Heaven Help Me

I have always known that I am going to have trouble with Caitlyn when she becomes a teenager. She has always been a very social person and just loves BOYS! She also knows nothing about personal space yet and thinks that chasing boys is the best way to spend recess.

Well, said kindergartner came home from school today announcing that she had a boyfriend, Ryan. I very nicely asked,"Oh, Ryan asked you to be his girlfriend?" She responded back "No, mommy, I asked HIM."

Making the 1st move already at kindergarten, heaven help me!!

Do You Ever?

Do you ever know you should go check on your kids but don't because you are trying to get something accomplished?

Well, that was me this afternoon. The boys were eating their lunch and I needed to send out a few quick emails. While in my heart I knew the laughter coming from the kitchen could not be a good thing, I chose to ignore it and finish my email before going in.

What did I find? Garrett had pour the chicken noodle soup all over Brandon's high chair tray and Brandon was slashing in it with this hands. They, of course, thought it was hilarious. Mommy thought the clean-up was not so hilarious. Oh well, we will just chalk it up for another lesson learned in the life of a mother.

Let it SNOW! - Part 2

The snow came back tonight so we let the kids play outside in the dark. It was pure heaven on their end. Who can help not enjoy a little snow on a cold, wintery night in December? Here are a few pictures so I can prove to the kids when they are older that they have seen snow.

Let is SNOW!

Okay, I will be the first to admit that it wasn't much and it barely shows up in the pictures but for this Houston girl - it was pretty exciting.

Those tiny white dots are snowflakes.

I think I can catch a snowflake!

Gate, What Gate?

The purpose of a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs is to give you piece of mind that your child will not go up the stairs when you are not watching and accidentally fall down. While our baby gate is not in the best shape (it is amazing what children do to this thing), it should serve it's purpose and keep Brandon down stairs. One would think anyway! This is what I caught Brandon doing while I was trying to vacuum downstairs.

Our gate ready for action. No baby is getting through me!

Brandon's actions when he realizes one of his siblings took the bottom bolt out.Whatcha looking at Momma?!?Oh well, what's a mom do to!

Why is it?

Why is it that you cannot make all 5 of your children happy at the same time? Case in point, this evening. I made Sloppy Joes for dinner. A favorite in this house - that is if you don't count Garrett. While everyone else is telling me that I am a culinary genius, Garrett is whining "I don't like it, I don't like it".

Then, later on, we were doing our Advent Chain for the night. Tonight's activity was to draw a picture expressing what Christmas means to you. I happen to know it is one of Allison's favorite Advent Chain days. Of course, what happened, Caitlyn cried, "This is boring!" So, we sat around drinking our hot chocolate, drawing our pictures, with her whining in the background. She did finally decide to join in and then she was upset that she couldn't finish her's before bedtime. I QUIT - I tell ya!

It doesn't matter if it is movie night, game night, out-to-eat night. Whatever the special occasion, someone has to be disappointed with the choice that was made. I guess this is what I get for giving birth to 5 completely different people. It is enough some days to make this mom give up. But somewhere deep inside, I have this idea that someday, somehow my kids are going to realize how much time and effort I put into their childhood and thank me. Or at least I hope so!

Have Trailer, We'll Travel!

The seven of us fit just fine in our mini van for day trips. The only problem with our big family is when the trip isn't so little. The seven of us might fit but our luggage doesn't. Therefore, anytime we are gone for longer than a weekend, a white trailer follows behind us wherever we go!

Squirettes Investiture

This afternoon, St. Ignatius had the investiture for the Charter Class of the Squirettes Circle. This is a youth group for young girls in the Catholic Church. It is the very first circle west of the Mississippi River and we have very proud to have Brittany be a member. She will hopefully learn a lot as she works with other young ladies to serve others and the Catholic Church.

Here is the whole charter class.

Brittany smiling pretty

Isabel, Abby, Brittany and Erin

Family Bonding

This is what I am greeted with on a cold Saturday morning. Me thinks we need a bigger bed!

Weapon of Mass Destruction

Would someone please explain to Brandon that the vacuum cleaner is NOT a weapon of mass destruction! He is so afraid of the vacuum cleaner. He just screams the second I turn it on and tries to climb up my leg. It is taking me at least triple the time to get the house vacuumed because I have to keep stopping and pick him up. He, of course, is just too big for me to carry the whole time so I put him down after awhile which leads to more screaming. I can vacuum the downstairs with him asleep but it wakes him up if I vacuum the upstairs during his nap.

What is a mom to do? I guess I can just use this as the reason that my floor is dirty, right. I mean I wouldn't want to permanently scar him for life.

Garrett, on the other hand, thinks the vacuum cleaner is great and keeps wanting "his turn". My question is why does this "helping" end right about the time they can actually be helpful. I never see Brittany or Allison wanting to vacuum.

Here's hoping I can vacuum my house in peace soon. Please no one tell President Bush about my stockpile of weapons!!

Where Was I?

Okay, I caught the bug from Katie. Here it goes

1 minute ago: Reading Katie's blog

1 Day ago: Took the boys to playgroup and was secretly excited that it was raining and we wouldn't have soccer practice

1 week ago: Brandon was running a fever so I was mostly holding an unhappy baby.

1 month ago: Trying to get ready for a month of 3 birthday parties for my children

1 year ago: We had a newborn baby, Brandon, in the house.

3 years ago: Garrett was 2 months old. Allison had just started kindergarten and Brittany was in 2nd grade.

5 years ago: Brittany had just started kindergarten and Caitlyn had just turned 1!

7 years ago: Andy had just received a job offer at Lucia in Houston and we were getting our house ready to put on the market in Temple. Andy was finishing off his 2 weeks notice. Brittany was 3 and Allison was 2!

10 years ago: Brittany was 9 months old and we went for a weeks vacation in Port Aransas in November. Gosh, one child - I really can't remember.

Anyone else want to play??

Mommy PLEASE!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not an animal person. I just didn't grow up with pets and I really am not fond of a cat or dog licking or crawling over me. (I get that enough with 5 children!) Andy and several of my children feel differently, however. So, I am starting slowly on the pet stage and we have tried fish and now have hermit crabs. The dog will have to wait a few more years.

My children are not satisfied, though. My neighbor's dog had puppies a month ago and it is now all my children talk about. Mommy, can we please have a puppy!!! Well, the answer for now is going to have to be NO! My agreement with Andy is that we cannot have a baby in the house when we get a dog. I must say though, if I wasn't a strong woman, I might have caved. They are awfully cute. Maybe I could be an animal lover!!

You Can Have Cake and Eat It Too!

We had a family birthday party for Brandon on Sunday. The highlight of any 1st birthday is, of course, the cake. After Garrett cried and refused to eat his cake when he turned 1, I was hoping Brandon wouldn't let us down. He didn't. I wished I had video taped it because the pictures don't do the event justice. He just laughed and smile the whole time!

Happy Halloween

It has been a busy few days so I haven't had time to post the pictures yet from this weekend. Here are the kids for Halloween. Brandon wasn't overly impressed but I'm sure by next year he will be saying "trick or treat". Mackenzie and Reagan joined us along with some friends in the neighborhood. Minus the mosquitoes it was a good time!!

Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys!!

Brittany and her friend, Abby, as Egyptian princesses.My little Indian girl!Have you ever met a child more suited for the role of Tinkerbell?

Happy 1st Birthday Brandon Paul!!

Has it truly been a year since you have come into our lives sweet Brandon Paul? That is the funny thing about time. When you are living in the day to day of constant nursing and no sleep, it seems like the days (and nights) last forever. Yet, here you are a year later and it feels like the past year happened in a blink of an eye.

Now, I wont even pretend that the last year has been a piece of cake. I am still a year later dreaming of a good night's sleep. But there is something just so special when you have a baby in the house. My favorite thing that Brandon does right now is when he hears me coming up the stairs. I will start creeping up the stairs on my hands and knees and at some point make a noise so he knows that I am there. He then shrieks for joy and crawls as fast as he can toward the gate. He then tries to get his face up to my face through the bars. It truly is pure joy on both of our hearts.

So, Happy Birthday to my cruising, crawling not quite walking toothless one year old! I thank the Lord for blessing us with you!

Oil Ranch

Yesterday, Garrett's preschool class went on a field trip to the Oil Ranch. We were lucky enough that Daddy was able to take the day off and Mommy and Garrett had some special one-on-one time. Garrett really enjoyed it and kept hugging me and saying "I really like you Momma." My heart just melted which is good so I can forget all of those other "3 year old moments".

Giddy up!!

Chickens are just the right size to pet!!I might be a city boy but I've got farming in my blood!

Here is most of Garrett's class!

Do you like my pumpkin?
Must have refreshment after a hard day on the ranch!!

Happy Birthday Caitlyn!

6 years ago at 12:52 pm my sweet Caitlyn Rose decided to give her big sister the best birthday present ever - her!! Caitlyn is a true testament to the saying "the best things come in small packages." She is the most spirited, sassy child you want to meet all with a heart of gold.

She had a gymnastics party this weekend. It made me realize again that I need to get Caitlyn back in gymnastics. The kids had a blast playing on all the equipment. Caitlyn truly lived for the moment and the smile never left. Here are some pictures of Caitlyn along with her family and friends at the party.