the photo shoot

Any one with children know how 'fun' photo shoots can be, but there are FIVE of them! A tired 1 year old, a busy toddler and three big kids fighting with each other make for a FUN time! Not to mention the family that came in after us brought a big train set to have in the pictures with their kids, so Shorty wanted nothing to do with coming into the studio to pose for pix! Thanks, Lester Family!

I must say, I was so proud of the big kids for doing so well. their pix turned out WONDERFUL and they helped so much with the short ones. Those wee ones, however had other ideas. Shorty liked the cool mini couch they had as a prop and wanted to just sit there, Pumpkin Pie wanted to explore so she was all over the place. Honestly, the best way to get her NOT to go anywhere was to stand her up. She hadn't taken any steps so she was sort of stuck there. That was easier than we thought it would be. Getting her to SIT still was another thing altogether. We just had to catch those rare seconds where her eye would catch the photographer and thankfully, she was ready for those moments. Trying to get pix of BOTH wee ones together, though, was not pretty. Those were a little nuts and didn't actually get a great one, but one that would 'do'.

The group shot of ALL the kids was not as hard as it has been in the past, but still never easy. Was so thankful that most of the attempts, the big kids were smiling and ready when the little ones finally got it right. They were so patient with their tiny siblings. So glad they love them so much! All in all, it was a good experience and I don't have nightmares about it. I am just glad we only do that once a year! So, hope you enjoy the results of the crazy time.....

do the shuffle

Okay, so the plan was to have the two wee ones share a room for a few years. Well, not really doable. The room isn't very big at all. The two beds would fit in there fine, BUT then there would only be room fro ONE dresser and NO toys! Not to mention a tiny little closet. I dreaded laundry day because there was NO where to put their clothes! So, we found a solution....move! We have a big enough house to make it possible, but with an unfinished basement, that made the move a little trickier.

The home's previous owners did do a LITTLE finishing down there, but it is flimsy at best. There is paneling and some carpet thrown right down on the floor in half the basement, and we've had a t.v, a futon and some toys down there for awhile. It has served as a rec room more or less for the last several years. Well now that is a bachelor pad for the two oldest boys. It works quite well and they think it is way cool. It is like a little dorm room for them down there. They can hang up whatever posters they want on their side of the room so they sort of feel like they have their own space. That is cool. Now, they have to run up the stairs to pee and they have to hang their clothes on a portable clothing rack(no closet) in the drum room, but otherwise, they are in good shape.

The girls didn't move anywhere so they weren't uprooted, but the big girl got the boys' bunk beds in her room so she has a fun place for sleepovers(previously held in the rec room). She is loving the new set-up in her room, too. It created a lot of work for her in the cleaning depatment so she didn't like THAT part. She is loving sleeping up so high. She has also loved having a short, cute room mate for a few days.

Shorty gets the big boys' old room and is in LOVE with the bright colored Nascar room complete with checkerboard wall. That boy LOVES cars and trucks. He has loved playing with his toys IN his room WHILE the baby sleeps. He hasn't gotten to SLEEP in his room yet, as he has a bed skeleton, but with no mattress(being delivered in a few days), he can't sleep in there. He has slept on the lower bunk in big sister's room. I know there will be a LOT of messes made in there with nearly 200 cars, a Lego table, and Thomas Train stuff. Hopefully it will help teach him how to clean up messes he makes(not holding my breath on that one, but we'll try our best!).

Now, even though the wee one didn't move, she will be transitioning into her big girl bed over the next week. If it goes well, the crib will be dismantled for good. I am busy making pink things to put in that room to girly it up. We made that room gender-neutral since we didn't know Shorty was a boy until he was born. Little Miss is all girl, so she should have some pink in there don't you think? She is still waiting on a dresser but at least now we have room for one!

So, we had a crazy weekend in this house and there is still SO much to do! We uncovered a LOT of things that need a new home! There are a lot of other things, that need a place to land where we can find it again, so no the organization of it all begins. How come one project leads to five others!? That doesn't seem fair at all, does it!? It is hard to believe tomorrow is Monday as I wonder where the weekend went! We spent it all working in the house! Yikes! Thank goodness it is a holiday week and the kids will be off after Tuesday and we have family and friends coming to town. That will be a lot of fun and more restful than THIS!

I am off to dreamland all.....

Don't snow boots go with everything?

Shorty seems to think they do! Now, I am sure the real reason is because he can put them on all by himself, but he is a little crazy about wearing them all the same. They look wonderful with the bright orange stocking cap(not even HIS!) he pairs them with. He will don this attire to play with his Power Rangers or Play-doh, so it isn't just outdoor wear for him. He is trying to be fashion-forward I think but I can't see it being a look that works for just anyone! He wears it in such a way that only the most special of 2/3 year olds could pull it off, I think!

Now, if you are thinking, "that doesn't sound too odd", then let me add to that just a smidge. There are days that he will get all dressed up and bring me HIS "shigardens"(his older brother's goalie gloves) to put on so he can REALLY go outside in style! He look WAY cool, then!

Just the other day, he puts the a fore mentioned cap on his head and tells me he is the "yo Gabba Guy"(this is a show we don't even watch, mind you!). He then fetches yet ANOTHER stocking cap-this one is blue and gray striped-tucks it under his chin and tells me he is Santa. I must say, there is no lack of imagination with this silly boy of mine! I can't wait to see what he comes up with next....

It's Been Awhile.....

So, it hasn't been an easy road but I think we are about done with potty training Shorty!! He is three weeks shy of 3 and I am very pleased! He is going on his own now and has very few accidents. The ONLY time he wears a diaper is to bed because he still pees when he sleeps. I'll take that! He is also quite a funny little dude. He has such a wonderful imagination and a heart of gold. The part that I love most is how much he loves his older siblings. He thinks they hung the moon. He loves when they play with him, read to him, watch his favorite shows with him, share in the joy of his successes. He is an amazing little man.

Pumpkin Pie is nearing her first birthday and I simply can't believe it. She is so beautiful and so much fun. I can't wait to see the little girl she will become, but at the same time, I am not ready to say good-bye to her infancy. She is the last child for me so this is all bitter sweet. While I am happy to be moving on from all the baby gear and diapers, I am not ready to move away from the helplessness of a tiny baby. She can get where she wants to go, eat normal person food and is on the cusp of taking those first steps and speaking those first words.

George is getting more beautiful by the day. She is thriving in school and loves to read. She likes to write stories and paint. What a mess that child makes when she paints, but she is so happy when she is creating. I can barely keep her in watercolors these days, she blows through them so fast!

The soccer star has had a GREAT outdoor season, the first one with his new team. They took first in their division with all but one win and the non-win was a tie. He played his feet off and tore up the place. So proud of him for making the change to a new team with bravery and gusto. He went out there and showed them they made a great choice in inviting him to join their team. Now, I wish I could say their INdoor season was going as well, but.....

Last, but not least, the big guy! He continues to really ramp up his drumming. He can set fire to that drumset some days when he really gets going. He is having a GREAT start to his last year of elementary school. His grades are superb, of course, but he is having a great time as well. His teacher is a perfect match for him and he has great kids in his class, too. I am loving to watch him thrive and gain confidence. He is a phenominal biggest brother, too. Loves to help me with the chores, but also loves to hang out with his littlest siblings, too. Especially Shorty! Those two are so fun to watch when they are interacting. He is becoming quite the cook, too! It is hard to keep him out of the kitchen sometimes!

I'll try not to go so long between entries, but life does have a way of getting in the way of things. God Bless.....

EEEW! What's that smell!?

I so miss the days of the sweet smelling breast milk baby poop. I hadn't thought much about it, really, but today I realized how much I missed it. There's something about seeing vapors pouring out of the backside of the baby to bring that to light! I mean, dang! How can something so cute, and small create such a disaster!? I must say, I wish I owned a gas mask and a haz-mat suit for that last one! Of course the Wee one thinks she is too precious for such nonsense and really tried to ellude me, but there was no way I could miss that, it would have been evident from a mile away! And there was no way she could blame it on anyone else, though she tried to pass the buck. Mommy wasn't buying the excuse that the puppy must have done it!
In case you haven't noticed, there is no such thing and off-limits when it comes to this blog. It is what it is and as a mom, we get to enjoy it all, come smiles, giggles, firsts and poop. It is all a part of the territory around here, I suppose. Now go enjoy your lunch....

This place is a MESS!

I am amazed when I go to my friends homes to find them neat, fresh, clean and clutter-free. Then I come home to my war-zone and think, 'What am I doing wrong?' First off, a good house-keeper I am not. Never have been, but it seems like getting the bare minimum accomplished is no small feat. I have to step aside and remember that none of my friends have 5 children first of all. Some do have 4 and I really wonder how they get it all done.
We are home during the day most days and it seems as though as soon as I get one room under control and head for the vacuum, it is destroyed before I return! Took all of 30 seconds to retrieve said vacuum! Those two little short people really can make quick work of room destruction! Then there is the shortest of the short people and the puppy following my Swiffer around the kitchen wanting to inspect the treasures it found in hopes of a snack! Eww! Fortunately, the puppy is faster at 'snack' retrieval!
Shorty, himself is more content with playing with ONE thing at a time, but he prefers the toys that come with LOTS of pieces, like blocks, legos, puzzles, you get the idea! That makes for a fun afternoon of searching for the right block needed to complete the building or the puzzle piece that was there just yesterday, but has now gone AWAL. Never a dull moment.
Now, we are just talking about the main level of the house. The upper-level of this two-story house doesn't stand a chance! The two short people do not nap at the same time, but rather stagger their naps so someone is always around to entertain mommy. As much as I love to company and appreciate the one-on-one time I get with them, it sure does take away from the time I have to manage the messes! Pumpkin-Pie is always on the move and all over the place, particularly under my feet, so I have to be very careful where I step. I swear, I need to put a bell on that girl so I don't trip over her when she goes into hyper-drive and stealth-mode at the same time! Because she is so fast, I put her put her in "the box" when it is time to go upstairs to rotate the laundry. I have to bring it down to fold(sort of negates the purpose for the bedroom level laundry room!) and can't leave the basket on the floor unless I enjoy folding and refolding the same laundry several times! She thinks it is funny pull all the laundry out of the basket and drag it across the room! Thank-you my sweet darling, I love you, too!
Now, in those RARE occasions they do overlap a smidge at naptime, I have very limited opportunity to make the best of it. That is when the laundry that has lived in baskets in my room for weeks actually gets sorted to the right rooms and mine might get put away. If I am lucky, I might actually get the bed made. I stress MIGHT! That is about the extent of my upstairs time during the week when it is just me and the two wee ones. The rest will have to wait for the weekend and HOPE the soccer games, birthday parties and other assorted gatherings are spread out enough that I have a window or two to get the MUCH needed vacuuming and dusting done.
I guess it all comes down to this: I am raising children right now who don't care one way or the other about dog hair on every surface in the house and the dust bunnies under the couch. So for now, I will just not let myself worry about what my friends' homes look like. I don't have a housekeeper nor am I one, so it is what it is. I doubt my kids will look back on their childhood and think, 'Wow, I sure wish my mom spent more time keeping our home neat and tidy instead of playing with us and getting us to the places we wanted to go.' So, I will wave my magic wand in hopes that smell I can't define will find it's own way out of here. Until then......

It's Potty Time!

First off, potty training is no small feat! I have done it three, almost four times and I still hate it! I love the freedom(and the raise!) once it is done, but the 'getting there' is a nightmare! Shorty has been doing good with the pee part for a long time now and rarely has accidents of that nature, but the other...well, that is another story altogether! He just wouldn't do it. I tried the keeping him naked thing, the timing thing, the snacks thing, you name it, but I FINALLY found the boy's price. He is a Wow Wow Wubzy JUNKIE! He is obsessed, I think with that show, so I told him Wubzy was for big boys with clean pants, so he couldn't watch it anymore unless he put the poop in the potty where it belongs. He BOUGHT it! Totally! That very day, he told me he had to go and went! He got to watch his beloved Wubzy and was a happy guy! Then a day passes and he doesn't go at all, but he talks about Wubzy, so I reminded him what Wubzy wants. Today, he tells me and he goes. He first says to me, "You are not sad?", then promptly does the 'I get to watch Wubzy' dance! YES!!! He CAN be taught! I think we are nearing the end of this adventure. As my children grow, I am saddened by the end of certain eras, but THIS is not one of them! The diapers thing is not my favorite at all, so I welcome their departure. Now, I still have ONE in diapers, but I have another year and a half before I can even think about that one!
So, for now, I am joyful for my big boy's accomplishment and his pride for having ditched the diapers! Such a proud momma I am!

school mornings

There is never enough time in the mornings. Even on the days where they are up early and dressed, fed, whatever, there is always that mad dash out the door with lunch boxes nearly forgotten, papers flying in all directions! Why is this!? It doesn't seem right, but I think I'd be confused if we had a morning that was NOT like this! It is the norm around here. With three kids that need backpacks packed, bellies filled, teeth brushed, lunches made, hair combed, it is never-ending. All the attempts to get lunches made the night before generally fail, as well as packing the back packs. Now I am placing the blame for the morning rush solely on the children. Those assignment books need to be signed and here is where I am sometimes to blame. I don't always remember to sign them before bed, so they have to be added to the morning list.
After they BARELY make the bus, I look around at the wreckage and am amazed at how up in the air things are. Breakfast strewn all over the place, shoes everywhere, discarded papers piled up on the dining room table not to mention the mess left from making those lunches in a hurry(they make their lunches, not me!) and breakfast. It takes nearly an hour to clean up from the morning before I can ever tackle the previous messes from the day before! All in a mother's day, eh?
There is always the baby's diaper that needs to be tended too as well that, unless is truly toxic, takes a backseat sometimes t the hubbub of the morning. At least she gets fed, right? That should count for something. So, while I sit here typing my blog, I am ignoring this morning's wreckage, so I'd better hop to it, before it takes on a life of its own! Oh my!

new puppy

It has been awhile since I have had to really house-train a puppy. When we got our current dog, he'd been fostered for awhile so much of the house-training had been done. All we had to do was watch for the leg hike and those things he'd find to chew on(or up as the case was!). The last time we really had to go through it from the beginning was 14 years ago with our first 'baby' and that was pre-kid! We were both working at the time, so weren't home during the day as I am now, but we also could leave our girl outside a lot of days when it was pleasant out. Neighbors liking their peace as we seem to have really make that impossible, so it is fortunate I am home during the day most days(when we aren't running to and from appointments and playdates). This is day one so she is still learning the 'rules'. First of all being 'we don't pee in the house'. The second rule is, 'we sleep in our crate'. Now, maybe it isn't fair as not ALL dogs in this house sleep in crates, just the non-house broken ones. She is struggling with this rule a bit right now as it is nearing midnight and she is throwing a bit of a tantrum. She has been warned that certain dogs in this house(that will remain nameless, Oliver) have had to spend the first few nights in their crate IN the van(it makes for a great silencer!) so the members of the household get some sleep! She is testing me on this and she may meet her fate sooner than she'd care to think about! The barking and howling can't last all night can it? Hm...
Memphis is so very cute and know she will be a great companion, so for now we are showing her mercy. In time, she will grow to love her crate and choose to go there for solace and comfort, but for now, she is not feeling the love! I can't say that I would, either, but I am not a puppy.
She has been in our home for less than 12 hours and we are totally in love with her already. Oliver tolerates her and was playing with her earlier. He wasn't too sure about her at first, but I think he will be great at showing her what she is to do and that he is the boss. He is a good big brother dog. I think he is a bit disturbed at the moment as he is trying to catch a little sleep after being worn out by her today, but if I know Ollie, he will be able to ignore her cries from the crate soon enough. He's awesome like that! He is just happy that HE gets to sleep on the couch and not in a tiny little box with a door!

Nice outside

It has been SO nice out these last few days by comparison to what it has been for SO LONG! I didn't even have to force the kids outside, they went...on their own...and played like normal children! One kickball went over the new neighbors' fence(they weren't home to get it back) and the other ended up high in the tree, but thanks to a telescoping light bulb changer, mom was able to retrieve the ball, thus making me the hero of the day! Where's my cape!?

So, dragging the exersaucer out onto the deck was no small feat, BUT the wee-est one was happy to have a change of scenery and a little fresh air as well. All five kids(+ two friends) having a great time out in the yard made for an enjoyable evening. Now, dragging them INside for baths, homework, reading, etc was more of a challenge, but I don't mind that for the fun time that was had. The wreckage left in the backyard was rather immense between the frisbees, random assortment of balls, jump ropes, soccer goals, bats, chunks of wood and other oddities. Getting them to clean it up wasn't bad as it was a way for them to steal a few more minutes outside. They should all sleep well tonight. I hope....

and they're off!

The big kids headed off to school on Wednesday and changed the whole dynamic of the house. The kids were starting to get on each nerves just be being in the same room, so it was time for the return to routine. They were ready to go back even before I was ready to share them, but by the first day, I was ready, too! They are all a buzz about who is in their class for the first time, who's been in their class the most times, how many new kids, all that jazz.

One of the short ones, is not as happy about this. Shorty lost his playmates! The first day of school, he was still in bed when the big 'magic school bus' came and took away his people, but day two was a different story! He wigged out as the bus pulls away. I felt so bad for him for being so sad about the big kids leaving him, but silly me, it wasn't THAT at all. "Neo get ON it!" He was mad that he didn't get to ride the big cool school bus! Poor little man! He sure gets excited about seeing them come home in the afternoon. It may be lame for a 6th grader to have his mom meet the bus every afternoon, but Shorty HAS to go out to see that bus, so until the novelty wears off, he will just have to deal! He can pretend not to know me.

The wee-est one hasn't figure it all out yet, so I don't think she has realized anything is different just yet. Just fewer people to disrupt her nap! She is loving having mommy almost all to herself. She only has to share me with Shorty, but when he is napping, it is just us girls! I'd like to say I have gotten a lot done, but between grocery shopping, and breakfast/lunch dates, I haven't yet. All in good time. It will cold and I'll be more home bound soon enough so I will have plenty to occupy me then. Right?

Really!?

Why is it that no matter when or where I should happen to doze off(rare as it may be)THAT is the time the phone rings? It goes all day with nothing, and then 5 minutes into a little cat nap, it rings! And it is rarely anyONE, but rather a stupid computer call or someone wanting to do a 'survey' as if I ever have the time(or interest) in doing one. It never fails. The last time this mom got a nap in full was....well.....hmmmm, not sure actually. Good thing it isn't an everyday thing for me to need one. I guess the old saying 'nap when the baby naps' is only for when they are tiny and new? Who am I kidding, I couldn't get a nap then, either!
You may be thinking, oh, well the big kids go back to school next week so you will be able to nap then, um, yeah well the same fate will await me so I need to just surrender. Call a 3 minute nap a good rest and get on with it, right? I am not sure, but I think a 3 minute nap is worse that no nap at all some days. I just pitty the next live person at the end of the line that wants to sell something when I have JUST dozed off. They just may wish they had skipped over my number. Maybe I will get a 'note' in my file and they'll stop calling!?
Okay, so I am all talk and wouldn't really but I can think it and smile!! Can't I?

packin' up for school...

...is as thrilling for me as it is for the kids. Seeing their excitement in packing up their new stuff in preparation for their return to school makes my heart dance. They look forward to getting back in the groove as well as seeing their friends they have missed over the summer. It is still another few days before the ever-exciting posting of the class lists, but they are geared up none the less. Trying to imagine who their teachers might be and who will be in their class. This is the last year for Jonah's excitement of that, as starting next year he will start from scratch with teachers he doesn't know at a school he doesn't know with a bunch of new kids as well. He will be excited to pick-up his Jr. High class schedule and call his friends to see if they have any of the same classes. Yes, for that, I can wait. The fact that I have a 6th grader is hard enough for me to swallow for the time-being.
Taking two boys with VERY different tastes in clothing shopping for school clothes is a fun adventure. One going one way and one going the other. There were showers of shirts cast upon me and I must say I was pleased with their selections. They have been taught well the value of a dollar and made wise choices awarding them both 6-7 items for less than $70 for all of it! Gotta LOVE that! Kohl's rocks my world! I know I won't be able to get away with it for ever, but by the time their desires for the high-dollar clothing kicks into full steam, maybe they'll have their own income to help with those must-haves.

Vacation for 7....

It is no small feat vacationing with 5 children. First there's the deciding what we need to take and what can be left at home. Then there is choosing the luggage needed to transport everything we need that will fit together in the van. THEN the fun of finding it all, getting it all packed up and loading it into the van. Good thing I am pretty good with spacial relations or it would never have fit. I'd like to think I get my knock for loading a car from my dad, but I bow at his feet as I am simply not worthy there. He is THE MASTER when it comes to that! He was not asked to help me load the van so I was on my own and all in all I think It did pretty well. The goal was to make it all fit and it did. I didn't have room to spare, but I didn't need any, I suppose. Now I should have taken a picture of how everything was so I'd have it as a guide when packing to come home. However I did not and the return trip was packed much less efficiently with the umbrella stroller not fitting in the back at all and having to ride in the main part. Oh well, it all fit one way or the other.
Now another important part of traveling with 5 children is passenger placement. The two wee ones were a given since they have the seats strapped in already, but the bigger kids have to be strategically placed. There are some combinations that simply don't work so they must be avoided. There will be bickering after a while no matter what simply because of the closeness to each other, but some fight before we even back out of the driveway! That makes for a rough day of travel. Ultimately we had the best possible arrangement of children when we set off. If only I made them stay that way....
One would think that 3 hours the first day would have been rather peaceful, but the fighting began before we reached our destination. Not bad, I must say, but still fighting none the less. The arrival to my sister's with her two boys gave the kids a much needed outlet to run and play with their cousins. All the stress of being in the car was released almost immediately. It was a wonderful visit, though short. Now imagine the fun of trying to fit 7 people into a loft apartment that already has 4 living in it! Amazingly it was pretty easy and all did well with just a little creativity. We all fit better there than we would have in a typical hotel room. Then early the next day we got to load everyone, the overnight bag and the pack-n-play back into the van early to take off for the much longer drive to Mississippi.
At first it was quiet. We picked up some YUMMY donuts that kept us busy and most were still half asleep, but it was obvious when they started to wake. The peace was short-lived before it all turned u-g-l-y! The dvd player did offer some relief, thankfully. After a potty-break we rearranged who sat where and that was a BIG mistake! Should have known better. After we stopped for lunch we went back to normal and STAYED that way. We shouldn't have messed with a good thing. We made each other word searches and did Sudoku to help pass the time in the car.
We enjoyed some amazing food along the journey as we try to do. Some were awesome and there were a few that we won't go back to. For us food is part of the fun. We plan to only eat at places we don't have at home and others that are just local. On the way down to Mississippi, there was Purple Burrito, and a brewing company, and an amazing BBQ place own by the Neely's from Food Channel. The Purple Burrito was fabulous. The food was HUGE and very tasty as well as affordable. We all left stuffed and miserable, yet completely pleased. Interstate BBQ by the Neely's was great, too. They had a lot to offer, but the ribs were to die for!
We arrived late in the day in Mississippi. We were so happy to have arrived. It was hot and humid, but no different from home so we were prepared for that. We stayed with our wonderful friends who were ready to increase their household by 7. They had plenty of space for us and no one seemed too cramped or crowded. They had a pond out back, and a huge yard and driveway for the kids to play. Because of the heat, they stayed IN most of the time, but there was plenty of space for that as well. The visit was so wonderful. All the kids enjoyed each other and it was nice to be able to hang with our friends again. We ate out some and we ate in some. No one was 'bored' and really the fighting a bickering was at a minimum as well.
One bad decision I made was to think I could deal with a still-working-on-it potty trainer with underwear. Uh, yeah, I changed my mind on that VERY quickly and switched over to the pull-up style. That went MUCH better. He still did what we asked of him but when he got busy playing as they so often do, I wasn't having to invade the washer with messy things. Hey, I couldn't have known until I tried. I have never traveled with a potty-trainer before. I won't make that mistake twice!
If you have never been to the Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, I suggest you take the time to go sometime. It is the home of Space Camp. There are so many neat things there to see and do. I-max, simulators, rock wall climbing, TONS of actual space craft parts and a wonderful history of the space program museum. We spent the day there and closed the place down! They have some rides there, too, for the bigger kids and adults, though we missed some of them when a storm blew in. The rides were ones that mimicked the feelings one experiences in space like g-force, and free fall. There were smaller versions of these for the wee ones, too. For us, it was worth the 2 hour drive. It was on this drive, that we witnessed our van turning over 100,000 miles!
The 12 hour drive home was the hardest part of the whole journey since everyone was tired and ready to get home. By the time we got near home, we stunk, were crabby and exhausted, so that was by far my LEAST favorite part of the trip. Lunch was great at Jay's Fried Chicken and a few of us took naps. I think I can wait awile before wanting to take another trip that long, but we will forget all the rough spots and relish on the fun stuff and that will get us excited for our next adventure.

The birthday party....

...was fun. HOT, but fun! Great friends having a blast with balls, bats, goals, and swimming. What could be better than that!? Pizza and cookie cake were consumed as well. Summer parties are so easy when they can be done outside, and out of 5 children, I only have one that can do this! Boys are great when given a variety of sport equipment. They can play traditional games, or make some up. Never dull, that is for sure!
Now typically this mom will post great pix of such an event as this, but alas, I took not a one! I know, what kind of a loser mom doesn't take pix at her son's 10th birthday party but well, you're looking at her! I TOOK the camera but it never left my bag. Between corralling a 2 year old, taking care of the baby and the needs of the party goers it just didn't happen. Now, I had plenty of help, but there seemed to be something I was always needing to do(chasing blowing trash, keeping said two year old from stealing drinks and food, etc) .
After the party was a sleepover and an impromptu game of flashlight tag outside before forcing them inside for the night. The rumor is, the last kid to crash went to sleep around 4ish. No wonder the 11 year old didn't wake until noon! They didn't keep me or the wee ones up at all, so I guess it was all good. They can nap today if needed.
Now onto the aftermath........

Just go outside....

....is what we told the kids after a VERY hot day was spent inside. The temps declined and the humidity plummeted so it was actually quite nice outside. You'd think we were trying to kill them by expecting them to entertain themselves outside of the house. Fresh air just might burst their lungs, you know! Well, we did insist and after much bickering they actually found something to do. The 126354654312 toys in the back yard that typically sit dormant got recruited this evening! There was a safe shelter, and a sand castle, complete with moat and tiny draw bridge. Then there was Shorty 'texting' on his phone! It is amazing that when FORCED to play outside, kids can still find things to do. Will miracles ever cease!?
All kidding aside, they really did have a good time. It was fun to observe. I remember all the time I spent outside as a child and all the strange things I thought of to do and actually am surprised my kids don't invent things more often than they do. They had parents that did. From their father's mock baseball games where he alone played every player on the team, to their mother's antics with an old lidded garbage can, they were destined to be outdoor geniuses. Where I'd love to share my old stories with them to encourage them to think outside the box, I am a little afraid of encouraging them to do really stupid things like I did! Picture this, a garbage can with locking lid, a garden hose and a sloped front yard. Water fills can half way, I get in it, my brother so loving locks the lid in place 'just so' and then he and my friend(Shannon, I hope you are reading this one!) tip it on its side and roll me down the hill into the street! What an amazingly fun time that was. Safe? Not really, but wow, was it a blast! Yes, that is one story I think I'll keep tucked away until they have their OWN children and then I'll tell them in private away from the curious ears of my impressionable grandchildren!
I just wonder what stories of outside fun they will have to NOT share with their children until they are old. I cherish them in their youth for I know it will pass all too quickly, but why must they enjoy tormenting their parents!? To all a good night....

The Baptism

Little Princess Pea was baptized today and what a wonderful thing it is. I teared up this time for some reason that I can't explain. Maybe it was because it was the last time to have one of my precious children baptized, or maybe because I felt the spirit move within me, but it was amazing all the same. She looked gorgeous in her frilly dress(gotta put her in them now when she doesn't have a say in it!)yet was hot and slippery, too with the slick fabric. She was happy, cheerful and didn't even so much as blink with the water touched her head. She took it all in. I am so proud to be one of His chosen ones and to know that my husband and children are as well.
We had a fine gathering afterward with tons of food and excellent company. The little princess ate to her heart's content. I made her some beautiful cupcakes the looked like they had pink roses on them and pink ice cream just for her. She devoured it all and seemed to want more!
I must give praise to my oldest child for taking over at the grill. I had put the meat on to cook and when I cam out to flip the burgers, he was already there with the flipper in hand flipping and adding more to the grill that didn't fit before. I am so thankful for a boy who LOVES to cook the way he does. It looks as though I have a grill master in the making! It was such a hot day that I was grateful to hand over the spatula! Thank you, son!
As with all gatherings, the festivities wore us all out. The honoree was first to drop, with #2 second. He at least made it until the guests had gone home! All the kids were ready for bed without being told and I would bet if I peeked in on them, I would find them passed out already! Granted, it is nearly midnight now, but this IS summer vacation AND a weekend, you know so they keep later hours these days!
Thanks to all who made it special for her(and us!) Now if I could just come down from this Mt Dew, caffeine high....

traveling with a small army...

...sure isn't easy, but so rewarding all the same! Between the "stop touching me"s, and the "get your feet out of my butt!"s, there are those moments where I see them doodling together and laughing at their creations, and the precious moments where they are entertaining the wee ones. Car trips are memory makers for sure!

The real fun begins once we get OUT of the van, however. The hotels(painstakingly chosen to accommodate our massive crew) are full of excitement as the kids are allowed to jump on the beds(shh, don't tell!), have the best pools and the food isn't bad, either! We were fortunate enough to have found a real gem this time. Stoney Creek Inn served us VERY well. The room was HUGE, had bunk beds, plenty of space, and rustic log cabin looks. The kids loved it. They came to the rescue when the dvd player wouldn't work on the tv, so they wheeled in a huge tv on a cart for us to use instead! At 11pm, even! My only complaint was that we couldn't have stayed another night do to it being booked for a golf tourney. That certainly couldn't have been helped.

You may think, 'what is there to do in Iowa?', but we had a great time! There was the Channel Cat water taxi that we rode on the Mighty Mississippi, the River Bandits minor league baseball game, the John Deere Museum(okay, that is technically in Ill.) and some good eats for sure! I managed to take well over a hundred pictures in one weekend in Iowa, so there must be enough to do, right!? Just getting away from the normal day-to-day of home is all we needed, but got so much more! Spending the whole weekend with my family with no one going off to play with a friend, or begging to go do something fun. It was ALL fun!

The Wee Ones are good travelers and only really fussed at us in the car a little bit. Packing for a weekend with all those people was no small feat, but I didn't expect it would be! Getting it in the van is a whole 'nother story! The pack-n-play for the baby as well as the stroller take up most of the space, so the luggage has to be collapsible and forgiving. The packer must have good spacial-relations abilities as well to make it all fit. I had a good teacher with that, but I am still never going to be as good at it as he is! Now for the next trip out of town for TWICE that long....well, that will be a little more extensive and I may have to rely on the master-packer himself to get it all loaded in the van!

You never know how the little people will adjust to sleeping in a big room with a lot of other bodies, but they did surprisingly well. The first, night we had all the room in the world to spread out, but night #2 offered much more cramped accommodations. Somehow, I managed to find a closet the pack-n-play fit in for the baby that worked wonderfully. It was near the a/c which was great for the white noise it provided BUT shielded her from the cold blast. She would have been a popsicle had it not been for that closet! We gotta do what we gotta do sometimes!

Now to deal with the aftermath with the UNpacking and the laundry that goes with it! Off I go.....

Five's company, nine's a.....

...complete lack of judgment(and sanity) on my part! No, all kidding aside, I wouldn't have it any other way, but 4 extra kids sure adds a lot of craziness. Between two girls, um, I mean CATS, tethered together at the NECK, and a pick-up game of mud soccer in the swamp-like back yard and the drumming from the basement it is never dull around here! Somehow, Shorty is sleeping through all of it!
I am so thankful my children all have friends that feel comfortable here and want to play often. Not all moms can or WANT to have a thousand children at their house at any given time, so I know I am truly a rarity in that, but I figure I already have 5, what's a few more!? There are already stains on the carpets and walls in dire need of paint, so what really could any one do to make it worse, right!? There will be time for paint and new flooring when my kids are older and no longer here to mess it all up, so for now, I'll keep it like it is so all are welcome. As long as I know how many are here for dinner BEFORE I start to cook it, in most cases I'll feed them. Unless its Wednesday, because I shop on Thursdays and there's not usually enough food left in the house to feed too many by Wednesday. Or even Tuesday for that matter. Monday might even be a stretch some weeks!
So with that, I'll say, "Welcome to my home, one and all and bring your raggedy kids with you!" I love 'em all, and they'll fit right in with MY raggedy kids!

He's BAAAACK!

Soccerbug has returned. 5 days is a long time for this momma to be without one of my children. He had a fabulous time and did things he's never done before. There were fireworks and boat rides along with some tubing and fishing. What more could a a guy hope for? I know it sounds silly, but it was only 5 days and he looks older to me. Just like he'd been gone for a few months. It is strange, I know but the hubby agrees with me. I am sure he looks the same as when he left, but it took him being gone a few days for me to really SEE him. He is nearly 10 now and looks where before he still seemed so young to me. How does that happen?
Of course, he was home only a few minutes before he was downstairs with his siblings catching up and then I just barely got him to put his stuff away before he was heading over to play with his buddy next door. Clearly we missed him more than he missed us! I guess it should be that way, shouldn't it?
He is full of energy(or is he running on adrenaline?) and is wound up like a wild animal, but nothing that a good night's sleep can't fix. I am looking forward to the next few days hearing the tales of his adventures. He isn't a 'tell-it-all-right-now' kind of guy, but rather more like a 'let-it-come-up-in-conversation' guy. I am so glad he is home...

someone's missing...

My soccer bug went to the lake with his buddy on Wednesday and I am missing him so. None of my kiddos have ever been away from home for this long. Both sets of grandparents live in town so they haven't gone away for any reason so far. They have had overnights here and there pretty regularly, but FIVE days is a LONG time! I made him promise to call a few times while he was gone and he has. He does miss us(which I am happy to hear) but is having a fabulous time, so I am happy he got to go. I, on the other hand, am missing him dearly. This is my little guy that used to velcro himself to my leg upon dropping him off at Sunday School, and freaked out when a stranger passed through a room he was playing in. For him, this is a really big deal.
My momma duck instincts have been on hyper-drive, though with a duckling missing. My auto scan that runs a constant tab of my kiddos keeps getting hung up where he should be, and I have to remind myself he isn't here. Constant reminder for this momma. He is due back on Monday but I am secretly hoping he returns tomorrow! I am very proud of him for taking this big step into freedom and trust.
The other kids miss him bunches, too. Especially First-born. They are buddies and roommates, so having him gone really makes the biggest impact on him. Shorty keeps asking where he is when he remember big brother is missing. I think that makes a guy feel good to know how much he is missed, but I will wait until he gets home to tell him that. Don't want to make him feel bad about not being here. It just isn't the same when one of the ducks is missing. Two days and counting.....

"She's taking my wheels!"

This was uttered from my 2 year old as the garbage MAN tossed the broken, wheel-less ride-on toy into the back of his truck. Not that Shorty has been able to ride that thing with the back wheels missing, but he didn't care. It still made cool siren fire truck noises so to him, it still had value! Nevermind the one upstairs that has the wheels on it, he felt very robbed by them taking such a treasure away from him. It reminds me of the age old

'Toddler Rules of Possession':

• If I want it, it's mine
• If I SEE it, it's mine
• If I decide that its mine, it's mine
• If I was playing with it before, it's mine
• If you have it, it's mine
• If you want to play with it, it's mine
• If you even LOOK at it, it's mine
• If I am closest to it, it's mine
• If I have one just like it at home, it's mine

You get the idea? This is the short one, to a tee! He is pretty good at sharing his things on HIS terms, but if you touch the beloved blankies and you look like you getting too comfortable with them, and he didn't GIVE them to you, then you may be in trouble! There are a few other things that he doesn't particularly like to share, that change on a daily basis, so you have to be prepared for the "No, that's Neo's!" that may be coming your way! Life with a toddler is truly never dull.

All in all, as toddlers go, this little guy is amazing! He just goes with the flow most of the time and will go to bed whenever we decide. He might not be tired, but lay in his bed and talk to his blankies, or cars and sing to them as well. Then he will fall asleep when he is ready. He is great when he wakes up too, just talking to himself. Sometimes I don't run to him immediately, but rather turn up the volume on the baby monitor and listen to him sing. Such a sweet little voice. He can actually carry a tune, too! He likes to be a big kid and do what they do. They think he is pretty cool, too, so they like hanging out with him. That is probably what helps him to be an easy-going little guy. He is so blessed to have them, as they are blessed to have him! LOVE it!

Fun new toy...

...arrived in the mail this week. We are doing a research trial with it and so far, it has been a hit. It was categorized as 'baby toys', but my toddler seems to like it as well. It is a Melissa and Doug Birdhouse Shape Sorter. So cute! There are four birds that are circle, square, triangle and rectangle shapes. One squeaks, one rattles, one jingles and one crinkles. Baby Girl loves the crinkly one the best right now. Shorty likes to fit the birds through the holes they go in on the sides and then yank them back out again. He also, in true toddler form, enjoyed the box it came in as it now houses his fave trucks! Gotta love it! I liked the fact that it didn't take an engineering degree to get it OUT of the box! Just scissors to cut thread(not those crazy plastic ties!) that attached it to the package.
On the Ebeanstalk website, there are 'toys for 1 year olds', 'toys for 2 year olds' and all other ages as well. There are some super cute things that I can't wait to get my hands on for birthday presents for my kids. You should check it out if you are looking for something interesting. I am hard to impress with that sort of thing and I already have a pretty good sized wish list going right now!

waterparks wear me out!

It was oh so fun today taking the big kids to the local water park. It was a highlight of our week for sure. After taking the wee ones for a playdate at a friend's, we were on our way. It is wonderful that they allowed us to bring in food so I didn't have to drop a week's salary on food! We took in corn dogs, chips, granola bars and two jugs of ice water.
The weather could not have been more perfect as it was hot but not TOO hot and there was a breeze that kept the sun from being so intense. I wondered if the milder temps(compared to the heat indexes in the 100s+ this week) played a role in it not being crowded at all, but as the day wore on, it got a little busier. Still not too bad really. We started out in the lazy river and worked our way to the diving boards until they closed them down for a game of sharks and minnows. So off to eat some lunch we went! After a little eating and resting we were off again, this time to the water slides! They are very fast and very dark and a little frightening for an old girl like me! It was still fun even when I felt like my stomach was in my feet!
The energy these shorter people have is amazing! I was plum wore out after all that, but they were still going strong, so we headed back to the lazy river so mom could just peacefully float....or so I thought! They were all shades of crazy, jumping around like lunatics and taking me along with them! I was finally able to make a break for it, but the girls caught me sneaking off and decided to join me. We snacked a little, hit the water slides again and I watched them swim some more feeling completely wiped. Fortunately this time, they let me stay out for good. Those kiddos should sleep WELL tonight. I know their mother will!

a family that works out together.......

....writhes in PAIN together! Soccer Bug's new soccer team has a great family work-out night once a week that is just plain BRUTAL! Yes, it is good for us and we do look forward to it next week, but wow, am I out of shape! First-born put us all to shame last night and Soccer Bug learned an important lesson...don't eat hot dogs before you work out! The girl and I were the first to drop, but I have an excuse...we had the two shortest people with us. Trying to run a lap around the track while pushing a stroller not intended for that purpose was a little frightening. Not only was I afraid I'd tip her, but it caused me to run weird in my attempts to control it, so BIG mistake! Then I parked her and did a timed 100 yard dash and thought I was going to DIE! Either that or that I'd pee as after five children, those muscles just don't do their job as well as they used to! To my surprise, my time wasn't too bad for me not being a runner AT ALL! Curious to see if I get faster as the summer goes on. Or at least gain some endurance if nothing else. I only participated in a few of the events because of the short people so we are looking to not take them next time so I can really get to it. Shorty really had a good time running all over and participating, though we still had to watch him close so we didn't get to give it our all.
I think it is so wonderful that his new team does this. He is part of a bigger club that has multiple teams and it was open to any and all. It brings unity to a team(the new guys get to feel connected before the season even starts) and get parents involved in our own fitness and being an example to our children. What kid doesn't like showing up their parents when it comes to such things? I know mine did! So today, we are all in pain, limping and dragging our sore bodies through the house, but I firmly believe in 'no pain, no gain'. I have to believe in it because I can't bear the thought that I am hurting like this for NO reason, so I am going with that! We shall see what the next few months will bring. With the poor showing I gave last night, I have nowhere to go but UP, right!? Let's hope.

Costco....

We attempted to go to Costco on Saturday only to find out(after a 20 minute drive) that they close at 6pm on Saturday and it was 6:34. Really!??? Who closes that early on a SATURDAY!? I must say I was disappointed as I look forward to the wonderful things at Costco(and yummy samples, too!) . We were fortunate, though in the kindness of the guys parked next to us of informing that it was closed BEFORE we unloaded our 5 charges from the van.
SOOO, still needing to go, we headed back out after church yesterday with the whole family in tow. Ordinarily the older boys(sometimes even the girl) choose to stay home and not accompany us to Costco, but alas, they were stuck with us, so off we went. I have to laugh at the looks we get as we are unloading all of them, but then to walk through the store with the huge cart filled with a toddler and an infant seat before we even start putting food in it, raises eyebrows. I can see people mentally counting our kids and pondering if they look enough alike to all be ours without coming out and asking for fear of being rude. I am just as amused with them doing that as they are amused at the sight of us! Then there is the occasional well-meaning elderly woman who peers into the carseat at my lovely, bow-clad baby girl with her earrings and asks me about my little boy. Um.....what to say about that?
Then, there are the sample ladies that are a little over-protective about the children trying their samples. I am tempted to make them t-shirts that say, 'I have NO allergies and I may try anything', but I know I'd still have to be present to approve all the same, so I won't really bother with that, I suppose. I am just pleased at the crazy stuff my kids will actually try to eat. There was a sample of falafel made with chickpeas. I looked at #2 to see him making a strange, almost sick looking face at the thought of eating something made with chickpeas. He heard it chick PEE. I see now why he was concerned, so we had to define what a chickpea was, not chick pee! Never a dull moment, even at Costco!
So $85 later(I know, not bad at all right!?) we emerged with our treasures, and our charges and were no worse for the wear. I would bet we did better than most, right? Man, I love Costco!

Who says I have to be a grown up?

I went skating with my big people today and had a blast! The only mom there who didn't have my face buried in my laptop or texting the whole two hours. I found that a little sad, not so much the not skating part, but the total disconnect. Some were there with children who were not their own which makes it a little different, but I engaged with the two extras I had with me as much as I did my own children, so it is a weak excuse at best. That said, it really wasn't what I intended to say when I started this post so I guess it really got under my skin. I guess returning two crying, injured wee ones to their parent who never even knew they were hurt made my heart ache.
So setting that all aside....I had a TOTAL blast!! The boys had a few friends there so they were all skating together having a good time and George and I buddied up. I love that at 8, she still wants to hang with me and likes being with me. She held onto me most of the time but not because she needed to. She can skate very well, but it gave her comfort to know that I wouldn't let her fall because falling hurts and she doesn't like it one bit! We enjoyed the cool new light effects they have added since the last time we were there, but the mom in me was more disgusted by how nasty, filthy it is there! I kept thinking, all those new lights are cool, but couldn't that money be used for a coat of paint and a cleaning service!? I know, it isn't about that, it is about the fun, so I let it go. Still, ICK!
I am so glad I still know how to skate because not only is it a time to hang out with the kids, but it is great exercise and at those school skating parties, I am one COOL mom! How many moms out there can still skate backwards!? Hmmm?

The return of the sun....

...has brought a renewed energy, though you can't tell by looking at the tired children in this house right now! It is a much earned rest time as we got to enjoy the pool and refill our Vitamin D tank! It sure would have been nice to have gotten to go with the family from out of town, but sadly they had to depart this am for home and didn't get to do that with us. The kids seemed to have a good time just being with each other the last few days so it was all good, but still, would have loved taking them all.
Everyone seems happy to once again smell like chlorine. I know I welcome that smell as it means everyone had a fun time. It is surprisingly quiet in here with 7 kids(we have a stray child here in addition to the rent-a-kid). Two sleeping, two watching tv, two playing who knows what and one enjoying the Wii and NO ONE needs me to do anything for them right now! Dare I try to get a nap!? Uh, probably not the best idea since I am WAY outnumbered! They'd find me in all my vulnerability and have me duct taped to the wall before I knew what hit me if I let my guard down, so I'd better not!

potty training is not for the faint of heart...

Anyone who has potty trained a toddler knows this is true. I am in the midst of potty training my 4th child and just like his older siblings, it has it's good moments and bad ones. He is not as simple as one of his older brothers, but is much easier than his sister was in this department!! you hear it said that girls are easier to train than boys, but I must have kids that are backwards from the rest of the world, because I find it to be the opposite here! Shorty is very receptive to it and actually is doing very well, but it is a little deceiving. He had done so well that we decided to take it on the road to church last weekend and, well, NOT a good idea! I had a few extras of clothing so we were okay, but I picked him up with a bag full of wet clothes with him in a diaper and NO shoes! Yea, he peed IN his shoes! Hadn't thought that one through very well, did I!? Hey, no one said that just because I have done this 3 times before that I would learn from them that it was a BAD idea! I'm slow. I know this.
Now, to get out my carpet shampooer and clean up his lapses in awareness! Guess getting and house training a puppy at the SAME time as a toddler might not have been such a bad idea, but
I think I will still wait awhile for that one to let my carpet recover from all the repeated cleanings before starting over with puppy pee! I SO love my life!

rain, rain, go away!

Today was going to be a day of swimming and soccer try-outs, but after half of try-outs, the storms moved in and here we sit, NOT preparing to swim! You know what they say about the weather in the mid-west? If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes and it'll change! That IS true a lot of the time, but it doesn't always work to our advantage as the sun was shining two hours ago and then WHAM! It changed! Bummer. This isn't new to us, though, so I can't say I was really expecting anything else!
Shorty has been a goofy little man today. Nothing new, really. A few weeks ago in a kids meal, he got a little tiny replica of an A&W frosty mug. You'd think that something like that would have been unimpressive to a small fry such as him, but it is quite the opposite! It is called 'Teeny-tiny-milky' and is still enjoyed by Shorty. He gets no more than a swallows worth of liquid out of this cup, but the novelty of it has held his interest to this day. It is things like this that balance out the times he gets too busy and pees on my couch pillows! I guess we take the bad with the good, right?
Listening to George and First Born playing Life was entertaining as well. The names they give to their spouses and children are enough to cause me to think of my future children-in-laws and their freakishly named children! Ranging from Boris and Johan, to Taco and Nacho, it certainly was amusing. The things we do on a rainy day have just as much value if not more than the things we do outside on a bright and sunny one.
Lunchtime is approaching and the interesting combinations that will be put together from our left-overs from the past few days will be enough to rival the creations of the finest chefs on Food Channel. My children are certainly creative in that department, but I must say, I wouldn't eat half of the strange things they make and seem to love, so more power to them. Their bellies are full and happy and my fridge has a little more room in it and that is a great way to be is it not!?

my wee ones...(okay some are not so wee)

Pumpkin Pie-6 months
Shorty-2
"George"-8
Last day of school







Soccer Bug-9 1/2















The bookends





Here are my lovelies I talk about. Hope you enjoy hearing about their adventures.

Me and my wonderful husband of almost 15 years!

Oh my, where to begin.....I have five children, need I say more!? I have 11 years all the way down to 6 months! We have a rent-a-kid for the summer as well. She is a wonderful addition to our day as the big girl gets a built-in GIRL playmate! The boys always have each other, but poor "George" gets stuck doing what THEY want most of the time, so she likes having someone that likes to do the same things she does for a change. That honestly means having 6 kids is easier than having 5! Nuts, right!? I refer to the older three as "phase one", "the tall ones", "the big kids" and the younger ones as "phase two", "the short people", "the littles", etc.
We are busy all the time between First-born's drumming, Soccer Dog's practices and games, George's cheerleading(which she has quit so that frees us up some!), Shorty being a toddler and Pumpkin Pie, well, she is just along for the ride at this point. Life is never dull with the revolving door of playmates, and activities, though we do have down time to enjoy being together, too. It is funny, though that with 5 children, we are still less busy than some I know with only two! Hmm, how does THAT happen!?
I am a frugal mom who knows how to stretch the grocery budget to it's outer limits. Feeding a family of 7 on $100 a week(factoring in the trips to Costco!) isn't easy but it is an art, I suppose. I have the time to go to four stores to shop the sales and such, so why not do it if I save $50 by doing so!? It is time I am spending with my little ones and whatever big ones choose to come along. We trade clothes all over the neighborhood so that really keeps the clothing budget at a minimum as well. Through my blog, you see how I am able to make it all work. You may say, "hey, that's is a good idea!" OR you my say "that is just nuts, no WAY!" I value feedback and ideas I may not have considered so bring it on!