Having a Large Family

If you would have told me years ago that I would have 6 children, I would have told you that you were crazy in the head!!  But now I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!  When we go to the store as a family, everyone feels the need to comment on how many kids we have.  They say some crazy things..... are they all yours? you know what causes that right? how do you manage? why would you have all those kids? you're not having anymore are you? wow you have your hands full!  What people don't realize, is that having a large family is such a blessing.  We have so much love for each other and it's always a party in our house.  Yes, it is loud and crazy, but Chris and I are loud and crazy kind of people!  So, it works for us!  It was nice to see that I'm not alone on getting these comments.  I just wish people would take notice of the things they are saying to others! 
 I was online looking up information on large families and came across a lot of great posts.  Here are a few that I saw:

Q:  You got your hands full!
A:  I wouldn't rather have my hands full of anything else!

Q:  How many kids do you have, anyway?
A:  I dunno.(gets them to stop talking)


Q:  Don’t you have a TV?
A:  If you think TV is better than sex, then you are doing it wrong.
 
Q:  But you’re stopping now, right?
A:  Of course! Lots of people have nine kids. Nine kids is nothing. Of course, our van is longer than most people’s driveways. We own two milch cows just to supplement breakfast. And with the money from our Additional Child Tax Credit, we bought a small island in Capri. That’s life with nine kids.
But to consider having ten kids? You’re right, that would be cuh-razy.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/snappy-answers-for-stupid-questions-about-your-big-family#ixzz2OYvlv4ES

Here's a you tube video that I love.  We've heard all these remarks toward our family!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaD8xat6VDw

Something I noticed a lot of people saying on these other sites are how they wish people they knew would be more supportive of them having a large family and to show excitement when they are pregnant(as if it was their first one).  A lot of people today think you should have 1-2 kids and that's it.  1-2 kids isn't for everyone.  Some people don't want any kids and that's great for them, but some of us want to have a large family and we shouldn't be criticized for it.  Having children is a personal choice for everyone to make on their own.  I just thought I would share some of my personal experiences and findings online about this subject. 

Setting Goals

I have decided that I really want to get in better shape and lose some weight.  Chris and I have recently decided to join Weight Watchers.  I love the new points system.  All fruit and most vegetables are free points.  Which would normally not effect me because I don't eat fruit or vegetables, but I am really making an effort to eat more of these to become healthier.  So far this week, I have had apples, bananas, watermelon, sweet potato, corn, peas, and grapefruit.  This is way more than I would have ever have ate.  This week I will be making acorn squash, though I still don't know how to make it.  I'm going to google some recipes to bake it in the oven.

For exercise, I am starting to run.  I have registered to run the 5K in the Mini in May to help keep me focused and something to work towards.  I am using a 5K app on my iphone to train me to run for the full race.  On alternating days of running, I am trying to do workout videos.  I have been using the 30 day shred, Taebo kickboxing, and Zumba.  I really enjoy working out.  My favorite is being outside running though.  It has been hard to get out and run with the weather being so awful lately.  It's hard to run in the snow or ice.  My goal is to run the full 5K and hopefully with 30-35 minutes. 

I really have to stay focused on the goal of losing weight and getting in shape.  It's easy to fall off the wagon and just give up and eat whatever I want.  My goal is to lose about 30-40 lbs.  Chris needs to lose about 15 lbs.  I think between eating healthier and exercising daily that this will help me in achieving this goal.  I will keep you updated on my progress as I am going through this.          

Update on the Fresh's

Top News is that Kyndal is doing great with her potty training!  She has only had 1 accident in the last 7 days!!  I have been using the 3 day potty training system.  I started over Christmas and she has got it down now!!! 

The kids have been doing great at school!!  I am homeschooling all 4 older boys and they are enjoying studying about creation.  I can see the boys growing closer and closer to each other.  Kyndal and Mason really love having all of them here all day.  Kyndal loves to sit in their laps when we are reading.  She tries to get up there and do school too!

 

Zachary just had his 8th birthday!!!  He is getting so big.  We moved to Fishers 2 weeks before Zachary was born.  This is the longest we have ever lived in one place!