tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post1024652538484071334..comments2024-03-28T10:58:46.931-04:00Comments on Martin Family Moments: The Care and Feeding of a Big FamilyColleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-53209504512786362412018-07-03T23:03:20.461-04:002018-07-03T23:03:20.461-04:00Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the great...Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the great spirit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-43019718183618792212018-07-03T22:17:39.024-04:002018-07-03T22:17:39.024-04:00Exceptional post however I was wondering if you co...Exceptional post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this topic?<br />I'd be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.<br />Bless you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-57651282459964016782018-04-02T01:14:39.063-04:002018-04-02T01:14:39.063-04:00I have been a big meal planner but what makes a bi...I have been a big meal planner but what makes a big game changer is online shopping with curbside pickup. I make my menu based on what’s on sale that week and usually double up items. I shop online which greatly helps me stay on budget then I just go to the store and they load it in the car. So easy and way less impulse buying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-8244753345415842142018-03-12T12:55:53.259-04:002018-03-12T12:55:53.259-04:00Love this, I'll have to do a post like it, our...Love this, I'll have to do a post like it, our family of 7 do things pretty similar. I do at least a load of laundry a day too, but I sort it differently. We put the little kids together, Doug & mine, and his dress/work clothes separately. I do one load of whites, including our white bath towles, once a week. Everything else gets washed on cool or warm so I don't sort out the colors. The two oldest do their own loads. Menu planning was a game changer too, as was having kids old enough to babysit.Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-24972406435510305442018-03-11T11:45:22.946-04:002018-03-11T11:45:22.946-04:00This is great! We have 9 from 22 year old twins do...This is great! We have 9 from 22 year old twins down to the baby who just turned 7. I love hearing what other people do. Nicole Houghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02891962120089064076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-38776444975117301412018-03-10T18:47:14.346-05:002018-03-10T18:47:14.346-05:00I agree with mixing clothes to keep the hamper emp...I agree with mixing clothes to keep the hamper empty. But I find that we have to wash a load of towels almost everyday. That doesn't include bath towels. Plus we cloth diaper and do a load of diapers each day. So staying on top of laundry is difficult.melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04729785340061696740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-69800414230034469372018-03-08T08:31:11.847-05:002018-03-08T08:31:11.847-05:00Gotta do what works for you! We didn't have a...Gotta do what works for you! We didn't have a weekly chore chart for a number of years and when I would ask someone to do something, there were lots of "why me?" "that's not fair" comments, so I made a list and now just say CHORE CHARTS! and it all gets done. Love your theory about the dust!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-52326601272786779052018-03-08T08:29:27.663-05:002018-03-08T08:29:27.663-05:00That's because you're pregnant and your ol...That's because you're pregnant and your oldest is five!!!! You are in the survival years, and you only need to worry about finding a balance that works for your family, not about any grand scheme. It will happen though! After each baby, I feel so frazzled and out of sorts and once they hit a year old I start feeling ready to find and make routines again. Give yourself lots of slack, your kids will be fine as long as you just love them :)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-54623051284059988562018-03-08T08:25:00.355-05:002018-03-08T08:25:00.355-05:00Same!Same!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-35754187915034323222018-03-07T13:46:29.404-05:002018-03-07T13:46:29.404-05:00As another mom of a big family - yes to most of th...As another mom of a big family - yes to most of this. I say why own anything that can't be put in the dishwasher, washing machine, or hosed off outside. If it doesn't survive the wash, it wasn't meant to be! <br />We only have one refrigerator, so I go shopping several times a week - milk and bananas are always on the list. ( I don't mind grocery shopping though). No strict meal planning - just a rough schedule weekly. I keep some things on hand for the nights when what was planned doesn't come to fruition. (The kids know how to make grilled cheese or scrabled eggs and more in a pinch.)<br /> I do have an upright freezer in the basement for bulk purchases of meat, etc that I get at Sam's club . (I'm willing to freeze just about anything - learned my lesson with cream cheese though to read the labels first.)<br />We don't have a regular cleaning routine, and the kids don't have specific chores - though they're expected to keep their rooms tolerable, help out as needed with house clean up and dishes. I often will trade a chore with "Babysitting" - playing with the little ones outside. Sometimes I dream of chore charts and regular routines, but I don't think it fits our family's style.<br />And I ignore dust - it takes effort with some many people living here - but dusting is one chore I detest. So I just hope the kids are active enough to keep the dust moving and do a frantic clean up whenever guests come.<br />Every big family will find their rhythm eventually!<br />mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12388057081854458639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-27144792276403883532018-03-07T12:01:54.008-05:002018-03-07T12:01:54.008-05:00Oh please tell me that this level of organization ...Oh please tell me that this level of organization and having-it-together-ness is possible for me in the future!! I am expecting number four and my oldest is five. I CANNOT get it together and I am exhausted!! All of this sounds so good and I aspire to absolutely everything you wrong....as I lay in an exhausted pregnant heap on my couch while my kids watch tv 😬 Haha Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10098669502395199916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-59229576440293454502018-03-07T07:51:46.642-05:002018-03-07T07:51:46.642-05:00For real! Who has time to separate?? I just don’t ...For real! Who has time to separate?? I just don’t buy clothes that have special washing instructions Kathryn R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09543790150677796612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-43284618682627156442018-03-07T07:26:19.542-05:002018-03-07T07:26:19.542-05:00Ha!! Ha!! Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-24906441292008168742018-03-07T07:24:43.617-05:002018-03-07T07:24:43.617-05:00That's a good idea for a blog post, but it wil...That's a good idea for a blog post, but it will take me some time...stay tuned!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-72365199734822372582018-03-06T18:51:48.208-05:002018-03-06T18:51:48.208-05:00Is that really a thing, separating the underwear f...Is that really a thing, separating the underwear from the rest of the laundry? I've never heard of that! Probably because I come from a big family. :) Great post! Ellen Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01282413486073228102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-36708586219903694892018-03-06T18:16:17.909-05:002018-03-06T18:16:17.909-05:00I'd love a recipe roundup of your favorites!I'd love a recipe roundup of your favorites!Caitlynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04321826500464620954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-61211967397096722232018-03-06T17:22:12.312-05:002018-03-06T17:22:12.312-05:00Your husband is a gem :)Your husband is a gem :)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-72188620831709081322018-03-06T17:21:42.115-05:002018-03-06T17:21:42.115-05:00For sure and also lots of trial and error through ...For sure and also lots of trial and error through the years! Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-87131402464359730772018-03-06T17:21:06.267-05:002018-03-06T17:21:06.267-05:00How awesome are you for writing that comment? Than...How awesome are you for writing that comment? Thank you!!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-52458162389382241152018-03-06T17:20:25.517-05:002018-03-06T17:20:25.517-05:00Right! And some of my kids prefer the ability to n...Right! And some of my kids prefer the ability to not have so much attention on them too! It takes all types!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-48883227732368601922018-03-06T17:19:18.132-05:002018-03-06T17:19:18.132-05:00That stage is so hard. You’ll get your teens soon ...That stage is so hard. You’ll get your teens soon enough but until then: survival mode!!Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11451797365712728579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-65368311755111847002018-03-06T16:31:12.284-05:002018-03-06T16:31:12.284-05:00This is a great round-up, Colleen! We do a lot of ...This is a great round-up, Colleen! We do a lot of the same stuff. <br /><br />Kevin does all or laundry and he has the exact same method as you re. no sorting. He puts in a load when he gets home from work, switches it after dinner, and folds it and puts it on a rolling laundry rack. The rest of us empty the rack in the morning. <br /><br />We are home most days because of homeschooling, which means clean up takes more time. (I used to think I was laidback about messes. Ha. #typeA) Evening clean up for us means I put a list on the whiteboard of all the horse I see needing to be done. There’s usually 10 minute clean ups for living, dining, and bedrooms (we do these chores in teams), plus a couple of weekly chores that get done on a certain day of the week. The kids love crossing their chores off the list when they’re done. <br /><br />Saturday morning is for deep cleaning. Kids love Saturday mornings. ;)<br /><br />Probably more to add but I have to run. This was very inspiring, though, so thanks. Also, it makes me SO grateful to have big kids now. I remember the days of doing all this myself and feeling like I was drowning. Micaela Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04601442850363152303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-10109166244753318872018-03-06T15:22:46.105-05:002018-03-06T15:22:46.105-05:00I was wondering if you get tips and ideas from you...I was wondering if you get tips and ideas from your mother since you came from a large family? Or was that just a different time when things were done differently? Aileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08992807714484812147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-23867474432494904902018-03-06T15:21:24.995-05:002018-03-06T15:21:24.995-05:00Hi Colleen, I'd just like to say that I really...Hi Colleen, I'd just like to say that I really love your blog. Seeing your big, beautiful, joyfully Catholic, but completely modern and normal family gives 29 year old single women like me something to aspire to and a lot of hope that following God's way really does work. God bless you all :) Emmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5937303870758455964.post-64243927933012768062018-03-06T15:13:59.787-05:002018-03-06T15:13:59.787-05:00Thank you for the comment on individual attention....Thank you for the comment on individual attention. I've only got 4 kids, but people question me about this all the time. I agree that its not as big of a deal as the world makes it out to be. My kids are loved! Sometimes a sibling takes on the role and sometimes its me or my husband. But our kids are not deprived of love or attention!AmanDanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09943561965343214919noreply@blogger.com