Allison's school dance

Allison came home early last week talking about a school dance.  My first reaction was that I wouldn't let her go because she is to young!  I did some digging to get more information and to see if I could chaperone.  I also called Allison's best friends mother.  I would take the girls and they would stick together while I chaperone and they would check in with me.  Allison wasn't to crazy about our deal but agreed.  We went out for a mommy daughter date to dinner at Olive Garden and then shopping at the mall for a dress and shoes.  It was so fun to chat with Alli over dinner she was taking to me so much I had to stop her to eat!  She was so thrilled about her dress she wanted to try it on for her dad and show it to her grandparents the next day when they were over. 

The day of the dance was busy I had the church craft function and we went to fiddlesticks.  On our way home I told her to jump in the shower and she said I am about to use all the soap and there won't be any left for no one!  She actually fell asleep on the couch waiting for dinner poor thing.  She got up ate, we did her hair (curls per her request), got dressed, and added lipgloss!  We picked up her friend and made our way to the dance.  I was in shock how busy the streets were leading to Midland High.  We were early and waited inline for 20 minutes.  There were a few chaperones and security surrounding the room and teenagers working the refreshments.  I stayed by the refreshments and never moved.  The kids never danced, only to the whip and nah nah song.  It was more of a social chat fest.  Allison stayed pretty close by surprisingly.  Allison and S got drinks and popcorn and I held on to them so they came back occasionally.  I am a people watcher, and enjoyed getting a up close view of all the students.  For now they were all pretty harmless the boys stayed with the boys and the same with the girls.  Everyone talked and ate.  All the kids were dressed for the most part nicely there were a handful of questionable outfits.  Half the room was in the dark which I wasn't comfortable with and the music was to loud.  Saying all this makes me sound uptight but I can't help but be overly cautious when it comes to my child.  I think I am more strict then my mom was.  Allison asked to leave early because her heel was hurting,  season has been tough on her foot and she had another growth spurt!  So we ditched about 15 minutes early.  Allison told me she was so glad I was there, they made my heart swell!  Not that I love her more than my boys but she's my Guinea pig so to speak parenting wise.  As my first born and my daughter she holds a different place in my heart then her brothers.  Glad this night is over, checking it off!

Fiddlesticks farm

It's been years since we've been to fiddlesticks farm.  Normally our weekends are filled with soccer.  Allison has two tournaments coming up that will take us out of town during the weekend.  Also Allison's season games have been on Tuesdays and Thursday's.  And our school canceled the fall festival, boo!  Anyway my sister was coming into Midland for her sister in laws family baby shower.  She came in early to hang out so we thought it would be fun to go out to fiddlesticks.  I was a little hesitant to take all 4 kids by myself because Richard was working but I managed.  The kids behaved so well, and Camden slept through the whole experience!  We were quiet the crowd between my sisters 4 kids and my 4!  There were so many attractions surrounding the farm we where there for hours!  The kids had a blast and surprisingly everyone stayed together.  It was such a sweet reunion for Cooper and Zach.  It's crazy how much they love/fight they definitely have a brotherly relationship! Also it was so fun to see the littlest boy cousins playing with each other. I didn't get to chat much with my baby sister but it was fun to catch up between corralling kids!

Super Saturday

Our church's women group holds a yearly craft day.  I am not on the committee that puts on this function but I am the secretary and try to help where there's need.  I help prepare and serve the lunch the church provided.  I also send out several reminders of the event and other important details.  Because Richard was working I had to get my mother in law to watch the kids.  Originally I was going to take Camden with me but he had just fallen asleep.  I ended up taking Allison because a few ladies needed a sitter to watch there kids.  Allison earned 10 dollars for help watch these two little boys for 3 hours.  I was also able to participate in a few projects before serving lunch.  I had leave two hours early to get back to the kids and because my sister was in town visiting

Fun day Friday

The kids have been so excited for the Goosebumps movie to come out.  We told the kids if they did there best at school for the first 6 weeks we would go to cenergy to watch the movie.  Allison made straight A's and my Cooper had a tough first 6 weeks.  He didn't fail any classes and his behavior has been nearly perfect!  My mother in law and father in law watched Camden and we went out for some fun!  We stopped by the Halloween store to find something for Cooper's costume.  We had a blast in there, it's almost like a haunted house!  We went to the movie and loaded up on popcorn and drinks.  Beckett was an angel he never made a sound!  Cooper followed me to get refills and then had to go to the bathroom.  The movie was awesome!!  Allison is obsessed with ventriloquist dummies now!  We played two rounds of lazier tag, they even allowed us to take Beckett!  I let him use my gun, we totally schooled the opposing team of teenagers!!  Afterwards we played a few games in the arcade, there a complete rip off but the kids had fun!  It was such a great night out, although I missed Camden terribly!

Time passes 3 Months

 

 

 

A lot has changed in the last month for Camden.  I've always said if you can make to three months with your newborn you have survived!  Camden is practically sleeping through the night, waking up at 5am eating then going back to sleep until I wake him up to take the kids to school.  Camden is crazy chill nothing phases him unless he is hungry then he does cry.  Lately Cam is desperately trying to roll over to his tummy, he can roll from his tummy to back though.  He has complete control of his head.  Camden can also scooch back when he is trying to roll.  I have a feeling he will be a early mover but only time will tell.  He absolutely loves attention and will smile and laugh.  Cam has grown out of his newborn clothes.  It feels like he grew over night!  We were having some digestive issues that I think we finally worked out.  The newness hasn't worn out, the kids are all still so in love with him.  I catch times when one of the kids will be taking to Camden, lying by him, or holding him.  I enjoy just holding my lil guy and talking to him, he is just such a happy baby.  I saw a quote recently that puts into words how I feel. 


"You will never be this loved again.  So on those days when you are feeling stressed out, touched out, and depleted, just remember that you will never be this loved again.  One day you will long for their affection.  So choose a soft voice, choose gentle hands, and choose love."

A Peek

I often think no one has any idea how busy my life is.  Well of courses my hubby, my best friend, my sisters, and my mom.  I wonder if my children realize how busy my little life is.  A lot of my hustle and bustle is due to there needs and extracurricular activities.  I thought I would write about the few things that have kept us busy that aren't really blog worth by themselves.

* Picture Day for all three kids over the last two weeks.  Allison reminded me the night before, I literally ran to Dillard's before they closed.  Cooper of course had his newly large scar on his head for this picture.  Beckett had picture day Wednesday poor guy got attacked by mosquitos which he is really allergic to, wonder how those pictures will turn out..

*Weight check for Camden.  Camden has been having tummy issues and we had to bring him back to the doctor to get his weight check.  He is doing good and gained weight.

*Allison's heal cup broke and I had to take her into the orthotics place to get them to check her heal and reorder another pair.  This took several phone calls and visits.

*Early release was this past week.  Allison and Cooper got out at noon, which is when Beckett gets out of school.  How to be in two places at once.  The kids were so bored at home so we decided to go to chickfila for an early dinner.

*Church presidency meeting this past week.  Being the secretary doesn't require me to busy all the time.  It is mainly a clerical job keeping up with ward wide auxiliary events, set up meetings, compile a monthly newsletter, and send out email event reminders etc. 

*Homework!!  It takes up so much of our time!  Allison is more a self paced worker, but I have to pretty much keep Cooper on constant task.  Allison has a ton of test this year were always studying for them and my dear Cooper drives me crazy when we practice for his test.

*Activity Day's is in full swing.  Allison goes twice a month.  Its tough to fit into our afternoons but she always has a great time.

*Soccer practice takes up a lot of our time.  Between drop offs, pick ups, and soccer pictures our life is around the clock soccer!

*I dropped a pizza off to a friend who just had a baby.  My sweet friend had her fourth baby and she crossed my mind a few times this week so I thought I would drop her family off a pizza for lunch and make her life a lil easier!

*Our church has a bi-weekly playdate.  It's fun to catch up with friends, I usually just go with Camden because Beckett is at school.

*Dinner date with friends.  We invited the A's over for dinner with there two kiddos Friday.  Cooper was counting down the hours and waiting by the window.  I love to entertain and we really enjoy chatting with our friends as the kids go wild with their friends.

*Cooper has had a few playdates with his friend Jackson, once at our house and once at his house.  Also Allison has had her friend Sam over to hang out.   

*The two little boys and I dropped off poweraids to go with the VT message to three of the ladies I visit each month.  Plus we visited with one of our friends at the park.

*My moms birthday was on the 7th and my sisters and I went in together to get her a fitbit.  I got one back in August and my sister got one in September for her birthday.  We do these fun challenges together.  Little do people realize how often I walk sometimes up to 26,000 steps a day!

*I joined a 8 week weightloss challenge with some ladies from church.  I've lost 28 pounds total since Camden was born to date, and 9 of those pounds since the challenge started.  I still have 9 pounds to lose and I'll be pre Camden weight.  Its been tough but I am up for it!  Its not a complicated challenge, its off a point system and percentage lost.  Anyway its been a constant thing in my everyday life recently.  I am the top 3 out of 21 people.

Soccer and other things..

Soccer season is in full swing.  Allison had a game last Tuesday and two games this weekend.  We managed to fit some time at Mr Gattis and steak and shake.  I also took the kids to the park Friday and Saturday.  With cooper's head injury he has been laying low and was ready to be his normal rambunctious self.  Since moving to a more competitive soccer bracket it's been harder for Allison to score.  We tied our last game and lost by one goal at the next game.  Beckett is so much more behaved at soccer games, which means I get to actually watch Allison.  Although I am sure that will change once Camden is mobile.  It rained through both her games and I stayed under the umbrella, but both boys were playing with friends.  I love how well Cooper and Beckett play most of the time.

A trip to the emergency room

Sunday afternoon after dinner we decided to walk to the park and meet up with some friends.  The two older kids wanted to ride there scooters.  I was loading up the double stroller.  Allison and Cooper were waiting and riding there scooters around the driveway.  I hear Allison fall and cry out then Cooper annoying yells at Allison.  I turn around and Cooper is holding his head complaining Allison hit him with her scooter when she fell over the large bump in the driveway.  I move his hand to look and its bleeding heavily.  At this point Cooper hadn't cried or fussed.  When he saw the blood his eyes got wide and he told me he didn't want to die.  I assured him he would be okay but that I thought we needed to head to the emergency room to get him checked.  I loaded everyone in the car and we went to the ER.  Allison was in tears worried about Cooper.  Richard meet us at the hospital and his parents took the other three kids so we could focus on Cooper.  We were seen right away.  The nurse checked Cooper's vitals, cleaned the wound, and suggested stitches and glue.  There was a several vehicle car accident so we had to wait.  Once they got to us things went pretty quick.  Cooper didn't complain at all as the nurse worked on him, and we were released quickly.  It was a long 5 days keeping Cooper from opening his cut.  Friday night we went to the park and he was back to his normal climbing jumping self.

Saint Ann's Fair 2015

We're very excited about going to the fair this year because we had no other plans that day!  Most years we are juggling our time between games, college football get togetherness, or birthday parties.  We went to the fair right when it opened.  It wasn't to hot yet and it wasn't crowed!  Beckett was actually big enough to ride more rides and totally cried riding the dragon roller coaster!  He was screaming to get off and go home.  Thankfully his attitude changed.  I think his favorite part was the Saint Ann's side.  Beckett got tired and hung out with grandma and granddad in the gym for bingo.  Cooper loved the space ride and went on it more times than I could count.  My favorite part is seeing our friends and eating a turkey leg and funnel cake. Camden slept for hours once he woke up he got fussy.  Richard dropped me off with the two little boys.  Allison friend Audrey came over and Richard took them back.  The girls won cokes at the ring toss, rode countless rides, and won two gold fish.  It's strange how Allison is getting bigger and wanting to venture out on her own.  I remember her first fair like it was yesterday.  Another awesome fair in the books, 16 years and we've continued the tradition.

New projects

I recently made a wreath for a friend who just had her baby.  I saw the idea on Pinterest.  I made one similar for Beckett's monster party.  It is so simple and inexpensive.  My brother in laws birthday was the same day my friend was being induced.  Allison saw me working on my friends wreath and decided she wanted to make one for her Uncle.  Accept she wanted to use candy.  I had never let Allison use a hot glue gun but she was determined to make this wreath without my help. Besides my idea to place the words on the candy all the same direction that was the only input I was aloud.  I think Alli did a good job!  My mom was cleaning out her garage and gave me a few thing.  I took home back in March for lack of a better word a basket.  It was metal on top and had a stone bottom, I took in hopes to replace the glass apothecary jar the boys broke.  The problem was the metal doesn't match the metallic metal decor I have.  After months of having this basket I finally bought spray paint and up cycled this piece.  I love the way it turned out!  I volunteered often for the kids school, I m on the PTA board.  The most recent activity was the word wall, the school will be introducing words every week to the kids.  There were 7 areas that needed to be decorated for the words to be displayed, I decorated two areas.  It took me four days and several different trips to finish my little project.  Its not my best work but with four kids and a completely full schedule its the best I got these days.  I haven't really done anything crafty in awhile so it was fun to work on a few projects.