buying the cheaper low-quality brands for some things, the Bulk of the childrens wardrobes are of a good name. I enjoy the fact that the better quality clothing has saved us soo much money because we are always able to keep the clothing and hand it down to another child.  The stitches are strong, the clothing does not shrink, or fade and the buttons or embellishments usually stay on, even after laundering time and time again. That is my type of clothing-no fuss, no worries and they stay in great shape!

 There are some really cute peices at the childrens stores now that you can mix and match and they look great!
My favorite stores to buy the children clothes are: the Childrens Place, BabyGap,(love their SOCKS-they stay on!) GapKids, Please Mum, Old Navy (awesome deals here!) Bonnie Togs, Carters (online!) Roots. There is also a great place downtown called Junior World that has fantastic second hand clothing that we often purchase from too.

There are tons more great places but these are the main stores.  Also, Walmart has a great brand that I have had no problems with and it is the GEORGE collection.

I am wondering if there are any other great places that I have yet to discover and I am looking to you my readers for more tips if you have some!  I enjoy finding great sales and good deals.  Fill me in.....

Something to remember...

This was something I came across and it really spoke to me. It is something I believe we all need to remember as Mothers, especially with young daughters we are raising up...may you be blessed by it as much as I was!



The Eyes that are Upon Me



She’s watching me, and the stakes are high.

I can speak holiness, but can I live it?

I can claim a change in heart, but can I choose to put it into action throughout the day?


I’m pressed, mauled, exhausted, drained…put through the masher.


The demands are huge, threatening to take me under.


But her eyes are upon me, observing either my short temper that seems justified by pressure and lack of sleep, or my firm resolve to speak in a quiet voice and touch with love.

This is a time not easily captured again. A  baby in the house; situations created and circumstances present not usually here. A unique time to show her how to nurture, to mother, how to handle a toddler as well as an infant.

My daughter is nine, the perfect transitional age. She is still a child, moldable, yet her eyes gaze hungrily at what her future might hold. Right now, she longs to be a mother. As she grows, the world will tell her that this desire is not enough, that mothering is worthless, that she must seek more in order to be fulfilled.

My responsibility, my challenge, my privilege – is to spend each day living the life before her. Of feeding, washing, changing the baby with grace as my companion and joy as my banner. Because she is watching, and my choices will affect her thoughts, her choices, her very manner of mothering.

I struggle, I fear, I faint with the task at hand some days. It is too hard, Lord. I still have strength to recover and the loss of sleep is heavily felt. The toddler is too energetic and screeches his needs at me while the babe cries to be changed. Primitive woman rises up, and threatens to erupt. Self lifts her head, demanding respite and seeking to be ugly.

"He" who has called me is faithful, however, and He will equip me moment by moment for the task. As she watches, she will see a mother who needs a Savior, a woman who must bow her head and ask for strength moment by moment. She will see a mama who values the baby, the toddler, the preschooler, the elementary child, the middlers, and the teenager with a deep, deep love; enough to spend her days loving, teaching and guiding them.

"Father, for all of the eyes who are watching me, for all of the children you have blessed me with, for all whose parenting I will influence someday, help me to not be a shrew. Cover me with your grace, and your love, so that I may reflect YOUR character to my children. May I speak with love and kindness, and touch with tenderness."

Laundry Dilemna

As a homemaker, one of my favorite things I get to do around the Nest here is LAUNDRY!!  YES...I admit it, I actully LOVE doing laundry for my loved ones. I dont know what it is about it that makes me soo happy but it does.  There is just such a satisfying feeling when I take a mountain of dirty mixed up soiled clothes and when I am finished there is a nice fresh-smelling pile of folded clothes sitting in a pretty basket waiting to be put back away into drawers.

It is during these times that I am busy sorting and organizing the clothes that I tend to do alot of thinking and praying. I pray for each family member that the clothes belong to as I am sorting. I also enjoy the scent of  the laundry soap as I fill the washer. The sound of the washer and dryer somehow relaxes me and there is nothing better than the warm feeling of the articles as they come fresh out of the dryer. Then I usually get the "Littles" to help me with the folding. The children are so used to this routine, that it almost seems natural that when the laundry baskets get to the couch, they are there to help me. I cherish these times as we often chat and visit while our hands are busy neatly folding  away.

Lately I have not been able to enjoy this task of doing the family's laundry due to an older machine that is on its way out! I am usually very frugal so I  worked with it  regardless and got it fixed a couple of times. Well it got to the point that it almost completely stopped spinning and I actually had to "manually" spin it! ha! Well having an unreliable washer is no fun in a Large size family, and eventually the mountain of laundry got higher in a matter of a few days. I was able to get caught up but only after a friend so kindly offered her own laundry room for me to catch up.

 Soo...I am now hoping to get another washer and am looking into that. I am debating to get second-hand or to just buy brand new.  I am leaning towards something new because a reliable, durable washer is a MUST! I am so excited to get back into the groove of my laundry routines and after going through this only for the past week, I truly wonder how they managed before appliances were invented!

Large Family Living...my thoughts

As each child was added to the family, we consistenly got raised eyebrows and interesting comments. At first we were taken back but everyone of you who currently live in a large family, are raising a large brood and/or aspire to have a Large family will know that this is the normal reaction and eventually you just get used to it!  I am soo used to answering the questions that I've made up my own "standard"  answers and they come out of my mouth naturally now! ha!...
I know as I've chatted with many seasoned mothers/families about this very topic that it is a daily thing to be expected and to just flow with it and as rude/intrusive the comments are to never take offence and to be sweet!

It is also a good idea to have a sitdown chat with your children, as many times after walking away from even some well-meaning people, the children were hurt and vocalized their feelings and questions as to why people would make them feel so belittled and like they were a mistake.  It helps if your children understand that some people honestly do not think before blurting out their questions about a husband and wife`s convictions and  beliefs (or on a side note: even their personal marital  life!)   The children now know to keep smiling and to forgive anyone who has unknowingly said something that was not so nice.

I must admit, it is sometimes hard to be sweet to these people and not ask THEM the same type of questions back . So many times I have felt like saying to the really rude folks.. "Well..why didn't YOU have more children? whats wrong with you?!, dont you know they are a BLESSING not a burden, why dont you and your husband consider having more?!|" just to see their reaction.  AND that would not be a very Sweet or Kind thing to think or Say!

I know that it is all a personal conviction thing and that I would not dare to walk up to a couple and question them such detailed questions about something that is in all honesty, none of my business...

In hanging out with many large families and really getting connected, we have learned that this is something that all Large families struggle with this to some degree and  knowing how to deal with this is key to maintaining a healthy, loving family who`s foundation is not shaken, but rather is built up. We know that living our lives before the One that matters is more important than pleasing those around us. At the end of the day, we need to keep pressing on what we know is right for our own individual marriages/family.  Just know that the next time you see our large family out and about and you look at us like we are a circus attraction, (yes, someone actually said that!) we will look at you no different and love you just the same. We take no offence and will answer your questions as tactfully and respectfully  as we can with honesty and we Love everybody no matter what their family size!

Wordless Wednesday

SuN!

Today was  officially "Break out the Sandals" day here at the Nest...it was sooo Hot and beautiful!

Who doesn't just love Sandals and Sundresses?! "Methinks" we'll be seeing ALOT of these this summer..especially since we have 3 GIRLS!!

Amie de Soleil....

Today was our 4 1/2 year old daughter's Show and Tell  day at school. The theme for the jk's this time around is "fun recipes"
Lidiyah chose to make "Worms in Dirt" for her classmates.
She was so sweet and did a great job. I was very proud of her!

Lidiyah was the special girl of the day in her class and was able to pick a few friends to help bring the attendance to the Office, and of course deliver some of her treats she made. The secretaries were very thankful.

Good Job Lidiyah

Birth...and one year later....

Last Friday marked a milestone for our family as we celebrated our baby Girl's FIRST Birthday. I must tell you it was "bittersweet".
As the day approached, I found myself going over in my head, rehearsing all that happened the week prior to her arrival. I was taken back to the Above Rubies retreat that i had attended and got teary.
It was on the saturday session at the women's retreat that Nancy Cambpell  called all the women  who were carrying the Gift of Life to the front of the meeting room. There was a large number of us and Nancy Campbell asked the crowd to come around us and pray for our Unborn Blessings. Then Nancy walked through and layed hands on each of our protruding pregnant bellies and prayed many things upon the lives of our Unborn children. The word "POWERFUL" does not even begin to describe what was felt by us women (we all chatted later) I was so incredibly blessed by this as I felt my Little one kick from the inside out. It was an amazing moment and I cherish it to this day. I remember Nancy Campbell's words over my womb as she spoke specific words into the spirit of my unborn and wrote them in my pregnancy journal. It was soo awesome!!!  If anyone is familiar with Above Rubies and Nancy's ministry you probrably understand why it was so amazing to be blessed by her! I have gleaned and learned so much from this Great Woman of God and she has impacted my life in so many ways that only eternity will tell!
After the retreat I felt very ready to have our little one, and that night it seemed I was starting  to go into Labour!!!....after a long night..it subsided and false labour kept creeping up for the next few days.
It was on May14 that I was going about my nesting urges and getting everything perfectly ready  that things really progressed. I remember we were bringing our oldest daughter to her Annie Play practice and as I walked down the hall to bring her to the auditorium, I doubled over with a long INTENSE contraction...I couldn't move and I KNEW this was it!! I quickly got her to her practice, got home while hubby made dinner for the children, bathed them and put a quick movie on for them, only to rejoin me up in our bedroom to help me breathe through the contractions.

After putting the children to bed, and calling our midwives, labour went very fast and at 10:30, I wanted to be ALONE in the bathroom for awhile. My hubby (who knows me VERY well to know that this means baby is coming SOON) brought me back to the bedroom where soft music was playing, and candles we had lit earlier were still burning. It was such a cozy warm feeling to retreat into our room and gently go through those last stages of hard labour. After the children were awakened from their slumber (as prearranged/planned with all the children) they all hopped onto our big bed and waited, prayed and cheered their mommy on.

Moments later, I delivered our little Miracle into her Daddy's hands and he brought her up to my chest. The children all sighed and  and clapped and were in absolute awe as we brought our baby up to the level of the bed so they could see their first glimpse of their newly birthed sibling. IT was soo Incredible for all of us. It was awhile later that we looked to see if we had a baby boy or girl. I was surprised but so happy we had a GIRL!!! (I bought tons of PINK LOVELIES this pregancy...)
We had her name picked out and Daddy said "Here is HANNAH AMELIA SHILOH"
The midwives were amazing (as they always are) and left the room for us to bond.
That is a night forever etched into my memory, along with the other births of our children.

Fast forward to a year later, and here we are about to celebrate Hannah's 1st Birthday!!
How time flies. This year our Hannah has blessed our lives in soo many ways. I can't imagine our family without her. The children simply adore and dote on her and sometimes there are squabbles as to WHO gets to hold her first in the mornings.

She is such a sweet natured baby and loves to be carried by everyone. She is very attached to me and sometimes still cries when I step into the shower! ha!..She is an absolute DELIGHT to anyone who meets her. Her SMILE is so adorable and she knows it.  She takes her time to sit, crawl and even walk...which we are completely okay with...I think we are really savoring her babyhood!

This is a picture of me with Hannah in our MobyWrap and our Incredible MIDWIVES Audrey and Kathy!

She had a nice quiet family birthday, nothing to big, simple but fun. I still cant believe our Baby is 1!! Thank you God for her LIFE!!

It is TRADITION that we usually do Carrot Cake for Baby's 1st Birthday..but this is the one time it was an Ice Cream Cake. Daddy decided he wanted to see the look of Hannah's face with this type more than a carrot cake...and i was perfectly fine to oblige with that...

Happy 1st Birthday

HANNAH AMELIA SHILOH DUNN

We Love You!!!