Say "Cheese!"

Sorry that I have not posted new pictures of the kids recently but some little one managed to pull the diaper bag off the table, open almost all the lollipops, lick themselves into a gooey, sticky mess, and then put their cute little sticky fingers all over our video camera causing the on/off button to become stuck...which meant I couldn't take pictures of the beautiful sidewalk chalk artwork that said "We love you, Mom and Dad!  Love the Kids!"  complete with a little flower garden and lots of little hearts or the beautiful decorations they secretly put up in the family room with ribbons and pictures along with their famous "lemonade, banana sprite" drink.

Luckily my sweet, brillant husband bought a nice new camera for me for my birthday!  It's nothing expensive but after 10 years of the same camera, it is wonderful!  I was soooo excited that I actually read the instruction manual so that I could know all the cool things my new best friend could do...I'm still not sure what all it can do...But there is only one way to find out for sure!



I decided my very first picture should be of my number 1.  He had fallen asleep on the couch and woke up around midnight hence the sleepy look.  I don't think the flash did much to improve his mood!



Of course these 3 are ALWAYS ready for a picture!



Jackson was dying to have a picture of his hand!



My little guy with his peanut butter face!



We were soooo excited Jackson and I even took a picture of our feet!



And then we took a picture of John's feet!



And then of course, we had to take a picture of our sweet little Myrtle's feet, too (crumbs and all)!



After breakfast our sweet Meredith decided she needed to do some calendaring so she grabbed a pen and Cardi's calendar!



Isn't she sweet even with a snotty nose and bed head!



We visited Bella at school today and had lunch with her and  her friend Emily.  It was fun, but boy were we all tired and ready to head home!



But we still had enough energy for a few more shots!



Look at how crisp that picture is!!!



Meredith was not as thrilled about nap time as I was!



Just in case you didn't get enough silliness already!



Just can't get enough of that sweet Jackson!

The Last 2 Weeks in Review

The last two weeks have been filled with baking treats for kids classes, volunteering at school, Grandparent's Day, sick kids, Valentine's Day celebrations, school parties, stomach flu, playdates, a super fun primary activity, babysitting 6 super active but really fun and sweet kids, house cleaning, catching up with friends, birthday parties, followed by the stomach flu again! 

But my favorite memories include ...staying up late to help Cardi bake Pueblo bread for her class followed by a frantic search for her recorder sheet music for "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" that she needed the next day for a concert for grandparent's day.  We finally ended up finding a couple different versions on line.

Ice Cream and Movies:

I love when I get the chance to have one on one time with my kids.

On Friday, Bella and Cardi each attended a sleep over.  John and Meredith were asleep and so I got to spend some one on one time with Jackson.  He is so fun to watch movies with.  He has such a hearty laugh for such a skinny boy!  I loved just sitting next to him eating icecream and soak all his sweetness in.
Lessons on Love:

In the midst of all the humdrum that fills my days, my sweet friend Linda, died from a rare form of cancer a little over a week ago.  She was a beautiful, vibriant person who left her mark on everyone she met.
She passed quietly in her home surrounded by her family.  Her funeral services were at 7:30 p.m. on Valentine's Day ... something at first I was sad about... I was sad that her 5 beautiful kids would always associate Valentine's Day (a day about love)  with their mother's death but after attending her service I left feeling that this was a  perfect day to remember Linda's life. She loved her husband and her kids, she loved her family, and everyone around her and she was deeply loved. I left with a renewed appreciation for temple covenants and the knowledge that  families are eternal and with a secret vow in my heart to love more.

To My Valentines

*** (Warning:  This is a sappy post...)

Valentine's Day has never really been a huge deal at our house. Sure, we buy flowers and candy (who doesn't like a holiday where you are encouraged to eat chocolate?) and cute little stuffed animals for the kids. But this year, we spent more time focusing on showing our love for each other and less about ... I can't believe I am saying this ... but less about chocolate. 

We spent time focusing on showing each other how much we care.  We wrote  on paper hearts that we posted in the dining room all the things we love as well as the things we love about each other. (I'll admit some of the kids were resistant to writing nice things about their sister but in the end even the stubborn ones managed to find something they loved about their sibling). 

We still bought balloons for the kids and candy and of course the traditional stuffed animal that Daddy buys them every Valentine's Day and yes, those are flowers in the center of the table but this Valentine's Day we remembered everyone that we love both far and near (even if we didn't call or send a card).  So, Happy Valentine's Day (a little belated) Dear Family and Friends!  We love you!



Can't you just feel the Love?



Valentine's Day morning!  I baked mini orange cranberry muffins as requested...but the kids decided chocolate sounded better for breakfast.  Yes, I am one of those moms who lets their kids have chocolate for breakfast on Valentine's Day...oh and Christmas!

Some people only say "I love you" once a year  or occasionally but I am blessed to have a husband who says it everyday.  So, in honor of Valentine's Day this year I will bore you with 20 things I love about James (although I could think of at least a hundred more...)

I LOVE THIS MAN!  The one with the great smile that melts my heart even if I'm mad at him.  He is wonderful, kind, and sweet, and oh so handsome!  He is the love of my life and my best friend.  He makes me laugh and keeps me sane (well, mostly sane).

1.  I love that when I climb into bed with cold feet he snuggles up next to me anyway and lets me put my cold feet on him.
2.  I love that even when I (or usually the kids) accidently wake him up in the middle of the night and he can't go back to sleep, he is never angry.
3.  I love how he interacts with the kids teaching them all sorts of different fun facts from exotic bugs to how things work.
4.  I love that he likes sci fi and fantasy movies and books (so that I always have someone to watch them with).
5.  I love how he will watch a movie with me even if he doesn't like the movie.
6.  I love how he can see the beauty in any place any where.
7.  I love that he expresses how much he enjoys watching movies with me even though I talk to the     characters in the movie as if they could really hear me and would actually take my advice if they could...a trait unfortunately for him our kids have inherited.
8.  I love that he has  a strong testimony and when I want to play hooky from church, he doesn't let me get a way with it.
9.  I love that he wakes up early with the kids and makes breakfast and lets me sleep in (even if he hasn't gotten a lot of sleep).
10.  I love that every Christmas and birthday he makes me a homemade coupon book for free massages, hugs, and kisses, and I usually get at least one free coupon good for anything...now I wish I hadn't spent it on the Chinese food...I sure could use a good camera.
11.  I love how even when he has worked all day he will still come home and help with the kids and sometimes cook dinner.
12.  I love how he always encourages me.
13.  I love how we can laugh together even at the most awkward moments.
14.  I love that he is my confidant.
15.  I love that because of him, we have 5 beautiful, smart children.
16.  I love that he rarely complains. 
17.  I love how he encourages me to have "me" time...but secretly all I want is time alone with him just talking and laughing.
18.  I love that when I am sick just being close to him makes me feel better.
19.  I love that he makes me a better person.
20.  I love being his ... and I quote his "One True Love."

I also LOVE these 5 little people who make our lives so much better.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, VALENTINES!  I LOVE YOU!!!

Odds & Ends

Yesterday, I was online (once I figured out it was not our cable connection that was the problem but the new microwave I was forced to buy when our old one died that had flipped the breaker and caused me to have no internet or phone for hours...sorry, I digress...).  Let me start again, so yesterday, I was online  looking for a family home evening board.  I found some really cute ideas including the one above from brandyscraft.blogspot.com.  If you are interested she has some GREAT ideas!  Of course I don't own a cricut (I actually had to look up what a cricut was) but it is a super cute idea. 

While I was busy looking on the computer this is what Meredith was busy doing...

I should of known something was up when it was so quiet!





Random Thoughts: Where are you Mr. Motivation (or is it Miss), Picky Eaters, and Plate Cleaners

I am officially in a slump.  Somehow, somewhere I have lost my motivation.  I had it a few months ago.  But, I'm not sure where I put it.  I would try retracing my steps but try doing that without  motivation...(sigh)..."Where are you, Mr. Motivation or is it Miss?"
Meredith on the other hand, has plenty of motivation, innovations, and a whole lot of other "ations."  I think she has some sort of super hero power like "Elasta Baby."  Every time I put something out of reach she has somehow managed to reach it.  Last night, I was cutting onions for a creamed spinach to go with our pasta.  Somehow with her gangly super hero arms she reached up and grabbed the cutting board and there  went the onions.  My little explorer or perhaps a picky eater...  This morning I made cinnamon pancakes and oatmeal.  Meredith picked at both.  When I took her down from her high chair, she grabbed one of Cardi's shoes, put it in her mouth and crawled away (like a dog with his bone).  I guess there is no accounting for taste!  Jackson on the other hand, literally cleaned his plate with his tongue and then tried to put his dish on the dish shelf with all the clean ones (ughh...).  Now if I could just get motivated to clean the dishes and put away the shoes...

Extra! Extra! Jackson turns 5!

Our sweet Jackson turned 5 yesterday!  On Thursday, Jackson and I went to MacDonald's together and then shopping.  On Friday after preschool we had a party with pizza and dinosaur cookies.  We made dinosaurs out of toliet paper tubes and a template I found on line (if only I had thought to take a picture of it).  On Saturday, I was planning to make a dinosaur cake but Jackosn just wanted a donut with sprinkles on it...talk about easy!  So, we had yummy donuts for everyone and ice cream!

Look at that delicious donut cake!

First interview with Jackson, now 5.  Words of wisdom and other Jacksonisms...Jackson and his yummy donut cake!

New Year!

Wow!  I can't believe another year has come and gone.  I usually take down Christmas decorations the day after Christmas but this year I wanted to keep them up.  Maybe it's because we actually had room for a Christmas tree or maybe  it's because the kids did such a great job of decorating it or maybe because this year we got to share Thanksgiving with my sister and her family and put the tree up together.  Whatever the reason it was just different this year.  But alas, Christmas has come and gone and we are already 9 days into the new year.  My New Year's resolution to eat healthier lasted a whole 2 days!  I hope my spiritual resolutions last a little longer!
Last week all the kids changed Sunday school classes.  Cardi is now a Valiant 9, while Bella is now in senior primary and a CTR 7.  I can't believe she will be 8 in July and getting baptized this year.  She is already preparing herself and is very excited!  Our sweet Jackson is now a CTR 4 and can you believe John is a SUNBEAM!!!  In 5 months and 11 days Meredith will be in nursery...not that I'm counting down...ok yes I am! 
I am now teaching the Valiant 8s.  They are a fun class and can sit a little longer than the CTR 5s.  But I do miss my CTR 5 class.  James is still in the Elder's Quorum Presidency and very busy at work.  We are looking forward to spending more quality time together as a family and maybe finally settling down roots this year.  I say this often but I am so grateful for all the wonderful family and friends that we have.  Each of you make us  a little better than we were before and bless our lives in so many ways! 



The Fab 5 before church last Sunday (January 2).

Our little CTR 4 and Sunbeam!

Look at our sweet CTR 7!

Our sweet Valiant 9!