Fall at Columbian park

 Colombian Park has a special place in our hearts.  We used to live across the street from this awesome park when we first moved to Lafayette. We just love it.  Our kids are at such fun 'park' ages. Eden loves to help the twins explore and enjoy it.  David is still a young kid at heart and loves to make friends, spin fast and run around. Ruth likes to climb and go down slides.  Ben is adventurist.  He goes on all the big slides, climbs up ropes and twisty rods (heaven forbid he just takes the steps).  He always makes other parents nervous. Sam goes on the big slides backwards and will try most things if someone is with him.  

 These days Paul is super busy, it was a TREAT to have him hang out with us.  Best day.  We really miss him but understand this is temporary and will support him as he is finishing his LAST year of school!!!!!

Ben

Sammy, E E, Day Day

Sam

Ben

 I feel like my days are so busy but I don't accomplish anything.  I did not expect having children close in age would be so darn hard.  It is a different hard. I expected the physical aspect (messes, diapers, grocery shopping, dirty toilets, trantrums, etc). I didn't expect the emotional. Trying to give all 5 the mental space they need.  They all want to talk at the same time!  They all want something different at the same time! They all want me to 'watch' or 'look' or 'read' to them individually usually at the same time!  You can't schedule them like a business meeting.  I've tried. I've tried to schedule times in the day when it's "david's" but someone cuts their finger, spills a gallon of milk, has a fever, starts fighting, needs scissors or can't find their dance shoes.  They are all still young.         

I know I won't remember these days.  It's so nice to have a camera. These pictures capture the moments. Then when I'm a grandma, I will add my own make believe memories laced with beauty and love!

Ruth is 5

 Ruth had her first friend birthday party.  It was a lot of fun.  I only took two pictures because it was a little crazy keeping track of all the kids (plus the twins).  How do people take pictures at parties?  I guess they really aren't at the party.  We broke a pinata, ate pizza and cake,  made play dough, pin the tail on the donkey, face painted (with markers) and jumped on the trampoline.   

 On her actual birthday we celebrated in the morning with Dad, breakfast in bed (although Ruth doesn't like to eat right when she gets up) and presents.  Yes, the twins still drink from a bottle.  After spending a fortune on sippy cups that leak, get lost, throw at heads and left in the car...I have gone back to sometimes using $1 bottles.

 Ruth is growing out her bangs.  She recently cut a chunk of hair off on the top.  This was the main reason I had her hair cut shorter again.  Hopefully next year she can have a longer bob all one length.

 Paul took Ruth to lunch on her birthday.  She loves spending time with her dad.  She loves any one-on-one time.   

Ruth is in preschool at the YMCA.  She has many friends.  She likes to go on dates with her parents.  She is in dance.  She likes to write her name.  She loves to play with the twins and Eden.  Eden is her second mother/best friend.  David constantly reminds her to put on her seat belt.  She loves shrimp.  She sleeps with her pink blanket every night.  She has little teeth.  She likes to laugh.  She loves to play with babies and wear princess heels.  Happy 5th birthday Ruthie Toothy Snugly Bear.      

Bobbing for apples

This was David's idea.  He loves apples and eats about three a day. Yes, Ben is in Ruth's underwear and Sam is in a swim skirt.

Lose my mind

Today I did all the laundry.  It's a lot of work pushing load after load through the wash.  Tonight after giving the twins a bath and putting jammies on, Ruth cried and made a fuss because she wants to take a bath too.  She gets in and I start the water.  In the front room I  hear a shaking sound.  Ben is emptying a bag of cereal on the carpet.  I get the vacuum out and beginning cleaning it up (because I want to put these little maniacs to bed ASAP).  After I finish vacuuming I turn the corner to see my bathroom light on and the door shut.  I discover the entire bathroom flooded with poop water!  Apparently someone had clogged the toilet with number 2.  Sam decided to make the toilet bowl his dunk tank for the soccer ball all while repeatedly flushing.  I grab all the freshly cleaned towels on my bed and frantically try to soak up the distinguishing water which is an inch deep everywhere.  Finally, I get the floor dry and wash my hands.  I'm ready to tackle bedtime!  I shut the bathroom door and hear water running.  I remember Ruth in the bath.  I open the other bathroom door to find Ruth sitting in a tub full of water slipping out!  This bathroom is flooded too!  Water running onto the carpet.  I yell for Eden to grab any towel she can find.  I start yelling at Ruth and asking her why she didn't turn the water off (in my head realizing that I probably always turn the water off for her)??

At the point I am mentally giving myself a pep talk: "Keep it together Cyndi. They are almost in bed.  Keep it together.  Breathe.  Hurry up and get this mess under control before they make another one.  Breathe."

Now I have 3 loads of poop towels to laundry.  I want to laugh but I can't!  I can't because this is hard!  Homework, dinner, soccer, chores, bedtime...it is so stinking hard.  Paul has 3 more days until he turns his disteration in.  He hasn't been home before 10pm since April (that is the main reason I decided to go to Utah this summer).

NOBODY, I'm telling you NOBODY will be happier when that dissertation is done.  Done!  

Today is a normal day.  I only talked about bedtime.  That was just one little episode of the day.  I could tell you about earlier today when I was mowing the front yard (because it has been raining like crazy and it was a jungle).  I told Ruth I'd pay her a dollar if she played with the twins on the tramp.  When I checked on them, the twins were in the garden throwing tomatoes!  Stomping on all the plants.  I tried to get them out but they both ran into the middle.

Or today when the insurance called about David's medical bills from July 2013 and the twins got in the car.  They opened the first aid kit and smeared icy hot all over.  While cleaning that up Ruth got into the otter pops and let one melt on the carpet. 
  
Or earlier tonight at Eden's soccer practice when Sam ran into the bushes going towards a ditch right as Ben ran into Eden and got kicked in the nose.  Ben's nose starts gushing blood, Ruth won't pick up her baby doll she brought out to the field and David is off chasing moths!

When I'm older and lose my mind you will know why!

I feel better now.  Thanks.  

Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Since I am behind on documenting our lives and I only have 20 more minutes before the twins wake up.  Here are some pictures from this summer.  We played with lots of cousins, friends and family.  I only brought my camera out twice.  We spent 3 weeks in Provo.  I spent a whole week with Amber (no pictures) having fun and working hard on some home improvement projects.  Then we spent a few days in Mountain Green with Paul's parents.  Paul flew in for 5 short days and drove us home.  We did go to his 20 year high school reunion (no pictures again!), which was super fun.

Gigi & Papa

Uncle Ty

My parents watched the kids multiple times.  My dad took off a day of work and watched all 5 kids when Paul flew in.  Paul and I did everything in one day: visit with grandma, temple, lunch, shopping, movie, dinner.  Living by grandparents has got to be the most angelic experience. We just love to be with them.

 

 Eden & Josie

Garlock cousins

 We tried to get a picture.  After awhile, we just gave up!

 It doesn't truly feel like summer until we go to Mountain Green.  Grandma & Grandpa were so kind to us.  They also watched all our children for a night.  They took them to eat!!  To a restaurant!  They reported the children were perfect and the twins didn't even make a mess.  That was so nice of them to tell us that (whether it was true or not :) )

Grandpa & Grandma Ordyna in Mountain Green

David & Treyson

We also get to see Nick & Jamie & kids while in Mountain Green.  Our kids ADORE their kids.  We love having them there and are so excited for them to build a house right up the road!

Playing on the Ordyna Arena

Ben

Working with Grandpa

Dutch John

 

In the middle of July I packed up the car and drove the kids to Utah.  We picked up my mom in Omaha, Nebraska and she drove the rest of the way with us.  The trip was ok.  I had a few meltdowns while driving, which included yelling the "s" word (shut up).  Hotels are by far the most stressful!  The first night I was by myself...that was insane.  Just picture a crazy lady with five kids, luggage, toddlers with bloody noses and kids fighting checking in.  Not to mention they didn't have any cribs left, so putting the twins down was 100 times more difficult.  Once my mom came, everything went much smoothier.  Thank you MOM!  We did have an incident where Ben dropped poop out of his diaper on the restaurant floor.  That was embarrassing but we made it to Utah!  We first arrived at my sister's house in Dutch John.  We spent a few days playing in the lake and of course the kids couldn't wait to fish with Uncle Ryan.    

 

cousins

2 years old

Sam loves to try on shoes and hats.

Ben love to throw, kick and catch balls.

Two years down.  It is amazing these guys are alive.  We are all raising them.  Dad, Mom , Eden, David & Ruth can appreciate them as they grow because we all have to consistently watch them.  They are our babies!

Happy July 4th

 We celebrated at the Annual Backyard of Fire at the Madsen's house. 

Best parent family night

On Monday I told the kids we were going to Monster Golf for Family Night when dad got home.  They were excited and quickly picked up their messes.  Paul came home.  I told everyone to get their shoes on and get in the car.  I took Ben out and buckled him in the car.  Then I yelled at David & Ruth to get in the car.  I took Sam and buckled him in the car.  I yelled again for the kids to get in the car.  Paul and I waited in the garage for the kids to come.  We found David playing Frisbee in the front yard.  Ruth chasing David and Eden changing her clothes (for the 3rd time).  After calling them again, we decided to cancel the activity.  We shut the garage and told everyone to go inside.

This realization lead to tears, screaming and throwing things...so, we sent them to bed.  At 7:15pm Paul and I sat on the couch in peace and quiet. 

Sam & his crazy eyes

P.S. Sam gets these crazy eyes.  Eden calls it his 'sparkle'.  When you see this look you know he is about to  get very mischievous.