James 5 1/2

My big boy James! I can not believe he is almost 6!! I mean, I only have about 2/3 of his time living with me left! Some days the being home all day alone with 5 kids can seem to drag on and just seem endless until I look at James and I realize how quick these days are flying by. He is so big and I can barely even hold him anymore (not that he even wants me to:( ) His legs hang below my knees when I hold him :( The other night I tried to hold him like a baby and he just laughed and I wanted to cry - how on earth is this baby boy so big?!? Didn't we just bring him home from the hospital!?! Killing me I tell ya'!

Well, James continues to be all about Baseball. He has loved every minute of playing  coach pitch this season as a NY Yankee and has had a great season. He's only struck out 2x and has gotten several doubles and triples and is always dependable to get a good hit and get some other runners home. He's played first base most of the season and has gotten better and better every game. He's usually responsible for several outs at first. The team as a whole has lots of room for improvement but they have all had a lot of fun and we've really enjoyed his coaches. We've heard some horror stories from other friends of yelling, crazy coaches (we've seen it first hand in a few games!) and we are so thankful our coaches are not like this. Let me be the first to remind every one - THEY ARE 5!!!

We're getting close to finishing up his kindergarten year and I have been so proud of how much he has learned this year. He doesn't LOVE having to sit down and focus on school through out the day but once he gets focused he does very well.

He continues to be just the best big brother (most of the time:). He plays with all the kids and I really couldn't tell you who is his favorite sibling to play with. Of course he and John-Mark play together most but he's always up for a good game of mommy and daddy or marry the princess with Gracie. He loves to give Benjamin zerberts on his belly and play wrestle with him and let him climb all over him on the floor. James is so good at helping me make sure Benjamin is safe and not getting in to trouble - help that I greatly need with that one!  Of course we can't forget sweet baby David. If ever he starts to get fussy while I'm trying to get dinner ready James is usually quick to go talk to him in the exersaucer or in the pack n play and help keep him from getting too upset:) Here are some pics and updates:

We went to a great fireman party for one of his homeschool friends several weeks ago. It was the best we've ever been to! They had a trailer they do training in they let the kids go through and see what it would be like if their house filled with smoke and they had to crawl out a window. He came home that night ready to play fireman with Daddy - who was such a good sport and helped keep our house from burning down :)

The "big" kids. I think David was napping.

Our big ball player ready for his first game with all his new gear on !

He got eye black for one of their Saturday games. Do you think he loved that or what!

Getting ready to smash the ball :)

Two weeks ago the kids had their end of the year performance at our Community Bible Study. All the kids did a great job reciting their Bible verses for the year and singing Angel Armies. I cried :)

Some friends gave us their Gator and the kids have been loving it! It's great because 4 kids can ride in it so everyone can join in the fun!!

John-Mark 4 1/2

John-Mark may be the funniest kid I've ever met. His latest obsession is beat boxing. We watch the educational show Electric Company and one of the boys beat boxes a lot. John-Mark has taken to "dropping" his own beat to anything we sing. He's actually pretty good. He can even hum a tune and beat box. Impressive :)

He and James continue to be pretty close buddies. He likes to do MOST anything James does. When I'll ask the kids what they want for lunch most days he'll tell me, "whatever my brother is eating" - as long as its peanut butter and jelly - that is his absolute favorite right now :)

Lately he's really enjoying playing with his Legos and where James likes to have instructions to follow to build things John-Mark is way more of a "freestyle" Lego kid. So typical of their two personalities. 

He also continues to impress us with with his climbing skills. He has managed to figure out how to climb to the top of the swing set and then slide down the swing chain! He's also mastered the monkey bars. He's begging me to have Jeremy build him his own set of monkey bars at home. 

I fully intend to do a homeschool post eventually but if I never get to it I want to post how good John-Mark has done this year. His handwriting has gotten really good and he is really good at copying sentences without anything to trace. He's also doing really well in math. I haven't done our spelling and reading program with him because I think 4 is just too young but he has really impressed me with how well he has kept up with James this year. I really had no expectations for him this year and was just letting him "play" along as I did kindergarten with James. I think this boy will always be surprising me in one way or another. Being the second born of five I rarely get to have a lot of one on one time with him but when we do it's the sweetest. He has the best stories to tell me. 

Here's some pics of John-Mark and more updates

He continues to be big fan of Buzz Lightyear and I was most excited for him to get to go to the Disney show. I knew he would LOVE getting to see Buzz and Woody in person and it didn't disappoint. I hope we're able to take him to Disney World before he grows out of Buzz and Woody - it's just too cute!

Showing me the Lego he created then giving me a silly face. He loves to give me silly faces and then look at the picture and crack up at himself :)

Doing a little exercises with James. 

More Lego time!

One day he had a little attitude so told him to go sit on the couch and be quiet for a bit. It didn't take long for this to happen. He's so much like me in that he hates to miss out on anything so when he woke up he still had a little attitude because he was afraid we had fun without him (which we hadn't) but he wouldn't admit he had fallen asleep. He kept telling me he hadn't! I mean, he took like and hour nap but refused to admit it!

The boys got to go play at a friends house one day and their mom came and pick them up. They were so excited that they packed their back packs with their fave toys then grabbed their booster seats and went and waiting on the side of the drive way! Breaks me heart a bit at how big they are - good thing I've got more where they came from :)

Partners in crime. I was informed they were taking a trip to Cuba this day. Praying these boys live a life of true adventures all to the glory of God!!

Benjamin 18 months

Oh Ben-Ben - you.are.a.mess!!! You definitely keep me on my toes. You are so ready to be a big boy it almost breaks my heart. I don't know if he knows that he's still a baby! He's only 18 (almost 19 months old) but you would never know it by the way he's swinging a big boy bat, climbing on the trampoline, or trying to ride the mini four wheeler! 

You still don't say too many words that we can understand other than momma and dadda. You also say ball and bat but they sound pretty similar. You say outside in a way I can't even explain but I know that's what you are saying because you always bring me your shoes and point outside and say it. You basically just say lots of one syllable sounds like dis, dat, uh, ah and point and fuss. We will all be so much happier when we can understand what you are saying. You talk all the time so you obviously have lots to say but sadly we have no idea what that is! I know you are very smart and can understand everything we say to you. You will do anything asked of you from throwing something in the trash to getting your socks and shoes or taking something to one of your brothers or sister. Last night as I was getting you out of the bath I told you we had to go put a diaper on. I still had to get Gracie out and dry her off. When I came out of the bathroom you had already climbed up on the changing table and were laying there waiting for me :) You're a smart one. Maybe too smart for me :) You love all things baseball and make a b-line for James' baseball bag anytime you can and try to sneak his metal bat out to "play" with.  You also LOVE to sing and dance (what a surprise :) I love to watch you move your shoulders up and down and bounce from your knees and try to snap whenever a song comes on. We listen to worship music a lot during the day and you'll just sing (in your own little one syllable way) along. You surprised all of us recently when Gracie was singing Ariel's song from The Little Mermaid and you joined in with aahhh  aaaaahhhh ahhhhhh :) Here are some pics and more updates:

 

I gave him is first little haircut recently. I just trimmed off the little mullet that was growing in the back :) The cow lick is still growing strong! He's seriously like a little rooster. I had hoped the longer it got the heavier it would be and more it would lay down. Maybe once he gets more, thicker hair? I hope we're able to do something with it. It's super cute right now but he may not think so in a few years :(

Such a big boy jumping on the trampoline - In Heaven!

Sneaking in bed with mommy one morning while I fed David. This is is "cheese" face that he makes whenever I pull the camera out.

Keeping up with the big boys - Big boy bat and all in hand!

When I say he keeps me on his toes I am not exaggerating. He gets in to more stuff that all three of my first kids at his age combined! He's always pulling something out or climbing on something. Two minutes of quiet Benjamin resulted in the bathroom and the kids room getting "rolled". Oh - as you can see he has a bottle in the picture. He still has a bit of bottle envy when David gets a bottle but not as bad as at first. He isn't getting bottles very often anymore - only when I'm over my limit of whining and I know that will hush him up for a bit :)

The funny thing about the bottle is he loves it but he also LOVES to eat like a big boy with a fork. How many kids do you know that take a bottle and eat with a fork. Maybe lots but this is a first for me :) As you can see he gets a sippy cup with dinner :)

Working his climbing skills. I keep waiting for him to climb out of his crib but he hasn't yet. I've seen him try to climb IN it (because he saw the big kids doing it) but he hasn't been successful yet. Praying he never is. We'll be moving David out of the pack n play in our closet in to his room soon and I don't want him climbing out of his crib and in to David's!

Swinging with the big kids!

So proud of his climbing skills!

Put me in coach! I'm ready!

Nothing says yummy grapes like sticking them to your forehead :)

I took this picture the other day when we went for a little walk. He is pretty obsessed with momma right now and if I walk about 3 feet away from his direction he flips out and starts crying and running after me. Then he grabs on super tightly to my finger and won't let me go. For a baby that wants to be a big boy most of the time I love that he loves his momma so right now :) Considering my oldest child has started NOT wanting to hold my hand in public its good to know I have several more years with this sweet boy holding on tight :)

Gracie 3 1/2

Gracie, Gracie, Gracie - how we love our Gracie girl so. You seriously are sugar AND spice. You can be the sweetest little thing ever but you can also be quite the sassy sister - I guess you are a girl. You are growing up so fast! I can't believe you are 3 1/2. Right now you're favorite cartoons are Dora and Diego. You love to say "YES!" just like I either Dora or Diego always say. You also are all about dressing up as a princess and putting on lipstick (chapstick). Pretty much every morning you wake up and before breakfast is served you have changed in to a princess or fairy dress and are flitting around the house. You love for the boys to tell you how beautiful you are. 

One day I was laying you down for your nap and James came in and told me he wanted to pray for you and he leaned over  you and said, "sleep well sweet princess". you.ate.it.up!!

You continue to be quite the strong willed, determined little girl and we are constantly having to reign you in. I know the Lord is going to use you mightily as you are not afraid to not follow the rules :) which will be a great thing when you get out in this crazy world you're growing up in. Praying you will stand strong in your convictions and your heart will be turned to the Lord - and for wisdom as how to best "train" you in your childhood years :)

Here are pics and more updates: 

 Mom Mom took the older kids to a Disney show recently. Since this is probably the closest we are going to get to Disney for a while we decided to dress up. James doesn't have  Disney costume so he went in a too small spider man suit. Everyone thought you were the cutest little Minnie Mouse :)

We know the older boys are all about Lego's lately and so is Papa Steve! He came to visit and we took a trip to the local Lego store. It was Gracie's lucky day because they had "girly" lego's, as you call them, marked down to $2.50 a box! You had been asking for girly lego's and we had decided when you were 4 you would get your own set but alas, you got some sooner!

This is a result of some of that spice I meantioned above. Not having a very good day sharing and being kind to her brothers so Minnie had to spend a little time in the corner. Have you ever seen a cuter girl in time out!?! :)

Finally the weather is warming up so we had a little mani pedi action :)

The princess fairy dancing with one of her princes :)

Enjoying a pretty Saturday at the ball park cheering on James!

Let me hold David mommy and take our picture!

This girl LOVES to wear a dress and spin around all day! After seeing how short young girls are wearing their shorts now I may keep her in dresses all the time!

Giving Benjamin a ride in our new Gator!

Gracie has a new little friend at the ball park that has curly hair so Gracie has been asking if we can make her hair curly. I didn't put the curlers in super great because I never thought she would sleep through the night with them - but she did! The curls did okay and stayed for several hours much to my surprise. Poor thing as bone straight hair like her momma that barely holds a curl.
You have been begging to take dance again and I keep telling you when you're 4 you can. I plan on putting her in a little program at a local church this fall and she is SOOOO excited! Maybe we'll work on getting better curls when we have a dance recital :)

David 7 months

Totally missed posting David's 6 month birthday :( He'll be 7 months in a couple days. In the last two months he has totally left any semblance of a newborn and is all baby! Around 6 months he finally started rolling over from his back to tummy and now rolls easily from front to back and back to front. He's gone from sleeping on his back to being a full tummy, butt in the air sleeper :) He loves the johnny jump up and his exersaucer but loves to be set down on the floor best. He's not crawling but he is able to pretty much scoot his way around to anywhere he wants. Jeremy asked me at about 6 months if he was able to sit up on his own yet to which I responded, "I don't think so, I don't encourage such activities" :) I mean, he'll be sitting up, crawling, walking, running soon enough. I see no reason to hurry it along :) (but, come to find out he can sit up with a little assistance)
He is still THE.HAPPIEST.BABY. He really only fusses when he is really tired. This past month he cut his bottom two teeth and had a pretty bad diaper rash from all the poopy diapers but you would never know it. Still just our happy, smiley baby. He is also very "hands on". He loves to hold hands and is very tuochy feely of everyone. He cracks Jeremy up because when he holds him he's constantly rubbing on his neck! I've said it before but we are so thankful for our David. we can't imagine life without him. He is sooo loved by all his brothers and sister and has tons of entertainment :) I love how at different times in the day different kids will want to go over and talk to him and play with him. Nothing better than hearing him cackle laughing and see my oldest son making him giggle. Here are some pics of the past couple of months and a few more updates.

He got to sit in the stroller like a big boy for the first time. He's still in the pumpkin seat most of the time but sometimes he gets to sit like a big boy :)

He LOVES to be outside and swing. This is a great place to brother and sister watch too!

These two! David adores Benjamin and will almost bounce off of my lap when he comes around. Benjamin had him cracking up as he would climb on and off of his exersaucer. 

I think Benjamin found one of Gracie's necklaces and added a little accessory to David :)

Happy, Happy, Boy!

Sleeping with Daddy! 

Some days he just needs a little more hands on mommy time. Since I still have 4 other babies to care for I can't really hold him all day but my baby carriers have been a great help! Do you think he likes hanging out with mommy all day!?!

Daddy loves his David

Teething on mommy's finger

In the last month we tried a little baby food. He seems really interested when we eat but he really isn't too in to the baby good yet. His first taste was carrots. At first I think he was just happy to be eating like a big boy. then I think he was questioning my decision to try carrots first :) (Yes, that's a Thanksgiving bib and it is April - every day we give thanks, right? :)

Two silly boys!

David is just eating up all the attention from his big brother!

We finally got to have a play date with my sweet friend Anne-Michelle's little boy Hayes. He's only a few months older than David. I jokingly say that I had David just so he and Hayes could be buddies!

 Doing a little light reading :)

David is also talking a lot more. He mostly just says "DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA!" but he's definitely working those vocal chords! It's good for Jeremy since Benjamin still rarely says Dada but will say momma about 1000x a day :) 

Next up I'm doing an update post on Benjamin!