Monday, December 17, 2007

Sunday Sound Out

First off - to all the people who wrote something along the lines of, “A swimming party in December?! Are you nuts?!”

Yes, a swimming party in December. No, of course it isn’t outside. You can’t swim in ice. Don’t you have indoor swimming pools where you live? Swimming parties are popular around here. It gives us a taste of “summer” in an otherwise dreary time of year.

I accidentally rejected about a dozen comments when I hit the wrong button. If you didn't see your comment show up, I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose.

Thanks for the heads up about my blog, Brandi!

Thank you to everyone who wrote and gave me their best New York tips and to those who wrote to explain my pictures!

OK now for your questions...

Does your hubby do anything of this WITH you? do you allow him to?
Although my husband would be willing to help with my never ending “to do” list, I have a tough time delegating responsibilities because no one else does it THE RIGHT WAY!

Do you mind if I ask how many hours sleep you get each night?
Not nearly enough. Maybe 4-5 most nights. It usually catches up to me by Friday though.

Are you at the point where you can hire an assistant part-time to help you?
HA!

Is your fame (and I consider you far more famous than me, so, yes, you are famous)a blessing or a curse? Many of the items "to do" on your list are due to keeping up with the blog, and to promote your writing. So - was life better before the Ebay pokemon card sale or is it better after?
I figure it could be a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it. I absolutely consider it a blessing. Not only has this given me some much needed income, but it’s given me a feeling of purpose. Yes, I have increased responsibilities now and sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but it’s all worthwhile especially when I get emails telling me that I've brightened someone's day like this one that just came in...
Dawn,
Let me just say that as the “7th Child” and Hubby of a mother of six (5 girls and 1 Boy), I think you are one of the funniest persons I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. I love to read your daily adventures. They bring a certain highlight to my somewhat otherwise boring day. My wonderful wife is also a stay at home mom, and temporary (well semi permanent) father since I am stationed in Diego Garcia, for the next year as a career Navy Sailor. Between my wife and your stories, I get my fill of laughter at how overwhelming the job of a Mother can actually be. Please keep up the great Blog, and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
GSEC(SW) Johnny (Shon) Pation Reynolds IV


By the way, do you have your Christmas tree up? We want to see pictures of it.
OK, here ya go. This is after I rearranged the ornaments so that fifty ornaments were not hanging from the same branch…

I think you forgot to pee in all that hecticness (wow is that even a word?)
You don't happen to be a procrastinator like me do you? But I have learned that I do better under pressure. What about you?
According to my spell check, hecticness is not a word. But it should be. And yes, I’m a horrible procrastinator! Like you, I work much better under pressure. If I have three hours to get somewhere (for example: my plane!) I will be late. If I have five minutes to get there, I’ll be on time.

Do you find it helpful to transfer that list to paper? Or does it just make it more depressing?
I always make lists on paper. I’ve officially turned into my mother.

Don't ya just love the holidays??
YES! I really, truly do! I sometimes have to remind myself what it’s all about and step back from the craziness, but I love Christmas!

Hi Dawn, I've got to know... do you get the kids all dressed up and take a beautiful picture in front of the Christmas tree with everyone looking perfect for your Christmas cards?
I’ve done both the “try to get the perfect picture” and the “pick the least hideous one.” This year, I just picked a picture from our trip to Florida. I’ve lowered my standards considerably. We no longer have to be coordinating. We don’t have to be smiling, hair in place, make-up just so. In fact, we don’t even all have to be looking in the general vicinity of the camera. At this point, if we’re all at least partially in the picture, it’s good.

Hey let me know as your arriving in New York are you humming the song "New York, New York"?
Well I wasn’t until you brought it up. Gee, thanks!

You didn't pay attention to one bit of my advice, did you?
Well, no. Rick, your suggestions on my “to do” list were such a typical guy’s response. And you’re a total enabler as far as my procrastination problem goes.

Maybe a Sunday question: What's a typical day in the life of a mom of 6?
My blog about sums it up.

O'Hare has got to be one of the worse airports to deal with in the country - far too big, confusing, and UGH. I'm sorry.
Nah, I can find my way around O’Hare no problem, however I wasn’t terribly fond of LaGuardia for two reasons. One - I thought we were landing in water. Seriously, the plane was going down, getting ready to land and all I saw out the window was water. The land didn’t appear until about 2 ½ seconds before the wheels touched down. The other thing is - I think there must only be like 2 runways because we sat on the ground for a half an hour waiting our turn to take-off. When we took off, I saw a line of more than a dozen planes waiting behind us.

Yum yum on that treat delivery- who was that from? YOUR agent?
Actually, it was from my wonderful new friends at Guideposts!

Here's a question for Sunday...what is your hotel and where exactly is it located? What's your favorite thing about it?
I stayed at Morgans on Madison Ave. My favorite thing…hmmm, it’s a toss up between the shower that had both hot and cold running water, but not at the same time, and the fact that one of the elevators was broken, making for a long wait to get downstairs. LOL! Actually, it was a nice hotel and it was within close walking distance to so many cool things.

Just received this from a traveling friend of mine. Since you're staying in a hotel, you might want to check it out (or not - ewww!). DON'T use the glassware.
I didn’t watch that because I figure ignorance is bliss. I did however, take the phone and the remote control, wrap them in the bedspread, and throw them into the corner of the room because Mike Rowe told me to.

Oh Dawn, there is one sight you will regretfully miss, and that's the guitar playing naked cowboy!
Yes, we were told about the naked cowboy. In fact, I believe the exact words used to describe him were, “He’s built like an Adonnis. Really - he has the body of a Greek god.” Sadly, we did miss him.

Is that a ribbon around the Rockefeller building in that picture where you're looking up at it??
Nope, that would be cool though. Those are just flags in the foreground, so they look really tall.

Wonderful pics...I was wondering though..that group shot at dinner...what did you do? Just stop the waiter and say "wait, can you take a picture of this for my blog??" LOL...
Yeah, isn't that what you do when you go out to eat?

Did you really meet Edward Grinnan from Guideposts? Is he as "interesting" in person as he seems in the magazine?
I really did! I didn't spend too much time with him, but he seemed very interesting in person as well. He did tell a really nice story about the effect Guideposts Magazine had on a reader. In fact, I met a lot of really nice folks at Guideposts and I feel bad because I don't remember all their names.

I was thinking, "Oh no, what if Dawn starts cutting the publisher's steak!?!" Fondue was a wise choice.
ROFL!!! Now, THAT would've been pretty funny!

What do you do in order to get those very large photograph in your blog?
I dunno. Click on "large" when it asks what size photos you want to insert?

Did you have a chance to ride the subway while you were here?
Nope. I didn't even have time to pick any chewed gum off the railings.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, of course - are you too young to remember seeing the giant Sta-Puf Marshmallow Man stepping on it in "Ghostbusters"? And Bill Murray yelling, "Nobody steps on a church in my town!" Cracks me up, just thinking about it.
Ahhhh yes! LOL! Speaking of Bill Murray - the guy I sat next to on the plane coming home, told me that Bill Murray had been on his flight out to New York. Aren't you glad I told you that?

The gentleman who sat next to you on the plane - around my house, we refer to those kinds of questions as "If a monkey bit you.." questions (from an old episode of Wings, in which an extremely annoying customer asks Joe some dumb question about biting monkeys).
ROFL!!! I'll have to remember that! Joe (my Joe) asks those kinds of questions all the time!

You didn't post the picture I was most looking forward to seeing!!! The one of your daughter with whatever medium she had decided to paint herself with while you were gone! Surely she got INTO SOMETHING and painted herself? Yes? Please! You gotta give me something!!! You can't tell me you went away and your husband was in charge and your child did not get into anything blue or green or markers or food coloring or frosting or anything fun like that?
Well, I don't have a picture only because I had the camera with me, but fear not, she did get into something. My husband decided to patch some holes in the walls while I was gone. When he stepped outside to check the meat he was grilling, she put her hand in the joint compound and smeared it all around the place.

Did you get the snow globe???????????
Yeah. I give it a week until someone breaks it.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you just say your husband was grilling? Outisde? In Chicago? In December? It was waaaaay too cold, icy and snowy here for that to be any kind of fun this week. Maybe he was pretending he got to escape the children for those brief moments?!?!
- Laura

Anonymous said...

hehehe! i'm first! just wanted to say i love your blog and read it daily. i think your son Spaz and my son would get along famously. i could also call my boy Spaz. Cant wait for your book! you're the new Erma Bombeck!

Rick said...

You Wrote: "Rick, your suggestions on my 'to do' list were such a typical guy’s response."

I Ask:Was that suppose to be some kind of criticism? Because I saw it as a total complement. Thank you.

http://organizeddoodles.blogspot.com/

Note: The afore posted question was not meant for use on one's said, "Sunday Shout Out." Therefore, the author of this blog, one Dawn - mother of six, should not use it on the afore mentioned "Sunday Shout Out" for responding purposes. It was was posted solely for the viewing and entertainment of Monday's blogging audience only. Thank you.

Donna. W said...

You know, I have a friend who insists that she considers my blogs (yes, I have two) a "ministry". I laugh at the thought, but I suppose if I can give somebody reason to smile on a day when everything around them looked bleak, maybe she's right. Do you agree?

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

Hi Dawn,

You get so much more traffic on your blog than I do. Do you mind if I use your popularity to promote a movie that also supports a charity? It's called The Child King and it is a sweet story about two brothers, one with Down syndrome, and their search for faith, love and the elusive Sanata Clause. I wrote a review on my blog for anyone interested in more info or a link to the movie's site. All proceeds to the sales of the DVD's go to support those with Down syndrome.

Thanks for all you do. Deb

Lucille said...

Good morning!

Love the updates and answers. Here is one for next week...

This is the final countdown week for Christmas and I'm curious - WHEN did you start/finish your shopping?

I'm like a groupie - I live to see my question answered and to be #1 on the comment field. LOL!

Doesn't take much for me, does it?

http://whosgoingtotellyou.blogspot.com/

Brenda said...

About the snow globe breaking, I often look at things in the store and think "I could save a whole lot of time and space in my house if I just throw this on the floor and smash it now." There I can at least yell "clean up on aisle 5". Of course, I'd pay for it first.

Anonymous said...

"Does your hubby do anything of this WITH you? do you allow him to?
Although my husband would be willing to help with my never ending “to do” list, I have a tough time delegating responsibilities because no one else does it THE RIGHT WAY!" - That is my problem. I wish I could find a way past it. It would certainly make life easier. But then again I would have nothing to complain about, what would I do all day!!

My Flock Rocks! said...

We just bought a house with an indoor pool! I couldn't wait until the first snow to swim! This Christmas, the party is at our house...Pool party!I was amazed that I could still fine beach balls, goggles, swim rings and pool toys for the kids! BTW, the water is 90 degrees...it's our 20 thousand gallon bath tub! Happy Holidays!

Anonymous said...

What a great blog...

Ashley said...

Your comment about rearranging the tree ornaments rang so true with me. I only had two kids helping decorate the thing and to this day see where I need to move things around. It doesn't help that I sit in front of the tree working on my laptop all day-I'm so anal about things being balanced it's ridiculous. I even rearranged the ornaments on the trees in my kid's rooms. I need help.

Anonymous said...

Hey did anyone ever tell you what all those pennys are for? I don't know either and am now curious...

Michelle Kemper Brownlow said...

Once again, Love Sunday Sound-off!
:)

Anonymous said...

LOVE it! LOL that Brooklyn got into goop on your husband's watch. I secretly wish mischief from my children when my husband is in charge. It's cruel- I know. But I get a lot more credit for my hard work when I return.

Unknown said...

Dawn,
I received this email from my mom this morning... Thought you might like it!

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over
several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the third month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can
hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the
table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Have a GREAT holiday! Hopefully you will receive some of the things from Santa that you have wished for!

Angeline said...

you commented about rearranging the tree ornaments...ya mdm!

I had my 2 boys do it at first since it was their first time having a christmas tree, but then I had no choice but to step in when I realised that all the ornament were at the bottom!

Becky said...

Loved the Sound-Off, Dawn.

My tree doesn't have the problem of having too many ornaments on a branch...mine usually ends up naked around toddler height. Then I find the bulbs in places like the water at the base of the tree (along with various pieces of our VeggieTales Nativity Scene and a couple of matchbox cars), and under various furniture around the house.

Sounds like your trip was fun and productive...and, dare I ask, restful?!

Anonymous said...

Dawn,
You daughter painting herself reminds me of a book I recently found for my girls..."I Ain't Gonna Paint No More"...don't remember the author and at this point couldn't find it in my house, but if you haven't seen it, its a good one!

Teresa

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Dawn.
I just want to say that I think you are doing so great! Six children is a lot and you do it so well. You inspire me and I thank you for that.
I hope you and your family have a very Blessed Holiday.
Rita

Brandi said...

You're welcome!

Anonymous said...

Ok first, I live in Winnipeg (AKA Winterpeg), and we put our kids through swimming lessons weekly all winter :) Every other week we go to a water park, and it isn't unheard of to book into a hotel just to have the breakfast by the pool and swim all day :) If we didn't have swimming in winter, it would just be so darn depressing!

second, I can't let my husband fix things around here! If I want it done properly and not "good enough" or "passable" (which in my eyes it is not good enough unless it's perfect). Sigh* I have at least been able to let some things go. He decorates the tree, and I fix it as little as I can possibly manage. He cooks and cleans, and we have come to understand our little clutter of the world. He does anything electronic (TV, video game systems, VCRs, all that stuff I can't figure out). I do home repairs, tear out walls and put them where I want them, fix holes in walls, make holes in walls lol, electrical and even a little plumbing.

I am still preparing to not completely rearrange the tree! It goes completely against my nature!

Anonymous said...

We put the ornaments on our tree, but let our 3 year old put on the candy canes. It was funny because he had to put 2 together b/c they needed "friends". I have left then that way b/c I just think it's cute.

Anonymous said...

I have a 2 part comment. Feel free to not post it. As I have no way of emailing you, I've been thinking that I wished there were some way I could just tell you something that everyone else wouldn't have to see...then in one of those "duh, Stupid!" moments that I get, I realized that you don't have to approve my comment! Anyway, I read another blog by a writer with a popular homeschooling bent, and she blogged one day about how the whole book royalty thing works. It was very eye opening for me. I thought it might be an interesting condensed "heads-up" for you considering your new book deal. By the way, HUGE congrats!! You make all of us normal moms proud!

Anyway, my other thing was a plea from a daughter of a mother like you. Growing up, we could watch my mom do things if we stayed out of the way, but other than how to bake cookies, work the washing machine and clean a bathroom, she wouldn't let me do any of the other chores because I wouldn't do them right, especially cooking and laundry. I got married at 19 and felt completely swamped by what running a household was like. I had no idea how to cook, iron a shirt, and KEEP UP on the chaos that even 2 people create in a home. I was constantly calling home asking Mom questions, which, in turn, made her feel really guilty. I could clean anything, but kitchen and laundry chores were so overwhelming. So I guess my plea to you is this: when your girls get older, teach them to cook, clean, and do laundry at the same time. They may hate you for it...but only for 7-8 years until they are out on their own with their own homes, then they will "rise up and call you blessed." I hope this doesn't offend, as I am a fan, not a detractor.

psychosupermom said...

You are hysterical! I just started blogging and I'm frazzled with 2 boys; I can't imagine how you do it with 6 kids. When I go out of town, I leave my husband 3 pages of singlespaced notes about schedules, carpools, etc., and things almost always go wrong. (One trip, he had to call me to ask how to make mac & cheese.) Go girl!

Anonymous said...

Your talent blows me out of the water. How do you do it all? Where do you find a second in your day to do everything that you do? I was very glad that you posted today, you can always make me smile, especially on a tough day like today. Thank you. You brighten me up when I need it.

Elaina
http://www.speciallittlesmiles.com

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

Yay! My question made it into Dawn's list! But joint compound!!! Did she get stuck together?!?!?! Oh my!!!

Anonymous said...

The rest of the "If a monkey bit you..." question is, "...what kind of medicine would you have to take?" My kids are the greatest fountain of straight lines, ever. Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair...

Anonymous said...

Dawn,
I LOVE what you said about the Christmas photo of your family/kids. It's so true!!

This year I decided my DH and I have not changed enough that we need to be in the photo...and since only he or I can seem to effectively get a smile out of our kids (and because he is one of the hardest "kids" to work with on family picture day) our Christmas photo this year was just the kids. All 6, dressed in coordinating outfits (I have not gotten over that one yet, apparently) posed in front of my gold bedsheet. Yep, I hung the bedsheet on the wall, managed to rip it, and posed my children in front of it without washing it. How is that for Holiday class?? Nothing says Merry Christmas like an unwashed bedsheet with 6 kids in front of it.

I had a Christmas Miracle though, because 4 of the 6 smiled! Two weeks later, 5 of the 6 smiled on Santa's lap. We must be in the twilight zone or something, but let me tell ya, this Momma is happy!

Next year I'll try to let go of the coordinating outfits and wash the bedsheet instead.

Keep typing!

Anonymous said...

In one of the questions by a reader asked if it was a blessing or a curse...I look at it this way...


"there is only blessings never losses"

Michelle in WA said...

Dawn,

I know this has nothing to do with your blog (which I read every single day, even though I'm not a mom) but I'm hoping you can help me by spreading the word.

My husband is currently deployed to Iraq in a remote location. His tour has been faily safe so far, but kind of boring. One of the things they have been doing for fun is using little army guys to watch their doorways and stuff. There are two teams, and he is on the tan team. I've been looking for tan army men and tan army men support things (like tanks and helicopters and stuff). I was wondering if you would be able to put out a request for people's extra tan army.

Thanks so much. I love your blog to death. It always makes me smile, which really helps during this time.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dawn! As always, love the blog....This is completely unrelated to anything in your blog, but while out "power shopping" this weekend I saw something I just HAD to tell you about! I know you live in my general area but I'm not sure exactly where so this may be completely out of you way. There is a store on Route 38 east of Kirk Rd in Geneva called American Science and Surplus. While standing at the checkout counter I spied, of all things, BACON STRIP BANDAIDS!! I thought of your bacon loving son and how excited he may be to find these in his stocking on Christmas!

Shellie said...

i could have told him that would happen with the joint compound. Did she eat any too? yum, frosting! Un patching the hole was the beginning of pica and several more holes were created. When they got sick of eating it, the twins used to actually chew the stuff up and spit it at us. Sigh! Such fond memories.

Handmade by Shazza said...

Swimming in December is better then Swimming in July! Well on any normal weather kinda of year! But cant say that this year, it has been very changeable weather here Downunder!! Cold one day, Rainy the next, then Scorching hot! Hey Maybe we will get SNOW on Christmas day that would be a laugh! Sharon from Downunder!

Kathy said...

"Does your hubby do anything of this WITH you? do you allow him to?
Although my husband would be willing to help with my never ending “to do” list, I have a tough time delegating responsibilities because no one else does it THE RIGHT WAY!"

I can really relate to your answer to that question! We're moving and my son is really trying to help. I told him he could do his room, but the rest of the house is mine to do because it would never be done RIGHT otherwise! Thanks Dawn, I love reading your blog.

www.kathy-iamwhoiam.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Not sure if I'm doing this right but here goes... Been following your blog fr a few months but have never left a comment but something made me giggle and that was this comment -

"O'Hare has got to be one of the worse airports to deal with in the country - far too big, confusing, and UGH. I'm sorry."

I traveled to the USA a few years ago by myself from Australia and after battling LAX airport, O'Hare airport was an absolute breeze!!!

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