Update on the Grahams

Ok Ok I know...my goal was to blog more...and its mostly for my own enjoyment so I will just yel at myself and apologize to myself!    Of course this is one of the busiest times of years so time is not on my side. 

November came and went and my husband was sick for most of the month started with Gout and ended with almost pneumonia and with him have asthma/allergies it was not easy on him.  So my tag team partner was on I guess what we can call medical leave from household duties so I had to feel in for him also.  I always work more hours in November and December not just cause its a busy time at the store but I always need extra Christmas money....Santa doesn't work for free ya know!

Now December is here and everyone knows I love snow storms....but I never remember having this much snow before winter even started.  I love it in Jan/Feb when its a slow time of year and we get to have more of the nights where the whole family is home and we have movie times or game times.  We did get to mange a game night where all 5 kids (baby watched) and me and Mark played Apples to Apples.  Its been awhile for that game and it always makes for interesting time. 

Now onto my son....my adult son.....well after playing around with the Air force for the last 9 months  he decided to give the Navy a try.  His weight was fine for them along with his test scores so he officially signed with them and has a leave date of July 9th.  Not sure how I feel about this date.  I am hoping they can get him to leave sooner, he needs it.  Its a bittersweet decision. 

I hope to post again before the Holiday but if not I wish anybody who reads this a VERY MERRY CHRSITMAS and a Happy Healthy New Year! 

Debbie G!

So much to be thankful for

I don't even know where I can begin...well I guess I could begin with the fact it only took me three times to remember my password to sign into my blogger account.  Sitting here at 6 am with just me and the baby and the quietness of the house really makes me sit here and think about everything that I could possibly be thankful for, 

I am mainly  thankful for the 6 kids I have been blessed with.  Just from having them, gives me so much to be thankful for from the past to the present and even the future!  I could not imagine what things would be like without any of them,  Of course we have chaos and there are times that myself and my husband just think to ourselves what were we thinking and then something hits us and makes us say oh yes that's why!  Of course we struggle with many things...what parents don't but that kinda stuff only makes us stronger for what is yet ahead. 

What a delight it was to go to Parent teacher conference and hear so much positive feedback about your kids.  I know we are not perfect parents and everyday of parenting is a learning process but good news like that makes you say to yourself....we are doing something right....  I am thankful that with all the challenges we have in our life that me and my husband are making it all work out!

There is so much more to be thankful for but all those things work together to make me a Thankful Mother and Wife and to me that is the most important and everything else falls in place.


Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!

Debbie

Life is crazy but got to remember we are still blessed!

So over the last two weeks I have been on an emotional roller coaster.  Having 6 kids will do that but its been more of a challenge to be a parent of a 18 year old graduate from High School and still no stability yet.  I will hold nothing back....so forgive my dear Kevin if you ever read this!  Kevin has been a pretty good kid.  Never gave me much trouble at all.  I never had to worry about him that much he communicated with me more then most his age and he was very active in Boy Scouts (earning his Eagle at 15) and was a part of the ROTC and was in the High School Marching Band along with being in the YOUTH CRIME WATCH in the high school.  Was his grades straight A's.......nope but he did go from 6th grade-11th day without missing a day of school.  So as far as from a parents view...I was blessed with a good kid considering what I see and hear about boys his age.

This brings me to a few days before he actually graduated....we butted heads and pretty much he left my house right after commencement and went a few days from hearing from him.  They wee make up he says he will change his ways.  I saw him trying but something still was not right.  Within 6 weeks we butt heads again and he left the house yet again.  Now this is 2x in 2 months.....a slap in the face to me.  Would it have been easier to struggle with him during his 4 years in High School or was he just making up for it now? 

He did manage to work the 2 jobs during the summer and in talks with a recruiter from the Air Force.  He needed to loose about 20 pounds and that shocked me cause he was not even the heavy but a rule is a rule.  He also kept missing the score he needed to enlist by 2 points so he still had lots of work to do.

Getting his license on his 18th Birthday in March he was not driving long.  We decided to let him but the truck from us for $3500 and we still owed almost $6,000 on it so he was making out.  Kevin was good kid however he has some downfalls....no value of time and always in a hurry.  I noticed dents on the truck and my Mark would give him an earful....one day in July my husband witnessed him speeding down our street so we gave him warning.  Well within a few days what happen......yup...speeding ticket! 

Ok fast forward to 6 weeks later....I get that phone call at 11 pm.....on the other end I hear MOM I had an accident....its pretty bad.  OK the mother in me wanted to make sure everybody was OK but I couldn't get those words out.....the angry mother in me said whose fault was it?????  I knew it was going to be his...I just knew it...and I knew he couldn't have been that hurt if he was talking to me.  So yes he made an illegal turn and a car came through intersection and hit him.  $7000 worth of damage to the truck. 

To make things worse our insurance CO is giving us a hard time..still not looking that good in our favor but that's a whole other story.

Well I hope this opened up his eyes.  He did mange to go talk to a Navy recruiter and see what they can offer and he goes the first week in November to gat a physical and such and if everything goes well he gets to enlist that day.  I think that is what he needs!  He will get a new start to his adult life!

 I am thankful nobody was hurt and this could have been a blessing in some disguise???

Blessings

Debbie

6 months.....time sure does fly!

Today my little guy turned 6 months old.  This time has sure gone fast.  I don't remember it going this fast with my other babies.  Maybe its cause I am trying to slow this process down knowing how fast they actually grow up.  I am so blessed with such a happy baby.  I know I am the mom and I will brag on him but he really is...always smiling.....and I don't understand why....in this crazy house of mine.  I am thinking he is going to make up for it when is about 2 and mom and dad have a hard time keeping up with him.

I just got done working 6 days straight...and I am whooped!  I had to do some bailing out of my own for the store.  Same scenario next week to.  Money is nice and so close to Christmas also.  Thank goodness I have a supporting husband and some awesome kids who step up to the plate and also accept the flaws of a working mom! 

I hope everyone out there in cyber world has an awesome weekend!

Debbie

Manners

Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.  ~Bill Kelly

Having 6 kids and being in all kind of activities, I have seen a lot of things that make my head spin.  Also having 18 years and counting  under my belt gives me much experience in this department and over the years it seems to make my head spin more and more.  I hear so much complaints these days about how kids act.  They are not like they used to be years ago.... I hear over and over from people of all ages.  I just wander though, do these people realize they are the adults who mold these young kids?  Kids learn through parents and other family members they are around.  Also when out in public, they see how adults act and they will be molded for life by being exposed to adults in their presence.  Can it be a good affect on young kids.....absolutely!!!!  Can it be a negative affect....you bet! 

Just a few weeks ago at the kids open house I remember sitting there all alone (my quiet time) and watching the people pile in.  I got there super early knowing parking is horrible and it does feel up...one perk from this being my 13th open house in a row at the same school.  At y first open house I did not know anybody..I was the newbie and yes there were cliques.  Some tend to ignore you but some would say Hello and make small talk.  As those years went by I made friends and we would say hello and still have the small talk at these type of gatherings.  Fast Forward 12 years and it does not seem like that.  Yes there are still cliques but they seem more of a mean clique and there was no small talk among other parents.  I watched very carefully.  Parents seem to be different now. 

So the meeting starts and even though they tell you to keep your kids at home nobody follows the rules...ok not even me....we live in walking distance so my kids wanted to come and play at the playground...well just 2 of them.  Since I brought my kids though I know the rules....well at least the rules I make for them.  You sit with me quietly until the administration is done talking and dismisses us.  Then as I go up to the classroom the kids may go and play with their friends outside the building.  Does that happen....NOPE.  The Principal had to ask for attention many times and it really was not even the kids...it was the adults....adults that should know how to use manners.  The parents kepts talking during the whole thing and letting their kids run around. 

Next is Basketball season last year.  By no means are we a sports family.  Our kids are not the top athlete and we don't push them to be.  They play just to say hey look I Play.  We go to their games with all kids in tow.  Call us crazy but during the games our kids stay with us especially when it is indoors.  Baseball games where there is a playground we might let them go but not until they were like at least 6-7 years old.  Well parents now let their kids run crazy.  They are watching their kids play sports while there other kids are doing damage in the building.  It got bad that they almost cancelled the season.  Then not only is it 6+ year old kids but little ones who are 3 and 4 and I guess are expected to be watched by the older kids they are with.  I just don't get it????

OK my last one (I have so many more)  My husband was leading the pack meeting and I sat quietly in the back of the room.  He had to stop speaking many of times because of outburst from kids and even adults who kept talking.  He is standing in the front of the room speaking and going over important issues and I just stand there with my jaw to the floor as parents are getting up and going there and going here and letting there kids go get a drink and run around.  What are we teaching these children?  The older boys put on a skit and I noticed how parents just let their kids e very disrespectful to the kids in the skit by letting them talk.  Its sad so sad to see how parents are raising their kids.

I by far am not perfect at this parenting thing..we all make mistakes and we all make faults.  I just hope that I learn from them and I really to believe I have.  I just hope some of these other parents are learning too.  These children are our future and its already not looking good and if these young kids are not learning basic manners from their parents we just might be in trouble

Blessings!

when the head of the house is down for the count!

Yes...I had to take a day off from my wife/mom/front end manager duties (called off from work).
I woke up and felt horrible!!!   I tried to start cleaning but it was not working out in my favor so off to the couch I went!  I did get to take a long morning nap.  God was on my side by letting the baby go back to sleep at 8 am and slept until 11 (or he just played very nicely in his crib for 3 hours)
I broke down and called off from work so I had the lazy day I have been longing for.  It was nice that all my kids were home and we had nothing to do so I picked a nice day to be sick.  We watched bad ..not that mom would normally let my kids watch  movies all afternoon.  It was one of those afternoons I would remember for along time

Well the Supermom I am I decided I felt better so I would try to prepare a small dinner.  Grilled Cheese, Mac/Cheese and soups for all.  Now my Kitchen was not in the best condition because a lazy day for mom of course means a lazy day for the kids.  I made it through dinner and started dishes as I was cooking and then after I ate I sat with my husband for a few minutes before I finished cleaning the kitchen, who was working on Cub Scout stuff to help him out.  Well within minutes I felt sick all over again (deep down I knew I overdid it with the cheese but this girl loves cheese)  so at 6 at night I went back to lay down

I actually got back up around 9 and felt better so  I walk into the Kitchen only to have my stomach go back into knots.. knots that made me sicker then I was all day!  My Kitchen looked like a catergory 5 Hurricane Graham passed through.  Decisions Decisions....do I wake everybody up who was just settling down to a good night sleep to have them clean the kitchen or do I say Heck with it and we tackle it in the morning.........I got another 9 hours asleep after that.

Of course I had to take pics for memories....Right???????

But we do clean up well!!!!

Have a Positive Day!

There will be days like this

20 minutes ago I had all intentions on going to church...really I did!  We missed last week cause a few kids had horrible colds/coughs and mom was getting one also.  I woke up early to start cleaning up from my non work day yesterday and was moving right along.  The I realized my hamper is full (I admit I have no clothes for church....well no bras that is...all in the hamper  I know TMI) and I snuck a peek into my bedroom to see my husband who works 6 days a week and up at 5 am still peacefully sleeping away at 8 am.  I still have to finish my Kitchen and I also had a to do list I never got to do yesterday since I was down for count.  I go in to work tonight and work for the next 4 days so I am thinking I really need to finish some things up around here...plus my husband has another popcorn booth sale today 12-4 so he will pretty busy with that.

So that brings me to this thought...by not going to church does that make you any less of a Christian???  Well in my mind absolutely not!!!!  There are many things that could define being a Christian and remember there is no perfection is Christianity.  I also will go on a limb and say just by going to church does not define you as a Christian...look at me now...I am judging and that is not Christian like?!?!?  So I guess I am saying we are skipping church today and I know there will be more of these playing hookie from church days but it does define my family any less.  We try to keep the faith in our daily living and as my two kids would say we go to Youth Group once a week.  I do need to start working on a few of my kids reading daily devotions more....I always wanted my teens to do that but never did...maybe I can put that on my to do list for this week!

Have a positive day!!!!!!!

Still Trying

So here it is 5 days since my last post!  Its better then going a year I guess.  I will say it is not easy to find the time to update my blog with everything I have going on.  Today I did find some time due to me being sick all day and calling of work.  So no work and little housework makes some free time.  Another good thing that came from me being sick and laying around all day was that all of my kids sat and watched movies with me all afternoon.  That does not happen often due to many things going on and the wide spread of ages but it is always nice when all 6 of them are together in the same room.

As I mentioned in my post about my kids that my boys are in to scouts.  This year my husband has taken the role of cubmaster.  Yes we are doing it for the boys but it comes with a lot of work.  As me and my husband says its like having a another job.  It is well worth it and I now in the end we will look back at this and 1, think how the heck did we do it 2. we will miss it.   So far it has been going pretty good.  Me and my husband has always worked together as a team well.  Of course we have our moments.....the moments we fight, stress out and forget but it all works out...I think we work good under pressure.  Here is my boys with my husband at the popcorn booth sale raising money for the pack.  Let me just say it was a rough time getting ready to go and of course I forgot to ask off from work so he had to take the baby  which left an unhappy husband.  But it worked out like it always does for us.  We are so grateful that blessings pour over us in times like this.

 Have a blessed day my friends!

 

Sisters!

My only 2 girls!  Brittney 13 and Alyssa 11.  There are many times I think having 2 girls is just like having 4 boys. 

Brittney:  She is in the 8th grade and I will not hold nothing back about her!  One day I hope she looks back at this and reads it and sees why everything is the way it is.  She is very mature for her age...she really is.  I get told that all the time from many people.  She is going through that "lazy stage"  She really needs pushed to get anything done.  She would rather sit at home and watch TV then do anything else with friends or family.  She did drop out of GS and we can not get her to do anything else.  I am not the mom to push that hard cause I am one that believes that will make it worst sooner or later.  I jut pray everyday that she will find her way in the world we live in.  She does step up to the plate when needed with the baby and chores.  She acts like she is not that happy but I know deep down she is.  I know in the long run she will turn out to be an awesome lady! 

Alyssa~ She is in the 6th grade and adjusting well.  She is such a sweet girl who does behave very well for us however it comes with a price...and that is she could be whiny.  She knows it too...I think she uses that to her advantage at times.  She is my second mommy to the baby.  In her words to me all the time is.... she is going to have lots of kids like me!  She still dances two days a week and she recently started a local youth group at a church nearby.  I see in her future that she will be the mommy that does it all and handles it with class. 

Blessings!

Debbie G!

Well let me give you a refresher on my family.  THE BOYS......I have Kevin 18, Brandon 9, Ryan 8 ad Aiden 5 months. Yes 4 boys....Everyone asked me if I really wanted a little girl with my last baby and of course I did....I only have 2 girls (and we have 4 pets that are all boys) but secretly I am happy with boys....they are easier and cheaper...and I have no shame telling people that! 

Kevin~18  graduated in June and was a member of the High School Band all 4 years, did the Youth Crime Watch and was in the Schools ROTC program.  He also has been in Socuting since he was in 1st grade and he earned his Eagle Badge at the age of 15 in the 10th grade.  He is all in all a good kid!  He is planning on joining the Air Force and hopes to leave in the new year.  He is keeping busy by working Mon-Fri and one thing that impresses me with him is for being 18 he still pays attention to his siblings.  He will play with them and he will even help with the baby...always makes sure he comes over to see him when he comes home or walks by him.  I am excitied to see what the future holds for him.

Brandon~9 I describe him as my all around kid.  He has the worst behavior (Sorry B for throwing you under the bus for that) but yet has the best personality.  He is my sarcastic one and always has to joke around.  He is annoying at times but then he is the one who likes to cuddle with me and give me what he calls massages...he is also the one who keeps us on our toes!  Brandon is my kid that makes friends no matter where we go...not shy at all.  One of my favorite things about him is that when of the siblings make fun of him, (yes we do that here in our home for fun)  he is the child who laughs about it and makes fun of himself.  He also is a great help with the baby!  This year he is in the 4th grade and still active in the Cub Scouts!  Starting the Drums soon and not sure if he is going to do Soccer again.

Ryan~8  Ryan is hard to explain unless ya know him.  He is my child that got  diagnosed on the Autism spectrum but many people never know that by being around him.  He is my little adult as I call him at times.  Very thorough on all he does...Details Details is his main trait.  His memory is awesome (at times that sucks as a mother who will say maybe next time to deter something, he will not forget, even if its a year later)  He does very well at school academically but still has what we call meltdowns.  We have come a long way with them but they still happen.  If he forgets an assignment at home, he will cry when he realizes it. He does not like to be "called out" especially if its in front of others.... the meltdown will happen.  My favorite thing with Ryan is he loves to clean and organize....he will clean my whole house at this age if I let him.  He is also involved in Cub Scouts and loves Soccer so hoping to start that in the Spring...Fall is just do busy for that.

Aiden~5 months  My little man...the reason why my husband will be in Cub Scouts for a long time (wink wink hubby)  This little man was definitely a shock....not just to everybody else but to us too.  With him being 8 years apart from my then youngest it made us think OH MY?   This baby has been a blessing though.  I did have a very rough Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery but I have the most calmest and happiest baby ever.  He just goes with the flow and I guess he has to at our home.   He is always smiling and giggling...he even wakes up laughing and giggling to get my attention.  He is my only child to be a thumb sucker too.  Right now I think its adorable but I do hope he out grows it.  He is going to be very spoiled....his brothers and sisters already do a good job at that so I could only imagine in 5-10 years how it will be..him being the baby of the bunch.  (this is a hint to my older kids  that at 10 he will still need a babysitter so me and Dad can go out)

Well Next Time I will introduce my girls!  Til then my friend

Blessings and have a Positive Day!

I am back and hopefully to stay!

So I know I am like a ping pong ball with this blog thing.  I always have good intentions but life throws me in different directions.  I really do not know if anybody even reads my blog and if they did  they are gone now because its been a year since I posted.  One reason why I want to blog again is this is a cool way to look back on my life..memories.  My kids could also look back at the days and remember their memories even if they were bad ones.  I also figured this could help me answer some of the many questions I get from people on a daily basis....HOW DO YOU DO IT ALL?  I wonder what your day is like?  Why are you always so calm?  you and Mark have it together....  I never see you mad..Does that Happen???  Well if I can keep up with this, then you might see my ugly side too....but not that much...for we are an easy going family.

Yes we have 6 kids (for some who did not know #6 was born in April 2013)  I work out of the home about 30 hours a week and  I work 3-11 and my husband works 6 days week and works 6-3.  I am still a Girl Scout Leader and my husband recently became Cubmaster of the local cub Scouts and I am pretty much his right hand man(gal ) and its like having a second job.  My one daughter still dances twice a week and my boys do play soccer but just in the Spring.  Since my son graduated in June I have a break from the High School Marching Band which at times could have been overwhelming also.  I hope this does reach many people and now you can get a first hand look into the Graham Household!  Hopefully I remember how to upload pics to this thing!

Til we meet again on here have a blessed day!

Debbie G!