Busy Day!

Today was just too exiting of a day to NOT blog about. Ironically it started out so well, and I thought it was going to be smooth sailing. Today was the kids Halloween parties & parade at school, and so everyone was up and ready excited to go well on time. We left the house with plenty of time, when half way there I realized I hadn't given Ronan his medicine that morning. So, we turned around quickly, got the medicine, and then headed off to school again! As we approached the school, Morgan realized she'd forgotten the grapes she was suppose to bring for her party. "Don't worry" I said, "I'll bring them up before the party." As everyone is getting out of the car, Duncan says "Where's my book bag?!" He'd left it at home I guess (a first for him). His costume for the parade is in it, so I tell him to just go into class, I will be right back up with the grapes and the book bag!
Ashlyn, Madelyn and I go back home, get the needed items, then head back to the school. I go to get the stroller out of the back only to find it NOT there! Ah-I left it in the big van! So now I have to carry Madelyn in her car seat (she is NOT a light thing to tote around), and try and keep Ashlyn with me (who likes to wander ). I had her carry the grapes to keep her occupied, until she held them by the lid, and I caught them just before they spilt! So, I put Duncan's backpack on her instead, and I carry the grapes. Drop off the grapes no problem, head to Duncan's class to give him the book bag. He looks in it as realizes that his homework journal isn't there...it's on the kitchen table. I told him I'd bring it when I came for the parade.
I head home with the girls to clean up a few things, start some laundry, and then I go to change the baby. Ashlyn comes to me pointing at her nose and saying "Owie!" I asked what's wrong, "Do you have boogies?". "NO!". "Did you put a toy up there?". "NO, owie!". I tried to look at her nose, and at first she wouldn't let me near it. Then a raisin falls out of one nostril. "Ashlyn, do you have more raisins up there?" "Owie!" I looked at her nose, but couldn't see anything, so I went to get a flashlight. Sure enough there was a raisin WAY up there. I tried to get her to blow, I tried using a bulb syringe to suck it out, but it wasn't moving. So, I called the doctor to see if I should come in or just give it some time. She said to come up there. As soon as I hang up with the doctor, I get a call from the school. Ronan is hot and itchy in his sweat pants, could I please bring a new pair of pants so he won't be bothered the whole day. It is 10:30am.
So, off to the school to drop off Ronan's pants, and Duncan's homework journal since we are there (for the 3rd time in 2 hours). I head over to the Doctors office, but since I have about 15 minutes before the appt. we stop off at Lowe's really quick to buy some light bulbs for the porch light.
Make it to the doctors office, and the receptions jokes about how often they see me here. I told her I should get frequent flier miles every time I walk through their door. Twenty minutes later, after 3 nurses hold her down, I hold the light, and the doctor gets the raisin out Ashlyn has a sucker in hand and is happily walking out the door! We all hope it was traumatic enough for her to not put anything up her nose again!

Home for lunch, feed the baby, get dressed into costumes, and head out the door for the kids Halloween parade at the back of the school! Ashlyn had a blast watching all the kids in their costumes. Morgan LOVED that I dressed her and Madelyn up so her friends could see them (Dorthy and the Lion)-they were a hit too!Ronan was Darth Vader

Madelyn was the cowardly lion-so cute!

Morgan was Hannah Montana, and her best friend the witch.

Duncan was so silly this year, and insisted on wearing THIS skeleton costume! It is a size 3T! I have a bigger one, but NO, THIS was the one he wanted to wear! Silly guy!

After the parade, Brian took the little girls home for naps while I stayed and visited the 3 different parties for Ronan, Morgan, & Duncan's class. I signed them out 30 min. early, and we beat Hayden home! Since the girls were still sleeping, Morgan & I stole off to do some grocery shopping! Shopping without a toddler is always a treat, and I enjoy the alone time with Morgan!
We came home and found Brian raking leaves, and all joined in, even a neighbor girl!

The best part of course is jumping in them!

Madelyn woke up, and I realized that it was dinner time, and I hadn't cooked, so Domino's did dinner for us. The kids loved that. We ate, and got back into costumes to go to our ward Trunk-or-Treat at the church. The kids had a blast, and made out with some good candy (do we really have to get more tomorrow?).

Ashlyn at the trunk-or-treat

Home by 8:00pm, watched The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and kids off to bed by 9:00pm! The end of a busy day!

What's in your ear?

So, poor Ronan had a bit of a rough start to his birthday. Last night asked me to clean his ear, because it was itching, and when I looked in I saw something white. He said it had been bothering him for about a week, and had already squirted water in his ear with a medication syringe, and tried scratching it with a Q-tip. I told him we had to go to the doctor, that it was too deep for me to try and get out-I didn't want to hurt his ear. So, I got an appt. first thing this morning (at first he thought it was pretty cool to NOT go to school on his birthday). At the Dr.'s office, the nurse said it looked like a rock, and tried to get it out with a long scrapie thing (that's technical). He SCREAMED when she did this and said it hurt VERY bad. She told him to hold still, and tried one more time-again with the SCREAMING! I told her maybe it was too far in, and I didn't want to hurt him, just leave it alone. She said she'd send the doctor in...Thank you very much! The doctor just flushed it out with water (don't know why we had to go through the pain with the nurse), and first a small stone came out, then a piece of a shell!I put my finger next to it to show the size, pretty small, but in his ear, pretty big! He said "I guess I took some of the beach home with me!" We figured it was there from our Labor Day weekend trip to the beach (lots of heavy wave action then)....so it's been in there for almost 2 months, and finally was dislodged this last week! Poor guy! Thankfully the remainder of his birthday went well!

Today is Ronan's 9th birthday! I just LOVE this silly, dramatic, crazy little boy!
Ronan has the biggest heart around, and loves ALL living things! Not a single insect can be harmed in this house thanks to this little boy. His heart breaks if it even LOOKS like an animal or person might be harmed on TV or in real life.
Ronan's passions right now are reading about WWII airplanes, or animals. He loves to climb trees, play with sticks, and just be silly. He has become a little chatterbox at school I'm told, but still is always the first one done with all his work!
Ronan has been a trooper this past year while going through his orthodontic work. I'm so proud of how well he is doing in school, and how much he has matured this past year. At the same time, I'm sad at how fast it's all going! Half-way to 18 already?! I love you Ronan, Happy Birthday!!!

Fall Fun!

The colors have just been gorgeous this last week, and I wanted to get out and take some photos of them with the kids. I promised the kids a frosty on the way home if they just smiled nice and quick! I also promised that I wouldn't have my camera out for more than 10 minuets max, and then we were off to play in the woods! Here's a little of what we got that day!

I was trying to get a nice face shot of Hayden, and he kept NOT smiling! I said something funny (don't remember what), and caught him trying so hard NOT to smile-silly boy!

First try at a group shot-Hayden & Ronan don't look too happy!

I actually got them all loving each other!

Everybody is looking & smiling-success!

This is our 'woods' play after the 10 minutes of camera was up-fun times!

Just before the sun went down we made it over to the lake. The colors were BEAUTIFUL, I wish I could of done a better job at capturing that on the camera!

This is just a silly photo of Madelyn and her HAIR! It NEVER stays down these days-it makes me smile!

Here's Ronan and his toad friend he found in our backyard! He made a pond for him and everything! I much prefer these outside nature pets!

Out of the Tub

WARNING: This post contains a naked baby!
Hayden wanted to take some photos the other day, and so we played around a bit!
This is Madelyn holding Hayden's finger:

Unfortunately when Hayden went to take the photo of Madelyn holding my finger, the sun went behind a cloud, and I didn't even notice it until I downloaded the photos! Probably because there were 4 other kids running into the woods that day!
Madelyn & Mommy's hands:

Clean baby just out of the tub!

She is in LOVE with her thumb lately!

Little naked bums! I just love them!

Thanks to Hayden I'm getting my camera out more. He LOVES to snap photos!

Flying

This family is fascinated with all things flying lately. Last week I went to get a massage with my sister for her birthday (had a GREAT time), and Brian had the kids. He took them out to fly kites, and I was so proud of him, he TOOK the camera and actually TOOK pictures! Yay Daddy! So here is Duncan flying a kite:

And this is little Ashlyn out in the field flying a kite:

So, speaking of flying...it has been ALL about planes at our house lately! Brian and Hayden were working on building a model of the Titanic, and Ronan wanted to build a model. So, Brian came home with a model airplane for him. Well, of course Morgan & Duncan wanted one too! Then Ashlyn felt left out! Then Hayden felt left out, because he had a ship, but NOT a plane to fly with everyone else. So back to the model shop again, and of course they couldn't leave with just ONE plane, so everyone got a second! And then Daddy need one too! So, we now have plenty of model airplanes that they kids just love to play with! Here is the Mahaffey Air Force:

Hay rides and mazes

I'm a bit behind in posting this. We went to the farm again 2 weeks ago to play in the hay maze, go on a hay ride, eat apple fritters, and buy lots of fresh apple cider! This is my favorite place to be in October!Ashlyn and Brian in the hay maze.

Sara & Madelyn in the hay maze

Ronan in the maze.

Morgan in the maze.

Hayden in the maze.

Ashlyn running from daddy in the maze. He's gonna get her!

He got her!

Duncan in the maze. He could of stayed in there forever!

Brian while playing sardines with the kids in the maze. During this time, Madelyn & I went and bought apple fritters, and sat in a lounging chair in the beautiful sunshine eating fritters while Brian chased the kids. Couldn't of been a more perfect day!

Ashlyn in the maze.

Mr. Cool-Hayden on the hay ride. Drinking some of that oh so delicious cider. Seriously, after we bought cider from them, none of us can stand any other, it's THAT good!

Going past the lake on the hay ride.

Morgan & Ashlyn on the hay ride. This was a blissful moment! I loved sitting on the wagon surrounded by my children going through the most beautiful countryside! I wish it could be October every month!

Madelyn and myself on the hay ride.

Cute baby!

Lost Tooth!

Duncan lost his first tooth yesterday! He was so excited. I had bought a Carmel apple rolled in M&M's (ummmmm....so good), and everyone was devouring it! Duncan came and took a HUGE bite, and that was it for the tooth! He put his tooth under his pillow for the tooth fairy. Unfortunately we have a very forgetful tooth fairy, and about 30 minutes after he was awake, I looked at Brian and said quietly "Did the tooth fairy come for Duncan?" He winked and said "She had originally forgotten, but took care of it before he noticed." So I asked Duncan if the tooth fairy came, and he said "NO! I looked when I got up, but she didn't come, I guess she forgot!" Oops! Brian had thought that Duncan just hadn't looked yet, because he hadn't said anything to us! So we told him to check again, sometimes it scoots around. :) He went back and found a nice crisp $2 bill. We've got to get better at this tooth fairy thing! It's only been 7 years and 4 kids so far, you'd think we'd get the hang of it by now!

Friday...

Today the kids had off school, and apparently Madelyn got the memo, and didn't wake me up until 8:00am! She is seriously the best baby in the world-I love her to pieces!

We had a very leisurely and relaxing morning, ate breakfast, laid around and watched cartoons, until about 9:15am, when I declared it was time tow get dressed and get jobs done for the day. I had a MOUNTAIN of dishes waiting for me in the kitchen, as we all left right after dinner last night, and by the time I got everyone to bed I was NOT in the mood to do dishes. Had today been a school day I would of sucked it up and got them done last night (I can not make breakfast and school lunches in a messy kitchen), but I knew there was no rush today, so I opted for relaxation last night!

We got everything done at a leisurely pace, and at 11:00am I pulled out all the snow gear to try on and see who needs what for this winter. I do have to say that I love the fact that we won't really get any snow here in Maryland until late Dec. or maybe even Jan. Fall is my most favorite season of all, and I love that I get to enjoy it well into November. So, I still have plenty of time before the snow comes, but the stores are selling all that gear now, so I've got to go buy it before they are out! Thankfully I found that we only needed 1 pair of boots, 2 pairs of snow pants, and 1 pair of snow gloves for this season-I love hand-me-downs! **Side note-When Morgan was little I bought her cute purple snow pants and boots, until I realized I couldn't pass those down to Duncan! So black or brown it is for everyone. They can have what ever color coat they want, but pants and boots must be black or brown! Although, I guess now that Madelyn is our last, if I need to buy anything for Ashlyn, it could be girly because there will be no more boys needing to fit into it later!

Lunch at noon (leftover chicken pot pie & rolls), then the two little girls went down for naps at 1:00pm. Then Hayden, Morgan & I played Settlers of Catan-love that game. While Ronan & Duncan played together.

3:00pm-Madelyn woke up from her nap, and hung out with me while I played Monopoly Junior with Duncan-good times!

3:45pm, I realized that I had planned on cutting the boys hair this morning, but never did it, so quickly got that done. Hayden has a sideburns thing going on right now, and wants to let them grow. But seeing as how he doesn't grow any facial hair yet, it's really just long hair there. Brian hates this and wants them chopped off, but I said we should give him this freedom with his hair. He doesn't want a Mohawk, or to dye it some weird color, he still looks clean cut, so if this is how he 'expresses' himself-so be it (there are certainly worse things that could happen, right?).

4:30pm-Brian came home to take Ronan on his special Birthday trip. We had planned on having a sitter and both of us going to dinner with him and to the Aquarium(this is what he chose to do), but the sitter couldn't make it. I told Ronan we could wait until next week (especially seeing as his birthday isn't even until the 27th of this month), but that was just TOO long. He had been looking forward to this all week, and so opted to go with just Brian instead.

5:00pm-Since Brian & Ronan were gone, I didn't feel much like cooking (although I should of seeing that the child that complains about EVERYTHING I make would be gone), but I was still in our lazy mood of the day. So, I took the rest of the kids (plus one neighbor child) to Chick-fil-A to eat and play. We stayed there until Ashlyn wouldn't keep her clothes on and had to go. Seriously, she kept taking her shirt off in the play area! So we came home to play were she could freely be naked, and did she take her shirt off at home, of course NOT!

7:00pm-Baths, PJ's and a little bit of TV time.

8:00pm- All kids in bed-even Madelyn! I wonder what time she'll get up tomorrow with such an early bedtime tonight.

8:30pm-Hayden came down for some 'big kid' time. He shares a room with Duncan, and is kind enough to 'go to bed' with Duncan so he won't be scared, then is allowed to come downstairs once Duncan is asleep (which usually only takes 5-10 min.).

It's now 8:45pm, and Hayden is wanting his time on the computer, so I think I will go watch Pride & Prejudice while I wait for Brian & Ronan to come home.

This has been fun for me to intently look back over my day and see just how much I DO accomplish. Although I won't continue to blog about it on a daily basis, I will continue to make a mental note, and not just look at the things that DIDN'T get done. After all, I DO get to be at home with my kids everyday, and that is something I am always grateful for!

Thursday....

Today was a pretty calm day-no shopping, no doctors, no laundry-yay!
6:30am-woke up, got Hayden up, woke up Madelyn (they say to never wake a sleeping baby, but I wanted her to nurse AND have cereal this morning so she could make it through my gym time).

7:00am-Baby was fed and I was dressed, so we made oatmeal and lunches. Got the kids out the door with no problems. Even had time to clean up the kitchen (I love it when I know I'm coming home to a clean house), and had the kids clean up the living room and family room!

9:00-10:45am-Gym time! I love going to the gym, it also means I get to shower with out anyone banging on the door needing something-bonus!

11:00am-Came home, snacked and played with Ashlyn, fed Madelyn. Ashlyn started playing with the model airplanes they kids have been making (or is it dad that is making them?). Anyway, we have a whole fleet (is that what you call a flock of planes??), and she was so cute running around the house making them fly. I went to go get the video camera to film her, but it's not there! Ronan grabbed it this Sunday to tape a stick bug outside. I looked EVERYWHERE for it-I wish I could of called him at school to find out where he put it! Oh well, one cute moment NOT caught of video tape for posterity!

11:30am-1:00pm-Talk to my sister on the phone, I had to cut it short yesterday. Pick up random things while on the phone. I let Ashlyn watch CARS, something she hasn't done in a week, because I was SO sick of that movie! It is her favorite thing, and all she talks about. She wears Duncan's Cars socks and carries around his old lunch box!

1:15pm-Put both girls down for naps, and veg in front of the TV for 30 mins.

1:45pm-Decide to write both my Congressman, and Senator about the Adam Walsh Act. Then I decide to call the school board about the 'Snack' the kids can buy at lunch time. This is something that I'm very upset about! The school has a new 'Wellness Policy" which prohibits us from bringing in any food items for birthdays, no more cupcakes only pencils. BUT they sell "Snack" at the end of lunch to grades 1-5 which consists of ice cream sandwiches, cookies, puddings, ect. I talked to the school about it, they have no control, it's the Food Service company. So, I called the school board to get in touch with the Food Service company. I lodged a complaint with the school board, and with the Food Service company, but of course the person I really wanted to speak with was in a meeting, she will be calling me back...well see it that happens!

3:00pm-Decide to pull out the old wheat grinder, and make wheat rolls for dinner. Hayden came home excited for his 1st Middle School dance tonight (there is no school tomorrow).

3:30pm-Picked kids up, finished up the rolls, started making Chicken Pot Pie with the left overs from Tues. nights rotisserie chicken.

5:00pm-Ashlyn wakes up (she slept almost 4 hours, and Madelyn is still asleep!)

5:15pm-Madelyn woke up after sleeping for 4 hours! Good nap!

6:00pm-Dinner (chicken pot pie, rolls, spinach salad, asparagus, & grapes)

6:45pm-Brian takes Hayden to his school dance w/Morgan. I take Ronan to Scouts with the rest of the kids. Brian met us at the church at 7:20pm, gave me Morgan, and I took them all home.

8:30pm-Songs & Prayers, tuck Morgan, Duncan & Ashlyn in bed, and I go downstairs to feed Madelyn. Brian & Ronan came home just then & he got ready for bed too.

8:50pm-Brian left to pick Hayden up from his dance.

It's 9:15pm right now, I just laid Madelyn down, I'm going to veg in front of the TV until Brian & Hayden get back!

Wednesday...

This morning for some reason I woke up on my own at 5:45am. My first thought was "I could go to the gym and back before anyone wakes up!". But, instead I laid there for a half an hour. I thought I heard Hayden's alarm going off, but when I left the room I realized it was coming from downstairs. It ended up being a smoke alarm with a dead battery.

6:20am-I go to switch over the laundry, only to find that the load I threw in last night (which was whites) had a red wash cloth in it, and some of the clothes had pink splotches on them. Luckily they could all be bleached, so I re-did the load with bleach. I decided to make blueberry muffins and hash browns for breakfast, then ran upstairs to wake up Hayden.

6:30am-Brian got up and headed to the gym, while I fed the kids breakfast (I ended up making another batch of pancakes as well, because we were out, & Ronan won't eat the FiberOne muffins that I made).

7:30am-Brian got back from the gym in time for family prayer before Hayden and his friend stood out to wait for the bus. I fed the baby, got dressed, came down and made her cereal while Brian made the kids lunches & his (he went on a field trip today with Morgan to the National Building Museum in D.C.)

8:40am-Brian and the kids loaded up in his car to go to school. I ran out to give one last good-bye, and in the 2 minutes I was outside Ashlyn got my Swiffer mop out of the closet and held down the button creating a PUDDLE of cleaning solution on the kitchen floor! Oh how fun! We wiped that up, did her hair, cleaned up the baby, put the 5th load of laundry for the week in, grabbed my gym bag and headed out the door. I even through in a book to read for a few minutes at the gym after my workout while the kids were in the KidSpace still.

9:15am-I arrived at the gym and remembered that I had been reminded by Ronan's teacher both Mon. & Tues. that I needed to bring in another box of granola bars for his snack break at 10:50am. Guess this will be a quick gym trip, no relaxing with a book at the end today!

10:20am-Left the gym and ran to Wal-Mart to pick up the granola bars, then headed over to the school to drop them off.

10:40am-Got to the school, and so badly wanted to just leave the girls in the car and run the box into the office...BUT...the thoughts of the headlines "Mother of 6 leaves 2 year old and infant in the car unattended-mother taken to jail" keep me from doing so! Instead I grab Madelyn in her car seat (which is killing my arm lately lugging that girl around), and tell Ashlyn to walk fast and stay by me. She got the walk fast thing right, but the stay by me...not so much! She runs past the main office, and almost out the back door where she sees kids out for recess. I put Madelyn down, and run after Ashlyn-on my way, I pass a display of the new 'Spirit Wear' for the year, and remember that the due date was yesterday, and Ronan wanted me to add a tie-died shirt to the order! So, I asks the front desk if they've put the orders in yet, "No", "Great!'. Actually they were going to call me because my math was wrong on the order-I ordered 3 shirts at $9/each, and paid $21 for that! Of course I didn't bring in my purse, so I go back outside with the girls, and chase Ashlyn into the lunch room on the way out. Back inside to write a new check, Ashlyn kicks Madelyn on the forehead, then runs out of the office! I SO should of brought the stroller in, but I thought this was going to be a quick drop-off! I add the other shirt to the order, and write a new check, then jokingly ask her to check my math-wrong AGAIN! How embarrassing! I added $14 +$14, and got $24! I'm blaming this all on the fact that I can't think straight with my baby crying and my 2 year old running crazy!

11:00am-We finally make it out of the school (of course with one more sprint by Ashlyn in the front of the school), and home to feed the poor baby again, Ashlyn helped me get the 6th load of laundry started, and start cleaning up the tornado of a mess that was left from breakfast! Ashlyn was again my buddy in emptying the dishwasher, and loading-what a good helper!

12:00pm-Lunch w/Ashlyn. Mac & cheese for her, left over soup from Mon. night for me.

12:45pm-Both girls are down for naps while I sweep the kitchen floor, put in the 7th load of laundry, scrub the master bathroom, then the main floor bathroom, organize the coat closet, put names on the inside of every one's coats so they aren't left and lost at school come winter, go through the winter hats and gloves to see what I need to buy this year, and clean up the family room.

1:30pm-I sit down for 15 min. with 2 scoops of ice cream to get my energy back and ready to fold ALL the laundry now! I love the front load washer/dryer we got when we moved to this house. I used to average 12 loads of laundry a week with my extra capacity top loader, now I can get it all done in 6-8 loads a week-yay! Although, it's still just as much to fold.

1:40-3:00pm-Fold laundry while watching T.V. and talking to my sister in Colorado.

3:00pm-A surprise visit from a friend-great excuse to STOP the folding for a while and chat. It was just a quick visit before getting kids from school. Brian brought the kids home for me, since he was on the field trip with Morgan-they had a great time.

3:15pm-Hayden's home with a friend. Not much homework, so they hang out.

3:40pm-Everyone else is home-start homework. I finish up with the folding of the socks, while Brian builds me a shelf in one of my cupboards.

4:15pm-We all watch Oprah together-Taylor Swift is on, and she is a household favorite!

5:00pm-Out to eat tonight! Cheeburger Cheeburger has half off kids meals on Wed. nights!

5:50pm-Brian and Ronan leave from Cheeburger Cheeburger to go to his therapy appt.

6:15pm-I leave with everyone else, and go home to feed Madelyn some food (I forgot to bring a jar of baby food to dinner with us-oops!). Talk to my other sister on the phone while feeding Madelyn. The kids veg out in front of cartoons for a few minutes. Missy mentions to me the 17lb 4 month old that was denied health ins. because of weight (humm....sounds like a 4 mo. old in this house).

6:50pm-Brian and Ronan get home, and I leave to go to Relief Society Meeting with Madelyn

7:00-8:15pm-Make yummy truffles and other goodies at R.S. and chat with the ladies.

8:30pm-I'm home, share some truffles with Brian, tuck in kids that are still awake, scratch one's back, discuss outfits for tomorrow with another, kiss everyone, go get Madelyn dressed for bed.

It's now 9:20, and I'm going to feed the baby and veg in front of the T.V. until 10:00, then sleep and begin again tomorrow!

Tuesday

6:30am-Alarm went off-I pushed snooze

6:45am-Alarm went off again, and I decided I'd better get up and wake up Hayden. I had been debating on weather I was going to go to the gym this morning or get some other much needed things done. I decided that if my gym clothes were clean in the dryer I would go, if not, I'll go tomorrow. Checked the dryer, no gym clothes, so up to take a shower it was!

7:10am-Got out of the shower and checked on Madelyn (she's been asleep since 9:00pm last night, and I'm shocked she hasn't woken up yet)-still sleeping.

7:20am-Downstairs to make Hayden's lunch, & I find a fully dressed Duncan-high 5! Call the middle school to talk with Hayden's Math teacher-progress reports came home yesterday & I'm not happy with his grade. Discussed a few strategies with her.

7:30am-Family prayer includes just Brian, myself, Hayden & Duncan this morning, everyone else is asleep.

7:40am-Morgan, Ronan, & Ashlyn join us. I get them breakfast, and get all the lunches made.

8:00am-Go up to check on Madelyn again, she's awake now, just smiling-what a happy baby! I dress her and go downstairs to nurse her.

8:30am-Call the Ped. about the rash on Duncan's lower lip, and make an appt. for later this morning.

8:40am-Last minute brushing of hair (this always seems to happen last minute around here), and everyone piled into the van.

8:50am-Kids dropped off at school

9:00am-Arrive at BJ's to do some BIG shopping with the little girls. Thankfully there is no 'car' cart-Ashlyn always wants to sit in them, but then always ends up climbing out! They have carts with two buckles up front, so I can put her and Madelyn there-I prefer it. We ended up getting 6 large pumpkins while we were there. I feel a little bad that we aren't picking them ourselves, but they are SO much cheaper and bigger at BJ's, and the kids always want the big ones!

9:45am-Run into Micheal's to buy some hay bales for the front porch decorations.

10:15am-Get home, unload the van. Put the pumpkins and hay bales on the porch, they look cute. Put all the groceries away, get Ashlyn a snack, and nurse Madelyn.

11:00am-Put on a cartoon for Ashlyn and try to feed Madelyn some rice cereal (she missed it this morning because she slept for 11 hours straight!), and start a load of laundry.

11:25am-Put little girls in the van, drive to the kids school, take girls out of van, go to office, get Duncan, put kids back in van, drive to Dr.'s office, get kids out of van (I wonder how much of my day consists of getting kids in and out of the van?) and into the waiting room.

11:50am-Get taken back to the exam room (weren't we just here yesterday?), and wait for the Dr. to come.

12:10pm-Dr. comes, looks at Duncan, gives us 3 prescriptions for ointments to put on the poor guys skin.

12:40pm-Drop Duncan back off at school.

1:00pm-Drop off prescription at Target to get filled. They tell me its a 30 min. wait so I decide to shop for 30 mins. (something that is easy for me to do). We find new snow boots for Hayden and Ashlyn (of course Ashlyn had to get shoes if we were in the shoes dept.), new mittens, and just look around.

1:30pm-I go back to pick up my prescriptions to find that there is 30 people in line! They have combined the flu shot line with the pharmacy line! I decide NOT to wait in the line with the girls-Ashlyn is tired and already late for her nap!

1:45pm-Put Ashlyn down for a nap, switch the laundry, organize the food in the storage room, check emails and facebook, clean up the kitchen table and family room.

3:15pm-Hayden comes home-tells me he's unhappy with a new assignment for Reading class.

3:35pm-Leave sleeping Ashlyn with Hayden, take Madelyn to go pick up the kids from school.

3:40pm-Homework started, nurse baby, look over homework

4:30pm-Work with Morgan on her Kangaroo Kids Jump Rope assignment.

4:50pm-Throw 3rd load of laundry in, and start dinner.

5:20pm-Eat dinner together-Rotisserie chicken, brown rice, asparagus, corn, bread & grapes. Ronan didn't complain tonight, rotisserie chicken is actually one of the FEW things he likes. It is always my 'shopping day' dinner-I pick it up at the deli, and for $4 it goes for at least 2 dinners-I love it!

5:40pm-Brian & Morgan leave for Kangaroo Kids

6:00pm-I take the other 5 children to Target to pick up the prescriptions I left there earlier.

6:30pm-Library trip with the 5 kids.

7:00pm-Brian & Morgan meet us at the library. Now that Brian is here to watch Ashlyn, I steal away to a comfy chair and feed Madelyn. I LOVE the library, and LOVE that my kids love it! We are all a bunch of book fiends! Last library trip we checked out 44 books, and thought that was a lot, tonight we were up to 60! It's so hard to say no when it is free!

7:30pm-Home from the library, books all over the living room floor.

8:00pm-While the kids are getting ready for bed, I do a quick scrub in their bathroom (it has been on my to-do list for days, and just reached a critical point, and HAD to be done).

8:15pm-Song, prayers, stories and in bed.

8:45pm-Brian & I clean up the kitchen together and chat. I start the 4th load of laundry today.

9:15pm-Going to feed Madelyn one last time, read a book, and go to sleep! Good night!

Monday

Yesterday I saw on a friends blog that she would be blogging about her daily events this week. I decided that I wanted to do the same, mainly so that at the end of the day I could see that I actually DID accomplish some things. I've been feeling like I run around all day, but don't really get anything DONE! Hopefully this experiment will change my perspective!

6:30am-Woke up by my sweet baby sucking on her hands (she is so good, and doesn't cry when she wakes up, just sucks on her hands and waits for me to hear-this is also the first time she wakes up since I put her to bed at 9:00pm the night before-love her!). Go wake up Hayden, feed Madelyn, take a shower, and head downstairs to make lunches.

7:10am-Hayden is dressed, ready, and watching T.V. He even made his own lunch, so that's one less I need to do. Duncan makes it downstairs, and then Morgan and Ashlyn. Ronan usually needs to have an invitation to start the day (only on school days though).

7:30am-Family prayer, then Hayden's out the door for the bus (which stops at the end of our driveway-I love that). Get the rest of the kids breakfast-Duncan a toad-in-the-hole and toast, Morgan heat up frozen pancakes (I make a huge batch, then freeze them so I can whip them out any day of the week), Ashlyn-frozen pancakes, and scrambled eggs, Ronan joins us and is dressed-yay! Pancakes for him.

7:45am-Madelyn is on the counter in her bouncy seat while I'm feeding her rice cereal and eating my breakfast of scrambled eggs w/sausage and toast at the same time. She starts to get fussy and stops eating. I'm not sure why, so I continue to try and get it in her mouth.

8:00am-I finally give up trying to get Madelyn to finish eating, and take her upstairs to get dressed. Oh my! Her diaper has exploded, and it's not a pretty sight. No wonder she was fussy! It's bad enough that it warrants a bath, so I start the tub, and start hollering out assignments to the kids to finish things up and get teeth & hair brushed.

8:15am-Madelyn is bathed, dressed and much happier. Downstairs to dress Ashlyn, and make the lunches that should of been done already.

8:30am-Next door neighbor girl arrives who I drive to school-oops, that means it's time to go! Quickly brush the girls hair (thank goodness the boys styles don't need brushing), get shoes on everyone, grab jackets-it's a bit chilly this morning, and head to the car. I run back inside for Madelyn's shot record, she's got an appt. as soon as we drop the kids off!

8:52am-Drop the kids off at school. School starts at 8:55am, so they've got to hussle to class. I swing back home before going to the Dr.'s office to get something for Ashlyn to do (Due to the flu, they have taken all toys/books out of the lobby and rooms).

9:15am-arrive at the Dr.'s office
9:20am-Get called to go back to the room! Wow, only a 5 min. wait! Once we are in the room & I get Madelyn undressed to be weighed (she was 17lbs.), Ashlyn starts getting undressed. I tell her it's not her turn today, but she won't accept that, and spends the entire appointment in her diaper only. She LOVES to go to the Dr.'s, and kept saying "My turn!" after anyone did anything to Madelyn! She even started to take her diaper off after the nurse took Madelyn's rectal temperature! Madelyn got 4 shots and 1 oral vaccination. Ashlyn again said "My turn!"

10:30am-Left the Dr.'s office, and headed over to CVS to get a flu shot for myself.

10:55am-Called Brian to let him know I might be late for our 11:30am lunch date, as the line looks long for the flu shot.

11:20am-Left CVS, happily we only had a 15 min. wait. Ashlyn was purchased a toy truck to keep her entertained because I thought it would be longer.

11:30am-Met Brian at the Indian restaurant for the lunch buffet. Delicious! Ashlyn ate the food, but we both missed our little Duncan who LOVES Indian and was our little buddy all last year for these lunch dates! Ashlyn also was done pretty quick, and trying to drive her new truck all over the place...we didn't linger long!

12:00pm-Left the restaurant and headed home to put the girls for a nap. Originally I had planned on going grocery shopping right after lunch, but I no longer had the energy to take a tired, active 2-year old on a big shopping trip.

12:30pm-Ashlyn is sleeping, I feed Madelyn, watch 30 mins. of TV, then get some things done on the computer. Check emails, send out some emails, ect. Order a few things on line (new sticker for the van to represent Madelyn)

2:00pm-Do the dishes from breakfast, clean up the table so it's ready to do homework on. Pick up the house in general.

3:00pm-Brian comes home early with a surprise! Strawberry milkshake from Cheeburger Cheeburger, yum! Then leaves to go pick up the kids for me!

3:15pm-Hayden comes in the door and sits down to chat with me. I love the few minutes we have before everyone else comes home!

3:30pm-Brian comes back with Ronan, Morgan, Duncan, and the neighbor girl who has decided to to homework at our house today.

3:40pm-Kids have finished their snacks and begin homework.

4:00pm-I begin to cook dinner-homemade soup with ground turkey!

5:00pm-Eat dinner. Ronan complains about the soup (what doesn't this boy complain about!)

5:45pm-We all get in the car to go to the Library together for family night!

6:00pm-We arrive at the empty parking lot of the Library.....It's Columbus Day-duh! New plan, we all head home to watch a movie together instead. The drive home the kids are rockin out to Taylor Swift-they all love her!

6:30pm-Blankets and pillows all over the floor, movie is started and everyone snuggled together!

6:45pm-I decide to sneak away and make pumpkin pie to eat after the movie.

8:00pm-Movie is over, everyone is excited about the pumpkin pie. We each have a slice, then have prayers and up to bed.

8:30pm-Brian reads "Little Town on the Prairie" in the hallways while the kids lay in their beds. I hear Madelyn crying in the family room and go down to change and feed her. I find her on her stomach! That's why she is crying-not happy about it! I left her on her back, so she rolled, and I missed it!

8:45pm-I feed Madelyn while talking to my sister on the phone.

9:15pm-I'm tired, going up to bed!

Little Mommy.....

Brian got a photo of Ashlyn for me nursing her baby. She sits next to me lately when I'm feeding Madelyn, and nurses her baby too......

Time to burp the babies...

I love these little moments! They are the best!