My favorite part of today? No, not the costumes, the candy, the smiling and laughing kids. Nope, mine was when my kitchen sink backed up with some unknown ick.

If I hear "I AM iron-man" very many more time, I may be bald when Lonnie gets home!

Just dropped Ty off at a bowling party for a 5 yr old, too cute!

Sitting in between 2 little boys on the couch, watching their little eyelids droop, wondering who will be out first.

Guess What?

Today Dylon turns 3. It is really hard to believe, since he is our "baby"

He is such a funny kid to be around, typically in a good mood, and loves everyone in our family in a huge way. He gets so excited when the "big kids" come home from school.

Dylon is also showing signs of becomming what can only be phrazed as a "gear head" he loves motorcycles, trucks, trains, planes, and all things that go.

His favorite things on tv are Handy Manny, Diego, Mickey Mouse, and of course, Cars- and above all else- Mater.

He had a Lightning McQueen cake, has Cars bedding, and wants to watch Mater's Tall Tales every day.

Dylon is a daddy's boy, and wants to be wherever he is, all the time.

He is incredibly funny, as long as he gets his nap :)

His favorite joke~ guess what? ~ what? ~ chicken butt!

Happy Birthday Big guy! We love you tons!

A whole Handful

I didn't post anything on the day, but my Ty guy just turned 5.

With each of the kids, there seems to be a different age that is a milestone, on that makes me step back and look at things from as much of a distance as I can. This is the one for Tyler.

Even though he is not the baby of the family, I tend to think of him as MY baby. Tyler's major love language at this season of his life, is physical touch, which means that throughout my day, there is a lot of time spent snuggling and hugging him. He has this way of virtually melting into my arms when I hold him sometimes. He is simply nothing short of amazing.

He is fire and ice. He is oil and water. He is the most loving affectionate kid ever. He is also, um, well, a spitfire. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't, and he will be sure to let everyone around him know if he is not pleased with something.

Tyler adores Wyatt, and looks up to him as all little brothers do to their big brothers. He loves video games, riding his bike and scooter, and being outside.

He also spends long hours playing "house" with Rylee, or Polly Pocket, or littlest pet shop, they are great together.

The dynamic with Tyler and Dylon has an interesting style all it's own. Some days they are bosom buddies and cannot be separated. Some days, they are engaged in battle from the moment they wake up, and it is all I can do to keep them separated.

Tyler is energy, orneriness, love, caring, intelligence, and humor all rolled into one, and so, so much more.

His preschool teacher taught him to say "Today I am a handful"

Yes buddy, you are. And we love you for it.

Yaeh for my new sewing machine I got for my birthday comming in! Boo for dropping the box on my foot before even getting it in the car!

Hanging at the Zoo

Today was a free day at our (relatively) local zoo.

It also happened to be a day my kids had off from school.

So, we went. 1+4. We had so much fun. I am so excited that they are getting to the ages where I can take them places and not have to panic the whole time about an extra set of eyes on them.

We rode the train, followed all the walkways and saw all the animals. They each had there favorites, and the excitement rolling off of them all afternoon was so funny.

Wyatt keeps telling me it was the best day of his life.
His favorite was feeding the giant koi fish.

Rylee loves the leopards and tigers, and of course the gibbons.

Tyler, obviously, is convinced the lions talk to him. He thinks they wake up just to say hi to him. He loves them so much. I am glad the fence is high, or I am pretty sure he would be trying to hug them.

Dylon, my sweety, when asked his favorite part, he says the train ride, and playing on the playground. Then after he talks for a bit he will mention some animals too.





My seat partners for the train. Too cute.


The big guy kept following the girl around, she was trying to nap, he kept nipping her tail and pulling on her ears. She kept getting up and walking away. He wasn't giving up, she wasn't giving in. Too funny. I guess even beautiful lioness' get headaches. hehe


The giraffes amaze me, so beautiful and graceful, while gangly and awkward at the same time. I think I could watch them all day.


My crew, waiting to go.

This is a big deal,
Clearly.
And the boys. The best of friends, the worst of friends. Today was a besties day, and it truly was a blessing!

Seriously, DHS should look into Dora's parents. What kind of reasonable parent lets their 5 yr old and her monkey bf go all around like that?

Weather-wise, this is my favorite day in months. LOVING THIS!!!

I love school days. Without them, parenting would be just too hard ;)

Happy Bella Swan's Birthday everyone! (really gets your blood pumping doesn't it?) lets hope today doesn't bite! Tehe. Funny me.

I love how when Rylee's load of clothes goes thru the wash, the lint in the dryer is pink. Makes me smile everytime :)

A little lesson from my little man

Today was a really long day with the kids. It was one of those types of days where every time I tried to speak I was interrupted by a child needing something. It is these types of days that make me start to question my sanity.

Everyone needs something.
Everyone wants something.
No, that is not what that one wanted, the other thing is.

That type of day.

My dad stopped by in the middle, he expressed his amazement at how they were all all over the place.

He did take pity on me and built a shelf that was in the box when he came. However, when I asked him if he wanted to stay around for a bit after that, I think I saw some smoke on the floor where his shoes had been a second before. :)

Towards the end of the day, I was just seriously wanting to be alone for a bit, and not have someone talking to me.

So after a brief downpour, the sky was just beautiful and I went outside to see if I could capture some of the beauty of it.


Of course, I had a shadow. To be honest, it took me a bit of effort to be polite to Ty as he followed me around, and asking me what I was taking pictures of.

I was so focused on what I had in mind, and what I thought the view should be of, I almost sent him in before I heard him say, "Mommy, do you see it?"

I turned to ask him what, in not the most polite voice I have ever used, and there he was, my 4 yr old heart, looking at a rainbow



I almost missed it. A beautiful rainbow. One of Ty's very most favorite things on the planet. He prays for them. He thanks God for them when he prays at dinner. He loves them.

I, as his mommy, almost missed it with him. It was a big wake up for me, right before they went to bed ;)

It did not by any means take the tiredness from today away, I am exhausted.

But at the end of it all, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the rainbow, God's promise to all of us, with my little charmer.

It was great.

and I got some great pics too.

A New Chapter

So I was sitting at the playground after school the other day, with a dear friend of mine. We were watching our "big" kindergarten children play, they were so in awe of everything around them that was new, fun, and exciting.

At one point one of these precious children came over and pointed out that the "bigger" kids were really boring, since they don't really play, that just kind of walk around, talk, and hang out.

Wait, that wasn't a few days ago, that was 4 YEARS ago!

Wyatt and his dear friend Caden used to complain that the older boys were boring, and they made plans "when they were little" that they wouldn't be.

So last week, we sat on the same bench, at the same time of day, with the same children (+ a couple over the years) and watched them.

But something was different. It was cute in it's own way, but sad in another. The "big boys" as the others call them, were not engaged in a ferocious battle against a terrible alien race.

They were not cowboys or ninjas from long ago times and far off places. No, they were two 9 yr old boys, sitting on the end of a slide, calmly, but very passionately discussing the important things in life, Lego Batman VS Lego Star Wars, and which one is better, and if Percy Jackson and Harry Potter were to meet up somewhere, what would happen.

Do not get me wrong, it was great watch and we still had two 6 yr old kindergartners, a 4 yr old trying to take over the world and two 2 yr olds that, well let's face it, we have no idea what they were talking about. There certainly was no lack of entertainment.

But as I sat and watched this take place, I began to have this feeling, and it has been following me around and growing since then, that a page is turning. We are quite rapidly approaching the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

I am not really sure how I feel about that. I have been actively participating in this chapter for quite some time. We have had glimpses of what is to come, but now I can feel it looming around the corner.

* We can no longer buy Wy "kids" shoes- they must come from the men's section

sigh

* He and his friends don't really play now, they kind of hang out.

sigh

* I have mistakenly put his white tee's in Lonnie's drawer a few times

sigh

* when he brings home homework this year, it is in a book and not a handout

sigh

*the 4th grade switches classrooms for a couple of their classes

sigh

As we move forward, I continue to thank God for him everyday. He definitely knew what He was doing when He picked Wy to be my first born.

The kids drives me batty, but I sure do adore him.

So, I guess we will keep him.

Watched "remember me" today. Was totally loving it, telling nicole how great it was, then all of a sudden, i realized where he was and how it was going to end.

I hate the fact that there is a Suzuki Bandit in my garage. I love the fact that there is a Harley Davidson sticker placed on the back of it.

Had a great time tonight, connecting with some good friends, in some pretty serious ways, as well as some fairly hilarious ones. Love you guys, enjoy bein home.

Some Fun Summer Pictures

Catching Up

So, I have been reading some blogs this morning, and catching up on the very important details of my friends lives that I have missed out on for quite awhile.

I have laughed and smiled at the antics of all of our children.

I have cried and felt renewed heartbreak for friends who are traveling a different portion of the road right now.

I admire the transparency and bravery of those who are laying it out on the line for everyone to see, and travel with them.

I enjoy the candor of the moms who are willing to admit openly that they (we) don't have it all together.

It has been a good morning.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On a different note, we had to get up and out the door this morning at regular school time, so Wy could go to College for Kids. He is so very excited to go, as he has been every year. It is such a madhouse in there, but completely worth it for him to enjoy it so much.

Ry and Ty, along with help from Dilly, are playing Polly Pockets in her room. Which oddly is keeping them quite happily occupied.

The goal for this summer is to have a more balanced time. Not so much time at home, so maybe we can keep some of the restlessness at bay.

We went hiking one morning last week, and the kids surprised me by loving it and wanting to go again.

There wasn't the whining and bickering that I was expecting.

It was great.

We have also been rotating in some swimming, slip n sliding, and playing in the sprinkler, along with some crafts and baking and such.

The calender is full of College for Kids, Day Camps for Ry, Week long camp for Wy, a week with the out of town Grandparents to take the kids to their vacation Bible school, hopefully gymnastics for Ty, several small day trips, and hopefully some good memory making.

Totally do able right?

I feel good about it.

Happy library fine forgiveness week!

Ry- mom what's bacon made from?
M- most bacon is from pigs but we eat turkey bacon
Ry- from turkeys?
M- yep
Ry- maybe grandma can make bacon for thanksgiving.

After almost 9 years, there are NO pacifiers in my house.

odd. The diapers are heading out the door next.

oct 3rd? really?

Wow, I cannot believe it has been since October 3 since I posted.
We have been busy, and our camera has been broken, so no pictures to post.

These are some lessons I have recently learned.

I am capable of rejoining the professional work world, and doing it quite well.
I also very much enjoyed the time I spent working outside the house.

I also had the fabulous opportunity to watch Lonnie develop a deeper and more personal relationship with our kids with out me being in the middle of it.

However, I also learned that as much as I enjoyed my time outside the house, and in regular interaction with grown ups, nothing is more important to me than being with Lonnie and my kids.

I am simply not ok with passing Lonnie in the driveway and only seeing my older two at breakfast and on the weekend, so Lonnie's first two weeks of his job were my last two weeks of mine.



In 2010, I am believing God for some big changes. Not around me, but in me. I feel I am finally at a place to listen to the voices of wisdom around me, to accept their advice, and put into practice.

I really am not sure how to go about explaining that right now, except that my focus has shifted, to my husband, my kids, my family. I am working on putting these priorities at the top of my day, not just my list, and getting things in order. It is good. Painful, as any growth process can be, but good still.

I am greatly looking forward to updating about the ways God is moving in our home, and in my life in the next year.

(we also got a new camera for Christmas, so pictures will be coming)