Six Things About Our Favorite Six Year Old

Number 1: You have the MOST energy I have ever seen. Sometimes you remind me of a ping pong ball just bouncing all over the place. You never seen to run out, like ever. It does not really matter if you eat 20 cupcakes, or 20 carrot sticks....you still have more than enough energy. When we try to get to to hold still, you still have to move your hand, or foot or SOMETHING just so that you are still moving.

Number 2: You are the craziest kid on the trampoline. You just get on there with your big brothers and bounce away. Sometimes they bounce you really high, but to you it does not matter. You are not afraid to try new tricks either. You just put your mind to it, and all of a sudden you are doing flips, and hand stands....and other stuff I would never try in a million years.

Number 3: You love being outside. You somehow find endless things to do outside: Dig holes, jump, shot your BB gun, climb the hill, hang ropes in trees then swing, chase the cats, catch bugs, sharpen sticks, play in the sprnkler....you are just an outdoors boy.

Number 4: You are a great brother. You really look up to your older brothers, even though they are not always the nicest to you. What ever it is they are doing, you want to do it to. When it comes to video games you always want to play too. They do not always play fair, saying that after you die its their turn again. But it never matters to you as long as you are right there with them. You are a sweet big brother to Brinley. You go jump with her, and help her with her babies, and steal her snacks from her.

Number 5: You are a sweet boy. There is never a night that you don't give us a hug and kiss goodnight. Number 6: You make our family complete. If we didn't have you in our family we would be lost. You are a special part of us. You are here to bring of love, joy, laughter. And to teach us patience.We love you Jayden!

Work in Progress

As many times as we have tried to use the potty, she has never been successful. We have always heard that girls are "easier" to potty train. With the boys they were close to three before we even attempted. With Brinley being well over two I thought she would catch on. Lets hope she gets the hang of it before she is a big sister.

Crikey!

We were driving home, Jeremy from work, me from picking kids up, when Jeremy spotted this guy. He was crossing the road just before our driveway and Jeremy couldn't resist him. When I pulled up Jeremy was just standing by it, occasionally putting his foot up to stop him from leaving. Grayson ran back to the house so he could get a picture with his new ipod. Then Jeremy wanted me to run and get my fancy new camera. When I left the gila monster was on the ground.....a few minutes later I returned out of breath with my camera and Jeremy was holding it.

I guess it crawled under his foot so he reached down while the kids were yelling "NO!" and just picked it up. Ewwwww! I CAN. NOT. BELIEVE. HE. DID. THAT! I was ready to smack him.....except that he was holding a giant lizard, so I kept my distance. He kept telling us, "Touch it, touch it....you will NEVER get a chance EVER AGAIN" All the boys did, but not Brinley. I even gave in to Jeremy, it was gross. It felt like corn on the cob that dried out. Blech!

Jeremy this whole time was talking like Steve Irwin. He isn't to bad at talking with the accent. He also claimed he has a bucket list, not something I want to see. He said he can cross this off, and next is holding a rattle snake.

All I know is that next time I see this guy crossing the road I will just keep going because I have no intention of stopping and picking it up. ****No Gila Monsters were harmed in making of this blog.

First Day of School x3

Seems like we just started summer, but here we are at August 8th, the first day of school. The boys were all excited, but I was probably the most excited. I am not a mom that misses my kids all day when they are gone. I love the peace, not having to hear them fight over whose turn it is to play a game, or pick a show, or they are hungry AGAIN. I was very much looking forward to being home with just Brinley.

Jayden was especially excited since this was his first year. He had been in preschool for two years. Two years of only two days a week for not even three hours. Needless to say being almost six years old he was more than ready for kindergarten. He got up early and watched me pack his lunch. He said he didn't want the grapes I was packing. I informed him that in order to have the fun food he had to have grapes. And also that his teacher was going to call me to tell me if he didn't eat them....hopefully that worked. Speaking of his teacher, Jayden's teacher is Mrs. Gillette. In preschool there wasn't much structure, so I knew he needed a teacher that was fun, but would lay down the law and keep him in line.

When we pulled up to the school and I shut off the truck Jayden was appalled I was walking him to class. He said he could go himself...thanks alot. So I told him I always walk them to their class on the first day so I can take a picture. He hung up his back pack like he had been doing for years, and just walked into class. I teared up alittle when I asked his teacher for a quick picture. He was just so grown up and not even concerned that I was leaving him all day.

Colby is in the 3rd grade. 3rd grade means a whole new playground, the same one as Grayson. Colby's teacher is really young....so young in fact her parents came to the open house last night. They really did. They were so excited for their daughters first teaching job they came to support her. Her mom was walking around taking pictures. It was funny. I love getting brand new teachers, they are so full of enthusiasm and ready to go! I hope Colby has a great year.

Grayson is nearing middle school, 5th grade this year. Next year he can do school sports....yikes. Grayson has the same teacher as last year. Not because he failed, he had straight A's, just his teacher moved up also. He really enjoyed Mr. Crum last year and got along with him so well I really hoped he would get him again. Grayson has always been a quick learner and never needed help with his homework. I really hope this continues because I have enough of my own homework to do. *****Let these awful pictures serve as proof to my husband I REALLY need a new camera.

When do I sleep?

This past 5 months or so have just flown by. Not really sure where they went. I think I may have an idea why....
In the beginning of the summer our family was spending alot of time in hospitals and at the doctors office. My step-mom Lynnell found out she had breast cancer for a second time. There was lots of surgeries and office visits that we went to. For the most part I had to take her because she wasn't able to drive. Then I would also go over and care for her during the day when my dad wasn't home. This was our whole life this summer. But I didn't mind one bit, they needed the help.
During all of this, whenever we were at the hospital I always felt at home. It was an odd feeling. Some people get creeped out, some people say they smell, some people aviod them all together. For me, it feels like home. I have no idea why this is, but I took it as a hint. I decided it was time I went back to school.
Ever since I took a CNA course when I was a senior I wanted to go to school to become an Registered Nurse. Right after high school it wasn't really an option for me. Then a few years later, I tried going to school. We lived in Kingman. I went for a few months, but Jeremy's job paid really well so I decided that I didn't realy need a career. I quit.
A few years later I tried again. But because of earning too much money and some tax issues, we had to pay. So once again, I didn't last too long.
So when I decided last summer to go back to school I did not want to tell anyone. That way if I quit no one would know. But it eventually got out and the world knows.
I qualified for financial aid (thank goodness) so I don't have any excuses. This time we have alot more riding on me finishing. We need one of us to have a job where we feel like an adult. With perks like health insurance, and retirement, and PTO. We have four kids that are getting kinda expensive, so we need me to be successful.
I didn't test very well on the placement exam. So I was put in low classes, low enough that they weren't offered online. I had to drive into Tucson four days a week. I would leave a few hours before Jeremy got home and get back late in the evening. This made for long days for the both of us. Jeremy was pretty much a single date. He had soccer practice for three kids everyday I was gone. He did an awesome job though. I haven't cooked dinner since August, we eat lots of junk. I often ate jerky from a vending machine. When that machine ran out I had to find another one with until my vending machine was restocked. Jeremy and the boys ate lots of frozen pizza, and cheese crisps.
Life didn't stop just because I was in school, we still had evething else to take care of. During last semester I threw two baby showers, and planned my 10 year reunion.
Life is kinda crazy, and I do not see it getting any better, we are just going to have to learn to live in the choas.

Thanksgiving.....

I was really slacking and didn't take any pictures....I know, it's awful.

This year for Thanksgiving it was Jeremy's family's turn. We all take turns hosting, it goes down thru the line. This time around it was Lanae's turn. Which was a bit tricky since she had just had a baby a week earlier. But it all turned out fine.
We pretty much just ate, and ate and then cleaned up and left.
Jeremy left that same evening to go hunting for the weekend. I on the other hand went home and rested up for some Black Friday shopping.
Then the rest of the weekend was me being mad he wasn't back yet.

Happy Halloween

I never really got a chance to blog about Halloween. So here it is....

We carried on our usual Halloween tradition, we went to the Trunk or Treat held at the football field at the school. For some unknown reason I just can't stand walking around and waiting while the kids get their candy. So I decorated our truck. It started out just carved pumpkins, and somehow Lynnell and I got carried away. I have a feeling next year will just get bigger.

This was Brinley's first real Halloween. She was here last year but she was only three months old. She a a cat, or as she would kind of say "kitty". It was the cutest little costume. Her tail swayed back and forth when she walked.

The boys all used costumes we already had. I just have such a hard time paying so much money for those cheap costumes. I do not have a problem when they are an actual costume, not just thin material with paint. So Grayson was an army guy, Colby was a lost hiker (I will explain) and Jayden was a skeleton.

The same weekend as Halloween was also my Dad's and brother Nathan's hunt. Jeremy had planned to go out with them, and take the two older boys. They were out there two nights and came back saturday morning. Colby is the dirtiest kid ever. He can take a shower for school, and by the time he leaves his face is dirty. So after two days of no shower, and a soccer game, he was pretty dirty. Then being a boy, he did not want to take a shower even when he could. He was running around in an old boy scout shirt we had, and was wearing his backpack. I told him he looked like a lost hiker, and he just went with it.

The actual day of Halloween was on Monday. I was gone at school so Jeremy took the kids out trick or treating alone. What a good dad! They even went and ate dinner at Wendy's first. Grayson was the die-hard and wanted to keep going. The other kids were done after just a block or two.

All in all we got too much candy and ate it all in just a few days.