Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Isaac really wanted to go to the park and finally convinced me late enough that Eli was on his way home from school. So I had the 3 boys and this mom with a daughter said to me, “Your boys are so cute. Are you overwhelmed with 3? I have 2 boys and this girl and man 3 kids is a lot.” I was sort of chuckling and deciding what to say so I said, “Yes it’s overwhelming. The younger ones are kicking my behind. And there are 5 girls not pictured.” We kind of had a laugh about it. I’m sure she left thinking I was crazy and let’s be clear, I am a little.

Mike, Hope and Eli are in a musical review right now and it is super fun. (Closing show tonight) Here is a picture of Mike being a pirate but the highlight of the show is Mike singing One Day More from Les Mis. I might post a video later if you’re lucky. Hope sings amazingly as well but they want me to wait until its over before I post the videos. (I’ll try not to forget Julianne!)

This is what happens when you try to work from home and you don’t lock your door.

Hogle Zoo had a free admission day and we had a blast!

Then we headed up to IF for the long weekend. We had a fun time with Mike's parents. We were discussing and making the plans for the day when the little kids came upstairs in socks (which you have to wear there) and said, "When are we going to Leo's?" (A fun place with games and a play-land.) So we did that and we walked around the river.

The only 2 people that I know that still blog (Julianne and Mel) have inspired me because I love reading their family updates. So here goes... 2014 was a crazy busy year. I gave birth to my 8th child in January half way through my oldest child's senior year of High School. I cannot believe I survived that busy time.
 
 These two have more talent in their pinkies than I have in my entire body. This picture was taken after Grace sang in her high school "idol" contest. She was clearly the best singer (IMHO) but you can't beat a kid with a guitar (even if he can't sing). ;)
 
 We loved having Faith home for Christmas (Oh how I miss her) and we got to go to the Piano Guys concert which was awesome!
 
 This girl is always singing, dressing up, or playing house. She mothers the little boys and is a huge help.
 
This kid is hilarious. He has the vocabulary of an adult and he's got a TON of energy. Watch out if you ever come and sit on my couch. He would probably jump on you.

Oh my heart. This little baby just had his first birthday. He is the sweetest, snuggliest little thing. My only child that has ever and will still fall asleep in my arms.


This guy is just the greatest big brother and has soared through school and life with ease this year despite his mother focusing pretty much on the olders and the youngers.

And THIS is why I'm so tired. (In addition to the curfew monitoring, baby waking, little ones early rising, etc.)
Dance answerings and askings happening at all hours. Orange you glad?

Mike and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary by camping with our dear friends, the Bones and the newly married Reinsches. We had a grand time. It was very windy the second night and Mike had to dash out of the tent to save our fly from blowing away but what a great adventure.
We ate very well. Including Mike's famous dutch oven cooking (with Uncle John's tips) and Susan's delights. The smores and roasted starbursts were also a hit.
We camped by a lake that the kids had fun swimming in. They decided to play in the mud and luckily we were at a place that had nice showers.


We have a large tent. It is nice and roomy with two sections that close off. The portable crib fits perfectly in one so Glory has a private chamber. We put everybody's stuff in the other so the whole middle could be one big bed which we all slept on. This sounded like such a good idea until one of the kids was too scared to sleep by the door, another kept moving closer and closer to mom, and another kept yanking blankets and pillows away from yet another. There is no where I would rather be then enjoying my family on a camping trip but next year I'm bringing my own tent.

When you left on your mission, I had the intention of updating often so you could see what's been happening. What can I say except that I am lazy and the rest of the time, busy.

When I saw Faith and Grace leave for school this morning, all dolled up for school pictures, I realized just how fast they are all growing up. Faith called Aunt Val and asked her to come and do her hair because mom's aren't cool and because Aunt Val is VERY cool. Faith left looking too beautiful and wearing make-up with STRICT instructions from her mother not to talk to any boys today and if she has to look at one, she has to pick her nose while talking to him. Seriously scary how beautiful she is.

Grace is embracing 7th grade with her typical attitudes and style. She hates being a "sevie" because she loves being in the know. She has a couple of 9th graders in her Spanish class and yesterday she told me that she was tired of this girl always ragging on the sevies telling them that they are stupid. So she told the 9th grade girl that "ninth graders are obnoxious" which made the girl mad. I'm hoping she can keep her comments to herself so she doesn't get a swirlie from a 9th grader.

Hope is loving her new school. She LOVES sleeping in an extra half hour and riding the bus. She really has the most beautiful singing voice. It was really impressive the day that she got up in sacrament meeting and sang the primary song "Faith" by herself. She counted the number of times someone paid her a complement and loved the attention of it all. She still thought it was funny the hundredth time someone said, "Now Faith has to sing a song called Hope."

Eli continues his quest for a dog. His latest argument is that he needs a brother or a dog. I've tried a few times for the brother so it looks like the dog is in his future. I said he could get one when he's 10 but it sure is coming faster than I thought it would. He loves all things Mario and he loves school. Especially his friends. He is doing well in his spanish program and he is really becoming a great little reader. He absolutely LOVES Glory and makes it his life mission to take care of her every want and need.


Glory just delights us all. Everyone tries to be her favorite. She finally reached 19 lbs but she still has to have her car seat backwards. She wants to feed herself and she loves baths and walks in the stroller. The doctor thinks she has a case of "older siblingitis" because she says NO words. She should be saying 5 by now. (Mama Dada etc.) So we are meeting with a speech therapist who assures us that it's just a matter of time but since the early childhood intervention program is there and free through the school district (thanks to our taxes) we may as well use the services. I'm not really worried about it but she is about 6 months behind in her speech development. This is very common in a house where everything is spoken for you by your older siblings.


I miss you guys. I know you are enjoying your time and I know you are doing the right thing by serving our Heavenly Father.
Love Tami

Hi. It's Grace here. My mom doesn't put cool stuff on her blog anymore so I decided to get on here and show you this cool cake I made for Eli's birthday. He wanted a Mario cake and my mom didn't even help me. I'm awesome, aren't I? Call me if you want me to decorate a cake for you.

I'm so big.

I can pull myself up on my piano and it's so fun!!!
I'm just so proud of myself.
Watch out World!!!