Why Mom's Phone Has 6 Billion Photos On It

I haven't printed off pictures from my phone or camera in about 4 years. Why, you ask? Just go print them at Walmart, you say?

Well, last night I did just that. 

Rylie Cole had brought it to my attention that we don't have any "new" pictures in our frames and that I never print out the pictures I take. 

I plan on it, I just never get around to it. 

So, yesterday evening while she was in cheer and I went to Walmart to buy groceries, I decided I'd try to print JUST TWO of our Easter pictures to put in a frame. 

Picture it, me pushing one of those big two seater kid buggies entering Walmart with four of my five babies, happy as can be, smiling, saying hello to passing strangers, ya know, happy mom! We don't look the best because I didn't realize it was time to leave the house, so we didn't have time to spruce up before we left. No problem. We'll drop Rylie off at cheer and we will be in and out. Piece of cake. 

Then we got to the picture kiosk. Rowdy and Cash were begging to go look at some fancy new yoyos they had displayed just far enough away from the photo lab to make me uncomfortable about letting them go look. "No, boys! Just wait. You want to get kidnapped? This won't take but a minute." Boys are now irritated because those yoyos are begging them to come take a look. 

Remmi and Roxie, one of them fixed their own hair (equivalent to a ponytail made by Ray Charles with arthritis) and the other decided she didn't really need that cute little braid Momma had put in right before we left the house. Their hair was lived-in to put it nicely, but it went well with their Go-Gurt mustaches and sandy flip flop feet. You know when your kids got that filthy baby look going on? They can't act up while they look like that. No sir, only when they are cute and clean, or people will think you are one of "those" families that goes grocery shopping in pajamas and no bra.) 

I'm trying to figure out the photo machine, a lot has changed since I last used one, and the kids start to get restless. 

So does Mom. 

"Get over here!"

"Keep your shoes on."

"Don't stand up in the buggy."

"No, you're not buying another knife."

"Hang on, one second and I'll take you to the bathroom."

That was a big mistake. 

At this point, Remmi is lying under the seat of the buggy and Roxie is sitting down. I've got my two photos selected and ready to print out. 

Then it happens. 

Remmi, while giggling and snickering, "Momma, Roxie is teeteeing on me."

I look down. 

Sure enough. Roxie is sitting in the seat and letting it go. Dripping straight down to where Remmi is laying. 

Ughhhhhhhhh!

I quickly unplug my phone from the machine and start looking for one of those Spill Station poles. I send Rowdy over to grab the roll or paper towels. (He's super shy.) He can't walk over to the pole without Cash. "Just go get the paper towels, Rowdy! Hurry!" Rowdy, looking at Cash like, 'c'mon, I can't go 10 feet alone'. I run over and grab the towels myself. There's some guy walking past and he's looking at the huge puddle. Now I'm embarrassed. Keep moving, buddy, nothing to see here. At this point I'm not smiling or making eye contact with anyone and I'm cleaning the floor and buggy as fast as I can, hoping no one sees. I get the puddle clean and we head back to the bathroom. The girls' dresses are light pink and where they're wet is now super bright. Super obvious. 

Now I'm like, I don't care, I'm printing out the two pictures. We go back to the photo kiosk, after washing up the girls the best I can and wrapping them up in paper towels. I successfully print out the two pictures. Yes! Victory!!! But my thrill from the pictures is short lived. The girls are still wet. I'm feeling like a horrible mom and try to decide if I should go buy new panties and outfits for them, or just high tail it to the checkout and leave. But we still need groceries!

I quickly grabbed the little bit of groceries that I knew we had to have. All the action has made me lose track of time. (I knew I should have worn my watch today!) It's now time to pick up Rylie. What?! I still have to get some produce and stand in line and check out! We rush to checkout. Hurry up, lady in front of me! Doesn't that conveyer belt move any faster? "No you can't have candy!" I'm pretty sure I may have growled and gritted my teeth when I said that. We just have to get out of here. It's now past the time I'm supposed to have picked up Rylie and I'm getting texts from the dance teacher asking if I'm on my way. I pay and get to my car as fast as I can. We load the car and buckle and peel out of the parking lot. We finally make it to the cheer studio eleven minutes late. Dang it! 

I was feeling pretty frazzled and was certain we fit right in with those People Of Walmart (If you don't know what that is, Google 'people of Walmart'), but I got my two pictures! That ought to do for another four years. 

So, that's why I have 6 billion pictures on my phone and don't have any "new" pictures in my frames! 

XO, Jennifer 

They're Just Kids

Kids. Sometimes they're angels. It's rare, but sometimes. Sometimes they're like rabid raccoons that just ate a 5 gallon bucket of Pixy Stix. And that's most of the time! ::wink:: 

The other day I was about to fly off the handle and lose all my grace. I had been getting on to one of my sons repeatedly because he was in his own world and there were chores to be done before we could leave. Hello! Doesn't he know we have places to go before it's the two year old's nap time? We're on limited time here!

After telling him to straighten his room up, and walking by it to see zero progress, I was fed up. I had had it. I was ready to get his attention and let him know Momma means business. 

Then it hit me. 

HE IS JUST A LITTLE BOY. 

He is seven. 

He laughs when somebody says 'butt'.

He still sleeps with a nightlight. 

His favorite animal is a bunny. 

He's still missing his front teeth. 

He still believes in the Tooth Fairy. 

He still wears superhero underwear. 

He still wants a bedtime story every night. 

He is not an adult who can spotlessly clean a room in 20 minutes, while simultaneously getting ready to go to town. He gets distracted. Even I still do and I'm 30!

What stopped me dead in my tracks before I laid into him was what he was wearing. He had on his little boots and some Wrangler jeans with the knees knocked out of them, with his favorite Santa Claus t-shirt (even though it was well after Christmas. It's his favorite :) Then I noticed a little Mickey Mouse flashlight hooked on his belt loop. That did it for me. HE IS JUST A LITTLE BOY. It made me stop and think. Wow. He's just a little fella. Ease up. 

That little Mickey Mouse flashlight and Santa Claus shirt served as a reminder. An eye-opener. Sometimes I expect too much. I can let things go. I can choose my battles. Do I think he will be a horrible adult because I let him occasionally slide and treat him like the child he is? No. Absolutely not. He gets plenty of love and hugs and discipline to even it all out. And IF he is a horrible adult it is because he has too much Caleb Crawley in him. ::wink::

I tend to treat the boys like twins and expect the very same from both of them. Rowdy is 9 and Cash is 7. That two years makes a big difference! But I often forget that. They may can do some impressive things physically, but they're still young. 

I'm thankful I was distracted and noticed his outfit before I might have gotten mad at him for just being seven!

He still is expected to do his fair share and behave like a little gentleman, but that doesn't mean I have to be a drill sergeant and make my children afraid of me to make respect me. 

For the record, I am all for spankings and discipline, but not for every little thing they do wrong. HE IS JUST A LITTLE BOY. They're just kids! 

Overall, I think -scratch that- I KNOW I have good kids. 

Kids. 

Not adults. 

Not robots. 

They're just kids and they mean the world to me. 

They remind us to say the blessing before supper if we forget. They hold the doors open for ladies. They carry their little sisters to the car when it's raining. 

They'll be ok.

That's a fact.

I pray for them, take them to church, smother them with kisses, give them a good example and correct their bad behavior. That's all I can do. 

I do my best. 

They'll be ok. 

I know they will. 

But for now, THEY'RE JUST KIDS. 

XOXO, Jenn

Tired Momma Reminder

Hey y'all! I have gotten out of the habit of blogging, but here I am!

Have you saw the pins on Pinterest and the shared posts on Facebook about kids growing up and not needing Momma anymore?

They crush me. 

I live for my kids and a momma is all that I am. Who will I be when my kids no longer need me?

Time is fleeting. 

I love spending time with the kids. I love just being with the kids. 

Do they drive me absolutely insane? Yes, almost daily!

A few evenings ago, Remmi brought me a book while I was washing dishes.

"You read me dis?" 

I told her I would before bed and I finished up the dishes. An hour or so later it was time for the kids to get in bed.

I was tired. Like, real tired. 

Tired of telling kids more than once to do their bedtime chores and things not getting done. I just wanted to get in my bed. I was making my rounds giving kisses and hugs and I came to Remmi. She was laying in her bed, holding the book. Not a short board book. This was one of those looong books. She asked me again if I would read it to her. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I instantly regretted saying them. 

"No, not tonight, baby. Momma is SO tired." 

Why did I say that?! No, I didn't mean that! Please don't let me get away with this. There's no way I could just go get in my bed after doing that to her. I felt like a piece of crap mom. This isn't how I want to end our day.

"But you said you would read it to me." 

Yep, you're right. I did - AND I WILL. 

I sat on her bed with her and the other kids came running in as soon as they heard me start the story. I LOVE reading to my kids at bedtime. Maybe to them it just puts off having to go to sleep right away. I don't care. I'm going to do it as long as they ask. For how long do kids want Momma to read to them? Not long at all. 

This is a good reminder. 

Our babies are growing up. Fast! 

I know I sound repetitive at times, but kids just don't stay little for long! I want my kids to have good memories. Not memories of a mom who was too busy or too tired to keep her word. 

Embrace today. Linger a little longer tonight at bedtime. You won't get that moment back. You may have another chance to read the book tomorrow night, but then again, they may never ask for a bedtime story again. It could be the last time. Choose wisely.

Pick up a new book at Walmart. Make sweet memories before it's too late. 

Enjoy those babies. 

XOXO, Jenn

Halloween Weekend Wrap Up

Good morning! 

We had a wonderful Halloween and now we all have mouths full of cavities and I go into a Reese's coma on the daily. Well, the cavities part isn't true, but the Reese's coma is nothing but facts. 

Sunday morning the kids gave me - ok, I took most of their Reese's and I sat and ate them while I drank a Coke and a little bit later I was definitely regretting that breakfast choice. Sugar overload. I won't do that again...until I find some more Reese's. 

Back in the summer, I told the RCC Gang that we were not going to buy store bought costumes this year. Twenty-five to thirty dollars a piece X5 for some janky costume that comes unsewn? Yeah, we ain't doin' that. 

Pinterest was a huge help at helping us come up with ideas. I only had to buy a few things for each kid, and they were something a little more original than Elsa and Spider-Man. (No offense if you had those, I had an Elsa last year)

Our lineup included a deer, a lumberjack, a rodeo clown, a bank robber and Foxy Roxie (a fox).

We went to Goodwill to find suspenders for the boys and we happened to find some very large jeans for Cash's clown costume. I had him try them on for my own entertainment and as soon as he opened the dressing room door, we all busted out laughing. These jeans would fit a grown man, but they were Cash's length!!! Who wore these jeans?! 

We also decided to paint our pumpkins this year instead of carving them. I think they turned out great! Still just as messy, but a lot more colorful! 

After a day full of fifty cent corn dogs, pumpkin painting and trick-or-treating, we had Feet Loaf (foot-shaped meatloaf) at Nanna & Poppa's the next day for Sunday dinner. It was SO good. 

Nanna did real good at making a Goodbye Halloween dinner. Her meatloaf is always the bomb and the foot didn't disappoint. Everybody wanted a toe. These kids ain't right!

So, after three days of candy all day, everything in our house is sticky. Thanks, Roxie. 

I was given a bread machine over the weekend and made my first loaf of homemade bread yesterday! 

Caleb LOVED the bread and has already asked me to make another loaf this morning. 

I'm twelve and a half weeks pregnant now, RCC #6 is the size of a lime. 

I'm getting my energy back and I'm so glad too because this time of year makes me want to decorate, cook and craft everyday! 

Time to make some more bread! 

Happy Tuesday!

XO, Jenn

I Don't Know How You Do It!

Hey y'all! 

Yesterday we had a really great day in Longview. After we did our school, we went to run some errands and visit my dad and nanny. I have realllly been wanting to make a trip to McAlister's, so it was a must for a late lunch. Kids needed pajamas and I wanted to try and find me some maternity jeans. (Halloween is right around the corner and I need "candy room" lol) 

While I was checking out at the store, the lady behind me was smiling and shaking her head. She told me she only had three and didn't know how I did it. (Ha! If she only knew!) I laughed and told her that I lost my sanity a long time ago. Honestly, I was just thinking about that chocolate shake I was going to get from Chick-fil-A as soon as we left there. That'll boost your mood real quick like. 

The question I get asked a WHOLE LOT is "how do you do it?"

I try my best, but sometimes, I'm JUST TIRED. Making a human can be exhausting!

Sometimes I have to decide whether I want to be Crazy Mom and make the kids clean everything they have messed up or just enjoy the day and clean later. 

Sometimes the filth wins. Ok, a lot of the time. 

Sometimes my house looks like somebody broke in and dumped everything we own into the living room floor, pulled every article of clothing out and threw it in the dirty clothes basket (or just directly onto the floor), and smeared ketchup on every single dish and sat them out for display on the counters.  

Sometimes one of your kids takes their boots off and you discover that they're only wearing one sock because you're behind on laundry, their sock drawer is empty, and they couldn't find a mate and just went with it. 

Sometimes you take the sweetest picture of your sleeping babies and then you realize that OF COURSE there's no sheet on the bed because somebody got peanut butter & jelly on them and they're still in the washing machine. (Tip: Just edit that picture to black and white. Winning!)

Sometimes there's no clean sippy cups, so you just let Baby have some of your Coke. (It's cool, it's diet, right?)

Sometimes you lose track of time and Captain Crunch makes for a pretty good supper. 

Sometimes you smell some funky smells in your house and you just add some fresh wax to your Scentsy warmer and call that a start to "cleaning". 

Sometimes one of your daughters gets awfully pouty because those black leggings she needs for church are MIA and she has to wear whatever is clean. (Please tell me there is at least something hanging in your closet!)

Sometimes you look like death warmed over because Baby got into your makeup (again) and you have looked and looked and can't find where she stashed it anywhere! And, where did she put the hairbrush?!

Sadly, this is the way it is sometimes. 

For now. 

Temporarily. 

I hope. 

Lord, PLEASE let this just be a phase!!!

Remember when your house used to always be clean, you had on a bra and real clothes, and company could pop in at any given moment? ::sigh:: Those were the good old days. 

But actually, my house is FINALLY clean (for now) and it kind of makes me feel like I'm doing a better job. 

 

Hey, maybe I really do have it all together. 

Hahahahahahahahaha! 

Yeah right. 

Don't measure your success as a mom and wife by how well you "have it together". Just do the best you can do, love your husband, love those babies, love yourself and you'll be just fine. I promise. 

❤️ Jenn

 

My 6 Pack!

Hey y'all! I want to share some fabulous news with y'all! 

Almost two months ago, I found out that we were expecting baby #6! 

What?! Six kids! That's a half dozen!

It was such a surprise! I had already decided we were done and happy with our fab five. I say "I" because Mr. Crawley just goes with the flow and is happy with whatever I am happy with. (Thank you for always being that way, Caleb; I truly love that about you.) 

But of course I wanted another. I ALWAYS want another! Not just a baby, though, but another person to add to our family. The more the merrier! 

A whole team of kids isn't for everybody, but it is just right for us! Being a wife to Caleb and a mom to the RCC Gang is who I am. That is how I identify myself. Wife and momma. So, what's one more baby?! Hand it over! I got this. Raising kids, cooking and cleaning. I enjoy it! Not so much the cleaning part, but just being a homemaker and taking care of my crew. THAT is what I love to do! 

I know people think we are crazy. I get it. And we are! Six is a lot. Five was a lot, and so was 4. This is all I have ever wanted and I couldn't be happier to have a huge family. Some moms and dads choose to have 1 or 2. That's cool, that's their prerogative. Then some people have more. That's cool, too. To each their own, right? 

All I can say is that I am beyond blessed and I'm ecstatic to have another precious baby. Some days are hard, but there were hard days when I had only one kid. Heck, there were hard days when I didn't have any kids! 'Tis life. 

Our family rocks and we have a whole lot of fun! It's crazy and chaotic and messy and loud, but it's US! It's OUR family. That's how we do. 

And besides, more kids means they can work as a team and put their funds together to put Momma and Daddy in a nice nursing home one day. So who's the real winners here?! LOL!

XO❤️, Jenn, that crazy lady with all those kids

Sticky Floors and Happy Kids

Today I was sitting in my office at my desk, and when I say office, I mean my laundry room, and when I say desk, I mean the toilet. Yes, there's a toilet in the laundry room (old house, strange things) and I sit on it (lid closed...most of the time) just like its a chair. I was in there doing my 67th load of laundry for the week, when I came across a t-shirt my Nanny had made for me a couple of Mother's Days ago. 

It says "Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles and happy kids." 

I sure hope that saying is true because I am drowning in the mess that is our home. 

Over the past week and a half I've had 3 sick babies and then I got sick as well. Yeah, moms don't get sick days. MOMS DO NOT GET SICK DAYS. A mom's sick day is when they lay on the couch in agony and hear their house being destroyed all around them, all the while still having to open the drinks and be a referee and prepare the meals.

A house of seven people goes downhill REAL quick. Like, it's crazy. Now when the mom is feeling puny, whew, that's a new kind of downhill. 

So, I think to myself as I am still cleaning up the aftermath of Sickfest 3000, man, I am living in a whole 'nother level of wild right now. How do these kids make THIS MUCH mess?! Seriously!! The stickers, the crumbs, the wrappers, the crushed cheese balls, it's insane! 

Have you saw this pin on Pinterest?

Do you agree that this is true? I do!

Every few months there's a new food I swear I'll never buy again because of the damage it causes. Over the summer it was those popsicles that come in a box that aren't prefrozen. Let one of those melt in your counter will all your bills, mail and checkbook, it'll be a while before you put those babies back on your shopping list. 

Currently, my list will not have Pop Tarts or Baby Bel cheese on it. Pop Tarts crumble and scatter as soon as that foil package is ripped open. I'm taking a break from those suckers. And the cheese; have you ever bought that kind? It's a great, healthy snack for the kids, but it has this red wax protection on it that is insanely hard to get out of carpet once it's mushed into it. No more of that devil cheese for a while. I need time to recover from the trauma. 

Now my house is about 80% back to normal, well as normal as it gets, and everyone is on the mend. My kids did most of the work and did their fair shares of getting the house back to livable conditions. 

Everyone is clean and tucked in their beds. Stories were read and bellies are full. 

Even though I thought we would have to burn the house down and start over, it always gets better. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Mommas, it's ok if the house gets a little (or a lot) messy, there'll be time for that. That's not our number one priority as women. Take care of your family and take care of YOU. A spotless home isn't what makes a girl a good momma. Happy kids - that is what makes you a good momma! 

I love a clean home just like everyone else, but it's always going to get messed back up. That means people live there and they actually LIVE! Your home isn't a museum, it's a safe place for your people to be themselves. My people happen to be a little sloppy. 

So just enjoy, don't worry, live and let it go. Let that sink of dishwater get cold. Those clothes can sit in the washer for a bit. You can get to that later. Read to the babies, play Legos, listen to the stories they tell. That mess will still be there tomorrow. I promise. 

❤️ Jenn