Funny Cameron-isms

Cameron has provided our family with quite a lot of hilarity lately! I thought I had better get them recorded for posterity before they have left my feeble mind. Firstly, he has become a regular parrot lately. He repeats nearly everything we say around here. No bad words...yet. I shouldn't really hold my breathe, for just this afternoon in fact, I hit my head on the DVD player in the car as I was attempting to buckle up an unruly child and my favorite word popped right out in front of him. Close call, although for all I know he has stored it in his head for just the most inappropriate time.

Anyway, I digress. I was putting him to bed early as a punishment for naughty behavior when, as I was tucking him in, he said with raised hands,"What a heck" and "oh, gosh" This was the first time I have ever heard him exclaim with his vocabulary. I giggled so hard, it was great!

Tonight, we were helping all the kids with homework in the TV room. Cameron was just roaming around being kind of a pain. Daddy noticed he had quite a runny nose, so he told Cam to run and get a tissue. Cam ran out of the room determined and came back in with "two shoes". Too good! After the laughter died down, James told him to get a wipe. He ran out of the room into my bathroom and started unrolling a roll of toilet paper. Once he got the desired amount, he ran back into the TV room and blew his nose. This kid cracks me up! I just love him to pieces! Which reminds me about once when I told Nicholas I loved him to pieces. He replied in horror," I am not two pieces!"

Kennedy the cow at school today for her Halloween party!


Riley Earnhart Jr. for the third year in a row. See just loves this costume!

Nicholas Cullen? Cute little blood sucker!!!

Here are Walker and Morgan dressed up as stick figures for a Halloween party last weekend. What a clever idea this was from Morgan! Turned out so well!

Here are just a few recent shots of some of the kids. I wish I had more time to update our lives on the blog, but I just have so many other things to do! I'll definately have more to put up after Halloween. Gotta go for now. I hear a scruffle starting in the other room!

I just got the pictures back for the twins today!!!! They turned out so darn cute!!! I just love my precious babies! These smiles are just wonderful!!! GUSH, GUSH, GUSH!!!

I had to post them ASAP even though I will just have to get on again later today when Makenna

and Nicholas bring me theirs. I love pictures! The sweet stages they capture in the life of a baby are most valuable to me. I am blessed to have seven beautiful babies to care for, for Father in Heaven.

So, I just added Nicholas' picture, but for some reason there was no disc in Makenna's package and I am having difficulties scanning her picture into my silly computer. I will have to wait to add hers until my sweetie can figure it out. :( Anyway, four for four today with the turn out on the elementary school crowd. Yeah!

There! I finally got them all on there! Gotta call Lifetouch and get the disc for her package of pictures! Anywho there are all my babies except the little one. I guess I could get a picture done of him soon!

Wanted: expert in home organization

I was all hyped up ready to clean, clean, clean this morning. Jumped right in and was making amazing headway when I was ready for my mop. Where is my mop? Hmmm... not there. Not there, either. Really, where is the mop? What have my children used it for this time? Hmmm... not there either. Help! How many places could a mop hide?

Just when I was starting to really wonder what happened to my needed mop, it dawned on me. I sheepishly wandered over to the broom closet and opened the door. Really? It was where it was supposed to be. It was actually in its assigned corner of the broom closet and everything. Just waiting to be used, it was where I put it.

Problem. In my house I never would have expected it to be there. So sad really, that it, along with my brooms and vacuum and carpet cleaner are almost never in the closet at all. I am always using them. They are in the last place they were needed. What do I even have that closet for, then? Because I mean for them to get put away at some point. I really do want to catch up one day. They have to have a home for me to aim to get them to. Right?

I have been really focusing on total home organization these past few weeks, and although I KNOW I have made real progress. You couldn't tell to look at it. Messes just keep making themselves along with the help of my brood. I am terribly outnumbered. Team crazy against team Mama. I think I am in for a losing battle, but I gotta try!

Intervention

So, I am actually not sure why I didn't post this awhile back when it happen. Maybe my ego was just a bit too bruised, or I blocked it out to save myself the pain. Either way, I was reading my lovely friend's blog yesterday (Jodi, you rock!) and her tale reminded me of the day my twins planned an intervention for me.

My twins are six. Mind you, they never used the term "intervention", but it was what it was all the same. I was sitting in my wonderful glider just relaxing for a fleeting moment. The girls walked straight up to me with sweet smiles on their faces. "Mom," Riley said. "yes", I answered. She held out both hands in front of her gesturing her compassion and said,"Now you are not fat, you are just chubby." "Yes" Kennedy piped in. "You are chubby and beautiful." Keep in mind, their faces were wrought with love and concern for me. This was done in all seriousness. I looked at them a bit amused and a bit in shock. After saying nothing for a moment, Riley said, "You just need to exercise a little so you can be skinny like me." I thanked them and hugged them, and I told them they were right and I was trying my best. This seemed to be enough for them, so they trotted off and went back to their day.

I was left to ponder the fact that once again, my children have amazed me with their intelligence and thoughtfulness. I was a little hurt, I suppose, but they are right. I am touched that they care. I cannot complain about that. I am blessed. I am chubby, but I am blessed!

braces, braces!

I took a few pictures of Cameron and me together in the swing. He loves that swing! I often find him just sitting there all by himself enjoying the fresh air.


Just thought this was a good picture Morgan took of herself.

Little Cam loves to stop and say cheese for the camera whenever he sees that someone has got it out!

My second child to receive braces got them today! Two down, one to go in about a month. I cannot believe I am going to have three kids in braces at the same time! I guess that is what you get when you have a whole quiver if kids right together!

He looks really good, I think ! Of, course I am a bit biased! I think my Walker is handsome no matter what! We had a really nice four day weekend. Got a few things done around the house and yard. Relaxed a bit. Had fun with the kids. All in all, things are good. Can't complain.

New School Pix

Thought I would post the kid's new school pictures. Top is my oldest daughter, Morgan. Bottom is my oldest child, Walker. Growing up way too fast!!!

Moseby and Marriage Rant

We took Moseby with us to visit Grandma and Grandpa's house this past Sunday. He wore himself out having so much fun! He really loved the playhouse~

Moseby seemed to be partial to this lovely spot in the ground cover under a tree.

It is so hard these days to get a serious picture from my two big boys, so I am left with this. Cute anyway!

Having a little rest at the bottom of the steps.

Mother knitting. Aren't I a cliche from the past?

Always wants a picture taken. He even stands in front of us yelling "say cheese" and smiling!

Nick is still actually a little scared of Moseby . He wanted to have a picture taken with him and Daddy, but he kinda hid behind with this uncomfortable look on his face. Classic!

James is so happy to finally have his first dog. You should see him with Moseby. Absolutely doting! I am so thrilled to see him so content!

I love this sleepy little baby!

Cameron was posing for this one. He had just finished saying "cheese!" and then waited for me to shoot. I love it! Life is so busy and full of a million distractions. I love Sundays! I am so thankful to have a day where I can relax and see my family. I don't have to worry about anything but us. It is a wonderful blessing if we take advantage if it! I do however have a stressful Sunday coming up. I have to speak in Sacrament Meeting with James, Walker and Morgan. I have had many weeks to prepare and I still am not anywhere near finishing my preparation. Hopefully I can find time this weekend with Conference.

I am so very grateful to my amazing husband for being a very willing partner in raising our seven babies. I could never do it alone, nor would I want to. I am looking all around me at many of our friends who have decided to call it quits and go it alone. It is almost an epidemic. Everywhere you look, couples are giving up and Satan is winning. The children are losing, the family is forever broken. I find my mind constantly over burdened with sadness at this. It helps me be ever more determined to take care of my marriage above all else so I don't find myself in that situation. I know they all probably thought that they would never find themselves in that place, but none of us are exempt from trials. We have to "bother" to work at our relationships. When you are lucky enough to have found a good man, you do not take it for granted and you do not think yourself above faults. We have to "bother".

Kayli

This is my sweet little niece. Kayli. She just recently turned seven out in Portland, Or. where she lives with her Mama. I miss her so much, it kills me. I haven't actually seen her for about three years now. Terrible to be separated from family. I wish so much we could be together.


They recently took a little trip to the shore and took some great pictures. I was so excited they shared them with me.

This is one of my favorites. She really is so sweet and fun. We got to have her here for about a year and a half awhile back, and it was great to get to know her and receive her love. She is very loving and precious. Can you tell I am proud? She also has the greatest Mama and I am so comforted in knowing she is taken care of very well. So until we can come up with a way to get us all there for a visit, I'll have to just enjoy all the pictures and letters I get from them.

New Baby and Twin's Birthday!

After almost fifteen years of talking about it, we have a puppy! He is so sweet and loving! We named him Moseby Adym(Riley's spelling of Adam). The kids are having so much fun with him, and they all even jump at the chance to walk and scoop up after him! Funny the things a child is willing to do for a dog! Moseby is in heaven with seven children to run around constantly with him, and I am loving to see the kiddies all so happy about it! Good decision all around!


This is Moseby and Cameron playing. Cam loves it when Moseby chases him! Right after this shot, he actually caught hold of the diaper and tugged Cam around a bit. Baby loved it, Mom did not.



The girls turned another year older this weekend. We had a fun family dinner party on Sunday night to celebrate at our home. Here is Riley thanking Uncle Drew for her monster truck!

And, Kennedy posing in her beautiful new princess duds.

Here are my pretty twinks modeling the new shawls I knitted for them. It just about killed them to hold still this long with a rocker full of presents behind them!

I was thrilled to see how much the girls actually loved their shawls. I was afraid after Igot going on them they would be less than thrilled, but they really got excited about them. Yeah! I am especially glad because i got up at four in the morning on their birthday to finish them.

how much actually made it into his tummy?

Cameron has long been a very independent baby. He has always preferred to feed himself, even when he really wasn't capable. Last night at dinner he was especially excited to eat one of his favorites. Tomato pasta soup. He was really getting into it. Before long I realized that in his zeal to consume his yummy dinner, most of it was landing on his shirt or in his lap. If one looks closely to the top picture you can spy quite the accumulation of food in his lap! He was so happy! Very early in my mothering of children, I came to learn that boys are not truely happy unless naked or engaged in a mess of some sort. Hence the complete glee seen in the bottom picture of Cam and the resistance he gave me to a good cleaning. I could hardly get him away to the much need shower and shirt soak in the bathroom. He was none too pleased, but I won of course. He was promptly tossed into a nice warm shower and de-messed just in time to cuddle down with Mama and sleep. My favorite way to end the day. Cuddled up with a clean and sweet smelling baby! One of the simple things:)

totally unplanned

I am an organized person, to a degree. I have, however, somewhat given up on trying to control every aspect of my life because I have seven children. That is seven different personalities, needs, wants, homework assignments, degrees of health, braces maintenance, etc...

I cannot, nor should I try to, make everything happen in a given day go smoothly or perfectly. That is fine. I have learned to thrive in my world of utter chaos. Unfortunately, that doesn't leave a lot of time to plan social retreats with my good buddies. I have missed my best friend, Katie so much since my move of nearly a year ago. We almost never see each other.

Yesterday, however, through a slew of last minute and unplanned circumstances, we spent nearly the whole day together! It was great! We ran errands together with only four of our thirteen children. That was a breeze! (except of course when Cameron escaped the Tuesday Morning store through two sets of heavy outer doors!) Mild heart attack! Whew!

What fun we had! The kids all had a ball together and it was just a great and simple day!

I am so thankful for all my friends and all the simple and calm moments in life. In my hectic life, I just have learned to appreciate quiet and peace. :)

Yes, that is an emergency room with my daughter in it. She is indeed getting a cast. Just a normal day in the life of a mother of seven.

The day started out quite good. I took the twins for their first day of school. Cameron and I napped for two hours all snuggled up in the recliner together. I met the girls an hour after getting out of school because the bus driver told me the wrong stop to meet them at. Thank you so much!

We were late to the chiropractor because the next bus was a half hour late getting home. Then, at the Chiro's office, I had them look at Morgan's hand because of a little fall the previous day. It was broken. Hence the trip to the PCMC ER in the latter part of the day after taking the other six children to my parent's house.

James was still working up in Bountiful and it was dinner and homework time.(the worst time of the day)I am so tired just thinking about all this stuff yesterday.

So the ER docs could not come to a unanimous conclusion as to whether the hand was broken or not. It wasn't the wrist as previously thought. It is probably a buckle fracture in her hand. We won't know for sure until we have it x-rayed in a week and see if there are any signs of healing.

In the mean time, we act as if it is broken. OK. I would like to believe it is broken simply because it validates all the trouble we went to for it last night. I mean, if I am going to have to do all that driving and all that waiting, and all that headache-ing, it darn well better be broken. That's all I'm saying.

Now it is the next day. Cameron and I are home alone. Sigh. Life is good. I have a messy house and Yoga waiting on my DVR. I guess I will go and attend to those items before I grab the girls from school and go to lunch at Cafe Rio with my mom. This WILL be a better day.

Holy Crap! The Twinks Went to Kindergarten!!!

This was Kennedy just as I was leaving after giving me another hug. I think I got six total.


This was what Riley was able to muster when I told her I needed one more smile before I left.

I cannot for the life of me figure out how my twins got old enough for school. I mean, don't get me wrong. It is about time! But how did it happen? It was only yesterday I was being rushed into an emergency c-section eight weeks early. I was just holding their little tiny bodies in my hands. Kennedy was only 3 lbs. 8 Oz. and Riley only 4 lbs. 3 Oz. They were so small! I could not believe I had just given birth to two little ones.

From the start, they were so different. Complete opposites in every way imaginable, but the fiercest friends possible. James gave them blessings last night and they were both so excited. They picked out what they were going to wear and laid it out next to their backpacks. This morning, Riley was pretty sure she didn't think school was such a good idea anymore. Kennedy could not get me out the door fast enough! As you can see in the pictures, Kennedy was fine, Riley was not.

Life moves so quickly! I know it won't be any time at all before little Cameron is leaving me, too. We are going to be great little buddies for the next three years. He is my shopping partner now. I can actually get a few things done around the house now. What a feeling it is to be down from seven to one for three hours a day. Holy Crap! the twins are at school!

Morgan turns twelve!

Last night, Walker was holding Cameron and put him right to sleep. He loves cuddling with his big brothers. It seems that Walker has a special way with him because even when I can't calm him down, Walker seems to be able to. I am so grateful for kids who love each other and want to be there for one another. Even though Walker and Morgan fight constantly and act like they hate each other, Walker was so worried about Morgan finding her way through the Jr. High and getting to her classes on time. He walked her to class the first few days and met her to get on the bus together. He would never admit it,nor would she, but they needed each other and they came through.


Here is Morgan at her birthday party. We had a family one for her on Sunday as we usually do. She actually had a sleepover on Friday with four of her good friends. We took them to the show and had pizza for dinner. It was actually quite enjoyable even though we were at the movies with five crazy tweens! She had a blast and was extra excited for this birthday, because she got her cell phone, mascara and lip gloss. These are all important rights of passage in our family. Last, but not least, she got to go into the Young Women's class at church. Hooray for being twelve!!!

On Saturday, our Stake had a Daddy Daughter Dinner Date. Here are some pictures of James and the two older girls right before they left for their outing. They all looked so cute and had a great time at their Luau. I love it when James gets a chance to go out with the kids. He is so busy with work it gets easy to forget to play with the kids.

Tid-Bits

This guy doesn't seem to enjoy the whole "picture taking" thing these days , so you have to catch him unaware. Thanks Holly!



Cameron wanted me to put this hat on him. He kept yelling "hat, hat!" So, I put it on him and he was so happy about, I left it on even though it made him look like a girl.



I just love this face! She is such a grinner! Makes me laugh no matter my mood!




Kennedy kills me. Constantly dancing and posing. She actually never stops talking! I can hardly wait to see how she does in kindergarten next week!




Here is the official picture if the new "do". She is so lovely and exotic. I kinda want to cut my hair again. I wouldn't look quite that good though, so I probably won't.

Just a few pics of my babies. Note to self: Make the rest of the kids take pictures soon.

Teen Anguish repaired...a bit!

So, I think we all have a moment(or in my case many more) in our adolescence that we feel stupid about.An embarrassing moment, that forever, no matter how we turned out, makes us feel very insignificant and a bit of a loser. Here is one of the biggest. I am late for class. I am running full speed through the halls of Schimelpfenig Middle School in Plano, Texas. Suddenly, my brand new pair of Keds caught on the red carpet and sent me flying through the air. I landed with a thud flat on my face. The first thing that ran through my mind was," Oh, good everyone else is in class. No one saw me." Then I hear a voice from behind."Nice one, Milton!" Oh my Gosh!!! Who is that? They know me, they said my name! Crap! I get up to see Mike. So cute, really popular, shocked he knew my name, and probably the worst person to have witness my flight. Nice.

Today, that memory came flooding back when I found (on, you guessed it, Face Book) the witness to that moment. I didn't think he even remembered me. I thought I was a total loser. Curly hair, huge glasses, you can picture it. Some of you HAVE a picture of it! So, I reminded him of that moment, and although he never said he remembered that particular time, what he said wiped out all the embarrassment of it. He thought I had the most perfect lips he had ever seen and he had always wanted to kiss them! WHAT! Somebody actually noticed me. I can only say I am so flattered and it makes me feel so good.

It is amazing how we can hold on to our insecurities and they all come flooding back now and again. Sometimes, looking at the lives of others, we can feel that we just don't "add up" to what we should have become. As a mother of seven, I can get to feeling down about my weight and never having gone to college. I am not saving the world. I have done very little traveling. There are a million things I want to do some day. I used to be a pretty good writer. etc...
I made the right decisions for me. I am happy with them, but some days, I just wonder what things night have been like if I made other decisions.

It is the little things that make me happy! The compliment I received today really lifted me up. Thanks, Mike!

I so probably shouldn't post this entry, but it is me. It is what I am feeling. I am human. We all are. Now you have a little more black mail info on me. It is what it is.

First Day of Jr. High!

Well, the day has come for my second born. She is a Jr. High student! She has a cell phone! She is turning TWELVE in one week! How did this happen? Really.

It was just yesterday that we brought this little six pound baby home form the hospital with a hole in her face. We were scared to death, and we never thought we would make it through the first year of her life, let alone the first twelve! Surgery after surgery, tears and enormous fears. Now look at her. We are here at a new chapter in her life and I cannot believe these years have passed so quickly!

She was so nervous and excited. She couldn't fall asleep last night. She needed a lot of reassurance from her Dad and me. When I dropped her off at the front of the school to meet her friends, that was it, I was no longer needed. That's OK, though. I had six others waiting at home for me. :)