Peaceful Choas

I know it's an oxymoron but it's what I experienced last week when flying with my mother and four young children. I am not crazy enough to think I could do it alone YET so I asked my mom if she would help me fly home with the kids. After a 5 1/2 hour flight and a 2 hour lay over in Chicago we arrived safe and sound in NY at 10pm..... I was so proud of my little angels! They were world class flyer's. I have to take a moment and gush a little at just how well they behaved. As we walked to the security gate all three of my older children had their own little backpacks filled with activities they just talked to each other. Then they walked to the conveyor belts, took their shoes off, put their backpacks up, and walked through the metal detector with out even blinking an eye. They waited for the plane and had a snack. Then for most of the flight they colored, watched a movie, and played card games!
I never bring anything for myself to do on the plane because I am usually too busy trying to keep them entertained while I look at my watch every 10 minutes hoping that another hour has passed. This time I actually had to buy a magazine in Chicago so I would have something to do because I was bored! Who would have thought that in all the times I have flown with kids this would be the best flight and I would have more kids now then ever before! I even heard someone call us the Van Trap family!

The Gift of Independence

So I am made fun of frequently by friends because as my children get old enough to pull on their own clothes, I do the unthinkable.....I LET THEM! Can you believe it! My current 2 year old (I say this because I have had a two year old for the last 3 years!) has been in the habit of pulling everything on inside out and backwards! But she is determined, "I do it!" and so my job becomes easier because she does it herself. We leave the house much faster because I now only have to dress myself and my 7 month old. So what if she looks a little funny right now. She's proud of herself and I know this stage won't last forever. This isn't something that I thought of myself, I learned from the best, my mom. She let me dress myself and put make up on, empowering me to become the woman I am today. I hope that my girls will learn to trust their judgement and feel proud of themselves and their choices. And now, most days when I dress I at least match now!

Introducing the Schinella 6

It is nearly impossible to get every person in a family of 6 to all look at the camera at the same time. Out of 214 photos, this was the closest we came.