Cute pictures the Drapers took

Kevin and Maria Draper took these pictures of my kids. They have such an eye. LOVE them!!!!

Mayhem and craziness...

I have written so many posts and then thought no one really wants to see how very neurotic I am so I just don't post them. For the record I am a worry wart and I know that I am not in control God is. I have been stressing about who my kids get for teachers. I hate that I consume my thoughts w/this when I still have them home w/me. I am so thankful that I am able to help out at the school and be a part of my kids school life. It is a huge blessing for me. While helping out in their classrooms or w/the CPT I get to observe the other teachers and form my own opinion. So w/this information I write letters describing the teacher that works best w/my child and describing my child. I am allowed to eliminate 2 teachers. So I found myself writing 3 letters and they were all so different b/c all 3 kids need s/thing different.

I am finding that I am relaxing a bit b/c I know the Principal who is my neighbor knows my kids and think he choose well for them. He is however moving to Germany so he is no longer at the school so we will see how the year goes. My friend is the Vice Principal and I know she will be a wonderful asset to the school.

I guess what I am saying is I am trying my best to let go of it all and let God. Change is a hard thing but it can prove to be a very good thing too. So here goes to the rest of my summer and hopefully school won't creep up too soon. I am loving having my kids home w/me. I do know that life will get so beyond busy when school starts and I want to enjoy this time w/them they grow up way too fast.

Working on my attitude

Ok I have dealt w/car issues for a month now and i am not happy. My fuel filter is fixed by my wonderful mechanic and the guy who is working on my a/c is on my hit list. I have tried SO hard to be nice to this guy b/c he is the only person who can work on a/c in our town. But I took it in 4 separate times in 2 weeks to have it fixed. Fri he said it needed to be on a lift and he didn't have one free. ????????? ok so first thing on Mon I took it down. Donnie followed me and was washing the window of the pick-up and he asks if Donnie is mad. Ok, clearly doesn't know I am the ticking time bomb. I still was nice. Mon nite I call and he says that it will need to stay over nite b/c he has to order the part. Tues same story have to keep it over nite. So yesterday same thing again. I am getting really ticked! Call this morn and he actually tells me how it is complicated and takes alot of time. But in the same breath he says that he has people come in every 10 minutes wanting to talk. I told him maybe he should say "I can't talk right now i have to finish Amy's car". He says oh that wouldn't work. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? So I called Donnie and assaulted his ears. Poor guy but he loves me and forgave me. Then I called my "real" mechanic and told him everything that is going on and he said he would call Marvin and see what is going on. Thank you Jesus for Chris. Maybe by the end of the day i will have my freedom back. Sorry for the vent but I am working on my attitude a little bit at a time...

Listen to the little voices...

This is me in Costco today. We had already been to Winco and were just done w/our Costco shopping. I had treated the kids to a crispy thing and fruit smoothie. We are eating and drinking and Kolette says she has to go potty. In my mind I am trying to figure out the logistics of all this. I am driving the truck(yes it is a truck it has duels) and I don't have room for groceries inside of it b/c I already have my groceries in it from Winco. I don't feel safe w/Corrin taking her on her own either. I wonder how long would it take for s/one to shave their heads dress them like boys and leave w/them. Yes I have issues but they are worth too much to take the chance. So I said that i would take her when we were all done and we would stand outside and Corrin could take her in. This is what happened.

Kolette: I have to go pee bad!

Me: Ok, guys hurry we are going to go to the bathroom.

Kolette: I just peed i can't stop it!

Me: silently screaming at myself for not running when she had to go.

I did however manage to buy her pj's when we were in there at the beginning of our shopping trip so I had s/thing to put on her. She chose shoes that caught the pee very nicely. Yuck! This is so out of the ordinary for her I don't think it has happened since she was potty training and that was 2 yrs ago. Oh well live and learn. Of course it was 102 outside and she was wearing footie pajamas, but at least we were in the air conditioned truck vs. my suburban that is still in the shop! Grr... but that is another story.

Went to a weddin...

Yesterday some very good friends of ours children got married. We are really good friends w/the brides parents and friends w/the grooms. So it was kinda fun to go and not care where you sat and know both sides so well. It was a beautiful wedding and i took a picture of the bride and groom that I doubt I will ever see at another wedding in my life. They are both cheerleaders in college and this is their pose. It was fun to see them doing a stunt.

Car problems...

Ok, seriously I know that money doesn't grow on trees but it seems that the mechanics think it does in my backyard.

Right before the 4th I took my car in to get the a/c fixed said it needed more freon. Then after I got it back I didn't drive it b/c it wasn't starting very well. So took it to a different mechanic my regular guy and he had it for 4 days and put in a new fuel pump. So next time I get in my car it isn't cooling off. So I drive back to the Co-op and tell him it isn't working. So he works on it and says that it needed the seal fixed and did it. So went w/Holly to the YMCA on Wed and it worked ok. Then go to drive to Nampa to a bridal shower yesterday and it felt like I had the heater on.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this morning I was at the Co-op bright and early w/my car. i left it there all day and at 6 when I called him to get it he said he found the problem. Yeah! I am thinking how wonderful to be cool again. My happiness was quickly dashed as he said he couldn't put it on the lift b/c they were occupied. Bring it in on Mon. ARe you kidding me!?!? He is lucky it was on the phone I was about to scream at him. It is soooooooo cool here I mean it was 105 today. I am sure me and my 4 kids will enjoy that no A/C thing really well.

But I really don't want a car payment so how annoyed do I want to get?????? Grrr... he better fix it right this time or I am going to go nuts! It's not like that's a stretch for me. Think cool thoughts will be my new motto.

He ain't heavy he's my brother...

Took the kids to the YMCA yesterday w/my friend Holly and had a blast. But I have to say it was quite sweet to see Corrin go down the water slide and wait at the bottom to help Connor who can't swim get to the side was priceless. She went almost everywhere w/him to make sure he was ok. I even watched her go back and forth in the part of the pool that was up to Ian's chest. She is such a sweet sister. I love seeing all the kids feel comfortable w/her it's like they have a 2nd mother. I don't try to make her be responsible for them but knowing that she is watching out for them gives me so much peace. They know they are safe w/her even if they pester each other they love each other so much.

Ok, just looked at the pictures and that girl of mine is growing up WAY too fast. I wish there was a pause button they grow up so fast and all before your eyes.

Happy 40th Birthday Donnie~!!!!

It is my sweet Donovan's birthday today. We had a little get together after the car show on Sat. Just ice cream(homemade) and cake. I always tease Donnie that he never opens his eyes in pictures they are always squinty or else he doesn't smile. But I am so thankful that I am married to him and all that he is and stands for. He is a wonderful dad and husband. Nice to see his onry side captured on camera though. Now to make a homemade cake w/Connor for tonite.

Funny face

Just thought this was cute of Kolette eating ice cream. She thinks it is funny to wear your food this was completely intentional. My boys like to lick the bowl but the gives it new meaning. But she still has her tiara on so at least she is pretty while doing it.

My beautiful Ballerina

her favorite part of the dance that she didn't even enjoy during the performance this was practice

Kolette and Grammy(my mom)
She is at least attempting to do a move w/her foot.

My sweet Kolette had her first performance yesterday. She is the youngest one of all the girls she is 3 1/2, Alleynah is 5 1/2 and 2 girls are 8 and one 9 yr old. So it is ranging widely in ages. She loves to dance but the performance at Thunderegg days was a whole different story. She got up there and barely moved. She told me she was scared. I hope she grows out of it since I know she loves to dance. Either way she was darling and was fun to watch. I keep telling myself she is only 3. But the main thing is she looked beautiful so what else should I expect???

Dentist success

Just a difference in a good dentist. When Corrin was 3 we had a horrible experience w/the dentist. They even prescribed her to take valium. It had the opposite effect on her. After I called the pediatrician and told him they wanted her to go to the hospital to have her teeth worked on and we don't have dental insurance; he told me about a friend of his who is a dentist. He took the time to call his friend tell him what Corrin was like and it was amazing how wonderful they were with her. So now my daughter isn't traumatized b/c of finding a wonderful dentist who isn't even a pediatric dentist.

Now I waited before taking Ian in b/c of his shyness. They looked at him in March and I had to cancel the one appt for filling his teeth b/c it interferred w/a field trip. So I took him in today and he was so excited. He has been asking for forever when he gets to go in. Anyhow they let me go back w/him and he was an angel. The dentist even called the tools names like Mr. Whistle and Mr Bumpy. He told him that they were getting the bugs out of his teeth. Then he put the "squeaky cheese" in the "bug hole". Ian didn't even flinch when he got the shot. He told him it was like a mosquito bite that doesn't itch. Gotta love your dentist they make life easier in the long run. Now I have all of my kids happy when they go to the dentist. Yeah~!!

My baby is off to camp

Today Corrin went to Kids camp. This is the first time she has ever gone and I am excited for her but miss her so much already. I guess her walking off w/her friends and not looking back is just a sign of her growing up. But I wonder if she will survive w/o me and yet I know the answer is yes she will. I think life will go on if her hair isn't perfect and if she wears the same clothes everyday even though she has plenty to choose from. I am sure she will remember to take her pulmicort at night and brush her teeth. The nice part of it is it is only 15 minutes from town and my dear friend lives 2 minutes walking distance away. So either way I know she is ok.

I guess if she is comfortable w/those who are there and loves being w/her friends I did ok in raising her so far. She will have a blast and remember it forever so I am thankful she is able to go. Now to help the other 3 get thru it till she gets back.

What will they think of next?????

I am constantly amazed at the things my children will find fun to play or too precious to throw away.

First Gum is a huge treat in our house. I rarely get it for my kids b/c I for one don't like to clean it up off the floor. Another reason I don't like it stuck to clothes either to mine b/c they put it somewhere it didn't belong or in their pockets to save for later. I don't find that it tastes better when chewed along w/food. Kolette disagrees. But we had a major meltdown yesterday b/c Kolette found Connor's "Special box" and pulled out a colorful stack of s/thing semi-sticky. Connor is freaking out saying it is his and Kolette says " I don't know what it is but it is gross". So I touch it Yuck and say this is gum and it needs to go in the garbage. This brings more tears from Connor b/c he says "It is special b/c someone gave it to me". This brings us to a conversation of how the people are still special but the gum isn't after it is chewed. I am sure this isn't the end of gum saving he will just find a more secret spot to store it. My Mom and Mother in law both love to share gum w/my kids. Maybe i need them to tell my kids that they will give them more but only if they throw it away.

Also we had a small church picnic yesterday at the park. I was sitting on a picnic bench talking to a friend and watching the kids. My friend says "Don't bite!" and realize she is talking to Kolette. Kolette has her mouth wide open looking like Ian is a tasty dessert. I tell her to come over and end up meeting her half way. I asked her why she was trying to bite Ian and she says "I wasn't Connor told me to eat Ian for dinner" Ok how do you argue w/that logic? Crazy thing is we like to pretend that we are eating our kids bellies for dinner so I can see where this line of thinking came from. Kids they are always paying attention and ready to provide entertainment.

The many faces of Corrin

This is Corrin teaching Kolette to strike a pose and sing a song. They are quite the pair.
Corrin being silly w/her sister.


She has always been very photogenic. But it is still so amazing to me how fast she is growing up. 4th grade this year and she has such a good head on her shoulders. I am so thankful that after all the years it took to get her that God allowed her to be my baby. She is a wonderful blessing!

Precious moment

I know this photo looks sad but it is touching too. Connor is a very loving boy but has a hard time keeping his hands to himself. He loves to touch his siblings and Ian is usually a very tolerant person. However I have been trying to get him to say Stop when he doesn't like s/thing or when Connor is sitting on him to push him off. Well right before this picture Connor was pestering Ian and Ian gently pushed Connor in the nose w/his elbow. I mean it was not hard at all very soft but it bumped Connor's head into the tree. So Connor was crying. I told Ian to tell him sorry and Ian is so tenderhearted that he started to cry b/c Connor was hurt. He was trying to keep from crying and he told Connor sorry and Connor had just said "I forgive you". They may not see the significance of this picture but for me it very sweet and tender the love they feel for each other.

Many faces of Kolette

While playing in the park w/my new camera today I noticed some of the different moods of Kolette. This one is thinking of what I am a little afraid.


This one here is her angry yelling at her sister "Don't say that!" Corrin told her she had a small bum. Kolette says her bum is a "N-O-T big bum" She is certainly a fiesty girl.


This is her thinking she is very funny. I am not totally in on the joke but it is very hallarious. Now the bottom picture came before the one above it but I am not smart enough w/moving it. Tiff help!!!!!!!!!!

Patient Ballerina

The only picture I could get at ballet. This was waiting for it to start. The windows are plexiglass and my camera got an awesome picture of all the scratches in it and not much of the ballerina I was trying to get. But she has a outdoor performance at Thunderegg days that I can get better pictures at. Bummer they won't have costumes. That is most of the fun. I will have to get her one on my own to make it more exciting for Kolette.

Raising "Kitties"

It is interesting what happens when the TV is off and the kids are left to their imaginations. So apparantly what it means in my house is I get "Kitties". Kolette and Ian play this game with each other alot but now they have a new owner - Connor. However I don't think he knew that meant that he would get Kitty kisses. Kolette the kitty is so determined that she is going to "Kiss" him he had no choice but to be kissed aka licked. Proof that determination wins out.

I would love to say I have no idea where they came up w/this silly game but I think it is genetics. I did NOT as a child eat cat food. I did NOT pretend I was a kitty and I am sure I did NOT kitty kiss my mom or brother. I also did NOT have my mom take me to the doctors to have the nurse tell me to NOT eat cat food. Yes my mom fed me but I also did NOT care that her paino students would tell me I would grow whiskers and a tail. So I guess there is no question where all this silly behavior came from. I have outgrown my cravings for catfood that went away forever ago I promise!

Just funny to see what kids come up with.