monday monday, summer monday

First of all, I put August to bed at 10 pm last night and he didn't wake up to eat until 4:30 am this morning. That's 6 1/2 hours, people, and let me tell you: amazing. I can't remember the last time I got that much uninterrupted sleep! I know it might not happen again tonight, but it gives me hope that someday soon I will once again know what it feels like to not be totally and completely exhausted all day. 

I didn't get a picture of Joe with all the kids, unfortunately, but we had a good Father's Day. I took the kids shopping to pick out cards and gifts on the first day of summer vacation. Usually I have the kids make cards (cheaper and more meaningful), but it turns out that The Dollar Store has some really cute cards, and it is actually pretty meaningful to let them pick out their own cards because they manage to find cards that fit their personality--serious or funny or with a dog on it! They each wrote their own messages to Dad, and he said the cards were his favorite of the gift-giving part of Father's Day. It is also interesting to see what the kids pick out for their dad. Logan got him a picture frame, Madi a #1 Dad mug, Grant a pad of paper and pens, and Ammon got him water balloons and silly string. The funniest part was when Joe was about to open Ammon's present and Ammon leaned over excitedly and said, "You're really going to like it!" I was almost crying with laughter and love. I got Joe a watch (that he picked out and is wearing so it's not in the picture). We are so grateful for our wonderful dad and granddads! 

I try to keep things real, and I have not made it a secret that I was kind of dreading summer. I made a CHOICE that we were going to have a great summer, and I have a new testimony that my ATTITUDE really makes a difference--good or bad.  

Just because everyone is home does not mean my house has to be in a state of constant disaster. In fact, having everyone home means I have a lot of helpers. The amazing thing is that they have, for the most part, been very happy to help. The kids have been doing most of the cooking (with my help) and cleaning up after meals. We have had some interesting meals! For instance, today Madison decided to make chocolate milk whole-wheat waffles. They actually didn't taste any different than regular waffles, so it was a waste of perfectly good chocolate milk, but not a waste because now we know! Big kids really are so much fun! 

I continue to become more and more like my parents every year (which is ok; I can think of worse people to be like 😉). I put up a bulletin and white board right by our garage door entrance (they have one by their front door), mainly so that I can write down what the kids need to do each day before they can turn on the tv (also what my parents used the white board for). The kids find satisfaction in rubbing out their responsibilities when they are done. 

The house doesn't have to be a disaster, but it doesn't have to be spotless, either. That is another decision I have to make (every day). Creating and playing can be messy! 

My sister Rene taught the kids how to make wands when she visited in March. Grant and Ammon's wand broke, so Logan decided to make them new ones. He took 90 cents to Walmart and searched the craft aisles for wand bases. I really didn't think he could do it, but he has been making wands all weekend, and they are pretty awesome! 

His wand-making station 

A few of his creations. They are getting fancier and fancier! 

Some friends came over last week and were so impressed by the wands that he has decided to become an entrepreneur and sell them. He has had some great and encouraging feedback (thanks Facebook!), now we just need to figure out how to make a webpage so he can actually sell them. Maybe a blog to begin? I'm not sure. 

Speaking of wands--Grant finished Harry Potter 1 this morning. He was so excited and did this crazy happy dance while he pulled out the Harry Potter movie and the next book. He started reading it a few weeks ago and at first wanted to take turns reading it with me or with Logan and Madi, but once he got into it he figured out it was faster to read it by himself on his own time. I am so proud of him! 

A few years ago I bought this side table for $5 from a garage sale site. I have been intending to paint it for years but have never had the motivation to do so. When Logan was looking at the craft aisles in Walmart I noticed a small jar of gray chalk paint. I bought it, and last Saturday Madison and I spent an hour painting it. It looks good--much better than before--and Madison loved painting so much that she decided she wants to paint stuff (first up is a fun bright color for that picture frame). When she realized Logan just might make some money with his wands, she decided she wanted to figure out something she could do to make money. So be on the lookout for Madi's creations in the near future! 

surviving summer

So far so good in the summer department. Here's what's been going on: 

Cousin Maggie came to visit! 

 

Tummy-time!

Pool with friends. Every single day. 

Pizza night! 

Madison's hair-doing skills are getting pretty good. I am very happy to let her practice on my hair. 

The kids and I read Because of Winn Dixie together and decided to have a book/movie party with friends. We made the food that they ate in the book. Logan made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Madi made egg salad sandwiches, and Grant made punch. I tend to get stressed out about things easily, but I put the kids in charge and we kept things very simple, so it really wasn't stressful, but it was a lot of fun and we will definitely be doing more book/movie parties this summer. Book suggestions welcome!

They got the living room ready. 

Madison made signs to hang on the front door.

Grant swept the kitchen without being asked. 

Madi's signs. 

The party! I think I am missing a few kids in the picture. We had a great turn out!  

I should have taken a picture of the stairs. Logan taped them off early this morning to prevent kids from going upstairs (where all the toys are). It worked! 

summer kick-off

Sometimes I love summer and sometimes summer frightens me. Five demanding, begging, fighting, mess-making, noise-making, in-my-face kiddos. 24/7. There really is no escape and no personal time. This summer I am fighting against feeling frightened. We are going to celebrate summer and celebrate learning and celebrate time together.  

Day one of summer: Harry Potter party. 

The kids are planning and cooking most of the meals this summer. And they are getting better at cleaning up. These really are things to celebrate! (Logan made oatmeal for breakfast while I took a shower. It was a LOT of oatmeal!)

Madison has been practicing her fishtail braid on me while I read to the kids. (They know that if they play with my hair I will keep reading and reading and reading.) We just finished reading Because of Winn Dixie together and we are planning a movie party with our friends next week. Also, I sat down to read Harry Potter with Grant yesterday and he was almost 100 pages into the book. He explained that Madison had been reading it with/to him, and that really made my day. There is hope for sibling friendships! Yay for summer!! 

Happy 5 week birthday August! One of our favorite things is when we hear you start talking after you wake up in the morning. Everyone runs in to crowd around you. They make the silliest sounds and faces just so that you will smile for them. They also take turns picking out your clothes and getting you dressed each morning.

one month old, what?

I knew this would happen. It always does. The days/week/months just fly away and the kids grow up in a blink.

August is happy for about 15 minutes after he eats. He smiles and kicks his legs... and then he cries and fusses until we get him to fall asleep. I'm

hoping the crying tapers off as we reach the 6 week mark because honestly, it's exhausting! Luckily, everyone around here loves him and we have some great helpers. 

He has some baby acne, which is always sad. I just tell him to be glad he's not a teenager yet, because right now it doesn't bother him at all. 

Nights are going better. He has been sleeping between 4-6 hours, which is actually--believe it or not--a lot better than 2-3 hours. 

These stayed on for about 30 seconds. 

Grant took this picture. We played around with some of the filters--there are some really crazy ones that make us look really scary- like we are zombies or from the Dust Bowl. The things we do to amuse ourselves around here! 

And finally. Today is Fast Sunday and we have afternoon church, so we have some hungry kids when we get home. Today Logan prepared his break-the-fast snack before he left for church. It's a pretty random assortment. He even buttered his toast before he left. Logan was our crankiest baby, and he is turning out to be a pretty good guy, so I have high hopes for little Auggie.