If Jen needed to write a résumé, this would be an appropriate job title, though I don’t think the last one does her enough justice.
Jen is amazing…AMAZING. She has the toughest job in the world and she seems to do it with ease. Jen’s 4 bosses are way more demanding, unreasonable, and unforgiving than mine. She handles them like a champion and I really don’t know how she does it. Regardless, she was meant for this job. Don’t get me wrong, she is a terrific wife and excellent nurse, but her mom-a-bilities are phenomenal.
I could elaborate on a hundred different instances of how she makes our lives better, but I will spare everyone the details. It boils down to this: I love that Jen stays home to raise our boys. Almost daily, I get different picture messages of them doing whatever they do all day and it is great knowing they get to spend all day with their Momma. I know it isn’t an easy job, but having Jen around is the best thing for those little dudes. I can’t thank her enough for all that she does and I want EVERYONE to know that she is the center of the universe for all 5 boys in our house.
We love our Momma and all that you do for us!
B, O, P, J, B
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Toddler Tailgate
The boys are huge Russell Shepard/Joseph Addai fansOk, so it wasn’t exactly a tailgate, but we did all venture out to campus last Saturday. We parked at Uncle Doose’s house and walked the guys around campus. We stopped for some photo ops with a stuffed Mike the Tiger and again for a juice box break at the amphitheatre.
Owen got to see the LSU clock tower, the parade grounds and the tailgaters eating jambalaya just like in the Born to Be a Tiger
book. It was a short lived trip to campus, about 90 minutes total, but it was a win and it was fun to soak up the atmosphere and the smells of football season. Now, we need to figure out how to buy that RV so we can make this happen on a regular basis!Here are some other pics of our guys in their LSU gear - http://picasaweb.google.com/brett.connison/FutureTigers#
School Days
Thursday, September 23, 2010
just the twins.
So today was the first day I brought Owen to school with all the offspring in the car by myself. Previous school days I've had the wonderful help of grandparents.
This is what I learned about doing it all alone: start getting ready for departure as soon as my eyelids open. We did somehow make it on time. Just in case I forget the logistics of this procedure one day.. allow me to elaborate.
Daddy out the door. Breakfast over. 7:45am.
Owen to potty after moderate coersion. Owen dressed. Smiling and crying at the same time when he realizes its a school day.
Jack and Parker dressed and changed.
Mommy dressed listening to Ben fuss.
Nurse Ben while watching each twin poop in new diaper. Perfect.
Change dudes, again.
Ben in carseat.
Park in car first. Owen second. Jack on the hip while carrying Ben in carseat.
All buckled.
Run back in house to get Owen's stuff, my stuff, COFFEE.
Throw Owen a banana in backseat for brainfood on the way.
Mommy buckled. 8:29am. Thank you Lord.
Nearly impossible to get Owen to his second story classroom by myself with all 4 in tow. Could be done with the double stroller, and sling for Ben, and Owen holding hands but seriously? By the time I did all that, dropped Owen off, went back down the elevator, and got them all back in the car.... it would be time to go back inside and pick up owen. So I need a helper. Katie drops Mack on the same school days at the same time but today Mack was sick and wasn't going to school. I bribed my poor cousin with CC's coffee delivery to throw the sick kids in the car and meet me at school so I could have her watch my kids sit in the car while I walk up with Owen.
IS. THIS. ALL. WORTH. IT!???
Yes. yes it is.
Never you mind about all that.
What is the point of this blog?
The point is my sweet little independent twins got to hang with their mom when we got home all by their lonesome. Well, after Ben went down for a nap.
The last time this occured was during the summer when Owen was with MawMaw and PawPaw. But they weren't talking yet. And since they've really commenced utilizing the English language, I have had yet another child, was unable to pick them up for two weeks, always have a baby suckling the teet, or a 3 year old who requries more attention than all 4 kids combined. So for once, the baby was asleep and the human constantly answering for them was away. and it was just us chickens. So we turned off thenanny tv. and read books. played with toys. tickled. laughed. ate cheerios. built a tower.
and then a miracle occured.
i picked up the doodle sketch. and began writing the alphabet. one letter at a time. I'd write one. then erase it and write the next one. and guess what? those two little people knew all but a few letters. i'd write it. and they would say it.
so i'm laughing because i was so surprised and so proud of them. and also i'm crying because i feel so guilty that i didn't know they knew the alphabet. how long have they known it? what else is in their heads and i don't know its there? is this the ultimate curse of having 600 kids in diapers?? i need more minutes in a day. i hate that i didn't know this and it took until now for me to realize it.
This is what I learned about doing it all alone: start getting ready for departure as soon as my eyelids open. We did somehow make it on time. Just in case I forget the logistics of this procedure one day.. allow me to elaborate.
Daddy out the door. Breakfast over. 7:45am.
Owen to potty after moderate coersion. Owen dressed. Smiling and crying at the same time when he realizes its a school day.
Jack and Parker dressed and changed.
Mommy dressed listening to Ben fuss.
Nurse Ben while watching each twin poop in new diaper. Perfect.
Change dudes, again.
Ben in carseat.
Park in car first. Owen second. Jack on the hip while carrying Ben in carseat.
All buckled.
Run back in house to get Owen's stuff, my stuff, COFFEE.
Throw Owen a banana in backseat for brainfood on the way.
Mommy buckled. 8:29am. Thank you Lord.
Nearly impossible to get Owen to his second story classroom by myself with all 4 in tow. Could be done with the double stroller, and sling for Ben, and Owen holding hands but seriously? By the time I did all that, dropped Owen off, went back down the elevator, and got them all back in the car.... it would be time to go back inside and pick up owen. So I need a helper. Katie drops Mack on the same school days at the same time but today Mack was sick and wasn't going to school. I bribed my poor cousin with CC's coffee delivery to throw the sick kids in the car and meet me at school so I could have her watch my kids sit in the car while I walk up with Owen.
IS. THIS. ALL. WORTH. IT!???
Yes. yes it is.
Never you mind about all that.
What is the point of this blog?
The point is my sweet little independent twins got to hang with their mom when we got home all by their lonesome. Well, after Ben went down for a nap.
The last time this occured was during the summer when Owen was with MawMaw and PawPaw. But they weren't talking yet. And since they've really commenced utilizing the English language, I have had yet another child, was unable to pick them up for two weeks, always have a baby suckling the teet, or a 3 year old who requries more attention than all 4 kids combined. So for once, the baby was asleep and the human constantly answering for them was away. and it was just us chickens. So we turned off the
and then a miracle occured.
i picked up the doodle sketch. and began writing the alphabet. one letter at a time. I'd write one. then erase it and write the next one. and guess what? those two little people knew all but a few letters. i'd write it. and they would say it.
so i'm laughing because i was so surprised and so proud of them. and also i'm crying because i feel so guilty that i didn't know they knew the alphabet. how long have they known it? what else is in their heads and i don't know its there? is this the ultimate curse of having 600 kids in diapers?? i need more minutes in a day. i hate that i didn't know this and it took until now for me to realize it.
i knew they that knew SOME of the letters when MawMaw would sign the letters which started last week. but they knew almost every letter when they actually saw them written. and no one had ever asked them. and i felt so terrible about that. there's always so much action around our house and if its not the baby needing me, owen needs something and the twins are literally the least needy little souls and they end up left in the middle. at least they are together in the middle? poor guys.
no matter how much fuss it is to get owen to his little preschool for a measley 8 hours a WEEK... i will be so grateful for that time with the twins having my undivided attention.
what a crazy wonderful life =)
no matter how much fuss it is to get owen to his little preschool for a measley 8 hours a WEEK... i will be so grateful for that time with the twins having my undivided attention.
what a crazy wonderful life =)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Diaper Trouble...
MawMaw didn’t put pants on Parker OR Jack for their nap the other day... It also happened the next day with PawPaw!! Lesson Learned: Put pants on P and J for naps.
Outfit and sheet changes were needed all around, but it was totally worth the pictures to show their prom dates.
Parker
Jack
Outfit and sheet changes were needed all around, but it was totally worth the pictures to show their prom dates.
Parker
JackMonday, September 13, 2010
School
He looks like he likes it... Owen started his Mother’s Day Out program last Thursday. It didn’t go so well. It started off great and he ran into class ready to play with the ice cream cones (apparently something he played with during his first visits there). After he realized that Mommy wasn’t staying at school, he broke down. We received a call that Mrs. Marilyn couldn’t calm him down and focus on the other children so Jen went to pick him up early. Jen found him sitting by himself on the playground where he didn’t want to play with the other kids.
He came home and said that he cried at school, but we kept telling him that he didn’t need to cry at school and we were going to try again on Monday. In order to prep him a little bit more, we were letting him know what was going to happen when he went to school. We are hoping this helps him with expectations and he won’t be so sad when Mommy leaves.
1. Mommy is going to drop you off.
2. You are going to go play with your friends.
3. Then you go learn some stuff.
4. Mommy is going to pick you up.
Fast forward to today…Jen dropped him off and he cried at the door, which we expected, but we were hoping that if he cried at first, then he would be able to then get over the initial separation and be happier at school. Jen was ready to pick him up early but hopefully he would last longer than on Thursday. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case, at roughly 11am, Jen was there to get him.
It is tough to know that he is sad at school, but we know this is good for him and he needs to get adjusted. Let’s just hope this doesn’t last too long…
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tubs and Tubs of Clothes!!
We spend a lot of time right after Ben was born organizing the Rubbermaid tubs in the boys’ closets. They have been unpacked and repacked with corresponding sizes for upcoming seasons for Parker and Jack and mostly Ben who will be right in line with both sizes and seasons to fit in all of Owen’s old clothes. Seriously, Ben won’t need one article of clothing…but something tells me that we will be seeing some monogrammed “Benjamin” clothes!! Here is his first one courtesy of Big Lea and Sydney.
Our Family of Six
6. Our family now has 6 people in it. Wow. I would have never guessed it, and certainly not before my 30th birthday, but it happened and we have the Big Guy to thank for it.
To put things in perspective, here are a few of the things to consider when you have 6 people in your family:
Included gratuity. We were out at a restaurant recently and I glanced at the bottom of a menu and it required parties of 6 or more to have gratuity included. It is funny to think that your family satisfies that requirement.
No small cars. I am not really a fan of small cars; they are nice, but I am an SUV person and don’t necessarily prefer to drive a smaller car. Now, we have no choice. The Swagger Wagon is currently serving us well, moving all of us around town, but I’m sure we will one day have to get a Suburban or other large SUV. Who knows, maybe we can have a second car that is small??
4+ bedroom house. We currently fit in our 3 BR/2 BA, 1700 sqft house, but will soon outgrow it. We have plans for the future to move Ben into his own room and triple up the boys with two cribs and a big boy bed for Owen. Not ideal, but we are making it happen. Ultimately, I would like to have a 4th bedroom (as a spare) and an office. I see visions of 2 bunk beds in our future… How long do boys share a room? I’m thinking until they go to college.
Catholic school tuition. Dear Lord, thank you for all of our continued blessings. We know we are blessed and are very grateful for everything, especially our beautiful healthy boys. Please bless us with a multiple child discount for school tuition. Amen.
Sam’s Club. We are already members, and frequent Mr. Walton’s glorious warehouse, but I feel that we will be doing a large majority of shopping there, just for convenience. We recently went through a box of waffles in one breakfast…wow. Sam’s has a 60 pack…bigger wow.
Disneyworld. When we eventually make the pilgrimage to Walt’s place, we are driving for two reasons: 1.) It will be a long time before I want to get on a plane with 4 little children. 2.) See reason #1.
I never thought I would have 4 children. I’m not sure why, I just never thought I would. We are so blessed with all of our guys, now I can’t imagine it any other way.
To put things in perspective, here are a few of the things to consider when you have 6 people in your family:
Included gratuity. We were out at a restaurant recently and I glanced at the bottom of a menu and it required parties of 6 or more to have gratuity included. It is funny to think that your family satisfies that requirement.
No small cars. I am not really a fan of small cars; they are nice, but I am an SUV person and don’t necessarily prefer to drive a smaller car. Now, we have no choice. The Swagger Wagon is currently serving us well, moving all of us around town, but I’m sure we will one day have to get a Suburban or other large SUV. Who knows, maybe we can have a second car that is small??
4+ bedroom house. We currently fit in our 3 BR/2 BA, 1700 sqft house, but will soon outgrow it. We have plans for the future to move Ben into his own room and triple up the boys with two cribs and a big boy bed for Owen. Not ideal, but we are making it happen. Ultimately, I would like to have a 4th bedroom (as a spare) and an office. I see visions of 2 bunk beds in our future… How long do boys share a room? I’m thinking until they go to college.
Catholic school tuition. Dear Lord, thank you for all of our continued blessings. We know we are blessed and are very grateful for everything, especially our beautiful healthy boys. Please bless us with a multiple child discount for school tuition. Amen.
Sam’s Club. We are already members, and frequent Mr. Walton’s glorious warehouse, but I feel that we will be doing a large majority of shopping there, just for convenience. We recently went through a box of waffles in one breakfast…wow. Sam’s has a 60 pack…bigger wow.
Disneyworld. When we eventually make the pilgrimage to Walt’s place, we are driving for two reasons: 1.) It will be a long time before I want to get on a plane with 4 little children. 2.) See reason #1.
I never thought I would have 4 children. I’m not sure why, I just never thought I would. We are so blessed with all of our guys, now I can’t imagine it any other way.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
TFTA: Texts From This Afternoon
(225) A certain small turd informed me that he didn't feel like taking a nap today and instead would like to sit up in mommy's bed like ”prince charming”. What does this mean and WHO TAUGHT HIM THIS?
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