LA County Fair

During the last week of the la county fair, we managed to find time for some fair food n fun.

We went to the river

Surprise! Riley's Farm

I LOVE surprises, don' t you? In fact, I'm working on a surprise nursery for my good friend right now. She's given little 'ol me the honor of decorating her baby's nursery. She's expecting a boy and has already picked out the theme for his room. I get full reign in there. I can do ANYTHING I want she says!!!! I'm so excited! I have got sooo many ideas to put to use. Sarah is helping as well. And Miguel even showed up earlier this week to do some work in there too!

Big Time Rush

Elizabeth and Emily got to go to their very 1st concert this past weekend where they saw the boy band, Big Time Rush. We got invited to go by Elizabeth's BFF and her mom.

Mental Note To Self

If you wanna go to the beach to see tidepools, you MUST go during LOW tide.

Beach Bums!

So here's a loooong post to make up for the lack of blogging lately.

Wasn't the Wordless Wednesday photo hilarious!? That was taken during our beach day last week where the kids and I (daddy had to work) spent some quality time with our cousins. As we were loading the car in the morning to head out, Megan decided it was the perfect time to throw up the contents of her stomach all over the garage floor. I wasnt gonna let that stop us from going, seeing as how I worked so hard for the day off from work. So,

Grand Canyon Or Bust...

A surprise trip to the Grand Canyon and the Polar Express was just what we needed to get into the Christmas spirit. We had the trip planned for a few short weeks and surprised the kids early one morning by waking them up and having them get into the fully packed van. They thought we were going to the store. But after one hour turned into two and two turned into three, they eventually got the idea that this was no quick trip. But with Sir Speedy daddy at the wheel, we did get there in about 5 hours. Here are the kids outside the cabin we stayed in. We made good friends with the grandchildless lady in the campground office (who fell in love with all the kids) and the maintenance worker who had to fix the doorknob that mommy broke and the heater that Megan broke. Speaking of heaters.... the last night we were there was 14 degrees and windy! But I digress. By the end of the weekend they felt like family to us!  

After checking out our cabin we headed on over to a new attraction in Williams, Az. Bearizona! The kids love animals so this was probably more memorable than the hole in the ground we call the Grand Canyon! But I'll pretend that's not the case!

Sunday morning when we woke up and opened the cabin door, we found a blanket of white snow had fallen while we slept. How exciting that was for all of us! We hopped in the van and headed on over to check out the Grand Canyon. I couldn't wait for Elizabeth to see it because not too long ago she did a report about it and even made a life-like model. She asked me afterwards when and if we would ever take her there, so I was excited to see her reaction. But after watching this video, I think Emily enjoyed it more!

It started snowing on us. Can you see the snowflakes in this pic of Ben?

I'd like to show you pics of the Polar Express Train ride but we didn't bring the camera with the built in flash. But, maybe it's better that way. Better left to your imagination. Better left to what only your brain brings to life when I describe how truly phenomenal it was. Because I honestly don't think that any pics we could have taken would do it justice. It's something that had to be lived and experienced by you alone. If I had to describe it, I'd say that it was like the book and movie- The Polar Express - come to life. It felt like the train took us to another world. Take your most favorite, cherished childish dream, and imagine it REAL. Imagine it really coming to life. Imagine walking through it and smelling the cookies that were baked and the hot cocoa sipped just like in the movie. Imagine feeling and touching the snow, moments before boarding the train. The same white snow that lies miles ahead in the "North Pole". Imagine wiping the vapor on the windows of the train to get a clearer picture of Santa standing there waving back at you as he held is belly and yelled out in his deepest, happiest, "ho, ho, ho." Cause that's what happened to us that night. I think I can speak for bothy daddy and I when I say that even we felt like little kids again. Kids that woke up in the middle of the night and boarded a train full of mystery and powers unimaginable. I'm so very glad that daddy and I  our kids got to experience this. I hope it preserves their innocence, stirs up their imagination, sustains their Christmas spirits, encourages them to believe in magic, and curbs their desires to want to grow up and be adults. I was a kid again if only for a mere 55 minutes. Sigh....

If I could use only 1 word to describe this whole trip, it would be ~MAGICAL~.

Ditch Day

Last Friday, mommy and daddy were *cool* parents and let the girls ditch school so that we can go to the beach to hang out with this cousin...

and his parents too...

We got some great pics like this one...

This lil one enjoyed herself so much...but was curious as to why the waves won't stop coming...

Mimi-- enjoying the view

The girls had fun jumping over waves

Elizabeth and Brianna got brave and started RIDING the waves

I LOVE this pic of them. These 2 get a long soooo well.

And guess who's first time it was to EVER see the ocean! He had fun eating the sand and had absolutely no fear when it came to the water and the waves.

Ben is under the blankie taking a nap in mommy's arms.

Megan-- making friends with strangers. She's too trusting! This lady here told me that I should go for baby # 7! Haha! (Don't worry, dad. I won't.) Brianna put her book down long enough to join the kids in the water. What a shocker!

Don't laugh too hard!

You're gonna enjoy this post!

My Mother's Day--

First off, I'd like to say Happy Belated Mother's day to every mommy out there, including all of my mommy bloggie friends. Lynn, thank you for the E-card!

I had to work on Mother's Day. Sad, I know. But, I took the Saturday off to have my own Mother's Day with the kids. It was nice. Daddy went shooting in the morning with a friend, but after he got home I took the older three girls ice skating.

I've been wanting to go ice skating for a long time but I just never have the time! Elizabeth complained the whole way there but by the time we were done she was the one begging to come back again! It was so much fun. Sarah, our cousin, came along too. You're gonna love this video. Near the end of the 2nd hour there, I was getting brave and decided I was going to teach myself how to twirl and spin like those fancy skaters in the middle of the ice. I was showing off and Sarah made sure to have her camera phone out - just in case! Go ahead, watch it. And get a good laugh- AT MY EXPENSE! : ) After ice skating we went to lunch with daddy and the rest of the crew. What better way to end the day than a quick shopping trip at the mall. Brianna, Ben and I tagged along with Sarah on her search of a dress for an upcoming wedding. While in the mall, I found a few cute dresses myself. I had Ben in the baby backpack and I left the stroller in the car so I had nowhere to put him to try them on. That is until.... I looked around... and got creative. I apologize for the sideways video. Keep in mind, I had tested the hooks before using them. He was having an absolute ball jumping around like he was. Sarah made me do it. JK. I guess after 6 babies, I'm a little bit more daring in my parenting. Ben was giggling and mommy was laughing harder than I've laughed in a long time. Be Advised: No babies were harmed in the making of this video!

It's been awhile

since I've posted. I've started another course in school (luckily I'll be done with this school crap in June) and with working and kids and husbands and laundry and cooking and cleaning and birthday parties and Easter, there's just never enough time! I did manage to take a few pics over the last several weeks that I wanted to share.

Lately, Matthew has been wanting to do his own hair for school. Don't laugh.

"I'll do it by myself," he insists. Now, normally I'd be very okay with this as it gives me more time to donate to something else that needs to get done. However, the problem is this...

He proceeds to comb his hair "just right" (his own words) making him look like a doofus with a sorta Eddy Munster thing going on. 

And why he has to have it above his right eye I do not know, but whatever you do, DON'T ATTEMPT TO MOVE IT! It will make him mad, very, very mad. If we stayed inside our home all day I would be more inclined to accept this latest fad, I so hope it's just a phase. But, the kid wants to go to school like this! 

What to do?!  Here's how it went one school morning...

"Wow, Matthew who taught you to do your hair like that, you look sooooo handsome?"

Think quick, Christine! (And keep in mind that the first five years of a kid's life are the most important, his self-esteem is developing and growing and don't hinder that.) Matthew smiling, "I did, cuz I'm cool." Well.... it looks like he's got the confidence thing down (like daddy!), but I know that it will break his spirit if I try to change the hair. Plus, school starts in 13 minutes and I still haven't packed his lunch. Ugh, I don't have time for this today. Thinking of my son's wants and his need for individuality and independence, I allowed him to, reluctantly, very, very, reluctantly wear his hair in this absurd manner for a WHOLE 2 days. But a mother has needs too, and I needed to feel like all of those other 'cool' moms pulling their well groomed children out of the minivan and walking them into class weren't staring at my kid and then at me thinking, "what the heck, lady?!" After 2 days, I couldn't take it anymore and bribed him to let daddy cut it.  Daddy got the clippers out and Matthew got not one, but 2, fudgesicles!

That's much better. At least, for now, until the next weird idea this kid gets! 

Remember my family from Ohio who made me this, well they came out to California to visit and spend Easter with family. It was sooo nice to see them. I got to visit with my little cousins who are my children's ages. Oh how I wished we lived closer. My aunt Debbie is a cool, crafty, hands-on play with your kids and treasure them kinda mom, and I can totally see myself hanging out with her if we lived closer. I wish my grandparents were still alive. They would have loved to see all of the grandkids and greatgrandkids playing together. They had a total of 17 grandchildren. Imagine that, 17!!!! My childhood memories are filled with amazing holidays full of cousins, lots and lots of cousins. With us having 6, one more than my grandparents had, there's a good chance we may have 17 (or more) grandkids running around our home one day. I remind Miguel of this often. For some reason, he doesn't look as excited as I am about it, lol.  Anyway, we had an Easter egg hunt with the kids. My dad came over bright and early and hid the eggs throughout the yard (thanks again, dad). I'm sure grandpa and grandma were there, watching from above.

  

Then we had a bbq one night before they left. Good times.

And look who just turned 2!!!

When I'm at work, daddy is home watching ALL six kids. Lately, Papa has been surprising daddy and popping in unexpectedly to kidnap the older kids away fromt the TV and take them on some wild outdoor adventure. It gives daddy a break and papa some bonding time with the grandkids. I only wish I wasn't working because I'd be going along with them on these day trips. Here's some pics of when they went to Marshall Canyon up in the LaVerne area. The kids loved it and Papa was camera happy that day. Emily collected a bunch of rocks and sticks to take home and clutter decorate mama's house.

Matthew got to go along on this trip to Mt. Baldy.

And here is a random picture of my little man just so I can show him off. Isn't he getting more and more handsome, I think so.

Okay, that's it for now. Hopefully, I can find some more time around here and post a lil more frequently.

"How can I control my life when I can't control my hair?" ~Author Unknown