Did I mention that they're spoiled?

As I mentioned before ... I know some of my parenting skills are lacking. I have posted at least 3 times in as many days that my kids are rotten. Yet, yesterday, my son got to go to an OSU Buckeye game!!!

The girl beside us looked at him and said "Man, you're lucky! I'm 30 yrs old and this is my first Buckeye game!!!"

Our friends offered us tickets earlier this week. Unfortunately, Austin has worked at least 12 hrs a day both days this weekend, so we knew we couldn't go. But, they were taking their 5 yr old daughter (Cam's "girlfriend"), so I thought, why don't I take Cameron??? It was such fun Mommy and little guy time. I was so glad I had the opportunity to take him!

I 'thought' we were leaving early enough, but we still had to walk quite a long way. It took us an HOUR! Cameron was a trooper!!

Of course, I promptly rewarded him with a huge souvenir travel mug full of Sprite (not smart when you want a kid to sit still in PACKED bleachers) and then dippin' dots ice cream.

We had a great time ... not many kids have a pic like this!

They're everywhere ...

I just was cleaning the back door (because a babysitter is coming tonight and you can't have month old dog slobber and week old pizza grease handprints on the window) ... anyway...I was cleaning the back door today and what did I find?? A spaghetti o ... dried up little o. Good thing a sitter is coming tonight and Austin and I are getting out. Maybe we won't come back ;)

The saga continues ...

As a commenter said - cherish these times, they are only young once. And I remembered - one of my favorite times as a child was when my cousin and I spread baby powder all over the hard wood floor in one of the bedrooms in my grandma's house and we slid ALL over the bedroom. It was a BLAST! My grandma once told me that her kids HAD to be quiet. As long as they were quiet, they could get away with a lot. Well, I guess my cousin and I were real quiet that afternoon :)

Anyway ... as I was upstairs changing my shirt Thursday, I asked the kids to come up with me while I got ready ... well, in all honesty, I didn't want them there. All they would do is tease their baby brother or jump on each other on the bed. But what happened next was worse ... I heard quiet. You KNOW that's bad. I said "GUYS - what are you doing??" "NOTHING" Was Cameron's response. So I yelled - CAMERON TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING! Because Nothing is the LAST thing you want to hear! "Painting on the chairs" ... I immediately swoop up the baby and run downstairs. There are about 5 bottles of nailpolish on the carpet under the dining room table (note: they were there because I found them in the kitchen junk drawer and I thought, it's dangerous for these to be here, I better take them upstairs, and placed them in plain site on the stairs. Smart). Anyway, Cameron and Kennedy had decided to smell the nail polish - but then thought it was fun to decorate the dining room chairs. With nail polish. They picked a nice pepto pink color for one and purple sparkles on the other. It's on the legs, let's hope no one ever looks that close when we have people over for dinner.

I must say ...

That Cameron has really come to realize that his behavior sometimes isn't so sweet ... and he apologizes and he lately really seems to want to make me happy (AFTER he does the bad thing and then apologizes and cries about it). I think he'll figure it out ... as soon as I'm done reading all of the books that I plan to check out from the library :)

It's a good thing they're SO Darn cute!!!

WANTED: Competent Caregiver

Because I seem to be failing miserably!

Well, I think I might have the "caregiver" part taken care of - but this whole "raising a child thing" is a whole other story.

I spent a lot of money (well, I still pay on student loans) to go to school for Computer Science. I mean, for FOUR years I read books, did labs and took exams on computer stuff. 10 years later and I don't use a lick of that stuff and I have a new day *and night and weekend* job. And THIS is the job I should have studied four years for!!!

I mean, where in the computer science books did it tell me the program to "fix it" when you're feeding a baby that has recently discover the searing action of his new teeth (notice: nursing will soon be a thing of the past) - when suddenly one of the older kids accidentally spills spaghetti-o's on the way to the sink (1-I'm already failing for feeding them spaghetti-o's for dinner! At least they had cheese sticks with it and Cam had a pickle - that's a vegetable, right? and 2 - at least he was taking his plate to the sink, RIGHT?). But then, as I'm still feeding the little one, the older ones are cleaning up the spaghetti-o's. Now, haven't I already said that when that little mommy voice tells you "this isn't a good idea", DON'T DO IT??? Well, next thing you know, the entire roll of paper towels is gone and then the dish rag is SOAKED with water and Cameron is ringing it out on the hard wood floor. All to clean up the gourmet meal his mother prepared for him for dinner.

GO TO YOUR ROOM. That's all I can say - as if that's any punishment ... as they take their mattress and lean it up against the wall in their bedroom to use it as a slide. Good thing Austin installed cool cameras in each bedroom so I can monitor them being little punks in their bedrooms - hu?? I have to give Kennedy credit - she was really along for the ride. She thinks Cameron is the coolest thing since sliced bread - even when he's showing her how to sling "O's" across the kitchen floor.

Oh well ... at least I have Cohen. I still have a few years until I screw him up totally ... and maybe by then Ms Gorsuch will have worked some magic on Cameron :)

Big Shot ...

He thinks he's hot stuff in his new toy ... he stands up on the way down the driveway and all. He's so cute. And he's sitting on his own more and more each day!

Where do I find the time???

To blog...

Include the entire family :)

Water Babies ...

No doubt about it ... my kids love the water (and they are SPOILED - but that's the subject of another post).

We went to an island off of Lake Erie this weekend - the island beside Put-In-Bay - Middle Bass Island. My parents, my sisters, their boyfriends and our whole clan went up the the lake. We had a blast!

Of course there are a lot of pictures ... here we go ...

The kids enjoyed the 40-minute ferry ride over!

Cameron and Daddy enjoyed some relaxing time while fishing ...

Kelly, Bryan, Kris and Keith did some fishing too!

Of course, Papaw was the best "wormer" and "de-fisher" :)

Cohen started sitting up really well this weekend ... he's been doing it quite a bit lately, but he's to the point that I can sit him up and walk away now ... he still topples over every now and then!

The rocks at the lake were AWESOME! We spent a lot of time just walking along the water picking out rocks!

Cohen even liked them :)

Everyone that stayed at the lake house painted their own perfect rock ... they hade quite a collection!

The boys went out on the 9-hole golf course a few times too. Even Cohen took out his clubs for a bit!

As you know, I'm not real good at sitting around and doing nothing - I'm usually on-the-go. But we did relax quite a bit this weekend!

It was interesting fitting 7 people AND luggage for 10 in the car for the ferry ride home!

Stinker ...

So, I was emptying Cameron's lunch box and feeling HORRIBLE that I put his drink in the bottom section of his lunchbox, because it was STILL THERE. So, I asked him why he didn't drink his capri sun, he said he didn't know it was there. Now, I know I showed him at least twice where it was ... well, it came out later that he wanted to use the cool debit card that they have at school to buy himself a chocolate milk like Ryan did. NICE - I'm already -50 cents on the debit card. Stinker...

6 months ...

Oh yeah, we also went to the Dr for Cohen's 6 month checkup today!!!

He weighs 19.6 lbs and is 29.75 inches. The Dr said that's SOOOOOOOO tall ... and he said he's sitting really well too!

I'll update w/ the kids stats at this point when we get back from our weekend at the lake!!!

Welcome Kailee!!!

My cousin Laurel FINALLY had her little baby girl today! She was 11 days over due - and after 15 hours of labor, Kailee was born! She weighed 8lbs 10oz and she's GORGEOUS!

First Day of School ...

Whew ... I made it ... I mean, HE made it thru his first day of school :)

Cam and I both had a hard time falling asleep last night - but he was ready to go this morning! Of course we had to have pictures with every member of the family!! Too bad Rudy was at grandma and grandpa's ... we'll get one with him in Tuesday - the first time he rides the bus TO school.

He walked himself RIGHT to his classroom - we were left behind! But, mommy and daddy stayed for the first hour (and he was asking us to leave for at least 35 minutes of that hour!) And then he stayed for the rest of the day. It was the first time he was responsible for his own lunch ... and getting on the right bus!

Luckily he's not too big to tell us that he loves us :)

We left him sitting there in the classroom with his buddy from pre-school, Ryan.

The whole family was waiting there for him to get off of the bus. He's so proud - and already has a girlfriend on the bus. She's a second grader - she told him she's 15.

This is his artwork from his VERY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

They NEED school ...

Because obviously I haven't taught them the correct way to use finger paints!!!

School Days ...

They're almost here. I can't believe that in less than 48 hours, I have to pack a lunch for my little boy to eat in the cafeteria!!! AND - he'll be getting on a bus (hopefully the right one!) to get home from school that same day. It's just unbelievable! And just a week later, my baby girl will be going to preschool as well!

Yesterday we went to meet both teachers. Kennedy will go to school with Mrs Cortez and Miss Britt. Cameron will have Ms Gorsuch.

Both kids were very excited to meet their teachers and they both seem excited for school to start. I must admit, I'm a bit excited too - but as it gets closer, I'm sad too!

Gorgeous summer memories...

This weekend we went BACK to visit The Perry's in Logan because daddy could come with us this time. We went to Old Man's Cave and the kids had a BLAST!!!


We went fishing ... we didn't catch a thing, but the lake sure was breath taking!!!