Taste-tested...Kid NOT approved!

I was on the phone with my mom and the kids were going crazy so I couldn't hear...what do I do when that happens? The same thing every mom does...hide in the bathroom and finish up the conversation.
While I was in there, I heard Cohen on the other side of the door SCREAMING. I thought...that doesn't sound so good so we wrapped the conversation up a little quicker and I went out to see what was up. I checked his head, nothing. Checked his fingers, nothing. Checked his legs and toes, nothing. He is crying hysterically and I can't find anything wrong.
So I'm rocking him and trying to find something that might be causing all these tears....and then I saw it....and smelled it. He had gotten into the fridge and opened up and taste-tested a bottle of Tabasco sauce. Poor kid....nothing a good popsicle wouldn't help, though.

Weekend at Moms

Mike was off at Hoopfest '09 this past weekend so the kids and I took advantage and spent the weekend up at my moms, since my dad was scheduled to be at harvest and my sister and Mal dropped my three nieces off with my mom. My dad ended up coming home with a sore neck and a terrific harvest under his belt, so we were blessed by his company, as well.
It was so great to just send the kids into the pool, sip tea and hang out with my mom. We had some yummy food, some toasty sun and yummy peach tea. It was so relaxing and even though 7 kids can be kinda crazy at times, the twins did so well with the pool that I was just enjoying the chance to relax.
The twins have really turned a corner this past week, and I think that they are finally calming down and listening a little better. They are a little less scary and I've been able to breath this past week...and that says a lot since this past week also included a dentist visit with all four kids by myself, and I actually got complimented on how well behaved they were and how "that says a lot" about my parenting- which means so much to me...it has just been such a great week...I've waited so long for a good week...
*sigh* soooo relaxed!

10 years

With all of life's chaos, I forgot to post that Mike and I met exactly 10 years ago last Thursday. It was a busy day for us and, even though I was looking forward to posting some flashback pictures, it ended up completely escaping my thoughts that night.
So... without further ado, cheers to ten years!

A Dying Heart

Ethans head is against my chest.
Ethan: "Mom...I can hear your heart!"
Me: "OH! What's it saying?"
Ethan looks up at me: "It says your dying."

Fathers Day '09

The twins daycare made a Fathers Day T-shirt with the kids hands and names on it. Very cute!
Cohen proudly presented daddy with his and Chezneys present. Mike modeling his new shirt...

Danissa made a fake pot with a flower in it and it has a clip to hold pictures, and then Ethan made a bookmark with his picture on it.

LOVES for daddy!!!

Misc. Info/Pictures

Since Fathers Day was filled with a whole lot of laziness, here are some pictures over the last few days I thought I would share:
First picture: Cohen stuck in my parents cooler that we borrowed for camping....

This was some interior designing by Ethan Dad and the Gang washing the truck after their 4x4ing trip

"Camping"

We set out last night for a short camping trip in a friends in-laws grassy yard. The property overlooks the Columbia River so it was just beautiful! The twins had a few interesting incidences with the lake (Thanks to Jenny for getting her clothes wet to pull a floundering, but life-jacketed Chezney out!) and then there was the time when Cohen was wading out into the water and made it all the way to the dock and was clinging to it asking for help... (again with a lifejacket) and once when Cohen disappeared and was found at the lake (without the lifejacket)...but all in all, it was really fun.
This one is our little community area....they played music (like "Who Let The Dogs Out) and everyone danced....The Chicken Dance...my kids did not participate. LOL

Danissa showing how much she does not want to participate in ANY dancing...

Carisa not letting Danissa opt out of a good dance...

And then there was Emma, who totally got her groove on...

Cohen on a scooter...

Mike and Brian playing Ladder Ball