A day in the life...

Nothing earth shattering to blog about, but I think it is important to write about those every day-days. So here goes. I thought it would be a good thing to write down what a "Day in the Life of the Peacocks" would be like.
6:30-Wake up, wake the kids up, and the morning rush begins. Today was extra hectic because I had an OB appointment and had to be ready. Usually, I have the "Morning Mom Glam" look going! Cayden promised he would end his "grumpy morning" streak and be bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning...which he was. Uniforms make for easy getting dressed, at least in theory.
7:00-We all have to be downstairs dressed, hair done, etc. Rob makes breakfast for the kids-usually pancakes or waffles or oatmeal. While they are eating (and usually goofing around too much) I am making lunches. Sadie just takes it all in and keeps us all happy.
7:20-This is our goal time to be out the door. Usually doesn't happen, but it is what we strive for. Once we are all in the car and buckled in, I do our morning checklist- Backpacks? Lunches? Homework? They all answer "Yeah" which is why Sadie now joins in. It is pretty funny.
8:00-I have to have the kids to school by this time at the very latest. They pile out of the car with a "Love you" and "Have a great day" from me. Then Sadie and I are on our own for a while. We usually come home, get Sadie dressed, clean up breakfast etc. Sadie is my official dishwasher helper and loves to help me, especially when it comes to stacking the cups. We clean up, do other chores, figure out dinner, etc. (This morning was different because I had an OB appointment and didn't get home until 9:30. I really hate that because it throws everything off. Everything went well at the doctor though which is good. I lost a few pounds, blood pressure is good, measuring fine, and bloodwork shows that I am definitely anemic. Iron pills starting now.)
11:00-After playing for a while with Sadie, it is snuggle time. She gets her blankie, binkie, and bottle and falls asleep. I love this quiet time with her. It is getting harder and harder to lug her up the stairs as I get bigger and more preggers. Sadie lays down for her nap and the house is QUIET for a while.
11:00-2:00-This is the quiet time that I cherish. Unfortunately, because of complete exhaustion and anemia, I have been having to take a power nap to make it through the day. It has been miserable, but I am grateful to be able to do that. I usually use this time to do other projects that need to be done, make phone calls, computer time, etc. This is usually when I get ready for the day as well.
2:30-Sadie and I head to the school to get the kids.
3:00-This is when my day "re-begins". It is by far the most challenging time of day for me. I love the ride home with the kids where I can hear about their day, talk with them etc. But as soon as we get home and hit that door, all chaos begins. It is also rough because this is when Sadie usually gets a little grumpier and I usually feel like I hit my "wall". I am dealing with getting kids changed out of uniforms, piano practicing and lessons, dance, scouts, soccer, friends playing, and homework x3 kids. Ashlee is especially challenging in the homework department and takes all the energy and patience I can muster to help her. This is usually a 2 hour process to get all of this done. By the time it is over, I am exhausted! We usually spend some time outside playing as well.
5:45-Rob is usually home by now which is nice. It begins another crazy time though-dinner. I madly try to get everything dished up and ready to go. Kids washed up, table set, etc. We make it a rule that we all sit together at the table and eat as a family. It has been interesting to note how the kids have really made it a point to tell us that they love this. Some days it doesn't work out, but for the most part, this is what we do. We have fun conversations, talk about our days, etc.
6:30-Dinner is done and jobs begin. Our handy family chore chart is a wonderful thing and the kids all know that they have jobs to do after dinner including dishwasher, sweep, living room pick up, etc. It has helped me a lot to have their help and it is a good learning experience for them.
7:00-Pajamas, teeth brushed, scriptures, etc.
7:30-In bed and lights out. Cayden usually stays up longer to read and we often times don't make it quite by 7:30, but that is the goal.
8:00-10:00-Rob and I finish cleaning up, watch some TV, etc. Sadie is still awake with us as well.
10:00 Sadie in bed
12:00 or later - As you can see, I am still usually up on the computer, watching TV, or other things that really shouldn't trump getting to bed. But they do. So I go to bed and gear up to start it all over again tomorrow.

The American Revolution....1st Grade Edition

Ashlee & McKell had their big 1st grade program yesterday. They have been studying American history and are both very well versed in the subject...definitely smarter than their mom! I can't believe how much they learn by 1st grade at their school! It was so fun to watch them do their play of the American Revolution yesterday. There is just nothing like hearing American history according to a group of 1st graders. I did most of the costumes thanks to a great dress-up box, left over Jedi smocks from Cayden's birthday, and a bag of feathers.

McKell was one of the Indians at the Boston Tea Party. She knew her line perfectly, "Ralley mohawks! Grab your axes! Tell King George we'll pay no taxes on his foreign tea!" (I tried to convinced her to say "Tell Obama we'll pay no taxes..." but she wouldn't.) McKell had a great angry Indian face.
Ashlee was the woman at the belltower. Her line was, "One if by land. Two if by water." She did so great! She held up her little lanterns with pride and said her part loud and clear. I was worried we may get some improv as Ashlee has been known to do, but she did very well.
At the end, they all sang "Yankee Doodle", "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies" and "You're a Grand Old Flag" while marching around with American flags. It was so cute and my girls knew every word of every song. It was a proud Mommy day for sure!

Happy Birthday Mom!

This past week was my mom's 73rd birthday. We invited her up for dinner on Sunday, her birthday. We had yummy salmon, rice, rolls, salad, etc. The family all joined us for cake and ice cream later in the evening.

My mom is an amazing woman. She raised 9 children, is in great shape, is an outstanding cook, has endured many things, and is an overall great woman and great example. I am so happy that she is one of my dearest friends. We talk pretty much every day and I value that.

So here's to a very happy 73rd year, Mom! You deserve it!!!

Date Night

So this past week, I asked my "little" boy on a date. His school class was going to see "Earth" by Disney. Cayden was so excited to get to go. I wrote him a note asking him on an official date. His response wasn't exactly what I had expected. He was really giddy and excited, but said, "Mom, that's really weird to go on a date with your mom." At first, I was a little hurt by that, but once he told me why it was weird, I understood. Apparently, a date to him is a romantic thing. And heaven knows, romance and your mom should never be in the same sentence! I also felt it was important because Cayden has been having a little bit of a rough time lately. He and his best friend at school haven't been getting along too great and then out of the blue, his girlfriend moved. Plus the normal "growing pains" of 3rd grade...I remember them well! I picked him up and we drove to the District. He was so excited to see his classmates and teacher. He has an AWESOME teacher, Ms Anderson. She is one of "those" teachers that is just amazing. The movie was really great. Afterwards, I even let him play in the arcade. He got an extra bonus when some kid just came up and handed him a fist full of tokens. I guess this kid had to leave and had tokens left over. It made Cayden's night. After that, we headed to Applebees for dinner. Cayden requested that we sit at the bar, because he never gets to do that. So we did. It was so much fun just eating and talking with him. In the midst of the meal, his tooth even fell out! (The waiter about passed out when I asked for a t0-go cup to put it in. Apparently, he doesn't have children.) After dinner, we headed to Baskin Robbins for ice cream and then headed home. What did I learn from this experience? That I have a pretty darn awesome son. I can't believe he is already 9! He is such a smart, handsome, sweet, caring boy. I also realized that I need to do things like this with him more often!
Not to be outdone by us, Rob decided to make his night at home with the girls just as special. So he made a gourmet dinner (Thanks to Macaroni Grill boxed meals). He had fresh fruit, music, etc. He treated his girls to a very special evening. He even made homemade strawberry ice cream with them in our new Cuisinart ice cream maker and did banana splits. I am glad he made their evening special as well. What a great dad!

Rob's yummy menu for the girls.

Rob's "Dates" for the evening. Aren't they cute!

The fun you can have with a bucket

Sadie recently found a plastic bucket in the cupboard. Who would have thought that this would provide such entertainment? Oh to be 1 1/2 again!

Balancing is SO hard!

Maybe if I just smush it down onto my head, it will stay!

That was a little bit too tight!

Instead, I'll just use it for a stool...just my size!

Strawberry Jam

We got a great deal on some strawberries so I couldn't pass up making more strawberry freezer jam. It is our family's favorite for sure! We go through it so quickly that I sometimes have to do it twice a year! I did 2 full cases which made around 8 quarts and 20 pints. Hopefully that will last us a day or two!

Peacock Family Easter Egg Hunt

The Peacock Sisters-in-laws (minus Jen and Jeanette) - Me, Juliann, and Brooke

We actually did the annual Peacock egg hunt a week after Easter this year. It was at a park up in Kaysville by Jon and Juliann (Rob's brother and sister-in-law). The weather was beautiful and the kids had a great time playing at the park, hunting for eggs, and flying kites.Sadie loved looking for eggs

The cousins all ready for the hunt

Cayden

McKell

Sadie and Uncle Jeff. She loves him and is fascinated with his beard!

Let's go fly a kite with Ashlee!
An Easter tradition in our family is that the kids get a new kite every year.

Poor McKell lost her kite to a rather large tree in the park. She had lots of uncles, cousins, and her dad trying to get it down, but with no success.