Spring Break

Over 15 band aids, 70 degrees weather, 4 play dates, one party, and a broken pinky. I think we did okay! It took me 4 days to complete my spring cleaning (it probably should have only taken 4 hours), Aubrey cut her chin open and bruised her leg, we made St. Patrick's day cup cakes, I taught Ainsley to say "Right There", "Blue", and "Pretty", and Caleb ALMOST went 10 days without a major disaster. 6 color times, over 350 hours of reading time, mulitpule foot splinters, and at least 6 replays of Sid the Science Guy. WE SURVIVED! Now that life is back to normal and Aubrey is back in school I have time to blog about it. Aubrey: Aubrey started off Spring Break by falling from the table and slicing her chin open/bruising her leg/stubbing her toe...not a good sign! But everything turned out okay and Aubrey loved being at home!! At least once a day I heared... "But Miss Susan said!" Per Miss Susan's request EVERY morning, first thing in the morning Aubrey had color/writting/play-doh time. 2 times a day I would read to her (how many different princess stories can one little girl have??), and before bed Andy would read to her. Every day was dress up day and Aubrey was a great big sister to Ainsley!! CALEB: Was very enjoyable! He loved being able to play outside in the dirt! He did not sleep through the night and he did not sleep in past 6:30am but he did take 2 afternoon naps!!! This week also seemed like the week of a million question. He has a question for EVERYTHING....his replay would either be "How can that be?" or "Mom you did not hear me!" I could not answer a question with "I do not know. Okay. Sure. or I guess" I had to actually come up with answers. And this week Caleb, with out a doubt, is the loudest little boy ever. Andy buying him a recorder has not helped at all!!!
Ainsley: Is extremely obedient...always following directions like:
Put that back please.
Sit down.
Go get your sippy cup.
If ever I ask her where something is she always goes and gets it...Keeping her dressed has been a problem and getting her dressed takes strength and patience. She is very picky about what she wears and will not keep her piggy tails in!The ending to Spring Break was yesterday. I took the kids to a birthday party for a little boy turning 2. Candy, Pizza, Cup Cakes, a bouncy house, and a Pinyata made for an exciting morning!! By the time we got home I was tired. I put the kids down for a nap and since Caleb was too hyped up on sugar I layed him next to me. I closed my eyes (it couldn't have been for more then 20 minutes but I fell right asleep) and next thing I knew Caleb was naked, Aubrey was out of her room, and Caleb had marker on his body form head to toe! Since there were drawings of little people on his right arm I knew he did not act alone! WHERE DO THESE MARKERS KEEP COMING FROM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Aubrey was really proud of her art work. After first denying her involement in the entire thing she quickly confessed. Caleb was doing so well not getting into trouble and making messes. I really hope he is not degressing. I do feel bad for the litte guy...on Sunday night he was hidding in the closet. Andy went to close the door and Calebs pinky was in the way. To say that he hurt is pinky is an understatement! It is deffinatly broken (I have never seen anything so crooked).

All in all it was a fun week. We went to St. Louis, played on the neighbors trampoline, and the kids watched Willey Wonka and the Chocolate factory for the first time. I did fast forward threw the scary parts but I thought it was apropiate to let them see what happens to little boys and girls who do not listen to there Mommies!!!!

A Great Week!

After an endless snow storm last Saturday I did not know what to think about the up coming week. Was it going to be cold and snowy?? Then again we live in Kansas.... one day it snows and the next day its 70 degrees!!! The high for the week was on Wednesday, 81 degrees!!!! On Saturday it was windy and overcast and by Saturday night it was 20 degrees with a big hail storm!! It kind of makes it hard to plan out door activities!
The excitement of last week came on Tuesday went I finally got to drive the van. It was glorious!!! I didn't have to drag kids to the car crying and they didn't bug each other, poke each other, or cry!!! I constantly heard "Oh, this is so fun!" followed by laughter!! I must say though, driving a van is like driving a BUS!!!My decision to put Caleb in the back all by himself was a "no brainer"!! He loved being in the back all by himself and when he talked to me his voice didn't carry as loud!!!
** Note...the guitar he is holding was the result of a local church scavenger hunt. They started out with a penny and went door to door to see who would trade for something bigger. The kids were excited to land the guitar but...have you ever heard of The Wiggles??? Probably, the most annoying, obnoxious, and loud toy ever!!!! Sorry to our neighbors who ended up with out broken kid vacuum!!! :) We only have love for you!!CALEB....last week Caleb smashed an entire stick of chap stick in Ainsley hair. While I was giving her a bath Caleb dunk his head in the water. Is there no end to his madness!!! Poor Ainsley. I do not know what to do, its almost like I should shave her head! Also, on Thursday Caleb dumped an entire super size box of Gold Fish all over the floor! I often wonder what he is thinking?!!! "Hum, this will be fun." or "I know mom wont notice." Really, what!!!??On Saturday we babysat a young couples 3 girls again. From 9:00am to 7:00pm. It was crazy!!! Thank goodness the weather was good. The kids spent the day rotating from Princess dress to Princess dress, playing in the dirt (minus, Aubrey who is a total girly girl and was absolutely NOT going to touch or play in the dirt), and eating!!! When they got tired of playing in the back yard we took them in the front yard, when they got tired of playing upstairs we took them in the basement, and when all 6 kids got cranky we fed them. I felt like we had a really good system and we held out pretty well concidering we were only suppose to watch them for a couple of hours! What a fun Saturday!

I also want to say HAPPY 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ANDY. I love you!
There as been more good then bad, more hard moments then easy, and more laughter then tears. What a crazy 6 years...multiple moves, a career change, 3 kids, 2 degrees, and a lot of "WHAT WERE WE THINKING" moments later... we survived!!! WE SURVIVED!!!

News***
We will officially find out boy or girl on Friday. I have been canceling appointments in hopes that Andy will change his mind and not want to find out. Also, I have been really sick and have not wanted to deal with the blood drawing problem (they can not seem to find a vein due to dehydration...which leaves me with many arm bruises and still no blood drawn). But I have been feeling better so it looks like Friday is the day!!!:) Boy or Girl??? Boy or Girl, hummm....
either way we are very excited and feel extremely bless for the healthy children we have and their fun/corky personalities!

Final Evidence

Today I have been sitting in Ainsley's bedroom looking at her door. I am deciding whether or not to wipe off the nail polish/ foundation hand print that Caleb made while barricading the door to keep me out. Leaving it there is a good reminder that any day is better then that day!!! Caleb has been amazingly wonderful since that incident. Minus the finding of a green marker that he put all over his face! How do my kids keep finding these things??? I think they have secret stashes!!!

Last weekend was a fun weekend for us. After spending the last 2 weeks researching and looking at vans on Friday at 1:00pm we bought a 2001 Honda Oddysey! While we were test driving it I was amazed and couldn't believe that when the kids went to pick out their seats they chose to sit on the back row next to each other!!! WHY??? Of course, the purpose of a van (in my mind) was to spread the kids out as far away from each other as possible! No more complaints of Ainsley touch Caleb, Aubrey holding Ainsley hand, and Caleb kicking the back of my chair! Oh how sweet it is! I have not personally driven it yet. I have never driven a van before and I am terrified. On Saturday I was suppose to practice but we had a big snow storm. So there is sits, very pretty in our garage. Hopefully, I will be driving it my Wednesday!!! Can you imagine, me, driving a van!!! How fun!! As soon as it makes its way out of the garage I will take a picture!Other fun weekend news...
On Saturday in the middle of the snow storm Andy went and helped a Ward Member hang dry wall. He was excited to see how it was done so we could get started on our basement. While he was helping with that I watched the young couples 3 girls. Have you ever had to prepare lunch for 6 children under 5 by yourself. A half of bag of chicken nuggets/tater tots and a half of pitcher of gatorade!! It was crazy!!!
2: 1 year olds
1: 2 year old
2: 3 year olds
1: 4 year old
Poor Caleb, he desperately wanted another boy to play with. 5 girls and a Caleb! What an afternoon!! The afternoon was full of dress up, playing kitchen, and chasing each other in the basement! When Andy got home around 3 there were kids everywhere!!! It was a lot of fun but by 5 o'clock I was out cold and didn't wake up until Andy woke me up at 8.

MY PICK:
I would like to state before tonight finale of the Bachelor that I think he will pick Melissa. I know know one probably watches this show but I have recently become addicted. I felt so bad for Jason last season and wanted him to find "True Happiness". Now I think he is a scuz. I feel bad for Jillian. Andy has been watching bits and pieces and we both picked Melissa back in the beginning. Andy picked her because she looks like DeAnna. True. So, who will he pick...while I am folding the 6 loads of laundry tonight I will find out!!!!