Reyen is 11 months old!

This month Reyen has done a lot of things. I think the biggest thing was at 11 1/2 months she started walking. When I came home for Elsie's ortho appointment she was walking around. For the last little bit she was taking steps. 7 at one time. Mike said since after Reyen's nap she had started walking. She was very determined. Every few steps Reyen would fall but get back up again. She was so happy and kept walking. Watching this little baby amazed me at how loving, forgiving, happy, determined little ones are. Reyen is full of so much love. She endures all her siblings carrying her and puts up with so much. I think with this little one we have been blessed with a peacemaker. She seems to calm all of us down and bring smiles to our faces.

Reyen loves to swing. She often gets in the swing and loves to go high. Dad would have never done that with his first kids. Well, this girl is ever learning. She has also started swinging on the big kid swing with no help. She holds on great and is so happy she is doing it all by herself. She doesn't go very high but for her that's ok.

With the weather suddenly heating up we have made it to a few splash parks. The first time I dressed Reyen up in her swimsuit she had no reservations. I was worried she wouldn't like it but she had not fears. She took off and ran around everywhere. The only time she stopped was when her brothers picked her up or a big boy said hi to her. Reyen froze, tilted her head to the side and stared at the boy. That is her shy look. I want to video it because it's hilarious with all her uncles. Reyen is really shy with strangers that are adults. Don't even think about picking her up or looking at her until she gets comfortable. It only takes five minutes but is oh so cute.

Here we went to the splash park with cousins. The kids loved it and can't wait until they come again.

Reyen still has 2 naps a day. If one is short the next is long. If it's afternoon she gets cranky. She has a nap before we pick Elliot up from kindergarten at 11:00. This particular day she was exhausted and I didn't want to wake her. She definitely has a favorite blanket. It's a soft, heavy blanket. With the weather being warm she often wakes up sweating. I have tried to have her lay on it and cover her with a lighter blanket but she still manages to get that thing on top of her. She looked so peaceful. She did not want to get up.

Reyen loves to go on rides. We bike to get Elliot and she often wants to go for more rides. Here she is wanting to go again.

On the days Reyen has short morning naps we go to the library for storytime. This time they actually had a dance time. Camden laid on my lap watching and Reyen went around with the big kids dancing. She really loved it.

Reyen found bubbles. She didn't know what they were.

Reyen is getting more comfortable on the trampoline and is actually starting to try and bounce. She only likes it with one sibling on with her which makes all her brothers sad. They boys have found it funny to shock her on the tramp when she looks like this. Rylan bursts out laughing. She looks hilarious!

Here's our happy Reyen ready for bed.

Mother's Day

My one request on Mother's Day was to have a picture taken with all my kids. It was quite the ordeal but we did it. Mother's day is not always my favorite day because I notice all my faults. I have tried over the last few years to think more about how lucky and blessed I am to be the mother of these children. Oh, how I love these kids. Each one is so unique and talented. I am learning right along with them. I know motherhood is amazing and wonderful and I would not want anyone else to raise my children. With all the wonderful things of being a mother it is also a very difficult task to learn and truly enjoy. I am learning to take one day at a time and with all the running around remember to hug and kiss these awesome kids. It may be playing peek a boo with Reyen, cuddling with Camden, tickling and smiling at Elliot, reading to Rylan, drawing and listening to Kaden, and talking to Elsie. All those things don't cost me  a dime and I have found that they thrive more on that than anything else I could give them. It is hard, but oh so worth it. Being a little spontaneous helps us have more fun like getting takeout and eating dinner at a water park, deciding to go on a walk by the river and have family night, or deciding right then to go on a bike ride. I like a schedule and love to have my kids follow it. But adding in a little fun makes life more fun. I hope my kids remember how much mom and dad love them because they taught them how to work, play and serve.

Rylan is 8!

May 18th Rylan turned the big age of 8! Can I just say how much I love this dude! He is full of energy and desire. This guy will be getting baptized in July with his cousin so grandma and grandpa O'Dell can be here. 

Rylan chose to go to Cancun cafe for his birthday dinner. We invited grandma and grandpa Wilcox to go with us. He loved all the chips and salsa.

Rylan picked out his own cake and made it with help all by himself. Elsie always gets to so that's what he wanted. He had to frost it himself too. I think he did a great job.

We had family over and a birthday dinner. Rylan chose to have ham for his dinner. He was excited to get a swimsuit and sunglasses. He was needing some for his outside work.

Rylan loved the presents he got and can't wait to go swimming.

This boy is growing up so quickly. He is a very determined boy and works hard. He has been working hard at getting his homework done so he can mow the lawn. Dad is training him well. He knows how to mow the whole lawn by himself. He needs to get a few more muscles because he can't start the mower by himself. Although we haven't told Rylan it's his job, he says it's his and he doesn't want anyone else to do it even when his allergies are acting up. My favorite thing to do with Rylan is read and talk outside, just the two of us. We have great talks and I learn so much from this young man. I wish time would freeze and I could keep him little. He is going to turn into an amazing young man.

Random things

 This little guy didn't want to get clothes on but wanted to be warm. He found the perfect spot. It took me a lot of coaxing to get this boy to get some clothes on. He is my only one that goes around in his underwear.

At the end of March Mike surprised me with a brand new bike. It is really light and rides nice. He also got himself a bike too. This is actually a picture of his bike. Now the whole family can go on bike rides, that is is no tires have flats. We have gone on a few rides and I love it. I love riding it to school to pick Elliot up. It is so much faster than walking.

Mike makes the yummiest food. All the kids love the food he makes. I do too. For some reason everything he makes takes much better than mine.

 We got our first dents in the car in April. I was driving to the school to drop off Kaden's lunch for him when some kids decided to throw rocks at my car. I saw them playing and when I turned the corner 2 objects hit my car. I immediately stopped and confronted the 3 boys. The recess aid had them got to the office and I met them there to talk to the substitute principal. One boy kept saying sorry and the other 2 were crying. One became angry and upset. They were told to apologize. The explanation I got to the question "why where you throwing rocks?" was "I thought I could throw it over your car". When I got home Mike was not happy and returned to the school and told the principal to call the parents. The following week two of the boys came and did some work for me around the yard. I can totally see one of my boys goofing off like that and feel for the parents. While trying not to get upset and think of a good consequence Mike asked me to think what I would want my boys to do if they were in trouble. I immediately thought they should have to work. I am so glad some of the parents let their kids learn and grow from this experience and hope my boys learned a good lesson from them. Rocks hurt!

Reyen is 10 months old

Our little Reyen is growing. At 10 months she weighed in at 18 lbs. She has been eating really good and hasn't been too picky. She is getting a lot of blond hair. She doesn't like to keep her pretty headbands on her head. She loves to play with her siblings and be outside.

Reyen has started standing up without any ones help.

Reyen is at the stage where everything goes in her mouth. Her favorite thing right now are legos. Her brothers don't pick them all up and she finds every single one they miss. She knows they are off limits and that's probably why she goes for them.

Here Reyen found a kleenex and had to try it out.

Reyen is sleeping all night and taking 2 naps a day. She has two teeth on the bottom and has loved figuring out what they do.
Reyen loves her blanket. She has a soft one grandma gave her as a baby and sleeps with it every day. Lately she has been trying to take it with her when she gets out of bed.
Reyen is walking around everything. She is getting really brave and started using her walker.