Picture Dump Part 5 or 6???

For Christmas, JM gave me the gift of paint! I have been so excited to paint and this past week I finally painted the entire downstairs, by myself because I didn't want to wait any longer. It looks great! I am just not sure how to do the stairwell. Now, on to decorating the walls! ;)

I drove past my childhood home with my mom and kids. I was surprised and pleased to find that our names are still on the lamp post 25 years later. My kids were impressed. My mom had no clue that we vandalized the post. I think I can honestly say that this is the only thing that I have vandalized and my career as a graffiti artist was short-lived. Haha! 

It's the middle of March, but the kids go swimming. I don't know how they do it, it is too cold for this mama!

Caleb and I watched from the side lines. That is, until Caleb discovered a puddle and then keeping him dry was a futile effort.

Hannah and Luke are good friends. She looks up to him so much. He is a good leader and example. Joshua is in the background, the stinker wouldn't turn around. He's such a good kid. He loves to laugh and play. He's easy-going and so smart and creative. Hannah is being potty-trained. She's great at pee but has many poopy accidents. :( 

The kids enjoyed carrots from Grandma and Papa's garden.

Mercedes has a tradition of taking a warm bath after swimming.

This little lady is growing up too fast. She is responsible and spicy, but she is sweet too. She writes a bunch of love letters to us, and thrives on praise. She is reading so well nowadays and read me a book spontaneously the other night.She missed a whole week of school and had a stack of homework to do. She did it all. All of it! She had such a great attitude.

This is a weekend tradition. We let all of the kids sleep together on the floor.

Caleb was entranced by the lights Papa Mac had on the ceiling. He had purchased a laser light show.

Luke said, "Mom, take a picture with me." So, I did. He loves taking selfies with me. He is my little man and my "protector". He loves "pounding" my kisses in so they don't go away. He's nearly 5, but he loves me so. His favorite song right now is one that changes every night, I ad lib a song about him being a rescue dog. Set to the tune of Gummy Bear.

Picture Dump Part 4

Pretty Jessica, she's available! 

Here's Caleb's one year old cake. It's a derelict vehicle. Just kidding, it's a race car. It was going to be a cute Robin's Egg Easter cake, but JM said that was too girly. So, last minute I changed it to a car. 

Here is the cute birthday boy!

Here are the proud parents.

He was a huge fan of the cake and ate so much.

We all love you, Caleb, so much!! You bring us so much joy. You can't walk yet. This makes you the slowest of the 5 to learn how to walk. But, it's not your fault. You are held so often that you don't get as much practice, I am okay with that. The milestones will come, I will just enjoy you being a baby just a little bit longer. You love food, real food. The spicier and more tasty, the better! You love your thumb and smiling. You are a cuddler and a well-mannered, even-tempered baby. You explore places like the toilet. You climb up and down the stairs like a pro and have never fallen. You imitate sounds, even if that sound is the sound of a sibling whining. You click your tongue and give open mouthed kisses. You let me kiss your mouth over and over again. I love you, KCub.

Picture Dump Part 3

This was a perfect moment and I didn't want to forget it.

Jon Mark kept the kids busy down stairs so I could sleep in as late as I wanted. I finally told him to bring me the baby. He laid Caleb down on my chest and Caleb just laid there and snuggled with me for about 5 minutes. That doesn't happen too often when he is well. He is usually exploring and moving about. He does certainly enjoy cuddling, but I count myself lucky that it lasted as long as it did. My phone was next to me and I snapped a few pictures. It started a funny thread between JM and I. I texted him these pictures and so he texted me back a picture of himself. I told him he was missing the cute baby. So, he made Joshua lay on his chest. My big 8 year old was obviously uncomfortable doing so and had a look on his face that said, "this is really weird". It made me laugh out loud when JM texted it to me. I upped him and took a picture of me nursing. 

So, first thing in the morning, still in my garments without a lick of make-up on and suddenly I have some of my most favorite pictures of myself in the world. It's the little, quiet moments that remind me why I love being a mother so much.

Picture Dump Part2

Joshua loves drawing soldiers who were hit multiple times by arrows. Should I be concerned? :) History and soldiers fascinate him.

Mercedes wrote love notes to all of her siblings. Here is one to Hannah.

Joshua's letter to Santa (who he just barely found out about).

Mercedes writes love notes to JM and I.

Joshua wrote a letter to Nick that made me chuckle.

Joshua made me a Valentine.

A good report card.

Picture Dump Part 1

I never had a problem keeping up this blog until I had five kids. 

I'm thankful that the IPhone makes picture taking so easy. I'm not short on pictures, just short on time to post.

The other morning, Hannah was eating her cereal when it all spilled all over her. She was traumatized and I was laughing.

I turned 34 this year. My parents took us out to eat. My mom brought along a cake and everyone sang to me. I'm a lucky girl. My life is a blessed life. I am truly thankful for all of the amazing relationships that I enjoy.

I made a space painting to go in the boy's room. They have a Star Wars room so it seemed fitting.

Luke E. Bear recently learned how to write his name. He was so proud of himself.

Here is Hannah modeling her new dress from Grandma.

We spent a couple of weeks being super sick. Mercedes couldn't catch a break. She had strep, then the flu, and then pneumonia. She was throwing up blood clots, which was alarming, but apparently a common side effect of pneumonia. Who knew. 

Here is the dress and shoes that I purchased with my birthday money from my in laws and parents. Jon Mark bought me a Fit Bit which has been fun.

There is so much that I am going to miss about nursing and little kids. The other night, I asked Jon Mark to take a picture. I don't know where Mer was, but I was nursing Caleb and all of the other children gravitated to the couch. Hannah climbed onto my lap and crowded out Caleb, Luke was telling me a story, and Joshua was reading. It was a very realistic motherhood moment and I didn't want to forget what life was like at this stage of my life. 

We had a picnic the other day, I think it may have been on my birthday. I love living next to the soccer field.

Jessica gave Caleb his first sucker, and.... he was a fan!

These pictures I converted to sketching using an app. They looked easy enough to do, so I am putting them here so I can try sketching them sometime.