Portrait Innovations Shoot

So...I just wanted to take the kids to PI for the $9.95 package. I wanted to get a professional shot of them in their Christmas outfits. It has honestly been almost 2 years since I have taken all 4 of them there together. I took Bex back in Jan. for his 2 year pics. and it was a nightmare. I was just praying for ONE good photo of the 4 of them. Well...Bex was perfectly behaved and was a total ham. The lady who helped us even remembered him from January and commented on how much better he was this time...I am not joking. I ended up spending more than $9.95 but it was worth it. If I could just get Sawyer and Eden to smile more naturally...I guess that comes with age. Overall, I was very pleased!

I think I am mostly caught up with my blogging now...yay!

Visit from Holli

I think most people know that although I didn't really enjoy living in England...that I did, indeed, enjoy the friends I made there! My time (all our time) there was/is short but we have a bond and I just love these girls! Out of the 5 of us in this picture, Holli is the last one still living in England with CAT (she LOVES it btw). She is a very busy mom of 4 but made a surprise visit back to celebrate her best friends' 30th b-day. It was so fun to get together and catch up! I will be happy when Holli and her beautiful family move back where they belong :) I want to do a special shout out to Jenny's hubby (Dan) for standing on a stool to take this picture so that we all look thinner and more youthful :)

Putting up the tree!

My kids love decorating the Christmas tree. This is why I could never have a tree to myself...I really think it would hurt their feelings. Every year I want to get a new tree but I bought some new decorations for it after Christmas last year for cheap and gave it a little makeover...it looks better and I am good now! I bought our tree after the Christmas that I was pregnant with Faith at Hobby Lobby for $35. We are looking forward to Christmas!

Thanksgiving

I have no photos of Thanksgiving. We were just too dang busy! Tyler and his family came for a whole week and we had a great time. The kids love to be with their cousins. We saw Rapunzel, made jewelry, ate out and shopped! My mom, sis-in-law Amy and myself all did the black Friday shopping. It is a tradition and more about the "experience" than about the deals. We always have a lot of fun! I am thankful to have such a loving family where everyone truly enjoys being together!

Faith and Jr. High

Jr. High has been pretty exciting for all of us. It is something different from elementary school which is a nice change. I was so nervous at the beginning but it has been nothing but positive. Faith finished up Cross Country at the beginning of Oct. There was an awards banquet and she was recognized with 10 other kids for taking 4+ minutes off her 2 mile time over the course of the season. She actually took off over 5 minutes...but who's counting?? She earned a letter (a very tiny one, but a letter nonetheless). She has also been busy with band and had her first concert. I can't remember if I have posted about this or not but she also tried out for and made Girls Choir Ensemble. Choir is her favorite. She also tried out for and received a solo part. She can sing great but needs to work on her "showmanship". She looks pretty bored when singing. Most importantly...Faith received straight A's her first quarter and was put on "High-honors Honor Roll." She also just took a test and will be 1 of 40 kids in her whole school to compete in a Geography Bee. She gets her smarts from her daddy. Lastly, Faith is helping our piano teacher with a class of younger kids and is getting paid! She received her first ever paycheck last week. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with all the kids' activities but I really want them to have lots of experiences. This post may seem a big "braggy" but I just want to make sure we remember it all. Some of my other children (who shall remain nameless) aren't as easy as she is. Her even temperament and sweet disposition is a blessing to me. Jr. High has surprised her in some ways though....like kids that have poor hygiene and the mean things they say to each other. Elementary school is (in most cases) a sweet and caring place. I would love to protect her from all of it but I know it isn't realistic :(

Halloween

We have been without our laptop for several weeks which is why I am so behind on my blog. I didn't want to put pictures on our desktop clear down in the basement or on the laptop my father-in-law was lending us while he was so kindly repairing ours. I am going to make these posts brief so I can get caught up! The kids had a great Halloween! My mother-in-law painted them adorable, personalized pumpkins this year! Faith had drama trying to decide what she would be for Halloween but finally decided on being a "bee" since her first two ideas couldn't be found and she didn't trust me to make her anything. Eden was "Spider Girl"...this surprised me but as soon as she saw the costume it was love at first sight. Sawyer was a football player. He already had the jersey so that was good. Beckett was "DJ Lance Rock" from Yo Gabba Gabba. He loved his costume and was determined to keep those darn glasses on. Eden went trick-or-treating with a friend. Beckett LOVED it this year. He was so excited after every single (and I mean every single) house. He immediately had to see what was in his bag. The kids got a ton of candy...in fact we still have a lot of it. Sawyer, Eden and Bex all had a costume parade/party at school.

Eden turns 7!!!!

Eden turned 7 on Oct. 30th. She had a great b-day week. I took Krispy Kreme donuts into her class on Tues. and am ticked because I forgot to take my camera in with me. She handed out vampire teeth to all the kids and they LOVED them. They cost $2 for 16 of them...what a deal! She had her party at a bead shop this year. There were 12 kids including the b-day girl. The kids got to make a bracelet and paint a jewelry box. I think it was the best party any of my kids have ever had. It was very fun and the bracelets are really nice...not cheap crappy ones. The kids were all very serious about picking their beads and stringing their bracelets. Eden received a ton of great gifts including....an Alex doll (from Wizards of Waverly Place), lots and lots of silly bands, Webkinz, crafts, make-up...etc. My mom, Faith and I stayed after the party to make our own bracelets...fun!

We celebrated with the grandparents on Halloween. Eden got a pillow pet, Wizards of Waverly Place stuff, purse and an alarm clock/dock for Faith's old ipod nano. Eden is thrilled to have this. She has been dancing and singing her heart out in her room every night!

We love Eden so much! She is a very happy child who is often found with a huge smile on her face. Sometimes I will look back at her through my rearview mirror while driving around and 95% of the time she will have a huge smile on her face. I am not sure what she is thinking about but it always makes me laugh. She is an amazing big sister to Beckett. She is the only one that our cat likes in our whole family. The cat always sleeps with Eden at night and just this morning Eden was carrying her down the steps...no one else would dare even try that. Eden has lots of friends and loves school. She practices the monkey bars every single day at recess. She is a great student...she often gets her homework done on the bus and can be found practicing her reading on her short walk home. She has beautiful handwriting and loves to draw pictures and write notes to people. Eden loves clothes and asks me at least twice a week if she has something new to wear. American Girl dolls and barbies are her favorite things to play with. Eden sometimes portrays "diva" qualities and loves to push Sawyer's buttons. She also told me the other day...and this is an exact quote..."but it is just so easy for me to NOT do what you tell me to do." She also told me one day that she wants to marry a nice, smart man that wants children and will take care of the children while she takes a nap.

Eden is ending her week long b-day celebration by having two friends spend the night tonight...we will see how that goes. My prediction is a small amount of drama and one of the girls not lasting through the night and having to go home :)

Just had to share....

I loathe school fundraisers. I am happy to donate to most causes and if someone is selling something really good (like girl scout cookies or boy scout chocolate covered caramel corn) then I am there!! My kids school pushes magazine sales like crazy every year. You can opt out and do their no-hassle fundraiser for $25 per family. I choose this every single year but the school continues to torture my children by offering prizes to kids that choose to sell magazines and they actually shed real tears when I won't let them sell the magazines. Anyways...Faith was selling cheese, sausage, cookie dough and other stuff for band. If she sold 10 items over the weekend then she received the giant candy bar you see on the right. If she sold 15 items total then she also received the 5 lb. bag of gummy bears on the left. She managed to sell exactly 15 items. I have to admit the chocolate is good and the gummy bears are very soft and yummy as well. What you see in the center is the cheese and sausage duo that was bought by my very sweet neighbors and my parents for $17.50 (which I am embarrassed to have Faith deliver to them). I thought it was going to be large...nope. If I was either one of them I would choose the huge candy bar or 5 lb. bag of gummy bears for $17.50 over the tiny cheese and sausage duo. I just found it all slightly amusing...but mostly ridiculous. One of the other jr. high bands in town was selling food too but they had the option of selling 15 items or donating $35. That is a better idea. I would rather donate $5-$10 than get the tiny cheese and sausage duo. Okay... I am done.

School Open House/Grandparents Night

On Tuesday night Sawyer and Eden's school had their annual Open House/Grandparents Night. This is a night to show off their school! It is always very crazy and crowded but we go every year anyway because the kids really look forward to it. The teachers usually have the kids make something or display some of their work for us. I love the kids' school. They have had amazing teachers every year. I feel so thankful. I didn't get a picture of Eden with her teacher because she has three kids that all had activities going on that night. Kyle's parents attended with us and I didn't even get a photo of them with the kids :( although the school took one that I will have to wait for. Sawyer and Eden both really like their teachers and classes. Here are some pictures! Also...Faith was able to visit her 5th grade teacher (there is a a great mutual love between them). Faith was in true jr. high form texting during most of the open house. She also met up with her pal, Emma. I also have to add how much I appreciate Sawyer's teacher this year...she is SUPER organized and sends several emails home a week with reminders for the parents and she always has skyward up to date with the kids grades! She was meant for me....cause I need lots of reminders! Fourth grade is very busy!!

FUN Weekend!!

Back in the summer, I did a garage sale with my pal, Jenny. On one of the days we were working on setting up, her daughter and I made a little trip to Subway for some lunch. While there, a radio station was set up inside and you could put your name on for free tickets to Six Flags. I virtually never win anything but thought I would sign up while waiting. A few days later I received a phone call from the radio station saying I won the Six Flags tickets, a t-shirt and four Subway sandwiches! Yay me! I have to admit I was pretty excited. Anywho, we used those tickets last weekend and had a GREAT time! It was SO FUN!!! Kyle and I hadn't been to Six Flags since our one year wedding anniversary. It was a little on the cool side reaching a high of 65 but NOT crowded at all! I am now leaning towards doing all family activities in the cooler weather. No fighting crowds or lines and no whining children or adults about the heat and humidity! Six Flags has a ton of roller coasters. My kids will ride almost anything! Faith WILL ride anything and everything. It is nice that the oldest three meet the height requirements now. Eden met all but one or two of these. Also, they offer the parent/rider switch like Disney so the other parent doesn't have to re-wait in line with the kids to experience it with them. We spent 10 hours of FUN at Six Flags. Even Beckett was a good boy. For the first time we let him out of his stroller and he stuck very close. It was so nice for him and us! A couple of odd things happened while were there though...F, S, E and myself were waiting in line to ride "The Screamin' Eagle" and a girl got stuck in her seat. He harness would NOT come undone. It took at least 20 min. for them to get her out. After they got her out they had to run all the cars several times before they let anyone on. We left because it was taking so long but Kyle and the kids went back later and rode it. There were mechanical issues again when waiting to ride "Mr. Freeze." All of a sudden everything just became silent and the cars wouldn't go. It only took about 10 min. to get it up and running. We were 3rd in line and I was happy because I wanted to make sure the riders before us left and came back in one piece. So...twice in one day.

We spent the night in a hotel and the next day went to the zoo...which is FREE!! It is a super nice zoo! We also REALLY enjoyed it! They had some fun activities set up for the kids and we saw a lot of great animals. Again it was cool out but was a very beautiful fall day and small crowds! It was great to be together as a family..with just US! The kids get along so well and are all best buddies when it is this way. We actually considered leaving Beckett at home with grandma but Sawyer and Eden acted like it was the most cruel thing we could do to him. I always feel he takes away a lot of the fun for them (or maybe just for me). It is nice to know that they love having him around!

Update

Here is a photo of Faith walking out the door one morning last week. I had to capture the super full backpack and clarinet. Sometimes she even has all this plus is carrying her P.E. or cross country bag. She is a busy girl! She has taken 5 min. off her 2 mile time for cross country so far this season. I am really proud of her and the meets have been very fun for her (and myself). She tried out for her jr. high's girls ensemble group and MADE IT! I was a little worried since she is a 6th grader. For tryouts the girls weren't even able to prepare. The teacher just called them in one by one and gave them the material to sing which was "My Country Tis of Thee." She doesn't even know this song but it must have went okay. She is going to be singing "alto" which she isn't thrilled about but must be where they need her. It should be a good experience for her. She lost two teeth last week but has seven more to go before braces can go on. She just had an ortho appt. this morning and that is what he said. She is wearing a "retainer" at night right now to keep the work they have already done in place. Fortunately, she hasn't had too much homework so far. She has made LOTS of new friends and has a social life to be envied.

Sawyer is doing great as well. He really likes his teachers and has been bringing home all A's and B's so far. He is getting ready to start chess again next month and is trying out for student council. This makes me really nervous!!!!!!! He made it last year and loved it. It was a huge boost to his self-esteem. I think they find out next week. I was more nervous last year because both he and Faith tried out and I was worried that one would make it and one wouldn't. Fortunately they both did. Sawyer is getting really into watching football with Kyle and doing the "fantasy football" thing. My little boy is growing up. The only things he really mentions about school are...playing kickball at recess, soccer in gym and his new friend "Ben." He is also now very opinionated about his clothes (this is a first). He only wants to wear "sporty" clothing...you know the mesh shorts and t-shirts.

Eden is enjoying 1st grade but finding it isn't as easy as kindergarten was. She is still struggling with reading a bit but wants to be a perfect reader very badly. I even see her practicing her reading books when walking home from the bus. She wants to do everything perfectly and she is very mad at herself when she doesn't. She had a math test last week and it was all wrinkled up in her folder when she came home. She cried for a good 15 min. because she scored a 22/26 on it. She also wads up her spelling pre-tests if they aren't perfect. At least she cares...right? I just enrolled her in a "hip-hop" dance class. She had her first class last night and it was SO CUTE!! They danced to "The Jonas Brothers" and I think she thought she was in heaven.

Beckett is doing very well in pre-school!! This morning was the first morning that he didn't cry at all! I think he is finally realizing he can enjoy himself if I'm not there! I am spending my Tues. mornings grocery shopping and my Thurs. mornings are spent volunteering in Eden's class at school :) I have to mention as well that now that fall is coming I am back into reading!! I just finished "The Hunger Games" trilogy in less than a week. It was SO GOOD!! I haven't enjoyed any book/s this much since I read the "Twilight" books...and that is saying a lot!

Mr. Cuteness heads off to Pre-school

I have had some things on my mind these last couple of days...my nieces and nephews are starting at a new school today, my brothers dog passed away, Sawyer chose an almost 300 page book for his monthly (yes, I said monthly) book report when he could have chosen a book with 100 pages, Faith is doing a band fundraiser...the list goes on and on. I have also been worried about Beckett starting pre-school. Of course, I would have never dreamed of putting my first born in pre-school at 2 1/2 and would have looked down upon mothers that did. I also wouldn't have done it with my 2nd born. I am old and tired now though so #4 gets to go!! He will be going two mornings a week for 2 hours. I knew the adjustment would be hard for him. He has been in nursery at church for a year now and still cries and we usually sit in there with him or they come and get us. He actually made it all the way through this last Sunday...not without some tears but made it nonetheless. I had a little hope. His first day was only for an hour and he didn't do so well. He was very happy while I was in there with him (for the first 1/2 hour) but then I made my escape. When I came back to get him, he was laying face down on the floor crying his eyes out. He didn't even participate in snack time. Thurs. will be for the full two hours...hopefully he will adjust quickly. There are 6 boys and 4 girls in his class. All the girls were perfect angels and three of the six boys were crying...

So, I haven't blogged about Bex for awhile since we have been so busy with back-to-school stuff with the older three kids. During the summer he finally decided that talking was a good idea. He has hardly had a quiet moment since. He tries to say everything and everyday he gets a little easier to understand. He still loves Blue's Clues and Yo Gabba Gabba but now likes Wiggles and super whiny Calliou. He loves to play outside. He enjoys racing with whoever and playing with any kind of ball. He has many, many "handy dandy notebooks". He sits with one during any show he watches and writes down "clues." He loves any notebook with a spiral binding that he can slide his writing utensil in. Coloring is his favorite activity. He knows all his colors and can draw a circle. His pre-school teacher asked him if he could sing his ABC's and I realized that we have never sung him the ABC's...we only sing songs off the radio or from Rockband (what kind of parents are we???). He rides around in his cozy coupe car fairly often but really doesn't play with other toys very much. Every so often he will play with pretend food and with our train table. He loves being entertained by his siblings and they dote on him as much as ever. He and Eden play the most. I have had strangers mention to me, on more than one occasion, how loving his siblings are to him. He has done more damage to our home, furniture, walls, etc...than our other three kids put together. However, he is so cute, affectionate and funny that all is forgiven :) We were running late on his first day of pre-school this morning so his picture was taken in the laundry room on the way out the door (poor 4th child). Here are some other cute photos of my little guy.

First Day of School 2010

Wow...I am up and going so early now. Faith catches her bus a whole hour earlier than Sawyer and Eden now so I am up with her. I need to do a lot of stuff around the house that got neglected this summer but am not quite in the mood yet. The kids just had 1/2 day yesterday and all were very happy and excited! I honestly don't think Faith was the slightest bit nervous about getting on the jr. high bus or heading to her new school. I am very thankful for her confidence. We had 6th grade curriculum night last week and I think it helped. They divide the 6th graders into four teams. She is on team "S". She has two teachers that teach all her core classes. Her team is the smallest...maybe 50-60 kids or so. She found that she has several friends on her team. Her teachers are the only ones that do block scheduling (her classes every other day for 90 min.). I did my student teaching in a school that did block scheduling and loved it from the teaching perspective. I think Faith will enjoy it too. We introduced ourselves to her teachers and they seemed very nice...she said they were great yesterday as well. She is participating in 6th grade band this year and they are split into two bands. She is the only clarinet..which I think is odd. We will see how that goes. Today she will experience P.E., lunch and getting ready for an after school sport.

I feel bad not writing more about Sawyer and Eden but it is the normal elementary school routine for them again this year. They were both really happy with their teachers and the bus is old hat for them. They have five fewer kids at their stop now because those kids have moved up to jr. high. Sawyer was the only one with homework last night...typical. I feel very fortunate that my oldest three love school and that it is easy to get them out the door in the morning! Bex starts pre-school in a couple of weeks...that will be a different story.

Here's some pics. It was weird not taking a picture of all three of them together. Faith left before the other two were even out of bed.

Cross Country

So...Faith is running Cross Country right now. There are some things I have learned about this sport in the last week that I would like to share and remember.

It took some persuading to get Faith to join the team and here were my reasons she should go for it...

1. You will get in way better shape.
2. Running is good for you.
3. You are attending a very large jr. high and the chances of you ever being on any sort of team is very slim.
4. You don't have to try out for Cross Country...they take everyone.
5. Riding the bus to away meets will be fun.
6. It will give you chance to meet new kids before school starts.
7. Since you are wanting to get more serious about softball, this will help you to stay in better shape until softball starts up again.
8. You might decide you really like it.
9. Your friend, Emma, is doing it.

She agreed with me and decided to give it a shot. I told her that if she hated it with a passion then she could quit.

Here are the things I have learned...

1. Cross Country is not for wimps. These kids, no matter how fast or slow, run 2-5 miles 5-6 days a week. They also do lots of warm-ups that would kick my butt.
2. They have to watch what they eat and not eat 2 1/2 hours before running in a meet...they must also drink lots of water during the day but also not right before a meet. A peanut butter bagel with 1/2 a banana is ideally what you eat the 2 1/2 hours beforehand.
3. It is a very supportive, non-political sport. You see...there are no try-outs which = non-political.
4. Cross Country parents are just as fanatical and crazy as parents from any other sport I have seen. I saw one parent today (a mom) about 50 yards from the finish line yelling (in a supportive way) at her kid and running with them through other spectators until the finish line.
5. If you follow correct Cross Country etiquette you wait and cheer on the very last runner...even if it takes them 30 min. to do 2 miles and they need not be from your team.
6. There is an 8th grade boy from Faith's school that can run 2 miles in 11 minutes and that is awesome!
7. It is an inexpensive sport compared to many other sports.
8. One can be very small and have short legs but still run very, very fast.
9. Some kids vomit at the finish line. Faith informed me today that she will never push herself so hard that she vomits...can't blame her there!

The good news is...I was right about all the reasons Faith should join. I love it when that happens :) Although not the fastest runner...she can do 2 miles without stopping and is improving all the time. I am very, very proud of her efforts. Best of all....she really does like it!! I knew nothing about Cross Country (except that you run) until the last couple of weeks. A lot of nerdy type people ran it...and very few girls... when I was in high school so I never paid much attention but now I have an all new respect. Faith's jr. high has between 60-70 kids on the team.