Time flies...

and we are having fun...

2014 family photo fun

But I've neglected to get on to my computer long enough to blog. I've written many blogs in my head tho, so...I think that counts...mostly.

I keep expecting that I will recover acclimate to having the kids in school, but that seems to be a very slow process. Somedays I wake up wondering what I was thinking...homeschooling was easier and allowed us to be in pjs until noon. 

However, the kids are doing great in school. I don't always agree with the public school philosophies, but I chose this, and so we just adapt :). All 3 little kids enjoy school and are excelling. Agent P tested in the gifted program - I'm pretty sure that it was his ability to arm fart and belly roll (I really need a video of this - it is quite the party trick) - but apparently they measure it on his ability to think outside the box. It isn't an academic standard necessarily, just a measurement of taking subjects to different levels. Whatever, he enjoys it :). 

The twins have been doing their own school work (there was a small hiccup the first week when Mini P was 'helping' Monkey). I knew that Mini P would adapt and excel, my biggest worry was Monkey. He is very...laid back. He is not concerned about academics really, he is a typical 'baby' of the family - the jokester, fun loving kid. But he has really done better than expected and is excelling.

A-Dog, as always, self starts and doesn't require us to question where he is with homework or anything. Thank goodness. I'm not an academic enabler - I believe that once they get to middle school, they had better learn to manage their time, work and learn to work out things with their teachers. Mama doesn't have time to remember all that stuff (like homework and book reports and tests...lol!)

A-Dog turned 17. He is such a great teenager, everyone says so. We agree. He has a big heart and is truly fun to spend time with. He even likes to go to the movies with us and will get my sweet husband and I to take him. I think it is just so we'd pay...

He's been doing some stream broadcasts at football games. Mostly he is the 'voice' of the play by play, but pre-game and halftime, he gets on camera.

Not the best pic, but it's hard to take a picture of my tv :)

A-Dog has really made a name for himself in Cross Country. He was team captain this year as a Junior and will remain captain next year as well. He has challenged himself as a leader and as a runner. It was not always easy, and there were times of defeat and frustration and let down. He is learning that it doesn't define him, but what molds him.

Then the twins turned 7. I have to say, 7 is easier than 3.  I look back and I'm eternally grateful to have made it to a place where my kids can shower and dress by themselves. It's the little things that make me happy :)

3rd Bday

7th Bday

I know how blessed I am to have twins and see how different they are each day. The each wrote an essay on what they are thankful for - for Thanksgiving. Monkey is thankful for "his dog Hank, and food...like cookies".  Mini P is thankful for "God and her family". :)

Of course, Agent P has no birthday...until May. But of course, he is still around :)  He is my tester of boundaries and limitations. 

He is also an amazing soccer player and we enjoy watching him take on kids bigger and taller than him and come out on the other side with the soccer ball.

I'd love to say that I'm going to blog better...however, I recently had to take a very in depth personality test and it deduced what I already know....I'm a procrastinator by nature. Since I already knew that, I'm not surprised, and I'm willing to learn to accept myself for WHO I AM...procrastination and all :).  I mean, we have to love ourselves for who we are right? Flaws and all!

Cheers!

It started with a storm

Summer monsoons here have been busy and loud and sometimes crazy. 

The dog has decided that in his old age, he's now an inside dog (he just celebrated his 8th birthday by binge eating a bone and mesquite beans...you know it's a GREAT birthday if you puke it all back up!).


But, let me preface this with the fact that I also got tired of looking all over the neighborhood to find him.  Plus...since he has a "My Name is Hank, call my mom at 555-0000" (not my number), I found that I was running out of excuses as to why he was wandering ...AGAIN. So that has been a plus.

Add to that, he was often so far that I had to put him in the back of my truck. And he would leave a mess like this:

Those are saliva drips - and they are all over my stadium seat and carpet, as well as the back seat where he hung his head. SO gross.

The biggest problem is that EVERYONE LOVES HIM.  He makes people feel sorry for him. One lady was like 'I gave him some food and water...he looked so hungry, like he'd been out for a while'...lady, you were TAKEN, totally snowed over by my overweight chocolate lab. He is NOT hurting for food. He gorges himself mesquite beans every chance he gets. Is he pathetic? By all means yes. Starving? I think not.  The Vet was not super impressed with his 3-year weight loss achievement of 3lbs. He's a big boy, we've heard it many times. 

If the neighbors would stop letting him hang out with them and giving him snacks and juse SEND HIM HOM, we might be able to drop another 2lbs next time he goes in!

But that is neither here nor there. 

The point is, he loves going for walks on his own. He is not swayed by our new state-of-the-art-in-the-ground-high-voltage-shock-for-stubborn-dogs electric fence. His neck fat protects him from any sort of shock impacting his large frame. OR - No pain, no gain.

Either way, there is no lesson learned in the small shock he gets if he chooses to leave the yard. I cannot fence in my property, it is just not a feasible option.

So, back to the storms. Which was the original storyline that I have only slightly deviated from.

This summer has been unusually loud and thunderous. Hank has decided that he's actually terrified of thunder and would like to be with the family during these very scary times. 

Ok. Fine. 

The first time I was like 'it is a really bad storm'...and let him in.

The second time I was like 'it's not that bad, but his ears are more sensitive'...and let him in.

The third time I was like 'I think that storm is actually about 40 miles east of here'...and in he came.

Now, he just comes in whenever I am home. Apparently he doesn't bother my sweet husband and is just FINE laying outside. But as soon as I get home, he just can't believe his luck! He jumps up and down and is so happy to see me!!!

Then ends up here:

Which really is better than here:

Cheers!

I'm not that girl.

I was in Target the other day, stopping off at the in store Starbucks (beyond handy, let me tell you), 'rewarding' myself for making it through the store unscathed and somewhat sane. 

Except I was alone, so justifying the 'reward' was slightly more complicated, but I managed to come up with a good reason why I could still get my Mocha...it wasn't all that complicated really - I am very good at self reward so I have a top 5 list of reasons "Why I Need a Reward" but that is certainly for another time.

It was then that I realized.

I just went shopping. 

Alone.

While the kids were in school.

I used to be the girl (we will say girl cuz lady sounds old and I don't want to be in that category yet) who had to take 3 kiddos shopping with me. 

ALL. THE. TIME.

Back when the twins were still in a stroller and there were no carts at Target for small kids, so I had to purchase only what I could carry or stack on top of the stroller. I was NOT going to drag a shopping cart behind me, push a stroller and keep track of a toddler. Not this girl. There is nothing strong enough at Starbucks to justify that amount of ridiculous.

As they got older - and by older I mean 3 - I let them walk. That was nearly fun 1 in 10 times. 

Then Target invested in the "I have more than 1 kid that needs containment" carts...we tried that. Once. Y'all, do you know those have kid seats that FACE each other? So yes, they could just sit and kick each other. Boy THAT was fun.

Walking it is.

But the other day while doing my 1 cart shopping I noticed 2 different mom's trying to juggle and struggle with not only the kids in the  'kick your sibling cart', but with driving of the actual cart itself. 

I just stood and thanked my lucky stars that I never really got on board with using that cart.  We evolved. I bribed bought popcorn to keep them occupied while we shopped and frankly it became easy and routine (yet, still I rewarded myself..obviously...)

But it made me realize just how drastically my life has changed in the last 3 months. 

I am no longer home schooling. It is bittersweet. 

We no longer read our read-alouds on the couch each morning in pjs.  I don't write curriculum or spend time inputting and researching next weeks work. We no longer go to the library and bakery on Fridays together. I no long can get laundry done regularly because I am at work 3 days a week and the other 2 seem to fill up with stuff. I have to wear something besides shorts or yoga pants to work.  We won't even discuss dinner and when or what we eat...

But I am a girl making a transition. Our life has changed and the path is what it is supposed to be and adapting is all we can do! 

But just so you know, this is what it means to be an adult...(by Mini P age 6.5yrs)

I think I have accomplished that  :)

Cheers!

Then off to his Jr year...

This really bothers me.

1st day of Junior year

I mean wasn't this just last year???

ADog age 8.5

Maybe the year before.

I am bothered that time flashes right before me!

I am proud of the person he is...but he is growing up so very fast. 

This year, he is allowed to drive to school.  Only Juniors and Seniors can get parking permits at school...

So, he drove off...

I know many people struggle with the teenage years. Moody kids. Disrespect. Bad behavior. Homework issues...

But I can say with all honesty, we are enjoying this time with him as a teenager. He is fun and interesting and level headed. He is great to talk to and listen to him talk about his passions. He has goals set for himself and has taken on leadership roles in several areas of his life. And I never have to ask him if his homework is done...he just does it. Crazy right???

If only the other 3 were paying attention to this...  :)

Cheers!

Why Homeschooling was easier...

So, off to school they go...

Mini P ready for 1st grade!

Monkey...1st grade

Agent P, nervous for 4th grade

After homeschooling Agent P for 3 years (1st-3rd) and the twins for essentially 1 (kinder) because really...preschool is just playing and investigating...right??  
So when a new school opened up out in our district, a K-8 with only 2 classes per grade, we decided to take the plunge now rather than have to be on a wait list. The schools in our district are very full due to their A+ and Excelling status. 

HOWEVER.

Now I have to make 3 lunches, get 3 people to eat breakfast, AND get people to school. On time.

I can tell you all those things are a challenge for me.

Especially when they used to stay in pjs until 10. or 2pm. Everyday.

Their lunch looks like a snack fest, often with no rhyme or reason to it.  I figure it's healthy, who cares what it is exactly.

Monkey takes a hotdog.  That's what he will eat. Who am I to argue?  At least it is nitrite and nitrate free. That's something I'm sure.

Luckily, school starts at 8:20am.  It is a 15 minute drive.  We have, so far, not been late.

By much.

But really tips the balance scale over is after school.

snack. homework. reading. chores. dinner. Who has time for all that??? Certainly not ME!

3 days a week I am now WORKING. WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT?????  

Dinner is a just a pipe dream.

2 nights a week I just leave and go workout.

I am pretty sure that is totally supported by "The Foundation for Women who don't want to cook anyway".  

Sometimes you just have to step away.

But, all in all...they are doing well. They like making new friends. I'm pretty sure that's all 1st graders do all day. 

Agent P apparently is the "All Around All time lunch recess basketball champion" so he says. So, I'm positive that he has adjusted to school life.  That and the fact that his teacher uses incentives like 'classroom money' keeps him engaged...what 9 year old doesn't like the idea of earning money?

Hopefully, I can allocate time for my blog...so we can share our new adventures..

Cheers!

We will now call this meeting to order!!!

Quiet down Supreme Procrastinators, quiet down!

This meeting will now come to order. 

I am here as the President of the Supreme Procrastinators. (Of course, no one came to the meeting...they put it off..again...figures.)

But look, I AM HERE. I know you are wondering what on earth happened. Again.

I do so good for a while, and then I'm not home for so long that I just don't get on the computer enough.

Then I read a book or 5 on my Kindle.

OR watch 1 of the 31 DVR'D shows that I have - some are full seasons that I haven't even begun.

OR I begin a new series on my Amazon Prime and watch THAT on my Kindle. (have you been watching Downton Abbey??)

(notice I have not said "and then I cleaned my house". Just note that for future use).

Anyway. 

Spring is over people. O.V.E.R. OVER. It is stinking hot here. H.O.T. HOT. (I don't really know why I'm spelling words twice. I really need to cut back on the caffeine I think.)

Anyway - here is spring in a nutshell (in absolutely no particular order):

We played soccer - the season is Oct-Feb. And, since we are still in this fiscal year, I'm not too far behind.

Monkey after he scored a goal. Literally, 1 of the only 3 he scored all season because he just doesn't want to actually put in too much effort. We still refer to him as our observer. He was excited yes, but then offered to sit out so that other kids could play.

Formulating a game plan...or discussing snacks. Depends who is talking.

Mini P scored at least 2 goals a game, sometimes 4. She is VERY competitve and does NOT celebrate her goals. Just turns and walks back the other direction, giving out a few high fives. I supposed constant scoring gets old ;)

We met friends at a wonderful park that had a HUGE outdoor covered play area, rated the #1 play area in the area, highly recommended. Only to find out that it was closed because there was an Ostrich Festival that was later that day and the entire park was closed. Gated up and closed.  So what did we do (after walking around the entire thing, begging security to ask if we could just play for a little while, and googling what the heck an Ostrich Festival was...) we googled to find another park close by.

 So we loaded up our crews and found a park that we seriously overran with our schmear of kids ages (from left to right) 8.5,7,6,6,5,5.  AND in theory, we have figured out that either one of us logistically could have birthed them since the are spread so perfectly in age :).  We have also been known to shout  say things in public like "I'm so glad I could help you with your kids today", "what on EARTH are YOUR kids doing?"  That's how you know you have a good friend!


Agent P turned 9. I have to admit. 8 was not my favorite age. 8 is full of attitude and sass. So far, 9 is just as challenging. But, all in all, this kid is very smart and outgoing. He tests the limits of everything. 

What ELSE would you do with a party hat??

I suppose you could make a mohawk..

This was at summer sleep away camp through our church. Agent P was the ONLY elementary age kid (3rd-5th) that got to the top of this climbing wall.

He decided not to play baseball this year, and he did Track and Field. It doesn't matter what he wants to do, as long as he does something that burns off little boy energy!

   

Phew!!!  Look how much I've typed!!! Let's call this part 1.  We can all hope that Part 2 comes soon!!!  

Cheers!

I (or she) fought the law...

(or the rock) and the law (again, the rock) won. I fought the ...well, you know the song right?

Here is the video if you don't know what song I'm talking about...

Or just feel like rockin' out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0sI6eFarFE

Here is a very good example of why you do not toss rocks in the air and attempt to catch them.

Especially if you are Mini P and really can't throw a ball or anything else really. And can't catch. At. All.

And you also don't do it with the next door neighbor who is 1 year older, and obviously can't catch a rock he threw in the air either. Since that is the one Mini P caught with her head.

It really wasn't as bad as it looked....

Apparently the head just likes to bleed to freak out small children :).

Cheers!

Thar he BLOWS!

There are some things that kids should be able to do before they go to college.

I feel that list should include:

1. able to tie own shoes
2. blow ones nose by ones self
3. dress ones self appropriately without mixing two plaids or Hawaiian and plaid or top and bottom the same color
4. use the bathroom alone including wiping and washing
5. and last but not least one should be able to brush ones teeth every day without being told 173 times.

At 6 years and 2 months - Monkey can now successfully do # 4 (amen) and this week has figured out #2 - almost.

Sorta.

Well. He actually blows OUT and that is quite an accomplishment when we are talking about Monkey the sniffer. He has been sniffing most of his life due to all his allergies.

He sleeps with a tissue and I'm rather confident that they multiply because every morning I find about 3 that need to go into the garbage.

So when he caught the cold that is going around - the cough and stuffy nose - I decided to force encourage him to work on this.

I also bribed him with promised him a cupcake from the french bakery that we frequent if he could do this a couple times daily.

And now, he sorta blows out his nose. 

Because he is not above accepting said bribe promise of a cupcake. The cupcakes are quite something and slightly larger than the cookie he is usually allowed to pick out.

As far as shoes - well, he likes flops and slip ons anyway...and I have a few more years to work on the clothing coordination.  But the getting ready for bed thing/brushing teeth...well, I think I need to find more night time activities that take me out of the loop on that one! The kid cannot focus for long and drifts off to build a lego creation.

But as a side note, he is rather good at building Legos...here are his latest creations...

Space station

Meet 'happy Poppy'

and sad Poppy - all you have to do is flip his head...

This week he has watched videos on how to build (and subsequently built) a candy machine, swimming pool, and Lord Business (from the Lego Movie).  As I am typing this, I can hear him at the table putting something together while giving directions to himself as tho he is the one on the YouTube video.  

Did I mention he attempted to make his own video?  Something happened midway thru and all of the sudden he is not in the video anymore, but building somewhere else. I think we need to work on LOCATION of building...or maybe he just needs a film crew!

Why I'm glad I had to plunge the toilet

said no one ever.

Except me.

Which is why it is in my budget to get the Power Max 4 that you can flush 22 golf balls down and it will still have flushing action.

Because who doesn't have 22 golf balls sitting around. That they want in their septic tank? (which for all you city folk, it is a tank for ahem water and whatnot - cuz we live in the sticks and don't have outgoing items.)  

And really, the new toilet is a side story that I'm sure has you sitting on the edge of your seat hoping and praying that we do a YouTube video of removal and install.

Let's just say that what literally pushed me over the edge - to actually beg and plead for a new toilet (by the way, who does that?) was they day that it overflowed. With..um..stuff and it was ALL. OVER. THE. FLOOR.

I know you are wishing I had photos of the clean up, but I'm pretty sure each family member was fearing for their lives and afraid to come near me while I cleaned that up.  I think I may have blocked it all out, due to the traumatic nature of it and all...

Anyway, right after Christmas same said toilet needed to be plunged...cuz a 6 year old used 4 squares of toilet paper.  This toilet and I do NOT see eye to eye on TP usage.  I say 4 squares for a little peep is probably OK..the toilet disagrees.  It gets plugged up if you look at it wrong...pretty sure it has it out for me.

SO, I had to plunge the toilet. Lucky me.

But when I went to get the plunger, I noticed that there was water under the hot water heater in the closet those items are located in.  

The Sherlock Holmes in me deduced that it probably was a bad thing. Google agreed. 

(and for those who know me best, know that if I don't know the answer to a question - which is often - I Google it - the ENTIRE question. Trust me when I say, I'm usually not the first).

So, of course, I touched it - the hot water heater, not the plunger. I was a bit distracted by the water dripping out of the bottom...forming puddles.  Seemed like when I touched it - quite a bit more water started dripping squirting out. So like all good Handy Man types, I touched it again, just to make sure.

Yup.

Still water coming out the bottom.

So, when my sweet husband got home..off to the Big Box we went to get a new hot water heater...and VIOLA! A new one was installed.

Well. Almost.  We spent an hour at the Big Box, called in reinforcements (my parents...one for each of us - my dad to help with the install and my mom to hang with me and tell them they were doing a good job) a few phone calls to some experts and 4 hours later VIOLA!

SO, in the end, it was good that I had to plunge the toilet - which I eventually did - because I did save the family from what could have been days without hot water...

but I still do want the Power Max 4 toilet...sans golf balls.

Top 10 Holiday Celebrations

10.  Halloween - we are starting all the way back here because I am on top of things and never fall behind..ahem..the kids wore costumes from the dress up costumes we have (ones from previous years or given to us).  Monkey doesn't typically like to wear a costume and I have started refusing to buy a special one for him that he won't wear anyway. Hence the t-shirt that says "this t-shirt is my costume".

And Hank. Seriously doesn't understand we are busy...buzz off...he has a rope tugging addiction and thinks everyone who walks out the back door wants to play tug-a-war with him.


9.  A-Dog was inducted into the National Honor Society at school

He works so hard and we are proud of him for taking this step into NHS!


8.  Family Photos. By family I don't mean just our 6. This year we did something totally crazy and off the wall..we did my parents, me and my siblings and all of each of our family...welcome to total chaos.

My parents with kids and spouses..wonder who is watching all the kids....

At one point, during the photo session...there was an eruption of violence..

And then there was a photo bomber...

That little gem on the right is my nephew, cutie pa-tootie, and he was ready for his photo shoot to begin...NOW.:)


7. We hosted our annual family Thanksgiving. There were nearly 50 people - friends and family. Not sure what to do next year? Come here. No one really notices :)  We had Cornhole tournaments and lots of food and drinks...and NO WIND. Not a bad combo!  Plus, it was about 65 degrees or so...

6. We spent the weekend at a local resort for Winter Wonderland!  We did this last year - Winter Wonderland is the same weekend as my sweet husband's Christmas party - and it is at the resort.  We just spend the weekend and the kids LOVE it!  There is sledding, and yes, they have to 'bring in snow'. It was melted in spots by Saturday evening :)

Cookie decorating and eating...

Horse rides (only Mini P did this, as it is her FAVORITE part!)

Plus there was sitting around by the outdoor fire having snacks and drinks and playing with the "fat booth" and "Age booth" apps...and selfies with J and G.  J works with my sweet husband so their family spent the weekend out there as well...Ridiculous FUN!!! :)

PLUS, ya know - a visit by the big guy...

5.  Christmas with the Sibs.  Or, ya know, Christmas with my parents and their kids and their kids..or my parents grandkids.  Let's not complicate it.

4.  Took our annual "stand in front of the Christmas tree" photo and hope everyone looks at the camera at the same time...

"No, Look at ME...EYES OPEN..Ready?"

Really A-Dog? Seriously. He is always the one with his eyes closed in photos.  One more try...

OK that's better.

3.  Dog pile on A-Dog.

Not really a 'celebration', but fun none the less.

2.  Christmas Eve with cousins.

A smaller group this year, but they did not miss out on any fun!  

1.  Christmas Eve church picture.

Because in life, you should always be serious about your picture being taken...

I will leave you with one last picture. I love how our family pic turned out this year...it truly reflects how we feel about raising kids and all the love we have for each other.

Cheers!