The really golden moments: a weeks worth of joy and pain

LAYLA

I'm laughing because after I announced that Thursday would be baked potato bar night Layla, 7, dramatically said, "Ohhh no not baked potato bar night, I always have a problem on baked potato night." She says this kind of stuff in a really cute way.

Then we had a good laugh about it. Layla has really moody moods and really hard times with certain situations. I can't find a pattern or reason to it. I had a difficult time growing up so I can only guess it's something like I had to go through. She gets so frustrated and it's hard and impossible for her to understand why. She does have certain triggers but most of the time her moods and anger come on when we are least prepared for it. She has a point though, baked potato night is a hard night for her because the last 2 or 3 she was in BAD moods and didn't eat. She and I had a laugh about it and talked about how we'd just need to make sure she didn't have a bad night.

SEBASTIAN

I just walked by the bathroom and Sebastian, 3, was naked and 'mummy wrapping' himself with toilet paper, the best part was the toilet paper was still on the roll attached to the wall. He was twirling around in circles and I watched. It was so cute...by the time I ran for the camera he was done and just looking at me sheepishly with a pile of toilet paper at his feet. That kid is so funny.

What are some of the best words I can hear from three year old Sebastian?

 "Hold me Mommy." I love those three little words. He's Captain America, a knight, a builder, Superman and a T-rex by day. But, at night he's my baby boy. After a few minutes he said some more sweet words I always love, "Lay down with me." Ever since I could remember he closes his eyes, puts his head to mine and wiggles into bed to get cozy. He nods his head up and down as he nuzzles into my head. Then if he is actually sleepy he simply goes to sleep. I never tire of how cute it is.

Sage comes in the kitchen and says, "Mom, what's today?" Sebastian says, "Banana bread day." heheh. We had banana bread in the oven at the time.

PENELOPE

Five year old Penelope made me laugh today when out of the blue she said, "Mom remember you said you should have another baby if the world's going to end anyway." We were talking about the Mayan calendar the other day...hahaha. Remember that kids are always listening!

BABIES and their sibligs

The other day I was thinking about the keen sense and ear my kids have for little Everett. A stifled baby cough from the next room and I have some kid checking on him (or telling me about it) because it sounds like he could be choking. A dining room table full of kids who are all busy drawing will stop what they are doing when Everett races to the front door that is open; one kid will jump up and intercept his fast feet. An echoed baby voice is recognized from another room and a kid will rescue Everett because he's climbed up a chair and is now dancing on the table top. Any one of our kids ages 3 through 15 will merely walk into the same room as Everett take one look at him and exclaim, "Everett do you have something in your mouth!? What do you have?" I will never forget how awesome it is to watch these kids be so connected to him.

Sure it helps me immensely, and they've learned it from me asking for help from them. But, I love that it shapes who these kids are. They are so aware of so many other people in the home. They all are just ga-ga over him, too. Everyday every single kid calls him cute, plays with him, laughs at him, holds him, and cares for him in some way. Every single day. I never want to forget that, it's a wonderful thing. Children and babies bring even each other tons of joy.

EVERETT

Everett is getting so big. It was just yesterday I was rocking him and soothing him to sleep when I thought about how much he is still my baby. I'm so glad for it too! This is the last really super solid year before he becomes a REAL toddler. Then today seeing him in his car seat he looked huge. His legs are so big. his hands are so chubby. His fat fingers grab things all the time. He can turn lights on and off when lifted up (a game he likes). He says, "light!" He says a few words here and there. He says "side" when he wants to go outside --which is always. He says eat and drink although it's hard to understand. When you give him something and say, "Here you go." He says, "tank" for thank you. Its SO cute. But If you don't say "here you go" he just looks at you waiting for you to say your line first because that's his cue to say "tank." It's hilarious.

Everett has been teething and it's just awful for him. His teeth are coming in sooo slow. He screamed for an hour tonight and finally settled down to nurse. I feel like nursing him sedates him through the night. Luckily at bed time the pain reliever I give him gets him a few hours of good, solid rest. In the wee morning hours he seems to cope by nursing several times. One morning he was sleeping next to me with his little chunky hand on his cheek and once in a while he'd cry out and then go back to sleep.  

FUCKING SAVE ME

Tonight I texted my husband the following: Fucking save me!!!

He called me an hour later and told me he was on his way to save me. I told him everything the little kids had been doing; grabbing each other, pushing each other, laughing at each other, peeing on each other (Sebastian peed on Penelope because she was too loud, Huh?), crying at each other, screaming at each other, running, jumping, yelling, fighting, being silly, being mean, being INSANELY CRAZY and bringing the house down loud.

My dear husband said, "Ok! Put a beer in the freezer, because that is like my spinach and I'm coming to save you."

LOL. I loooove him. I feel better already.

Even Everett is in on the wild crazy action, he's biting and hitting when they act like this, and no wonder because he sees them hit and yell. In addition teething makes him act mean just like Sebastian did when he was teething. It just seems like any problem between siblings in the hous makes Everett act out. Usually when the kids act like this they've been watching too much TV or I haven't had enough structure for them. TV off day tomorrow!!!!!! And I feel like we've had structure, but I could do better. Tomorrow/this week we'll try 2 crafts a day, upstairs playtime (which is a huge pain because they don't stay up there unless I go too), outside time and kid yoga.

A good Monday to start off the week

My little nursling Everett just hopped off my lap, looked up at me, waved good-bye and toddled off. What a love bug. He is getting so big. He just hung out at the window for 6 minutes or so jabbering to me and then finially says, "Side! Side!" He wants to join the kids he sees playing outside. He's running around for a few minutes with them while I take a minute to blog.

This morning I "made" some yogurt for the kids. I just started buying big 4lb plain (rBGH free!) yogurt from Costco. I store about 10 of them in the freezer and a few in the fridge. My kids, like most kids, LOVE yogurt. I hate buying yogurt though because of how much sugar is in it. Even when you buy organic without the additives and food coloring, it's still a dessert. (And organic is too expensive.)

So I take my own sugar and sweeten plain yogurt for the kids and then we add in our own fruit. We also use specialty jams that give it a yummy flavor. By my best estimates this cuts the sugar in half (or more). The kids go crazy for frozen fruit that they like to add in, too. (Also bought in bulk from Costco or Sams Club)

Mixing up breakfast for 7 kids

Everyone has a potato in their bathtub, right? Why is this here? I donno, I have a 1 year old so that must be why. I was passing by the tub and saw it there. 

 Charlotte, 15, makes an ordinary day fun. Found this in the bathroom and had to do a double take while thinking 'did I just see a toilet paper owl?' lol. Clever, funny kid.




We started a unit study about well known outlaws of the wild west. Today we learned about Billy the Kid and now the kids are watching an old western. I asked the kids to make a fictional wanted poster. Charlotte did Waldo, it cracked me up.

I love part of a review on Netflix of the 1939 movie Days of Jesse James, "Theatre of yesteryear when men were men and women were damned grateful for it!" 

Watching westerns together. I take photos all the time of family watching movies together. It's just a memory I want to be able to hold in my hand and my heart. Now they are munching on popcorn and little Sebasian fell asleep. :)

A simply beautiful week in January

Cobwebs in the chicken house

They were beautiful for a long time... and then just totally out of control!



Putting the Dyson vacuum to the test sucking up cobwebs, I'm almost done!



Very impressive!

Looking like a home



They even have art on the wall. Their wood step-ramp is a old dvd rack we repurposed. That thing sat unused for a long time in storage. We didn't want to just throw it out, so it's so cool I finally found a use for it!



Layla comes to show me that we had a grape tomato growing on an old vine in the yard. It's pretty mind blowing that it is January 7 and we grew a tomato. I'm totally flabbergasted. Look how cuuute she is.

~~~~Special Things From Special People~~~~~~~~
We received a very special gift from a very special relative with disabled hands due to a bunch of medical problems, all of which I'm not clear. I think it started with carpal tunnel. The gift is from Kathie, my first step mom who had always been a mom and friend to me. We lost contact due to several factors including her severe medical problems, but that's not important, what is important is that her hands are becoming stronger and that she handmade our entire family scarves and hats (and Everett a baby blanket). I'm so touched by this; these handmade crafts are helping her hands to become stronger and she made them for us.

I'm going to send her these photos and call her we have so much to catch up on. I know she's trying to get online to see pictures of us so if you are reading Kathie please know I tell all the kids about you and they adore and love their gifts. They wore them outside all day and truly LOVED them. They are all beautiful, really, really beautiful. The hard work and dedication to send a family of nine all of these does not go unnoticed or appreciated! xoxo



 


Looks like the same photo but Penelope has her eyes open in this one, Sage is smiling and we aren't in it. Ok so it's a totally different photo! lol. Everett is sitting on the beautiful blanket she made him.



It was a beautiful warm week in January...it felt so good to clean up outside, clean the backporch, get the chicken house clean and run around with the kids. I enjoyed watching Layla play with Everett outside. I watched Layla put Everett on the slide from my kitchen window. To myself I said No Layla noo...I watched and assured myself she was doing a good job, and she carefully let him start to go while still holding on to him an extra few seconds to give him a slow start. He liked it. It's so enjoyable watching her become 'the new big sister.'

I'm seriously ready for spring.

 Ricky and I really enjoy doing this stuff together.

Speaking of time I still need to write about so many things here that I've wanted to (including Christmas)! I'll get to it. I the meantime I wanted to write and post pictures of chickens and a special handmade gift.

Having a wonderful time

I never stopped to love this view when I lived here. You bet I do now. My first home.

Day 1: Made Christmas candles and rosette cookies with my mom and Grandma Smith. Took mini hike in the desert and had a cactus scavenger hunt.
At 8:30pm we did Polar Bear Club at my dads -a family tradition every 10 years we jump into a 35 degree swimming pool. (omg it was WAY worse than I remember!)

Day 2: Christmas surprises galore ...life changing surprises! I will write more when I can! Amazing!!! Lots of family time, lots of blessings, lots of love.

Day 3 family pictures with 35 people! Tonight off to The Tournament of Kings show at the Excalibur. An amazing live action dinner show with dancing maidens, jousting, fireworks, and eating with your fingers! It's my favorite! I've waited a long time to take our kids! 31 of us are going! Then I want to show the kids the volcano eruption at the Mirage.

Desert hike

Polar Bear Club photo...getting ready to go in, most of us in clothes

Could NOT have planned this photo. I snapped it just the right moment. My dad and my husband lol!
They are getting fired up for Polar Bear Club

Christmas Day My husband and Dad still messing with the COLD pool! Ricky was jumping in the spa (not pictured) between cold pool dips, the kids were enjoying a hot spa dip as well.

Kids X mas morning

Follow up about the life changing surprises Click Here

LAS VEGAS BABY!

This year we planned a surprise Christmas trip to Las Vegas (my hometown) to visit family. We haven't been in a very long time and I never want to go. (Not because I don't want to see my family, my family is awesome, it's just totally exhausting to haul a million kids to Vegas and juggle 15 places to go in 4-5 days! And we have a ton of animals at home, and we are total homebodies!)

Since we wanted it to be a Christmas surprise we had to keep it a secret for a while and only reveal it as close to Christmas as possible! We kept it from tons of people, even friends and some family!

Ricky and I decided last week that last night was our Christmas Eve here.We wrapped the presents the other day and this morning we surprised the kids by having Santa come a week early. The kids didn't know what was going on this morning when they woke up. Penelope was running around excitedly saying there were presents under the tree. First we gave the kids a wrapped suitcase to open. It was a 3 piece suitcase set nested into each other.

Inside the suitcase was an envelope that

said "vacation 1" on it.

This is what they found :

I hate the cold! So this was a bizarre trip to tell the kids we were going on. Plus who wants to sleep in the snow?!!!! Charlotte said, "ARE YOU CRAZY!?" They decided the open the next suitcase.

This is what they found in

vacation envelope #2

This was hilarious. The kids were flabbergasted, wanted to know if it was safe, wanted to know how it would happen. (Would we be in a tank?) One kid asked if we would be in a cage. Hahaha. They decided to trade this vacation in for whatever suitcase # 3 had in it. Sage later said, "I almost picked sharks, would we really have gone?" LOL!

They open the 3rd and last vacation envelope:

They were very surprised and happy we get to go see our family for Christmas. They don't know we have more surprises that await in Las Vegas! They do know it will be a fabulous time though! yayyyyyy!

She's Crafty!

We love making things!



Old Suitcase

 

Helping put on travel stickers



I used mod podge over the whole surface so they won't peel off

  It is now a decoration and storage for the circle hallway room I've been working on decorating. I want to paint the floor and put in a new light fixture this winter. The light fixture that is hanging on a chain is this gold thing from the 80's with glass and an etched flower on it. BARF.



Charlotte Painting
I plan on framing a bunch of art work made by my kid's and hanging in the upstairs hallway. I love this piece!

Sooooo we decided we were going to do this dryer lint project I saw online. You mix dryer lint with water, flour and a dab of oil to make a modeling compound. I've been saying for at least 10 years dryer lint had to be good for something. Turns out our dryer lint is DISGUSTING.

It's hairy, dirty, crumby...
We have 4 dogs, a ton of cats, and I shed like a dog so we have lots of hair. I sweep the house EVERY DAY (no kidding) and still somehow we have hair go through the wash and apparently dryer. Our lint was more disgusting than we thought. Charlotte and I mixed this stuff up and wanted to barf. It was not working out and so we added more flour. Then we added even more flour so that we couldn't see the yucky dirt and hair as much.


When we had a nice paste that could easily make very realistic owl pellets (we thought about making some lol) we started sculpting on cardboard canvas. (We used the back of a puzzle board that had lost it's pieces.) Charlotte doubted we could make anything out of this gunk, and really so did I, but we had just made a disgusting soup of matted lint and hair we had to do something with it. We had dirtied a pot and wasted 15 minutes of our life. I wanted something to show for our hard work. "It's art!" I shouted. "One can create anything and make it art!" So we began. I made a bird and a nest, we worked on the tree together and Charlotte's faith was restored in ART!

Gross bird we call an Eagle.

When our masterpiece dries, I estimate in 2 years because of how thick it is, we'll paint it and see how it really turned out. For now we wait. We do look forward to painting you, you gross art project!

Boxes Rule

Cardboard boxes are a blank canvas. No toy can compare to a nice sturdy brown box to crawl into. Since I order almost every Christmas gift for the kids from Amazon we accumulate loads of boxes. Today we put all those boxes to great use!


Airplane ready for take off!




                                                                 I love this airplane! I love their faces!





 We glued lids from various things as controls. I made a strip of buttons from construction paper that say on, off, eject and uh-oh.





 This box was a tunnel for cars and trucks, but Everett and Layla found a second use for it






  Everett popped out and said, "Raaaaw!" He is cute when he tries to hide and then scare or surprise you. I say, "Ahh!" and he laughs and laughs.

Toy kitchen made from cardboard boxes



Penelope LOVES toy food, tea sets and toy kitchens. Doesn't matter how many tea sets or pretend food she owns, she LOVES all of it. She adores this toy kitchen. She has a "real" toy kitchen in her room but she loves this one more. She asked me if she could keep it for "eighty-four-fourty-days." I told her of course she could.