6 is sweet

Sweet Gabby Jean is six years old!  How can that be, the most amazing day...  the day that Gabrielle was born.  It is when I became MOM, my most favorite thing in the world.  Yes, Clay and I were our own little family before she came along, and then with the addition of Elliot j we are a complete family.  That day 6 years ago is what changed my life, and I am so blessed by all that has come between then and now- and all that is to come.
  French toast and bacon were requested for breakfast.  With too early a wake up after too late a bedtime for me, let me just say I am no french toast master. She brought pencils to all her classmates since they can't do any food items. Her teacher is out with the flu so she didn't have her birthday bag waiting for her, but I had warned her it might happen and she was just fine with it.  She wore a new outfit from Grandma.  She skipped her last basketball practice and stayed home to play Barbies instead., with her Barbies driving around in a new VW Bug. She wanted dinner from Jack in the Box.  During her shower she wrote on the fogged up door "I love trng six."  Tomorrow she is wearing her Perry shirt, she is so excited Party Auntie and Fancy Uncle.  We tried to do her Hello Kitty Chia pet, but it turns out you have to soak it for an hour and it was already too close to bedtime. I tell her how amazing she is and how I love being her mom, and she tells me the best thing is her getting to be our girl. Did I mention she is Sweet?
  A family pizza party is planned for Friday, followed Saturday by a party with school friends. It sounds like almost all of the 11 girls will be here.  Eek, what did I get myself into?  I am currently making felt starfish hair clips for the mermaid swag bags and a dresser has been moved into the living room to be set up as a candy shop! Pictures to come next week, if I can manage to take them and post them.

Remember.

Things I always want to remember:
Elliot told me he was going to marry me on our drive to the library. Then tonight I asked him after reading a book about basketball if he was going to dream of basketball, or baseball? "no. I gonna dream about you. When I marry you."
 Gabby reading books, sounding out words like a champion. Asking me to ask her more math questions.  In the car I asked her multiplication. She did the 2s and the 5s,  easily. Kindergarten doesn't teach that- that is US, her parents teaching her.
Veggies and kids, a winning combination in our home.  Yesterday they both needed snacks (per usual) and both grabbed heads of romaine lettuce, taking huge bites and laughing the whole time.  Tonight while I made chinese chicken salad, after they took turns spinning the napa cabbage clean they nibbled it and talked about if it was musical. ... musical, ya know- gives you toots.  Gabby said she really liked the napa cabbage, better than the regular.
 At the store, a new big plant in the cart taking up most of the room.  Elliot sat in the big basket, with the leaves hanging over him.  He was Tarzan in the jungle, I got to be the gorilla. He wanted to buy the little plastic lemon or lime filled with juice. We went with the lime, he opened it up and tried to taste it. Sour a bit? Then we picked out 3 new flavors of bubble gum, lemon square and sherbet along with watermelon.  Our new favorite lately is root beer float, all these kids love gum.
 We have spent too much time cooped up in the house, cold weather, zero visibility fog, colds. We finally are back into 40degree weather. Yesterday I had all 4 kids, Gabby had a fever the night before so we waited for her to be 24 hrs fever free to go back to school. We stopped at Grandpa's, baby EE took a nap on Grandpa while we cruised around the block and the alley.  G & E on scooters and cousin C on her trike.  We visited the chickens and ducks, did the "BIG" hill down the alley, and finished up climbing the tree and drawing bright beautiful chalk pictures all over the sidewalk.  Today was Elliot on his 2 wheeler and me trying to run.  We made it 1.12 miles, it took 23 minutes and I had to keep corralling E along.  It was a great time.
Gabby is on the countdown for her birthday, so excited and anxious.  It's hard to plan a party when you can't send invitations to school unless you invite the whole class. Not going to happen. I finally got all the girls in the class parent contact info. Half got email invites the others I had to call. A few of the parents and I struggled to communicate in English, so I texted them the info.  This was the night of the fever, so when she awoke in the middle of the night I laid down and told her about talking with her friends parents and our plans for a mermaid shindig.
 War and slapjack have been happening, it is so hard to play with this family.  Everyone but me is so competitive. Gabby asks Clay why he won't go easy on them. Elliot stacks the deck when he deals, and peaks before laying down each card.
Love these kids, they melt my heart and are so much fun.

A Very Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas SEASON.  It is so magical with children, and a loving family.  It was low key yet also full of a few busy holiday party days. Just the right mix. Each of us felt spoiled, but the best part was getting to all be together!

 Mr E played the trombone, as did all the other kids- and the biggest kid (his Dad).  They were all able to make music, and Clay still remembers how to play it from his high school band days, reading music and all!

 Every time I tried to take a picture, this boy had his finger in his nose.  

 A favorite spot, in front of the new gas fire.  I too claim it as a favorite spot.

 Matching glasses, one real, 2 geek and 1 fly.  Grandpa bought the kids these funnies and they are a hit.

 Just a sweet picture, Cousin C has that porcelain doll face, and Grandpa & EE are peeking in the background.

 Classy tux shirt, and geek glasses. My Boy.

 An explosion of presents on Christmas Eve, and a few excited cousins.

 Christmas morning, a rush of opening presents from Santa... can you spy his foot prints?

 THE Evelyn doll, her most wanted gift.

Team work until they are all opened!

Beauty

My Beauty.. I love her so.
  My other Beauty, I love him too! He is the little mischievous one, he has been busy.  He dropped another toy in the toilet. If it falls in, it goes in the trash- I don't care what it is.  He built a "bra" out of tinker toys.
  Both these kids slept till 9:30am today, more than 13 hours of sleep.  That is the latest EVER. Off to wrap presents, I am officially done shopping. xo

It's beginning to look a lot like..... WINTER!

 This picture cracks me up, mostly it has to do with the mustache that took over Clay's face during "Movember."  Elliot was repelling down the wall, making Auntie T a little nervous.

 Best Thanksgiving this year.  Seriously it was pretty much perfect.  Such a relaxing, family filled time at a beautiful house!  Thanks J & T for having us all.

 G the basketball player.  Kindergarten ball is almost painful to watch, but the kids are getting a little better and having fun.

 Someone may have been a little excited about the saw.... Being back in WA gives us the opportunity to have our choice of tree farms (this was 5 minutes away).. So we have 2 trees this year, I LOVE IT.

It snowed!!! Yes, I got snow pants, hats and jackets for the falling snow- yet didn't give them gloves!  

 Cousins and a pretty tree, makes my heart happy.

 Dance party... you just can't help but laugh at this.

 Ollie our ELF has been visiting us from the North Pole every morning.  They asked if it was really us moving him, but when he brought them each a present this week they were so excited!

 I walked back into the bathroom where E's bath was running, he is bare naked with his Darth Vader mask on getting ready to climb in.  Explanation: "I wanted to scuba dive in the tub." logical.

 We went on a fun train ride with some friends last weekend.  It was way out in the sticks, there was a banjo player who led us in Christmas Carols and even a Santa that made his way to each child's seat.

 My kids are not afraid of Santa... we have only done pictures with him once before this year and that year E was almost 1 and no he wasn't the biggest fan.  They love the guy now!

 While we got off for a stretch and chance for pictures, this girl ran the tracks (this one wasn't in service, we were at the dead end of it!)  I unfortunately lost one of my pearls Clay got me in Hong Kong.  bummer.

This week the kids got hit with the stomach flu and a quick fever, but are not recovered.  I got almost all my shopping done today on a great day out with my hubby and sister.  Loving this time of year!  Hope all of you are enjoying  this fun time.


oh and pictures to come... I cut G some side bangs last night and she looks like a total mini of her party auntie!  

THE list

This makes me laugh every time I see it... and well, we all need a laugh once in a while.  

Gabby wrote this after Elliot had just had a little bit of a fit.  In no way are we laughing at E, (he is such a tender hearted little guy) OR at G's writing (oh my, she wrote a whole 12 word sentence without help last night), it just explains a little bit about brothers and sisters. 

*Incase you can't read Kindergarten phonetics, it says "Elliot MAD. No one else, just Elliot" Meaning he was mad and this was the naughty list (see the present with the X across it).  We were all on the other list, the good list!

To the Rescue

I am so thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life who support me.  Yesterday was great, but long for all the kids and I (toddler time, no naps, early release, all 4 to the kids museum, basketball practice) Today we were still all a little run down, Gabby has a case of the snot rockets like you wouldn't believe (TMI?).  She stayed home from school.  I mentioned in a text that all kids were whining and the craft we started was not going as planned.  In the door walks my big sissy,  and she brought Christmas stickers and glitter glue- so much more on our level of crafting.  She cuddled her babies, helped with lunch and provided me friendship.  Naps for a few,  and quiet time of a Mickey Mouse Christmas show for others helped us all.  My dear husband got home from an early morning of playing basketball followed by a day at school, yet he jumped right into playing board games with 3 of the 4 kids (did you know I am not a huge fan of board games?!) and he fixed the dinner my mom sent home with me last night (I told the kids it was burgers and fries.... fresh LAMB burgers and celeriac "fries."  All local and fresh from my mom's  weekly box. Oh and she got home from work last night to me and my crew of kids and made us all a yummy dinner!)   Thank you Family for everything you do, it means the world to me! xo