Davis Strong Family

Let's just say blogging is falling super low on the "list" and it makes me sad when I open my blog and see that I haven't updated in a LONG time. Life is so busy right now. I try super hard not to complain on my blog, thus the lack of posts :) Right now I am busy with Girls Camp. Kids are officially out of school for the summer and Davis has been busy with Youth Conference.... I will be so happy to have Monday come. He gets home Saturday late but we have a family barbeque that I won't be going to. My sister in law has a new baby and Warren is coming down with something. I am so bummed I haven't gotten to meet Jane yet. And, well.......Sundays suck so Monday is my best bet to see my hubby again. Too bad he will have to work and I'm sure something will pop up even though it's not supposed to. *sigh* He's also had a few appraisals so, with working full-time crazy crappy hours and then doing appraisals in his spare time....and don't forget his church calling....thus Youth Conference. It's a non-stop commitment fest and well, I get to be home with the kids all day and right now I am failing at the whole parenting thing. Hopefully soon the stress will subside and we can settle into something a bit more peaceful.

On a side note. I've been trying to get a cute picture of all the kids together. This is what I ended up with and it'll have to do for now. (picture at top. I don't want to move it and it looks better at the top of my post anyway.)

Kiddos: Tanner just finished 5th grade. This kid is getting way too big too fast. I do love that he's finally starting to "get it". Instead of telling me I'm a crappy parent he's starting to help out around the house a bit and reminds me that I'm happier when he does this...."No Duh, Einstein!!!" We've been having a "Harry Potter" fest, watching one movie a day....until yesterday, he forgot to bring home the rest of them from Poppie's house. He told me last night that he likes staying up late when it's just me and him or me, him and Dad.....He likes it because that's usually when Mom and Dad eat icecream and buy shakes and he gets to have some too. (We do this for two reasons the main reason is Bennett has a pretty bad milk allergy and he LOVES icecream but really shouldn't eat it so we try to have some when he's sleeping. That and we can't afford to get all the kids shakes and Mom and Dad need something to look forward to once in a while, since we rarely get date nights.) Tanner loves math but dislikes reading. He did ask me the other day if I would read a book to him, so we are attempting this, it's just really hard to find the time when I don't have to be "mom" to all the other little kids.

Adylin: Well Kindergarten is out of the way (YAY) can't wait for 1st grade when she will be gone all day. I know this shouldn't make me sooooo happy, but this girl and I don't get along very well. I am trying but it's so HARD! She is so much like my Mother both good and bad and I'm still trying to figure out my Mom. It helps not to live with her and it helps to remind myself about the positive things, but man oh man on a day to day basis, especially when I am stressed, it gets hard. She is super helpful, I just need to be more patient. She is super talkative, I need to be more patient. She is self entertaining and loves to be outside and take Bennett with her. She's also the easiest to help without complaining. I know I can usually ask her to get me something or pick something up with out much back talk...but then again she makes 40% of the messes. :) She also learned to ride her bike without training wheels and she's super ecited about that...it's pretty cool, He two other favorite things to tell people...she turned 6 and lost two teeth. Love these two milestones. She really is a great kid, now if I could get her to be quiet on occasion and not be so sassy!!! I think we'd get along MUCH better.

Matthew oh Matthew, this kid is my silent terror. He is sooooo LAZY and gets away with it way too often. He likes to fly under the radar and hates when he gets in trouble. He cries the most out of all my kids. Getting him to do any chores is like teaching a dog not to bark, not impossible but super hard. The most frustrating thing is when he does it, he's really good at it. He emptys the dishwasher so much better than all the other kids but after 2 hours of whining and crying....ugh! We also have to stay right near him or he disappears........ showing up when everything is done. He loves loves loves Warren and wants to play with or hold him all the time. Unfortunately Warren only wants to be with Matt when he's in a good mood. :) He has also learned to ride a two wheeler which is pretty awesome. Unfortunately he crashed at the park the other day and his nose suffered. The blood alone was enough to make me squirm. Thankfully it wasn't broken. He is so excited to go to kindergarten and asks every day if it's his turn to go to school.

Benno my Bud: Matt has informed me that Bennett thinks Warren is my favorite. But I'm sure Bennett doesn't think that at all. He's still so happy to snuggle and love on Mommy. He is hilarious but can be such a bugger. I wish he could talk better. Two has been rough with the temper tantrums and lack of understanding. He's also addicted to sweets and it's a constant struggle to get him to eat anything that's not a "snack." I know I need to be tougher but I'm tired and he's sneaky. He's learned how to open doors and my bathrooms have suffered from the toilet paper in the toilet syndrome.....really a whole roll Bennett...really!!!!! As for potty training he refuses and flat out tells me NO! He knows how it works and what to do but won't do it. I told him he has until he's 3 and then we will "fight". LOL

Snuggly wuggly Warren: I forgot how much work a little one is. This guy loves his Mommy and prefers Mommy to anyone. He's started solids and LOVES LOVES LOVES to eat. Unfortunately he can't feed himself so Mom gets that lovely job. I enjoy it most of the time but it feels like I am either making something for the other kids or feeding Warren. I rarely get to eat myself...I need to be better about this because I get cranky after a while. He can roll over and is starting to sit up. He's also inherited the otter pop gene. This kid can't get enough of them. It's a Davis thing. As soon as our kids are able and the weather is right he starts sharing otter pops with them. It's great one on one and fabulous for teething. I still remember taking a trip to California when Tanner was about 1. We stocked a cooler with otter pops and dry ice. It was a very pleasant trip. :) LOL

So that's a basic synopsis, more for me than you. We have a bunch of camping trips planned and summer is booked and crazy. I am excited for some of it and not for others. I am really hoping some personal things will iron themselves out soon, my patience is getting SUPER thin!!!!!! Though my friend the other day told me she thinks I "hide" it well. I'm sure my kids would disagree with her though.