November 10, 2011

Kennedy S. comes to visit!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Woohoo, another night of Keaton sleeping all night long.  If only we could remember her eating schedule from the night before and we could replicate it tonight.  When she does sleep all night, I still have that moment of panic wondering if she is alright.  I went in to check on her and she was still covered up in her bouncy.  I might sleep that well if I was sleeping in that bouncy-Campbell still enjoys sitting in it.  Yep, when she sits in it her bottom immediately hits the ground.  Just imagine what happens to it when Anderson takes a seat.  All of this is not condoned by me.
• Robby got all of the kids ready this morning and everyone had breakfast downstairs.  We have gotten into a habit of letting everyone choose what they want for breakfast.  All 4 of them usually want something different and then they never want seconds of what they have and want something different.  We are trying to slow all of that down by just giving a few choices-of course, our picky one Reagan never seems to like our choices but then always wants seconds.  
• The boys headed off to school and Campbell spent the morning at Grannymom's house.  At home, Keaton caught up on a few bottles that she missed during the night.  Reagan breezed through her work and we were lazily enjoying the morning doing school work until I realized that I had to pick Campbell up before picking up the boys.  So the last 20 minutes of school was pretty rushed as we tried to finish.
• Reagan, Keaton and I picked up Campbell at Grannymom's house.  The girls went to swing for a few minutes and when Reagan and I went inside to get a drink of water, Campbell thought we were leaving and started running to catch us.  She was ready to get in the car but as soon as the boys climbed in from school, she reached over and hit Anderson.  
• Graham said that he didn't do "much school" today but he did eat snacks.  What could be better than that?  Anderson didn't say much about school but he was ready to get home and have some milk.  Kennedy came over while we were getting lunch ready.  The kids grazed and then everyone headed upstairs to play.  They played upstairs until Campbell took a nap and then it was time to paint.
• Man, painting with 4 kids is pretty messy.  Actually, painting with 2 boys is pretty messy.  Anderson had his hands covered in paint in no time and Graham apparently can't tell the difference between the paper and the table or his shirt or his head or even the floor.  I did add to the chaos by trying to paint Keaton's hand to make a turkey.   My plan was to make a few hand turkeys and take some to Beebee but after doing Keaton's hand, I decided that one set of turkeys for me was plenty!
• The kids then watched a movie and Graham fell asleep.  They went to play outside and I decided to wake Graham up but then we both ended up snoozing on the couch.  Robby was home by now, so the outside crew weren't unattended.  Graham did wake up in a pretty foul mood which lasted...oh, it lasted pretty much all night.
• Reagan, Anderson and Kennedy came in and they went upstairs to play more.  Graham calmed down a bit and we woke Campbell up for the evening.  I told her Daddy was home and asked if she wanted to go and see him.  She immediately started motioning for Kennedy to come downstairs and see Daddy too.  
• I went to the mini holiday house at church while Robby manned the fort.  I did serve supper before I left and the kids played pretty well for awhile.  He said around 7 that started to get bored but soon after I came home we played a few rounds of London Bridges and read a book.  Kennedy's mom came to pick her up and then my crew headed upstairs for bed.
• Campbell must have been tired because I put her in her crib before prayers tonight and she never stood back up.  She just laid there the entire time.  When I went back up because Graham (who had that nap) was still up calling for Robby, Reagan and Anderson were already asleep.  

November 9, 2011

Our New Picnic Table!
(Thanks to G-mom & G-pa for
building it!)

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Grannymom and Grandpa were over around 8 this morning and started putting together our picnic table.  I tried to keep the kids in as long as I could so they could work uninterrupted.  I managed to convince them to make biscuits, go over some school memory work and then drink hot chocolate so we did stall for awhile.
• Once the kids were outside they were pretty interested in the table...for a few minutes and then the dirt called everyone's name.  I guess because it was still a bit wet from last night, they were filthy than ever before (I know I have said that before but I really mean it this time...probably said that too).  They played in the dirt, swang and had a big time outside.
• It was too chilly for Keaton outside so she just stayed in.  If I lay her down in a quiet room, she wakes right up but if she is in a noisy room, she will sleep for hours.  When Grannymom was holding her this morning, Keaton just grinned and cooed.  
• Soon Campbell was beating on the door ready to come in and she should have been hosed off outside but since the temperature didn't allow it, her and Graham were stripped down and sent to the bath tub.  I left them unattended and soon heard those dreaded words "Mom, Campbell pooped in the bathtub."  So after gathering the toys for the dishwasher, draining the water, collecting the...well, you know and cleaning the tub, Graham and Campbell ended with a shower.  
• Reagan and Anderson also needed a bath and by the time they had gotten out, I had bathed 5 people.  Keaton had a bath earlier in the morning because she was getting a bit stinky.  She is getting so big so quick-I just don't like that at all.
• Next up was lunch and then school.  During school, I was on the phone for a bit and both boys begged for a sip of coke.  I had it out and was having some.  Anderson then decided that he would open it himself.  He tried to open it until he bounced on the floor, he then shook it and also enjoyed rolling it from one side of the bar to the other while trying to hurry around to the other side to catch it.  Surprisingly, we didn't have any coke when I got off of the phone.
• Meanwhile, Reagan was doing her math and I had two days worth of math in her box and she did them all. I told her that she didn't have to have done it all.  She said that she thought it was alot of math today.  Silly girl.
• After school, they watched a movie and Campbell continued her nap.  As I was getting the movie ready, Anderson saw an Angry Birds icon on the tv and said "sometime I want to play that game."  I said "is that a game?" and he replied "yes, one time I sat by a man and he played that"-he sat by that man on an airplane at least a year ago, we think.  But I vividly remember Anderson staring at that man's ipad the whole flight.  Their memories are crazy.  I told him that his Daddy and him can play that game someday.  I did see that they have a toy version of it...might put that on the list.
• Soon we were leaving for church and then headed home. As we were going to bed, the kids convinced us that they needed milk so we all traipsed downstairs to have some milk.  They were all out fairly quick especially since Graham had not had a nap (if he sleeps during the day, he keeps everyone up at night)

November 8, 2011

Book parade!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• The fall off of the bunkbed last night was simply explained by Graham as we were driving to school this morning- "I was trying to do a handstand."  Of course, that makes so much more sense now.  
• The boys had book character day today and the girls and I went to watch the parade.  Anderson was dressed as a fireman from his Rescue Vehicles book and Graham was dressed as a Razorback football player from his Hello Big Red book.  Campbell would get so excited when they passed and when Anderson's class passed for the last time, Anderson leaned down and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
• As we walked out of the door at church, Reagan decided that she didn't want to do school and continued to have a bad mood for half of school-despite my "if you are in a bad mood, then I am going to be so cheery that I am going to make you sick" mood.  My cheery mood eventually passed on to her and she was fine for the rest of the day.  
• Robby picked up the boys and they had spend the day at school reading everyone's books.  Before Robby headed back to work, we went outside to play for a bit.  Reagan decided that she needed another scavenger hunt and made one up herself.  I should have taken a picture of it but it was laid down outside and I forgot about it.
• Campbell was on one side of the house, Reagan was in the back and I was inside helping in the bathroom with one of the boys when Nonna and Pops drove up.  Nonna said that Campbell was a bit frightened by the truck until she saw who was in it.  
• Nonna and Pops steam mopped my kitchen floors while the kids played upstairs.  Campbell took a nap and soon it was time for everyone to rest.  Graham was going to go upstairs to play and not what watch the movie but Spiderman caught his attention (though I think it was from the 60s).  But by the time the movie was over (21 minutes) Graham was sound asleep on the carpet.  
• Robby came home with groceries and pizza.  The kids must have been pretty hungry because they finished their pizza and even stared on eating some cupcakes.  They then played upstairs while Keaton had a bottle with Robby.  Keaton is staying awake so long now but she is still a great sleeper.  And I think that she is just on the verge of smiling.  She may have smiled a bit already and her little dimple is going to be so cute.   
• Picking up the toy room was quite an ordeal tonight but everyone is asleep-and it sounds like no one has fallen out of their beds yet.

November 7, 2011

Another tooth bites
the dust!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Oh, that time change-Graham was up at 6, looking at our window seeing if it was day, yelling about w...(sorry, someone just fell out of the bunk bed-more on that in a minute).  Graham was yelling about wanting breakfast and trying to convince me to let him go and look at Keaton and see if she was awake (she was not).
• I dropped off Keaton, Campbell and Graham at Nonna and Pops' house and they spent the morning there while I went to the dentist for 2 crowns (joy).
• Anderson had birthday bash at school and Reagan had show and tell and showed leaves and berries from the yard and also showed off her lose tooth.
• Robby picked up Anderson and I met them at Nonnas.  The boys sat by Pops forever looking at toys in ads from the Sunday paper.  Not surprisingly, Anderson wanted each and every boy toy that he saw.  The boys stayed with Pops and Nonna while Campbell, Keaton and I went to Keaton's doctors appointment.
• Keaton weighed 10 pounds and 6 ounces and was 22.4 inches.  Campbell was her caretaker and watched everything that happened.  As Martin poked on Keaton's belly, Campbell poked too.  As she took off her diaper, Campbell said diaper.  She was all into it and was a bit concerned after her shot but not overly concerned.  I asked if Keaton had a bit of torticollis like Anderson did but Martin said if she did it was only very slight.  
• Next up, the little girls and I ran to Sams to pick up some of Anderson's new medicine-cream and drink.  And that sure didn't go over well tonight when it was time for him to drink it.  
• We then picked up the boys and then Reagan and headed home.  Before too long there was a knock and the door and it was the neighbors from down the street.  They have 4 kids, homeschool and go to a Baptist church nearby.  They even brought cookies for us.  Pretty exciting to know some neighbors-we will return their pan with something else in it.  All of the kids enjoyed playing in the dirt pile and of course Anderson was the dirtiest when everyone headed home.  He had a gallon of dirt in the cuffs of his pants.  
• Robby was home soon and told the kids that he had eaten all of their Halloween candy.  They kind of thought he was kidding but they also half believed him which caused a pretty big stir.  There is no reason to have kids if you can't torment them a bit!  They were all relieved to see their candy and calmed by a few cookies
• Bedtime and while I was writing the blog we heard a huge kerplunk!  It was Graham.  He had been in Reagan's top bunk since his comforter didn't dry from being washed this morning.  He was a bit shaken (as well he should be) but just fine.  He is one tough little booger.  He only screamed after he hit and then again when we walked in the room.  He won't be sleeping in the top bunk now for a long, long time.

November 6, 2011

10 Grandkids @
Grannymom & Grandpa's!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Since it was time change Sunday, you would have thought that we would have been on time.  But we were later than we have ever been before-we sat down as the sermon started.  Eeek!  We left on time but the 25 minute wait at Sonic was just too long.  
• So we sat in the balcony and it was like we were at a different church.  Usually, when church is over we just sat around for a few minutes (no hurry since it is so crowded) This must really irk Anderson who today shouted in an exasperated voice "why do we always do this?"
• We were in Campbell's class during worship care and she is a hoot with that big grin.  I guess since we were the teachers she thought she was too-tickling kids when Robby was tickling them, climbing on the changing table to watch me change others, pushing kids out the door when their moms came. 
• Meanwhile, Anderson's class was talking about ways to help and making a chore bag.  Anderson told his teachers that he didn't need any more chores.
• Josh, Zach and Jenna were all in town for lunch so their were lots of grandkids running around.  I guess since their were so many kids, Anderson thought he could get some extra drink.  He asked if he could have some more.  I told him during dessert he could.  He told me that he would ask Grandpa and I said no, he could have some at dessert and Grandpa wasn't going to get him any either.  He then told me "These are Grandpa's cups."
• After a game or two of tag in Grannymom's back yard, we headed home for more yard work.  The 2 little girls had naps.  Reagan led the boys in a fall scavenger hunt.  They did most of the things and then headed for the dirt.  They must have tired of playing because they all ended up helping us with the leaves and sticks.  We even rode the bikes down the road a bit-though one has a flat and probably a hole since Grandpa filled it up today.
• I did catch Reagan sneaking a peppermint.  Peppermints are fine but couldn't figure out why it was a secret.  I questioned her and she immediately clammed up.  I made her tell me that Lilly gave it to her and she didn't know where Lilly got it.  Hmm, second time this has happened.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Reagan is lifting the peppermints from Grannymom's house.  We will get to the bottom of this.
• After we came in it was shower time and then supper.  The kids even watched a movie in the school room before heading to bed.  It was quickly quiet upstairs all but Campbell who was talking away.  That is what happens when you have a long afternoon nap.

November 5, 2011

Roasting marshmallows!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Everyone woke up in a different spot than they went to sleep in-I guess it happens when 7 people are sleeping in one room.  We think that Graham was already in our bed when Keaton woke up.  Keaton's slight whimpering (we jumped up to get her bottle tonight since we didn't want to wake up the crew) woke Campbell up.  Campbell was up, talking and singing while I was hiding in the closet trying to feed Keaton and get her to sleep.  I even stretched out in there for a few minutes.  Anyway, before long, Anderson was in bed with me and Robby was in his spot.  Then Graham joined Robby and soon decided he would rather be in Campbell's pack n play.  Robby got both of them out and Campbell climbed in bed with me and Anderson.  She did think that Anderson was the baby and kept asking "baby? baby?" while feeling his face.  This caused Anderson to stir.  Soon the boys and Robby went upstairs (the boys to play and Robby to doze in a bunk bed).  Reagan then joined me in bed for awhile until it was well past wake up time.
• Before too long laundry had been done, bathrooms cleaned, house vacuumed, clothes on and breakfast served.  And the biggest accomplishment was picking up the toy room.  Whew, they can dump every toy out and then they all just set in there and play quietly (sometimes but it does happen).  But it takes forever to find where every little thing goes.
• We went outside before lunch and the kids worked diligently on gathering lots and lots of acorns.  A guy from Robby's work said that deer would eat acorns right now.  And since the oak tree above our patio spits them out by the dozen, they scooped them up for a while and then the dirt pile started calling their names.
• Robby asked Grannymom and Grandpa over for lunch and after lunch, they ended up outside helping in the yard.  Probably the last time they fall for the old "come over for lunch" trick!  So on the agenda outside today was cleaning the ditch, burning the burn pile, picking up rocks, picking up sticks and the highlight for the boys...cutting down a tree.
• Before we had even made it outside this morning, Graham asked if we were going to cut down a tree and Robby couldn't disappoint him (last dead tree except for one that is too large).  We (me and the kids) were way far back watching the action, Grannymom was raking leaves a bit too close to the tree (she trusts Robby more than the rest of us), Grandpa kept scooting back and eventually watched from behind another tree and Robby has a unique tree cutting posture-holding the chainsaw far, far away from his body.  His upper half was busy sawing the tree while the lower half of his body was preparing to run away quickly.
• Next up was the kids doing something they have never done before-they rode their bikes on the street.  They actually all rode further than they have ever rode before.  Pretty exciting and at the end of the road were horses-we heard them neigh (a first for Anderson) and even saw one potty (crazy exciting to the boys).
• Grannymom and Grandpa left and we had supper inside and then it was smore time.  They really seemed to enjoy it and Reagan could have sat out there longer just looking at the fire.  Campbell sat down on a log near the fire and put her hands to her face and then moved back.  Must have been too hot for her.  She moved back and next we noticed we didn't have enough chocolate.  Later we realized that is where Campbell had been.  Anderson and Reagan enjoyed telling ghost stories before we all went in.  Graham was terrified of the ghost stories though--or maybe he was terrified of the dog he saw across the street (inside a fence).
• Inside for showers, pictures and bed.  Good, good day.

November 4, 2011

Taking in a little history...

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Keaton had a diaper so stinky in the middle of the night that I had to let our room air out before I could go back to sleep.  
• The kids were excited about getting to eat breakfast at Grannymom's house this morning-we have more breakfast food than anything else but they would have none of it this morning and only wanted to eat there.  I dropped off everyone but Anderson and we headed on to his appointment.
• It was time for Anderson's 6 month check up with the allergist.  We were called back into the office before our appointment time and then waited for 90 minutes before the doctor came in and hurriedly saw us.  Anyway, here is the breakdown of what's new-he is 2-3 inches taller than Janurary, 6 pounds heavier, same breathers, stronger cream for itching and an additional liquid medicine for itching as well.  Come back in 6 months and discuss allergy shots.  Ha, that will go over well-a shot a week for 6 months.  They do have lollipops at the check out so maybe that will help
• Since we had to wait for so long, we had just a few minutes to pick up the others and get downtown.  Robby had already driven to the doctor to relieve me so I could get the kids and swing back by for Anderson but the doctor came in.  So he took Anderson and they headed to Sonic and then to Acxiom to wait on me.  
• I flew to Grannymom's house and loaded up.  I saw Campbell was carrying the bottle bag with her and thought that I would get it in a minute after seeing if Keaton was going with us.  She ended up staying with Grannymom in exchange for Lilly.  But the bottle bag still ended up in the car!  
• Then we booked it downtown and Robby and Anderson hopped in so Robby could drop us off and we wouldn't have to park (though we couldn't find the right parking lot and we still had to walk).  On this leg of the journey I did look back and see that the bottle bag was with me.  
• So after dropping us off, Robby went back to Grannymom's house to deliver the bottles.  (Not much work was going on today by Robby).  Keaton was fine and had a few sips of water in the meantime.  Robby stayed there until it was time to pick us up and he even picked up lunch for us.  Yep, I'm pretty spoiled.
• Lilly, Reagan, Anderson, Graham, Campbell and I rushed to the boat and were pretty tardy but the group didn't seem to put out with us and they were just lining up for the tour.  It was pretty crowded and lots of school groups even on a day out of school.  And look at the picture of our group-quite a few.  
• It was so crowded that the kids couldn't really explore but they did enjoy it.  On the way home, I asked them what they learned: Lilly named the ships, Graham said that one crashed (Santa Maria), Anderson said he didn't know and Reagan said something but somehow I don't remember what it was.  Reagan and Lilly couldn't hardly enjoy the tour trying to keep up with Graham, Anderson and Campbell.  Everyone was very aware of where I was and tried to stay close but it was a mosh pit of little people.  
• Reagan has since talked about Grannymom's mother's name, Nina, a few times.  She was born on Columbus day and received one of Columbus' ships as her name.  And since she also had Keaton's middle name, Reagan thinks that is so neat.
• After the tour, we walked down to play at the playground for a bit.  Love the River Market playground and would love it more if I could see everybody at all times.  I had to give one lecture about letting me know where you were going and the kids did very well.  Five little ones are pretty hard to keep up with though I couldn't let Campbell leave my side since she wanted to climb up and down like the big kids.  
• Soon our chauffeur showed up and we dropped him off and went to Grannymom's house to eat our lunch.  They played for a bit outside and then we came home.  Campbell and Keaton snoozed and the big 3 did a bit of school.  Since it was a field trip day our work load was light for Reagan but we ended up playing one of Anderson's games for awhile.  
• Then it was rest time and they picked to watch a movie.  Graham wanted to lay by Keaton when she woke up and when she did wake up, I put her beside him.  Soon, I looked over and he was snoozing away with his arm around his baby sister.  Cutest thing ever.
• When Robby came home, we woke up the troops (Graham and Campbell) and soon it was supper time.  Sometime after supper, Reagan and Graham walked into the den with their shirts off and wrapped around their waists.  Campbell was next to follow and then Anderson came in but he also had a plastic knife sticking out of the waistband of his pants.  I just don't understand these children sometimes.
• We had promised them that they would get to all sleep in our bedroom sometime before we moved but things got crazy and that didn't happen.  So we told them they could tonight-like Christmas morning to them.  After lots of tossing, turning, up and moving around they are all asleep.  Yep, all 7 of us will be sleeping in our bedroom tonight-good times.