Our Last Saturday

It is our last Saturday as a 10 kid family! To help us celebrate the upcoming arrival of a new little boy (and before life gets complicated again,) Corey decided to treat the kids to some fun today and took them out to a movie. They saw Ice Age 5. Sadly, Corey said he'll never be able to get that 2 hours of his life back. I opted to pass and ran to the store instead, I thought it would be good of me to stock up on milk and cereal for the gang. Then Owen took a nap and I washed Corey's car (I like e-cloths, I've got the dual action sponge, not the mit). Then Corey texted me when the movie was done and we met up for our last time eating out with "just 10 kids". We don't eat out much with the kids, so this was a special treat. They love Chuck a Rama. What kid doesn't? This was after the feast was over and we were letting our stomachs settle. They did pretty good and didn't make too much of a mess. A few cookie crumbles on the floor from Owen, but no spills or anything else. Good job Crew, we promise we'll take you out again next year too!

And actually, it was only 9 kids cause Joseph was gone - today was the homecoming dance and he didn't want to ruin his dinner, so he stayed home and did homework until it was time to go pick up his date. Here's Joseph and the girl he asked, Heather ~

I would tell you all about his date, but I haven't heard about it yet. I've usually already headed to bed when this midnight talker starts sharing. But I did hear it was great, "a lot of fun". Corey was my homecoming date my junior year. Maybe I'll update later with that picture. :)

Mom Guilt?

I've been feeling a little bit of Mom guilt this past week. I've been counting the days instead of making the days count. When I saw this on facebook and it gave me a good laugh. I've got bingo three ways from yesterday ~ although I think I need "Used TV as babysitter" as my center square... because "Phone at park" means I actually TOOK my kids to the park. I need a "Didn't take them to the park (or outside at all) today" square.

Then I saw this on facebook too, which balanced out any guilt. I love President Hinckley. I am so grateful to know that we have modern day prophets to help us navigate this life. These are good words to live by:

So, sure, I napped a little too much this week, but I know I'm doing ok for a full term pregnant lady. That being said, I am so looking forward to being done with this part of the process. It's time to move on and feel like a normal person again, looking forward to Monday!

Post It Patterns

Natalie was playing quietly this afternoon. She was hard at work making a color pattern with post it notes at the window ledge.

I watched her for a minute wondering what she had - I saw the orange squares... We had some sliced American cheese in the fridge, is that what she has? But what of the purple and blue cheese underneath? I stepped closer - ah, Post it notes! Of course!

And this is why it is a waste of money for me to even buy these things in the first place. Those colored squares that stick and stack are just too much fun. She is a cute little girl. After she finished we stacked them all up and now they are in a drawer here at the desk. We'll see if they ever get used now that they aren't in a nice and neat stack, cause we all know kids only like to mess up things that aren't already messed up. They like to target organized things or clean rooms and floors. ;)

Assistant SBO Campaign

Recently the Jr. High school decided to move 9th grade to the high school, so this is the last year there for Ethan and Hyrum. To try to give 8th graders a chance to have the opportunities they would have had as 9th graders, they have made a few adjustments, like they are going to let 8th graders go to "9th grade Lagoon Day" for example. Another thing they are doing is letting some of them be student body officers. "Assistant SBO"s is what they are calling them. Hyrum is running for Assistant SBO. The kids spent dinner time trying to come up with different slogans: Don't be a Bum, vote for Hyrum! Don't drink Rum, vote for Hyrum! Don't be Dumb - vote for Hyrum!! Then the decided that Hyrum's name doesn't rhyme with anything good. When Corey came home he shared his idea - he always helps the kids with their posters and t-shirts and has good ideas. He started reading some random fun facts that he foudn on the internet and Hyrum chose a few to use. Here is Hyrum's poster

And I snapped a picture of him eating breakfast this morning.

I think he'll find out on Friday if he made it past the primary election. Good luck Hyrum!

2 A.M.

I usually wake up in the middle of the night. Several times. It's one of the joys of pregnancy. The following pictures are from one of those occasions. Around 2 a.m. on September 3rd to be exact. I first went in to make sure Joseph had made it home from his Friday night socializing...

Looks like that's a yes. I wonder if he falls asleep saying his prayers very often? Then I wandered around from room to room to see where everyone else ended up. Corey was gone in Brazil when these were taken, and during that week and a half, we had an early dinner and early scriptures, like at 7. That left me free to go to bed once I was done with parenting for the day, which was usually around 9:30/10. I'd bring Owen and Natalie in with me, turn off the light and turn on the fan for some good white noise to drown out the noise of the rest of the house. Because of course they were all still doing homework and playing and whatever. Looks like the little girls decided to have a sleepover with their brothers - Lily is lying on Hyrum's bed on Hyrum and her big Bunky Boo dog.

Corey bought that big dog for Lily for Christmas years ago to take his place as her big body sleeping companion. Bunky Boos done a good job. Sophi's sleeping on the floor. I'd prefer that, the bed bed looks crowded.

And then my little roommates - Owen, he's just precious. 

And our little floor cat Natalie. She almost always lays right down and falls asleep, so that is why she's still in our room. If she's happy and quiet, that works.

The one downside to that is that Owen is an early riser, and if I let him loose on the floor, he'll go wake her up and pull her hair. She's pretty patient with it, but I'd rather not wake her if possible. But our bedroom is one of the only places with a door that I can contain him in. The main floor is one big free access area, and he likes to walk over to the staircase and go up, but hasn't quite mastered the descending part. So I'll move the couch over or something and then he can wander around while I read or just sit and put up my feet (trying to keep the pregnancy varicose veins under control). Anyway, so there are a few pics of a few kids on a typical early morning. 

I'm Scheduled!!

I had my last doctor appointment today, yippe! And may I also say thank goodness for elective inductions, for now there is a light at the end of this tunnel. In one week and I will be delivered, hallelujah!

Corey arrived home safely from Brazil, last Thursday, I'm hanging on for dear life this next week, sorry to not be documenting much here. I'll try to catch up. But Natalie and Sophi like to play starfall during the day (and I like to take a nap) and when the kids are home from school they are busy doing homework at the computer, so that is also part of my excuse. I'll try to update things later. :)

Let's all sing ~ one week! one more week!!!

Birthday Parties

So, we never really had a plan for birthday parties. Joseph got one pretty much every year until he was 7 - we figured that was just what you do. Of course the first 3 years were just with grandparents coming over. When he was 7 we were living in Virginia and getting ready to move to Brazil, so that was the year his stopped. Melodie had a few - we tried to keep up with what we did for Joseph, but they started to falter for her, and they've faltered for all the kids ever since. The birthday tradition around here consist of cake and ice cream, gifts from grandparents, a gift from mom and dad (I try to limit it to $50) and those are the only guarantees. When kids are in elementary, they get invited to friend parties and thus begin to ask about having their own birthday party with friend. Abi especially has turned it on cause she's a little socialite. So in an effort to know how to answer her persistent questions, I have looked back on the past and what we've done up until now, I have officially established our birthday party policy: Each kid gets two friend parties. Abi had one in 2014 and wanted one again this year. I, being large with child, did my best to persuade and bribe her to wait for her second party for another year. But she insisted, and I gave in, consoling myself that atleast it will be the last one for her. I got lucky that it got postponed and I didn't have to do it with Corey out of town (I just like the moral support). Today was the day I had to pay up. I need to repent cause I was murmuring that we had to do this all morning. 

I ran to the store early for ice cream, we had cake on hand. Instead of buying more junk I asked Corey if I could use the treats and cookies he's brought home for the kids from Brazil. So we had enough junk on hand to make it feel like a party. Abi wanted to do crafts - that was something else I had to grab at the store. We did sun catchers, bead necklaces, and jeweled bookmarks. Abi was in charge of games, and Corey mentioned several times that her friends looked a little bored. Listen, I didn't even want to do this. I think Abi kept waiting for more people to come. She only had 6 of the 11 friends show, which I was actually really grateful for. Her friends Story, Hannah, Addy, Alix, Stein and Jules came. Poor Stein was the only boy. Hyrum and Wes are his friends too, and I gave the 3 of them permision to go play the Wii which they did. It picked up during the last hour and I think ended well, so hopefully the memories of the last hour will be the ones they carry home.

I really tried to bribe Abi, said if she waited for next year we'd do a friend party at Classic skating or something good, if she wanted to do it this year, it would have to be an at home party, and you don't want that right? That will be boring, right? So you'll wait until next year, right? Wrong. But we survived the 3 hours and no one helped me clean up after but I'm all done with obligations until the baby's born. I'm not going to push myself to exercise next week or leave the house at all, I'm just gonna chill. 

We had one other party recently for my humble and patient Hyrum. His birthday is right before school and when we're usually recovering from our summer of fun and I don't feel like doing anything. He hasn't had a party at all yet. So we did one for him this year. He said he'd wait until school started so we did it August 27th. I suggested that if he waited till after school began, he could invite more friends from school if he met more friends in his new classes this year. Only 3 of the 6 people he invited came. They also did a lot of Wii playing, (Hyrum was in charge of the activities too) but I think it went okay. 

The older 3 kids are done with parties and Abi is done, yay. (I think Abi is the most intense child we have socially), but they all have our blessing to "hang out" for birthdays. That's low key and totally fine, anything that doesn't require any effort on my part!

One Day More

Corey will be back home tomorrow, yay. Things have been good, I've felt very well and not at all frazzled or overwhelmed while he's been gone. Probably the biggest help is that I have a second driver in Joseph. He's been taking the van most days cause that is the family car, and it allows him to pick up the after school carpool. Today I kept the van so I could do the afternoon pick up. He couldn't cause he had a band thing in American Fork so I let him take Corey's car down there. Joseph has two bands that he's in down there - Lyceum and Soundhouse, plus takes lessons down there too with Ray Smith. The auditions for the Soundhouse were last week, so they'll know what bands there are in with that soon, and once those weekly rehearsals start up again I think someone will be making that drive every week. Glad it won't be me. I'm gonna have the "I've got a nursing baby" excuse again, ha!

I was glad to have the van this morning, cause it meant that I didn't have the bluetooth MP3 hookup that is available in Corey's car. Every day that I've driven Ethan and Hyrum to school, Ethan over-rides my sync up and syncs up his phone and plays Les Mis. Now I really don't mind Les Mis in and of itself, it's just the EVERYDAY thing that's wearing me out. Although I guess that might also be their complaint with me... if I'm playing music, it's Imagine Dragons (my treadmill walk every morning is to Smoke+Mirrors) or Brandon Flower/the Killers. These past 2 weeks, the kids (mostly Ethan and Joseph) have been on a major Les Miserables kick. It's been a bit of a overload. Joseph is hoping that the high school will do Les Miserables for a musical this or next year, and if they do, watch out, he's going all in for the role of Marius. That's why he's got it blasting, he has to practice. He had a friend come over and couldn't hear us call to him in his room cause of the musical blaring on their stereo. "Turn off your rock and roll!!" Yes, having my teenagers addicted to Les Mis is better than probably 90% of the music that most teenage boys are playing, so I'll count my blessings. I can find ways to avoid it here at home, and I only have "one day more" to listen to it during morning carpool. Excited to have my better half back tomorrow! We're gonna make it

Sophia is 5!

It's another day of celebration around our house - Happy Birthday, Sophi!

The smiles and eyes aren't quite as natural as I'd like, but that's okay, hence why I took 20+ photos...

This one the eyes are natural, but not he body. Ya do what ya can.

You're a cute one Soph.  

Ok, so let's see, how did your birthday go? Luckily this one still has pretty simple expectations. I gave her a present this morning (didn't wrap it) and that kept her busy most of the day. I made the lego dragon and remembered the days when Corey and I were busy building Legos all Christmas morning. I told her she'd have to wait on the Elf house until her siblings were home from school. I couldn't work on the rest of the house with Owen and Natalie around. Natalie was having a bit of a hard time at first with it not being her birthday, insisting the purple elf girl was her rightful property. And Owen was on a eat and destroy mission. So it was a pretty chill day, and then the kids came home and built the lego with her, and shortly thereafter the grandparents came by. Sophi got a boy and girl barbie, clothes, hair bows, more legos... it was a party. We had some dinner and then broke out the cake and ice cream. Be careful not to breath on the candles while you sing!

Ok, now you can blow them out. 

 Good job Sophi! 

Phew! Always a birthday party at our house from June - September, that is too much cake and ice cream. what is a trying to be health conscious mother to do. We've got 8 of them in those 4 months, soon to be 9! Luckily we're done with the birthday sugar overload for a few months around here - next one is Mel in December. Not counting junior that's coming in 13 days. Thankfully we won't be dishing up cake and ice cream for him this year.

Two Weeks

I don't think we've said hello to September yet... have we? "Hello blessed September! I've been looking forward to you for 9 months, glad you're finally here!" We are almost there... two weeks from today and hopefully I'll be at the hospital being induced. God willing everything will go well and we'll be able to meet this little man. All the kids are excited, except for Owen, who probably doesn't know what's coming... do you Owen?

You, little person, are about to be booted from your position as baby in the family. Are you ready to share. There will be some attention adjustment I'm sure, but luckily we've got enough smitten older siblings who love babies to go around. I'm sure you'll be fine. I've told Owen before that I feel he's mostly responsible for this happening so quickly... Oh, don't look like you don't know what I'm talking about...

My theory is he had some premortal agreement with this sibling to get him down here pronto, and he's kept his word. They'll be 14 months apart.

Yeah, Owen, that was your fault for dumping me for the bottle. I don't remember all the details from each newborn experience, but since yours is the most recent and one of the few that is blogged about, you might be the baby that is remembered as being the most difficult.

No offense, that's just the truth, and I'm hoping your little brother doesn't follow suit and that nursing him won't be a trial.

So these photos here are adorable pictures that Ethan took yesterday after church. We made Owen dress up in a tight button up collared shirt like all the other poor men have to do, poor guys. It was a 2T though, so it wasn't too tight on Owen's chubby neck. 

We thought he looked pretty dapper. 

We're excited to meet your little brother in two weeks!

Abigail is 9!

Happy Birthday, Abi!

This birthday girl turned 9 years old today. She's done a little of the celebrating before today. Corey knew he was going to be gone, so he took her to do a little clothes shopping before he left. Also, about a month ago she really really wanted a bike, and a neighbor was selling an old one, so we got her the bike as an early birthday present. So she'd already gotten her goods from Corey and I, but still had gifts o'plenty to make her feel special today. Hooray for grandparents! My mom brought over some colored flame candles that we thought were pretty cool!

 Make a wish!

Abi got lots of clothes, and I think her favorite toy present was a bow and arrow. That thought based upon the fact that they've been shooting it around in the house all evening.

We were going to have a party, but most of the friends she invited were gone or busy since it's a holiday weekend. So we rescheduled it for next Saturday. And that will work better cause Corey will be back. I'm still slightly on survival mode, but things are going good, just keep your head down and keep pressing forward.

Breakfast Requirements

Last week Corey got breakfast for the girls and it made me laugh. He had to keep making adjustments to meet their little kid demands. Funny silly kids. It's just a part of life with little kids. I've heard their simple requests often enough on enough mornings that they are ingrained into my head and I try to take care of them all before presenting my breakfast offerings. That way they don't have to correct me for feeding them improperly. So, here is the proper way to feed these little girls breakfast (in case Corey or the kids need this in the coming weeks when I'm nursing a newborn:

Natalie - ask her what bowls she wants: an Elsa bowl (blue) Rapunzel bowl (purple) or Aurora bowl (pink). Always give her the pink spoon.

Sophi - she likes having a Belle bowl (yellow) and a gray spoon (silver baby spoon, not regular sized one)

Lily is pretty chill about which bowl and spoon she eats with, which I appreciate.

They usually all like the "rainbow" cereal (Malt O Meal's version of Captain Crunch)

A properly colored bowl is usually always available. There is just one each of the pink spoon and gray spoon, so if those are not in the silverware drawer or dishwasher, I just tell them that it's dirty and they are usually accommodating and will accept a substitute.

For your entertainment, here's a video that pretty much sums up how it goes feeding toddlers, I thought it was pretty funny.