Did you know...

You can drink water thru a twizzler licorice stick? You can...Gracie taught Anthony how to do this over the weekend. Loved listening to them giggle as they sucked water thru their new "straws" I lost count the number of times i refilled the glass with water for them. So cool to see them having fun.

pictures

From Saturday...

Egg hunt...

An annual tradition since Beckie was 8 months old. Naturally it started out simple a few eggs hidden for her to toddle too, and now it is a bit bigger, simply because there are a lot of kids in our house. My niece and nephew join in the fun and fun it is! As the kids got older we started to fill some of the eggs with money..which of course was a tremendous hit. Of course there is a bit of crabbiness when certain individuals don't find the bigger bills. This year Brandon found the largest bill. He naturally took much ribbing from Beckie, who felt it should have been hers if for no other reason than she simply is the oldest. Rosie found an egg with a 10 in it...she was dutifully unimpressed...and would have traded with Beckie for chocolate..now chocolate Rosie understood this year :) Loved watching them race around...loved seeing a little one pick an egg up right from under the nose of an older one. Loved that they had to go back and search, we keep track of the dollar amount put into the eggs, so when all eggs are opened if we are not matching the numbers they have to search again...it's usually the older ones doing the searching by this point... The best hiding spot this year? My brother in law put eggs under all the glasses that were drying on the counter, one was visible because the glass was clear, but the other 6 glasses were not...only the clear glass was found...they were the last of the last eggs to be found...imagine 6 bodies crowded into a teeny tiny corner of my kitchen, and not a one could figure out where they were. Love when you can stump them.

Happy Easter

Hope you each had a wonderful Easter. Ours was a busy, busy day. Started early with a 5:30 am wake up call. On to early service at church, followed by brunch at church served by the youth group. Home so the kids could search for their baskets...after a bit of searching they did finally all find their baskets. Guess the Easter bunny hid them super well this year. Back to church for Anthony he sang along with Gracie at second service. Once they were done time for the egg hunt...the little ones whipped the older ones....definitely finding more eggs. Brandon was the successful hunter, finding the most cash. Rosie found an egg with a 10 in it, Beckie tried to offer a trade, chocolate for the cash...Rosie was thrilled, life is all about chocolate, money means very little to her at this point in her 20 months of life. Beckie's theory was she was a poor college student. We had dinner reservations for 1pm nice to go out to eat, the food was excellent...always is when I don't have to cook. Home for some much needed naps...little people had been going strong since 6am with no rest at all, sigh made for some crabby crabby little ones. Josh headed home today, Beckie has to return to school on Monday. So great to have everyone home. So fun to spend the day with Linette and her family, and Betty.

Coloring Eggs....

Yesterday we colored eggs.
9 color choices
7 dozen eggs
11 kids
insanity plain and simple!
Once again this year my fingers were a wonderful shade of greenish/brownish the result of fishing way too many eggs out of the dye containers. Someone had suggested to me that I wear gloves, brilliant idea. One I fully intended to use, only to discover when it came time I had no rubber gloves, not a one. So I braved ahead, sacrificing the true color of my fingers all for the sake of fun. It is a tradition after all and it would seem rather odd to not have colored fingertips. Since 5 of those little people coloring eggs were my own, I' m afraid we have oodles and oodles of eggs. We have distributed some to some thankful family and friends... and yet we still have far too many...eggs anyone?

Happy Easter!

Happy Spring. (although the temp outside would never be considered spring, currently it is 23 degrees.) Emma and her family sent flowers to me, they were delivered yesterday, what a surprise! Love the bright, cheerful look, I smile every time I see them. Have a great weekend.

Giving blood...

Cassandra gave blood for the first time on Wednesday, April 4th. Several times a year they hold a blood drive at the high school. This time Cassandra decided to donate. She was a bit apprehensive that morning, but when the time came she handled it like a pro. So cool that she helped out. So proud of her for giving to a great cause.

Just so I remember...

You will only be 2 and 18 once.
The 2 year old has learned much from the 18 year old, perhaps too much, and I believe the 18 year old has learned a thing or two also. The two year old is a much better button pusher, one could say exceptional in her skills. The 18 year old has been known to sound like a 2 year old when not getting her way. The 2 year old will copy every move the 18 year old makes, every move. Shadow comes to mind. In a blink they can be happy and loving and blink they are determined to take the other out. You could reason that the 18 year would rule in that category, it's fairly balanced the 2 year old has quite a reserve of tricks. That despite that the two have no genetic ties, they share no familiar blood, they are simply family because of circumstances that brought our families together to create this new family, they are uncannily alike...carbon copies of each other, I have paused many times in observing Yahaira, remembering the same action from Cassandra. Which may explain the love/hate relationship.... they are so similar. Every now and again I capture a picture like the one above, a picture that will remind me, when in the midst of a current 2/18 battle that they really do love each other, and as much as they fight and antagonize, each would defend the other in a blink. They are sisters, and no matter the age difference they share an amazing bond.

Meet the Robinson's

We went to see this movie last Friday, it is newest animated movie released by Disney. Once again Disney has outdid itself. The movie was hilarious. An unexpected bonus was that it was in 3D. We got to wear those stylish glasses the kids are modeling above. Not sure what was more fun watching the movie, or watching Anthony, Yahaira and Gracie watch the movie. Constantly they were reaching out in a quest to touch something that appeared to be floating nearby. Loved that! Lot's of humor, a great story, hanging out with some of my favorite people and buttered popcorn, how could it not be a great night?

It is done!

Cassandra's quilt that is. Insert happy dance, high fives, and a general all around relief that the much dreaded task is now complete. I have been avoiding, blocking, purposely forgetting, really almost anything in my power I have done in order to not have to sew this quilt. A note one should always consider the long term ramifications when one begins a project for their first born child. Many years ago (15years to be exact) as I was sorting thru the kids baby clothes, struggling with the fact that I couldn't possibly keep everything and yet having a very difficult time deciding what to keep and what to give away. I came up with the brilliant idea I could keep most of the clothes, well actually pieces of most of their outfits and sew them into a quilt. My goal would be to give it to them when they graduated from high school, a quilt to take with them to college it would have bits and pieces of their childhood, full of memories and stories...stitched with love. ok, ok...let's stop right there...the thought was great, but in reality, I don't know what possessed me to think I could sew, (I can't, no training, no skill, no basic anything when it comes to putting needle to material) So when it was a few months before Beckie's graduation I realized I should get going on her quilt. It was painful, physically and mentally...I created new words in my quest to finish this quilt. At one point Kevin took the kids and left the house...I think he was afraid. I was perhaps not the best person to be around at that moment. I did finish it... it looked awful. She loved it! When I gave it to her I mentioned that the saying "sewn with love" couldn't apply, there was no love involved in the assembly, I apologized for the not nice things I muttered as i sewed, she forgave me, and to this day still uses the quilt. Move forward a year and there I am again this time it's Josh's quilt, no I haven't fine tuned my skills...(can one tweak skills that one doesn't possess?) this time is was equally torturous, and painful. Actually physically painful, sewing your finger with a needle on your sewing machine hurts, and will cause you to say some very unkind words. I did finish his quilt in time for graduation, no feeling of pride just relief that one more quilt was done. Josh was naturally excited by his quilt. Once again the goal was met, a memory of his life growing up, pieces of his childhood, so many stories, (it really does sound good in theory doesn't it?) and once again it looked dreadful, seriously crooked and mismatched. So here it is a few months before Cassandra's graduation and the thought of sewing that quilt has been hanging over my head since January..sigh I'm sorry to admit that I have been avoiding it, much like an ostrich with it's head in the sand. Completely blocking it, except for the little voice saying "you need to do this, the child will have issues if you did for two and not her." sigh I am a master at guilting myself" So Saturday was the day...no it wasn't any easier, I believe I simply don't want to have this skill, so therefore the passion or desire is just not there. At one point I wondered how well duct tape would work...no I didn't use it, but really I did strongly consider it. It is sewn...it is just like the other two, crooked, and mismatched,(at least I'm consistent) and no I didn't sew love into it...trust me I was just happy no body pieces were included. Yes I did create some words that would be best to not be mentioned...sigh that seems to be the only thing I was good at. and to Cassandra it was perfect. Watching her reaction, just as I watched Beckie and Josh's almost made the whole ordeal worth it, almost! Listening to her recall "I remember that shirt" "Remember when I wore that dress" "I loved those pants" As I watched her explore and remember I realized it doesn't matter if it's perfect, what matters is she will have something to take with her next fall as she begins the next part of her journey, something that will remind her of the stories and memories. Something that will remind her that her family loves her, that I love her. Ok and just for the record I am still celebrating the fact that it is done, and that I will never ever, ever, have to sew another quilt. I am done...and that is a wonderful thing!!!

April Fool's Day...

I rarely partake in the joking that goes with this day. One might say I learned...many years ago, I casually dropped into a conversation with Kevin that I was pregnant, only to start laughing at his horrified expression, and then to utter the classic line "April fool's" All in good fun, right? several weeks later I discovered I was pregnant with baby number 3, in three years, ummm now who was the joke on? So needless to say I no longer joke on April 1st, quite certain that the stars, moon and whatever aligns to make sure you eat your words works in force for me on that day.
As for being the victim of April fool's jokes i usually don't get caught. Rarely in fact, there are those who have tried but I what can I say I just don't get caught too easily. So where is this going you might wonder well this morning I did get caught, and the best part? it wasn't by a person. are you curious now?
Well it is quite well known by those around me that my sleep is deprived, nonexistent actually, and if you are close to me then you also know the reason for that is the occupants of my house. I rarely get enough sleep, often waking tired, this is life. So this morning when the alarm went off a little before 7 I stumbled out of bed, heading to the shower, barely registering that I was tired. Just mentally checking off the list in my head of things that need to be done in order to get out the door on time for church. As I'm getting dressed Kevin asks me why the two alarm clocks in the bedroom say one time but the clock on the microwave and computer say a different. A note about the alarm clocks they are designed to set themselves, thus removing any and all worry of your clock not being at the correct time at all times, never do you need to worry if the power goes off or for daylight savings time, no need to set ahead or behind the clock does it for you, unless the government decides to change the time when daylight savings time occurs, thus messing up your clock. Yes today would have been daylight savings time on the old timeline, so my clock did exactly what it was suppose to do, set the time back an hour. So yeah I was up an hour earlier than I needed to be... good joke right? So this April 1st I fell victim to an April fool's joke courtesy of my high tech alarm clock. Sigh...it is always an adventure.

Do you see that?

"Right there beside me." "That big furry thing" "Uh! could someone move it away?" Love these pics of Rosie, she was completely against the idea of holding a bunny for the picture, she actually wasn't too excited about a bunny in the picture at all! So we thought if we slipped it into a basket when she wasn't looking all would be good. It was until the bunny moved and she noticed it. So cool that Nichole caught these pics of her reaction. I imagine next year she will be holding the bunny without a bit of concern.

why one should clean an oven before the smell over takes you.

When I made french fries for lunch yesterday I noticed an odor, no I didn't torch the fries, but apparently it was time to clean the oven. So after lunch I decided it would be a good time to do this icky job. Ok , so all I had to do was push a button, but seriously cleaning the oven does not rank anywhere as fun for me. So I am sitting at my computer while the wee ones are napping and glance towards my kitchen only to discover it's no longer visible due to all the smoke now occupying the space, within moments all smoke detectors are now emitting their alarms, nice! it was naptime. So I start opening windows thinking, gee that oven was pretty dirty. By now the smoke is hovering just above my head and the smell is intense. I head back into the kitchen to check out the oven which still has smoke rolling out of it and notice the flames inside the oven. Well that can't be good. Did you know you can't open the door when the oven is cleaning, nor can you shut it off, double nice! Just then a daycare mom comes in who calmly tells me she sees flames often when she cleans her oven. Good so a call to the fire department isn't necessary, what a relief, not sure I want to explain that one. Still not too confident that the whole darn thing isn't going to simply blow up i watch it, with several containers of water ready... you know just in case. Did find myself wondering if the oven didn't blow if the fumes coming out of it weren't quite likely toxic and that would kill us. Sigh, always an adventure. Which brings me to the conclusion that one just simply shouldn't clean your oven...this would be why take out was invented. The smell in my house has diminished a bit, but parent's coming in today have been asking what I burned. Take out I tell you.

A lost tooth....

His first official lost tooth. Yes there are two gaps in that mouth of his but the top tooth was removed surgically when he was 3 so it doesn't really count. The tooth has been loose for weeks, just barely hanging in there. Since I seem to go weak knee and the world starts to spin as soon as I see a tooth dangling I was of no help to try to remove it for him. I relied on the theory that when! it was ready it would just simply fall out. Then hoped that he wouldn't eat the darn thing or lose it once he lost it. That would be a tragedy to the scrapbooker in me. Of course you need to keep that tooth, why it's a milestone. Last night out it came, perhaps not in a normal way, remember this is my house nothing is normal. Rosie (the little angel pictured with him above) head butted him. Don't be fooled by her picture she is more than capable. This time he barely registered being upset, especially when he had the tooth in his hand. Excited would be a better description. So after pictures, (of course I took pictures) we put the tooth in a cup and revisited the whole tooth fairy visit and speculated just what she might bring. Ok, inside I'm wondering what the going rate is on a tooth these days, yes it has been awhile. So as soon as Anthony goes to bed I slip the tooth into a memory pouch and put a 5 dollar bill into the cup. Which causes Cassandra to make mention of the fact that the tooth fairy definitely visits early it was a little after 8pm. Hey if I didn't take care of it immediately I would have most definitely forgotten to do it later. Timing is everything. She of course speculated that the rate for a tooth had definitely increased. ummmmm inflation perhaps? A very excited young boy here this morning.

Mud boots

These are the current footwear in our house. One of the most unfun things about this season is all the mud it generates. So in the quest to save shoes from being destroyed on a daily basis the kids wear these. Simple clean up, a spray with the garden hose and all is good, the boots that is not the kids. Not that they would mind to much, a hose equals water and that is the greatest play thing in the universe according to Rosie. She hasn't taken her boots of for days, (what is it about the girls in this house and their multiple days of wearing and item?) yesterday she had on a green sundress, matching green socks and hair bow with yep you guessed it those little blue bug boots, (say that 3 times in a row quickly :) She is a fashion statement that is for certain.

Easter Party

Yesterday was the Easter egg hunt for the daycare kids. The weather was beautiful sunny and warm. (in past years we have dealt with rain, snow and mud) What takes hours to prepare, (filling the eggs, and putting the eggs out in the yard) took minutes to finish. Love watching the kids scatter and laugh. Love seeing the colored eggs in the still brown grass, such a bright relief from winter's blah!

a walk by the lake

Beautiful evening here. Stopped by the lake on our way home, couldn't resist with the sun reflecting off the water, and the temps so warm it was the perfect way to enjoy this spring afternoon. The kids enjoyed being outside and running up and down the path. Just think two days ago there was still ice on the lake, amazing what a couple of days can do. Love this time of year, love walking along the lake, love hanging out with these little people.

Easter Pics....

As promised more pics :) Yesterday we did the annual Easter pics at Nichole's. This year Anthony and Yahaira were super excited about the bunnies...Rosie was a wee bit apprehensive. Actually Rosie just simply refused to take any and all pictures at the start. She eventually warmed up to the idea and then didn't want to stop taking pictures, go figure. Moses had sat and watched throughout the whole process and when it was his turn, started crying. Murphy's Law at it's finest. All bunnies survived, as did all adults present. Love how they turned out, the hardest thing was trying to choose which pics to order.