May 7, 2015

Night Out at Disney on Ice!

(click here for today's pictures)

• For some reason, my best sleeper was the first one up this morning.  It was about 6:30 when Whitman started calling my name.  He wasn't fussing but he was ready for us to come and get him.  Robby assumed that he must have been soaking wet or something wrong but no, he was just awake.  
• We laid him down between us and he labeled everything on his face and then moved on to our faces-poking our eyes and grabbing our noses as he said their names.  He probably was hungry because he did keep asking "eat time?" over and over again.  It took Robby a lot of convincing but he did finally get Whitman to join him in the shower this morning.
• Keaton and Campbell came down next and they could not believe that Whitman was awake and already in the shower.  Campbell put her school clothes on and then we all had our pancakes and waffles for breakfast.  My Campbell could not wait to go to school today because today was the day that she was getting to stay for lunch box kids-who would have ever thought a child would be so excited about staying at school for 3 more hours?
• School here started out pretty well but again today Reagan finished way early.  And then the boys finished soon afterwards.  This should have raised some red flags in my mind but they did not.  So about an hour later when I was filling up their boxes for tomorrow, I found items that they had neglected to do today.  I don't think that they meant to skip them but things weren't pretty with Graham when I had them do one of their skipped boxes.
• We had lunch and as we ate we anxiously waited on news from Robby.  They had pie contest at his work and we were pretty sure that our peanut butter pie would at least place.  The prize money was sizeable so the kids and I continued talking about it through out the day.  After lunch, we got word-1st place!  Whoop!  The kids were so excited and Campbell came in this afternoon telling everyone that Robby had won 2,000 dollars.  She was close but had added an extra zero!
• Robby picked up Campbell and my crew were all upstairs watching my show as I was on the treadmill.  The rest of the afternoon seemed to go by fairly quickly because soon we were eating our supper and loading up.
• The girls had an outing tonight at Disney on Ice.  It was a shop for Robby so he had to buy quite a few things which was delightful for the girls but I tried to remind them over and over again that this was not normal.  Normal is not buying 3 snow cones and 2 bags of cotton candy plus quite a few other things.  I explained that normal was eating some candy from my bag and opening a package of glow sticks from the dollar store.   
• Since the boys weren't getting to go with us tonight, they will be get a special activity later on.  But tonight they hung out with Cash and went to his piano recital.  I asked them about it and they said that 20 kids played the piano and it lasted for about 2 hours and was like sitting in church.  (The official report was that it lasted only 45 minutes!) 
• It was nearly 10 when we made it home (Whitman ended up spending the night at Nonna's house) but we still let the boys check out all of the things we brought home from the show and then had a snack before bedtime!

May 6, 2015

Swinging at the park!

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• Today was the last day of Bible study and I think my kiddos were pretty bummed about it.  They were up and ready fairly quickly.  The kids had time to clean the potties and empty the trash before we had our breakfast.  They scurried through putting on their clothes and doing their chores so they could play their kindle for a few minutes before breakfast.
• Whitman did not want to unbuckle today when we drove up to Bible study.  He put his hands over his buckle and kept telling Reagan "no."  She then told him that afterwards we were going to go to the park.  So over and over again I reminded Whitman that he was going to play with his friends and then we were going to the park.  Those reminders didn't help with drop off but when I picked him up, he put my face in his little hands and said "park?"  
• We went to a different park than usual today and I think that the kids enjoy the change.  This park didn't have as much for Whitman but he enjoyed trying to keep up with his brothers and sisters.  Campbell and Keaton just enjoyed me pushing them on the swings but somehow I lost sight of them and eventually saw them filling their shoes with rocks and then carrying them to the top of the slide and pouring the rocks down the slide.  Gracious!
• Beebee is still in quarantine so this was the 3rd week that we weren't able to go and see her.  So we headed home to do a bit of chores and then a bit of reading.  The kids are anxiously counting down their days of school left and I do believe that they have been bragging about it a bit.  I hope that after they realize that I still have a few things for them to do each day and that really until the pool opens up, our days will be pretty much the same as usual.
• I had big plans of taking a tiny nap this afternoon while Whitman was sleeping but for some reason Reagan talked to him over the monitor-she said he was crying and told him that she was going to get me.  Either way, it was not yet time to get up for him but he refused to lay back down so he was able to come downstairs which meant goodbye to my nap!
• Lilli and Cash came over for supper and then went to church with us tonight.  I think they had fun.  My poor Graham, who struggles memorizing was ready to say all of his verses to his teachers tonight to earn a tshirt and they were not there.  We have worked and worked on those verses all week long but I guess we will have to work on them one more week!
• Once at home, we had a cookie and then it was bedtime for everyone!

May 5, 2015

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo - Sonic-style!

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• One day I say the kids could sleep a long time and then the next day everyone is up before 7.  I am not sure what all was going on up there-Keaton told me that she laid in Anderson's bed and that Graham laid on the floor.  Campbell added that Anderson slept under his bed but I am not too sure about the validity of that info.
• It is nice when everyone does wake up early and in a decent mood.  Campbell had eaten her yogurt and had her milk when it was time to load up for school.  She ate her toast on the way and was excited about Nonna picking her up. 
• Since the kids are mostly finished with everything that I need to help them with, I was able to do a bit of housework this morning.  Keaton and Whitman entertained themselves very well-I do believe that they were working on mother's day cards and thankfully no one made a mother's day card on my walls or bedspread.
• At 11, I put Whitman down for a few minutes and the rest of us did some reading.  I have started letting everyone have a piece of candy during our reading time-that way they have something in their mouth and can't really talk but can listen well.  Then when they have finished their candy, it is time for us to say all of our memory work together.
• We had lunch and then played a crazy round of Simon Says.  That seems to be the big game right now with the kids-Keaton eventually just melted into a sobbing puddle in the floor because we would not let her be "it" the entire time  Whitman tried his best to keep up with us.
• For snack, Graham helped me make some carrot chips and that was pretty interesting.  Campbell and Nonna came over just in time to sample our snack and they were pretty good.  But 4 carrots made just a tiny snack and was gone quickly.  Good thing Nonna brought another snack for movie time.
• The kids had one last redbox movie to watch and they did that while I was on the treadmill and then it was time for supper.  Robby wasn't home yet so the kids ate while I finished getting ready.  When he came in, we unloaded his groceries and then I headed out to a baby shower.
• I had already told the kids that they would not be going anywhere tonight but I was wrong! Robby felt like the kids had not adequately celebrated cinco de mayo so they went to Sonic, of all places to celebrate.  Robby tried to tell them that they wouldn't get out and play but 6 pouty faces made him change his mind.  So then he told them that if they could get dressed (yes, most were still in pjs-don't judge!) and lay out their pajamas then they could play.  He said they all went to work and as usual the kids step it up when I am not around and tonight Campbell was helping get Whitman' dressed.  
• They played at Sonic and enjoyed playing as much as they enjoyed their drinks.  Once home, it was time for showers and bedtime.  I made it home in time to go upstairs and tell everyone good night.  Campbell was the only one asleep but I shook her until she woke up a enough to open her eyes.  Everyone else was still going strong and wanted to tell me all about their jolly rancher slushies! 

May 4, 2015

Sisters!

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• Campbell was the first one up today and she walked into our room pushing the shopping cart which was filled with two baby dolls and her purse (filled with a camera, phone and an odd assortment of toys.)  After she was up a bit, I had to wake up the other kids to start on their school.  They just have a few more days and then I will let them sleep as long as they want...well, maybe.
• Robby worked from home today so he took Campbell to school and Keaton rode along with him.  Meanwhile, the rest of us worked hard at school-some children worked more diligently than others.  And that was evident by when they finished school-Reagan finished in less than 2 hours but the boys were still working when Robby went to pick up Campbell.
• Campbell was a little bummed that she missed the fire truck coming to school on Thursday. Robby reminded her that she was able to play with all of her friends at home but I might just feel a visit to a fire station in my future.  When they made it home, I had lunch almost ready.  After lunch, the kids started on their chores and Whitman and I left.
• Whitman had his 2 year check up with Martin today.  He weighed in at around 30 pounds...hard to tell exactly because he again refused to stand on the scale.  I had to weigh with and then without him to get his weight.  Other than that he was the perfect little guy-now, he did refuse to let me unbuckle his seat belt when we arrived.  
• The doctor said that his ears still had fluid-that fluid can stick around for up to 12 weeks after an ear infection so she wanted to see him in 12 weeks just for a double check.  This fluid caused a bit of concern for her and she asked about his hearing and speech.  I reassured her that I thought it was fine.  Of course late in the day, I start questioning myself wondering if it really fine then up he walked labeling things in the room "chair, wall, door, window, nose..."  Yep, he's just fine.
• Back at home, the kids watched Paddington and once they left the bonus room, I did my treadmill time.  When I had finished, Robby had supper on the table (I did put it in the oven-though that was all that I did since we had earlier frozen our pan of chicken spaghetti)  The kids ate and then everyone but Whitman and me went to soccer practice.
• Campbell's team practiced first.  The boys played with Max, Reagan played around with some of her friends and Keaton mostly just sat in her lawn chair watching everything happen.  Then the boys had practice and Reagan did too.  It seemed like they were gone forever-Whitman and I played upstairs, I cleaned out a cabinet, we watched a movie, he had a snack and we went on a walk.  Then we sat in the mud room looking out the windows singing songs waiting on everyone to come home.  He kept asking "Keaton shower? Rearea shower?" and continued running through the list of siblings asking who he was going to get to take a shower with.  
• As soon as the kids walked into the door, they then climbed into a shower and were washed.  Then it was bedtime for the whole crew but I hear lots of people pottying upstairs so probably no one is asleep just yet!

May 3, 2015

Ice Cream Truck Night!

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• Robby and I were up and getting ready when the kids started coming downstairs.  Since we had a few minutes to spare, I used the time to work with Campbell for a bit.  Today during church they pulled Campbell out to do a video.  We didn't know anything about it but I figured it would be for Mother's Day so I started mentioning phrases like "I love my momma because she takes good care of me" and "My mom is the best because she loves me so much."  Then I started asking Campbell questions like "Why is your mom the best?" and she answered "because she takes care of the best kids ever."  No telling what the child said on the video!
• The kids ate their Sunday morning doughnuts and then it was time to load up for church.  Maybe Campbell was nervous about making the video but she sure couldn't sit still during church today.  I guess it is her age but hopefully that will pass.  After church, we headed to Nonna's for lunch.  She prepared Robby's favorite-pizza!  You can never go wrong with pizza for the Dennies and for dessert she had ice cream, cookies and cake!  Whitman became pretty mad at me when I tried to break his cookie into pieces after he crammed the first cookie into his mouth.
• After a bit of playtime, we came home.  Robby had teased about working in the yard this afternoon but I have finally converted him to a Sunday afternoon nap taker (I do believe that is Biblical.)  Whitman laid down for a nap and so did we.  We left Reagan in charge of the other watching tv.  After sleeping for about 30 minutes, Keaton and Campbell came upstairs to play.  They were trying to be super quiet since we were asleep so they went into the closet in the same room that we were in and played a game!  Needless to say there was little napping going on after that.
• We had supper and then headed back to church tonight.  It was kind of nice not having choir and word on the street is that children's choir will be combined with the Wednesday night program so that will change things some.  
• I probably should have previewed the kids clothes a bit better before seeing them when they climbed out of the van at church.  I do believe that Campbell was wearing a dress that could possibly be a nightgown.  And Anderson, who must not have listened when I said put on your khaki shorts, put on his black athletic shorts with his Sunday shirt.  
• When I was dropping Whitman off, when he saw that his teacher was not his Sunday school, he tried to climb out of my arms.  The boy almost went crashing to the ground.  The teachers said that he stood by the door and cried until more kids came to play.  I told them that my kiddos aren't really used to being alone.  
• After church we played on the playground for a bit and then hurried home so we would have time to have our ice cream truck before bed.

May 2, 2015

Soccer Game #2

(click here for today's pictures)

• This was our first soccer game at 8:30 this morning so the Dennies were all awake early, early-like leaving on a trip early.  But this made things nice because there was no rushing around or leaving the house a wreck-we were all dressed, ready, laundry folded and the house in a decent order when we left for the fields.
• My Campbell's game was first and though we were down both sets of grandparents, we had to cheer even harder.  Her team lost (the other team had one kid who played the entire game and was very good) but again this week, Campbell ran after the ball and stayed right in the middle of things the entire time.  I could not ask for more!  
• During the first game, I put sunscreen on everyone and I probably should have applied it again or maybe I shouldn't use sunscreen from last year but we are all a bit pinkish tonight.  Last time we played, we had to split our time between Campbell and the boys but not this week.  The boys had our full attention and even though they lost as well (this team also had a superstar that was left in the entire game), the Dennie boys did great.  They really played hard today and worked well with their team and well with each other.  Anderson the one and only goal for his team but they really had fun.  Anderson really attacked the ball and Graham became a great defender.  Hopefully, they will continue to play like this for the rest of the season.
• Then we had our break at McDonalds today.  The playground there filled up quite a bit so that made things a little more hectic but the kids still had fun.  After stayed there for a while, Robby dropped me off at the new Painted Tree Vintage for me to quickly walk around.  It was really cool and I could have stayed in their for a long time looking at things that I will never buy!  
• Reagan's game was next and her team won!  Reagan made the first point in her game (but I was turned around getting something out of the wagon so I missed it)  Reagan really played hard and did great today but didn't play as strong as the last game.  All of my Dennies did great today and they all had lots of fun.  
• During Reagan's game, Anderson was hanging out near his coach who was the timer so during halftime, Anderson's coach told one of Anderson's jokes on the microphone.  Anderson didn't want to talk on the microphone because "all of the people were staring" at him.  His joke was "why did the golfer bring 2 pairs of pants to the golf course? in case he got a hole-in-one."  After the game, the boys took off collecting flags and anything else that they could carry to help put up.
• Back at home, I handled the showers for everyone while Robby did a bit of mowing.  As soon as we finished, he showered and took Graham to Ethan's birthday party.  The party was at Larry's pizza and Graham had lots of fun using his tokens to play game after game.  The highlight of the party was eating 2 cupcakes and then going to the store with Robby after the party.
• Those of us at hone ate our lasagna around the tv so we could watch the Kentucky Derby.  Afterwards, we had a big lesson about horse racing bets.  With limited knowledge, I tried my best to explain trifectas and superfectas and everything else to the kids.  Anderson is a quick learner and is ready to go to Oaklawn.  I went on the tell him that Oaklawn is where we would go to watch the horses and he said "I know, I have the hat."
• Soon Graham and Robby were back home and we all just hung out until it was bedtime.  I do believe that the kids are pretty wild upstairs while trying to go to bed but that is fine because I am about to have me a bowl of ice cream (and yes, I do plan on exercising each day next week since I didn't this week...though I did I have a good excuse this week since I was sickly!)

May 1, 2015

Just tinkering!

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• Campbell was downstairs first this morning and even thought she was upset that Robby had already climbed out of bed, she still stayed with me until Keaton and Graham joined us as well.  As soon as I get up to get ready for the day, my Keaton always gets up and puts on her first of at least 5 changes of clothes for the day.
• We had our breakfast this morning and then started to school.  Things were fairly calm again this morning but it was calm because my boys seem to do everything without ever doing any school work.  Reagan can sit in the middle of utter chaos and still manage to get her work accomplished but if Anderson or Graham are in the same house as the chaos happening then they can not get their work done at all.  I am glad that they have time to enjoy life but it makes me crazy!
• They finally did finish most of their school so we did our together work.  We had almost finished and everyone was doing so well when Anderson and Reagan had a brawl over who was going to point to the states on the map as we sang the state song.  Seriously, there were tears over pointing to Idaho.  By the time, I had had enough and took my maps from them, told them to finish whatever was left of their school work and walked out of the room.  They knew this could not be a good thing so they quickly pulled it together and Anderson flew through the rest of his work while Reagan wrote a note of apology.
• By this time, everyone had calmed down and no one seemed to care who was able to point to Montana so we all had lunch and read a few books.  Then it was time for our leisurely afternoon but nope, Robby came home so it was yard work time.  Whitman had his nap and then joined us but everyone else stayed outside from 3-8 working away. 
• Actually, I was the only one working-well, Robby was too but the kid were sure not.  We never really asked them to do much work so they played and played and played some more.  It took the entire time of me raking but we finally have finished the bottom half of the yard so we celebrated with leftover pizza in the driveway and then by taking 6 filthy kids to play in the sand and have shakes at Sonic.  It was a pretty perfect evening.
• When we made it home, it was a bit like a marathon here getting everyone bathed and in bed at a decent time. Tomorrow is an early soccer game so it will be an early morning!