Bear in mind my husband is still in New York so I am flying solo this week with my whole herd. I got them all loaded up into the van after school and we hit the road by 3:30 pm - right on schedule! No time for homework or chores, we'll do it later - I just hope no one breaks in while we're gone, I'd be so embarrassed :(
Our new van had the built in DVD - what a blessing that is! The kids settled in to watch a movie knowing we'd be on the road for at least an hour. For me, it was exhilarating to get out of the house and just drive.... so peaceful....for about 5 minutes.
We didn't even get out of town before the bickering started.
G2: Lisa can you tell B1 to be quiet, he keeps on talking and I can't hear the movie.
B1: I'm not talking, G2 keeps touching me.
G2: I'm just trying to get comfortable.
B3: Shhhhh, I can't hear the movie!
Baby G3: Waaaaaaaaaaaaa, (lost her soother)
Mom: If you kids don't be quiet I am turning the movie off!!! (how stupid is THAT)
Thirty seconds goes by in peaceful silence.........
*FFFFFFFFT
B2: Ewwwwwwwwww, someone farted, I smell a fart!
B3: I didn't do it! I say 'scuse me when I fart.
G2: Ewwww, who DID that?
B1: Maybe the baby pooped.
Mom: Alright that's enough - watch your movie!
Two full minutes of quiet...... I am almost giddy!
G2: Shhhhhhhh! B1, BE QUIET!
B1: Stop it G2, I can talk if I want too.
G2: I can't hear the movie, be quiet!
B1: Shhhhhhhhhhh
G2: Shhhhhhhhhh - don't shush me!
Mom: Kids, I said that's enough (G2 cuts me off and yells - "I am not doing it B1 is!) HOLD ON NOW! I KNOW YOU"RE NOT RAISING YOUR VOICE TO ME....I'M THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO RAISE THEIR VOICE AROUND HERE! DO MAKE MYSELF CLEAR??? (my blood pressure is rising as I relive this scene in my head ...... think Happy Thoughts)
Mom: ANSWER ME!!!!
kids: You said to be quiet.....
Mom: Grrrrrrrrrrrr (I swear there was steam coming out of my ears by then .... breathe, just breathe, they're just children - God's tools for teaching us patience and self-control.... breathe) It's too far for them to walk to Windsor from here anyway, they'd never make it by nightfall.
Another few minutes goes by and B2 is sleeping. A few more miles and baby G3 falls asleep - YES! They're dropping like flies! Two down and four to go. The bickering begins again between G2 and B1..... I just turn the volume up even louder on the movie and think happy thoughts.
We had to slow down a bit for the construction on the highway and it goes into a single lane for a little while. Suddenly G2 notices the construction and concrete barriers on either side of us and lets out a distressed squeal, "NOW how are we going to get to Windsor - there's no way to turn off this thing?" "What????" I ask shaking my head. "The wall thingies on both sides, how can we get off here to get to Windsor?" she says in a panic. I take a deep breath and turn up the volume on the movie even louder and just drive. Eventually the construction is behind us and G2 looks up from the movie and says "oh."
We do finally make it to Windsor (with all six of the children - we didn't lose any). Grandma is very happy to see all of us. The kids say hi and head off to the back yard to play. Grandma is very pleased with her mother's day gifts. Prior to our visit I had asked her if I could rummage through her boxes of pictures and take some home to copy for myself. So while the kids played out back we went through the piles of photos she's accumulated over time. I laughed my way through so many of the oldies..... I have taken the liberty of posting many of them on Face Book.
In between dealing with all the Drama, Drama, Drama from the kids and enforcing a few timeouts, we had a great time looking through the pictures and reminiscing about "the olden days." I have a few favorites to share with you....
Yup, this is the real deal......
This is my dad with A PERM!!!!!!
I guess it was the cool thing t do "way back then" LOL
This way he had big hair like everyone else did back then :)
The next picture is a picture of my mom and dad. WOW, look at the size of the hair on her! That must have been the big turn on back then - I can imagine the guys driving down the strip hanging out their car windows honking their horns and cat calling the young ladies.... and then saying to their buddies "WOW look at the hair on her!" or "Did you see the size of that hive?" Hahaha.
The next picture I am including will no doubt cause me much grief in the coming days and I imagine I will be teased for years to come.... but it's just too good to exclude. I now understand genetics......
Dad's desire for big hair and mom's naturally big hair had disastrous consequences for their offspring, namely me and my two sisters......
I guess it isn't really OUR fault since it appears to be a genetic thing.....but HOLY HAIR!!!! Did we think we lived in Texas or something???? Incredible isn't it? Hahaha
When G1 & G2 saw this picture their eyes grew wide - then G2 said "Is that really your hair or are you wearing a wig?" Oh, it's the real deal kid :)
As I continued pouring over the pictures and "remembering when....." I realized how many experiences I had forgotten about. I can recall so many things from my childhood but it really takes looking at a photo to bring it all back to me. I have a lifetime of precious memories and incredible stories all stored up in my photo albums and I am so thankful my parents often had a camera handy to capture the moment. Looking at each picture, it's like I'm there, feeling the excitement of ripping open that Christmas present or the warm sun on my skin as I played in the back yard in the summer time.
The memories are so vivid as I look at each photograph - and I start to remember all the little details that made each memory so unique.
A lot of things happened in my world as a child - things that children should never have to experience - and for so long the bad memories coloured my view of my whole childhood. I had a difficult time seeing clear enough to recognize the good experiences and happy memories. As I spent time examining each picture and thinking about the past, I realize that I did have an incredible childhood. So many good memories, so many "family" experiences, so much love and positive experiences. It saddens me to realize how many years I spent trying not to remember - Maybe it comes with maturity, but now I can "remember the good times" without allowing the bad times to colour my view. My childhood was rich, full of experiences and aspirations.
These pictures might not mean much to anyone else who sees them to me they are a piece of my history.....
Now as a parent myself, making memories and sharing fun family experiences is a priority for us. I carry my camera most of the time - you never know what opportunities might present themselves :)
*Ps, that picture above - with all the kids - No, it's not a 70's advertisement for birth control.... it's my baby sister's 5th birthday party. Ya, that's me - bottom left hand corner in the blue and white bathing suit with red flowers. Welcome to my memories........
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