First five before seven

There was a sudden silence in the house after the first five of my seven children got on the bus this morning shortly before 7 am. I'll be thinking of them throughout the day, hoping all is well. Avery and Bryson both woke up in tears claiming to have not slept all night! I told them that was normal first-day-of-school jitters. After breakfast and showers, they seemed fine.
Avery

Bryson

Ashton and I found this skirt for Kassie yesterday at Kohl's while school shopping. (On clearance for $8.00) She loved it, and had to wear it on the first day!

Brady refused to take a lunch today, saying he didn't know anyone in his lunch period. Last year he didn't eat lunch for two weeks before becoming comfortable with the new school year. I couldn't even convince him to take a protein bar.

Here's Ashton sporting one of her "new" outfits from a yard sale! I actually found seven shirts to match this one pair of shorts, and she loved all of them! Her "new" Billa Bong back pack was a bargain too for only .50 cents! The Converse sneakers were something she just had to have when she saw them at Kohl's. They were on sale for $30. Not a bargain in my book, and she didn't need them, so she had to help pay for them.

Here they are, my first five before seven.

Waiting for the bus.

Couldn't help but take this embarrassing picture!! Aren't pictures of your children getting on the bus only for the elementary grades? LOL! I'm sure I'll hear about this when they get home this afternoon. It didn't help that this was also garbage day, so that's in the picture too!

Time to get Kenzie up and ready for her bus coming around 8:15 am. Look for pictures of her later!

Bryson's turn

Back in October of 2008 Avery was inducted into The Littlestown Thunderbolt Society for displaying good character. This month it was Bryson's turn to receive that honor! It is suppose to be five fifth graders and four fourth graders that are chosen each month, but looks like there was an extra one this time! Bryson was nervous to have his name called and to walk up in front of everyone. Kaden and I were there for the big day. Afterward we got hugs and kisses from Bryson and a few pictures to help remember the day.

Bryson with Mr. Mitzel, the school principal.

After this picture Mr. Mitzel said, "Now you have a double set! Congratulations!"

Congratulations to you Bryson! We're so proud of you!

Bryson's desserts

Bryson enjoys going into the kitchen and creating "Bryson's desserts"! His latest master piece was the best so far!
He usually starts with a handful of miniature marshmallows melted to perfection in the microwave. On this day he added crushed chocolate cereal straws, caramel sauce and a Maraschino cherry on top!

Reviews from the critics (His six siblings) proved this latest marshmallow concoction to be a keeper!

Boys will be boys

I almost forgot I had these pictures and wanted to blog about them. Two weekends ago we were with Dale at the Arcadia Fire Company as The Carroll County Ramblers put on an indoor Bluegrass show. After the show, as we were taking down the sound system and loading it into the trailer, three of my sons were outside being boys -- running crazy, wrestling, jumping on each other, etc.

At one point Brady said to me, "Hey Mom, watch this! This is how a hillbilly wipes his butt!"

He then jumped a bush, giving himself a nice clean wipe! LOL! That's my boy!

Six down, one more to go!

We're almost done with all these October projects, and I can't wait! Bryson's pumpkin decorating project is a jack-o-lantern that dressed up as a ghost for Halloween. Nana and Pappy brought us more pumpkins today. I might get brave and bake a pumpkin pie with fresh pumpkin! I have only ever used canned pumpkin. I'll have to wait for some day this week when I'm feeling ambitious!

Two down, five to go!

I know it doesn't look like much, but it took more time than you think! Bryson insisted that his Washington Monument be made out of sugar cubes. (Wal-Mart, $1.08 a box.) In order for the monument to get slightly smaller as it went up, we had to shave some of the sugar cubes. This morning I drove the younger children to school so the monuments didn't have to go on the bus. When we got to Avery and Bryson's classroom, I was pleased to see other monuments more plain and simple than our own. I'm just glad they're done and out of the house! Next we'll be working on finding costumes to match the character of a book and preparing oral reports for Avery, Bryson and Kenzie. We did the written reports this weekend. Avery and Bryson also have two pumpkins waiting to be decorated. Ashton also wants to decorate a pumpkin for school, but hers is optional. I'll be glad when this month is over!

The latest cure for chapped lips

For the last couple of days, Bryson has had sore, chapped lips. Yesterday he had a dental appointment along with Avery and Brady. Bryson was the last to be waited on. When he was finished, he came hurriedly out into the waiting room and announced, "I have gasoline on my lips!"

I could not control my laughter!

It was nice of the hygienist to give Bryson VASELINE for his lips at the end of his appointment!

Sludge

When the well drillers finished the job and left, there was one thing they didn't take with them -- the sludge. We now have a yard full of this yucky, muddy, clay-like substance that I call sludge. After two days of non-stop rain, the sludge is especially inviting to my children. They started by playing sludge ball, until someone got hurt, which is usually the case. Bryson then decided to form a sculpture from sludge. Needless to say, tonight I have extra laundry and everyone needed a bath. Good thing we have the water for both!

Now that we have water...

We stopped by Wal-Mart today and bought a sprinkler! The kids have always wanted one, but we never had the water supply to be able to use one. Now that we have the water, we had to have a sprinkler! Brady and Ashton also made their own water slide!

"The Streak"

"They call him the Streak! Looka dat, looka dat! Fastest thing on two feet!"After removing his swim trunks, Bryson decided he needed his cup from out by the campfire. His suit was too hard to put back on because of it being wet, so he decided to just use it as cover and make a run for it!

Sticky, sticky bubble gum

For years I didn't let my children chew gum. I got tired of cleaning it up off the carpet, the couch, their beds, etc. They're older now, more mature, more responsible. Well, maybe so, but not all of them when it comes to chewing gum! Yesterday Bryson blew bubble after bubble never trying to avoid them popping on his face. He ended up with bubble gum stuck on his nose, both cheeks, chin and upper neck. His attempts to get it off led to sores and a chapped face. This is how he looked while attending Dawn-Renea's wedding reception last night and church this morning. He was asked to be reverence child for Sacrament meeting at church, but decided maybe that wasn't the best idea considering how he looked. Apparently during Primary, (when all of the children meet together), Bryson was asked to give the closing prayer. In his prayer he asked that he would be blessed with being able to get the bubble gum off his face. Sister Hodson thought the mess on his face was face paint! When she heard it was bubble gum she came to me with the solution: Cooking oil!

Thanks, Abby, it worked! Now he just has to deal with the sores that are left behind!

Our "new" playhouse

Yesterday my friend Cynthia gave us their playhouse! I've been wanting one of these for Kaden, but couldn't justify the money to buy one. I didn't have to pay for the house, just part of the materials for the foundation.

First the children put down the black weed block.

Next came the sand.

Daddy shows us his technique for leveling the sand.

Brady, Avery and Bryson work together to lay the pavers. (The pavers were free too, they came with the house!)

One, two, three, LIFT!


Everyone had to have their turn sticking their head out the chimney. Kassie is attending Youth Conference at Wilson College this weekend, or I'm sure she would have had her head out the chimney too!

Morning nap

Wednesdays are my day to volunteer with the summer reading program at the school. Avery and Bryson are both in the summer reading program. Brady, Ashton and Kenzie are at Summer Rec while the reading program is going on. When Avery and Bryson are done with their reading, they join up with the children at Summer Rec. On Wednesdays Kassie stays home and watches Kaden. Today when I got home from volunteering, I walked in through the family room door and saw what Kassie and Kaden were doing while I was gone!

Kid's Kingdom

After spending some time at the park, we went to Ollie's in search of a few good bargains. I wasn't disappointed! Twenty four ounce bottles of pancake syrup were .89 cents, and I was completely out! Ohhhh... Cheez-It crackers, one pound box for only 1.69! I usually find cheap cereal each time I go to Ollie's, today was no exception -- the kid's favorites for only 1.29 a box! My favorite bargain of the day? Toffee peanuts for only .99 cents! ( I had just bought the Giant Food store brand ON SALE for 1.79!)

Bryson

Avery helping Kaden get the mulch out of his sandal.

Avery

Avery
Avery

Bryson helps Kenzie reach the "slider".