LLLLllllllllaundry!

Gardening, watering, playing in the sprinklers, driving toy tractors in the dirt, helping dad fix broken down pivots, farming hay - all that times the number of people in our family and we've got a whole heck of a lot of laundry to do!

Throughout my motherhood experience I've tried several different approaches to tackling the laundry dilemma: doing laundry once a week, three times a week, assigning someone to do it all, having everyone do their own, etc.

Currently our laundry plan looks like this:

• 1 person is assigned the laundry for one month.
• They are in charge of keeping it rotated every day.
• They only have to do bath towels, tablecloths, and kitchen towels.
• Everyone six and older is in charge of washing their own clothes and bed linens on their assigned day.
• Each person is in charge of folding their own clothes and putting it away.

This plan has been in place for several years because it works for us. It's been interesting to see the differences in my children's approach to tackling the laundry even though they are following the same plan. Some kids love to dry all the laundry on a clothesline.

Some will rotate and fold as soon as the dryer is done. Others will wait and fold all the baskets of clean laundry at the end of the day or in the afternoon when they can turn on a movie to watch while the laundry is being folded. Some children don't even bother to fold their clean clothes but keep them in a basket in their room and dig through it each day looking for something to wear.

I had to capture the rare moment when laundry was completely done!

If we aren't caught up on laundry our laundry room turns into a disaster area. It is a small space 8x8 ft. There is only enough space to hold one three bag laundry sorter and an extra hamper. 

See! No clothes in the hampers!!

Baskets of laundry are usually spilling out into the hallway waiting to be folded. I dream of the day when we have a larger laundry room with cabinets to hold all the baskets and a counter top to fold clothes on. Until then we are making due with what we have.

How do you do laundry at your house? Do you only wash once a week? Are you in charge? Do your kids wash their own? Do you have a big enough laundry room?

© 2007-2012 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved

My Papito

My dad on the left with his siblings. Gotta love the 60s!

My kids love to hear me tell stories about my dad. And, boy are there stories to tell!

One of my earliest memories involves the book Little Bear. I sat on his lap as he taught me to read at the age of three.

He laughed when he found me crying at the bottom of the stairs on my fifth birthday because I didn't know how to look up words in the dictionary I'd asked for as a present. Elephant was the first word he showed me how to find.

My parents' engagement photo

He taught me how to ride a bike, rather sneakily I might add, and let me tag along occasionally on his early morning jogs around Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. You can hear an audio documentary produced by my brother about my dad's bicycle riding teaching techniques.

Yaya (Juaquina Ventura), Me at 10 months, my dad

I fell asleep at night listening to him play his guitar. He taught my siblings and I to sing songs from The Beatles, Peter, Paul, and Mary, and others. I even won $30 from him on a bet about a phrase in the song "More Than Words" by Extreme.

He wrote letters of encouragement and counsel to all his children off and on throughout our growing up years. He was there to play soccer or volleyball with us. We'd go on long bike rides, have deep philosophical discussions, and make homemade ravioli together.

My dad holding me, his brothers and parents

 

My dad is also a hard worker. I remember my mom pointing out the tiny speck that was my dad when he walked across the stage to accept his diploma when he graduated from medical school. And how tired he was when he came home from working crazy hours at Jackson Memorial Hospital during his residency. My dad also spent countless hours serving in church callings going beyond the normal call of duty. He filled the father role for many young men growing up in "the projects" of Georgia.

Even though I am gone from "home" building my own home my dad is still there for me, encouraging me. He taught me that I can do hard things. Through example, my dad has shown me that to enjoy life you must work hard and serve others. Growing up he was my provider, my protector and fulfilled his role well. Now that I am married, Mr. Ferrero Rocher has stepped in to take over that role of providing and protecting. But it was because of my dad that I knew what type of man I wanted to marry who could provide that same caring role for my children.

(Reading my acceptance letter to BYU-Idaho (Ricks College) Doesn't my dad look so excited?)

 

Thank you, Papito! I love you!

© 2007-2012 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved

Being Goofy

It seems that I am not cut out for the sophisticated somber life. Unless it is a really important setting, like in the temple or a spiritual church meeting, I just can't keep a straight face for long. It makes life fun! But some people take it the wrong way and assume I don't take things very seriously. It can be a delicate balancing act and some times I drop the ball.

Sometimes I open my mouth thinking I will be funny when in reality its hurtful.

Sometimes I forget it is okay to be still. Silence can be calming and doesn't need to be filled.

Humor can be taken too far.

☺

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Humor is also a very good thing to have while in the throws of motherhood. It helps me keep my cool instead of exploding.

I walked into my bedroom to find a couple of children playing with my camera.

So I photo bombed them! It was much better than telling them off for playing with mom's expensive camera. Plus look at that hole in his mouth! How can you be mad with a grin like that?

When the almost two year old pushes the piano bench over, throws down a toy tractor, and screams just because, it's helpful to scoop him up in your lap, call him a little rascal, kiss his nose, and tell him to say "cheese" as you hold up the camera. The screams turn to giggles as you both make silly faces. And when he turns and pats your cheek and says, "Mom" - it's priceless to realize it very well could have gone terribly wrong if I had lost my temper instead of trying to find some humor in the situation.

I don't always react this way. There are many times - too many - where the mess, the noise, the mistakes are all I notice. I fail to see the child who is just learning, just growing, just living.

 

I have to remember the lesson Hershey taught me about finding joy in spilled milk. Sometimes it's just best to put on a cheesy grin.

I just love how Junior Mint has this look of "Mom, put the camera down and save me!"

© 2007-2012 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved

Shabby Apple Giveaway

GIVEAWAY WINNER IS TABATHIA!

Summertime is here! Are you as excited for it as I am?

I've got a $50 gift card to Shabby Apple to giveaway today in celebration of summer!

Shabby Apple is an online dress boutique that specializes in vintage and retro dresses. They have all sorts of styles and fabric choices to choose from.

Blue Eyes Dress

Are you a fan of polka dots? Then take a peek at all the polka dot dresses and skirts they offer.

I'm Late! I'm Late! Dress

How about lace dresses?

Race Point Skirt

Or are you more of a skirt person? There are a lot of cute and stylish skirts too!

Giveaway Details:
1. Like Shabby Apple on facebook. Leave a comment telling me you liked their page.
2. Take a look at Shabby Apple and tell me your favorite dress or skirt in another comment.
3. Giveaway will end on Friday, June 14 at 8pm PST.
4. Open to US residents only.

© 2007-2012 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved

Junior Mint's Crooked Smile

I just love when babies start learning to smile back at you! Junior Mint enjoys cooing and smiling and has even made a few giggly noises lately. When he smiles the right side of his mouth goes up first which makes his smile just a tad crooked. We love it!

Next Wednesday Junior Mint will be 3 months old. He now weighs 14 lbs. 13 oz. and is 24 inches long. Where has my newborn gone?

© 2007-2012 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved