Cleaning

Does anyone else have trouble keeping up with their housework? What is wrong with me? I remember once my mom saying that the housework will always be there, but her little boy won't. Yeah, I thought in my sassy teenager-ness, but what good does that do your little boy when he's languishing away with some rare disease he's gotten from the toilet seat or by walking barefooted through the kitchen? Glad I didn't say it outloud, because...

All seventeen of my children are living tornadoes! Two days ago I'd finally gotten to my room and it was spic 'n span...until I decided to do some paperwork for M's office. Since anybody 3-yrs or under HAS to be within a 2-meter radius of Mama, Will and James were playing in my room. Clara, who makes me nervous being outside a 2-meter radius, was encouraged to join them. After about 20 minute's deep concentration making heads and tails of some things I turned around. Explosion of yarn, toys, cars, paper, Halloween costume parts, blankets, pens, crayons, pillows, files, you name it! Where was I for all of this? Who knows? They're tricky! I took a picture as proof, but it made me cry, so I decided to erase it for my sanity.

Later that day, I attempted a deep cleaning of the kitchen preceding dinner. Of course during dinner somebody decided to spill their milk all over, and then somebody else! (Why does it not just spill? Why does it splash onto every surface in that room and the next?). I broke the cardinal rule and, as a good friend used to say, swamp witch emerged. I cried and stomped my foot and, balled fists and everything, threw a grown-up tantrum. My family sat silent as I stormed out of the kitchen. When I came back a few minutes later to apologize for my bad behavior, Jake quietly said, "It's alright, Mom. [apprehensive pause] It was actually kind of funny." And then they all burst into laughter. I couldn't decide whether to spank them all or laugh with them. So I laughed.

A friend of mine was unloading shortly after this incident about how hard it was to get her daughter (only child, Jacob's age) to clean up after herself. "I mean, I feel like that's all I do all day long: clean up after her!"

But no. I'm happy to report my friend is in one piece and doesn't know a thing about the pile-driver I was about to administer. I think the moral of this story is that kids are a lot of work, no matter how many you have. Houses and yards and life are a lot of work. My sister reminded me once that it's not as if we didn't have these kids on purpose. And as my mom unwittingly reminded me, the housework will always be there, but my little ones won't (...as long as they don't get a disease). So that's enough of that.

P. S. Thanks for that first picture, Kristal. I fervently wish I could agree! All things in order, I guess. A clean house can't be top priority, but it's sure a good habit to have.

The Boy Who Kissed His Mother

She sat on the porch in the sunshine,
As I went down the street--
A woman whose hair was silver,
But whose face was blossom sweet,
Making me think of a garden,
Where, in spite of the frost and snow,
Of bleak November weather,
Late, fragrant lilies grow.

I heard a footstep behind me,
And the sound of a merry laugh,
And I knew the heart it came from
Would be like a comforting staff
In the time and the hour of trouble,
Hopeful and brave and strong;
One of the hearts to lean on
When we think that things go wrong.

I turned at the click of the gate-latch
And met his manly look;
A face like his gives me pleasure,
Like the page of a pleasant book;
It told of a steadfast purpose,
Of a brave and daring will--
A face with a promise in it
That God grant the years fulfill.

He went up the pathway singing.
I saw the woman's eyes
Grow bright with a wordless welcome,
As sunshine warms the skies.
"Back again, sweetheart mother,"
He cried and bent to kiss
The loving face that was lifted
For what some mothers miss.

That boy will do to depend on,
I hold that this is true--
From lads in love with their mothers
Our bravest heroes grew.
Earth's grandest hearts have been loving hearts,
Since time and earth began.
And the boy who kissed his mother
Is every inch a man.

by Eben E. Rexford

Jacob, plus some

When you can't say it to your mom's face, do it by making her bed and leaving a note. (It worked, by the way.)
The picture of frugality. I found Jake struggling to do his homework with this pencil the other day. The very end he had sharpened with his pocket knife because it didn't fit into the pencil sharpener anymore. So I took a picture before I chucked it.
And just because I can't resist. Did you see The Office episode last night? Favorite exchange:

Jan: "I had a water birth--more natural transition from the womb," etc...
Kelly: "So you're in the water with all the stuff and everything?"
Jan: "Well, yeah. You know, the afterbirth actually floats."
As Creed solemnly mutters: "Like the tides at Omaha beach..."

Holy cow! What's wrong with me that I couldn't stop laughing until after I went to bed??

Chef Mikey Robideaux's Pick of the Week!

Chef Mikey Robideaux of New Orleans, who traditionally specializes in fine, or not-so-fine, Cajun cuisine, is departing from familiar ground to bring us a taste of Finnish culture at its best! "Yeah, if you like German pancakes (I LOVE German pancakes) or quiche-type dishes, then you'll enjoy this light Scandinavian breakfast. Yeah, you will." So try out this delectable delight today--from Finland to your table in just minutes!

PANNUKAKU

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Place a 9X13 baking dish with 1/2 cup butter or substitute (more or less) in oven to melt.

Mix 5 eggs

1 quart milk
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt

Pour mixture into heated dish. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon (there's no way to put on too much). Turn oven down to 400 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy hot or cooled. (Compliments of our sweet neighbor Judy who made it for us.)

P. S. Hey, what's with all the smack-talk in the comment section? I think this picture's nice of you, Mikey, even if it is doctored just a little.

Singing

I just had my eyes checked and they dialated them and now I can't see a cotton pickin' thang! I ran across this little tidbit, and even though I can't see it right now, I think it sounds funny. The kids had been making quite a racket, so finally I came around the corner with my camera to see what was up. Pardon all the underwear...

One of my favorite things is when my kids sing together. Minus the song they made up as we drove to church two Sundays ago, after I accused them of making their mother crazy by being naughty (do you ever feel ganged up on??). So they began to compose: "We are naughty, yes we are. We are naughty, we'll go far. See your favorite vase go smash, see your favorite plate go crash. Naughty, naughty, naughty kids, yes we are..." There was a tune and many verses. It was funny and disturbing all at once hearing them chant in unison, each child taking a turn thinking of naughty things that rhyme...as if it was in their blood... Michael and I just shook our heads and laughed.

Meaningful Moment

In an attempt to combat my growing suspicion that this blog is completely useless in it's purpose of illustrating meaninful moments in the Allen family (last post, for instance), I am going to tell an experience that happened today which touched me.

Late last night I received a phone call informing me that a lady in our church had just died unexpectedly. Because I am responsible for the childrens program in our church, I believe it was considered pertinent information for me since they have two small girls. Our family had a prayer for them, then I called the girls' teachers, and adjusted the sharing time lesson I had prepared.

Michael stayed home with the two youngest boys today (Will was under the weather and James is a pain when I have to teach sharing time), so it was just me and the older three. We were sitting on one side of the chapel when I saw the father walk in with his kids on the other side part way through the meeting. Eventually I decided I couldn't bear seeing them on that pew all by themselves, not flanked on the other side by a mom or even another family. Jake and I snuck out the back, Isaac and Clara quietly tucked away with friends, and walked around to the other side and went and sat by them. It may have been presumputuous, but it was the only thing I could think of. Near the end of the meeting the younger girl who is Clara's age, came and sat on my lap and burrowed her head into my armpit while she clutched a bracelet her mom had given her just before she died. I spent the last few minutes of the meeting fighting with my emotions and feeling so sad for these three kids (older brother in YM) who would go through the rest of their lives without their mother. All through Primary, this sweet girl just stared at her bracelet.

I feel one hundred percent confident that this family will be blessed and supported through the next months and years, and will be okay. I feel sure that it will be difficult. And I am certain that the Lord means it when he promises that a woman who is trying to be righteous, when bound to her family through the priesthood, will keep those relationships through eternity. All my eggs are in that basket.

Side note: I will never get used to little kids' frankness. Clara was sitting next to this little girl in her class, when I overheard her say, "Hi Hanna. Your mom died." Hanna said sadly, " I know." Then Clara, "I kind of know how you feel because a little while ago my grandma got sick and she died. It was sad too. But it would be worse to have your mom die. I guess everybody dies sometime. Your bracelet is pretty." Hanna, "Yeah, my mom gave it to me." Clara, "Ooo, that makes it extra pretty." Etc. Empathy incarnate, and even though I was a little alarmed at first I think it may have helped her just a little.

Lovers For All Ages

I had a little too much fun with this one. Thanks Whitney, for the website and the idea!

1952: Delbert and Edna, Lloyd and Grace--take your pick!

1970: Well now, aren't they a handsome couple? I think he's a weekend cage fighter, and she's darn good at peach cobbler.

1975: If his hair were curly and her's were black, I'd just about think I know these people.

1979: In honor of my birthyear. All I can say is, these folks can dance!

1990: Douglas County Speedway, here we come!!

Mikkelsen Family

Per Kristal's request to see my siblings. You're going to have to click on these to zoom in. Here are two pictures of my family taken during our trip to San Francisco. The first is an attempt at a good normal picture (only half are even looking at the camera, and even fewer smiling, of course). The second is everybody doing their various versions of "dead-eye." We all thought it was really funny, but something tells me the joke is not universally appreciated. Some people just don't have any sense of humor!