Life

I started working on this blog over a week ago and just haven't been able to get it together and finish it. I'm trying to get better about posting more often but it's just not happening right now and I'm forgetting all the things I want to post about! I uploaded a ton of pics so I'm just going to go pic by pic and try to remember what all we've been up to :)

Going fishing. I really should get an award for being such a creative mom - ha! the kids had these sticks and were pretending to fish with them and I said, "ah ha - let me tape string to them so you will really feel like you're fishing!" Then James wanted me to make it to where they could wind the string up - not that creative kiddo :) This is such a great time of year. It's not too cold yet and the kids are able to play outside A LOT without getting too hot or eaten alive by bugs! I don't know what we're going to do when it gets cold and the time change and it's dark at 4:30 - they may break my house with all their energy that they won't be able to run off!!!

Look how big this boy is getting!!! I can't believe he's 6 weeks already. He is doing great at night - sleeping from about 10:30 until 4:30 and then back down until 8:30! He can get fussy during the day especially if we're out and about. He does ok when he's in the car seat when the car is moving but other than that he doesn't like it and he lets me know about it! I finally got a sling this past week to carry him in when we're out so hopefully that will help some :)
He's quite a strong little baby! In this picture he had been mad and "scooted" himself off the activity mat - he started in the middle of it and this is where he ended up before he ran out of steam and passed out! He's also already rolling over from his tummy to his back - just because he's so mad when we put him on his tummy.
Proud big brother. James LOVES Benjamin so much and tells him so all the time plus he loves to kiss him and asks to hold him all the time too! So sweet. Gracie is crazy about him too and always wants to help feed him or change his diaper (which is not so helpful:). She loves to come tell me "baby cry mom, baby cry" - just in case I'm not aware :) John-Mark seems pretty indifferent to him. He'll come and give him kisses if James is doing it but most of the time he ignores him and does his own thing - as usual :)

Speaking of Gracie - this girl is crazy!! She is adorable and knows it and I also think sometimes she thinks she's a 3 year old boy - because she acts like it! Yesterday she climbed out of the kitchen window and was hanging from the ledge saying "mommy, help!" - My wild boys never did such! Can you see the bruise on her right cheek! I think she and John-Mark had a collision and she ended up with that one. I can't believe this baby girl is going to be 2 this week!!! I can't remember if I posted or not about her climbing in the pack n play with him when he was 2 weeks old! Got to keep my eyes on her!
Camping inside - on a cold rainy day yet again super creative mommy came to the rescue and made a little tent out of sheets in the boys bedroom. They were all so excited to get their sleeping bags out and pretend they were camping for a while.

Happy girl with her princess sleeping bag!

Bath time!!

The three amigo's - better make room because number Benjamin will be right along soon:)

As I said before this weather is wonderful and the kids are playing outside a TON! It is so fun to watch them making up games and playing together. I love that they have each other! I was an only child and bored a lot - these kids have no idea how lucky they are!
John-Mark finished the last leg of potty training a couple of weeks ago - he's night trained now too! No more diapers or pull ups for him at all!! Woo Hoo!! So proud of my big boy!

Almost a smile

Serious

Ahoy Matie!

One day after baths James wanted me to give him a mohawk so I did my best - of course then John-Mark wanted one as well but his hair was a little long :)

Lately...

Sweet baby Benjamin is 2 1/2 weeks now and we're still rocking along. Jeremy was home for six glorious days and it was wonderful to have an extra pair of hands! He mostly took care of the "older" babies while I focused on Benjamin. The weather was beautiful and they spent most of their days outside playing baseball, soccer, "helping" daddy in the yard, swinging, riding their "4 wheelers", and tons of other crazy shenanigans! At one point in the week poor Gracie looked like she had gotten run over she was so scratched and bruised up - on HER FACE!!! That girl has no fear and truly takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'! Here are some pics from our week (in no order - I'm too tired right now to try and organize them :)
Riding on the four wheelers - How cute it Gracie riding with her brother - and how about her outfit! Ha! All of the boys play pants have made it in to her closet - I'm not about to try and keep her from getting dirty in any of her cute clothes :) But she does have a pink top and her "sparkle" shoes :)
As I was taking these pictures I was thinking "this probably isn't the best idea" but, what the heck. These 4 wheelers don't have batteries anymore but the kids LOVE to ride them down the hill of our drive - only problem is our drive is only partly paved so when they hit the gravel it can get a little hairy - and the first trip went fine - it was the second time down that John-Mark and Gracie took quite a spill - but all is fine - no blood so we're all good :)
The boys are loving their brother. They love to sit and watch him. They are actually able to show quite a bit of self control because they want to hold him all the time - I love this picture- enjoying a snack and baby watching :)

Play time ?

The boys brought me these beautiful "flowers" yesterday. They were so proud of the surprise they had for me. This is the first time they have ever, on their own thought to do something like this - melt my heart!

Snack time again - this time enjoying a nice day with Goldie. I don't know if you can tell but James as on an Alabama jersey and Florida shorts - confused kid :)

James LOVE, LOVE, LOVES being a big brother and he loves holding Benjamin. When I got them all set up he told me I could go now - like, I've got this under control mom! Ha! Not quite yet but he is a good little helper - getting his paci, diapers, blankets, whatever he needs.
Enjoying a nice fall night with a gourmet dinner of chicken nuggets and corn (daddy did the cooking :)

Gracie and James doing a little reading :)

My "worker" boys with their helmets and shovels and rakes. They LOVE their new bike helmets and wear them pretty much any time they are outside - whether riding their bikes or not :)
The last several nights we've been watching the baseball semifinals I guess it is? (Texas vs Detroit) Anyhoo - it's obvious that is what the boys have been watching when you watch them play baseball together and John-Mark does the pitcher leg hike then spits and throws the ball :) HA! Pretty soon he's going to be adjusting himself! BOYS!!!
Oh- and I think we've turned a corner with John-Mark on the potty training. He's been doing great the past couple of days - even going out of the house in underwear and no accidents! yea for John-Mark!!!