Stop sign recreation

So this is Mason I don't think many believe me when I say my four year old climbs to the top of stop signs. Unfortunately our neighbor decided this looked like fun but he weighs over 100 lbs so now his dad is busy trying to weld the broken sign!

Climbing again

Ok here is Miles hanging out on the table. Also he's looking forward to the big climbs that his older brother is into! Pray that they don't break a major bone or 10! Miles did chip his tooth this week but like my mom said the other day "I'm just grateful that he has the ability to climb" Yes it could be worse here's some photos!

and we're climbing

Today Miles learned how to climb a chair. It was coming (as noted from a previous post my kids are taller than average) he has been climbing on everything from the bottom bunk to a tipped over mug or box to get that little extra height advantage, unfortunately today it was the kitchen chair. As many of you know the kitchen chair is found next to the kitchen table I turned around to see him grinning proudly, sitting in the middle of the table. The problem is he also knows that if something will get him taller then he tries to move it to wherever he needs a little extra step. I remember coming home to 4 chairs all laid on their sides so that Hayden couldn't climb onto the table but I've had a bunch more kids since then and with 7 chairs laying around it's going to get pretty crowded in the kitchen. I'm realizing that my grammar gets worse not better the later it gets so I'm gonna end this post now.

Heater vents

Miles is my fifth kid so you'd think as a mother I had seen it all or at least heard it all. Miles favorite pastime besides playing in the toilet is removing the heater vents and filling them full of odds and ends everything from the contents of the big spoon drawer, toys, crayons (yeah I know) and shoes to name a few. My other kids have never even noticed they were there and now not only are they not where they should be, but they are to clogged up to produce any heat to speak of, now if this snow would quit and spring would really arrive maybe I could reclaim my heater vents once again. Yeah just like I kept him out of the toilet today.

Really?

So I thought it was bad to discover my almost 14 month old playing in the toilet. I could lie and tell you that the numerous times I've found him there was just clean water in the the toilet but like I said that would be a lie. The honest truth is it's rarely got clean water in it as in almost never, hey he's my fifth kid! I'm 6 feet 1 inch tall which comes in handy for reaching really high things on the top shelf. I've managed to pass that gene on so my kids all start opening doors at a fairly young age. I've known he was capable of opening just about any interior door, but two nights ago and more than a couple times since then I realized he's smart as well. It's not enough to beeline for the bathroom door when it gets left open. No, he opens it himself waltzes in, shuts the door behind him, and I kid you not he opens the drawer so I can't get in to stop him. Then while I'm busy hollering at him to NOT PLAY IN THE TOILET he's just splashing and looking at me in the mirror with a little grin. I'm not sure how to stop this I've taken to locking the bathroom doors which poses a problem for Mason and Hannah (the older two have figured out how to open the lock) the younger two dance in the hall until they can round me up to let them in. I'll keep you posted!

Miles 1 year old!

I told someone the other day I had to get home to my newborn, thankfully they didn't ask how old he really was because I realized that he would be turning one the following week! This year has flown by. His Aunt April and Uncle Sunil went on a trip to Figi and while they were gone Miles started walking, clapping, playing peek-a-boo, and waving bye bye. Some of his favorite pastimes include making messes, playing in the toilet, taking everything out of the trash can, shooting down the stairs on his belly, interacting with his brothers and sisters, splashing in the tub, sprouting teeth, and all in all being a pretty great little boy! I got home late the night of his birthday and thankfully my friend had given us a plate of mini cupcakes it was just perfect! For those keeping track there was no alcohol served (see last picture!)

Charging up

Last night Mason and Jay were listening to Jay's phone play music. Mid song the battery died and Mason was very confused as to why it would no longer play. Jay was trying to explain that the battery needed to be charged and the only way to do that was to take the phone downstairs and plug it into the charger. Mason lit up and said "give me the phone, I can charge it, the lady in primary said that when we go to church on Sunday we get charged up for the whole week." So to the "primary lady" thanks for preparing a great lesson you may have thought this little four year old dozing off on the front row didn't catch anything but as it turns out he was in fact charged up for the entire week. Also a great anecdote for my lesson next month!