CHEESE!!!!!

I love when my kids snuggle. 

SPLITS!!!!

The girls are really into gymnastics right now. 

Tori suddenly can do the splits. 

I have not gotten a good picture because she only stays down a second 

but these are cute nonetheless. 

Seriously, love her. 

Camels

We did a study of camels today as part of our study of the Middle East. 

Nikki was good enough to draw these awesome camels for each of the kids. 

They used them as fact/opinion displays. 

 While working on this we learned so many amazing facts about camels. 

This is why I love teaching them..I was learning too!

I never knew how God created camels to be PERFECTLY suited for their environment. 

Some of the cool things we learned:

*Camels have 3 sets of eye lids...to protect their eyes in different levels of blowing sand.

*They have extremely furry ears - inside...why? to protect against the sand. 

*Their feet are made with a webbing like material between the toes to expand and keep them from sinking into the sand as they walk. 

*They can go days and days without food or water.

*Camels can cool their bodies in a way that no other mammal can. 

*Camels can close their NOSTRILS! Why you ask? duh, to protect against blowing sand!

I cant help but find God pretty amazing after seeing His provision for the camel. 

And then to think...that's just a camel. 

He died on the cross for ME, not a camel. 

So how much more wonderfully am I made? 

LOOK OUT BELOW!!!!!!!!

Saturday afternoon while the 3 older girls and I were at the dance show, Jordan was home with Sullivan and Torrance. 

I received a text from him asking 'Who left the nail polish bottle on the stairs?'

I pretty much knew right then that I did not want to come home. 

In case you were wondering, the following pictures will show you what it looks like when your 2 year old launches a nail polish grenade at your 7 year old's head. 

Jordan did an awesome job of cleaning it all up before I even got home. 

All the parts that he could anyway. 

Sully was covered...its still in his hair. 

It is on my wood floor, but luckily only a few spots. 

It got on my BRAND NEW AREA RUG...and Jordan somehow got that out. 

From the top of the stairs the bottle hit the upper part of the door frame below first. 

This is where it shattered.

(please note...the walls and trim in this area of our home have needed to be painted since we moved in...so ignore what the that looks like and focus on the blood, er, I mean nail polish.)

Honestly, it was like coming home to a horrible crime scene. 

The carpet on the steps is hideous...however I didn't want to replace it...

I was leaving that for the next owner!

Beyond the mess the house REEKED like nail polish and gave me a horrible headache. 

Needless to say, I am pretty sure Jordan will never forget this event! 

Weekend Wrap

The largest part of our weekend was spent in a gymnasium.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. On one hand I love watching my kids do things they love. But on the other hand, we lose out on time as a family and often we have to split up to make it work. 

But we're embracing it!

And this week Grandma Cindy offered to keep the younger 4 kids so that Jordan and I could both watch our oldest play volleyball.

We arrived at the tournament bright and early at 7:30 am. 

It was kind of like a date. 

Just the two of us sitting in the bleachers...holding hands. 

We even went out for lunch together..granted it was at 10 am and it was a Culvers.

But we did have the restaurant to ourselves.

I'll take it!

Lauren was thrilled to have us both there...totally focused on her. 

(Well her and hand holding)

Her team is very fun to watch. 

But this week it seemed like they may have needed a couple more hours of sleep. 

None of them were happy with their play.

The coaches were a little 'devastated' by it too.

Its so awesome to have encouraging coaches with our daughters. 

I'm learning a lot about this sport.

I finally know why they do this...

After Lauren's tournament we raced home to see Avery perform in the annual dance show.

This group of girls was EXCITED and GIGGLY!

Silly! 

Avery actually smiled out there!

She looked so cute. 

A picture with Ellie after the performance.

My friends

My friends held a little birthday party for me this weekend. 

I've got to tell you...at the top of my list of blessings are the ladies I got to celebrate with that night. 

They have helped me in hard times, laughed at me/with me in good times and just generally 

make my life brighter and easier. 

Thank you ladies...you make me feel so loved. 

(I would love to post some more pictures from our night 

but I signed a contract promising not to do so! 

True story.) 

Star Wars Party

For Sullivan's 'friend' birthday party he wanted to watch Star Wars Episodes 1-3. 

He chose to have cousin Aaron share in the fun. 

With 4 sisters Sullivan is so lucky to have a boy cousin in town and close in age. 

Aaron is 3 years older but he is SO good with Sullivan.

They are so cute talking sports teams and players. 

I love watching them together...even when they are driving me insane!

Aaron gave Sully is first set of football cards and a binder to start collecting. 

He was thrilled.

Uh, hysterical. 

They ended up getting 2 movies in before Aaron was snoring. 

Sullivan would have stayed up all night...but we decided 12:15 was late enough!

Thanks for helping him celebrate Aaron!

Valentine's Eve

I'm currently running around the house scrambling to get 

our fun Valentine's Supper ready for Jordan and the kids. 

Busy, busy.

But I keep thinking back to last night. 

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and my mood was really not feeling well!

Wednesdays are hard days...good...but exhausting. 

I was not looking forward to driving the kids 30 minutes to Awana and getting home at 9:00. 

My wonderful awesome husband sensed it. 

He gave me a Valentines present. 

He took the kids for me. 

3 entire hours...

all alone...

in my house....

did I mention alone?????

I quickly ran to the library...got a new book, fed the kids and stood at the door waiting for him!

He came home took over and I went to bed with my book and snacks. 

It was wonderful. 

However, it turns out...

After growing up in a house with 6 siblings

then living in the dorms

then an apartment with 4 girls

and then getting married and having 5 kids close in age...

I'm really bad at alone time. 

Dont get me wrong, the first hour was glorious. 

But then I admit it. 

I got bored. 

;)

Thank you Jordan for a wonderful gift. 

I know it wasn't easy for you to sacrifice the night that is usually 'your night'. 

I appreciate your gesture more than I can possibly express. 

More birthday photos

We celebrated Sullivan's birthday with our family on Sunday night. 

He requested a cake that was half chocolate, half white. 

He loves to help in the kitchen. 

I pulled it off. 

His sisters decorated the whole dining room for him. 

He was so happy when he saw their work. 

Dear Sullivan's future wife...I pray for you dear, he has 5 girls doting on him daily...

be prepared...and, I'm sorry. 

This was only part of the streamers. 

(and now they refuse to let me take them down!)

Present time! 

Blowing out the candles and making a wish!

The next morning he woke up to us singing to him again and a donut tower! 

He spent part of that day with Grandma Cindy, then came home to build 

new lego sets with Lauren's help. 

 His teeth look so goofy...but I know I will greatly miss that smile when the teeth are all grown in...(and we've spent a ton on braces.)

Jordan and I take the kids out for supper on their birthday all alone. 

Its my favorite. 

Sullivan requested Red Lobster a long time ago. 

We are not fish eaters. 

But we are trying. 

So we went. 

He ate shrimp and tilapia. 

He said he liked them both. 

But we could not get him to touch the lobster or crab legs. 

While we were there he opened one last gift...

the first 3 episodes of the Star Wars trilogy. 

Can you say excited?!?!!?

P.U.M.P.E.D.

He had a great couple of days and he still gets to celebrate with Grandma Barb and then with a sleepover with cousin Aaron! 

Birthday Twins!!

We had to stop and see Jason for the annual 'Birthday Twins' picture!

They love sharing this day!

All our boys!

Birthday Boy

He's set for the night...

sleeping on the couch...his Peregrine Falcon (favorite animal) and blankie near-by

and watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with mom and dad. 

He couldnt ask for much more. 

More birthday pictures tomorrow! 

Happy 7th Birthday Sullivan Joseph!!!!

Oh my, oh my, Sullivan. 

Its hard to even know where to begin a birthday post about you. 

At 7 you are so ... totally... you.

Its really about the only way to describe it. 

And if people know you, they know exactly what that means. 

You are a ball of energy. 

Your body is almost constantly in motion. 

And your mouth is almost constantly in motion. 

You are ALWAYS talking. 

Always. 

And you are always at a volume completely inappropriate for wherever we are! 

You are always in our face. 

Saying, I love you!

or asking hundreds of questions a day. 

You do not know the definition of 'personal space'!

You think everyone needs a hug...at all times. 

You love to touch. 

Oh Sully, our boy. 

We love you from the bottom of our being. 

Many times during our days your dad and I will look at each other and give each other a certain look...its the look that says, 'we are SO very happy and blessed to have a boy'. 

To have you as our son. 

You are smart, stubborn, appreciative and determined. 

Sneaky, affectionate and LOUD. 

Pesky, fidgety, compassionate and hilarious. 

You keep our house guessing and full of laughter. 

You are our comedian and our dark eyed terror. 

You love to wrestle and run. 

You love to eat, especially desserts. 

There is nothing you want more than time with your dad. 

I love watching your relationship with him. 

At 7 you love time with your grandmas, friends and the outdoors. 

You enjoy any type of video game. 

You rarely play with toys. 

But you love building sets and creating. 

You LOVE science and making concoctions! 

You LOVE ADVENTURE!

I have loved teaching you this year in school. 

Watching your eyes as you read and seeing you JUMP when you 'get' a new concept. 

I am so blessed to sit beside you as your mind grows. 

Sullivan, the sky is the limit for your future. 

I know you can do anything and I fully believe you will change the world in some great way in your life. 

Sullivan, 7 years ago God answered our prayers and gave us a son. 

We are daily thankful for this gift...you! 

Thank you little boy for filling our hearts with love and our house with noise! 

You were created for us and we are so very happy that you came to be ours! 

Happy 7th Birthday Sullivan! 

You have our hearts. 

Tale of a Tuesday

8:15 - Mom leaves for the real estate office.(Dad's long gone) Gives instructions to the 3 older kids to eat breakfast and help the little ones, empty the dishwasher and be ready for school in 20 minutes.

8:45 - Mom returns home. Kids are ready! 

School starts. Bible, Geography, Science, Geography game complete!

10:15 - short break - computer time for the kids. Mom gets little girls dressed and re-settled.

10:30 - Math - kids work individually with my help

11:00 - Avery and Sullivan start Language Arts - Lauren gets lunch

11:30 - I start making lunch for the other kids, Lauren leaves for PE and Music at the school, 

we eat, I do laundry

12:20 - Avery leaves for Art, PE, Music.
Sullivan, Tess and Tori play. Mom computer time.

1:00 - Jordan comes home for lunch.
Sullivan completes Language Arts and any other work he made need to finish.

1:30-1:45 - Lauren and Avery return home. Sullivan leaves for PE and Music. 

Tori goes down for a nap

2:00 - Lauren and Avery start into English/Reading/Writing curriculum 

(I can only do this with Torrance IN BED!)

2:30 - Sullivan gets home.
Everyone completes reading...sometimes this takes us the rest of the afternoon

3:00 - rest time. ahhhhhh

3:30 - Tess, Avery and I go to the store

4:00 - snack, prep supper, laundry, pick up the house, kids do chores, Torrance gets up

4:45 - vacuum, clean 1/2 bath, remind kids of their chores

5:45 - Jordan gets home...we eat

6:30 - Clean up kitchen, laundry, Jordan and Sullivan have a shooting contest, Lauren reading, Avery on the ipad, Tess and Tori - dance central, mom snapping pictures and planning for tomorrow, texting friends, keeping Tori out of the fridge and front porch

7:15 - Lauren and Avery do writing presentations that they worked on during school today, then Jordan starts reading Hatchet to the 3 older kids. I take younger girls for a bath. 

7:45 - Sullivan has a shower. Snack time - we were feeling really nice. ha. 

8:15 - little 3 to bed, Avery practicing guitar, Lauren in the shower

8:45 - Lauren and Avery to bed to read, Jordan working on something for work, mom blogging

9:00 - me and him....ahhhhhh

Of course none of that goes as easily as it sounds. There are many interruptions, distractions and chaos...diaper changes, phone calls, fights to break up, faces to wipe, meals to plan, extended family and friends to stay in touch with...

But its all kinds of beautiful and I love calling it mine.