We have lots of blog catching up to do, so I am going to do my best.

This is from Labor Day Weekend. My mom was nice enough to come up and help, and even nicer to stay with the babies so Ron and I could take Violet and Jack to the street fest on Division. It was fun doing something with just the older kids and they loved all the carnie rides. Amazing that going round and round can be soo exciting. There also was a bounce house and a giant inflatable slide - huge hits too.

After the rides, we hit a local spot and had mini burgers and nachos (in keeping with the carnival theme). Mom and Dad even had a brewskie. This is what counts as being subversive these days in the Payne household - beer in the middle of the day!

What can make a day of carnival fun complete? Cotton candy! The good kind, fresh spun. I sent Ron to get ONE for the kids as they were wiped out from all the playing and walking and we still had to walk home. He came back with one for each. Nothing perks up tired kids like spun sugar!

It was nice to get out and feel like "we can do this", thanks Mom for staying home with the babes.

School!!!

Violet started preschool the day after Labor Day. She has been looking
forward to this all summer long. I hope it meets her expectations. Here is a
photo of her on the first day. She is going in the afternoons from 12:10 to 2:40.
It is a nice break for me as the noise level in the house drops by about 75%.
Jack misses her right when she leaves, and periodically when she is gone says
"I miss Violet, I want to go to school too". But we have been able to spend time
just the two of us (sort of) as the babies are starting to settle into a regular nap pattern - some may call it a "schedule".
Ron has been helpful taking her when he can, working at the nearby coffee shop for the duration and running her home. It sure is easier when I don't have to schlep all five of them to drop her off.

Next year both Violet and Jack can go - whoohoo!

It's been so long but . . .

We have been a little busy around here.

It seems like every day I think about what new pictures or updates that I'm going to go home and post. However, by the time I get home and Erin and I calm the pack, feed and clean Jack and V, clean up, put big kids to bed, feed and hold babies, that getting on the computer is the last thing on our minds (except for my late night fantasy football ramblings but that's a whole different thing).

Anyway, as you might imagine taking care of my miniature basketball team has consumed our lives for the last 2 months. Here is a video that sums life up for the Payne parents.