Christmas

Well it was a quiet Christmas here this year. The 4 older ones went to Ouray Colorado with the boys mom and her family (Yes even Haylie went). They had a blast. They went sledding, played in the creek, Had a great Christmas. Just enjoyed the time away from home. It was a long drive that is for sure. We met half way in Green River. That is 3 hours one way for both parties so the kids had to do 6 hours in 2 diffrent cars. Both times when we went to drop off and pick up we left Zander with either my sister or my mom so he didnt have to indure the long treck. He doesnt do well with long rides.

As for here at home. It was quiet with just Zander. We didnt even get up until 9am. Zander had a blast opening all his presents. His favorite by far was the marble track.

I got a new ring for christmas. I only recieved half before christmas as the other half is on backorder. I copied the picture from the computer can you tell lol.

I also got pots, plates, bowls, dish towles, bath stuff and shirts. Yes I asked for all these things. I enjoy cooking but like to cook with good things lol. Marc got a new drill, saw, flashlight and drill bit set. Oh did I mention I also got a NEW LAPTOP woohoo. Its about dang time. My old one is in pretty sad shape. Marc will still use it to do his fantasy sports stuff on but that is about all its good for.

Its been a long week with the kids going and coming and the long drives. Also all the prepping for christmas. I am just glad its all over with. Now I get to spend this next week with my family. I have taken the week off work. Marc is going to take off wednesday and thursday. I need to recharge my batteries.

I hope everyone has a wonderful new year.

Well look I am blogging again are you suprised? I sure am lol. I am in my busy season and not sure I like it lol. I have not finished my christmas shopping (plan to do that tomorrow when I have no kids). I need to make my chrismas treat for neighbors and friends. This year I am doing Oreo truffles, cinnomon almonds, chocolate dipped pretzels and maybe christmas shaped brownies. I am going to work on those this week possibly even today (but I doubt it)

We have been very busy latley with everything going on. Hunter is finishing up Soccer for the year. He starts back up in January. I think he has one more game then he is done for this year. Haylie is done for the year for drama. It will resume in January also. Haylie also has choir which is ending tonight. Her concert is tonight at 7 if anyone wants to come watch. Jackson has a meeting today with the school board to talk about moving him back to Kari Sue since he behaviorly is not ready for Heartland. He also has a Dr appointment today to make sure his leg is healing right. Needless to say today is a busy day. It also started bad. Hopefully it ends good. I fell asleep sleeping last night (I read for an hour before I fell asleep). So my alarm didnt get set. Zander was up twice last night. I woke up to Jackson screaming at 6:55. Yea the bus comes at 7:05. I rushed the boys to get them ready which is never good. They left both mad. I doubt were going to have a good day at school today. I havent even made it to the shower yet today.

I am getting ready for christmas with 1 child. I have almost everything I need for the older kids. I just need to buy a few boxes of crackers and cookies for the twins. Then some stocking stuffer stuff and a couple more things for the Z man and Marc. I doubt we will get lights up on the house but that is ok by me this year. We did get everything else out so the tree is up and so is all the decorations. I am still not sure how this christmas is going to be we will have to wait and see (hey that rhymed lol). In a way I am looking forward to the break from the bigger kids. But on the other hand I am going to miss there excited faces Christmas morning as they rip into there presents. I know Zander will love opening his. He loved opening his birthday presents (got mad a few times when friends tried to help). So that will be fun to see him enjoy it for the first time.

Well I better fo shower before I have to get my day going. The kids are watching cat in the hat so its relativly quiet. The trick for me is to sneak into the bedroom to shower without alerting Zander. He is pretty sure if ANYONE is in the shower he needs to be in it also. I swear he is the cleanest kid there is.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you get what you want. I will probably not post again until after Christmas (maybe even the New year) but who knows I might just suprise you all.

Once again its been a while sorry. Its been busy as usual. Its been a month since I last posted. Alot has gone on. I have more kids to watch now. Marc still hates his job. We have actually talked about moving. Just not sure if I really want to. I also dont know if emotionally it would be good for me. I am having a really hard time right now and have just become really depressed. We have no money. I dont know what we are going to do. Christmas this year is goig down the drain and fast. The 4 oldest kids are going to NM with the boys mom and her family. There even taking Haylie. They wanted Zander also but I dont think he would do well. He had a hard time when I was gone for a few days and he was here with dad. Marcs family tried to change up christmas eve and do it on the 11th. They did change that back but now Marc is unhappy because of all the drama. Just feel kinda ba humbugish. Ok now onto kids.
Hunter is doing indoor soccer and doing pretty well with it. They are playing up a age group so that makes it harder and there playing teams that are alot tougher. He got to see his real mom wich he loved. Its been good for him. He did have a rough day after spending the night but I think that had more to do with the fact that they stayed up late watching movies and eating junk food. He doesnt deal well with lack of sleep and alot of junk. Its ok though. He needs that every once in a while. He is really psyched about going to colorado for christmas.
Haylie is doing great in drama. She loves it. We are trying to save up for both of us to go on a trip with them to Mexico on a cruise ship. Just not sure its going to happen as we dont have the money. She has been kind of bored since her best friend moved. I wish she had more friends but our neighborhood is more boys then girls.
Isaac has been doing well in school. He enjoys it and is happy. He has his moments but for the most part he is doing well. His teacher is great and I am happy for that.
Jackson, what to say about this kid. Well lets see. He is doing horrible in school. He just wont listen has been throwing fits and spends more time in the hall then in the class. They want to move him back to Kari Sue. I would love that but Marc wants to try meds first so that is what were going to do. Jackson also broke his tibula and fibula on thanksgiving. He is in a cast right now and may need surgery. We will hopefully know soon. He was sledding when it happend. He is doing awsome with his wheelchair. He is also doing well scooting around the floor on his bum to get up and down the stairs to his room. Over all doing good other then school.
Zander. Holy cow has the kid grown. He turns 2 on the 13th. He is a stubborn bull headed funny little boy. I swear he is OCD. We went and got his hair cut last night and anytime hair would land on the cape in his lap he would knowck it off. If there is paper on the floor it goes in the trash. When were done eating he takes our silverware and plates and puts them in the kitchen (on the floor unless there is a big sister or brother there to get them on the counter). I love the kids even though he can throw a great tantrum. I love the little dude though.
Well I have been doing alot of cooking and baking as of latley. I just havent posted it sorry. I will post this awsome recipe that I have fallen in love with. Its easy and simple to make. It can be changed up in so many ways. (Like for christmas I am doing mint and using candy cane crushed up on top). So here it is oreo truffles yummy.

What You Need
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 4-1/4 cups), divided
2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Make It


MIX cream cheese and 3 cups cookie crumbs until well blended.



SHAPE into 48 (1-inch) balls. Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.



REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

So I am horrible about posting. Right now I could care less. Yes I am in one of those moods. I am not even sure this will make it to my actual page. I am not even sure anyone ever reads this anyways. So not much has changed in our house. Hunter is still doing soccer (suprise suprise), Haylie is now doing drama (fits her really well), Isaac is having issues in school hell he is having issues with life itself right now. If things dont go his way he freaks. Jackson is having issues on the bus. He thinks he needs to tease and bug everyone. I also heard that his teacher thinks he needs to go back to Kauri Sue. I personally think both boys need to go back. Zander is almost two. Cant believe that one. He is into everything. He is a climber. I cant leave anything out that he can stand on becuase he will and he will get into the water. Marc is still working. I am still watching kids though I have lost alot of the kids I watch. I am down to 2 part timers and one almost full timer (though that will change to 2 when her mom has her baby in december).
As you can tell I am in a bitchy mood. I NEED to get out of my house kid free. I swear I always have atleast one kid with me at all times. For the past two nights I was supposed to get out. Last night I was supposed to go to Bunco but it got canceled. Then tonight I had planned on going to geeks who drink (a bar does trivia you answer with your group and drink while doing it). Well I guess they already had there team of 6 so I was tld they didnt need me. So I am stuck here are home AGAIN with all the kids. I guess I am just kinda blah. I feel likeI never get away and I am on burn out. There are alot of times I just feel like crying. OK so that being said......
I am thinking of turning this into a cooking blog. I want to try making new things. I made french bread for the first time today. It was really easy and I enjoyed making it. Alot of that had to do with the fact I had a friend over to talk to. So if anyone is reading this would you be interested in reading this if I started posting recipes I find and make?
OK I am off to finish watching my shows eating my chocolate trying not to cry. Maybe I should just cry and get it over with. That will have to wait till kids go to bed though. Dont wanna scare anyone.

So I noticed it has been all to long since I last posted. Sorry. Its been kinda busy here. We are going into soccer season which means my weekends are shot and so are half my nights. Thank goodness softball is done. So in the past few months here is what has been going on. We bought a big tent and attempted to go camping for the first time as a family with no extended family. It would have been awsome had Jackson actually slept. The little snot did not sleep AT ALL. We ended up going home a night early. We did get in some good fishing a small hike great times around the fire. We even had a suprise visit from my sister and brother. They were looking for some were to have a picnic with there families and saw Haylie going potty while we were fishing. They came and crashed our campsite and had dinner with us. Great times by all.
Hunter started soccer and we have practice all the time. His coach is great. Marc and I are team managers. Its been ok. A little hectic at times but ok. He has played 2 practice games against other teams. The first one they lost the second they won. They also just had the Murray Max tournament. They had games thursday (won), Friday (won), saturday morning (lost but made it to the finals), and saturday afternoon (lost and came in second woohoo). The last two games were against a premier team. That means a team that is way higher up then we are. They had a tough morning game but that afternoon game they held there own and did awsome.
The twins turned 9 yesterday. Yes 9. How the hell did that happen? I remember getting them when they were 3. Now they are 9. It makes me feel so old. They had an ok party. It was smashed between soccer games. We had a couple friends over and alot of family. The twins and Hunters grandparents came up from New Mexico and were here from friday to today. Love them. They are such great people. The twins got alot of new cloths, and of course there phone books. My parents will be taking them over night in a couple weekends and taking them to a splash park as there present. Its something they do with all there grandkids instead of presents. They take them out and have special one on one time with them.
Haylie is Haylie. She has started school (as has Hunter). There teacher is a very young (22) year old who seems very good. So far the kids love her. They are already off track (can I cry lol). Haylie wants to do choir again this year. I think she is giving up on the violin. She just wasnt into it. She has her best friend Tresure who if they are sepereated more then 2 days they die (almost literally its kinda funny to see the withdrawls).
Zander is growing fast. I cant believe my baby is 20 months old already. He is almost 2. He loves being outside and would live out there if I let him. Its a great fun time getting him on the house. He loves to play with his big brothers and sister. One of his favorite things to do is wait until one of them sits down on the couch then he pounces on them. Such a little stink pot lol. He doesnt want to sit in a high chair anymore. He has to have no tray and sit in the high chair up to the counter with the big kids. He has also outgrown his crib. He had been climbing out of it. Instead of fearing an injury we took the crib down and he is now in a twin bed with a rail. He looks so tiny in it. Serouse were is my baby lol.
Marc is plugging along at work. He is finally done (for now) with softball. He would have loved to play another season but couldnt find a team. He hates work (who doesnt). He is thinking about going back to school. He would love to do either occupational or physical therapy. It would be a long road but well worth it in the end.
I have been working on losing my baby fat. Not happening so far. I workout every morning doing a crazy workout series called Insanity. I have so far not lost any weight or inches. Kinda getting discouraged but hopefully with my new coach I can start to see some results. I have got to get my diet under control. I think that is my biggest problem. I do great for a few days then I fall. I try to eat well but its hard. My problem is I skip meals then eat big lunch and dinners but nothing else all day.
Well I am tired of typing so I am going to end it here. This week is going to be busy as we have soccer practice and we are going camping friday.

Its been a month (maybe more)

Yes I am horrible at keeping up. What can I say a famliy of 7 keeps me very very busy. We are goiong camping this weekend. Kind of excited for that. We bought a big new tent to go campng with. Hopefully that will make life easier. Before it was all but Haylie and Hunter in a 4 man tent. that means Marc, Isaac, Jackson and me plus a airbed and a playpen for zander. Now we have a 10 man 3 room tent. Yippee. I plan on draggin my family camping more this summer. I miss camping. Hopefully this weekend goes well. We will have to see. Isaac is just getting over (ok he still is) sick. He has the flu and has been running a fever. He is rather grumpy and running a fever. It all started with Zander a few weeks ago and has run through all of us except Jackson. Though non odf us had it for more then one day. Isaac is going on day 5 poor kid. Hopefully he is over it by saturday. Well that is us so here is the quick good, bad, and ugly of my family. We will go by age.

Marc is doing softball 2 nights a week. Mon, tues. This keeps us hoppin. He is enjoying it. His monday team is better then his tuesday team. His monday team is more competative. His tuesday team is in it more for fun. I go to as many games as I can. He still doesnt like work much but he continues to go every day to support his family. He is thinking of going back to school to do something that would benifit children who are disabled. He is thinking ocupational therapy or physical therapy. I think he would rock in either one.

Me. HHmmmm lets see. I am going crazy. I swear I am. I work all the time day and night. I am still doing daycare though I hate it. I would love to not do it but we cant afford for me to stop. Its been very stressful latley as I have a few kids that are handfuls. I am also still selling avon though not doing well. I need more clients (hint hint). I run from place to place. I swear I live in my car. I am trying to be more organized but alas I suck at it. I need to get my sewing room into some sort of order so I can put all my avon down there instead of on my bedroom floor stacking in boxes. I am working on rounding up all the extra garbage in my house so I can do a yard sell next weekend. I wanted to do it last weekend but it was rainy of course. I think that is my biggest problem. The damn rain. It depreses me. I need sun. I am also starting to write a month worth of meals. I started out by asking Marc, Hunter and Haylie for there 5 top meals. I then added a few of my own. Made tuesdays leftover night. And just tossed the other meals on diffrent days. Its made it a little less stressful when its dinner time. It also means there is no more asking me 20 million times whats for dinner. Its on the fridge for all to see. I shop for 1 week of groceries at a time. I need to do 2 but just cant seem to do that.

Hunter. He is still doing comp. Soccer. He is switching from fusion to razia though. His whole team is switching with him. I am hoping it will be a good move. Its a better soccer club. He is still goalie and loving it. He is almost out of the 4th grade how crazy is that. He has something like 7 weeks of the 4th grade left then 3 weeks of summer then he is a big 5th grader. He is a somewhat active boy. I am trying to get him to be more active. He would prefer to play video games or play on the computer. I am banning all that come warm weather. As of right now he gets one hour of that type of activity a day. Over all he is a great kid doing great.

Haylie. Oh haylie. Lol the girl is got an imagination that is for sure. She is always putting new signs on her door. This week its about school. She has a list of rules. Go into her room and she has "tables" set up with paper and crayons. She just needs students. She is also now taking private violin lessons. She had her concert and was not ready for it. According to her violin teacher she is just not brave enough. She needs more encouragement. She also needs to practice. She found a great friend named Tresure. The two are hooked at the hip. They dont work well when not together. Tresure even 9 out of 10 times goes with Haylie to he dads. She is also almost out of the 4th grade. Were did my little baby go.

Isaac. He is doing awsome. He will be going to a regular public school next year in a cluster class. You ask What is a cluster class? Its a class inside a regular public school with kids with multiple disablitites. They have decided he is to advanced for were he is at. I tend to agree. I am still scared of what he will achive in this new setting though. He is loving watching his dad play softball when we get a chance to go. He is loving school. He gets on the bus at 9am and gets off it at 5:15. Goes downstairs and watching his channel 27 until dinner comes up to eat and back down he goes. Alot of the time we will be asleep when we go down to put him to bed. cute kid. Maybe he should teach his brother lol.

Jackson. Uuuggg Jackson. He is my hyper child. He is always going. Never quit. He has as of late been facinated with staring at the sky. Not sure what he sees up there but he will stare out the window for hours. He also will be going into a normal public school but in a cluster class. The boys will be in diffrent classes. They have a 3,4,5th grade class and a 4,5,6th grade class. So the only time we might run into trouble is the 6th grade when they will have to be in the same class. Jackson is loving school though he has his problems. He cant be quiet going down the halls. He is loving the swimming pool and riding the bus. He loves his bus driver and his aid. So do I they will be missed.

Zander. My cute not so little baby. He is growing up to fast. He loves to "help" clean. I bought him his own play vacume and he follows me were ever I go with that stupid noisy toy. He also has his own lawn mower that he mows the sidewalk with (he wont use it on the grass). He is talking more and more. I am always hereing "mom" anymore. He doesnt do well when i am gone. What can I say I have a mommies boy. Marc and I went away to vegas for 2 nights and he didnt deal well. When we got home he wouldnt leave my side for days. He is still hesitant with nana when she comes. Wonder what the poor kid is going to do when I go river rafting in a couple weeks. He will be home with Marc. I am sure he will survive but maybe not well lol. He also learned a new trick. He climbed out of his crib twice. Hopefully he doesnt do that again anytime soon. Still cant belive how big he is getting and how fast.

Its been awhile again.....

So its been a while since I updated. Its never easy for me to take a few moments and type. I am actually typing as I watch one of my favorite shows fringe. There has been alot going on but at the same time not alot going on. We are all just as busy as usual. Doing the usual things. Softball will start in a few short weeks. Soccer has started though we had to postpon our first game becuase of weather and the field not being open yet. The kids are all doing great in school. We within about 2 weeks saw all the teachers from both schools. They are asking that we put Isaac and Jackson in a cluster class. This means a class room in a regular school. They will have one teacher and 12 students. All the students in the class will be disabled in some form. The diffrence is that they will be with regular students also. There school feels that they are to advanced for were there at. We are a little hesitant because of all they get at the school there at. They did promise us that if it didnt work out then we could switch them back. I think that is the only thing that is making it so we agree to it. Another thing going on with the boys is the annual walk for autism is coming up May 1st. I have raised $200.00 so far on my own and my friend who is walking with me and is on my team has raised $95.00. Our team goal is $400.00. We are over half way. I just wish I could hit my goal. I am also hoping it doesnt rain this year. Last year it was cold and wet but very fun. Haylie and Hunter had AWSOME report cards. Both are doing really well in school. The only down fall there is spelling. We really need to work on spelling. I cant believe this school year is almost over. I think they go off track one more time then they are done for the year. Its nothing big though as they only have a 3 week summer lol. I really cant believe they are almost in the 5th grade. Were did my babies go? My baby Zander isnt much of a baby anymore. He is getting to be such a big boy and very head strong to boot. If he wants somthing nothing can stop him until he gets it. Today he wanted to see the dogs so he started to push and pull me all the way through the kitchen to the window then he moved a stool and grunted at me to lift him on to it. He is way to smart for his own good. I only wish I could get him off the damn bottle. Potty training is not far off I am sure (and thankful for). He is getting big fast. There are days I want another baby and then there are days like today were I dont want half the ones I have. Marc is doing well. He is not loving work but who does love there work really? I wish he could find a job he enjoys and was happy at but at this time there is nothing out there that pays even half of what he is making now. He is excited for softball though. I hope to make it to some of his games but with the day care that can be hard. We did get a little weekend getaway to vegas that was fun. I was stupid and forgot my camera and so we bought a crappy disposable and of course most of the pictures didnt work. It was alot of fun and much needed. Its been a hard year this year emotionally. Just with the day care and everything else going on there are tmes i have felt over whelmed but its getting better as the kids get older. Well I am sorry about the ramblings but its just how I felt today. I will try to be better with updating I really will.

Do you ever have one of those just shoot me type of days. well that is about what I have had for a few months now. I think the kids are all going stir crazy being stuck in the house. I am going stir crazy being stuck in the house. We have all been pretty busy with school and soccer and just life in general but I guess that is what happens with you have 5 kids. I started to sell avon and love it so far. I actually just walked around the neighborhood today putting up flyers on doors for the new lipstick we are starting to sell. Its such a nice day out today. All the kids are good. Isaac and Jackson continue to love there new school. Haylie and Hunter are loving school. They have there 4th grade science projects to do in March. When they go off track this time they will be doing snowboarding lessons. Marc is still working but not enjoying it much. He gets to have two furlough days a month (yippee for me uuggg). That has really hit our pocket books hence me selling avon. Zander is getting to big and is a crazy little man with such a great personality. Well that is about us. I just thought I would stop real quick and do a fast update.