Photos speak volumes

This morning...somebody still misses me!! Check out the hand action...

I was getting stronger and leaner...until I had to stop running. 

I miss my blonde hair...

Big smiles for me!

You know you have a large family when you cannot fit all of the family in front of the photobooth!

My crazy busy life full of ups and downs! I wouldn'thave it any other way!

little bitty baby things

Well, today was a day for getting organized and part of that meant packing up some baby stuff. I truly do not look forward to that time when your 'baby' who would be almost 1 year old in a couple of months or less has outgrown the need for baby items. I know in the past it has been OK, because I knew there would be a good chance that 'somebody' aka a new baby in the family would be possibly using them. But, our family is complete. There are no babies being born to our family, or anybody else in our family (well for now anyways.)

So, I packed up the pack n' play, the baby carrier, the infant toys, the car seat zipper cover. Many of the warm blankets, and receiving blankets. And, of course the little itty bitty beautiful sun dresses etc. They are all packed away. For what?! I am not sure...but it truly was difficult day for me. I was practically welling up with tears packing them away. Each little item, I would snuggle to my chest...and sigh. Some sighs were more sad, and yet a part of me was OK with this all. Weirded that  I am not pregnant right now, and I will never be pregnant again sigh. Not normal for me at this time when usually I would already be pregnant again.

It is weird thing after being pregnant so many times, to just be like...OK all done. I am all done. I am all good with this all not being pregnant anymore. You would think after six, it would be deal sealed. But I have to say I still have twangs and pangs when my friends and family give birth. I am totally happy for them ALL...but I feel like I am missing out. 

Really, I am OK with it all because my Courtney still needs me. My other kids need me. It is all OK. But, like I say  I thought by NOW I would be all over this, and yet not.  Hmmmm.

Well, the day is almost done. I am thinking I will head to bed and hope that my babies (that would be all six of them) decide to stay down for the count. You see, my baby Courtney loves spending time with her Mamma. Yes, lots of time. So, I just relish in that, and enjoy these moments which I know are fleeting. She can stay my baby for as long as she wants. I am totally OK with that. I have to say, she has me wrapped around my fingers. Well, all over me. I know she is my last, and finally I can 'baby' somebody for longer than the time if I were to be pregnant again. Those babes had to grow up more quickly than I would have liked. 

I have to say, that life is good in that respect. I am feeling rather joy-filled knowing that I have been blessed to have this mothering experience over six times in one life-time. SWEET I say SWEET. My job has not been completed either, the babies grow, but I know I am still needed for a long, long time :D

I love you my precious little children. Oh how I love you all to the depth of my soul. To the very centre of my body, to the ends of my fingertips, the the highest I can reach, to the bottoms of my feet. I love you all to the moon and back. I cannot express how deeply I love you all.

I am so thankful for this beautiful life I have been given! This beautiful opportunity! 

.from the garden.

Blackberries fresh from the bush...Cameron picked these for me.



Our patient 8 month old waiting and waiting for us all to be done.



See, we didn't lie! These beauties stand over 7 feet tall! Aren't they just so beautiful!



The whole family searching for snakes!!



And the big 'ol snake charmer found one to pick up (boy did they stink!! LOL) and there were about three others in that old pig pen!

Pop Quiz!

What happened today in our household?

1. We found poop under a leaf behind the shed
2. We found two circles of pee behind the shed
3. One of our kids got in trouble from a neighbour for sling-shotting a rock into a pool
4. Most of the kids fell asleep on the couch until five pm including Cliff
5. The gardening got done
6. Two pairs of poopy underwear found in the bathroom cabinet
7. All of the above

Please leave your answer in the comments section, thank you. Happy weekend all!

Beautiful Day

Today has been a MUCH better day. We have been enjoying the sunshine as a family. We went for an hour walk with the kids, collecting leaves that were big, small and all different colours. We also collected handfuls of acorns. We saw Claire's teacher, and our babysitter and we also walked through the forest. In the sunshine. It was glorious. Did I tell you that we saw six fighter planes fly over our heads today?! I will take that as a good sign.

Today, the powder room on the main floor was taken apart and the holes all patched. We picked up a mirror, a towel holder, toilet paper holder and a new light fixture. We couldn't find nice 'jewels' for the sink, so we will keep looking! And tonight after the holes are dry, the sanding and perhaps even a coat of paint. Also tonight, when the kids go to bed. Cliff will install the new appliances when there are less little peeps all around. Yay!

Perfect day in the park...

We took the kids back to the park yesterday afternoon. We had a sunny day and the time change threw our world for a loop, so we decided a trip outside in the fresh air should do it! And, yes it did. They slept well last night. Thankfully they slept in a bit, and our routine is getting back on track. Caroline awoke at 4:30 am, and Catie at 5:00 am but we were able to get them back to bed until about 6:30 am.

Here is Catie, she is wearing no socks, and moon boots and she had a blast!

Here is Caroline, wearing boots a few sizes too large, and decided wearing socks was way more fun. So, off the boots went and off went Caroline running through the park with pink socks!

Here are our five kids on the teeter-totter at the park. Soon, there will be a partner for Caroline! She had help from Daddy, and the other kids too!

Here is Cameron, he decided to wear shorts and slip on shoes and him and Daddy had a very fun leaf fight! They were running all over the place!

Here is Miss Claire, all decked out in pink and brown! She had a blast at the park!

Here is Carly on the teeter-totter! She loved playing on there with her brother Cameron, but he kept bumping her. So, Claire and Carly partnered up.

Pappa and his little grandkids

Too many?

Larger families are near and dear to my heart. And with saying that, I would have to say that I could not go "there" myself to go and have 5 more kids or even 1 more.

With my 5 kids that are 7 and under (7,6, 4,2, and 10 months) I spread myself thin on most days, as does my hubby. But, I would not change my experiences for the world. I know I have become a less selfish and loving person to all of my family. I think my priorities were off when I was a DINK with my hubby. Having this family (Circus) has changed me forever.

The thought of having another often is in my mind. My husband definately is at his limit. He doesn't want any more. The thing that stops me is when I get back to reality and think of my OTHER 5 kids and wonder what the implications would be to increase our family to 6 kids (or maybe 7 if we had twins). And how that baby (as MUCH as they/we would love her or him) would make THEIR lives a lot harder. That would mean a new van, and by that I would mean an 11 or 15 passenger van, a WAY larger home, and just meaning our kids would have WAY less. And having them adjust to more family changes.

The kids ask us when we are having another and we just tell them that we are not having any more. I just LOVE the fact that our kids would be so OPEN to having a 6th. Even if they all had to share a room or whatever. That makes my heart sing.

IF we had a 6th baby it would be for my selfish reasons more than anything else. I just love new babies and I love to see all of my kids together and loving each other (well maybe more like beating each other up lol) Today for example I walked my 2 eldest kids to school. (and then I had my double stroller with the 2 littlest kids in there) And my other daughter came a long too. So, all 5 kids lol. I pick up 2 other school age kids and take them to their classrooms to help out their Mom who just had a baby (a premie) I find it difficult to keep my eyes on the 7 kids...and 2 are strapped into the double stroller. I manage but could not GO there full time.

My hat goes off to families that can go that distance like the Duggars with their 16 and 1 on the way. I just know my limitations and I am pleasantly happy with my 5.

And, I am tired of being stared at, and having people drop their jaws in front of us and count outloud while pointing at all of the kids. Rude don't you think. I have also had people ask me "Don't you know what causes that?" etc. My family, my choice. Our family is well taken care of, and we do not require assistance.

We just have made a choice to do the best for our family. I have decided that lifestyles are expensive and not having kids. We do just fine! I am just happy that our kids have each other, and I *hope* that they will remain close.

The Number 5

I think about the number of kids we have a lot. The number 5, our Fab 5. Our 5 kids. That is a lot of kids! I always look at a group of 5, and think...I have that many kids! Sometimes I say to Cliff, why did we have SO many kids? But seriously, who could we give back? Not a one. We love them ALL to much lol.

If you look at TV shows there are many successful TV shows that have 5 kids in it! I can name 3 right now, and I like all of the shows!

For 1, there was Party of Five and that was one of my ALL time favourite shows (well besides 91210 and Melrose Place that is) and then there is still 7th Heaven (well they started out with 5 kids and ended up with 7) and I still LOVE to watch that show every Sunday night. Then, my new favourite, and a favourite of the kids...Hi-5! Such an upbeat group of kids!! Much like my own...I told the kids that they could have their own band too!

I don't know what it is about the number 5.

I guess in decorating, odd numbers look best in groupings. Usually you would group items in 3,5,7 and 9's for greatest impact. So, I guess now in photographs (if I can get all 5 kids in there) the are looking all grouped together nicely! And when all 7 of us get in a photo (which hasn't happened since Caroline's Baptism) we must be grouped together quite nicely!

I couldn't see us any other way!