1. No soccer last Saturday because of Spring break. As much as I'm enjoying the season, with 3 kids playing it was kind of nice to have a break.
2. I took the girls to the Orthodontist on Monday. Looks like braces are in store for Pen very soon, and Ginger in a few years. I'm excited to get it started!
3. Pen finished the last of her ballet classes this week. This is in my favorites simply because I'm excited to see what the future holds for her. I think we're going to have fun.
4. On Wednesday, Edith spent more time walking than crawling. So, I hereby declare her a walker! She still switches between the two modes of transportation, but she's basically there.
5. Pen and Ginger taught Edith how to do the Chicken Dance this week. So hilarious. We were having such a blast watching her that we didn't even think about taking video. Next time, for sure.
6. The other day I was talking about something that happened in 1978 and Bud broke in with the comment, "So, when you were about my age, Mom." I should be used to how smart he is by now, but things like that still amaze me. Good mental math on the fly for my almost 7 year old.
7. Edith is a scowler (see sidebar picture). She is often displeased by things people say or do because she thinks they should only say or do what she tells them to. Anyway, it's funny now, but probably won't be later. Right now while it's still funny, I think that one of my new favorite things is seeing her scowl when she has her pigtails in. The dichotomy between her sweetness-and-light hairdo and her expression makes me smile.
8. Pen is off performing in her very last ballet with her school tonight and I hope she is enjoying every moment of it. They finish up tomorrow night and I hope she dances her heart out. I'm proud of her for how dedicated and hard-working she has been, and I know she will continue to be that way with her next endeavor.
9. You know, I've got great kids. I'm so glad.
Guess I'd better go get dinner now. My stomach is begging me for some sustenance. Bye!
Can you tell that I'm getting sick of the same old title every week? It was Spring Break for the kids this week, so some good things must have happened.
1. We found out on Saturday that Pen made the high school competition dance team! Such a thrill for her (and for us, too). Now she's more excited than ever to enter the 9th grade in the fall. The trip the team gets to take to San Francisco sure doesn't make her any less excited, I can tell you that.
2. We had 3 soccer games on Saturday, which meant we had to split up a little. It also meant that I missed seeing Ginger score a goal! I'm super excited for her-- it feels so good to do that.
3. We dyed eggs on Saturday, too. I love to make eggs pretty.
4. Sunday was Easter, of course. I already posted about that earlier in the week and you can read about it here.
5. I took the kids to the library on Monday so they'd have some good reading for our Spring Break Stay-cation. It's been too long since we've gone, and I'm happy to say that I picked up a few books, too. I've even managed to read a little this week.
6. We went to frozen yogurt as a family on Monday night. We had a great time together.
7. I worked out in the yard with the boys on Tuesday morning for a while and the girls tackled some laundry inside (no, I'm not one who believes that girls work inside, boys out-- you know me). I mention this because it always feels good to get things accomplished-- I'm always amazed at how much better I feel. With 4 shedding pine trees in our yard it can get pretty trashy looking out there. The boys and I decided to attempt some pine needle cleanup. Here is a picture of one of the mountains we created and then put in the yard debris can:
We filled up the can to the brim with needles (with me even getting in the can and hopping up and down a few times to compress them-- watching me do that was Edith's favorite part) and didn't even finish cleaning up what only 2 of the trees dropped this winter. It still feels good, though. And we had fun together.
8. I took the kids (minus Pen who wanted to stay home and read a la her Aunt Martha) on a fun hike up in the canyon on Wednesday morning. The weather was perfect-- the canyon sheltered us from the wind that was starting to whip up in the valley-- and the company was great, too. The kids loved getting to explore and I love watching them as they discover things. Edith was jealous as all get out, though, and would thrash around in her carrier, pointing and yelling in the kids' direction. She just wanted to join them as they climbed around. Luckily she was happy as long as I kept moving.
9. Edith and I had a talk about her behavior on the hike, and I explained that if she could walk she would be able to do more of the things the other kids were doing. Maybe our little chat is what inspired her to take 7 or 8 steps on her own last night. We just may have a new walker on our hands soon!
10. Yesterday was my favorite kind of weather-- cloudy and raining. We snuggled in and read our books (with pauses to clean the bathroom, do laundry, cook a little and feed the kids-- with 5 kids you don't get a complete pass, you know). With all of the warm weather we'd been having, I thought my 'Winter of Soup' was at an end. I was happy to be able to make another batch and have my folks over to enjoy it with us.
11. I am watching the 3 middle kids as they do synchronized dancing (or something) as they lie on the family room floor. I'm glad music is such a big part of our family life. If it weren't, I would miss out on seeing things like that (whatever it was).
12. Rophone came home a little early today. That always makes me happy.
Having a break from the normal (busy) schedule has been really good for me this week. Can you tell?
This past Sunday was Easter. Rophone had to work the first half of the day, so we waited until he got home to celebrate. It actually worked out, since church is at 9 am. There's no way I could have pulled off getting the kids ready for church and Easter stuff by that time in the morning.
After church, I stuffed the kids full of some lunch (and Big spilled raspberry jam on his clothes) and forced them to pose for a picture. It's an Easter must, isn't it? Trying to get all 5 to look at the camera was a losing proposition. Especially with their eyes all open-- I think Pen had her eyes closed in almost every shot. Anyway, here are a few photos that show the process:
It makes me laugh.
Anyway, after the picture taking we went inside to see what the Easter Bunny brought. I was super excited about it this year since it was Edith's first time participating. I love my other kids, but this Easter was really about her. That's why most of the photos are of Edith. Sorry, other kids. We'll get back to you next year.
The kids trooped in to the living room and had a look-see. I love how Edith is so interested to see what her brother is showing off.
Then it was time for Edith to check out what was in her basket.
She seemed to think it was all pretty swell, until she noticed the dark chocolate Cadbury Mini Eggs for Rophone in our basket, that is. Now we're talking excitement!
I love these next few photos. How Edith's standing there so solidly, and her body language illustrates how happy and proud she is to be doing just what her older brothers and sisters are doing. You can tell she's pleased as punch to be a part of it all and feels so big. All of that without even seeing her face.
And then she was distracted by the Cadbury Eggs again.
Clearly, if I wanted to keep Rophone's eggs for ourselves, it was time to change focus. Time to hunt for eggs!
Edith did really well for about a minute, even putting the first egg she found into her basket as we instructed her to do. Way to go, Edith!
(My motherly guilt is telling me it's time to pause for a few photos of the other kids)
You can tell I spent so much time on taking those shots, huh? Anyway, back to Edith. Doesn't she look fabulous in her cute dress from her cousin? I love it on her.
How does that taste, Edith?
I think Edith really loved her first (participatory) Easter, although she kept trying to blow on things like they were candles at a birthday party. I'm sure she'll be able to differentiate between the holidays eventually. Give her time.
Happy Birthday Easter! Blow, Edith! Perfect.
I don't know why I'm always caught so off guard when Friday rolls around again. It's not like it has suddenly changed location. It just seems like it.
1. Rophone's console at work was broken to start the week so he got half of Monday off. I wasn't the one to break it, I swear, but it did give us some needed time together.
2. Edith got a new tooth! She's got five!
3. This was a week of soccer and more soccer. We really like it, and Edith has let us know that she's going to be a soccer star when she's older. The girl is obsessed. That makes me happy.
4. A really nice (and very energetic) kid on Bud's team told me what a good player 'she' is. I thanked him and agreed with his assessment. Then I told him that Bud is actually a boy, just a boy with long hair. The kid's simple, accepting response of, "Oh. That's cool." made me happy. After the bullying Bud has gone through this year, it's nice to know there are still kids out there who just don't care and accept others for who they are.
5. Pen auditioned for the high school competition dance team yesterday. She thinks it went well. We are still waiting to hear wether she made it or not, but I'm just happy that Pen is going for what she wants and is so eager to have new experiences. I think she's going to make the most of the next 4 years by taking advantage of opportunities that come her way. I love that she's willing to work hard to get what she wants, too. Fingers are crossed!
6. Rophone took me on a date to get frozen yogurt tonight. The company was great and the yogurt was, too. Num!
More soccer tomorrow!
I put Edith's hair up in pigtails for the first time ever today. I didn't have any of those little clear elastics that are perfect for a baby's hair, but I made do with what I had. Even without the little clear elastics, I think Edith looked darn cute. So cute, in fact, that I can't decide which of the bazillion photos I shot should be included in this post. You might have to look at half a bazillion. Clearly, I have a problem.
It's not just me, though. Edith thought the baby in the mirror looked cute, too. I was amazed that she sat perfectly still while I yanked ever so gently on her hair-- she usually doesn't hold still for even a minute. Even though Edith has cowlicks all over and I did this trial run with dry hair, the end result looked good enough for Edith to clap with glee when she saw herself. "Pretty!", she said.
I enlisted Edith's help to take down snowflakes from the front window. Once I saw her at work, I just knew I had to take her picture. It's not my fault I took a bazillion. I couldn't fight the compulsion. Here, see for yourself:
Not that she stayed focused on the snowflakes for long...
...the fancy chandelier caught Edith's attention...
... and Edith sings some mighty wicked backup-singer 'oooohs'.
Then she had to take some time to play with cars. She loves them, you know.
Okay, Edith. Time to get back to work.
I just can't get over how cute (and old!) she looks in pigtails! Look, look!
Okay, Edith. I get it. I'm done now.
(But, so cute!!!!)
