Midweek Randoms

- My camera has been missing for weeks and tonight while I was cleaning up I moved a chair and there it was! Surely it hasn't been weeks since I've moved the chair....

- Avery has night terrors on the days she doesn't get a nap.

- Rarely am I in a picture. Even more rarely am I in a picture with all my kids! I love this even though we had JUST woken up. Everyone looks funny but they were all happy to be in my lap. Happy momma. 

- Kellen and I saw this trailer the other day and I thought it was super funny. It says consignment store. 

- Kellen is funny. Most of the time.

- The kids got a sweet package in the mail from Nona (Cohen's grandmother). Each one got a bulldawg outfit and Avery insisted that I let her try her dress on the moment I took it out of the package.

- Avery loves wearing dresses and hates wearing jeans.

- The kids and I washed the car this week. They both LOVED helping me and actually did a good job. This is a picture of Tori and Avery after we had finished.

- Maddux decided to run off and play with the other boys. I have LOVED seeing his personally develop. Avery has always been super social which I think is normal for girls and Maddux has just started interacting and playing with other boys. Super fun!

- This sweet girl just watched. 

- By the way, she is a terrible napper but she is cute so that helps.

- I found these chevon patterned pjs at our new Old Navy and I just had to have them.

- Our new Old Navy is awesome.

- These are the two bushes in front of our house. One always blooms first and the other looks blah. Wish they would bloom together.

- We are getting some trees cut down and another tree trimmed next week. I think Maddux will really enjoy watching.

- Spring is in the air. We have been spending a lot of time outside and the kids love it!

- We have a TON of azaleas in our backyard and Avery told me that she wants those flowers at her wedding. What I was thinking was...I hope you get married during the spring in about a two week time frame...

- Here is Maddux playing with his trains. If you know him, you know that he LOVES Thomas and usually has him close by. Love this kid. He seriously is the sweetest, most tender hearted boy every. 

- Maddux is shy in public but very outgoing at home. I wish I could record everything he says.

- I love my kids so much that sometimes it hurts! I'm one lucky mom!

7 Months

ZOEY! You are 7 months old! Oh my WORD.

- You are such a sweet girl.

- You weigh around 19.5 pounds. 

- You are eating 4 to 5 bottles a day.

- You are eating solids for dinner and sometimes lunch.

- You are wearing size 9-12 month clothes.

- You are wearing size 3 diapers but almost need 4.

- You are sleeping ok. Some night are good and some night a bad. I don't get it.

- You are rolling better. Finally. Most of the time it's when you are in your crib and you roll from back to stomach.

- I'm pretty sure you will start crawling earlier then A and M.

- You love sitting on the floor and playing with your box of toys.

- Still have no teeth.

- Your brother and sister LOVE you.

Zoey,

You are such a fun addition to our family. I can't wait to see you grow but can you please slow down a little?? I love getting you out of your bed every morning and looking into your beautiful blue eyes. I thank God everyday for you and I love you so much.

Love, Mommy

The Ballet

My mom invited all of her girls to the ballet/tea party and we had a blast! The show this year was Cinderella and it was done so beautifully. I wanted to share some pictures of our experience. By the third act Avery was a little restless and asked if it was over every.single.time someone clapped. Bless her. She has been dance since....

Lorelei and Avery at the clock.

So excited about Cinderella!

Thanks Nana for the invitation!

Loved the costumes.

The clock and the fairy godmother.

Cinderella and her carriage.

After act 1. They love each other!

Prince Charming in white tights......

The Step Sisters (who were actually men) were SO funny.

At the ball.

They are in love! 

Practicing at the end of 2nd act.

At the tea party. It was adorable! As we walked in we were greeted by people asking each little girl if they wanted a crown or a wand. Avery chose a wand and Lorelei wanted a crown! Each person had a plate full of fun food and we were served tea. Avery also got her picture taken with the cast.

It was so hard to get her attention in that crowded room so she looks "interesting".

Now she looks like she is trying to get away...haha!

We had a blast!

I wonder what people think....

when we walk into Kroger.

Please do understand that I am not an English major nor do I have time to read back through my post. Errors in vocabulary, grammar or spelling will be included. I don't care. I usually don't have time to care or I have a wiggly baby sitting in my lap (like right now) forcing me to type with one hand. This blog is for my memory which is quickly fading. The end. 

I read this article ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/kara-gebhart-uhl/mom-judgments_b_1319775.html ) yesterday and started to think about what others thought about me and my kids when we walk into Kroger. Thankfully, I could seriously care less of what others really think but I wanted to write down how I get prepared to go out into public with my 3 so I can remember for my own sake.

1. I try to start packing early. I try to start getting all our stuff ready (a couple hours) before we are about to walk out the door. I know that sounds kind of OCD but I am not at all that way. If I have a few free minutes I will begin the process of packing the bag so I am not pulling out my hair 5 minutes before we leave. AND if you plan ahead you are less likely to forgot stuff! I forget stuff allllll the time.

Here is my diaper bag. Wallet (which I forget all the time), toy's for Zoey, formula for Zoey (even if she just had a bottle it's nice to have a back up), stickers for Avery and Maddux, wooden spoon (dreaded), bag of medicine/band-aids and of course the basics like diapers and wipes.

2. I try to bring stickers and a wooden spoon. Avery and Maddux both do well when they get positive reinforcement but sometimes Maddux is to hard headed and gets threatened with the wooden spoon. Most of the time I just have to mention the spoon and the behavior stops.

3. I give directions before getting out of the car. Avery and Maddux are 3 and know that parking lots are unsafe to run around in, but heaven help me, they can forget in the drop of a hat so I try to remind them that there are cars everywhere before getting out of the car.

4. I try to keep everyone safe. I have to have a plan before getting out of the car. I am that weird lady that stalks all the cart return thingys for the prefect cart. You know, the race car buggy. Once located, I try to park as closely as possible. That way I don't have to walk half way across the parking lot with all the kids or leave them in the car. I usually get Zoey out first (put her in the cart) and then follow with Avery and Maddux. 

5. I try to take as little as possible. I already have to juggle 3 kids so there is no need for a purse, diaper bag, etc.

6. I try to remember that once we get out of the car there is no going back! 

7. I try to make grocery shopping fun. Who likes to be super stressed while shopping anyways?? I try to ask my kids a lot of questions like, what color is this banana? Which flowers should we get?

8. I try to take my time. There is absolutely no reason to be in a rush when there are kids involved. It just makes the entire trip no fun for anyone.

9. I try to take pictures. I love looking back and remembering silly things like....wow, I seriously fit 3 kids in the race car shopping cart. What was I thinking?

10. I try to care less about what others think.  I am trying my best to raise my kids and I don't have time for other peoples crazy looks or stares. I usually don't get any negative comments but a lot of people feel the need to talk to me. EVERYONE knows a set of twins so they always want to share that with me. I even thought we were going to get out of talking to anyone this morning but as I was walking out of the door a women stopped me to ask how close in age Avery and Maddux were and we also had someone roll their window down in the parking lot and say the normal..."wow, what a gang!" Which I reply, "it's always a party at our house!"

Midweek Randoms

- Maddux is getting his stitches out tomorrow. He has done so well and keeps his band-aid on all day.

- Maddux has been in a fit throwing phase. He has always been so mild tempered but lately he will just haul off and throw himself on the floor. I am try to ignore him because I think he is just trying to get a reaction out of me.

- We have church tonight. I love my church so much and feel blessed every time I go.

- I am thankful for healthy children today as I have learned of a friend's friend's newborn baby who isn't expected to live for very long. So sad and heartbreaking.

- I am currently sitting in the hallway outside of A and M's room waiting on them to fall asleep. My mom is in the kitchen humming the Thomas theme song. We watch it so much that we all hum it without realizing.

- Kellen loves his job and is really good at it. I am thankful for that. The kids love to call daddy after nap sometimes and I think it's so cute to get a picture of them. Yes, it looks like I am choking Maddux. You try to keep a 3 year old boy still!

- Everyone slept really well last night. THANK GOODNESS. No, she did not sleep in that but I thought it was a cute picture.

- Zoey has a blister on her toe and it WILL NOT heal. Any tips?

- We went and got our first snow cones of the year yesterday. I got wedding cake with creme, Avery got pink (strawberry), Maddux got blue (blue raspberry) and poor Zoey just hung out. Soon sweet baby! It was SO good and cheap!

- Zoey turned 7 months old on the first. How? Time is flying.

 - We went and played at the big playground today and had lunch with Pop. It's was super fun.

- I just signed my sweet baby big girl up for princess dance camp. She is SO excited even though it's not until July.

- I am going to do a post on the ballet that my mom took me and Avery too. It was SO fun.

-

Stitches

Well, what we thought was a normal (although the weather was bad) Friday night, quickly turned in to a very eventful night. Earlier that night while the kids were in the bath we thought it would be fun to have a glow stick bath (found idea on pinterest). Well when the weather got bad we decided it was probably a good idea to cut the bath short and get the kids out. Since we used all the glow sticks for such a short period of time I thought it would be fun if Kellen and I went and layed with the kids for a while and played with the glow sticks in their room. It was finally time for bed so Kellen and I tucked the kids in and kissed them thinking that we wouldn't see them till the morning. About 5 minutes after we left their room we heard Maddux screaming. Maddux rarely screams and only does when something is very wrong. Kellen jumps up and run to the back and Maddux's mouth is bleed really bad. We throw him on the kitchen counter and I notice that he has bitten through his lip. ALL. THE. WAY. THROUH. I honestly didn't know what to do but I did know that I need to take him somewhere. After a call to my parents we all headed to the ER. Thankfully, this was the first experience of the ER for me or Maddux. We got back to a room quickly and after filling out paper work and sitting patiently waiting for the doctor, the doctor concluded that he needed stitches, and probably 4, in the lip. The doctor explained that it's hard to tell with kids, but if he puts up to much of a fight, that he would have to sedate him. SEDATE. HIM..... 

While the nurse went to get all the stuff I tried my best to explain to Maddux what was about to happen. I think I was trying to keep both of us calm. They told me that they were going to have to restrain him which was something that I knew was going to upset both him and myself. By the time everyone was ready, all the phones had died and the only form of entertainment was Maddux's leap.pad which I knew wasn't going to do the trick. They put him on the table, wrapped a sheet around him and then a velco board to keep him still. He wasn't really bothered by that. THEN...the needle. HOLY. COW. This was absolutely the worst part. With a nurse laying on his stomach and another at his head. We finally were done with the shot. Thank goodness.  I was trying my hardest to work the leappad to keep him occupied (which wasn't working) while the doctor stitched up his lip. Suprisingly, nothing of what I thought would bother me did. The only thing that really got me was Maddux screaming..."MOMMY, hold me........." Worst feeling ever. All I could tell him was that as soon as the doctor was done, I would get him as fast as possible. Tear. I seriously could not get my hands on him fast enough. 

(waiting patiently)

Finally, we were done and the doctor only had to do 2 stitches. We got him unwrapped and I wrapped him in my arm and held him so tight. He was sweat and so was I. Then....2 minutes later....He got a burst of energy (1:00 AM) and asked for his leap.pad. 

I can not thank my parents enough for coming and sitting with us (until 1 AM). Maddux was playing musical laps with all of us, only spending about 2 minutes with each of us before the cycle started over. My parents never cease to amaze me with their love. I hope that one day I can do the same for Avery, Maddux and Zoey's children. 

Kellen decided that Maddux's new nickname will be "Stitches". I still think "swiss cheese heart" is pretty cute. 

Maddux, let's slow down on the healthy related nicknames. Thanks, Mom...