St Patty's Day

   I personally, hate this holiday. Anyone who knows me, knows that. I think it's pretty much the closest way we Americans come to Communism. You better wear a certain color or else other people are allowed to cause you bodily harm. Um. Yeah, no. Not to mention you're supposed to top the whole day off with a nasty dinner of Cornbeef and Cabbage. You may not be able to see me right now, but I'm over here gagging just thinking about it. 
   Of course, my own preferences flew out the window once the kids came into the picture. In an attempt to be a good mom, I try to make the holidays fun for the kids. While I REFUSE to make Cornbeef & Cabbage, I do dye all the food green for the day. Over the years I've learned what the kids will eat green: pancakes, mac'n'cheese, grapes and what they won't: scrambled eggs, bread and meat. Our all time favorite St. Patty's Day food and tradition over the last 4 or so years are our homemade Shamrock shakes. They also wake up to Leprechaun pee in the toliet and a treasure to find. Also, in case you're wondering, I AM a loving enough mother to dress my kids in green to protect them from lunatics who might find pleasure in pinching small children. I also try to keep my opinons on the day to two or so outburst in the day.

  See.

  I can make St. Patty's Day fun. 

 This year was kind of weird b/c St. Patty's was on a Saturday and Brian was home. He finds the green food less humorus. Since it was a Saturday and I love me some sleep, I ditched our normal baby powder, leprechaun footprints and used crepe paper to criss cross the top of the stairs back and forth, making a gate. I had a sign from the little guy himself, to the kids instructing them to wait for each other to go on the hunt. There was another note with a riddle. The riddles took the kids through out the house until they ended up in the toy room at the treasure.

Then, they got hopped up on chocolate coins until we woke up a hlaf hour or so later. Then we downed green pancakes and green milk, we got dressed, went shopping (pain free, I might add) and then met up with Grandma and Papa and Grandma M&M for lunch at Archibalds. It was pouring buckets, which is the kids favorite time to be outside. We came home and to be honest, I don't remember the rest. This is why you should blog regulary. Ahh.
  Anyway, I do remember dinner. We had Irish meatball Sliders and some rice I invented with a green cream sauce I mixed in. I remember dinner for 2 reasons: 1. Any recipe from Michelle's Dinner Bell is gold (and the sliders were no different) and 2. I took a photo of the green saucy rice with my phone's camera and sent it to my parent's phone with the text, "Don't you wish you took up our offer for dinner? You're missing a yummy St. Patty's day feast!" to which my dad replied, "It looks like you're eating Pixie's (their dog) throw up. I'm glad I stayed home.". Yep, that's my dad. In case you don't know my dad, he's not being malicious at all. He just super picky about food and has a total dad since of humor. I'm still laughing about it.

Got an idea from Pinterest (AGAIN!!) to use little feet prints on the toliet rim. The kids thought it was pretty great. PS- that's dye settled in the bottom of the toliet and not Leprechaun poo.  

  I hope you all had a great St. Patty's Day...and by that I mean, I hope you weren't pinch on the fatty side of the back of your upper arm. I pretty sure it's less painful to be shot than pinched there.

Valentine's Tea Party

   The girls and I have been wanting to start a tradition over the last couple years of a tea party and this year we were finally able to do it! They invited their cousin Aleyna, and some family friends that live down the street. The girls loved dressing up and drinking tea (punch) like English ladies. I think they like pouring the teapot as much as drinking it. We also had some lady like/Valentine snacks.

I found teacups and saucers from thrift stores and then the girls got to use them as party favors when it was time to go home!

  Afterwards, we had a photo shoot. Let me tell you, these girls loved to ham it up. They got into my box of props and picked out accessories, while I took their pictures one by one.

Keira and the Bruer twins, Kara and Kelli

Our twins and Tori Bruer

Aleyna with Violet and Keira

From the mom stand point, it was such an easy party and I loved gabbing it up with Katie

while the girls played. We're definitely doing this again next year! I figure we only have a year or two left until Keira starts to think this sort of thing is lame, and I'm taking advantage while I can!

Getting a move on

  The down side to turning your blog into a journey is that I feel HORRIBLY guilty to my kids when I fall behind and I realize I can't just skip a few months. So, I believe I'm at Christmas.

Aunt Emily and the kids assembled the gingerbread house. Gotta love Aunt Emily!

THE house (and the goodies the kids and I made during break)

It's not Christmas until SANTA VISITS!!!

He loves visiting with Santa more than any other kid I know. He has never ONCE cried for Santa.

He, on the other hand, cries every year.

My brothers have a thing where they try to embarrass whoever isn't playing ...ahem...a character. It's pretty hilarious

  Some Karaoke...

 Then it's time to get ready for bed! Sprinkling the lawn with reindeer food-

For Rudolph and the crew

T'was the night before Christmas...

The kids worked hard for a couple of weeks leading up to Christmas earning money for Christmas. This was the first year that we asked them to buy presents for each other (normally they love to buy for grandparents and us). Emily and Jonathan came shopping with the kids and us. We each took one kid and met up at the car. Brian and I were both in tears when the kids showed us what they bought for each other. They were so thoughtful of the person they were buying for and never thought of themselves. We have such good kids. Caleb bought Daylon this hat which he LOVED!

By far the funniest gift of Christmas. Leave it to Jonathan

Addison's first Christmas!!! We LOVED snuggling our newest baby!!!

Okay. I just wanna put her in my pocket.

I love Christmas.

A heaven sent addition to our family

...or at least at Christmas time.

Yes. I know it's Groundhog's Day, but I need to catch up at some point, so bare with me.

As I was saying, this little guy is Heaven sent well...actually Target North Pole sent.

Thanksgiving weekend my kids got an email from the Big Guy in the red suit:

   Dear Keira, Caleb, Violet, Sadie and Daylon,


 
   Thank you so much for your letters! I magically get your letters as soon as you sign your name to them so don't worry about sending them in the mail. I know you five kids have been extra wonderful this year and I'm so glad to know that!
  Up here in the North Pole we've had a bit of a problem. You see, there are so many children to keep watch after in the world and this time of year it gets extra hard for me to do that since so much magic is used for quickly finishing up all the toys for the good little girls and boys. That's why I'm sending a few of my elves down from the North Pole to help me keep track of the children. I've decided to send an elf to your family since there are so many of you in one place!
  Your new elf friend has already left the North Pole and is on his way to your home in Lake Elsinore! He's already walked all the way to ALASKA!! He sent me his a picture of him there and I'm sharing it with you too! He should be at your house in a couple of days! Keep your eyes peeled for our little friend!
  His job is to report to me every night about how well you guys have behaved. Please keeping being good little children and I'll see you on Christmas Eve!
   Love,
 Santa Clause

this photo was attached (thank you, Google)

  The kids were super stoked at the idea that a visitor from the North Pole would be living with us! You have to understand, this whole situation was a "Make it or Break it" move. Keira's faith in the whole Santa business was faltering, thanks to some punks at school, so we weren't 100% if this was a good idea. This could be her last straw and totally blow the SC's cover or (and what we were hoping for) this could give us our first and final year of all five kids enjoying Santa (in other words, they all actually know who he is this year). Keira having a total melt down in front of the other 4, was at risk.
  
   The night the elf arrived, he knocked all the ornaments off the kid's tree as he crash landed. We're not entirely sure why, but all of the kid's undies replaced the ornaments. We also came with an instruction book that we read right away.

   We were told to name the elf and the kids decided he looked like a Pascal. So, Pascal it was.

    The upside is that the kids LOVED having him around. I never even had to mention he was around (which is good because the whole manipulation thing, didn't sit the best with me at times). They fought less (cue the choir of angels) and enjoyed talking to him. The deal is, you talk to him, but he can't talk back (think Toy Story). It was also, hands off the elf because when he was touched by normal humans he lost his magic. There was one day that Caleb and Sadie decided to test that magic notion and Pascal didn't return the next day. Instead there was a note saying he need to rest up and get his magic back. Little stinkers. Most of all, he just brought this magic to our kids faces.
   Keira and Caleb were both a little hesitant to the idea and repeatedly told us that he looked like a doll to which I would stare at Pascal and reply, "Hmmm. You think, so?". After the first day they gave in to the concept that he magically comes alive when no one is around and all was good.
   As in most things in life, there is a bad side. Our children suddenly had an urge to wake up at 5:30....IN THE MORNING and run around the house looking for Pascal.
   One of the greatest things about it is that elves started showing up and all of their friends and their cousins houses too and it seemed our neighborhood had come alive with magic. It's was pretty dang cool.
    Here's some of the kids favorite Pascal sightings:

He often brought the kids Christmas activities or small treats like this giant coloring book

the Christmas time scandal. We thought it was pretty funny.Caleb however, did not.

GI Joe was near by watching his Sweetheart run off with Pascal

Pascal also gave the kids the 12 days of Christmas in Christmas books! They LOVED reading that days book at night before scripture time. (Scholastics- $15 for 12 books)



Their favorite gift of all--



The kids were soooo curious what would grow. Most believed a bean stalk.

 The next morning....

blurry, but I love it!

there's my magic...look at that face. Pure glee.

    The kids have each told me on separate occasions that they miss Pascal and can't wait for Thanksgiving so they can see him again.

   I love this tradition.