A New Nephew Is Born

Gage Lloyd P.
9lbs 15oz
22in
March 25th, 2009
12:37pm

My SIL Cori had her baby. You know, the SIL that was first told she was having a baby girl. Well, she was later told her baby was in fact, a boy. So, she had her 4th baby boy this last week.

The kids and I went down to visit with baby Gage on Friday. It was heaven holding a new soul. He was just so cute and precious.

I was with my MIL Cristi (we had gone shopping - yahooooo!) when we got to go to the hospital to take home Cori and Gage. He was just so cute in his little car seat. For a baby that was born *big*, he seemed so tiny to me. He did fill out the car seat though!

Welcome to the world, baby Gage! I'm sure your three older brothers are thrilled to be adding to their brothaaaaa's posse! Congrats, Cori and Trent!

Faux Hawk

I was cleaning out the couches with the vacuum and decided to zap Reese's head while I was at it! The results were quite entertaining!

Naked Dino Play

Caden has three toy loves at the moment. Cars, balls, and Dinosaurs.

Another love is to be naked. We're lucky to keep his underwear on. In this case, it was just a shirt.

I was rounding up all the kids around the house to get them ready for bed when I found Caden playing with his dino's al natural.

Gavin helping Caden in on the larger dino attacks.

And a 4 second video, just b.c he's so cute.

Spring Break - Barn, Zoo, DSP

OK, I need to finish all my posts I have in waiting. I have so many things going on I just don't have time to sit down and spend time doing my blog. Priorities have changed a bit. So, without further ado, here are the pictures from our trip down to the Barn during Spring Break.

We went to the Caldwell Zoo thinking it would be deserted as Spring Break for them was the previous week. No such luck. Apparently the surrounding smaller cities had Spring Break with us and it was PACKED. I took the kids down and Gavin brought his little bff Hunter. The picture above is of the boys in front of a few alligators in the background.

I met up with my SIL Cori and her kids (and those that she sits for) and a friend from Utah that just moved to Tyler!! Beckitt and her daughter Olivia are so much fun and it was good to see them and finally meet little Olivia! Between us we had 9 kids running around! Good times, good times!

After the zoo we headed to the Barn for an overnighter. Yes, I took 4 kids by myself (Christopher stayed home b.c he had conferences at work he couldn't miss) and boy did they wear me OUT! Carter (cousin) even stayed over night with us! Below are some picture in no particular order...in fact, they are out of order. I'm not up to figuring it all out though.

Caden lovin' the big wheel rides all around the property.

What's that you got there, Caden?

Niiiiiiiice. No such luck in me asking you not to scare your sister with that, right?

Hunter enjoying the big wheel.

Gavin spending some time on the porch swing.

Video of Gavin spinning on the porch swing and then him trying to walk afterwards!

Hunter with Reese and Caden getting a little pinball action.

Game time must have gotten a little messy up in the corral.

Caden taking a little breather after feeding the ducks and throwing just about anything he could into the lake.

Caden moving along Fred Flintstone style on the barn tricycle.

Caden doing what he does best, annoying his siblings. Here he is driving over Gavin's dirt fort.

I needed to channel Caden's spit fire energy, so we played golf...Caden style. Which is hitting the ball as hard as you can, whenever you want. You can also pick up the ball and place it where you like. He scores under par all the time!

Gavin's pine cone flag to his dirt fort.

Gavin's dirt fort with fortress.

Hunter was head of the security at the Barn. After all, he had the Jack Bauer overnight bag!

Reese and Caden getting their own dirt towns together. Have I ever mentioned when you go to the Barn you always come home ***DIRTY***?!?!?

That's OK though, Caden gives the Barn "two thumbs up". In fact, he asks daily if we can go to the Barn.

We had a huge slumber party in the front room. All the boys slept on a mattress on the floor (pic above is Caden), I took the large couch and Reese slept on one of the large sofa chairs. Or maybe it was the ottoman...that's where she woke up.

The next morning we were off to the Discovery Science Place. Caden hadn't taken a nap at all the day before and was the last one to sleep the previous night (midnight maybe) and the last to be woken up, so he was pretty cantankerous from the get go that morning.

My little aliens at the DSP. Hunter, Carter and Reese.

Gavin.

Reese as a purple snake. She's even sticking out her tongue.

Gavin made a snowman from magnetic nuts and bolts.

Closer look at the snowman.

And lastly, here is a picture of Caden and Carter exploring the energy ball. Afterwards we met up with Cori and Granna and went to the park for pizza and playing. Uncle Tyler even came to chow. The kids really enjoyed themselves and can't wait for our next break.

I know I'll probably eat my words later this summer, but having all my kids with me everyday, all day was really fun. I can't wait for summer break and all the fun things we'll get to do with each other. Maybe it's b.c the kids are getting older and playing together better...but, they truly make me love being their mother. I'm thankful Christopher works hard and makes it a priority for me to stay home with them. I mean, it is H*A*R*D work and I've got to take a daily "happy pill" to survive, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Remind me of this post later this summer when I'm at my wits end...OK?

Children's Museum - Dallas

Spring Break was this past week and the kids sure ran me into the ground with exhaustion. Monday we hit up the World Aquarium in Dallas. It's always a pain to go anywhere local during spring break b.c of crowd control! Everyone is out! It was no different this time around and as a result, I didn't even bother taking pictures at the Aquarium. I'll have to go again next week with Reese and Caden b.c it really is a neat place.

On Tuesday we went to a favorite of ours, the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas. It was packed, of course but we still had fun. Outside the building there was a local milk company doing an exhibit. We got free chocolate milk, yogurt and milk shakes! Awesome!

We sat outside on the steps and have a dairy appetizer before venturing inside where we met up with our friends, the Cooks.

Reese and Caden enjoyed a little John Deer tricycle riding in the Little Urban Farm exhibit.

Gavin took pictures of lots of little creatures in the Children's Museum's Backyard exhibit.

Reese got an early start at impersonating the Easter Bunny!

Caden loved the spiders. Here's a tarantula.

Kaleb and Gavin's successful keystone tower...seconds before they destroyed it.

Caden worked hard in making sure the hot air balloon got lots of red hot air for take off.

And it worked! It flew to the top of the ceiling. He was pretty excited about that.

Lots of sand box fun too. Sand is probably the favorite exhibit in just about any place we go that has it! Caden, Reese and Madison.

Oh, but the Water Room exhibit is also right up their with the favorites. Reese and Madison.

Caden found a friend and had a little duck fight. I thought it was hilarious...apparently the girls mother did not.

Gavin and Kaleb spent a lot of time building things with blocks and large tinker toys...only for the thrill of immediately destroying them!

Gavin told me these were his tank wheels. I like this picture b.c I'm not sure what Caden planned on doing with his toy, but I'm afraid Gavin's head might have been part of that plan!

We had a lot of fun at the museum. We always do. Crowds or not. They played most of the time and we didn't explore most of the exhibits, but hey, that's what membership's are for, right? Come back whenever you please! Like, not when it's Spring Break.

More Spring Break coverage to come.