I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

Okay, a week and a half without a washing machine would be considered a horrible situation for most families. For a family of 7, it is a down right diaster. I know was a little naive when I thought the Sears repair man would come to my rescue and fix my washer on site. But to have to wait for 7 more days for our a washer - you have got to be out of your freaking mind. I have swim team towels from one end of the house to the other, dirty bibs from a baby who is not so good at getting the food into the mouth, a 2 year old who sometimes waits to long to go visit the potty not to mention the fact that children feel the need for multiple clothing changes in a day when they are 5. So, what is a poor mom to do?!?!?

Insert wonderful caring friends and a sister-in-law!! I spent last Thursday running from house to house with dirty laundry. My friends were wonderful enough to let me use their washing machine and drier. I did feel like my head was cut off trying to remember who had what and if I needed to move something to the drier but I got my clothes all clean. Then, yesterday, I did some more laundry. So, thank you Gayle, Sam and Amanda!! My family wouldn't be looking or smelling so pretty if it wasn't for you. And heaven help the Sears repair man if he doesn't fix my washer on Wednesday!!

Our Hot Summer Night!

Yesterday was one of the hottest days yet this summer. It would also be the day our A/C decided to stop working. It all started with just a flash of light. We were getting ready for Mass when my dad noticed that he saw a flick of light come from the washer. The washer then stopped working!! I was one mad momma!! I cannot have a washer on the outs - I have 5 children. Well, we didn't realize until around 2 pm that the washer was not the only thing not working. Brandon awoke from his nap and was quite the cranky boy so I sat down to nurse him. I was so hot so I told Andy to turn on the fan. Well, the fan didn't work. It was then that we realized that the house was really hot and we had no A/C. Of course, we could find no one to come yesterday so we spent the day in a house with no A/C. It was quite toasty at bedtime and Brandon so did not sleep well. The girls did think it was cool that they could hear the birds chirping when they woke up this morning. Well, $630 dollars later, we have a cool house again. Now, the question is did the washer break the A/C unit or did the A/C unit break the washer. I think this mystery will last forever just like other great mysteries like which comes 1st the chicken or the egg.

Oh, and Sears won't be here for 2 more days. So, if you see laundry coming from our house - you will know why!!

Divisional Swim Meet

We had the girls divisional swim meet on Saturday. This was the 1st year that we would be at an outdoor pool for this meet and I was fearing the worse. It was actually not that bad and we were done around 3 pm. We swam against 5 other teams and the girls all did very well. Allison came in 2nd for breaststroke and qualified for Ponderosa. Brittany came in 7th in breaststroke and will be swimming in the All-Star Meet. So, that means that mommy has 1 more week of swim team practice. Thanks girls for being overachievers!! Caitlyn's freestyle relay came in 3rd. Everyone was very happy with their medals. On Sunday night we had recongnition night and everyone got their trophy (for my kids it is still all about the trophy!!) and Allison was awarded Most Valuable 7-8 swimmer.

Here is Caitlyn swimming the backstroke.

Here is Brittany doing the backstroke as part of the IM.Swimmers take your mark - Allison getting ready to start off the 7-8 girls freestyle relay.Really, swimteam is all about the friends!!

Picture Day

As another mother would know, getting professional pictures done of your children can be a very stressful task. You have dreams and have visions of how great the pictures are going to be and then reality sets in. Your child is scared of the photographer, they are going through the "fake" smile phase, they can't sit still, they wont smile, they finally smile but are looking the wrong way. The list could go on forever. That is why I think my sister, Natalie, and I must have been smoking something when we decided to get both of our families together to take a picture for our parents. That is seven children! And not just any 7 children - you've got 2 babies and 2 toddlers in the mix. So, what could possibly go wrong!!

Fast forward to the morning of the pictures. We decided to do it on a Friday during the week in the hopes of missing the weekend crowd. Sounded great in theory until I realized that I would be getting all 5 of my children ready by myself. Andy's job was just to meet us there. No problem, I say to myself. Brandon will nap while I get the other 4 ready and then I'll just have him to get ready. I think you all know what happens next - Brandon only takes a 30 minute nap!! I had only one child's hair done when I hear the stirring on the baby monitor. I immediatly freeze and pray to the Lord above and any saints and angels who might be free. Please, oh please Lord have him go back to sleep. Apparently, our Heavenly Father thought this might be a good time to have a laugh on me because Brandon was wide AWAKE! That's okay, he can just play on the floor while I get the rest of the girls hair done and myself. But no, he was a cranky boy so mommy must hold him while doing everyone's hair.

So, I eventually get everyone done including me. I yell at everyone it is time to go - only to realize that Garrett has been sucking his thumb. Now, if you know Garrett you know that he doesn't close his mouth when he sucks his thumb so now his shirt is all wet. So, I am trying to dry that off when he decides to stick his hands in my make-up that is sitting there and then wipes his fingers on his shirt. Are you kidding me?!?!?!? So, now I must clean his shirt from my foundation. Okay, now let's get in the car to go. I have now done my calculation in my mind and realize that Brandon will probably start getting tired about half way through the pictures. But what can I do now, I talk to Natalie and I tell her this is not going to go well but we are on our way.

Well, to my surprise, Brandon was probably the best one there. The true trouble maker would, of course, be that 2 year old named Garrettman!! He just couldn't keep his hands down and was looking up, down and all around. This, of course, made Mackenzie want to look up, down and all around. In the end, the poor photographer took over 150 pictures but we did have a few that turned out okay. I'm sure he wanted a drink by the time we left. Well, here it is the prized family photo. Do you think it was worth it???

The Campout That Wasn't

I must have had sucker written on my face yesterday afternoon. You can always tell when kids are about to ask you to do something that you normally do not do. They have that very sweet look on their face with just the slightest smile. That was the look I received from 5 girls yesterday when they asked if they could camp out in the backyard last night. Now, we don't have too many sleepovers at our house because we have a baby who gets up all the time. So, I guess my guilty mother complex got the best of me and I agreed. The girls all had a great time but the camping part of the evening was over by 9 pm. Too hot was the verdict!! The campout became a sleepover in the living room. The kids were actually very good and went to bed at a good hour. Maybe sleepovers are not as bad as I am always fearing!
All the kids ready for a good night in the tent!Must have watermelon on a hot summer night!We have moved into the living room!The "sleepover hangover" the next day. Caitlyn feel asleep watching a movie the next day in the afternoon.

Lazy Days of Summer!

Ahhhh, the lazy days of summer! Is there such a thing when you are a stay-at-home mom to 5 kids? Today is the lst day of summer. Let's see - the kids were all up by 6:30 am. Now, let me tell you I have been dragging Brittany and Allison out of bed at 6:45 for the last few weeks. So, today when they can sleep in - there were already in my room before I could even get dressed!! We, of course, have already hit walmart and swim team.

Then, what was supposed to be a one child playdate turned into a 4 kid playdate. I really don't mind having the whole neighborhood over as long as everyone is smiling. Right now, we have a game of hide-n-seek going on. We have already played the wii. But afterall, isn't that what they lazy days of summer are all about. Playing with the neighborhood kids all day long. I'm sure before long - okay when it is Garrett and Brandon's nap time, they will find another house to invade. I really do love seeing my children not have a care in the world and just play. I hope this is the 1st day of a great summer!

All of the kids eating lunch today at the house.

Allison and Alisyn boxing on the wii.

Garrett and Abby counting for hide-n-seek.

Brittany getting caught under the bed in the nursery.

How does Allison fit underneath my bathroom sink??Caitlyn and Brenden in the clothes hamper.

Benfer Book Parade

As now a seasoned mother of school age children, there are certain events that happen that truly signal that another school year has come and gone. If you are a Benfer Bobcat, one of those rights of passage is the annual Benfer Book Parade. Each classroom picks a book and all of the children in that class dress up reflecting the book. This happens every year at the Strack Track. While the children happily march around the track, the parents still in the stands facing the direct sun wondering just how many grades are there in elementary?!?!? The kids love it though and isn't that what it is all about.

Brittany had to play the part of a princess in this years book parade. I know it was a real stretch! Since she has always believed she was a princess.

In the middle of this elephant costume, you can see Allison's feet. She got to be the middle of the elephant. Quite the honor!

Here are Caitlyn, Garrett and Brandon watching the parade go by.

Here is what Brandon truly felt about his 1st Benfer Book Parade. Do you think I should tell him how many more of these he can look forward to?

This is a picture of all the classes lined up after the parade. You can see all the kids in the distance. That is a lot of Benfer Bobcats!!

Opening day at the Pool

Last weekend was opening day at the pool. I was anxious to see how Garrett and Brandon would like the water. Garrett had pretty much showed us he like the idea of water but didn't want to go near it at our neighbor's pool. He actually did much better at the Terranova pool. He still wouldn't put his face in but he was actually having a good time.

Brandon pretty much would have rathered played with his hat.

Piano Recital

Friday was Brittany's 1st real piano recital. I had been looking forward to it all week. Well, my last post must have been an omen of what was to come because Caitlyn decided to throw-up right before the recital. So, Andy went and I stayed home. I decided I would rather go to the swim meet the next day. I have one blurry picture from her recital. Andy did his best to try and record and take a picture. So, here it is. Next time you are over, you can have Brittany play "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?".