30 november

wesley. and me. and chutes and ladders.

28 november

I am not a nurse-maid. I surely am not "employed" to look after my own children, and I certainly to do not tug my kiddos around by their tiny arms to get them to walk more quickly (rarely are we ever walking anywhere, and I gave up getting to those rare places quickly long ago).

Yet ... I found myself in the Emergency Room with Judah this afternoon, watching a very nice Emergency Room Doctor "pop" his nurse-maid's elbow back in place. 

And I was reminded.

Reminded to be  more careful. Eight children has made me quick, and I'm resolving to slow down. I was also reminded that I love my loud, rowdy boys much more than I love quiet, still boys.

Here's to a tomorrow filled with working elbows, noise, and rough and tumbles.

19 november

Bright and early this morning, Benjamin was making a book for Uncle Tyler. Benjamin is almost more interested in learning and writing his letters than Wesley is. Wesley is more concerned with doing his Math packets. The boys opted to do their 'letters' with Droids and Troopers. They are big into the Star Wars action figures and Legos right now. Santa's got it easy this year.

Kylie made bread late this morning, so our PB&J sandwiches were warm. And soft. And yummy. She's made bread almost every other morning for a month now. She has pretty much perfected this recipe, and loves her bread guide and electric knife, she says they make bread making so much easier. She has her eye on Pioneer Woman's gorgeous Kitchen Aid Mixer ... not so easy for Santa.

Someone mentioned yesterday that both Zach and Judah were looking so big. They are so big. Zach turned 9 months yesterday (and has 7 teeth). Judah is 3. Which means he's not a baby anymore. He's a Little.

For tea time this afternoon, I made Cambric and Chocolate Dipped Holiday Pretzels. Yes. Homemade bread every day, and chocolate dipped pretzels. And I wonder why I look so very healthy. Ha! The kids enjoyed them just as much as I did, and there were chocolate-ly faces and fingers and lots of plate licking going on.

The day went so slowly and uneventfully (and mostly calmly) by that I almost forgot it was (Mon)day. Which is big.

12 november

... after a four-day-long, busy weekend ... we are ready to relax. He came home with

autumn flowers

coca ~ cola

rich chocolate, creamy caramel, smooth nougat

and

October Baby

... off to spend some time alone with the world's sweetest husband ...

veteran's day parade

Happy Veteran's Day

basic combat training museum

We went on a field trip Friday. Bright and early (7:30AM), we headed to Fort Jackson, South Carolina to see the Basic Combat Training Museum (and visit the Clinique counter at the PX). Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable ... I suppose that's because he's actually been through Basic Combat Training ... and because he's the dad of all these Rowdy Boys.

Guess what they've have been playing all weekend?

2 november

eating pumpkin pie. in footed jammies. on the table.

1 november

they love football. but they hate socks and shoes.