Better Late than Never

This weekend, our neighborhood had their end of summer bash. Cody and Cade had a great time dancing to music, eating, and swimming. Cade was extremely well behaved and sat in his stroller the whole time we were there and never fussed once. This was a big help considering T.J. didn't get to go with us because he was at his fantasy football draft (translation; we will not see T.J. for the next 4 months because he will be focused on his "team"). The boys and I went with a neighbor whose husband was at the draft with T.J. This is something they look forward to all year long so we couldn't be too upset they weren't with us. Plus, they fed our addiction earlier in the week by allowing us to go buy more clothes for our kids, so we could only be so kind and allow them to go off and play.

The party was great and I even won a gift card to Sonic. Cody had a blast and was upset when I told him it was time to leave. You think by 9:30 a two year old would of had enough fun, but oh no, not my child...there was more partying left in him. So, with a promise to get a sucker when we got home, we left the party around 10:00 and by 10:05, he was passed out (without having his sucker which he was sure to bring up to me the minute he woke up the next morning).

Cody and his dessert plate he got all on his own. He was so proud!


What a stud! Not just one older woman, but two!


Cade enjoying his dinner!


Dancin' in the pool


Unfortunately, this weekend coming up is the last weekend our pool will be open this year. The official end of summer for us. Hopefully it won't end up raining so we can enjoy one last weekend of swimming.

Look Who's 6 Months Today!

Cade turned 6 months old today. He's growing up WAY too fast. I couldn't ask for a better baby! Happy 6 Month Birthday Cade!

Our Surprise Visitors

On Thursday night, we were greeted with some surprise visitors! My step-mom, Kathie and my little brother, Clay were driving back from Utah and decided to stay with us the night before driving back to Texas. We even talked them into staying another night even though I didn't have to do much convincing.

McKinly and my little brother are the exact same age so it's fun to see them around one another. They have always got along really well.

McKinly and her "Uncle" Clay


McKinly and Clay feeding the ducks


Uncle Clay reading Cody a book


Cade wearing McKinly's headband


I'm glad they got to spend a couple nights with us because the kids LOVED them being here. McKinly needed it after a tough week at school. Although, she has met a few new girls and is starting to get used to her new school. I wouldn't quite say she likes it right now, but at least we're progressing. She had two tests on Friday and did very well on both of them so as of now, this change isn't affecting her school work. I am very proud of her, she has been trying to focus on all the positives right now.

School Update

Well, there were mixed emotions from the kids about their first day of school. Ty LOVED it. He couldn't wait to go back to school this morning. He really enjoyed getting to eat lunch at school and he was able to read the note I put in his lunch all by himself. He met some new friends in his class but couldn't remember all their names.

McKinly, on the other hand, did not enjoy school as much. It's just really hard for her because she misses her old school where she knew everyone and now she has to start all over. (It's especially hard because her old school is only a few miles away). I think as time goes by, she'll start meeting new kids and enjoying it a little more. I feel bad for her though because she ended up sitting all by herself at lunch and didn't have anyone to talk to. I know she'll adjust but it's just really hard to hear when one of your kids is unhappy.

We had only a slight problem at the end of the day when BOTH McKinly and Ty lost their lunch boxes. I went back in the school to look for them and found McKinly's but Ty's is still no where to be found. It should show up in a few days so I'm not so worried. I normally would have told them to just look for them the next day, but with McKinly already upset about her day, I thought it would be best not to add anything else to it. Luckily, hers was the one I found.

Here is McKinly before school this morning with Cade. Hopefully, we'll have more positive feedback when she gets home today.

The Happiest Day of the Year!

It's official, school started this morning!!! I don't think I could be any happier. Now, don't get me wrong, I will miss McKinly and Ty being here to keep me company and help me out when it's needed but I don't think I will miss all their friends that came along with them being home. From now on, instead of EIGHT kids here all day asking for this and that, I will only have THREE. Two of which are babies and will pretty much hang out, eat and sleep. Cody will mostly be the only one I have to get up and down for all day.

The kids were pretty nervous about their first day this year because their mom moved to a new house so they had to move schools. I took them out to breakfast before school this morning to help ease their nerves.

McKinly and Ty before school this morning. They're sporting some of their new school clothes we bought them this weekend.


McKinly loves her new outfit


Ty heading to his classroom with his class
(he's the one with the superman backpack)


I think they'll do fine, but I was sure to stay until they left for their classrooms and then I went and peaked through their windows so they knew I was still around. It will be fun to hear how school went. This is Ty's first year to stay all day. We only have half day Kindergarten here.

For those of you who think I'm harsh because I'm so excited school started, I want you to see how many kids I had here in my little 2000 sq. foot house all summer.


and that's not including the days when they had other friends stop by and play. If it's hard for you to say no, never tell your kids friend's parents you're a stay at home mom, or you might end up with a bunch of kids running around your house!

Ty's Weekend with his Uncles

This weekend, Ty got to go on a "guys" weekend with my older brothers. Carl and Ty left Saturday morning and drove to my brother Donnie's house in Kansas. They went up there to work on the deer lease before the hunting season starts.

Ty got to do ALL kinds of things on his trip. If you're the over-protective type, you might not want to read much farther!

Ty got to drive a 4-wheeler all by himself

He got to go fishing both days he was there


Ty with one of the 5 fish he caught

And the best part of his trip, that he hasn't stopped talking about since he got back, was that he got to shoot a REAL gun for the first time!

Ty and Uncle D
(notice the camo hat my brothers got him)


Trying it out on his own


He can't wait to go back, it was a great trip for him especially since he spent the whole summer with mostly girls. He's excited to learn about deer hunting so maybe one day, he can shoot something other than a coke can (when he's much, much older). My brother's were right there with him the whole time and they'd never let him do anything he couldn't handle.

They're getting so big!

Just a few pictures of the boys before we left for a teacher's beginning of the year party!

We're ready for school to start

We've found their classrooms, met their teachers, and turned in all their supplies! We are ready for school to start on Monday!

Cody loved walking in a big school and led the way the whole time telling everyone it was his school. Maybe it's time to start him in a Mother's Day Out program.

Oh, and I just picked up their backpacks from the embroidery place where I had their names put on them! I know Cody and Cade aren't going to school, but I went ahead and had their names put on their backpacks as well.

click picture to enlarge in order to see their names



Only 5 more days until school starts!!!

It's Potty Time!

We have officially began the potty training process. I wanted to wait until all the kids went back to school, but Cody decided he wanted to wear his big boy underwear so why not start now!

We had to overcome a few obstacles, like not being scared of his potty. The first few times were a little tricky and pretty frustrating trying to explain that nothing was going to happen to him by sitting there. There were a few tears of frustration, some from Cody as well. He has now graduated to sitting on the potty because he likes the fun music and sounds it makes (Grandma Kathie got him the potty with all the fun stuff to play with). We still have not actually gone potty on the thing, but at least we're sitting, and reading a few books to pass the time!

The other obstacle we came across is no one makes boxer briefs in his size!! Hanes has a 2-4 that work alright but every other brand is size 4 and up. I ended up buying a few 4's and I have washed and dried them numerous times to make them shrink up. I don't know why, I just prefer boxer briefs over briefs especially since during the potty training time, he will be running around in nothing BUT his underwear. Plus, they are much cuter, even with little spidermans and Cars characters. (I might not buy character shoes, but he can have all the character underwear he wants, as long as their boxer briefs).

Cody and his cool potty!


Posing in his new spiderman underwear

Ty and Cody playing around this morning!
They are pretty cute!
(don't worry, Ty's getting a haircut soon!)

I'll keep you all posted on our progress. If all goes well, he'll be potty trained by the end of the weekend! However, my dreams are a bit elaborate at times so I'll let you know how it's going!

I'm Ready, I'm Ready...to eat!

You have to know Spongebob Squarepants to understand the true meaning to the title and most of this blog.

We were at Home Depot yesterday and T.J. was looking for a cheap little grill (since we sold ours in a garage sale). T.J.'s dad called on the phone while we were looking around and when he found out what we were doing, he offered to buy us a good one for T.J.'s birthday (which is coming up on September 1 and he'll be REALLY old!)

Of course T.J. took him up on that offer and as we were looking around for the perfect new grill, Cody found a bunch of grilling spatulas and grabbed one! He ran to T.J. and said, "Daddy, let's make some Krabby Patties!" He carried that spatula ALL around the store and people would stop him and ask if he was getting ready to make a cheese burger and Cody would politely tell them, "no, I making Krabby Patties." Some would understand, and some just gave him a confused look.

When we finally got the grill home (and the spatula Cody picked out since there was no leaving the store without his beloved spatula) Cody and Daddy made their Krabby Patties!

Cody grilling his Krabby Patty with his own spatula
(look at that new grill, thanks Papa Bill)


Waiting patiently for it to cook
(still holding on to a smaller spatula)


Cody chowin' down on his Krabby Patty


Cade didn't miss out on the fun, we gave him an avacado to try

and he LOVED it


Cookin' those Krabby Patties sure wears you out!
(you can't see it, but that spatula is laying right by his foot)


yes, those are Elmo shoes and I know I swore I would never buy my child Character shoes, but we were buying McKinly and Ty new shoes for school and Cody fell in love with them (who would have thought Journey's Kidz would even sell character shoes) so I figured he could wear them every once in a while and only if they completely matched what he was wearing.

We had a great weekend and I'm very excited that this is my LAST week with EIGHT kids in the house! They start school on the 20th!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love our kids and their friends but it's time for school to start!

How much is that doggy in the window??

Cody's favorite game is to pretend he is a dog. Since I'm not one to discourage this behavior, I helped by placing a water bowl on the kitchen floor for him. When he gets thirsty, he crawls in the kitchen and drinks from his bowl.

McKinly thought it would be funny if he ate his lunch like a dog too, but Cody informed her that "doggies eat dog food, Sissy!" Luckily, I convinced him Reese's Puffs Cereal would do.

So, that's what he ate for his snack this afternoon! And on the floor, of course!

Happy Birthday Danika

The kid's cousin, Danika, is 4 years old today. We don't get to celebrate with her though because she lives up in Chicago.

We hope you have a very Happy 4th Birthday, Danika! We wish we could celebrate with you! Have a great day and be looking for your present in the mail!


(I didn't know Ty would be at a friend's house all day today so that's why he isn't in the picture, but he wishes you a Happy Birthday too! Oh, and Cody was trying to watch Blue's Clues behind me and take the picture at the same time, that's why he has a funny look on his face. It was the only way to get him to look in the direction of the camera. The fun of having a two year old!)