Found: Lost Toy

Small, McDonald's toy left in front yard of our home a week ago.  If this belongs to you, please contact Bailey or Emma.

(The kids were very concerned when they found this toy.  They wanted to take a picture and post signs all over the neighborhood.  However, since then it has been forgotten and Nathan has claimed it as his own.  At least it is the thought that counts, right?)

Yeah, someone needs to lower that crib...

Instead of napping, she does this.

Thankfully Addison knows to stay put:)

And to brighten up the pictures, the girls now have polka dot diapers.  The generic from Target are quite cute and we are giving them another shot at working.  I thought all the shots of them in the plain white Luvs were getting old:)  Or maybe I could just start regularly dressing them in clothes...

Fall Break

The kid's school only took 8 weeks during the summer so that we could have more breaks during the school year.  Although, my desire to sleep in thanks them, the five kids in a house all day might vote for a longer summer next year:)  We tried going to Wacky Tacky (a jungle gym type place) on Thursday.  They forgot to update their website with Open Play hours and we got 3 free passes and a sorry you drove all the way here.  So, we ended up at a park. A free park that does not require a buy one get one free coupon for mommy to say OK let's go.  The park across the street from where I grew up that used to be a swamp. And the kids had the best time.  I didn't take pictures, but they were all smiles. 

Today, we needed to get out again.  So we were off to another park.  I threw the camera in the bag just for the purpose of blogging about my new stress relief.  The kids and I have the best time there.  And although I have to answer all sorts of questions when venturing out with five children, including about two who are the same size, it's still fun.  No house to clean after they rip through it. No phone ringing or email blinging (OK, that word makes no sense, but it goes).  Here are the visuals...

Kate LOVES the swing.  But Kate loves anything, so it is usually a win win situation.

I love this picture of Addison.  Although her excitement is usually more muted than Kate's, she is still equally happy.

Emma quickly found new friends to play with (as did Bailey since he was running around so much I didn't get his picture).  However, this was taken in some sort of forlorn Emma state.  Or maybe it's high fashion model posing:)

Nathan was go go go.  Until he got tired (we are weaning him off of naps) and wanted to swing.  I could not swing the kid high enough.  He loves the thrill.

I had to move Kate and Addison to the same swing so Nathan could swing as well.  It was at this point when a woman struck up a conversation with me about how inventive I was to put them back to back. Well, I don't think she gets out much, because I have seen this for a long time done by many people.  It didn't take long before her questions (including how long I breastfed the twins?! and was it hard trying to do it in public..uummm) turned to asking to borrow wipes.  Really, she could have just asked and not tried to be interested in my breastfeeding capabilities. 

30!!!!

For my 30th birthday, we went with our friends to Great America (without children!)  There were no lines as I didn't get the memo that Great America is no longer the cool place to be:)  But the roller coasters were fun and still a bit scary (it's been ten years since my last trip there).  We stayed next door at the Hilton the night before, ate at Cheesecake Factory and didn't worry about being anywhere early in the morning. 

The picture they want to charge you a million dollars for at the gate.  But it turned out cute.  So Jarrod and Jen bought it and I scanned it (hee hee).  I wasn't quite ready for the picture and have a slight slouch issue.

 

 

It has taken until today for my ankles not to hurt.  I tensed up so much during the rides, it felt like I was in a car accident the next few days.  I guess I hold all the fear in my ankles?!  We were EXHAUSTED after the day of riding, walking, heat, etc... 

And I am now officially 30:)

Bailey's Bobcat

Last Tuesday at Pack Meeting, Bailey was given his Bobcat badge.  He worked hard since he started Scouts to get it as fast as he could.  Now, he is officially moving toward earning his Wolf. 

Typically, the Cub Scout is turned upside down when he gets his pin.  He can turn it right side up once he does a good deed.  Ben skipped school just to be there for Bailey's bobcat pin:)

I get to pin it on him.

Bailey giving me my (I don't know what is called exactly) sash to wear around my neck.  Once he does his good deed and turns his pin right side up, he gives it to his mother.  I get a new pin every time he moves up a rank.  I will get pins for Nathan as well. 

Bailey did his good deed while we were out of town.  He cleaned his sister's room.  And for anyone who knows Emma, that is quite the task.  He left a cute little note letting us know he had done something good so he could turn his pin.

Bailey earned two more awards to put on his belt.

Bailey and his buddy, Sean. Cute little cub scouters!

The reason they invented the washable marker

Yup.What can I say? This happened in about two minutes.  He needed to go to the bathroom and was in the middle of coloring.  I told him as I left the bathroom to get one of the twins a bottle, Do NOT write on the toilet with that marker.  Maybe he didn't hear me:)  Maybe he was bored.  Maybe he just can't help himself... Nathan, Nathan...You are lucky we live in the world of blogging where I have to capture this moment.  He isn't smiling in the picture because as I took it I told him it was to send to daddy because he was in trouble.  I couldn't have him thinking this was OK, right? :)  It wiped up in about a minute because it was a washable marker.  Nathan was put in bed shortly after...

Skinny Shorts

This morning, I was tired and hurrying.  Those do not go together when you are trying to find clothes for your 8 year old to wear to school.  I handed Bailey a pair of pants and he came out all excited.  "Mom, skinny shorts, skinny shorts!"
Wha-ah?
Apparently I had given him a pair of Nathan's Church pants.  They were elastic waist so he was able to get them on.  Here he is modeling them...

So they look more like Skinny Capris. 

And yes, I found another pair for him to change in to.  Ben said Bailey was so excited to finally be wearing clothes that fit him.  Well, a 3T doesn't technically fit.  However, I do tend to buy clothes on the big side.  But when your kids can wear the same clothes for three years running, that's savings!

Maybe now they can wear them a lot longer.  Bailey was wearing a 3T at 2, so 6 years must be a record!