Friday, June 12, 2009

Around The Stroupe Home

Clarissa learning how to ride the tricycle!! This can be a difficult task for a 2 year old.


We always find time for rest. This is Deacon all cozy with his blanky!


In my flower bed!!


This is the turkey, this was taken a couple of weeks ago, so they are much bigger now!! This is the first time that we seen him sitting on the side of the tub.

Daddy, taking care of a boo boo:(

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Fighting The Battle Of Laundry


So I will be the first one to admit, after my 4th child was born I felt like I could never catch up with the laundry. It honestly was stressing me out, on a good day I would have only 4 loads of laundry left after doing a few. Everywhere I looked there was a piece if clothing somewhere, rather it be under a bed, behind the door, or stuffed somewhere in the corner there was LAUNDRY!! Oh, I don't want to forget to mention the dressers and closets, oh my, they were so unorganized and crammed you could not fit a thing in them!!

So a few weeks ago I told my wonderful husband that I was going to go through all of the clothes, throw away, give away, and store away this out of control madness!!

Guess what I DID IT!!! I am so happy and my days go by so much smoother!! Yeah!!!

Here is how I did it!!

First of all I went through and simplified all of the clothing and what ever was not needed, was thrown out.
All bedrooms have 1 dresser in it all 3 boys share, and the 2 girls share, and hubby and I share.
Then of course we have our closets!!

Each bedroom has there own little basket. After the children, are done with there changing they put in there own basket, girls with girls, boys with boys, and the hubby and I in another!!

The whites go in the basket in my room ( normally I pick out the whites as I do the laundry and put them in the proper spot )

The towels go in the hamper in the laundry room!!

Whatever basket has the most clothing is the baskets I do that day. I normally do 2 loads a day sometimes 3!! I do towels 2 times a week and whites 1 time!!

Every night after the kids have had there baths they know that they are to lay out the clothing that they want to wear the next day. The older siblings help the younger ones!!

As for putting away the clothing I use to struggle in this area also. Now I will not allow myself to put another load in the wash until the load that is on the line or in the dryer is folded and put away.

The children put away there own clothing, and help the younger ones. When they are not looking, mommy goes in and does it nice and tidy, or if it is really sloppy I call the children in to do it the right way with a little of mommy's help.

I am so excited to say that I have made it through the laundry battle for several weeks now. My daily duties are so much easier!!!

I would love to challenge some of you to try to become stress free from laundry!!
To the ones that don't really have a laundry issue, I would love to know how you all keep up with your laundry!!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

While Washing Dishes

Ok, so lately I have been washing dishes by hand, and I have realized how much it can do for the family. I wanted to do a little post on " While Washing Dishes "....

While washing dishes I like to think about my day!!

While washing dishes it gives me an opportunity to talk, laugh, and hang out with Gage!!

While washing dishes it teaches my daughters how to become a good keeper of the home!!

While washing dishes I can homeschool!!

While washing dishes my children and I play the whistling game!!

While washing dishes the children and I sing, while Daddy and the little ones dance!!

While washing dishes it gives me a chance to be a blessing and a good testimony to my children!!

While washing dishes I get to hear what is on Gages mind!!

While washing dishes I can Pray, Sing, and just talk to the Lord.


I remember when I use to get so disgusted when my dishwasher went out..... but now that the kids are older, I am enjoying it so much that I am still washing dishes by hand and the dishwasher is working just fine.

Tonight, after supper the 2 older children and I were working together and doing after supper clean up. While I was washing, Gage was drying and putting away. I realized just how wonderful that this little thing that I use to dislike so much, has become such a blessing, and fun time for my family.

There was nothing better than whistling a song to see which family member can guess the right tune!!

My challenge to you before you go to put that dish in the dishwasher, grab a child and spend some time with them, play a game, or just ask them what is on their mind. If you don't have any children, take a moment and spend that time with God, Pray, sing, or talk to him like he is your best friend standing right next to you. I know that washing dishes has become a blessing to the Stroupe home!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

17 New Members

We recently have been enjoying 17 new members to our family!!!1




We actually bought 16 but for some wonderful reason they blessed us with 1 extra little blessing!!

We actually have 16 hens and 1 turkey.... The turkey is for fun!!!!

Monday, May 25, 2009

A Wonderful Husband!!!!


So in this post I have to brag a little....

I have not been getting a lot of sleep lately being that my youngest who is 5 mo old, has been very crabby at night.

This morning my husband blessed me by letting me sleep in till 9:15am and then woke me up with pancakes, strawberries and kiwi's in bed. Needless to stay I am still not out of bed I am snuggled up with Deacon and drinking a hot cup of coffee.

I am so blessed with a wonderful husband, Thank You baby!!!!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Clarissa Turns 2

Today Clarissa turns 2, and even though she has no idea what really is going on, we enjoyed spoiling her...

Here is Clarissa just a couple days old!!!


Another pic of her just a couple weeks old!!


About 4 months old!!!!



About 6 months old!!


About 8 months old!!


It looks like here she had some kind of juice bath!!


Just being here sweet self!!!




She must not have wanted her picture taken!!!


Out exploring the world!!!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Kentucky Times

The beginning of spring we went down to Ky to see Andrew's family and I would like to introduce you to them....


This is Andrew's Mamaw and she is a wonderful person. Let me tell you she is the hardest person to get a picture of . If she sees this I will probably not have a place to stay when we go back down.


This is Uncle Mike all of my kids love home. He is a big hunting guy, four wheelers and so forth so there for Gage loves chatting with him...


Meet Chuck, he will keep you laughing all the time

This is Mrs. Dolly, Chucks wife, she is such a blessing.



Aunt Darlene, giving our Deacon a kiss.


This is Miss Jenny, Chuck and Dolly's daughter!!



This is Shannon, Andrew's sister!!

And this is some of the crew sitting outside... I have missed a few people that I need to get some pics rounded up for.


This one is just for smiles.... he was sitting around the table with us while we are playing games!!!