When I'm an Old Lady

I heard this poem on a Nancy Cambell cd and was able to find it. I love it, It reminds me of all the busy and wonderful things they did and I have told mine repeatedly someday when I am old I am staying with each of them 5 weeks a year. ( 10 children times 5 weeks just about covers that) Please enjoy this. Maybe, I shouldn't show this to them just yet.

When I'm an Old Lady

by

Joanne Baily Baxter

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid.

And bring so much happiness just as they did.

I want to bring back all the joy they've provided.

Returning each deed! Oh, they;ll be so excited!

(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids.)

I'll write on the walls with reds, whites and blues.

And bounce on the furniture....wearing my shoes.

I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.

I'll stuff all the toilets and Oh, how they'll shout.

(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids.)

When they're on the phone and just out of reach

I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.

Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their heads.

And when that is done, I'll hide under the bed.

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids.)

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,

I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat.

I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table.

And when they get angry...I'll run...if I'm able.

(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids.)

I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click.

I'll cross both my eyes, just to see if they stick.

I'll take off my socks, and throw one away.

And play in the mud "till the end of the day.

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids.)

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh.

I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.

My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping.

And say with a groan, "She so sweet when she's sleeping."

(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids.)

Kids cooking and life in general

My two sons (11 & 12) were cooking supper and were making sloppy joes and baked beans. The 11 yo just wanted to dump it all together and get it done. The 12 yo replied "that's not the way you do it, you put the beans in this pan and add just a hint of bbq sauce." (He loves to cook.) But, my older daughter thought he might just be watching too much Martha Stewart with me.

Meanwhile, my 3 and 5 year olds were outside hungry. My 5yo daughter proceeded to make a "salad" for her brother out of grass and leaves. It must not have been to good because he came in quite indignantly and stated" SERENE CAN'T COOK!"

Life goes on at it's own pace whether we do or not. I have had a lot of health problems this summer starting with pneumonia and going from there. My children have been tremendous helps with all the extra chores and cooking that I have not been able to keep pace with. I had some pulmonary tests today with a possible solution to try and I actually have more energy today. One of the hardest things for me is pacing myself. I tend to flat out run until I can't and find that is no longer a possibility. So I have been pondering what God is teaching me and my family through this. Because even though I am the one who is ill, my family bares a lot of the brunt of the effects. I do not have the stamina so have had so I am having to be more careful in the choices I am making. Good, better, best has new meaning when you know that only is not only the best choice but physically possible. If I can only read for a little while without going hoarse, you can bet I am trying to choose the best book and not just a good one. I love to cook, and I love to make elaborate meals too but if I am too tired afterward to visit with my family and hold an intelligent conversation, a simpler meal is the best choice. Besides, all meals look fancy by candlelight. So, daily, hourly, I find myself seeking God for His best instead of my best and I think that is what I needed all along.

How not to use a ziplock vacuum sealer

" Do not try putting it on your forehead just to see what it does. Your sister will laugh before she ever helps you get it off."

Gross helpful kids

We were on the way to the library and I heard a voice yell" Ooooh don't eat that, have my abc gum instead." I, of course, thought this was awful and asked what was going on. "Mom, Zach found gum on the bottom of his shoe and ate it so I gave him my abc gum instead since that was gross." Aren't these awful?

Then another daughter said "that's nothing. " He was on sisters bed and whizzed on her pillow and I knew if she found out she'd be mad so I stuck in in the dryer and then sprayed it with perfume."

And they thought they were helping.

Funny Things Kids Say

I took my oldest ( 11yo) son to the bank with me today. I try to rotate children on errands so I can spend some one on one time with each of them. We were driving from the bank and he tells me "Mom, when I get my shoveling business, I'm going to open a bank account. That way I can buy my wife a house when I get married." Before you think he is too mature, this is the same son who later that afternoon, chased his sister with a dead mouse.

My 5yo daughter loves to play dress up. Her older sister just recently made her a play dress, forgetting about seam allowances and preshinking. Needless to say this is now a very tight short dress, you can see she has monkeys on her undies, that short. She can downstairs batting her eyes asking how she looked. My oldest daughter was there visiting and suggested more clothing on. So she went back up and later came down wrapped up in a coat. "Does this make me look like a granny?" "Nooooo", my oldest daughter replied. "What else do you have on?" "THIS!" she states, waving the coat wide open showing money undies.

The same oldest daughter visiting likes it quiet. Her home is quiet, they have one little girl. She is sitting in the chair, I have 1 daughter practicing the piano, 2 toddlers, (hers and mine) with the 5 yo playing and squealing, children making other noises and a son using s drill to tighten screws in a stool. She tells me in a low voice" I think I will start twitching now."

Chicken Little anyone?

Doesn't he remind you of the cartoon Chicken Little? These are Mr. Potato Head glasses and they just fit. He was quite pleased with himself.