A Grinch?

So, how Grinchy am I?

I put up the Christmas tree around the first of December. Ours is a Charlie Brown artificial tree but it is pre-lit and it works for us. I never get it up that early so I was proud of myself. I thought it would be fun to wait and have the kids help decorate.

Over the next week the kids played around and under the tree.
In the short time the tree was up a section of light was blown (kids playing with the bulbs), multiple branches were bent with broken springs, and fake "pine needles" were all over the floor - every day. (Fake trees do not shed on their own.)

I finally had a bad moment and took the tree down - after multiple warnings that I would if the kids kept treating it as a toy.

After I took the tree down it miraculously reappeared twice. (Assembly so easy even a child could do it.) I finally put it back in the box declaring it would not reappear until next Christmas.
The kids asked where we would put the presents. I pointed out that they are always piled on the floor and that would continue to work.

Now, I know that was harsh but it was driving me CRAZY!

So, question to all of you with 100+kids: How do you allow the kids to enjoy the excitement of the holidays and stay sane at the same time?

I guess maybe I need to let go of some of my "control" - I have so very little as it is...

Yes, the tree will reappear (with authorization this time). However, I will enlist the kids and make it a family event - hopefully then they will have a desire to enjoy and protect the tree instead of destroying it.

Coleman Bobsled Team

This is a bit old but it was fun so I decided to post it anyway...
(from September)

The kids watched the movie "Cool Runnings". They liked the bobsled action.

We happened to have a long, thin box in our garage...

Here is the formula:

Take 5 creative kids

Add 1 long box

Add stairs

= TONS of giggles, dirty stairs (from box rubbing on it), and one thoroughly destroyed box!

All in all - a great way to spend the afternoon!

Kids waiting for Dad to give them a BIG final push - the box didn't survive that one.

I think the body language is hilarious. They actually got going pretty fast.

Abagail's reaction is the best.

mmm...Chocolate...

Like the smell of warm, melted chocolate?
Wish you could find a way to keep the tantalizing smell around as you go about your day?
Well...Oliver discovered a quick and inexpensive way to do just that.

Step 1: Choose a small package of chocolate candy - let's say a Whopper package from Halloween.

Step 2: Insert candy into pants pocket.

Step 3: Place pants into washer machine (with a full load of other clothes).

Step 4: After washing place pants into dryer (with candy still in pocket).

When you remove laundry from dryer the entire load will smell like warm, melted chocolate.

BONUS: You will actually have smeared chocolate coating various items of clothing too...in case you should like to have a taste.

Remember: A little chocolate goes a LONG way.

Also, remember to take a damp rag to the dryer when done as it too will be smeared with streaks of chocolate...unless you want to repeat process with next load of laundry.

Enjoy!

My Champs!

The three older kids have been trying their hand at various sports this year.

Gabriel joined the Jr. High Cross Country team. He got up every school day to run 2+miles at 6:30 a.m. He kept improving steadily through the season. The picture is from his District meet. Gabriel finished 7th out of the 7th grade boys. He earned an individual medal and a team medal (his team won 1st in district).

Katrina has been asking to take gymnastics classes for YEARS (sound familiar Grandma?). We finally signed her up. Katrina is working in the "all-around" class. She does tumbling, vaulting, balance beam and bars. Her coach says that he is doing great. She is mastering the skills, has good balance and form. Her coach has suggested we keep her in gymnastics since she enjoys it and picks it up so quickly. The photo is a bit dark since there is no flash photography allowed.

Abagail enjoyed her second season with the Youth League Volleyball team. She has really improved in her serving and bumping. She has gained power and confidence. Her favorite part was grabbing the volleyball and heading out to the backyard to practice with dad. Eventually the entire family would end up out their playing together. Her team had a hard time this year. It was priceless to see their excitement when they won a match after a few discouraging ones. Perhaps that meant more then winning every time would have...

Could It Be That I'm A Bit Insane?

(The girls react to the slimy pumpkin innards)

So, how crazy is it to hand my children a pumpkin and a carving knife?

This is actually the first year that I can remember that we carved pumpkins. We usually use paint or craft items to decorate the pumpkins. This year for some strange reason we decided to carve.

It was the first cold night we had, in the 40's. The kids are out on the back patio, shivering, trying to cut through the tough shell of the pumpkins. (I did do the one for Simon and Oliver - I'm not that crazy)

Finished Jacks:

The pumpkins turned out pretty good, no injuries - but they only lasted about 2 days before they became shriveled old jack-o-lanterns.

We also tried the whole "roasted pumpkin seed" idea. I had not ever tried that...didn't sound too appetizing to me. After scooping out the seeds I set them aside...for a few days...they got all mouldy...I threw them in the trash. Oh Well.

M.I.A.

Simon FINALLY lost that first tooth.

It had been hanging around...teasing us...for quite a few weeks.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

It's Friday night. The Varsity Football team is having it's final home game of the season. The Junior High band has been invited to play during the first half and in a special half-time show with the High School band. Gabriel has been practicing all week during band for the Big Night. This is the first opportunity for the Jr. High band to play AND march at the same time.

Allen is sick so I decide to take all the kids to the game to hear the band and watch the half-time show. It is one of the first cold nights we have had. We arrive at the game late (of course) and have a REALLY hard time finding a place to sit. Our nice neighbors spy me leading around 5 kids through the bleachers and wave us over to sit with them - most people are just looking at me like I'm crazy.

We sit and watch the last of the 1st half. Simon and Oliver really get into the whole "stomping on the metal bleachers to make as much noise as possible during exciting moments" thing. Good thing it is acceptable behavior at the game.

We eagerly await the half time show that we have heard so much about. When Gabriel comes out he is on the opposite end of the field. I can only see him if I look through the video camera and zoom ALL the way up - and even then he was angled directly behind a high school senior and all that was visible was his eyes and forehead.

Immediately after the half time show we vacate our spots on the bleachers, I don't think we would have lasted much longer without someone falling or spilling on someone else or something. The kids have been begging to go run in the sand pits behind the bleachers so we go to find Gabriel and play for awhile. Not 5 minutes later EVERYONE is complaining that they are FREEZING and want to go home.

So - in short we spent $15, saw 10 minutes of a football game, watched half-time (but couldn't really see Gabriel), heard LOTS of whining about how freezing it was, had to walk forever since I didn't get a parking spot close - nor did I remember to bring the stroller so I had to hold Amelia and the kids had to hold all their "stuff", and we didn't get home til after 10:00 (Can you say "Tired/Cranky kids"?).

Would I do it all again? Definitely.
The things I do 'cause I love my kids.

P.S. We did redeem the night by warming up with hot chocolate when we got home. Of course in hindsight I realized that this might not have been the best idea - to fill up a 4-yr-old bladder right before bed...

Gabriel is the kiddo in the middle with the trombone. This is taken on extreme zoom so not too clear. The senior blocking him stepped away for a minute and I snapped this shot.

I couldn't convince any of them to wear a coat so they were cold. In their defense it wasn't too bad when we first left the house.

Singing Sensation

All of my kids like music. We enjoy dancing together, singing together, making up new lyrics to old songs, etc. Gabe, Katrina and now Abagail have all taken a turn on the school choir.

So...Here comes Oliver...
We are at a Junior High football game - Gabriel is playing trombone with the band. It's the end of the game, the team is not doing well in general but they have a great play. The fans get loud, cheering the team on. It is really loud. As the crowd dies down I hear singing...

Oliver is standing up, hanging on to the railing of the stands and singing "I Love to See the Temple" at the top of his lungs...over and over and over. (his 4-yr-old version of the song)

I guess he got caught up in the noise and excitement and that is what came out...

Happy Halloween!

For Halloween this year we had:
-a snowman - Gabriel
-a rock star - Katrina
-Winter (character from a book) - Abagail
- Batman - Simon
- Winnie-the-Pooh - Oliver
- kitten - Amelia

We had a fun and busy Halloween. This year Gabriel went with some friends, Katrina went with her friends, and Abagail went with her friends for trick-or-treating. My friend snagged Amelia when we stopped by her house so that only left me with Simon and Oliver to trick-or-treat.

After ringing 1/2 of the doors in our loop Oliver informed me that he was done. He said he had enough candy in his bucket and didn't want any more. Simon was getting tired too and they were ready to go home. The only problem was that we were at the end of our street - which is a loop. So, no matter which way we went we would have to walk the same distance home - which was equal to the distance they had just come.


I gave a few piggy-back rides and we skipped most of the rest of the houses and headed home. Simon did ask if we could ring just a few more houses....



All in all, you take a pumpkin bucket, multiply it by 5 children and we ended up with a TON of candy. (Excited kids - Mom scheming on ways to "share" the candy with others)

More Kids Photos

Kids Pictures

The kids grabbed Amelia for some photos with her...

A Visit From Grandma and Grandpa Coleman

At the beginning of October we had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Coleman. We were so excited to see them! We may have worn them out with all the gatherings we squeezed into three days...

The girl cousins decorated a cake for dessert

Some serious game playing going on

Seguin Heritage Days

The town of Seguin hosted a Pecan Fest and Heritage Days over the weekend. The kids and I went to check out the crafts, pumpkin patch, hay ride, animals, games and etc.

The festival also hosted a baking contest. Gabriel, Katrina, and Abagail worked together to make chocolate chip-pecan cookies to enter. They won first place in the "youth-cookie" category! They were so excited about their blue ribbon.

Grins & Thumbs & Silly Tongue

Amelia is such a happy baby. She has HUGE smiles that are hard to catch on camera. Anyone who has come to visit will attest that she ALWAYS has her tongue sticking out...always... You would think it would dry out except she also has an ample supply of saliva.



Amelia used to love the pacifier til she became coordinated enough to catch that elusive thumb. Now she prefers her own digits to anything silicone. Sometimes she'll catch a thumb. Other times she'll catch a few fingers. The funniest was the time she was so desperate she caught three fingers, a tip of the thumb and the last finger was stuck up her nostril.
(Amelia is 2-3 months old in these photos.)