Cousin Owen is ONE!

YAY! Owen turned one, he is the youngest of our clan. Between us and Kent's brother and sister we have seven kids who are four and under, with Hunter being the king of the hill at age six. There are a TON of pics. because they are all so cute, I can't ever choose what to cut out. This one cracks me up, because Owen was sitting there like this for quite some time before someone helped him out! He is such and easy going, mellow guy, he just waited!

Ellie is ready to party!

Auntie Sarah giving Owen his yummy cake!

Owen seemed to love it!

So did all the other kids.

Dani was too busy to stop and eat cake.

Ellie ate hers for her.

Ally had her fair share too. Doesn't she look just like Elizabeth in this pic.? You know our kids and their kids share half of the same genes. So they are kind of like half-siblings, but that's too weird to think about.

Owen and Uncle Kelly getting ready to open presents!

Grandma Phillips and Auntie Helen enjoying the chaos from afar.

Dani thinking she's helping Owen.

Joey Seaboldt, he is too adorable.

And last but not least, Ellie pooped on the potty again! (I won't post a pic. every time this happens, but it's exciting)!

Dani brushed while Ellie sat on the pot.

We FINALLY figured it out!

Life has been a little frantic lately! The girls are almost two and busier than ever. I am only allowed two second showers, and they still have time to destroy half the house. Even with their big brother keeping an eye on them and running into the bathroom screaming, "My sisters are being naughty!" I am hoping all of my neighbors work and are gone by the time I am running through the house with a towel wrapped around me halfway. It's not pretty. I don't have the nerve to look out the window to see who is peering in at me with a bewildered look on their face.

Just last week I came out to find Danielle behind the couch (yet again), with a marker in her hand and ink all over the blinds and windows. I really was quite proud of myself, I have really been working on more patience, I just looked at her and said, "Not ok, go to your room." The girl was smart enough to know at that point, to get her little bum out of my line of sight. Luckily the ink was crayola and washed right off. Then I turned around and saw Ellie on top of the counter going through our junk basket, a bunch of random stuff, paperwork, mail, choking hazards. I hauled her into time out and decided things need to change!

This was about the time I took the high chairs out of the kitchen (they pushed them over to the counter, then crawled up). This solved the counter situation (our stools are too heavy for them to lift and are all lying on the floor in the dining room). Next I needed to childproof the doors.

HOORAY! The best invention ever! I didn't need these with Brayden, but they have made my life so much easier in the last week. I hope they don't figure them out anytime soon! Now there is no way they can get the markers out of Brayden's art supplies in the hall closet, no dipping hands, feet, or faces into the toilet and B has his own stuff in his room safe and sound! Life is good!

A kid again?

Yesterday we met my sister-in-law, Sarah, at McDonalds for lunch. The kids are big enough to play there now and with the 24 degree weather they have lots of energy to burn. We had a nice lunch and then after an hour and a half of playing it was time to go. We rounded up most of them (there's six total). We were all standing at the bottom of the play structure yelling at Danielle to come down. She sat up there and stared at us, and we all thought she was confused on how to get down. We sent both boys, Keegan and Brayden up to help her. They coaxed, tugged and pulled, but she wouldn't come down. At this point I was sweating with all of my winter clothes on, and getting more frustrated by the second. I took off my shoes and climbed up! What fun! (not so much) It's always nice to feel like a huge giant as you're trying to squeeze through the levels. I finally reached the top and Danielle took off in the opposite direction. She thought it was a fun game! She knew exactly what she was doing the whole time! I had to chase after her on my knees, which hurts! I finally caught up to her and shoved her down the slide and I sailed down behind her. She was laughing the whole way! I tell you this girl is the sneakiest, most stubborn thing I have had to deal with in a long time! What are the next few years going to bring?

Things are a changin'......

The girls "Last Supper"

Taa Daa, they have officially been moved to the big kid table, they are thrilled to finally be part of the family dining experience! We finally took the high chair and booster out of the kitchen and braved it through a dinner with the girls on the carpet! (The carpet is already so trashed, what difference will a few more spills make)?

Danielle is so proud! She smiled through the whole dinner!

YAY! (Brayden was at cousin Keegan's house, so it was a small gathering).

AND......... we got at least a four foot addition to our kitchen! How crazy is it not to have to move two chairs every time you want to open the fridge or a cupboard?? Things are getting easier?!?
Notice the garbage can is STILL on the counter. When will the girls not be so enamored with it, that they won't feel they have to touch it and lick it? Also, I was trying to change the bag last week and it fell off the counter, now the can is not only bent, but the lid is broken off! Why do garbage cans cost so much? We aren't buying one until the kids are 10, that's what I say about everything nowadays.

AND... Dad hung up a coat rack! I am more than thrilled! The girls' room is constantly trashed with coats, hats, and mittens thrown on the floor or chair (mostly by me). Now things will be a little more organized!

They are just as excited as me! Now, I just have to convince Kent to put two more holes in the wall so Brayden can have one in his room. Does anyone else experience this? It is almost a guarantee that Kent and I will get irritated/frustrated when we are hanging something in the house. Kent is one of the most patient people I have ever met, but if a project involves putting holes in the wall........not so happy. I can understand that, but it's not like I ask all the time. I just want the kids to be able to be organized and hang up their dang coats! Is that too much to ask? (Take note, the girls won't be able to hang up their coats until they're 10, because Kent didn't want to hang it too low and then have to move it later). At that point I just asked him to put it where ever he thought was best. :) And I thanked him for all of his help.

YAY for organization, thanks Megs, you inspired me with your playroom! We also went out and bought a stack able drawer storage thing for all of the play food, (96 pieces) and pots and pans for their kitchen. I am so happy!

Happy Anniversary!

On Saturday my Mom and the kids and I went out to my Grandparent's in Coeur d' Alene to celebrate their 61st anniversary!
Cousin Eliette came with us!

Danielle eating cake naked!

Ellie getting it in as fast as she can.

Ellie, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Auntie Jan, Eliette, my Mom, Danielle, and Brayden

My Mom and Aunties got them a digital photo frame, now they can see all of our beautiful faces all day long!

Ellie and Danielle hanging out at home. Danielle got a hold of the key board and for some reason I can't upload the other pics. I wanted. Guess I'll try a new post. Gotta love busy hands!

Problems anyone?

I have to write about this so I don't forget it. The kids and I were getting out of the car tonight to go into the store. I had Dani in the stroller and was putting Ellie in. Brayden said, "Don't worry mom, I'll be standing right here if you have any problems. If you have some problems I can help you solve them."

I just turned and said, "You don't know how happy I am to hear that. I have lots of problems, where should we start? Can you solve all types of problems? "

He said, "Sure Mom, what's your first problem?"

My sarcasm was lost on him, but I got a chuckle out of it. A four year old counselor, that's what I'm resorting to! I wanted to start with NONE of my kids listen to me! The girls are almost two, and know EVERYTHING already. :) Brayden thinks whatever is in his mind is the right way to do things.... they are all quite independent nowadays. Isn't it what a mom always wants?

An interview with Brayden

I have seen this interview on a few blogs and I thought it was cute. I tried it with Brayden, I told him he had to help me with my homework. He wasn't too interested at the time.

1. What's your name? Brayden

2. How old are you? 4

3. What's your favorite color? blue and red

4. What's your favorite book? uh, Dora and Thomas

5. What's your favorite song? I don't like songs mom.

6. What's your favorite movie? The new one from X-mas mom. Puppy Power (Dora) and Bob (the builder) mom.

7. What's your favorite TV show? Mom, Super Why and Curious George, you know that.

8. Who's your best friend? Keegan

9. Favorite smell? Nothing mom

10. Favorite candy? All of them, all of the candy flavors!

11. Favorite sound? like an elephant

12. Favorite instrument? a guitar and a drum

13. Favorite thing to do at school? Arts like I made for you, that was arts.

14. Favorite game? All the games I have, I like mom, nothing else, I'm done with this.

15. Favorite food? fruit snacks, and waffles, macaroni and cheese

16. Favorite drink? I like chocolate milk and white milk, but I don't like water.

17. Favorite animal? elephants

18. Favorite things to do? arts stuff

19. Favorite place to go? library and the purple play place (Drop in and play at the mall)

20. Favorite toy? My new dragon toy that I got for X-mas. (Thanks G & G). It used to be my stuffed animals. (mickey mouse)

21. What do you like about Keegan? Playing, nothing else

22. How old is Dad? IDK

23. How old is Mom? IDK, I don't want to guess. Do you know how old you are?

24. What makes you happy? When we do fun things, like going to the library and the purple play place.

25. What do you want to be when you grow up? Nothing mom, just a person.