DOUBLE DIGITS?!?!?!

How on EARTH did this sweet little face grow up to double digits?!?!!??

I have a 10 year old. I have a 10 year old. I have a 10 year old.

Gosh, no matter HOW many times I say that, it doesn't really make sense to me!!!! Holy cow!

However it DOES sound a little better to say I have 7 kids ages 10 and under now......the whole "7 kids ages 9 and under" was kinda a heart-attack-waiting-to-happen w/ some of the old people I talk to at the gym. 

I surprised him w/ a Broncos football pinata. He thought he was just getting a football, so he was pretty pumped when I turned it to a Broncos one.

Here's how it started. I was in a hurry (because I was about to travel up to Virginia) so I actually cut up the girls' coloring books for the paper because I was out of newspaper. It kinda made me laugh covering a football w/ princess pictures. 

And I was RELIEVED to cup up the white "laces" on the football. It's one of those sticks that go on the side of your blinds that you twist? Well, it's been used as a sword, a lazer and a "bibidee, bobidee boo" stick around here. Glad its gone.

 Here he is waiting for his friends to get here. (of course in his Broncos jersey)

Since Brooks was working on MLK day and taking the 7 kids + friends to a bounce house didn't sound TOO exciting to me, my friend Jamie actually dropped off her boy for the party and took home w/ her Iris, Royce and Kellyn. It was pretty awesome.

I had a tricky time getting decent pictures though. See?

 Aleeya felt soooooooooo big being w/ the big kids.

 I love how Camden and Bronson still never get tired of crashing down any slide together, giggling the whole way.

 Aleeya dragging Emerson down the slide

These 2 had a race up this rock wall and Camden schooled Bronson. In Bronson's defense that side is supposed to be harder.  I couldn't BELIEVE it though. Camden has ZERO sense of you-have-to-let-the-b-day-boy-win manners!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

Then again, NEITHER DID I!!!!!!!!!! bwhahaha. I beat him and I didn't feel sorry.

We came home to break the pinata and eat the ice cream cake he picked out at the store last week. It was SUUUUUPER yummy.

You know, I'm so glad this kid came to me 10 years ago. 

I really couldn't think of a better big brother, and TRULY trustworthy and good kid.

Thank goodness for Bronson around here sometimes. Love that little man of mine.

Wonderful Whirlwind Weekend

Last weekend Kellyn and I jumped in the car and drove the 8 hours up to visit my brother and his family in Virginia. Brooks stayed home w/ the other 6 kids and played Mr. Mom for the weekend.

I don't know how to put this in any other way besides from the MOMENT we got there, Kellyn was spoiled by her 5 cousins.

And I mean SPOILED!!!!!!!!!!

and doted on. It was BEYOND cute. If she EVER has a self-esteem problem later on in life, I'm sending her there. They all think she's pretty neat.

I had the BEST time w/ my nieces and nephews there, but the REAL reason I drove up was for their BAPTISM!!!!!! 

Here I am driving w/ 3 of my favorite nieces to their baptism. Aren't they just precious?!?! I love them so much.

 My brother Patrick baptized Matt and his family. I haven't seen Patrick in 4 years!!!! 

I just loved soaking up every second I could have with 2 of my handsome brothers.

To say this little sister was in heaven, would probably be a MAJOR understatement!!!!

Here everyone is before the baptism. Don't they just look like a bunch of angels in white?!?!!?

My favorite picture of Kellyn's little face. Nikki caught this sweet moment of her at the baptism and I absolutely love it.

The Spirit was so strong there at the baptism......actually one of the most amazing meetings I've ever been to in my life. I couldn't even describe the amazing-ness if I wanted. Both my sis-in-law, Nikki and I were a mess and crying the whole time. :) Here she is stocking up on more kleenex.

My eyes were pretty red the whole time..........and this isn't even before I got REALLY going!

The whole weekend was wonderful seeing everyone but mostly getting a glimpse of the feelings one would feel in heaven.

On Sunday it was a SUPER long ride home w/  my travel buddy. But I only had to stop and feed her twice, so it wasn't too bad.............just long. (and boring when you don't have a radio, mp3 player, ipod or anything to listen to). Kellyn loved it when we stopped though.

I was SO excited to get back and see my own kids though. I missed them. I hated that I missed 2 of Bronson's basketball games and I hate it that I couldn't be a fly on the wall during the Mr.-Mom-weekend. :) 

He really puts me to shame and makes my job look easy. Really..........well, except when he texted me a picture of the girls' hair when they went to church. That was pretty bad. But besides that, it was so wonderful coming home to a dinner already started and some PB-chocolatey bars that he baked with the kids.

I missed them so bad that this new hole in my bedroom window didn't even seem so bad........

IT ONLY TOOK 3 MONTHS!!!!

 I love ALL my kids. I love ALL their differences.

And I ESPECIALLY love them when they can look this cute.

But Kellyn.........hasn't been..........how shall I say this..........um, the EASIEST baby? or how about the most "content" baby. I can say that, you see, because I've had others like that and they grow out of it and I still love them just as much as my other kids. I'm just callin' it what it is.

WELL, ALL OF A SUDDEN, Kellyn turned 3 months on January 5th and I have a new baby. She is just happier ALL AROUND! Part may have to do with her finding her hand to suck on in bed too.....

 There was really nothing bothering her, because as soon as you picked her up, she was fine. She just didn't like to be not-in-my-arms. Which doesn't EXACTLY fare well, when you're #7. Then again it IS fortunate that she's #7 because there are a LOT of willing sets of arms to oblige. Really, she started being quite spoiled. 

Ok, back to my point, she hits 3 months and we can just let her LAY here on the bed......and she just SMILES and is so happy!!! Who knew that was in her?

 Infact, she'll just watch me from wherever I am and just WAIT until I make eye contact with her to let loose with one of her big ol' smiles.

Everywhere I go, they say she looks like little Brooks, Brooks-cito, or a "little Dr. Smith" (like the nurses at his clinic kept telling me). I don't really see it, (nor do I think Brooks could rock a tu-tu outfit like Kellyn does) but I DO see how her eyes completely disappear when she smiles and turn down a little on the ends when she does (my favorite thing).......like Aleeya and her father's dad (R.A.) and I absolutely love it.

Thank heavens for happy, little and spoiled girls.

 Her smile is CONTAGIOUS. 

All Done

Aleeya has now finished two sessions of gymnastics here.

And can I just say it is the ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHT of her week!!!

I love this picture Brooks caught of her when he took her one time. She would always look at us in the "watching room" and smile and wave.

Well yesterday was her LAST day and they let the parents come down INTO the gym to observe. Aleeya was SO excited for us to come in.............me? Not so much. I had Royce, Kellyn and Iris. (the three little stinkers who gang up on me like no other) Knowing they would have big colorful things I had to strap Iris and Royce in the stroller and put Kellyn in her carrier on me that she doesn't like.

Look at Aleeya's smile even in a handstand!

Here she is on the bar doing "Skin the Cat". Seriously, where do they come up with these names?

Royce fell asleep on the way TO gymnastics so waking him up and putting him next to Iris (who was in a teasing mood) in the stroller wasn't fun. Let's just say I'm soooo thankful for a bunch of Lifesavors Grandma sent me, because they  helped BIG TIME. I felt like I was juggling the WHOLE time. Then 3 of the parents came up to me and told me how well-behaved my kids are, and how do I do it, and they never heard a peep from them etc. Seriously?!?!?! Were they even IN the same room?!!?!? I left SO exhausted.

At the end all the girls got a ribbon and stood up on the podium for a picture.

(I love her little ribcage poking out and her underwear coming out the bottom. I had no idea because she wore pants over them on the way to gymnastics......lovely)

She was so pleased with herself. 

When Brooks got home from work, she ran to get her yellow ribbon to show him and I knew RIGHT away I needed to stick close to her. I was right.

Aleeya: DADDY, look, I got a ribbon!!!

Daddy: That's GREAT. For what?

Me: For FINISHING the class, honey, isn't that neat? (saying, while grinding my teeth)

Daddy: But did everyone get a ribbon in the class?

Aleeya: Yep.

(I'm glaring at Brooks at this point....he obviously didn't notice)

Daddy: But if everyone got one, then it doesn't really mean anything.

Me: Oh yes it does (shooting daggers out my eyes) honey, it means Aleeya tried her

hardest EVERY week she went. And she really really likes going, and the ribbon means a LOT to her.

(I think he got my hint at that point)

Daddy: Well, then, WOW Aleeya. WOW. 

(I sensed his sarcasm, but she didn't thankfully)

She smiled and walked off.

hahahaha, seriously, the whole everyone-gets-a-trophy-so-it-loses-its-value mentality is ALWAYS on the forefront in this house.

(trust me, the boys get that talk after EVERY sports "award" ceremony)

Tender Mercy

Today was NOT a good "Mommy Day" for me.

Without getting into the details, I just wasn't what the kiddos deserved today.

And kids feed off mom's attitudes...........that's for sure. 

No matter HOW many times I took by myself to re-group and change, it seemed something else would happen and well........the not-my-best-mom-self would come out. 

The kids always empty their backpacks and put their things away. Today Camden didn't and left out this project he did at school (and a few other papers). It had a picture he drew of our family:

(Funny how he still includes Sally even though she's gone. And he must really like his red shoes since it's the only thing colored besides the sun)

Then below that was this report he wrote. Apparently, it's titled, 

"Camden"

"By: My family"

(I assuming he got those mixed up a little.....)

If you can't read it, allow me:

"My family is fun. My family is big. My family likes me. [I started tearing up at this point] My brothers likes me. My family has lots of money. [I stopped tearing up and started laughing that he thinks that!] My family telefon number is ___________. My family is great. The oldest number in my family is 35. My family is the greatest!"

Wow, JUST EXACTLY WHAT I STINKIN NEEDED RIGHT NOW!!!!!

DON'T DO IT!!!!

 As a mother I try to warn my kids from things that they might regret later.

The following example, is one of those times that I GAVE the warning...........but no one listened. No one.

Brooks' work gets catered luncheons all the time. Well, one time they had Chinese food and ended up with WAY to much. Anyway, Brooks ended up w/ a ton of Chinese food to bring home for dinner. I liked 2 of the dishes, but one was a tad too spicey for me (I have ZERO......and I mean ZERO tolerance for spice......I'm a wimp). Turns out it was spicey because of the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS in it. I told the kids to steer clear of those. (Seriously, if I ate one I would probably have my whole mouth turn numb and fall over and die)

When I told them it was too spicey and to NOT do it, Brooks says, "Who thinks they could eat one of THESE?" I WARNED them they were spicey, but w/ dad throwing that comment out there, they all wanted to step up to the plate........Camden had the nerve to go first.

It didn't go very well. (look at his distressed eyebrows)

 He ended up spitting it out in the trash (he's his Mama's boy)

 He couldn't take the cup away from his mouth for the rest of dinner.

 Then Bronson wanted to.......

 Finished it all w/o dying.

But it really looked TOO easy, and we think he swallowed it whole. So Brooks said if they REALLY wanted to see how spicey it was, then you have to chew it up into little pieces before you swallow.

"DON'T DO IT!!!", says the ignored Mom.

Then ALEEYA tried one............(her pictures are the best)

HOLY COW!!!

 Watery eyes

 And banging her head with her fists.

Here goes Emerson (I was super worried......because he's kinda dramatic sometimes)

 Chewed it up into TINY pieces and wasn't affected much at all

(obviously he has his father's tolerance)

"Okay, Iris, your turn", says her older siblings

NO!!!! Not my little Iris!!! I tried to convince her not to, but the peer

pressure from siblings in this house is intense.

So here goes nothin'

 VERY small pieces chewed up in her mouth

And it wasn't effected at all.

(and then I hid the last red pepper so they wouldn't offer it to Royce)

But hey, I learned something, even if I WAS ignored tonight.........

that if we ever go eat Mexican, Camden, Aleeya, Royce and I will share the mild salsa and everyone else will share with their dad.

Creative

Sometimes you have to be creative in order to entertain a baby while you have to make dinner. Kellyn likes to be where the action is and one place that I have found that she lasts the LONGEST in is right here.

She'll lay content on the landing for a VERY long time while Bronson plays basketball (which is like.....all the time). It's kinda a win-win.

And no, the rubber ball hasn't hit her.........yet. 

However, I won't be able to let her lay by the bball hoop outside (w/ the hard ball) now that the weather has been in the 60s and 70s this week.

And as evidenced by the pictures, I don't have as much laundry to do when the weather is like this either!

(THAT FACE, is the face of an angel!!!!!!! AH!)

I'm a big fan of this weather here in the southeast. Sunshine and being outside has a NOTICEABLE change on my mood and attitude........like BIG TIME.