one of those days

Today is one of those days when everyone

needs me at the same time.

Everyone is in whiney/crisis mode and

there's a domino effect of incidents. 

Block towers are falling over, fractions are hard,

little one is at counter height and keeps hitting her head

on the corner...

Messes everywhere, chaos everywhere. 

But.....

they all just went upstairs unprompted.

(this never happens)

So I'm drinking my coffee and taking the time

to work on something that I love.

Hello, little blog. 

Homeschool will be completed later. 

Blocks will be rebuilt with a sturdier foundation....

and one day that little head will be as tall as mine and

the counter run-ins will be long forgotten. 

So, I'm gonna suck it up and 

power through my day. 

Hopefully in a less frustrated way. 

I just remembered that it's Friday!

If ever there was a day to power through, it would be Friday. 

The weekend is almost here.

It's a calm one with minimal plans-my favorite!

Well, it's hours later and I'm editing this post

because it's just a good reminder that powering through

takes patience and time.

I attempted to do the dishes, but Brooke peed getting onto

the toilet (not in it)....which lead to a mopping of 

the bathroom and the discovery of old gross pee in the 

training toilet (that now serves as a stool.)

This lead to the removal of that toilet and an impromptu

cleaning of the bathroom. 

While I was deep cleaning the regular toilet, Brooke

turned the tub into a shower and water was spraying everywhere.

An hour passed and I finally finished the dishes. 

PSA-never ask a stay at home mom what she does all day.

Oh my goodness...editing this again. 

I don't think I've ever added to a blog post this many times-

probably because I never blog in real time.

BUT!

My sister totally saved the day and sent me Tiffs Treats.

She wins.

Really I win- I hit the sister jackpot.

paige's dream come true

 PaigeyK PaigeyK

Her favorite thing? Still babies. Duh. 

I honestly don't think this will ever change.

Here is a typical scene in our house-Paige reading

to Tate. Brooke usually wanders over, too...if she

isn't too lost in her own play. 

I sure love this sibling dynamic when things

are going smoothly. 

(says every mom...)

Tate trying to sneak away from the camera...

too slow!

And then Elmer Fudd joined in on the fun!

Brooke isn't one to typically play with babies. 

Paige got lucky this day...but I think Brooke was really in 

it for the stroller running more than actually playing family.

She's the coolest.

I call this "Tate Doing Whatever is Needed to Join In"

She got so lucky when she somehow

had both of her siblings playing "family" with her. 

You can see it on her face. 

She was beyond happy. 

Tate's stroller was a bit more roller coaster-y than the others.

Who told her she could look this old?

I would like to speak to you and put an end to this.

And to finish with my whittle Tater bud.

tate in the tree

 Looking back at these pictures just makes me

want to either go back to this day or go

sit in a tree myself...

I'm just gonna forever be so happy that he stayed in his jams

this morning. I just can't even with those footies and

his giant, elated smile.

Success!

Little did we know that he would collectively spend

hours in that tree. 45 minutes here and there all day long.

This kid sure loves nature.

Favorite!

Some flying with dad between climbs. 

Then Josh got smart and taught him to break

the little twigs growing everywhere. 

He was basically a free tree trimmer. 

You just had to be willing to have a twig hit you if

you were within throwing distance.

Just a little nugget, that one.

cousin braids

 Sometimes Omi french braids the big girls' hair. 

Their hair color looks awesome together. 

Aren't they just precious. 

Little giggle boxes.

We had so much fun at the cousin sleepover,

but the rest of the photos are on my phone.

I'll try to get a post up with those soon.

Taters wanted in on the photoshoot. 

"Look at Samantha!"

"Look at Tate!"

"Look at Paige!"

She was clearly too cool to smile.

The little ones were not interested in the 3 second photoshoot. 

scholastic catalog

You know what’s so fun? 

How excited my kids get for the 

Scholastic catalog. Seriously-so much joy. 

I’m so lucky that these kids of 

mine love books as much as they do. 

Speaking of books-I have got to 

get to the library. We definitely have

some overdue books at our house right now. 

(I miss browsing the library!!!!!)

Tate thought it was hilarious to circle

books we already have. 

I’m also amused every single time that

the kids circle 95% of the books in here. 

roly poly

Nothing like throwing a blog up at 11pm. 

This kid is looking more and more like a kid these days. 

The baby phase has fleeted my house

(insert saaaaaaaad face)

She's definitely a little ball of fun, this one.

But also, grass.

 If you're ever needing to find Brooke, 

she's most likely spending time with a roly poly. 

Either looking for one under the landscape rocks or playing with some

that she has weaseled into the house...and more specifically into her

dollhouse in her room.

This girl is obsessed. 

Seriously, the amount of time we spend talking about these little 

critters, finding them, crying about missing ones, looking for escaped ones, 

finding dead ones...

She even asked Santa for a roly poly. 

Thats love, y'all. 

Also love is that Santa actually gave her a cute puppet one!

Impressive!

And I'll leave you with this teenager. 

Goodnight!