A Week With Cousins

Since Monday the children's cousins Carson and Tatum have been visiting us. We have had fun. For the past week we have had a one year old, two year old, two four year olds, a five year old, a nine year old, and a ten year old. Here are some of the things that we have done:

* We played outside on Monday. It was beautiful. The children played in the leaves and played in the yard. One of our mean pesty roosters tried to bite at Carson and now he will not play outside.

* Tuesday James and Carl had a dentist appointment. I braved taking all seven children to Columbus to the dentist. I am grateful for James and Carl and all their help. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have made it. And for five little ones being on their best behavior as they could be. We were there less than an hour. They all got to watch the boys get their x rays and the dentist to look in their mouths. I was impressed.

*Wednesday everyone except Carson went out while Adalyn took a nap and burned the burn pile. While it was burning we raked the leaves into our buckets and dumped them on the pile. We did this for about a hour. We got a lot of leaves burned, but there are still more.

*Today we went to Erie to a home school science activity. It was fun. I took some coloring for the littler ones while James and Carl participated in the activity. It lasted about an hour. We sat in the corner and played. After the group was done making their edible soil she allowed us to make some for the little ones. They all enjoyed this. Carson had dumped his cup once before we were finished filling every ones, and once while sitting eating our treats. It was easily cleaned up.

*We have watched some movies. This stopped the craziness for me for awhile. I realized that when they were getting too loud I would have them sit down and watch a movie and they would be quiet, and I could gather myself up again.

*Cuddle time with Amarie. She is adorable. Amarie would come to me and say, "Hold me." Who could resist a cute little red headed two year old. Of course I took the time to cuddle with her.

*Another Amarie moment is when she has to go to the bathroom. She will come to me and say, "I go pee." And of course off we go to the bathroom. She is wonderful about telling me.

*Haircuts. Carson needed a haircut, and also my boys. So I lined them up and cut their hair. I bribed Carson with a bath and a piece of candy. He asked me, "Are you going to tickle me." Oh so cute.

*Playtime. Carson, Amarie, Haylea, and Isaiah played so well. When I was doing school with the boys they would go and play. It was wonderful, except that the boys thought that they should play too. The trains are always a big hit around here.

Tomorrow is our last day. We are headed to Joplin to meet their mom. It has been fun having them, but I have to say I am glad that they are going home to their family. We have some fun things planned tomorrow for Haylea's birthday.