Summer

It's summer vacation. Kids are home ALL day. I have no time to accomplish anything or even think about being productive. My house is a disaster EVERY day. I don't cook dinner either. After preparing breakfast and lunch for 6 kids each day I figure there is nothing wrong with them forging for food at dinner time. The pool is my saving grace. The Wii is played for way longer than what would be recommended for "good parenting".

put me in coach

I have a lot of baseball pictures. I should actually since I spend every waking moment at the ball fields. Michael is my favorite to watch. More b-ball pictures later....

this is what life would be like if we lived on a farm

Back in April we took the kids to a sheep shearing at a local farm. I have never seen this performed so I was curious. We got to witness the entire wool making process from the shearing to the dying with natural colorant. Olivia got to crush beetles (now, I have forgotten the name) that produce red dye. It was an interesting learning experience. I realized just how much work went into making wool sweaters and blankets and such. The kids kept asking me to look at their clothing tags to see if it was made with wool. I repeated this with every child after reassuring them that they definitely had no wool on..they would of been itchy and sweating.

Michael and Olivias holiday concert

One thing I love more than any other school activity is the music concerts. I have been so fortunate to sit through 7 years of multiple band, including the recorder, chorus, and other singing shows. I am one lucky Mom! The benefits of attending such performances is sitting in a room, usually standing room only, with other overly excited parents and grandparents....and uncles...and aunts...and cousins...and neighbors who can not wait to witness the show. Usually I sit in a row where I can't see my child. I try to take pictures but the photos end up out of focus or have someones big head blocking half the picture. I have tried to lift the camera as far as I can up and just keep clicking away in hopes of getting one (ONE!) good shot. Sometimes its very difficult to understand what the children are singing but I clap and clap and woohoo as loud as I can as if I was in the front row and there were captions across the wall.

Michael had a drum solo.

 Olivia is 3 rows up in a black dress. She did great, mostly looking a me and smiling.

 Mrs. Brooks, their music teacher.

lots of catching up

I am busy. There. Done. How funny that is when I am sitting here on the computer while a tornado, also known as children, have twisted through every room in my house. Oh, and it was in perfect order yesterday. I'm not busy. Just overly occupied.

We put the Christmas tree up this past weekend. I love my Christmas tree. After Olivia decided that ripping ornaments off the branches was no longer exciting, I took the tree and decorated it how I wanted. So all the old ornaments got packed up. Don't get me totally wrong I DO like school hand printed ornaments and pipe cleaner candy canes...on another tree. In their place I hung sparkly, glittered, glass balls, all color coordinated. Gold reindeer's and beautiful snowflakes.

Skip ahead..

Let's bring Matthew into the picture...

 

 The tree is only decorated 3/4 the way up. Four ornaments broken in the first hour. Absolutely no glass ornaments on the lower half and wear protection while in the living room, helmets, cups (for the boys), pillows, ANYTHING, because you will get hit with a flying ornament.

 

Wear protection.

Why?

Matthew throws everything

 

 

and he has an amazing throw. He's a natural pitcher. Amazing, I tell ya. He will hit where ever he aims every. single. time.

 

Olivia is still loving gymnastics. I went to parent observation week a few weeks ago. It's the one week they allow parents to watch. I totally understood why, all the children were standing, looking at their parents, and smiling. Supposedly we are a distraction. She did amazing! She twists and flips over the bars. Her cart wheels are perfect. She is a pro on the balance beam. She is working on head and hand stands right now.

Cara trotted around as winning "Miss. Devon". She is so funny. She is witty and quick like her father, with a sprinkle of annoying just added on top but she makes me laugh every time. She made her sash out of left over ribbon then walked around pretending to cry and batting her eye lashes while giving a "I would like to thank" speech. Cracks me up.

 

Isaac won his first wrestling match. He keeps getting better every week. Sam enjoys going to cub scouts every week. He is also doing fantastic in school. Michael is still so adorable. I love his smile and his laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



hello candy

I'm not a fan of Halloween. I really don't know why not. I mean who wouldn't totally enjoy dressing up in any costume you want and walking from door to door yelling Trick OR Treat and receiving candy. As I child I liked Halloween...I think. I remember being a cheerleader and a pick and black leopard, which was favorite costume. My mother let me walk out of the house in a hot pink and black leopard leotard (never realized those two words are a letter apart. Fun fact.) with fish net stockings and a homemade furry tail and ears. I must of been in 6th grade. Besides those two things I have no idea what I disguised myself as.

I tell myself it's too much work with so many children. Not true, even when it was only Isaac I huffed and puffed and picked the easiest thing to throw on him. He was a pumpkin the first year and a lion the next. One year he was a ghost made out of a sheet. Pathetic, huh? This year my mom so graciously, and I am beyond thankful for, bought all the kids a Halloween costume. I told them if they don't find a costume in the dress up box, they need to make it themselves. I'm not buying or helping. Guess I'm not a helpful mother this time of year. Oma to the rescue.

These pictures are from the ward Trunk or Treating party.

Cara as a zombie waitress. Let it be known that she DID have fishnet stockings on but her father made her change them since the skirt was up to her rear.

 Zach with his rockin' 70's mullet or Joe Dirt or a hillbilly. He's been called a few names. And he will probably call me a few names for putting this picture on.

 Olivia is a cupcake (again). She got bunny ears, a bunny nose and a tail because she wanted to be a bunny dressed up as a cupcake but forwent that idea 5 minutes before leaving. Michael the mummy.

 Isaac as nothing. It was a hard Halloween for him. He didn't want to go with me the day the others picked out a costume. He then wanted to order the most expensive costume, at which I opposed. THEN he was suppose to get a homemade costume but it never happened. Intentions were good but that's it. From the looks of it his friends they didn't dress up either so he wasn't totally out of place.

 Matthew was a dragon. He screamed and ripped his costume off for the trunk or treating but kept it on, even with the dragon booties, on Halloween night. Matthew was SO adorable. By the third house he knew to pick the candy out of the bowl and put it in his bucket. He then tried to go into the houses. We will need to work on that for next year. He is squash bowling here at the ward Halloween party.

On Halloween night we had a few friends over for dinner and trick or treating. Cara changed her costume to a pretty waitress instead of a zombie. I personally think the zombie was better but whatever. Her friend Nicole was Cleopatra and my sister, Somer was herself.

Sam dressed as a Ninja and he looked awesome. I think he saw the other kids' costumes at the trunk or treating and decided his was stupid. He didn't wear it for Halloween and went door to door as himself. Of course, he opposed all pictures. I walked around with Michael and Olivia and eventually the neighbors who we met on another street. They were cute running from door to door discussing what candy was their favorite and what they were going to eat when they got home.

Candy Favorites:
Mom: Junior Mints/York Peppermint Patty
Dad: Swedish Fish and Twizzlers
Michael: Whoppers
Olivia:Whoppers
Isaac: Hersheys
Sam: Reeses PB Cups
Cara: Twix and Milky Way

Happy Birthday Michael!

Michael turned 7 on September 8. What I enjoy most about birthdays is reminiscing of previous years. I thought back to being pregnant with Michael and his delivery (this was one I wish the stork brought! You know the most miserable labor and delivery EVER and there is no possible way one could forget). As time rolls on it seems the cute moments are forgotten and all the memories of him as a baby are remembered by photos. Photos that sit in a box and don't get looked at. This is the main reason I started a blog. I wanted to remember the memories with pictures. I'm horrible at journal writing so that never worked. Michael said something funny the other day on the way to school and I thought "I need to write that down before I forget it." I didn't write it down because I thought it was memorable enough I could never forget it! It was gone the moment I pulled into the driveway. Darn it!

I always call Michael my perfect boy. My BBF (best boy forever). He listens when I ask him to do something. He always cleans up after himself. He likes tomatoes. He's left handed. He has the most adorable freckles on his checks. He doesn't cause any trouble with the other kids. He just keeps to himself and is happy. Despite what others may say they saw him do I will deny it always. He will always hold a bigger part of my heart. I'm not admitting he's my favorite but if I had to choose he may win that title. He does have a horrible cry squeal and face but I see past it all.

Sam was only 8 months when I felt the desire to have another baby. Lucky for me Zach always goes along and then began life with Michael. I am sad that his infancy is a complete blur but with a 15 month old, a 3 year old, and a 4 1/2 year old life was crazy and I probably did all I can to forget that time. I can't remember his first smile or laugh. I don't know when he crawled or walked. I don't remember his first birthday. I do remember his birth and the 16 hours before. every. walking. minute. (not waking, walking)

When I filled out his school papers one question was something along the lines of "what would you like me to know about your child" I put "He is the sweetest kid ever!" and that pretty much sums it up.
This year I started the 7 days of presents. Each day starting 7 days before their birthday I leave a wrapped present on the table. They are simple gifts. Michael received a box of crayons, a notebook, a Imaginex set that I scored on an after Christmas sale, Whoppers (his favorite candy), and some other odds and ends. He got Sonix City for his birthday present. It's a pretty cool toy. Michael wants to get a couple of his friends together on Saturday to go to Oasis Fun Center. I brought cupcakes into his school class. He was so excited about this.

I'm starting backwards. I usually begin with pictures from birth and up. Michael's 6th birthday was another year of the CARS theme.



We had a small but overly expensive party for his birthday. His friends Alec, Carson, and Will came.



Here is Michael's 5th birthday. Michael has always LOVED the Disney CARS movie. Always. He has everything CARS. Blankets, clothes, toys, shoes, posters, stuffed animals. I have seen the first movie over 50 times and the second probably 20. I made his birthday cake this year.

Camping 2010

Michael has always had the best smile as it lights up his face. He has the best laugh. I can't help but fall more in love with him each day.

 

 

2007

 

Michaels 2nd birthday. He cried..uncontrollably whenever we sang Happy Birthday to him (or anyone). He did this for 4 birthdays. I never really know why he was so frightened of that song.

 2006

Happy Birthday sweet Michael. I love you more than words could ever explain. I can't wait to spend many more years with you. You bring joy to me and everyone your around. Keep smiling. Keep laughing but please stop crying.

lies

On the way to church I was listening to my children concoct what they thought was the most brilliant ponzi of all time.

Sam suggested they each of them write a letter to the Tooth Fairy saying they lost a tooth but LOST it. He was convinced the Tooth Fairy would accept the letter in exchange for $. They decided each day was a different persons turn to leave a note under the pillow. In order of oldest to youngest, Isaac would have Monday, Cara Tuesday and so on. At the end of the week they would combine all their money and buy something together.

At this point I should of taught them a good old lesson on honesty but that seemed a little hypocritical since they are discussing an imaginary fairy that leaves money under a pillow after taken a cavity filled baby tooth to give it to the trolls. I was thinking about this some more when I realized the Tooth Fairy theory is filled with lies! There have been numerous times I can recall that I had to lie to keep the secret safe. One was when Isaac lost a tooth and it fell out of his hands onto the kitchen floor. Zach and I searched for that tooth everywhere but could not locate it. What we did locate was a broken cheerio and to him it looked like a tooth and he went away happy. Lie #1. Cara caught Zach in the act one night suspiciously having his arm under her pillow. He needed to come up with a reason he was there and quickly take back the money. Lie #2. Michael in convinced he saw the Tooth Fairy with blue wings. The poor boy won't deny it. I went along and asked what else she looked like. Lie #3. If you loose your tooth after 8:00pm or on a Sunday the Tooth Fairy won't come. Lie #4.

If I can lie for years over this then just think what kind of stories I can come up. So I guess I will check under the kids pillows every night this week and play along with their little scheme.

I lost my camera cord to transfer pictures to the computer so I got backed up on posts and pictures. After searching for weeks for the cord, Zach trying to find one at the store and eventually buying a USB memory card attachment, that didn't work, I found the cord in the same drawer that I looked 30 times. There is something fishy going on here. Is this a joke?

What's going on...
I am patiently waiting until August 27th when school starts again. I will clean my house all day on my first day of freedom then the next day I will dump toys on the floor, leave Wii remotes on the floor, and pee all over the bathroom. Oh, and spill my drinks. Just to reminisce.

I will be running my first 5K in 9 years on the 22nd of August. I am not prepared for this and have told Zach to just leave me behind. He said he won't BUT he will.

Matthew will be ONE on the 22nd of August. This is the birthday party invites that I ordered custom made from Etsy.

I am excited for his birthday and his party. I have been putting together all my ideas for decorations and types of cookies. Oh man, if I had an unlimited budget this would be so much MORE fun. I had this awesome idea to buy fortune cookies with labels that read "Happy Birthday Matthew". I know, SO COOL! They are too expensive. I want cookie jars for the table but unless I'm spending my budget on jars that too I will have to do without. I did splurge on a cookie cake mold because Matthew does need a cake to smear over his face. It's in the shape of an oreo.

I'm really excited that most everyone we invited has RSVP'd to come especially Zach's extended family who we don't see often. 

Here are some pictures I took while creek hopping at Valley Gardens.



I am 16 lbs lighter. I have been eating Paleo style for 9 weeks now. At 8 weeks I finally hit 16 lbs! I am super excited, obviously. I haven't been at this weight for over 2 years (closer to 3). Only 4 more pounds until I reward myself with a pedicure. Can one lose 4 lbs while running a 5K?

"I can build that."

We went to Tyler Arboretum this past weekend for their Festival of Trees. TA's big attraction is their 17 tree houses, most of them built in the woods. Its really amazing the creativity of some people. As we walked through, Zach and I are inspired to build mansions in our back yard. We comment how "we can build that". Pshh. As if we are actually architecturally gifted to construct such a thing that  wouldn't lean or bring down a tree. There is an enclosed butterfly house which houses Monarch butterflies. I want a butterfly house. I can build that.

There is a stage built around a tree house where the children can dress up in costume and act.

Sam found an almost dead Cicada and carried it around the entire time. You know that bug actually came back to life. He decided to bring it home and let it go at home.

 Olivia sitting in Papa Bears chair.

I WILL have a catepillar built from tree stumps in my back yard. I know I can build that!

 Zach, KING OF THE FORREST. Anything his highness wants...

 Isaac laying a egg.