Christmas 2011!

The absolute best part of being a parent is Christmas morning! I mean, really, does it get any better than that???? Here are the fab five waiting for the grandparents to get here so they can actually open the gifts...but they have smiles of relief because at least they know at this point, that they made the good list!

This year, we started a new tradition...the kids decided to write letters to Jesus and send them up in helium balloons that said "happy birthday" on Christmas morning. Here is a picture of the kids doing the usual dropping of "reindeer food" (i.e. glitter mixed with oats) on the front lawn in the hopes that it will attract the reindeer to the house!!!

So- the big gifts this year were the Skylanders video game for the boys, barbies for the girls, and Drake got his own little tykes car--he has told mommy and daddy that he is going to Grammy's numerous times already.

The kids sang in the church choir on Christmas Eve...and Drew and Dawsyn both had solos. It was really nice and we were very proud of them. We also restarted a tradition that I stole from my childhood. When I was little, my mom's side of the family would choose "advent families" and all during advent--you would secretly take them gifts, then reveal who you had the week of Christmas. So, this year, we put the names of our friends in a hat and drew one. The winner (hopefully they agree with that) was the Byrd family. They have twins who are in Dawsyn's class at school. So, we very discreetly left them a gift or two every week from Thanksgiving until Christmas. We had so much fun ringing their doorbell and trying to run away before they saw us. It is difficult to be inconspicuous with 5 children! Needless to say, they figured out who was doing it before we revealed ourselves, but it was so much fun!

So--another Christmas is in the books! Literally--I already have the pictures in the photo albums! :)

Holidays weekends...

First weekend in December and I'm ready to drop already! We spent Friday evening in Mason for a Christmas parade. Then all day Saturday, my students and I rang the bell for the Salvation Army red kettle. The kids came and got in on the action as well and really liked it. We went on the Polar Express again this year. Drake really got into it, until he saw Santa. Then he was scared and wouldn't lift his head! Can't wait to sit on Santa's lap and try to get a picture this year. That should end well!

Today, the older three had their piano concert. This was Delaney's first time playing in front of a crowd. She played "Ode to Joy". We were very proud of her. Dawsyn played, "We Three Kings" and Drew played "Carole of the Bells". It makes the Tuesday piano lessons and sitting there for an hour and a half totally worth it!

So, we are off and running with the holidays. I can at least say that I am baked, bought, wrapped, and decorated. So, if I get a chance, I would love to take a little bit of time to just enjoy it all.

Happy Thanksgiving

I love those moments when I take a picture of the kids and just KNOW that 20 years from now, it will be the thing they will be sitting around the kitchen table laughing at me and saying how they can't believe what I did to them as children! This picture is definitely it!

We did our traditional Thanksgiving. The elves came back--and this year they had a baby elf with them whom the kids named "Dyllin". And--our friend, Alexa, who was spending the night even got an elf of her own on Thanksgiving morning. We had our Thanksgiving dinner, decorated our Christmas tree, and we even got a head start on the Christmas cookies for tomorrow. So, now we are in our matching pajamas (no-Shawn and I don't have elf pajamas) and watching a movie and getting ready to sleep in front of the Christmas tree as a family like we do every Thanksgiving!

Drew rolled his eyes about doing the Thanksgiving play this year, but obliged me and wore the elf pajamas, so I guess that the era of "choose your battle" has officially begun.

Number 5 is 2!

So little D is now officially two. Not that you need to be told that if you spent five minutes alone with him! He is the little man of the house and feels he has every right to tell everyone else whatever is on his mind, which apparently is quite a bit! He reminds me so much of Drew at this age with the way he talks and thinks, but he has Dawsyn's temper, Delaney's face, and Daxton's little ornery gene! What a combination!

I hate it when each of them turns another year older, but it is particularly difficult when it is Drake. He is the reason I started this blog almost three years ago when I found out I was pregnant for him. Now, as I type this, he is screaming that he needs Daddy because he wants his socks on!!!! He is very picky about having socks and shoes on. I think he is afraid that if he doesn't have them on, he will get left behind. I don't know where this irrational fear comes from since he has only been forgotten in the car once, lost at a greenhouse once, and accidentally left behind when we went to leave once--but most of the time we remember him--especially now that he is so vocal!

He doesn't like to be held anymore unless he is really tired or afraid. He hates the dark (the one thing he got from Mommy) and loud noises or heights. He is definitely becoming his own person and it is so fun to watch. I look at his little face and see so many possibilites for the future. I hope that he always knows that even though he is number 5, he is so important to us and we could never imagine life without him!

Dawsyn is 9!

Dawsyn is now half-way to 18! Watch out world!!!!! For her ninth birthday, she had a party at Sweet and Sassy. This consisted of getting glammed up with her nails, hair, makeup, and sparkly outfit, along with eight of her friends. They then got to model on the runway and put on a karaoke concert. They ended the party by riding in a pink limo around Polaris mall. Mom was the only adult allowed in the pink limo! Lucky me! There is not enough excedrin in the world for the loudness of the music and the strobe lights flickering in the limo, but the girls had a great time! And Dawsyn is convinced--she is destined for the runway!!!!

Happy Halloween...

...and may the force be with you!

Pumpkin Show 2011

We had another successful, fun Pumpkin Show week. The kids entered their decorated Pumpkins. Here is Drew with his. As you can see, the week started off rough with lots of cold wind and rain! Daxton's pumpkin took third place in his age group!

The kids rode on our church float this year. Here is how Dax ended every parade he rode through--sound asleep!

Delaney was in the Little Miss Pumpkin Show contest. She had fun even though the rain made it pretty miserable!

Drake was in the baby contest. He didn't win anything, but we think he is the cutest!

Dawsyn was in every parade for her Festival float. Her float took 2nd place in the float contest!

Team Adams Strikes Again!

Another Family Cake Decorating Contest at Indian Trail Elementary School! So--another night of staying up late cleaning up frosting in colors that you didn't know were possible, and wondering yet again-"how the kids possibly got frosting there"!

But-as always, seeing the pride on Delaney's face when she comes out with her little blue ribbon and a big smile on her face because we won a prize and all of her classmates loved it, was totally worth it!

The kids also got good news at school this week--Drew got Student of the Month for Music and Delaney got student of the month for her first grade class. Of course, in the Adams' household, there is never a moment when all 5 kids are happy. So, Dawsyn immediately falls apart because she didn't get it for her class! Drew tries to make things better by explaining that the odds of all three of them getting student of the month at the same time are "way out there". This did not help the situation. Drew explaining this to her was equivalent to a few days earlier when she was trying to explain to him what he should have done when a "secret admirer" gave him his first "check yes or no" letter.

Dawsyn was all into this, while Drew acted totally disgusted. He said that, first of all, this girl obviously isn't the "brightest crayon in the box", since she had her friends bring it to him and say it was from a secret admirer, but then she signed her name to it! I asked him if he circled yes or no. He said he circled "or". That's Drew! I tried to tell him he better be careful. He doesn't want to burn bridges he may someday want to cross! The days he does start crossing them will be the days that I'll wish we were back to cleaning frosting off our walls at one in the morning!

Where did September going?

September was a busy, but productive month for Team Adams! Drew turned 10, Shawn turned 34, Shawn and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary, and everyone accomplished great Progress Reports to start school!

Dawsyn and Delaney both finished their reign as Little Miss and Little Miss First Attendant. They crowned the new court and we thought we were getting a break.


Then Dawsyn decided she couldn't stand the thought of not being a Queen, so she tried out again (when asked if she also wanted to try out again, Delaney cried out-NO! NEVER AGAIN!--She did say that in her thank you speech, she was going to say-Thank you for never making me wear itchy dresses again!). So, Dawsyn asks if she can run again. We agree because she moved up an age group (third through fifth graders). We fully expected that she wouldn't win and we would get that break. I had even prepared what I would say to her if her heart was broken. Then the contest started. The first few contestant walked up and said their name into the microphone and then sat down. Dawsyn's turn came. I felt that familiar nervousness I get when the girls get on stage, Drew goes in for a score in soccer, or they perform in a play at theater class. Dawsyn walked to the front of the stage, grabbed the microphone, welcomed the crowd to the festival, introduced herself, including her age, parents names, school, activities and then told a joke about how training her dog isn't going so well. She smiled and said thank you, then primly walked to her seat. Shawn and I both looked at each other and thought--she just won, didn't she?

And she did! She is now the 2011-2012 Amanda Firefighter's Festival Princess. So-- another year of travels! But it's worth it because she really loves it!

Delaney is getting to do her girls scouting and they both started another year of Irish Dancing. Drew, Dawsyn, and Delaney are all playing piano. Dax just finished his soccer season, but Drew still has a few weeks left and Drake is giving us all a run for our money and keeping us on our toes!

No wonder we blinked and it is October!

Beginngings and Endings

Dax started preschool this week and is very excited to have a backpack and be going to school. He isn't too happy that none of his siblings are there with him, but he feels very big. The girls are ending their reign on the Amanda Firefighter's Court. Dawsyn is thinking of trying out for another festival while (as it is apparent from the picture) Delaney says- absolutely not! No Way! She is done forever! My girls are night and day!

First week back

It's official--I have a fourth grader, third grader, first grader, preschooler, and I am always a sixth grader! We made it through the first day of school with very few tears--I think I cried more than all of the kids combined!

They all seem to be off to a great start. They really like their teachers. Dax actually starts his first day tomorrow--I am very nervous for him. He isn't used to being anywhere without his siblings and I'm afraid there may be some tears--from both of us. Drake also has his first day at the sitter's since the spring and since he has gotten older, there may be some more tears there.

We also had our first cheerleading at the football games. It is fun to watch the girls because they are getting older and really starting to get into it. Dax and Drew start soccer this week. Next week, piano, Kindermusik, and dance lessons start and then we really be fully back in the swing! I just keep telling myself--I can sleep again in June!

Last week of summer-again already!

Since today is the last Saturday before the school year begins, I was honored with breakfast in bed. Before you get too jealous, you need to understand what this consists of in my house. I was brought a granola bar, two pieces of dry toast, and a diet cherry pepsi. The new toy helicopter Drew just got flew in first with a note attached to it. Apparently, it was decided that the four year old should write the note for everyone. So, the other kids got very upset when all the note said was "Daxton". As soon as they set the tray on the bed, Delaney and Drake each grabbed a piece of toast and when I came down stairs, there was quite a mess to clean up--who knew the two pieces of toast and a granola bar could cause all that? But with all of that said, the thing I kept thinking in my mind is they are getting older, another school year is starting, and I am so going to miss this someday!

Our last week has been nice. The older four were in a play at the local theater. It was a play about the circus. Drew was a lion-tamer who couldn't find his lion, Dawsyn and Delaney were monkeys, and Dax was an elephant. It was great and they did wonderful. We were all laughing during the whole production, mainly because the elephant, aka Dax, was in his own world during most of the play, but managed to come in on his lines at the right time!

We also had Drew's 10th birthday party a month early because he wanted a pool party. It was crazy, but a lot of fun. So, we are getting ready to get in full swing. Cheerleading, soccer, piano, Kindermusik, Sunday school, church choir, and school. The biggest challenge to me is to make sure I'm not too busy to enjoy the small moments. Like yesterday, when Dawsyn hurt her pinky finger at cheer practice and insisted on putting a popsicle stick under it and wrapping it with tape. She continued to whine about it all night. The next morning, when she started asking how she was going to manage going back to school with her finger like this, Drew had finally had enough and rolled his eyes, sighed, and asked, "what are you going to do, Dawsyn, have people sign your popsicle stick?" We all started to laugh until Dawsyn got a sheepish grin on her face, turned her hand around, and said, "I already did!" It's going to be a fun school year!

Once again...We don't visit...

...we INVADE! Travelling with 5 kids in tow, is never conspicuous, but the older they get, the more obvious we seem to become! I have long been aware that as the children grow, we, as a family, grow increasingly closer to looking like a clown car when we arrive at our destinations. I slide open the door and one by one, they start jumping out. People at the grocery store have actually stopped and stared. Even our new priest at church commented when he met our family for the first time. He asked if I was pregnant again. When I quickly answered no, he said, well good--its good that you know how to do something just for fun!
So, the other day, after sweating it out at Daxton's flag football game. The one in which he got in position, gritted his teeth, put on his best "football" face (for him this involves scrunching up his little face as tight as he can and baring all his teeth--it could be mistaken for extreme constipation, but you get the point), grabbed the football, and ...ran the wrong way---AGAIN! It was very hot, so of course, while he was playing, his siblings kindly drank down his water bottle so that the child who was actually exerting energy had nothing left to drink. Not to fear, though, he apparently was not dehydrated since he still had to use the porta-potty twice during the hour game! On the way home, he began to cry that he had to go to the bathroom and would not be able to make it home (yes, we are beginning to think he may only have one kidney!). We decided to stop at our friend's house whose son also plays football. My friend just had major surgery and is recovering, so I don't like to drag my entourage into her house, but felt we had no choice. When we got to their house, it was apparent that they were not home. At this point, Dax is in panic mode, which means the other children are all reacting just for the fun of it. So I look at Shawn and say "what are you going to do?" I am assuming he should take this one on for the simple fact that he has the same equipment needed to get the job done. He decides to take Dax in our friend's backyard and Dax decides he wants to pee in their creek. We quickly get this done and try to scramble all the kids back into the van. We pass our friends as they are turning onto their road and it dawns on me that in the last two weeks, I have seen neighbors, friends, and church members dropping off food, flowers, cookies, and many other goodies to this family. In fact, as we were leaving, neighbors were coming over with a decorated box of cookies shaped like crosses! Not Team ADAMS! NO SIR! We won't bring you dinner, or cookies, or flowers. Good friends do that sort of thing. Only the best of friends will pee in your creek! I think they might sell a sign that says that at Wal-Mart. Just another time I tell myself-- I'm gonna miss this! :)

Where is Summer Going?

We are half-way through July already. While we have had a wonderful summer and done so much fun stuff, I just can't believe its almost over already! This has been a stressful week for our family and it is definitely wearing on the kids. My dad had to get a stent put in his heart because he had 90% blockage and today my friend is getting surgery for breast cancer. She is amazing, but this is going to be a rough road for her. I have been very stressed about all of it and the kids pick it up. That is one of the tough parts of being a parent and still being a person yourself. The kids definitely react to all of my emotions and feelings. I have to find the balance of allowing them to see that it is OK to experience all range of emotions, but you have to try to balance your reactions to the emotions--therein lies the hard part.
The kids got to make their handprint stones that we make every summer. With five kids, eventually I'll be able to pave our driveway with all of the stones. We've been doing it since Drew was two and he'll be ten in a few months. (That was difficult to type without getting choked up). I love doing those types of things because it always portrays my kids personalities perfectly. As we were doing the stones, Drew kept asking if the cement was poisonous and he was pretty sure that some of the dust got in his mouth and he wanted to know if he would be OK. Dawsyn was very particular about where she did her stone and how she decorated it. Delaney wanted to know if she could have a popsicle if she did a good job on hers, and Dax was acting like each decoration was a superhero! He even had superhero sounds for each one. I did Drake's for him and he through a fit when I pressed his chubby little hand into the stone for his handprint. He is going to give us a run for our money. He has developed his own mind and his own personality and quite frankly, I'm scared! Yesterday, he put his foot in the dog food bowl at a friend's house and he kept saying, "I Silly". I kept telling him no and that he needed to stop he just laughed at me. Finally I told him he had to stand in the corner and this turned into a fun game of him going to different places in the room and asking, "corner?" "Corner?" Knowing full well that it wasn't the corner. Just like the four that preceded him, he's too smart for his own good!
We also got Dawsyn's test scores in the mail, she tested gifted in math and reading so she will be in special classes this year, just like Drew was last year. She is pretty excited and I think it helps that she thinks it puts her one up in their "not so silent" sibling rivalry!

Last day of Vacation

Ah yes! The world famous-- wait for it...wait for it...
Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum! Definitely the highlight of the trip! (Just for the record, I voted no!)

We had our annual Pancake breakfast on the last morning before we leave. Drake really got into it this year!

Grandma and Grandpa in front of the fountain with the kids.

We did one final round of putt-putt golf!

Everyone kept commenting on the "Notre Dame" family. We enjoyed walking around on our last full day in Gatlinburg.

Day 5 of vacation

Drake isn't being at all ornery on this vacation! He has done everything we've asked and not run us ragged trying to keep up with him. Just look at this picture--it proves it all!

Today, we hiked a trail through the national forest. The kids had to stop at every section that allowed them to wade in the river!

Here is the family in front of the Smoky Mountain National Park sign. Actually, it looks like a nice family of five, with a preteen boy who doesn't want to sit right next to the family, and a young girl who thinks every time a camera is pulled out, it is her chance to practice for her stint on "America's Next Top Model"!

Yet another section of the river!

After hiking, we went back to the cabin, got cleaned up and went to dinner at the Hardrock Cafe. The kids liked the memorabilia, but asked if there was any "real" music stars---you know ones that weren't dead yet. The girls couldn't believe that the Jonas Brothers and Justin Bieber were not represented!

Day 4 of Vacation

This morning there was a big black bear in the driveway of our cabin! This was not the bear! :)

We stopped for ice cream between the two shows we went to today. This is Drake on his second cup of ice cream!

We saw Dixie Stampede today--the kids liked it a lot, they were just a little upset that they had to use their hands to eat!

Here are the kids at the Waterfall we go to every year!

We also went to see the Titanic today. When you get there you are given an identity and you walk through the entire experience. At the end, you find out if you survived or not. It was very moving!

vacation day 3!

Today was our boating day on Douglas Lake. The kids spent most of their time on the giant hot dog. Here Uncle CJ is playing the role of "responsible adult" :)

This is all five on the boat getting ready to go out.

Even Grammy and Grandpa got in on the hot dog action!

Drake did not like wearing the life jacket. He threw a fit for most of the boat trip until he actually go in the water! Then he wanted everyone to just let go of him so he could float on his back!

Dax was not quite as ambitious as Drake! He was scared for Mommy to let go of him! He kept telling Mommy that he needed to hold on to her to "protect her":)