All he wanted was the snow.

Swim waited and waited for the snow. He was so happy when it finally came.

He brought me a jacket, 4 socks, and a sweater to help him put on. I hconvinced him he needed a bit more than that.

Once dressed he spent the next hour out side, as happy as could be.

He was born during a snow storm... I don't think I'll ever be able to keep him out of the snow.

S'more Day!

Did you know that August 6th is National S'more Day??? Well it is!! And - down at Utah Lake they were having FREE S'mores.... so we had to go and get some. It was awesome! I love S'mores!

And so do the boys.... especially Swim

 Little Miss was happy to fall asleep as the sun was setting.

 The boys were so happy with the free S'mores that I couldn't keep up with trying to take their pictures.... {that and trying to keep Benji from falling into the lake}

They had the fires going well into the night, but for us... heading out at 7:00 when this little one didn't have a nap was boarder-line crazy. We left before the crowds became to big and it was too over whelming for a napless little one.

S'mores make the world go 'round!!

Happy Half Dozen

Three weeks after Charlotte was born we went up to a friends house to have her take our pictures. Brianna has been a friend for many years and happens to be a fantastic photographer {she also has an indoor pool so it was great bribery to get the boys to behave and take good pictures}

 I love this picture of our family. It makes me so happy to know that these people are in my life. I love that our family feels complete.  {and look too.... everyone's face is in the general direction of the camera!!}

Swim was fun... what was even funnier was watching Brianna working so hard to make him laugh. I need to get her a funny hat to wear. And it was work to keep him from falling into the little creek in the park.

This boy is CRAZY!! He is non stop when he is awake and into everything. You can see where he has been as he likes to empty my drawers. Also for some reason he loves my wallet. He will search for my purse and only get out my wallet, and pull everything out, or rearrange it. He babbles all day long and we totally have conversations, only I have no idea what about.

I love Benji's eyes! They are a really pretty blue, but they turn grey when he is mad. I love his dimple!

He loves to give hugs and will ask me to hold him. He is independent which would seem nice... but it's not. He likes to pour his own juice {onto the floor} help get the markers {for Swim} will make sure everyone has their shoes {but not give them to anyone} and will put his own seatbelt on {only he doesn't and I don't realize it until we are on the free way and he is dancing between the seats!}

Of course there is our newest addition, our sweet little girl. I didn't realize that I wanted a girl until I held her in my arms. I would have been perfectly happy to have 6 boys running around, but she has completed me in so many ways. And the joy she brings to me is amazing.

I do have to mention the hand.... I have short stubby fingers. So I hired a hand model {Jen, and paid her with dessert} She has long beautiful piano playing fingers that look much better in pictures.

She was born with lots of hair and long curled eyelashes. Seriously... she is a doll!!

After 14 years I still really like this guy!! He is definitely my better half. We have been through so much together and are still going strong. He makes me happy, he wipes my tears when I cry, he makes me laugh, and he holds me together when I feel broken.

{And we make some pretty cute kids!}

Tim is 7 now and on that boarder of wanting to be a little kid, and wanting to grow up a little more.

He still likes to be held and cuddled and will curl up in a blanket with me and look at books.

Those dang teeth show no signs of coming in, so he has a jack-o-lantern smile that makes me laugh.

Tommy is our resident smarty pants. Don't know how to spell something??? Ask Tommy, he'll tell you.

He's a jokester as well.. He is also a schemer and always has something going on in his mind. He will be our first kid to hit the $1,000,000 mark.

He does have a soft spot for his siblings. Most of the time they drive him crazy, but at night when they are suppose to be asleep I'll hear him and Tim giggling over something, or reading Benji a book. He is always willing to hold Charlotte, or help Swim. And he is more than happy to sit by James and help him with homework.... or Mind Craft.

I can't believe that I have a 10 year old!! {He'll be 11 in December!!} The time has gone so fast and it keeps going. James is a good kid. He is at that boardering age too... between kid and young man. Watching him grow has been harder on me than I thought. I want him to stay little but he reaches my eyes now... another 2 years and he will be taller than me.

Every now and then he'll turn his head and I can see where his jaw will form, or he'll take off his shirt to play in the sprinkler and his muscles are starting to be defined, and when I see him pick up his sister I get a small glimpse of the man he is becoming.

These boys have been my life for so long. Everything has been for them. I am so happy to be their mom and to raise them. They are going to be extraordinary.

And now with her in the mix just adds a new element of fun and wonder to our family. She has soften us all.

These people make me happy!!

In the end, it was all worth it

 This boy.

He was a hard one for me. His birth was wonderful and everything that I wanted, but in the weeks that followed were pure hell.

The postpartum was the worst that I have ever had.

Swim cried a lot. He only slept if I was holding him, or walking him, or I had to hold him until he fell asleep. He cried almost all the time. If I put him down and left the room he would cry until I came back and would hold him again. He would scream in his bed in the morning until I would come and get him.

Looking back I can understand the reasons, but while I was in the middle of it it was hard. Not long after he was born we moved from North Carolina to Utah. He was just 3 months and his world was rocked. We stayed with my parents once we got to Utah and we were in their house for about 3 months and then again his world was rocked as we moved into the house we are at now. He didn't trust anything, or anyone... I don't really blame him.

Since we have been more stable this boy has turned from a sad, crying child into the funnest little boy. He walks around with a smile on his face all day. He giggles all the time. He babbles to me all the time. If I happen to not be paying attention to him he will climb up and touch my face, or cling onto my legs until I bend down so he can say what he needs to say. Not in words yet... all babbling it's really cute.

And bed time is a breeze now. I can give him his blanket, and sing a song to him {he likes "Teach Me to Walk in the Light"} and put him down to sleep. And not only that... but he wakes up so happy.

I love this little guy so much. I feel so bad that the first year or so was so hard for him. I did the best that I knew how, I wish I could have comforted him more, but I would go through all the crying and sleepless nights, and even the postpartum that I had to have the boy I have now.

He is such a joy to me, and makes me so happy.

It's gone

In our house when boys turn one they get a hair cut.

His hair was long!! {and it was matted and starting to be more like a rat's nest in the back so it needed to come off}

 It really was a lot!

And now they match!!

For the first few days Swim would sit and rub his head with his hands, or rub his head on the ground. It was funny watching him figure out this new feel of his.

It's a good thing that the boys have good shaped heads!

ONE

Where has the time gone??? I know I say that every time we have a birthday but really.... where does it go?

I can't believe that Swim is one. This time last year I was cuddling a little newborn, and now I am chasing a baby... pretty much toddler around the house.

He has become proficient at the stairs, so we took the gate off.

He has become a master finder of all things that the big boys can't find {and things he shouldn't have} pencils, marker lids, pennies.

He loves peanut butter and jelly, and scrambled eggs.

He is a great sleeper.... once he is asleep. {we are working on him getting to sleep in a timely manner}

He is a mama's boy, and while he will charm anyone, he loves to do it in my arms.

He loves to play with Benji, and doesn't mind when Benji plays with him... even with how ruff his brother is.

He is our light weight. While the other boys were pushing 30 pounds... or already over that, he is only about 25-26 pounds. Big for some... not for this family. Clothes actually fit him!

This little boys is so different from the others. I have had to learn to parent a different way with him. Things that worked with all the other boys have been completely thrown out the window. He has helped my patients grow, he has made me slow down what I am doing and really focus on the task at hand.

He is a joy to our family and I love that I get to be his mom!!

Happy Birthday little one!

I've been gone....

And this is the reason why....

I'm hoping to get back into blogging soon and my goal is to be more regular at it.

Passing quickly by

Two months already!! I can hardly believe it.

We definitely have had our ups and downs, but I think we are on a steady climb up. People are sleeping again. We have somewhat of a routine and we are all learning patients again as we learn about this new little one.

He has blue eyes just like his brothers, but different. His are a true blue color. He looks just like the other boys but at different times. When he is sleeping he looks like Tommy. When he is smiling and trying to laugh he looks like Benji. When he is laying and looking around I see James in him. And when you are able to sooth him after crying he will look at you with his big eyes that remind me of Tim. He will grow and although people will know him as one of the Grammer boys he will take on a look of his own.

He likes to be around people he seems most comfortable in the chaos of life that happens around him.

He is so patient with his brothers as they all take turns to hold him. And he doesn't seem to mind being oh-so-loved by Benji.

He is a joy to our family and I am so happy that he is with us.

She saved the day!

While I was going through a really depressing time after having Swim. I called my mom crying, just not knowing what to do or where to go. That was on a Wednesday.... Thursday night she was at my house. She flew from Utah to come and help me.

I was so happy to have her!

The boys were really excited too. They all have good memories of my mom, from the play set in the back yard, to helping wash the motorcycles, to GeoTrack set that she keeps at her house and the "awesome tracks Grandma can build"

There was one who was not so sure of this woman that the brothers loved... That was Benji.  He kept his distance from her. He also kept a close eye on her when she had Swim. He is such a good big brother.

After about two days he would talk more to her and show her things. He didn't want grandma's help with anything but she could sit near him. He started calling her grandPA which was so funny. By the time grandma left they were mostly buddies, Benji would sit on her lap for a moment and they even played cars together.

After my mom left Benji walked around the house looking for and asking for grandpa. I think they bonded...

Here are some pictures of my mom and Swim. She really is the baby whisper-er. She came in and took him that Thursday night and did night duty all week with him. She helped switch his schedule so he would sleep at night. It's amazing what normal sleep will do for people! 

The boys had a good time with grandma and loved showing her all the things they could do.

My wonderful family! I really am lucky to have a great family with all my boys, and a wonderful mom who rescued me!