Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We love you for so many reasons! You are the best Dad any kid could ever ask for!

Hugs & Kisses!

Love, Benji, Carolyn, Kathryn and Tubby

(We celebrated his birthday on Sunday, but it was 29 yrs ago today, that a little baby boy was born in MT!)

Our perfect little family!

Blowing out candles is almost as much fun as eating the cake! (Or at least for the grown ups its fun to watch the kids)The kids were so excited to tear open the presents! Their excitement soon wore off when they found no toys in any of the boxes!Hubby's Family... aka My In-laws

We took pictures (or tried to) of the 9 kids, then G'pa and G'ma with all their grandchildren. That deserves a page of it's own. Interesting to say the least! Watch for it!

Dreaming of Summer

Here's proof we do have more kids..

Little Miss Carolyn....our princess! All dressed up and ready to go...(Wed night: There is no way she would be up, dressed and ready to go at 6:00AM Sunday Morning :-) )
Yet, another picture of John and Benji snuggling!I know this isn't the first picture (or 2nd or 3rd) I've posted of the boys cuddling..I don't really feel like I need to apologize for posting so many of the same 'pose', as I love these particular ones! (I'm working on making a collage for their room, using these pictures) So many nights, especially on bath night, Benji will either lay on the floor or carrying John to the couch and snuggle together with a blanket. Usually he'll rub John's head (or ears!!) or pat his back..and John most always will fall asleep: Benji usually comes close to nodding off before I send him to bed. And lately he insists on sleeping in the crib with John. He claims it's "so Tubby doesn't get scared when he wakes up alone!" (I decided to put a pack 'n 'play in Benji's room, so both boys get a better nights sleep in their OWN bed)

**Check back later (Tues. most likely) for pictures of the B-day party that will be going on here tonight!!**

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

This is the sweet, lil face that keeps me on my toes every single day!

*The red mark on his eye brow is not a cut. It is RED MARKER!

Just in case you're wondering, we still DO have four kids. (Look, you can see Katie in this picture!) Tubby has taken over the blog lately. We've been busy, so I've not been using my camera as often, but I do have pictures of Tubby's brother and sisters to post when time allows! (I'm waiting for my bread to rise, the washing machine to stop, the floors to dry, the cake to cool...so now I should try to get something else accomplished before the troops come home!! Did I mention we had NO kids last night??! That's the reason I've been able to get so much done already! Thank You G'pa, G'ma & Aunt Heather!!)

Thank You!

• Awhile back I was curious to see who all read our blog. I was amazed by the number of comments! We just want to say THANK YOU!!! It makes it even more worthwhile to blog, knowing you are here, waiting and watching for us! Whether or not you comment is entirely up to you. (But it does make my day to read your thoughts!...hint, hint!)
• I know this blog is the only way some people stay connected to us and our family. I will try my best to keep it update as often as I can.
• The next little while will prove interesting and busy to say the least. Unfortunately for you, my 'spare' time will be limited. I will at least do a (big) weekly update, or more if time allows.
• Hope everyone has a great weekend! We have another birthday party this weekend! Watch for pictures next week!

A photo shoot with Tubby....

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

Three peas in a pod...bright and early Monday morning!

Carolyn, Emily and KatieSunday night we played 'musical' kids. Benji went home with Jacob: Emily came back to our house! Then on Monday, Carolyn went back to Emily's house: where her and Benji spent another night. Tonight (Tuesday) I think we have all the kids in their correct houses! Aunt Heather I'm sure is glad to have her house return to the 'normal' crazy!

Uh-Oh!

Benji's sling-shot... all ready to go!

For those of you wondering... NO it doesn't shoot far.. or at least not when he does it. (Usually he just pretends to shoot things through it)

*Hey Mom's, check out this give-away!!

Little Miss Katie Bug

Just quietly writing up on the box

"WHAT??!"

Little Miss Bossy...on her soapbox

She decided to sit... after she fell off!! (I LOVE the way she crosses her legs)


Little miss prim and proper?!?

Tubby Tidbits

John loves the straw now...'One' of the cutest cowboys I ever did see...
I say, 'one of the cutest'.. because I know 3!!!

Shh!

Good Night!

Today is...

......Great Grandma T's Birthday!

*Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Great G'ma T, Happy Birthday to you!!*

We hope you have a very special day! We will have to stop in and see you.. in "marshmallowfield" (thats what Carolyn calls it) real soon!

~ * Hugs & Kisses * ~

Benji, Carolyn, Katie & John

• Today also is Alaina & Amanda's Birthday!!

We hope both your birthday's are as fun and special as you both are!!

• And.. today is also my cousin Jeffrey's bday too! (I'm sorry I forgot to add him earlier..)

***Don't forget... Today is the 1st day of SPRING!!!!!! It's been cooler the past few days, but we're still loving it!

Mudboots= Fun

With nicer weather this week, we've taken full advantage of it! No coats, no shoes (okay.. mud boots)... Our driveway is 'mucky' which makes for the 'best' play. After one day of play.. I decided they should still wear their snow pants outside...to save their pants...but kids will be kids! I've decided to just accept the fact that I'll be doing some 'extra dirty' laundry!

I know these aren't 'muddy' kids... but be patient.. If you want to see muddy kids, I'll show them too you!

Spring: The Good, The Bad

The Good: Warm, Sunny, Breezy weather... perfect for line-drying the laundry.

The Bad: That same warm and sunny weather.. is perfect for melting snow and ice, which turns our driveway into MUD...this picture doesn't do justice, but I didn't want to walk down to the bottom to get a 'better' picture. And No we don't drive our van up it right now (oh, how I miss our 4wheel drive vehicles)... we walk up and down the side (the kids love it..because it's in the 'forest'! :0)

But I will take the bad.. because WE LOVE THE GOOD! It'll be just a short time and the mud will only be a part of our 'bad springtime memories'.... okay.. it may be awhile before the mud is gone.. but still.. give me 50-60 degree weather...WE'RE LOVING SPRINGTIME!!!

John's 18 mos Check Up

Tubby went for his 18 month check up this afternoon. He now weighs (with clothes) 28#2oz (75%) and is approx 34" (93%) He's doing well...Dr predicts him to be a strong, big boy! (I wonder what side of the family he takes after??) Of course he had to get 2 shots! :( He cried just a bit: the first shot was 'pain', the 2nd shot was 'mad'. The nurse gave him a bag of goldfish crackers when she was done. He snatched them from her, motioned for her to go, and walked to the door!

Aunt Heather kept the other 3 kids for me, so John and me went to get groceries afterwards. We ended up meeting up with Daddy, which was a nice surprise! Then it was back to get the kids and unload the groceries. (And for those wondering, I (well the van) made it up our 'muddy' hill...so I didn't have to hike our million grocery bags!) Now its off to bed for everyone! G'nite!

**At his 15 mos check up he was 24#8oz and 32.6"**

Our 'part time' kids!

The last few weeks we've been helping out Tanya, while she tries to re-cooperate. So between us and the 'other' Heather we've been taking turns taking care of Larissa, Wyatt and Tanya! Some days its just 2 extra kids, some days its 5 extra... to add to our 4. I don't get too much of my own things done on those days, but surprisingly it goes rather well!

Last week, we had our turn at the 'overnight' visit. We had them Wed. eve through Friday. (actually Tanya picked them up Thurs eve and brought them back Friday morning). 6 kids! You know the theory of your kids are ALWAYS better somewhere else...it's true...we didn't have a lick of trouble with either one!

Look at those brown eyes... both of them!
John and Wyatt: having a 'moment'. It's a long story, but in a nutshell... John is scared of Wyatt. (They're only a few days apart) John is twice the size of Wyatt and could easily 'take Wyatt out', but will cry and run away when Wyatt comes near. It's funny to watch, because John is usually right in there with the 'big kids', but lil 'ol Wyatt gets the best of Tubby! :)And Tanya if you're reading this... we do not mind watching you or your kids AT ALL, but we wish you were back to 'normal'.. well... you know what we mean :) We know you would do the same for us, if tables were turned.. so don't feel at all like you're imposing on us.. because you're not and I know you sometimes try to forget this, but...we're family !!!

Is it really SPRING??

I hate to brag about it, in case I happen to curse it, but... it's been gorgeous here! I know, some of you read this blog from the warm, sunny weather ALL year long. But for WI, the spring warm up is very welcomed. I'm not for sure, but it seems like last week (WED?) it was -10, then by Fri it was 50's?! Today it's suppose to be in the 60's!! And we're loving it. Well, besides the fact that now our driveway is a mud hole, but we don't mind too bad. (Unless it's after I go grocery shopping and I have to lug all our bags up the hill... think exercise, think exercise) I should clarify- we 'can' get up our hill, but not without putting our beloved van through a workout and covering it with mud. Don't feel bad for me.. it'll soon pass (the muddy hill that its).

Last week started out with us arriving home from IA on Monday. Tuesday we 'tried' to play catch up, Wednesday evening through Thursday we had Larissa and Wyatt (overnight too) while Tanya went to the ER (turns out everything is okay), Friday we had them again as Tanya had more DR appts and tests. Saturday was gorgeous! I ended up only have John (G'pa and G'ma had the other 3). I got a huge dent done with our taxes. Self-employment..... *I vow to be much more prepared for 09 taxes, but that's what I said about 08's taxes too!* Sunday we enjoyed a yummy meal at my MIL's to go along with the perfect weather outside. The kids played outside ALL afternoon and as long as they could after supper!

Today I'm hoping to get bed sheets washed and hung outside! There's nothing better than laying in freshly washed sheets, lined dried outside. I love that fresh air smell to them! We also have a few errands to run.. then it's back home... always something to do!

I have a few pictures of last week while Larissa and Wyatt were here. I'll try to get them up later this week. I've also decided I need to cut back on my computer time. I will continue to keep my blog updated. With the nicer weather approaching we'll be spending waaay more time outside anyways.. plus there's that nagging thought in the back of my mind about spring cleaning, and this thrift sale we're suppose to have this late spring, along with some other things that I don't do while I spend my time on here.....

Don't fear I'm not leaving, just reducing my hours! :-)

John Henry: 18 mos

Dear Tubby:

Today you are 1-1/2 years old! Where has the time gone? Well, a good portion of it we spend chasing after you! There seldom is a dull, quiet moment when you are around. You will forever be our baby; but you have left that stage behind much to Mommy (& Daddy's) dismay. You may be the youngest and (just barely) the littlest; but you show your brother and sisters you won't tolerate being pushed around.You fearlessly climb to new heights, keeping Mommy on her toes...

And continue to amuse us with your many 'expressions'...

We feared if you were a boy, you'd be all 'alone', since your brother was almost 4 years older than you. Silly us to think that! Benji thinks the world of you (as we all do) and makes sure you're taken care of, and protects you as if you were his own!
Although today isn't your 'birthday', it's a milestone moment for us. We hope your day is full of adventure and love! Always remember that you hold a special place in our hearts, just as your brother and sisters do too!

Love, Mommy, Daddy, Benji, Carolyn, and Katie

Iowa: Sunday and the drive home

Sunday we enjoyed catching up with everyone and had a yummy potluck supper. Our time back there was too short to suit us. But we were glad for the time we were able to spend with everyone. We look forward to going back again, so the kids can get to the Zoo!

Emily reading to the kids.

This brings back memories of our 1st weekend there. Emily read and took the kids for a walk that afternoon! Remember this Emily?

Benji and 'baby' Katie

Carolyn and 'baby' Katie

G'ma Linda and her 2 Katie's The drive home:

We left IA Monday morning. With only ONE stop we made it back in good time. Once again the kids traveled very good.

Being goofy...

Trying hard to NOT fall asleep...

Sleeping...

Tuesday morning Benji woke up and asked if we could go back to Iowa for the 'day'; because he wanted to go to the Zoo!

Thank you for a great weekend! We can't wait to come back and see you again!

Iowa: Bath Time

~ Bath Time ~

This maybe was one of the highlights for the kids. Their claw-foot bathtub! Our kids usually love taking baths, but Saturday night there were over the moon! Bath time couldn't come quick enough (or often enough) to suit them!

Pictures of Sunday and the way home will follow tomorrow!