Guest Post: Marie from Feeding Five

Hello again from the beach! Here is a sneak peak of what we have been up to:

Today, Marie from Feeding Five is here to give you a little insight into summer with school aged kids. If you aren't reading Marie's blog yet, you should immediately head over there. She is smart, creative, funny, faithful, a good photographer and an amazing cook. Plus her kids are gorgeous, insightful and well behaved AND her hubby is handsome. Yet, despite of all that, you can't help but love her. Take it away, Marie.

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My name is Marie and I blog at 'Feeding Five'.  My blog is a journal of my crazy, lovely, fun and real life with 3 kids, my handsome husband and our chihuahua who I didn't want but am now obsessed with. 

I love blogs like Kate's where mom's relish in motherhood and the day to day challenges and struggles of raising a family.  It's the hardest job on earth so to make it easier we just have to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I grew up in a family of 11.  Nine kids, 2 parents and a revolving door of animals.  No I didn't grow up on a farm.  I grew up in the big city, San Jose to be exact in a little 1400 square foot house.  We had lots of bunk beds.  And yes we're Mormon, why do you ask?

With so many kids there were always chores, a diaper to change, a meal to cook or a bike to ride down the street to get yet another gallon of milk.  There was no time for T.V. and I am lucky I got as many Brady Bunch episodes in as I did.

I had an innocent and carefree childhood.  There was lots of studying, reading, barbies, make-believe and being together. 

Times have changed so much since I was a kid and even though so much more is available to kids now, I tend to take the old fashioned approach with my kids. 

The day my oldest learned to turn the T.V. on by herself we got rid of it.  The T.V. that is.  That lasted a few years until my husband got me one for our bedroom so I would have something to watch while on my stairmaster.  Oh how I missed Oprah.

Eventually we created Friday night movie nights and 1 season of American Idol that the girls adored but I cringed through (the outfits!, the language!) and then our T.V. broke so now we're back to no T.V.

It's really not so bad.  The kids love books and keep busy with playing, chores, homework, bike rides and play practice.  I am a huge lover of books.  There is nothing that makes me happier than all of us cuddled up together reading separately or together.

Now, for the summer, I am so enjoying spending the mornings doing a sort of home school curriculum with the kids and spending the afternoons at the pool and beach.

I couldn't wait for summer as a kid, but now as an adult the thought of having my kids all to myself makes me giddy.  I miss them.

Plus part of our curriculum is chores.   Kids old enough to clean bathrooms, definitely something to look forward to.

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Don't you just want to spend a day at their house? Thanks so much Marie for sharing your motherhood experiences with us. And I am definitely looking forward to having a couple bathroom cleaners in a few years!