New Beginnings

 The one good thing about school starting is getting back into a routine. It is also a good time to start some new routines. The kids are enjoying the new school year so far and I think they like being back on a schedule. I finally have Logan and Brooklyn on the same nap schedule so at least I get some time to myself. They are also becoming great buddies but Logan still ask for "his Hannah" a hundreds times a day. I thought I would just jump in with both feet in this new beginnings thing and try to potty train Logan. But after 2 days of trying I gave up and he was more than happy to have a diaper back on. I'll give it another shot in a couple of months when he is not so traumatized over losing Hannah during the day. I have also decided it is time to get my butt in shape and boy is it out of shape, cardio is killing me. I wish I could say I love my treadmill and it makes me feel great to exercise but it doesn't. Hopefully it will become more bearable overtime. This is also the time I grab one of my favorite all time books to read. If you have never read "Mitten Strings for God" this is definitely a must read. It is about living in the moment and focusing on whats important. I love this book, I usually read it a couple times a year or when ever I am feeling overwhelmed. I also have caught the decorating bug. Last year when we bought our house I was right in the middle of morning sickness and decorating was the last thing on my mind. It was all I could do to get Taylor's room finished in the basement and find a landscaper to put a retaining wall in the back yard. I did get Hannah and Brooklyn's room painted before Brooklyn was born but that was about as far as I got. Now that I am use to the craziness of seven kids, I am ready to decorate. My top two projects- the girl's room and Master bedroom.

This is what my nightstand looks like. Peyton's Cub Scout application, he turned 8 in February. Sight word, multiplication, addition and subtraction flash cards. My books that I am either reading alone or with Chad and of course wipes. And yes, I have finally figured out why I am fat. If you are sick of diet books and want something different, than this book is for you. I will let you know more on that later.

Logan finally got his Cars backpack

I love that these two are becoming best buddies, want a bite Brooklyn?



I love pictures that tell a story



I love Pottery Barn Kids and creative people on the internet that show you how to copy their ideas. These flowers were so much fun to make and Brooklyn loves to look at them, she loves anything girly. 

I need to buy bigger letters, now I just need Hobby Lobby to put them on sale.



My room started out green like the rest of the house but after I bought this chair it quickly changed. Originally the chair was for Whit's room but it clashed with her wall color, so now it is mine. After going to the Village Quilt Shoppe last summer in Utah and seeing the "all white bed " I was in love. But I felt guilty changing my room when it was already decorated. Then I found the wall color, Benjamin Moore's "smoke". I was in love and knew the chair would go perfectly and so would the all white bed.  I finally bought the comforter set and dust ruffle, now I can't wait to find fun throw pillows for it.



I had to switch out the reds, greens and plums with white, creams and silver. Next thing to tackle - Chad's night stand.

Trek Pictures

I just wanted to share some pictures of Tay and Whit from Trek. I wish I would have been around to take pictures myself but at least leaders and friends got a few shots of them.

Compassion

Why are band aids magical? Hannah came in the house yesterday and asked for a small band aid, so I told her to go get one and she went back out side. About an hour later she came to me crying and said" I put the band aid on the frog but it died anyway". She went on to explain that the frog was bleeding a lot and she did not understand why the band aid had not worked. She asked me why the frog had died even though she put the band aid on. It took me a moment to answer, I did not want to take away the band aids magical power or destroy Hannah's 6 year old reality. But I realized this was something we all need to learn sooner than later. I explained some times we can get hurt and you can't fix it. She then said "so that's why you are always telling us to be careful", I said yes and that was that. A few moments later she went and got a shoe box to put the frog in so it could be buried in the backyard. Wouldn't it be great if band aids really did heal every thing. The one thing this made me realize is a band aid is more than a sticky, plastic strip. To a child it is compassion, whether we are showing it to them by putting one on their skinned knee or they are putting one on a dying frog.

A New School Year Begins

Why are firsts and lasts so hard, sometimes they can be exciting but this is not one of those times. This is Hannah's first year she will be in school all day. Her teacher now gets to spend more time with her than I do(lucky lady). Logan asks for her a 100 times a day, no exaggeration. He misses her so much and I won't lie, so do I. She is so excited and loves the fact that she gets to eat lunch at school. Peyton was just moved up into Senior primary and is not a "little kid" anymore. Mckay started his first year in middle school, he is now officially a preteen, YIKES. It made me fill better knowing I still had 5 little kids and they would not be leaving for a long time but now there is only four. Whit is now an upperclassmen and likes to let me know a couple times a day, she is just a little excited. And last but not least is my "almost 18 year old" (sorry, just a few tears or maybe sobs), this is Taylor's last year of high school. His last year of football, I cried when we ordered his last pair of cleats(Chad just said "thank goodness") and I paid for his last year of school fees(well maybe not these). I just don't know if I can handle anymore first or last right now. But before you know it, Brooklyn will be taking her first steps and Taylor will be playing in his last football game. Time, please slow down and just let me enjoy this year a little longer.

Hannah outside her classroom, she was a little nervous.

Meeting her teacher for the first time at "Meet 'n' Greet".

Hannah and Mrs. Crawford

This is Peyton's look of "really, I'm getting a little to old for this".

Peyton putting his school supplies away with his teacher.

First day of school for my 1st, 3rd and 6th graders.

This was my bribe to get Logan to stop crying, a chocolate chip muffin.

Now he is smiling!

Whit's first day of school as an upperclassmen

Yes, I am the dorky mom that makes high school kids pose for a first day of school picture.

My "almost 18 year old"

His last, first day of school picture

I'm Nine months!!!!

Is time flying or is it just me, how can she already be nine months. It seems like yesterday I was huge and pregnant, wishing I could sleep. Now I sleep just fine(well most nights, lately she thinks she's a newborn again, time for retraining) and I am looking for the perfect 1st birthday outfit. She loves sitting in her high chair and eating finger foods. I just sit and watch as those chubby little fingers pick one up and how excited she gets when she puts one in her mouth. There is only one word to describe her at that moment.......PRECIOUS.

Summer 2011

I can't believe summer break is already over. This week we are back to alarm clocks, homework, after school activities and over scheduled days with not enough hours in them. So long are the days of freedom, laying around by the pool and sleeping in. This summer was all about relaxing and spending time together. Mckay, Peyton and Hannah even had a week of "a secret place" until they showed us where it was and we told them it was off limits because it was too dangerous. What happened to the days when kids could be kids. When I was a kid we would hang out all day in our "secret place" and my Mom never had to worry. At least the kids had a week to have their own little adventure and be able to explore the world around them.



This was Logan's favorite place to play



Tay's car was "Posted"

Tay and Whit went on  the Trek and were surprisingly happy for getting up at 5am, isn't the sun rise beautiful.

They both had a blast and were in the same family.

This kid came home a different kid, what a blessing the gospel is.

Logan was always with is "Buds".

These kids always make me smile.

Logan's reaction to his new Cars blanket

Playing steam roller with Dad on the tramp

This is a reminder not to take life so serious. This is the after of what would have been the best picture "Peyton's hot tub". Peyton, Mckay and Hannah had been out every morning for two days digging, what I had no idea. Until I came home last Friday to Peyt, Hannah and a friend sitting in a hole full of muddy water with Mckay and another friend sitting on the sides. Unfortunatly I did what I always do and freaked out. Chad and I were going on a date and I needed friends to be gone and clean kids. Not to mention it was very close to the retaining wall we had put in that was not cheap. Later when Chad and I were coming home we were laughing about it and I was so sad I did not realize what a perfect thing I was seeing and captured it forever.

Whit on her first day with her braces off.

My sweet baby laughing like she always does.