Every year for her birthday, my mom hosts a sleepover for all of the grand daughters 2 years old and older (there are 10 of them this year). The girls enjoy a bonfire and s’mores, camping out (weather permitting) and lots of fun girl activities. Of course the highlight of the weekend is just spending time with all of their girl cousins and their grandparents.
So, for the weekend, we get to pretend that we are a small family with just boys. The dynamic of having all boys without the calming influence of girls is interesting. (I literally just had to stop typing to pull Nicholas’ (1) hands out of the toilet.) My hats are off to you ladies who do it all of the time, although I must say that I’m never hurting for loves when my boys are around. 
Last night we built a fire put up the air mattress and had our own slumber party. We Mark and the boys stayed up late watching Star Wars. 
Today we are going to be tackling the leaves and hopefully putting in some shelves. Great boy type projects. What are you doing this weekend?
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Feeding my asparagus, and trying to catch up on the sleep I did not get last night.
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Went to a yard sale with my 11 year old son. I totally understand you, Kimberley. My daugther (20) left home when (not because) our 6th child – and fifth boy – was born. So yes, I have now 5 sons at home. We dream of and pray for two nice little girls to calm down the house
Tomorrow off for church, and then home and enjoy our lively handfull.
Thanks for your nice pictures.
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I love it! There are times when a combination of our children will go to their grandparent’s and we will either go ‘on a date’ and note how inconspicuous we are, or be at home thinking about how easy it is and how clean our kitchen floor is staying-and we only have five kids.
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That sounds like a lot of fun! Enjoy those sweet boys!
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Celebrating a 4th Birthday and patching a roof!
I have a friend with 6 boys…the energy level in that house is through the roof!
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Sending happy birthday wishes your way. A patched roof sounds like a great idea also.
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We had another birthday celebration for Jordan which included his grandparents, oldest sister and nephews. We grilled hamburgers, had cole slaw, baked beans, chips and three different cakes each made by one of his three sisters!
Isn’t it amazing how things feel so different even with one or two away? I still feel that I am missing someone in the line-up (my oldest) and she will be celebrating her fourth anniversary next month. I guess you never get over that feeling!
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Happy Birthday, Jordan. Blessed boy to have 3 cakes.
I’m sad to hear that when they get married, it’ll still feel like someone’s missing. But you do have grand children and I’m looking forward to that.
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I think we have those same dinosaur jammies!
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
My boys love them, they glow in the dark. We actually have two pairs one size apart, but Colby is in the smaller size so we won’t have matching boys until next year.
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I’ve had a totally girl day today. I brought the girls to swimming lessons. At the center there was a craft sale and lunch so after lessons the girls ate there and we enjoyed all the crafts (and of course came home with a few of them:). Then to enjoy the beautiful Autumn day we went on a long bike ride stopping at the park to play, and at the lake to skip rocks. Now the girls are dressing their ‘babies’ in their new craft sale clothes. It’s been such a fun relaxing day for all of us girls.
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
That sounds delightful!
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It is very strange to have just some of your kids I’m sure. I know when mine are ‘missing’ it just seems to quiet around here, even if just 1 is gone.
This weekend I wish we were enjoying the beautiful weather we are having, but we are fighting Influenza – so far 4 or the 5 kids that live at home and myself have it. think the college girls will be glad they are not home this weekend
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Hoping that your household feels better soon. We were sick a lot last winter and then had the Swine Flu this summer, so I’m praying for a healthy upcoming year.
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I spent today painting trim, baking “fall” cookies, and then spent time at the lake with my hubby and four children. It was a good day. Now looking forward to a great day of worship tomorrow.
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We are also raking leaves…and they are WET! It’s just the first round, we have to do it a couple of times to get them all and the trees are late dropping them this year. Do your kids like to play in the leaves? Our two who are still at home don’t like it any more but we do have some fun laughing and joking around while we rake and bag.
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 1:56 am
Our children love to play in the leaves. We have a dozen or so massive oak trees in addition to half a dozen maples and the other assortment, so leaf season at our house lasts and lasts.
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Enjoying the 75 degree sunny day!!
XoxoGapGirl
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How nice that you got to spend the weekend with your boys. I did the same thing, but I only have 2. It was a beautiful weekend!
Tamara
http://www.theunexperiencedmom.com
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Friday we did shopping and cooking for a get-together on Saturday to celebrate 3 birthdays. I hope to get the details in a post soon… Saturday was a great day with open-fire-cooked burgers, lots of food, lots of people, fishing, airsoft, music, and laughter. One family came in their RV, spent the night, went with us to church on Sunday (they regularly attend) and came back afterwards for more burgers and leftovers. It was a busy, fellowship-filled weekend.
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 10th, 2009 at 1:56 am
I’m tired thinking about all that.
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Awww.. That is such a sweet tradition that your mom has!
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Well Saturday went food shopping for 2 weeks worth of food several stores, totaled about $260. Not bad for us should actually last 3 weeks, I also had my 4 yr old cousin with us I forgot how tireing it is having a 4 yr old, in the carseat out of the car seat, in the shopping cart out of the shopping cart, My youngest is 8. We got home and did the cooking for several meals, I have been grouping my meals, for instance I made a pot of sauce and cooked off sausages. This turned into several meals, Sausage and peppers w/ tomatoes, w/o tomaotes w/ ricotta, baked ziti w/ sausage and meatballs, sauce w/ spagetti and meatballs(cooked on sunday),and Chicken Cutlet(cooked on Friday) Parmw/ spagetti and sauce. We also made Brownies for my dh Kevin for his birthday. On Sunday we went to Church and I made a couple of loaf of homeade brad in the machine, I also made pumpkin butter and bluberry preserves. Monday I attempted to make homeade Yogurt, It tastes okay but is very runny, I need to experiment with it more, Katy loves it with strawberry syrip like a smoothie. I actually can’t keep her out of it. lol. Any sugestions welcomed on how to get it thicker besides straining. tried that.
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
If your yogurt is runny I would give it more time to culture. Just wait until it is set up nice and firm, the culturing time may vary widely.
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Kimberly b Reply:
November 17th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Well I made a new batch this weekend and added more dry milk and increased the yogurt to 2 tbs and it worked much better. We had a very blessed weekend, My first grand son was born Friday November 13th at 2:08 Pm 19 inches and 6 pounds 12 ounces, Both mommy and baby are doing great!
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Raising Olives Reply:
November 18th, 2009 at 2:24 am
Yeah! Congratulations on both the yogurt and the baby!!!
Loved the pictures, he’s beautiful!
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My mother will occasionally take the three girls, leaving us with just the boys. It’s a lot of fun—I love spending time with my boys (with the girls too). We can watch football without the girls complaining! (I used to hate football because I couldn’t follow it, but my teenaged son is a walking book of football facts and trivia, so he can explain what is going on in the game, and I have learned to actually enjoy it.)
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