Happy 5 months Alex and Jordan

{Jordan}

{Alex}

At five months you are both:

*Loud, giggly, squealy and entertaining

*Trying to roll over

*Constantly arching your backs to be laid down

*Grabbing toys and chewing constantly

*Drooling

*Nursing often and taking frequent social breaks

*Love to hold hands for comfort

*Going down for the night between 6-7 (usually)

*Waking up frequently lately (growth spurt) Alex it was 6 times for you last night!!

*2 short naps a day (usually)

*often on opposite schedules although I work hard to put you down for the same afternoon nap (school time)

5 at 5 months

Aiden Caileigh

Mikayla

Alex Jordan

Happy 23 months Mikayla

You have undergone so much growth this last month and you seem so ready to become a big two year old. You are becoming helpful, obedient and ever so sweet. I am not going to rush this final month though. For now you are my almost two year old and nothing more.

Caileigh's Un-Birthday

Since Aiden's birthday, Caileigh has been planning hers. Once we discovered we were moving, I realized that Caileigh was going to miss out on having a birthday with friends. Because I am also going to miss teaching dance next year, we decided to invite the dancers over for a goodbye/birthday party! There were 12 kids, 3 babies and 8 adults! What a blast we had today.

Waiting for friends to arrive.

As the girls arrived they started in on a craft. Making picture frames and foam butterflies.

They danced!

They enjoyed one another.

Hannah a sweet 10 year old. She has been coming to our house once a week and helping me with the kids. The big kids adore her and she is amazing with the little ones. She has five siblings with one on the way so she is a pro!

Caileigh's current dance teacher, Jessica.

Pretty pink birthday cake!

Cupcake decorating.

Princess clothing.

Gifts.

It was a great day for a very special almost four year old.

Busted......

in the cupboard with a bag of marshmallows.

The boys had their first jolly jump today. Jordan (here watching) seemed to enjoy hanging around checking out the new vantage point. Alex (here jumping) loved it! He would get his feet moving in these quick jig-like movements and it was absolutely hilarious to watch. I took a video so I'll have to upload it so you can see.

Look who else enjoyed themself!! It said the weight limit was 28 pounds and I'm pretty sure she doesn't weigh that yet. What a great way to keep her entertained while I made dinner!!

Who is Who

In the picture with the matching pooh-bear pajamas, Alex is on the left and Jordan on the right. In the picture with the blue pajamas, Jordan is on the left and Alex on the right. What surprises me though, is that if i didn't know who was who, I would say that in both pictures, the baby on the left looks the same. It really depends on the expressions that I capture as to who looks like who. It amazes me that these two boys can looks so different at times and so similar other times.

Can you guess here?

I think this about sums it up.....

It was a great weekend with Sean. The time went quickly and unfortunately a fair amount of time was spent working through the details of the move with the relocations company. So far, this hasn't been our best experience with the relocation company. Short story, Sean has been doing their job. We did manage to finish up with all the conditions on the house and we are set to move in for December 8th!! We just need to work out the details with the moving company and be on our way. Sean is having to spend tonight in Vancouver due to the snow we had in Powell River but he flies to Williams Lake first thing tomorrow morning. He then works 10 days straight and starts his holidays to come back here and move us! I am focused on enjoying this last bit of time with my family and all the fun events we have scheduled for the next two weeks.

Happy Reunion

6 hours and 7 minutes until Sean arrives but who's counting..........

5 kids

We have five kids. I know this because I birthed them all and I feed and care for them everyday but I don't think I yet know this. Just tonight I was telling Sean that I was driving a girl to dance class. I was saying how her Mom has 6 kids and it must be so difficult for her to get everyone in the car. Sean says, "but Ashley, if you have her daughter, now you have 6 kids that you are driving to class." Oh, right, I forgot!

I remember a time when I would look at families with four children and think, how in the world do they do it? I always wanted two kids. One boy and one girl. I have always loved kids but I truly never gave it a thought to have more than two. Perhaps it was because I grew up with a brother or maybe it is because having two kids is so common. I'm really not sure. Our original "plan" was to have our second child roughly 2 1/2 years after our first but wouldn't you know that we found ourselves with two children in 16 months. It was shortly after Caileigh's birth that I started to ponder the idea of a third. Things were so amazing with two that I began to imagine how much greater they could be with three. I wanted one more pregnancy in which to enjoy every last milestone. After Mikayla was born I loved the idea of more but the idea of actually having any more never really crossed our minds. Little did I know that 18 months later I would be Mom to 5!

I look at my family of 7 and feel so incredibly blessed. A day doesn't go by that I don't feel thankful for their health and presence in my life. I do think, however, as more children have joined our family I have lost perspective that five kids is indeed a larger family. I am reminded though each time I walk through the grocery store or mall. It is incredible the amount of stares that I receive. I suppose it does look a little funny to see someone pushing a double stroller, pulling a shopping cart, hauling one child on the back and guiding two walking children, but it can be a little disconcerting and I am still getting used to it. The typical comments are, "you sure have your hands full" or "are they all yours?" and also "you do know what causes this don't you?" I think the best comment was the other day when I was in the mall with the kids and a woman stopped to ask me if they were all mine. She then proceeded to shake her finger at me and say, "now no more!" I should have said, "but I'm already pregnant again!" I didn't though, and I'm not.

So I have five kids. Five beautiful, wonderful kids. And just think, 12 years from now I will have five teenagers.

Uh-Oh.

Well, 3 more sleeps until Sean arrives. I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait to head out "for a drive" and then arrive at the airport to "watch the planes land". I think the looks on the kids faces will be priceless. I can't believe that Sean will have been gone for 4 weeks. The first week was definitely the hardest. Over the past three, we have been developing routines and figuring out what works. Dinner and bedtime can be a little "tricky" so my Mom has been coming over to help during this time. Having someone to hold the babies or supervise bath makes it a lot easier for me to get my tasks completed. I have to admit that bedtime for the older two has become a lot more relaxed. At least once a week they have been taking turns having a sleep over. The privileged one gets to stay up late, eat special treats and spend some special time with me. Caileigh would probably keep going all night but I usually try and wind things down by 10. I can barely make it until then!

Waking up to three sweet boys in bed.

I am doing good. I have been struggling with headaches lately but I know it is due to dehydration. Drinking coffee and forgetting to drink water is not a good combination when nursing twins. I am trying to take better care of myself. When I focus on the day at hand I feel positive and energetic. If I try and think to tomorrow, I find myself overwhelmed and exhausted. Never before has 'one day at a time' held more meaning.

The kids are doing well. They are excited about the upcoming changes but sad and nervous as well. I think that the whole idea of moving still seems so foreign. "Supposedly" we are moving and "supposedly" it will happen in roughly three weeks but until it actually happens, it doesn't seem real. With the exception of Sean's absence, our days have continued as usual. It has been extremely frustrating waiting for the relocation company to complete the sale on our house. The process is supposed to take 10 days and we have been waiting a lot longer then that. We have completed all the conditions on our home and are just waiting for the relocation company to give us the guaranteed price so that we can complete. I believe this needs to happen by the 22nd. There are two other couples waiting to place offers on our new home if we don't complete by then. If all does go well, like the relocation company says, then we should get possession on Dec. 7th. The kids and I will most likely head down to Vancouver while Sean packs up with the movers. We will then meet in Vancouver and travel up to 100 mile together.

Not much longer. Just one day at a time.

We had a fantastic week. Busy with school, outings and activities. Today, not so great. Trying to remember that "this too shall pass." Tomorrow is a new day. Tears will dry and headaches will dissipate. All I gotta say is, it is a good thing they are cute!

*More detailed update to come......

Don't tell Sean but.....

Q is for Quality Foods.

Don't tell the kids (as it is a surprise) but Sean is coming home for a visit next Thursday!!!!

Autumn

{Jordan}

{Alex}

Where's miky?

Saturday

First dance exams for Caileigh.....

Swim lessons for Aiden....

Snuggle Buddies

{Jordan} {Alex}

Sean bought a house! After a week of looking and the threat of another offer on the table, Sean quickly acted to put down an offer and it was accepted. We are still waiting for the relocation company to disclose the assessed value of our house and have an inspection done on the new house but hopefully all this will happen soon so we can complete the conditions and close on the house. It is sounding like we would take possession sometime between Dec. 6-16th. The current owners are being very accommodating and will try to vacate as soon as they can so we can move up and get settled. It seems like a long time away but I suppose it is only a month. I love the house and can't wait to actually step inside. There are 5 bedrooms, a rec room, a fenced backyard and the ensuite bathroom is bigger and better then our current bathroom!

We are doing well and days are going by but it is startling to realize Sean has only been gone 11 days. I think the kids being sick has helped to slow down the days. Speaking of which, I had Aiden at the Dr. today and he was wondering about Strep so they took a swab and we should find out by Wednesday. He was able to eat dinner today and seemed much more lively although every now and then he would moan, "my throat hurts." Caileigh spiked a fever this afternoon and I found her asleep on the couch. She perked up after Tylenol and is sleeping soundly now. Mikayla is slowly getting better and hasn't had a fever today at all.

Better run, tomorrow comes quicker then I would like...............

Toddlers and Tiaras, redneck division.