Field Trip

Thanks to Zio's for a very fun field trip today.  Each kid was able to make their own pizza, watch it cook and then eat it.  The all smelled delicious...good thing they had a pizza for us mom's or I might have snitched a little from Becca's.  I have always liked this restaurant and it still stays at the top of my list seeing as they didn't charge us a cent for coming, eating their food and making a complete mess of their bar!

I missed a picture of James, he was tied down in the stroller busy taking off his socks and shoes most of the time.

I LOVE MY KIDS.......

But I have to say that this morning spent in peace and quiet was the most awesome gift anyone could have given me.  If you can believe it some great friends had all three of our kids over night last night-making for a total of six kids under six!  Becca has been hounding me for a sleep over, as has their children. I kept pushing the idea away and most of the time when Becca would ask I would just tell her, "sometime," or "we will see"  I didn't think it really bothered her that much until my friend heard her say under her breath after one of these conversations...."that means NEVER"  So, we decided to finally make it happen...or I should say our friends. Andrea was sooo excited to go and when she got up from her Sat nap she came to me with a very concerned look on her face "did I miss the sleep over??"  After dropping them off Sat, Ron and I enjoyed a wonderful evening out, again spoiled at a very delicious restaurant.  We did have James for the night but he slept all night-till 8am-a record!  I woke up at 6:30 and this is when it hit me that I could just lay...and lay....and lay.  It was just the best, no breakfast, no breaking up fights or listening to whinning complaining, no dealing with church clothes, worrying about what was being colored on or glued-it was the most relaxed I had been in a LONG time.  Okay, not that life is so stressful and crazy but this moment of quiet-in my own house, was something I had not felt in a long time and I think it was much needed.  Turns out the kids had a total blast and didn't seem to miss me or Ron is the least-I didn't think they would.  In fact Andrea cried most  the way home after church because she was not in my friends car!  Today was a  wonderful spring day and who can resist the park after some dark cold days.  We all loaded up on bikes and enjoyed playing at the park this afternoon. Yes I love my kids and all the fun we have; the endless knock, knock jokes from Becca, the beauty advice from Andrea and the never ending energy of Brayden. They all give me endless workouts both physical and mental.  I enjoyed a refreshing moment of peace and can now enjoy and love them all the more!

 We rode bike and James and Andrea were loaded in the chariot along with a football, basketball, and soccer ball. I think they all got kicked or thrown around at some point.

I didn't clean up her face because this is what the kids looked like when we were done-dirt and snot smudged!

 Rocks anyone?? James would stuff one in and it would pop out and then he would promptly pick up the rock full of slime and stick it right back it-ahhh, a hard age to be at the park!

 Andrea, counting for hide and seek.  She would count and if then look to see if anyone was watching her, if no one was she stopped at 7 and would run to find Becca.

 A fun afternoon.

 Do you think Daddy could bounce him off?

James started standing by himself the past couple of days, he can't go from a sit but he still thinks he is pretty big stuff!

 Becca loves to color-today she had a paper covered with  X's and O's....lots of hugs and kisses.

I love the dirt on Brayden's arm.

A Review

This is my Review of Pampers Swaddlers with Dry Max....THEY STINK, and these are not the first words that came to my mind after this morning!  So I bought a new box of diapers yesterday and thought the box seemed a bit smaller than the last and the diapers seemed pretty thin....but whatever, they were diapers and should work.  Well, this morning we decided to browse through target for a while.  James was sitting in the cart and was pretty happy most of the time.  While we were waiting to check out....I say waiting because it seemed like forever with a checkout girl in no hurry....I really do need to work on my patience, anyway I went to pick up James who was now fussing and my hand brushed off something from his sock.  Hmmm, I didn't really think much of it, must have had some food crumbs from the car or something.  It was now I realized that he was stinky and not happy to have a stinky diaper, and of course the lady in front of my had coupons, which she conveniently layed on the belt getting them stuck in the scanner-REALLY?  and then they were not even valid-READ THE FINE PRINT! Okay, I digress, we made it out of the store and then to our car where I decide to change James before forcing him into his car seat.  Lets just say I need to be a little more cautious when taking off his pants, as I ripped the snaps apart not only did his chubby legs come popping out but a good portion of his stinky diaper-WHAT IS THIS??  So I am really used to having blow outs but I really thought we had moved past this stage.  Thanks to these GREAT diapers which might absorb pee to no end, poop has no place to go but out and out it had come.  In my defense this was a new diaper within the past 2 hours and it was not a fruit induced stinky, if you know what I mean.  Now I just need to figure out what I am going to do with these diapers.  I now wonder what the lady behind me in line was thinking when I just brushed off poop from my baby's sock-YUCK!  

     Pampers anyone???  They are so gracious as to add an extra four-whatever.

I realize that are lots of brands out there and these has been one brand that usually work the best for each one of our kids...I am ready to head back to LUVS, they worked great and where always wide enough to fit around their little belly's!

Daddy's Home

Today was actually supposed to be a day when everyone was home but instead it was just Ron and the little ones.  Becca and Brayden had a make-up day at school today due to all the snow days we had this week.  It was pretty nice having Ron around seeing as I didn't have to load everyone up every time we needed to go out.  Becca and Brayden enjoyed it as Ron was able to have lunch with them at school. I think the kids liked having Ron around this morning seeing as Andrea was full of smiles and didn't want to have anything with to do with me or going to the gym, which she usually likes.

 Fun Play time

 James is so funny when I wear this hat.  I got him up from nap the other day with it on and he looked at me with such a confused look.  He gets the biggest grin on his face when I put the hat on him, but his is faster than me in taking it off!

Fun times!

Basketball

This morning was Brayden's last Basketball game for the season.  Yes, the season was short due to the fact that we were out because of his finger injury but I have to say we didn't miss much and I am very thankful Baseball season is starting.  I made it to his game today, along with everyone else.  The young kids play in the small gym-I got claustrophobic just stepping into the gym.  We literally sat on the baseline and leaving  no place to walk but on the court...or into the other game which is also being played in the same gym.  It was not really what I envisioned a basketball to be and almost made me laugh watching.  In watching I got the sense that this is just really for the parents (ahhhh and I was one of those parents!!)-although the kids do have a fun time, mostly wrestling for the rebounds....which is about all the free movent they can do.  Okay, I am a bit cynical but it was crazy to watch.  One inbound pass, pass to one other team-mate then to the designated shooter who is where?? directly under the basket.  Then run back to your basket and find your black spot-BLOCK...but don't get off your spot.  Finally, release for the rebound, then start the whole process all over.  Brayden loves to shoot-the farther away from the basket the better so he loves pre and post game play, where kids can be kids.  I do realize this is kind of dangerous and usually ends up in a wrestling match but the game was so choreographed it was funny...to me.  Way to go for Brayden for sticking with it!

Andrea was in a huge funk this morning!

 We got to the game early so Brayden could run and shoot-I think all the boys love this.

 AAAAAnd let the game begin.  Not once did this blocking method work.  I think Brayden get a better idea on how to block when we play in the driveway....true he doesn't made as many baskets.

Stretch....still no luck in stealing the ball.

This is what Brayden loves....half court shots, you have to love his form!

A Pair of Worn Shoes

I try not to be too sentimental dwelling on the fact that James is most likely our last baby but seeing these shoes today was a little sad, but still brought a smile to my face. What you don't see is James sitting with these shoes on in the middle of our driveway, stick in hand, rolling something around in his dirt ringed mouth completely covered in chalk from the girls sidewalk art...happy as can be.  Brayden wore these shoes and these were in pretty good condition until the last couple of days. James has loved these warm days as have we all.  It is time for some bare piggy toes!

Warm Weather

The weather has been just crazy...but we are not complaining.   Starting this weekend we have spent a good portion of our days outside.  The kids love running out without coats and besides for dealing with all the mud and wet it is beautiful to get out.  Today it is going to be almost 80 degrees, if you remember just a week ago we were about knee deep in snow with negative temps, in Tulsa it has been almost an 80 degree temp difference- from record lows to record highs.  The past couple afternoons we have been outside on our driveway.  Becca has been the drawing queen  keeps busy with chalk, although trying to keep James from eating it has been hard.  Brayden is all about shooting hoops and yesterday he broke out the baseball gear, hard to believe it is almost  that time of year again.  Andrea just runs from kid to kid, yesterday she spent much of the time twirling in her skirt.   

Becca was having so much fun pulling James in the wagon....until he figured out he could stand.  He didn't fall out but it made it hard to pull him. 

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to all our Friends and Family.  We have had a very special couple of days.  The kids have had a lot of fun making valentines for teachers, friends, relatives....it is fun to listen to the names they come up with.  We actually celebrated Sunday morning as a family, we find these celebration days get pretty hectic once school gets involved.  The kids loved opening all their valentines.  Thanks to everyone who sent them cards and gifts in the mail-they loved opening everyone of them! I love seeing the kids get excited about showing people....siblings their love, I only hope/wish these feeling would continue.

It was a very busy day, on top of the regular Monday activities of Bible Study and Gymnastics we were able to have a wonderful Valentine lunch with daddy and celebrate with the two older kids in their classes.  The kids had a lot of fun going through all their valentines after school-they covered the entire table!  Andrea had lots of fun seeing and participating in all the fun but by the end of the day she was beat.  I asked her to brush her teeth and then I didn't see her-I found her in bed, snuggled in almost sleeping...it was 7:15!  What a day.

I can't forget my most Special Valentine, even though having kids changes Valentines day a little Ron is still the most Wonderful Thoughtful, loving husband

Just a couple pictures

The sun was out and the snow was melting.  It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  After a short rest time we all headed out to enjoy some spring like weather.  Ron was able to get in his run and we all enjoyed a walk to the park.

The kids were ready to play, it is soooo nice this park is all on rubber mats and surrounded by fake grass...yes I know this sounds strange but it really is pretty nice, especially on a day like today when everything else is wet and muddy. 

 Guess who?

 The park parking lot was over flowing so we had to park a mile north.  The kids didn't seem to mind and even Andrea had fun biking the mile to the park.  It helped that Ron chased them a good portion of the way bombing them with snow balls, it was so fun to here them scream and then see them peddle like mad to race on ahead of him.

Even James made it out of the stroller. 

The pictures says it all, full of smiles!

A Sunny Saturday

It was an early Basketball game today.  I was not very motivated at getting everyone out the door by 8am on a Sat morning so it was a father son outing.  I really would like to go and cheer him on and try my hand at shooting inside a sm gym but that early game is a push for all of us.  He had a great time, made some baskets and seemed to enjoy playing.

 Today was a beautiful day, the sun was shinning and the snow was melting.  Both Ron and I were able to get out on the river path to do some exercise, thankfully Riverparks has money had plowed the path-but we still both ran/road into some slick spots.  The kids had a fun day just hanging out.  I remember Saturday as a work day and having lists of jobs to complete before we were allowed to play.  I realize that this was just as much a job for my parents as it was for us kids.  I don't have the energy...or selfishly the time to make the kids work on Sat....so they play, and we are all happy!  James is happy as long as I am within sight.  I tried to take pictures of him today and almost all of them his is crawling like a mad man at the camera-I was out of reach for this one.

 Becca is the valentine queen in our house.  She is always working on something, today it was decorating a box for all her valentines.  She gets such a determined look on her face when she is working.

I don't have any pictures of Andrea-she actually napped today.  She is still just a silly as can be, and I get such a laugh listening to her.  Today she stood in the middle of the living room and yelled "Becca where are you???"  Becca, yelled back-"In the potty"  Andrea, OH.....DO YOU WANT TO PLAY BARBIES?? I think it is most funny to hear because she has such a funny little accent and is always so animated-she hardly says her r's. 

All the kids spent a lot of time playing outside this afternoon.  When I asked them what they did over dinner they all got a sheepish look on their face, then Becca said-we made yucky stuff....which means MUD.  Thankfully they just had fun and didn't need to be hosed down.

Back to School.

It may have been Friday but it was finally back to school for the kids.  From what the weatherman has forcasted it looks like it is going to be spring like weather in a couple days. We had so much water melting off our roof today it sounded like it was raining.  You would think that the kids would miss school-neither Becca or Brayden seems to concerned about all the days spent at home and were in no hurry to get to school today.  Thankfully School had a late start making for a nice transition back to schedule mode.  I do have to say that we have had some really nice time together the past couple weeks-this unscheduled down time was much needed. Not only is our schedule much more relaxed but kids-particularly the little ones are much happier.  Today was a stretch having to re-arrange naps/lunch around the older kids school day.  Becca's teacher mentioned that it was a nice vacation after all the craziness of the holidays...I totally agree, as our holidays are anything but a vacation!  Tonight Brayden was back at Basketball Practice and it was me and the girls, I kind of thought it might be a long night but my creative girls had no problem keeping busy.  Amazingly we had not even gotten into some of our Christmas gift crafts-they had a lot of fun tonight working and finishing up some of their projects.

 James loves the bathtub and this week I have noticed some hair!!  Okay, there is not a whole lot but it seems to be growing-it amazes me how slowly hair can grow...or not at all.

 This was Becca's project tonight, we had started at Christmas and finished...a month later.

Both girls happy to work and play together.