5 kids and counting....

I'm not sure if there is anyone out there who hates laundry as much as I do. It's not the actual pulling-the-clothes-out-of-the-hamper-washing-drying-part that bothers me. It is the next step of folding/hanging/putting away! Usually I will put off laundry until the doors on the actual hampers won't stay shut because clothes are protruding out in every direction. And to make matters worse, Alexie and Ky now LOVE to gather all of the clothes and put them in the laundry room to 'help' me out! 'Oh Great!', you might think...BUT, oh no! It never fails that they do this on the worst day possible and I am not ready to tackle that task...but then I'm kind of stuck doing it because there are clothes EVERYWHERE at this point. Does anyone feel my pain? Please tell me you feel my pain?!

Well Saturday was that day. The girls had clothes everywhere from 'helping' me and I just had to get it done. I was determined to get them hung, folded AND put away all in the same day. But then there was a little twist thrown in. I asked Lindz if WE I could keep the boys while her and Kyle went on a date. And then I had this genius idea that I would offer to keep them overnight. Well, none of this was planned ahead of time, so when they arrived at our house, Lindz and I headed to Target to get extra diapers for Jackson and some formula to make sure we had enough milk to get us through the night. Well, don't forget about the SIX loads of laundry that was already started that I was determined to put away in the same day (that NEVER happens!).

So, I basically put Husband in charge of the older four kids and sweet baby Jackson was going to be all mine. Kole, Lex, Ky & Bryce had SO. MUCH. FUN. I mean, really, way too much fun. While those four and Husband (so really FIVE kids since Husband is just one of them) were doing whatever it is that crazy kids do, me and Jax had some laundry to tend to....

Where is Jackson, you might ask....



Look a little closer....you see him yet?



Well there's that sweet little MONKEY! I L*O*V*E him to pieces {and Lindz, I promise that blue plastic hanger is not near as close to him as it looks!}. Oh, and you like how Ky put her baby next to Jackson so they could take a nap together?!



After 14 hours (seemed like it anyway) of folding/hanging/putting away clothes, it was finally time to make a pallet for the kids to watch a movie!! I had to prop Jax in there for a quick picture like he was watching the movie too!



It wasn't long after the movie ended that all four older kids were passed out cold....



This next picture can be quite deceiving. First of all, that would be a PINK blanket that he is swaddled in. But to protect his manhood and any future embarrassment, I worked a little magic in photoshop to make the blanket appear light blue (you can thank me later, J!). Secondly, don't let that sweet SLEEPING face fool you....he was wide awake wanting to hang out until about 2 AM! This picture was snapped when he finally dozed off....proof that he did indeed sleep! But please don't let my words come across as if this was torture or anything because I loved starring and snuggling with him every minute until he finally did doze off!



And oh my goodness, there is quite a difference in getting three kids ready for church and getting FIVE kids ready. I can see how it would just become routine (and team work with Husband!!)...but I did NOT allow myself enough time to get me and FIVE other kids ready for church the next morning! Let's just say I was a little slow rising after missing a few hours of sleep...I forgot what it was like to have a newborn in the house (again, LOVED every minute of it!). Husband was a trooper too! He got Kole and Bryce ready AND fed the four older kids breakfast while I got myself, the two girls and Jackson ready. I put Jackson on our bed while I scrambled to finish getting ready and of course my little Mommy {AKA ~ Alexie} came in and asked if she could feed Jackson. I really needed the help, so I accepted the offer (very quickly, I might add!). The next thing I know, I turn around to make sure everything is OK and I find Alexie BURPING JACKSON!! Seriously?! She is truly going to make the BEST MOMMY some day....and I can't wait to see her when that day comes! Doesn't she look so big? And Jackson didn't seem to mind it one bit! This has to be one of my new favorite pictures!!



And lastly, just because I always like a comparison picture....I had to show you this. What do you think....you think Jackson looks anything like his Daddy?



Next up....Mr. Will! Annie and Chris, you guys let me know when I can keep your little man overnight! Oh my goodness, I love this job of spoiling these babies rotten and then sending them home whenever...being an Aunt is an AWESOME job!