Hockey Player + Fun Mom = Much laughter

So Fun Mom had her birthday party. We had to start singing.... Me memememememememe...
For some odd reason, she really thought the day was all about herself.
I tried to tell her, I got to have some of the love and attention. Afterall I was the one who worked and pushed for 2 hours to get her head out my body.
She looked at me in horror and gasped...
She does afterall have a big head, especially these days. (Oh my! Did I just say that ? ! ? ! ?)
Hockey Player demonstrated some very quick wit, when I mentioned having birthed her.
He quipped, "I thought we picked her out of the pound?!?"
If you know Hockey Player, you know he is quiet, sweet, gentle, and kind. Such a comment caused many a jaw to drop. Then there was squeals of laughter, and a rumble of discord when Fun Mom began to chase Hockey Player down to get even....
They are growing up.....

Fun Mom wanted for her birthday, a cake like she had seen on TLC's Cake Boss. Fondant with a marbled like appearance. So I had my first attempt with fondant. Not too bad. The kids loved the fondant. She wanted to have her birthday out at Grandpa's. Grandpa was getting all new flooring and it was super windy and hot, we hung out in the garage where it was cooler and easier to light candles. Some pretty good memories!

The brotherhood.....

There are days....
My boys are full of stories that cause me to sigh and say to their FATHER, "YOUR BOYS....." Then there are days when I get a glimpse of the "brotherhood". My heart soars to see the friendship growing between these young men. It makes it all the more bearable when one plays monkey see monkey do to just annoy the other. Today, at the park, I caught a glimpse of this brotherhood again. Good memories.

AWANA Awards Night

This was the first year for us to have all 5 kiddos in AWANA. Fun Mom works independently on hers while she works as a LIT (Leader in Training) in the Cubbies.
Flutter Nutter has enjoyed having Fun Mom in class with him.
Who would have thought there would be a year when my oldest and youngest would be in Cubbies together!?!
It has been a great treat to see the circle being completed though.
We started out journey through AWANA when Fun Mom was 3. I was searching for a way to teach her scriptures. I didn't know how to break down the verses for her to memorize and to teach her. I didn't know which verses to start with. I cried out to God to teach me how to teach her. HE led us to AWANA. This past year, God has shown me, HE not only answered my prayer, but He is equipping my children with the knowledge and ability to pass on what they have learned.
This makes the following photo even more meaningful to me....
My mom stitched this years ago. Before there was ever four children. Before there was ever 3 children. Before there was 2. Over the years as we added children, I began to see the personalities of my children being reflected in the children she so lovingly stitched many years ago. Then when we had our fourth, I thought wow!! Then when we had our fifth, I was like it doesn't fit anymore. I worried and stewed something would go wrong. Then God spoke to my heart, the meaning was still there...God LOVES you....pass it on....
Grandma looked at this photo this past week, mentioned there was no room to add anymore children. I laughed and said it was okay. The meaning is still there. God is still answering my prayers and cries of my heart. He is teaching my children HIS WORD. HE is equipping them with the ability to teach others. I just keep saying THANK YOU LORD and praising Him for his faithfulness, mercy and love.
Now a video from this very memorable night. :)

He DID IT ! ! ? ? ! ! ? ? ! !

So I look out my large living room windows to the backyard. My jaw hits the floor and I can't believe what I see Flutter Nutter doing. He is literally climbing up the swing's chain and grabbing the monkey bar chain, so he can triumphantly shout, "I DID IT! I DID IT!" The shouts were truly more for his benefit and pleasure than anybody else's. He was alone in the backyard, working extremely hard to achieve his goal. Flutter Nutter doesn't really have much in the leg department. Last fall when he turned 4, he wore a size 4 shirt and 3T pants. He did eventually grow into 4Ts. But we do call him short legs for a reason.

I grabbed the camera and was able to capture the moment, which he was very pleased about.

I do feed them, really I do !

I walked into the kitchen to find Spiderman - oops, I mean Flutter Nutter, scaling the front of the refrigerator ! ? !
Seriously, no ladder, no chair, nothing but his feet, hands and the refrigerator door.
Why?
He was hungry and wanted the cereal on top of the refrigerator.
Why he couldn't have just asked me?

Hmmm, I am hoping there are no more suprises for a while.

Sweet Bedtime Rumblings and Bedtime Prayers

Lately, I have a couple of kiddos who are trying the "I can't sleep" to try and get out of bed. I am quick to respond with, "Talk to God."
Then, they would tell me they already did and couldn't sleep.
So I would respond with, "Tell God all the things you are thankful for. (I do, and before long I am sweetly snoozing!)"

Tonight, Fun Mom was on the hunt looking for "Jesus" (Flutter Nutter's Jesus Love's Me Blanket) and she overheard...

Flutter Nutter was praying to God, "God I love you and I want to be everyone's friend."

"I know you say, "Children obey your parents in the Lord" and that means I have to stay in bed and I am not tired."

Then, Fun Mom walked in and Flutter Nutter told her, "God told me He loves me and I have to stay in bed."

2 Moms 8 kids 1 Friday night No husbands

**Much to my amazement, I started this post 10 days ago. I was chastised by Fun Mom for not posting anything "in a long time!" So Ta~Da, it is finished and I am getting a little caught up**

So what do we do? Well we are a wild bunch.
We hang out together. Work on computer stuff and ebay. Kids play like maniacs until it is too dark to play outside. (The boys have been known to say, "I know, I know, Boys outside (with a big sigh)) Then they watch movies or cartoons. We have a whatever is leftover in the fridge/freezer dinner. (You know finish off the bags of chicken nuggets (5 of them, fish sticks (4 of them), corn dogs (4 of them), that kind of dinner.) Of course, we DRINK water! And we hang out till the kids are reduced to tears and need to go to bed.
Spring time is wonderful! !

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From Daddy's Buddy to Big-O-Daddy-O

Another one of those spring moments.....

There's A Spring in Their Spring!

One of my favorite things in the early spring before the pollen count gets to high is to crack the patio door and listen to the kiddos play. I love to hear the laughter, giggles and plan making. Love to hear my kids play as best friends to one another.

Exploration Place part 2

Mr. Potato Head is visiting Exploration Place!
The younger ones enjoyed creating their own personalities. Some of the olders were like, "weird." But there was something for all. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the membership!

If Only He KNEW!!!

Big-O-Daddy-O is unfortunately not around much these days. The joys of working for the Air National Guard and taking classes for the job. It is a real bummer to not have him around as much as usual.
Monday on the way to swim lessons, we passed the cemetary down the street from us. The kids heard me sigh and say, "ohhhh"
They were quick to ask, "What?"
There was a service in progress and the patriot guard was there.
So I told them, "A service man has died."
Which lead to questions about how I knew? The patriot guard is there.
What is the patriot guard? Explained that they attend funerals of servicemen to show respect.
"Will they be at daddy's funeral?"
Me: "I don't know. That is up to your daddy. I don't know if he would want that. I won't push him one way or another..."
Flutter Nutter: "NOOO, we don't push Daddy's buttons!"
Laughter, and lots of it.
"What do they do at a military funeral?"
"They play taps. 21 gun salutes."
"What's taps?" and "21 gun Salute!, What is that?"
The discussion then turns back to Big-O-Daddy-O and his funeral. What they think should be done and we don't push his buttons, or mommy's or Fun Mom's....
The conversations we have when Big-O-Daddy-O isn't around. Good thing we all love him so much!

1 secret + 6 hours + 1 Four year old =

One happy little boy!
So early on Monday morning (yesterday) Flutter Nutter was disappointed to not get a treat from QuikTrip when I did a Pepsi run. (Yep, I was tired, and juggling 5 kids on a beautiful spring morning with no reinforcements!) So while Hockey Player was buying, I told Flutter Nutter if he could keep a secret, I would tell him my suprise. If all went well that day, after swim lessons we would go to Happy Hour at Sonic. Believe it or not, the kiddo was MUM! He even reminded me several times to not tell. He was sooo excited to have a secret. He kept it in for 6 hours. When a four year old can do that, I happen to think something fabulous should be done for the darling 4 year old.... His smile says it all!

Spring has settled into my backyard.....

The signs of spring are here once again.....

children playing in the backyard

giggles in the backyard

squabbles in the backyard

stinky boys that need nightly baths!

constantly hungry children

trees budding

and my magnolia tree, oh I mean bush is in bloom

About 12 years ago, we planted our magnolia tree. A couple of years later, Big-O-Daddy-O thought it was dead and cut the top of it off. And when a tree's main trunk is cut, no matter the diameter of that trunk, it doesn't grow any taller. I was devastated. Over the last 10 years or so, it has been a scraggly, twiggy kind of bush. Occassionally, a few big pretty leaves.

This year, is another story.

I was amazed and thrilled to discover this in my backyard this afternoon ~ She is beautiful!