October 18, 2014

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Rooting on the Hogs!

• Maybe we should stay out until 10 every night-at least we would get to sleep until almost 8.  Of course, this Saturday we should probably have started our day a bit earlier but it was still fun to sleep in a bit.  When everyone woke up they first crawled into our bed and then they quickly put on their clothes.  My boys did this quickly because their football jerseys was what they were wearing and my girls put on their clothes quickly because the first stop of the day was Krispy Kreme.
• Robby had just mentioned that this Krispy Kreme visit was to celebrate Keaton's belated birthday.  I didn't even think of getting out the candles since her birthday was 3 weeks ago and she had her fair share of candles during her birthday.  Keaton must have heard this because after she had eaten some of her doughnut, she said that she was going to save the rest for her candle.  Oops, so I started singing to her and that kind of appeased her.  Hope that event doesn't scar her!  
• The other kids weren't scarred at all by the doughnut breakfast.  They scarfed those doughnuts down.  We have to buy 2 dozen doughnuts now (along with the frees ones you get when you walk in) so we can have enough for breakfast the next day.   
• The next stop was long overdue-Baptist hospital to see our pictures.  My kids think they are something special but when you see your picture three times your size on a skybridge and on a box truck, you really know you are something special.  Everyone was so happy to see themselves but I was a bit saddened to see how much everyone had grown since last December-My Whitman isn't a baby anymore.
• Sams was the next place we ran into.  We just had to pick up some medicine and then we had a few minutes to walk around a bit.  I love looking at stuff at Sams-though we never really buy anything and the kids loved looking at the toys.  When we left, Robby, Reagan and Campbell ran over to Walmart while the rest of us loaded up the car.  He bought a hat for himself (he was without a razorback hat), a laundry basket for me and football eye thingies for Graham.
• Grannymom had appetizers at 11 this morning and we made it there just in time.  The kids enjoyed the "snacky lunch" as they like to call it.  She had empanadas and Dana brought dip and it was all delicious.  This day was a trifecta in my book-not a single meal was cooked or served at home/by me!
• Robby helped usher at the football game so I dropped him off at the stadium.  I left the kids at Grannymom's house when I did this but once I neared the excitement of the tailgaters and the stadium, I was a bit disappointed that I didn't bring them.  They would have loved seeing all of the sights of the game.  But I am sure they were all having fun at Grannymom's house and they even seemed pretty calm when I came back to pick them up.
• Nonna had given Reagan a Michaels gift card for her birthday.  So our main goal was to find something for her to buy.  We walked and walked and walked around that store.  The kids were excellent and Reagan knew exactly what she wanted when we had finished walking through the store.  She decided on perler beads-we have some but never use them.  She found some with different colors than what we had and I splurged and bought some new things to make the designs on so everyone was happy. 
• I also found a wreath hanger and a bow for my wreath that I made.  I don't think the pictures really do it justice.  It is super cute and I totally copied it from my friend Alisa.  I was able to finish it tonight as we watched our movie.  It ended up not being too shabby for a 15 dollar wreath.  
• Back at home, I put Whitman down.  He really, really wanted to stay up and let me know about it.  However, since everyone else had pulled out the perler beads (these tiny beads that you carefully place on a board and then I iron so they stick together) there was no way that Whitman could be up.  I really, really do not like the perler beads-they are tiny, they are everywhere and they involve me using my iron.  I don't think I had plugged up my iron in years!
• The boys were also interested in watching the ball game.  The more Anderson is around football, the deeper his voice gets when he is talking.  My boys love them some football. Robby isn't a huge football fan-he likes to see the Hogs win but it isn't the end of the world if they lose. My Anderson and Graham screamed and yelled and jumped up and down as they watched their hogs flounder around today.
• Even Keaton watched the ballgame today.  She was diligently looking for her daddy.  We knew he was in yellow and whenever we saw someone in yellow, I tried to convince them that it was Robby.  I really wanted for them to think that they had seen him since they were looking for him so hard.  At one point, Graham was yelling "get him, get him" as a Georgia player was running with the ball.  Beside him set Keaton yelling "get him Daddy, get him Daddy."
• At halftime, we coasted to Nonna's house.  Not really coasted, we did probably have enough gas to get to Nonna's house.  Robby had told me that I needed more than "21 miles to go" when I got home or I would need to get a tiny bit of gas on the way home (he wanted to buy gas at another gas station so he could get a better price)  At the gas station, my car read "22 miles to go" and since home was another 5 miles, I pulled in to buy 5 dollars worth of gas.  When I pulled out, my car then read "24 miles to empty."  I don't know how that happened but I did know I wasn't going to have enough gas to get home, get to Nonnas, get back home and then back to the gas station.  After Nonna's house, we did meet Robby at the gas station so we could fill up both cars-there goes the grocery budget for the month! 
• The kids were so happy when we pulled in to Nonna's house.  They walked in the front door and out the back door.  The boys convinced Jason to come out and play with them and apparently they played a game of tackle football.  All the kids, even Whitman, went out and played.  
• Nonna had hot dogs and chili for everyone to eat.  The kids ate and then I convinced everyone to take baths or showers.  And when the kids weren't in the shower or bath tub, they were eating oreo pie!  At the end of the game, we loaded up to meet Robby.
• Reagan took her medicine, Whitman went to bed, everyone brushed and then we watched the end of our Skylark movie.  The kids were so frightened by the fires in the movie but then so excited at the end of the movie.  It had been a busy, busy day and watching the movie was a great end to the day.  

October 17, 2014

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An early Halloween party!

• The first thing that at least 2 of the kids said to me this morning was "I am starving."  Seriously, could they really be starving?  I don't think so but I crawled out of bed and eventually found them breakfast.  I pulled out breakfast burritos and pancake muffins-surely those would be enough to kill their hunger.  
• Robby left for work and since it was Friday, Campbell didn't have school and she could stay home with us all day.  Just as Graham did when he was at school 3 days a week, she can't quite figure out how to incorporate back into our homeschool day when she is gone so often during the week.  At one point, she said that she wished she had school today.  But Robby said when he takes her to school, she always says she wished she could stay at home.  I am sure though she did enjoy her day because I worked with her first for a long time, she played well with Keaton and Whitman and even helped me (followed me around) all afternoon long.
• School went well-nothing too exciting happened.  There is no spelling on Friday so that makes me happy, happy.  Keaton and Campbell keep busy doing school related things and Whitman also stays busy-mostly he stays busy walking to the pantry and pulling out cereal boxes and bringing them to me.  
• At 11, Whitman went down for a nap-I am trying to wean him off of his morning naps (actually, I am trying to wean me off of his morning naps.)  We did all of our together work then and even read quite a bit of our many books that we are working on. 
• Then it was lunch time-leftover spaghetti.  Those same children who were starving at breakfast turned their nose up at spaghetti.  They complain each day that we have sandwiches saying that we always have sandwiches.  So today when I pass out leftovers they complained that we just had that last night.  My Reagan was the only one with any sense and said "it is the same stuff we ate last night, just eat it."  Those kids didn't have any trouble eating the leftover cookies from last night!
• This afternoon I felt like I was running behind the whole afternoon.  I went through 3 bins of clothes (I am trying to week down my kid clothes-my goal is for all of my bins to close completely).  I made some breakfast cookies with my two little helpers and soon Robby was coming in with groceries to be put up.
• We thought we had plenty of time before having to leave tonight but before we knew it, we were scrambling to get all of the kids into their Halloween costumes.  We made it in plenty of time of the group picture (Campbell was afraid we were going to miss the picture-I tried to explain that they would probably wait on us.  I don't even know why she thought of a group picture anyway.) 
• Indeed, they did not take the group picture without us.  (The McGuires were down 2 kids tonight.)  The kids enjoyed seeing each others costumes and playing outside.  Amber had delicious spaghetti and the adults were able to sit around the table and talk most of the evening long.  It was a great evening...and my Whitman was so excited when he found Laynie's toy car to play with.  
• Back at home, the kids quickly put on their pjs and then it was time for bed.  After reading the Bible story, we tucked everyone in and I am know they were sound asleep soon-even though Keaton was doing jumping jacks during out night time prayer-she didn't seem to sleepy then!

October 16, 2014

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On the mend!

• I had so been planning on getting up early these days to walk on the treadmill and oh, I had been doing well until this week (well maybe I didn't do too good last week either).  Oh, well, maybe tomorrow or maybe next week.  Robby just sold all of his big boy clothes at the garage sale last weekend but I may have to go and buy me some big girl clothes if I don't get back on that treadmill soon (still going to eat some cookies tonight though!)
• All that to say when I do get up early, it is nice to have a few quiet minutes before everyone else does wake up.  This didn't happen today-people were up and crawling into our bed from all different sides as soon as the clock struck 7.  It is kind of nice to snuggle with the kids in the morning-just not all of them at the same time!
• Robby loaded up Whitman, Keaton and Campbell to drop Campbell off at school.  As soon as they left, I started rushing the kids for them to get their work done.  I wanted them to use every quiet second that they had on their school work.  They did pretty good and just had a few things to finish when I went to pick Campbell up from school.  
• Graham and Keaton went with me on this outing.  On the way home, we stopped by the library to pick up a few books.  And Campbell talked about her day pretty much the entire way home. She told me that they were talking about the letter P and they got a pumpkin picture and a penny.  And she said that no one wanted to play with her on the playground-that made me incredibly sad.  But I watched Campbell play on the playground yesterday at Bible study and she ran around happily, playing with the girls some but mostly playing by herself.  So I don't really know how much I believe Campbell's woe is me story but it still made me pretty sad!  
• Once at home, I made soup for lunch-don't know why I didn't think of making soup when Reagan's throat was so sore.  Today she is like a different person and you can tell that she feels multiple times better.  Her throat is still a bit sore but still much better.  And Reagan was the only one who really enjoyed my soup!
• The kids spent much of the afternoon going in and out.  Around 4, I did let Campbell and Keaton take Whitman outside (Robby helped watch him and I was watching from the kitchen windows).  I was busy making supper-spaghetti, sausage cornbread and cookies for supper (quite the Betty Crocker tonight!)
• Finally, we gathered everyone inside and ate supper.  Then the kids had baths-bubbles baths!-and seriously, just doing baths for 4 kids was enough to remind us that showers are always the way to go!  Whitman and Reagan were the ones that had showers.  
• Afterwards, we started watching the Skylark movie.  The kids stay so focused on the movie-well, for a little bit.  Whitman sat in his highchair eating cereal during the movie.  His favorite part was when the family danced in the front yard-he danced while he was in his seat!  Then it was bedtime for the crew and my Keaton was exhausted after skipping her nap this afternoon.  

October 15, 2014

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Are my teeth clean  yet?

• Wednesday morning and even though we were hoping that Reagan would be much, much better today, she was a bit better.  I even thought just maybe she might could go today.  I touched her head and she wasn't nearly as warm as she had been the last few days so I took her temperature and it was a 100.  Hmm, so that meant she was a no go to Bible study but a go to the doctor.  
• Robby fixed breakfast for the crew while I finished getting ready.  He left first after Reagan choked down some tylenol.  He dropped her off at Grannymom's house for the morning and then headed to work.  Soon the rest of us loaded up to head to Bible study.  Reagan was a bit bummed that she didn't get to pass out her snack today at Bible study but Anderson said that he could have his turn (sweet boy).
• I kept kids during Bible study and saw Keaton and Graham in the hallway.  And then Campbell's class played on the playground outside of our window so I watched her play. Afterwards, we went to the park to play with people from our Bible study group.  We were there a bit longer than usual and it was a bit after 1 when we left for Beebees.
• And then it was nearly 2 when Beebee finished with her occupational therapy.  I didn't know she was getting OT and I was about ready to bust on up into her therapy.  The kids were getting tired and antsy...and hungry for Beebee's candy which I wouldn't let them have until she was back.  We stayed for a while-and finally had to leave because poor Whitman wasn't happy with me just letting him eat 4 kit kats!  That child loves him some candy!
• Back at home, the kids joined Reagan in watching a few movies.  Then it was time to scarf down supper and head to church.  As we were leaving for church tonight, Graham handed Reagan a note that said "get batter soon."  Actually, my boys have been so concerned about their sister.  When they found at she had strep they kept asking me what that meant, when she was going to get better and if they were going to get it (they heard us talk about it being contagious).  
• At church, I had to be both puppets-this caused me enough stress that I practiced a few different voices in the car.  Of course this caused Campbell and Keaton to ask what I was doing!  My puppet voice ended up being a hit (well, it passed).  
• When we all came home, the kids changed into their pjs and we had a quick snack before bed. Everyone was pretty hungry-poor Reagan has only eaten a banana all day long but she didn't want anything else tonight.  And we didn't insist that she had anything...except her medicine. Hopefully tomorrow she will feel lots better.

October 14, 2014

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School Picture Day!

• You know it is Tuesday morning breakfast time when you hear the smoke alarms going off again and again in the kitchen.  My silly toaster forgets to pop up half of the time so half of the kids had to eat burnt toast.  No, I didn't make them eat burnt toast though I probably should have for all of the craziness that would happen each time the smoke alarm went off.  As I was climbing on the table to hit the button to make the alarm stop, I looked down to see Keaton holding her hands over Whitman's ears, Campbell holding her hands over Keaton's ear and Anderson's hands were covering Campbell's ears.  All of that was a bit excessive if you ask me-this does happen quite often on Tuesdays (toast day.)  I guess that I can't blame my toaster too much since it is nearing 15 years old-at least it makes the morning exciting.
• Campbell had picture today at school and since we probably won't buy any, I thought that I better take a picture of that baby before she left for school.  She was the cutest thing ever-Reagan had even suggested she wear her shirt and I thankfully found the cutest pink pants for her to wear.  She was adorable and she possibly knew it since I had told her over and over again.  
• The rest of us started school here.  Reagan is still not feeling all that great-I found her laying in the hallway after cleaning up the breakfast mess.  I asked her if she wanted to lay down and read so she did that and then I brought her math and phonics.  She really only got up once to get more school work and then I told her that we would work together and then she could be finished.  She could not believe that she wasn't going to have to finish all of her school work.
• Of course this didn't go over too well with Anderson-he didn't understand why he couldn't skip some of his school boxes.  I tried to explain that she still had to do those boxes just not right then and I tried to remind him that she was sick.  I guess that I wasn't very convincing because this led to him having a pretty bad attitude for the rest of the morning.
• Now my Graham didn't have a bad attitude and he had finished his school work early so you would think that he would have been perfectly happy but he can not occupy himself and ended up getting into trouble which led to many exasperated eye rolls, flailing his body around in frustration...it was probably a good thing that we skipped our together work and reading and let my boys calm down some (we skipped since Reagan was napping.)
• Soon it was lunch time and we did catch up on some of our reading then.  After lunch, the boys helped do Reagan's chores and Keaton helped Anderson finish his chores.  Today, Anderson had the favorite chore-refilling all of the bathrooms with toilet paper.  I don't know why this is such a big deal to the kids but they all love doing it.
• The kids had a restful afternoon and soon Campbell was home.  Pops even got out for his first non-doctor outing since his knee surgery.  They didn't stick around too long but long enough to see everyone.  When they left, I worked a bit around the house and soon it was time for everyone to wake up.  
• Robby was home later today so the  kids were pretty antsy this evening.  I finally just made them pull their kindles back out so they could sit calmly for a bit and play.  We had Mexican for supper and then even had time to watch a Bible story movie.  Whitman laid some on the floor and watched the movie but he also sat on people, jumped on the couch and stood on the coffee table during the movie!  As soon as the clock struck 7:30, that boy was put to bed!
• After the others were in bed, Robby and I were in the kitchen when I looked out and saw a possum about 5 feet from our patio.  Robby had the bb gun in his hand and said he had gotten it to shoot at the skunk that he had seen earlier.  Then we saw and skunk and possum beside each other, they circled around each other, the skunk stuck her tail up, the possum jumped but that was about it.  Personally, I was a little disappointed.  Eventually, Robby remembered that he had poured out the grease from last nights hamburgers in that spot on the yard and that was what was attracting all of the wildlife.  Who knows what animals we will see later when we go to bed.

October 13, 2014

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No pumpkin patch so had to make my own!

• Today was to be pumpkin patch day for Campbell's class and even though it was lightening and the wind was wildly blowing the trees when I woke up, we still waited for the email saying that there would be no pumpkin patch.  My Campbell didn't really care though and was pretty excited to go to school with Whitman riding in the car with her.
• Robby was planning on staying at home with the kids when I went to the patch with Campbell but he opted to just work from home today.  He was probably glad that he didn't have to fight the crazy weather related traffic all the way to work.  The rain came down like crazy while he was taking Campbell to school. 
• Since the kids had already finished their math this weekend, school was a breeze (and since Whitman was gone for a while with Robby and Keaton was at Grannymom's house).  We finished in time to do some together work and then wake Whitman up in time for him to play some before lunch.  
• Yesterday, he found our doll house car so today I pulled it out for him and found him some dolls to put inside of it.  This made that boy so happy-he just sat and played with it for what seemed like an hour.  We then had lunch and began our afternoon.  
• The big event of our afternoon was organizing the pencils and crayons in the school room.  We organized, labeled and cleaned out so hopefully they will stay nice and neat...maybe for a few days at least.  After that, it was rest time for Whitman but he never went to sleep.  Robby eventually had to rescue him-even though he went to sleep late this morning, he slept so soundly and was out when I went in to wake him up.
• As soon as everyone was settled this afternoon, I ran out to buy a few supplies to make a wreath (we will see how it turns out) and picked up a few other necessities at Walmart.  Then I picked up my little girls.  Campbell and Keaton were sitting at the kitchen table eating candy when I walked in.  They had plenty to tell me all about her day and Campbell had the cutest painting of pumpkins that she had made today.  
• Once we were home, Robby grilled hamburgers and then we ate.  My Whitman was in a mood tonight.  He didn't want to eat anything and when Robby tried to hand him a drink, he didn't want his cup but wanted Robby's cup.  His supper ended with all of his food on the floor, a good swat on his hand and lots of tears.  (Where, oh where are our ear plugs?)
• Since we ate fairly early we had a long evening-plenty of time to finish our Sarah movie and then we even played Keaton's new game from her birthday before putting everyone in bed.  

October 12, 2014

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Keaton Mae!

• Last night after I finished my blog, I saw a skunk in the backyard.  I told Robby and he went to get the BB gun.  I stood at the door reminding him over and over that I thought it was not a good idea to shoot at a skunk.  I knew that we didn't have that much tomato juice and I knew that this morning was church.Thankfully, the BBs only scared the skunk and he scurried away without feeling the need to mark his territory.  
• We all woke up this morning and I fed the kids breakfast-we were out of doughnuts so that was almost a catastrophe but we had some new cereal so pulling it out was like Christmas morning.  Everyone was actually dressed and ready in time for me to sit and fold another load of laundry.  Robby and I were talking that we feel like our laundry system works-he gets the clothes into the washer and usually the dryer and then I fold and put them away (Reagan does put away the kid clothes for her chore) but seriously, laundry is done every single day.  I guess we could wait and do 3-4 loads at a time but that would be so overwhelming to me.
• Today was a big day at church because the kid choirs helped lead in worship.  Reagan, Anderson and Graham sang and all did wonderful.  On the way up to the choir loft, I reminded the boys that their daddy would quickly walk up onto the stage and take them out if they were not doing the right thing.  Anderson said "that would be embarrassing" and I reminded him that was the point!  But there was no need for that because they were perfect singing their little hearts out for Jesus.
• Then we had lunch at Grannymom and Grandpa's house.  It was quiche and the kids all seemed to love it.  And there was apple dumplings for dessert-my favorite.  Now Whitman wasn't too big into eating today but he did find a banana to eat. I think he was really just holding out for dessert!
• This afternoon when it was time to go, I told Whitman that we had to go bye-bye and he looked up at me and waved bye to me.  He thought he was getting to stay so Grannymom offered to keep him and we took her up on it.  That meant that we could lay down on the couch that much quicker this afternoon!  
• As soon as we were home, I bribed Keaton with taking a nap-I told her that if she took a really good nap, she could spend the night with Grannymom tonight and she was asleep in seconds. The others watched a few movies while Robby and I dozed-we had told Campbell that she could come sleep upstairs with us or she had to stay downstairs.  She couldn't just wander around from place to place so she opted to watch a movie and had her Sunday afternoon nap in my bed.  
• All too soon, it was choir time and we headed to church again.  Keaton was able to go with Robby to the coffee shop for a cookie so this made her really, really happy.  Then it was time for church tonight.  Campbell does really well on Sunday mornings but Sunday nights are another story-she just moves and moves and moves.  But Graham was on the other side of Robby coughing his head off.  He eventually had to leave to go and get some water.
• Keaton was excited to go home with Grannymom after church but Whitman was not so happy about this.  He wanted to go and cried as they left and then when Robby put him down, he beelined to the door that Grannymom and Grandpa left from.  That little stinker but we did make him happy once we were at home and he had his Sunday night ice cream truck!  I think everyone was happy with our new selection of ice cream!