One of those Days!

Today has been one of those days! You know when you want to crawl back into your bed and throw the covers over your head and sleep until tomorrow? Oh, you don't have those days?! Well anyway, I was having just such a day. It started out with a two hour late start for my two youngest because of ice on the roads, which just throws a kink in my day. Then off to take Kaylee to Chamber Choir practice, home again just in time to find Kameron and Ab's snow hats, boots, mittens, pants and whatever else they think they need for the first day of snow (less than an inch, mind you!). Then I managed to throw them on the bus as it went passing by! Whoosh! So I am feeling fairly successful at this point until I realize I had rented the ole' rug doctor and my floors were waiting for my attention! I started to empty rooms of their furniture and vacuum up the crap that grows on the edge the carpet. I am not sure how that stuff gets there, but man it is gross in just a couple of days! Anyway, I finally finish that task and begin the cleaning drudgery, but wait, there are spots to rewash and goop to dissolve! OK finally that is done. It is now about 11:30 am. Not bad considering I have been up since 6:15. (Which I should of been able to sleep in because of the late start, but my friend calls to tell me there is a late start and for some bizarre and unusual reason I can't get back to sleep...go figure!) I begin the actual cleaning process. You know it. The fill the base then walk back and forth slowly for hours on end. I was thinking how amazing this store brand machine was doing. I hadn't had to change the water yet. Two rooms later it dawns on me why. The whole dang floor is soaked and very little is actually making it back in the catch tank....Sheesh! I want to scream, but it would be a waste of energy since no one would hear me anyway! Just then my new realtor drops by to give me some forms. She is all dolled up in her expensive suit and I stand there in my sweats (which are wet) and greasy hair pretending I am fine with the way I look in the middle of the day!
Back to the carpet mess. I had to take the machine back to the store and get another one. Of course, they "just can't believe it doesn't work, it has never had a problem". By this time I have a problem! I am hungry, ugly and sweaty and I still have a couple hours of cleaning to do. Oh and by the way, the computer is fixed and could you pick it up now. No problem I love running all over town looking like I live in my car! Did you know you could have 700 or whatever spy ware thingies? Well evidently you can! So at 2 pm I am finally home, fed, taken some ibuprofen for the backache my fat body is causing me and am ready to begin again. OK so this time the machine works, but the carpet still looks dirty. What do you do about that? I say add more furniture and no one will notice! I finally get a shower, but don't have time for hair or makeup so I just pretend it suppose to look like that.I throw the Shepard's pie I had made the day before in the oven and set the timer to start at 4. I toss the cleaner back in the car to return it by 4 so I don't get charged a late fee. I run to the library to pick up Abbey's school library book that I had dropped off at the public library. "Yes, I know I should look to see what library it belongs to" do they think I can't read or something...I mean it is a library! I know how to read I just don't have time! They find the book and tell me to pay closer attention. Seriously, I wanted to swat her. She has no idea what I am thinking as I smile and nod my head, but inside I am...well nothing really. I am just annoyed and insulted and patronized and whatever....who cares! I know she isn't a mother of five because she is only about 12 (older I am sure, but college kids look younger to me everyday...right?). Off to the post office to mail some packages. Actually waiting in line at the post office is almost therapeutic at this point. Now I can go home and enjoy the wonderful dinner I have prepared and enjoy the kids. You'd think right? Oh no! Dinner goes OK. I get the dishwasher started (Kaylee's job this week) and clean up (Alex's job this week) because everyone has disappeared...conveniently! I have to take the girl's to young women, but Kaylee has decided to drive. She does well, except for the time she almost turned into oncoming traffic, it went fine. My heart is racing when finally arrive at the church and I drop them off. I come back home. Aah home! Time to relax? Nope homework and bedtime for the little ones. Now I am off to pick up the girls and then I think I am going to bed....this time I am going to keep the covers over my head...maybe no one will find me until tomorrow!
It is only Temporary and then we die...Enjoy!

My teenage Girls!!

I can't remember how to get the pictures like I should! I am such a novice! So anyway the girl's went to a stake dance! It was April's first dance! She turned fourteen last Sunday! The picture's were so cute! Kaylee is Belle from Beauty and the Beast and April is the one next to her. She is a princess! We must thank the Kenner's for the dresses! They had a great time even though only 7 boys showed! The young women came here to get ready and this is all of them. They went another 45 minutes to get to the dance! Our stake is almost 4 hours long from end to end! We aren't Utah! I can't believe how much my daughter's have grown and how beautiful they have become! They are great examples of doing what is right for their friends! They seem to have a good time together too! April isn't smiling wide because of her braces, which, by the way, are adorable! She still has the dimple!

Life and stuff

It has been nearly a month since I wrote. I am not very good at this Des! Check out the gunnellfamilylife blog to see a good one! So life is good! We haven't sold the house and haven't had any lookers for a while, but we have faith it will happen soon! Meanwhile, Troy has been hanging with his parents on weekends and that has been great for all involved! We see him about every 3 or 4 weeks. It's hard, but we truly enjoy him while he is here! The kids finished soccer! Yeah! Alex's team won their championship game and finished out the season on top! The picture is the indicator of success! Kaylee's HS games pretty much stunk, but hey they had fun! The kids are eager to get moved to be able to participate in activities out there. Waiting is never fun1 I think it is like being 9 months pregnant, but having no due date to look forward too! Painful!
I recently left my job to concentrate on the kids and getting packed. I think I miss it already. Being really busy keeps your mind off things.
Ok enough already!
You know lately I have been thinking about fathers! I mean with Troy being gone I have thought a lot about the role he plays here. Some father's don't do much to help with the kids, but he does and so I miss him more. I have also been thinking about my own father. Up until recently I would call my own father every single saturday morning. It was "our time". He told me about what everyone was doing in the family, how mom was and what he was thinking about. I loved having that time to bond. I am not sure I did it enough as a child. Anyway, the best part is he tells me how much he loves me (0f course!), but he also tells me specific reasons why he thinks I am a great person! Everyone needs that! He inspires me to keep going and to do more! He keeps me level headed and motivated! I think everyone could use a dose of "why your worthy" times! So I think I am going to add some here!

YOU ARE Wonderful because...
God loves you! You have a great smile! You makes others feel good! You are my friend! You are a mother, brother, father, sister, wife, husband or child! You get things done! You keep trying and trying... You CAN do it! You do do it!
That's just a few! I want you to know I appreciate all of your support and kindnes!

Take care!

Been a while!

I know it has been over a month since I dived into this place! My life is crazy! Since I last wrote we had a wonderful experience! Abbey was baptized! I can hardly believe my baby is eight! Troy (who is living in Utah right now) came home over the Labor Day holiday to perform the feat! It went well! I must say the Spirit was so strong and I think Abbey actually grasped the importance of it! She had to wear the only available white jumpsuit the branch has and didn't like her hair up...so she took it out! After the baptism, we forgot a brush, so she didn't bother having her hair combed! Now if this would have been my first daughter I admit, I would have been having a coniption, but with number 5 the importance of the occasion overshadowed the crazy hair! WE love you Abbey!!!
Grandma and pa Bailey were able to come as well as friends Mike and Lynda from Chicago and some other great friends! Lots of food and fun was shared! We are so glad that we have been able to develop so many terrific friendships in many places and are looking forward to the new friends we will make in our new home!
Nope we haven't sold the house yet, but I do believe it won't be too much longer! I went to SLC this past weekend to house hunt and found there are a lot of beautiful ones to see! We hope to be there before the holidays! I must say I am going to miss many things about this place! For one, the midwest is very green most of the time! You don't have sprinkler systems, it just stays that way! Also, the traffic were we live is practically nil in comparison to what Utah has become! I will especially miss the wonderful people I have met! The friends I have made here have a special place in my heart! To all of you I say 'thanks and it's been a good ride!'

Well I am off to the van! There are soccer games, drama practices, soccer practices and other places to be! Thank heavens for the van! It is were memories are made!

The current "home of the van dwellers"

On the road again....

I guess most of you have heard we are "On the road again"! Yep, we are moving out west as soon as the house sells. I am not sure how fast I want that to happen. I mean I want to go west I am just a little apprehensive to make the journey. Transition is such a crazy thing. Doing something new is wonderful and exciting, but just like the first day of school or the first day on a new job there is fear of the unknown. There is the question of will we fit in, how lost are we going to be and of course, the "I don't wanna go to school" day, feeling. You probably know what I am talking about.
I think God has a great sense of humor. It seems when we first move (mind you this is #38 for me) it is exciting then reality sets in and everyone is miserable. Because even if we just left a garbage dump the place seems like a palace when you aren't comfortable in your new surroundings. It happens every time. Everything was better in the last place. Everyone was nicer and you loved it there...even if the week before you were complaining about how miserable you are and can't wait to leave. Then as time goes by you make new friends, develop new relationships, get use to the school, roads, stores, churches and neighbors and then...we move again! Don't get me wrong, we were looking for this job and we were praying for a home closer to family. WE all miss them so much and were hoping for a days drive away...2 hours is a much better deal! I often think God is looking down on me and telling all his friends "Watch this one, she is about to lose it...it is so funny when she does that!" If I am going to be the star of the comedy I am glad it is his!
Well I better get to packing and packing and packing....it never seems to end. I notice I leave more in boxes every move. I wonder when the final one will be? Who knows maybe this will be home sweet home for the next 50 years! Ta!

Life is full of suprises!

Isn't that the truth! We never know what is around the next corner. Take for instant the fact that last week my almost 16 year old got her permit to drive. Now this lovely daughter hasn't grown up in the sticks like her parents and thus has had little opportunity to practice. So I thought we might as well get started! Whoa nelly! I think I am in for a little trial in patience! We made it down the street, but on the corner she hit the gas, but didn't turn quite enough....almost in the ditch! She recovered and so did I! We made it home and she congratulated me on not being near as bad as she thought I would be! I consider that a great compliment!

Coming home from vacation is always such a chore. I mean you get home and you need a vacation from the vacation! You know what I mean! We came home to soccer games and practices, parties, softball, golf and piano lessons. Then my boss needed a vacation from my vacation so off to work I go for her!(Not that I mind too much, she is a saint!) There is a million things to do every day and some days we only get to two! The best part (haha) is that those things just keep waiting for you until the next day and the next week and the next...well you get the picture! Life is great! It really is! Beneath all this sarcasm is a very blessed woman who loves her life and tries to be grateful for it everyday!

Des says I have to add pictures to my blog...I thought this was a good one! Yeah!

What's in a name?

So I bet you are all wondering why the name. Well besides the obvious that I spend a lot of time running my 5 children everywhere, the truth is that being "stuck in the van" isn't a bad thing. In fact, some of the best memories of this life have occured in the van. The van is not just a mode of transportation. It is where I hear about crazy adventures of a ten year old boy, and where I hear about the trials of middle school. I learn about what it is like to be a 16 year old by listening to a soccer team chatter in the back on the way to a game 2 hours away.I learn about how it feels for a 12 when thy aren't as good as they thought. I become educated about Star Wars, Webkinz and every other fad that a 7 and 10 year old are into at the time. I practice lines for the next musical with the 13 year old. It is where I catch up on my reading while waiting for someone to finish piano lessons. The truth is being stuck in the van makes me appreciate everything I have and especially the family I have been blessed with!
Now, of course, it isn't always a joy to behold! For instance we just returned from a fabulous trip to Utah to visit family. We had a wonderful time, but 7 people in a regular size van for 23+ hours isn't always a delight! It wasn't so bad when they all had mini butts, but now 3 are almost full grown! We almost have to use crisco to get us all in, not to mention the cooler, 5 pillows, 4 blankets, backpacks full of "stuff to do", DVD player and dvd's, a couple of suitcases, bags of snacks (a plastic thingy on top of the van holds the other 7 suitcases) and a variety of other odds and ends. The truth is it is an amazing feat that we get in and out as much as we do without any visible injuries! It wasn't a great van day a couple of winters ago when I totalled the van on a slippery road by our house...not my best day in the van! I don't enjoy it when we are late and their is palpable tension or when someone is just really grumpy, I might then have them walk along the side of the van for a time until they feel the van love!
All in all I would have to say the van is truly one of my favorite places. I can control what we listen to there. I can sing primary songs if I want and where can they run too? I can share my philosophy about life, love and what I hope for each of my children. They can't leave and even if they pretend to not listen, I know they hear. Later when I give my 12 year old and her friend a ride, I will hear her tell her friend what her mother thinks about something and then I know our "van talks" have not only been heard, but pondered upon and even taken root in their own hearts enough that they feel the urge to share them with others. That is a good day in the van!

The Beginning.....

Today I begin the full blogging experience! A big thank you to Desiree for making this possible! I now plan to invite you all to learn the inner thinkings of this crazy mind of mine!

Here is a picture of Abbey with her new friends and cousins at Bear Lake in Utah!

I will go crazy when I get home....4 more days! See you then!