Welcome home

 Everyone was excited to welcome Charles home.  He is one well loved little guy.  Grant braving bottle feeding,  I think most everyone has forgotten what it was like to feed the twins, especially Lilly who like to spit up everywhere after every feeding. Thankfully Charlie doesn't seem to be a spit-upy baby.

 Katelyn is so sweet with Charlie.  She is growing up way too fast.

 Lilly and Peter LOVE Charles, They would like to hold him all the time, They would like to be in charge of Charles, Thankfully he is pretty mellow and doesn't seem to mind the extra loving.

 Lilly is the Most excited for a new baby,  Everyday there is a constant chorus of I-hold-him, I-hold-him. every morning she had to check on him and make sure he is ok.  she also feels it's her duty to give him a binky if ever she finds one laying around. of course she has to try the bink first herself before giving it to him, and she gets very upset when I insist that we wash it after it's been in her mouth.. I know mean mamma.

 Peter also loves Charles but he doesn't have to hold him ALL the time.  his favorite thing to do it point out his eye, ears, mouth and other features.

Dallin is such a wonderful big brother, he loves holding Charles, but he is also really good at distracting Lilly and Peter so that other people can have a turn holding him.  He insists that his name is Charles and not Charlie, because he says "the kids will think Charlie is a funny name when he goes to school" Dallin makes me smile.

Ready for Discharge

This was the first time we've only had to stay in the hospital for one night. it felt a little strange but nice to be packing and getting ready to go so soon.  I don't hate being in the hospital but it's not very restful with everyone who has to poke and prod and check my vitals.

Charles did not enjoy being dressed, but unfortunately for him, being the 6th, we totally ignore these types of protests.

All bucked up and ready to roll.

usually our babies look so tiny in their car seat, we were surprised at how big he looked.

Charles Bennett Smith

 Born September 9th weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces and measuring 19 and a half inches long.  our biggest baby by far!  We are so excited to welcome him into our family.

My labor with Charles was by far my worse, mostly because my epidural only worked in my left leg, causing it to be completely numb even 12 hours after delivery, the rest of my body, completely not numb... at all.  but thankfully after 5 hours of labor Charlie made his grand entrance and we have a sweet beautiful baby to love. 

Cameron giving Charlie his first bottle, I was so shaky after giving birth that I was worried I would drop him.  I love watching Cameron take care of our kids, he is such a wonderful dad.

Little Visitors

 The kids were super excited to come meet their new little brother, I think they were a little excited to see me too, but let's be honest, I think they were most excited for...

 The view out the window... and what a view it was, hospital parking lots and all.

But Grandma was most excited to meet Charles, because she know what's most important.

 Katelyn was also excited to meet Charles,  She is such a wonderful big sister.

 Peter was most excited to share my food... but only the good food...

Ready or Not...

It's kind of a weird feeling knowing that today is my last day being pregnant, and that tomorrow we will welcome a new little one into our family. On one hand I am so ready.  Ready to not be big and awkward. Ready to wear my regular clothes... although it's been great to borrow maternity clothes from my friend Vanessa, who happens to be very stylish and trendy.  Ready to be able to bend over and pick things up off the floor.   but on the other hand I don't feel at all ready.  How am I going to take care of 6 kids?  Lilly and Peter are in a super cute and yet super hard stage where they are aware of their wants and needs but have a frustrating time communicating them to us.  The older kids are busy starting soccer, dance and of course school, plus I would like to start them on piano but I feel like I don't have enough time in the day for all I need to do as a mom.  I absolutely love being a mom, and wouldn't trade it for anything. We have been so blessed to be able to have a big family and I LOVE it. so ready or not we are so excited to welcome this, yet-to-be-named little boy into our life.

The start of another soccer season.

 Dallin and Grant start a new soccer season today. Katelyn opted to do dance instead, which works out great because her dance teacher teaches out of her home and she lives just around the corner from us.

 Some of the kids in his church class call him "Smiley Grant" and you can see why. Everyday is like Christmas.  I LOVE how excited he gets.

 Dallin is also excited about soccer but just shows it differently... plus, he doesn't enjoy taking pictures like some of us do.

Summer

This summer has gone fast. School starts in one week. Before school let out,  I had high hopes of being completely organized, taking the time to teach my children basic household chores, piano and having set school time everyday were we would do science experiences and cool projects.

Most of that didn't happen.  but you know what? we've had a pretty great summer anyway.

We spent a lot of time with friends, whither it was at our house, their house, the pool, splash pads, water park or Chick-Fl-A, Everyday we hung out with lots and lots of friends. 

 We spent more time then I would have liked doing this, the youngest two kids discovered a love for Dumbo and Mickey Mouse. and would be completely happy watching them all day everyday If I let them.

We started the summer with a bang.... well with what I thought would be a bang...  I went to the store and got all these fun things to do for the summer and had everything set up so when the kids came home off the bus they would be so exited!!!  Unfortunately they didn't seem to notice and fought over who got the ninja turtle coloring book... I vowed never to do that again, but chances are I will do it again this next year, but there will be no ninja turtles. period.

I made a fun sign that we kept up all summer, the kids actually really did love that.

I'm in charge of play group and so to keep things simple we rotated through the different splash pads around town. there are 4 of them and we had a blast each week visiting different one.  Splash pads are great because everyone gets wet but we don't have to stress about drowning.

Plus if you have an empty cup it's even better!

For Father's day the kids and I made this awesome tie.  When I say the kids and I what I mean it they got to choose what would be on the tie and then help paint the face color then i finished the details while they were sleeping.  Cameron loved it!!!

We ventured into the world of bunny.  L and P especially LOVE the bunny and ask to see him every morning.  He lasted through the entire summer until the first day of school when he decided to escape from his hutch and got attacked by the neighbor's cat... we were all heart broken when we lost Nibbles. He was fun while he lasted.  good thing the cat was pretty cute and playful.

We got an unexpected amount of rain this summer,  considering Texas summers are usually very Dry and Very Very Hot.  its wasn't too bad.  The kids had a lot of fun playing in the rain.

Cameron and I got to go to Canada for Mason's wedding,  It was great!  we flew my mom in to stay with the kids while we enjoyed the amazing Canadian scenery.

We ended the summer with my friends throwing a non-baby shower celebrating baby #6.  I love living here, there are so many great and amazing people!!!  

overall we had a fantastic summer and can't wait for next year!

Killer Bunnies

I come from a family who likes games, In fact it is guaranteed that when we get together as a family there will be a marathon of game playing that lasts hours!  So it's no surprise that my kids like to play games and they have just discover the joys of Killer Bunnies.  It's actually a pretty complicated and witty game that has a lot of random rules but the kids love it and usually aren't frustrated by it's complication.  

K likes to have fun and comes in and out of the game as she chooses.

D takes it very seriously,  he is out to win.  He definitely gets the most into it.

G loves to use his weapons.  He attacks at every possible moment, but he is good at alternating his target.  He still needs help so we play on the same team unless I need to go and keep  L and P out of trouble.

Let the Celebrations begin!!!

 Cameron's birthday marks the start of a long stream of birthdays in our family.  This year we tried really hard to make things special for him.  I wanted to plan a big party but he likes things simple and wanted to just have a family celebration.  As is tradition at our house, we put up balloons and a birthday banner, then waited for Daddy to get out of the shower...  Notice some of us wait better then others... Peter and Lilly really wanted those balloons and Katelyn and Dallin are scribbling away to finish their cards for Daddy.

 The kids all made birthday cards and we made him a coupon book with exciting promises like back tickles and helping to make dinner or play with the babies.

 Finally Daddy came out and it was time to celebrate!!!   we got to eat Special cereal... they only get sugary cereal like lucky charms, or peanut butter crunch on special days, Sunday being one of those days.

 Unfortunately he still had to go into work that day, but he came home early and I had made arrangements to go on a date,  It was a great day!!!

First Day of School

I can't believe how fast the summer has gone or how fast the kids are growing!!!  D is starting 2nd Grade, G Kindergarten and K 3rd Grade.  It's crazy I totally remember being their age.
This is the first year that my kids weren't super duper excited about starting school... I guess we had too much fun this summer...

 Actually this little guy was excited enough for all three of them.  He has been waiting a long time to be at the same school as 2 of his all time favorite people.  He was thrilled to drive in the Jaffers van and to ride the bus home.  Doesn't he look handsome?

She is getting so grown up, I love her so much!  She wouldn't let me fix her hair this morning, she wanted to do it herself, which I realize that most girls her age do their own hair but it made me kind of sad. 

Dallin is probably the least excited for school.  he loved every minute of summer and was sad to see it end... plus I think he was sad to say goodbye to the Xbox,  we have a very strict rule of no electronics on school days.  Good bye Xbox, we will see you on Saturdays until next summer!

 Lilly was so sad to see the kids go.

Peter didn't seem to mind everyone leaving, as long as he was able to run around outside to his little heart's content.

I usually like to drive the kids to school on the first day, I love walking them into their new classrooms and saying one last goodbye but trying to navigate my way into 3 classrooms with 2 toddler in tote was  bit over whelming. so we said goodbye at the corner where my friends Robyn and Greg Jaffers picks them up for school everyday.
Peter