Random shots at The Little Gym

Eight months

How is this even possible? How can I my little baby be eight months old?

Really?

Please tell me?

I love this baby with everything I got.

Mothers Day

Mother's Day was such a fun day. We had a great time at church and at my Grandma's house. I love these five for lots of reasons, but I really love that they made me a mom. What I have always wanted to be.

Birthday party #3

Tried something new with the candles this year.

They all loved the candles! Can you tell?


Everyone adores Cami around here.

A new fun toy!

Bennett had three parties this year, like most years. We had all the E's over the Monday after his birthday. He got some cool bakugans, a flying heli, and a new quarter book. He loved it all! We were all caked out, so we opted for brownies!

Bennett's Birthday Party

Since I have STILL not posted about our Disney World trip last year, I am going to be sure to be caught up before we leave this time, so when we get back I can jump right into it.

This year for Bennett's birthday we just did a little party here at our house. We did a day at the theatre, only here at home. When they got in they were given "money" and got to go to the consession stand. They chose their treats got popcorn and some juice and we watched bolt. They all sat pretty well through the whole thing.

Then we went outside for some games and presents and cupcakes. They all had such a great time. All 20 of them!

Random thoughts

I have so many crafts in my head I need to do. I need to make bows for Jadeyn's recital on Saturday. They should be easy. I want to make a diaper holder for the diaper bag and maybe snaze up a wipes holder even though I like to keep mine in a baggie. I also want to make three bags for the three middle kids to take with us on our trip. The airlines will let each person take on a bag and a personal item. So their personal item holding snacks, games and things will be these bags. I have some darling fabric that I hope works. I need to get on that. Like soon. I am making up the pattern in my head, so it should be interesting. I also need to come up with some awesome teacher gift for the end of the year. My Christmas gift was just too awesome if I do say so myself, so I feel like I need to step it up a notch, which is going to be hard.

Last night while laying in bed I told Andy I was feeling a little anxious about our vacation next week. A week from today we will go. I am really excited, it is just the unknown. With all of our small children I just hope they all do well. We will soon see I guess.

Thursday is milk day and the kids love Thursdays because of it. We have milk man. It is so fun. The milk is delish and is delivered in glass bottles, the only way I will drink milk, it is organic and only a few cents more than if I had to go to the store for it. We have loved it so far.

Yesterday I spent the whole day at Bennett's school. From 9-2 to be exact. It was a long day. Paxton did much better than I did. They had a geography B then a bunch of games outside and then we ate lunch with them and then an awards ceremony. It was pretty fun, but made for a very long day. Bennett loved every minute of us being there. EVERYONE loved Paxton. He was such a spectacle. It was pretty cute, how much the kids and teachers loved him!

Yesterday was the first day our new babysitter started. Through the summer she is going to watch the kids every Wednesday for me for a couple of hours. I will be able to run to the store and get some things done that I need to and will not have to do it when Andy gets home or later at night. I am really excited about that. SHE IS AWESOME! The kids have not stopped asking about her and for her, even Jadeyn who is perfectly happy when mommy is home, but when I leave she gets SO sad. She loved Sarah and did so well. They all love her and that makes me so happy.

Well that is about all. My allergies are kicking my bootie. I hate them so much! Hooray for Kris! What an awesome guy. Him hugging his wife at the end was SO sweet. That came out of no where for me. I didn't think he would make it very far, but at the end he proved to deserve to be there. He is very talented. I am so happy for him. I just remembered I am in charge of treats tonight for baseball, oh boy! Gotta run!

Ok seriously...

Someone tell me how it has been EIGHT years now since I had my first child and my tail bone STILL hurts?!? Seriously.

Plus side, I cannot sit down for longer than a half hour because of it. I guess it keeps me movin'.

A heating pad

A heating pad is what we need after our day yesterday. We FINALLY have a garden. It is beautiful and after we were all done Andy yelled, "we are officially adults!" I guess a marriage for almost ten years, a home, two cars and five children didn't quite do it!

I am so excited. We spend a majority of our food budget on produce and spices so this will be so nice. Here is what we have...
*cucumbers
* pickling cucumbers
*jalapenos
*pumpkins
*melons
*tomatoes
*grape tomatoes
*bell peppers
*Zucchini
*squash
*dill, oregano, cilantro, basil
*strawberries
*blueberries
*raspberry's
*a surprise ( the tag came off one pot so it looks like it will be a surprise, but Andy and I think it is kind of fun and will maybe do this every year.)

Man that sounds like a lot of things, it doesn't look like it, but then again the plants aren't in full bloom. This is our first garden so I am not expecting much, but anything will be nice.

We also kind of elevated it a little and put stones around it. It looks really nice, but became a little pricier than we first thought. We love it though. Now we have two more things of landscaping we want to do and plant a tree in the back and we are done! I will be sure to grab some great photos!

We are so exhausted from our day. Luckily we had a sitter lined up and we able to go out last night. It was so fun after a long day. We made it an early night though and quickly came home to sleep! So hopefully this week along with a field trip, a school party, baseball practice, base ball game, scouts, guitar lessons, a birthday party, the little gym and a recital, we will be able to get back in our yard and finish. I am now officially tired, just from typing that out! I am off to bed!

High as a kite

Hearing all the things in the media about airlines kind of goes in one ear and out the other because with our little brood I knew that we would not be flying anywhere for a long time.

Well cut to a few weeks ago when it would only cost a small amount more to fly to Disney World well, now the good old airlines are in our new future. I called today with a few questions and it is a good thing I did. They had the baby and I sitting as far away as possible from Andy and the four other children. Luckily there was one more seat available in their row with them so that was a major problem averted. I did find out, however, that each bag the 6 of us takes is $15! PER BAG! Weird. She did say well each person is allowed a carry on and a personal item. Umm, considering that 5 of the seven people going are little kids if not toddlers or babies, doesn't sound too appealing. I think it will be too hard to cram diapers, food, clothes and everything else the seven of us need into a few suitcases. Luckily one we hit the airport, we do not have to deal with the bags until back at our resort. So I guess it could be worse.

I guess when I hear a story on the airlines again, maybe this time I will be a little bit more attentive:)!

Mother's Day

On this mother's day I am full of gratitude to not only be a mother, but to have such a wonderful mother and other women in my life who have been shining examples of just what a good mother looks like.

I am grateful this mother's day for my five beautiful children. I awoke today to five laughing children running into my bedroom all to early in the morning, showering me with cards and gifts they had made. I felt honored to be there mother.

At church it was such a great Sunday. Jadeyn and Cortland sang in church today for their first time since being in primary. It was SO cute. I loved the speakers today and the Young Women taught the Primary classes so we all got a break from teaching our classes. We had a great lesson and at the end they had a little home video presentation. Andy ordered one and I hope to put it up on the website at some point. SO cute. I cried from the very first person. Husbands and children gloated on their beloved mothers and wives. It was darling. I could watch it again and again. Each child's personality just shown so bright. There was not a dry eye in the room. Such a great feeling it was in there. I am not sure I can even do it justice by trying to describe it. When it was done, I was met at the door with darling homemade flowers and treats by my kids. So fun.

I have to say something about my mom as well this day. She has really taught me a lot while growing up. She has always been supportive and caring. I have to say though what I really appreciate at this point in my life is how she is a mom to me still even though I am grown and have a family of my own, she still shows she cares by doing such great selfless acts as my mother. Her help and love she shows my family goes beyond measure. I am so thankful for that. I feel so fortunate to have her in my life and live so close to her. Thanks mom for everything you do for us.

I am also so grateful for other great woman in my life, like dear friends, my mother in law and my amazing sister in laws, grandmothers, cousins and aunts. I have sure been blessed by so many great woman in my life.

Today in church one of the girls gave a talk on Motherhood and I heard a story that I have heard before and had been searching for ever since. I loved it and finally have a reference. I hope you enjoy the message as much as I do!

Kristen was finishing a graduate degree and had recently given birth to her second child. She felt the other graduates had accomplished so much more and was reluctant to attend the graduation dinner. Her fears were confirmed when, at the dinner, the students were asked to list their professional accomplishments. Kristen recalled: “I suddenly felt embarrassed and ashamed. I had nothing to call myself, no lofty position, no impressive job title.” To make matters worse, the professor read the lists as he presented a diploma to each student. The woman ahead of Kristen had many accomplishments: she already had a PhD, was receiving a second master’s degree, and she’d even been a mayor! The woman received grand applause.
Then it was Kristen’s turn. She handed the professor her blank sheet, trying to hold back the tears. The professor had been one of her teachers and had praised her performance. He looked at her blank paper. Without missing a beat he announced, “Kristen holds the most critical role in all of society.” He was quiet for a few seconds, then declared in a powerful voice, “She is the mother of her children.” Instead of a few courteous claps, people rose to their feet. There was just one standing ovation that night; it was for the mother in the room. Bonnie Parkin

I do believe that mothers do hold the most critical role in all society. We may not receive awards or accolades that we know of, but the things we do as mothers provide so much more than any awards could possibly do. I am so grateful for this knowledge.

So HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you wonderful mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, friends and women out there! There is a lot to celebrate this day!

Cortland

Yesterday I took the kids to The Little Gym for a make up class all by myself. We took Bennett to school by 8:30 then off we went. They did pretty good. Cortland had his class first then we all got back in the car and had a snack and drove around for a little bit then Maddox had his class and the twins sat on the side and Paxton in his car seat and did not make a peep. By the end the twins wanted to get up and run with the other kids, but they did so good. Then we all got back in the car had lunch and waited for Jadeyn's dance class. Then we all went in for Jadies class. By then end of her class it had felt like I pulled something in my back or as some would say my back "went out" whatever that means. At the end of class I had to buckle 3/4 back in and lift the baby's seat up and reach over the middle seat again. Being short this is not as easy as it sounds. Actually I am pretty sure it doesn't sound easy. Anyway, so by 1:00 pm I have put the kids in and out 8 times. I probably shouldn't wonder how my back "went out". So that being said, on the way home after all this Cortland tells me, "Oops, I just ate my money!" Yep, he sure did! He ate a penny or maybe a dime or a nickel or for all I know a quarter although I doubt that.



After talking with him about it and realizing he really did just eat his money and it was indeed in his tummy, I called the doc. No one was there. she said that obviously it got down so that is a good sign. To call back if he gets a fever or if he starts to throw up. Ok. So now we play the wait game. You know to see if it comes out on it's own. Honestly though, I will have no idea because
I haven't even been looking for it. I am guessing, and let's hope, he will be fine.

Cut to this morning and he is walking up the stairs with his little scissors and says,
"mom, I will cut my hair for you!" after hearing me tell Bennett for days he is over due for a haircut and I am just not interested in doing it. Here little Cortie, thinks he is helping me out. He did quite a great job. He cut up right to the scalp and right in the front. Nice work my friend. Luckily the messy sticking up or any which way look is in. He will be sporting that for a good while.

Well Cortland, thanks for an eventful last couple of days. You are sweet and funny and 100% boy, but what I like most about you is that your mine. All mine.

*picture coming soon

Maddox

I saw Maddox sitting on the floor today with a sad look on his face, a little bit like his sick face, and he said, "Mom, I need a pancake!" "I am bleeding", as he was pointing to his toe.

I gave him and confused look and he gave me one back like how on earth does she not know what I am talking about. It his me. Bandaid. Pancake, Bandaids...same dif, right? If he thinks what he puts on his ouies is a pancake what on earth does he think we are eating Saturday mornings?

Stages

Tonight when Andy got home we spent some time together out front. Most of the time we play outside it is in the back with in our lovely fenced in back yard. Sometimes though I like to change it up a bit and go out front and let them ride bikes and run around and feel the freedom!

Andy found a frog and the kids had such a fun time looking at it from afar and laughing SO hard every time he would jump. Cortland was just tickled to death by this thing and Jadeyn thought he was so cute and Maddox was scared. He would run to us with the look of great fear in his eyes every time the frog would even blink.

I was sitting on my rocker skimming through a new cookbook and hearing all the sounds form all these children and I just had to close my eyes for one moment and take it all in. I was in heaven. The laughter and words and screams of delight were just so comforting to hear.

You know there are some times during my day that I think, can I really do this, am I cut out for this, don't these sweet kids deserve something better? I do wonder sometimes, but even though they probably do deserve better, I am so happy I am getting my chance at it. I love every minute of it.

I love the stages they are in right now. Bennett is such a big boy and such a great helper. I love his little disposition. I love that he will still hold my hand walking into a store or even at school! I love the twins age. Within the last three months or so they have aged like 2 years. Seriously three months ago they were still stringing words together and now they are saying things like, "Mom I am not going to do this because I don't want mom mad at Jadeyn," or "Mom that froggy jumped and then said ribbet in my ear." Such big long sentences when months ago I was still trying to figure out what they were needing. Maddox is at such a fun stage where he thinks he is big stuff, but really is still a baby. I have to remind myself this. Like when Bennett was two and would say something like WATER FOUNTAIN MOMMY like Maddox did last night I would have thought he was so smart, and with Maddox since he seems like the twins age, I didn't think much of it. I am going to be better at recognising these types of things. He is so darn cute, and yesterday looking at a 5 month old picture of him, I want to push his rewind button, where did baby Maddox go? Paxton, Paxton, Paxton is 7 months old! Seriously there is no way. He is sitting up, eating foods, has two teeth now, giggling, scooting and pretty much has stolen every one's heart. I love him so much and am so grateful he is mine.

Today I was at the mall and I saw someone there who is expecting there second child and she said she is having a boy, and that now they have one of each they are done and have hit the quota. I felt as if she was maybe implying you are crazy we are normal and stopped at three. I can appreciate only having two kids or one child or three or 18. Just because I have five does not mean I think everyone should just like I think that someone has 2 shouldn't think they that is all anyone should have. I can say one thing though, I was happy with one and happy with two and three and happy with four, but I can honestly say, I have never been happier than I am with having number five. I am so blessed. This I know for sure.

*coming soon new pics, I promise!

Dear Lisa

I am not sure if you will check my blog anytime soon, but this a personal reminder publicly to update your blog. Thanks for calling tonight. Thanks for being that friend that we could go decades without talking and pick up right where we left off. Thanks for being that friend that I want to be like and feel so grateful to be your friend. You amaze me. I miss you.

Sincerely,
Terica

PS I am serious about half way!
PPS you should look into facebook

feeling grateful

well the house is quiet and i was really hoping to be asleep by now, but i was just sitting here thinking how grateful i am. i am so grateful for my family, my beautiful children and my amazing husband.

another thing i am so grateful for is blogging. i know that sounds so weird, but as i was going through some old entries (circa 2004) i was reading what i have wrote and all the comments so many wonderful people have made and i am just so grateful to be able to write out my feelings and have them recorded for generations to come. i love that i can keep in touch with so many wonderful people we have met along the way and so happy we are able to keep up with andy's family as well. i love that even though i really rarely see my nieces and nephews i feel as if i know them so well.

i am a lucky gal, i definitely know that, i feel as if i have won the lottery of life. although not perfect, pretty darn close on the things that really count.

Planning

So since we have been talking about a vacation since about January, we have been a little confused. We confuse ourselves I tell ya. First off the plan originally was that Andy and I would go to Hawaii in August for our 10 year anniversary in August. We have planned that for quite some time. Well actually since we got married 10 years ago we said we wanted to go there for our 10 year anniversary. Anyway, planning that was a little stressful. Just knowing I would have an 11 month old I would be leaving was really sad. THEN trying to find people to watch the other five was proving to be a little stressful. I gave up. It was all too stressful for something that I wanted to enjoy and it was far from enjoyable just planning it.

So as Andy and I were talking about taking a family vacation we thought about just going somewhere local here and time and time again Disney World kept coming back up. It was weird because we had just gone last year and said it would probably be another 5 before we came back, but Andy really thought the kids would just love it. So I got looking into that. We were looking at 7 day packages staying on the resort and also a 4 night land 3 night sea package.

With the ages that our kids are Disney is actually really good. It is tiring so by the end of the night they are wiped out and go to bed really easily. Pretty much everything at Disney World is for them. We will be going the last week of May first part of June so hopefully it won't be too packed or too miserably hot.

So yesterday I had two different packages on hold and we decided to NOT do the sea and land package. I am just thinking that may be too much especially for now with so many little ones. So we are just doing the 6 night 7 day stay. AND we are FLYING which should be REALLY interesting. Can you imagine the looks on the other people on the flights faces when we walk in! I figure it really wasn't that much more to add on airfare and it is only 2 hours direct flight opposed to 15 hours driving and stopping for stretching and eating and sleeping and all the potty going my newly potty trained kids would be doing. So although those 2 hours could be cra-zay, at least it is ONLY 2 hours. I know I am crazy. We are crazy we already know that.

Just for good measure I thought I would also add that every single person from DISNEY I talked to yesterday ALL said, "NO YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR HANDS FULL" when I would need to tell them our children and their ages...real original Disney, No I have NEVER heard that before!

We will need well wishes and good luck high fives that is for sure! So heres to hoping we don't come home NEEDING that Hawaii trip and if we do anyone up for watching 5 kids? Just kidding!