Weekly Roundup and Thoughts

There are so many people who ask me what life is like with six kids that I figure I'd post a week-in-the-life-of highlights style.

This is also for me, memories, memories.

1. Alexander (5yo): "Mommy, remember when I was watching Paw Patrol last night and they had the haunted castle? This is a haunted house." Me: "Haunted with Ghosts?" Alexander: "No! There are no ghosts in a haunted castle!!"

2. Hal (hubby) was sick over the weekend and I didn't realize Henry was serving at church. We went to a different service time and I didn't get him a sub, (bad Mom).

3. Coffee with a couple of friends, one of which was moving to Ohio. It was so enjoyable. We kept saying over the years that we'd do Coffee, it took one of us moving away to actually do it. Mom friends need time together too.

4. They say Facebook knows you better than you know yourself, and I believe it. It knows what makes me stop, scroll on, and scroll back up. I will say this though... Men's Facebook feeds are completely different than women's feeds... It's bizarre looking at someone else's feed.

5. I wonder if ADHD meds have a specific side effect. Alexander started this week and he's been great on his meds, but a monster when they wear off, above and beyond his usual behavior.

6. Emily (11yo 6th grade) went to practice walking her schedule at the middle school this week. She is so nervous about it that she made her second trip blindly without the schedule. She was pleased that she only missed one.

7. Danielle (5mo) went into the pool for the first time this weekend. She thought it was great. This one loves the chaos of all the kids bouncing around. She didn't even mind getting splashed in the face, though we tried to keep her out of it as much as we could.

8. My 13 year old son tried to push me in the water. Despite his strength and his football training he couldn't do it. For a while I stood up there wrestling my kids one by one and tossing them into the pool. In the end My 13yo plus my 8yo got me in, but it was more of a safety thing. Although, when surprised, I can be pushed in by my 13yo alone.

9. Some people live miserable lives and must be miserable to everyone else. Re: the lady who kicked our family out of the community pool on my daughter's birthday.

10. If I had a twilight superpower I think I would be like Esme, (love). Lame, I know. I'd rather have super-something, mind reading would be awesome. I don't seem to have the capacity to truly hate anyone, (even the miserable woman above, or people who have wronged me in my life), though I do make sure to keep a distance between myself and toxic people. Those people are not needed in my life.

11. I recently deleted Facebook off of my phone. It's been about a month now. Best decision I've made. I have no regrets. I also deleted my credit card from Amazon and I add it each time I want to buy something - it's saved alot of money and impulse buys.

12. Hal asked me last night if once Emily starts her period if our cycles will sync up. I told him probably not for at least a year as she'll likely be irregular... then, probably. Pheromones and all of that. His body probably knows more about me ovulating than he does, hence the 6 kids.

13. Hormonal facial hair is a nightmare. No, I am not a transitioning male. PCOS sucks and the second you think you have it under control.... nope.

14. My 5yo who has been banned from virtually everything for breaking the cat's leg has discovered that there are alot of toys in my office and has been taking full advantage of them meaning you can't even walk in here.

15. Baby girls like tummy time a whole lot more than baby boys

16. Working with five kids in the house is tough and results in working a 10 hour day so you can claim 8 of those hours.

17. The lottery is a game for desperate people. I've now bought 3 tickets in the past two weeks.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.