{so many}

 Do you want to know why I have so many little Ss? Because they turn 9 month old they start to sleep, they grow little chicklette teeth they get a sense of humor & have the sweetest belly laughs that come deep from the gut, they follow you around on hands & knees, loose cheerios down their onesies, babble & look a lot like this...

 oh goodness I love that super Cooper & the way he thinks I am a big play toy/jungle gym. 

{moving forward}

Things are taking a turn here. We have 3 in school. 4 in activities during the week. lots of activities actually. Britton is making big leaps in his feelings towards school. He has been bringing home all 100% this year & is really trying hard to be a big kid (even though his mom babies him more than she babies the babies. guilty.) Maddox is fully understandable & you would never know that just 18 months ago he was only humming. He is so much fun now...& I really thought I would never be able to relax around that fire cracker of a baby. He was a handful!  Presley no longer uses her beloved Choo-Choo (paci for the rest of the world) & can say "Esey" (a nick name of sorts) & just 2 days ago she said "I lub boo mama"  I cried. Tre is tre. Perfection. for example: At scouts last week they did not have enough parts to build tool boxes for all the boys. Tre said "I don't need one" & gave it up to his buddy. He has such a givers heart. He gives all he has to those around him. To say I am honored to have him as mine is a humongous understatement. & That leaves us at baby Cooper. That one hits his head at least 402 times a day as he tries out new tricks. One of his new tricks is putting himself to sleep. (I hope I do not curse it. its only been 2 nights.) He has a pile of choo-choos (refer to above) & his sleepy blanket, white noise machine of death & a nightlight. Some milk & a snuggle in the rocking chair & then I lay him down in his crib sans bouncing for 90 minutes. Ill need a new calves & thighs workout for sure.  He protests for  2 minutes & then hits the hay. He is such a happy guy.  So yeah. I feel like we are moving at lightning speed with all these milestones. 

Of all these great things I have to say Britton liking school more is the most exciting for our family. We have lost sleep over what to do with that sweet buddy. We talked homeschool, private school with smaller classes, we talked everything. & just when I thought hope was lost, he picked up momentum. he is so bright. He is in the gifted & talented program at school along with T. He just was not applying himself when it came to desk work. frustrating! Rod would say "This would be easier to deal with if the kid was a block head, but he is so bright & robbing himself of success." But now his folder comes home packed full of completed assignments with perfect scores on every single sheet. I can see the pride he is developing in his achievments. Today he came home with a gold star around his neck. it read "Super Star" because he is being the kid his teachers knew he could be all along. My heart was so heavy for so long over Britt & school...its a huge relief to see change. Someday you will read this Britt in one of our gazillion blog gone books & I want you to know that I am overjoyed with your efforts lately! You know how I pull you near & ask you who my special boy is? & you beam & look at me with those sweet bright eyes & you smile that toothless smile & say "I am." You really are! there is something undeniably lovable  about you...& its not just those darling "polkadots" on your face or your kissy lips either.  You took a part of my heart & reserved it just for you when you were put in my arms the first time.  You are my special boy. 

{flew}

The week flew by.

thanks for the memories & hugs & support & the spoiling of the 5 & all the loads of laundry folded & dishes washed. 

Now I  just have to remember how I do it alone everyday. 

(I would also like to add that I am not sure why blogger wants my 

b&ws to be all sepia-ish. -weird.) 

{a week in the life}

My Mom was a trooper this past week.
My dad was here saturday & sunday & then took off to Houston for work.
While Dad was gone my mother accompanied us everywhere. 
She lived a week in the life of a mom of 5. 
as Tre would say. 
"It was Cra-Cra." 
Speech, errands, taekwondo, activity days, scouts, church, ballet & tap, appointments, phone calls to & from the school, pre school, parent orientations... I could go on. 
She was the best company! 
& When my Dad came back Friday they threw a birthday bash for Luca the Dog (but lets be honest...it was for the kids.) 
& while they partied with the 5...Rod & I snuck out for a group date with neighbors. it was a great time. Lots of laughing. 
Never a dull moment. 

{the princess & the pie}

Apple pie & afternoons in the back yard with family.

Omah & Presley made apple apple pies. yup. two apples there.

the children jumped on the death trap as i see it. 

Our tramp has seen better days. the net ripped & the spring cover is disintegrating in the Texas heat.

(Santa is replacing both.) 

I just don't watch & hope for the best. 
Mom of the year award right here. 

Presley pranced about in dress ups all day. 

I love when my Mom & Dad visit.
Omah & Opah bring the best out of all of us. 
I slow down & breath, Rod worries about my tasks being daunting less, the kids have more arms to wrap around them. 
We cannot wait till we live near each other again.
Sunday dinners, sleepovers... 
it will be a beautiful thing! 

{& then...}

The children were playing as the sun was setting.

the activity of choice was tumbling. cartwheels. flips. & the likes. The girls were cheering on my boys as they did their best to flip across the front lawn.

& THEN...

the surprise they had heard about all day 

arrived in a red rental car. 

 

 Omah, Opah & Luca are here! 

surprise! 

{etc etc etc.}

Stopping to breath seems to be a luxury these days.

I live in the car.

Scouts, School, Taekwondo, ballet, tap, activity days, 

birthday parties & speech therapy, church, PT conferences 

etc etc etc...

The children are really enjoying themselves

which makes it all worth it. 

I love watching them develop their talents & interests. 

This weekend will hold lots of photo worthy hugs and moments....

but as Tre often reads this blog/journal 

of mine I have to be hush.

a surprise is coming this way for the 5. 

Hopefully I will be better about pictures...and not just instagram this upcoming month.

This little buddy is just so fun.

The boy does NOT ever sleep. ever. 

but He is a happy baby, & that makes my sleepless nights much more manageable.

I love happy babies. Heck, I love all babies. 

{big}

9 months.

Getting big.

& he loves it! 

{backpacks}

Backpacks are back on the hooks in the entry closet.

School started last week for Tre, Britt & Maddox. 

Although by the look of these pictures you would think Presley is ready for the big bus too.

(she is sporting Maddox' old backpack) 

I want to spill my guts here about how hard a week it was for Britton. But I kind-a feel like I am throwing him under the bus if I do. Lets just leave it at the fact that he is such a tender hearted little guy who is super bright & gifted but really really REALLY wants nothing to do with school. He tries to leave reguraly. I have already cried while talking to his teacher & I try to make it a rule in my life not to sob in front of people I haven't known for at least 48 hours. I try to reserve the crazy for friends & family. But after a week of beating myself up over it all...I am feeling optomistic that someday, with help & love, he will figure it out. Maybe Ill laugh about his antics someday too. I really hope so. But for now I have come to accept that this year will probably be a lot like last year for that sweet buddy of mine. & that just breaks my heart.

To Britton's teachers & staff, 

May the odds be ever in your favor!  

oh yes, & we finished off the day with fresh baked cookies & chats. 

Maddox is not sure about pre school. He is scared of the school nurse & her antibacterial spray for cuts.

that kid is just the funniest. & he lucked out! He has Britt's beloved Mrs. H! She will be perfect for him! 

Tre is being Tre. Perfect & hard working. He likes his class & is making new friends. He is thrilled to be back in the classroom. 

& now I put on my gameface for another week. 

(but I don't wanna!)

{1st day Eve}

Each year we have a special dinner 

the night before school begins.

This was our 4th time around. 

We have spaghetti every year. 

The children are given a yearly challenge.

We choose a family verse to focus on.

The children make a wish & blow out a candle on cake.

(I even made a wish.) 

& the best part...

father's blessing for each child for the new year.

(What is a father's blessing? read here )

Rod lays his hands on each child's head.

Having the  priesthood in our home 

is such a comfort to me as a mother.

My 3rd to leave the nest. He is excited! 

Heaven help this ones teacher.....sigh.

 We have 3 school children this year. & next year 4. 

This season of our lives is flying by.