Busy Busy Busy

Most days at our house are busy busy busy! We seem at always be doing something. For example, here is our day today.

7:10 Tyler is up -- in my bed. I try to get him to go back to sleep, but no such luck.

7:30 I get up and shower

7:45 out of shower, instruct Tyler to get dressed. (today this actually worked. Only because he knows he can't get in trouble today--or no Globetrotters.)

8:00 Breakfast for 3 kids

8:23 Tyler on bus. I finish getting ready, get Paige and Jaden ready, fold a load of laundry, sweep kitchen floor and put breakfast dishes away, put roast in crock-pot for dinner!

9:20 out the door to Pump It Up with MOPS!!

11:30 back home. Make frozen pizza for lunch (my favorite!!). Jaden and Paige and I eat lunch

12:13 Tyler home from Kindergarten! Tyler eats lunch
(Usually we wait for Tyler and all eat together, but I thought it would be quicker to do this today--less talking and distractions)

1:00 put my 3 kids down for naps

1:20 a friend drops off her 1 year old for me to watch for a few hours--feed him, read him a book, he falls asleep at 1:45.

1:45 Jaden still not asleep. Yell at him :)
Pick up the house, dust the house, fold another load of laundry, email

2:45 Jaden still not sleeping. I lay with him until 3pm when he FINALLY falls asleep!

3:00 blog, start bible-study

3:15 Joshua wakes up from nap (friend's son). Try to finish bible-study, doesn't work!

4:00 Steve's home!

4:15 friend leaves with Joshua

4:20 take all 3 kids to Dillons to have coins counted (so they could buy something at the
Globetrotters tonight) and get snacks and drinks for tonight (remember, I am the cheap mom who takes snacks with us!)

4:45 Home. Eat dinner (yes, early)

5:00 pack up everything, clean up kitchen, put laundry away in kids rooms

5:15 leave to take Paige to Gma and Gpa Roth's. (She is upset that she's not going to see b-ball.
She keeps asking if she is going to Globetrotters. I almost gave in, and let her go, but I know she won't sit once we get there.)

10:00 home from Globetrotters!! What fun!! Put kids to bed

10:15 finish up tax information we need to turn in tomorrow, finish my blog

11:15 get ready for bed/hopefully sleep soundly, until it all starts again tomorrow

We're earning Stars...

This Tuesday, March 31st we are taking the boys to see the Harlem Globetrotters!!

I think I am more excited than the boys. But, the boys are getting excited too!!

Especially Jaden! This morning he has already asked me 3 times,

"Is it Tuesday?"

Last night we told the boys they had to earn 10 stars by Tuesday

to be able to go see the "funny basketball players".

So, there are already threats flying...

"That will not earn you a star"

"I'm taking a star away"

"Do you want to go?"

(Good thing I can control if they get enough stars or not!!!)

We have found some clips of the Globetrotters on-line and they love watching those.

I can imagine the boys will just be CRACKING up on Tuesday!

My dad took me and my brothers for MANY years in a row.

We knew , every year when they came to town, we would get to go!!

And, this is one of those moments when you look back and hope you appreciated it at the time--

because tickets are NOT cheap, AT ALL!!

Here is a picture of the Jersey that I am sure we will buy.

I am the mom who takes her own snacks and drinks in a big purse--because the concession stand prices are TOO expensive. (Seriously, $7 for cotton candy, no thank-you).

In addition, I don't let the kids buy the souvenirs. Again, a waste of money!

But.....

Jaden is obsessed with being a basketball player.

He wants to dress like a b-ball player everyday.

We bought cereal at the store yesterday day and he asked if it was "basketball player cereal".

Of course it was.

He's obsessed right now.

So, I feel that a $25 jersey will get worn---probably worn out!

I told the boys they could take their money Tuesday and buy a shirt if they wanted--

and mom and dad would help them pay for it!!

3 more days.....I can't wait.

I hope it's as FUN as I'm anticipating!!!

Off to a Jewelry Show

So, last night, like many nights, I was getting ready to go to a jewelry show.

My kids can tell when I am going to a jewelry show---

I have on my "jewelry show clothes" as the boys say, all my jewels,

and I a put my bags by the backdoor for Steve to carry out.

Jaden has a ritual before my shows. Hug good-bye. Kiss. Another Hug. High Five!

(this sometimes happens 3 or 4 times!)

So, we do all that.

Then, he still usually follows me to the back-door and

asks for yet another hug and probably a kiss.

(At least I always feel loved as I leave the house!!)

Tonight he asked why I had to go to a jewelry show.

I told him so we could have money to do fun stuff! And I left.

As I'm driving away (I'm in the street already.) Tyler comes running down the drive-way,

"I didn't give you a hug."

Ok, stop the car. Open the door, give Tyler a hug, "I love you."

My car window is down and I look in the front porch to see Jaden and Paige and Steve waving (well, mostly Paige and Jaden waving.)

And, then Jaden YELLS.....

"MAKE LOTS OF MONEY TONIGHT SELLING JEWELRY".

I just CRACKED UP!!!

And, finally....I was off to work, a little later than I had hoped!

Helping mom clean

Tyler asked if he could help me clean. today..

Why of course!

So, he gathered his supplies....all on his own.

The broom, dust pan, Lysol wipes, squirt bottle of water, a rag, and toilet paper.

Of course he can't have a serious face.

Here he is, with his supplies.

I had to take this picture because toilet paper was his cleaning supply of choice.
He cleaned the tile floors by the back doors.
He would squirt the floor with water and then rub with the toilet paper.
I know it's crazy, but I just let him clean....with toilet paper!

Then, he moved on to the bathrooms.
What a dream day.
He did use Lysol wipes on the bathrooms.

I walked in the bathroom to find this.

I decided if cleaning was "fun" or "dangerous" he might be more apt to clean again.

So, I just let him stand on the sink to clean it. He just couldn't reach without getting on top.

So--this cleaning occurred, 2 days in a row.

And, now it's been a week or so and no more offers to clean!

Upwards Basketball ends

This was Tyler's 2nd year to play basketball. This year we choose to play Upwards at our church. Steve was the coach. Upwards is different because at each practice the team does a short devotion and has a verse to learn or read. Then, at half-time of each game, a pastor does a short, 3 minute devotion with the crowd and prayers!

This was the awards ceremony!

Our crazy boy!

The team sat together waiting for their turn to go on stage and be introduced
and get their certificate!
Jaden wants to be a basketball player SO BAD--so he sat with the team.
He also loves to be with his big brother and do what his brother does!

Paige sat with me most of the night, but she did take a turn sitting on Daddy's lap.

Tyler and "his coach"!

(Jaden is already asking Steve when he will be his coach!)

On a side note--Steve doesn't "love" coaching. At this age, it's like baby-sitting for 8 kids.

He was amazed how parents would come to practice, but not help with their kids!

At the end of the night, each player got a lunch bag. Of course, the boys were THRILLED!!

The Team

Deb was Steve's assistant coach and she was FABULOUS. She was an Aunt of one of the boys. She brought b-ball chocolate and pencils to practice as rewards. And, bought all the boys small gift bags at the end of the season. She was a great asset to the team!

What I Love

I absolutely LOVE SONIC drinks.

I love Happy Hour--2-4pm, EVERY DAY,

half-price.

Diet Coke with Lime--

real lime, not the lime juice!

Sonic Ice--yum yum

The Styrofoam cup--keeps the ice from melting!

I have to talk myself out of going EVERY day.

If I have a bad day, SONIC makes me feel better.

Sweet picture

I just thought this was an adorable picture of Paige.

Never-mind the tear and the runny nose!

Our Spring Break trip...

It's Spring Break!! And, St. Patrick's Day!!

Our exciting "trip" was to Newton--

to go to the park with Grandma and Aunt Amanda.

Paige is a little dare-devil. She can do ANYTHING the boys can do. She would climb up the ladders and Grandma and I would say, "you can't do that." But, she could!!

Pure Delight!!

Sweet Jaden on top of the jungle-gym!

Tyler likes to take care of Mason. He followed him around and

wanted to walk around holding him!

Paige and her cousin!

Jaden would NOT wear Green! I tried EVERYTHING to get him to wear green for

St. Patrick's Day! He didn't care that he would be the only one not wearing Green.

I guess I don't have to worry about him being a follower!

Grandpa even showed up to surprise us!!

We got 1 water at Sonic and the 4 kids all shared it!

We didn't know it was going to be SO HOT!!!

We played for over 2 hours. The kids were HOT and TIRED!!!

One last picture with Grandma before we leave!

Where to Sleep?

On any give night, it is a toss up where the kids will be found sleeping.

Our moto at our house is--

We don't care WHERE you sleep, just as long as you SLEEP!!

We have found Jaden under his table in his room. Not sure about this??

He actually slept like this for several nights in a row.

Notice his pet monkey is asleep on his pillow next to him.

The boys usually sleep with some type of animal every night. Not always the same animal--that's not what's important. It's just to sleep with SOMETHING!

On this night, Paige was found sleeping on her Princess couch!
She ALWAYS sleeps with her pink/leapord blanket.
Neither of the boys were attached to a blanket, so this was new for us.
When she's tired, she'll ask for her blankey!!

So, sweet......

Some nights we will put Paige to sleep in her bed and when we go to check on her,
she is asleep on the couch (on the floor). But, all that matters is that she is
ASLEEP!!


And, Tyler....is always in his bed.
The animal he sleeps with changes, but he always sleeps in his bed.
When he first got his bunk-beds, he slept on the top bunk.
Now, he sleeps on the bottom bed.
Again, we just want him to SLEEP!!!



Tyler's bedtime ritual right now is that he wants whoever puts him to bed to tell him a story. We just make something up !!
When I tell the story, it's usually about a little boy named, (whatever the name is for that night) and I tell a story about what Tyler did that day. I do the same thing every time I tell a night story. And, Tyler still LOVES it. He likes to help add things to my stories too!
Then, we always pray.
Tyler says the sweetest prayers. I need to record one.

Right now he has been praying this every night, "thank you God for loving us more than anyone, even more than my mom and dad. We love you Lord...." It's so precious.

And, now I'm going to sleep....in my bed!!

Holes--cute or not?

You know how it's the "style" to have holes in your jeans? and "worn spots". Well, I like to be "in style!" So, I bought Jaden the CUTEST pair of worn jeans. They are possibly the most expensive pair of jean I have bought him. Remember--I buy my kids clothes CHEAP!! -- like $4 for EVERYTHING I buy. Sometimes I find shirts of $1. So, I paid $15 for these jeans---because they were SO DARN CUTE!!!Here he is....sitting on the stairs to the back door--in the garage.

What do you notice?

The hole in his knee??
Here's the hole---how it came... how I bought the jeans!

After having him wear the jeans many times, I decided that on a kid, it really looks like his jeans are "worn out" and doesn't necessarily look "stylish". I think what made me decide this for sure was when Steve dressed Tyler in his old/play jeans with holes for church. I was out of town that Sunday morning and came home later that day to find Tyler is a nice shirt and holey jeans. I asked if he wore those to church and Steve said, yes. I about died and then Steve explained I let Jaden wear jeans with holes.

BUT, I PAID for those holes. Didn't he know the difference?? (he he)

There are "old" holes and "cute" holes...... or maybe not!!

So, I guess I won't pay for holes anymore.....

On a slightly different note----but still clothes...

Grandma Roth had Jaden and Paige over night a few weeks ago and when they came home, Paige had 2 new pairs of shoes (GREAT!), Tyler had new snow boots (awesome!!) and Jaden had these......

Character shoes. They are BubbleBee shoes (from Transformers). Linda knew I wouldn't like them, but said Jaden just LOVED them!!! Tyler just had a Transformer b-day party so I bet Jaden did think he was "all that" with Transformer shoes. Jaden does love his shoes, so thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for buying them, because I would not have :) That's what grandparents are for!!! Grandma Roth is also a bargain shopper. I think she got 4 pairs of kids shoes for less than $10. What a steal!!!

Shoes for Paige

I love shoes and my love has over-flowed to my daughter!

Paige is 2 1/2 years old and has at least 14 pairs of shoes.

In this picture, are 12. I took all her shoes outside to take a picture of them under good light. (My sister-in-law told me the outdoor light takes better pictures, so I tried it.)

Then, when I went to the basement later that day, and found 2 more pairs of shoes down there---and just laughed!!

And, yes, my neighbor came outside to ask what I was doing.

Embarrassing....

And, then she proceeds to tell me her daughter has 2 pairs of shoes.

Awkward....

Well, I love shoes and they are so cute in this size.

And, then reality sets in---most of these are not fitting her now. In the last week, she has started telling me that shoes are hurting her. So, now we have to start all over, re-building he shoe collection. I may not buy this many for Spring /Summer. But, they are so cute!

And, my disclaimer is this--- Grandma Roth bought her some of these and I only buy if they are ON SALE!!