Baldies

I posted three separate posts today--so don't forget to check out the other two!

Life takes some interesting turns.  About a month ago, Jay's mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  Anita is so optimistic!  She's been able to laugh through this whole thing.  She began chemotherapy and decided she'd rather shave all her hair off rather than watch it fall out.  She invited the whole family over for a "Head-Shaving" party.  Avery and I were out together during that time, so I had absolutely no control over events as they unfolded (not that I would've had much control if I had been there).  Anyway, Jay's dad and all five of his brothers shaved their heads.  Jay had truly intended not to do so.  He said to me, "I would only do it if my mom asked me to--if it was important to her."  Well, apparently, Anita left it up to him, but his stinkin' brothers didn't.  They pinned him down and shaved him.  Needless to say, I was a little shocked.  Not only that, but Colby was bald, too!  Well, it doesn't look too bad and hair grows back, right?  This photo was taken right after they got home.  Colby looks like a little "white trash" kid with his overalls and no shirt--I guess he got hair all over his shirt.  Lick-a-ding-ding-ding...
Anyway, in retrospect, I'm glad Jay could do it (he is, too), in support of his mom.  Now I just have to endure all of the whining about how "cold" it is, now that there's no hair keeping the heat in.  Sleep in a snow cap, honey, sleep in a snow cap...

Avery Turns Nine!

For her birthday this year, Avery decided she might want to get her ears pierced. I thought this was great, seeing as she spent the last two years trying to look the least "girly" as possible.  Jay wasn't too keen on the idea.  But, using my wifely powers of persuasion, I managed to convince him to allow it. 
Avery was pretty nervous. But, I kept telling her that shots are a lot worse and that she'll love it afterwards. Besides, she'll never have to do it again! Here is the "before" picture. She managed a smile, at least.


...And the "after" shot.  She was pretty relieved!  And she said to me, "Mom, now I feel stupid.  I worried about nothing!"  Yep.  That's the way it usually goes.  Avery picked out the August birthstone because it is her favorite shade of light green.  What a pretty little lady!

Avery chose to take me out on a date for her birthday.  We had a fabulous time together!  Jay watched the other kids (even Jayne--thank heavens for bottles), so it was truly just Avery and me.  After she got her ears pierced, Avery just wanted to walk around the mall and look (she's more "girly" than she thinks).  I had a sales clerk at Build-a-Bear take this photo of us.











Avery asked for another American Girl doll for her birthday.  Man, those gals are expensive!  They sure are neat, though.  Here is a photo of Avery and Julie, the 1970's doll.  I told Avery she is spoiled rotten and she just grinned and said, "I know!"

"Thumb" Times

I can't believe Jayne is three-months-old already!  She gets more fun everyday.  She loves having her diaper changed.  I think it's mostly because she is a social creature and we "talk" while I change her.  She discovered laughter last week, much to the delight of the other kids.  She continues to cat-nap during the day, but sleeps very well at night.  I don't get much done during the day--I guess you can't have it all!







Jayne has also discovered her yummy thumb.  This is a new one for me, since none of the other four kids succumbed to this particular vice.  Vice, it may be but it sure is cute!
Jay is not happy about it at all (he just sees it as huge orthodontist bills later on--what a forward-thinking guy).  One time, I caught him pulling her thumb out of her mouth and pinning her sleeve to the floor so she wouldn't
put it back in.  Not the most effective method.  Anyway, it's adorable.  We'll see how long it lasts.

All dressed for church and enjoying some "thumb" time!

Halloween 2009

Halloween this year was a lot of fun.  The kids always look forward to picking out costumes and getting loads of candy.  This year, some friends of ours invited us over for a Halloween party and insisted that Jay and I come "in costume" also.  Hey, I'm a party girl and in the past, I think I would have jumped right on that.  But, frankly, I'm tired.  Coming up with cheap costumes for five kids is a little taxing.  By the time they are all dressed and "Halloween-afied", I'm burned out!  So, I quickly threw on a pig nose and wrapped a scarf around my face (has anyone seen the movie, "Penelope?") and that was it.  Jay met us at the party and came dressed as, you guessed it, a blood-sucking attorney.  Wow.  You can imagine invitations to more parties are just pouring in.  Anyway, the kids looked cute, as you can see.

Avery was not a leprechaun.  She was actually an alien.  I had a hard time finding an outfit for Jayne, but the one she ended up with had little black ears on the hood so she was a cat.  When I went to draw on her nose and whiskers with the crayon, she tried to nurse on it because I was touching her cheek.  The kids thought this was hilarious!

Maia's costume might be hard to guess.  I'll give you a clue--"Somebody's been eating my porridge!"  Yep.  Goldilocks.  We borrowed the wig from Grandma Anita and Maia was really excited to wear it, but as soon as I managed to get it on her head, she said, "It's bugging me!' and it came right off.  I should have forseen this.  Anyway, I ended up just braiding her hair and drawing freckles on her face and she carried a bear with a diaper on it for good measure.

Carter came up with his costume idea all on his own.  He wanted to be a pizza man.  Very original and easy to do!  What an innovative guy.  The mustache was great for pictures, but not practical for, say, eating anything, including candy.  I ended up drawing a curly mustache on him instead.

Colby was originally going to be a knight, but when he heard Carter was going to have a mustache, he wanted one too.  I said, "How about you be a working man then?"  He was ecstatic.   He got to have all his tools, his hard hat, and his yellow boots and a "sweet-dog" mustache.
Colby absolutely loves Halloween.  He never seems to tire going from house to house (I'm sure the promise of a treat at each house keeps him motivated).  We went trick-or-treating with some friends this year.  The men took the kids out and the women stayed in (with the babies and all).  They were only gone about 45 minutes when a few of them came back to use the bathroom.  I think Jay was hoping to drop Colby off.  Colby came inside, immediately took off his boots, dumped his candy on the floor, grabbed a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup, quickly unwrapped it, and shoved the entire thing in his mouth before I could even ask him if he had fun.  Then, before he had finished the PB cup, he was on to a lime Tootsie Roll, which he stuffed in as well.  I made him stop before he could add a Snickers to the mix.  Mind you, this was all in the space of about three minutes.  Anyone seen "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?"  Colby is a veritable Augustus Gloop.  Sheesh.  When he realized the trick-or-treaters were heading back out again, he exclaimed, "I wanna come, too!" and he ran for his boots.  He remembered in the nick of time to pile his candy back in his bucket and take it with him.  Ever since, he's jealously guarded his treasure trove.  He separates it into piles, loads it into his dump trucks, and I'm sure he pops some in his mouth on occasion (sneaky little devil).

One of the best parts about Halloween (at least for my kids) is the "Post-Trick-or-Treating Trading."  They come home, dump it all out, and start the bartering.  "I'll trade you this for that," they say.  I usually stay out of it.  But, then I caught Carter trying to trade Colby a thing of Smarties and a Tootsie Roll for a large-size Baby Ruth bar and I had to intervene.  By the time the Trading Post had closed for the year, Carter had somehow ended up with almost all chocolate (the good stuff).  I laughingly said, "Funny.  In two weeks, I'm gonna combine all of your candy anyway."  I can't stand having separate bags laying around the house for months on end. 
Anyway, Halloween was great and now we're off and running at full-speed toward our big birthday season!

Cruisin' on Cloud 9

Ahhh...Colby. Always enjoying life to its fullest. You'll notice the above photo of the scantily-clad warrior/princess...guy. Colby informed me he was going to wear this get-up for Halloween. Huh. Over my dead body, or something like that. He loves to dress up and isn't above wearing a pink princess dress now and then. Or running around in his unders with fake earrings and a sword. Why is this posting format so funky??? I swear Blogger and I don't get along especially well....

Anyway, these other photos were taken at Colby's preschool trip to The Farm (no, seriously--it's called The Farm). He had a blast, as he does wherever he goes. You can see his expression in the photo of him on the hay wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch. Pure excitement. It does me a lot of good to see him so intoxicated by life! The Farm has this really cool sandbox-type thing, only it's not filled with sand--it's filled to the brim with dry corn kernels. It is the weirdest sensation to walk in there (I went in, too--I sat there to nurse Jayne and ended up with corn down the back of my drawers). Colby LOVED it!

Wouldn't it be great if we could all live life like Colby does--forever cruisin' on Cloud 9?

Dancin' Fool

Jayne had her first dance party this past weekend. Lucky for her, her dance partner was Uncle Ryan. He's certain to add spice to any occasion!

Jayne's Blessing

Jayne was blessed this past Sunday. My parents came into town and Jay's mom and dad and all of Jay's siblings (excepting Rachel--she lives in Tennessee) attended the blessing. My brother and his wife came, too. Traditionally, babies are blessed in white, but we have our own tradition. Jayne wore a little pink outfit (as did Avery and Maia) that I wore as a baby. I think it used to be a dress with bloomers, but I might have put it in the dryer and now it is a shirt and bloomers. Oh, well! She looked adorable anyway. She did wear a white bow (my sister Jenny made it for her) and white socks.

After church, we had the family over for lunch and good company. Jayne enjoyed some time with her relatives. Here she is with her Grandpa Ray.