All Them July Babies ...

If you know us at all, you know that apparently the Husband and I spend a little too much time together in the month of October. Or at least we did in 2007, 2009 and 2011. Because we have birthdays to celebrate on the 9th, 11th and 13th of July. This year Kolt celebrated his 8th Birthday, Kruz celebrated his 6th and Kohen celebrated his 4th. 

Because their Birthdays are so close together, we try really hard to make each of their days special. Sometimes we're able to make the whole day about them with going to spend their Birthday Money and going to their place of choice to eat. And then there are years like this one in which we were consumed with the passing of a very special friend the day after Kolt's Birthday, Travis' School Schedule, attending the funeral on Kohen's Birthday and having our Kid's Crusade at church every night of that week. So this year we kind of just did what we could.

Kolt's Birthday fell on the same morning of the Party, so he chose to make a Dunkin Donuts run with his Daddy and blow his candle out that way. We were all starving after the Birthday Party so we ran off to a new Mexican Spot here in our little town. And since we were out, we took him to Academy to spend some of his Birthday Money. 

On Kruz' Birthday he requested a trip to the "same store as Kolt", GameStop and Toys R' Us. He is very methodical with how he spends his money. If only all 6 Year Olds were like that, right? So we headed to GameStop first for Fifa 2015, because in his words, he knew he could get the '15 Version cheaper than the '16 Version and really they're the same thing. He went to Toys R Us for a new 3DS game and to Academy for some new Nike stuff. And after church that night we went to the pool for a night swim and enjoyed the Birthday Cake he picked out from Publix earlier that day. 

And on Kohen's Birthday he asked all day when his friends were coming over for his party. I tried over and over to explain to him that we already had his party, but he just wasn't having that answer because "this day is my Birthday Mommy". We had this conversation a thousand times. My heart only broke into a thousand pieces when we got to our church for the funeral service for David and he saw so many of our friends and he asked if this was his Party. Bless it. I was so thankful this kiddo was content with some cupcakes at the end of the night when Daddy got home from work. 

And of course, there's the Big Birthday Celebration we had! I believe I counted 38 kids here, not including my own. It's always a fun time with the water slide and all of the families that we have over. 

This year I decided not to feed the crowd and just have snacks. It was perfect! I took advantage of the Buy One Get One Free sales at Publix and scored a ton of variety snack packs. At the end of the day, we went through 80 bags of chips and 38 bags of snacks like Cheez-Itz and Animal Crackers. 

We cut up some watermelon, had popsicles ready to go and had a cookie cake from Great American Cookie and drinks. Bam! Done! Easiest way ever to keep a ton of kiddos content while they wore themselves out! 

I would say Miss Khloe enjoyed that cake too! 

I always look forward to celebrating my babies' Birthdays and always so thankful when it's all over too! Now here's to planning Miss Khloe's Second Birthday ...

This Girl ...

Sugar Lump.

Lump of Sugar.

Klo.

Boogie Bear.

Pretty Girl.

Sissy. 

Sister. 

Khloe Ruth.

You've acquired so many sweet and goofy names in the past 9 months. You have swooped in and knocked every last one of us off of our feet, even Kohen. You smile as soon as your eyes pop open in the morning and who ever is in the room with you at the time smiles too. You're such a great baby, always happy (unless your sleepy), always laughing at your brothers. You love your jumper and jumping in my lap and for Heaven's sake I have never seen a Baby Girl love her Daddy like you love yours. Your whole body goes haywire as soon as he comes through the door. I am so thankful for that sweet bond I am already watching grow between you two.  You just started crawling last week and now I can't keep you in one spot to save my life. You weighed almost 17 pounds at your check up and all your brothers crowded around to comfort you when you had your finger pricked. Good grief. You are still nursing morning, noon and night and in between. You love yogurt! 

Sugar Lump, you are the best!

Happy Nine Months (and Two Days) to You!

Mommy loves you more each day!

You Know You're Potty Training When ...

10. You know you're potty training when your child runs around naked all.day.long. And you let him. Because for some reason you'd rather just clean up some pee off the floor than to sacrifice another pair of underwear. 

9. You know you're potty training when there is a random toilet in your living room floor. 

8. You know you're potty training when you literally stalk your toddler all day doing the hand swipe. You know the hand swipe - where you run your hand over their crotch to see if they peed in their pants. 

7. You know you're potty training when you hear the words "Mommy, I have to go potty" for the first time and feel like the heavens just opened up because dear Lord, the child can communicate now! 

6. You know you're potty training when the conversation at the dinner table includes the words, "Well, Mickey Mouse goes pee pee in the potty."

5. You know you're potty training when you let your child drink their sippy cup while on the toilet hoping the drinking will trigger them to pee. Even if it is just a little drop. 

4. You know you're potty training when you step in a wet spot and actually say out loud, "Ah well, at least it's just pee."

3. You know you're potty training when it's perfectly acceptable to teach your son to "jiggle, jiggle, jiggle" his junk. 

2. You know you're potty training when you ask every 5 minutes, "Do you need to go potty? Do you need to go potty? Do you need to go potty?" Because really, his bladder could fill up that fast. 

1. You know you're potty training when your life has resulted to dancing in the bathroom singing 

"Ah, push it - push it real good
Ah, push it - push it good
Ah, push it - push it real good

Oooh, baby, baby
Baby, baby
Oooh, baby, baby
Baby, baby"

Because seriously, who cares at this point. Might as well have some fun in the process.

To Kruz: While You Were Three ...

Oh . My . Lord, Child of Mine, there is no one like you. And that's pretty much the only way to describe you, along with a few extra words - independent, feisty, caring, sassy, strong-willed and so thoughtful. Being three was such a big year for you. I feel like you went from half-Baby-half-Big-Kid to all-the-way-Big-Kid. 

A lot happened since last July ... 

Over the past year, you and Kohen have pretty much become the best of friends. And I have loved watching you two become so close. You and Kohen started sharing a room and you both absolutely love it. I hear you in the middle of the night, soothing Kohen back to sleep. You stick up for him. You fix him a cup every.single.morning. You always have tabs on where his paci is. You play with him, teach him and just randomly kiss on him throughout the day. I can just see you guys in 20 years from now, being those brothers, the ones who hang out all the time - not because you're family, but because you are best friends. 

You are still obsessed with mowers and would still rather be outside with your Daddy than any other place in the world. 

You are a hard worker. I mean, hard. 

You started learning your letters this year and can recognize just about all of them. You have learned how to spell and write your name. You drew your first self portrait. 

You made me have school work for you every day, so you could be like your brothers. 

Your favorite color is orange.

You are funny when it comes to getting dressed. You always have to "match", even when you are just in play clothes. You have specific shirts that are only for church, you say. Your favorite shoes are your Toms and you wear them proudly just about every day. You must have on sunglasses and you love to wear hats. 

For Halloween you decided to tag alongside Kollin and Kolt (shocker) and dressed as a ninja. We did our Trick or Treating in YahYah's neighborhood and as we walked down the street to the next house, you called your Daddy over to someone's yard and said, "Daddy! Come here. You have got to feel this grass."

For Christmas, Santa brought you a Leapster along with some other goodies. We thought you would love it and to be honest, you really didn't. You're just not a gamer. You are so much more of an outside kid and have played with your soccer net that YahYah got you much, much, much more. That and the flippin' BB gun your PawPaw bought you. When he asked about buying you that, I told him it had to stay at his house. It has and you love to shoot with him when you go over and spend the day. 

While you were three, you had your first real snow. You hated having to be bundled so much, but you loved sledding down the hills in our neighborhood. 

You have become such an early bird. You are just about always my first one to wake up. Your morning ritual is to come get in my bed and watch videos of yourself on my phone or take a hundred self portraits of yourself. 

While you were three, you started Rainbows at church. You have earned several badges and have learned five very important rules from Mrs. Katherine:

1. Follow directions quickly.

2. Raise your hand for permission to speak. 

3. Keep your hands and your feet to yourself.

4. Make smart choices. 

5. Keep your dear teacher happy.

You can recite these and it's just about the cutest thing I've ever heard. 

You love to pick me flowers from the yard.

You have become quite the champ at going to the dentist. Your first couple cleanings were awful and Mommy had to hold you in her lap, now you just climb up in the chair like a rockstar! 

While you were three, you found out you were going to be a BIG brother to a baby sister.  You are always asking questions about her, when she will be here and are always telling me what you are going to teach her about. You call her Baby Khloe and you are always rubbing (and kissing) on my belly. 

You love the beach and the pool and you just about got the swimming thing down. 

You still take naps, most days. And believe me, I rejoice like crazy on these days. 

While you were three, you went to your first VBS. I was worried you'd cry each day when I left. On the first day, I was shocked. You walked right in, started coloring and talking to your teacher like you'd known her for years. You got a little teary on day four and five, but you felt so accomplished at the end of the week. You earned a new tag for your necklace every day and you love wearing it all the time. I was so proud of you for going all week!

You are obsessed with making tooting noises on your arm. 

You love PAW Patrol and Mickey Mouse. 

Well, kiddo. I think I'm about out of things to type from your three year old self. Now you are four, FOUR! I am blessed and grateful to be your Mommy, to laugh with you, teach you and watch you make accomplishments each day. You make me laugh till I cry and you drive me absolutely crazy all in the same day. You are so strong willed and even though we butt heads most days, we always work it out. And I love those moments when we hug and kiss and giggle and cuddle. 

Kruz Amon Nichols, Mommy loves you!!

To Kolt: While You Were Five ...

Oh My Koltee. Are you seriously SIX already? Seriously? I mean that is enough. No more getting older, just stay little forever and please don't lose anymore of that babiness off your face. You're looking way too grown here lately. I'm kidding, I mean of course I am. What choice do I have? I got to let you grow. I am so thankful to be your Mommy, to watch you grow. You are such a fun kid and so full of life. You have not a care in the world (unless one of your brothers touches your cars or DS). It is a privilege to watch you grow and take on this world. Five was a big age for you, lets look back ... 

You started Royal Rangers this year at church. You love all of the arts and crafts and most of all, getting to be with Kollin. Throughout the year, you have completed several badges including Community Service by going to feed the homeless.

While you were five, you played your second Fall season of football. You played on Alabama again, still represented #8 and learned so much about the game. You played defensive tackle (I hope that's really a position, otherwise I'm in for it) and took down some pret-ty big boys this year. 

For Halloween you and your brothers decided to be Ninjas and it was loads of fun. You wanted to be the Blue Ninjago, so we ordered a karate uniform and dyed it blue. We Trick or Treated in YahYah's neighborhood and you got loads of candy! You never missed a "please" or "thank you". 

During December you had your second major trip to the Emergency Room. You and Kollin had a little mishap at bedtime that resulted in loads of blood, rushing you to the hospital and two staples in the back of your noggin. You took it like a champ though and by the next morning, you would have never even known someone had taken a staple gun to your head the night before. You wore this thick toboggan for a week straight - played in it, watched tv in it and slept in it. That was hilarious. It was all fine and dandy until the staples had to be removed, and that, well - that was awful. The nurse pretty much had to pry them out of your head and you screamed and cried and Mommy made it better with waffles at Waffle House. 

You took your first trip to The Fox Theater with Mommy, Kollin and YahYah to see a condensed version of the Nutcracker. You loved the rats with swords and hated the rest. Go figure. 

For Christmas, Santa brought you a Nintendo DS and my oh my how you love that thing. I would say your favorite game is Mario Brothers! You tend not to take it too seriously, but Mommy has to limit your time on that thing for sure. 

You went to your first circus in February and l.o.v.e.d it. Your favorite part were the motorcycles in the cages and getting your light up sword at the end of the night (the one Mommy and Daddy swore we were not going to spend $17 on, good thing your YahYah was there to chip in). 

While you were five, you found out you were going to be a Big Brother to a Baby Sister. You've never been the one to be interested much when it comes to babies and adding new ones to our family and this one wasn't much different. You are excited (a little) to meet her though and are always asking for prayer for her and me in Sunday School. 

You were in Aunt TeeTee's wedding! You were asked to be the Ring Bearer and you rocked it kiddo. You looked so handsome in your suit and suspenders. I was so proud of how well you walked down the aisle with the Flower Girl, how you stood and watched the ceremony and of course, your dance moves at the end of the night were impressive. I think your favorite part was the photo booth, the fridge is still covered in your tons of photo strips. And every time I look at them, I laugh. 

While you were five, you started KARATE! You chose this as your choice of sport and are doing great at it. You knew so much going in from Kollin and are improving your skills with every class. You have just graduated to your White/Gold belt and were thrilled!  

You officially completed your first year of "real school" and have graduated into First Grade. And although you were technically a Kindergartner, you rocked First Grade math. It is definitely your favorite subject. You impress me Kiddo and remind me so much of Daddy when you blurt our random things like, "Hey Mommy? Did you know 112 plus 34 is 146?" Along with math, you really worked on your writing skills this year and learning how to spell. 

YOU LEARNED HOW TO READ!!

And I must say you are pretty darn good at it too. You love all of the 'I Can Read' books from the Dr. Seuss Collection.

You are still obsessed with Hot Wheels. You particularly love the ones that are actual cars, like the Mustangs. You still love to line them up, oldest to newest, by colors, by model, by speed. I find you in your room so often just playing with your cars. Your imagination runs wild ... 

You have started collecting Lego sets and Lego figurines too. And I swear, if I step on one Lego a day, I step on a hundred. You and Kollin could sit for hours creating, building, tearing apart and starting again. 

You have started eating so much more fruit, finally! You are eating apples, bananas, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries and kiwi - all of which you wouldn't touch a year ago. Makes this Momma a Happy Camper. 

It's been a great time since last July and I can't wait to see what being six will bring you! Keep shining, keep keeping God first in the mornings by reading your Bible and praying, keep sharing, keep smiling and for heaven's sake never, ever lose that giggle of yours. 

I love you Koltee!

Love, Mommy

Disney Trip - Day One

Two things I've learned today: always, always, always keep an extra hair band in your pocket and never, ever under estimate the happiness you will feel when your kids meet Mickey and Minnie for the first time ever.

I could probably end this blog post with just that being said. It does describe our day to a tee in little words; chaotic but memorable. But what fun would that be?

Our morning was chaotic as usual. But instead of the chaos being spread throughout a 2000 square foot house, it was in a hotel room the size of my master bathroom. Seriously.  

None of us actually fell asleep until around 3:00 this morning, so when my Momma was up dancing around about getting to meet Mickey Mouse at 7am, we were all a little chipper to say the least. No sarcasm there whatsoever. 

Just imagine this: 5 adults, 3 kids, 1 baby and 2 double beds. I know, I'm laughing too. Momma wasn't quite thinking straight when she booked her room starting the day after her and MawMaw got here. We made it work though. After all, it was just for four hours. 

So we scurried around like a bunch of chickens with our heads cut off looking for sunscreen, extra clothes, Off spray, sunglasses and such. After every bag had spilled contents on the floor or on a bed, we figured we could go. 

Can I retract a previous statement that I said about 3 weeks ago? 

I stated a few weeks ago that all pride goes out the window when you start looking for a mini van. That, in fact, is untrue. One technically loses all pride when you attach your child to one of those awful kid leashes. And not only just that. But it's that moment when your pulling them too hard, just like you do a daggum dog, and they fall flat on their face. Yea. That happened. Mommy fail. 

Did I mention it's not even 10:00 yet at this point?

So here goes our long day into a couple paragraphs:

We hit up Animal Kingdom for our first day. We went through Africa, DinoLand and Asia. We rode through the Safari and saw some pretty awesome animals and learned quite a bit. No one had complaints about their lunch at Flaming Tree BBQ, my turkey sandwich was amazing! Finding Nemo The Musical was quite spectacular. Kollin and Kolt nearly peed their pants on the Dinosaur ride. Kolt swore he was never doing that again. Kollin, never ceasing to amaze me, rode the Expedition Everest, which is a pretty big coaster. A little reluctant at first, but I'm pretty sure when he got off that thing he thought his pant size had gone up a few numbers. MawMaw got her doo messed up on the Kali River Rapids; actually, everyone got off soaked. Psssh, and they all wondered why I volunteered to sit out with Kohen and Kruz.

 And somewhere in the midst of all this, Kollin managed to attract quite a few people while he danced in the streets of Asia. What was a crowd watching this amazing Indian dancer went to people recording "that little blonde headed boy" on their phones. My Momma is convinced he is going to get "discovered". Haha! He soaked up every bit of it too. 

Kruz was truly like a dog on a leash for the first time. He did not like being controlled at all and pulled away. Just like a dog. I laughed and Travis was mortified. Kohen did great given the heat and craziness of it all.

Moment of the entire day: when Kruz met Minnie Mouse. Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing all of them at Disney for the first time. And seeing Kollin accomplish Expedition Everest. And when Kolt loved the Triceratops Spin. But there was something about the look of innocence in Kruz' eyes when he met Minnie Mouse. 

Melted. My. Heart. ... Do you see his face?

He kissed her on the cheek and they walked hand in hand out of her character spot at Camp Minnie - Mickey while their photographer and I went snap happy on our cameras. I'm pretty sure it was one of the most epic moments in all of his nearly three years and in all of my nearly 28.

We're all back in our hotel rooms (see the plural there), rooms. And everyone is out but me. 

Night Night folks. 

P.S. I'll upload pics in the morning, my cord is all the way in the van and I ain't walking out there to get it. So there.