"How did that car get under my bus?"

Hey there all, I just wanted to tell you a funny story about Courtni. On Monday morning, Courtni's bus got in a little accident on the way to school. Of course, not being on the bus with her I didn't know this until the bus co. called to tell me after she was already safe and sound in her class. I felt awful, here was my little kindergartener all alone and probobly scared out of her mind about the loud, horrible experience on the bus.
I was going to go down to the school just so I could see her and make sure she was ok. I admit, that was mostly for my state of mind because I was going crazy! I stopped and thought about it first and decided that if that had been me in kindergarten I would have seen my mom at the school and instantly fell apart. So, being the brainy person that I am, I decided to call the school so I could talk to her, hear her voice, and get a feel of if she needed me. I underestimate my daughter. She is so much stronger then I ever was, and that is a great thing (most of the time). She was so embarrassed that I would call her to the office to talk to her on the phone. (She is embarrassed of me already, I can't wait for high school!)
I had found out from the bus co that the bus and the car behind it were both stopped, but the car behind that didn't and pushed the poor car in the middle into the bus. No big deal they told me. Courtni couldn't tell me a whole lot when she got home from school. All she knew was there was a loud crash and then a kid fell into the seat next to her. She didn't really even realize what happened just heard a loud bang and then the bus driver made them all get on another bus.
We were watching the noon news because my mom said they were going to have the wreck on there, and they showed the bus with a car under it. Ok, not totally under it, but the front window was pretty well crushed and it was pinned pretty good. Not exactly "no big deal" to me when I saw the pictures, I kind of started to over react. Those of you who know me well know that I have a tendancy to do that! I was getting upset that they had played it down when it obviously was more then they had said it was. Courtni was looking at the tv and turned to me all confused. She asked, "Mommy how did that car get under my bus?" I couldn't help but smile, Here I was all concerned about the "trama" my little girl had been through and she didn't even know what had happened! I explained to her that was the loud thump and what threw the kid into her seat with her. That car under her bus is what made her have to get on another bus. I don't know what she thought was happening. Her bus driver just decided to call it a day and park in the middle of the street?
It obviously was ok. Luckily for the high schoolers in the cars, there were only minor injuries. Lucky for us, the only injury around here was Courtni's pride when she got called to the office to talk to her mom!

I can ramble if I want to...its my blog!

I don't know what it is today, but something has me extra emotional! Probobly not the best day to blog, but I couldn't resist! I just feel so very blessed today to be a Mommy and I am so lucky to have the 3 cuties that I do in my life not to mention their hot daddy! I know that I have so much work to do to become the mom that I want to be. I love them so much, I truly wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my little family, I live and breathe for them! I don't know how I ever survived before I had them in my life, it seems like a lifetime ago!

Courtni just had her 6th birthday and that is so hard to believe! It has gone so fast. I admit that sometimes her strong willed personality is a challenge for me, but she is my baby girl and I would give my life for her! Although some days I question how we are going to make it through teenagehood if she is as stubborn as she is now, but I have no doubt that her strength will be a much needed attribute as she tries to survive through all of the horrible things that make up our world today.

Anyway, I guess I am just meloncholy because she is getting so grown up and needs me less and less every day, so that is probobly why I am so emotional. I am so proud of her and the little lady she is growing into!

Surprise, Courtni!

A picture of all 14 kids we had here. Yeah, I must be crazy, it was a lot of kids!

I feel like my posts are almost always about Bryson. Sometimes I get worried that people will think he is my favorite, he is just so little that everything he does is new and exciting and ends up being posted for all to see. Anyway, don't anyone get too shocked or anything but this one isn't about Bryson! It is all about my beautiful little girl, Courtni who will turn 6 next Saturday. I can't believe that she is already 6, time flies (which, I also seem to talk a lot about!).

For her party she had decided to do a High School Musical theme since she is obsessed over the movies right now. We had it all planned and then she mentioned to me that it would be fun to have a surprise party like her cousin Tori did a couple of years ago. That got me thinking that it would be fun and I instantly decided that we could pull it off even if she did already know that she was getting a party. So I told her that it was going to be on the 31st so she could help hand out invitations and all the fun stuff but it was really for today! I filled out all the invitations while she was in bed so that she wouldn't see the date and catch me. Pretty sneaky, eh?

Clayton took her out so that we could get it all set up and then I hid all 12 of the other party goers in the toy room when they got to our house. She was so surprised! She had on this ridiculously large happy birthday hat that they had picked up while they were out. She threw open the front door and announced "here I am!" so that she could show off her hat. Then she noticed people there that weren't supposed to be (my cousins and sister Betsy). She tried to pull the hat off but not before everyone came out and yelled surprise. I have never seen her blush like she did today! She was so embarrassed! It was so cute. She told me later that she didn't want anyone to see her hat that was why she was so embarrassed. How do kindergarteners know about being embarrassed about their appearance? It seems like that shouldn't happen until they are older!

I was so glad to be able to pull it off and caught her with a big grin several times throughout the afternoon. It is moments like that where you know your child feels loved and special that make it all so worth it!

Here she is trying to get the hat off before she is seen. Too late!

Bryson standing

I can't believe that my little, bitty baby is growing up so fast! Ok, so he was never really little bitty, he has always been huge, but still! Bryson has begun to pull himself up already. He will be 8 months old on Monday. That is so hard to believe! I love all of their stages but right now this on is my favorite. It is so funny when he gets himself part way up and then can't figure out what to do to get the rest of the way up. This morning he pulled himself up on one of the kitchen chairs and his legs were out too far so he just stood there looking around for a way down. I love that even though he was stuck, he was still so proud of himself that he had a huge smile on his face! I can't get him to hold still anymore, he is too busy and soon he will be into everything. I guess it is already time for some serious baby proofing!

I can't believe that it has been so long since I have blogged. I have been fighting a vertigo spell that I just can't seem to get to go away and typing has been the last thing on my mind. I hope you all had a great Holiday and New Year. I know that we did and now we are jumping right in to Courtni's birthday in just a little over a week. So hard to believe that 6 years ago I was pregnant with her and had no idea what to expect! Six years ago I was still able to sleep through the night and could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to. It is funny how drastically a little baby can change your life and all the silly little things you found importand just really aren't anymore. I wouldn't change a thing (well except maybe the sleeping part haha!) I can't imagine my life without my kids and hubby! They are truly my everything and I am so lucky to have them in my life.

Christmas

We started out Christmas break with actual snow! I was so excited! It seems like years since we had a real white Christmas around here! The kids were dying to play in the snow, but Clayton was at work and I couldn't take Bryson out, so they actually went out and played. It seems like when they go outside to play if one of us aren't with them they don't stay out very long, but they were having so much fun that I was actually sad to not be out with them. That takes a lot because I didn't even like playing in the snow when I was a kid! But they were so cute, Courtni was trying to teach Brayden how to make snow angels, but he wouldn't lay down. It was hilarious! Headless snowangels!

So another Christmas has come and gone. I don't know about you, but I always feel a little bit let down when it is over! All the build up and then it is done so quickly! I love Christmas with kids though. It makes everything so fun and new again. The kids seemed to really enjoy it, despite all the craziness that is our life during the Holidays.

We consider ourselves very lucky to have both sets of grandparents nearby as well as so many of our siblings, but this time of year it can make it a little stressful! Trying to make sure we get to both houses and give as much time to both while still having our family time can be tough, but the kids truly don't seem to mind, thank goodness! We decided a couple of years ago that we would switch off and go to one on Thanksgiving and the other on Christmas and just switch it every year. That works pretty well, as long as we go to the other set of parents on Christmas eve. Anyway, it makes for a lot of gifts and even more pictures with opening gifts 3 different places. That is probobly why the kids don't mind, right?! We were at Clayton's parents on Christmas eve this year and since there was so much snow they pulled out the 4wheeler and attached a sled. The kids loved it!!! They didn't even complain too much about their bums being frozen afterwards. I was surprised that Brayden even got on (he tends to be a little bit nervous about strange things).

It was a wonderful Christmas, probobly the best in years! We figured we would have a sick baby since Courtni and Brayden were both sick on their 1st Christmas (Brayden even went to the ER) but luckily for us we were given a year off! They all had a touch of a cold but nothing to keep them from thoroughly enjoying themselves!

Bryson didn't show much interest in the opening of the gifts, just wanted to watch all the excitement around him, and believe me there was plenty! I am so glad that we have him this Christmas to celebrate with us and complete our little family. We are so completley blessed!

Ok, Courtni really did get more than peanuts, but this was the best shot of her, and for some reason she was really excited about the nuts in her stocking!

This is about as much excitement as he showed all day! Even getting to sit with his favorite Aunt Betsy didn't make him excited about his gifts

Brayden wasn't so sure about this Santa guy coming into our house while we were sleeping, but he was so excited to find his very own gum in his stocking! He was, I promise, don't let the face fool you!

Free Scentsy

I have a friend that sells Scentsy. Ok, I have a few that do, but Charissa is doing a giveaway! If you haven't heard about Scentsy they are a wickless candle that you put in an electric warmer and they melt cooler then regular cande wax. And the smell lasts so long! I have been in love with them for a couple of years now, I think I am addicted! Anyway it is ending soon, so go check it out! http://www.phelpsfamilyfun.blogspot.com

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