Fun times

So tonight I picked the kids up from school met Matt and headed for Eckerts Farm, this has become a tradition of ours, going apple picking in September then Pumpkin picking in October, gone are the days though when it was free to get in any time you went, or just the $2 entrance fee, it is now a hefty $7 a person 2 and older So for our whole family to get in it would cost us....wait let me do my math! $42!! Wow that is a lot of money, however we didn't pay that tonight as tonight it was free to get in between 3-6pm yeah! We love it there, there is still lots to do and animals to see and of course the wagon ride to pick apples and eat apples yum!!
I love the Fall, though we are not technically in Fall yet it has felt like it, the weather is fantastic cool at night warm in the day, you want to get out the crock pot and make yummy roasts and chili's.....okay getting off the point a bit, So we arrived at Eckerts, Dominic loved the tractors, the golf, they all loved the corn maze and the gigantic slide that goes under ground for a bit, the goats, pigs, horses and deer and of course apples, lots of apples golden delicious, Jonathon's, Naomi enjoyed the day out too all bundled up in my new sling! Loved that.

It didn't feel too overwhelming being out with all the kids at a big farm, it helped that it wasn't too busy, I had Naomi attached to me and Matt pretty much kept a hold on Dominic and the older 3 ran about close by, I love this picture of us all and can't believe that there are 7 of us now!
So here is a fairly decent picture of me and Naomi, usually I am the one taking the pictures and when I do have one of mr in it, the kids capture me in not the greatest of appearance! I love snuggling her like this, she just melts into my arms and snuggles into my neck, oh what a joy she is!
So now I have 10 pounds of apples, I'll be making apple crisps, apple pie, maybe some apple salad, and a few new things I'll have to look up recipes for.
What a wonderful, beautiful time we had, I am so blessed, and just praise my God for the beauty's of this world and for my amazing family!

My Boys

What can I tell you about my boys? lots actually, Josh 8 yrs old is the oldest of my boys, most of the time he is a very sweet and sensitive kid. and generally good with his younger brothers, esp Dominic, they have a special relationship those two, you should hear Dom say "Josh" in fact I will try and video him saying it and then try and post it here. Josh is very helpful and has even tried his hand at diaper changing! poopy ones at that!! He is in 3rd grade and so far is doing great, we are working with him on spelling, he spells everything phonetically and so sometimes has difficulty with his spelling, but with lots of practice so far he is pulling an A in spelling! Yeah Go Josh!!
A blue belt in Karate he is learning discipline, and great Karate skills, he is even teaching some neighborhood boys the Kata! So he is great with Dom, but can be an instigator with Zach, those two butt heads a lot, and it seems Josh gets into more trouble with Zach around I guess they love to hate each other?? I am praying that their relationship will get stronger with time and with direction on our part we can;t however make them be best friends we can train them how to treat one another even when they are at odds.

Zach our 5 yr old is the drama king! everything is so dramatic to his reaction to bed time to being told to clean his room, Ahhhh with him the whining gets a little old, on the other hand he is super fun and the clown of the family, he is hands on wanting to help with everything from cooking to yard work to Dad's chores, he wants to know how to do it all, he even loves to clean the bathroom! But tell him to pick up toys and his room and watch out the "Might winger" comes out in force .

Dominic.......I pause for I don't want to be negative in my description of our Little Dom! little is actually not a great word for him, he may be small but oh boy does he have a larger than life personality! lets put it this way it took us 4 children before we had to lock all the cabinets, close bathroom doors, lock the front and back doors, for sure lock the pantry! and keep out of reach any kind of creams, lotions, paints, glue, pens and markers!!
He has just turned 2 and is quite a character, very endearing people fall in love him, he is just so darn cute! even when he gets into trouble he puts out his bottom lip and sits in timeout and looks so adorable.......boy do we have our hands full! all that being said I love and adore all my boys for their differences, for their God given personalities and gifts and talents. I am blessed,

My Girls

My baby has a cold! It is so sad to hear her breathing through her clogged up little nose! and she hates what we call the "boger snatcher" though it helps her breath better. I guess Dominic stealing her binkies and using them himself really didn't help the poor little girl!

Madelyn has taken to sleepwalking lately, it is quite a strange phenomenon, came out of nowhere and has happened 3 times now, she will come out of her room looking wide awake though a little panicky. She usually mumbles about something, last night it was " Mom I need help, I can't get it done, Mom I need help" I have to guide her back to bed and stay with her until she calms down again. I usually pray over her, It is very disconcerting to have your child have these weird episodes . I read online that some kids do this sleepwalking thing during pubity, Who knew?

Usually late we were a week early!

So trying to be an organised Mom I have wrote dates and times on my calendar, one of which included Madelyn starting back at dance! So the kids came home from school had snack did homework and piano practice done we were doing good! leftovers for dinner still making good time. Madelyn got ready I even had time to fix her hair, and off we went to Dance! on arriving the entire building was in darkness. my heart sank....."oh my goodness did I get the wrong date? how could I have gotten it wrong?"
Madelyn so sweet says "It's okay Mom you didn't know" so we turn around and head back home. hopefully next week we won't be late!!

What did the Doctor think?

So today the older 2 went off to school, I dropped Zach and Dominic off at my Sister-in-law's and Naomi and I went to my doctor for my 6 week check up...Yes it has already been 6 weeks! all went well I hadn't lost as much weight as I was hoping:( however I am really only about 5 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight. Everyone at the office loved Naomi, and I got the usual "you look great you don't look like you just had a baby speech" So I won't lie it makes me feel great.

From that appointment I went and picked up the boys and went to the pediatrician for Zach's pre-school check up and boy it was a long visit, Dominic was horrible! he had 2 tantrums, threw their toys and books, I had to put him in time out twice, Naomi cried, I was feeling frazzled but held it together wondering the whole time what was the doctor thinking? did she think I was nuts for having so many children? did she think I was discipling my son appropriately? did she just feel for me as a fellow Mom of 5? I don't know. I do know that I feel like I am under some scrutiny, people are watching how I parent these 5 children of mine, at least I feel they are......I guess because I so want to do a good job, it is after all my full time job I have to do it well right?

I came home from that second appointment exhausted, I put Naomi and Dominic to bed (gladly put Dominic to bed) and told Zach to watch TV! and I went to bed too!! I didn't even feel bad about it, I needed it and I fell hard asleep until Josh came in from school and woke me up...Oh well it helped I got up was happy to get the kids their snack help with homework, take Madelyn to piano, run to the store, pick Madelyn up, go home make dinner, quiz Josh on spellings, sign all their books, feed the baby, read stories to Dominic (yes I did get him up) get them all to bed, throw the laundry in the dryer and feed the baby........
I'm off to bed so I can do it all again tomorrow:) gladly as my children are my blessings I just need to give my days to God and he will give me the strength and patience to sail through my days:)

So I'm gonna try this Blog thing!

Okay so it is way late and I will regret doing this tomorrow, not the actual blog but just when I started it (12.15am)

I have read other people's blogs and found them to be funny, interesting, uplifting I don't know if mine will ever be any of those but at least it will have our lives in them and my family in England may appreciate that so here goes.....