July 7, 2016

Pool Day Morning and Night!

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(video from pool)

• We had a bit more relaxing morning around here than we did yesterday.  Everyone felt well and there were no complaints about pancakes (frozen) for breakfast.  I read some during breakfast and soon the kids were helping me with our chores.
• As soon as chores were finished, we loaded up to head to the pool.  The Kamps were there so the kids had some buddies to play with.  Keaton did not want to wear her floatees at all today so she stayed in the circle pool (shallow area) until I got in the water during the second kid swim.  The water was ice cold today and I barely lasted the hour but you can almost work up a sweat watching Keaton like a hawk, wrestling with Whitman (his life jacket can scratch the fire out of you), being hung on by Campbell and usually playing ball with the boys while judging Reagan's handstands.
• We had lunch at noon and after that Reagan or Keaton didn't get back in the water.  I believe that they have started to like coming home in their clothes-even though they have their bathing suits under and have to change as soon as they get home.  I am the same way and like to be dry in the car so I can't really blame them.  Campbell also follows what her big sister does so the last hour of our visit, I just had the boys in the pool for the most part.  When I walked by Whitman once and he said "I didn't poop," I didn't trust him at all and quickly took him to the bathroom.  He was telling the truth and then he just stayed out of the pool for the last little bit as well.
• On the way home, I stopped by Sonic to get ice cream cones for the kids (they were half off today).  Keaton had herself a fit becuase she said that she didn't like vanilla ice cream without anything on it.  I told her that was fine and she didn't have to eat one but I still ordered her one-I thought.  Once our order was delivered and the lady walked off, Graham said "where's mine?"  Well, I counted the ice cream cones and sure enough there were 5 and that is what I had ordered-I guess I had forgotten that there were 6 Dennies.  I was about to push the button again to order another when Keaton said she was not going to eat hers so we passed hers to him and everyone was happy (well, kind of-Keaton' wasn't too happy.  Who has ever heard of a kid not liking vanilla ice cream? Stubborness)
• After unloading at home, the kids changed clothes and had started on their movies before I could even finish hanging up the towels.  That is pretty much where they spent their afternoon.  A few weeks ago, all day every day was spent with the neighbor kids but now we never seem to be home at the same time-I guess summer really is a busy time.  We were home all afternoon but the kids never saw the neighbor kids until later tonight (as my folks were loading up to leave.)
• At supper time, Robby asked the kids if they wanted to go to the pool tonight.  The only catch would be that they would have to eat sandwiches there.  They quicky took him up on this idea but they did act a bit strange like they couldn't understand why we would take them twice in one day to the pool.  I would have gone too but I didn't fit in the car since my car is in the shop still. So I stayed at home and picked out pictures for the kids photo albums, packed for the Dennie family trip and tried to help plan our upcoming vacay.  
• When the kids came home, they told me all about their evening of swimming.  They did mention that Keaton went off the diving board multiple times.  I asked if Daddy was watching her and they all said no.  Of course I know this wasn't accurate so I mentioned it to Robby and he said that yes, he was watching her-he was taking vidoes of her.  
• The kids had showers and we smothered Graham's poison ivy with calamine lotion and then it was bedtime for my crew.

July 6, 2016

Quick trip to Dumas for Esau Corn!

(click here for today's pictures)

• Things were going splendidly this morning: I did my treadmill time before anyone really got up.  Then the boys were up and dressed and the girls were not too far behind him.  I walked through our bedroom and Keaton was now sound asleep in our bed so I let her sleep while I helped Reagan make cookies for the day. We finished the cookie making, cleaned up and I got Whitman dressed. 
• I decided then that I should wake up Keaton and she woke up fine but within a few minutes was saying that she was cold and laying in the hallway.  As Robby was leaving, he asked her if her tummy hurt and she said that it did. But within a minute or two, she was getting her pop tart from the pantry.  Before I knew it, she had drank her milk but when I looked at her close, she looked really pale.  I guess she could tell that I was afraid she was sick and was going to give her anything she wanted because she asked for (and got) a glass of coke. 
• As the kids were in the car and I was loading the final bag, I saw a wasp (common around here) and ducked under it as I walked by.  The next thing I knew, my back was stinging and I was ripping off my shirt while possibly squealing.  The kids said that they thought I had seen a bear or "saskwatch" and I was just thankful that I had taken my shirt off in my own driveway and not somewhere else. 
• We loaded up as I made a Plan B for Keaton and down the road, Shannon was making a Plan B for Brett.  He also woke up feeling bad and spent the morning with his grandparents.  Before we left, Keaton did sit in front of the potty for a while-absolutely pitiful.  On the way to Grannymom's house, Keaton did get sick but we were completely prepared.  
• Once we were at Grannymom, Keaton seemed to be feeling better and laid on the floor. Grannymom said that she talked some and then went on to sleep.  Her nap must have helped because she said that she had grilled cheese at lunch and when Robby picked her up this evening, she was back her normal self.  
• Back to this morning, we met Shannon and Layne and headed off to Dumas.  We drove straight there and picked up 3 bags of corn.  There weren't little bags of corn-each one had 72 ears of corn!  And yes, I was the silly one who bought 2 bags.  The worker men hoisted that corn and threw it in the back of the car while we walked around some corn growing.  This walk through the corn stalks did lead to 5 kiddos with muddy shoes!
• Those shoes were cleaned off though with a bit of playtime at a local park.  There was a daycare there so it was fairly busy but the kids were able to play for a minute while we fixed lunch and then another minute as we loaded up.  Once we made it back home, we unloaded the car and had a bit of downtime before heading to Shannon's house.
• There we started on the corn.  The kids were anxious to help and we quickly shucked an entire bag.  Without their help, we would still be working on that corn.  We then boiled that corn and put it in icy water before bagging it up.  Once the first bag was done, the kids were summoned to help shuck the second and then the third bag.  By the time we did make it to the 2nd bag, Robby, Keaton and Tony were back from work and we stopped to eat our July 4th leftovers.
• Robby decided that he would rather mow with Tony's lawnmower than stay in the kitchen so out they went to play in the yard.  They mowed while we continued to work in the kitchen and the kids played inside and outside and inside and outside.  We finished off the ice cream and then loaded up my crew to come home and shower.  
• Graham's poison ivy is still spreading but he doesn't seem too bothered by it.  Hopefully it will start to get better tomorrow and hopefully, no one else (at our house or the Wilson's house) will get Keaton and Brett's tummy bugs. 

July 5, 2016

Brotherly Love!

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• At almost 9, Anderson came and woke me up saying that he was hungry.  I am pretty sure that he wasn't really hungry but was just bored since Graham and him had probably been awake since 7 this morning.  By the time I had gotten myself semi ready, Keaton was downstairs.  
• Graham was in the kitchen so I asked him if he wanted to help fry an egg and Reagan was on the steps, checking out what was happening downstairs before she made her entrance, and quickly volunteered to help.  She upped the ante and asked to make her egg in a hole.  So that is what we did.
• Grahma and Reagan were working hard when Reagan reminded me that Campbell was still in bed and that Robby had said that if someone was in bed still at 10, they would get breakfast in bed.  So up Graham and her went carrying Campbell's breakfast-she did eat a few bites in her bed but then brought her food down to join the others.  We did have ourselves a smorgasbord-fried eggs, scrambled eggs, egg in the holes, cinnamon toast and yogurt. 
• Breakfast was a success but all of that left me with a mess of a kitchen.  I started to work on that and the kids started to work on their school for the day.  We had finished school and had just accomplished picking up the downstiars when Nonna and Pops showed up.
• They are leaving tomorrow for their summer vacation and need to tell the kids bye.  They also brought lunch for us which we gobbled up even though we had just finished eating about an hour earlier.  Robby was home before they left-he had car trouble this morning and just decided to work from home after getting his car fixed. 
• After telling Nonna and Pops bye, despite being behind on chores, I let the kids play a nerf war game/disaster.  I say that it was a disaster because there were tears and gnashing of teeth.  They can sometime do so good playing with their nerf guns but other times, it just ends in disaster.  After their war was over, we did our science and read some before starting on our chores.  
• Chores were over quickly and then the kids spent the last hour of the afternoon doing pretty much nothing.  Robby and I made supper (leftover bbq from the other day that we managed to divide between 8 people.  We then scooped up ice cream for everyone to enjoy before going outside.  The kids played while Robby mowed.  I played some and did a bit of work but after a while it was time for showers.
• Before bed, I did give my Grahammy some benedryl.  We discovered that most of his mosquito bites, weren't really mosquito bites but poison ivy.  Of course, Graham would be my first kid with poison ivy but hopefully it is on the mend.  

July 4, 2016

Waiting for Mr. Tony's Fireworks!

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• "Somebody! Help! Somebody!" were the words that we heard very early early this morning.  Robby's first thought was that someone had fallen out of a window and I was expecting an intruder or fire. Keaton was beside us nursing a bloody nose but I rolled out of bed, getting tangled in the sheets and crawling/running to the hallway.  Robby was right behind me when we heard Graham finish "Anderson is throwing up."  With those words, Robby turned right back around to climb back into bed and my run slowed to a fast walk up the stairs.  Not too often do you think "thank goodness, just vomit."
• So we started our Independence Day with vomit and a bloody nose all at once.  Anderson did feel pretty puny for a good hour or two.  Thankfully, he was able to finally get to sleep and slept through most of the morning.  I had the other kids eat breakfast in the living room so they could be quiet.  
• Campbell, Keaton and I eventually headed to the grocery store.  We picked up some things for tonight and a few things for the rest of the week.  It is pretty interesting how you can spend a hundred bucks in no time at all-it probably didn't help that my little girls were being pretty good so I let them add a few things to the cart.
• Once we made it home, we woke up Anderson.  He wasn't too sure about going anywhere but he did run upstairs to play the xbox with Graham.  They were screaming and cheering so loudly that we decided that he was fine and told him to go put on his suit.  We did bring 2 cars when we went to pool just in case he started to feel bad again but he didn't need that at all.
• Layne and Brett went with us to the pool and Whitman joined us with Grannymom and Grandpa and Aunt Dana.  He was happy to see me and when I asked about breakfast, he told me that he ate cookies and hot dogs.  I'm not too sure that I believe him.  The kids had a great time at the pool and around noon, they served up hot dogs and the 4th of July pool potluck begin.  The pool was pretty crowded today but there wasn't too many folks eating. 
• After 3 whole hours swimming, Whitman was exhausted so Robby decided to leave a few minutes before the rest of us.  Graham and Campbell went with him and they had made it home and unloaded before we arrived home.  Whitman had a nap this afternoon and the kids vegged in front of the tv while we made ice cream on the patio (actually, Robby manned the ice cream makers and I took a good ole nap.)
• At 6, we loaded up and headed to the Wilson's house for hot dogs, hamburgers and all of the fixings.  Shannon had made her home made potato salad which was my favorite and after we finished our meal, the kids were very anxious to play a game of kick ball.
• We decided that it should be kids vs. adults so that is what we did.  Layne got smacked pretty good with the ball and then when I kicked the ball hit Keaton's leg pretty good.  Moments late, Shannon kicked the ball and it smacked poor Keaton right in the face.  She immediately had a stunned look on her face and then she just fell apart.  My baby is one tough little girl and she bounced back and didn't even miss her turn to kick.  
• We celebrated the adults kick ball win with our homemade ice cream and then it was firework time.  Grannymom and Grandpa even came over to watch the fireworks.  My Keaton was a bit timid but then perked right up but Whitman got scared on the very first pop.  I do believe that when the big kids scream and squealed at the first fire work, he decided that he should be scared and that is what he was.  By the end of the show, he would cover his ears but would also turn and watch the fireworks.  I am not sure if it was more entertaining watching the fireworks or watching Tony and Robby run from the fireworks once they were lit.  
• After the show was over, we tried to clean up a bit and then we snuck out!  My Whitman was intent on staying at Mr. Tony's house and was not happy about leaving at all.  But once we made it home, Robby and I ran everyone through the showers as quickly as possible and then it was bedtime for my crew.  Hopefully we will all sleep very well tonight and wake up calmly in the morning.

July 3, 2016

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

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• Sunday morning and after everyone was dressed, we had leftover doughnuts and cereal for our breakfast and then it was on the road to church.  The kids are always in the car in a flash lately since we are finishing up a pretty great book on tape.  We are the end of the story and things are very interesting right now.
• When I dropped Whitman off at church, he was not happy at all about going into his class.  That little goose!  Everyone sat better in church today and I only had to bop people on the heads once or twice-though Campbell did stick out her tongue a few times at her sister-gracious!
• After church, we headed to Nonna's house to eat lunch.  She had bbq and all the fixings which is one of my favorites. The boys brought their remote control cars over and had fun driving around Nonna's driveway.  
• We were able to have a pretty good nap this afternoon and the kids enjoyed getting watch their movies.  My Keaton was counting down the time until it was time for us to leave tonight and when we told them it was indeed time to go, everyone was quick to clean up and get themselves ready.
• Tonight was church night at the Traveler's game.  We picked up Grannymom and Grandpa and when we arrived Nonna, Pops and Jason were already there.  They had hot dogs and hamburgers to eat and after the coke machine stopped working, they brought out can cokes-so we all grabbed one and put into my bag which worked out very well in the scorching sun.
• The sun was hot but we could tell that it was quickly setting.  The boys magrated to the grassy area and a ball was even tossed up to Anderson.  We were very far off, but we could tell clearly how excited he was.  But right beside him was Graham who was probably even more excited than Anderson.  Reagan settled in with Jason near the front of our section.  She was working hard on catching a ball so Graham could have one too.  Surprisingly, she sat there the entire game waiting but did never catch one.  Campbell, Keaton and Whitman sat with us for a while but then wanted to go to the grassy area and that is where they stayed the entire game.  I had to stay over there with them but it was kind of pleasant in the breeze once the sun went down (the frozen lemonades that Graham brought over for us helped greatly.)
• After the game, the kids were able to run the bases and they all enjoyed it.  The kids were on cloud 9 coming home and even when we put them in bed tonight, they kept talking and asking us questions.  The boys asked me about at least 10 different baseball players-if they were still alive, what team they played for and a ton of other questions that I do not know the answers to.  It was a pretty great day.

July 2, 2016

A little yard work!

(click here for today's pictures)

• Last night Robby told the boys to not make a sound until after 8 this morning.  We didn't hear them at all but unfortunately Robby didn't tell that to the girls and two of them were in our room before 8.  The other, Reagan, had gone downstairs to fetch her kindle and then hid in her bed until breakfast arrived.
• Campbell and Robby had started getting all of the pancake stuff out and then sadly realized that we were out of pancake mix.  We usually have 2-3 extra boxes around here but not today.  I walked in the room and could tell that they were both pretty bummed about this-until Robby mentioned Shipleys.  
• Campbell, Keaton and Whitman loaded up and they went to go pick up doughnuts.  At Shipleys they were all out of chocolate filled and then out of glazed.  Cake doughnuts were not what they wanted so they drove on to Krispy Kreme (which was not really what I wanted!)  
• Everyone was pleased with breakfast and before I could talk Robby out of it, he headed out to work in the yard.  He wanted to burn one of the burn piles today and that is where he headed.  Robby started with his lighter but that didn't work to get the pile burning.  Then he tried a camping fire starter log but that didn't work.  He used his blower but that didn't work so he resorted to gasoline but that didn't work for too long.  He had just about given up and tried one last thing-a card board box filled with leaves and sticks that I had been raking up.  It finally worked!
• You could gather sticks in our yard for the rest of your life and that is what we did for a few hours today.  Robby would have to stop and poke, rearrange and blow the fire so it would keep burning.  
• Robby eventually decided that we should at least rake some leaves so we started on that.  Graham was quick to remind me that he had earlier told Grannymom that we weren't going to rake leaves today.  We worked on leaves at the way bottom or snakeland, as I like to call it.
• Robby had seen at least 3 other snakes when he finally was able to get to one before it slithered off.  He told Anderson to get a shovel and he quickly returned with a shovel and his brothers and sisters.  Everyone watched as Robby finished the snake off but no one really stuck around to help with the rest of the raking.
• We had let the kids stay inside most of the morning but around noon, we made everyone come outside for the rest of the time.  Whitman was upset about not getting to wear his good shoes outside so he just didn't wear any shoes but surprisingly he stayed on the driveway the entire afternoon.
• Lunch was at 2 and Reagan asked to make it.  I said certainly and that girl went to work.  She made everyone sandwiches and had even poured the drinks and cleaned up the mess when we all came in for lunch.  
• Afterwards, we all headed back outside for the rest of the afternoon and raked and raked and raked.  I did more hopping around-avoiding snakes (all imaginary) and picking ticks off of me.  When the area was finally raked and the leaves hauled away, we started picking up.  That took a while since the kids had played pretty hard.
• Once everyone had changed, we went to the pool.  It was pretty empty and the kids relished an empty pool and greatly enjoyed Robby and I swimming with them some.  We stayed until almost 9 and on the way home, Campbell asked why Robby was going to fast (he wasn't speeding).  Keaton shot back that it was because we were almost out of gas (we were not). 
• We made it home without running out of gas and then it was shower time for all which meant lots of hair washing and tick checking followed by bed.  Robby was going to send them to bed without doing our nightly Bible study since it was late but the kids protested so how could he turn them down. 

July 1, 2016

Checking out the awards!

(click here for today's pictures)

• I do believe that the kids enjoyed sleeping in a bit this morning and not having to rush around to get to camp.  It is odd though because on school mornings, I have to plead and beg to get people to come eat breakfast but on mornings when I am not ready to serve up breakfast, then they are all starving and can wait no longer to eat.
• Campbell must have been exhausted from camp this week-or that is what I am going to assume was the problem.  She was so weepy, wail-y and whiny that she was sent to bed pretty early this morning.  Whitman did knock down her marble track during science and I am sure that was frustrating but come on, it was not worth the commotion that she caused.
• We did do science today-we are nearing completion of the never ending science book but the scary part is that I think that I bought a science book for next year that is longer!  I probably should make it into a 2 year book but where's the challenge in that.
• For lunch today, Graham pulled out all of our sandwich food and the kids lined up like they were in a Subway sandwich shop.  The kids ate their sandwiches as I read and then we picked up for a few minutes before I spent some time with Graham.  He was telling me what he wanted for his birthday so I added that to the list.  Then Reagan and I hung up a gallery wall of her paintings and art work in her bedroom.
• Then the kids started on movies.  Then unfortunately when I was in the mudroom I heard the words "the Corser's are out."  This was a bad thing because I was between the kids and the door-when they heard those words, they were out the door in a flash and it didn't matter that I was in their way at all.
• The kids played outside with the neighbors for a bit and then they had to go inside for chores.  Before too long, they were back out and even gave us some eggs which we might just eat tomorrow for breakfast.  Then they all played a short game of frisbee in the back yard until it thundered.  It had been drizzling for quite some time and the kids were wet when they did come in and since they smelled like wet dogs, they had to get showers before we went to eat.  
• We ate supper out tonight and after eating out sometimes I wonder why we even go out anyway.  First, they asked Robby if they could split us up (do you ever ask a family of four to split up?)  Then, they tried to sit us in the back of the restaurant by the kitchen door but changed their plans and moved us into the extra room.  Would have been a decent table except they were wobbly, there was a bug on the floor by my feet, there were no napkins, silverware, honey, bbq sauce or ketchup.  When the kids drinks were delivered they didn't come with straws so they had to wait to drink and then when we had our bread delivered, we had no plates or napkins and had to wait to eat.  Yes, I do sound like a negative Nellie but the bathrooms were a bit unsightly as well.  But other than those few minor things, the food was decent and everyone left full and happy.  
• We then ran to Walmart so Robby could find a filter for his car but guess what, we left that entire store without buying a single thing. I am sure people don't do that often and people really gave us a stare down when we walked out the door tonight.  He found that he could buy his filter cheaper and the few things on my list could wait.  
• We did stop next at Barnes and Noble for the kids to pick up their free book from the summer reading program.  Whitman greatly enjoyed the stop because he was able to play with the trains there.  After they chose their books, we headed home to watch some American Ninja Warrior before bedtime.  That is probably not the best show for the boys to watch before trying to go to sleep-I do believe that I hear them upstairs practicing a ninja move or two on their beds.