HNJ Fair Weekend

Okay, so I'm way behind. I am catching up one event at a time...starting with the fair weekend. The kids didn't have school on Friday, so our fun friday activity was to make ice cream sundaes with what ever toppings they wanted on them. They really enjoyed posing with their bowls for me.

We went to the fair shortly after we finished our ice cream and met up with 1 and his friend Kel, who had spent the day together. They quickly decided to imitate mom, who had an adult drink band for the weekend.

The next day we had last soccer games of the season. Of course there was a trophy ceremony afterwards.

Here is 4 getting her trophy with 3 looking on from the ground. 3 got her trophy too.

Here they are with their team.

We left the soccer fields and headed back to the fair. Mike rode with 2 and his friend, Ellis. They had a really good tme squishing him.

5 & 6 enjoyed the fair too.

Sunday morning we went to mass. This is how we try to keep 5 quiet...

Of course we headed back to the fair where 3 & 4 got their faces painted.

Monday was another holiday from school, so we filled our time with fun thanksgiving crafts to decorate our bedroom doors. Im no Martha, but I think our hand and feet turkeys turned out pretty cute!

Then, as we were finishing up, Batman arrived!

and another Batman!

It was our neighbors/oldest children/favorite babysitters who were excited to show Peter that they had Batman costumes too.

Halloween Weekend

Okay, So this is how our Halloween weekend went (warning, this was one exhausting weekend!)

Friday morning, 6 got his first pair of shoes and walking was suddenly much harder to do.  I know I should have helped him get up, but he had already fallen so many times that I had to pull out my camera for y'all to enjoy.

On Friday, 5 celebrated his birthday at school.  I send in cupcakes and they gave him balloons!

Hugging Winnie the Pooh

His whole class sang to him.

School is the BEST, especially on your birthday!

After school, we had a few minutes to enjoy presents before we rushed off to the next activity.

5 got a Batman bike for his birthday.  He was especially excite as he is dressing as Batman for Halloween this year.

So excited to have a spare bike to sit on!

Here he is, showing us how cool his new bike is:

It is Friday after all, so we headed out to the playground for Friday night soccer clinics.  It was much colder that night than it had been all day.   4 brought home the class friend, Frankie the Flamingo, to share her crazy weekend with.  I think this was the only thing we let Frankie attend.  I am always afraid I'll be the Mom who loses the silly animal!

After soccer, we spent the evening fixing hair.

I couldn't stop laughing at this.  too funny.

Saturday evening was HNJ's Trick or Trunk Event.  The kids have a blast playing and trick or treating with their classmates.

They have so much fun that I don't see 1, 2, or 3 until its time to leave and I've put my camera away.  I did however get to have dinner with Batman, Robin and the cutest ladybug I've ever seen!

Batman

Robin

Batman and the Ladybug

Dad and Robin, who couldn't stop eating that ice cream for anything!

Sunday after mass, we celebrated 5 and 2's birthdays along with the cousins and uncles that came to 9 birthdays in 3 weeks.  One party was necessary to keep the holidays enjoyable.

just practicing

Claire turned 7

Olivia made 4

2 turned 8

5 made 3

it took a few tries to blow out that candle

Richard made 14.  I cannot believe he is already that old

Mary Grace turned 10.  Double digits!

Maggie made 8

And then the mass chaos of all these kids opening gifts.

If they were not he birthday child, then they were helping a birthday child open their gifts.

The moms were scrambling to keep up with tags!

Some were watching the Saints game on TV and couldn't help but cheer .

 I'm exhausted, and we haven't even gotten to actual Halloween yet!  I'll add those later

Mom has lost her mind...

I swear people and places discriminate against me and my family because I there are six young kids. Today at the gym for which I have a family membership, I was told it was okay for kids under 9 to be there, but either I had to pay a babysitter $5 a head to watch them or sit with them myself. Ahem, Im here to workout, not babysit. And they aren't doing anything wrong. They are just kids, en masse, and it scares the hell out of college kids and other idiots at this gym.

Countless times Mike has brought one or two kids with him to the same gym and has never had a problem. Today I was there for a grand total of 40 minutes and they allowed me to workout for 15 minutes. I tried to go run on the track (10 minutes), but was told that since 1 needed his inhaler, and came looking for me, that I would have to work out closer to them. So I went downstairs and selected a machine that allowed me to see them. 5 minutes later, that wasn't enough, because 1 went to play basketball with his father in his black school tennis shoes, and they needed to get me and tell me that he cannot play on the court in those shoes. No matter that they are the non-marking black soles and he's with his FATHER. Then as I am leaving, because at this point, I give, they tell me that I need to sign out formally from the sitter. The same sitter who told me she could mark the exit time for me. And they don't bother to catch me until 4 and 5 are out of the gate and on their way to the car. Oh yes, I do have 4, 5 & 6 with a sitter, because they are obviously set up to babysit babies, and have a play area for them, but 2 &3 cannot stand up straight in most of the designated area.

Seriously. It's insane. I really feel discriminated against. They were not doing anything unruly. They were sitting doing homework, playing ping pong and on the basketball court with their father. I really wish I could scream at these people to "quit picking on me" but I cannot, because it would then become yet another "mom has lost her mind" moment in our lives.

Time Flies

The first days and weeks of school have passed. My angelic children have been better behaved this week. Here is the first day of school picture I meant to post last week, but couldn't get my hands on.

I cannot believe that 4 is in PK at HNJ. It seems like yesterday that I was pregnant with her, and 1 was the one in PK. Time sure does fly. Before I know it, 6 will be in PK and I'll be asking myself how we got there.

With this in mind I received a picture from 4's teacher saying how much she loved this picture and just had to share. I sure am glad she did.

Best friends in the making.

I know that sooner than I'd like they will be in 7th grade and I will line them up and take the same picture.

1st Week of School

Today is the official first day of school around here. 1-4 had a first day on Monday, but then it was only half day for 4. Then she didn't have school Tuesday, so today is the first full day for everyone. And 5 has been in camp all week too, so it really feels like school has finally begun around here.

I am trying to enjoy my peaceful days this week as next week, 5 will be home again until after labor day, when his school starts up again.

Its been an exciting week around here. 1 & 2 shared a room until Saturday, when we put 1 & 6 together, and 2 & 5. The little boys are loving it, and the big boys are enjoying a break from each other. They have recesses together this year and we thought it might be a good idea to let them have some separation at home.

Monday afternoon we had melt down city, which was SO fun to be a part of, and an even more difficult Tuesday morning of tired kids. Tuesday afternoon was not as bad as Monday, however they destroyed the house while playing battle which was not so great as I had spent the better part of my Tuesday putting everything back where it belongs.

So today I spent some more time re doing what I had done Tuesday. That wasn't annoying or anything. Hopefully it will be an easier afternoon for everyone.

I have pictures from the first day of school, but DH took them with his camera, so I cannot get to them until he shares his password with me. I've seen them, and they are pretty cute.