teenage birthday party

As Corbin and I were planning his birthday party, it all seemed so surreal that we were planning this for his THIRTEENTH birthday! He's at the age where most of my memories started. Friends and school became extremely important to me when I became a teenager. 

It has been so fun hearing his stories of lunch time with 'the gang'. Selfishly on my part, I wanted them all to come (Corbin did too) because I wanted to meet each one of them and see how they interact with each other. Especially since girls are involved. :) And I can honestly say that these kids are fantastic. They get along so well and don't seem weird around each other at all. In fact, I was blown away with how comfortable they are with each other. I never had the confidence that they have. 

My favorite is the friendship that Corbin has with his 2nd cousin. My cousin moved to town 1 1/2 years ago and these two instantly became BSCF (best second cousins forever). I. Love. It!!

:: Adeline totally climbed up to an empty spot and started eating the food. Corbin's friend was so gracious and said it was totally fine ::

This party took a life of its own. They had dinner and played a couple of the 'teenage games' we had planned. But wow, then they created their own party, and it was way better than any I could have come up with. They turned up the music and ran around chasing each other screaming and laughing, they played a hilarious version of murder in the dark (again lots of screaming and laughing), and even played truth or dare and would you rather (appropriately), and then they got in groups of two or three and each took turns lip syncing. Seriously! Like I said, they have way more confidence then I ever had. 

It was a blast for me to watch. And I felt lucky enough that Corbin even let me be involved. And also his brothers. He's a good kid.

I adore all these kids and it just makes me all the more excited to hopefully have lots of gatherings here. 

valentine's week

This year, Valentine's day (and week) left mom quite sick. And when a mom a sick, fun holiday things don't really happen. But this year, there was plenty of love happening. 

The two grade-schoolers took care of Valentine's stuff for their parties. Corbin and daddy made a special Valentine's dinner. Justin gave me happy pink flowers. Adeline scrubbed walls and cabinets. :) Rudger made me laugh a lot while I laid on the couch. Daddy stayed home from work to take care of me and play with the two littles during the day. 

Each one of them knows how to speak my love language...service! So looking back, it really was the perfect Valentine's week.

 And I was thrilled when I started feeling much better Thursday afternoon, because we had a big party to prepare for.

♥♥♥ I am seriously in love! ♥♥♥

a weekend in the middle of February

:: pizza and roasted broccoli totally go together + climbing is her thing and if it involves getting to forgotten food, even better ::

:: some of our favorite neighbors moved this weekend and it made us so sad + going to see Fantastic Beasts at the dollar theater made us feel a little better ::

This weekend the sun came out and we enjoyed plenty of time together. That's how every weekend should be!

our week

:: the weather was just warm enough to be outside for a while ::

 :: dinosaurs and cars + marble tower with friends ::

 :: books are the first place they go at grandma's + she loves her grandma ♥♥

 :: she cuddles her baby while I cuddle with mine + always, always in the pantry ::

:: after school homework and coloring ::

We got a lot accomplished this week. We made some progress on finishing the boys room downstairs. I had Justin change what we originally did in their closet. He is so good to me :) Now the debate goes on whether or not we build some nightstands for the boys or buy them. Then we need to put their hammock back up, build Levi's bed and hang up some pictures. Then after 1 1/2 years this room will be done!

a tip on a thursday - after dinner help

A couple of years ago, we started a system where everyone had a zone in our house to clean up after dinner. Monday would start out great, Tuesday was a busy evening so that was hit or miss, and by Wednesday those zones were not getting done. We were just in survival mode with getting homework done, showers in, and kids into bed. Obviously this system was not working for us. The zones were too big for the kids with everything else that was happening in the evening. (and that is when I am the most exhausted, so nagging is not effective) 

After a rough January, I decided something had to change. Two weeks ago we started a new system, and it has been so incredibly helpful. I have been amazed at what a difference it has made in our home and in my well-being. 

When we are done with dinner, we immediately get each of our little zones done. Little was the key word. We just focus on the kitchen area because that is where the majority of our messes are. 

• One child clears and wipes the table and chairs down, then nicely tucks the chairs in (seriously, what a difference tucked chairs make in how clean the house looks!) 
• The next child clears and wipes the island, and only the island (makes it very doable, and again it is another area that makes a huge difference in how clean the house looks). 
• The other zone is to pick up anything that got dragged into the kitchen and placed onto the floor...mostly by a one year old girl. :) then they sweep the floor. 

While the three older boys are working away at that, I am able to load the dishwasher and quickly wipe down the counters right around the sink. By the time I have finished, I turn around and the kitchen and dining room are clean. (And daddy is there to help out where we need him most...like keeping Adeline from making more messes!) This simple change has removed so much stress and makes me a much happier mom in the evening. A messy house is completely linked to my mood :)  
We have not missed a day for two weeks! (I take that back, Friday night we didn't finish our zones, but to make sure we didn't get out of the habit, first thing Saturday morning that is what they had to do.) 

This is seriously so huge for us! :)