September 14, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Graham's highlight of the weekend!

• Let's see, I left you last night after 12 as I was watching the movie with the girls and working on finishing the blog.  When the movie was over I played on my computer while waiting on the girls to all go to sleep so I could go downstairs, pick up and go to sleep myself.  It was well after 1 when I finally made it to bed and thankfully, everyone slept well.
• Our alarms started going off at 6:30 and by the time I could get in the shower, I could hear that the girls were up.  They were playing the game of telephone and some hand clapping game.  My Campbell was right in the middle of them playing along-she did well last year so was aloud to stay this year.  She even slept upstairs with the girls last night and found herself a friend.  One of our guests was a bit spirited and Campbell immediately took up with her.  I guess she enjoyed playing with someone just like herself-she even told me that she was going to invite her new friend to her birthday party.
• As soon as Robby woke up, we ran to go and get doughnuts-2 dozen doughnuts was just barely enough.  After 10 girls each had 2 and a half doughnuts, there was only one half eaten half left over for poor Whitman to eat.  He didn't mind-that child was enamored with all of these loud strangers running around the house.  
• Before breakfast I had the girls get dressed and load up their bags and bring them downstairs.  Of course after they loaded up and brought their stuff down, I had item after item left unclaimed to find the owners of.  The girls played "sardines" (reverse hide n seek) until it was time to head to church.
• On our way to church, Robby ran into Walgreens to pick up pictures for the girls picture frames.  That was a fun and useful (and inexpensive) party favor.  We did cause quite a commotion with 10 girls all walking into the church house.  Three girls headed to Sunday school (Kennedy, Kaleigh and Alyssa Kate), three stayed with us for church (Lilli, Campbell and Reagan) and four found their folks in big church (Reagan, Kennedy, Cate and Camryn).  
• On the way home, I asked Reagan if she enjoyed her birthday party and she grinned and said "yep."  I guess that made it worth it but really, sleepovers are kind of like having a baby-you forget how hard it really is but then you have another one.  Last night while I was sitting and waiting on the girls to fall asleep, I remembered my Dad offering to give us money to elope and I wondered if I should offer Reagan money next year to not have a birthday party...just a thought.
• Back to the day, we had our lunch at Grannymom's house and the kids worked incredibly hard on knocking down dominoes.  After a bit, we decided to head home so we could sneak a nap in this afternoon-Keaton and Whitman went to sleep first, then I was the next one to fall asleep followed by Robby.  And sometime during my short nap, Campbell came and joined me as she does most Sundays.
• The boys had a big time with Cash last night.  Graham told me all about it and said that they played on their kindles.  And Anderson filled me in on church saying that the story was about Joseph and the famine.  I think they could have stayed gone a few more days but Keaton was ready to be home.  She enjoyed her day and night with Nonna and Pops but she was so happy to see us.  
• It wasn't long before our naps were over and it was time for choir.  I would love choir a lot more if we could just do it by teleconference!  Anderson asked how long he was in choir and I said about an hour.  He kept saying "really?" so I asked him how long it felt like to him (expecting him to say 2-3 hours) but he said "like 30 minutes."
• My Campbell couldn't sit still for anything during big church-it was bad enough that she might have to practice sitting still this week.  That girl kept pretending to grab the pen while looking at Robby during the sermon.  Gotta love her!  After church, we went to the playground to play for a bit before heading home.
• Once at home, people had showers, had a snack, had ice cream and even did a chore or two.  And then it was bedtime-we should have gone to bed to but alas we wanted some chocolate cake more than some sleep!

September 13, 2014-Happy Birthday Reagan!

(click here for today's pictures)

Girl Power! Celebrating Reagan's birthday...

• I was secretly hoping that it was going to continue raining all night long.  But alas, the ground was dry-ish when we woke up and upward games were on for the day.  Robby and I woke up first and got ourselves ready.  Then I went upstairs to wake the kids up-by the time I made it back downstairs, Anderson was sitting on the couch already in his uniform and was playing his kindle.
• My girls took a bit longer to get ready but soon we were all ready and headed to the ballgames.  My girls cheered first and again my Campbell ran through the tunnel with her pom poms waving.  That girl is the best ever at running through the tunnel.  And my Reagan is the best ever at doing cheers.  Together they make one awesome cheerleader.  They both had lots of fun today even though the rest of us were freezing to death.  At one point, I even googled "signs of freezing to death" just so I should know if we should be worried-it wasn't that cold but close!
• Next up was Graham's game.  My Graham caught a pass and even ran a few yards on that play and another play.  Graham's team won and he had a really fun time.  After the game, we headed to McDonalds to thaw out.  Last week, we went to McDonalds to cool off but this week it was to warm up.  We ate our lunch and then the kids played on the playground for a bit-well, not all of the kids-Whitman went home with Grannymom for a ballgame break, Keaton went with Nonna and we brought Cash with us.
• After our break, we headed back for Anderson's game.  His game was a bit more exciting-maybe tense might be the word.  The coaches couldn't quite agree-the kids didn't really know that though.  I think it was a tie and so did Anderson.  He had fun but when we got in the car, he said "I hope they get my position fixed."  We asked what he meant and he said that he didn't want to be center the entire time.  I told him to tell his coach and he said that he did but his coach said he would work on it.  Urgh, my boy is a good center but if he wants to play something else, I think upward would be the place to give him a chance....ok, I will calm down now.  All that matters is that the kids have fun.
• Keaton again went home with Nonna after the game and Whitman with Grannymom.  That just left us with the big 4 and I let them do their own thing while Robby mowed the yard and I worked inside the house getting ready for the big birthday party.
• It wasn't too long before the party started here-of course we had the family here along with Lilli, Reagan D, my Reagan, Kennedy S., Kennedy M, Camryn, Cate, Alyssa Kate, Kaleigh...and there might be someone else but right now I just can't think of who it might be.  Pretty sure that is all of the people-at least hope so.  (I am trying to type and watch Parent Trap all at the same time)
• The first order of business during this peppermint party was to eat Taco Salad.  Before we could stop them, the girls ran outside to play for a few minutes.  We wrangled them back in for present opening.  Reagan opened quite an assortment of presents and was very gracious.  Then it was cake time-peppermint cake (that caused me fits this afternoon) and brownies with peppermint icing.  
• After that, the girls opened up a few of Reagan's presents while we waited on Lilli to arrive.  Then I had a canvas for everyone to paint-I let them paint whatever they wanted so that did take a while.   Next up was a fingernail painting game.  And the best game of all was blindfolded musical pillows in the driveway-good thing the neighbors didn't call the cops on us!  
• Afterwards, I tried to calm the folks down some.  They had something to drink and then we headed to the bonus room to watch a movie.  The movie is still going on (12:10) and afterwards, it is going to bedtime.  Oh my, I sure hope it is going to be bedtime.  I am getting a bit tired now-good thing all of these girls aren't sitting with us during church-imagine a row of 8 sleeping girls!  

September 12, 2014-Happy Birthday Reagan!

(click here for today's pictures)

Happy 9th Birthday Reagan!

• The birthday girl was one of the first ones up this morning.  She was ready to get this day of celebrations started.  The first order of business though was quite a bit of time in the toy room with everyone before we started breakfast.  Once we did have breakfast, her waffles had a candle and we sang.  We have sang Happy Birthday so much today (and yesterday and will tomorrow) that I have heard Whitman today singing "birthday" over and over again.
• As soon as Reagan was finished with breakfast, she said "should I do my chores now?"  I said sure and she walked over to discover that her chore list of the day had been replaced with Happy Birthdays.  She was pleased-though the boys were not since they had been given her chores.  Actually, no one really had any real chores today-my laundry wasn't folded so not one could put it up, my dishwasher had pots, pans and lots of big things in it and not plates and cups and the toy room was already picked up.  
• After breakfast, we started on school.  Today was a light day since it was a birthday so everyone was finished by 10ish.  That was nice-especially for me because I had a few pre-birthday party things to accomplish.  Some of their "light day" of school consisted of looking up a verse in the Bible and then finding one of the words from the verse in the dictionary, working on their fun phonics and both boys had to do something with their sisters (Anderson had to read to Campbell and Graham had to play fishing for letters with Keaton). 
• My kids are funny because I can never figure them out.  I had a game for the little girls today-hide different colored popsicles and then they had to find them and mark the correct one off until they found them all.  I knew my big kids would want to help hide them for the girls but I had no idea that we would play the game multiple times with Graham and Reagan probably enjoying it more than Campbell and Keaton.  
• I couldn't really think of a spectacular birthday lunch so I went with the standard-pb and j.  Reagan got to pick what we read at lunch so she wanted to read Grimm's Cinderella.  We didn't get to the part that she really wanted to get to today-when the stepsisters cut off their toes and heel so their foot could fit into Cinderella's shoe.  
• We just had a bit of time before leaving to meet Robby.  Our first stop was the Nutrition Center-I had a few pages to fill out for Anderson's study.  Though I really have no idea why they couldn't ask Robby those questions-highest level of education, his occupation, and his current salary-I am pretty sure he knows all of that stuff too.  I did have to fill out a few pages for behaviors that have been a problem with Anderson in the last 6 weeks-sometimes a problem, often a problem or never a problem.  I know I am pretty easy going but I think we just have good kids-I struggled to really mark anything.  I mean he is easily distracted during school, sometimes forgets to pick up after himself and has started to use a new ugly tone occasionally with me but none of those are really "problems."  I mean they aren't great behaviors but they are corrected when asked so I can't really mark them as problems.  Hope that doesn't disappoint them!
• Then we went to Sonic-we went to the one on Cantrell so we could eat inside.  Robby had a minute and ran to buy cookies for the birthday girl.  So we had slushes and cookies and again sang Happy Birthday.  Weeks ago, Anderson had asked me to buy Reagan some rainbow looms for her birthday.  Of course I forgot until the last minute and thankfully, Nonna was able to save the day and pick me up some.  Graham couldn't wait to give Reagan the ones from him at breakfast and Anderson said he would give her the ones from him at Sonic but once we got there, he decided to wait until her birthday party.  
• After Sonic, we dropped Graham off at Grannymom's house.  The kids thought that we would never get there coming from Cantrell but finally we made it and before I could even put the car in park, Graham was out of the van door.  I followed him in but I guess he thought I was dropping him off because he tried to shut the door behind himself even though I was walking in to.  He could not wait...and if he had only known what he was going to get to do-his own trip to Big Rock.  Grandpa sent Robby a picture of Graham on the go-carts.  That boy must have been in heaven (he missed the trip there for Cash's birthday and was so disappointed about it).  
• Our afternoon flew by at home with me working in the kitchen accomplishing not a whole lot.  We weren't really home too long before it was time to eat and leave again.  Our Sunday school class had a fellowship at church so the kids all went to child care there.  Reagan brought 2 dozen cupcakes to share with her closest friends.  Anderson said that they even sang to her tonight. 
• Even though we picked the kids up after 9, they were still going strong and could have stayed for another hour or two.  My girls were so excited to be in a class together and loved, loved watching a movie.  And Reagan and Anderson enjoyed playing in the game room.  And Whitman, well, I think he is just so cute that his teachers spoil him rotten (I might be guilty of doing that as well!)
• Once at home, the kids quickly went to sleep and Robby and I started on picking up a bit.  Since there are 3 ballgames in the morning and the yard needs to be mowed in the afternoon, there will not be too much time to get ready for the party!  So we did all we could tonight.  

September 11, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Let the #9 Celebrations Begin!

• Busy morning around here-Campbell to school taking fruit to share with her class. She chose cantaloupe.  She told me that she wanted "not grapes" so I asked apples or oranges.   Then she added that she wanted the orange fruit that Grannymom has.  Hmm, so then the guessing really started-finally I figured out that she was talking about cantaloupe. Or at least that is what she thought she was talking about-I had never seen her eat a cantaloupe before.  So the other day, Robby ran to the store to buy one for her and then I handed it off to Nonna to cut for me (yep, I am a cantaloupe cutting virgin)  Anyway, early this morning Campbell and her cantaloupe were loaded into the car.
• Also Anderson was loaded into the car along with his watch that displayed how well he slept and his list of foods that he had for breakfast (a healthy well balanced breakfast-since we had to pick from the choices)  Anderson was eager for the day at the Nutrition center since he knew mac and cheese would be for lunch, he knew he would have time to play in the play area there and he knew that his daddy would probably buy him a treat on the way home.  
• So all was going well this morning after Robby, Campbell and Anderson left.  We had finished our breakfast and were moving swiftly along on our school.  With just one less kid doing school, everyone else can get their work done much quicker-less distraction for them, fewer people for me to wrangle here, less time to wait for me to answer their questions.  We were moving swiftly but then the phone rang-Robby had forgotten to give Campbell her cantaloupe.  He was already well on his way to Children's Nutrition center fighting the crazy traffic and rain.  
• I said we would load up and take that cantaloupe to Campbell so I started getting ready and having the kids finish what they were working on.  Just as I was about to give the "get in the car" call, Robby called back to say that he was just going to be late and would return to school.  Campbell didn't yet know that they had forgotten her cantaloupe but did grin as her daddy dropped it off.
• Reagan and Graham were finished with school before 10 this morning.  And my Whitman was really into the everything today.  He didn't slow down until he saw a video still playing in the school room after the rest of us had left.  He was standing by the computer watching it so I walked in and unplugged the earphones so he could hear it.  He stood there so I left-later I peeked in and he was sitting in front of the computer watching the cartoon.  I think he is going to really like watching tv-that makes my heart happy!
• Soon it was really time to pick up Campbell.  She wasn't too happy to see me since today is lunchbox kids where some of her classmates stay longer.  There is no need for her to do that since a few more hours of her at school just means me leaving the house during naptime for the others and her being gone for a bit more doesn't give me any time without kids and really, we just miss Campbell's spunk and excitement that she adds to the house when she is gone.  And man, is my Campbell in rare form when she comes home from school.  We had to have a come to Jesus meeting this afternoon-gracious me!
• At the Nutrition center, Anderson was doing perfectly-brain lab and psych.  One of the examiners looked at his sleep watch and came out to ask Robby if Anderson had a shorter night of sleep than usual.  Uh? He went to bed around 9 and then woke up at 7-that is a good 10 hours of sleep. Wonder how long the person thought Anderson should sleep or wonder what the data on the watch said he did sleep.  My Anderson is really probably one of the best sleepers that we have here.  And when all of Anderson's hard work was finished, he was given 3 whole dollars to spend at the Dollar Store-that is like giving him a hundred bucks!-a coke, candy and a spear gun were his choices.
• After a trip to the grocery store, Anderson and Robby were home.  The rest of us were watching movies and playing kindles this afternoon.  I was busy working on birthday things for Saturday-the birthday girl is getting really excited about her birthday.  
• We had supper and then Nonna and Pops came over with a cake to start Reagan's birthday celebration.  The kids were happy to see them and when they left, Keaton and Campbell had showers.  Then everyone watched Ninja warriors for a bit.  Then when we went to bed, Robby read the Bible story-tonight the kids were given the option to pre-read the story from the Bible and earn a prize.  Campbell, Graham and Reagan had all asked to read (or me read it to them) the story-Reagan and Graham were able to answer their questions but Campbell was not-she didn't care though.  Their reward tonight is a new kindle game-that is a huge, huge deal.  Though Reagan said tonight that she didn't want a kindle game for her birthday, she wanted a present.  Um what? Lately, our present to the kids for their birthdays have been me birthing them and then throwing them a party.  Maybe she would just like some cash...though this is no spend month!

September 10, 2014

(click here for today's pictures)

Ain't she a cutie!

• Bible study morning and Robby and I were awake before anyone else.  Even with clothes laid out, bags packed, lunches made and everything that we could imagine ready, there is still a lot of running around on Bible study mornings. Thankfully, we were ready on time-actually in time to eat breakfast and to get our morning chores accomplished.
• We met Nonna down the road so she could drop off Reagan.  Reagan had her new shirt on and was pretty pleased about her shoes that she bought for her birthday-they didn't have a strap!  Nonna was thankful that Reagan didn't ask for any with a heel.  
• Bible study was good-what we are talking about there corresponds exactly to the stories that we have been reading about at bedtime.  I am much more excited about that than the kids.  When we leave Bible study, I always ask the kids what they learned or talked about.  Last year, Keaton couldn't really tell us much about what she did but this year she talk and talks and talks until I cut her off so someone else can have a turn.  Likewise, Campbell can now tell us about the Bible story that they talked about.  I always take a turn sharing what we talked about in my group.  This was my take-away from big group today "if you tolerate it, they will embrace it."  Ay, ay, ay that is some scary stuff.
• We were going to go to the park today after Bible study but Sara said it was too hot and invited us over.  So we brought our ice chest in and all had lunch.  The kids gobbled down their lunches so they could have some time to play.  After a bit of playing, we loaded back up and headed to Beebees.
• So my Beebee story today is she told me that she wanted to give the kids their dollars today.  Then she looked at me and said "take off my shoe."  Of course, I was confused by this but did as asked, then I was instructed to remove the insert in the shoe.  Well, lo and behold, there was her money in the bottom of her shoe.  Keaton happily passed out the sweaty cash to everyone.   I was sure that they would want to spend their money at Sonic happy hour on the way home today-so I went the other way.  I am sure that probably makes me a bad mom but I really just wanted to get home since it had already been a long morning.
• We read some and then the kids watched a few movies before we did some school work.  I politely explained that Anderson would be out tomorrow since he would be at the Nutrition Center and it would really help if he could do some of his school work today.  I went on to say that Graham and Reagan would also do some along with him.  As kind as I was my requests were met with much protest.  But finally some work was done even though they acted like it was the worst 12 minutes of their life-yep, just asked them to work for 12 minutes while supper was finishing!
• Then it was time to meet Robby at church for tonight's activities.  Church tonight makes for a long night but well worth it.  Of course the kids needed showers tonight-even Whitman who had to have a quick shower before church since he had a diaper explosion right as I was getting everyone into the car! 
• The kids had a quick snack and then it was bedtime.  Blessed bedtime!  Anderson had to wear a watch to measure his sleep patterns (or something) for his visit tomorrow so that would be interesting to know exactly how well he sleeps-with 4 siblings in the room!

September 9, 2014

Togetherness....

(click here for today's pictures)

• Campbell was excited about school today because Nonna was going to pick her up from school. Campbell was not happy with Robby yesterday when he picked her up from school without a drink.  Apparently, you are supposed to bring a drink when you pick her up from school-who knew?  So today, Campbell was ready for school because she knew she was going to get a drink.
• The rest of us had our toast and yogurt breakfast and then started on school.  Yesterday, my Graham was the last one finished but today he was the first one.  But my Reagan was the most distracted today and her work took forever-now, she can quickly finish her work so she does have some time during the morning to fool around but today there was much too much fooling around. 
• When Whitman went to the pantry and came back to me with cereal boxes, I knew he was ready for a snack so I passed out cereal for everyone.  Since mouths were full, it was quiet for a bit.  Whitman watched a movie over Keaton's shoulder and soon we were starting on our together work.
• It seems right now that I am reading a dozen different books to the kids-Farmer Boy, Sarah, Plain and Tall, a book on Squanto, one about colonial days and a dinosaur book-well, okay that is just 5, it just seems like 12.  
• We had our lunch and soon Campbell was home from school.  She had a good time with Nonna and later in the day as we were sewing a purse for her, she said "I am a good cooker."  I said "you mean a sewer?"  And she continued that she was a good cooker because she had helped Nonna make something.  Of course, I asked her what she made but she had no idea!
• Reagan was beyond excited to be leaving with Nonna.  Reagan and Nonna went shopping to find Reagan a birthday gift or two.  From what I heard, they shopped, ate out and even got a shake tonight.  Pretty big night for Reagan.
• This afternoon we really didn't do much.  The kids played on their kindles and watched some movies.  Campbell and I worked on her reading book and sewed some on her purse.  Once Keaton woke up, my 2 shadows followed me constantly.  I have to be Whitman's shadow but I don't like having shadows myself.  I did sneak out to go and get the mail today-it was such freedom.  
• When Robby came home, we all picked up the toy room as supper cooked (gourmet supper of fish sticks, green beans and cornbread).  I guess it has been a bit since we have had green beans because when Anderson was praying tonight he said gave thanks for the cornbread, fish sticks and then just stopped-he couldn't remember what "those green things" were called!
• We did take a walk down the road-before our walk Campbell fell off of her bike and banged her lip so she was paranoid about riding her bike and was pretty uncomfortable on it tonight.  And at the end of our driveway to neighbor dogs barked and barked and barked at us until the lady had to come out and get them.  Of course it helped none that the girls just stood there and screamed.  I wasn't too worried, Whitman had a huge stick that he was carrying as he was riding in the stroller so I was prepared to grab it!  Thankfully, we all survived our walk and came back for a bit of football followed by showers.
• The kids watched some of the show Wipeout before bed and then it was off to bed since tomorrow is a really busy day!

September 8, 2014

Entertaining ourselves while the others practice!

(click here for today's pictures)

• School day for Campbell but there was some huge boy vs. girl tower building competition happening upstairs and I was pretty sure that she was not going to want to stop to get ready or even go. Thankfully, she put on her clothes and happily picked out her breakfast for the car ride to school.
• I quickly poured everyone else's cereal and told them that today they had to eat in the school room as they worked.  There was a chance that we might have to pick up Campbell so we needed to be done with their individual work by 11.  Didn't happen! My Graham was the one that was so distracted today-at one point he left the school room to go and find my computer to do his computer math.  He was gone for at least 20 minutes-I had even forgotten about where he was until he came back saying he couldn't find the computer.  Later I did go and "find" it for him-it was where I plug it up every single night and in the same spot that he has gotten it from every single day.  
• Keaton watched a movie in the school room using the head phones and Whitman stood right near her where he could see and probably hear the movie too.  He was in his pack n play munching on his little snack.  
• Robby was able to pick up Campbell so she made it home for lunch and reading with the rest of us. Then the kids had some free time for a bit before it was nap time for the little people.  Keaton went happily to bed but Whitman not so much.  He would fuss, then talk and then be quiet for a bit-so he stayed in his bed for a long while.  But when Campbell and I finally got him up he was just as happy as he could be.
• The afternoon flew by and soon it was time to load up for football and cheer leading practice.  My Anderson loves playing with his buddies on the field but tonight he did tell Robby that he was the center all of the time.  He is just built like a center so since he is on a team that wants to win, then he will be the center quite often.  
• Graham's practice was next along with the girls.  I tried to encourage Campbell ever so often but that would only seem to make things worse.  Her coach did talk to me tonight and said that Campbell is doing so much better as compared to the first night when Campbell's just wanted to sit down.  
• Once we made it home, everyone had showers and then a quick snack before bedtime.