March 14, 2017

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• It was pretty nice waking up this morning and no one had to go to school and we weren't doing school at home so we were in no hurry this morning. I was still dressed and starting on breakfast by 8-even though we were not doing school, we still had a busy morning of chores.
• The kids ate and then the list of chores was brought out. It was nothing to big but just a few things that needed to be done around here. We were finished in time for me to read a few short books and then we watched a movie about Pi since today is National Pi Day.
• Then we loaded up and headed to Grannymom and Grandpa's house. I had parent teacher conferences for Whitman and Keaton this morning. Ms. Stacy had glowing things to say about my Keaton. She only had one lower than great score on her report card for memorizing/reciting poems. Whitman also did great. He needs to work on his cutting skills-that is not at all what I had expected to hear about him. Couldn't be more pleased!
• Afterwards, I headed to Walmart for a bit of shopping. The kids played a few rounds of kickball with Grannymom and had lunch. When I arrived back, I was met with of groans of disgust that I was back and it was time for us to leave.
• When we were on our street, the kids quickly noticed the neighbor's cone was out in the front of their house. That is their signal that they are ready to play. My kids jumped out of the car and headed down the road for most of the afternoon.  
• Keaton did come back inside and ended up falling asleep on the couch. I was almost convinced that she was sick but she woke up feeling just fine-I guess she was just exhausted.
• Robby and I were standing in the living room talking when we heard a sound that sounded like a window breaking. Our ears did not fool us-it was indeed a window breaking. Not just any window but one of the huge ones in the mud room. We stood on one side of the window glaring at it with horrified faces and on the other side of the window was a gaggle of kids glaring back at us with horrified faces. It was pretty quick to identify the guilty party-Graham who was pretty hysterically sobbing.
• I went outside to calm him down and find out what had happened. He had picked up a little bat to move it off of the area that they were playing in. He just swung it the wrong way-towards the house and the window. Poor thing, later in the day I overheard Anderson telling him that he would probably have to go to military school. He asked me if he was going to have to pay for the window and I explained that the window will cost more than he has.
• Tonight Keaton and Campbell headed off with Robby for a night out. On our big trip, we had told Keaton that she would get to do something special since she didn't get to do the ropes course like the big kids. We never found anything special for her to do on the trip and once we came home, we quickly forget about it. Campbell was getting to go because she recited the Preamble to the Constitution.
• They headed off to Larry's Pizza to eat and then they were able to play lots and lots of games. The rest of us had showers here and then the boys all had pizza and Reagan and I had nachos for supper. We watched a movie and before it was finished, Campbell and Keaton were home from their big adventure.
• They had their showers and then it was time for bedtime around here. I think that everyone was pretty worn out tonight! It has been a day around here!

March 13, 2017

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• Robby had to wake up Keaton and Whitman this morning. They were sleeping so soundly. I had grabbed Whitman's clothes downstairs but I still had to go back upstairs to fetch Keaton's clothes. Keaton and Whitman went with me and as we walked up the dark steps and down the dark hall, Whitman said, "it's so evil." I told him that it wasn't evil but that it was just dark-and I quickly flipped on the lights.
• We rushed around to get the littles ready and soon they were off. Keaton went to school and Whitman went to Nonna and Pops' house to play. He was so excited about going to play. 
• The rest of us started on our school day. The boys had built a fort yesterday afternoon and they really, really, really wanted to sleep in it. I had said, "No way." I explained to them that until school could be done well and on time with excellent attitudes then no one would be sleeping in forts on a school night. They must have heard me because their school work was finished on time and for the most part things went really smoothly for a Monday.
• We had our lunch and then everyone started on chores. We did get a lot accomplished, so I thought, but I did find ourselves going back all afternoon finishing things that were not done correctly. It did take my over 2 hours to go my 3.3 miles on the treadmill today. I was only on the thing for 45 minutes but gracious, I had interruption after interruption like usual. I told Robby that if I was able to wake up early, I really should for my treadmill time.
• The kids eventually headed outside this afternoon to play with their neighbors. They were out until almost 6-or if could have even been later since I am still so confused because of time change. Once they did come in, everyone showered and then our evening festivities began.
• Tonight was our first annual Dennie March Madness. We ate hot dogs and chips while watching a bit of a documentary of the '94 championship team. Then we all picked our picks for our brackets. Everyone did it on their ipads but it still took a bit of time for us all to complete this (I actually need to get my done since I was busy helping Whitman make his picks.)
• After we finished our brackets, we had a sock basketball free throw tournament. Then it was dessert time-chocolate dipped basketball strawberries and a peanut butter basketball brownie. Graham and Reagan had made the strawberries and Campbell made the brownies and everyone decorated it. They took a good long while to make but it took no time at all for us to devour tonight.
• Once the desserts were finished, it was time to brush teeth and head to bed. Robby read a few chapters of Psalms to help Reagan out (she is on chapter 55 and trying to finish by Sunday) and then read our little devotional before we hugged everyone good night.

March 12, 2017

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• Around 2 this morning, Robby started thrashing around in bed saying, "No! No!" I did what any good wife would do and kicked him hard. He then denied that he had caused any racket at all and tried to convince me that I was the one dreaming. 
• We had just finished our debate when we heard little steps. I thought it was a someone upstairs until I heard them running down our hallway. In walked Whitman carrying his two bears. I knew that we still had plenty of night to go and offered for him to sleep on our floor. He looked at me and said, "I want to sleep in your bed." We relented and all 5 of us went on to sleep-us, Whitman and his two bears.
• Surprisingly we all slept well even with the extra company in our bedroom and all too soon my alarm clock was beeping for us to get up. We started stirring even though by the time I hit snooze a few times, we all managed to leave dressed, fed and with a decently picked up downstairs.
• We were able to see the grands and then the kids headed off to Sunday school. My class was happy today since I had popcorn for them to eat. Afterwards, we headed to big church. We had decided that we would sneak out around noon so we could catch most of the ballgame. (We usually aren't out of there until 12:15 or later.) Surprisingly, they did let us out of church early so we didn't have to sneak out...sneaking out with 7 people might have proven to be a bit difficult. 
• I grabbed Whitman and we headed to Nonna's house for lunch. She had sandwiches and the kids ate in front of the tv watching the hogs. The kids probably should have stayed in front of the tv because the Hogs did better when they were watching. 
• Even though the game didn't turn out like we had liked, it was still fun to get that far but it didn't change our afternoon plans-nap! Robby and I slept upstairs in the bonus room and when I did finally emerge, I realized that leaving 6 kids downstairs alone is a good way to wake up to a trashed house. 
• After their movie was finished, they started cleaning up while I worked on the laundry and Robby vacuumed. Soon the house was clean and supper was being made. After we ate, Robby passed out the kids ice cream for the night. Then we watched a bit of tv before bedtime. Unfortunately, the time change has confused everyone and they don't seem to be too tired.

March 11, 2017

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• Whitman "quietly" snuck into our room this morning to take Robby's ipad so he could play it with Anderson. Nothing about Whitman on a Saturday morning is quiet. I bit later Anderson came in to ask if they could get their breakfast and go up and play the xbox upstairs.  Then I could hear Anderson getting Whitman's breakfast too.
• I can only imagine them both walking up the stairs carrying their breakfast and then finding Robby laying on the couch upstairs. He headed upstairs early this morning when he couldn't go back to sleep-not because of my snoring!
• Robby wasn't around too long because he soon had to head to church for an Upward meeting. I let the kids pick out their own breakfasts while Graham was across town making and eating his own monkey bread.
• We did some chores around here but mostly the kids vegged out today and relaxed on this dreary Saturday. When Robby came home, we helped him unload from the grocery store and then we had leftover pizza for our lunch.
• Jason came over to take Anderson, Keaton and Campbell to the Lego even at Barnes and Noble. Graham was busy at the Children's Theater with Grannymom. Reagan and Whitman, our tv watchers, were watching a few shows while Robby and I sorted through stuff from his desk at work.
• We watched the Hogs and then Jason brought back the kids, Grannymom and Grandpa brought Graham back next. By this time, Robby had already changed the clocks and everyone was told that bedtime was near.
• We did decorate our sugar cookies that we made yesterday. We still have some things to figure out (mainly the icing with too thick) but everyone did really well and had fun even thought I was a sticky mess by the time we finished. I think that we will even try again with some Easter cookies.
• Robby made sandwiches for supper after we had finished cleaning the kitchen from that mess. We all capped off supper with a cookie; they didn't taste too bad at all. Then Whitman went on to bed. He enjoys going to bed early when we tell him that he can turn on his traffic signal. Then everyone else watched a cooking show and now I believe that we will have to try our hand at making volcano cakes like they did on that show.

March 10, 2017

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• We heard the rain last night and I was really hoping that it was still raining this morning even though the bright sun coming through our window told me otherwise. The boys were awake first and soon Campbell and Reagan were downstairs. I let Keaton sleep until she woke up.
• Everyone made their own breakfast-waffles, pop tarts, bowls of cereal...I really should get back to my breakfast chart and us all have the same thing each day. The kitchen was a mess when we finally finished for the morning.
• Then we all started on school for the day. Anderson saved his hardest work for Friday so he had quite a bit of work to do. My Graham zoomed through his work so he could start on packing his bag to spend the night at Grannymom's house. 
• At 11, we did our science and history and then a few chores around the house. Then we made dough to make some cookies. While the dough chilled, we ate our lunch. Reagan has been wanting to try out decorating cookies so after lunch, we cut shamrock shapes out of our cookie dough. Tomorrow evening we will decorate those cookies.
• Grannymom and Grandpa stopped by to pick up Graham for his evening out. He was ready to go this afternoon-didn't even think about bringing his ipad. Soon after they were gone, the kids headed outside and played with the neighbors until almost dark. 
• Whitman eventually went out to join them and they spent much of their time working on movie trailers on their ipads. I never saw the boys' trailer but the girls have one that is really cute. Keaton put on a jacket while she was outside and so did Anderson but Whitman sure didn't seem to mind being outside in just his pjs and didn't seem cold at all. 
• Robby and I were sitting in the living room this evening and Whitman was sneaking the rest of Robby's drink when he looked at us and said. "When your husband dies, you are called a widow." I guess he was listening to his Bible study and Wednesday night stories!
• While Robby was picking up pizza for supper, the neighbors had to go in so the kids trickled in and rotated through the showers. We ate our pizza and then watched a few movies in the living room before all watching the Hogs play basketball tonight.

March 9, 2017

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• I guess since it was dreary outside the kids stayed pretty quiet this morning. Whitman and Anderson were cuddled up in a chair and Graham was between the couch and the coffee table playing his ipad. 
• I woke up Keaton and soon her and Whitman were zooming off to school. Whitman couldn't wait to get to school this morning-he had a big day and even made an airplane snack out of icing.
• Back at home, the rest of us started on school work. I told the kids that I think that Thursdays are one of my favorite days. By Thursday everyone is back into a routine and school stuff is winding down. Robby is home too on Thursdays and that probably helps things run a bit more smoothly.
• I picked up Keaton and Whitman and he was the happiest ever on the way home and she was just a bit sour. It did start when I told her that she wasn't going to get to go to a birthday party in a few weeks because we would be out of town. I told her she was being a "grumpy Gussie" and that upset her greatly.
• At home, I worked on lunch and it was one of the kids favorites-leftover fried potatoes, fried spam and mac and cheese. Growing up we would have fried Spam and potatoes but my kids did not want for me to mix those potatoes with the Spam. They just wanted to stick pretzels in their pieces and eat "Spamples"-like we did at the Spam museum.
• The boys headed upstairs to play the xbox and were up there about 6 and a half minutes before they saw the neighbors out. Everyone was soon outside playing with the neighbors and they stayed out until around 4 and then went back out from about 5-6. I am not sure what all they do all day long-I know the boys have a club and so do the girls, today they worked on making a movie with their ipads and playing their current favorite games-Capture the Flag and Dodgeball.
• Robby and I made supper and I called the kids in just as they were about to come home. I was't sure if they were headed this way or not (it was already dark) but when I saw Anderson flip on his bicycle lights, I knew they were headed this way.
• We all had our quesadillas and then sent the kids to the showers. Afterwards, Robby popped bag after bag of popcorn for us to eat while we watched a few tv shows before bedtime. 

March 8, 2017

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• I think that we are more productive from 7:30-8:30 on Wednesday mornings than we are in another day or time of the week. By 8:30, we had all brushed our teeth and put on clothes for the day. The kids had straightened their rooms and emptied all of the trash cans. The downstairs potties had been cleaned and the dishwasher was emptied. I made lunches and passed out breakfast. We all ate and loaded the car (my bag, Reagan's bag, Anderson's bag, Graham's bag, Campbell's bag, Anderson's classes snack, Graham's classes snack, 2 ice chests, my sweater, the camera, my water, my bagel, library books, papers to give to someone tonight and 2 items for Whitman and Keaton to donate tonight)
• Other than my Wednesday bagel, my next favorite part on Wednesdays is sitting in the sanctuary at Immanuel for a few minutes before they start Bible study. It is quiet, the ladies are practicing for their opening song and I can relax a tiny bit from our crazy morning.
• Graham said that his snack (3 bags of popcorn that we had covered in white chocolate and added m&ms too) were a hit and they must have been since he didn't bring any home. Anderson said that his classmates and teachers wanted the recipe for his chocolate chip pumpkin muffins so that must have meant that they like it.
• We then headed with my group to a different park. The kids enjoyed playing at the park-Keaton did have to run home with one of her friend's mom so she could use their restroom. She came back telling me all about how her friend had her own room! We were the last ones to pull away from the park and even came home with Noah.
• Once at home, the kids played on the xbox for a bit but then I did kick them all outside. They played and played outside. Whitman and I watched a few movies and when he put his head on my leg, I moved him and me to the couch and tried my best for him to take a nap-only one of us went to sleep (not him.)
• Soon though he was wanting to go outside with everyone else. I let him go and they continued to play until I called them all in for super time. Noah had never had fish sticks so I thought that I better change that so we had those along with fries and some leftover corn. Then we jumped in the car for church tonight.
• For some reason, I was later picking everyone up so I had to rush around the church house to gather my kiddos. Once at home, everyone showered and then I passed our supper big bowls of ice cream for some and ice cream sandwiches for others. And then it was finally bedtime!