School girl

It was "blue" day at pre-school and Peyton couldn't get there fast enough. For some reason blue was a much more exciting color day than purple, orange, or black. Her new jeans had her feeling super sassy. Her polka-dot jacket was NOT coming off without a fight.








She makes me smile.

"Ice!"

The Gaylord Texan is a magnificent resort/hotel near us that hosts an annual ice attraction that this year features "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." 40 master artisans from China took 30 days and transformed 5,000 blocks of ice weighing two million pounds (!) into the city of Who-ville. It is breath-taking.

The worst best part is, the temperature of the attraction is 7 degrees. Now, wuss that I am when it comes to cold, I was not looking forward to the frigid temperature. However, we were bundled up with our own coats/hats/ gloves and then the Gaylord Texan people provide you with yet another coat, so we were toasty warm the entire time.

Keaton, Hayden, and Landon entering Who-ville.

















The twenty-foot ice slide was the family favorite. Peyton and I waited at the bottom for multiple slides from older siblings.


















It's hard to believe this is all made out of ice.













Landon tried hiding...it didn't work.












Frigid photo ops





















Hot chocolate was calling our name once we exited the exhibit. "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" video was playing on big screens, so we sat and watched. Landon and mom cozied up.
















The gift shop provided opportunities to touch...












...and get tickled at ourselves.

















"We had THIS much fun!!"

Grands really are quite grand

Diney and Big Daddy came to visit us. We had a wonderful lunch that concluded with some "horse-riding." Peyton clearly thought it was the most fun she had ever had in her entire life.

How may kids can we fit on one ride?

















Keaton and Landon double-buckled.

















"Whoa buddy!"

















Better than Six Flags.















Thank you Big Daddy.

More cousin luvin'

Day two of our cousin sleepover involved vast amounts of movement: the children, not us.

Football!
















A little cheerleader action.

















The stage show...

















The floor show.


















Such pretty girls. Gina's Ashlyn and my Peyton.

Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles...friends

The kids and I had a big 'ole sleep-over at my sister and brother-in-law's home this weekend. It was non-stop playing, giggling and belly-laughing from the minute we arrived until the second we left. Cousins need time together...and so do sisters!

Only nine months apart, Dayden (3) and Peyton (2) have an absolute ball together.
















Same goes for Bailey (12) and Hayden (8). Landon (5) runs between the little girls and the big boys, having yet to identify with a one group or the other.














Uncle David grilled pork chops...yum!














Bathing beauties.












"Hello? Um, I'd like to order a pretend pizza to go."





















Keaton (12 and beautiful)

















Reagan (14 and goofy)

















Dora was on the playlist several times.

















My beautiful sister Gina and David her pretty terrific husband.














When Dayden tired of the movie, mommy had to watch.









More pics tonight. It was so much fun.

Family fun

The kids and I (minus Reagan who was at a football game) went to Family Fun Night Friday night as a reward for a great week of getting chores done, doing homework, and just plain getting along. There was a bounce house (Peyton's favorite), tons of snacks and drinks, air hockey, video games, ping pong tables, a basketball court, everything Wii, arcade games, and the movie "Up" complete with popcorn. The best part? It was all free.

I figured we'd stay about an hour because invariable somebody gets tired and cranky and needs to go home. We arrived at 6:45pm and surprisingly we didn't leave until 9:05pm...and my kids didn't want to leave then but we were one of the last families there and the workers needed to go home. Hayden, Landon, and Peyton all fell asleep soon after we left the parking lot.























You'd have thought such a busy week and a late night would have translated into a Saturday morning sleep-in, right?

*sigh*

Shhh! Nobody bother them

After dinner, after baths, after reading...
before snuggles, before prayers, before bed...
when all the moons align and I hold my mouth juuuuuuuust right...
















Makes a momma proud.

Big bed

Little girl Big girl





















Sad mommy Really sad mommy :(

Bread winners

Reagan is in a Pre-AP biology class (she does not get that from me) and recently had an assignment to observe fermentation as it related to baking bread. It was tempting to think about how easy it would have been to just buy the bread and answer the questions, but Reagan's got a healthy conscience and chose, instead, to enlist Naunie's help. Naunie hasn't baked bread in thirty years or more but that didn't stop her from tackling a class for her granddaughter on Bread Baking 101.

Reagan thought she had an idea about what to do with all that dough, but it was just too icky.














Naunie stepped in and quickly displayed proper kneading technique.





















Like this?!





















"Now, form a ball..."














"Hmmmmm...okay...."





















"Ta-da!"

















The smell was heavenly. Reagan got to drop her lowest lab grade. And we've had the most delicious toast the last two days. Worked out perfectly!

It's a banner day!

I'm so excited to get this in writing that I'm posting with my work computer that doesn't even have any pictures for me to add to this post. That's how excited I really am! And my blatant overuse of exclamation points will go unnoticed by me as I squeal:

She didn't cry this morning!!!

Peyton (2) usually starts getting irked at the thought of pre-school just about the time we drive up to her building. She then begs me to take her home as I take her out of her car seat, "Mommy, I stay wif you....PWEASE!" "Mommy, you hode me." It's enough to break your ever lovin' heart. The teachers assure me she stops as soon as I leave...but still. She grasps for me as I hand her to her teacher and walk away, she runs to the window and presses her tear-stained cheeks against the glass and cries my name as I wave and drive away, swallowing my own grief.

Yeah, life is grand.

However, today...today she says, "Oh, where's Miss Alicia?!" as we walked into the building. We spent time alone in her classroom discussing the names of her friends as she pointed to their cubbies and we planned our afternoon. We walked into her morning drop-off room and I asked her to please go to the window to tell me goodbye. She kissed me hard, said she loved me, hopped out of my arms and made a mad dash to the window, giggling and waving and blowing kisses until my car was out of sight.

Three months of wiping away my own tears as I drive off. Three months of reminding myself that I've done this before with older children and they've survived; that many, if not most, children have moms that work. Three months of second-guessing every decision I've ever made.

Today we, my little girl and I, were completely tear free. I think we deserve some chocolate later.

Gorgeousness

Sutton 20, Reagan 14.

Rainy recreation

We had big plans on this sunny day. We walked a very long way to the school park. I carried Peyton under the guise of good exercise, but she is two and wanted to walk by herself which was not good news to the big brothers who were in a definite hurry.

We finally arrived and we played and played and (oops!) Mom forgot to check the weather forecast. It was a deluge. We scampered under the protection of the school walkway only to wait and wait and wait some more.

I made the executive decision for us to go for it; walk home in the downpour since there was no lightning and the children were begging to get wet anyway. We giggled and laughed the entire way.

Reagan spotted a lizardly creature in a sidewalk puddle that instantly became Landon's possession. Landon brought him home with us and the poor little fellow (the lizard, not Landon) somehow mysteriously disappeared in the night...never to be seen again.

Hmmmm...strange.

Puppy impressions?





















Landon's long lost buddy.





















"I got to walk by myself, play on the swings, slide down a slippery slide, jump in puddles, talk to all the dogs and people we saw, and Mommy let me get all wet! You should see HER hair!"





















What a fun afternoon!





















Looks like snacks and naps are in order.

Spidey, Skater boy, and Little Miss Stars and Stripes

We went to our church fall festival last week and had a really great time. Keaton (12) chose to do Hayden's makeup and to keep it a surprise from me until the great unveiling. I was horrified but didn't want to stifle her creative(?) endeavor...Hayden was thrilled beyond words at how terrifying he looked.

Peyton was all about the frilly poofy skirt and nearly made herself sick turning in front of the mirror, admiring her adorableness. All was good until I pulled out the camera. If I remember correctly, all six children hit a don't-take-my-picture stage during the terrible-two's. Oh well, I usually figure out a sneaky way to capture her personality.

Stay away from me with that camera.





















So cute!





















I'll smile with Bubba.





















Hayden scared ME, so I know he freaked out other children. His siblings didn't seem to care though.





















Cotton candy was the highlight of the night.

Punkin' guts

Pullin' em out is the best part.

These pumpkins were done, start to finish, by the children shown. It was ooey and gooey...














...icky and yucky...

















...nasty and pretty gross...

















Exactly the way they like it.

Tales on the Rails

The kids and I had a very full day Saturday. After morning chores and a few errands run, we went to church (and I saw Jason Witten!). From there we went to downtown Grapevine to spend the rest of the evening.

The boys insisited in a little ghoulish window-shopping.












Peyton found a witch to toddle around with.

















A trucker's hat/wig was a family favorite.

















Oh my.

















Pizza was next on our list of to-do's. My dinner partner refused a picture.















Then finally gave us her best scary witch impression.

















We walked several blocks to the train station...enjoying the cool evening and all of the sights.














Our evening culminated in a Tales on the Tracks event at the train station: spooky stories told fireside by professional storytellers. We munched on popcorn and warm apple cider.



















The first hour the stories were not too scary and just right for 2 and 5 year olds.













Eventually I took the two youngest home, much to Landon's chagrine. But not before one more scary picture.















Hayden wanted to stay at the story-telling because "nothing's too scary for me!" I must say the look on his face when he got home was priceless as he retold what was "the scariest story I've ever heard in my WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE!"

He slept on the couch that night.

Pumpkins and pals

After a long hard week of school (and work) we decided to celebrate by going to the Pumpkin Patch Friday night. Sutton came home from college for the weekend so we loaded everyone up (sadly, Reagan had a volleyball game) and met some friends for the evening.

The children started out the night lost in the corn maze and then chomped on fresh kettle corn. We then moved on to face painting, tractor riding, and photo ops. I won't bore you with the details but I will bore you with too many pictures.

"Ready or not, here I come!"





















Hayden playing a goofy cowboy.





















Landon in an unusual moment of stillness.





















Friends...





















Friends...





















And more friends.















Sisters, Sutton and Keaton.





















Momma loves her boys.















Peyton starting to zone out...ready for bed.





















"I think I'll just sit here and wait for you guys to finish."





















Scary spiders on our cheeks!





















One more tractor "drive" before we leave.

One lucky church-going Cowboy-lovin' girl

I was thrilled beyond words that I got to see Roger Staubach on Tuesday. So imagine my utter delight when I ran into Jason Witten in church tonight. I saw him in the church and was tickled enough, but then I ran into him, his wife and children outside. It was so cute as I listened to him tell his three year old little girl, "Yes, you're right, you pooh pooh in the big girl potty, not your panties."

What a sweet daddy.

I put on my sunglasses so they wouldn't notice me looking at them as I loaded up my own toddler into her car seat. He looked over at me and said hi. With what was surely a goofy smile on my face, I said hello back.

So much for the sunglasses trick.

(I thought about the Cowboy tickets I turned down for tomorrow's game because there weren't enough tickets for us all. I knew I couldn't enjoy myself without all of my children there. Oh, the sacrifices we make as parents.)

When the rest of my kids got to the car, I excitedly told them who I'd just seen. I was met with blank stares from half of them...but Sutton understood...she ran around the car hoping to catch a glimpse herself. The other kids would have perked up a bit more had it been like last year when The Jonas Brothers, also members, came to our same service.

Anyway, I've always known we have an awesome church for a multitude of reasons but seeing Jason Witten tonight just added another point to the why-our-church-is-super-fabulous column. You just never know who your going to see.

Did I mention how much I like my job?

A luncheon today with this man: Roger Staubach. As a girl I was completely in love with him...and Tom Landry...and the Dallas Cowboys...and football in general. Such a tomboy I was. After today I know I still have a crush on Roger Staubach, I miss Coach Landry, and the Cowboys will always have my heart. Football remains something few of my girlfriends care about. Thank goodness I work with all men.

My son, the conversationalist

When it's you vs. them and "you" is well, you know, me, and "them" is the six children, it's a challenge to carve out individual time with each child every day. Recently I needed to pick Reagan (14) up after her volleyball game so I put Peyton (2) and Landon (5) in their pajamas, brushed their teeth and loaded them into their car seats to ride with me. Peyton immediately fell asleep leaving Landon and I time...time alone...a priceless commodity in our family.

I told Landon, "Hey Buddy, we have some time, just you and me, what do you want to talk about?" I was expecting the usual conversations consisting of which super hero is the best, which friend in school can burp the loudest, or which teacher he would ask to marry him, Ms. Leach or Ms. Jacquelin.

So I was totally taken by surprise when he said thoughtfully and deliberately, "Mom, what part of your job do you like the best?"

I had to steady the car as my heart swelled.

"Gosh, Landon, I guess the best part would be the fact that I get to go lots of places every day, I have nice lunches all over the metroplex, I always meet a lot of really cool people, I'm learning all this new stuff. It's so much fun, Landon, I really like many parts of my job."

He listened quietly and patiently as I rattled on.

Then he added, staring pensively out his window, "Well, I think the best part of your job is that you get to go on top of roofs."

Of course.

"You're right, Buddy, that has got to be the absolute best part of my job. I go on roofs a lot. I climb ladders and go way up high. I get to see some of the most beautiful views of Dallas and Fort Worth from high atop buildings where most people don't get to go."

He smiled as he continued to stare out his window and said quietly, "I want to do that sometime. Will you take me one day and let me see from the top of a building?"

I swear I died a little inside.

"Landon, I promise I will make special arrangements for you to go on top one day and see how cool it is."

His words softer and softer, "That would be really fun. Thanks, Mom."

It was at that time that I pulled over to let Reagan in the car. She put her things in the back, climbed in the front seat and said hello to her little brother and sister, "Hey guys!"

No answer.

I spoke up, "Landon, tell Rea what we're gonna do..."

But he was sound asleep.

He took the time he and I had, our time, and instead of telling me about him, he made it all about me.

Such a sweet little gentleman.

I will get him on a roof someday soon; it'll be safe and it'll be monitored. It will also be like this night...just for us.

Mommy and Peyton go to school

Peyton (2) has been home with me her whole life, so when she started preschool because I returned to work, she wasn't a happy camper. The first few weeks she'd cry each morning I'd drop her off (she'd cry, I'd smile and walk away and then I'd cry, you know how it is...heartbreaking) and then I'd call the school to check on her every hour. The sweet directors and teachers would reassure me with each phone call that she was perfectly fine and told me I could call a hundred times a day if I needed to. They don't know how tempted I was. When I would pick her up, she'd cry harder than when I dropped her off and I didn't think that was even possible. She wasn't crying before I got there so the crocodile tears where just a punishment for me.

Sigh

But each day that week things got a little better and then the next week a little better still. Now I look at what she's doing at her little school and I am amazed at the progress in such a short time.

She cries some in the mornings when I drop her off but at this point it's really only for effect. During the rest of the day she:

plays nicely with others
colors
reads books
does crafts
sits in a group and listens
helps set out food for lunches and serves others
cleans up messes
takes a nap by herself on a nap mat (Oh. My. Goodness.)
wears a pull-up and goes on the big girl potty (I swear these teachers are miracle workers)

Every day when I drop off or pick up, I hear about how good she's doing. The teachers care for her, understand her, love her. She's learning, socializing, becoming more independent, discovering that she's okay apart from me.

There's not a morning that goes by that I don't ache for her as I walk away as she stands there crying for me. But I know, because I check, that she stops as soon as I leave.

If I didn't love my job so much and if I didn't love her school so much, this would all be very different. But I do, I love them both. And while I miss her more than I can ever explain, she's okay and I'm okay and we're doing what we're supposed to be doing right now, we're growing up...both of us.

I love watching them grow up

So far this week I've witnessed Hayden (8) voluntarily carry more than his share of grocery bags out of the car, calm a crying little sister, pick up and return an item dropped by a women walking in front of us, and gave me an impromptu back rub while I made dinner.

Landon (5) has announced repeatedly the last two days with vast amounts of pride that he hasn't cried at all this week while at school or after school care and he plans never to, he says, "boo hoo" again. He drew me flowers today at school even though he really likes to draw spiders and robots "because I know you like them, Mom."

*sigh*

Tree-mendous

Little Miss Peyton did a craft project at pre-school today; she made a tree. She couldn't have been more proud.























Landon made me a necklace. Adorable!





















And then insisted I let him take my picture wearing it...





















Peyton was not pleased.

Award winners

Rea's 9th grade volleyball team just finished three weekends of tournaments. They finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Coach seems pretty pleased but Reagan thought they should have done better.

Personally, I think the girl on the front row, far left is pretty great no matter what place she gets.

My baby's (gulp) 20

Unbelievable.

Happy Birthday sweet girl.

Monkey business

And a little bit opossum.

Move night(s) and more

The kids and I have just finished the best weekend. Friday began with Landon (5) and I heading to the store for movie fixin's. I think we might have gone a little overboard.














His siblings (minus Reagan who had a volleyball game) were VERY pleased with Landon's selections.















He also requested a craft he'd planned out very carefully. We had to tape pieces of candy on my bedroom door and then took them off one at a time as we watched the movies. Peyton was proud of brother's ingenuity, even though she couldn't reach her selections.





















She insisted that Landon lay right on next to her.


















There was more, so much more: a train visit, a birthday party, an afternoon at the park, lots of good food, lots of good laughs, church, school clothes shopping, another party with swimming, lost car keys (ugh), and lots and lots of dancing to really loud music in the car.

It was exhilarating.

It was exhausting.

School!

What a great day! The boys took off so excitedly this morning that I had to remind them to kiss mom goodbye. This afternoon when I picked them up from their after-school program, Landon coudn't wait to show me what he'd made in arts and crafts and Hayden was overcome with pride as he showed me his new locker. His new binder is "so awesome!" and Landon saw friends from his old school.

The boys chatted excitedly all evening and eagerly bragged to older sisters about the new school they attend and all of the amenities they can now enjoy.

Close to bedtime, with a day full of newness behind him, Hayden began fretting that the new school has too many rules and there's (gasp!) detention for those who misbehave. He even let someone tell him that this would be the hardest year of his life and he believed them!

After a long talk while younger siblings slept, he admitted that things weren't bad at all; he's just nervous.


This morning three of the five siblings were willing to pose. A certain 14 year old didn't look perfect enough she thought and baby girl had a new backpack to fill.










































Proud to be here.





















Please pass the milk.





















"Hey, Mom, I'll pose for a picture but just so you know, you're not allowed to leave me here."

Periodically our prayers are the same

She may be only two years old, but she's one tough cookie.

When cousins come

All other plans go out the window...























...you have so much fun...
























...that you refuse to go home.

When craft projects make you misty

Hayden and Landon went to day camp today. Between the swimming and the games, more swimming and more games, the boys completed a few craft projects.

Sometimes little projects like these make you chuckle while you marvel at unexpected talent.












Other times these projects can make your heart swell with thankfulness that these two little guys think about you...even when your not there.

Twelve and totally terrific

Keaton’s birthday is today; she’s 12 years old and she is coming out of a really tough year. Sixth grade is murder on girls…and their mothers. Friends, body image, boys; once confident and full of life, these girls seem to lose themselves during this uncertain time and most never recover.

And Keaton has been no exception.

Where she does seem to differ from many girls her age is the state of her heart. This girl, this slowly emerging woman-to-be, has a heart for people, all kinds of people. She hurts for them, celebrates with them, listens for and hears their needs while others are oblivious. She has a wonderful sense of fairness and tolerance, a champion of the underdog no matter the cost.

As she enters this next year in school and in life, I want her to have hope. I want her to take all that’s happened in the last year and tuck it away, not simply to forget about it, but to use it as a spring board. She has so much to offer this world. People are beginning to notice her uniqueness. They’re going to need her.

Happy birthday, sweet girl. You are the one amazing 12 year old and you make me the proudest mom in the world.