Traveling with a Bunch of Kids

Posted on November 19, 2009 by Abbie

So, I gave the stats for our trip to Houston. I still can’t believe we drove that many miles with five kids. Fortunately, we had some great help as Grandmere traveled with us. And here, now begins the barrage of photos from our trip. We traveled to Houston to celebrate the wedding of my best friend from high school. I was ecstatic that she was getting married and on my birthday no less..this trip was a bit of a birthday gift to me that I was able to enjoy with the whole family.

After leaving Aunt & Uncle B’s place we started towards Houston. We stopped about every two hours to walk around and potty (and get wiggles out). As we were traveling towards Baton Rouge, I was at the wheel and looked over and saw a park. We were approaching the two hour mark so we decided to pull over and get a break. It was a beautiful park with lots of pretty birds…

These may look harmless but when we got out of the car, they started to come towards us…and when we walked away they walked faster towards us. Mark quacked them away…my hero.

Watching the birds! Yes, Josiah has no shoes. At some point we lost one of his shoes and had to make a quick (cheap) purchase in Houston.

Watching the birds some more.

Getting some sibling love

Houston or Bust! Liam thought he’d try and walk there. Through the water. In his new tennis shoes. Poor kid got them soaking wet!

Off We Go

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Abbie

We started off our trip to Houston by hitting the end of the hurricane/tropical storm Ida. Our original plan was to go to Mobile, Al on Tuesday, however, the storm was pretty strong so we headed up north to Uncle & Aunt B’s house. It served a great purpose in that we were able to visit with family and have a free place to crash. My kids, needless to say, were ecstatic to see their cousins.

I put Ceili Rain in the “Freedom Center (a built in play pen…one of the boys had destroyed other playpens so Uncle B built this)” with her twin one year old cousins. N and TJ were fascinated by her! They even tried to pick her up by the head. She wasn’t quite sure what to think about them.

These two little monkeys were peas in a pod! H has calmed down some…but he still reminds me so much of Liam!

Josiah got some good reading time with Uncle B.

H and Liam are only eight months apart so when I see them playing together, it’s just too sweet not to get a picture.

Phew!!

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Abbie

We were able to travel to visit Ge & Granddaddy this weekend and guess what we forgot??? Our camera! This weekend marked a month of travels so I am not surprised that I completely forgot to bring it. But a little disappointed too as we celebrated my birthday with the family!

So here’s a run down of the weekend:
Friday night: Football game. Yes, my dad is retired but this was the last game of the regular season at the school where my parents work (and where dad coached). It was great to see some of the game. However, it was equally nice to be able to leave the game at half time, not feel guilty, and tuck our tired ones into bed.

Saturday morning: Market Day where Ge & Granddaddy set up a booth and sale wooden pens. They are absolutely beautiful too.

Saturday afternoon: late lunch with all the family to celebrate my birthday. My choice: wings…yummm. I get my ~~goodies~~ amazing gifts lavished on me by my dear parents and sister.

Saturday evening: auction. Ge & Granddaddy are hooked on the auction. We enjoyed visiting a little with them. Didn’t purchase anything though.

Sunday morning: a little visit and then home for church in the pm.

And so, our journey ended and now the kids are blissfully sleeping (at 6:30 in the morning) as I type this. This week may be a little sporadic in the typing area as we will, once again, be traveling.

Oh, and did I mention that Ceili Rain is sick?? She went to the doctor on Wednesday for a recheck on her ears and Thursday evening started running a fever (which I don’t think she picked up from the doc’s office…she was in the nursery at church and the gym on Wednesday too). I’ll be taking her to the doctor today as I think it might be her ears again. Anyone know where I can get a good otoscope??

Happy Reformation Day

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Abbie

So, this year, instead of celebrating Halloween, we chose to have a Reformation Day party. The kids would rather hand out candy than walk around to strangers’ houses and we were able to keep whines for candy at minimum. And so, now explains why the kids (except Ceili Rain) were dressed in Medieval/Rennaissance garb. We ate supper with friends and the kids played and played. Oh yeah, they got candy too.

Zoe’s friend, Laura, with her doll. Kind of freaky no??

James rockin’ the pumpkin!

The Great Pumpkin and the Cat in the Hat! Gotta love parents who grew up in the 70s and 80s.

Attack of the Great Pumpkin

Super Wy! Isn’t he adorable.

Super Wy giving a little Super Explosion!

Start the sugaring up process now.

A game of “Grab the Indulgences” (or grab for the candy).

Josiah didn’t want to give up the indulgences…by grace alone little buddy, by grace alone.

“Nailing” the Theses to the Door

Super Wy’s daddy getting in on some Theses to get some candy.

One more free for all for the “Indulgences.”

NEED-MORE-CANDY

Kristina included some more pictures (like I didn’t share enough) on her post here!

We had a great time. I think this may be a new tradition for our family.

Presenting…

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Abbie

Let me just say there is no way to not post all of these adorable pictures, so bear with me.

Less talk…more pictures!

First up, the traditional first Halloween…let’s give it up for The Cat in the Hat!

The Littlest Prince

The Next to Littlest Prince

Not looking so princely here.

Our Not So Much Little Prince

I just have to say he’s pretty handsome.

And our fair maiden of the land…

All together (this was the best we could do)

Our little stairsteps!

Now for some words! Big huge gigantic thank you goes out to Grandmere who sewed her fingers to the bone helping make these costumes. Equal props go to Papa for entertaining everyone while we worked on said costumes. Grandmere did almost all of Zoe’s dress. I only hemmed and sewed sleeves in and the trim. I did all the boys’ shirts and then went to Goodwill and found black pants (you can’t tell but Ace and Josiah are wearing tuxedo pants!). And Ceili Rain’s costume, of course, was Josiah‘s two years ago.

And Zoe’s hairdo was inspired by Girly Do’s by Jenn.

It Just Keeps Getting Interesting

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Abbie

Tuesday, I took Ceili Rain in for an ear re-check and to basically have the doctor tell us she had an ear infection.

Yesterday: We picked Josiah up from Sunday school only to realize about all the way through worship that he was running a fever. Let it be known that a family of seven can not leave a service without leaving with flair! Although no children caused a scene imagine seven people getting up (well six, since Ceili Rain can’t walk) and trying to sneak out right before the pastor’s invitation.

Anyway, after some discussion with Mark, we decided I would take him to the after hours clinic. Two hours later, I left with what I needed since he had an ear infection in his right ear and came home to eat lunch, er, I mean, supper, um, a very late snack. Oh, and nurse Ceili Rain (who is feeling much better).

Next, Zoe’s been complaining about her stomach the past two days. Typical for her to complain one day, especially if she is not eating her fruits and veggies like she should. Anyway, two days in a row is odd. Usually, she can go to the bathroom and be fine. So, while I sat in the living room trying to eat quickly and trying to figure out if Zoe can go to Awana, she turned her head on the loveseat and threw up…then looked at it and started to run…then threw up…then stopped and threw up…then ran to the bathroom after we started trying to tell her to go in there and threw up on the toilet seat. All the while, between “episodes,” exclaiming, “I’m so sorry. I’m so so sorry.” To which we had to explain it wasn’t a problem…not to worry…and that she was definitely not going to Awana. She said her tummy didn’t hurt when she “released” her stomach contents, but I’m just hoping that was the reasoning behind the stomach pain. We shall see.

Three down…two to go…NEXT!

High Maintenance & a New Poll

Posted on October 23, 2009 by Abbie

I was going to put “spoiled” as my title, but realized that I am not left alone to rot…so that wouldn’t work…High Maintenance fits.

This week has been looooonnng to say the least. Mark left Monday afternoon to go on a business trip. Before he left, we mused over who would be sick during his absence. As, I don’t “do” night time parenting, that would be my lot. We both came up with Ceili Rain and were right. In all fairness, she was getting a bit stuffy.

So, Tuesday morning I called and got her an earlier “re-check on her ears appointment.” A blessing came in that the appointment was in the afternoon and Papa and Grandmere were coming in for Grandmere to help me sew costumes. They got here, we said hello, and I took Ceili Rain to the doctor.

Turns out, her left ear which was infected was clear but her right ear not so much. Dr. R., who we had to see because Dr. B has been out for awhile with an injury (long painful story for her), was shocked when she saw the ear. Back on antibiotics, and scheduled another re-check for a couple weeks later.

Wednesday, Grandmere and I hit the sewing machine whilst Papa entertained littles and taught Zoe and Ace (no small feat mind you). My goal was to get Zoe’s & Josiah’s done. Still not quite there with Josiah’s (it’s the little things) but I’m close…Since Grandmere worked on Zoe’s most complicated one and got the big stuff done, I put the finishing touches on it today.

Mark came back home yesterday morning and to say I was counting down the minutes is an understatement. I’m so excited that he’s home again. He had yesterday off (since he took the red-eye in) and today and then Saturday and Sunday. Wooohoo! And I get to get back to my pampered self. I miss my team captain when he’s away and I miss all the help he provides.

Now on to wondering what the kids are going to be for “Halloween!” I haven’t done a poll in a long time, so check out the side bar and vote for what you think their costumes are going to be!

A Full Foliage of Fall Festivalllnnneesss

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Abbie

Trying to figure out if that title makes sense…hmmm.

Anyway, our church hosted a fall festival this past weekend and we ~~survived~~ delighted taking all of our children to it.

First, we caged them.

Then, we spun them around until they got sick (not really…no one got sick that we know of…our kids have excellent inner ear abilities, including that you can spin Zoe around a ton and she comes off walking straight as an arrow…probably because I spun her one too many times in the office chair when she was a toddler).

Thirdly, we stuffed them full of cotton candy…

…as big as their heads.

Josiah decided to save some for later! And this picture and the videos below made it all worth it.

Look at the Lights! from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.Next up, more spinning!

Attacking siblings from justabunchofcharacters on Vimeo.And then set them to attack each other.
After that, they crashed, hard, in their beds dreaming of all the candy they had in their sacks!

Pumpkin Patch

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Abbie

For your viewing pleasure…our field trip to the Pumpkin Patch…in pictures (with a little narration from moi).

This was pretty much his demeanor the whole trip. Lovely huh?! The boys’ behind us were part of a group who’s moms pretty much let us parent them. One little boy tried to throw a very large rock at some of the children before I told him (several times) to put it down.

Craft time! Lots of glue and small wiggly eyes. The kids enjoyed it and I had plenty of “glue skin” to play with the rest of the trip.

See? Happy Josiah.

Hay ride time!

Almost a smile!

This sweet little one has two older siblings who were with us. She thought the straw was awesome! Later she somehow managed a Cheese Nip down her onesie (saving it for later).

Most of the gang. Notice Josiah is absent.

He finally perked up when he found a granddaddy long legs (spider).
He is our boys’ boy.

And now we have our pumpkins that were not really picked from a patch…more like they bought pumpkins and threw them in this little area…the children, none the wiser and still enjoyed picking out a pumpkin.

Zoe’s BFF, Laura, came along even though her little brother was sick…they piggy backed in my van…cuz’ it’s a cool ride.

Ace’s BFF, Jack, who is Laura’s brother. He had a good time!

Liam enjoyed picking up the pumpkins, getting me to take a picture and the subsequently throwing them down.

Finally! A smile! Josiah was smiling because he was picking up the pumpkins and throwing them down (wonder where he saw that??).

Ta Da! Josiah loves getting pictures taken. We survived and had a great time! Thanks Kristina for letting me borrow your two!

Ceili Rain’s Seven Months Old!

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Abbie

I can not believe this little girl is through half of the first year of her life. Shes adorable, lovely, and super cuddly. She also can’t sit still in your lap for more than a split second. She wants to wiggle, squirm and move all over the place…and she does it very well. Although her friend is starting to crawl, she is just content to sit and play. In fact, when I put her on her belly or laying down on the floor she fusses pretty quickly. She’d rather be up and watching what’s going on. Today she started making, “Dada” and “ni-ni” sounds. Like I said, she’s adorable.

And I’m a bad mom because I haven’t gotten any pictures lately besides the ones already posted. I’ve also been busy as we’ve implemented our ChorePacks this week and trying to get those going has been something else…and rewarding all at once. I’ll post about that when we’ve got a few more days under our belts.

Just a Bunch of Characters

Musings of everyday life in a house full of Characters.

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