The Reception

Trying to get a whole group shot.

Andy's family. There were two siblings missing and 9 total. We missed you Matt, Brian, Paige, Sarah, Saraih, D, J, J, J, P, K and W.

Grandkids. There are 13 here and we are missing 7. The funniest thing is 9 of them are 3 and under. They were all so cute and all did amazing that whole day.

The cousins. They had SO much fun together. The three oldest boys played for hours and hours. They get a long SO well. Jadeyn loves Haley. I think she loved having a girl around here for a while!

Cherise and Andy.

These two are special buddies. They love each other.

They were dance partners most of the night.

This boy has moves and LOVES to dance!

This one, of course, was a perfect angel the whole day.

The chocolate fountain was so good, but everyone was a big mess!

He had his eye on those jelly beans the whole night!

These girls loved the cake and could not take their eyes off of it. It really was very beautiful!

The reception was so fun. The kids danced and played and danced and played and throw in an occasional trip to the chocolate fountain and it was a great time had by all! The kids had so much fun just running around. THEY DID SO WELL THIS WHOLE DAY! There was not one break down at all. It was a very LONG day too. We left around 11 and and got home around 11 so it was a really long day and everyone did so well. I am so proud of my kiddos for doing such a great job. The chocolate fountain was amazing. By the end of the night we were covered in chocolate and ready for our beds.

The Temple

Jadeyn could not keep her eyes off Cherise. Still to this day she asks to see pictures of Cherise when she was a princess. So cute.

Cherise and Karl were married in the St. Louis Temple. It was such a fun crazy busy day. We had 12 kids waiting with three babysitters. They actually did a great job at least we heard. It was a VERY cold and windy day, but still it was so fun for us all to be there. We are very grateful we were able to be there. Uncle Jake was Jadeyn's little buddy a big part of the day. It was really cute.

Poor little Maddox was frozen. All 20 pounds of this child. It was so sad.

Trying to get a group shot.

I am not sure who took this picutre, but I wish they would have told me I will look like a floating head. Ah, scoot over MOM! I am hardly in any pictures the way it is and we finally get one of our family and it looks like this! Oh well. Everyone was so cold and not very comfortable anyway. We will try another one when it gets warmer.

The kids were SO cold. It was so sad. But, we got some great pictures and isn't that what it is all about? Just kidding.

Afterwards we went to a buffett to eat and get ready for the pictures and reception. It was a really great day.

Bennett

My little man has had a really good second grade year. He is always so

laid back and doesn't really care to be praises a lot, but I was just so pleased with him this year with two great awars. He got the character award for honestly. There are 9 character awards for the year I think, and he got one for honestly. He was also chosen for do the right thing, which is a really big deal. I am so pleased that he is making the right choices in his life that allows him to be happy. Every morning since he has been in Kindergarten I have said as he was heading out the door MAKE GOOD CHOICES. A big part of our lives is determined by the choices we make and I hope he continues to make such great choices.

The other picture is of him and his teacher. I LOVE her. She is so awesome and amazing. I am very grateful for a wonderful teacher.

When the circus comes to town

Bennett's school only does programs or musicals in Kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. I was so excited this year that they were doing something. They did a little show called When the Circus Comes to Town.

It was SO darling. I could not stand how cute it was. The kids loved it. I loved. My parents loved it.
Bennett was a flame swallower. We had to take a dowel and cotton candy and make his flame to swallow. It was so cute. They were all so darling. I am so happy I got this on video. It is so weird because so many times in our family I look at him being so old since he is so much older than my other children, but when I go to things like this I realize just how young a little 7 year olds really are. They were just all so darling. You could tell they just loved it. It was a fun night had by all.

Eating part II

He is starting to get the hang of it. Kind of. Although he is extrememly messy at this point. Well he does fine till he realizes the bib is on and tastes it. Then it is all down hill from there. I love feeding him. He is just such a sweet heart on so many levels.

March 2009

6 Months

It is hard to believe that my baby is 6 months old. SIX MONTHS! Is that really possible. Six months ago we added our fifth child. He is the most laid back darling never crys baby. Seriously. I don't know how or why he is so good. I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with me. Just the other day Andy said do you realize we have only had a handful of nights in these past six months that he has gotten up in the middle of the night. It is unbelievable. We feel very fortunate. I vote that everyone who has a fifth child gets one just like this. We could all be so lucky!

Mitten Girl

My poor little girl. She has a problem and she knows it. Isn't that the first step is admitting you have a problem? If only there was a support group for this little one. You know a 12 step program!

When we got her 12 inches cut off in January the TWIRLING stopped for a while, then a about a month ago it came back with a vengeance. It is so sad. She hardly has any hair on her left side. It is funny I have to do a come over sometimes. People out and about always comment on how cute her hair is! If they only knew!

One day I had the brilliant idea of doing a mitten on her hair to she would not twirl. I thought of tape but new that would just come off. The mitten idea worked. When she gets tired and knows she is about to start twirling she comes to me and ask me for her mitten. When she is laying down and starts to twirl she just holds up her arm so I can put the mitten on. It is really quite sad that she fully knows the has a big problem.

Luckily she is as cute as can be with a full head of hair or just half a head of hair!

Being the fifth child

Looks a little something like this. Maddox decided to "decorate" Paxton.

When I saw him doing this Paxton looked entertained while Maddox was deep in concentration.

Poor little boy. He had a hint of blue for days.

March 2009

Check it out

Don't forget to check out my other blog.

A picture a day is caught up!

Click on the right side link on this blog and see what is been going on.

St. Pattys day

I really think St. Patricks day is kind of fun. I like making everything green, making green crafts with the kids, going on clover hunts. See, really fun. We had breakfast for dinner this year with green french toast, green eggs, and chocolate milk although not green served in a green pitcher.

Not only did we turn our food green, we decided to turn our children green too! Not really, but somehow when Cortland woke up the next morning his hair and hands were green. We still have no idea what turned him green. I guess the leprechan had a visit with Cortland in his dreams that night. He thought it was SO fun to be green.

Five months

February 2009Paxton at 5 months old. There has got to be a tooth coming soon,

because drool and hands in the mouth is a every second ordeal.

Such a cutie.

First foods

march 2009

I started feeding Bennett solids right around four months. I think he was ready for it, but the rest of my little ones I waited till 6 months. I was just so excited to start something new with Bennett so I probably jumped the gun a bit, but like I said he was ready.

Paxton along with the others loved it. Not too interested, but liked it a lot.

I think it is safe to say, it was a hit!

This baby is such a pleasure. Seriously. I totally get that most people think five kids is A LOT, but when these babies are so good, why not? Of course there are many other reasons that I love my family, but seriously I am so lucky.

I love bath time. Once in a while I will bathe him in the kitchen sink. I sanitze it like a mad woman, because otherwise I would think it would be so gross, but it is so cute to see him sitting there. Love it. Love him.

March 2009

Written on the wall

So my little creative Jadie, like to color, draw and read. She decided one day even though no one has ever written on the walls up to this point, that maybe we should. So one day as I am on the phone on the main level, I can hear the kids downstairs like normal and think nothing is up. I call them up for lunch and notice some Sharpie Marker on Jadeyn's little hand. I am confused because she knows those are mine and why would that be on her hand when the markers were up here with me. Well apparently there was one down stairs and little Jadeyn who normally is the one who comes running to me when anyone is doing something out of the norm decided the walls looked like a perfect empty canvas. I counted 17 smiley faces. When I went down there to see it, she didn't look scared or like I would even be upset. Like she did nothing wrong and I honeslty think she didn't not think anything was wrong. I wanted to laugh hard, but I didn't want her to do it again, so I told her that although her drawing is so pretty, it should only stay on the papers not EVER on the walls. I was so excited to show Andy that night when he got home. I guess I fogot to mention to Andy that I wanted to keep it up there at least for a while, because two days later he had painted over it once, so these photos are after a first coat paint touch up. Sharpies are amazing. Don't underestimate the artistic views of a three year old. That is all I have to say about that!

February 09

okay, okay

Dang, I am lame. First things first! I thought I posted the blog winner long long ago and apparently never did! How did that happen. I will re post that entry and announce or re announce the big winner tomorrow. Sorry sorry!

Gosh what a crazy last few weeks we have had. It all started with Cherise (Andy's sister) and Karl's wedding. Out of town guests and fun visit from Brandon (Andy's brother) and family for almost 2 weeks, Easter, a Spring Fling, My birthday with a visit to the Melting Pot, Bennett's birthday and next week his party with his peeps. In all this we have had the flu in our home for far too long. Although I do not think it is the infamous swine flu, it stinks. BIG TIME! Just when the two boys were potty trained it all hit. My kids have never thrown up before so it was interesting for them. They kept saying they were "choking". It was so sad. Luckily the only one it did not hit was Mr. Paxman. I am so happy about that. Anyway through all of this I feel like I have been running full speed ahead for like 3 months straight with no time for anything extra. And here lies the blogging problem. Good news though, I found my cord to download my pics! I am very excited about that.

I also feel like until like the end of June I am so already wore out from my calendar. We have Bennett's party next week, Mothers Day the next week, landscaping our whole backyard, end of school things, a big lunch out with all the girls at Andy's office for being so awesome and bonus-ing this quarter! {I want to do something special for them and there are 7 of them, any ideas?}, planning a trip for the end of May early June, a big reunion with my 8 bff from high school for Susan's wedding, a field day, a field trip, guitar lessons for Bennett, Little gym including a show date and recital, T-ball starting for Cortland (how is that possible), Baseball for Bennett and swimming for Jadie and Maddox. Ok, I need a nap typing all of that.

So tonight is my night to download all these photos finally. Also another fun thing is we FINALLY got our foyer painted. This was a HUGE HUGE HUGE job. I had no idea it would be so hard and time consuming. I mean seriously. Our largest room in our home took 2 and a half gallons of paint and I bought 5 gallons and we went through them all for this foyer/hall. There were many moments where we wanted to give up. Especially see Andy up SO high up on his toes on a ladder reaching to get the top of this two story foyer. I kept saying, what it more important the hubs able to work and be with our family or a painted foyer. Obviously the first is more important, but as usual he gets everything done and works it out. There is nothing this guy cannot work out for me or us. Love that about him. Man I am lucky. Ok that is a totally different entry for another day.

Ok, so for now I am going to end this sporadic entry and download some pictures, until later...

My first

Tonight I was spending a little one on one time with my first born and it started...you know the quiver in your voice, tears welling in your eyes, heart beating a little faster just by thinking how grateful you are to be this child's mom. I do this often, and Bennett does not like when I get teary or heaven forbid me actually cry.

I had my arm around him and was laying back in the couch and I said
"Bennett, you know a little less than 8 years ago tonight I was sitting on the couch with a great big round belly and telling daddy I just want this baby out." I told Andy, " I am just so excited to see his face and put my hands around his sweet little cheeks and tell him I have been waiting my whole entire life for this very moment to meet you and thank him for making me a mommy." I told Bennett that and how grateful I am that Heavenly Father chose me, a very imperfect girl, to be in charge of a perfect being. How blessed am I that he is mine that I am his.

Bennett said as I was squeezing him with a hug in a rather bothered tone,
"Oh mom, why do you have to be crying for joy!"

Seriously. So. Darn. Cute.

It has almost been eight years. According to the paper chain on the pantry door only 4 days till he is in fact 8. So that means in four days it will have been eight years since his birth, it will be 8 years since I was born in some ways as well. Knowing joy is being a mother. I am very confident in that.

a little about me me me

Yesterday while in the shower I was thinking about the things I like right now, a day in my life, what my guilty pleasures are, my favorite tv shows, songs and times of day would be. As I was thinkinng about it probably because I had had a super busy wedding/easter weekend and did not have a lot of "me" time {me=down time} so all this me me me stuff was running through my head.



As my birthday is approaching on me quickly I thought I would write a few things down about me, to remember and look back upon someday. Hope you are not too bored!!!



A few of my faves:

Almond M&M's -luckily I am sick of them at the moment

American Idol - of course

Andy -obvioulsy not in any particular order

King of Queens -love that guy

Facebook - a little too much maybe

my sweet baby -dang is there anything cuter in this world?

my twins -I wanted them before I was in middle school only they are even better

Maddox -TOO. CUTE. FOR. WORDS.

Bennett -the boy who made me a mommy the one thing I have always wanted in this life

A home -I love decorating this place

Fresh Flowers -I have three arangements in my house right now and I love it!

Freshly mopped floors -only I wish they would stay that way longer

My fenced in back yard -Heaven on earth

Massages at Massage Envy -my hubby is SO nice and thoughtful

Foot Rubs -Wish my hubby like doing this:)

Monolpoly Deal

My new craft room

My green laptop

Working with the Young Women in church...love them all so much!

Ticket to ride and Cities and Knights

A freshly swept garage

Words on my wall -I am getting a little carried away possibly :>}

The fact that I have one brother, but married into 17 siblings now

Pedicures...I could go every week and wish I could or had the time too

Date nights with my husband -wish they occurred more often

Any fresh fruit -I love fruit of all kinds and could live off of it

I love my Nissan Armada -I love that our whole family fits inside nicely

yard work -starting next week there will be a lot of that

A freshly painted room -there has been a lot of that

Hobby Lobby -I love that place

Pottery Barn Kids -ditto

I love having my mom come over on her days off

Instant messaging is so nice -love you Paige

Color on my hair -too many greys coming through and I need a new color!

Taking my kiddos to the Little Gym - I love my time there

I love to hear on of my favorite songs on the radio or artists -Taylor Swift, Justin, Beyonce{yes I love one of her songs}, Rihanna, of course Kelly Clarkson even if she says repeatedly the word suck which we do not say in our home...I love that song still!, Carrie Underwood, Plain white T's oh and the list goes on and on!

St. Louis Bread Co. most of you probably know it by Panera, but we all know where that wonderful place hails from

My cardinals!! Love baseball season

Planning another Disney trip -probably

blogging -although I have not been very good about it lately

going to see my grandma in rehab -this word has such a different meaning to me because of the media, she had hip surgery, I love that I can go and show her I care by remembering all the times she cared about me and was there for me!

The list could go on and on I am sure. I am also sure I will be adding to this list often!

In my children's eyes

When we had the twins I always thought it was weird that me being a very dark brown eyed girl had all blue eyed children. Is brown not supposed to be the dominant. Well after researching it or Andy rather having a whole genetic class we realized that our children have their grandparents eyes so if the blue gene is dominant through me, then it actually isn't so weird. Anyway, well now we only have two children with blue eyes. I know weird.

We have Bennett whose at one time eyes were electric blue. I had never seen bluer eyes, and then through the years, the long almost 8 years mind you, they have decided to be green. I have always loved green eyes, so I am happy with that. They are beautiful and I wish you could see them better in this picture.

His freckles are so adorable, but you don't notice them nearly as much in real life as you do in this photo and holy eyebrow!

Then our little Jadeyn. Her eyes have always been blue and have remained blue for the time being at least. They have always been a real light sky blue which are as pretty as can be. There is a theme going on with this girl. Everything dainty, everything pretty and beautiful. Love it!

Cortland's eyes are also blue, but they are a deeper blue. Very beautiful! They remind me of his Uncle Brian's eyes. {hope that is not weird to say! love you paige} Actually a lot about this boy reminds me of his uncle B. He has a lot of his features I think. So his eyes have always been blue and I think they may stay blue, but give him a few years. Bennett's didn't turn till about Kindergarten.

Maddox my sweet Maddox. He has several nicknames in our house. Maddy, which yes I know is a girls name, but we still like it, teenie, because he is SO.DARN.TINY., chocolate chip or brownie, for obvious reasons I think. He is my only brown eyes child. His eyes melt my heart. They are so warm and sparkly. When he smiles his whole face lights up. I think I can say without a doubt these babies are staying brown for eternity.

That leads me to our caboose, well at least for now. This boy has got me puzzled. Everyone actually. Even the doc at his 6 month check up said, "WOW, I don't think I have even seen a color quite like this before". At first when he was first born they weren't as dark as Maddox's, but they did seem like the would be brown, but by day 4 or so, they had a dark blue tint throughout. Then as the months have gone by they, meaning his eyes, have no clue what they are doing. In the light the outsides of the color is blue and around the inside around the pupils is a brownish greenish perhaps a color that is unknown. This picture actually makes it look like his eyes are blue, but really there is no certain color. I am very interested to see what color they decide on. In the mean time, I want to squeeze him every single time I look at him and those eyes make him even extra cute!

So now when at one time we had three children with blue eyes, we are down to two children with blue eyes, one child with green eyes, one child with brown eyes and one unknown.

Is he not delish???

This boy is SO much fun. I can't even tell you how much fun I have with him.

He is a sweet, relaxed baby that loves to be in my arms. I love that he loves that.

What's going on you ask?

Ok, maybe you didn't ask, but I will still tell.

I started an entry yesterday and got to the second paragraph and took a break, and still have not returned to it yet, that will be coming soon.

This weekend is either going to be a super big productive weekend, or really dissapointing. I have so much on my mind and so much I want to do, but it is executing it all that will be hard.

Tomorrow we have The Little Gym, three classes, a bridal shower, general conference (my personal favorite time of year), and our big project...painting the foyer! It is THE last thing I will have to paint in this whole house. It will be the 18th room painted. Counting the bathrooms and laundry room! It has taken us this long because it is a two story foyer and I have no idea how we are going to get to the top, but we are hoping it all works out. If not maybe we will start a new trend. Not only are we planning on getting that done this weekend, but we hope to have the house cleaned, laundry complete, and house ready for upcoming guests.

Andy's sister is getting married next weekend and we are so excited for all the family coming into town. I have to get going on my house though so it all runs smoothly. I also have to be ready for Easter before hand and the dinner we are having here on Sunday before we head to my Aunts house for the big family dinner. WOW that wears me out just typing all that out!

It should be a fun exciting week and weekend. So I should get off of here right now and start on my three page to do list right now!!!

Until later I am siging off!

PS Did I mention that 9/11 of the kids will be here and we are doing family pictures. We are really excited. We will, however, REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY miss Brian, Paige, Jillise, Joelle, Jaren, Sariah, Phoebe, Kimball, Warren, Matt, Sarah and Diana!