Frankenstein

Some kids just ask for it........ya know? Emerson is that kid for us.

He's the only one that has had a cast, major stitches, etc etc.

So it was a Friday night........date night. Babysitter about to come over and all of a sudden I hear this dramatic loud scream/cry Emerson has perfected (whether he stubs his toe or his head is falling off). I slowly walked over to the stairs (more often then not it is NOT over anything) and see Emerson coming up them with blood coming down his face. (He was playing tag and his head hit the corner of the handrail on the stairs)

I will NOT admit which thought came into my mind first but the following were my first two thoughts:

*This BETTER not ruin my date night!!!!

*Is he hurt?

Like I said, I won't say which one popped into my head first so I may appear as a caring mother.

It turned out not being as bad as what the blood was lending me to believe, but still deep enough to probably merit some stitches.

Which is PERFECT because it ALMOST balances out his frankenstein/stitch scar from over his eye when he was 2. (he was so cute)

THANKFULLY Brooks had the materials to numb and then stitch Emerson up before our date!!!

However the numbing shot was NOT and I repeat, NOOOOOOT Emerson's favorite.

Here is a video of AFTER he was numbed and when he thought he needed to get another numbing shot but was mistaken. haha

The whole family gathered around to watch. 

Here is a picture after the numbing medicine kicked in.......obviously (and those are NOT tears on the ground, it's the hydrogen peroxide)

This video made me laugh because although Brooks has done plenty of stitching, I don't think he's ever done some with this environment going on around him. (The screaming in the video is NOT Emerson, it's Iris)

The finished product.

Stitches.......it is SERIOUS stuff.

And in case anyone cares (or is it just me?) this incident did NOT hinder my date night (that I needed so desperately) and it went on as planned.

Oh, and Emerson is fine too.....maybe I should mention that.

Summer Moments

I have so many random pictures from this summer, but moments I wanted captured and recorded on my blog (to print up later) that I decided to throw a bunch of the randomness all in one post.

A picture off my front porch. A storm getting ready to come in but I just LOVE the purple sky against the green here. 

 Aleeya has always been a little-mommy, but lately Kellyn just loves it when Aleeya walks around everywhere holding her and snuggles on her shoulder. It warms my heart to see siblings like this.

 Every Monday night for Family Home Evening we have shaved ice in the summer. We had some friends over this time and between our two families we had 13 kids. It was funny seeing the line of shaved ice like we were a real shaved ice shack.

 Emerson NOT too happy with the "guests first" and then "ladies first" rule.....it always puts him towards the back. :)..........and I'm not sure what Royce is digging for down his pants.....

 Mr. Doug, our neighbor has a golfcart. He and his wife babysit their two great-grandsons during the day so when he takes them on a golfcart ride he always offers to take some of my kids too. They love it. (except when they come home with bloody noses like Aleeya did last time, but that's another story)

 He is the cutest old man.

 His great grandson rode this electric car in front of the golfcart and Royce rode in the passenger. Apparently as they were going around the block Royce kept trying to kiss Cade and made him keep steering into the middle of the road so Cade was removed from the car and Royce had a big ol' smile on his face. Great.

 Ahhhh...fruit. My sanity. I depend on it's sugar like no other (Brooks and I only eat sugar/treats on Fridays). Every other Wednesday the hospital Brooks works at has a farmers market with local produce. Both times we've gone we got 25 lbs of peaches there thinking I could freeze some. They don't make it.........these are by FAR the best peaches I've ever tasted. Hands down.

The blackberries are done growing. Darn. But for a whole month this road by our house was lined with blackberry bushes. The kids would walk down most days and bring back tons of blackberries. They would eat their own pickings, but share some (about two cartons) with me to freeze for crepes and stuff later

Aldis (my favorite grocery store) as always has had their fruit sales of strawberries (.99), blueberries (1.19), cantelope (.99) and pineapple (.99).....so our freezer is loaded with frozen fruit for us! Words can't describe how happy that makes me since every night my frozen blueberries are my "treat"....kinda a reward, ya know, for surviving the day.

And here are just some cute faces.......... (can't believe he's going to middle school this coming month!)

 Here is Everly with Brooks making her giggle...........first/forced giggles are the best.

 Here are some DIRTY faces...... albeit still cute faces.........because that's how we roll.

 There's gravel on the road in front of our house. Our kids think it's their personal sandbox (sad, I know)

 They get so filthy dirty hahaha

 I love this picture.........I DON'T love the fact Kellyn was drinking my water though. 

 I want to remember those teeny dirty hands in my Mommy memory forever.

Active Kiddos

I LITERALLY spend 80% of Roycey's waking hours standing on the road in front of our house watching him on his bike. I am NOT kidding. My favorite is when he wears his cape (aka....pillow case). He rides around yelling, "I'M BATMAN!!!!". Unless it's the red pillow case and in that case he is Superman.

Obviously.

The World Cup caused at LEAST a daily soccer game around here (thank goodness for enough kids to make their own teams!) at the church field behind our house.

There's usually a basketball game played once a day too (although the boys STILL haven't beaten Mom and Dad yet.....something we hope never changes)

But yesterday morning I found the boys practicing their pitching out front. I laughed when I saw Bronson playing catcher......he must have gotten tired of crouching down.

Of course the kids REALLY like it when they are TAKEN to do something active too. The boys go golfing with Brooks about twice a week.

Apparently last time Emerson caught a goose while golfing

Silly me for thinking they go golfing to actually.......ya know.......GOLF!!!!

The Red Socks have their FARM team here so the kids have enjoyed a few of those baseball games. One time Brooks' work paid for everyone to go and provided endless chicken wings, pizza and food. Brooks said he had a HUGE talk with them before on how much to really eat. My kids can eat an embarrassing amount that goes above and beyond  "social politeness" so the talk was a must. :)

Brooks took the older 6 to the water park the other day. Here are the boys eyeing the surf-zone to see if they could tackle it. I told him to take some pictures but I was NOT expecting for him to come back with this gem of a video. I probably watched this video of Bronson 25 times straight on Brooks' phone and couldn't stop laughing.

video

Emerson actually did a good job though......his Uncle Gabe would be proud

So keeping along with this "active kids" theme of this post, 

just jumproping count?

If so, Royce has it nailed!

Here comes the Oxcart....

Today is "Pioneer Day"......

Now many people may not know but in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is a legit holiday....July 24th. (we're talkin fireworks and parades people!!!!)

It is the day (in 1847) that the pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley after being persecuted (in Missourin/Illinois/Ohion/etc) and seeking a safe haven to worship as they may. A few of my ancestors were with that first company of pioneers. 

When I saw my kids running down the road like this, I couldn't help but think of the song, "Here comes the oxcart" for Pioneer Day.

Bronson had the jump rope tied to the stroller and took off with Kellyn and Royce in it.

.....giggling all the way.

Brooks got a little on video......and there happened to be a little mishap with Iris in there too.

Ya know......just a little glimpse of my life here folks.

video

oh, and Happy Pioneer Day!!!

twins

It's uncanny really..........MUCH more obvious in person too.

Everly and Royce are twins......except in different colors of clothing.

Here is Emerson and Royce as a baby.

Independence Day

On July 4th our old friend from Winston Salem came down to visit us on his way to move out west. 

 The kids sure missed Nate..........especially Emerson.

 He took Emerson on a ride on his motorcycle and Royce wanted one too.........this is as FAR as he got (posing for a picture). He did NOT like the loud noise when the motorcycle turned on and wanted out....not to mention Kellyn beside herself with the sound.

Since we moved Nate got married so it was fun to officially welcome Michelle to the "family". :)

 Kellyn felt it was safer to hang out with Michelle then Nate.....can't imagine why....

We had a fun spread of food that "screamed summer" but the favorite was by far the funnel cakes we made. We have never made them before and only seen them at all the fairs around here. Anyway, they did NOT disappoint.

Later our guests left and so did Brooks to do into work and the kids and I went out front to light some street fireworks after putting the babies to bed.

Sparklers.

They threw those poprock things on the ground too. I think that was my favorite part because we kept trying to throw them by each other's feet so the little rocks would explode by them and give a little zing. And since none of my kids ever wear shoes it made it more fun. :)

For the fireworks it was windy so our matches didn't work. We ended up borrowing a lighter from our neighbors (perks of having neighbors who smoke a lot.....)

 I wanted the boys to have their first experience lighting the fireworks like I did as a kid. Turns out none of them could really figure out the lighter............guess I should be grateful for that!

 It was nice because from our little road we also got to see some of the big fireworks that were being shot off in the downtown show. Such a fun evening w/ me and the kiddos.......

Backpack Gems

Last week I decided to clean out our front closet which included all the kids' school stuff and backpacks......ya know because it's only a month and a half after school ended.

Turns out I found a few gems in their backpacks that made me laugh. Emerson's class filled out a favorite memories of school type packet. My favorite paper of his was where he wrote his  best accomplishments for the school year down.

"1) the most funiest person in the class

2)the most nices to the teacher

3) the best drawer in the class

4) the smartes in class"

CLEARLY my child isn't lacking in confidence!!!!

The next gem I found was in Camden's backpack. It was an assignment he had done all the way back in November, but since it was voted class-best or something they kept it up in the hall since then. The kids had to write a persuasive letter to their parents about something and we parents had to write a letter back either agreeing with them (being "persuaded") or not agreeing and stating OUR reasons why.

"Dear mom and dad, 

I want a camelian. I love reptiles. Reptiles are my favorite animal group. They could camaflouge. So Royce and Iris wont take him. I will buy him food. I will buy him food so you don't need to.

from, Camden"

"To my very persuasive Camden,

              Your argument for a chameleon is a good one, especially the part of him being able to hide from the dangerous hands of Iris and Royce. You remember how rough they were with the frogs and snake!!!!

                Sadly, as you know, we have a rule in the house of "No sticking your tongue out at mom." While researching chameleons I found out they could have a tongue as long as twice the length of their body!!!! GROSS!!!!

                I fear that the chameleon would spend all of his time in time out at our house for constantly sticking out his nasty tongue at me. That would be a very sad life.

                As you see, a chameleon would probably be happier in Madagascar then in time out here....... but I still love you.

Love, Mommy"

The next chuckle came from Camden's "I am most proud that I can now....." paper.

"I am mos proud that I can now make more friends I make a lot of friends by being a class clown and goof off. I can now draw more comics in my notebook that I got on Easter."

Wow......he is DEFINITELY his father's child!!!!!

Fast Foodies

Okay, I'll admit it, I like fast food. 

At the first of the summer when I took my kids to McD's it probably was the best fast-food outing of all time  for my family!!! We were going there for ice cream basically so we could play on the playground for a few hours.....because we're classy like that. 

We walk in, and WHADOYAKNOW?!?!?!

Ronald McDonald (IN THE FLESH!!!!!) was doing a magic show by the cash registers. 

My kids were enthralled. 

(don't you hate it when a piggy tail elastic breaks RIGHT before you walk in?!?!)

 Well.....most of them. Kellyn kept her distance along with Emerson who said Ronald "was creepy".

 We get our ice cream and get ready to go play and good ol' Ronald McDonald was handing out free Happy Meal toys too!!!! Then he came out and found us again and gave each of my kids two MORE toys (three each!!!) and cups to get free drinks.

And how lucky is this..........I wear my shirt that actually MATCHES HIM!!!!! (considering I wear this larger shirt at least a few times a week the odds were in my favor I realize)

TWINNERS!!!!! 

 We match, unlike Camden's socks

He gave us autographed posters and asked to hold Everly. 

Of COURSE I'll let this "creepy", awesomely-friendly stranger hold my baby!!!!

 And although I'm usually quite loyal to my former employer (McDonalds), I just can't pass up a good ol' Chick Fil A day with free meals for cow-people. The free meals sounded good to me and also the fact that Brooks volunteered to stay home with Kellyn and Everly. Talk about a WHOLE lot easier!

(For the record, I wasn't sure if the kids were "too cool" to do it now, so I actually asked the boys if they wanted to come and dress like a cow or stay home with dad. They didn't even think about it and said, "dress like a cow". It was a proud Mommy moment)

 It was packed so the 7 of us crammed around one table.

I forgot how easy outings were w/o someone 2 or under. For that reason I had taken a two year break from doing the Cow Appreciation Day.....but man, we used to be loyal Appreciate-ers of the Cow every year.

Here's back when my herd was smaller.

And I had time to make udders......

But I was reminded how much I like going to Chick Fil A.........so we'll plan our next outing there in approximately 360 days. And this time, the Yeti is dressing up too!