Awwww mom.......not in front of my men!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was very different this year. In a new house, it felt so strange. This is a temporary home for us, and it just didn't feel like Christmas here.

I tried to make it special for the kids and I am pretty sure it was. On Christmas Eve, we made cookies for Santa, and Haylee wrote him a note before going to bed.

Now she knows Santa only brings 1 gift for every good child, so she was really pushin it this year.....here's your cookies Santa, now gimmie my presents!!!!

Since I am sure she doesn't have much longer till Santa will be not so real for her.....I didn't get on her too bad.....but still....there are starving children in Africa.....right?

So Christmas morning came, and I could hear the kids outside my bedroom door discussing if they should come in and chance waking up the baby, or just waiting until we came out. They cracked open the door, and we pretended to be asleep. Evil, I know, but soooo much fun! The next time they peeked at us we couldn't control our giggles and they knew we had been faking. So I gave the go ahead to check out the stockings.

Looks like a lot when they are all lined up like that.......LOL

Then onto the tree....

They tore through their presents and were soooo excited for their gifts. I took pictures, but they are all on a throw away camera, and I gotta get the film developed.

After presents we headed over to my moms for breakfast. She had everything all ready for me so I cook make omelets for everyone. We visited with my parents, grandma Tryon, grandma great, uncle Dean and Liz, Matthew, Lindy and her girlfriend, and even got to see my sister Kim and Dave who brought Logan and Jaedyn.

Here's my dad with Colby

We left with very full bellies and went home to grab a few items before our movie started. One of those items was Anna, Colby's girlfriend, who joined our crazy family for our traditional Christmas outing. We saw
We bought a Zoo which was a great family movie.

After the movie the kids couldn't wait to get home to play with all their new toys. So we dropped Anna off at her house and came home. We usually have a turkey dinner on Christmas night, but it just didn't happen this year. See? Everything was just off this year.....but the kids all enjoyed Christmas, and I know next year everything will be great.

Sneaky Caden

We have lots of empty wrapping paper rolls.

As everyone knows, they make awesome swords. I told Caden 3 times to put them away because it was time to leave, and there's no way they are going in my car. As Caden passes me in the living room on the way to the garage, this is what I see.

Notice anything?

Everyday this kid cracks me up.....

Christmas Shopping

I know I waited waaaay too long this year. The mall was crazy, and dragging along the boys was so much fun that I just get giddy when I think about it. I am starting to understand those parents who put leashes on their kids.

The boys had to be good so they could get a reward. At this point, it was not gonna happen.

Bath and Body Works had so many people in it that I parked the double stroller and Scott with the boys on the dad bench. After their 5th lap running around it, Scott made them sit still on the bench. Travis just gave up and slept.

We grabbed some lunch and after the 10th time asking, I let the boys ride the musical horses.

This was a dollar well spent! It put smiles on their faces made them happy.

I got almost everything I needed at the mall, but had to go back the next day to return some boots for a bigger size, and to pick up Colby's gift. This time the boys got to ride the mall train.

I am thinking about when I have to go back about just putting all my kids on it and paying the conductor enough tickets to just do loops around the mall for a couple hours. Maybe that's a little extreme.

Nah........................

My favorite things

I love always having someone cuddle, talk to, and love to pieces.
I love sitting at my dinner table and seeing all my kids that are so different, yet so alike, interact with each other.
I love watching them at all their different age levels as they grow and change.
I love hearing them say things that I always say......and when their dad tells them, You are just like your mother!

I just love it!

Saturday

Yesterday we went to a Christmas dinner at my in laws house. The baby slept most of the time, but when he woke up Scott's brother Randy took one look at him and told him how much he liked his haircut.  

 

As you can see Troy wasn't too agreeable. LOL

Scott had to work and wasn't able to make the dinner, so I made sure to bring him home some dinner. Since he had my car my dad had to make 2 trips took get us to the dinner, but he never complained.
When I got home Scott had just arrived, and after a quick hello goodbye I was off again to make a trip to Old Navy. They had "Jingle Jammie's" on sale and me being the savvy saver mother of 8 (Yeah right), I just had to go snag a few pairs for Christmas.

As much as we have enjoyed having 1 car for almost a year now, we are finally ready to get Scott's truck back on the road tomorrow. Instead of making the kids take turns on who gets to come and who gets to stay, we now will take 2 vehicles when we all go somewhere together. Hopefully next year at this time we will have a vehicle big enough for all of us.

 I pray it don't say Bluebird on it.

D.A.R.E. Graduation

Shelby graduated from the Dare program at school. Scott and I went with the 4 youngest kiddos in tow.

I know its a little blurry, I took it with my phone as she was walking.

Here's one of Shelby, who went red when I shouted here name when they handed her the certificate.

The boys tried their best to sit still.....

but sometimes it's just too hard. There were a few tipped over chairs....and Chason kept bangin on the seat in front of us. But it's kinda that guy who was sitting there's own fault. If you see a bunch of empty seats and 1 group with 4 little boy, why on earth would you pick there to plop down? But we all had fun and it turned out good.

Here she is with one of her best friends....

And her teacher....

And a group one of all the girls with officer Trescott.....

What a night

Last night I caught Colby on the phone at 11:07. He is not allowed to be on the phone after 9:00 on school nights, and he had just got reminded of this rule the night before, as he was on it until almost 10.
His cell phone broke last week so he has been dying (woe is him) and now is constantly on our house phone.  He got mad because I unplugged the phone while he was downstairs talking, so he comes upstairs like nothing is wrong, and casually plugs it back in. I told him he is now grounded from the phone. He wanted me to let him get back on the phone to call his girlfriend  Anna back to let her know he won't be able to call her again. It is now 11:30, and I am very sleepy and getting mad. I told him no- go to bed. So he stomps off and goes downstairs. I let the dogs out, turn off the computer and lights, let the dogs back in and go upstairs to bed. I am in bed for maybe 5 minutes, when I hear him downstairs. He gets back on the phone and called Anna back!

I sit up in bed, furious, and that's when my baby wakes up. It's now midnight and I am extremely tired. So I get up and feed the baby and 45 minutes later check on my son who is now asleep in his bed. I decide to go back to bed and deal with it in the morning. At 2:30, my baby wakes up crying again, and doesn't go back to sleep till 3:22. Then at 5:00 a.m my hubby gets home from work and the baby starts stirring again, but I managed to get him back to sleep by rocking and giving him his Binky. At 7:10, Colby comes in my room to tell me his alarm didn't go off and he has now missed the bus. I think he just over slept because he was up so late on the dang phone!

He ends up missing 2 classes at school because I couldn't take him until I took the rest of the kids to their school. He admits he got back on the phone again after he had already been caught once. I am at a loss. The hard part is, I love his girlfriend Anna. She's really really nice, and he is so happy with her. So now I have to think of a punishment. I am exhausted, but life goes on.

Caden Caden Caden

Today Caden had a friend over to play after school. It's kinda a big deal for him because he has never had one over before, always the older kids. So I pick them up from school, and on the way home Haylee announces it's too cold to walk the dogs today. Caden looks at his friend Andrew and says, "she walks the dogs every day, ya know.....to lose weight".

Haylees eyes about popped outta her head, Shelby and myself tried extremely hard not to bust out laughing while I changed the subject as quickly as possible. So we pull into the garage and I tell them to go ahead and go in the house without me because dad and Colby are in there and to let dad know I was going to go to the gas station to get a cherry coke. Caden looks at Andrew and says, you gotta watch out for my dad and Colby. They fart a lot.

OMG!!!! Hopefully, Andrew isn't scared off or scarred by us.......

Principal

I met with Cadens teacher and the principal today to discuss his most recent behavior. We have come up with a game plan and I am hopeful it will work. It focuses a lot on praising and kind of a point system, and since he soaks up praise it should help a bunch. His teacher asked the principal if 10 times a day would be a good number for praises on following directions, and she said it wasn't nearly enough. I love that she knows how much kids need to be praised and how kids like Caden thrive on it.

Hopefully we're on the right track!

Red Solo Cup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68&ob=av2e

Love this!!!!!

Thanks to Anna for showing this song to Colby!!

The Weekend Is Here!

Woooohooooo! It has been one of those crazy weeks and I am so glad its Saturday. When the baby woke up this morning I fed him and got to lay right back down in bed. I haven't been able to catch up on my sleep so it really helped.

Here's a rundown on the kiddos-

Colby is happy because he only has 1 day left of having to wear the boot on his foot. Hopefully, it did its job and his foot was allowed to heal properly. You just never know with Colby......

Shelby has been getting everything together for the science fair. She has been scrambling to get everything together and documented so she can get it turned in.

Haylee and her boyfriend broke up this week. Oh woe is the life of a 10 year old. Now when they play freeze tag together it'll be so as friends. Just like it was before. LOL

Caden. (sigh) Caden. He had a trying week, shocker I know.......seems he had a rough day and a boy was being mean to him so he decided to stand on his chair and announce to the whole class he could spell. He can spell lots of words but this 1 word in particular was the one he decided fit best for his situation. It's a 4 letter word and starts with "f". Can you guess what it was? He told his teacher that I allow him to say it as long as he spells it. Awesome. So I am expecting my mother of the year award soon. Next week I get to meet with the principal. Good times.......

Cavin had his 5th birthday and got to go to Chuckie cheese. He spent his Birthday money on transformers and new jammies. We brought home about half of the Cars 2 cake and the next day when I went Christmas shopping with my mom Travis decided to help himself to the cake.

It's a Travisty!!! Scott did a superb job of keeping an eye on him huh? LOL

Chason turned 4 and had his party with Cavin at Chuckie Cheese. He bought almost the exact same transformers as Cavin. He wanted Bumblebee while Cavin want Optimusprime and the other 2 they each picked out are the same ones. Oh well, at least there's no fighting over them. Well, no I can't say that with Caden in the equation as well.

Travis has been using sentences lately. It's so neat to see him changing from baby to toddler. Kinda bitter-sweet. Yesterday was my sister Jamie's Birthday, so naturally I had to call her and sing to her as loud and obnoxious as possible, and Travis looked up at me and said, "noying mommy". That's annoying mommy? Really? LOL they learn young not to hold back around here I guess......

Troy has been going through a growth spurt. He is eating constantly, and wants his baby cereal everyday now. He giggles and squeals just from the threat of a zobber on his cheek. His little hands are so ticklish. When I clean his hands with a washcloth he gives the biggest belly laugh. He is so fun!

Today I am hoping to find the floor in my laundry room. I am on load 3 and its 11:00 a.m., I want to get at least 4 more loads done today. Hopefully I won't have to sacrifice any socks to the laundry gods.......

Chuckie Cheese

I have been waiting patiently for my mom to send me the pictures from the boys birthday party, but since she is taking her sweet time (ahem MOM) i am gonna post about it and just put in the pics from my phone.

They had sooo much fun!

They had never been before, so everything they played on was the coolest thing ever!

Travis rode this ride and another one with a dog in the front seat about 10 times in a row.

It took me 25 minutes from when I said it's time to go till we actually made it out to the car. I would round up a couple kids, and 2 more would take off in different directions. But they had fun, and that's what matters most.......right?

Just Dance

See girls dancing.....

See girls laughing

See girls having fun!

We just wanna, we just wannaaaaaaaaa

Girls just wanna have fun!

Happy Birthday Cavin!!!

Cavin is 5 years old today! When did that happen? It doesn't feel possible for him to be 5 already.

He is my 5th baby. I had him at almost 40 weeks pregnant. It was the longest I had ever been pregnant. He was so warm and cozy he just didn't want to leave. I was so excited to have him. He had a hard time breathing and a small infection when he was born , so they put him on a vent.

He was on it for only 6 hours and in the NICU for 2 days. They even let him go home with me, 2 days later.

Cavin loves attention, and can be very quiet at times.

His buddy is Chason, and they do everything together.

He is a big time mamas boy. He always sticks close to me. Once you have won his trust, you will have a friend for life.

He loves spaghetti. He likes to watch cartoons and is currently loving the Smurfs. He is really into building things with Lego's or blocks.

Happy Birthday Cavin! I love you!