They Randomly do weird things like this...

More Gaggle Goodness!

We have 4 kids and another one on the way... Why wouldn't we adopt a dog from an animal shelter? He is a red setter, beautiful neutered male. Super good with the kids and LOVES playing with them.
Crazy eyed pictures! His name is Farley, and the Gaggle loves him!Finally a dog they can play with!
These kids make me laugh!

The Bunny.

The Easter bunny came to our house... This is such a great picture of Liam and his personality. Such a goof! My very lucky kid's loot. I try and balance the candy, which I hate in my house, with some practical gifts. Books, skateboards, coloring and craft things that they love.

I always include some clothing, this year it was tee-shirts. I just love them and their little faces when they receive our gifts.

Little baskets up...

They are such awesome little people. I am so proud of them and their individual spirits, strengths and personalities. Easter just reminded me how special they each are and how grateful I am for my family.

The Wonder.

They have created a calm in me. I had lunch with a friend today and he told me I glow as I speak about my children. He is right, I adore them. They are such individuals and have such amazing God given gifts. I tried to capture these gifts in pictures...
Jaden is my step-son and I have been apart of his life since he was 8 months old. Jaden is joyful, thoughtful, very smart. He remembers things after hearing them once and loves the other kids fiercely. Step-parenting is difficult and can be stressful but we have found our way slowly. I have discovered I am capable of a lot more than I thought.
Jake is my hero. He truly is a heroic boy. He captures the essence of "big brother". He never hesitates to help put on shoes or to carry things up the stairs for his little siblings. He is sensitive, generous and so very kind.

Liam is smart! Damn smart! He spends his time reading researching and building. He is a thinker and an academic. He startles me with his intellect and witty conversation. He is also sensitive and loving. Thrives with routine and expectations.

My only girl. My little baby-girl. I was unsure with the trauma of my life who this little person would become. She is bossy, independent and has her own opinion on everything. She is sweet and could sell an Eskimo a refrigerator. She is angelic.

I wish I could capture each moment of their lives. I love that they are such amazing little people!

The Playroom.

This is our wreck room...An enormous space that until a few weeks ago was inhabited by a 20-something brother in law. I guess a year of being woken at the crack of dawn by guitar hero and listening to the boys fight was enough for said brother in law and he moved out. Leaving us with a much needed playroom. Much needed for several reasons. The first being this insane winter that won't die and the second is the 4 children in one house scenario. Anyway... Saturday morning we awoke at the crack of 9 (lol) and attacked the playroom with paint! Naturally calm was the color of

choice, I am hoping it rubs off on them!

Several tools and silly pictures later we were painting up a storm! One hour it took us! Grand total for a room that is at least 250 square feet. I was excited. We let it dry overnight and began phase 2 the next day!

In his defense we did call Jon's guy friends to move the hide-a-bed, but couldn't find anyone. SO I convinced him to let me move it. After all I moved tons of furniture by myself before his time! This sofa was heavy!

I am trying to get it around the door!

Here we go relaxing and watching some Kung Fu Panda~...


After all the moving and painting and organizing, the boys are beat! This whole project only took 2 and a half days, including dry time! New record!

Organizing their toys into the toy buckets.

My mismatched shelves, the weather sucks for staining right now. It will have to wait.

Here is the other side of playroom land. Yes we have the wii and the video games here but my kids sweat and move when they play so they needed more room. Not to mention the amount of adults that come over to play! All of the furniture in this room, the toy buckets, and the rug were grabbed from around the house. I spent 26 dollars on paint and 7 dollars on fabric for the curtains I have not made yet. I wanted to have an adult friendly-kid space. Although we don't plan on using this as adult space I still like to know that at any point we could. We spent the evening watching the hockey game in complete silence! Such a nice feeling that we can spread out a little more in our house!

Sunday Morning

We spent Sunday morning together. Just playing and chatting. I sat on the couch in their living room and watched them in their activities. They love it when I sit amongst them and spectate in their lives.

Miss Avery was busy with an art project. She was making flower puppets. Any excuse to combine stickers, glue and Popsicle sticks.

She loves flower stickers my little girl. She thinks flowers are "happy".

My little Kung Fu Panda addict is convinced that he needs to re make every scene in the movie. I watched him go from Jenga blocks on the couch, to a bridge made of masking tape... I am in awe of his little brain.

Wii can guitar hero. The musician of the familyrocks out to some Bon Jovi for mom.

Serious Kung Fu Panda action happening.

It evolved into Jenga blocks ON the masking tape as then the characters could kick the pieces around.

Such a rocker!

Still sticking.

I just sipped and watched and drank them in...