ALPHABET CHALLANGE D

1. Decorating :)  The kids just finished decorating Christmas cookies. It was Owen's first time and he thought it was awesome! He mostly just ate the frosting and sprinkles and with mommy's help managed to get some on the cookies. The kids really enjoy getting to decorate their own plate of cookies that are only theirs. I started doing this because I'm a little picky when it comes to decorating cookies that others might eat, I mean who wants to eat cookies that have had the knife licked off each time it was dipped in the frosting? Not Me!! So they each get one of each shape to have for themselves. I try to get them to agree to only eat one a day but that never works- they've already eaten 2 each!

More on decorating..... Ben has been decorating MY kitchen! Grrrrr! This really irrates me! It started this past summer when I found a cute little scale at a garage sale for a $1. I thought it would be cute above my cabinets. As most people know, Ben is a crazy collector.( He has collected so many thing starting with rocks and pens when he was little all the way to coins and guns as an adult!) Well, he has always wanted me to collect something! He even gave me one of those little souviner spoons once from a truck stop in Michigan hoping I would collect those- sorry NO WAY!!!  So when he saw the scale he must have thought " finally something I can get Joy to collect". He started bidding on some on ebay and has gotten me 2 more since then. Now he's been decorating the tops of my cabinets with scales and kerosine lanterns (his new collecting object!!). I would hav been fine with that but then he went further and started pulling weird, ugly things out of my pantry( that I should have tossed a long time ago) and started putting them up. I should have know Ben was a little weird when he told me he made a lap quilt for the fair and won a ribbon for it!  Don't worry, he's not ashamed about that piece of knowledge- he is very proud of it. but what can ya do- I love that guy even when he's stepping in my territory! Wow I went a little deep their for the letter D! Guess there will only be 1 subject for todays Letter!

C

C

1. Wish you a Merry Christmas! Every Christmas seems to get more and more stressful. Money is always tight.I am always worrying that we won't be able to do our shopping for the kids and that we won't be able to afford to buy them what they want. But by the time Christmas gets here, I"m always amazed that everything usually works out. I don't know why I stress about this stuff because I don't want my kids learning that Christmas is not about presents and everything being perfect, its about Jesus' birth and the HOPE we have because he was born so long ago. Its just that I'm a worrier. I worry about everything. It drives me crazy!!!! This year I'm trying to not worry so much, realize that more than anything I need to just cherish my kids while they are young, and stop thinking about what might not get done.

2. Cookies..... We made Christmas Cutout Cookies today. Normally I start my Christmas baking a couple days after Thanksgiving, but this year I have started until today. Why? I started a diet the beginning of November. I've lost 14 lbs so far and I just haven't wanted to tempt myself with all the yummy treats! The boys keep asking when we are going to start making Christmas cookies and I decided today was the day. I probably won't make all the different kinds I normally make because I just have way too much of a sweet tooth and not enough self control to NOT eat them! It kinda sucks but I'm sure I'll thank myself when the holidays are over and I haven't gained that holiday weight!

3. Carmels. I made carmels for the 1st time this year and its soooo much easier than I thought it would be!I made some around THanksgiving and made a double batch on Sunday to give as gifts for some of the kids teachers at church. Owen loves them- he is always standing next to the cuboard I keep them in and just keeps saying "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" i can't help but give him lots cause its just so darn cute! I wasn't thinking when I made them though and ran out of wax paper to wrap them in- so i have the ones that didn't get wrapped in wax paper in plastic wrap until I can get some more. This time I ended up with almost 200 carmels.

B

B

1. Big Butts! When Clint was 5, everynight when I would tuck him into bed he would always say to me " I love you, you are a beautiful woman! " I don't know why he would say this or what started it but it went on for about 2 years. Then when Ethan was about 5, not to be outdone by his big brothers, yells to me..."Mom, Mommy, Mom............I LOVE your BIG BUTT! " It was sooooo funny, I couldn't stop laughing, which led to them saying that to me for quite a few night later. I seriously think he thought this would be a nice thing to say. i still laugh when I think about it :)

2. Boys, boys, and more boys!!! I haven't for a loooong time thought I would have a daughter! Once when I only had Clint and Ethan, I had my little brothers over ( who are not much older than my kids). We where on a walk down our driveway ( I can still see it ) My brother Isaac was out in front, then Brother Josiah, and next baby brother Michael followed by Clint running and myself pushing Ethan in the stroller. Five boys in a row, spaced by about 2 yrs in age. I had a thought that this was going to be me someday- 5 BOYS!!!! Now I know that didn't happen but I wonder what it would have been like had that happened ( boy, I'm glad it didn't ;-)

3. ginger Bread houses. I know that this doesn't start with B but I really want to tell about the fun time we had yesterday. We got together with a bunch of our friends and made grahm cracker ginger bread houses. My kids were mostly excited about eating the candy rather than putting it on a house! I think throughout the entire time we were there Owen had candy in his mouth constantly. Ethan and Blake helped for about 10 minutes before they got bored of it and decided to play with their friends instead. Clint hung out the longest making it until we only had one side left. I think it turned out pretty good. I'm already wondering how long it will take before they eat it. I told them they have to wait unitl Christmas Eve. But Owen's already been on the table about 4 times trying to pick the candy off.

4. butter. Audrey has been dealing with a bad case of cradle cap. I have such a hard time trying to keep myself from picking at it. The other day, someone told me that they used butter on their baby's head and that it worked. So, I had to try it. I was amazed at how fast it came off (all of it too! ). But after giving her a bath and washing her hair 3 times, the butter has NOT come out! He hair is soooooo greasy. I'll never do that again! I would rather just keep that cradle cap than having my baby smell like popcorn for a week!

I am a terrible blogger!!

O.K, I admit that I'm not doing very well at this whole blogging thing but I think it scares me a little bit! Its very daunting, especially after looking through others blogs and seeing what a good job they do at it. So, in an effort to get on here more I'm going to be copying something my friend has done on her blog- an Alphabet Challange. Everyday my topics will start with a different letter of the day. Today will be A ( duh, it should be easy enough but I'm sure I'll struggle with it-I'm not the smartest nut out there!) So here goes it.......

A

1.  Audrey (of course)! I'm so excited to start with my one and only favorite daughter!! She makes life so happy! She is such a smiley little girl. One just had to look at her and her whole face lights up. Just thinking about her makes ME smile :)

2.Accidents (of the potty kind). I have had to deal with WAY TOO many of these! So many of my funny stories have started out all because of some kind potty problem- in fact some day I hope to write a book titled " It's Just a Little Poop On the Floor"

3. Annoying. I think this is one of my favorite words! My kids are always annoying me! In face at this moment my 2 favorite annoyances are annoying me! Blake is blowing on my face and Ethan is saying "Mom, Mommy. Mom, moooommmmy, can I have a yogurt or can you make me a plane. MOM!!!Mommy. I'm soo so starving! Mom, can't I just tell you one thing!!! 

4. Apple. I don't know why but trying to come up with A topics just keep me saying A,a Apple. We have been using Sing, Spell, Read and ,Write since Clint was in Kindergarten and he finally finished it . Now Ethan has started it. It has made teaching the kids how to read so easy. I'm really happy with this program. (great now I'm humming the phonics song: A,a Apple, B,b Ball, C,c Cat, and D,d Doll...........)

                                                                    

* I wrote this last Thursday and forgot to post it, so its a little out dated ;)

I've been wanting to get on here and write for about a week now but I never seem to get the time! I guess having 5 kids around keep my pretty busy. :) I always tell myself that I'll try to get on here after the kids get to bed but after I put the boys to bed Audrey decides its fussy time and she's up till 11!Then I go to bed because I'm so exausted and then get up in the morning to start all over again.

Ethan turned 6 on Tuesday. He had his cousin Carter over for a sleep over and my younger brother Josiah over too. Ethan thinks Josiah is so cool and loves it that he will play football with him. Ethan reminds me alot of Josiah. When Ethan was little I used to call him Josiah all the time :) They had a fun time trading football cards and  playing outside. Carter and Ethan are best buddies! They always have a blast together.

On Ethan's birthday we went to the Children's Museum with a bunch of friends. We had such a great time. The kids didn't want to leave and they are still asking when we can go again and if we can go for the rest of their birthdays. I'm thinking I should have bought the membership ;-s

School is going good. It is a little bit of a struggle trying to keep 3 other children entertained while I teach the 2 older ones. I think Audrey is the hardest to figure out because she usually just wants me to hold her. We try to do our more complicated things when she's napping. Ethan would do school all day if he could! I try to convince him he doesn't need to do it everyday since he's in kindergarten but he still wants to. At this rate he'll be done with his books by February. I'm sure though as the year goes on it won't be quite as exciting so I should be happy for this now!

I am finding drawings all over the walls and the table and the floor and pretty much everything else lately. Owen has discovered coloring. He wants to color ALL THE TIME! Its pretty cute. All his little scribbles :)
Its kind of annoying too! He is always climbing on the table and drawing on it if I don't get him paper soon enough. When we are doing school he is usually sitting on the table trying to write in the kid's books and mine too.

I don't know what it is but Owen really entertains me! He has such a funny humor. He is starting to say a few things but it is mostly his own little jabber and its hilarious. He has started to give kisses now and they are so sweet. He even smackes his lips. Boy, do I love that kid!

Audrey coos and is so smiley. None of the other kids were this smilely. We are all still having so much fun with this little princess! I know the boys will be spoiling her for the rest of her life :)

Clint is such a big helper to me! I don't know what I'd do without him! Owen and him a best buddies. They are always playing with eachother. As hard as it was having most of the kids so close together (and still is at times- who am I kidding -most of the time! ) It is nice knowing that they will be such good friends and always have someone to play with.

Blake has been saying some funny things lately, which probably means he's been thinkin some pretty funny things lately too. The other day I asked him " Blake, will you marry me?" He said "NO! I'm going to marry a different woman! ( he actually says woban for woman!) I asked him " What's her name?" He replied " I don't know yet, I'll probably name her Julia." I just thouht that was hilarious :) Yesterday when we were driving to co-op he asked me if he would live to be 204. I said probably not! A month or so ago he was telling me he was going to have 94 kids someday! I asked him where he was going to put them all and he said he was going to make a BIG couch so they could all sit on it together! He makes me laugh.

Poor little Audrey has been dealing with a cold for a few weeks. First she had a runny nose then it moved to her eyes and now her nose is a plugged up. Its has been a hard couple night because she is having a hard time sleeping. I hope she gets better soon.

The boys are really excited about getting to go stay over night at Grandma Kay's on saturday. We are going to a freinds wedding and Ben is the Best Man. It will fun!

September 24th, 2009
Clint, Ethan and I (Audrey too :D ) just got back from 1880! We went on a "Time Travel" Adventure @ the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center for a field trip with our homeschool co-op. The kids all dressed in old fashioned clothes and hats. They were so cute. They were able to lean how people lived back then and all the work they did. Clint was shelling corn and Ethan was carrying wood. They learned some fun songs and a dance too. They even had different names, Clint was Jonas and Ethan was Nils.

Ethan was in a group with his cousin Carson and they were having a blast together! They are quite the buddies- I'm sure we are going to have our hands full when they become teenagers!They are probably going to be getting into lots of troublesome adventures :) When they had their "old fashioned" snack they were drinking LOTS of coffee! Ethan is bouncing off the walls because of it!

I'm so happy we have this great group of homeschoolers to be a part of! Its so wonderful to know that there are other people going though the same things we are. It is especially wonderful to see my kids growing friendships with other homeschooled kids. If we didn't have this I think it would be alot harder to homeschool. The support of them all helps me to know that I can do this and I'm doing whats right for our family.

P.S.....Audrey learned how to roll over this week from back to front. I always get so excited when my kids learn to roll over- its just so cute! Actually, I was probably most excited when Clint rolled over. I feel silly to remember HOW excited we were. Matt and Christa had been over and we were all just watching how cute he was (he WAS our first you know ;-P ) and then he turned over, so we got out the video camera and just kept having him roll over- lets just say I would probably be embarrassed to watch how excited I sounded and how I was acting! But sadly, Blake completely destroyed that tape when he was around 1 or 2 : ( .

September 21st, 2009
I am SO glad last week is over! Boy, was it a doosey ( not sure if that's a word,hehe)! We started school last week. That in itself is usually a crazy week trying to get everything figured out. On Tuesday, we had a field trip to the Willmar Airport. The kids were so excited about going. It was interesting but they we bummed that they weren't able to get rides- you had to be 8! Clint is still asking why he couldn't because he says he's almost 8. They did get to get in a plane and pretend a little that they were driving.
After the airport, my week just kind of fell apart. It felt as if something could go wrong it would. Between running to Walmart to just get diapers turned into everyone having to go to the bathroom and Audrey screaming though the whole store, finally making it up to the checkout and getting behind who I believe is the SLOWEST customer ever( I mean could you write out a check any slower! She had to be hearing the wailing baby behind her!) Finally get out to the van to feed Audrey. Then we go to Cash Wise because I did need a few more things at Walmart but could do it with a screaming baby. Rushed through Cash Wise to get what I needed while dragging a very slow Ethan who was complaining of getting sick now. Finally get to the checkout and my debit card was not working. Had no cash on me so I had to leave my groceries there! So embarrassing!
To top the week off Blake broke his foot on Wednesday. I was in the house enjoying a little quite while Owen was taking a nap and the 3 older boys were playing outside. In comes a screaming Blake. Ethan close behind( of course) telling that Clint pushed Blake off the table out side. After getting Blake settled on the couch with ice on his foot , they explain that they were taking turns riding off a long table in a wagon! I asked them WHY??? I mean I do not understand how these little minds work? They said they were riding off the cliff! Even after all this I have had to run outside to make them stop trying to attempt this! I was hoping his foot had just gotten a little bruised, but it swelled up pretty bad and by the next day it hadn't gone down so I took him into the Doc to see if it was broken. He thought he was pretty cool to ride in a wheelchair in the clinic. He kept asking the nurse if he could keep it! So his foot broke in the middle and they wouldn't put a cast on it because he said that it is already splinted by the other bones in his foot. This made Blake a little disappointed, he was hoping to have a "foot thing". When we got home the boys found the piece of his cast he had when he broke his leg a couple years ago. They were hoping he could were it again- but it didn't fit :) He is doing pretty good now- the first couple days he was hopping and crawling or I was carrying him where he needed to go but now that the swelling has gone down we can get his shoe on and he can mange to hobble around.I am thankful for that- he in NOT a light little boy!
The week did get a little better after that. Friday was my birthday- but we celebrated it on Saturday. I went out to lunch with my Mom and sisters. I love that Tea Shoppe!Then that afternoon, Ben and the kids and I went to St. Cloud and did a little shopping and went out for supper. We went to La Casita. The boys really wanted to go to Red Lobster( I admit I did too) but it was packed and the thought of waiting for a table for 45 min with 5 kids wasn't appealing enough for that! So we went to LaCasita and were seated immediately. I will say that was one of the better times we have eaten out with the kids! They were so excited to get "fancy" drinks with little umbrellas in them that they just happily sipped on them and ate chips and salsa and didn't cause any problems. Owen probably ate a whole bowl of just salsa! I didn't realize he liked it! Makes be sick thing about it though- Ben was just spooning it into his mouth! Yuck! That restaurant get 5 stars for a good place to go with kids! Plus its already so loud in there you don't have to worry if your kids are adding to it :)
We are now in the second week of school. Ethan is having SO much fun! As soon as he wakes up in the morning, he's begging to start. Kindergarten is so much fun- if only kids would keep loving school after that first year! Clint on the other hand just puts up with it and is happy when he gets to take breaks in between subjects to help entertain Owen for me. I'm amazed every year so far how quickly and easily kids learn things! It is so encouraging as a homeschool mom to know that your kids are listening and learning what you are spending so much time teaching them.
We don't have a set schedule for when we will start and how long it will take us. Having 3 kids that aren't in school yet is proving a little difficult in that area. Owen is probably the easiest one to entertain while I'm trying to teach, as long as he has some trains or little cars he keeps quite busy. Blake on the other hand is constantly wanting to do Ethan's school. I have a preschool book for him but he wants Ethan's. I guess I should have bought 2 of all the books for Ethan and started kindergarten with him. We have to take LOTS of breaks for Audrey! She is always wanting Mommy to be holding her and talking to her. I'll be happy when she is big enough to have a nap schedule.

Oh, I forgot,the book I made for Audrey turned out really cute except for the fact that I made a bad typo! I don't know if you can read the word or not when you look through it in here but basicly instead of the word "pour" I wrote "porn" ! Not exactly the word you want in a baby's book! Oh well, I'm sure we'll have lots of laughs over this in years to come, right?!
The Baby Dedication went great. Clint, Ethan, and Blake sang "Because He Lives" for it. They did such a great job! I was having a hard time not crying while I was playing the piano for it! It didn't help that I could hear my Mom crying. I was so proud of them. Unfortunatly the video was taken with my crappy digital camera and you can barely make them out but you can hear they're sweet voices. I will try to get it up on here as soon as I figure out how to do it. I'm not very techy!
Well, I better head to bed, I'm sure Audrey will be waking me up at least 4 times tonight! As much as I do not like getting up in the night- I'm so happy I have such a sweet little girl to snuggle. Time goes by so fast and pretty soon getting up during the night and holding her will be nothing but memories. I cherish those moments when I spent that time rocking my babies!

My house feels so empty right now! Clint is off with Daddy this whole week working. He's been having a hard time lately with Ben being gone from Monday thru Friday every week. He's never seemed to bothered with it til just lately; I don't know if its just him growing up and realizing that daddy isn't home much or what. Two weeks ago he was begging Ben to take him with him, he even packed a bag and was going to sneak his way along with Daddy. So Ben said he should take him this whole week. So far Clint is having so much fun with Dad although he does miss Owen and Audrey- I guess he's needed a break from the rest of us:) Clint is really excited about tomorrow though since Ben surprised him and got tickets to the Vikings game. He is so excited to see Adrian Peterson play! I know this week is probably one that he won't ever forget. Getting special time with Dad AND getting to see the Vikings:Priceless!
Ethan is staying at Carter's tonight. We've been trying to do this all summer and thought we'd better hurry up and do it before school starts.
So tonight its just the three littlest ones with me. Its feels so empty and quiet if you can believe it. I think Blake is excited to have me (almost) to himself.

Audrey

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Welcome my newest nephew Zander Roy Cordes!!!

We were sooooo excited on Saturday night when my sister Jaclyn called to tell us she had her baby! I had to go outside so I could scream and not wake up the kids!!! We are so happy for Jaclyn and Justin and little Zander Roy! I know they will be Wonderful parents!! Yesterday we went to meet him at the hospital- he is soooo tiny and sweet. Only 6.11 lbs and has pretty thick blond hair! We don't see much of that color hair around here in our family! Its amazing how big Audrey seems after I held little Zander- she was after all more than 2 lbs heavier when she was born than he was. I'm so happy Jaclyn has her little boy- she's such a cute mommy :)

O.K- now I wasn't going to write this but since this is an account for me in the future to remember things I better write it ( although I might NOT want to remember this plus its kinda embarrassing!) As everyone knows we've been dealing with Blake alot and he has been saying something lately that I am NOT happy about when he gets mad or frustrated! A couple weeks ago Ethan and Blake were arguing in the living room when Ben and I overheard him yell- "What the H**l!" Needless to say Ben and I were shocked that he said this and decided to nip it in the bud right away- he was punished. I don't know where he heard this! Very upsetting! Then last week Ethan scratched him on the neck when he was playing piano and he shouted it again! I decided the spanking that he got obviously didn't work so I resorted to a couple drops of vinegar in his mouth! I guess that didn't work either because last night he said it again! This time I gave him a whole spoonful of it- he screamed for quite a while! I hope this time it worked because this is NOT something I want him saying as a habit!

Blake's Latest Incidents

Just so everyone knows, Blake is 4 yrs old and my main troublemaker! ( my other children are all this way from the time they turn 2 til they reach 5 yrs) So most of my venting will be caused by him for now. Tonight he ran out of the house as fast as he could. I knew something must be up by the speed by wich he was traveling. Ethan was close behind him but stopped long enough to tell me that Blake had given himself 2 haircut and peed in the trash can in the bathroom. I thought we were about finished with his little naughtyness now. He's been a pretty good boy the last week or two. I guess now I remember why I don't normaly take the boys into get their haircuts done by someone professionally since this is what happens a week later...money down the drain! And the whole peeing thing??? I don't get it...it must be some kind of a thrill to boys that they want to mark their territory or something. Sometimes I feel like I am constantly remionding the boys the they should use the bathroom in our house to go pee (it is what its there for) and not go outside to pee on various trees. Blake even like to pee in different areas of the house as well- I just don't understand this? A couple weeks ago he peed all over the clean pile of sheets and sleeping bags by his bed. Anyone have any advice for me about this or am I going to just have to hope he grows out of this stage soon.

This Crazy Wonderful Life

As I was washing dishes after supper tonight I was watching all the boys outside playing. Blake was driving his trike all over the yard while Clint and Ethan were setting up some kind of bowling course with things they found around the yard . Owen was running back and forth under the clothes line where towls were drying with just a big t-shirt and diaper on and little chubby toddler legs going as fast as he could ( he thought this was great fun! His head was barely missing the towels). I was overcome with the thought that my kids are growing so fast and I hardly ever sit back and enjoy them being just them. I get so caught up on getting things done so we can hurry up and start something else. I am always telling myself that I will always remember everything they say and do and the truth is I forget just moments after they do them. I decided to blog it so at least I can look back and remember and others can be apart of our crazy wonderful life.