Kids...Kids...Kids...Kids...

Yeah, it's that time of year again that I get to watch LOTS of kids. I'm not complaining because it's really fun for me to see what kind of a mom would I be if I had more than two kids...How about SIX kids? I must admit, I'd go to bed earlier and I'd wake up earlier. But isn't that what we've been told to do? I think so. Anyways, a couple of other things I've realized is that I enjoy having the kids all different ages. I was able to use the "buddy" system. The old kids help the younger ones. Somehow we kept the house clean and the dishes done. For me on a normal day that's impossible! But for the past two days I was so happy we were on top of the mess that kids inevitably make!This is Jake's and Isaac's favorite past time...Climbing, jumping, falling and climbing some more! They are really lucky we have a deep freezer that connects the couch and chair to add to their fun of jumping.
You're looking at Jake's new big boy bed! Well, just the mattress. It's actually a funny story. We got a phone call from Todd saying we could get a twin mattress for $20 from RC Willey. Shortly after that we got another phone call from my sister saying that Jake's crib was recalled! So needless to say he's being forced to sleep in a big boy bed. We've yet to try it out yet, but we will here shortly. Until it becomes a bed Jake and Isaac LOVE jumping and falling into it. They really are hilarious!

He's learning to read the newspaper already...just in a funny way!

So with me being in charge of the older kids that have to catch the school bus in the morning. Alayna insisted on walking them to the bus stop each morning! She was so funny because she grabbed my boots and was out the door. If you look closely you can see all the big kids at the corner and Alayna waving goodbye to them.

Cute get up girl friend! Her latest thing has been to say, "Mom, I was just born two years to late!" She is just wishing she could be in kindergarten with Olivia! The poor thing is just tortured everyday not having her cousin home to play with her.

Oh, this is a picture of the activity that Jake and Isaac decided to play when I went to get Alayna in the shower. I was in the middle of making dinner, they climbed up to the counter, grabbed the pepper and started shaking it everywhere! The end result was worse then having to vacuum it up. They both sneezed and rubbed their eyes which made them both start screaming saying while running down the hallway, "My eyes...My eyes!" So they both ended up getting in the bath and having to flush out their eyes.

Oh, and my SEVENTH child arrived today! My have experienced have 18 month old triplets! I think you always need an extra hand. Yes, for about an hour I had seven kids. Thankfully two were at school. But five kids under the age of 5! Now, that's a handful. We successfully got through lunch and all three made it alive till nap time! (I LOVE NAP TIME!) We just love this little Kennady! Krista if you wondering, she's still SMILING!

Kennady had her hair done from her Aunt Laurie...SO CUTE!

And here are my triplets sitting and laughing at Jared who came home for lunch! I got them all to sit on the stairs to try and get a cute picture. This is as good as it got! Cute kids.

So my work as a mother of SEVEN is done. I'm back to my two kids and Kennady for another day, until my mom takes over with her. Either way, three seems a walk in the park compared to SEVEN! Shan and Todd were able to go away for a romantic getaway to Midway...We planned it this way because they get to escape this week and next week it's our turn! So Shandra will be the mother of Six. Lucky her. I hope she survives. I must admit my Mom and Dad came up and helped me at night. I had way to many activities, work, YW basketball, a project, Jared gone working late, etc. It was impossible to do alone, so Thank You for helping out a daughter in need!!

Happy Birthday to Krista!

Krista has officially turned 25! Wow, we are all getting old. A funny thing about my childhood that always bothered me was that my younger sister had her birthday before me. This concept was so disturbing. I remember always feeling upset, sad and jealous because I was older so I should have my birthday first. Instead I would have to wait through her fun, presents, cake and party...then four days later it would finally be my birthday. It probably took about 10 years till my Grandma Aitken once said to me, "It doesn't mean she is older than you it's just that she was born on a different day earlier in the year than you." Finally my age and maturity had finally kicked in and what she said made sense. But I've always remembered it bothering me. It could have been the combination of the birthday thing and that people would always think she and I were twins or that I was younger because she was tall and I was short! Oh, the complexes I was given as a child. No worries now, I clearly understand that she is younger and cute at that! Happy Birthday!!

This had to be the highlight of the night. After dinner and cake we went to the church to play dodge ball and a good game of basketball. Once we tried out dodge ball and it didn't really seem to come together, we tried bball. So with two pregnant ladies and Krista who has never played since Junior High we were a pathetic group at that. The best moment was when Ange "SLOW BREAK" (instead of a fast break!) down the court trying to make a score when we were chasing after her. Krista came to her rescue and said, "Ange, go while no one else is coming!" It was hilarious because she had put her arm around her as if to help gently guide her down the court...very slowly! Anyways, we were stuck laughing so hard at watching the pregnant ladies play basketball! Hey, we had a great work out and it was full of laughs. So fun!