It's the LITTLE things

Ok... so it's been a while... yes, a long long while but I'm here and I guess that means I am back. 
So much has been going on around here as one might expect but those are surely not excuses.  :)  Life is good and I am happily plugging along in the trenches of motherhood - somedays slugging it out is a more accurate description.  The kids are busy with school and activities and I'm busy just trying to keep them all clothed and feed and keep this house from being considered condemned!  I guess since it's been a while it's time for the "what we've been up to" post that I am starting to be famous for here in blogger land but since it's already late and I have other things on my mind, I'm going to save that for another time.  (I can hear the collective sigh of relief! - oh wait, maybe that was me! ;)  )

Anyway, I was inspired to come here and share a bit about the little things in life.  Perhaps I should actually put them down as the LITTLE things.  Because when raising a family it really is the little things that matter most.  Sure everyone loves and remembers the big things in life, like that once in a life time vacation or the welcoming of a new sibling.  But what I'm talking about is the things of life that really make life rich.  The things that I hear the kids talking about together later on, those kinds of things that adults do and might not really get the weight or value it adds to a childs life.  You see it all stems from the fundamental wish of a child to just spend time with his or her parents.  Just doing 'nothing' or 'hangin' out'.  These are the kinds of things that when life gets busy we tend to let slip and maybe don't realize what riches that are in these gems of moments.  One of these little big things we do is something that got named a Pizza Popcorn Pajama Party a number of years back... probably when we only had 3 kids.  It's now a Friday night tradition that the kids love and look forward to all week - and we do too!  Sure to us its just pizza and a movie on the living room floor but to them its a 'thing'.  You know one of those 'things' that will linger with them into adulthood and could manifest it's self into a family tradition of their own some day. 

Welcome NOLAN WILLIAM!

We welcomed our sixth child to the family on December 10th... a beautiful boy...

Here is a little bit about his birth:
We got to the hospital at 7:45am on Friday after waking all the kids and kissing everyone goodbye and happy school day. They got me situated in my room and then after all the paperwork the nurses started the ivs and monitors. They started the pitocin at 2 units per hour and we just waited... contractions were starting to get regular and they did up the amount to 4 and then 6... for a vbac they can't use more than 8-10 units (explained to me as drips per hour in the iv) where a regular induction they will go all the way up to 40! (That is why it took so long.)  It was actually a good thing that it was taking a long time as not only was the quiet day at the hospital heavenly given how busy and loud it is at home, it was much needed time to finally discuss what we would name this child.  And even as labor was picking up, we were still at a stand still with boys' names but had Regan Hannah ready for a girl.  At about 3pm the contractions were getting pretty painful and I was rocking and breathing and just battling through them. I guess I would say they were around an 8 (out of 10). Eventually I had had enough and asked for an epidural... by the time the epidural man came they were more like a 9 and I was pretty happy when the numbness took over. I was still only around 3-4 cm and the doc kept saying that once I got to 5 and 100% things would take off. Well a few hours passed and finally just before 8pm they checked me again and I was at 5. At this point I was starting to feel the pain in the contractions again despite the epi and I knew things were going to be happening quickly. Well, he came to check at 8:30 and I was ready! So they got all set up and turned off my epi so I could feel and push better and at just before 8:45 I started to push. Well let me tell you... I was missing that epi a bit but I pushed through 3 contractions and HE was born. 9lbs 3oz and 21inches.  So so big and cute! We still hadn't settled on a name!  They laid him right on me... I was in love! After he was all cleaned up and I was too they left us alone for that wonderful golden hour... ahh I missed that so much with my section! He latched and nursed right away. Bill followed him up to the nursery while I waited to feel my legs again enough to be brought to my room. On the way there we passed the nursery windows I could see Bill and Our baby Boy in there... poor little man was getting blood taken. I think they finally brought him back to me around midnight. I was so glad to get him back with me. Bill went home to relieve my mom and be home for the kids in the morning.  I held and loved up on our guys still trying names on him.  Finally at about 2am I spoke to Bill and we decided that Nolan William would be his name.  So about 5 hours after his birth we finally had name! 

The next morning Bill and all the kids and also both sets of grandparents came to the hospital all at once. It was a bit crazy but so so good to have all the kids together. Haley was just so thrilled to see him and she couldn't get enough of Nolan. Colin was a little sad but came around quickly and was really cute and sweet with Nolan. Braden couldn't contain his excitement about having a brother... he was just thrilled but a little upset that we didn't name him Bradley. Sydney just wanted to be hugged by me and we cuddled a bunch. She looked at Nolan and said nice baby and that was about it. Payton was ignoring me and it took her a while to want to come and hug me. Finally she did but was pretty busy being busy and running about. 

And here is our first crazy picture as a family of 8!  I just love it!  :) 

We got home on Sunday around 3pm. Nolan did great on the 40 minute ride home and seemed undisturbed by all the noise and commotion. We celebrated with a big family dinner for all 8 of us with sushi and chinese take out... so fun!

Overall everything is going so well. It is hard to believe that he is almost 1 week old already. Every morning the kids kiss him before they head out to school and can't wait to hold him when they get home. So sweet to see them so interested in and in love with their baby brother.   It make my heart melt! 

 

It's a Muffin Morning!!

 It's a rainy morning here and I thought that it would be a good morning to bake some muffins.  Heck, any morning is a good morning for muffins, rain or not but today just seemed extra perfect with the gloomy weather.  So with fall in the air and a willing assistant at my side (who I think was more interested in getting to lick the bowl at the end), I made some Apple Crumb Muffins for the family to enjoy.  This recipe starts with a basic Applesauce Muffin recipe and then gets diced apples and a crumb topping.  The regular applesauce muffins are delicious on their own and when I don't feel like the crumb topping (??!!??) or the kids have eaten all the apples (that's more likely) then we just make them plain.  I hope you enjoy them too! 


Applesauce Muffins

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup butter melted (or half butter half vegetable oil)
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat to 375, grease 12 muffin tin. Mix egg, butter, sugar and applesauce well. Then add flour, powder, cinnamon, salt. Mix until just combined. Spoon into muffin tin. Bake 18-20 minutes until done. 

I usually sprinkle on cinnamon & sugar prior to baking too.

To make Apple Crumb Muffins, add 1 chopped apple to the muffin mix and top with: 

• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup cold butter in cubes

Cut butter into the other ingredients above and put on muffins prior to baking.   

 Let me know how you like them if you try out this recipe!  :)

Bathroom report...

Work in the bathroom continues today. Bill has completed the first
coat of spackle on the walls and is now grouting that new tile floor.

I'm so happy for the progress. The twins have been popping in now and
then to help Daddy with his work. They seem pleased and excited by the
progress too.

Payton's Ponytail

Payton and Sydney's hair has grown so much and although they both are
sporting the 'baby mullet', I haven't been able to bring myself to cut
their pretty hair. Payton has beautiful full curls at the ends of her
hair while Sydney has stick straight locks. This morning Payton let me
pull hers up for the first time since they were sporting baby sprouts
when they were just little ones. I think she looks pretty cute!

Bathroom Update

Well, it's officially been 72 days that we've been at the bathroom
remodel and I am happy to be able to post a picture that shows some
real progress! As you can see we now have a tile floor!! Sydney was
excited to go in and check it out stopping to pose and "cheese" for
the iPhone.

So we now have new Sheetrock and cement board (which is in need of
tape & spackle), a new tub (still awaiting a drain connection), and a
tile floor (which will hopefully be grouted soon).

I guess we are getting somewhere just a bit slowly. ;)

Outstanding Oatmeal Muffins

It's a muffin morning here at our home and these tasty super easy
muffins are always a big hit!

So I thought I would share the recipe! 

Oatmeal Muffins

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1tsp baking soda
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat to 375 - grease 12 muffins tins. Mix egg, oil, sugar and milk. Add flour, oatmeal, soda, powder, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden and tooth pick comes out clean when put in center. 

* I sprinkled the tops with cinnamon and sugar before baking. *

Please let me know what you think!  

Little Eggert #6...

Last week we had the "BIG" u/s. A level 2 u/s at the Perinatologist's office. The baby looks great! We got to see all the important parts... (that's like all the parts! ;) ) of this little one and all is there and where it is supposed to be. Of course the 20week scan is when most people discover the gender of their baby but we chose yet again not to... so we will continue to wait and wonder until December.

They were able to give us a few pictures too... Our little one had his or her little arms over the face so only a profile this time...




And then this picture of the little feet... talk about sweet! :) (But is does remind me that there will be even more little shoes around this house!! )



I had an OB appointment yesterday morning and all is going great there too. He also said that I'm the "perfect candidate for a VBAC". I'm so happy! Since one of the twins was breech, I had no choice but to have a c-section but I wasn't that thrilled about it. Of course I chose to do what ever would get them out as safely as possible but the recovery from the C was for the birds! I have been hoping since I found out that I was pregnant that I would be able to have a regular delivery with this baby but have been hesitant to bring it up with my doctor for fear that he would flat out refuse. Of course my timing is just great because vbac has been in the news both nationally and locally in the recent months and more and more studies are finding that there are usually no reason why most women who have had a c-section can't attempt a vbac. And the old "once a section always a section" rule doesn't necessarily hold true anymore. Of course there is much to discuss yet about risks and all but I'm just happy for now with the prospect of getting the chance to avoid major surgery. :)

Hello?? Is this thing on??

Ok.. yes, I've gone among the missing again. I think I must be really losing it. Maybe if I ask the kids they can help me to find my memory but I'm quite sure it is buried under a pile of stuff some where in this little tiny house - most likely in a now in-accessible corner of my overflowing bedroom.

I once again 'lost' my password for this blog... yes, somewhere in this head of mine it was lost and somewhat forgotten. It's not like I have nothing else to remember but hey, that's the way it is sometimes.

So what's new with the family?? Hmm, where to begin??

Let's just start at the top... the big guy himself... Bill: He's still a working fool... a slave to his company doing his best to keep all his staff happy while keeping himself employed and keeping the money coming in so we can all eat and live in the little house. He is also in the process of renovating our main bathroom in his spare time. (yeah, like he has much) We both decided that Memorial Day Weekend would be a great time to rip out and replace our 1960's mint green and black bathroom. We (foolishly) figured what with the 3 day weekend and an extra day off it could be completed... Well, I'm here to report that today is the 29th of July and I still have no main bathroom. Now this is not to say that he hasn't been working on it. It is just that we destroyed it and then promptly had weekend after weekend of obligations along with the usual project set-backs. He has been working diligently when he has been able to and it has been stripped to the studs (including removing the 400lb cast iron bathtub -which took 4 hours and a sledge hammer to disassemble) thee new tub is now in and it has been re-sheetrocked/cement boarded and we are awaiting the 'drywall' guy to come and tape it before the new tile can go it. So perhaps sometime in the next month or so we will have a functional bathroom.

(You may be wondering what we are doing now that we have no bathroom, thankfully we have a half-bath in the laundry room and an enclosed outdoor shower so we at least have some facilities that are keeping us from being really stinky. I do have to think that had we not had those amenities that this project might just have been completed more quickly but hey, I can't complain. The bathroom is going too be beautiful and it is not costing us an arm and a leg.)

I think I will skip my update and move on to the kids... save the best for last! LOL So kidding!!

Colin is now 10 and acting every bit of it. He is occasionally moody and tends to object to some of what we say with that great pre-teen attitude and patented eye roll. He finished off is 4th grade year very well with excellent grades. This summer he started playing the Clarinet in summer band and will continue in September. I have to say that I am proud as it is my horn he is playing and he is so cute honking out those first few notes. He is a little fish and swims every day. I am proud to say that he is quite a proficient ocean swimmer now too and is able to get himself outside the breakers with ease. He makes him mommy proud, that is for sure. He is now brown as a berry sporting his summer tan and sandy blond hair.. so cute. Other than the occasional attitude issues he is a good kid and helps me when I need him too.

Braden turned 8 in June and is a very busy and colorful character. I just love the way this kid looks at the world. Being ADHD he just does and thinks things differently than everyone else and it is really cool when you take the time to get behind that and see if from his side. He finished 2nd grade with great grades and we are looking forward to a good school year for him. It was a rocky year as we took him off his meds halfway through due to too many side effects. Unfortunately for Braden (and the rest of us) his teacher was not a good match this year and she really didn't know how capitalize on his strengths and encourage him in the ways he needed to be encouraged. I am so thankful that the school year is over and we can look forward to a better year and a more understanding and warm teacher. We were successful in gaining him a 504 plan so there are now things in place to ensure his success for the future. For the summer he has been enjoying all the outdoor time and swimming too. This kid tans like no kid with white hair that I have seen. He is so brown and that hair is so white, it is really something. He loves the ocean too and is actually a fan of being boiled and rolled by the waves. He will spend 90% of his time on the beach in the surf and getting tumbled here and there.

Miss Haley is 5 and a half and has just finished pre-school and is now ready to head on off to Kindergarten in September. She did great in pre-school and made many friends. She was praised by her teachers for being so helpful and compassionate towards her classmates, often helping them out without being asked. Of course that is no surprise to me. She is my big helper and such a little sweetheart. She has some girly-tude too but I love it. :) One of her biggest joys is getting to go to see "Miss Vivian" at the nail salon with her Mom-mom. They love to get their nails done together. Haley also had a dance recital this June and danced tap for the first time on stage. She was so cute a precocious in her black feathered number. She is having a fun summer learning to swim a bit more every day. She just loves to show me how much better she is getting.

Payton turned 2 in the middle of July and is really growing and changing every day. I just love the way babies change to toddlers and then little kids. Payton is really making that transition quickly. She is talking up a storm and using new words everyday. Payton is really a very animated and colorful little girl. She always has a big smile on her face and is very happy-go-lucky. She loves her "BeeBee" (blankie) and is a thumb sucker too. She is one of the few children that actually like to go to bed and will ask for 'nigh-nights' when she is tired. Of course you can usually tell when she is going to ask as she has Beebee with her and that thumb is in her mouth ready to go. She has been enjoying the pool and beach this summer too. During our family vacation to VT and ME she loved swimming in the lakes but does enjoy the ocean too if it is calm. She also is a brown berry with a butt that resembles the copper tone baby.

Sydney celebrated her birthday with Payton in July turning two as well. She is a coy and funny little thing. Sydney is my little engineer whose goal in life is to figure out how everything works. She loves to study the movement and working of anything she can get close enough too, from bike chains to lawn sprinklers. It is really neat to see the way she looks at things and really seems to figure them out. She isn't quite as verbal as Payton but she is showing her language skills in the most unusual way. Sydney is a babbler and has always been. She speaks a language all her own that some what resembles some Asian dialect. Funny thing is being a twin I really think that Payton understands her pretty well. Anyway, Sydney's language is slowly morphing into English. So what might just be babble the pattern is now starting to sound like speech and is changing to full sentences. The other day she was sitting on Bill's lap in the living room and turned and said "oh look, it's a fan". It is truly amazing when she comes out with these statements. Of course you have to listen carefully as she is pretty soft spoken and has a sweet high pitched little voice. Oh that and Payton is usually shouting something in the same room! Sydney loves the sand on the beach and will frequently roll in it while wet, of course, but she doesn't much care for the ocean. She tends to be a pretty shy little one though so that doesn't surprise me. She sure has been enjoying her summer though.

I guess that leaves me.... I've been as busy as always keeping this group together and seeing to their needs. The end of the school year and the move to summer schedule has been a nice change. But with school going until June 24th this year due to snow days, summer seemed to come along all the sudden. Things were pretty busy with summer band, VBS, and study island to work out but it was only a week worth of crazy though so it worked out ok. Our trip to VT and ME went well and I managed to bring along everything we needed and get it all packed in the trailer in time for our scheduled departure - not small feat! Otherwise I've been working on building my home business with Initials, Inc. It has been a fun time and I've really enjoyed it. I am also pregnant with baby number 6! Thankfully all is going well and I am now in my 20th week. We just had a level 2 ultrasound and baby is looking great! We will not be finding out the sex of this little one until birth just like the rest so don't ask! ;) Early pregnancy was full of the usual sickness and lethargy unfortunately I haven't seemed to lose too much of the lethargy, I don't know if it's my age or just that I still haven't recovered from not sleeping for the first 15months of the twins lives but whatever the cause, I'm pretty darn tired all the time. It's all good though and I feel incredibly blessed to have made it this far with this baby. Having lost two little ones at the 15/16week mark before the twins came along, early pregnancy is particularly scary for me (all of us really) but thanks to Lovenox (an injected blood thinner) I'm doing well and so is this baby. Other than that, I am happy to report that I have actually started reading again. I know that sounds terrible but with all the kids and babies over the years I haven't really given myself the luxury of reading for pleasure. I have read some books about parenting or the annual Lenten book from church but nothing just for me. I am just about to finish my first novel in years and I have just loved it. It is a great book and I am now at the point where the story is wrapping up and I don't want to finish it so that I don't have to say goodbye to the characters. Oh you want to know that title? The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you haven't read it, do, it's really a great book. I am so thankful to my old HS friend Carrie who lent it to me. (Thank you!!)

Well, I guess that is it... the whole ball of wax... my update.... no let's hope my brain doesn't forget my log-in again and I can come back and post some more soon.

First Kiss

Today I witnessed one of the sweetest moments I have seen in a long while.

While I was changing Sydney's diaper on the playroom sofa this morning, Payton came toddling over and leaned over and kissed Sydney on her forehead. I was so touched by this little display of affection between the two. Sydney looked up and acknowledged her sister with a cute little smile. It was just so precious to see Payton display her love for her twin like that. It surprised be because Payton isn't a big kisser - she rarely kisses anyone!

Well don't you know that is got even better? Moments later as I was changing Payton's diaper, Sydney cruised on over and returned the little kiss right on Payton's forehead.

How sweet is that???

Payton takes a bath

All of my girls haven't been feeling that great in the last few days. They seem to have been passing a fever around and yesterday was Haley's day to be sick. Today she was feeling better and wanted to have a nice warm bath this morning. The twins were in having a nap when she finished so I dried her off and got her dressed.

Payton and Sydney woke up shortly afterwards so I went to get them and nurse them in my room. Payton always finishes first and was toddling around in the hall and my room while Sydney finished up. I was still in my bedroom tidying up when I hear the very distinct should of splashing! I dash to the bathroom to see this:

Thank goodness I was just in the next room! (Mental note... don't leave a full tub of water.. duh!! Surely I know better than to do that!)

I guess Payton thought she needed a bath!! So she took one! LOL

Of course Sydney wanted in on the action too so they both got to take a nice bath right before lunch! Silly girls!

Where have I been???

Hello out there!!!

Yup... I pretty much disappeared there for a while... Oops... I guess life got crazy and I lost track of time. ;)

I am going to go back and 're-create' some of the thing we have been up to in the last almost 3 months so be sure to go back in dates and see what we have been up too!!

Happy Birthday Haley!!

Wow!! Could it really be?? Could my little girl be 5 already??

It is truely amazing how quickly children grow. It seems like just yesterday that we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. It was totally amazing to have a precious princess after having two wonderful boys. What a great surprise!!

Haley was born on 11/9/04. She was due on Thanksgiving but came 2 1/2 weeks early when I went into weak labor and decided that I need to have her. Thankfully my OB was on duty at the hospital and knowing my history (Braden was 10lbs 14oz!), he thought that allowing me to have her early was a good idea. It took all day to dialate but it surely was worth it! Haley arrived at 9:15pm weighing in at 8lbs 7 1/2oz. She was 21 inches long. Our little princess had dark brown hair and was just perfect!!

She is a sweet and loving child. She showed us the girlie-ness starts at birth! As soon as she was old enough to show her preference for things, she made her choices for things frilly and pretty. She still wears a dress of skirt most days of the week. I just love it! She has just a little bit of girlie attitude that is just so cute. It has been such a joy to watch her grow and turn into a bright and happy little girl. No longer a baby.. she is a big girl now and really becoming my best friend. I sure am going to miss her when she head off to Kindergarten next year.

Before I start to cry... I'm going to end this post... Happy Birthday Haley... we love you!

Trick -or- Treat!

Haley and Sydney posing....

Colin the green skeleton.

Braden the white skeleton.

Haley our spider web princess.


Payton showing off her newly learned 'trick-or-treat' skills while Sydney looks precious in the stroller.

Anyone need a paper shredder???

Sydney was taking a nap... or so we thought!

She reached down out of her crib into a little basket of paperwork I had there.... well, you can see the result!

It seems she spent the entire naptime shredding paper! She removed and shredded all the pages from a steno notebook as well as most of the other paper I had in that basket. She was quite good at this project and completely filled her little crib with paper!

She was quite pleased with her efforts!! :)

Pumpkin time!!

We all had a great time carving pumpkins!!

Each child choose a design to make....

Colin even drew and carved his very own all by himself. He was so proud of it.

Haley's Cat

Braden's Grin and Colin's Robot.

The haircut

Yup... I finally did it!! I cut my hair!

It only took all summer... I really should have done it sooner. Here is the before pic....

And the after pics:

The ants

go marching 1 by 1...

Well, more like 100 by 100 around here! We have had some serious ant issues this summer but have found a solution.

REVENGE!!! No not revenge on the ants but a product called Revenge.

All you do is put a small drop of it on a pic of scrap card board and they line up for it. Let the feeding frenzy continue for a few days... and then they all disappear!!

Here they are circling the Revenge liquid!! Isn't that crazy???

We have a new....

TRAVEL TRAILER!!!
Yay!! We bought a travel trailer!! After looking around and trying to find just the right one for our family I came across one on Craigslist that was about 1 mile from our home...
Here's Bill bringing it home with our BiG Red Van.... Haley was really excited!!
Here is our "bedroom" - a queen sized bed in the front. Looking from front to back... sofa, kitchen, dinette... The kids 'room' - a twin over queen bunk. The bathroom...

The view from back to front.We can't wait to take her out camping!! :)

Atlantic City Airshow

What has 500,000 people, ear stinging noise, sweltering heat, and was about the coolest thing ever???

If you answered the Atlantic City Airshow, you are correct!!

Wow! It was amazing. Not just the planes, but the whole event. We left our home, running late as usual to drive down to Atlantic City for the "Free" airshow called "Thunder Over the Boardwalk". It is an annual event and draws huge crowds and features the USAF Thunderbird team. Well, traffic was a nightmare and parking, even worse!! About 3 times during the first hour in Atlantic City I seriously considered just turning around and going home thinking we had made a huge mistake in going. The weather was hot, humid and sunny... yup well over 90 degrees!! When we finally got to the beach I was absolutely stunned at what I saw. I have never seen so many people on the beach before in my life! They were literally blanket to blanket. Thankfully there was a roped off area for the Cub Scouts so we were able to sit there.

We missed some of the show with the traffic delay and the trouble finding parking - did I mention there were 1/2 a million people there??? - we finally found our spot and got in our beach attire. Yes, changing in a portapotty in the 90+degree heat is really fun - NOT! Oh and did I mention the screaming babies who were scared to death of the huge jets overhead and all the noise of the afterburners?? Yes, it was a rough start but after a dip in the ocean, things started to look up.

We cooled off and were able to watch the show from the water to.. Jets right over head!!

The afternoon ended with a wonderful performance of the Thunderbirds. Truely spectacular!!