Our December break

Our sweet little Ava has been sick for almost all of last month. She had an infection in her toe. You would think it wouldn't cause as much trouble as it did, but after a few trips to the Dr., a trip to the ER and then sending her home saying she just had a fever of 103 because of a virus and her toe was bruised, and then another trip to the Dr. the next day because her toe was twice the size. So after all this and many tearful visits after to the Dr. to check up on her and a lot of foot soaking, this sweet little girl is still giving us such sweet smiles, we love her! Again, I know the Lord is watching over us, this happened just as Jordan was getting his 2 weeks off for the break. I couldn't have taken care of her and our other three with out him.

A Few clips of Ava. She is hopefully in the beginnings of getting those two feet moving. She is so funny and gets so proud of herself when she stands, she claps every time for herself. The next clip is when my Dad was her in November, he always got a good laugh out of her. He was throwing a ball to her she would push it off her exersaucer and crack up. And the third is showing the effects my boys have on her.

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Ayden is so busy and passionate about everything, happy or sad. He sure comes up with silly things to keep him busy.

The boys are always into wanting us to see what crazy thing they are doing and are always saying "MOM, look" Gavin can be pretty silly and thinks he is one funny guy!

Towards the end of November my kids became binky free! This is how we did it for them. They were chewing through their binkys in a matter of hours. So, we found these monsters that were teething binky's ment for like 1 yr olds (I am sure because they assume you should be getting your kids off binkys by then- oh well, they made us and them happy!). They were pretty tough suckers and it may have taken them a week, but don't worry, my boys chewed through those as well. So after going through two sets of those I said "ok, there broken, lets throw them away" and they walked with me to the garbage and threw them away. I think what helped them was they were no longer sucking, they were chewing so they didn't have that sucking soothing motion, which I think is why the binki is so addicting. What do I know- it worked! And by the way, we know how gay they look, they all came looking the same in two colors, pink or blue.

I am trying to find ways to calm them down a little, so I tried to get them to sit and watch a movie with popcorn so I could get some things done, which didn't work. Here they are with their popcorn and a movie.

Our play room- it's nothing spectacular and in a cold unfinished basement, but man, it is the best thing for us right now. This is where we are almost all day long. I don't worry about the mess and they all are happy, as long as my attention is on them and not something else, like blogging or sewing- that is when the whining and problems start.

The boys love playing and bugging Ava - she likes it when they are not all over her- I would say this is a good distance, especially with something between them!

Gavin is not to happy about sharing "his" horse

But he does love her!

Some random moments

• Easton has acid reflux and has slowly become more picky about how he is fed. He no longer likes me to nurse him on the chairs in the kitchen so I can be there with my other kids while they are eating lunch. so, when they were almost done I went into the other room to feed him. I start hearing Gavin scream and yelling for me. I figured he was just fighting with Ayden and if I kept quite, he would stop and it would be done with. Instead, he got out of his chair came over to me and said "Mom, look, Mom, Look" I told him to hold on, I would come when I was done feeding Easton. He goes back into the kitchen and then runs back and says "Mom, Ava, wet" I hear splashing noises, so I thought I better check. My sweet little Ayden decided he would try and pour a 1/2 full carton of milk into the empty baby food jars from Ava's lunch and made it a little in there and alot all over everything else andAva had come into the kitchen and was also playing in the milk. Seriously, I cleaned up our house twice before Jordan got home and it was still a mess when he got home, and then he tells me he feels like a janitor at night because I am always feeding Easton while he is cleaning up!! I can't wait for the day my kids have chores!

• The other day, Ayden came up to Jordan, smelled his pockets and tried reaching into them. He had smelled the gum in there and wanted some.

• Jordan was going to lay the boys down and as they were walking by, I was sitting in the rocking chair feeding Easton and I said "Hey come give me kisses!" and they just smiled and walked on by. Seconds later, Gavin came walking back and gave me a big kiss goodnight, it was so cute and unexpected.

• Jordan was setting up the cribs and Ayden came running into the family room where I was and said "Daddy, hit, mean, bum, hit" I asked "did Daddy spank you?" and he gave me a smile telling me I was right i nunderstanding him. He then said it again "hit, bum, mean". So, I asked jordan and his response was "Tattle Tale! I patted him on the bum a while ago because he wasn't listening and he kept getting into things"

November Miscellaneous

These first couple of pictures were me and Jordan trying to be photographers and take a "one month" picture of Easton because we didn't love the ones we got. Although Easton is very cute, we apparently aren't very good at photography.

Easton all cuddled in his swing

The boys love Easton and whenever I give them the Ok to even go near him they get excited

Ayden trying so hard to be soft

Our two babies!

Whenever there is a movie on that Ava loves, this is what she does. Her favorites are: Bear in the Big Blue House, The Wiggles, most of the Disney Sing-A-Longs, and Barney. Like our boys, she loves the shows that have music in them, maybe we should start our own band and make some money! =) j/k

Ava being a big girl and standing so well

She definitely knows where the boys room is and if we aren't careful and she is up when they are asleep, she will go over to their door and bang on it.

The boys have really gotten into coloring, especially Gavin. Ayden will color like a mad man all over his paper, then start throwing the caps and markers every where, he still has some work to do.

I was proud of myself. I bought this art easel at a mom-to-mom sale. It was supposedly unused, and it was still in the box. Well, the dang chalkboard didn't work. I finally got some chalkboard paint, sanded it down and it now works!! I didn't know if the paint would stick to the surface, but it did and I am glad, my boys love it and now I don't feel so much like it was money wasted.

Dinner at the smith home

Bath time...it's sad I know, it is the end of the day and I have done NOTHING to myself, not even combed my hair, sadly enough, this is very typical.

Thanksgiving dinner. I think turkey and chicken are my two favorite things to make. My kids love them and they are easy!! I just have to make sure I am home to baste it, and well, I'm always home!

Gavin wanting to help

Ayden looking at the stuffing and saying "eeewww", I agree! That was all for Jordan.

My boys will be caring on the tradition with me of looking at Black Friday adds on Thanksgiving Day preparing for the early morning sales!!

Some visitors we had this month...

My amazing friend Christina who came from CA to help me for a week with my kids after having Easton! I met her in CA and we have been great friends ever since, I love her and I am so grateful for her friendship. She did so much for me while she was here I can't thank her enough!

Jordan's mom was in town helping my sister-in-law Kassie with their new baby and made a few visits with some dinner to our home, my kids love seeing Grandma!

Here is a video of my kids playing with their cousins! They love Ellie and Haven and even though we live so close with busy schedules and husbands in school it's hard to see them, but when they do they are always so excited. If I tell Ayden Ellie and Haven are coming over he Says "Kassie" and the other day Jordan was coming home and usually the first thing they say is Daddy, but this time I said "Who do you think that is?" and Ayden yells "Kassie!" They really love their Aunt and Uncle too!

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Ava Loves to jump, this is one of her more mild times in the bouncer.

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