Random...

There are starting to be many photos of just the boys because Piper refuses to sit with them for more than 5 seconds.

I even found Piper a Batman shirt!

The boys were playing around and Piper wanted to be a part of the picture so Peyton quick put the basket on her head. She looks so thrilled!

The boys coordinating again. :)

Finally one of all of them!

The picture says a thousand words

Paxton went for his 4 month checkup on Monday and was 18 lbs and 27 inches. (Peyton had him beat at 19.4 at 4 months). The dr increased his reflux meds and we are off to see an ENT specialist for his tongue tie at the end of December. Other than that, he is growing well (obviously) and moving on to the dreaded cereal and babyfood (my least favorite thing about the baby stage).

Ho Ho Ho

Poor Santa! Piper was fine with waving at him, but wanted NOTHING to do with sitting with him. Pax was ready for a nap and wasn't thrilled having to sit next to his screaming sister when all he wanted to do was sleep. :) The boys were anxious to tell Santa what they wanted... Peyton - Bullseye to go with his Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Parker - Slinkydog (from Toy Story as well). Santa was impressed with their simplicity and offered to bring them more toys. Thanks Santa, we needed that!

We are hoping to get through one more year with Peyton believing, but the kids on the bus aren't making it quite so easy. I have gotten really creative in trying to avert everything he's being told! And in case you were wondering, we are the only one's who have the real Santa at our mall. Everyone else has Santa's elves dressing up as Santa to help him out. :)

18 months

Piper will be 18 months next week! Boy, how time flies. She is a girly girl to the max; she loves her shoes, her purse, MY wallet. But, she can hang with the boys too. They keep her tough (sometimes a little too tough). She would rather spend her time getting into things than playing with toys. She's great at destroying. It drives the boys nuts when they are trying to build a train track or a tower!
Her talking has gone through the roof in the last month - she parrots just about anything you say, esp when you are telling her not to do something. Instead of getting down, she says "get down!" and just bats her eyelashes at me; a real piece of
work!

Mommy is slightly jealous of the trendy looks she can pull off!

Paxton is 4 months

"Pax man" as we often call him, is 4 months old today. He goes for his four month checkup on Monday and I'm a very anxious to see how much he's grown. He was 18lbs fully clothed about a week ago, so we shall see!

He is full of smiles and LOVES to talk to everyone. Oh yeah, and did I mention he's a big time Mama's boy! I'll take all the snuggles I can get because I know how fast it goes.

So cute

"I'm so cute and I can do whatever I want! That includes standing in my highchair to eat my lunch!" - Piper

And, a side note... what about this doesn't scream girl?? I don't know how many times I get asked if I have 4 boys!!!! She's in all pink, in a pink highchair/cart cover (and you can't see her shoes, but they are pink too!!!!!)

Astounded

In the past two outings I have had with the kids recently I have been astounded at how lax people are with their kids and just leaving them anywhere unattended.

We went to the library the other day and there was a baby sitting in a stroller with no one in sight for about 15 min. At the same time there is a boy about 2 yrs old swinging toys around, narrowly missing the other kids playing around him. All the mom's in the area are looking around with the "who's kids are these?" look. Finally this woman appears out of the rows of bookshelves and approaches the baby, never checking on the 2 yr old. I'm completely dumbfounded that this woman never approached the baby or even checked on the baby for such a long time. Anyone could have easily walked off with the baby and she would have had no clue!!! Later I see her looking for the 2 yr old and calling his name. She had no idea where he was! Come to find out later that these weren't even her kids, she was the BABYSITTER!!!!!!!! My heart sank when I found this out, knowing that the mom who has left these kids in her care is assuming they are being protected, loved, and taken care of , when clearly they are not. To top it all off, the woman was a teacher for many years and decided to start taking care of kids in her home to be home more with her own children. Really?? These are the people who are teaching our kids?!?!

Today as I was sitting in Target with the kids as they were eating their lunch, a woman is on her cell phone having a very personal conversation that the rest of the people in Target really didn't need to hear, as her children are pulling on her clothes trying to get her attention. While it was more the conversation that she was having that got my attention than her kids needing her and her not responding, it was what she did later that floored me! She had ordered a hot chocolate from Starbucks and I guess had gone out to her car and realized it wasn't what she ordered. So she pulled up to the front, left her kids in a RUNNING car by themselves while she came and stood in line waiting to get a new hot chocolate. In the 5-10 min she was inside I only saw her look outside twice to see if they were okay. I would have been a nervous wreck leaving them for that long in a running car in a busy parking lot!! I felt like I needed to keep looking out the window to make sure no one came along and just took them, or they didn't get out of their seats and drive the car away themselves (being that they were about 4 or 5). Have I ever wanted to just run in somewhere myself and leave the kids to do a 10 min errand that will now take an hour with 4 kids? Yes, but I've never done it!

I consider myself to be pretty relaxed when it comes to my kids. For example, I will leave the youngest in the house (gated in the baby proofed living room) while I go and take Peyton a few feet down the sidewalk to the bus stop, but to leave these kids unattended for such a long time just astounds me!!!! It also leaves me feeling VERY grateful that my husband works hard to provide for our family so that I am able to stay home with our children. And the few times they are with my mother in law or sister in law, I know they are loved and safe.

Me

3 days straight of 4 mile runs! Yep, I'm tooting my own horn! :) Very excited to be back up to this many miles.

I have to celebrate the "me time". Its what keeps me sane.

Why did I include this picture you ask?? Well because its staring me in the face ALL DAY LONG!!! Surprisingly this candy fanatic is doing awesome at not succumbing to the temptation (only 18 lbs to go and this baby weight is GONE!)

Tanya

Merrymead Farm

As if Trick or Treating wasn't enough, we decided to take the kids to Merrymead Farm ....

It was windy and cold, but we had fun. We took a hayride around the farm (the brown blob is Paxton sleeping in my new favorite baby carrier - Baby K'tan). :)

Haunted house

Hayride fun

We did a cornstalk tunnel. It was rather scary at times when Parker had run off and we were running around in circles trying to find him. (its like a corn maze for little kids, but its still tricky to find your way out - try finding a toddler who rarely walks and runs nonstop in a cornstalk tunnel with about 5 different ways to go!)

Tanya

Happy Halloween

Halloween 2010 was fun, crazy, and exhausting for everyone! We trick or treated 3 nights in a row (at church's Trunk or Treat, with various family members, and then our neighborhood). The boys have been OBSESSED with Toy Story this past year so when they were excited to go as Buzz and Woody, I thought it would be fun to dress Piper and Pax as Jessie and Bullseye (slightly different than the movie version, but it works - Thanks Em for lending us the costumes!) Peyton was SO exicted and wanted to sprint from house to house, Parker ate candy nonstop, Piper went along for the ride, and Pax slept the whole time.

It was a constant battle with Sissy to get her to wear the hat.

"To Infinity and Beyond" - Buzz Lightyear

"I'm the best Sheriff in town" - Woody

"Yoodleeheeho" - Jessie (sporting a pink bucket) :)

Our bullseye with his Halloween binky (that he loves so he will use it long after Halloween) :)

A very happy Bullseye

Tanya

MOOOMMMMYYYY!!!!!

I haven't posted a Not Me Monday post, originated over on MckMama's blog in forever, so here's a quick one!

Paxton still likes to sleep in his bouncy seat and I am definitely NOT too lazy to change that. And I most definitely DO NOT allow my 3 month old to sleep with his face covered with a blanket all while NOT wearing a pink and white girl bib because I am always on top of the laundry around here.

And while I was quickly writing up this post, my 6 year DID NOT yell, "MOMMY, Parker took his diaper off and is poopy!" I DID NOT find my 2 yr old on the couch with his poopy diaper in his hands and his little toosh just inches from touching the back of the couch!

Tanya

PS - Don't fret... what you can't see is that Paxton's face is turned to the side and the blanket is not covering his mouth and nose.

Why?

I want to know why its ok for someone to take my husband's hard earned money to buy crap??!! I don't really discuss politics publicly because, well, that's just not my style, but I need to say something to all of those who feel the need to abuse the system!!


Twice now in my quick trips to the grocery store to pick up a last minute item, I have been behind women who have used food stamps to purchase nothing other than junk (candy, beef jerkey, random items that in my opinion are not what you should be using that money for!!) I am all for people who truly need the help, getting the help, but I am NOT for people using our money to buy things that aren't to help sustain a healthy lifestyle for your family. If you don't have enough money to purchase food for your family and you need help in doing so, than here is a novel idea - purchase FOOD!!

Why is okay for you to waste our money on things that aren't benefitting your family? Why do you need that beef jerkey the length of my leg (no lie!!!)? Or why do you need to have 6 candy bars? While I think these are treats and you deserve the right to have treats, but on your OWN money, not our's!!

I guess part of the problem lies in the system and not having stricter guidelines! Get the help if you need it, but use it to buy necessities, please! (don't even get me started on what these women were wearing - designer watches, Guess purses....)

Its not punny

Last night at dinner Parker is giving us trouble staying in his chair and eating, so Jeff says "Parker turn around and eat. If you want candy (candy they got at the Halloween parade), then you need to eat." Parker replies, "I. DON'T. WANT. CANDY!". Of course, I start cracking up! Hearing him talk in such complete sentences with such emphasis and to tell Jeff to take his food and shove it in so many ways just had me rolling. Parker scowls up his face and says "Its not PUNNY!" (His "F's" are "P's") Unfortunately this gets Peyton laughing too and ultimately defeats Jeff's attempt at bribing Parker to eat his dinner. Got to love the terrific two's!

Double edged sword

As I was putting the kids in the car after a LONG morning out running errands, an older woman stops me and says, "Wow, you took 2 of them out shopping with you!" Then I say "I actually have 4 kids." She says "Oh wow, you have 4?! You look too young to have 4 kids." To which I say, "I'm actually almost 30." "30?! You look 18!", she says. "Thank you.", I say. She then says "I have 4 kids and 12 grandchildren and am loving life. Enjoy them!" "Thank you. I will."

Why am I telling you this, you ask. Well because you don't know how much I get this. I am always being told I'm "too young" to have four kids (or 3 just a couple of months ago). While I know that I will appreciate looking younger than my true age later, I DON'T now!! I am tired of being attached to the stereotype of being a teenage, unwed mother or being judged for my choice in having 4 kids when I still have so much of my life ahead of me and how dare I have wasted my young years on having kids! As I know I am guilty of judging others, we all are, I am still amazed at how judgmental people are of the fact that we have four kids, close in age, and are young. I know I'm young, but I'm NOT a teenager. I have chosen to create this life for myself, am married to a wonderful man, and love my children , and am TIRED of having to defend it to perfect strangers!!!!! (now that's off my chest!) :)

A fault of mine is worrying. Worrying about everything, but I especially worry about what others think of me, so these judgments are always a huge deal for me and are very hard for me to shrug off. I'm always wishing I looked older to avoid this exact stereotype, but at the same time fear aging.

Its a double edged sword because as my birthday approaches (still about 9 months away - but we all know how FAST time flies) I am dreading turning the big 3-0!! Turning 30 is a HUGE fear of mine! (insert eye roll here - I know) But seriously, I feel like it marks a new chapter in my life and closes another. I know my child bearing days are over (thankfully, but still sad nonetheless to know that I will never get to enjoy that again), my days of having toddlers and even "little kids" will soon be over (some days that can't come soon enough, but I know I will miss that one day), being in my young twenties is no longer, and truly being "young" will surely disappear.

And if I'm being completely honest, I just don't want to get old! :) As many of you know, I took up running after having Peyton and really started to enjoy it. Running 20-25 miles a week was nothing and became a hobby of mine. Now, running has become a chore and it is taking its toll on my body! I know my body has been through a lot in the last 6 years (esp the last 3), but I am still amazed at how "old" I feel after getting off the treadmill or coming in from a run around the neighborhood. I guess its just a constant reminder that life is changing and I need to embrace it and enjoy the ride, no matter how old I look or how old I truly am.

Hodgepodge Tuesday

Because I didn't know what else to call today's post... its a hodgepodge of photos.


These are the pumpkins from our pumpkin picking day.


Parker and Daddy busy carving his pumpkin.

Peyton poking holes in his template.

The boys scooping the insides out. (yes, I know the pics are out of order, but I just don't have the time or energy to fix them.) :) My flash wasn't on and it got an orange glow, but I guess it makes it look a little more festive.

A visit to the park and the obstacle course. (And GO EAGLES!)

Piper climbing inside the hippo, sporting her pink Eagle's jersey.

Ribbit, ribbit...

Surprisingly I didn't have to work too hard to get this shot and I love it. My two toddlers want nothing to do with sitting still, let alone still enough for me to take a photo of them and Pax wanted me to hold him (BIG mama's boy) and not Peyton. BUT, we got it without a lot of tears or stress.

Piper (16 mos), Peyton (6yrs), Paxton (2.5 months), and Parker (2.5yrs)

Unconditional Love

I love reading "I Love You Through and Through" by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak to Piper...

"I love you through and through.

I love your top side. I love your bottom side.

I love your inside and outside.

I love your happy side, your sad side,

your silly side, your mad side.

I love your fingers and toes,

your ears and nose.

I love your hair and eyes,

your giggles and cries.

I love you running and walking,

silent and talking.

I love you through and through...

yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too."

Unconditional love... its something so amazing that can't fully be understood until you look into the eyes of your child for the first time. You grow up knowing that your parents love you no matter what you do, but you can't fully grasp the enormity of that love until you experience it for yourself. You look into those little eyes, at their fingers and toes, and you instantly fall in love. Your heart melts with each giggle and each new word. Its a love that grows with each passing day.

Right now as I am just trying to keep my head above water and get through these "survival years" (as dubbed by a friend of mine - Jen), I am equally amazed at how reciprocated that unconditional love is. No matter how angry I get, or how many times I've flipped out over the food all over the floor, or how tired I get of changing the 100th diaper that day, or wiping hands and faces endlessly, they don't see my flaws and never fail to love without judging. (all of this will most likely change when they become teenagers, but for now I will enjoy it while it lasts) :)

Peyton, Parker, Piper, and Paxton, I will "love you through and through, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, too."

Tanya

15 lbs 3 oz

Photo taken by Gail Bunning from Gail Anne Photography

Paxton went for his two month checkup on Wednesday and he weighed in at 15 lbs 3 oz! He's growing well (obviously) and we are on to a new formula AGAIN to try to help this whole reflux thing. I'm saddened that I wasn't able to continue nursing for many reasons (his tongue tie and his reflux issues), but hopeful that this will be the answer we are looking for. Its hard to watch your little baby in so much pain. Forunately he will grow out of this and his medications are short term. (most likely until he's one)

Tanya

Tis the Season

And so it begins! I am now back to living at the pediatrician's office. Piper has an ear infection and Paxton is having reflux issues again.

I guess with four kids I'm bound to be there more than most, but even when I only had three I felt like I lived there over the fall and winter season.

In my many trips recently I have noticed things that I have never had time to see before (the Grandma's were watching the other kids allowing me to take just those that had an appt). As I'm sitting and chatting with whomever I happen to have with me, I've noticed parenting/pregnancy magazines sitting on the shelves in the room. Now I would like to know who has time to be reading these magazines other than people they don't pertain to? These magazines target audiences with younger children (often birth through preschool), not school age children or teens. I know that I do not have time to read these mags, because I'm usually catching juice cups before they hit the floor or find their way to the trash can, picking up books and puzzles up off the floor, keeping little hands out of all the unlocked drawers filled with medical supplies, chasing kids off the big scale that beeps every time they weigh themselves, keeping the boys from fighting over who will sit in the one and only chair in the room, keeping curious toddlers from unrolling the huge roll of paper, ripping pieces off and throwing them around the room, and keeping them from dragging their hands across the germ infested room and then conveniently making it to their mouths. As I was saying... who has time to read these?

I must give a little thanks to both Grandmas for watching the other kids for me because its been rather relaxing to take just one out with me.

Tanya

Pumpkin Patch

Today was pumpkin picking day.... We had a lot of fun taking a hayride to go and pick out pumpkins, climbing on haybales, playing in corn sandboxes, and playing on the combine slide.

Tanya

Laughter

Today is just one of those days where I need to laugh it off! I need to laugh as Piper has gotten into the frig for the 20th time and is now carrying around the bottle of salad dressing, as Parker is throwing grapes across the table at Peyton, as I'm cleaning smashed Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich off the floor and the bottom of my foot, as I chase Piper around with a vacuum as she eats a muffin (I know its my own dumb fault for not putting her in the booster seat, but I just wasn't in the mood - guess I paid for my laziness), as Parker is sitting in time out and screaming at the top of his lungs (and then proceeds to scream for the next hour till he finally crashes for a nap), as we are racing to the bus stop which ends with Parker screaming because he can't get on too, as its 1:30 and I am just getting to finally put food into my shaking, hungry body, as Piper tries to scale the entertainment center for the 100th time today and finally Parker gets so tired of hearing me tell her to get down that he lifts her down (did I mention that he's only 10lbs heavier than she is).... its just one of those days where I gotta laugh!!!

Tanya

Refreshed

Today we went to the library and of course any adventure out with all 4 kids on my own is, well exactly that, an adventure! We pull into the parking lot and there isn't a spot in sight and end up in the overflow lot. Of course stress level is starting to rise knowing I'm going to have lug all 4 of them from Never Never Land into the library without getting hit by a car. The parking lot is always a challenge because of the lack of arms to carry 2 toddlers and a baby. So with both boys cooperating and holding onto the stroller that is carrying both babies we make it safely through the front door, we return our books, and head to the children's section.

I don't like to take them places where they can't be coralled because they all head in different directions and I can't keep up, but surprisingly they did AWESOME! Everyone stayed in one little section (which is no small feat with two toddlers), they all shared with each other and the other kids there, there was no complaining when it was time to go, no one ran away when we were trying to leave...It was a rather stress free trip out.

Topping it all off were the comments I got from other people. Typically I get comments that get under my skin and are hard for me to shrug off. Pretty often I get, "WOW, you have your hands full!" - which is usually code for you are insane for having 4 kids or you have no control over your kids so why did you have them (Or maybe that's me thinking that!!) :) Just kidding! Most people have very negative comments or their tone is very negative and with my stress level already so high, it just really gets to me. BUT, today as I'm watching everyone watching me handle my four kids, biting their toungue as they take it all in, one sweet lady with her toddler grandson says to me, "You are one very busy lady." To which I say, "Yes I am!Four kids keeps me moving." She says, "And you are so calm!" Me, "That's because they are all being so good. The key is to get out before someone has a meltdown".

As we're checking out, the lady checking our books out says, "All I can say is wow (as she looks in the stroller, my arms carrying Paxton and at the boys, silently counting) and you are cool as a cucumber. I am throughly impressed!!" "Thank you!", I say with a HUGE smile on my face.

Its not often that I get positive uplifting comments about handling all my kids that leave me feeling refreshed and as if I can really do this whole thing called motherhood. Often I am just trying to survive, hold my head above water, do whatever I can to get through the crazy moments without crying or screaming, and to have two people point out how well they thought I handled the kids was really nice to hear.

So, how long did their good behavior last, you ask? Until they got into their carseats and the boys were already exchanging slaps back and forth! Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Tanya

First smiles

My heart just melts with those first smiles... After weeks of what seems like a blank stare, wondering how much they can see and just what they are thinking, the reward is BIG. The first smiles always bring tears of joy to my eyes. I'm trying to capture every first moment and savor it as I know this is my last baby to go through all these with. (Even though this was 11:30 at night and my eyes were burning with exhaustion!

Its extrememly hard to get a good angle with a chubby little baby who only can only lie down, but cute nonetheless!

Tanya