Blakes' First Cereal

Blake is 6 months old and had his first taste of rice cereal tonight! He was MORE than ready for itand even tried to feed himself...but after me feeding him about 6 bites he was done :)Don't ya love the "chicks dig me" bib?!

Utah Trip

Those of you who really know me...laugh all you want...and those of you who don't, well you can laugh with them! We went to Utah over spring break with all 5 kids (under age 8, 2 w/ special needs and 3 in diapers)! Yes we are crazy and yes we won't be doing that again any time soon!!! (Sorry Chris and Tiff - we do love you guys!) Anyways, Landon's mom called to give me some tips for the long car ride (14 hours), since she made it twice a year,every year for 16 years with her boys. (Hope I'm right on the math there) She suggested having something 'new and fun' to throw back at them every hour...THANK YOU MOM for this advice, it saved the trip! The kids did amazing...only 2 kids whined only 2 times the ENTIRE trip. Seriously amazing - I don't think my sister and I ever traveled that well(what do you think Sony?). So here are pictures of how I organized it all and the charts to help motivate their GOOD behaviors (Thank you Alishia). You may read this and laugh all you want,yes I know I'm OCD, but it worked like a charm!
We had I spy books,Car Battleship, Road Bingo (from momsminivan.com), stamps, markers, leappad books, sticker books, suckers,special prizes, and treasure box for good behavior!

Utah Pictures

Precious Brother's

We took the kids to the Salt Lake Visitor's Center during Spring Break. When we walked up the ramp towards the statue of Christ, Weston pointed to it and said,"Big Jesus!" James knelt beside him and explained, as only a 7 year old can, who Jesus is and how he watches over us! What a precious experience to see their sweet testimonies emerging at such a young age.

I should be posting our spring break pictures...BUT(T)...check out my sassy jeans!

What do you think?

My mom came and rescued me with the kids today so I could go to a meeting. It was a VERY long day and as I was venting to her (as only a daughter can to a mother) - she interupts and says,"turn around" - now I was thinking I had something stuck on the back of my jeans...you know I have 5 kids...and then she says,"where did you get those jeans?"
"Kohls" I answered.
"Well you should go right now and get another pair or two because they make your butt look great!" - have I told you I love my Mother!!!
So what do YOU think of my TooSuperLow Boot Cut 524 Levis' ?
By the way...Thanks mom for getting me another 2 pair!

Blakes' First Hair Cut

So I know he is only 5 1/2 months old...but I hated the "comb over". Blake only had a few long hairs and they just had to be cut!! Here's my boy on 3/16/09.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Porter got this cool hat at school...Weston confiscated it and looks so cute. The kids are having a great day and LOVE pinching everyone who doesn't have green on today...so you have been warned!

Bringing the Zoo TO the Zoo...

How we managed to keep track of them all, I'm not sure :)

Our set of triplets...

Such sweet boys


My Monkey's looking at the monkey's


I wanna walk with my sister...it's time to go home!
We had a great time and the kids did really well. It was a fun day out with friends. When I talked to my mom when I got home...at first she said,"Why didn't you invite me?" and then when I told her how all of us went with 8 kids under 8 years old...
My Mom said "Thanks for leaving me home!" Now on for some well deserved rest!

The BEST brownies EVER

SO I was at Alishias' and had the BEST brownies ever. Since this post is G-rated I'll spare the details...let just say YES YES YES...the BEST ever! MMMMMMMMMMM such wonderful memories of those Brownies! So without furthur ado...here is the recipe . Thanks to Alishia and family!

Peanutty Buckeye Bars

Ingredients
1 19.5-ounce package brownie mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup cooking oil
1 cup chopped peanuts
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, combine brownie mix, eggs, and oil. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Stir in peanuts. Remove half of the brownie mixture and set aside. Spread the remaining brownie mixture evenly into prepared pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth. Spread evenly over brownie mixture in pan. Separate the remaining brownie mixture into pieces, flatten them with your fingers, and place them on top of the brownie mixture in pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until top is set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 32 bars.
4. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

The Sand Box

Landon had the brilliant idea to do a built in snadbox in our backyard when we built our house 8 years ago. The kids have so much fun in it...castles, tunnels, dump trucks, burried treasure....but it also has the joy of sand in the hair, eyes, clothes; leaves, dead bugs, debrie... YET even though I've wanted to fill it in tons of times...this is WHY we don't! How many kids can you fit in the samd box?

Facebook

So Alishia invited me to do facebook and now that I'm on there I can't believe how many people have a facebook account! How fun to be able to connect with so many of my friends and family and be able to see how they are...I love blogging first and foremost, but I think I found a new fun toy to play with :) Happy Facebook everyone!

Ruthie with NO training wheels

Ruthie is finally riding with no training wheels! Landon worked with her today and she just got it. We are so proud of our little 5 year old.

The Little Black Boots

These little black boots were made for wearin' and that's just what I've done, you'd never know the story of how I finally got them on!
So 1 1/2 years ago my friends talked me into buying these black boots! "They're so cute","you have to have these"," It's about time you got something trendy" (yada yada yada) SO giving into peer pressure I bought these sassy things and promised to wear them the next day (what can I say, my friends know me well) The next day was church and as I got ready and pulled out my fun little boots I saw that the security ink tag was still on one of the boots. I got reamed that day for not wearing them and had to promise to get that tag removed so I COULD wear them...well over a year and a half later - when all my cute friends have been wearing their boots- I finally thought I've got to get this tag off.
The problem was I couldn't find my receipt and I didn't want the store to think I was stealing them..."Hi could you remove the tag so I can wear my boots?"
So my friends hubby was teasing me about not wearing my boots and I said "I'll wear them if you can get this tag off." So Sunday morning it came off - with a little effort and one blow torched tag later :) (Thanks Bryan)
So here are my little black boots and oh how I wish I would've gotten to wear them sooner. Well, better late than never!!!

Weston's Diagnosis

So today we had a wonderful blessing! We found an amazing doctor that we were able to get Weston in to see at very last minute notice. The drive was about an hour long (Union Hills / 51 North) Insurance does NOT cover the cost ($$$), I went with the 2 kids (by myself)...2 hours and LOTS of paper work later. We realized we found the perfect Doctor for our boys!!! Dr. Cindy Schneider is a D.A.N. doctor. Defeat Autism Now. I took Weston to see her to talk about all of the therapies he is receiving and possible treatments and diagnosis for him...Recap - On Sat. the 21st I noticed Weston was walking funny so I took off his clothes and let him run around in his diaper, so I could figure out what was going on... well his little ankles were rolling in just like Porter's did at that age. I was VERY shocked and wondered how long it had been this way. So Monday the 23rd I had him evaluated by a PT and was told he needed Orthodics to correct his pronation. We saw the DR. Tuesday and she told us Weston was FTT (Failure to Thrive) and hadn't gained any weight in 6 months(even with me sitting for at least an hour for every meal to get him to eat!!) and did in fact need the leg braces (eventhough he has been walking since 10 months) - By this point we were highly suspecting a Mitochondrial Disorder,(and still are) which is what Porter has as well...So today we saw Dr. Schneider and after 2 hours and a very educational appointment for ME... Weston has been diagnosed with Autism. While a lot of mom's would be shocked by this, we are just so grateful to have the help, love and support that we so desperately need to work our hardest to help him reach his goals and achieve the milestones set before him. Autism is VERY common. Some kids have GREAT eye contact and some social skills while others are very closed off from the rest of the world. This affects 1 in 150 kids!1 IN 150!!! Click Here for more info... So while we have a very long road ahead of us, I am so thankful for my angels who watch over me and teach me continually how to be a better Mother (Nurse, Therapist, Doctor, File Clerk, Advocate, Lawyer, Teacher...) It's a tough job and I pray I'll have everything I need to be bale to do it, but I GET TO DO IT!

Laundry Laundry Laundry

So last week was so busy with doctors appointments and meetings for Weston that the house was neglected...as was the laundry. SO, 15 loads and an entire day later..this is some of the laundry I got folded and put away, along with 6 beds with clean sheets and all the towels and rags! I even managed to get a shower in there too! It feels good to be clean :)

THE Skateboard

James got lots of $ for his birthday so we went to the store and he picked out a Spiderman Skateboard. We had told him that if he used his own money he could buy a skateboard - we had originally said "not until you're 8..." So here is one happy boy with his latest present!

Romeo & Juliet Ballet for Valentine's Day

Landon surprised me for Valentine's Day with tickets to the Romeo & Juliet Ballet!!! For those of you who know my sweet Hubby you'll laugh that his mom said, "MY SON WENT TO A BALLET?" :) It was such a fun night. Thank you to my parents, who watched Blake and Brenda who watched the kids! They had a blast and so did we! The costumes were beautiful (although men in tights is not my idea of appealing), the sets and scenery were gorgeous and the music by the Phoenix Symphony was wonderful. Even Landon had a good time and enjoyed the ballet (although not so much the men in tights) hehehe. The next day I showed Ruthie my point shoes from when I used to dance ballet and she tried them on and walked around the kitchen in them...so then I tried them on and walked around the kitchen - I couldn't do much else - it's been 15 years, 5 kids and ...so many lbs. later ;)...but I did it!
Ruthie on her toes!

Our future Ballerina

Great Love Story...

"Real LOVE STORIES never have endings."
Richard Bach

I love Valentine's Day! I know this is cheesy, but it is my favorite holiday. What can I say...candy, love notes, flowers...what could be better! James came home with a little love note question from school that asked about my favorite Valentine's gift...after thinking long and hard this is the memory that sticks out the most;
About 4 years ago, with 3 kids under age 4, things were pretty stressful in our house. Porter was sick a lot, James and Ruthie were just babies and we were just trying to keep our heads above water. Valentines was the next day and it was a long night with being up with the kids. After finally getting to be at about 2 am, 6:00am came too early. When I woke up I couldn't help but smile :) Landon had cut out about 100 or more hearts and heart attacked our room and house everywhere!!! Then as I was getting myself and the kids ready for the morning, there were sweet valentine's love notes tucked and hidden all over as well...some were in drawers, inside shoes, under pillows, in the fridge & microwave... What an amazing, sweet and thoughtful husband I have.
That is my all time favorite Valentine's Day. The love that my tired hubby showed me by doing the things he knew meant a lot, just to put a smile on my face! Every year we build new memories and strengthen the love we have for eachother. Every year we work harder to have more charity and do more service. How blessed I am to be able to weather the storm of life with such an amazing man. I love you Landon!

My 2 year old

I am so thankful for my funny little 2 year old. Weston is so much fun. He has been having a blast with his best buddies Matthew and Micah. Today Alishia watched him so I could go to help in Ruthie's class. He did great! No crying after I left and even when I got there he was great (normally he'll cry when he see's me again)...they did tatoos and stickers and Weston (who has my OCD) did the cutest picture and of course lined his trains up on the track 'properly'! Alishia was laughing and said this is definitely YOUR boy, after showing me her boys' pictures that were adorable with the stickers all over (like 'normal' 2 year olds) :) He had so much fun with them! WOOHOO between that and going better to Nursery I am so excited. Here are some pics of him and his buddies (Blake included).

Our fun hairstyles!

Ruthie and I have been having so much fun!!! All of these cute hairstyles I got off of the links I have under 'Cool Sites to View' ! I pick out 2 that I think I can do for a school day and let Roo pick between the 2 :) Landon isn't too happy because we barely make it to school on time (and are late a lot too...) But...and here's my justification... I have to do it while I can until she won't let me anymore! You only have a little girl 1 time and I am loving it! Roo has fine hair, but a good amount and it's pretty long so we have a lot of options. I'll post more as we do more! I hope you enjoy and if you have any questions let me know and I'll try to answer them...there are some great styles for short hair too on the links.