Pandemic with the Kemps

Last night we went out to eat as a late birthday celebration for my birthday.

Then we headed back to our house to play Pandemic

If you haven't played, a brief explanation is that everyone is playing on the same team, trying to save the world from outbreaks of disease.  We have never won the game before - but last night we finally won!

Spirit Week starts with a Pep Rally

So excited about our new field

 Love this boys Team Spirit

 Mrs Beirne

 Mr Salter

 All Elementary Teachers do a dance!

 The cheerleaders!!!! 

 Some of My Chargers! 

Mac finally gets homework!!

You know how exciting is for 6-year old to finally have homework?  Well, Mac finally got to have homework like the big boys.

And we didn't get to it, we did it at breakfast the next morning.  This is where I should probably put a hashtag thingy of "not building good habits".

Rainy Weather Brings the Kids Together

A Mother's Warped Confession

At 4 o'clock this morning, my "baby" (6 yr-old), came to me in a panic.  He could not breath.  He was wheezing, coughing and sounded like a dying seal.  Since his sister had croup about five times every winter, I knew the drill.  I put him in my bathroom and turned on the shower to the hottest setting.  That way, he could breath in some steam and it would loosen up his chest.

After he calmed down, I took him to my office (the bedroom across the hall from my bedroom) and held him and realized he was burning up with fever also.  So, I got him some meds for the fever and then snuggled up with him.  His breathing was definitely stressed, but our nebulizer was at my sister's house, so I could not give him a treatment. I got him to take a puff of his sister's emergency asthma inhaler.  And he started to relax and fall back asleep.

I held him until my alarm went off at 6:50.  I held him tightly.  I held him willingly.

When I had young stair-step kids (at one point it was infant, 2, 3, 4, and 5), I would have gotten the child calmed down and then made a pallet for them to sleep on the floor either in my room or in the office.  But this morning, I just wanted to hold him.

I was tired and he was miserable, but he needed me.  My kids don't "need" me like they used to.  They need me in different ways, but they are now old enough to be fairly self-sufficient.  When you have lots of little kids, you long for the day that your kids don't need you to do everything for you.  I'm gonna guess, most moms don't miss that when it has passed.  But, I do.  I love being a Mom.

I hate that Mac was sick and miserable, but my warped confession is that I loved getting to sit and hold his pitifulness for three hours this morning.

A Fabulous Weekend

It has been a good, relaxing weekend.  Jason didn't have work on Thursday or Friday, it is always nice to have him around for a few extra days.

Mollee's class had been to Project SOAR, which is a camping, relationship-building 2-day trip (Wednesday and Thursday).  On Friday, they didn't have to go to school, they just had to do an online class and take a quiz.  So, she and I, went on a lunch date to Panera.

Then, Friday night, we celebrated Mimi's Birthday

 And the kids always enjoy playing with Libby

While Jase and I relax on the couch :)

Saturday started out lazy.  The boys watched cartoons, Jason and Mollee always sleep in and I mosey around the house not doing much, but trying to keep things quiet for Jase to sleep.

Then we ended up outside.  Jason cut the grass and I started to pull weeds.  It wasn't my plan, but I started and I was in the pjs, but I kept going.

We got a lot of yard work done, which one or two days is about my quota for the year - so I assume I'm good until spring.  Ha.

Since the temperature was perfect and there was a slight breeze, I decided it was a great day for a picnic in the front yard.  We set up our blanket, I made plates and we had a wonderful picnic.

I love this kind of spontaneous, family fun!

We headed inside, I took a nap and watched football, Jason played Xbox and the kids enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Saturday night we had a double date planned with Chris and Reba.  They were having a hard time finding a babysitter, so I asked the girl that was keeping our kids, if she'd be willing to keep all 11 kids together - and she, crazily, said yes!

Our date was saved and the evening was fabulous.  Yummy burgers and then we headed to a coffee house in the park and just sat on the patio and enjoyed adult conversation with no kid interruption.

Christine rocks!!!

Sunday, we went to church, had lunch at Mom and Dad's and then sat on the deck and socialized, while the men did the crossword puzzle.  We headed home, I took a nap and watched football (are you seeing a pattern yet?).  Jason took Mollee and Tavis to youth group, Daegan played Xbox and Capps and Mac played outside.

I love weekends that have weather cool enough to enjoy outside!  I love weekends were we can make a few more memories.  I love weekends when I get to be lazy (as work becomes busier and busier, I cherish my weekends a little more).  I love weekends with a great Sunday worship service.  And I love weekends that consist of football and naps.

This has been a fabulous weekend!

Daegan gets contacts

On Tuesday, Daegan went to the eye doctor.  It was time for a check up and he wanted to try out contacts.  Jason and I had no doubt that Daeg would be responsible enough to handle contacts, I just didn't realize and/or remember the beginning of contacts.  

At the doctor office, they made him put the contacts in, take them out and put them in again before we could leave.  It took about an hour, but he was a trooper and never gave up.  Two different nurses helped him at separate times.  

In typical Daegan, 1% fashion (family joke), he needs the hardest contacts to put in.  They are weighted soft contacts for astigmatism.  They are hard to keep on your fingers, and are a little hard to get suctioned to your eye.

But Daegan has been awesome.  He has set his watch alarm and gotten up early by himself to make sure he has enough time to put them in.  Each day it has gotten less and less time.

 Way to go, Daegan!!!  You are an amazing young man!