Kirsten's Birthday

Poor Kirsten had a rather strange Birthday! She was at her Mom's on the actual day and then when she came to us the day after (Monday) Adam had to go to Charlotte over night for work. If it had been Jaden there would have been all kinds of moaning about not getting his presents, but she just accepted it.

She baked her Birthday cake and decorated it (with Adison being a big girl and sitting at the counter for the first time to help) and then she got to open a couple of her presents.

Then when Adam came back on Tuesday she got to open the rest.

The kids get to choose if they want to go somewhere expensive with a couple of friends or have a big party here with lots of people for their Birthday, because it usually works out about the same cost. This year Kirsten wanted to go skating with 3 of her friends.

I feel so bad because I don't have a single photo of her skating!! There are two reasons. The most exciting being that Jaden had an epiphany and decided that he loved skating!! This is amazing because the few times we have been before, he's pouted and refused to skate and said he hates it! This time he skated nearly the whole time, falling over numerous times but getting back up and skating some more. (Kirsten is in the background of his shot)
We were even more amazed when he said that it was the best time he's had in ages and begged for his own pair of skates. We spent the whole time praising him and encouraging and Kirsten just had fun skating on her new skates from Julie and Kenli. It honestly brought a lump to my throat and choked me up seeing Jaden, who is not the most coordinated of kids trying so hard.

The second reason why Kirsten was just left to have fun was it was Nicolas' first time skating. He has kid skates which are a great introduction but I think he's ready for real skates when Jaden gets his.

Adison was ready for her nap and screamed and cried for a good part of the party, but we still had fun and Kirsten enjoyed herself which was the most important part.I love Adam so much and most of the time I'm just used to how hot I think he is, but I can honestly say that when he's skating or riding a motorbike my heart honestly does beat faster and my stomach turns over!! I can skate in a straight line but I can't stop and I'm terrified of falling over, but he can skate backwards, spin around and do all likes of things which just amaze me. I fall in love all over again with Adam when he's on skates, so I had a GREAT time at Kirsten's birthday!! He was also so cute and patient with Nicolas, which helped too!

Playdate at our House

The great thing about having time is I can host events for my MOMS group. We had a lovely morning and the kids were all so cute playing together.
Adison wore her Next dress for the first time as it was raining and relatively cold, so denim seemed appropriate.

Adison was adorable with Katrina and just wanted to snuggle.

Daddy's Concert!

The kids have only ever heard Adam play the drums in the shed, they've never seen him actually play in a band because it always starts too late. His band had a gig at a wing place that Sky manages, and it started at 7pm, so we went for dinner and then listened to him play.

The kids were so excited and it's the first time all have us have been out to eat for months, so it was very special. It seems that over the last year or so we have done nothing as a family. We used to do so much with the kids and we suddenly just stopped. Part of it is money, but you can do lots of things for free, but after going out last night and then going skating for Kirsten's birthday, I now know why......having a one year old and a two year old!!!

Adison was great last night until about 7:30pm. She adores Adam and couldn't understand why she couldn't crawl over and see him on the drums. She also knows exactly what she wants, but can't ask for it, so she screeches! Nicolas was good, but he wants to run around everywhere, which is not a good thing in a small restaurant. So all in all it was a fun evening, but very tiring!

I know that in a couple of years we will get back to doing all the things we used to do, but it's just very hard at the moment.

I'm glad we did so much with Jaden and Kirsten when they were little because I don't feel too bad that we don't go out lots now. Having such a big age gap makes things hard because when I'm trying to do homework with them, Nicolas and Adison just want to play and so my attention is split, but we are getting back into the routine. The longer Jaden and Kirsten are living with us, the more helpful they get. I'm almost at the stage where I can ask them to look after Nicolas or Adison and they will actually do it and not get distracted and forget they are supposed to be watching them!!

Adam had fun playing and we had fun watching him.

And then they gave the kids cupcakes with was the perfect end to a great night!

A Fun Relaxed Week

Apart from a couple of open houses at Jaden and Kirsten's school and a playdate here, we have done nothing this week and it's been wonderful! Nicolas and Jaden have continued to improve their tower building skills and it amazes me the time they will spend building. Nicolas will build towers by himself for about 15-20 minutes which gives me just a bit of time with Adison or to get something done.

I feel that I'm on the edge of Nicolas and Adison playing together and not needing me. There have been times in the last couple of weeks where they will play together for 5-10 minutes while I do something else and it gives me a glimpse of what life could be like in a few months where someone doesn't need something from me virtually every moment of the day!!The other big break through is that Adison can now sit at the counter, as long as there is a stool or a child each side of her in case she loses her balance. She feels like she is grown up so she will eat crayons while the kids draw, eat play doh while the kids model stuff and generally feel like she is participating in whatever they are doing.

I'm finally getting a good nights sleep, which helps a lot! Mom and Dad had a great matress on their bed in Adison's room and we had a cheap bed in our room which made it feel like I'd slept on rocks all night! We swapped the beds and I feel like I sleep much better.

I made a headboard for Adison's room which looks great. I know I always say this, but I really think that her room is finished now. It's my favorite room in the house and now I need to update Jaden's room as his still has a spiderman theme from when we first moved into the house. I've found Star Wars material so I'm going to make him new comforter covers and curtains and suprise him, once I've made everything.

Both Jaden and Kirsten love coming home from school and waking Adison up. She never wakes up in a bad mood, she is always so happy to see everyone. They also love carrying her around like a little baby, which she enjoys too. As she is so long it looks funny as she seems almost as big as them!

As the kids are Woodall's I feel it's important to encourage their love of drumming! I had them banging on saucepan lids. Jaden and Kirsten hated all the noise which made me laugh as they think I'm annoying when I complain about the amount of noise they make!

As you can hear, it was pretty noisey!!

Another Woodally trait is the ability to climb anything! Kirsten has just got an award for climbing all the way up a rope to the roof of the gym at school. She amazes me as I can't and never have been able to climb even 2 feet up a rope! Adison can't walk but she can climb anything, including up the back of the playset so she can go down the slide.

I think this is the funniest picture of our future baseball coach!! There are some things that are cute when you are two, but will cause you to die of embarrassment when you are older. I think this is the shot that will allow me to blackmail Nicolas to do anything when he's older!! He loves the stop watch and he loves to be naked whenever possible, so this shot combines his two favorite things!

The Last Few Days

I never realized just how out of control my life was or how having a disorganized, slightly grubby house and no time to myself was turning me into someone I didn't like. Even when I made time for myself, or on the rare occasion that Nicolas would nap, I felt a huge burden because there was always someone I should have been calling or emailing and there was always something that I needed to organize or help with for someone else. I was getting fatter, shouting more and not being a good wife, mother or friend to the people who were most important to me. A month or so ago Adam and I had an awful couple of weeks. It was so bad that I didn't even remember our wedding anniversary until a couple of friends called and emailed!

It was a horrible time but it forced me to re-evaluate who I wanted to be and what needed to be my priorities in life. As a result I handed the running of Babies & Beyond, the ministry I started at church, to my friend Jennifer. I was sad but I know she will do an amazing job. I also gave up everything that I was responsible for and turned down several things people had asked me to run or be involved in.

I won't lie, the first week was hard because I felt that I was letting people down. Having been raised by parents with abundent talents who help other people where ever possible (even if it means exhausting themselves), it was hard to see a need and not get involved. I felt I was being very selfish, but now a month or so on I'm finally getting back to being me. My house still needs a really good clean (fingerprints on all the paintwork and doggy paw prints in various places), but it is almost back to being how I want it. I never realized how much I hated opening a closet with stuff shoved in or trying to find something that wasn't where it should have been. Now I'm back to being efficient because everything is where it should be and cleaning up takes 1/2 the time.

The biggest change has been that I have no burden of guilt for all the things I should be doing! I get up, cook the kids waffles, pancakes or whatever they want before school (because I don't have to rush off somewhere), walk at the park (to shift the 20lbs I need to lose before James and Sarah's wedding) and then let the kids play at the park as long as they want (again because we don't have to be anywhere). Each day I tidy a bit more knowing that is will all get done eventually. I'm happy and I haven't shouted at the kids for a couple of weeks and of course they are behaving better too.


When I see pictures like this of Adam with all his babies (Nicolas is missing but Leo is there), it makes me realize that I've done the right thing. I know everyone told be to stop doing so much before, but I wasn't ready, I still thought I could do everything. I could, but family suffered as a result and I had no time for me. It was a sad day when I realized that as a Mom if I have a bad day, then everyone has a bad day!

Now everyday is a good day and there is no pressure on us, so everyone is happier. There have been alot of stresses on Adam and me recently, but we can get through anything and the few weeks of really bad times just brought us closer together and made me appreciate him even more.
My days are spent watching and appreciating my babies growing up and trying my hardest to be the best role model I can be for Jaden and Kirsten.

Adison loves the park and I love being able to sit and watch her explore and try to do everything that Nicolas can do.

We set up the sprinkler in the back yard (so the neighbors kids wouldn't see Jaden playing with his little brother and sisters!) and they had lots of fun!

Then on Saturday we went to Bowen's birthday party. Jaden had hit Nicolas under the eye with the Wii controller by accident during a very competitive game of tennis!

When the noise in the car gets too much for Nicolas he does this and pretends he's not here (he sits next to Kirsten which can get a bit loud at times!). Sometimes I wish I could too!
Adison is just happy to be around her brothers and sister!

Sam, Woody and Stephanie at Bowen's party

Erin and Bowen opening presents

Nicolas likes to channel his inner 'Lady Godiva' and ride the new unicorn naked!
Life is fun here and I've not had so much time on my hands since Nicolas was born and slept all the time! The kids keep me busy and we are about to start Fall Soccer for Jaden and Kirsten, but I'm determined to say NO to everything apart from an Easter Egg hunt I signed up to run next year. Adam likes the relaxed me a lot more (he gets better food, a cleaner house and lots more love!) so he's pledged to help me say no too!!

Some Fun in the Yard

The Look of Fear!

Nicolas was so sweet pushing Adison but she is old enough to realize when something could be a bit dangerous!!

Riding the Baby Walker

The Overly Snuggly Dragon!

Adison the Ladybug!

Dress up Time

I bought some dress up costumes for Nicolas at Cannon's consignment sale. Nothing cost over $4 but I did worry incase he wasn't interested in dressing up. He'd spent a week pretending to be different animals, so I was pretty sure he'd like them.

He looked adorable and loved them all.

Adison will be a ladybug for halloween so I just have to get her a black onsie.

Nicolas can now be a dragon, Pooh, a frog or a bear. He already has a lion costume from last year.

What I didn't expect was for Kirsten to try to wear them all (some are very small and other's fit her just about), and for Jaden to be very upset that nothing fitted him! It's so sad to get old because I'm not allowed to go for lunch with Jaden anymore because the isn't cool in 5th grade and he nearly had a fit when I tried to give him a Dora the Explorer yoghurt for lunch! I keep telling him it's OK to still have hugs and play at being young while he's at home, but I try very hard not to embarass him when we are out or at school.

The bear costume I got Kirsten looks so funny because it has a big padded belly and bottom and it looks strange to see Kirsten with a gut!

Adison looks just as cute in the dog costume as Nicolas did.

When the kids are all playing sweetly together having four kids is the best thing in the world.