It gets better and other catchy phrases.

Nathan just walked up and after taking a drink from his water bottle looked at me expressionless and said, "welcome to earth" smiled, and walked away.

What a difference a year makes seems so cliche` but oh my the difference from last year to this year has been amazing.
I took all 5 of my kids swimming on Sunday and didn't get in the pool once.  now before you get all judgy on me.   They could lay down and walk on their hands with their heads out of the water in the kiddie area and the big kids are good swimmers and could touch everywhere they went.  PLUS.  There were only 12 kids in the pool tops and 2 lifeguards watching and whistling at them every couple of minutes.  :)    I sat with a friend in awe of the entire experience.   How and when did we get to this point ?

Like eating dinner in a restaurant.    I compare it to leaving the house to run a quick and normally easy errand with toddlers and babies in tow.   It was this major freaking to do.   Packing and the crying and nobody listening and trying to get 2 in the car while at least one other child was getting undressed or had taken his shoes off in the house, which room was always a mystery.  And then while finding and redressing said child at least 1 if not 2 would escape.  Herding cats.   That's what it was like.   Eating out was always like this too.  It was something that always seemed doable and then once done we would reflect on it in horror and promise to NEVER EAT OUT FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS !  Little did I know we only needed 1 year.
Now I'm not saying that it's perfect.   We still have to remind them to "use your inside voices" and you'll occasionally hear us remind them to "get off of the floor and sit in your seats."   We will warn them that we will have to separate them or someone might have to go sit in the car.   but you know what.  nobody has ever had to go sit in the car.  We leave and we've all eaten....and I'm not talking x30 fast forward speed either.   and whether we will go out and eat again isn't even on our minds because it doesn't matter.  We are managing.  Things are manageable.

Things change like, the writings on the wall.  literally.    With my first offender I remember asking her, Syd...why did you write on the walls ?  What went through your head that made you think that was a good idea ? Don't write on the walls anymore. repeat. repeat repeat.
When the big boys came around it was,  Guys.....don't write on the walls.  Can't we keep ANYthing nice. repeat repeat repeat.
The other day,
Spencer : Mom, Nathan wrote on the walls.   (we always know who the offender is because for some screwed up reason, they always sign their names to their art projects :)
Me : Will you please hand him the Mr. Clean Eraser.

Live and learn.   Shit happens.

Finally.
Look what we can do.

Monday night game night at our house has mostly consisted of physical games like monkey in the middle, colored eggs and hide and seek in the dark (my kids FAVORITE)
We however have finally reached an almost perfect age to play and enjoy board games.    Games will say that they are for ages 3 and up....but with the focus capacity and age appropriate frustrations it's just been too hard with 5 kids.    Now, still with a little help from a mom(s) game night has been elevated to a whole new level.

I have tried really hard to absorb and appreciate these little people for the last 9 years.  Soak up and enjoy each experience. I don't ever want to forget how little and sweet and I will always treasure the time we've had.  I get that it goes so quickly.  but I gotta tell you.....this is nice....and I can't imagine how great it's going to be in 1 year.   or even 2.  Once again.  I still hear, "mom, Ryan just peed outside" and "mom Nathan is trying to get Lily to lick his butt" more than I'd like. Things are still hard, I still get frustrated and want to ring 1 if not 5 of their necks but it's better. and I don't feel guilty or bad for looking forward to the future instead of living in the here and now.  which I do.  because HELLO-O. it's here and it's now.   and speaking of now.  I've gotta go watch Despicable Me 2 with my brood because we moved movie night friday night to tuesday night because it's thanksgiving week and the kids don't have school tomorrow.

So.  I guess why I blogged was to say.  It gets better.  and I like it. and I'm thankful.  (deep happy sigh)

Parent teacher conference

Parent Teacher Conference.   We are graded in numbers starting in 3rd before 3rd grade it's P = pass. Our grades convert : 4 = A, 3 = B, 2 = C, 1 = D.  Citizenship : E = excellent, S = satisfactory,  NI = needs improvement.
We first sat down with Sydney's teacher.   The first thing out of her mouth was....."this is going to be the easiest parent teacher conference of the night for me"
She went on to tell us how great Syd was doing.   How she NEVER gives straight E's and that she gave them to Syd.   She said, "if I could bottle her up and create a whole class just like her, I would"
NEVER people !  NEVER In My Life did I think that I would hear this from one of her teachers mouths.
We sat there, the top of my head a little numb, my heart filled to the brim with pride, in awe.   She got all 4's. She stays in from recess to get her homework done some days. (because she hates doing it at home, her teacher doesn't need to know that though :) And her teacher loves her.
WANTS TO BOTTLE HER PEOPLE !  Someone wants to bottle my kid up.   MY SYD !
Good night nurse, if only you knew what it's taken to get us here.
I couldn't be prouder of my boo girl.   and more than that....she couldn't be prouder of herself and that just makes my whole heart sing.

Cam-man dude is still my lax kid.   Oh how I love having one.   All of you that have several can kiss my toosh.  It's just not fair to give so many to one family.
His teacher only had good things to report.    His reading jumped up 3 levels in the first term.  I've often worried that he "zones" out in class.   He'll come home with unfinished work sometimes and I never know if it was something that should have been completed or was just something extra to do (which is what he tells me)  He is one that I have a hard time grabbing and keeping his attention.  "oh look, something shiny" is how we like to describe him.  "Squirrel"  :)  His teachers always tell us that he pays attention and gets his work done independently.  (relieved sigh)  Cameron's a good kid and is kind to others.   What more can I ask ? NOTHING.

Spencer.   Spencer is 100% my kid.   I've known it for a long time.   People compare me and Syd, because of my behavior today....but when I was little I was like Spencer.   I understand how he thinks and what makes him tick.
Spencer brought home 3 yellow cards the first 2 weeks of school.   (yellow is a warning)   It explains what he did, I have to sign it and send it back acknowledging that I saw it.  (shaking head)
The good news is that he stops at yellow.  :)   ha ha ha
The first thing his teacher said when we sat down was, "Spencer is the popular kid in class"  immediately knowing I corrected her by adding, "you mean he's the instigator, the ring leader ?"   She smiled and said that she was trying to be nice.   Oh please.   If I've heard anything in all of my years in school....I remember my parents being told these very same names.   The teacher says that if she can keep Spencer in control that the rest of the class stays pretty good.   So she has told him that he is a leader (mm hmm) and that he needs to be a good role model.   I hated all that came with this "role" and I'm sure Spencer will as well.   You get in trouble when several others are doing the same thing.....because you are the ring leader.   You are made to be the example.
He'll survive.   Mostly because he's smart.   He's gone up 4 levels in reading which the teacher says she never see's.   He's reading at the top of the class.   He loves math (he does NOT get that from me) and does really well in it and everything else.    Like me, he's given an assignment and immediately gets to it.   He's usually the first one done (which I suppose gives him more time to mess around)  All in all....he's doing great.  He only got 2 S's in citizenship the rest were E's which means that it can't be too bad.

They all picked out books at the book fair.   Sydney got to pick the place and we went to dinner to celebrate the great parent teacher conferences.   She picked the Old Spaghetti Factory. (we got to sit in the trolley which for my kids was a special treat.   It also meant that we didn't sit at the same table. 4 to a table and we have 7.   I L-O-V-E that I can let them sit at their own table behind me and not worry about helping them order, or reminding them that we are in a restaurant and to behave.  I LOVE that)
For Sydney's perfect report card she also got a looming rubber band bracelet making kit.   It's the new boondoggle of the 20th century.   For some you might think we went over the top making such a big deal over her....but honestly....you have no idea how absolutely THRILLED we were/are.

This weekend also included an overnight babysitter (my mom) and the Hilton Wrap Party.    We didn't attend the festivities this year....instead we chose go to dinner together, do a little shopping downtown...and then met my brother for "Thor". (great and very funny movie) before crashing in our hotel room for a restful nights sleep.    We were back home earlier than we'd like the next morning for gymnastics and soccer games. :)  aaaah, but the break was nice.

I'd say, so far this November, I have a LOT to be thankful for.

Fishing with Grandpa

Grandpa aka Papa took the kids fishing.   They have been asking when they get to go fishing for a while now.   Which was ironic because about the same time papa had considered taking them.  It took a while to finally get a date pinned down but we did it.
Telling the kids that they were going to go fishing and that we actually had a date only inflated their asking.  all of the time.  every day.  until we were at the pond.
Papa took us all to lunch and then to a local pond about 15 minutes away.
He started by showing them how to cast.

Once they got the hang of casting...which didn't take them very long. It was time to bait up and fish.

Cam was the first to catch a fish. He had the hotspot. Everyone rushed over to catch one and sure enough....Nathan and then Sydney (twice) The fish were little bitty 5 inchers...the hook was almost bigger than the fish, but that didn't take any of the excitement out of it.

They haven't stopped asking to go fishing since. We better hurry before Papa has to take them ice fishing.

A preview of Grandma's 90th birthday Celebration

 

                             

A lot of thoughtful planning went into making Grandma Argyle's 90th birthday a special one, and it showed. People traveled from across the state to see her.   It was too cold to have it in Grandma's beautiful yard but with a little extra effort, her kids managed to pull it off at her church without a hitch.  
She's an amazing person my grandma.  I guess that's why it doesn't surprise anyone that over 100 people came to wish her a Happy Birthday.  
I hope the weather is better on her 100th.  :)

It's good dead bugs don't move

Nateman came in with some dead bugs.....which is great because they won't move so we can really examine them.  We have a Kerr jar that the kids take out and catch stuff in.  We always check them out and then set them free.  Nate was cute and had the lid on the bottle...even though the spider and worm were dead :)  

I told Nate that we needed to REALLY look at those bad boys.  and out came the microscope.

dead worm

dead woodlouse spider

It's a little freaky, I won't lie.  Especially for a recovering arachnophobe.  but super cool to be able to see all of the details and little hairs.

Cameron came home (he's my microscope/telescope/all things science kid) and was begging me to, "come and see it's extractor mom"  the extractor is apparently the mouth part. :)   He looked at that thing on and off until dinner...which he ate while looking at it some more.   Surgeon.  Yip.  He'd make a great surgeon. Or maybe a forensic guy. 

   

  

First Flag Football Game

My big boys started flag football.   I never worry that they'll struggle.   I suppose I'm lucky that way.  They seem to have enough coordination and natural talent to handle most sports.   We'll see if they pick a sport to stick with and how much energy and dedication they'll put forth later in life.   For now they are having fun.

Cam pulled the first 3 flags of the game.  He was on fire.  He's also got a foot on him....he can kick the ball really well.   He has this speed that he's holding back on though.   He'll run fast but just fast enough.  It's like someone needs to light a spark to set off his rocket booster speed :) ha ha

Cam heading for the flag

Cam with the flag

 Spencer has a mean arm on him.   Jan already has him pegged as quarterback :)  He was also instinctively good at following and defending the receiver down the field.   They can't tackle or push the guys away. (at least I don't think they can) but he did some fantastic blocking with his body.

Spencer as quarterback/his own receiver (per the coaches instructions...he wasn't being a ball hoggit :-)....he ran the ball a good distance down the field too

None of the opinions expressed are at all biased or prejudice AT ALL !  I'm simply recapping the events and can't help it if I'm their mom and think they are the cutest bestest ones ever.  :)

Syd really wants to play, I think we're too late now.   We'll see.   She was coaching her brothers on the side telling them to just pull everyone's flag.  ha ha  I suppose that's one way to do it.

Twinners

Someone asked me previously if I asked for my big boys to be placed in different classes. I didn't. I have decided that I will just let the school place them and if they are together...so be it. If not...great.
Spencer and Cameron have only made 1 or 2 comments about not being in the same class and it hasn't been emotionally troubling for them.
I like that they are in different classes. I like that it gives them space to be good at what they are and not comparing themselves with each other...which they really didn't do, but I did notice certain times when Spencer would bring home 3 reading books and Cameron would only have 2. Normally they are each given 2....I'm not really sure as to why a 3rd was given to Spencer but comments were made. "I got 3 books" And neither knew why Spence got an extra but I could see the wheels turning in their heads....trying to come up with an answer....pointing out the differences.
Spencer makes friends much easier than Cam. A lot of the time Spencer would make friends and then Cam would tag along. I want Cam to make his own friends. Currently they all play together with the same group at recess and that's ok. They'll branch out.
I encourage them to be different. To be an individuals. They are so different in looks that it's not hard. I have chosen not to dress them the same and they don't want to. They are starting to have certain clothes that are theirs and not the others. Certain shirts that they won't wear because, "That's Cam's shirt" when the shirt was bought for both and placed in their shared shirt drawer.
They always have each others backs when it comes to someone else. They get along so well together and truly are the best of friends.

My little boys now. They fight like crazy. They will turn on each other and join forces with their older siblings against the other in a heartbeat if it means that they are getting attention from the big kids. They have a harder time coming to compromises, a lot. They do play together. Twins are great because you do have a built in playmate.
For the last 45 minutes they have been taking cup fulls of water from my bathroom sink to the sand in the backyard...making quite the muddy mess. Ryan went to the bathroom to clean himself up and soon after Nathan came and asked me to "clean the bathroom because, Ryan made a mess in there mom." The bathroom now looks like the dog.  (sigh) They are currently getting themselves dressed and humming their own tune to whatever song is in their head.
They seem to follow pretty close with 2's company 3's a crowd when playing with friends or their siblings. Ryan has made comments to me, "mom, I want to go to Beckham's and I don't want Nathan to come" Nathan not so much. He usually asks Ryan to get his shoes on to go to Easton's. Ryan has also said to me enthusiastically, "mom, when I go to kindergarten I will have my own class...Nathan won't be in my school huh ?" which is HUGE because he has been my short leashed attached umbilical cord kid who HAD to sit by Nathan in pre school. He's branching out and I'm not only excited about it, but I encourage it and may ask that they be in separate classes in kindergarten. who knows. I may just play it out like the big boys and just let the school decide for me.

These 2 aren't twins...but such a cute picture...I had to include it. Syd and one of her BFF's.