Little Helper

Peter and Cameron have spent a lot of time together fixing things around here.  Even new bikes have a few kinks to work out and Peter is happy to help.

 Peter loves nothing more then being with his Daddy. He is a daddy's boy through and through. Unlike our other kids, He prefers Cameron over me every single time. When he hears the garage door open he drops whatever he is doing and runs as fast as he can yelling "daddy ome!!" then he jumps into his arms and gives him a huge hug.  He loves his dad!

Halloween!!

 This year for Halloween we decided to go easy.  We have a HUGE dress up bin and they got to pick a costume from there.  we happen to have a girl and boy pirate costumes that would have been perfect but Peter flat out refused to wear a costume... oh well maybe next year.

 Grant was super excited about the spiderwebs on his cheek.

Katelyn really got into the trunk or treat and came home with a huge bag of candy.  Dallin mistook it for the bag of candy we had been handing out and started passing out her candy to the other trunk or treaters until Katelyn protested.

 On Halloween we had a few families from the neighborhood over for a driveway dinner and then went trick or treating together.   I only managed to get a few pictures before i got distracted.

 King Triton, Ursula and 2 little mermaids.

 Cute Little horse with her cowgirl, cowboy mom and dad.

 By the time Halloween finally comes we have dressed up so many times that I kind of give up and this is what we get. a mouse/tiger, mad scientist... I think... ninja turtle and Halloween twins.

we have a princess, Minnie mouse, cow and witch.

Checking out the spoils before it all disappears.

Charlie was such a good baby and slept during most of our Halloween festivities.

Spirit Week

We love Spirit week around here.  

 Crazy hair day is always a hit.

 Then was nerd day. the kids actually had no idea what a nerd was.

 The book wasn't a prop, this girl loves to read

Grant didn't want to have anything to do with being a nerd.

we also had backwards day, crazy socks, and 80's day but I didn't get pictures of those days.  

I think we have officially crossed over into the "large family" status. Sometimes it's hard to believe that all these little people are mine. I am blessed! They are such great kids and have been so helpful... mostly... since Charles has joined our family.   

The Boss

There is no question of who is in charge around here.  Especially when it comes to a certain little brother. She loves holding him, feeding him, taking his food away when she feels he doesn't need anymore, stuffing a binky in his mouth... you get the picture.

Thankfully I don't have 2 two-year-olds trying to mother their little brother.  This little guy is happy to be in charge of binkys and bassinets... it's a hard job, but someone has got to do it.

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!