Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hidden Treasures in a Chaotic Day


I love listening in on my kids conversation..not in a creepy stalker mom like way...just hearing special conversations shared with one another and hearing things that a mom might not otherwise know.

Ryan had a friend over today and I was listening to him while I was doing laundry.
Friend: "Don't you have a sister? Where is she?"
Ryan: "She's at track. She's REALLY good. Like she runs fast and everything."
Friend: "Like a train track?"
Ryan: "Yeah just like that but around the outside of the school. And she goes faster than a train I think. She's cool".
Friend: "I like trains. That's cool that your sister can go faster."
I couldn't help but laugh, and also feel so much pride hearing Ryan talk about his big sister.


I also love that my big boys are so close. At night I hear them giggling and after the millionth time I remind them to be quite I listen in. I hear secrets about girls or friend problems or something funny that happened at school. I absolutely love to hear them talking and sharing about so many things in their lives. I love how they bring each other up to date on current events of the 5th and 3rd grade... and share secrets with each other or ask for advice.


My favorite though is when I catch Jenna and Tyler carrying on conversations when they think no one is around. They are the ones that have the most sibling rivalry, but when it comes down to it they also have a great admiration for one another. He asks her advice on girls or drawing, and in return he is helping her learn to play the Playsation so she can have something to discuss w/ a boy she is a little interested in. She even allowed him in her room this week...this is a huge step. Her room is like a secret area to the boys...it's almost a black hole of sorts with magical powers that only she can enjoy...they always peek in when she opens the door hoping to catch a glimpse of something truly exciting....Chase is the only one who is not scared to enter without being asked. But he's not scared of much. The others just wait by the door to speak with her...sometimes even speaking through the door. Cracks me up!


Another favorite is hearing Chase sing himself to sleep and read himself books that I've read to him before. He mixes up words, adds is own, and changes words to the song...I could listen to him forever. I think I will keep the monitor in his room forever just to hear him talking.


With the kids growing up so fast I am trying to breath in every second of hidden treasures that I can. I am missing so many things already. Things I never thought I'd miss...middle of the night snuggles, the joy of finding new teeth, early morning snuggle time (on the weekends they all sleep past 8 and I'm actually up before they are now), needing mommy to feed them, or brush their teeth, or even singing time before rubbing their backs...Jenna and the big boys think they are too old for this now... at least they still like their one on one hugs and kisses from mommy and the love notes I leave in their lunch boxes:)


I love finding hidden treasures within my days of chaos. Makes it all worth it!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Mischevious is an under statement


Once upon a time I had 4 children. Being a teacher and mom made me a little crazy and stressed no matter how many cute little bundle of joys I delivered. So I begged and begged for #5. And when he arrived he was one of the easiest babies ever.


His brothers and sister love him so much! They all took to "mothering" him and teaching him. He just laid back and took it all in. And then one day, soon after he turned 2, he combined all that he had learned into his cute little body...and crazy things began to occur.

He began taking over his brothers beds and eating snacks while watching T.V.

Washing his hands 2.5 million times a day...except when I tell him to.

He has learned the art of good temper tantrum, telling me "NO" quite often, refusing to do what his brothers and sister say, and even resorts to screaming at the top of his high pitched lungs...which immediately sends them running away from him.

Thanks goodness he is as cute as he is! And he brings great joy to this otherwise laid back quiet family...hahaha yeah right.

But it's moments like this that I totally cherish most because he completely wears me out!

Each night I know I need a good nights sleep because he starts off his mornings raring to go.

To be continued...

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wordless Wednesday...well sort of...

Really it's a picture post about what one does when snowed in w/ 5 kids (well Jenna has only been here for a short time. She was snowed in at a friends for 2 days, had a friend over today, and went to another friends house tonight.)

On the first day we had a ton of fun sledding! But there are many more things we can find to do when our life has been basically put on pause. And it has been wonderful!





















Monday, January 10, 2011

Just what the Dr. ordered...



(this is our 1 yr. old pup Taz...he loved the snow and chasing the kids and you can see how high the snow got)
First thank you for all the sweet comments and prayers for our family. The kids truly believe that our sweet Jade sent us a present..and that present was a complete snowed in family day. She loved the snow! And she sent it down to us to let us know she is having a blast in heaven. (And here I am "southern Sledding" for the first time)




We enjoyed a day off from school today as we woke up to 6 inches of white beautiful snow. I've never experienced this much snow that I can remember, so I was excited to get to do a little "southern" sledding today.






And running up and down the street to a friends house in the snow several times is great exercise I might add. I might be really sore tomorrow. Unfortunately, it didn't stay nice powder for long and it was mostly ice. So no snowman building or snowball fights...but great sledding experiences!




I'm sad that Jenna was snowed in at a friends house, so I have no pics. of her. But she is having a blast and having to stay another night. And we're off school again...I might play and enjoy myself some more:)