On the way to taking Sean to work this morning Sydney had to use the potty. She was yelling from the back that she need to do poopies. She told us "not toots, poopies". At least she knows what she is doing! We got to Sean's work, he took her in and she got stage fright. Oh well.

Ever practical

Jacob, Sam, and I had a rare time alone in the car last evening. It was hurried getting out the door, with Sydney and Josh both crying. Shortly into our drive, Samantha asked me if I like being the Mom of 5 kids. I replied that of course I do. It is hard some days but I am so happy that I have them as my family. She paused, then said, "I am only having 2 kids". Jacob piped up with "Me too!". Sam continued with, "I want a boy and a girl. That's it." I asked her what she would do if she had 2 boys or 2 girls. She said, "I would be mad but I guess I would love them." (It gets a little confusing here so I am going to write it like a dialog in a play.)
Always helpful, Jacob offered, "Yeah, I would be mad too. But I would get rid of them".
Sam continued with, "Oh, I could sell one."
Jacob- "yeah, I would sell one for like $10"
Sam- "no, like $100, maybe $100,000"
Jacob- "Does it cost $100,000 to get a baby?"
Sam- "That's what it cost Mom and Dad, right Mom?"
The conversation took a brief pause when I had to explain about insurance and who pays what and how it works. After listening to me for a moment, Sam paused again, then continued, "I would just sell them and start over".

I was wrong. Print it... I don't care. I will say it again, I was wrong

There have been an inordinate amount of poop stories circulating lately. Never one to want to miss a good poop story, I have read them all with a chuckle. With 5 kids, poop is in abundance around here. Laugh or cry, it doesn't go away. Before I divulge my most recent poop story I will provide this. If you come to my house unannounced I cannot promise what you will find. *AND* yes, I did disinfect today... a lot... which is why my living room looks like it does currently. Much funnier reading the trials of someone else, but alas here is my latest (And I will laugh about it later).
Over the weekend I noticed some brown smeared on the walls in the bathroom. Sydney is currently potty training and gets m&ms when she goes on the potty. Her siblings often bring the candy to her while she is still in the bathroom. (Gross, I know, but sweet that they want to help and be encouraging.) I assumed the brown was melted chocolate, as there are lots of chocolate prints around our house. Never one to neglect an unknown substance though, I cleaned it up and went on my merry way. I found some more in the downstairs bathroom but again assumed it was chocolate, as Sydney (I thought) always tells me when she does poop so I can wipe her. Well today I found more on the downstairs wall and on her sticker potty chart. As I was again cleaning it up, I noticed in the trash can a few little q-tips. One end of the q-tip was brown... with poo. Sydney has been painting the walls and her chart with poo. I asked the boys about it. Jacob said, "It was Syd. I saw her playing with her poop today." I asked him why he didn't get me. He said, "I don't know. You're the Mom, not me." So I asked Sydney about it. She laughed. I told her poop only goes in the potty. She laughed. Then she said, "I colored on paper" and laughed again. Then she cried because I tore off the part of her chart that had poo on it. We laugh big. We cry big.
So how does the title fit the story? I have told people repeatedly that boys are harder to handle as toddlers. That boys are wild and unafraid. That boys are loud and busy and get into everything. And I don't take back that boys are all of those things. But so is Sydney. Sydney is a force all her own. She is a rumble, tumble, punch her sister in the face, then hug and kiss all over her kind of girl. She is a happy, wild, carefree spirit with a huge heart. There is nothing in the world like that girl. So here is my sweeping apology to all the Moms that I told boys are harder as toddlers. I was wrong.

Valentine's Day fun

Every year I have high hopes for the extravagance of whatever holiday (or quasi-holiday, if we must) is approaching. I intend to make it big and fabulous and super ridiculous family! Sometimes we get close. Sometimes we miss the mark entirely. With the help of so many days off of school, we got pretty close this year!
The kids were off of school most of last week because of the snow. They went back on Thursday after two days off and had their Valentine's parties. Sam and Jake came home SOOO excited! They had tons of candy yeah. (insert sarcastic cheering here) and lots of fun cards. They were not entirely in the giving mood, as we discovered on Friday morning when Jack came asking for $1 so he could "buy" one of the little candies from Sam or Jake. (It is tough to be so close to school and yet so far!) After some calm, non-emotional discussion about sharing and not teasing and not being mean to our little brother, the day progressed rather nicely. The kids had off of school for a teacher in-service, so we enjoyed another day together. Friday we began working on our placemats for Sunday morning. We cut tons of hearts out and glued them to our construction paper. It is so nice that the big kids are getting old enough to make their own. Even Sydney colored and glued hers! Joshua refused to participate, choosing instead to try to eat everything. But what do we expect, that kids a slacker!
Saturday began with the usual slacking that only Saturdays can bring. Most of us stayed in our pajamas as long as we could. For Jacob and Jackson, that typically isn't very long. They are in a stage where they like to get dressed as early as possible. For Samantha, Sydney, Sean and I it lasts as long as we can possibly drag it out. And Josh is flexible in that regard. Although he would generally prefer to just be naked all the time so he could hold his little friend, but I digress...
So Saturday we finished "laminating" the placemats with contact paper (only high quality here!) and watched the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. Yes, I know it was on the night before but we missed it so we DVR'd it when they rebroadcast it at 2am and watched it later.
Saturday night we went shopping for a new blender and an exercise bike... oh, and new glasses for Sean. When we went to Meijer Syd, Jake, and Jack each got a sucker. It was dark when we were driving home and Jackson dropped his on the floor in the van and started crying. We promised to rinse it off when we got home and told him he could still eat it. All in all not a funny story until he started crying harder and told us he couldn't eat it. "It will have hair on it". Sean and I laughed and I got to add it to my mental list of things to write in my blog.
The best part of my Saturday was spending alone time with Samantha. She and I went to Caribou Coffee that night and read. We didn't do a lot of talking but sat next to each other in comfy chairs and each read our books. It was so nice to be with her. I keep thinking this time will end sooner than I am ready!
So that brings us to Sunday. A day full of food! The kids woke up to a decorated table and fun V-Day gifts (fruit snacks... gotta love that those are still considered "gifts" at my house!). We (and by we, I mean me) made a fantastic breakfast of cinnamon vanilla french toast with a maple cream cheese spread on top. It was yummy! Then we cleaned the house (kind of) in anticipation of our friends arriving! We always enjoy the Mason's coming over and it was made even sweeter this time by the really cheap ham that I found on sale on Friday night. Good friends and good deals. Nothing goes together better! Megan brought fantastic home grown green beans and I made ridiculously good homemade brownies. All in all, a food night to love!

Snow days!

We have spent the last two days "trapped" at home while the snow and temperatures plummet. I would like to complain, but really I love staying in my pajamas and having kids around all day. I don't necessarily like the 4 o'clock shuffle of showering, folding laundry and putting it away, and cleaning the kitchen so my husband doesn't think I played on the computer all day. But I am certainly not sacrificing pajama day to ease the 4 o'clock shuffle!
The snow started on Friday. They let the kids out of school early, which is always unhappy for Jacob since he is afternoon Kindergarten. It has happened twice to him now. He reminds me all day that "It isn't fair that Sam got to go to school!" and he doesn't. I think it isn't fair that I had to break the news to him. I think the school should call him and let him know. They can disappoint the 6 year old, not me. Plus it would save my nerves. Ha! How old am I that I just said "save my nerves"!?!
So Friday was a fun day after we picked up Sam, playing in the snow and all. Our trip to Indiana was canceled on Saturday because I was afraid of getting stuck there. We ended up grocery shopping in the evening. It was becoming ridiculously cold as the day wore on. I had promised Jacob I would build a snowman with him though so we started as soon as we got home. The weather was so cold so the snow wouldn't stick well. We dug underneath and got the stuff close to the ground. It was tough, cold work. And our snowman was more like a snow pile. Jake named him Shorty, the Snow Dude.

Sunday was relatively fine. We went to the Mason's and watched part of the Super Bowl. Being from Indiana and yet falling in love with New Orleans recently, I was naturally unhappy either way. Ah, ever the half empty cup :)
I forgot to mention I shoveled the driveway on Friday. Yeah for shoveling! It was fun and not terribly cold at the time. I think I am done for the season though. One of those things you like to say you did, but totally hate doing all the time.
Monday was still cold and our snow had not melted yet. Overnight, we got more snow. Hence, the first snow day. The kids begged to play outside and since they didn't need me to be with them out in the cold, I sent them on their merry way. They discovered that the new snow (that continued to come down all day) was good packing snow again so they knocked down Shorty and erected a new taller snowman, which they named... wait for it.... Tally, the Tall Dude. So creative, my children!

The rest of the day was fun also. Samantha made cookies (her new passion). The kids watched "Free Willy" and the babies took long naps. And I, I stayed in my pajamas until 4 o'clock.
This morning, school was called off again. It is 11am and I am still in my pajamas. I just informed the kids all the kids get naps today. It is a joyous occasion! I might have to shower now though. I plan to nap a long time and don't want to have to wake up early to shuffle.

It is about time....

The question to blog or not to blog has been floating around my head for several months now. I have well meaning intentions but I am, quite frankly, a little overwhelmed by the idea of it. I keep thinking that I have to have a long story with meaning and be spot on funny or not waste my time or anyone else's time. That feels like a huge undertaking for a Mom with 5 kids and little time. I do have time though, to lurk in other people's blogs. And I am enjoying their stories tremendously. So, I have decided to follow in the footsteps of my friend Sarah. Her stories are typically about her kids and they are hysterical. Sometimes they aren't stories at all. Sometimes it is just quotes of funny things her oldest has said or done. Sometimes she picks random pictures and talks about them. So, Sarah, I apologize for stealing your formula. But I think you are fabulous and hope I can entertain as much as you do! :)

Ok, so the first paragraph is completed. I supposed I should introduce the family. If you are reading this, you either know me or Sean but you might be fuzzy on our details. So here it is....

We have 5 amazing, albeit energentically tiring, children. Our oldest is 9 years and in the 3^rd grade. She is the poster child of well-behaved. It is her fault we have so many. If she would have been a little tougher to handle in the toddler years, I am certain we would have stopped. But she wasn't and alas, there are 5 now. She is smart and kind and enjoyable to be around.

Our next one is 6 years old and in Kindergarten. He is our sensitive and aggressive one. He is the most tuned in to the energy of the house of all the kids. When I am stressed, he is more aggressive and doesn't behave well. When I am calm, he is loving and gentle and easy. It has been amazing to watch him in school. He is wild at home, but quiet and well-mannered at school. I supposed the constant threats and beatings keep him in line :) He loves big and is fantastic to his younger siblings. He tells me all the time that he thinks our babies are the best.

Our third, yes the very middle child, is 5 years old. He is very into being “the cool dude”. He wants his hair long and has tons of attitude. He would really like to play the guitar and dance to hip hop. He tries out cool dude moves all the time. Current favorite show is America's Best Dance Crew (with our own AC Slater... the kids never get the reference and I laugh every time. Ahh, to be old.) He is also wild, but terribly shy with adults... even people we know well. He still won't speak to my friend Holly, whose son he plays with almost weekly. We have known them several years now and it takes all his courage just to look at her. He is the most unsure of where he is, whether big or little. With his brother gone at Kindergarten, this year has been good for him to try on different roles. I fear for the Kindergarten teacher next year. He can be a stubborn little bugger.

Our 4^th is two years old. She is far and away the diva of the house. She runs the place and she knows it. The other kids just cater to her and she expects, no DEMANDS, it now. And her personality is giant. She is very much fun to watch... and a bit difficult at times. She is the most stubborn and headstrong of them all. And she is smart to boot. We are in for some interesting times!

The baby is just 11 months old. He, unlike the other boys, is in no hurry to get bigger. He likes nursing and isn't quite ready to give it up. And he really isn't that interested in walking. He does just fine with crawling and having everyone pick him up. He did sleep through the night last night and the night before. I am hoping that is the new stage we are in. Now if I could just get everyone else to sleep through the night....

Ok, so that was the “quick” blurb about the kiddos. Use this as a reference if you have a hard time keeping them straight from here on out. I will probably need it too!