Kirk's sixth Birthday party

Kirk tuned six last week, and we celebrated with a friend birthday party. Every year keep telling the kids that we will soon be switching to having friend party's only every other year. This year should have been an off year for the kids, but I got this great idea to do a "pretend sleepover" and couldn't resist. Kirk has been excited for this party ever since November. I'm not exaggerating! I bought the fabric for the pillow cases that I made for the boys on black Friday. I had to find something to sew with the flannel was $1.50 per yard. They were practically giving the fabric away! The theme for the party this year was pizza sleepover. The boys didn't really sleepover but they wore their P.J's and stayed up till 9:00 pm. We ate pizza, had pizza decorated cupcakes, and played the candy bar game. Then the boys got their pillows and watched puss in boots. It was a fun night, all the boys loved their pillows. And they even got to take home breakfast for the next day, a mini box of cereal. Tonight Kirk said he saw a shooting star, and I asked him what he wished for. He said that he wished his next birthday could come fast. It seems like they come faster and faster each year. We love you Kirk, and hope that you have a wonderful year being a big six year old. I feel like six is such a big milestone. They all of a sudden seem so much more grown up and independant. Soon he will be going to school all day and it makes me feel sad to think I'll miss eating lunch with my little buddy.

Little Cindy Lou Woo?

Here are some photos of Kate and Kirk on their Dr. Seuss day at school. Kate's class came to school with who hair, and also wore their P.J's. Kirk's class made Dr. Seuss hats. Benjamin wanted his photo taken too, he didn't want to be left out!

Our chubby little Jence

Here are some photo's of Jence. He weighed 19 pounds at his four month old appointment. He is now almost six month's old. Where has the time gone? Babies change so much in that first year. I can't beilieve how big he has gotten. I just love taking pictures of his chubby little cheeks. He is truly just the perfect baby. He has been sleeping through the night for quite a few months now. I think his large size has helped to keep him satisfied. I'm so grateful God sent such a little angel to us God must have known I'd need a good baby to keep from going crazy. It's too bad that we don't get more minutes in the day as we have more children to care for. I sometimes feel bad that I have to divide my attention and time between four kids. I sometimes find myself feeding Jence while I'm helping Kate with piano, or reading with the other kids. When I compare the amount of time I focused on Kate when she was a baby, it's crazy. I use to just sit and hold her for hours. Inspite of the crazy pace my life is running at right now, I'm trying to really enjoy Jence because I know that in a blink of an eye he will be all grown up. When I'm rocking him to sleep even though the house is a mess, and there's chaos everywhere I feel totally peaceful. I feel like in that moment there's no other place in the world I'd rather be than just holding him while he sleeps. Being a Mom everyday is NEVER easy, but my kids are totally worth it. All of the sleepless nights, piles of laundry and hours of reading Dr. Seuss. All of the poopy diapers, cooking, cleaning, and running kids to sports, piano, and dance are all worth it. I get payday every single day. In hugs, kisses, I love yous, and laughs. I guess the balancing act of trying to juggle everything is all part of the progress we are suppose to be making in this life. I'm sure someday I'll look back and wish for the good ol' days when my biggest worry was whether or not I could get my laundry folded, and still manage to get dinner on the table.

Introducing our newest family member!

This was a gift to Kirk, and Benjamin for their Birthday's, but I guess I got mostly photo's of Kate with him, I'll have to post some with the boys soon.

Meet our new puppy! He is a gift to Kirk and Benjamin for their birthday's from their Grandma and Grandpa Mower. The kids are in seventh heaven, and have enjoyed having a new little puppy to love and play with. Let's hope the novelty doesn't wear off. He is actually almost full grown. He will be one year old in April. This was a plus, the difficult (but cute) chewy, poopy puppy years are hopefully over. I couldn't handle house breaking a dog, potty training Benjamin, and have a baby in diapers too!

My new moto

I know it's been awhile since I've posted. The past month has basically been a whirlwind. Kirk had a birthday this week, we got a pet, and I've been "trying" to get back into the routine of working out every day. Trust me it hasn't been easy to squeeze in a couple of hours at the gym when my time is already really taxed. I came across this quote on line that made me feel so much better about my hectic crazy life, maybe you guys can relate to it too.

Good Moms have
Sticky floors
Messy kitchens
Laundry piles
Dirty ovens
and
Happy Kids!


I think I might print that one out and tape it to my fridge. Just a good reminder of whats most important.

Disneyland!

We had a really fun time last week in California. Dan had some business to do at the Anaheim Convention center for a few days, so the kids and I were able to tag along and have a couple of fun days at Disneyland. It was so nice to get out of the winter weather, and enjoy soaking up some sun. I was really nervous about traveling with four kids, it seemed kinda crazy to drive 12 hours with four kids ages 7 and under. It was however, surprisingly a smooth drive. Jence is the best baby. He basically ate and slept the entire drive (perk of bottle feeding you don't have to pull over, I could reach him and feed him from his car seat). Thanks to DVD's, and iphone games the older kids were well entertained. We stayed at a wonderful hotel a couple blocks from Disney and the Convention center. The days we didn't go to the parks we swam at the hotel. And one night headed to the beach. We got lost trying to find a beach, but get there just in the nick of time to see the sun setting. The trip went by so fast, and It's hard to be back. I spent so much time anticipating the trip, that it's a little bit of a bummer now that we are home. We were welcomed by a freezing house, (our furnace broke), and a leaking kitchen ceiling (valve in our bathroom right above our kitchen broke of course it happened while we were gone so it had a few days to constantly drip, and run through our ceiling)! And of course there's the expected bummer's which include: mountains of laundry, catchup homework, empty fridge, pile's of mail, and all of the other chores that pile of at the end of the month, and O-yeah, I haven't been to the gym in weeks. Oh, California I want to come back. I want to feel the sunshine on my face, see the beautiful palm trees, enjoy the carefree days of housekeeping, and eating out every night. I guess this little taste of summer was just enough to get me through till the weather warms up, the kids are out of school, and then the relaxation of lazy summer day's can set in. Just a few more months!

We will miss you Grandma

I loving memory of our very courageous Grandma. We will always remember your optimism and unfailing sense of humor. You've been such a bright light in our lives, and have left a footprint upon our hearts. We will never forget the sacrifices you made for your family and the tremendous example you were to each of us.