Our Little Opera

Last week in school we had music class.  We learned about opera.  I sang some of their favorite tunes, but with words about getting up in the morning and finishing our chores.  They thought it was hilarious.  Seriously.  I had to sing the songs at least three times.

So after I did a lot of singing we finally learned some about what opera is and how its different from other music.  Then we watched an opera, Cinderella.  It was about 3-4 hrs long.  They wanted to watch the WHOLE thing!  Amazing.

Why am I sharing all this beyond the fact that the kids really enjoyed music class?  Well tonight as I was putting Evie to bed she mentioned that she wanted to be a really good singer.  I sang to her that she needed to work really hard and practice.  Then she asked about her range and I sang-told her that she could learn a range and do very well.  We had an entire conversation in song.  Cracked me up.

Then she sang goodnight after I gave her a kiss and sang she'd see me in the morning.  Best bed time activity ever!

Love my Evelynn!

Silly Kids!

One of the best reasons for having a blog or writing about the family at all is the chance to chronicle the day to day silliness of raising children.  My kids crack me up, on a daily basis.  Having five kids under 7 means I have five times the chance of being stuck laughing till my belly hurts.  Sometimes it will be Vaughn who strikes a pose that just gets me or hearing Ally giggle like crazy that makes me smile.  The point is that having kids is hilarious and the proof is below.

went in to get him out and this is what I saw.  So funny!

So what are you seeing?  You are seeing my kids fill up a little blue bucket with water and then throwing it into the air to watch what happens.  The bucket did not make it through this activity, but we had a great discussion about how the impact of the bucket caused the water to fly through the air.  Yeah for random science lessons!

We so love our little pool!  Its free and open all year round.  What more could five outdoorsy kids want?

This pool is obviously kid-friendly!

What a great day!  The kids all took a minute to rest.  so cute!

Ok, seriously, how is this picture not just totally adorable?  Vaughn is never where I expect him to be when I go to do my last check of the night.  This one was just such a perfect example of my little V and his massive cuteness.

HS - Vicker's Park Playdate

I absolutely love that we have so many parks so close to our home.  I miss the swings (only a few on the whole base), but I love the way we end up seeing so many of our friends and are able to make new ones.

Vicker's Park is one of our regular homeschooling activities.  Many homeschoolers do this and lots of people coming in/going out who aren't in school participate as well.  In this way, for three hours twice a month, my kids are going crazy and learning to play in groups (hard for Eve), make new friends (hard for Joe), and to get out LOTS of extra energy.  Besides, any chance to be outside in the Hawaiian sun is worth it!

 peek-a-boo!

My little daredevil.  

Certainly not a uncomfortable with danger!

Evie's favorite spot at the park.  I'm thinking it's a favorite since very few of the other kids can get up there.

A Boy is a Boy

I know that my girls are pretty adventurous and that my boys can be sweet and sincere.  But every now and then, I am reminded just how boy my boys are and how adorable it seems to be to me.  I'm so grateful the Lord blessed me with two of them.  

My Silly Children

This is one of those posts that just chronicles what living with five little ones is like on a regular basis.  

We have family prayer twice a day, meal prayers three times a day, and extra prayers for FHE and church.  Needless to say we practice being reverent a lot!  So when V decided to join us in our prayers, I hurried to get a picture without him noticing so he wouldn't be disturbed.  It was so cute to see him being good.  And who can not love a 1 1/2 yr old being reverent?  Sooooo cute!

Now as I'm sure everyone knows by now, my home is rarely quiet and for the most part we like it that way.  Sometimes I even catch a moment when they are being extra silly: like this picture of V running around with a toy in his mouth, or like when Ally decides she just has to read that book before nap time, or when Vaughn and Joe are having one of their wrestling matches.  I love that my kids make me laugh!

large red blanket + mermaid tail = silly boy

 honestly, it was a very good book!

Joe is such a good big brother most of the time.  He is so loving having a brother the older Vaughn gets.  Can't wait to put them in the same room at some point.  They are so great together.

Love my kids!

Washing the Car

Normally doing a chore like vacuuming, sweeping, or taking out the garbage is one of those annoyances you deal with because it needs to be done so you do it.  Then you have kids and chores take on a whole new meaning!  All of a sudden vacuuming has turned into "a monster's gonna eat your toes" time, sweeping has become the most adorable picture moment when even the smallest child wants to "help", and taking out the garbage is a contest in who can get it in the can before it eats your fingers time.

daddy tries to direct and teach

So it is also with washing the car.  The car gets so dirty so quickly with five kids!  We also don't have the best habits.  We like to eat in the car and throw our sandy things in without doing much about it.  Well, no more!  After all the icky stuff we got out of the car today our habits are changing (I hope).  So this is what washing the car looks like with five kids under 8 "helping" out.  I giggled and laughed and of course, got wet.  I had so much fun!  Not sure if dad did, he actually wanted to get the car clean.  Eventually though the car got clean and so did the kids.

some of the kids listen!

Lizzy gets the dirt off!

he loves water anyway, so convincing 

him to help wasn't difficult

this is how Joe helps

 my kids are so cute!

 can you find the baby amidst the disaster that is our garage?

spraying each other is our responsibility as a family

Claire's Princess Playdate

We have made some new friends!  They are the Melby's and we love them.  Jill (mom) had become one of my favorite people and Claire (daughter) is a favorite in our home both by the boys and the girls.  We recently had them over for a fun afternoon.

Jill and I were talking in the kitchen when our little princesses came down to show us their beauty and grace.  It was amazingly cute and quite funny.  Loved it!  So glad God gave me girls.

 My sweet, adorable, giggly Elizabeth!  Love her so much and she was having so much fun!