Baby #5 is on its way!

We had some exciting news at our house today. We found out that around August 7, 2009, we will be growing by our family by one more person. Yes, we're pregnant. This baby will be bringing up the rear of our brood. We told the boys. Caden was more concerned with why Daddy had stopped putting up Christmas decorations outside. Brennen, just walked out of the room, but then re-entered to inform us that he would like a boy baby. (If you ask him about a girl baby though, he say, "I like girl babies." So go figure.) Maddox told Bob that "That was not exciting news", as Bob had claimed when starting the announcement. Then went on to say that he only wanted a boy baby. Later this evening, Maddox asked if he could pick the baby's name. He picked Jaylee. I told him that wasn't really a boy name. So, now he's decided he's "rooting" for a girl! Bob and I have decided not to find out the gender of this baby. Boy or girl doesn't really matter. I don't like it when people seem disappointed when we tell them it's another boy. No matter what, nobody's disappointed when they hold a newborn baby in their arms! I've discovered, God seems to know what I need and will flourish with far better than me. I love being a mother to the four little boys that we have. Never would have guessed that in a million years! I've decided not to question God, but just trust. It's a much easier existence!

Our Christmas Card Picture - Take 2

We attempted the Christmas card picture again this morning. I must say that it went better. A camera with batteries and memory card that work really helps the process! This took only about 20 minutes this time. Here is how the beginning started out. No yelling for a change!

We again tried many poses. We found a little trick to working with Preston. A baby won't run away if you shove an M&M in his mouth. He'd never had these before, but definitely seemed to like them. Plus, it made him sit still. Here are a few of the outtakes from today's shoot!

I decided not to ruin the surprise of the final picture. You'll just have to wait to get the card. But at least you'll know the story behind it!

Our Christmas Card Picture

Last night after dinner, we decided to try and take the dreaded "Christmas Card Picture." Every year we put on Christmas pajamas carefully selected from Gymboree. (Which by the way, getting in four different sizes is no small feat!) Then we try to set the scene by putting up some Christmas decorations, lighting a fire in the fireplace and gathering some Christmas trinkets. Then we try to assemble the masses for a picture. Now I will say that having four children never seems like a lot to me, until I try to photograph them together. It really is like herding cats. However, this year I was optimistic that it was going to go better, until we got started. First off, dead batteries in the camera. Of course! I made sure to charge them during the day, but apparently didn't have them completely clicked into the charger. So we found some that were dying, but hoped they'd hold out. After I entered the room and heard my husband yelling at the kids to just sit down and hold still, I knew it wasn't going to go well. We tried our hardest. Preston wouldn't sit in one spot. Brennen decided he suddenly needed to chew on his fingers. Maddox only seems to have one huge open mouth smile right now. (I mean huge. Like you could drive a freight train into that hole!) And Caden concentrates so much on his smile that he looks like Chandler Bing on Friends taking a picture. We could never get all four looking at the camera at the same time. We tried all every pose imaginable. Brennen didn't like the fireplace going behind him and so he started screaming at one point that his back was on fire. It was not. (Not even I would go that far for a good picture!) Caden just kept asking if we could just use individual shots, which is a no-go since the card is done and just waiting for a picture. I did everything in my power to get good smiles. However, what makes a 14 month old smile and what makes a 6 1/2 year old smile are light years apart! We still don't even know how this happened, but Bob got cut and was bleeding on the ankle somehow during the photo shoot. After an hour and ten minutes, the camera's memory card reported a problem. I decided that for better or worse we'd just have to use one of the pictures we'd already gotten. So, here's what we got:












Seeing nothing, right? That's because that's what we got. Somehow the memory card failed and we lost every picture we'd taken! I was physically and emotionally drained. (Frankly to the point of tears.) Bob said we'd try again this morning. I'll let you know how that goes. No matter what, you'll all see it in the card we send out this year. For those of you without children, when you get somebody's card that has a picture of their kids on it, please just realize the blood, sweat, and tears (literally) that went into it to get it!

Happy Birthday to Me

Today I turn 31. My age really doesn't bother me. However, I do think that maybe we should downplay birthdays a little bit more. Frankly, from that very first birthday, we set the bar really high. Not that it's that big of a deal for children, because as long as they get presents, they don't care about much else. Every year we make sure they have the party theme they want, invite all kinds of kids to shower them with presents, let them dictate the meals for the day, and essentially just be king/queen for a day. Then one day it all comes to a halt. Suddenly you find yourself looking forward to just getting to pick where to eat for dinner and some well wishers on Facebook. What happened? When did I stop being queen?

I know you're probably wondering where this is coming from. Today was not ever scheduled to be the most fabulous day of my life, but it was at least going to be a little better than it's turning out to be. I agreed to watch my 14 month old niece today. (Don't ask me what I was thinking adding another kid in on my birthday, but it's extra money for next Friday's big day of shopping!) Out of nowhere yesterday, Maddox comes down with the dreaded stomach bug that seems to plague our house every year about this time. So, that means no leaving the house for 24 hours, because he's contagious. My Bible Study that I lead had to be cancelled. Lunch out with my mom, cancelled. Dinner out with family, cancelled. Errands that are now piling up, postponed! And so here I sit. This is not the end of the world. Things will work out fine. I just want to be able to feel sorry for myself for a short while!

Then...

And now...

Almost 31...but feel 13 again!

Next Thursday will be my 31st birthday. But on Tuesday night, I was able to go back and relive being 13 again...and it was WONDERFUL! I went to a New Kids on the Block concert. I haven't been to one in 18 years! It was so much fun. They were great. I screamed like a little girl all over again. They sounded great and looked FABULOUS! I was quite the devoted fan way back when. Complete with big buttons, shirts, posters, videos, tapes, sheets, comforter, sleeping bag, etc... (Okay, so maybe a little more obsessed that say a casual fan!) However, I must admit that as the years went by, I thought of one of my first true loves (Jordan Knight) less and less. Especially once I noticed boys that I could actually talk to face to face! Fast forward to November 11, 2008, where I saw him again. WOW! All those silly butterflies-in-the-stomach feelings were back. How silly, I know, but it felt great.

I went with Anissa, Laura, and Jill. We stepped out for the evening leaving the Dads at home with 12 children collectively. I don't think they really minded. Not one of them were exactly begging to go along! Luckily Laura remembered to bring a camera along with her so that we could capture some of the fun.

They sounded great. They sang old stuff, new stuff, and danced their little tushes off! Their new music was really good. Bob bought me the cd on iTunes and I love it. I will say that it is not the same music from so long ago, but it's meant for 2008, not 1990! They also sang all the old hits as well. It was a great night.
There were a couple gals in front of us that had a really good camera and were getting excellent pictures. They're going to possibly e-mail them to Laura. If she gets them, I'll have to post again. By the way, if you're interested in my favorite part of the concert, check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG_mCdaXkfc Somebody caught it on tape!

Elmo Makes Music

Last night I took Brennen to go see the Sesame Street Live show, "Elmo Makes Music". It was a really cute show. We went with Anissa and Lily. Those two are so cute together. We had a great time. This was also our first night out in big boy pants. We made it through with two trips to the potty and no accidents. Yippee! Here are a few shots from our night out.

What a poopy day!

Today was just not a good day. I was optimistic that it was going to go pretty well, because I didn't have to leave the house until this evening for any obligations, which just doesn't happen around here. However, I woke up to the television talking about the elections. Strike one. I am not usually big into politics, but I think I've finally gotten my fill of liberal agenda. Then I get up and start working on a few projects. I started potty training Brennen on Monday. It's going okay, but I haven't gotten him to go poopy in the potty yet. So I was making him go without underwear. I know this sounds crazy, but it worked with his brothers. They would go in underwear, but the lack thereof would force them to the toilet. Not Brennen. As I walked out of my bedroom, I glanced over to see Brennen standing in front of the television. Hanging from his little bottom was a poopy. I knew if he moved, it was going onto my carpet. So, being the Mom that I am, I ran over and caught it. How horrid is that? When did my life come to this?! I've never washed my hands so many times in a row! Then later on, Preston was dirty and feels the need to play in it while I change him. So I got to clean up his hands. Then Brennen ran outside and managed to step in dog poopy without shoes on. So I got to clean his feet. This all happened during the same time that I was arguing with a friend on Facebook as to why I don't believe Obama being elected is great for this country. She's insists he's going to save the world from all that is evil, give money to only those who absolutely need it and deserve it, and not raise taxes. More poopy!!