The Start of Something Great!

Mackenzi is a HUGE fan of "Special Agent Oso" a Playhouse Disney Channel Series. She loves it and watches it every morning after breakfast. She has really followed him by separating tasks into "steps". She'll tell you how to do something in a step by step process. If Oso does it, she wants to do it. This ranges from tossing a salad, washing her hands, cleaning her room (rarely), making a kite, and going to the library. I decided this week that we were going to venture out to the library for the first time. I knew with 3 toddlers in tow, we would probably be breaking EVERY rule in the library, but thought we'd give it a try anyways. We invited Dana and Kelsea to go too! First we got our library card. Then we looked for our books. Kenzi picked a princess book (go figure) and a book titled The Best Kid in the World.Kelsea chose a book about a train.And of COURSE, the boys chose blues clues books!

Everyone had a great time. I'm pretty sure we broke many rules, but there were definitely other toddlers there breaking rules too! So, it was okay! Kenzi can't wait to go back and we definitely will!

Flashback Friday

For a gift when the boys were born, my parents and Dana's family gave us a package for a photo shoot. We were so excited. The photos turned out great. We had to get it done in two different sittings because the boys were SO fussy for the first one. So in some pics the boys are 6 weeks old and in some (the first couple, where they're chunkier) they are 8 weeks. Kenzi was 20 months old! Where have my little babies gone?

**photos courtesy of Kimber from G and M Images (previously Bellies-n-bundles)**

You've GOT to be Kidding me!!!

Do you ever have a moment in your busy day that you look around and think, "You've GOT to be kidding me?!?" . I'm sure you do. So, play along in my blog carnival. It'll be fun...come on!

***Sometimes it's hard to come up with a 'moment' weekly, right?

So, I've decided (after this one) to change

my carnival to the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.***

<a href="http://www.fiveroginas.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="A Little Bit of Crazy…A Whole Lot of Love" src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/lacirogina/RUKiddingMe.png" /></a>

I had to take Mackenzi into the pediatrician's office yesterday for her 3 year old well baby check up. She isn't a baby anymore, do they call it well-child check up now? HUM? Anyways, so off we went. As we were waiting in the waiting room, Mackenzi was playing with the (probably dirty) toys when she decided to strike up a conversation with me. Our little conversation went as follows...

Mackenzi: "Mommy, is Dr. Saad gonna look at Bobos too...or just me?"

Me: "Nope, just you today. He's going to look in your ears, nose, mouth...feel your tummy, listen to your heart..."

Mackenzi: "But, I don't need a shot, right?"

Me: "well, I don't know hunny. We'll have to wait and see"

Mackenzi: "No! I DON'T need a shot...I havta go poo poo."

Me: "Okay, here it's right here"

We walk the 3 steps to the potty,

Mackenzi: "I don't havta go!"

a few seconds later...

Mackenzi: "But mommy, I'm not getting a shot right?"

Me: "I don't know hunny, we'll see"

Mackenzi: "Uhhh...I have to go poo poo".

Me: *laughing* "okay, come here"

Mackenzi: "I don't have to go anymore..."

Poor girl was getting a crap-attack just thinking about shots. I was hoping that she didn't need one, but figured she did. So we went into the room, Dr. Saad came in and did his business. I just love that Dr. He genuinely loves children and enjoys talking to them. So he finishes and gives me the stats....

36 lbs (a little above average, but she's always been a chunk)

38 inches (50th percentile)

Great vocabulary

So cute (he really did say that)

Then he looks through her shot record and says "uh oh sweetheart, we need one shot today." She gets a nervous look on her face, I reassure her. We decide to give her the flu shot as well. He leaves, we wait for the nurses or "the girls" as Mackenzi calls them. She doesn't really like "the girls" because she knows they are the ones who gives the shots! They finally come in and she tells me that she's going to do one in each leg. So we lay her down, I'm at her head trying to get her mind off of the shot and talking about the princess stickers "the girls" gave her. The nurse says, "Okay, count to three, ready....1, 2...." at this time she's giving her the shot. Mackenzi starts SCREAMING. Faster than we could respond, she reaches down to her leg and PULLS OUT THE NEEDLE. Half of it went into her leg, half is squirted all over her leg, the needle scratched her thigh and immediately bruised her. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME? The nurse is apologizing to me, I'm apologizing to her....She gives the other shot without Mackenzi even knowing because she's still so upset about the first shot! It took my little drama queen just over an hour to stop screaming and crying over her shot. Poor girl! Note to self: RESTRAIN your child's arms when they are getting a shot! By bath time last night, she was a happy camper though!!

The scratch and little bruise

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Just like Old Times!

Crystal and I have a pretty cool friendship. We may not talk daily or weekly. Heck, sometimes we even skip a few months...but when we get to see each other, we don't even skip a beat. BOOM! We're back to the friendship we had in high school...so close!! It's pretty amazing. She is such a caring person. She's funny and witty...a blast to be around. She's a fabulous mommy too!!! It's been a little over a year since I've seen Crystal. Last summer, she flew out to visit us and meet my boys for the first time. She stayed for a week and It was great. She was pregnant with Camden and had the cutest little baby bump. Yesterday Mackenzi and I drove down to San Diego to visit Crystal (who was here on vacation). Let me tell ya, she doesn't have a baby bump anymore. She is one toned mama...with a cute little 10 month old! We got to meet Camden for the first time!! He's such a doll! He's a good boy that is super happy!! We only got to hang out for a couple of hours. We had lunch then went to the beautiful Balboa Park to walk around a bit. It was SUPER hot, so we're nice and sweaty in this pic, but we had to snap one anyways. It's not everyday we get to hang out! I love hanging out with Crystal. It's a bummer that they're so far away. Hopefully, we wont have to wait a year to see her again. I think we're due to go visit The Bentley's in Colorado!!

Crystal: I'm so glad I got to see you!! Your little man is adorable! I think he has a thing for older women...xoxo

Wordless Wednesday

TEAMWORK!

I've mentioned before that I loved the BabyWise Series for raising our children, especially through their first year. Although we don't follow it word for word, I think the basic principles are fantastic. You may remember when Mackenzi was about 2 years old and she was freshening up on the strategies to work on with infant twins. Well, it looks like the boys are now taking matters into their own hands and working on some strategies as well.
Hopefully they paid extra attention to the chapters on listening (especially when Mommy redirects 10,000 times and they still go for the "no-no" item), not throwing food, not getting into Mommy's jewelry box or computer table! I doubt it though!! At least all 5 of us are all on the same page with our rules/strategies/consequences. What's gonna work??? TEAMWORK!

Too COOL for School!

Last March, my friend DeNay told me that it was enrollment time at a local preschool. If I wanted Mackenzi to get in for the 2009-2010 school year, I'd have to go at 5:00 AM and wait in line till 8AM to sign her up. Apparently ALL crazy, I mean good moms do this. Well, I didn't. Instead, I waited a month and then called the preschool and put her on the waiting list. That was 4 or 5 months ago. Matt and I thought we would just wait and see what happens. Yes, she's ready for preschool. I cant let her do the activities she so desperately wants to do with the boys around. We resort to doing those fun things (painting, play dough, crafts) after she wakes from her nap IF they're still sleeping. She loves playing with friends and has been dying to go to school. Since we hadn't heard anything from the preschool all summer, I thought it would just have to wait until next year when she was 4. I was a little bummed, but okay with that too.

Friday afternoon, I got a call that there was a spot for her in the best teacher's class (so I've heard). I was immediately SO excited, which followed by a pit in my stomach. Is my baby girl ready for preschool?!? To which I keep telling myself a big fat yes! She is ready, it's only 2 days a week for 2.5 hours each day. She'll love it! She's so excited! It actually starts NEXT TUESDAY, September 1st! Man, I can't believe I will be dropping my little girl off at school! I have so many emotions right now. I'm happy, excited, anxious, uneasy, worried, and a bit nervous....which I'm sure is very normal feelings for a 1st time preschool mom! She's very social and smart and she doesn't have too much separation anxiety towards me (if it's something fun). So I know she'll do wonderfully on the first day of school...she can't wait!!!

Here's the NEWEST Preschooler!! Stay tuned for 1st day of school pics next week!!!

Flashback Friday

March 2008--Mackenzi was 21 months and Jace (left) and Quinn (right) were one month old

You've Got to be Kidding Me!!

Do you ever have a moment in your busy day that you look around and think, "You've GOT to be kidding me?!?" . I'm sure you do. So, play along in my blog carnival. It'll be fun...come on!

<a href="http://www.fiveroginas.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="A Little Bit of Crazy…A Whole Lot of Love" src="http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr302/lacirogina/RUKiddingMe.png" /></a>

For this weeks moment, I thought I'd re-post something that happened when the boys were 4 months old. Some of you may have read it before, but it's pretty darn funny. Come on, read it again!!

___________________________________

ORIGINAL POST: June 2008
Yep, that's right! I deserve the "World's Best Mom Award"!!! It's really not something to be proud of! Let me tell you a little story about my adventure tonight! A little background first!
Fact #1:My dog is a swiper! She swipes anything that resembles food or smells yummy!Fact #2: My boys fall asleep on their own. Quinn, however, has a bit of a hard time sometimes and needs to cry for about 3-5 minutes before drifting off to sleep. I am a "cry it out and see" kind of mother...and it works for us!!Fact #3: I am a multi-tasker...and sometimes, it bites me in the booty!!Fact #4: Mackenzi LOVES to play outside! Anytime, anywhere...she's happy outside!
On with the story...On Monday nights, Matt plays soccer with some friends, he had a game tonight...so off he went. Kenzi and I finished dinner and she took a bath. While she was taking a bath, I was emptying bathroom trash cans and diaper pails (our trash comes tomorrow). I put the trash bags in the kitchen. Kenzi's done with her bath, dressed, and Dora is on the t.v. Quinn's turn. Quinn takes a bath (I obviously don't multi-task when the boys are getting baths...I'm not an idiot!). I get him dressed in his p.j.s and lay him down in the crib. Yep, it's one of those cry it out type nights. I go out to get Jace. Ohhh, man! He's asleep under his Einstein gym. Oh well...I'll get him in a bit. I empty the kitchen trash....I have to get these bags out, or else Swiper the dog (aka...Hurley) will EAT EVERYTHING IN IT!!! So I pick up all three trash bags and open the slider door. Mackenzi hears the slider open and says, "I need shoes, I'll get my shoes." I tell her, "No, we're not going outside...you already had your bath". I shut the slider and quickly go to throw out the trash. As I walk down the side of the house I can hear Quinn SCREAMING! Sometimes his fussy cries make him gassy and he gets burps stuck! Great, I need to burp him...So I quickly walk back to go inside. Mackenzi is standing at the door (with her shoes on) and a big smile on her face! I try to open the door...and it wont open! SHE LOCKED ME OUT! Panic comes over me...."Sweetie", I say with a calm voice, "Push the button down so mommy can open the door!" She smiles and tries, but it wont budge. I tell her to keep trying, I try to stay calm. Millions of things are running through my mind. HOW IN THE HECK AM I GOING TO GET IN MY HOUSE??? THE WINDOWS ARE LOCKED! WE DON'T HAVE A HIDE-A-KEY! NOBODY HAS A SPARE KEY!! MY PHONE IS INSIDE! I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BREAK A WINDOW!! QUINN IS SCREAMING....HOLY FREAKIN CRAP!!! I go to the closest window, take off the screen and try my hardest to open it!!!! Guess what...I obviously forgot to lock that one...because it easily slid open!! WHEW!!! I climb through the window and come inside! I then had a serious talk with her about not touching the buttons on the door... that's mommy's job only!!! WOW!! Did I luck out or what?!? So yes, I deserve the BEST MOMMY AWARD! So much for multi-tasking, it bit me in the booty tonight!!!!!

SERIOUSLY, You've GOT to be kidding me!!!!

Join in on the fun. Simply write a post about your "moment" and sign MckLinky!!

3 Strikes, You're Out!

UH OH MOM!!! TROUBLE!!!

Seriously Mommy, how many times

are they going to do this before you learn!?!

The Cereal Bandits strike again!!

They wait until mom's busy in another room and ransack the pantry.

They act like I never feed them, geesh!

You're probably thinking to yourself...
If there were a burglar running wild in your neighborhood & has broken into other houses a few times you'd lock your windows and doors, right? I know I would.
SO, why haven't you baby proofed the pantry when the cereal bandits have broken in to it three times already?
Good question! That's now at the top of my to-do list!!!

Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3...YOU'RE OUTTA HERE!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Quinn

The Proof is in the Panties!

I live a great life. I have a wonderful hubby, three adorable children, a house, a dog, amazing family. I get to stay at home with my lovies. You know, I don't have much to complain about.
Well, there is one aspect that I want to complain about. It's a good thing I bought Mackenzi about 15 pairs of new panties last week, because we've been going through a lot of panties. You may remember that she's completely potty trained with pee ...but not with, well...you know, the opposite of pee. It's gotten pretty bad. She has been having some constipation problems and now she doesn't want to go because she's afraid it's going to hurt (although she won't admit this). She sits on the potty every 10 seconds and can't go, leaving proof in her panties that indeed she really has to go. Let me tell you what my days are like...

Mackenzi: Mommy, I have to go poo poo (urgency in her voice, goose bumps, flexed legs)
Me: Hurry, let's go
Mackenzi: ohhh...it went away

Me...check and change panties
two seconds later...

Mackenzi: Mommy, I have to go poo poo again!
Me: Hurry, hurry.
Mackenzi: (sitting on the potty, whining) I DON'T have to go!!!! I'm DONE!
five seconds later...repeat....repeat....repeat

Seriously, this girl has PROBLEMS! I've talked to the pediatrician, I've given her Mira-Lax. I've changed her diet. I've bribed, begged and pleaded. She can go, when she will. The Mira-Lax has made that possible for her...but this girl wont push! Luckily, she has gone a few times in the past two days...but there's gotta be more in there because she's still feeling the need. I'm sick and tired of this...I'm sure she is too. That's gotta be terrible!!!
So, I'm wondering if any of you have had issues like this with your children? Any suggestions for my little girl??

Goopy Goop

While we were camping last weekend Quinn came down with a slight cough. It was only at night and I chalked it up to sleeping outside in the tent. The nights got chilly and being at the beach, there was lots of moisture in the air. Well, the cough is still hanging around. It's really only when he's sleeping (naps and night time). Last night at dinner, he was fussy. Really, really fussy! He wouldn't eat anything. After trying and trying I decided to just wipe his face up and let him get down. When I touched his head, I noticed he had a fever. It was 101.5. MAN! I swear, if someone has the littlest something, Quinn is going to catch it!!! So I gave him some Tylenol and got him ready for bed. A few hours later, it was still about the same, so I gave him Motrin. Luckily, the fever stayed away until about 4:30 this morning. It's pretty low grade, but none the less, it's there. On top of it, he woke up with goopy eyes this morning. They don't look red like pinkeye, just goopy! I don't know what's going on with that little body of his, but I hope he kicks it soon! Just like every other mom out there, I hate when my kids are sick. Paranoia starts to kick in and I'm really not normally a paranoid person.

Quinn doesn't mind getting his temperature taken,

but he'd much rather do it himself.

Jace wanted in on our photo shoot!

You can see in this picture, Quinn has sad eyes!

Six Cuties, Smores, and Smiles

We joined our friends, The Wares & The Cornetts on a camping trip to Newport Dunes. We were very excited to go, but I was apprehensive at the same time. It was the boys' first camping trip and I was afraid that the kids weren't going to sleep very well. Boy was I wrong. They all did great! Quinn was up a few times the first night, but not for long. We shared a spot/motor home with Dusty and Emily and their kids. We ended up pitching a tent next to the motor home and Matt and I and the kids slept there. It was awesome. The tent was big enough for a blow up mattress, a spot for Mackenzi, two playpens, all of our bags and it had room to spare. Mackenzi loved the whole camping experience. We were even able to put all 6 kids down for a nap at the same time and the adults were able to play cards for about and hour and a half...now that's talented parenting!! HA!

Time to go!

All Smiles on Saturday morning (even though the kids went to bed really late and still woke up at 6:00AM)
Lincoln & Gavin

Our morning stroll around the dunes

Playing at Pirate Park

Love these boys!

Go Gavin, Go!

Peek-a-boo Jace

Daddy and Kenzi on the whale

Mommy & Jace swinging

Mackenzi loved climbing the trees (which were perfect for climbing!)

Everett enjoyed playing in the water

Quintuplets? Nope, just 5 blond boys!

Silly Quinn

Everett is such a happy boy!

Daddy & Kenz

Laid back Jace

Saturday night we put all 5 babies to bed and had a bonfire. Mackenzi got to stay up to have smores...she was DYING to have a taste of this delicious treat!! The weather was PERFECT! We even had to bundle up a bit and put the kids in warm jammies!

She was scared of the fire at first.

Smore Time!

Chris and Nicole came for the afternoon/evening. It was great hanging out with them!

Dusty, making his smores just right! Ahh, perfection!

Good Morning Quinn!!!

Quinn's goofy grin is contagious!

Stud Muffin Lincoln

Our weekend was seriously 100% stress free and 100% FUN! Which is surprising with 5 boys ages 11 months to 18 months and one three year old! We had such a great time. I can't wait to go back!!! Dusty, Em, Jeremy, Melissa....THANKS for a great weekend filled with wonderful memories!!!