A Girl Can Try, Right?

Just one pic of my girly crew...please??

Alright girls look at mama - the babies are OK Ella, just smile...just look up here...

...alright ladies, mama's right here - c'mon...hey, over here...look what mommy has...

...almost, gang...Raya girl, look at mommy, Kinley, no fussin' - c'mon baby...


Ahh geez...maybe next time I'll get "the perfect shot"??!!

Oh well, they are still pretty darn cute even when they don't want to sit still :).

Not that I'm partial.

At least I got this sweet one. Look at my oldest and youngest loves...

Yum - love, love, love all these little girls :).

Happy Friday all!

Lock Up Your Cabinets

...This sweet, charming, baby girl...

...Is on the move...

Look at that stretch - she is determined! You think life around here just got a little busier!?!?

I really can't believe Raya, my youngest love, is almost crawling...

...now please excuse me while I go child proof everything, again :).

Oh, and if you can't tell, I'm having trouble downloading a pic without making it look "antique", I will try to let it go...maybe...but most likely not...

Wordless Wednesday

The Petting Zoo And The Potty

What do 5 little girls do at a farm/petting zoo?

Well that depends...

They were totally pumped about all the animals and barns until they found out that this farm also had a gift shop and sold many different kinds of ice cream.

So the goats didn't get fed as much as I assume they would've liked, and the cows didn't get a 2nd look - what can I say, am I raising some girly girls or what??

I try, I really do.

So here is proof that we were there, by the goats, if only for a moment :).

But why go to the farm and not leave our signature? Why not give people something to remember, something that they can talk about over the dinner table?

After our brief visit with the animals, I noticed Reese was doing a lot of this...

And then, she did this...


That's right folks, we had an emergency bathroom run that didn't quite make it. She stood up, announced that she needed to go quickly, but then stood by the table and I watched her pee right there on those pretty hard wood floors...

In the middle of a crowded restaurant.
Right by the condiment stand and drink machines.

Well, I guess maybe next time we will eat our dinner outside...
just to be safe.

Changin' It Up

The girls have been asking me to go to this Indoor Playground that is about 20min from our house. I usually like to keep our activities outside in the summer, but I thought, "why not? It will be a change of scenery for us :)."

This playground is inside a church...isn't that a great idea!? It is like a huge, clean, McDonald's play land - but it's inside a church.

Fantastic - need more of these!

Well the girls could hardly contain themselves when they found out we were the only ones there and they had, "the whole place to ourselves!!"

I loved this. They had taken all the chairs and put them in this little car...and for some reason, I thought it was so funny. They kept taking turns being the "driver" and then riding in the "backseat." I tell ya, the imagination in these girls is growing like crazy - I am having so much fun watching them "pretend play" together.

And here is my Ella girl in one of the tunnels. It doesn't look like she does much posing, does it?

We always have to get some pics of us in the little mirrors at the playground. The girls love doing this. Maybe next time we can squeeze all 6 of us in :).

Hope you all had a great week!!

I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore

Did you think you came to the wrong blog for a second? It's a pretty big change, huh? While I absolutely loved my old blog, it was time for a new, fresh look. What do you think?? I have had the privilege of working with an awesome lady named Jackie, on this blog, and now on my photography website. She is the talent behind Memories By Design, and let me tell you, she is a blast to work with!

Need a blog makeover? I highly recommend Jackie!

------------------------------------------

On a different note, I'd like to share with you what I have learned this week so far:

When a newly potty trained child says she has to pee - she has to pee. There is no waiting, and if you choose to wait, you will have a child with wet pants...at the top of a slide...in front of your moms group.

You know those net feeders that you can put fruit in for babies to chew on when they aren't ready for whole table food?? They melt in the microwave. Guaranteed.

When 3yr old twins are left alone in the bathroom to wash their hands, at least one will come out drenched from head to toe...I promise.

And sometimes Realtors forget to call and tell you they are coming for a showing. So once in a while you answer the door in your plaid pajama pants, with a baby on your hip while you're trying to get all the kiddos in bed so you can get one stinkin' moment to yourself, and a family of 5 is standing there w/ a realtor in tow. Fantastic. So you invite them in for a showing and a "we - have - 5 - kids - 5 & under - and - it's - bedtime - show."

...Oh the many adventures...

Hope you all are having a great week!

Wordless Wednesday

They really do love to swing.

Here, There, And Everywhere

...Checking out an old Fire Truck...

...indulging in some chocolate ice cream...
...making sure we aren't leaving even one drop of that chocolate ice cream in the cup...
...and running through fountains fully clothed...


...no agenda, no schedule - we are just soaking up this carefree last month of summer before the Fall schedule hits us like a ton of bricks :)...

Random activities, it's what we're all about right now!

The girls seem a little bored lately with our normal activities - my mom always says that's a sign that school is coming :). Is anyone else having to get real creative with the kids as the end of summer approaches??

8 Months!

And I will say it again: Time, please slow down!!

I truly can not believe Kinley & Raya are 8 months old - my babies will be 1 before I know it! Oh there are so many things I adore about these little girls...

...the sweet dimples on their elbows...

...those chubby little hands...
The way they love swinging together just like Reese & Charlotte used to...

...and oh those amazingly adorable chubby legs...

I love you girls, more than you could ever imagine!

The Never Ending Party

Well it's final. After much consideration, prayer, and advice on homeschooling, private schools, and public schools, we decided to enroll Ella in a Private School that we love for Kindergarten. I took her today for her "interview", and to turn all our papers in. I decided to take all 5 girls to the meeting...why not, I might as well get a small glimpse of what my new morning schedule will look like - coming in just 5 weeks!?! When we walked in, I didn't know whether to say:

"Hi, I'm Kate, and these are my many girls..." or "Private School, meet the Never Ending Party - Never Ending Party, meet Private School..."

Not only will Ella be attending, but Reese & Charlotte will go there for preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings...that's right, Target can sleep easier now knowing that they will get some relief from our morning shopping trips, w/ my "multiple multiples" at least twice a week. You're welcome, Target.

I thought that I'd throw in my wordless Wednesday pics here too...this little girl is sooo much fun right now - just a sweet, sweet joy.

Happy Wednesday, all!

Mama Melting

...the photography stuff is coming along, and I am totally excited...

...and nervous, and anxious, but completely ready for this adventure...

...I don't know what could be keeping me from getting work done...

...It's not like I have some amazingly cute little girls around here to keep me busy taking pictues instead of downloading pictures :)...

...I mean seriously, my sweet little Kinley is a mama melting baby...

don't ya think??

Strange Things Are Happening

...Now that I have your attention...

{grin}

When you see a title like that on this blog, you most likely started thinking,

"oh geez, what is this lady up to now!?"

Actually not much, except you know, normal stuff. Cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, mopping, letting the dog out, feeding the babies, feeding the older girls, feeding the dog, feeding myself...hmmm, did I do that yet?

...cooking, breaking up fights, cleaning up spit-up, changing diapers, bouncing bouncy seats, doing the dishes, answering the phone, taking pictures, blogging, making beds, scrubbing down the bath tub, selling our house, taking out the trash, folding laundry, making baby food, lovin' on some chubby cheeks, going to the grocery, going to Target, going crazy...

...Now if I could just get a minute to take a shower...

Anyway, that is not where I was originally heading with the whole "Strange Things Are Happening" title.

Just a heads up that a few things around this blog might disappear, move around, etc as we make some changes. My photography blog will be launched shortly and there are a few things that are getting a little messed up between the 2 sites...

...Like my profile...

So please excuse the minor bloggy chaos while we get some things worked out :). I feel behind on reading blogs, writing, etc...what has everyone been up to??

Wordless Wednesday

I'm Pretty Sure That Is A Lie

"I didn't put the Backyardigans car in the potty, mommy...it's in there, but I didn't do it."

Yep, that's the first thing Charlotte said when she walked out of the bathroom this morning. So thankfully this morning, I got to add Plumber to my Stay at Home Mom resume.

One of the many trades I have learned since I became a mother in '04.

...These two little peas...

...Are rockin' the pod right now...

They are quite the handful, good thing they are stinkin' cute, huh!?

Festivals, Floats, And Family

I promise I'll stop with the title alliteration...maybe.

Everyone have a good 4th?

The girls had a blast at the parade...

Can you tell?

Modest, isn't she :)?

They waved at the floats, caught candy, and blew some bubbles...

Absolutely nothing could tear them away from the festive parade and entertainment...

...well, unless you count the 5 minutes they spent watching a bug crawl along the street, you know, because that can be really interesting and exciting too. Sigh :).

After the festival we spent the rest of the day at a family cookout. We decided to skip the fireworks this year - too late for the girls - enough fun for one day - too tired - need sanity - etc.

I have lots of pics coming from more outings we ventured out on this past week, and from a couple photo shoots w/ some amazingly adorable kiddos. I'm also gearing up for some changes that are coming to our blog in the next couple weeks - it's time for a change around here, don't ya think?

But for now, we are off to the pool...or park...or both...oh who knows!

Happy Monday!

The Library, The Lavatory, The Letters, And The Laundry

Since the weather has been a little to chilly for the pool, I decided to take the kiddos to the library to sign them up for the summer reading program - I know, 5 little girls, the library, a place where everyone whispers...

I live on the edge, people. (not really, but it's fun to think I do.)

I'm starting to believe that my girls have a future in inspections, since there isn't a single public restroom that they can pass up.

"girls, we are here to check out books, not to check out the facilities..."

But they insist.

So yes, I did take a picture in the library bathroom so I could document this specific situation that I speak of often - here we are, the 6 of us in the stall, at least some part of each of us showing in the pic.

Good Times.

I took all your amazing ideas for crafts & activities and headed to Hobby Lobby. It only takes me a minute after entering this place to remember...

Hobby Lobby is from the Lord.

All the crafts, decorations, ribbon, flowers, frames, pictures, and useless items my little heart can handle. And the sales!? Well don't get me started on the sales.

I bought canvas bags, paint, and foam letters so the girls could make their very own "library bag." It was a huge hit, and the bags have already been put to use. Thanks again for all the ideas :)!

On a busy & fun day like this, it's only natural for something to suffer - for something to be neglected. And if you stop here often, you will not be shocked too find that it was the laundry that got the bad end of the deal. Oh well, I can always do it tomorrow, right? Or the next day, or the next day...

I hope you all have a beautiful & fun filled July 4th! Anyone have big plans for the holiday?? We will be heading to the parade and then a cookout with family. Expect pictures :).

Wordless Wednesday