March 14, 2014

All smiles!

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• Breakfast this morning was honey buns and those silly honey buns didn't sit too well with Whitman.  He has spit up all day long.  He has changed clothes more than Keaton today but it was his top that was wet with spit up and not his bottoms like Keaton in her week 2 of potty training.
• This was Keaton's lucky day because she was going to get to spend the night with Grannymom and Grandpa.  That girl was so excited and could not understand why Daddy didn't take her this morning over there like he takes Campbell to school in the mornings.  
• I was able to hold her off until time to go and while we waited, the big kids did some school.  They had already finished the hard stuff Wednesday and Thursday so that just left the easier stuff.  But that easier stuff did take a while but most was accomplished before we left.
• I had a haircut at 10:30 so the kids played at Grannymom's house.  Grannymom offered for me to run some errands and I would have but couldn't think of any (until I got home!)  The kids played outside while I was gone and I arrived back just as it was lunch time.  
• After we ate, Keaton was ready to see us leave.  She did hug me pretty good and I was afraid that she would change her mind.  She didn't though and happily waved us good bye.  Once at home, the kids rode their bikes and scooters while I unloaded the car and put sleeping Whitman in his bed,
• I had everyone finish their school and then we read some science before the kids watched some tv.  During their tv watching, Campbell sat beside Reagan who made bracelet after bracelet using my computer while wearing her headphones.  It is the funniest thing to me-really, how many bracelets do you need?  Campbell and Graham have decided that they want looms for their birthdays.  I guess it is good for their fine motor skills.
• Since Whitman did go to sleep earlier this afternoon, he woke up earlier.  I thought I was watching him fairly well but when I realized he was no longer in the room with me, I started looking for him.  I heard a "splash, splash" and quickly found him in the bathroom by the potty.  So I have one child that now likes to play in the potty and another that can not seem to get anything into the potty.  Poor Graham just has really bad aim-or he is in such a big hurry to get back to his playing-that is probably what contributed to his accident on Monday.  
• All my Anderson wants to do lately is play ball-dodgeball, catch, soccer, basketball-it doesn't matter.  Graham plays with him most of the time but I probably need to start having him and Graham work with Campbell on soccer.  
• Eventually this afternoon I went up to the treadmill and put Whitman in the pack n play to watch me.  Soon all of the kids were up there playing ping pong and air hockey.  I spent most of my treadmill time timing when the kids would switch with someone else in their game and breaking up fights.  It did make my time seem to go faster!
• Supper tonight was at the McGuires house.  Amber made great spaghetti and the kids had a good time playing.  They played outside and inside.  (Reagan and Camryn even made more bracelets)  We didn't make it home until late, late and the kids were exhausted!  Robby strongly suggested that they stay in bed until 8!  

March 13, 2014

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Fun day with friends!

• It was a busy day around the Dennie house.  Robby apparently woke up early enough to get a run in so that meant I had to get around as well.  (Well, maybe it was the kids entering the room that caused me stir.) 
• We soon realized we need to get Campbell ready for school and Keaton wasn't going to be left behind. Since Robby works from home on Thursday, she’s able to ride along. They stayed for the Pledge of Allegiance and to give Campbell one more hug before running a quick errand and then back home.
• Meanwhile our homeschool friends were arriving so it was a lite homeschool day.  It was even a lite day for our gathering.  Everyone did their oral reports (Reagan: penguins, Anderson:  circulatory system, Graham:  Billy Graham).  Hopefully my videographer will have a video up in the next few days.  Everyone did great and it's fun to see the progress they are making in their speaking and the reports themselves.  
• Campbell returned home just in time for lunch and was glad to see her "other friends" as she called them differentiating between her school friends and everyone else.
• No crafts today so they kids enjoyed lunch, playing several games and even playing outside for quite awhile.
• Naps for Whitman and Keaton and a pretty calm work day for Robby = me getting to escape for a bit of shopping sans kids!! Always a bit easier getting in and out of stores without unloading and loading 6 kids.  I managed to make to Bed, Bath Beyond for a wedding gift, Sports Academy for soccer shoes (still bought to big of size) and Target for a new outfit!
• Made it home to find everyone in the living room watching the Hogs basketball game.  Robby kept telling Anderson he better watch this one because it might be the last of the season (and it looks like he might should have been a bit more positive in his thinking.)
• It was Bunko night for me so Robby devised a plan to get the kids out of the house too (well, he was going with them.) But there was  a charity basketball game at Bryant Middle school between the Rollin' Razorbacks and area youth ministers and teachers.  
• Anderson couldn't wait to get to the front row along with the other big 5 to watch the game (Robby and Whitman in the stroller a few rows behind.)  
• Robby did text as they got there to say he managed to leave the house without the diaper bag.  He did find a clean a diaper in the van and Reagan reluctantly agreed to carry in her purse.  But surprisingly they escaped without having to use a diaper or a bottle.  Keaton even made it home in a dry pull up.
• They enjoyed seeing Ms. Alicia play in the first quarter even scoring a basket.  (Rollin Razorbacks won 70-68 - but the teachers/youth guys got 6 points for ever 2 points of the Rollin Razorbacks since they weren't as skilled in wheelchair basketball.)  Highlight of the night was the concession stand, of course, so lots of M&Ms and Sour Punch right before bedtime.
• They made it home by 9:00 so everyone was worn out.  Pjs, teeth brush and pottying and soon everyone was out.  Robby said he didn't hear a peep on the monitor.

March 12, 2014

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3,051 Pages Read!

• Wednesday mornings are the craziest of days but I am glad that Robby is able to help.  I was still dressing wiggle worm (Whitman) when Robby started on breakfast.  The kids were pretty hungry and they finished off the pancakes and the waffles.  
• After breakfast, we handed out trash bags and sent the kids on their way to empty all of the trash cans.  None of my big kids like to do the bonus room.  I don't know why-I don't think they are scared but who knows.  Anderson had already finished his trash and I was being nice and didn't assign the bonus room to anyone.  But as soon as Keaton was finished with her pancakes, she grabbed her trash bag and walked to me.  So the only trash can left was the bonus room and Anderson was the unlucky one around who I volunteered to help her.
• Soon we were on our way to Bible study.  My boys now like to walk to class by themselves just like Reagan does.  So I let them but I do have to walk right by their class so I just check in on my boys.  Today they were sitting beside each other at the table coloring when I went by.  
• When it was time to pick up Whitman, he was in a big boy room.  Usually, when his room is short staffed they move him to a baby room.  But today, he wasn't in there and a worker had to help me find him.  When I finally found his room, he was crawling all over playing with all of the new toys-my baby is growing up!
• We had our lunch at Beebee's place.  Today she was already in the cafeteria so we just joined her.  She said that they didn't like if they changed spots but I just wheeled her to another table big enough for all of us and said that we would apologize later.  The kids were excellent during lunch and I was content to just visit in there but Beebee wanted to go down the hall to the activities room.  This room gives the kids a bit too much free areas to move in.  It is just a balance-in her room, they are crowded and this leads to problems but in the activity room there is too much space and this leads to problems.  We all survived though-Campbell passed her time in the activities room by pushing Beebee around while Keaton pushed Whitman around in his stroller.  (I might have been a preoccupied with a checkers game with the big kids during this time.)  I even believe that I saw them lining up to have a race-Beebee in her wheelchair against Whitman in his stroller.
• Back at home, the kids played outside in the wind while I unloaded Whitman and Keaton and all of our stuff from the morning.  Then I had everyone come in and they practiced their oral reports for a minute and then it was movie time.  While they were watching the movie, the doorbell rang and it was neighbor girl selling candy bars.  I am sucker and bought 5-those things were a dollar apiece and they were tiny, tiny!  At least she wasn't selling wrapping paper.
• Soon Robby was home and it was time to gobble down supper before heading to church tonight.  The kids love Wednesday night church and Robby and I are growing accustomed to sitting behind the puppet screen for the entire time.  We are able to get a few things done-newspaper reading, magazine reading and my Bible study.  
• We picked up the kids and then came home and since they are all starving when we pick them up, we had ice cream as a quick snack before bed.  Keaton has gotten into the habit of being a bit of trouble at bedtime but tonight she went to bed pretty calmly....so far!

March 11, 2014

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Everyone has to do their part...

• School day and picture day for Campbell.  I tried my best for Campbell to wear something cutish for her pictures.  That didn't work-the first was too scratchy, second was a bit snug, third I couldn't make the buttons go through the holes and 4th she just didn't like it.  I should be used to all of this from Reagan-she never ever wears what I pick out for her (unless I just make her)  She only wants to wear leggings all the time, every time even if they have holes in them.  
• Campbell was finally dressed and on her way to school and we started breakfast.  Today was toast and yogurt day.  I even let the kids have nutella on their toast.  Not too long ago there was a buy one get one free coupon that Robby used twice.  When he came home with 4 jars of nutella, I made fun of him.  Now that I have solely eaten 3 of them, I have decided that I should spread the love to my children and share with them (actually, I was lamenting about why I had lost any weight after days of treadmilling and Robby politely pointed out my nutella addiction)  
• School was fine today-Graham was even able to sit down for some of it.  He has decided that sitting hurts so most of the morning, he was standing up doing his work.  By the afternoon, he had forgotten about his injuries.  He did take his brother into the bathroom to look and Anderson came out of there like he was about to vomit.  Later, Anderson told Graham that he needed a helmet on his boy parts next time he rides his bike.  
• After school, we played a geography game, worked on our oral reports and read science.  The kids had enough time to play some before lunch.  Keaton helped me get ready for lunch and then we went upstairs to fetch Whitman.  I know the others were all good babies but he is just so happy, all of the time.  You should see him grin when we come in and get him from a nap.  I guess that I can't call him a baby for much longer since he is about to be one.  
• Speaking of growing up, Keaton is doing well on pottying.  We are still averaging 3 accidents a day-which I guess you could say is not that well.  At least twice Keaton wet herself just minutes after I thought "I should take her potty after I finish this."  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and Robby can see the extra dollars once used for diapers at the end of the tunnel so there is no turning back now.  
• We had our lunch and then everyone helped clean.  Today's big project was replenishing our toilet paper to all of the bathrooms.  I filled the box with toilet paper and brought it down from the attic.  Then the kids loudly and noisily passed it out to all the bathrooms.  Poor Whitman was then put into the box.  And no, I am not out of toilet paper.  That was just one of the many, many boxes that delivered our 1000s of rolls of toilet paper two years ago.
• Graham pulled out a project before nap time.  I was able to help him and Whitman sat in his exersaucer giving me kisses while I worked with Graham.  Anderson was at the kitchen table working with one of his play doh projects.  And Reagan was where Reagan usually is now-making loom bracelets.  Today, she even watched movies with the boys while wearing headphones and watching vidoes on my computer showing her how to make bracelets.  She is ever so quickly running out of rubber bands.  
• The kids had their naps and movie time.  Then they played some while I made supper.  Campbell spent the afternoon with Grannymom and then she went to the soccer coaches meeting with Robby on their way home.  Keaton was missing her by the end of the day and kept asking about her.  Before they came home, we played a few games and waited for our others to come home.  
• Once Campbell made it home, the kids played charades for a bit before we put everyone into bed.  Campbell was out within minutes but Keaton was not at all ready to go to sleep tonight.  She did finally calm down but I think that she was so exhausted that she couldn't settle down-we all need our sleep tonight because tomorrow is a big day!

March 10, 2014

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Rough ending to the day...

• Today was the day that I had expected it to be but we all survived and overall the day wasn't too bad.  Time change caused everyone to wake up later than usual.  That is fine but our morning just goes best if we start school as close to 8 as possible.  It was much closer to nine though when school actually got started.  
• I passed out cereal and fruit and everyone did find their spots in the school room.  School went fairly well though my Graham (this just wasn't his day at all) did have a breakdown when I tried to have him hold his pencil correctly.  I try to pick my battles but this wasn't one that should have caused him to completely fall apart but it certainly did.  He ended up losing his kindle for the rest of the day-so once Anderson was finished with school, he pulled out his kindle and Graham was like a caged animal roaming around in the house.  
• Campbell was so excited to work on her reading book again this morning.  She just sat in the floor with her cereal waiting on my to come and help her.  I hope her excitement lasts for a long, long time.  Then when she had finished working on that, Keaton and her helped me wash the rest of my grapes and strawberries.  Those poor girls worked and worked trying to pull the stems off of the grapes-took them forever (wonderful!)
• After school was finished, we worked on Anderson's oral report project and then did some work on Campbell's dollar store purchase from the other day.  She was so excited to finish it and I was so excited to be able to throw out all of the glitter from that project.  Glitter everywhere in this house!
• We then had lunch and the kids listened to science, some of a Magic Tree house book but when it was time for Brighty they couldn't sit still anymore.  That was fine (even though we only have 5 chapters of Brighty left).  The kids soon started on our afternoon chores and soon Keaton and Whitman were snoozing and the others were watching tv.
• I should have told them they couldn't go outside but I encouraged them to watch 2 movies and then change to go outside.  I was on the treadmill when they started going outside so I got off to help get them out with shoes and shut the doors.  Then I walked through the house picking up before heading back upstairs.  I peeked out from the garage just in time to see Graham take a tumble on his bike.
• Nothing to odd about that and nothing too odd about his curdling scream afterwards.  But it was odd that he jumped up grabbing his private parts and came running to me.  I looked and there was blood and that was very, very odd.
• I quickly ushered him inside and started checking out his injuries.  I was able to get the bleeding to slow down and get him to stop yelling but the cut on the very tip of his private parts was pretty good.  How did this happen you ask?  Well, I guess the child was in too much of a hurry after he pottied last to properly pull up his briefs and put things were they belong.  
• Just imagine him laying out in my closet, blood, him screaming, little people coming in worried to check on their brother-gracious me!  I got an ice pack for the swelling and some water to keep him quiet and called his daddy.  At first Robby wasn't sure if I should take him somewhere and I wasn't really either.  But we do want to have grandchildren so I called Nonna to come over so I could leave.  And Robby would leave as soon as he could.
• I just went to an after hours clinic and as I told the front desk person what had happened she said that she didn't know if I should just go to the er.  And then she got up and said that she would ask the nurse.  The lady behind me asked where he got cut and then said that she was the nurse practitioner.  I told her and she said that she would just look and see.  Before I could even fill out the paper work, they called us back.  The nurse looked as Graham quietly wailed and squeezed my hand. 
• She gave it a good look over and said that the er wouldn't do anything.  She said to watch it, make sure he potties, keep it clean and keep antibiotic ointment on it.  Within 5 minutes, we were on our way home.  Graham waddled back to the car and I lifted him in, propped him up and buckled him in for our way home.
• When we made it home, Nonna and Robby had everything under control in the house-which I had left in a mess.  Most kids had had showers from playing outside, things were straight and supper was on the stove.  I helped Reagan and neighbor girl pick up thousands of rubber bands that they dropped in the yard and got bit all over by mosquitoes.  So I quickly had my shower before supper too.  
• Graham stood up at supper and ate.  Everyone seemed to enjoy (again) our one pot spaghetti.  The kids then played with Nonna some while we finished cleaning the kitchen.  Soon Nonna headed home and we watched our nightly Let's Make a Deal.  Everyone went to bed fine tonight-I think that they were pretty tired from today!      

March 9, 2014

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Always excited about Ice Cream Truck Night!

• We survived time change morning.  When Graham came downstairs he looked at our clock-which we had not turned back and said "oh, it is just 6 down here but our clock says 7."  Campbell had made muffins yesterday at Nonna's house and brought doughnuts home so the kids feasted on them while watching a movie (a reward because everyone was dressed and ready on time)  I spent the rest of this time getting ready myself.
• Church was fine-Graham kept clicking his fingernails during church as he was trying to tear a hang nail.  This just about drove my crazy!  He was so pleased with himself because when the preacher said turn to Ephesians, he opened his Bible right up to Ephesians (his bookmark helped quite a bit)
• Lunch was at Grannymom's house and the kids devoured the fruit that she had-a huge bowl was quickly gone!  Then they all played outside until time to leave.  Lilly was swinging on the swing when Keaton walked in front of her and since Lilly couldn't stop, she whacked Keaton pretty hard (her hair was full of grass and dirt!)  Lilly ran inside to get us in a panic but once the door was open all of the way, we could hear Keaton crying and then could see Reagan holding so we knew she would quickly be fine.  But all of this was just too much for Lilly and Anderson, they both ended up crying afraid that Keaton was really hurt.  
• A few minutes later, Campbell came inside crying because Lilly and Anderson were crying.  My Campbell gets so worried about everyone and wants to make sure that everyone is okay.  By this time, Lilly and Anderson were fine again and in a heated round of dodgeball but poor Campbell was still upset by them being upset.  
• A bit later, Graham came inside.  He sat in my lap for a while and then turned to me and said "they are being a little bit mean out there."  So I got up and stood in the garage so I could listen to what was happening.  All I could hear was everyone playing their dodgeball game.  Then I heard Campbell saying "Anderson and Lilly, let me see your happy face."  I guess Campbell was going to make sure that everyone was okay.  While I was still eavesdropping, I heard Campbell get upset because those 2 did not give her their happy faces since they were busy playing.  I asked for their happy faces and then Campbell was quickly appeased and went back to playing.
• Soon it was back home and since the kids played outside they were stinky, so we sent them in for quick showers while we washed their clothes.  They watched a few movies and then they would have had the opportunity to watch one more, but they messed that up by raising their voices at each other so it was then time to put back on their clothes and get ready for church.
• Choir for 3, a class for me, cookie club with Robby for 2 and then something different during big church.  We had a dinner were the speakers from the Barnabas project explained their ministries.  The food was from David's Burgers and the speakers were excellent.  Very neat evening.
• And the kids (Campbell on up) even had their dinner at church.  Campbell and Graham had chicken nuggets, Reagan and Anderson had pizza and even had some of the same speakers that we did.  (Love that)  
• On the way home, we fed Keaton-squeeze applesauce and a peanut butter tortilla and then we all had ice cream truck once home.  The kids were pretty tired tonight so I think they all went to sleep pretty quickly.  Anderson and Graham have been saying that they lay awake all night long-sometimes I do wonder if they are awake up there but I know they are not awake after a day like today! 

March 8, 2014

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New baseball cards!

• The kids were up early this morning.  Robby was running and I thought that the boys must have been upstairs with him but I later found them sitting on the couch watching Robby's ipad.  We have recently started locking the closet door that has their kindles-they know if the door is locked, the answer is no to playing and we don't have to be asked over and over.
• I folded some laundry early, early while Reagan pushed Whitman and Keaton in the laundry basket.  They did this over and over until poor Whitman practically begged to get out.  Robby was soon done with his running and appeared to make breakfast for the crew.
• He whipped up some cinnamon rolls and egg and sausage burritos.  He has been having egg burritos for breakfast and every morning the kids really eye his eggs so today they had their fill.  As we were cleaning up the kitchen, Robby made a deal with the kids that if they cleaned up the toy room, he would give them 2 dollars and a trip to the dollar store.  Well, that deal was taken and they worked and worked on the toy room.  There was a bit of fussing and bit of moaning but they did finally finish it and we were soon on our way.
• Our first stop was for Robby to run into Walmart to pick up a few things and then I ran into Sams.  Let me tell you, if there was one person at Sams, there were a zillion people there.  Our next stop was Grannymom's house.  Robby hooked up something so Grannymom and Grandpa could watch the Hogs play later in the day and the kids enjoyed playing with Cash.  He saw us driving down the street and biked over.  
• Grannymom had lunch for us so we ate and then they ran off to see Lilly and Cash's last game and we ran off to go spend some money at the dollar store.  Robby took Whitman with him to the grocery store while I took Reagan, Anderson, Graham and Keaton to spend some money.
• The kids did really well and quickly (well, kind of quickly) made their choices.  Reagan picked a hula hoop and a cross made out of garland (not all dollar store products are winners but she was happy so that is all that matters).  Anderson picked two packs for football cards.  Graham had the most trouble deciding what to pick-he had camo duct tape and glitter glue but then changed to football cards and a glow in the dark sand project.  Keaton picked a Dora mirror and comb and a hula hoop.  And we bought Campbell a hula hoop and a glitter sticker project.
• We picked up Campbell on the way home and once home the kids helped us unload and put everything up from the day and then we all found our way to our bedroom to watch the basketball game.  I worked with Campbell on her glitter project and it was very time consuming but she loved doing it and was a little devastated when we had to stop.  
• After the first half of the game, the kids had had enough of the game so they went outside with a snack while we watched the rest of the game.  When the game came over, the kids headed to the showers while Robby cooked mini hamburgers for us.  
• Hamburgers were another hit menu-notice how we are trying new things around here?  Good for us.  After our supper, I helped Graham and everyone else do his glowing sand project.  It was a mess and I was so worried that it wasn't going to work-but it did.  Imagine me and all of the kids (even Whitman in his exersaucer) sitting in my darkish bathroom stirring glow in the dark sand.  
• After we put the sand in the containers, the kids noticed that some of the sand was glowing on the tray and then soon sand was all over shirts, hands and even in hair.  Robby knew something was happening because he could hear screams of delight as all the kids ran to my dark, dark closet to see themselves glow-meanwhile, I was reading the package making sure no one's hands or eyes were going to burn off from the glow in the dark substance.  
• Once everyone was finished glowing, we all sat down for our evening's economic lesson-Shark Tank.  The kids have been begging to watch it so we let them tonight.  It took us a long while to watch because Robby would have to pause the show to explain what was happening.  Reagan asked if we could watch it tomorrow and we said it wouldn't come on until next Friday.  Anderson could not believe that it would be an entire week before the show came on tv again.  Robby then tried to tell them about when you couldn't even record a tv show-the just stared at him like he was speaking another language.