Just hanging out

We wanted to go to the park and play with our new Badminton set....well, we wanted to do that yesterday too...but the weather is just not cooperating!

Arg...

So we wrestled a little bit and pulled out the games and it made for a fun night.

We also watched the last half of one of the LIFE shows we hadn't finished yet.Spend time with the ones you LOVE!
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*I am Thankful for my family...and every crazy minute we have together.

*I am Thankful that we are two weeks out from Brent's surgery and things are going so well...he goes back tot the doctor tomorrow and I guess he will start physical therapy stuff...which is always no fun for him!

*I am Thankful that laundry is getting done...I don't like laundry...but i am happy when it is getting done!

Back in the saddle again...

...well, kinda.

I wish teachers would ease back into homework...instead of being hit with all the usual stuff and MORE!

It is hard going from not having to make them do anything...to making them do A LOT!!!

Not so much for Cassi.

But with Madi...poor girl seems to have so much homework...

And maybe it just seems like a lot cause I am running around with the other kiddos and it just seems like chaos here!

But we got it done.

Porter was happy to sit and watch them do their homework...he is such a goof!

Elsie has spent a lot of time coloring lately...which is really good.

So we made it through the day...

Wish me luck tomorrow.

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Does anyone have any secret way to make your morning not so chaotic???

It is a mad house here.

Once they are gone I feel like throwing myself on the floor from exhaustion!

So I would love tips!

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I forgot to mention that I followed the tutorial HERE for the girls dresses.

It was so easy...except for trying to figure out the sizes for the bigger girls!

But I think everyone should try it!

It is meant to make from a mans shirt...which I will do too...

But I made a few of my own changes.

I was happy with how they turned out!

For Porter's tie, I just pulled one of Brent's old ones apart, and went from there.

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*I am Thankful that I got 8 hours of sleep last night...my goal this week is to be in bed my 10:00 each night...

*I am Thankful for the sweet card and gifts from Grandma that the kids got in the mail today! They were so happy!

*I am Thankful the the first day of a very busy week is done and over...I need to try not to stress myself out!!! I am sure I can make it through the week!

Happy Easter!!!

Happy Easter!

Love The Matthews Family

I took some pictures this evening of the kiddos in their Easter outfits...

I wanted to go to a cool park and take some really great pictures...but the weather was horrible...so we had to do it on the front porch, where we were at least sheltered from the wind!

I will go out again when the weather is better and shoot some more....but I still think these are cute...

I know...the tie turned out a little big...but I think he looks so STUDLY!!!

It made Elsie a little nervous when we started to do pictures so she had a fit and I thought for sure we wouldn't be able to get pictures.

That is why I decided to do individual shots...

Well, Elsie felt a little more at ease holding onto that horse and being on the ground.

Isn't she an angel?

Sweet, sweet, goofball Cassi!

My Madi, who seems to get older and older EVERY day!!!
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A little side-note about the outfits...you know thereis always a story to my outfits...
Well, I made the dresses and tie...the legging I did buy, and weren't meant to go with the dresses, but it was so cold, the girls put them on and I decided to go with it...
And white shoes just weren't working for me...so I stuck them into RIT dye!
I have a new obsession!
I love RIT dye.
Now I want to find white shoes for me so I can RIT dye them yellow!
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The kiddos woke up at a decent time this morning.
Easter and Christmas go the same way in the morning...wait on the stairs, Dad gets the video camera, Mom gets the camera, and then they can come down.

Elsie went nuts... Madi and Cassi had a hard time staying away form the ones that weren't hidden as well, those were meant for the little ones.
But they were good and left them alone, mostly...


Porter was happy about finding one or two eggs.
He would sit down, eat the candy, then go find another one...
Sit down, eat that one, then off for more.
Silly kid!

The big girls had enough to fill their basket and more....they started helping to fill Porter's and Elsie's too.

They got a game set of badminton, volleyball, shuttle ball, and a couple other games.

Madi and Cassi looked at the package and said...is this a new Wii game.

Brent said..."Ya, it is the old fashioned Wii...the kind you have to take outside to play."

I thought it was kinda funny.

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Later on in the morning, my sister Sara and her family stopped by.

We had an Easter lunch and then had another Easter egg hunt with the kiddos in the back yard...

It was so fun to have Sara and her kiddos here.

We don't get to see them very often.

Thanks Sara for taking the time to stop by on your way home!

I also got a chance to take some pictures of her cute kids...I just love their little dimples and smiley eyes!

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Other than that, we had way too much candy and way too much food for the entire day.

But hey, isn't that what holidays are for?

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*I am Thankful we got to watch most of conference and more Thankful that we DVRed it...so we can watch all of it later.

*I am Thankful I got to see Sara and her family. It would be great to have more visitors this way...(hint, hint!)

*I am Thankful that Spring Break is over...these kids need to get back on schedule!!!

Easter brunch and hunt!

We were invited to our friends, the Sampsons, house this morning for a yummy brunch and Easter egg hunt!

We had lots of fun.

First of all, Aryn makes a mean french toast...yummy!

The kids played good...except for little bully Porter...but what's new!

Then we had the Easter egg hunt and the kids got all hopped up on sugar...loads of fun!!!

I just laugh when I see this picture!

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Porter on the hunt...

Daddy helping Elsie out.

A very excited Cassi!

Madi, with her eyes on the prize!

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*I am Thankful I get to see my little sister, Sara, and her family tomorrow!

* I am Thankful for General conference and I am glad that we are able to watch it in our home!

*I am Thankful that Madi and Cassi played really well together this evening while Brent was gone...they even cuddled while I read to them...that is just crazy!

Gloomy day, fun night!

It has been a yucky, slushy, wet cold day.

But tonight is ALL FUN!!!

Brent decided he needed a sleepover with the girls.

He has been sleeping downstairs alone since his surgery.

Last night he tried to sleep in bed.

It didn't work out so well for him.

So it is back into the recliner for a few more nights.

Then he thought it would be fun to have a sleepover with the girls.

Since Spring Break is almost over, and late nights will be NO MORE really soon...

We are watching movies, playing games, eating candy.

All good stuff!

Hopefully things will get a little better for Easter...even though I am not sure it will.

I really want to get outside and take pictures of my kiddos in their new Easter attire that I made for them!

I am excited to show them off!

I finally made something that I am happy with!

I also made Porter a tie...oh my goodness, I promise, you have never seen anything as cute as that little boy in his Easter tie!!!

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*I am Thankful my kiddos have such a great Daddy!

*I am Thankful that I finished the girls dresses in time for Easter...(well kinda finished, there are a few finishing touches...)

*I am Thankful that the girls helped Brent clean the WHOLE house while I was away this morning doing pictures! Pretty great kids...and husband!

Happy April Fools Day!!!

What an adventurous day!

I think this day was made for our family....

We are always teasing each other and making trouble...and that is what April fools is all about!

I went running this morning and when I got back Madi came downstairs and Brent and I tried to get her to get ready for school...(cause we are on spring break).

She didn't fall for it.

Then when I was getting breakfast ready, Cassi came down and told me that she threw up in my bed...I totally believed her because she crawled in bed with me last night and sounded horrible...so I didn't doubt that she might not feel good.

But it was a joke.

Then we got the kids ready, we wanted to take them to Wahooz, but didn't tell them.

Got them all loaded and told them that we were going to Utah/Wyoming!

They were sceptical about us not having anything packed, but then we told them it was just a day trip (ya right!)

And we were on our way.

Well, we showed up at wahooz, they were sad about not seeing family, but I am not sure they really believed us anyway...

So they started to hop out and Brent says, "No, April Fools, we just needed to go to Lowes..." (which is across the street.)

So we pulled out like we were gonna leave...but then really pulled back in and went inside...ha ha...funny stuff.

They had a lot of fun playing at Wahooz with their friends!

Oh and Madi had rigged the sprayer in the sink to spray when the water turns on...which by the way, happens pretty often here...

Well, I had my camera on...and it sprayed my camera....not bad, it was fine...but could have been bad!

Oh yay, Brent told the kids I was pregnant...but I don't think they believe him!

The jokes went on all day...

My fav...Brent went out to take the garbage's out...(I know, he is doing too much!)

But really he wanted to take Porter out with him for his prank on me...

When I went out to help Brent with the garbage cans, this is what I found...

Brent had melted a candy bar and made it look like some relay great dog poop!

Oh man, funny stuff!

Then we did the classic 'penny in the funnel' trick on the girls.

Always a great one!

The girls were upstairs for a long time and came down with some kind of pulley system they wanted me to rig above Dads head to dump water on him...

Which obviously couldn't happen, but I thought it was very clever of them...using yarn and Gatorade bottles...smart girls.

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And then we colored our Easter eggs tonight after dinner.

That is always an adventure!

They turned out pretty good!

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All the kids got an Easter card in the mail today from Aunt Emily!!!

Oh man, they loved it!

Just one more reason for them to love Aunt Emmy!

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*I am Thankful that the girls Easter dresses are AlMoSt done...and they are looking pretty cute!

*I am Thankful they turned out cute!

*I am Thankful that we had such a fun April Fools Day...what fun things did you do???

End of March!

I can't believe that March is over!!!

This year is just flying by!!!

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The kids have been making their own casts and slings out of anything they can find around the house.

Wanting to be like Dad in his sling that makes his arm stick out like he is gonna shake your hand.

They think it is fun...and I just love the creativity in Cassi's sling! Made by Madi, of course!

As soon as I got the camera out...Madi ripped the cast she made off her leg.
She didn't want me taking a picture of it...
But I asked if it was okay to take one with her wearing her Fievel hat!
I think it is so cute on her...you should see Porter wearing it...now he looks just like Fievel!
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So I am realizing more and more how much Brent does around the house...I know he is a big part of how the house runs...but man...I can't do anything by myself!
Tonight we decided to make 'Firehouse Chicken'.
But I had no clue how to make it...and Brent was hooked up to his ice machine...plus he's no good with just one arm! (ha, ha...he is, just teasing!)
So I just followed what he told me to do, and made the dish.
Yummy!
We figure that it turns out better when we do it together!
It was like that Ratatouille movie.
I was Linguini , and Brent was Remy.
Fun stuff!
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*I am Thankful that it didn't pour rain (or snow) today!

*I am Thankful that I got my shopping done, FINALLY....I should have gone on Monday...we had nothing good to eat!

*I am Thankful I didn't put make-up on today, so I don't have to take it off...

Crazy Boy!

I feel like I have forgotten all the funny things the big girls did when they were little.

I remember little things, but I don't remember when they did it, how old they were, what they looked like doing it, and all the stuff like that.

This is why I love blogging.

If I hadn't recorded how much I loved Porter holding onto my thumb when he was little (seen here), I would have forgotten all about it!

But now it recorded forever!!!

Anyway, this little dude is nuts.

He loves when we put blankets on his head, and he runs around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

I swear he is just wanting to run into stuff!

Crazy boy.

Brent says it is good...shows he will be great inside a fire!!!

He will grab a towel while we are folding clothes, and throw it over his head and take off.

He is gonna be a little goof ball.

He is really starting to LOVE making us laugh.

I just love him!

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Brent has been doing really good today!

He has been up and about.

He still has his arm in a sling.

It has to be out, like in a handshake position for 3 weeks.

Not too comfortable, especially to sleep.

But he is doing good.

I have learned that I just can't run things around this house without him.

How pathetic is that.

My kids have been eating not the best prepared meals...cause Brent is the ones who makes the awesome dinners!

The house is a wreck, cause, let's face it...I am not the clean one in this relationship.

So I am Thankful to him for letting the last few days slide while I try to take care of 5 kids!

But I am trying.

I am just glad he is doing good...but I definitely don't want him to over do it!!!

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*I am Thankful for DVR, so we can watch LOST commercial-less!!! Even though I am going mad crazy watching it!!!

*I am Thankful that I am starting to work on the girls Easter dresses. Yes, I am insane, I am not sure why I am always do this to myself, but the fact is, I do...so I deal with it!!! If I actually get them done, they will be darling!

*I am Thankful that Jenni got me out for a run this morning, even though it was raining! It was actually refreshing!!!

Easter F.H.E.

It is way too late for me to be blogging...

But I wanted to write a little something about Madi's F.H.E. tonight.

For her Activity Days last week, they made Easter F.H.E. kits.

Madi stayed up in bed that night they brought them home and looked up each scripture.

She was very excited about sharing it with us.

So tonight we did it...even though it was a crazy madhouse with the little ones.

I am very proud of Madi for doing it, and I am sure she will want to head up more F.H.E. for our family!

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*I am Thankful that things are getting better for Brent. If we can just get a few more days behind us, we will be in good shape!

*I am Thankful that we get to do Family Home Evening as a family...we need to be better about it...it is so hard with the little ones, but that is no excuse!!!

*I am Thankful that I get to get in bed RIGHT NOW!!!

Expert walker!!!

I just have to brag a little bit about my little Elsie Rose.

I think she is amazing...but everyone knows that.

Elsie has really been walking, really well.

We haven't taken her walker to church for the last couple weeks and thought I would just hold her hand down the hall.

Well, Elsie has refused to hold my hand and wants to walk it herself.

She stays close to the side, usually, so she can get back up if she falls.

But even in the crowded halls, she wants to do it all on her own.

I just love it.

And she has such confidence in her walk...

She wags her little arms side to side, swings her hips.

It is just adorable!

She is such an example to our family of hard work and perseverance.

We are so blessed to have this little angel in our lives!

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Dad missed out little trip to the park today.

He is still hurting pretty bad.

But I figured he could use some quiet time, so he headed to the park.

There is a metal thing of sorts...seems like a top of one of those carport things...

Well, the kids had a blast playing on it.

It kind of looks like he might be trying to help...but I think he is trying to pull Madi down!

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*I am Thankful that my early morning runs start back up tomorrow...hopefully I can get enough sleep tonight!

*I am Thankful that I made it to church today with all the kids, and they all did pretty well.

*I am Thankful that I have the big kids home to help all this week...okay, that is hopeful wishing...lets hope they realize how much I need their help and for them to get along and hopefully they will just do it!!!