Dear Santa,
My list is going to be a little longer than usual this year.
Please bring a helper who can read with each of my kids for at least 20 minutes per day and help them with their homework (algebra skills a plus). Please make sure this helper engages in stimulating conversations with my children; also, that he/she does not turn on the tv or let the kids play video or computer games. My kids' brain development is critically important so thanks for your help with this.
Please bring a housekeeper who can work 7 days per week. Responsibilities will include following my kids and husband around and cleaning up after them. (The housekeeper won't need to follow me around because I already clean up after myself.) Please make sure the housekeeper knows how to remove blood, grass, and vomit stains. In addition, the housekeeper must be an individual that does not get easily irritated or frustrated by repetitive tasks.
Please bring a personal chef who can prepare healthy meals for my family. The chef ideally will have an intimate knowledge of nutrition so that my kids will get all their required fruit and vegetable servings each day. That's 2-3 servings of fruits, and 5-8 servings of vegetables, in case you were wondering. The chef should be able to do grocery shopping, and needs to understand that sugary items, or items with hydrogenated oils or preservatives, are simply not allowed in my house -- no exceptions. My kids' health depends on that.
Please also bring a chauffer who can drive my kids to and from their sports and other after school activities. The chauffer must be able to tolerate long hours in the car. I have six children, and each one must have every opportunity to pursue his/her/my outside interests to the fullest possible extent, in order to ensure their future success in life. Therefore skipping these after-school activities on occasion is not an option.
Please bring a stylist for me. I know I'm being a little selfish here, but I need to keep up with the other moms in town. They are all perfectly accessorized - how do they do that? Can the stylist be someone with a working knowledge of hair and makeup styles as well? While we are talking about my needs, I would also like a personal trainer. Every article I read tells me that if I don't work out for at least an hour a day, I will gain weight, be unhealthy, and be depressed. Maybe the trainer can also remind me to drink my 8 glasses of water per day, I'm so busy I always forget about that.
One more thing, I know I have to work at my marriage. I have to keep the spark alive, communicate for at least 30 minutes per day on a deep level, and have passionate and satisfying relationship. I know this is sort of a delicate issue, and I feel awkward asking, but could you possibly to help me with that, too? The experts say that kids really suffer when their parents' marriage suffers, and I can't have my kids suffer.
Santa, I take my responsibilities as a mom seriously. To be honest, I get a really bad headache when I just think about all the stuff I need to do to ensure my kids' eventual success in life.
If you don't mind, please bring me some Advil for that headache.
Thanks, Lauri

Prom 2010

Nick, Shanna, Robin & Tyler

the girls both had dance competition...this is Robin, and Heather headed back stage too fast!
One of their group dances won 1st place!
Robin won first place in Solo...way to go girls!

WOW, I had fun....now I can't walk! 3 Hours and 3 minutes...
of fun and effort

Evenings out our back porch