Oldest Brother

The role of the oldest in the family I think is so important. 

I was number 7 in my family and always looked up to my oldest brother (well, all my older brothers) even though there was 13 years between us.

I find myself SO incredibly grateful (on a daily basis) that Bronson was our oldest. He has a lot of qualities that are worth looking up TO for his younger siblings. 

And I couldn't resist......Kellyn is #7 and she was wearing Emerson's red shirt.....I just HAD to take a picture of her looking up at Papi like I was looking up to my older brother above. 

I just HAD to.

(and I guess I never realized until this picture, but she definitely favors me at that age)

Anyway, Bronson turned 12 last month. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 12 is kinda a BIG age. It's when they move up to the youth group (ages 12-17) from the Primary (kids ages 3-11). There will be Scout Camps, youth activities every Tuesday, dances (starting at 14), etc. 

Well, Brooks told Papi that he couldn't go to Young Men's until he learned how to tie a tie HIMSELF!!! (this kid is obsessed with clip-ons) 

Here is his first attempt:

And this one was two Sundays ago...... we couldn't stop laughing.

Last Sunday Brooks was working so I just told him to wear a clip-on because I wouldn't really know how to CORRECT a badly tied tie. I stink at tying them too. Maybe it's a genetic thing he got from me?

That clip-on-tie Sunday was also particularly special because Bronson passed the sacrament for the first time.

The week before that he was given the Aaronic Priesthood in order for him to do so.

The Priesthood is the Power of God here on earth and to give a part of that to young men is really special. As Brooks (who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood) ordained Bronson to the office of a Deacon in the Priesthood I was a crying basket case. It was a neat moment. Bronson had all the young men that could join the circle in the ordination...there were probably 9 or 10 surrounding my oldest boy.

Anyway, back to younger siblings watching the oldest......well, when he passed* the bread and water around to the congregation he had the eyes of Camden, Emerson, Aleeya, Iris and Royce just LOCKED on him. Every move he made he was watched by them. 

And if that continues through the rest of his life, I would be okay with that. 

He's a good, good kid.

*Bronson is left-handed and you are supposed to pass the sacrament using your right hand....which anciently has always been the hand symbolizing covenants. Anyway, after the sacrament I asked how he felt and he said it was really neat and he felt like he was doing something really special......but he DID say how tired his right hand got because it's not as strong as his left, so he will have to build up the muscles in that hand a little. :)

The Big 12

12 years ago my husband was in Eastern KY playing a basketball game while I was in Tennessee in labor with our firstborn. 

Thankfully he made it in time for the actual birth but AFTER I got the epidural (hence his comment, "Childbirth isn't so bad."......he has learned a lot since then. Trust me)

And yes, I COMPLETELY agree with your thought that the above picture should be nominated for the all-time WORST family picture ever. We all look awful....(ALL THREE OF US)..but it was part of that memory

Anyway, Bronson, from the beginning has ALWAYS been a Daddy's boy

And STILL is!!!! 

He is STILL the child that asks more then anyone (actually tied with Royce now) when Daddy is going to get home.

Whether I'm in denial about having a 12 year old or not, the fact is, it's here and I like the kid that has been through 12 years of my mother-schooling. He's been so patient with me.

Bronson invited three friends over for chicken wings, pizza and cake.

Then we piled in the Yeti to go to Gravitopia!!!!

(For $35 our WHOLE family can get in for their Monday Night Family Night Special!!! Seriously, who can't pass THAT up? It is also the most favorite indoor place of my whole entire family because everyone has a blast.....even this little one....he can't hold still)

I took a ton of pictures of all the kids again, but since this is Bronson's post, I guess I will just post some of my favorites of him...

Dodgeball

And the trapeze......

My family has a love/hate relationship with that trapeze....... Bronson kept trying and TRYING to touch that ball at the end...... (2 seconds of him trying)

Bronson tried so many times he literally couldn't move his arms for the next 3 days.
What's funny is that Brooks tried it right when we got there and ACCORDING TO HIM, he touched the ball. I didn't believe it, so I went over there to film him doing it to prove it. Here is what occurs...... (if I ever need a mood booster, I watch this)

Like I said, he ASSURES me he touched it before. Yea.....OKAAAAAAY.
Both he and Bronson spent the majority of their time there......like I said, Daddy's-boy.

Then we came back to open just family presents with the birthday boy.
He got his junk box and a UNC hoodie/socks and then Brooks got something special for him just for his 12th birthday...... (but before I tell you what it was, notice the wrapping paper Brooks used.....he used Little Mermaid and Hello Kitty because he thinks he's so funny)

There is Bronson opening a picture of the new hiking/camping backpack Brooks got him, along with a REEEEALLY nice sleeping bag, one-man tent, camping utensils, lantern, mess kit, pocketknife......the works. Now that he is in the Young Men's program at our church they do a LOT of camping/hiking (as in every other weekend in the Spring/early summer). He is SO excited.......and lucky Brooks gets to tag along, so he got himself the same supplies.

I never thought I would see my camping-hating husband do this........

then again, we do a LOT of things for our children we never thought we would do.

Thankfully this good kid is worth it.

Genius Status

I will admit, when I was in school (a ba-zillion years ago), learning came easy to me. 

I excelled in math because there's ALWAYS an answer and if you got it, you got it. No questions. 

I also was pretty good at English/writing....which would be a huge thanks to my parents (particularly my mom's English major in college). I knew all the English words and nerdy rules that go along with them. I also could CREAM my husband in Scrabble too.

Well NONE of the above is even TRUE now. 

In Scrabble I'm STRETCHED to think of words other then "poop" or "dirt" (which neither give you many points by-the-way), and my kids don't even know how much I do NOT understand their homework.

The good thing is, THEY HAVE NO CLUE!!!!!

I have been SOOOOO sneaky about my ignorance! They still believe Brooks when he says, "Mom is actually more smart then me." BWHAHAHA.

The way I've been able to get around this is easy.  Emerson and Camden's math is in Spanish. Even though I KNOW what the directions are saying, I still have no clue how to solve it! (everything is labeled so weird now and solved differently!!!) So I say this, "Oh, it's in Spanish. Have Bronson help you when he gets home." 

and he always can. I'm sure they're thinking if it was in English, then mom would FOR SURE be able to do it.

Unfortunately for me, Bronson's math is now in English! He comes home and asks how to solve something. Thankfully Brooks was right there and I was nursing Everly so he jumped right in and explained all the variables, negatives, and all those equations for radius/circum. that I can't remember.  I slyly watch it all happen and inside I'm thinking, "YES!!!! That's RIGHT!!!!! I remember that!!!!! My husband is the BEST TEACHER EVER!!!!!" Then the next day Bronson comes home and I AM available to help because I remember what Brooks just said the day before and it all came back to me.

BOOM!

Bronson thinks I'm a genius still.

My pride is saved.

Last week he had an English project. He picked THIS book to do his project on:

He loved it and said he couldn't use it for his project though because it was non-fiction and it was hard to find onomatopoeia and hyperboles in non-fiction as easy as it is in fiction.

It sounded like a challenge to me.

I told him I KNOW I could find all those things in the book and that writing styles are found in all good writing. 

He gave me the list of all the things I needed to find......things like similes, metaphors, idioms, personifications, alliterations, onomatopoeia, hyperboles, etc.

Great. The ONLY two I knew for SURE what they were was alliteration and similes. And I couldn't look them UP when he was standing right there!!!!! 

So I asked him, "Okay,  if I'm going to help you on this, I have to make SURE that you KNOW what all of these are. So what is the difference between an idiom and an hyperbole?" etc. etc. Then I would nod, take a mental note and try to contain my sneaky-clever-mom cackles.

I read the first 3 pages one night and the next night finished the entire book. I LOVED it. I was completely fascinated by this. Embarrassingly enough, I had no idea people even TRIED to kidnap Lincoln's dead corpse!!!! I was caught up in the book so much it was HARD to stop to try to find all those English things for Bronson, but I did.

Then I handed him the paper saying "metaphor- in chapter 2, idiom- in chapter 7" etc so he had to find them too, and......

BOOM! (again)

I keep my kids CLUELESS to the fact that I'm NOT a genius like their dad insists.

Wonder how long I'll be able to keep this up though. I think my genius-status days are VERY numbered.

"Everly is Awesome"

Our sweet Everly will be nine months on Monday.

Everly IS pretty awesome. In fact, "Everly is Awesome" is her theme song sung to her multiple times during the day (to the tune of "Everything is Awesome" from the Lego movie)

She has been our little dream baby with how easy she is and her huge and ever constant smile lights up the room. She just sits there when someone walks in and stares at them until they look at her....then she lets them have one of these.

Not only THAT but this past week she has really taking off crawling!

I have actually been counting my lucky stars she has waiting until basically nine months to crawl when most of mine (except one) were between 6-7 months. Like I said, I'm reeeeeeeally grateful. 

And their look of accomplishment when they DO crawl is my favorite. Here is Ev crawling. Like I said, her smile melts everyone.

She is SUCH a trooper being everyone's doll baby too....

The thing she hates most in the whole world is taking a bath. She actually isn't SCREAMING in this one, (she is just giving her nervous whimper) probably because she has her brother and sister in with her......or maybe it's because the live cricket in Kellyn's hand behind her is chirping tranquil vibes her direction..... maybe we should take more baths with crickets.

She LOVES eating. 

Anything I put in her mouth, she will eat....even the green beans I can tell she doesn't like, she still keeps opening her mouth. She just sits up on the table during dinner and munches on something. This made me laugh though when she grabbed the already-eaten chicken drumstick off Bronson's plate.

Now that school has started again I'm grateful to have my days with my three littles. It's just so fun and nice for me to have concentrated, slower-paced toddler time during my day. They clearly are pretty entertaining....

This is our favorite new trick Kellyn does. We ask her to do it all day. Royce can't do it and it drives him nuts. It's hard to picture more personality packed inside a little 2 year old body. I sit back and do those inside-mom-smiles all the time at this one. Here she is raising her eyebrows

And here's just one more glimpse into my days. Messy house, Royce doing something active, Ev just sitting and watching the show, and Kellyn's giggles. I'm glad the ball didn't ruin my phone!!!!

Another fact about Ev, unless I remember to take it off for a picture she will ALWAYS be wearing a bib. I have neeeeeeeever seen another baby slobber more then her. It isn't a whole teething-thing either. She has ALWAYS been like this. As in, I can grab her chin and come away with a puddle of slobber in my cupped hand. For the past two months her nickname the boys gave her of

"SLOB DOG"

has stuck......and it fits her perfectly.

The Last of 2014

I guess here is a random dump of pictures from the last week in 2014.

Having the kids home there was CLEARLY a few beggings to watch some Three Stooges or one of the Home Alone movies (they have all four!)

And yes.....the couch in the back IS one of my two new couches. Thank you very much. 

Park outing with doughnuts!

The weather was actually really nice.

Well, nice enough for Royce to be wearing his SEE-THROUGH Spiderman outfit and not get cold.

(I TOTALLY forgot they were see-through until we got there in the sunlight!!! Great. Even BETTER is that he wasn't wearing undies. Whatever.)

New Year's Eve day I saw online that there was a drive-in theater a hour away and they were having a triple feature that night. Night in the Museum 3, Big Hero 6 and Annie.....all for $4 per child ($8 for me). I just haaaaaaaad to go. I wanted to see Night in the Museum so bad anyway and we don't have any discount theaters around here. It's $10 a person here or just wait until they come out on Redbox. Which is what we always do. My point is, it was WORTH the drive.

I took the older four kids with me. Here we are ready for the first one to start!

It was pretty chilly after dark (in the 30s) and we didn't really prepare too well, so we all ended up in the front seat for the first movie.

We had someone else's suburban for the trip since the Youth in our church were using the Yeti for a Youth trek trip. It was nice sitting on CLOTH seats instead of cold leather in the Yeti.

By the second movie we turned around the Surburban and watched it out the back doors. We opened them and let in all the cold air as we watched it.......which made us all freezing and basically sitting on TOP of each other. Hey, any excuse to make my older kids snuggle with me, I will take.

We didn't stay for the movie Annie, but we LOVED the first two. Like a lot. It was probably one of the most enjoyable nights for me as a parent. In fact, that's what made it so wonderful....I wasn't playing the parent role. I never had to play sergeant or referee or mother-hen-gathering-chicks.....you get the idea. 

And the ride home was just as enjoyable. I had some great talks with Camden and Bronson (Emerson and Aleeya fell asleep pretty quick) while we watched random fireworks going off along the drive.

We got home around 11:30. Of course Brooks and the younger 4 were asleep! Emerson, Aleeya and Camden went right to bed but Bronson said, "Come on Mom, we are sooooo close to midnight. Let's just stay up." So we did. We made it to 12:00!

HAPPPY 2015!!!!

Can't WAIT to see what it has in store for my family!!!!!

Christmas Morning!

The kids all slept together and we told them not to wake us up until 7. At EXACTLY 7:00 they were all on our bed. Then it was time to tear down the wrapping-papered door. It's hard to explain how excited everyone was!

Kellyn entered and immediately walked right to her kitchen. I'm pretty proud of that bugger because I built it by myself. Yea yea, I know most people put things together but I usually put that in Brooks' department (since I HATE instruction manuals). I kept the kitchen building in my department this time because poor Brooksie was laid out on the couch w/ strep (chills/fever, you name it) and fell asleep on Christmas Eve at 8:30 during our story reading. So with that LONG explanation, PLEASE admire my kitchen-building skills.

Aleeya was THRILLED that Santa remembered she wanted rings and a necklace with her name on it.  (She is my squeal-er.....she was squealing with excitement at everything! I love that)

Kellyn loved everything (yes, my girls pick to sleep in swimsuits) in her stocking. She sat there and just kept shoveling her treats in her mouth.

THEN, while the other girls were distracted by their dollhouse, she would eat THEIR stocking treats. Kellyn is EXTREMELY resourceful....and sneaky.....and quiet......she's like a stealth ninja.

The boys showing off their Lego figures from their stockings. Star Wars/Ninja Turtles for Camden.

Ninjago Lego dudes for Emerson (here is is donning his Chima Lego hoodie that he "reeeeeeeeeeally wanted"). This kid was SERIOUSLY a happy kid this Christmas.

NOTHING quite beats this kid's excitement though. Check this out, his OWN red Spiderman suit and  black Spiderman suit. He so excited he can't even SEE out of his eyes with his smile so big.

Turns out the black Spiderman outfit is sliiiiiightly see-through......courtesy of Spiderman's mom buying something off ebay.....from China.

Iris was just happily playing with her dollhouse and Barbies that this is actually the only picture I HAVE of her from Christmas morning!!!!!

My boys REEEEEALLY LOVE remote controlled stuff.....ESPECIALLY Bronson. Each of the older boys got a remote controlled helicopter. I RARELY get his big smile on camera, so this is CLEARLY a happy moment.

The helicopters entertained ALL my boys though. :)

(for the WHOLE Christmas break actually!)

Now that Brooks slept off the majority of his sickness, I put him to work to building Royce's motorcycle. We can NEVER have enough cars to race down our driveway on!

Well maaaaaaaaaaybe he isn't completely healed, because he put the wheels ON WRONG!!!!! 

You can't take them off either without breaking it, so every once and a while the gray things just slide on the ground with the wheels. This is the face he gives me when I mention to him his error.

I love the after-present-opening time too......the time everyone disperses and just plays with their things. The boys got all their Lego creations built with all their new Lego guys and wanted a picture taken.

I couldn't stop taking pictures of Royce......everything was just SO magical and fun to him. Then again, EVERYTHING is when you are dressed as Spiderman.

Everly clearly has a good Christmas too. Nothing makes a 8 month old happier then bibs and necklaces.

Two things that Santa never forgets (knock on wood) to put in all our stockings is silly string and mangoes.

So outside we go for our usual silly string war. It was a pretty nice day.....or at least nice enough for Kellyn to be out in a diaper and Aleeya in her swimsuit.

Brooks also said he wanted to build the Double Shot on Christmas Day instead of having it all set up the morning of. I let him totally make that call since my building skills don't go past plastic kitchens. I'm glad we did it that way though because the kids were still so excited about it, but played with all their other toys all morning and day. Then that evening Brooks and Camden went to building the Double Shot. 

I chose NOT to say it out loud, but inside I was hoping it turned out a little better then the plastic motorcycle.....

After they finished the (HUGE!!!) Double Shot ALL OF US couldn't stop playing on it.

It was like Christmas lasted all day by slowly building things! haha.
This Double Shot in the boys' room has had hours and hours played on it already.

It really felt like a perfect Christmas to me. I got all the reactions out of the kids I wanted and the excitement was over-the-top......I love that.

So yes, a perfect day......except for those two hiccups.....
you know, when Royce lost it because he used all his silly string BEFORE the battle so didn't have one?

And when Iris got an Elsa barbie (the only thing she asked for from Santa) and Aleeya got the Anna one even though SHE "was Elsa for Halloween and should've gotten the Elsa one"...... this all explained to us through sobs.

But "hiccups" make life fun and exciting.

SUCH a Merry Christmas anyway.

Christmas Eve

THIS is actually the kids' favorite dinner of the WHOLE year.....

the Christmas Eve You-Pick Dinner 

where each of the kids get to pick any side and it will be served.

Everything they picked was SO predictable that I probably could've GUESSED what they were going to say. Next year I will write down my guesses beforehand to prove it! Anyway, here's what was served.

Iris- Yogurt

Bronson- Mango Fruit Salad

Emerson- JELL-O

( he wanted pears in it, but NOT pear chunks because  there are "hairy things" in them so he wanted it blended all up to a mush and THEN put in the Jell-o. PA-LEASE do not try that at home. It turned out kinda nasty texture.....but Emerson loved it......obviously)

Camden- Biscuits

Brooks- the Pop-in-bum Grilled Chicken. 

This is always the main dish on Christmas Eve.

(Gotta love his flip-flops out there using the grill)

Royce- Mac-N-Cheese

And it HAD to be Kraft and not a store-brand. Apparently my kids can tell the difference.....who am I kidding?!!? I can too! Anyway, he doesn't look too thrilled here but that was because he had a 100+degree fever so he had a little and then went back to lay on the couch curled up with this blanket.

And coming RIGHT after the above boxed Mac-n-cheese we have the ever-so-classy Aleeya's pick of, RAMEN NOODLES!!!!

We actually had the missionaries over for dinner as well. As a surprise to them I called up their moms  (they can only talk to them on the phone twice a year on Mother's Day and Christmas) and asked what their favorite side is or something that THEIR family back home would be eating for Christmas Eve. Both of their mothers were so sweet and it touched my heart thinking of them missing their boys for 2 years. These 18-20 year old young men pay their way to leave their families for 2 years to teach about Jesus Christ. I really do love having them in my home and have my boys around them as well.

AAAAAAAANYWAY........

Here's what their moms gave me the recipes for to make them.

Elder Lee- Green Bean Casserole w/ sauteed mushrooms and bacon!!!!

LOTS of bacon. :)

(He was SO excited to eat it and the best compliment came when he said he tasted just like his moms. Then he asked if he could take the rest home. I think I passed the mom-cooking test)

Elder Cook- Cinnamon Pepsi

And although I'm sure my mother might disown me by serving a Pepsi product rather then a Coke one, I HAD to go by his mother's recipe......and it will NOW become our new traditional Christmas Eve Dinner drink. We loved it. Cinnamon Ice cubes (made with redhots and Hi-C orange) with Pepsi poured on top. It was fun and he really REALLY loved drinking it.

The whole gang.

And no, we don't require shirts to be worn at dinner. In fact, you can show up in a swimsuit like Aleeya and Kellyn!

I made mashed potatoes for Kellyn's dish and for mine?......well....... We went to THREE stores to find me my artichokes to add to the meal, but we didn't have any luck. Oh well, at least I got to eat my favorite pies.

The kids all sleep together for Christmas Eve so here Emerson and Camden are riding the crib mattress down the stairs to set up a bed for Royce.

BRING ON CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!!!