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!