Monday, June 29, 2009

Simply Summer

What could be better than a hot summer day and friends to share it with!
The very definition of a simple summer day...


Tanner trying to stay dry. Rylee, always ready for a photo.
Clay and Hayden, planning their next move!!!

Silly Emma!! She was Clay's shadow all day.
He was so nice to her! Thank you, Clay
Sweet Hannah!! I love this pic! How cute!!
Julianne & Kal BFF's
This one makes me sad!!
They will have a special bond forever.
We will miss you guys!!


This game was the highlight of the day. The rules are unclear, but that didn't seem to stop them.
I think filling the pool with water to dump on one of them was the goal.
It entertained them for quite a while!!! I tried to stay clear of the water, but I even got wet.
I can't tell you what Emma is doing, but she was having fun.
A warm summer day with water and a bucket equals fun!!!

You can almost hear the laughter oozing from my backyard.
What could be more fun that doing flips and flying?

At one point, I believe a wrestling match was taking place.

It was comical to watch.

Friday, June 26, 2009

An Interesting Vacation ...


We are back!! I know it has been a while since I have posted. Forgive me!! Life has been crazy and mom has been sick!! Well, I am getting ahead of myself....

Vacation in Virginia was beautiful. I didn't realize how much I needed to get away, until we actually got away. We arrived on Sunday and look at our view. I love to see the mountains. I miss the mountains. Michigan is pretty, but much too flat for me.

The kids had swimming on the brain, so that is what we did first. It was a lot easier this time due to the fact that the kids were 2 years older. Last time we were there, Tanner was a baby. That is always an extra challenge. We did find out this week that Tanner is going to be a water dog like his sisters and brother. He had no fear and was dipping his head under the water and coming up laughing. Mom was not so thrilled. "Please, son, don't scare me like that!" Before he would jump into the pool he would request us to move away because, as we should already know, he is a big boy and doesn't need our help. We are all for developing confidence in our children, but too much is dangerous!!

We enjoyed a number of fun activities. The kids went horseback riding which was fun to watch. Tanner was all for it and was whining when we got done. The kids now want a horse of their own. Yes, we will get right on that. Putt-putt is always a must. The kids love it, but I feel bad for the poor people that get stuck behind us. We tend to take some time. Usually, we are sending a group of kids ahead as we finish up. It doesn't help that I am terrible and it takes me just as long as the kids. Oh well, we are having fun together as a family!! The kids often remind me that they are doing better than me. Thank you! That will keep me humble!!

This year we did try something new. On Monday night we went to a magic show. We thought the kids would enjoy it. We had a great time. The magician was very entertaining and family friendly. None of that weird mystical junk. He even did some rubber band tricks that the kids loved. It was entertaining to watch their faces in awe and hear them say, "how did he do that?"

Now we come to the interesting part of the vacation. Maybe I should say the frustrating part. Mom got sick!! That horrible sore throat that put me in the ER just 2 months earlier was back. To say that I was not happy, is a vast understatement. I was not going to let this ruin my much needed vacation. Because we were out of state, we had to go to an urgent care to get treatment. The urgent care didn't take our insurance, so back to the ER. Luckily, it was a slow day and we were in and out of there in about 1 hour and I was shot up with good drugs. By the next morning, I was feeling so much better!! Praise God!! It was over. I thought!! No!! The day before we left, I got horrible heartburn and a messed up stomach. I chalked it up to eating junk food and not getting the workouts in that I had planned. The long drive home was uncomfortable, but I made it. Surely, I would feel better after a good night sleep in my own bed. Wrong again. I was miserable and not getting better. Refusing to make another ER trip, I held out until Monday and went to see my doctor. She told me that the wonderful concoction of drugs that they gave me in VA. made me feel much better, but probably burned a hole in my stomach and possible my colon. Great!!! Now I am on strong stomach meds and am just starting to feel normal again. Wow!! I think I need another vacation. We go see my folks in July. I can make it!!!
















Friday, June 12, 2009

Never a dull moment ...


Tanner's face says it all!! So much fun ...

Yes, you are not seeing things, that is a trampoline in our backyard! Steve talked me into getting it for the kids to play on this summer. I did what any mom would do, "but none of the kids have ever had a broken bone, we are asking for it!" He convinced me that it would be fine and besides we have the protective netting to keep them from falling. ( The netting is missing from the pics, but it was installed the next day. We are not totally crazy!)
I was worried that Tanner would be too small to really enjoy it. Wrong!! He loves it! It is so fun to watch him jump and fall and then get back up. The whole time he is laughing while trying to catch his breath. It has been a huge hit! The kids are on it all the time. Bonus, they are getting exercise!! Mom loves this part. When I am running out of time for my workout during the day, I make sure to go outside and play on the trampoline. It is fun!! So far, no injuries, besides the occasional collision of bodies. The only downside so far is the amount of dirty socks that I am washing or tossing. They take their shoes off to play and then get off for a break and run around outside in their socks. We are working on this!! They are learning at a slow pace.
Now, when the kids get too loud, I just tell them, go outside and jump on the trampoline!!! They love it and mom gets some quiet. Well, sort of ....

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Yes, I am still alive!

For my faithful few followers, yes, I am still in the land of the living! It has been one of those weeks! School is out, so the fun can begin, right? Wrong!!! How am I so busy!!! I have been in garage sale mode all week, getting ready for this weekend. It is so much work, way too much work. I have to go through every room, clean and organize (which I secretly love) then pull items for the sale. I get to listen to the kids whine about how mommy is getting rid of their toys, and how they can't live without these toys. Toys that they have not touched for months!! Please. Next, mommy turns into crazy woman who wants them to put every thing back where they found it so the house stays clean and organized. This is a lost cause with 5 kids. I am determined to teach them. One day my house will stay clean longer than a few hours. It is a dream anyway. Now off to the garage to organize the mound of stuff that I have collected and price everything. How come I always manage to get to this step the day before. Nothing like going to bed at 1:00am and getting up at 7:00am to set up!! Now, the easy part!! Smile. Be friendly. And sell. Move the merchandise. Give deals. Make some extra cash for vacation. Pray for great weather! I have everything ready. I could not of asked for a better day. It was beautiful!! Now, wait for the customers (Hayden's name for the buyers). We wait and wait and wait. It was a slow, slow day. I kept telling my friend Keri, that we would have more on Saturday. So we enjoyed the day and talked.

Saturday: Setup went quickly. The weather was beautiful. I was on my last batch of goodies for the bake sale and we were ready to sell.

If Friday was slow, Saturday was dead. We had only 4 "customers" come through by 12:00pm. I was not happy. It was not like we were not selling. Most people that came through, bought something. We just needed more people. I was convinced that having the sale during the Taylor city-wide garage sale week was going to really bring in the crowds. It backfired!! There were so many sales to go to that we had too much competition. Bummer!! Will I ever do this again? My answer today is "NO WAY!!" I will come to my senses tomorrow!!

My competitive nature won't let me give up, so I will continue my sale for a few more days, weather permitting! After all that work, I am not quitting!!

Thank you for letting me vent, I feel better. I am so tired. Off to bed!

Monday, June 1, 2009

A Conversation with my Kids at Dinner!!

Tonight at dinner, my family and I were outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine and talking about the highlights of our day. The following conversation comes out of no where. This is actually pretty common in our house.

Emma: (3) Mom, when we eat this food it goes in and down to our legs. Right mommy?
Mom: (what!!) Well kind of. (cut me some slack, I was caught off guard)

Emma: Mom, do we have to pee?
Mom: huh!! Emma, do you need to go potty?

Emma: no, mom (I swear she was telling me, keep up, mom)
Mom: (I thought I would turn this into a teaching opportunity, wrong!) Do you guys know why our bodies go pee and poop on the potty?

Rylee: (5) (without hesitation) Yeah, because if we went pee and poop on the floor mom would be real mad!!

Rylee always making us laugh!!