WOOHOO!!!

I meant to post about easter.  I took pictures and video and everything.  But then... I didn't.  And I don't know if anyone would still be interested, beings as it's been so long.  HOWEVER!  I have exciting news!  Sons #1 and 2 entered a film festival their school was hosting, in the Comedy catagory.  The results came out today, and they took FIRST PLACE!!!  GO THEM!!!  So, in honor of their achievement, I am posting thier video here. :)  Turn the sound all the way up, it's lousy.  They didn't win on technical achievement.  lol!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auT0HiyyIL0 

Catchoccer!

Ok, pictured here we have sons #2, 3 and 4.  :)  Today, sons #2, 4, 5 and I went to the park with multiple balls and some baseball gloves. Son #2 and I were playing catch while son #5 crawled around in the grass beside us with a squishy ball and son #4 played on the playground.  But #4 got bored with that, and wanted to play catch with us.  We had a kickball-type Ironman ball with us, so I kicked it , and he thought that was hilarious and chased it down and kicked it back to me, for me to kick it away again.  Meanwhile, I was still playing catch with #2... and I soon found myself playing soccer with one kid whilst simultaneously playing catch with the other.

I have dubbed this new game CATCHOCCER!  When we told son #1 about it later, he felt that we should set up scoring rules.  Everything's got to get complicated, doesn't it?  lol!

And now, just because, I will post a gratuitous baby picture.  It's cute.  Who can't smile when they see this??  (And that brown stuff below his nose is peanut butter, I promise.)

And then one last item of business for this post, I will add a link to a video I took right after taking that picture.  It's of him talking and laughing.  Only follow the link if you can handle gooey sweetness. :D

Son #5 talking and laughing... who can resist baby's laughter???

My own little Calvin

See the sweet child sleeping peacefully?  See the unsuspecting Barney that is slumbering as well, lovingly placed on the pillow for his comfort?  Today, son #4 invented a new game.  He has a little tractor that is now too small for him to ride around on, but Barney was carefully, lovingly, placed on the seat to go for a ride on the tractor... and then sent hurtling over the edge of the porch in a five foot swan dive into the weeds.

Run off the porch and into the crash zone below, searching the debris with dismay.

"OH NO!  OH my GOODNESS GRACIOUS!  Barney!  Are you ah-right?  Barney?"

Wait for mom to express concern for Barney and instructions to pick him up and fix it.  Toss Barney back onto the porch, struggle and put tractor back on the porch.  Run back around to ascend the steps and return to your best friend... then repeat.  Over... and over... and over...

Pictures! We have some Pictures!

Ok, so I decided to SHOW you what it was like to have a wide spectrum of ages in children.  Two of my middle children aren't shown here.  But below, we have two pictures of Son #1 reading to Sons #4 & 5

And here, we have the "I DO IT!" syndrome.  You can see his face.  He washed it with soap and water "all by myself".  Then he needed to get dressed.  He refused to listen when it was explained to him that the shirt he chose was too small.  He wanted to wear THAT shirt.  And he insisted on putting it on himself.  Below is the results of his hard labor. 

Ill show pictures of Sons #2 & 3 sometime in the future. :)

I feel like such a jerk

Yesterday, I only saw by baby for about 20 minutes total.  I'd gone to work in the morning, then after work I got to see him for a little bit before I got ready for my date, and then spouse and I went to celebrate our anniversary.  We didn't get back until after the kids were in bed.

So this morning, I walk out of my bedroom to put my shoes on, and from his highchair (where he's being fed by #1 son), #5 son starts crying and throwing a fit until I wipe his mushy breakfast on his face and spring him from his restraints.  So now I'm trying to get my shoes on while holding him.  I hold him until I get out to the van, and oldest son follows me.  And once I get the keys in the ignition, I hand #5 over, and he starts to cry miserably.  His whole face got pale white, with the exception of his little button nose and his eyes and his mouth, which got all red and splotchy.  And his mouth was litterally turned down into a frown, with his lower lips sticking out while streams of big fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

I felt like such a jerk driving away as #1 son held him on his hip, bouncing him slightly and assuring his little brother that everything was going to be ok, and I'd be back later. :(

From the archive: "Nerd-Chic"

This was originally an email on Feb 7, 2011

So after work, I was running home, picking up the baby and my wallet and taking off to the store to get bread crumbs for the pork chops for dinner. I had IMed my husband and told him I was on my way and to have one of the older kids get the baby ready.  I get home, open the front door and walk in and not three feet in front of me, my 16 year old is holding out my chubby baby for me to grab.

This poor baby was in a plaid, button up collar shirt that looked like it was buttoned up to the top because it was riding up to his chubby neck.  His stomach was hanging out, right above the tan corderouy pants that were TOO SHORT, they were high-waters.  And to top it off, his little fluff of hair on the top of his head was slicked over to the side.  I swear, he looked like a fat, 35 year old computer nerd.

I just looked at my son and asked "Seriously.  This is how you dress him?"  And the teenager just looks at me blankly and asks "...what?"  *eye roll*  Good grief.  Every time I looked at him in the store, I couldn't help but giggle.   Poor kid.  I at least pulled his shirt down constantly so he wouldn't be a Gus-gus the whole time.

Catch!

I broke weak this morning and got little chocolate covered donut gems and chocolate milk for breakfast. :P  Totally counter-productive to the walking on the rec field I did this last week, and the catch I played last night with the boys.  (You wouldn't think that a simple game of catch would be that much excersize, but #2 son (14, will turn 15 in a couple weeks) and I got this rythm going and I was pretty winded there at the end!)

I could tell I've been woefully lacking in my parental responsibilities.  I threw the ball to ("to", mind you, not even "at" like my Dad used to do to me) #3 son (11yrs) and he flinched with his whole body and actually got hit in the head because he did that.  (He flinched *into* the ball.) And then when he threw it to me, ohmygosh.  I'm just glad he was playing with me and not some neighbor kid because he would have been laughed out of the game.  He threw the ball with his elbow down and tucked mostly close to his body.  He looked like a girl, I swear.  So I told him about "elbow back" and "throw over your head" and kept getting on his case about proper throwing and catching and "GET IN FRONT OF THE BALL!" and "Stop the ball with whatever means possible- if that means sacrificing your body, they so be it!"  There at the end he wasn't flinching and was able to actually catch five throws in a row without missing, and he could throw decently enough that I don't think he'd embarrass himself if someone outside of the family were to play with him.  So there was progress there.  I'm hoping to cement some of the lessons by playing again tonight, but I'm not sure how much time we'll have.  (Spouse and I are supposed to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate our 17th anniversary. :)  ) 

#4 and #5 son were watching the catching, the youngest from his excersaucer, and both got jealous and wanted to play too.  So I ended up going into the house and sitting on the floor and rolling the squishy ball for them to chase.  #4 (3yrs) was getting pretty good at throwing, while the baby just loved crawling around after it.  You wouldn't think a 13 month old would get jealous, but when #4 wouldn't let him play ("Mine ball!") #5 started screaming until he was allowed to chase after and retrieve the ball too.  I had to have 2 seperate squishy-balls going to keep them both happy.