*I* Think his tractor is sexy.

Thanks to my Uncle Scott walking me through some tractor stuff, we got the gool 'ole Cub Cadet working!!!! Travis and the kids all had fun on it after he got home from work today. My backyard looks amazing!!!!

Happy Easter!

This Easter there were a lot of firsts in the Ferris house.
It was the first Easter, in a long time, all the eggs stayed in the shoes and did not end up in the belly of a Boston Terrier! We got smart; Toby slept in our room, and we remembered to close the bedroom door.
The kids were up before us, and managed to get into their Easter baskets before we could even get out of bed (I blame the bedroom door being closed).
We were ready for church with time to spare (and even made it to the early service). This one is blamed out our "smart" alarm clock. It sprung forward an hr and so when I woke up in a panic at 7:15 concerned about having to be out of the house in an hr I jumped into the shower. It was only after getting out and stumbling downstairs to get coffee that I realized it was in fact only 6:25AM.
I hope everyone had a blessed, fantastic day and were able to celebrate and reflect on the awesome gift of Christ and the empty tomb!


The shoes, lined up outside the bedroom doors.



The baskets on the table.

Travis was able to get a picture of the kids checking out their loot (I know, we need to get around to painting that wall)

The four kids all decked out in their Easter gear.

We made an Easter dinner tonight and had 5 friends from church over. It was wonderful to be able to entertain!!! I loved every minute of it. Travis helped me make a ham, a lamb, veggies, potatoes, jello salad/pudding, and he was nice enough to create and Easter egg cake minutes before our company came.

Beautiful weather!

With the beautiful weather we have had all week, has come the fist injury of the season. Maddox fell out of the wagon and scraped his face along the driveway. As soon as I asked if he needed a bath to feel better, he stopped crying and dove right into the tub.

Olivia loves being outside, this picture was taken at 8AM, she had already gotten Maddox to open the back door, had her shoes off, and was pushing her car around the deck. I will have to drag her in for lunch and her nap. It's a good problem to have.

Fun week and weekend

We had a busy few days! My Aunt Deb and two cousins came to town on Thursday afternoon and stayed until Saturday night. We had so much fun together!

Thursday night we went to the high school and watched Nelson's first grade musical, "ARF". It was so cute!! Nelson was absolutely adorable as Corporal Schnauzer.
We made pretzels with almond bark and M&Ms, all the kids had fun with that activity! Tammy was also amazing and so willing to help with my kids. She watched them for me on Friday afternoon so Tracy, Aunt Deb, and I could get away for some shopping.

Saturday afternoon we went up to the top of the Arch before I had to bring them back to the train station. The Mississippi was flooded so it made parking very interesting! :) But, we found a spot and enjoyed the incredible view from over 600 ft above the city.

For Mom and Dad Nelson

In honor of the many Saturdays I spent "helping" clean out the garage, I thought you guys would appreciate this post.

Maddox became OBSESSED with the broom, Travis couldn't finish making a cut on the wood and he was there with the broom sweeping up the mess. It got so bad we had "ground" him from the garage until Travis was finished using the circular saw.

Peg board, the new love of my life. It organizes things so easily!!!! I already have instructed Travis to go buy 2 more sheets of it. I can find lots more things to susspend and hang.

Busy, productive weekend

Travis took advantage of the craptastic weather this weekend to get a lot of projects finished around the house. We had a few lingering things that we kept saying we wanted to do, but then other things would come up (fun things) and we would push the project off for another weekend. Travis declared this weekend, THE WEEKEND! If we we wanted to do it, had the materials in the house for completion, it was being completed! Right after Christmas bought 30 knobs/pulls to put on the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen.
I'm happy to report, 60 holes, 30 knobs/pulls/ and 4 hrs later, we have cabinets that look amazing!

The only thing I can safely say I miss from our old house is the shed that was in the backyard, it was like a one-car garage that held our lawn mower, wheel barrow, rakes, shovels, fertilizer spreader, leaf blower, and other odds and ends that we needed to store so we could use them once every 3-5 years. When we moved we had lofty plans to put a storage shed on our nice large patio behind the garage. It wouldn't interfere in our fabulous 1.5 acre yard or large fully gated party decks! The homeowners' association said, "negative". No shed for us. We had to try to find a way to make everything fit in the garage and still have room for 5 bikes, a bike trailer, a lawn tractor (apparently to call it a riding lawn mower is just offensive), garbage cans, recycling bins, and 2 cars... Yeah, the garage needed major help!!!
Travis took Friday off to try to tackle it. He not only tackled it, he organized it, and made it one of my new favorite places to hang out.

Building an 8x4 shelf to suspend from the ceiling
Proudly displaying his shelf, I offered to throw a sleeping bag up there and allow him to make it into his "man cave". He didn't want to.

Cooper sitting on the new shelf, Travis and I decided maybe we should make it a hangout for the 3 boys so when they were driving me crazy we could send them climbing up onto the shelf (and then move the ladder forcing them to stay up there) Again, we thought about it for a while and realized it might not be the best idea.

Using the shelf for what it was intended for! I love that slowly everything is getting a place!!!!

Gotta love the green!

Travis found out about 6 years ago that his Ferris relatives came from Ireland. Since then, we have tried to do something special on St. Patrick's Day. Before we had 4 kids we used to go to a fun restaurant that had live bagpipers and enjoy food and entertainment. (by the time we were seated we would be more than over the bagpipers, but it always kept the boys entertained) After we had Maddox I started cooking corned beef and cabbage (made popular by Irish Americans, not anything from Ireland). Every year we find another way to make the day fun. I will take a moment to brag, this year the meal was my best, by far!!!!!


The kids all ready to begin a day of green!!! We managed to have green at every meal today, thank goodness for food coloring! :)

Green chocolate chip pancakes to start our day of green and celebration.

Travis found shamrocks and Irish flags and cut them out to make a banner for the wall and windows.

The table is set and ready for everyone to dig in.

Sitting down to our yummy green themed dinner! Everyone loved the corned beef and cabbage! Maddox and Olivia had 3 helpings of each.

Literal Math

Last night I was reviewing Nelson's math homework when I came across a bonus question he forgot to answer.

The instructions were very clear, stating, "Be sure to show how you got your answer." I handed the homework back to Nelson, and he came back a while later with this....

Furiously, I asked him, "Why were you drawing instead of doing your homework?"

To which he replied, "Dad, it said that I had to show how I got my answer, and the picture shows me counting on my fingers, 4 take away 2."

Gotta love a literal child!

Free At Last, Free At Last!!

Sunday mornings are quite busy for us without the added stress of getting 4 kids fed, dressed, and in the car so we can attend to our Sunday Service prep responsibilities. Like a pack of wolves tracking a herd, the kids subconsciously lie in wait for the perfect opportunity for Mom and Dad to be pre-occupied before they pounce on their freedom to misbehave.

Despite the repetition of each Sunday's events, (the instruction, the disobedience, the correction, the even stronger correction, followed by short-lived compliance which eventually gives way to disobedience, followed by my frustration, furious correction, and a pre-emptive one for good measure) what occurs in my house every Sunday is proof that children can only remember up to 6 days. Like Bill Murray, this is my perpetual Groundhog's day.

But this past Sunday, I was determined to change fate. Olivia hadn't woken up yet, and I figured the best way to keep quiet 1 boy who decides it's his job to control the remote, 1 boy who can't whisper, and 1 boy who instigates anything he can, is to shove food in their mouths.

In a pre-coffee stupor, I fumbled around the kitchen searching for something... anything, that would keep me from having to say, SHHHHHHH! every 30 seconds. I spied some left over cake from Cooper's birthday and invented the excuse that since this fine Sunday morning was Sheri's birthday, I would give them some "used" cake. Somehow, I managed to rationalize this as a perfect mix of spoiling the kids a bit, while at the same time, helping my wife by clearing out the refrigerator. Besides, it would keep them occupied long enough for me to take advantage of first-ever Sleeping Beauty and take a quick shower.

For the most part, it was a success. I was now clean, Olivia woke up in a good mood, the boys were all fed, and had somehow managed to stay out of trouble despite being hyped-up on sugar. It wasn't until 15 minutes later when I heard the strange noise of dog-tags tracing the floor, tongues slurping up the stairs and the cutest call of, "Da" as my little girl was searching for me.

When I poked my head out the bedroom door, I was greeted by a giddy little girl, squealing with delight as 2 dogs licked at her frosting covered hands. With a reaction time faster than my college-day reflexes, I managed to keep my pants from the laundry as I picked my daughter up, holding her at arms length, unable to cradle her in the cake smeared pajamas. Trying to stifle a laugh, I called in backup.

Following the trail of cake crumbs that the dogs were gobbling up now that the frosting covered fingers were out of reach, it didn't take us long to realize that although we fed our 3 boys, neither of us fed our daughter!

Undeterred, she wrestled a chair out from the table, pushed it over to the counter, climbed up and enjoyed a breakfast buffet of cake in a still-open Tupperware container. A quick calculation of the pieces left, minus the pieces served, indicates that she ate 2 large pieces of cake.-- more than any of the boys.

As Sheri's thoughts turned toward worry that Olivia might have an upset stomach, I became excited, realizing that with 4 self-sufficient kids, I can almost taste freedom again. At last!

Of course, there's still the issue of potty training, but, one can dream, right?

This is how I feel

We came home from a long, but amazing, day on Saturday. It was the longest we had ever been away from the kids (9 hrs). We had 2 amazing babysitters split the day up and play with the kids. Maddox was so excited to have us home he wouldn't slow down! Finally Travis convinced him to sit on the couch and just relax. Within minutes, he was sound asleep.

Time for a new adventure...

I have been a stay at home mom for 8 years (tomorrow). In September I'm going to try something new... I'm going to be a stay at home mom and a teacher. I have been offered the opportunity to go back to work, take Maddox and Olivia with me, but not have Olivia glued to my hip. The latter gives me great joy!!!! I love that little girl, but she makes the spider monkey we reffered to as Nelson look so tame and mild. I can barely shower without her pounding on the door and screaming becasue she's not touching me for those 6.3 minutes (seriously, it's that short! I can't take the screaming after that.)
I will be away from the house 3 days a week from the time the older 2 catch the bus until about 45 minutes before they come home. I guess that means I have to take this spring and summer to create an actual schedule to maximize my 2 full days at home every week.

Superbowl Sunday, Ferris syle.

We were invited a few different Superbowl activities tonight. We decided, since the boys have school tomorrow, we would throw our own party at home.
We let each person pick a food; Cooper wanted pizza bites, Nelson wanted nuggets, Maddox asked for puppy chow, and Liv wanted apples and dip. We through some leftover taco dip out there and some juice boxes and declared it our own party!




The 3 boys showing their fierce faces.

All 4 kids lined up with their footballs, waiting for kick off.

Mommy and Liv showing off their stylish Superbowl attire. Jammies make every party a better party!

I have really good intentions...

I set out daily to play with the kids. Make fun games, dress and undress dolls, make train track designs around the couch... I set out to do that. In reality, I can be found huddled in the corner, trying not to show fear, with this book in my hands.

Lucky you!!!

2 posts in one day!! How did you all get so lucky?!?!?!
I know, it's becasuse I love you and I know that some of you have lost sleep over the dry spell of 3 wks...
I'm back to blogging about my cooking!!
www.crazycookingwomen.blogspot.com

I know, it's been 10 months since my last post, I'm ashamed.

Happy 100th Day of School!!!!

The 1ooth day of school is a really big deal. It wasn't a big deal when I was in school and it wasn't a big deal when I was student teaching or teaching... But, it's a big deal now!
Nelson had to find a shirt or hat and affix 100 of the same objects to it. He chose to wear a white T-shirt and attatch 100 rubber bands to it using safety pins. He grouped the rubber bands in 10's, 5's, and 1's.
Cooper had to bring in 1oo of some food item to share with his class and make trail mix with. Thank goodness he's got me for a mom!!!! We are never short on chocolate chips (just so you know, 100 chocolate chips don't look like a lot when they are counted out and in a sandwich bag)

BIG WEEK!!!

Olivia decided to pick up some slack around the house. She has taken it upon herself to start cooking for the family. She's already mastered multi-tasking. She was eating pizza and preparing dinner at the same time.

Maddox dressed himself completely unassisted!!! Yes, the pants are on backwards, but with those pockets, it makes it much easier to put Lightening McQueen and Chick in there for trips around the house.

Family Fun weekend!

This past weekend has been great! Travis had Friday off, so we were able to get a head start on our Family time. We spend all Friday together as a family building with Legos, playing Star Wars, dressing babies, and coloring. Saturday was spent picking out cabinet door pulls and then had a family outing to Home Depot (our home away from home the past couple months) we found a new ceiling fan for the family room, picked up paint for the dining room, and plywood to build a "fort" under the basement steps for the boys. By dinner we were exhaused! Saturday night we made homemade ice cream (that didn't turn out so we will have vanilla ice cream soup).



The spread that Travis put together for the 6 of us Friday night. The deer sausage was amazing! Now I have to go on a hunt for some more.
Indoor picnic fun! Followed by Up! (great movie, loved it)

Cuddling with Daddy and watching G-Force.

Lounging with Toby and watching TV.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent with the Nelson side of the family. We had tons of fun!!! All the kids loved playing together and the adults enjoyed brief moments of conversation between all the crazy activity.
Travis got laser tag from my parents. The boys gave him a set as well so all 4 of us could play in the backyard. :)

Sophia and Olivia posing before the kids got to tear into all of their presents. We have discovered Liv is quite the little ham. I can dedicate an entire post just to her and all of her little poses when she sees a camera.

My boys always get matching shirts for holidays (Christmas and Easter), yep, I am that mom... Sheila and I usually end up in matching outfist for the holidays too. Keep in mind, we don't shop together and live in different states. This year, we had different outfits on, but we ended up buys the same shirts for our boys. Gotta love the twin connection.

The kids posing with the milk and cookies for santa.

Favorite Christmas Presents

Cooper and Nelson posing on their skateboards.
Maddox and Travis showing off the train table we gave Maddox (Travis put legs on Maddox's old bed) to go with the train set Santa gave him.

Olivia pushing around her new baby in her new stroller.