Youngest....but the Tallest!

Jeff and Kristina visited us this week!
So here is the quick run down...

Jeff (in maroon shorts) is the 12th
Kristina (Far right..black shirt) is the 11th
Kim (Gray pants..and cute shoes) is the 8th
Me (black hat) I'm the 3rd!

I know you have all heard it before...but the greatest gift my parents gave me...
is my 11 brothers and sisters!
I love them all dearly!
I am close to each and every one of them!
We are all uniquely different!

In a world of so much "stuff"...this is what it is really about...
FAMILY!!!

Call your brothers and sisters today and tell them how much you appreciate them!

The Sweet Things in Life!

Taking the Dive!

I love this dive!
It is so precious to watch as our kids learn new sports.
This year was Chelsea's first year to do swim team!
She was so determined!
In order to be on swim team, you have to be able to swim the length of the pool.
Chelsea, who could not swim, came to me and said,
"Mom, I want to be on swim team!"
I told her, that she had to be able to swim the length of the pool. I tole her I would get her some lessons, and then next year she could be on swim team!
"No, I want to be on swim team this year!"

I told her we had a week to get her ready!
So we went to the pool and I stood a 1/4 of the way down the lane, and asked her to swim to me!
She could not do it!
She tried 4 times, and just couldn't do it!
I told her, that she had to try, if she couldn't get across one way or another, she would not be able to be on the team.
She asked if she could use the restroom...
and when she came back, she DID IT!
I stood in the same spot, and as she got close I would step back...she made it all the way across!
Later I asked her how?
She said, "Mom, I wanted to be on the team so bad, so I went to the restroom and prayed, and asked the Lord to give me the strength to make it across the pool. Then I just swam, and when I didn't think I could do it, I just told myself, go a little more!"

What a great lesson I learned, from my 7 year old!

I then prayed that the coach would allow her to be on the team. She could get across the pool, without touching, but it was not pretty!

She made it!
Her whole season was tough!
The first practice she came home, and I asked "How did practice go?"
She said, "After, 3 laps, I had a headache and so I sat out!"
I told her if she was going to be on the team, she needed to practice like all the other girls!
After that she never sat out again!

Above, is the sweetest picture of her, as she cheers her sister on!
She never missed one of her races, even if she had one close, she made sure she was at the end of the lane to cheer Brooke on!

Brooke, was so supportive, she always had Chelsea sit with her an her friends!

At Conference, Brooke told Chelsea that if she could swim her 25 free without doggy paddling, she would give her $5 , and if she could swim her 50 free without doggy, she would give her $10!
I couldn't believe how much this helped Chelsea improve.
She swam her whole 25, and looked amazing!
On her 50, she doggy paddled twice, but what an amazing improvement!

The younger 3 love to sit and watch their BIG sisters!
They cheer for Brooke, Chlesea, and Jacque for 80 races, even though the girls are only in 4 each!

I love the way Swim Team is set up. I can have all my kids swim, and they will be in meets together!
It turns into a FANTASTIC family bonding experience!
I just hope they all want to do it!
So far, Brooke and Chelsea, LOVE IT!

Dr Seuss Brings a Happy 1st Birthday!

We had a full birthday party planned...
with all the food...
and fun!
But then my sweet Chelsea came down with the stomach flu!
We had to cancel the party!
My kids were devastated!
They cried and cried...."How could you cancel his first birthday?"
No matter how hard I tried to explain, that no one wants to catch the stomach flu!
They were just sad!
So that night, Chelsea was feeling better, so we decided to go ahead and sing Happy Birthday and let Brady have his Birthday Cake!

It was gigantic for him!
I wanted him to just dig in and attack....make a BIG mess!

But instead he just took the smallest little bites!

We decided to go ahead and all share the cake...

I just served the kids right on the table!
No plates!

Mark threw Brooke her cake!

Ice cream
Chocolate Syrup
Sprinkles
was all served right on the table!

The mood was set...the kids were loving every minute!
We had successfully turned the frowns upside down...
SMILES AND GIGGLES EVERYWHERE!

Brady finally got into the excitement and was completely attacking his piece of cake!

Brooke was so anxious to have Brady cover himself in cake...that she picked up a piece and smashed in his face!

I figured for a little harmless fun I would smash some cake in Brooke's face!

I should have known better....
I turned around to have Brooke smash a piece of cake in my face!

As you can now imagine...my sweet little Dr. Seuss Birthday singing moment...
turned into...

An ALL OUT CAKE FIGHT!

Thank goodness for plastic table cloths and tile...it cleaned up easy...and was well worth the mess!
We were all covered in cake...and ice cream...and my side hurt from laughing!

After a BIG hug, from DAD...he surprised Chelsea with putting her in the shower with her clothes on!
We were not about to switch back to normal!

She tried to escape...but we got her back in!

All the kids decided to shower fully dressed!

That night as I read the scriptures to the kids...they said,
"MOM, we are sorry for pouting about the party, we had a BLAST!"

*Notice: Chelsea dressed like a boy to fit the theme of the week....
Nothing has been quite right around here!

Nothing has been quite right!?

Theme of the Week:
Dr Seuss

The Lorax

We created our own Truffala Forest...right in the front entry way!

Then the kids had a picnic under the Truffala Trees!

Foot Book

We ran up an down stairs...finding places for our feet to be high an low, left and right, fast and slow...
Then we made a trail of our feet to go with our Truffala Forest!

Wacky Wednesday

The girls were stunned and confused ...what should they do with these gigantic brushes!

They made sure each tooth was scrubbed clean...and part of their faces!

Yes, I scrubbed the sink a dozen times, before filling it with the Breakfast cereal.

They were a little grossed out...but ate their fill, except Luke, who said, "Why can't I have mine on a plate?"

Of course he meant a bowl!

The kids spent the rest of the day finding wacky things to do...like watching TV upside down, and carrying all objects on their heads, dressing funny, and speaking silly!

Green eggs and Ham

Need I say more?

One Fish Two Fish

Served lunch with Ocean jello and fish.

Chelsea drew the blue one!

You can only imagine the amount of water that was played with on this day!
Every container was swam in..and used to soak one another!

Finishing the walls

Then we just finished making our home into .....

The Land of .....

Seuss!

Nothing has been quite right around here!

Brady!

Better Known as SMILEY!

Turned 1 yesterday!

I have to ramble a little...because this little boy has brought so much JOY into my life, and into our home!
I get hyperemesis during my pregnancies, which is a severe form of morning sickness! It is extremely difficult, because I am unable to do much of anything, include take care of my kids!
I am lucky that it only lasts 5 or 6 months for me....many women who get it....have it for the full term!
I think it humbles me, and helps me to even appreciate each of my kids a little more!
I am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to forget the pain, so that I could have the courage to continue with my family. I look at Brady, and tears swell up in my eyes, as I realize that we were VERY close to stopping.
I would go through hyperemesis 100 times again for anyone and all of my kids!

I am also soooo very Thankful to my sweet neighbors and friends, who during this time in my life, carried my family!
I have felt and lived through the scripture principle of "Love One Another!"
As Neighbors and Friends set aside there own needs and activities to make sure that my family was cared for!
THANK YOU!!!!!!

Many of these friends and neighbors have helped with numerous pregnancies....and yet I have felt NO criticism from them for having more children!
That I am thankful for....for I know all of these precious spirits where meant to be in my home!
I plan to take care of them, and love them, and teach them to "Love One Another!"

Happy Birthday Brady!
Thanks for Joining our Family!

Painters Plastic!

Remember my Tarp...
Well...Thanks to A Bit Of Kooky, for commenting and telling me about Painters Plastic!

IT'S BIG!
IT'S CHEAP!
and
IT'S FUN!

Everyone spent hours of fun!

Brady may not have loved it...but my shadow shows that I am more concerned with the picture of distress...then saving him!

You think it was HOT?

Special Note: I forgot to mention...that you may want to stock up on dish soap...my kids used a new full size container...I think I may monitor it a bit next time! =)