These Toys Crack Me Up

In the last week or so, Henry has started smiling and laughing. He loves to lay on his playmat and "talk" to his toys. This morning while all the other kids were sleeping and I was watching the news Henry was enjoying a little morning time with his toys.

Lucky Charms

Grace is playing soccer for the second year. Her team decided to be called the "Lucky Charms". We were blessed with a great coach who ensures that all the girls have FUN. In fact, he reiterates at every practice and game that the number one rule for his team is to have fun. In addition to the fun, the girls are learning the very basics of soccer.

Grace scored a goal in the first game of the season, unfortunately between Henry and Cooper I didn't have a chance to take a photo. Last Saturday I was able to catch a quick video of Grace playing since it was just me and Henry watching Grace's game (Jason and Cooper were in Cloverdale watching Emma Jo).

I'm going to try to remember to charge the camera and bring it to both games on Saturday to take some pictures of both Grace and Emma Jo.

More Changes

Just when we were all getting used to life with a family of 6, we've changed it up again. NO, we are not adding to the family, but we are adding to the house. We've decided that a family of six needs more than 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We have begun a major remodel/addition which will result in a 5 bedroom, 3 bath house. Each of the kids will have their own rooms, and I will finally get my soaker tub!

In order to make this go as smoothly as possible, Jason, the kids and I have moved up to my parents. They graciously offered their house to us for the duration, and have moved into the back cottage in order to give us more room. I'm still in awe of their generosity and the kids are still trying to figure out how exactly this is going to work. "Will Grammie have breakfast with us everyday?" "Can I ride on Grampa's forklift?" "Are they really going to sleep back there?" "Are we going to our house today?"

Last night was the first night in this newest reality and for the most part it worked pretty well. I'm sure by the time we have it all figured out it will be time to move back home. I have a feeling when we do leave there will be withdrawal pains, for the kids... and the grandparents.

New Reality

I think I'm starting to adjust to my new reality of being mom to four children. But I had forgotten just how busy life can be with a newborn. Although it seems like I'm busy all the time, it also seems like I don't get anything done, except feed Henry.


My typical day goes something like this:

~ 6am - wake up and get a cup of coffee, nurse Henry
~ 6:15 - Cooper comes out to family room and we turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
~ 6:30 - Grace joins us in the family room
~ 7:15 - wake up Emma Jo
~ 7:30 - Emma finally gets out of bed and heads towards the shower
~ 8:15 - out the door on the way to school
~ 9am - Henry and I arrive back home - he is hungry and nurses until about 10am
~ 10:15 - shower and get dressed
~ 10:30 - start laundry
~ 11am - pump milk so we can try and get Henry to take a bottle
~ Noon - Henry wakes up and wants to eat - realize I'm famished
~ 1pm - finally get lunch after Henry falls back to sleep
~ 1:30 - fold and put away laundry, try to pick up the house, clean the kitchen
~ 2:30 - Nurse Henry
~ 3pm - Head out to pick up girls from school
~ 3:30-6pm - either hang out with the girls and help them with homework or take them to soccer practice
~ 5pm - Nurse Henry
~ 6pm-7pm - spend time with Jason and all the kids, eat dinner
~ 7pm-8:30 - nurse Henry
~ 9pm - Bedtime
~ Midnight - Nurse Henry
~ 2am - Nurse Henry
~ 4am - Nurse Henry
~ 6am - start all over again

In addition to the above, I try to fit in everyday life necessities like grocery shopping, doctor's appointments, banking, sewing on Girl Scout patches and buying diapers. Not to mention the baby announcements that are sitting on my kitchen counter waiting to be addressed or the Thank You notes that have yet to be sent. Then on top of everyday life, we are gearing up for a major home remodel and addition. That involves cleaning out closets and cupboards, determining what we can give to charity, what we need to take with us during the move and what can be put in storage for the next six months. It also involves trips to the Building Department and excursions to the Bath & Kitchen store and visits on-line to try to pick out a new soaking tub, shower and bathroom fixtures.

Since my day seems to be full now I wonder how I will manage in a few weeks when I go back to work. I'm going to need to figure out how to shower in the morning before I leave the house. The major obstacle I'm facing is worrying that Cooper will wake up while I'm in the shower and he will accidentally hurt Henry while he is trying to help. Maybe I could leave the family room TV turned to a cartoon and Cooper will migrate out there on his own? Then I'm going to have to figure out how to get us all out of the house an hour earlier than we leave currently. Henry is going to have to start sleeping better for that to be a possibility. And actually with the temporary move we'll need to leave the house about 20 minutes earlier than we did last year since we will be living further away from daycare and school.

I guess we will continue to take it one day at a time and figure it out as we go.

Back to School

On August 18th, the girls went Back to School. Emma Jo started 6th Grade and Grace is now in 1st Grade. Grace is delighted to have Mrs. Codding for a teacher (and Mrs. Stadum for a substitute) and Emma Jo is thrilled that they are now upstairs in the Jr. High. In Jr. High the students get lockers and Emma came home from school on the first day with the exciting news that she got a top locker!

All four kids in front of the house on our way off to school. Cooper keeps asking when he gets to go to "Grace's Kindergarten".

In front of the sign at school.

Gracie and one of her best friends, Matthew waiting to go into class. They have been together since she was 12 weeks old and started daycare.

Group shot of the 6th Grade before they head upstairs on their new adventure.

End of Summer - Cookie Making

One of the last things we did to enjoy the end of summer, was make chocolate chip cookies.

We invited our friend, Halle, over to help.

I'm not sure if the kids liked the cookies better or the cookie dough. (Thankfully the eggs we used weren't tainted with salmonella.)

We had to pick up Cooper after we mixed the dough, but before we formed the cookies. That was when I realized that I might have lost my mind. Because who in their right mind would think making cookies with four kids and a 3 week old baby was a good idea?

Thankfully Jason got home before it got too out of control, and Henry slept through most of the chaos so everything turned out okay. (And I got some delicious cookies to snack on while I go a little crazy.)

Swimming Lessons

Grace and Cooper just finished two weeks of swimming lessons. They both did amazing! I wish I had signed them up for lessons earlier in the summer. If I had I bet Grace would have been swimming independently by the end of summer! She was willing to go under water, retrieve rings from the bottom of the pool, cross the pool with a kick board, and even swim 1/4 of the way across the pool completely on her own. I am just so thankful that she is finally getting over her fear of getting her face and ears wet!
Cooper has developed a little attitude since we brought Henry home from the hospital and swimming lessons were no exception. Cooper would not get into the pool unless it was his decision. Once he got in the pool he would gladly participate in class, as long as he was holding a toy of some sort. By the end of the two weeks he was willing to blow bubbles, use "scooper arms", kick with a kick board or holding on to the rail. He was not willing to go completely under the water or jump off the side, but I'm sure that will come next year...