I just found tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii for $325 plus tax. (Check Travelocity, Delta, or Continental) Of course I booked, but I have 24 hours to find babysitters or change my mind. If anyone in our area is interested in trading a little babysitting, this is a great deal. I'll watch your kids if you watch mine! (Five can be a little overwhelming, so I am willing to split them up.)
UPDATE: Thanks to all the distant family that offered to watch my kids. You're lucky you don't live close or I would hold you to it. Lucky for me I do have one family member who lives in Texas. Craig(my brother) and Cherise are going to take the bulk of the days. When I watched their kids and I went from 5 to 7 kids; so now she is going to give from 2 to 7 kids a try. I am also grateful for all my friends that are going to help out too.
YAY! I AM GOING TO HAWAII!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
"It wasn't me!"
The twins have been tricking me. Even though the twins are identical, it is easy to tell them apart. I tell everyone the secret to remember is Matt’s hair is matted; and after that it is easy. However I didn’t realize how reliant I had become on their clothing. Their clothes all hang in the closet and I don’t distinguish between whose clothes are whose. However with Joshua’s strong color preference he usually wears red, and Matthew has picked his favorite stripped shirts too.
A week ago Josh put on a blue stripped shirt, one that Matthew normally wears; and Matthew was wearing red stripped shirt that either will wear. That day we ran a few errands. At the check-out Matthew wanted to buy a Reese’s. However, the week before at the check out he had wanted to buy a M&M trail mix that I had refused to buy. So he opened it, and then I was compelled to buy it. At home he had to pay me for the expensive trail mix—which emptied his cash flow, but I didn’t let him have it. Since I knew that Matthew had no money to buy the Reese’s so I once again refused the purchase. He looked me in the eye, and ripped it open. I was amazed at the defiance. Once again I paid for the candy and didn’t oppose when I saw Josh then hand a package of Skittles to the cashier. At home Matthew was sent to time out which was followed with a long explanation/talk/lecture. Since Joshua was out of money too, I put the candy in what we call the “mommy store”
The next day the boys asked for their candy. Looking at Matthew I tried again to point out his mistake again without going over board on a lecture again. He then said that it was Josh who opened the candy. Now I thought he was lying. Where was my innocent boy? Matthew said that he wanted the Skittles. I asked Josh which candy he bought and he said he bought the Reese’s. Now we go back to the beginning of the story, Josh was wearing a “Matthew” shirt. Twenty four hours later I had no idea who looked me in the eyes and ripped the wrapper just so that I would buy it. Neither twin will claim to rip the candy, but a week later when I let it all pass and they finally had money again—Matthew paid me for the Skittles and Josh paid me for the Reese’s. Yesterday, Matthew put on Joshua’s red pants and a “Joshua” stripped shirt. Maybe they are just getting to an age where they want more variety, but I have come to depend on their clothe habits and they are really starting to mess me up.
Along the twin line, here are some cute Matthew quotes from this past week:
Matthew: Do Samantha and Jacob have the same birthday?
Me: No, Samantha had her birthday last week, and Jacob’s is this week.
Matthew: Then why do me and Josh have the same birthday?
Also he has been using the word TOTALLY if front of every thing such as: "I am totally not going to have a ham sandwich for lunch." I always wonder where kids pick things up, but then when I was talking to Scott the other day I heard myself say totally in a sentence. It was really eye opening; he has totally picked it up from me.
A week ago Josh put on a blue stripped shirt, one that Matthew normally wears; and Matthew was wearing red stripped shirt that either will wear. That day we ran a few errands. At the check-out Matthew wanted to buy a Reese’s. However, the week before at the check out he had wanted to buy a M&M trail mix that I had refused to buy. So he opened it, and then I was compelled to buy it. At home he had to pay me for the expensive trail mix—which emptied his cash flow, but I didn’t let him have it. Since I knew that Matthew had no money to buy the Reese’s so I once again refused the purchase. He looked me in the eye, and ripped it open. I was amazed at the defiance. Once again I paid for the candy and didn’t oppose when I saw Josh then hand a package of Skittles to the cashier. At home Matthew was sent to time out which was followed with a long explanation/talk/lecture. Since Joshua was out of money too, I put the candy in what we call the “mommy store”
The next day the boys asked for their candy. Looking at Matthew I tried again to point out his mistake again without going over board on a lecture again. He then said that it was Josh who opened the candy. Now I thought he was lying. Where was my innocent boy? Matthew said that he wanted the Skittles. I asked Josh which candy he bought and he said he bought the Reese’s. Now we go back to the beginning of the story, Josh was wearing a “Matthew” shirt. Twenty four hours later I had no idea who looked me in the eyes and ripped the wrapper just so that I would buy it. Neither twin will claim to rip the candy, but a week later when I let it all pass and they finally had money again—Matthew paid me for the Skittles and Josh paid me for the Reese’s. Yesterday, Matthew put on Joshua’s red pants and a “Joshua” stripped shirt. Maybe they are just getting to an age where they want more variety, but I have come to depend on their clothe habits and they are really starting to mess me up.
Along the twin line, here are some cute Matthew quotes from this past week:
Matthew: Do Samantha and Jacob have the same birthday?
Me: No, Samantha had her birthday last week, and Jacob’s is this week.
Matthew: Then why do me and Josh have the same birthday?
Also he has been using the word TOTALLY if front of every thing such as: "I am totally not going to have a ham sandwich for lunch." I always wonder where kids pick things up, but then when I was talking to Scott the other day I heard myself say totally in a sentence. It was really eye opening; he has totally picked it up from me.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Seven kids--7 and under
Since I survived a whole year of four kids under 4 years old, I thought I would give a week of seven under 7 a try. My brother took his wife on a cruise this week and we have their two kids for the week. After all, seven isn’t that far from our originally five. The energy in the house hold is definitely up and there hasn’t a day gone by that a game of chasing didn’t end in crying. The other bonus is that I watched their kids last month for a couple of days so they know the rules and we have most of the kinks worked out.
We had an interesting start to our week—my car battery died. I missed most of church on Sunday and then was stuck home on Monday. With school out for the day, we had to rely on bikes to get Jacob & Samantha to their friend’s birthday party. It was a squishy few moments when I had four loaded in the bike trailer, one more in a bike seat on my bike and Samantha & Jacob on their own bikes. After dropping them off, I made everyone else walk to the park where we hung out for the next two hours and had a picnic lunch from the Walgreen’s close by.
I am sure I was quite a sight with a sleeping baby in my arms and 4 toddlers walking behind me. At least after the party, we bummed a few rides. I guess I should explain that I could have called for rides in the first place; but everyone had wanted to go to the park and we tried leaving early so that we could stop at Walgreen’s on the way to the party to pick up a candy bar to add to one of the presents—it just took too long to get organized and out the door. However presents were at the end of the party, so I was still able to slip a candy bar on top of Samantha’s present.
The next two days all my kids disappeared and went to school. So the constant party toned down a little bit. Poor Carrie would walk around the house at 9 in the morning asking if it was time for Matthew and Joshua to come home yet.
Before my week started I had made sure I got all my shopping done, but over the week my errands started stacking up. Finally on Thursday with Samantha and Jacob still at school I loaded everyone in the car to make a few quick stops. Everything went so well that as we passed the mall I spontaneously added another stop so they could go in and play. At the store I had five kids piled in the shopping cart and just picked up a few items, at another store everyone was assigned a place to hold onto the stroller, and at the bank we opted for the drive through. (I left the bank for last so that everyone could look forward to a sucker as a treat fro being good.) It was a successful trip, but once again I knew that everyone was looking at me when they passed by.
Anyone who knows Carrie and Jonathan knows how happy and excited they can get. They are bright, loud and chipper at 6:30 in the morning, which doesn’t mix with my preference to sleep-in as late as possible. For anyone that has younger kids and is used to getting up super early you probably don’t have any sympathy, but when kids get older I love that they get more independent. My kids wake up around 7-7:30 and sometimes I can hear them tip toe in my room but then they walk right back out when they see I am still sleeping. School days I have to get up but on weekends Samantha is old enough to pour milk, so she helps get everyone cereal. Then there is Alex who usually doesn’t wake up until 8-8:30; I guess that is a long explanation for 6:30 is too early. Every morning I keep trying to go back to bed, but memories of last month with Jonathan leaving the fridge open and eating all the bananas haunts my dreams. At least they take naps.
My twins stopped taking naps over a year ago, but these early risers are still some what regular in needing extra sleep during the day. The problem, both at nap time and bed time, is just getting everyone to stay put. Luckily I have a good book to read and I have found that the watch dog approach works well. Carrie was adamant this morning that she wouldn’t need a nap today, but after a lot of tears at lunch from everyone they were all put down. Even the twins, but I can hear them playing very quietly in their room.
With two kids at school, two playing in their room and three sleeping even a mother of seven can find a moments peace. Too bad it will only last for the next 26 minuets till school gets out. I did want to take a nap myself but I couldn’t bear to waste this time on sleep.
We had an interesting start to our week—my car battery died. I missed most of church on Sunday and then was stuck home on Monday. With school out for the day, we had to rely on bikes to get Jacob & Samantha to their friend’s birthday party. It was a squishy few moments when I had four loaded in the bike trailer, one more in a bike seat on my bike and Samantha & Jacob on their own bikes. After dropping them off, I made everyone else walk to the park where we hung out for the next two hours and had a picnic lunch from the Walgreen’s close by.
I am sure I was quite a sight with a sleeping baby in my arms and 4 toddlers walking behind me. At least after the party, we bummed a few rides. I guess I should explain that I could have called for rides in the first place; but everyone had wanted to go to the park and we tried leaving early so that we could stop at Walgreen’s on the way to the party to pick up a candy bar to add to one of the presents—it just took too long to get organized and out the door. However presents were at the end of the party, so I was still able to slip a candy bar on top of Samantha’s present.
The next two days all my kids disappeared and went to school. So the constant party toned down a little bit. Poor Carrie would walk around the house at 9 in the morning asking if it was time for Matthew and Joshua to come home yet.
Before my week started I had made sure I got all my shopping done, but over the week my errands started stacking up. Finally on Thursday with Samantha and Jacob still at school I loaded everyone in the car to make a few quick stops. Everything went so well that as we passed the mall I spontaneously added another stop so they could go in and play. At the store I had five kids piled in the shopping cart and just picked up a few items, at another store everyone was assigned a place to hold onto the stroller, and at the bank we opted for the drive through. (I left the bank for last so that everyone could look forward to a sucker as a treat fro being good.) It was a successful trip, but once again I knew that everyone was looking at me when they passed by.
Anyone who knows Carrie and Jonathan knows how happy and excited they can get. They are bright, loud and chipper at 6:30 in the morning, which doesn’t mix with my preference to sleep-in as late as possible. For anyone that has younger kids and is used to getting up super early you probably don’t have any sympathy, but when kids get older I love that they get more independent. My kids wake up around 7-7:30 and sometimes I can hear them tip toe in my room but then they walk right back out when they see I am still sleeping. School days I have to get up but on weekends Samantha is old enough to pour milk, so she helps get everyone cereal. Then there is Alex who usually doesn’t wake up until 8-8:30; I guess that is a long explanation for 6:30 is too early. Every morning I keep trying to go back to bed, but memories of last month with Jonathan leaving the fridge open and eating all the bananas haunts my dreams. At least they take naps.
My twins stopped taking naps over a year ago, but these early risers are still some what regular in needing extra sleep during the day. The problem, both at nap time and bed time, is just getting everyone to stay put. Luckily I have a good book to read and I have found that the watch dog approach works well. Carrie was adamant this morning that she wouldn’t need a nap today, but after a lot of tears at lunch from everyone they were all put down. Even the twins, but I can hear them playing very quietly in their room.
With two kids at school, two playing in their room and three sleeping even a mother of seven can find a moments peace. Too bad it will only last for the next 26 minuets till school gets out. I did want to take a nap myself but I couldn’t bear to waste this time on sleep.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Best and Worst of 2007
The results are in, and here is the list!
BEST:
-Samantha’s Birthday (Feb-Samantha)
-Valentine Baby announcement surprise (Feb-Jacob)
-Grandpa Coleby visits and going to IHOP (March)
-Mommy’s camping trip birthday (Apr)
-Mommy and Daddy’s cruise- sleep over with friends(May)
-Bed rest got to help mom (Summer-Samantha)
-Completed 2006 scrapbook (summer-mom)
-Alex joined our family (July)
-Grandma DeAnn comes for Daddy and Alex’s birthday (July)
-Going to Salt Lake alone (Aug-Samantha)
-Staring Kindergarten (Aug-Jacob)
-Scott’s first Solo ride in an airplane (Sept)
-Scott’s Live Strong ride (Oct)
-Starting preschool (Oct-Josh)
-Grandma Coleby visit and beach day (Sept.)
-Thanksgiving with Laura, Brian, and Grandma DeAnn (Nov)
-Mike and Julie visit (Dec)
-Coleby Christmas (Dec)
WORST:
-Everyday was a bad day (Jacob)
-Scott sick with pneumonia (Jan)
-Salty Lasagna (March-Matthew will never eat Lasagna again)
-Matthew had to have his tonsils out (Apr)
-Going to the beach without a swimsuit and sitting in the car for 1 hour till clothes dried (Apr-Samantha)
-Sold our Wave-runners (May)
-Jacob teasing all summer (Samantha)
-Bed rest- family had to stay home all the time (Summer)
-2 hours preceding Alex’s birth (Kim-July)
-TIME OUTS (Jacob-(I think he needs a little more love in his life))
BEST:
-Samantha’s Birthday (Feb-Samantha)
-Valentine Baby announcement surprise (Feb-Jacob)
-Grandpa Coleby visits and going to IHOP (March)
-Mommy’s camping trip birthday (Apr)
-Mommy and Daddy’s cruise- sleep over with friends(May)
-Bed rest got to help mom (Summer-Samantha)
-Completed 2006 scrapbook (summer-mom)
-Alex joined our family (July)
-Grandma DeAnn comes for Daddy and Alex’s birthday (July)
-Going to Salt Lake alone (Aug-Samantha)
-Staring Kindergarten (Aug-Jacob)
-Scott’s first Solo ride in an airplane (Sept)
-Scott’s Live Strong ride (Oct)
-Starting preschool (Oct-Josh)
-Grandma Coleby visit and beach day (Sept.)
-Thanksgiving with Laura, Brian, and Grandma DeAnn (Nov)
-Mike and Julie visit (Dec)
-Coleby Christmas (Dec)
WORST:
-Everyday was a bad day (Jacob)
-Scott sick with pneumonia (Jan)
-Salty Lasagna (March-Matthew will never eat Lasagna again)
-Matthew had to have his tonsils out (Apr)
-Going to the beach without a swimsuit and sitting in the car for 1 hour till clothes dried (Apr-Samantha)
-Sold our Wave-runners (May)
-Jacob teasing all summer (Samantha)
-Bed rest- family had to stay home all the time (Summer)
-2 hours preceding Alex’s birth (Kim-July)
-TIME OUTS (Jacob-(I think he needs a little more love in his life))
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