Fun Times with the Scribners

Party at the Park

2012-01-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

Some days you just have to sit on a bench and take pictures of your kids while they run around with smiles on their faces.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2012-01-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

We really don't get very cold weather here in Fresno, but when the temperature drops, we figure out how to bundle up and look cute when we do. Amanda & Max, my neice Robin, Allyson, my neice Bridget.

What do you do when your kid is dancing on the table with a broom?

2012-01-12T17:11:00.001-08:00

Get out your camera, of course.

Oh Santa

2012-01-12T17:09:00.000-08:00

Cute, huh? That's my nephew, Seth, with his Gpa Santa Clause

Field Trip to the Fire Station

2011-10-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

Camille had her first Preschool field trip - to the fire station. Max was definitely more excited about the adventure and thus will be a fireman for Halloween this year. (When we got the costume, he put the hat on and didn't take it off for the rest of the evening.) Each of the kids got to squirt the hose, which was the highlight of the day.

Fresno Fair Fascination

2011-10-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Call me crazy, but I love to go to the county fair. And for the past 15 years, I've had a child at an age where she/he has been mesmerized by the livestock. I wish I could get good pictures of the interaction with the huge cows or truly ugly pigs or baa'ing sheep but those darn gates get in the way. I always have to load up on allergy meds just to take the kids through the livestock but it's worth every minute. We then hit the gem display and buy our $1 grab bag of polished rocks. My grandpa had a collection of polished rocks so this trip holds some sentimental feelings for me. Being from a tiny rural town, we have to visit the agriculture display of fruits and vegetables produced in the San Joaquin Valley. The bottom picture is in front of Kerman's display (look at all those ribbons posted on the wall). Of course we indulge in unhealthy treats and buy overpriced trinkets - all part of the experience.

Mitt Romney

2011-09-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Mitt Romney came to Fresno for a fund raising event and we were fortunate to be able to attend. So here is Natalie and Allyson with possibly our next president.

Cheerleading

2011-09-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

In 6th grade anyone who would like to be a cheerleader has the opportunity. It totally takes out all of the unpleasantries of the sports and makes it a fun experience for all involved. So this year Allyson is giving it a go and having a wonderful time.

Splash Time

2011-09-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

This is the new routine. (and see the next post as to why this bath was so necessary)

What was I thinking?

2011-09-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

I gave the kids ice cream cones as an after school snack. Max included. Except he does not want to sit in his high chair anymore. He wants to be big like his sisters. You should've seen the melted ice cream on my floor. And can you see the droplets on his legs? He was one STICKY BOY!

The joys of a boy

2011-09-29T19:42:00.001-07:00

Everyone always asks me if I'm handling all the differences of having a boy. Well, I have to admit that there haven't been too many differences yet. At 19 months old, Max's favorite things to do are look at books and color. He will sit for hours watching Sesame Street. He rarely climbs or gets into things. He screams with delight and does so while pretending to shoot a gun (aka the garden hose or a stick). My sister tells me I have a mutant. Here he is sitting nicely on my bed sorting toys. What am I doing wrong?

LONG TIME NO BLOG

2011-07-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hi! I just went crazy and posted our whole summer so don't stop here. Keep hitting the "older posts" until you see it all. I'll try to be better.

Gilroy Gardens

2011-07-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we experienced the joys of Gilroy Gardens, a little amusement park nestled in the hillsides of Gilroy. The kids loved it, which made for a great day for this mom. Max was able to ride on many rides by himself so he thought he was hot stuff. Camille was a little dare devil and went on any ride for which she met the height requirement. There were even a couple of larger roller coasters so Allyson could get a thrill. We went with 2 other families and had a fantastic trip. We will definitely go there again. Anyone wanna come?

Cinderella

2011-07-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Allyson & Amanda participated in another play. This summer they performed in "Cinderella". Amanda played the part of a mouse and Allyson was one of the narrators. Darling show and such a fun experience for these girls. They practiced from 9-12 every morning of the week for 6 weeks then had 4 days of intense technical rehearsals and now are wrapping it up with a total of 9 performances. We'll be done on Saturday and be able to go on a little vacation.

Fun in a box

2011-07-27T18:17:00.000-07:00

Why do we buy toys?

Milk

2011-07-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

This bottle's too little...........

Just give me the jug instead.

HORSES!

2011-07-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

I am extremely allergic to horses - but do not fear - I am married to an allergist. So after getting properly medicated, I took Max and Camille up to see my friend, Carrie Coit Hodgson. She is living her dream on a horse ranch and my kids were in heaven. Feeding the horses carrots was the highlight (except Max wanted to eat his carrot instead). What a fun day for all of us!

Folsom Zoo Fun

2011-07-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

My friend, Carrie.

Daughter Camille

Little Jack (Ali's son)

Bri (Carrie's daughter)

My best friend from Elementary School lives about 3 hours away. (And her sister was my sister's best friend). So all of us sisters decided to get together for a day. Carrie arranged for a fantastic behind-the-scenes zoo tour at the Folsom Zoo. The zoo was closed and we got a private tour with the zookeeper! What an amazing experience. I think the adults were more thrilled than the kids were. We got to see the kitchen, the zookeeper's office, a bathtub for the bears, etc.

Little Boys are GROSS!

2011-07-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Daddy Daughter Day

2011-07-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

Troy took Allyson & Natalie to Magic Mountain for a day. They had a blast riding all the roller coasters and just having that special time together.

A new cousin

2011-07-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, we have a new cousin in the family. Seth Edward was born last week (4 weeks early). This is my sister Ashli's third child and he came out with RED HAIR. Out of the 13 grandkids, Allyson has been the only one with red hair so far. We're all thrilled about it (especially Allyson). Such fun awaits this little guy with this group of cousins living so close together. And how fun to have another little baby to hold.

Sprinkler fun

2011-07-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

Grandma's pool had to get chemically zapped so Aunt Cyndi picked up a $5 sprinkler toy at Target. The kids were in heaven! They were so funny running about. Max thought he was one of the big kids and joined right in. My parents grass was a swamp by the end of the evening but with Fresno heat that was dried up within hours. Best $5 ever spent.

Piano recital

2011-07-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Another year completed for piano lessons - the one thing my kids don't have a choice about (and surprisingly they have not ONCE complained about taking piano lessons!). So here are the photos at the keys.

One Happy Kid

2011-05-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

This little boy is happy and content the majority of the time. And if you interact with him, he can't help but smile - even while drinking his bottle. He's just started to experiment with climbing though he's a very cautious child so I don't have to worry too much about what he's getting into. However, he's very tall for his age so he can get into any drawer. I lost my mascara and found it in the hall closet a couple weeks later. I find all sorts of toys and such in the kitchen sink because he can reach high enough to drop things in. Hopefully we don't lose anything of too importance.

Amanda's Baptism

2011-04-23T16:11:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday was a big day for Amanda. Being 8 years old, she was now old enough to be baptized. We filled the room with family and friends. The service was very spiritual and special. Amanda has always been an incredible child - intuitive, intelligent and motivated. She took this step seriously and paid attention to the covenants she was making. She internalized the importance of both her baptism and her receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. There aren't many times when you can check how you're doing as a parent but this was definitely one of those times and I must say that I am very proud of this child.

Time with Grandpa & Grandma

2011-04-23T00:40:00.001-07:00

Troy's parents came out for a few days and we had such a nice visit with them. Living on opposite coasts from one another sure poses a challenge in being able to see each other. So we really have to make our time together count. The kids had a great time and you should've seen our incredible game of Pictionary. Thanks for flying out to California, Mom & Dad.

Lady Liberty+

2011-04-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

Can you tell what they've been studying in school?

Got your drink, Mom

2011-04-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

While enjoying the Spring weather during piano lessons, I turned around and realized Max stole my drink. He was quite proud of himself for the sneaky snatch. Funny how he could care less about drinking it. Playing with the straw was much more entertaining. (And that's why we took pictures instead of grabbing it back)

Where's Max?....... Beek-A-Boo!

2011-04-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

All we do is play around here. No work (except did you notice that the laundry basket is EMPTY? That means I truly was done with all the dirty clothes.... at least for the remaining 45 minutes of daylight.) I have to say it makes my heart happy to see my teenager playing with her 1 year old brother. Before he got out of the basket, all 4 girls were joining in the excitement.

Delinquent

2011-03-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

No excuses. Here's some recent photos.

One fantastic day

2010-12-16T22:31:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Allyson, Amanda & Mallori were given quite a treat. My mom surprised them with a trip to San Francisco to see the Nutcracker ballet. I got to tag along. The girls all had matching jackets (that my mom made) and they got dressed up for the occasion. The performance was magical and the girls were in awe. What a fun day!

He eats leaves!

2010-12-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

9 months already

2010-11-15T13:32:00.000-08:00

Yep - still growing. I went in for a massage last week and the lady said "What have you been doing on your left side?" Lugging around 27 pounds every day! But what a cute 27 pounds he is. Still happy as can be and making us smile.

What do you think?

2010-11-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Halloween

2010-11-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

My computer died. Yes, just died. Must be buried. Reloading programs and restoring data were not on my to do list for the week but my brain could not function without a computer so everything else had to wait. I'm up and running again. I now know where I'm supposed to be, what I'm supposed to be doing and at what time. Whew! It was scary there for a few days. So, here are some pictures of the kids in their Halloween outfits. Are you freaking out with how BIG Max is? At 8 months old he's wearing 18 month clothing. Unbelievable. Natalie and Allyson made their costumes from scratch. Amanda is Princess Leia and Camille is Snow White. We were able to attend quite a few Halloween festivities this year and had a great time.

Eight Months Old

2010-10-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

Max is still one happy little guy. He's crawling all over and pulling himself up on anything that's semi-solid (rocking chairs and mommy's hair included). He adores his sisters and the feeling is mutual. The time is just flying by way too quickly. At 25+ pounds he really isn't a baby anymore.

Human Bubbles

2010-10-20T15:55:00.001-07:00

I love going to the fair when it's in town - mainly to see the animals and the fresh produce. This year we played with one of the new exhibits called "Human Bubbles". These are like giant beach balls that you climb into and are blown up fully. Then they push you out in a wading pool full of water. The kids had a great time.

I can play now

2010-10-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Grandma Guymon said "Do your work first, then you can play."

* Bathroom fully sanitized because the toilet overflowed - CHECK

* Kitchen floor mopped because someone spilled pear juice and then tracked it everywhere. CHECK

* 3rd load of laundry running - CHECK

* Dishwasher going. - CHECK

* Clutter cleaned up - CHECK (ok, almost)

So, I've pulled out the pictures from when we lived in Ohio to scrap. Yes, I am that behind..... because my work is usually never done in order for me to play.

Musicians in the Making

2010-10-11T23:56:00.000-07:00

This is Allyson's first year in band and she is playing the clarinet. As she walked around the house practicing, Camille was determined to get in the act. The two of them were quite a hoot - but I'll spare you the video with sound and just share these cute photos.

What's so important to you in this drawer, Mom?

2010-10-09T23:24:00.000-07:00

Max is crawling now and with his new found freedom, he is exploring all areas of our house. He wants so badly to pull up on everything but he's not great at getting all the way up. I left him in my room for a moment, thinking he was "safe" only to return to this scene. He opened the drawer himself and had pulled out several pieces of paper (one of his favorite things to chew on). I was so surprised to see him actually standing, and we just had to document the experience. We're all having to be a little careful about what is left on the floor since he puts everything in his mouth.... a paperclip, a burr, a hair rubberband, paper of any sort, a dice, a door stopper. AH!

Vrmmm Vrmmm

2010-10-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

We have some friends with a Harley & a boat so one night they invited us to come enjoy both! We took the kids for a boat ride on the lake first while it was still light. Each of the kids loved steering the wheel. Camille didn't want ANY help. Then afterwards we were invited to take a look at the motorcycle. How fun! Even if we were just sitting on it.

Disney!

2010-10-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

Chuck, Lara & the gang came out to California for a little vacation and since they were in the same time zone we just HAD to connect up with them. What a fun day - 3 adults and 10 children! Yes, 10 children!!!! We had a blast. Everytime Camille got off a ride, she would say "Let's go have some more fun!"

Where are the smiles?

2010-09-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

It's just sad that vacations end so abruptly. We're back to alarm clocks, homework, 95 degree weather, packing lunches, to do lists, assignments, solicitors, junk e-mail, bills, grocery shopping, and bedtimes. I know 6 of us who wish we were still in Hawaii. Then there's that one little boy who is just happy anywhere. Good thing he's around to make sure we all keep on smiling!

Paradise Found

2010-09-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

We just returned from an amazing vacation in Hawaii. 22 members of my family joined together to relax, swim and enjoy 7 days without any responsibilities or schedules. No stress. No pressures. The kids were in heaven, which made life for the parents so easy. We would sleep in, hit the pools or the beach, take naps, go back to the pools or beach, eat dinner as a family, play cards until midnight, watch movies....... just pure fun!

Max's 6 months old update

2010-08-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

25 pounds, scooting (mostly backwards), sitting on his own, solid foods, sleeping through the night (50% of the time), content (100% of the time), SPOILED !!!!!!

7 Year Old Videographer

2010-08-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

Warning: Do NOT watch if you have motion sickness.

Happy Birthday to Me

2010-08-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

I've been telling people for the past 3 years that I'm 40 years old. I wasn't phased by this number until my actual birthday arrived then I found myself in tears just at the thought. So I felt so blessed when I was greeted by this sign from my kids reminding me that I'm in a good spot at the age of 40.

My cute boys!

2010-07-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

OOOOOOOOOOH! Just love 'em!!

Pioneer Day Celebration

2010-07-26T12:36:00.001-07:00

In 1847 the Latter-Day Saints started heading west from Illinois into the wilderness. On July 24 they reached the Salt Lake valley and called it home finally free from persecution and able to worship as they pleased. So it is tradition for us to celebrate and this Saturday our Stake put on a party with bounce houses, a pancake breakfast, a children's parade and such.

Loving the Pool!

2010-07-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

This week was Max's first exposure to the swimming pool and he LOVED it. (Who wouldn't when it's 105 degrees outside). We took tons of pictures and this video to share.

Cute Little Bodies

2010-07-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

Don't you wish you could just strip down when it's 105 degrees outside (4 days in a row)! Max likes to grab his toes and put them in his mouth. He's like a little pudge-ball. I got quite a few pictures of Robin & Camille but this was the only one appropriate for the internet. Cute little kids!

Don't You Just Want to EAT HIM UP!!!

2010-06-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

First Injury

2010-06-25T10:32:00.000-07:00

When you have a household of girls, you have plenty of drama. However, we have been void of injuries and accidents until last week. After 13+ years of having kids in the house, this was our first trip to the ER for an injury. Until now we haven't had any stitches or broken bones (and we still can claim the no broken bones). Somehow, Camille ran into a rod-iron swing and cut her eyebrow wide open. Sorry for the gory photo. It was obvious that she was going to need stitches. Troy met us at the hospital and determined that he could stitch it up but we decided to let the hospital take care of it: 1) So daddy didn't inflict pain; 2) So mommy wasn't the one holding her down; and 3) because we've already met our deductible for the year so this would be FREE. She was a trooper and I don't think she will remember any of the incident. The stitches look great and are right on her eyebrow so I don't think there will be much to see when everything heals. Let's pray for another 13 years of calm. Oh, wait - we have a boy now..................

Update

2010-06-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty busy around here. The kids are out of school. YEAH! I love summer vacation. And now with a full-fledged teenager in the house, I have a couple of kids who have learned to love to sleep in. Then there are a couple of other kids who still like to get up early. Then there's the baby that starts his day at 9:30 after sleeping 11-12 hours. How did I luck out with this little guy? As he has grown, we've decided he looks more like a "Max" than a "Brandon" so we've been calling him by his middle name. Troy & I have been focusing hard on our business. Wow - so much to handle when you run your own show. One of Troy's patients owns a massage business so he did a trade with her. I have been enjoying weekly massages on the KNOTS in my neck and shoulders. Between the stress of the business and lugging around a 20 pound baby, my body has taken a beating. Yes, Max is almost 20 pounds at only 4 months old. Last week we had his 4 month check-up and he weighed in at 19 pounds 8 ounces. He's also 26.5 inches long. This is ONE big baby! Oh, so cute. Tonight we have my sister's 3 kids here..... imagine our 1900 sf house with 8 children and 2 adults. It's truly a blessing to live close to family. We are having a ball!!!!!!!!!

Helping Mommy

2010-06-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

I only needed 2 minutes to finish blow-drying my hair but Brandon thought he was going to starve. Luckily little Camille came to the rescue. What a great 2 year old!

Future Football Player

2010-06-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

Brandon is a BIG boy. He's not yet 4 months and already weighs over 18 pounds and is at least 25 inches long. He now fits into his BYU jersey, so we had to take him out for a photo shoot. Look at how big his hands are! He seriously might become a football player if he continues to grow at this rate. And I have to say that the first picture really looks like a football face!

Talkin' with my Sis

2010-05-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

Allyson laid on the bed with Brandon and started talking to him. We couldn't believe the conversation that developed. Quite adorable.

Going with the Flow

2010-05-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Know what happens when you're child #5? You get lugged around to everything: track meets, softball games, piano lessons, badminton tournaments, gymnastics, church meetings, visiting teaching, after school pickups, grocery shopping, & on & on. And this little guy takes it all in. He never fusses. He just tags along as if he were as happy as could be. Amazing! Carseat to grocery cart to stroller to Mommy's arms - it doesn't matter. He just smiles and looks around. I am one LUCKY MOM!

A New Thing

2010-05-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Baseball Hats: I know this isn't a big deal for most people, but for our family, the only real baseball hats we've seen lying around are for adults (except for the one pink Dora hat which has survived 4 kids). So, when we went to Yosemite and put this hat on Brandon's head, the entire family was..... giddy! Yes, we just couldn't stop giggling with delight. How fun for us. I'm sure this is just the beginning, however, for now, it's the only pint-sized baseball hat in our home and we're loving it.

Go for it BABY!

2010-05-25T21:38:00.001-07:00

Allyson qualified for the track team as one of the three best long jumpers at her school (4th graders). Troy's dad took the challenge of getting the perfect shot of her in the air. I think he mastered it! (He actually laid on the ground and inched under the fence to get the shots.) Too see more of his great photos, check out his website.

Daddy's Helper

2010-05-24T22:35:00.000-07:00

At 2 years of age, we have a constant shadow with us asking to help or do what we are doing. What a perfect excuse to send her outside (and give me a little break). Camille was in heaven washing the car with her daddy. She took great pride in the work she was given and she followed instructions perfectly. What a kid! And the car looks beautiful!

Our baby boy

2010-05-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Brandon is 3 months old now - and is one GOOD baby. He's sleeping 10 hours at night without waking up! I know, I'm lucky. He's content and happy and good natured. He's also quite a big baby - about 18 pounds already and barely squeezing into his 6 month clothes. His sisters adore him and he gets tons of attention. We think he's pretty dang cute.

Brandon's Blessing

2010-05-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday we had Brandon blessed. Troy gave a very awesome blessing with wonderful promises. We were fortunate to have so much of the family in attendance. One of these pictures shows the 4 generations - my grandfather, my father, me and my son (it really is fun to say that word "son"). It's special that my grandfather is still alive and able to participate in these events. Troy's parents flew out from North Carolina to spend the week with us. We had a wonderful time with them here and kept them busy with all the activities of 5 children! They'll need a vacation from their vacation. My wonderful friend actually made Brandon's blessing outfit. Amazing! & very precious.

A day in Yosemite

2010-05-19T12:09:00.001-07:00

We are fortunate to live 45 minutes away from Yosemite so while Troy's parents were here, we made a day trip and enjoyed the beautiful scenes. This time of year is spectacular because there's so much water. The waterfalls are full and there are waterfalls in places that disappear as summer approaches. Here are some pics from our day in the mountains.

Still Blue

2010-05-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

The brown eyes from my side of the family have dominated. Allyson's the only one who has Troy's eyes and they aren't very bright. Look at Brandon! So far it looks like he's going to get to keep his blue eyes. And they are quite bright.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

I was spoiled to death on Mother's Day - slept in, strawberry pancakes for breakfast, all the help in the world and then a Mexican feast for dinner. Yep - being a mother is great - especially on Mother's Day!

Sportin' it on Sunday

2010-05-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Dressing up a boy on Sunday is FUN for me! Look at this guy. Too cute.

Our singing girl!

2010-05-13T18:39:00.001-07:00

Camille learned a new song in nursery and has been walking around singing it everywhere we go. We had to catch her on video. Interpretation: Bouncing a ball is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do.

Bouncing a ball is fun to do, to do to do to do.

Spring Time

2010-05-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Love this time of year! We were watching Amanda play softball and just enjoying being outside together.

2 months

2010-04-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

He's starting to coo and smile more. Just wanted to share.

Precious!

2010-04-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Is there anything cuter than a sleeping baby?

No Pictures to Share - For a good reason

2010-04-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

We took the "potty training plunge" with Camille over Spring break at the end of March. With my older girls home, I had extra help and Camille took to the challenge remarkably well. After only a few days, she was a pro. However, Camille drinks about 64 ounces of Gatorade a day (low-calorie) so you can imagine how often she is having to visit the bathroom. With Mommy attending to Baby Brandon, Camille devised a new way to get Mommy's attention. Yelling "I have to pee!" seemed to get Mommy to stop what she was doing and focus the attention on her.

Well, this Mommy got tired of accompanying Camille to the bathroom 216 times a day, so I got smart. Actually, after saying a prayer for guidance, I received a wonderful inspiration. Camille's sippy cup got put in "time out" every time Camille demanded help going to the bathroom. If Camille went to the bathroom by herself, the sippy cup could come out of the time out. BRILLIANT! It worked like a charm. When the sippy cup went into time out for the first time, you would've thought this Mommy had brutally beaten her child. The wailing awoke the neighbors, I'm sure. But, like I said, it worked. Camille now does her business by herself, no longer interrupting me 216 times a day.

Yes, I was feeling quite proud of myself ..... until this morning when Camille said "Uh oh! I'm wet." Yes, that gets any Mommy's immediate attention. For some unknown reason, while Camille was ALONE in the bathroom, she stuck her head in the toilet. WHAT??????? Her hair was all wet. I was hoping to find the toilet empty but it wasn't. She had successfully done her business like I had trained her to do. I'm still not sure what she was thinking but she's had a bath and her head is sanitized.

Camera Shoot

2010-04-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

Church starts at 12:30. The routine consists of hairstyles for 4 girls and getting all 6 of us dressed (while Daddy is attending meetings). This morning we curled Camille's straighter-than-ever hair and it turned out so cute. I sent Natalie & Amanda out the door with the camera and told them to "go to town". These are some of the shots they captured.

Go Team!

2010-04-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

We start 'em early around here.

Talking with Daddy

2010-04-15T22:13:00.000-07:00

Brandon is starting to smile and coo but I have been unsuccessful getting it on camera so here's a video of him adoring his daddy (and daddy adoring his son).

Our Chunky Monkey

2010-04-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

He's 2 months old and in the 95th percentile for weight (90th for height) coming in at 14 pounds 12 ounces, 24 inches. Football player? Hockey? Sumo wrester? What do you think?

I'm HUNGRY!

2010-04-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

Think he wants something to eat???

It's Showtime!

2010-03-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Last weekend the family put on a program for my dad's Rotary leadership retreat. My nephew, Dylan, was the MC. The kids sang, recited a poem, whistled and danced around. As you can see from the photos, they were quite cute. We didn't take pictures of us older kids, who also performed because we're just not as cute.

Bath Time!

2010-03-11T22:40:00.000-08:00

Just some more photos to share.

A new puppy!!!!!

2010-03-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Not for me (don't be crazy!). It's my sister's but we're all enjoying how cute Zuko is. He's a harlequin great dane and won't be this small much longer.

What do you think?

2010-03-10T12:45:00.001-08:00

We gave Brandon a bath this morning and when his hair was wet, it kind of looked curly to me. What a HUGE change from what we've been dealing with with Camille! We'll see if Brandon's hair really does have any curls or not.

I'm a Big Sister Now

2010-03-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Camille has handled the adjustment of a new baby extremely well. Most of the time, she's pretty indifferent but recently she has taken quite an interest in Brandon and can be downright protective. It's sweet to see their relationship forming.

Allyson Turns 10!

2010-03-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Last night we strung a "Happy Birthday" banner around the perimeter of the family room and you would've thought it was Christmas by the reaction of our children (especially Camille). Allyson had a great birthday and now can join the rest of us in the double digit age category!

So, Brandon, How do you feel about having 4 sisters?

2010-03-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

This will make you smile

2010-03-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

Camille & Robin having a blast with their grandpa.

Love This Baby

2010-03-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

Some more pictures to share. Brandon's eyes are still blue, which is amazing for our family. He continues to be a great little eater and sleeper, with a mild personality (knock on wood). I swear I saw a smile last night. Too cute. And we all love to cuddle with him.

GREAT Grandpa

2010-03-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

Brandon is great-grandchild #34. How lucky is this little boy to be held by his 92 year-old great grandpa!

Whew! What a Week!

2010-02-28T23:35:00.000-08:00

In the past week, we've experienced.......
* Brandon being admitted to the hospital for jaundice. Nothing threatening but 25 hours under UV lights wasn't exactly a fun time for baby nor mom.
* Infections from the C-Section. Let's just say OUCH!
* A circumcision - ok, another OUCH!
* Daddy left for an allergy conference in New Orleans (he'll be back on Tuesday)
* Amanda battled with a horrible cough, slight fever, and hives over many parts of her body.
* A good family friend passed away

So, we packed up and stayed at Grandma's house for a few days to get some tender-loving care. My kids did NOT want to come home tonight. Being at Grandma's is way too much fun - for all of us.

No Chub Yet

2010-02-19T23:24:00.000-08:00

He may have been almost 9 pounds but he still has chicken legs!

Gotta Love Her

2010-02-19T23:22:00.000-08:00

Camille continues to entertain us. She's talking more coherently and trying to be exactly like her sisters. When she got her hands on Allyson's glasses, she knew exactly what to do.

First Bath

2010-02-19T23:16:00.000-08:00

Brandon had his first sponge bath tonight with a full audience of interested little girls. Too cute! His sisters are definitely smitten with him and love each and every new experience he's having. He didn't cry once. I think I finally got a mellow baby (knock on wood). And now he smells delicious.

Kisses to Go Around

2010-02-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

This little guy is getting LOTS of attention! We are having so much fun with him. And Valentine's Day couldn't have been any better. Troy took the kids to church while Brandon and I snuggled and slept. We made our traditional S'mores then watched Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face followed by a few hours of Olympic coverage. Brandon was just passed around so everyone could get their fix. This is one very loved little boy.

We are home now

2010-02-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

Our stay at the hospital went very well and now it's nice to be home with the entire family. Brandon is getting lots of love and attention. This is a pretty special time for our little family.

A few extra glimpses

2010-02-11T12:10:00.001-08:00

I've never really done this before, but with Michelle in the hospital it was my turn. We got a few precious photos early on that may give a better feel for what Brandon really looks like. I hope you enjoy them.

He's here!

2010-02-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Brandon Max Scribner, 8 lb. 13 oz (WOW!), 21 inches, February 10, 2010 at 8:21 am. Surgery went exceptionally well. Brandon had to be in the nursery because of labored breathing until this morning but now he's with Mom and things are much better. With his IV out we'll be able to get some more pictures soon.

Sleeping Issues

2010-02-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

We had way too much fun over Christmas vacation. For nearly 3 weeks, we just played and played - stayed up late, slept in, didn't worry about naptimes or routines....... and now we're still paying for it with Camille. She still needs a nap and will sleep 3-4 hours after going down. The problem is that she doesn't want to go down for a nap until after 2:00 in the afternoon, which means she wakes up at dinner time, which means she doesn't go down for the night until very late. NOT GOOD!!! I need quiet, no children time in my evenings. So we have tried many things. No naps - hmmmmm - cranky child, early bedtime, middle of the night waking up. NOT GOOD! Adjusted naps - hmmmmm - wake her up out of a dead sleep, deal with very cranky child, still doesn't go to bed early. NOT GOOD! So last night she was hyper as could be and I told her to go see her daddy. When I came out 5 minutes later, this is what I found. Too precious. I hope we can figure out this sleep thing before next Wednesday when the baby arrives!

Piano Recital

2010-02-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

We now have 3 kids in piano lessons. Natalie, Allyson & Amanda did a fantastic job at their recital on Saturday. They take lessons from the same lady who taught me! We are so lucky and they are doing so well.

I WORK!

2010-02-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

Camille regularly finds me at my computer and hears "I'll be there in a minute. I need to finish my work." So I should not have been surprised when I entered the room one day and found her frantically jamming on my computer keyboard. She looked at me seriously and said "I work! I work!" (You should've seen the mess I had to clean up on my computer.)

Changes Coming Soon

2010-01-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

In only 3 and a half weeks our family dynamics are going to be changing drastically. It's really starting to hit home for me and I'm a little worried about how I'm going to be a mother to 5. The part I'm most worried about it the running around after school. I hope this little guy likes a carseat!

Imagine a little boy amidst all those little girls!!!!!!!!!!! Poor guy is going to have 5 mothers!

Don't Worry

2010-01-12T08:59:00.002-08:00

I know that some of you are quite concerned that our house is too small - especially with the addition of another child. I want to assure you that we have plenty of space - even a designated playroom for Camille.