Organization???

 A few words from the crazy mom of 5 babies.  Our lives have changed dramatically with the birth of Emerson.  You would think that adding only one baby to the mix of 2 sets of twins would be easy, but it has proven a challenge.  For one thing, I am nursing this baby and that takes an enormous amount of time.  It is not exactly relaxing for me yet and I feel a bit exposed with the eyes from the inquisitive four year olds in the house, but we are working through it.  Another challenge is schedule.  I was pretty strict with Dallin and Clara and their eating and sleeping schedule and I was with Ava and Bennett, but this baby has no schedule so life is interesting to say the least.  I am a person who does better with some kind of pattern and organization in my life (something Mason laughs at daily) but that is how I survive.  Life without a schedule is harder on me than my kids and I don't know how I'm going to survive it!

I HAD to post this picture of the 4 bums in the shower.  I love it and would put it on facebook but I don't know if Daddy would approve!

New idea

I have decided to use my blog as a journal in a sense.  I don't have a lot of time to write things down that I am thinking or what my children are doing so this seemed as good of place as any.  Currently I am listening to Ava cough in the next room while my mom is trying to get Bennett back to sleep and Emerson is quietly sleeping in his basket next to me.  I have 3 out of 5 children sick with the croup this week and it has been quite the evening.  We have had one baby throw up everywhere while I was nursing so Granee got to clean her up, another baby so miserable that he cannot settle down and a couple of 4 year olds who decided that listening to mom was optional today, so they went to bed in trouble.  It is a typical day in the Mitchell household!
As I am writing this, I realize that my babies are getting older really fast and though sometimes I think I want them out of this stage faster, I quickly realize that I would miss the need to be held and snuggled (all 5 at the same time of course), the silly conversations I have with Dallin and Clara everyday, the constant questions, the way Ava and Bennett are trying to communicate with their words now and how quickly they are adding new words every day and the love and quiet time (sometimes) I get from nursing Emerson.  I would and will miss this times very much.
So, even though I call my children "the monsters" to most people, they are my monsters and I love them with every fiber of my being.  I am blessed to be a mother.  It was all I every wanted for so very long.  And even though I believe the Lord to be crazy to send me 5 babies in 4 years, I will take them and cherish them and try harder every day to live up to that great responsibility of being a mom to so many "littles."  I may go crazy in the process, but I want everyone to know that I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Updated photos of the babes!

JibJab fun

Merry Christmas from the kiddos!

Riding horses and turning 4!

Life has been a little crazy these past couple of months.  We are now in Silver City and have been for almost a month.  It has finally settled down a bit and we are finding our new norm!  We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with Uncle Chuck, Ashley, Sam and their beautiful babies Benjamin and Scarlet.  I am currently 32 weeks along and on modified bed rest which means stay down as much as possible.  It is a bit difficult with my crew but we try!  Here are some updated photos of the kids.  They are getting so big and independent these days.  Dallin and Clara just turned 4 on November 27th.  Dallin has been telling everyone that he is four!  They are excited and enjoy being the big kids!

 Bennett playing on the swing set.  He is a monkey and his new favorite words are "I do."  He doesn't want anyone to do anything for him!  It is a bit frustrating at times but all I keep telling him is it is a good thing he is cute or else...

 Ava is our sweet and mellow baby.  She loves her big sister and follows her everywhere.  Her favorite phrases are "silly" and "no!"  She has an independent streak in her but as long as everyone leaves her alone and she gets what she wants when she wants it, she is perfect!

 Clara on the horse at Uncle Chuck's house.  She loves riding the horse and wanted to go all by herself!

 Ava and Daddy on the horse.  She was so mad and cried a lot when we took her off!  She didn't want to get off her horse!

 Bennett and Daddy on the horse.  I love this picture because they have the exact same expression!  And Mason doesn't think Bennett is his kid!

 Dallin and cousin Benjamin on the horse.  They were constant buddies over the holiday weekend.

We are 4!  Dallin requested a Spiderman cake and Clara requested a Princess Tiana cake.  I am a little "caked" out this year, but they loved them.  They had a great birthday filled with lots of phone calls from our favorite people and more than enough presents and goodies!  I cannot believe they are four already.  How time flies when you are always pregnant  busy with life!  They are a joy in our lives and keep us on our toes every moment of the day.  Happy Birthday my little big kids!

Finally!

 I have been feeling a bit under the weather with this pregnancy.  I have been pretty tired, so blogging has been on the back burner for a while.  Here are my cute yet slightly crazy babies in all their happenings!

 Sweet Ava girl!  She keeps us on our toes with her personality mixed with her sweetness!

 Clara holding her new cousin in AZ.  She loves babies!

 Beating the heat for a little at the Phoenix Zoo.

 Quirky little monkey!  He looks so innocent but boy do we have to keep our eyes on him 24/7!

 Need I say more!  Crazy babies watching Daddy cook breakfast.  The 2 princesses and the 2 crazy boys!

 Our soccer boy!  He just started soccer and was so excited about his shin guards that his prayer before bed was that he could wear them to bed!  We compromised and they are under his bed!

New kid pictures!

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Here are the latest pics of the babes!  Ava and Bennett turned one about a month ago and we needed new pictures to commemorate the occasion!

How we got them to sit still for a few seconds was a miracle!

Dallin and Clara wouldn't sit close to each other for this shot, but still really cute!

Sweet Ava baby.  Loved this chair and was quite mad when we took her out of it!

They don't really like each other most of the time, so they (Bennett) don't look too happy to take the picture!

Handsome boy!

Those eyes will get you!  Don't be deceived by the calmness of this picture, he was a goof the rest of the time!

Beautiful girl!

Our little ladies!

 Not really cooperative for the boy picture! Haha!

Couldn't resist!  He looks so serious!