One and Twelve

Today we had a FIRST birthday get together for JD. He isn't officially one until Tuesday though! We had some family over for dinner then had cake and ice cream. Somehow we ended up with a few extra neighbor kids when it came time to serve the cake. Do kids have cake radar or what?

"Before"
Hmm....what should I do with this?

"During"

"After"
That was pretty good!

JD really seemed to enjoy his first piece of cake. He got it all over himself and the surrounding area. When he was done I had to give him a bath to wash the cake and frosting out of his hair. Jerry had to hose down the high chair and sweep the garage.

I'm going to have to invest in a bigger half sheet cake pan. We finished off the 9x13 cake in no time! No leftovers. I can only imagine what my cooking quantities will be like in a few years!! We did have 18 people here for dinner though! Plus the two extra neighbor kids for cake...so that makes 20!

JD wasn't really into gifts yet. But Eli kindly offered to help him out with the opening. Here is a nice, clean (just out of the bath) JD with Eli:
Hayden really enjoyed one of the books JD got. I just gave everyone hair cuts yesterday. Doesn't Hayden look...as he would say..."so handsome":

And in case you were wondering why I titled this post one AND twelve...today was our anniversary. Twelve years!

Another New Baby Gift

When I was searching for diaper cake instructions I came across this cute baby gift idea. I made up a few to give to a friend who had a baby several months ago. I was remiss in getting her gift to her "on time" so I thought my burp cloths were probably a bit past their useful time. I wasn't sure on size for an outfit. Basically, I wasn't sure what to give...so I thought these with some baby wash and lotion would be a cute gift. All babies take a bath...no matter their age!! Right?!


These are so easy to make! Even if you aren't crafty you can make these! Just roll the washcloth and then make into a spiral and pin. Attach a stick. [I just taped it since I wanted the washcloth to be able to be used. I figured gluing it would ruin the washcloth.] Wrap with some plastic wrap and a ribbon. I made up and added a little tag. You can also skip the stick and wrap them more like a mint with ribbon on both sides. That would be really cute with the striped washcloth!

Baby Shower

Today was my sister Abby's baby shower. For those of you who don't know, she is due to have a little boy September 1st. The shower was at my mom's so I carpooled with my Aunt Debbie, Grandma, and Roz. We had a good time...played a few games (even though everyone hates shower games! Haha!) and ate some yummy food (good job on the fruit pizza Mom!). My sister has everything now except for the baby! And we can't wait to meet him!!

I put together a couple gifts that could double as decorations. Here are a few pictures...

Abby with her diaper wreath

Abby and Shelly with the diaper cake

The Diaper Cake

I saw a diaper cake mentioned on a blog or website somewhere and thought I can make that! There are several tutorials online (just search diaper cakes). This is a great gift for second or third time mom's who already have plenty of baby stuff. I had also seen a bouquet of sock roses and thought I would combine the two and use the roses on the cake. But then I decided that my sister needed baby washcloths more than socks so I used those to make the roses instead! I made this cake with size 2 diapers on the bottom, size 1 in the middle and newborn size on the top (127 diapers in all!). I used Pampers...they have a sweet baby smell, at least before they are put into use! There is a bottle of baby wash in the center to hold the upper levels in place. It wasn't hard to make and I think it is one of my favorite craft projects ever!

Two Funny Things

First, Wesley had his second to last soccer game last night. We discovered throughout this soccer season that he's really...well, to put it nicely...not that into soccer. Basically, he's in it for the snacks. The team never really had any formal training on the rules, positions, etc. They never practiced and three of their 12 games were canceled. Of the seven games they have played, Wesley's team has lost all but one game. Thankfully, they don't really keep track.

If any of you are familiar with the comedian Brian Regan (if you're not you should be...go watch some of his stuff on YouTube...he's hilarious), he has a bit about playing little league baseball as as kid and how if you play half a game you still get a whole snow cone at the end. That describes Wesley and pretty much his whole team. So when the coach put Wesley in as goalie last night we were a bit worried. I wasn't kidding when I told the other boys they should say a quick prayer for Wesley. The lady sitting next to us laughed.

But you know what, he stopped one slow rolling goal and another hard hitting one bounced off the goal post and back out on the field. Jerry said my prayer must have worked! So he did his part, played half the game, and still got his whole snack!

The second funny thing is what we read for a bedtime story tonight. You can find it here (or download with pictures here) if you want to read it yourself. It's a bit dry but the boys loved it. They are a strange bunch! Jerry laughed several times as I was reading because he just couldn't believe they were sitting there listening so nicely to: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Lightening: Nature's Most Violent Storms, A Preparedness Guide written by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Musical Beds

This weekend everyone but JD got moved to a new bed! Thankfully, it went well and there were no major breakdowns. (We don't like change here!) We took down Hayden's crib and brought it to Abby's for soon-to-arrive baby LeClair. Hayden took over Eli's toddler bed. Justus took over Wesley's twin bed. Wesley has the honor of top bunk with Eli on the lower bunk of the bunk bed. Even Roz is in a new bed since we finally found her a bedroom set. [Give me a few days and I'll update the room by room tour!]

The biggest change was for Hayden since he went from crib to bed. I was a bit worried we'd find him wandering around the house in the middle of the night but he went right to sleep and stayed that way. A much smoother transition than when the twins moved to toddler beds. I'm sure most of you remember our yelling up the stairs at the old house "Eli! Get back in bed!" a million times each evening. Naptime was a bit more of challenge but he did better today. So far he hasn't climbed up on the bunk bed either, which was one of my major concerns about getting that out of storage. I was shocked when I went in to check on everyone at 10pm and they were all sleeping where they were supposed to be!

Even though he didn't get a new bed, I'll include this picture of JD doing a new trick in his bed! He now pulls himself up to stand. Jerry went in to get him up from nap and found him like this:

Walking isn't too far off now! And for the record...I can't believe he's going to be one in just under two weeks!

Pink Flamingo 2008

This weekend was the annual Pink Flamingo softball tournament. We went and sat at Grandma's for the parade Saturday morning. Not nearly as convenient as it has been in years past since we actually had to load everyone up in the van instead of walking out the front door.

Believe it or not...I forgot my camera, so I don't have any pictures of the actual parade. Which is a real bummer since last year I took some good ones...good enough to be published! Here are two shots I snapped when we got home:

Hayden

Justus with his candy bucket

We headed back down to the park Saturday night to eat dinner. Hot dogs, walking tacos, etc. All very good! An elderly grandma (about 80) stopped me to tell me I reminded her of herself many years ago (she had 8 kids, 4 boys & 4 girls). The weather was great. We usually have a dry spell around pink flamingo time but not this year!

Eli's Mini Extreme Makeover

Eli has a had a mini makeover this last week with the loss of a tooth and the addition of glasses. We picked up his glasses yesterday. He was pretty excited to get them. The kids love to try on glasses, mine especially, so Eli felt pretty special to have a pair of his very own. He cried when he had to take them off for bed.

Today, though, he is feeling a difference in the way he sees things and I think it is a bit unsettling for him. I imagine it is a bit strange when you have seen one way your whole life and then all of sudden it is different. We have to go back in two weeks to have his eyes rechecked and possibly have his prescription adjusted.

Here is Eli with his new look:

My Little Black Box

Here is another organizing tip! Know how you love those! I visit a lot of websites. Often sites ask you to register so you can get special member only features or freebies or coupons. I used to frustrate myself by registering but then forgetting which email address I used to sign up, my user name, or password when I went back later.

To keep track I write down the info on a 4x6 index card. I file them alphabetically (by site) in an index card box. Now when I go back to a site and need to know my user name or password I just look it up quick instead of having to request the information by email. I also jot down any other info that might be helpful for that particular site (birthdays I used, security questions & answers, etc.).

Another tip is to have the same password for all these sites. Now I am not talking about your online banking accounts here! I am talking about sites like BettyCrocker.com or sites that don't include important personal information. Pick one password and stick with it...that way you'll always know your password.

Sometimes your user name is your email address so if you plan on signing up at several sites create an email address just for that purpose. Having a junk email address keeps your regular inbox from being filled up with a bunch of special offers and ads.

I think I have mentioned this already to but just in case, I also don't use my real birthday when filling out those forms. I doubt anyone would steal MY identity but you never know maybe someone out there really wants six kids! I just add one to the month and date and leave the year the same. It is to the point now that I am starting to think my birthday really is June 26th!

Roz liked my system so much she uses it too. I think even Jer has a few cards in the box. We keep it in the cupboard right next to the computer so it is easily accessible.

My Black Box
with cheesy, fake example card

Well, that didn't take long.....

We had our first injury on the new play set today. One of the boys is missing a body part that he had this morning.

Can you guess who and which part?
___________________________________________________________

If you guessed Eli you were right!

Eli walked right in front of the red "bronco rider" on the new play set at the wrong moment and got smashed in the mouth. I was in the shower and Grandpa was outside with the kids. Roz came in as I was getting out of the shower and told me Eli's tooth was "messed up". I had heard some crying while I was in the shower but thought they were fighting over the swing again. I had Roz bring Eli in to the bathroom. I took one look and called the dentist for an emergency visit while I was standing in my towel.

When we got to the dentist's office they took an x-ray. The x-ray showed the tooth was actually broken just inside the gum line and the only thing to do at that point was remove it. It was just being held in by his gums. They numbed him and pulled it out. Eli was great about the whole thing. Except for a few minutes when it first happened he did not cry. I was shocked by the lack of blood throughout the whole ordeal. Not one drop was found on his shirt or anything! The dentist was shocked that a four year would sit so still during the whole procedure (including lidocaine shot!!).

Thankfully, it was, of course, a baby tooth. Unfortunately, it will probably be about 3 years before his regular tooth grows in. So he will have an altered smile until then. He had to take it easy and eat a soft diet for a few days. Not liquid, just soft, so no chips or hard foods. He cried more about not getting to eat corn on the cob with the rest of us Friday night than he did when he got hurt!

Here are a couple pictures:

Eli's missing tooth

WARNING: This next picture is not for everyone. If medical things freak you out you might want to skip this one! I took this one right before we left to head to the dentist's office.

Last chance...

look away now...

okay, you're still looking...

here it is...

Ouch!

Five Boys

This picture is from a few weeks ago. I forgot I took it! I was "cleaning" up my camera and iPhoto and came across it. I thought it was a nice shot of the brothers!

So BIG!

Here is JD showing you how big he is!

The Contender

That is the official name of our new play set. Jerry, with a little bit of help from Grandpa Steve and I, spent a 3 day weekend putting it together. There were over 800 screws! That is not a typo and I am NOT exaggerating.

Actually, the assembly went much better than I anticipated. Jerry worked from morning to night and rain or shine. Some assembly, if necessary due to rain and when possible, was done in the garage.

The little inspectors declared it "AWESOME" and proceeded to fight over the swing. Justus asked if we could keep it forever. I told him we probably would keep it forever since I can't imagine Jerry ever taking it apart after he worked so hard to put it together!

Before

After