East School

We went for a walk in the sunshine to East school.

Mom jeans

Kennedy (sweet voice): "I like your mom jeans"

Me: "I hate you."

Kennedy: "Would it have been nicer if I had said - Are those mom jeans?"

Me: "No"

Enjoying the Bumbo

This little guy lives him lamb from Grandpa Crook, he also is living sitting up in his Bumbo!

Boy or Girl

Brendan is desperate to get into my makeup every morning. This morning however Kitty helped him. I went ahead and finished the job using purple eyeshadow. He was pretty excited. Later I asked him, "are you a boy or a girl?". He put his hand behind his head to pose, batted his lashes, and giggled out the word "girl". Oh boy!

Playing Apples to Apples

Having game night per Jonathan's request. Love that the kids are old enough to play games with, don't love how their personalities turn to loud insane people. Like they're so excited to be playing a game they turn annoyingly hyper.

Are you done yet?

We have seven kids. I get it. That seems like a lot if children. It's really not. Really. I used to think that it was a lot of children. When we had 1, 2, 3, or even 4. But now living it every day it doesn't seem like a lot of kids. I'm sure that it is and I'm just so used to it that it doesn't phase me anymore. Only sometimes when I have them all in the grocery store or when I'm knee deep in laundry or when they all bring home school pictures that we're supposed to buy! Okay, I'm lying to myself - seven children. That's a lot of kids. But it works. They're happy. We're happy. I know what you're going to say because I've heard it a million times before.

"Are you done yet?" I don't know, are you? Abraham's wife Sarah was like what... 90? So I guess I've got a good 60 years of baby making left in me. 

Or wait. Maybe you were going to ask my favorite question. "You know how that happens right?" Yes. We know that having sex causes pregnancy. We enjoy being married to each other and the fruit that comes from our love. Our bodies were created perfectly to embrace each other and be fully open to one another. Fully open. Not just my body, my heart and my soul too. The way I see it if we use a form of birth control to stop pregnancy from happening I am breaking part of that bond that my husband and I share. I am not fully open to my husband, to God, to life. Not just new life forming, but also my life. I will never allow my life to take a turn that I am not ready for. God see's the big picture, let's leave the big decisions up to him and see where they take us.

Could be that you were going to say this -"As long as you can afford it." But what you really mean is "as long as I'm not paying for it". Because really, saying "as long as you can afford it" almost feels like you are prying into our finances to prove to me that I can't afford it. We'll, you got me. No. We can't afford it. Who could this day in age? But, I suspect that you knew that when you asked. I am sensing that you may not be the giving type. Or maybe you were taught that poor people are lazy, and you never wondered if maybe they are poor because they value different things than you. If by afford you mean can we feed, clothe, and shelter them? Then, yes. Barely. Our kids are happy though. Do we have cable? No. Do our kids have brand name clothes? No. Are we going to buy our children a car when they turn 16? No. Are we going to pay for their college? No. Are we going to have kids that hopefully grow up knowing the value of a dollar, or that drive safely because they paid for the car? Kids that work hard in college because they work hard to pay for it? Kids that are compassionate to the poor, who may only have $10 to buy groceries but give it away to the man standing on the street corner with a sign?  Children that grow up wanting to share what they have, share what they earn? Will they be charitable? Kids who value life and welcome it no matter the cost? Lord I hope so! 

I NEVER thought that I wanted so many children, but thank GOD that I followed my heart and listened to the Holy Spirit. If we had stopped having children after 2 (which we had discussed) then we would never have met 5 amazing kids. God took this decision away from us to give us peace and  trust in Him. The more I let go of trying to control my life the happier and more at peace I am. So are we done yet? I don't know. Ask God. Oh, while you've got Him on the line could you tell Him Ashley Crook says thank you?

All Before Noon

Well, let's see...

I couldn't get Kitty buckled in the seat so I struggled with that for a good five minutes.

Brendan rolled down the window in grandpa's truck. I couldn't figure out how to get it back up. I wish I had known I was going to have to do this BEFORE I had taken Christian out of his carseat. Poor kid was getting hit with wind left and right. It was freezin out!

The next part went great. The kids were so good while Jennifer and I walked 4 miles. Christian kept pushing his head back, but that's about it.

Now this is when the shit hit the fan. The train at the mall went by. Oh man. He saw THE TRAIN! He turned around and CHASED it! He actually grabbed the back of it, luckily it had just stopped he preceded to climb aboard. I stopped him of course because it's $3 a ride. He was pissed. The next 30-40 minutes I tried to just keep him from attacking people with his anger. He grunted and fought off and on until we left. It was so glamorous and fun pushing a stroller with one hand while a toddler was thashing around trying to get out and I'm trying to hold a blanket on the baby.

Also, Kitty was no help. She took a balloon and bitch slapped 2 kids with it. Sigh....one time out and she was fine. Oh, she also screamed "WAKE UP" in Christians face about 5 times on the way home. 

Bonus- I couldn't buckle Kitty's seatbelt. 

We got Wendy's because I didn't feel like making lunch after our outing. I emotionally scarfed down a chicken go wrap and a chili before remembering it's Friday during lent. Yay me. 

Little man was so loving at home and passes right out. 

Oh to be a toddler.

Brothers

Sisters

Boys don't like princesses

"Kitty is calling these princesses! And they're not. They're Jesus' helpers." - Anderson

"They're princesses. You're a princess." -  Kitty

Sonny is just hanging out.

Brendan and the potty

I came home today to find Brendan bottomless. Tom said that apparently he was potty training himself. He just missed the potty and left some poo next to it. Later after Tom had left the house Brendan undressed himself again climbed on the counter to grab a drink and a fountain sprouted across the kitchen. Oh dear.... This will be a fun potty training experience.

Christians weigh in

Christian is 3 months old and he went in the the pediatrician for a weight check today. Last month he weighed 11lbs 4oz, today he weighed 11lbs 8oz. Apparently that's not enough of a gain, so they are recommending I supplement with formula  :( I talked them into giving me a prescription to boost my breastmilk. We will recheck in 2 weeks. I'm so bummed because I was really hoping the breastfeeding would go better this time. I don't feel like it's gone well since Sonny. Let's hope the Reglan prescription works magic.

3 kids 3 and under

It's 10:46 and I'm not doing anything. I should be letting the kids play or something. But I gave up and turned the TV on. I quit for the moment. I realized just now that having 7 kids, that is not he hard part. Having 3 kids 3 and under. That's hard! I love it, but not everyday. This morning it was cute when Brendan took my pump and tried pumping. It was cute when I was in the shower and the curtain opens and a little naked toddler jumps in with me. It was not so cute when my rings disappeared, or when one of them shoved the toilet paper roll down the toilet, or when I stepped in pee. 

Also, why aren't kids born enjoying tidy spaces. There are toys everywhere. Time to get up and get things in order.

I suck a keeping track of anything

So, here I am. Trying to keep track of moments in time. I really stink at this. I am going back to this blog because j think this might be the easiest way to do it. I am sick to death of Facebook and really don't feel like letting people in on my life anymore. I don't know why, I just feel like it's more special when it's just a mine. Weird I know. Okay....here we go