The Homemaking Cottageさん「Mothers of Large Families Series: Tiffany Ivanovsky」
Mothers of Large Families Series: Tiffany Ivanovsky
The Homemaking Cottage Series Presents:
Mothers of Large Families
Tiffany Ivanovsky, Mother of six
I was born in Iowa City, Iowa. My fabulous parents are Craig and Terry Davis. My Father has 2 brothers and my Mother comes from a family of 15 kids. My Dad is a geologist and my Mom has always been a stay at home Mom, although I would say she is a genealogist, that is what she does the most. I am the oldest of six kids. I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters. I think being the oldest and especially a girl is something that a spouse should take into consideration before marriage. It pretty much means I have been bossing people around all my life and taking charge. Just ask my husband...
We live just outside Houston, Texas. As much as I love the west, I went to college in Idaho, I am a Texas girl at heart. I love the pride that Texans have in their state and all the freedom we have living here! Don't mess with Texas :)
Her Husband
My husband's name is Paul. He had no idea what he was going to get into when we got married. Neither did I. We got married really young. I was 20 and he was 22. We have been married for 13 years and have laughed our way through most of it. We have had so many trials, and continue to come out stronger and better than ever. My husband has a good sense of humor and loves to laugh, I am more serious and so it creates a good balance. He supports every little thing that I do, no matter how much it is going to cost him :) So I am extremely grateful for that. I can't think of a time when he has ever told me "No", well there was that one time...
Why The Decision to Have a Large Family?
Well, to be honest one child was the result of a failure to communicate on birth control choices. Am I allowed to write that? No really, we always knew we would have a large family, at least 4 children. Our first child was a boy and then we had four more girls, I knew there had to be another boy for us. It just didn't seem right, my husband felt the same way. In fact, he was the one that eventually begged to have another one, he knew it was the last child and the boy that we were waiting for. Sure enough we had our last little boy. We work really well together with the kids. My husband is a baby magnet and a baby hog. I practically have to pry the infants off him to feed them, if he had the ability to nurse I think he would. I am much better with the 3-5 age group, I have more patience and don't mind all the whining. We compliment each other in areas that the other lacks.
Tucker is almost 12 and the stinking smartest child on the planet. He is so good and has such a sweet heart, I wish I was more like him.
Emma is 9 and is the little mother. I have to catch myself and make sure she isn't doing too much. Everyone needs an Emma like mine!
Paige is 7 and is smart and quiet. She will be the doctor in the group, good thing, I am counting on her to take care of us when we are old!
Avery is 5 and we are not sure where she came from. Avery is the princess and a mini Martha Stewart, she has qualities I only ever saw in the movies!
Storie is 3 going on 35. I could spend all day talking to her. I should rent her out for parties she is so entertaining!
Rush is 18 mo. We call him super cute. I worry already for the woman he marries. He has more confidence than most adult males and more energy than all 7 of us combined.
Some joyful experiences with her large family
Oh my goodness there are so many! My most favorite thing in the entire work is to watch them work together and help each other. They are each others best friends, the older ones help and stick up for the younger ones and take care of them. The younger ones look up to and count on the bigger kids. I love it! Even when they fight, which is not that often, I let them work it out themselves and they always do.
A Funny Story
I had children to keep me humble.
I have just enough self esteem left to share this story with y'all. Then after this I am done, no one look me in the eye I am just too embarrassed! The thing that I love the most about 3 year olds is their honesty. They don't lie or beat around the bush, if they have something to say, they say it.
The following is a true story, it happened to me yesterday morning...
Because I am a Mother and have no privacy, as I was getting out of the shower my favorite 3 year old walked into my bathroom. I was drying myself off with a towel when I noticed her staring at me with a questionable look.
"What's going on, Storie?" I asked.
Staring straight at my breasts she says, "why are they so long?"
Speechless, I manage to mumble, "because I am a Mom."
Without hesitation she replies, "you look like an elephant" and walks away.
So that's it. I look like an elephant and I have long breasts. I wanted to scream down the hall at her... "Yea well, hey there little girl, I just got done nursing for 11 years in a row, sometimes two children at a time and a few of you ungrateful children till you were two!" But I didn't think she would care. The damage is done, I have no self esteem left!
Does anyone know a good plastic surgeon?
Experiences or knowledge has helped her on her journey
Obviously being the oldest of 6 helped me be prepared to raise my 6. But honestly, it is a learn as you go for me. Nothing can really prepare you for Motherhood. The emotions are so raw, my favorite emotion is laughter through tears, and as a Mom I experience that often.
Her Mentors Who Have Been a Shining Example
My mentor is Katherine Fagersten. She is the ultimate Mother. I met her before I had my first child and shortly moved away after he was 1. So I didn't even have much time to spend with her, but she set the foundation for me as to the kind of Mother that I wanted to be. Katherine and her husband have raised 8 awesome children in a 2 bedroom house with 1 bathroom. At any time I am sure they could have moved into a larger home, but they didn't. They have always lived within their means and focused on their kids. Katherine is an amazing woman. I appreciated her honesty and telling me the truth about things, "Nursing sucks, but it is the best for your baby so do it anyway."
Her Housekeeping Tip
I can't do it all myself. Wait, this is how it usually sounds... "I CAN'T DO ALL THIS MYSELF, EVERYONE NEEDS TO START HELPING, RIGHT NOW!! That's what I have learned. No one does anything unless I yell. Why is that?
Favorite Quote
"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinkley
Favorite Family Meal
All time favorite recipe: Broiled Tilapia Parmesan
This is our all time favorite dinner recipe. I would guess we have made it about every 10 days for the past few years and are not tired of it yet. It is so EASY!!
My little kids LOVE it. They will eat 2 tilapia fillets each. When we make it for the 8 of us we have to make 15 pieces. If you are looking for a fish recipe that EVERYONE will eat and enjoy, this is it! Try it! I promise you will like it, and if you don't tell the kids it is fish they will love it also!
Broiled Tilapia Parmesan
INGREDIENTS (NUTRITION)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
2 pounds tilapia fillets
DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven's broiler. Grease a broiling pan or line pan with aluminum foil.
In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.
Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.
Favorite Dessert
Better Than Megan Fox Cake?
This cake is my husbands favorite, he asks for it on his Birthday and Father's day every year. I make it for him unasked if I am starting a new home remodeling project and have gotten in wayyy over my head...
I have heard it called all kinds of things, Better than Sex cake is the most common. Although, when I was younger I heard it called Better than Robert Redford cake a lot. Times have changed.
In front of the kids my husband refers to it as Better than Procreation Cake, this year he called it Better than Megan Fox Cake, I guess she is the new hottie. Whatever. I'd like to see what she looks likes after having 6 kids...
Anyway, on to the best cake EVER!
This is all you need:
Bake a chocolate cake according to directions, I like German chocolate. When it is hot and out of the oven, take a fork and poke holes all over it. Thousands of them! Don't be shy let the cake have it, pretend it is Megan Fox...
Next pour an entire 14oz. can of sweetened condensed milk over the top of the hot cake.
It will look like this... as it starts soaking in.
Next, and I am not joking, pour an entire jar of caramel syrup over the top. I like Mrs. Renfro's, but had this on hand.
Now, amazingly, it will all soak in. Put it in the fridge to cool down. It is better if it sits a long time, like overnight before eating.
When cool, frost with cool whip and (if you are not lazy) chop up Heath or Skor bars to put on top. If you don't have time dump a bag of Heath toffee bits on.
I can' t even describe how good this cake is. Have you seen the Diner scene in When Harry Met Sally? That about says it all!
Her Websites
My blog is called MyLitter, you can find me at mylitter.com or www.theivanovskys.blogspot
Mothers of Large Families
Tiffany Ivanovsky, Mother of six
I was born in Iowa City, Iowa. My fabulous parents are Craig and Terry Davis. My Father has 2 brothers and my Mother comes from a family of 15 kids. My Dad is a geologist and my Mom has always been a stay at home Mom, although I would say she is a genealogist, that is what she does the most. I am the oldest of six kids. I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters. I think being the oldest and especially a girl is something that a spouse should take into consideration before marriage. It pretty much means I have been bossing people around all my life and taking charge. Just ask my husband...
We live just outside Houston, Texas. As much as I love the west, I went to college in Idaho, I am a Texas girl at heart. I love the pride that Texans have in their state and all the freedom we have living here! Don't mess with Texas :)
Her Husband
My husband's name is Paul. He had no idea what he was going to get into when we got married. Neither did I. We got married really young. I was 20 and he was 22. We have been married for 13 years and have laughed our way through most of it. We have had so many trials, and continue to come out stronger and better than ever. My husband has a good sense of humor and loves to laugh, I am more serious and so it creates a good balance. He supports every little thing that I do, no matter how much it is going to cost him :) So I am extremely grateful for that. I can't think of a time when he has ever told me "No", well there was that one time...
Why The Decision to Have a Large Family?
Well, to be honest one child was the result of a failure to communicate on birth control choices. Am I allowed to write that? No really, we always knew we would have a large family, at least 4 children. Our first child was a boy and then we had four more girls, I knew there had to be another boy for us. It just didn't seem right, my husband felt the same way. In fact, he was the one that eventually begged to have another one, he knew it was the last child and the boy that we were waiting for. Sure enough we had our last little boy. We work really well together with the kids. My husband is a baby magnet and a baby hog. I practically have to pry the infants off him to feed them, if he had the ability to nurse I think he would. I am much better with the 3-5 age group, I have more patience and don't mind all the whining. We compliment each other in areas that the other lacks.
Tucker is almost 12 and the stinking smartest child on the planet. He is so good and has such a sweet heart, I wish I was more like him.
Emma is 9 and is the little mother. I have to catch myself and make sure she isn't doing too much. Everyone needs an Emma like mine!
Paige is 7 and is smart and quiet. She will be the doctor in the group, good thing, I am counting on her to take care of us when we are old!
Avery is 5 and we are not sure where she came from. Avery is the princess and a mini Martha Stewart, she has qualities I only ever saw in the movies!
Storie is 3 going on 35. I could spend all day talking to her. I should rent her out for parties she is so entertaining!
Rush is 18 mo. We call him super cute. I worry already for the woman he marries. He has more confidence than most adult males and more energy than all 7 of us combined.
Some joyful experiences with her large family
Oh my goodness there are so many! My most favorite thing in the entire work is to watch them work together and help each other. They are each others best friends, the older ones help and stick up for the younger ones and take care of them. The younger ones look up to and count on the bigger kids. I love it! Even when they fight, which is not that often, I let them work it out themselves and they always do.
A Funny Story
I had children to keep me humble.
I have just enough self esteem left to share this story with y'all. Then after this I am done, no one look me in the eye I am just too embarrassed! The thing that I love the most about 3 year olds is their honesty. They don't lie or beat around the bush, if they have something to say, they say it.
The following is a true story, it happened to me yesterday morning...
Because I am a Mother and have no privacy, as I was getting out of the shower my favorite 3 year old walked into my bathroom. I was drying myself off with a towel when I noticed her staring at me with a questionable look.
"What's going on, Storie?" I asked.
Staring straight at my breasts she says, "why are they so long?"
Speechless, I manage to mumble, "because I am a Mom."
Without hesitation she replies, "you look like an elephant" and walks away.
So that's it. I look like an elephant and I have long breasts. I wanted to scream down the hall at her... "Yea well, hey there little girl, I just got done nursing for 11 years in a row, sometimes two children at a time and a few of you ungrateful children till you were two!" But I didn't think she would care. The damage is done, I have no self esteem left!
Does anyone know a good plastic surgeon?
Experiences or knowledge has helped her on her journey
Obviously being the oldest of 6 helped me be prepared to raise my 6. But honestly, it is a learn as you go for me. Nothing can really prepare you for Motherhood. The emotions are so raw, my favorite emotion is laughter through tears, and as a Mom I experience that often.
Her Mentors Who Have Been a Shining Example
My mentor is Katherine Fagersten. She is the ultimate Mother. I met her before I had my first child and shortly moved away after he was 1. So I didn't even have much time to spend with her, but she set the foundation for me as to the kind of Mother that I wanted to be. Katherine and her husband have raised 8 awesome children in a 2 bedroom house with 1 bathroom. At any time I am sure they could have moved into a larger home, but they didn't. They have always lived within their means and focused on their kids. Katherine is an amazing woman. I appreciated her honesty and telling me the truth about things, "Nursing sucks, but it is the best for your baby so do it anyway."
Her Housekeeping Tip
I can't do it all myself. Wait, this is how it usually sounds... "I CAN'T DO ALL THIS MYSELF, EVERYONE NEEDS TO START HELPING, RIGHT NOW!! That's what I have learned. No one does anything unless I yell. Why is that?
Favorite Quote
"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinkley
Favorite Family Meal
All time favorite recipe: Broiled Tilapia Parmesan
This is our all time favorite dinner recipe. I would guess we have made it about every 10 days for the past few years and are not tired of it yet. It is so EASY!!
My little kids LOVE it. They will eat 2 tilapia fillets each. When we make it for the 8 of us we have to make 15 pieces. If you are looking for a fish recipe that EVERYONE will eat and enjoy, this is it! Try it! I promise you will like it, and if you don't tell the kids it is fish they will love it also!
Broiled Tilapia Parmesan
INGREDIENTS (NUTRITION)
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
2 pounds tilapia fillets
DIRECTIONS
Preheat your oven's broiler. Grease a broiling pan or line pan with aluminum foil.
In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.
Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.
Favorite Dessert
Better Than Megan Fox Cake?
This cake is my husbands favorite, he asks for it on his Birthday and Father's day every year. I make it for him unasked if I am starting a new home remodeling project and have gotten in wayyy over my head...
I have heard it called all kinds of things, Better than Sex cake is the most common. Although, when I was younger I heard it called Better than Robert Redford cake a lot. Times have changed.
In front of the kids my husband refers to it as Better than Procreation Cake, this year he called it Better than Megan Fox Cake, I guess she is the new hottie. Whatever. I'd like to see what she looks likes after having 6 kids...
Anyway, on to the best cake EVER!
This is all you need:
Bake a chocolate cake according to directions, I like German chocolate. When it is hot and out of the oven, take a fork and poke holes all over it. Thousands of them! Don't be shy let the cake have it, pretend it is Megan Fox...
Next pour an entire 14oz. can of sweetened condensed milk over the top of the hot cake.
It will look like this... as it starts soaking in.
Next, and I am not joking, pour an entire jar of caramel syrup over the top. I like Mrs. Renfro's, but had this on hand.
Now, amazingly, it will all soak in. Put it in the fridge to cool down. It is better if it sits a long time, like overnight before eating.
When cool, frost with cool whip and (if you are not lazy) chop up Heath or Skor bars to put on top. If you don't have time dump a bag of Heath toffee bits on.
I can' t even describe how good this cake is. Have you seen the Diner scene in When Harry Met Sally? That about says it all!
Her Websites
My blog is called MyLitter, you can find me at mylitter.com or www.theivanovskys.blogspot