Easter Recap

Easter was awesome this year.     

We colored eggs with the cousins.

Caity loved it!

The kids were talking a lot this week about what Jesus did for us and how hard it must have been to die on a cross. 

Caleb was especially interested in discussing the nails going through His hands and feet.  

 I always find it frustrating to create a healthy balance between what the day is supposed to be about and all the "fun stuff" that the world focuses on.  As the kids get older, they are getting the full picture and that is exciting!

My Mom got Cait and Cambria matching froo-froo pink Easter dresses.  

They were so precious.

Not very practical for moving around or holding baby, but really really cute.

{check out baby's tights...her teensy legs are swimming in those tights..so so cute}

Cait really liked matching with "new baby".

She toted her purse around all morning.

My boys are such good sports.  

Mike did draw the line this year at "no pink" for him or Caleb.

Fair enough.

I'll take matching navy polos:)

In the morning before church I was quite proud of myself for having everyone ready in time.

I pushed the envelope by making them stand still for a photo.

Here they all are... 3 looking, 2 not so much.

After church the whole family came over.

Mike's Grandma made a spread and we enjoyed eating.

She has a gift for feeding people.

Does that sound silly?

She really does!!

After lunch the kids were chomping at the bit to get to the egg hunt.

The dads/ uncles hid the eggs.

We write names on the eggs so that everyone ends up with the same amount and all the same candy.

Its a bit of a process to prepare but Tam and I have fun doing it and it makes the hunt go really smoothly. 

  The big kids' eggs are hidden in crazy places...

And the little kids' eggs are a bit more obvious.

{I just have to say I love this picture of a real moment frozen in time...

Terri,Tammy, Meg and Bri taking a photo of themselves, Grams smiling at them, Matt watching Caiters hunt for eggs, Mike helping Cait with her bucket and holding her headband...so much great action!!}

Another great one.  Such a supportive family; check out Uncle Jay's face!

Cait and two of her Grandmas.

This right here is the money shot.

Check it out, 9 children all looking and all smiling! (Cambria is screaming but she's a newborn so I'm still counting her)

Oh- not to mention the fantastic matching going on!

(I kinda like that sort of thing:)

K this one is pretty cute too!

I love these kids and love how much they enjoy being together.

Pretty sure I've mentioned that once or twice.

Family picture!

The big girls and their buckets full of treats.

I made them each a headband or clip.

I guess Mailee didn't like wearing hers?

Buddies in matching duds.

It was a fun day!

I hope yours was too!

Cambria's Photo Shoot

Last week we took Cambria for a newborn photo shoot with Candice.

Remember when I tried to win a contest to get a shoot with Candice?  

Well Mike called her after I didn't win and booked a shoot.  

What a thoughtful guy he is!

All the kids got in a few of the photos and I think those are some of my faves.

Here's a little taste of the cuteness from the shoot...

This cute cute hat is a Nut & Satchi.

Love it!

My Dad requested a photo without a headband...here ya go Dad, just a teensy sweet baby:)

I love how she is all folded up!

Baby in the buggy.

Two profiles that I love.

There's something about a newborn in her Daddy's arms...they look so small and sweet!

I have ka-gillions more photos from this photo shoot, they are all sweet and cute and amazing.  How will I ever choose which ones to put on the wall??

Grandma Goodness

We had an awesome visit with my mom "Grandma Bev".

She snuggled baby, read books, played Playmobil, conducted some school lessons, folded some laundry, helped throw Cait's birthday party and hung out at Chapters.

We were so sad to wake up this morning and not be able to dog pile her in her bed!

Being silly with Grandma.

 A new book for everyone.  

Thanks Grandma!

Big Sister/Little Sister matching outfits:)

Laughing with Grandma

I have so many fun photos to share, we celebrated Cait's birthday with a rubber ducky party and I got the photos from the newborn photo shoot with Candice!!

BUT FIRST...today is all about decorating eggs with the cousins!  Yahoo, so fun!!

6 Kids In A Video

Last week I took this little video of the kids.  For all the family/friends that live far away and don't get to see the everyday life with these kidlers, here a slice!!

Gong Show

You should have been at Superstore today around 5pm.
That's where I was.
With my kids.

It was a gong show.

Newborn screaming in my arms.
Toddler trying to crawl out of cart.
Four year old pushing the cart into walls and people.
Big girl begging to hold baby, insisting that she won't move a muscle till she gets her way.
Bigger girl trying to parent her siblings but really only heightening the craziness...

Not sure what groceries I actually got?

Oh you should have seen us.
You totally missed it because it was a one time thing. {I hope}

Can you "order in" your groceries?
I sure wish I could.

The First Two Weeks: From My Phone

Today Cambria is two weeks old.  

Two weeks already!

Here are some photos from the last two weeks off my phone.  The phone is around and often more easily accessible than the camera.  Sometimes the photos are random but I like a little randomness every once in a while.

Day 2

Still hanging out in the bed, letting the rest of the world go on without us.

It's amazing how life "slows down" when a baby comes.  I mean, life does not actually slow down when you add a 6th kid to the mix but for a few days everything kind of stood still for me.  While the rest of the family went about their business, I stayed home and bonded with my newborn.

Those first days are so precious!!

Day 5

Getting a bit of sun with big brother.

I love this photo, can you see her little sock-foot?  

Caleb sat there for about 10 minutes helping her make her "yellow" go away:)

"hello brother!"

Second outing.

Our vehicle is so full!

It takes us a really long time to get out the door!

Cambria is so tiny in her car seat:)

Snuggles with Maddie.

All three of the big girls are really helpful.

When I need to get dressed, make dinner or have a shower I have three very willing baby holders.

Mailee is my most willing helper.

She grabs diapers for me.

She brings me water.

She can swaddle the baby.

Look how confident she looks holding the baby!

The evening routine involves a wide awake baby, lots of fussing and nursing.  Once she falls asleep she sleeps most of the night.  She only wakes up to eat once.  Such a good girl but from 8-10pm when all I want to do is sit down and put my feet up girlfriend is high maintenance!!

I am thankful Mike is home and helpful during these hours.

{look how tiny and cute she looks in her Daddy's arms!}

I am looking forward to her learning to go to sleep at night and play during the day!

This is how our little lady sleeps.

Mouth WIDE open:)

Testing out sister's crib.

Eventually this will be Cambria's crib and Cait will move into a big girl bed.

I am not rushing this event.  Cait likes her crib and I like that she can't get out!

Looks like Cambria isn't too keen on the idea of the crib either:)

Day 12

First meal out at a restaurant, first chiropractic event.

The whole family came to Mike's community dinner.  We made it there on time with everyone dressed.  I was happy about that!

Cambria got passed around between the three girls and myself and we were all able to eat and enjoy the night out.

Day 14

First tummy time.

She loved being on her tummy so much that she fell asleep and slept for 3 hours like this on the couch as all the kids played loudly around her in the living room.

I am extremely upset that two weeks have already flown by.  I am so fortunate to have gotten to have 6 newborns all to myself.  That is a lot more babies than most people get to enjoy.  I still want to bottle this one up and keep her tiny forever!  I can't get enough of her sweet smell, the way she snuggles in when I hold her, that little milk tongue...She is just precious!!

Caleb Loves Cambria

Caleb has taken a much bigger interest in the baby than I expected.  He asks to hold her all the time and he is really sweet with her.  Caleb is a really loving boy who wants to be heard and included and appreciated.  Often the girls gang up on him and leave him out.  Other times I target him as "the problem" because he is the loudest and most rambunctious of the bunch.

My precious boy!  I want him to grow up in this home feeling loved and accepted and treasured.  

 Scroll down to see his cute video.  He asked me to take a movie of him holding the baby.  He watches the girls make their school movies to display their work all the time.  So cute how he introduced himself just like the girls do:)

K, I just have to say, our awesome, fabulous hairdresser had a baby 2 days before me.  

Our whole family's hair is lost without her!!

{In case you were wondering if we were going for the Beiber look or something,}

Cait talks "Merkin Ido"

Caiters is so grown up now that baby is here!  She is saying more words/sentences every day and she cracks us up all the time with her funny toddler ways.

She seems no worse for the wear after handing over the baby crown to "new baby"

She still needs Mommy for a little snuggle and some hair:)

Baby visiting in Cait's crib.

My Daughter's Eyes

Martina McBride sings the most beautiful song about having daughters.

I have lots of daughters.

Often I am overwhelmed with listening to them all, making it fair, clothing them, doing hair, organizing all their stuff...

I imagine it will even get more challenging.

Anyways, this song brings me to tears every time I hear it.

I have all these cute photos that the kids have snapped over the last few days so I thought I'd lump them all together with a very nice song that speaks to my "mother's heart":)

In My Daughter's Eyes

In my daughter's eyes, I am a hero.
I am strong and wise,
And I know no fear.
But the truth is plain to see:
She was sent to rescue me,
I see who I wanna be, in my daughter's eyes.

In my daughter's eyes, everyone is equal,

Darkness turns to light,

And the world is at peace.

This miracle God gave to me,

Gives me strength when I am weak.

I find reason to believe, in my daughter's eyes.

And when she wraps her hand around my finger,

Oh, it puts a smile in my heart.

Everything becomes a little clearer.

I realise what life is all about.

It's hanging on when your heart has had enough;

It's giving more when you feel like giving up.

I've seen the light: it's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes, I can see the future.

A reflection of who I am,

And what will be.

And though she'll grow and, some day, leave:

Maybe raise a family,

When I'm gone, I hope you'll see,

How happy she made me,

For I'll be there, in my daughter's eyes.

Loving my newest girl.  Completely soaking in the hours that I have gotten to spend alone with her over this past week.  We are just getting to know one another right now, I can't wait to see her own little personality unfold!

She's Cordless!