My baby the bully

So we spent the weekend in Kansas City with 9 kids, plus our 4, 2 dogs, 1 great-gramma, 2 people who should be labeled kids and a few more adults.
Not only did we run out of diapers because Cookie Monster ate his fill of beans and left presents: 1 on the floor of the car, 1 at the bottom of my parent's steps, but my baby put on a show.
(The second one was quite funny cuz one of those "people" found it.)
LaRue spent many minutes acting as her 10-month-old bully self. She spent time body-slamming her little 4-month-old cousin, stealing her pacifier and feeling her face. It was quite cute though, and nobody got hurt.
LaRue better keep in mind that the cousin is almost catching up with her 17-pound frame. That baby has rolls that have to be moved to change her diaper. Quite entertaining, actually.

Oh Honey

My kids pride themselves on their knowledge of farm life and operations. So, I guess it's no surprise that they know what a "honey wagon" is. They had to explain this to an adult female on our train ride. When the conductor asked for a honey truck to meet the train at one stop, Farmer Boy immediately broke out laughing.

"What's that?" a woman sitting nearby asked.

Um...maybe this photo will help you understand. It was taken outside a 7-11 in Park City.

Vacation pix

I finally have taken the time to add photos from our trip to Park City, Utah. The photos are (l to r): 1. The gem search at Dinosaur Park. We found lots of treasures there! 2. Cookie Monster enjoying the view from a "cave" at Dino Park. 3. Just read the above sign! 4. East High -- the site of High School Musical. The roof just out of view in the pic is where Troy and Gabriella take off to during the movie. 4. Apparently LaRue didn't like her trip to the moon at the Planetarium.

Enjoy!

Who's kids are these anywhere?

Oh my, where do I start???
The 15+ phone calls during Bible Study today? Finally, I decided to answer. Big mistake. "Mom, 'Farmer Boy' stole my money."
Farmer Boy interuppted with some unintelligible ramblings. Click.
Done with that conversation. That is, until I check the 4 voice mail messages left within a 25-second time frame.
Ahh, motherhood.
It's so entertaining when you're standing in front of the church singing. You look out to see your dear husband sitting alone with all 4 kiddos. The youngest is sitting calmly, smiling as she chews -- and then swallows -- chunks of the church bulletin.
A short time later, Cookie Monster, is waving something white in the air. Maybe it's just an act of praise. No, it's a pad. "What's a pad?" Farmer Boy asks after church.
Yikes!
Later that night, when it's bath time the Princess is in the bath with a water gun.
Farmer Boy entered the room to tell her to hurry up and was assaulted.
He came running to the kitchen, proclaiming her weapon of choice. His, he told, was also a water gun: his "willy." And he was going to taser me with it.
Nice.
Who's kids are these anyway?

So Relaxing

We've just returned from an amazing vacation. My husband and I both agree it was the best vacation we've ever had (except for our honeymoon), even with 4 kiddos with. I think the private hot tub helped. So did the train ride, which left us free to play with the kids, sleep, etc. Did I mention sleep?
We traveled 25 hours via Amtrak to Park City, Utah. The views were so awesome. I was brought to tears a few times because of God's amazing work there. We spent time at the Olympic Park. We even got to watch some athletes train. We saw the Great Salt Lake, the Mormon Tabernacle and even a raft full of people mooning us.
The last thing was the highlight of the trip for Farmer Boy and the Princess.
We played in the snow, saw where they are filming High School Musical 3 (I think I may have seen Ashley Tisdale) and even visited the biggest scrapbook store I've ever seen. That was Tracy's suggestion.
(Can you hear the sarcasm?)
Check out a couple of photos. I'll write more later.

Called to serve

15:30 hours. The doorbell sings its pretty melody. I see brown out the window. At first I shudder because I think it's the UPS guy delivering one of my many online purchases. Why shudder? Because my husband's home and I don't feel like hearing the huffing about what I bought.

No, it was NOT UPS. It was someone else in brown. Someone with a badge. I open the door to be greeted by a deputy asking "Is everything alright here?"

"Yes, why?" I ask.

"We had a 911 call."

Huh, read the end of paragraph 1. Yes, my husband is home. Why yes, he is downstairs "WATCHING" the kids. Maybe he tied them up and they're calling for help. I can hope.

Not so lucky. I call the brood to the door. The Princess immediately says Cookie Monster called. Yeah right, why do you look like you're ready to cry, little girl in pink? I have the deputy explain to them why it's not so funny to call 911. After he leaves, we talk about how they speed to get out here (remember our blog title: Crazy in the Country), how others actually could use their help at that time, how God doesn't like when we lie.....

I continue to quiz her. I even told her she doesn't lie really well. The tears start to fall. Still, the mystery remains. Who called while dad was sitting next to them on the couch?

Nighty night

This is our 4th kid and this is the first time we've ever had one fall asleep in the highchair. Guess that's what happens when you're at the end of the line and you're being ignored. If I remember right, we were dealing with a crisis involving one of the other three. Or was it the snake in the basement???

Luckily, she (the little Princess, not the snake) was rescued quickly.

Poor baby.