Trying to catch up on posts when you havent done it for a while gets pretty intimidating! But here in what has been going on the past three months in a nutshell:

 Christmas seemed to come and go as we were just settling in from Kostons birth. But it is still my favorite time of the year!

Bailee had her first orchestra concert and did a great job

Jadie decided to get into roller derby

The kids came up with some inventive ideas on how to make their chores more fun : roller blading while sweeping ...

and tying the broom to your bike so it sweeps as you ride. We have the cleanest street in all of Gladden Farms!

Jadie tore some skin off her toe while playing outside without shoes - such a dramatic moment that she fell asleep after we got her all fixed up :) Just to sweet not to take a picture!

 Lexi decided that she was so tired after school pretty much anywhere was a good place for a nap - she didnt even make it to her after school snack.

 Papa stepped in for Jared since he had to work and took Bailee and Lexi to the Father Daughter dance at school. It was formal so the girls wanted to dress up. They looked great if I do say so myself! Thanks so much Papa - they had a great time!

 Raden had a second grade musical program where they sang patriotic songs. This is the only picture I got of him since he kept hiding behind his friend standing next to him.

And of course Crazy Day at school!  Our favorite!

lexi's way of thinking

It never gets old listening to the way kids think and reason. Today we saw a commercial on tv for anti-wrinkle cream and the kids started to talk about old people and wrinkles. I said that that was just a part of aging and getting older. Lexi piped in and said "yep - its because your skin doesnt shrink when you do" So now I have this picture in my mind of a person shrinking but their skin staying the same and getting wrinkled - too funny!

Survival mode

Sometimes in life you are going to be going along in pure survival mode. Maybe not in the physical sense of actually having to survive - but days that you are just happy to get through in one piece - as ragged as that piece may be :) Jared just started another job and between working two jobs, taking his captains class, and everything else he does we dont get to see him much. And when he does get to come home he gets to see his beautiful wife, usually not showered yet, baby spit up all over, dark under-eye circles, no make up and pajamas on. We get dinner on and the kids in bed - accept for Koston who has one more late night feeding. Eventually we will get a chance to sleep in the same bed together - some nights - but only for a little while until one of the other kids crawls in bed with us and we are just to tired to care enough to kick them out :) Oh and working out? What's that? Lets hear it for surviving one more day! I really am smiling as I post this :)