And Richmond Cried

Brooklyn is leaving us... for TWO WEEKS! She'll be in heaven and we will be here, missing her. See what the weather was like that day?

Richmond was sad too.

Ok, so I'm being dramatic. My sister was awesome enough to buy her a ticket, and I am very excited for her that she gets this fun trip, all to herself. Holly promised to do the same for each of the kids once they were twelve. Before the age of twelve there is huge fee from the airlines for unaccompanied minors. EEK. So this is a much better deal.

She really wanted lunch before her flight so I took her out, just the two of us. I was surprised she had never been to this restaurant. She has eaten out more than just about any of us! Can you guess where we went? I wonder if the glass gives it away because the decor at this one is a bit different than most.
Lunch was great, we were stuffed full of... wait, I can't say or it'll be too easy to guess. It was time to head over to the airport. I was hoping they would let me walk down to the gate with her so I wanted to get there in plenty of time. For the tiny Richmond airport, plenty of time is about an hour early. They let me go with her and we had time to spare!

We had even more time than we wanted. A bad storm rolled in just as it was time to board and we had to wait another 45 minutes! We passed the time chatting, taking pictures, and playing games on my phone. We also listened to a lady freak out about the bad weather. Good grief!
Around 3:40 it was still raining outside but the lightning and thunder had let up so it was time for her to board.
Brooklyn is our own, personal little ray of sunshine. When she left, the sky was crying. It poured most of that night AND the next. We'll miss you Boo! Have fun!

When It's Just the Boys

Brooklyn has been at girl's camp. I think I'll let her post about her experiences on here since she never posts on her own blog anymore. Anyway... it's been just the boys at home. I took a few photos and I think they cover the week fairly well.

We visited King's Dominion two times. One time we were able to go with Daddy. We saw Linus on that day and could not resist since Ayden is our little Linus. He has his own blue blanket and is never without it. I love it. I think it's sweet.
On Friday the boys were asking to go again. I had already planned on taking Dillon to the babysitter so I looked up the weather. The high was 88! I agreed it was a good day to go. We had a fantastic day. All the boys were so great about taking turns and picking rides we could all go on. We decided to pick up Dillon and go back. That plan would have been great except it took Dillon FORever to eat his dinner (toast - yes that is all he would eat) so we got there much later than I wanted. We did get to go on three rides and one was the Ferris Wheel so we could see the park lit up below. We watched the fireworks and came home exhausted. This was taken as soon as we walked into the park - just before it got dark.We've spent some time just playing around the house. I was at the computer the other day (big surprise) and looked over at Dillon right beside me. He had a dinosaur in each hand and was playing a rather intricate little game with them. It was too cute. Excuse the boxes and mess behind him. All my school stuff is being housed in my living room, fantastic huh?
Dillon speaks so well. I can understand just about everything he says and he has an extensive vocabulary for a little one. He even has some reasoning skills that surprise me. We had just parked at King's Dominion and I told Caleb to get the stroller out. Dillon cues into that immediately, "No stroller, no stroller."
I said, "Ok, then you have to wear the monkey." (Yes, I put my child on a leash.)
Dillon shakes his head, "No monkey."
I did the good parent thing and offered him his two choices. "You can sit in the stroller or wear the monkey."
Dillon quickly offered, "Hold hands. I hold hand!"
Fair enough. He held my hand the whole time and walked that massive park. He slept well last night.

Dillon's favorite thing to do with Daddy is to climb up next to him on the couch and give him kisses all over his head. Ayden does not like to be outdone so he'll climb up there too. Seth just likes a photo op.

This next shot was actually a while back, before school let out. Ayden had a Stepping Up ceremony at his daycare/preschool. I bought him a new outfit and new shoes that tied. He was thrilled and he looked very handsome. He sang and did a great job in the program and afterward we ate cookies and candy and drank punch.
It looks like our fun boy days are not over since Brooklyn will be heading to Houston next week. Maybe I should plan something really great for them! Any ideas?

Inspiration

This as been a busy week. It seems as though every night this week, except for Monday, we have had something to do. I know this is the norm for many people with a large family. It is not the norm for us and I like it that way. I enjoy being home, with my kids, enjoying a quiet dinner and watching them play and listening to news about their day. Ok, that sounds way nicer than our regualr evening home. Regardless, it is what I like. Tuesday I had an eye doctor appointment and Seth had his recorder concert and they also did a 'living museum'. (If you recall, Brooklyn participated in this as well, Caleb refused). Last night Seth had to go to scouts and I had to go to the grocery store. So tonight when Brooklyn expressed an interest in going to hear a speaker at a church fireside I will admit, I did not want to go. I told her no. She stared at me with puppy dog eyes. I told her no. Then I changed my mind and told her to get dressed.

The speaker was Brad Wilcox, have you ever heard of him? I had not. Now that I have though I plan on finding out more about him. I was told he was a funny speaker for EFY and a professor at BYU. Now I know that he has a way of talking about some serious subjects in a way that is easy to understand and humorous. He has a way to answer some very difficult questions that just makes sense. As I sat and listened I looked down at Brooklyn and saw that she was hanging on his every word. I wished that Bobby and Caleb could have been there as well and I hope that I can save some money so I can send Brooklyn to EFY. I know there were things he said tonight that I needed to hear and I hope that Brooklyn was able to absorb some of what she hear. She did come home and go right to her scriptures to highlight the one he gave in his talk tonight. I am so grateful she talked me into going. My children are often very good teachers.

Potty training?

Brooklyn decided to let Dillon try the potty chair tonight. Dillon decided he'd rather be a cowboy.

"YEE HAW!" (Seriously, he said, cowboy mommy yee- haw.)

My Day

Mother's day is always bittersweet. I missed my mother terribly today. Actually it was worse yesterday. Anticipation is always worse I suppose. Today my family did everything they could to make it a special day for me though. I realize this post may be boring to everyone else but since my blog serves as my family's journal, I'm going to chronicle the day. I'll try to spice it up a bit but it is what it is!

7:45 - I roll over and realize how late it is. I remind Bobby we need to be up, getting ready for church. The house is oddly silent and I grin, wondering if the kids were being extra good and preparing a treat for me! I step into the hall, peer down the stairs and hear... nothing. Not a thing. I look into Brooklyn's room and Caleb and Seth are sleeping on her floor, Ayden is asleep in his bed, and Brooklyn is sleeping in her bed. I admit, I am disappointed and a tad worried since we have to leave at 8:30. I say, "Hey, why don't you guys get up?" Ayden yells, "NO!" Ok... I get Dillon, who is happy to see me, and bring him and his church clothes downstairs.
7:55 - I feed Dillon and Ayden oatmeal. Ayden says I made it wrong (even though I made it the way he's been asking for it for the past two weeks, runny) and he refuses to eat it so Seth does. Ayden has a banana. Then Dillon asks for a banana that he does not eat. Very typical. When I look at the clock I realize I do not have time to eat and as I run upstairs to get ready Bobby is coming down - dressed and ready to go. He looks very nice and smells just as good.
8:28 - There is a banging on the bedroom door. I say, "Don't! I'm getting dressed." There is more banging. I yell, "Go away and let me get dressed!" (Lately it is usually Ayden at my door.) Bobby opens the door, grinning triumphantly, and carrying a plate of scrambled eggs and a glass of fresh squeezed Tang. I smile, say thank you and scarf down my eggs!
8:45 - We are finally in the car leaving for church! I put on the cd of "Emma's Sacred Hymns". I love that cd.
9:00 - We sit in the back of the chapel on the cold metal fold out chairs. Oh well, we made it. Dillon plops down next to Bobby and Ayden sits so quietly. It is a miracle. The older kids had put a bag together for the younger kids so they munch on fruit snacks after sacrament. Dillon takes this task most seriously. He is quiet too until he finds his zebra and tiger. Oh dear. He loves to shout the word 'tiger'. Ayden is an angel. Then we think Dillon is stinky and I have no wipes so off I go with him to the bathroom to make do with damp paper towels. He is not stinky however and says he wants to sit on the potty. We give it a shot. No luck. Oh well, give the kid an A+ for effort.
9:55 - I leave the meeting in tears due to a wonderful talk on mothers. Since I don't want to explain to anyone why I was crying so much we leave early.
10:30 - Bobby gives me a two new books so I can "lay in bed and read all day" (his words) so I retire to the upstairs while he handles things down below. Nice...
12:00 - The family sits down to a lunch of grilled steaks, mashed potatoes, green beans and grilled hot dogs. It is so wonderful. It is the best Mother's Day luncheon I could (and did) ask for. Then we have cake. It is a beautiful cake and tastes as good as it looks. Except the bow, the bow is nasty as all of the children and I discover. The dots are fantastic. I talk to my sister on the phone.

2:00 - Bobby and I take a nap while Dillon does! I don't know what the kids do but since they leave me alone to rest, I don't care. ;)
4:00 - Ayden wakes me up from the nap. I come down to hang out with a grumpy Dillon on the couch. The kids clean out the fridge. Happy Mother's Day! (That is what I asked for.)
5:00 - I cut Dillon, Ayden and Seth's hair. Dillon hates it and screams the entire time and manages to rub hair in his eyes, nose and mouth. He's brilliant like that. Seth and Ayden look great though. Brooklyn - heaven bless her - bathes the little ones as I finish with them.
6:00 - Dinner, the children eat leftovers and Bobby takes me to QDoba because I have a birthday coupon. I don't even feel badly about going on Sunday since our favorite employee is there and it is his last day before moving to a location far away. We have a nice long chat with him, he asks us to come visit him and we leave with warm fuzzies. It seems it was meant to be.
7:00 - Brooklyn puts the little boys to bed.
7:30 - Bobby, the older kids and I play Dicecapades. We have a great time. I think since Bobby keeps pushing Seth down and throwing dice at Caleb. Then he beats us all by a long shot. Really though it is so much fun.

I must say it ended up being the best mother's day I have had. I enjoyed it totally. It meant a lot to me that my husband wanted to make today so special. The children pitched in and stopped fighting, mostly. I vote for mother's day to come once a month. Who's with me?

Who's Your Momma?

According to Ayden, this is who I am:

A Romantic Dinner

Brooklyn decided that Bobby and I should have a romantic dinner tonight. It could be that she was incredibly bored. Or it could be she wants something badly. For whatever reason though she called her Aunt Holly, got a recipe that would work with the ingredients in the house and set to work. She made the entire dinner while the boys helped set the table with flowers and helped dish everything up. Then, they all took the little ones upstairs for baths while we ate. The night would not have been complete without romantic music so Brooklyn grabbed my iPod and set it to "The Nutcracker". Yeah, we're wondering about that as well. As we laughed and ate and laughed and talked and laughed, the music played and went from the nutcracker to Yoyo Ma's "Here Comes the Sun" to "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots. We laughed even harder at the romantic music. She did a good job on the dinner and Bobby requested dessert. Caleb sprinted off and said, "Brooklyn, there's trouble!" I cracked up! Brooklyn and Caleb came down and got busy in the laundry room. That's when Ayden popped up with his wet head to complain and give us a kiss goodnight, very romantic. Then we had Seth to keep us amused as he ran back and forth spying on us. Finally dessert was served. Quite comical and sweet and maybe even a little romantic.

Bobby's ice cream sandwich a la Reese's egg.
My ice cream sandwich a la Cadbury egg.
Our table setting complete with candle and flowers.

And one of the four party/romance crashers. LOL