Marvel Live

When Jed and I saw that Marvel Live was coming to our area, we knew we had to take the kids! 

  

The nice thing about buying the nosebleed seats is that you get to take the really long and cool escalator to them!  I stood back to get a picture as the crew went up the stairs, as I looked up from opening my camera app, I found Ford had some how managed to end up sitting on one stair with his feet up in front of him on the next stair. 

The story for the show was less than compelling but there were fireworks, motor cycle stunts and fighting so the kids loved it! 

Big Girl Bed

Isla finally figured out how to climb out of her pack and play so... 

She'll be sleeping in the guest bed indefinitely.  

We've only had to put her back to bed a couple times and it's usually because her brothers have been noisy and curiosity got the best of her. In the morning she heads to the boys room to play or to mine to wake me up.  

So far, so good.  

County Fair

We hadn't been to a fair in a while, especially not one that had livestock so when Jed mentioned that the fair was in town we decided we had to go!  

It already cost a fortune to get in so we decided to skip the rides, eat some fried foods and check out the animals.  

First we hit up the small livestock barn.  The boys ran from cage to cage admiring the chickens and ducks.  We found the breeds that we have and looked at different breeds that we think we might like to get one day.  We also looked at the rabbits but I wasn't able to convince anyone but Ford that we should get some and then we saw the geese and turkeys.  

We've had chicks twice and they're still begging for more! 

We really hope to get a few Polish chickens in the future. 

The boys would love one of these but it's just not happening. 

Next we indulged in all the fried foods we could find.  I heart funnel cake.  

Their first stroller ride together! 

Last but certainly not least we visited the petting zoo.  This is the coolest petting zoo I've ever been to! Look at all those animals! 

Seth went to pet the llama and just as he touched it it began to stand up, it startled us both.  

Isla was hilarious, she was simultaneously thrilled and terrified. I finally calmed her down enough to pet this sheep but when it touched her she shrieked and ran away. There was a mini zebu calf in there that she kept calling Major and bossing him around, "Major, go away!" and "Major don't lick me!"  

We found an adult kangaroo in one corner that really didn't want anything to do with us but Ford made an effort to pet it anyway.  Then... 

We noticed the Joey in the other corner!  So cute!  The kids couldn't get enough and the sheep was pretty jealous.  

Isla was particularly fond of the joey, probably due to his inability to get out and follow her around.  

I basically had to drag the kids out of the petting zoo.  My back and hips were killing me so we watched a magic show and called it a day.  

Kane

On the coldest night since the previous winter we went to the grocery store (out of milk).  Kane had used his shirt as a napkin at dinner so as we left I told him to run in and change it.  It was already dark outside so I didn't get a good look at him after that until we got to the store.  

Of course. 

The rest of us were in jackets and sweaters.  

One Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Later...

Doctor Appointments

I took the girls in for their 1 month and 2 year appointments.  

Isla weighed in at 22lbs and 33inches tall, putting her just below the 5th percentile for both. She did great during her finger stick, she didn't even flinch.  She wasn't happy while being examined or

during her shots though.  

 Celia weighed 9lbs 7oz and 21in long, putting her just above the 50th percentile for both! 

 Everyone was pretty exhausted afterwards. 

He's A Punk

I sat down at my computer and found this. 

*shudder*

I thought it was Seth since he's our resident prankster but Evan was all to happy to admit it was his work.  

Halloween

We drove to the closest suburban neighborhood and hit up as many houses as possible, in an hour. It was exhausting and my lower back ached but the kids had so much fun it was worth it! 

(Graphic Content Warning) The 6 Year Old and A Fence

Jed was out of town on a work trip.  

I sent the kids outside so I could have a little peace and quiet while I fed Celia.

As entertainment Kane decided to try to catch our rooster.

The rooster ran into the cow pen. 

Kane was so focused on his goal that he forgot about the barb wired fence. 

Resulting in this:

 Ouch!

 I was afraid that the cut on his neck was going to require stitches or glue.  

Thankfully a butterfly closed it up well enough.  

When I'm completely gray at 40, there will be no question why.    

1 Month Old

The last month has flown by!  Celia is pretty laid back.  She does prefer to be held but that isn't a problem thanks to her many siblings who are more than willing to give her what she wants.  

Cluster feeding is the only way this little girl eats.  I've actually offered her two bottles of formula so far due to her ravenous behavior, she took a little the first time but gagged and spit it out the second.  Sigh, I think she's going to reject bottles/formula just like Ford and Isla.  

She naps like a champ but at night she's a stinker, grunting and whining on and off all night, and waking to eat at least 3 times between midnight and 7am. Sleep, I need sleep!  

She's been easy enough to go out and about with, chilling in the bjorn, I'm so thankful for baby carriers!  We have out grown the van and had to move up to the Suburban which is much more cumbersome to load the kids in and to drive.  I never would have imagined that I would miss a minivan but I do. 

The last month has been amazing, exhausting but amazing.  I'm still working on the birth story, but it's taking longer than usual because any brain power I have right now is going into homeschooling.  I'll get to it eventually, I hope. 

Celia at 1 Week

She is fitting in quite well around here.  

This is my view right now.  

 When she's not with me though she can usually be found with one of her siblings! 

We can't get enough Celia snuggles!  

Celia Mae

She has arrived! 6lbs 6oz and 19 1/2 inches long! 

Birth story to follow at some point. :) 

Makeup

Isla watches me get ready everyday.  She wants to brush her teeth, put on deodorant, gel her hair and put on eyeliner whenever I do. This has been a new experience for me as the boys have usually resisted my efforts to ingrain personal hygene into their daily routine. :) 

  A few days ago I sat her up on the bathroom counter where she found my makeup bag filled with things I rarely ever use.  She oohed and ahhed over eye shadow, lipstain and blush, it cracked me up.  I decided to put some on her just to see her reaction when she saw herself in the mirror. Although she was happy to comply it was still no easy task applying eye shadow to a squirmy 2 year old! When I had finished I turned her around and watched her face light up.  She loved it!  Once she was able to pry herself away from the mirror she ran off to find her hat, then she made me put her up in front of the mirror again.  

Too bad she hates having her picture taken (although she loves looking at pictures of herself later, go figure!) so these are the best I could get.  

Goombas

This kid, has been a picky eater since birth! All of my kids have certain foods they don't like eating, Evan hates chickpeas, Seth has never been fond of chili and Kane turns his nose up at watermelon.  Ford, though, in the past it was easier to list the foods he did like!  

So what is this kid doing with a bowl of mushrooms or goombas as he calls them (too much Mario Brothers!)?  Would you believe he begged me to buy them for him?!  I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't been there!  

He likes to slice them up, fill up a bowl with water and make "goomba soup"! The first time he did it I expected to find a bowl full of soggy fungi in the sink but he devoured all of them!  

Walking Stick Bug

I got up one morning to this guy hanging out in the kitchen.

Thankfully in a house with 4 boys I had more than enough volunteers to take care of him for me. 

And take care of him they did.  

Isla wasn't quite as accommodating to our visitor as she screamed, "MONSTER! GET RID OF IT! MONSTER!"