Happenings from the Bush homestead

Sure has been awhile!

I have been busy busy the last few months.  Baby #6 was born the begining of March.  We added a boy to the 5 girls we already had.  It's not a whole lot different....yet.  The clothes are a different color.  And he nurses more aggressively than the girls did.  I am told, however, that the big differances are yet to come.  I can't wait!  I love having 5 girls and now a son.  And hopefully we'll have more sons (or daughters) to come. 

I have also been busy with my knitting and crochet.  I have a blog just for that though since I could not get this blog to do pictures anymore.  www.sillyjencrochetsandknits.blogspot.com  I am thinking about changing that url name though.  But that's what it is for now.

While I sit here, thinking about what we won't be doing this weekend, I thought I'd put down how our weekends go.  Generally speaking.  If we do not go to the city to my parents that is.  I'm sure you've heard or read all of these tips before, but sometimes it's good to be reminded of some good tips. 

Getting ready for Sunday.  It really doesn't have to be a rat race to get to church!

Saturday night:  Get everything ready.

1.  Shower/bathe everyone in the house if possible.  Or for us, we bathe all the children on Saturday night.  Since my hair is so long and gets frizzy if washed at night, I get up a little earlier to shower on Sunday morning.  Everyone else, including my husband are showered or bathed on Saturday night.

2.  Clothing.  What are you and the family going to wear?  And where is it all?  Get your dresses out for the girls and slacks/shirts out for the guys.  Are they clean?  Need pressed?  Do it now.  I have a helper with the ironing a little now.  She can iron her own dress if needed and maybe one sisters dress.  I don't ever let her do it all.  I want her to enjoy what she is doing.  Not be bogged down by it.  They hang their dress at the foot of their bed or sometimes just back in the closet at the end where they can grab it quickly.

3.  Undergarments.  Does anyone need socks?  Or the girls need stockings or knee highs and a slip?  Hang them on the hanger inside your dress. 

4.  Shoes.  Do you always find you have only one shoe for each child?  I do.  Even though we have a shoe cubby, we still have trouble with shoes missing.  So everyone is in charge of finding their own shoes and setting them in line infront of the shoe cubby by the steps.  They must find their shoes before snack time Saturday night. 

5.  Bibles.  They must be out in the van on their seat before snack time as well.  For those who are too young to read a Bible, which is most of them, they have their bag of colors and paper ready out in the van.

6.  Breakfast.  Set the table before you head for bed.  I put 7 bowls with spoons and the cereal boxes out on the table.  I also put a loaf of bread and the butter dish out.  Incase some want toast instead of cereal.  Like myself.  The baby doesn't need a bowl yet

Some Sunday morning rules:

NO TV!  If the tv comes on, everyone is grounded for the afternoon from playing outside. 

Eat before getting dressed.  You must be up and down to eat withing 5-10 minutes of being told to get up.  Eat breakfast and get kitchen chores done quickly.  When finished with the table/dishes/floor get dressed.  No messing around if your bedroom us upstairs. 

Do your olders help with the younger children?  They should.  They can wipe faces and hands.  Change diapers.  Help with zippers or buttons, socks and shoes, combing hair and generally getting ready.  At about age 4-5 is when we start having them help with the younger children.  Each child has a buddy to help guide.  Mom takes care of the baby.  The 8 yr old helps the 4 and 3 yr old.  Our 5 yr old helps me with baby a little.  The 4 yr old helps the 2 yr old with some things.  They don't do it all ofcourse, but they can sure help put on shoes or help get a dress over the head, small things like that. 

We are about 1/2 an hour from our church.  So we have to be ready early.  Plus it takes about 10 minutes just to get everyone out and into the van with seat belts fastened and ready to move.  We start heading out about 50 minutes before service starts.  We are never early for church.  But we make it on time.  If my husband ever gets a day job again, we will be able to be at church earlier. 

If you have older children who don't think they can shower at night, they can.  It won't hurt them.  If the girls require a ton of time in the bathroom doing makeup or whatever, they can move to their rooms or just be happy with who they are and not put so much emphasis on their makeup.  It is good to be "put together" but it shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to be so.  Vanity is not a good thing.