Prisoner

I find that days that I get a TON done around the house, completing my to-do list, I end the day with little patience for my kids' whining and antics.  So, after a stressful FHE where I'm sure they didn't hear or understand the lesson on Repentance, dinner, and evening, I had had enough and ended up splitting Brennon and Tyson up to make bedtime easier.  It worked like a charm...until 3:22AM.  Tyson came into my room and said he wanted a "prisoner."  I had had little patience for him before bed, and now had even less.  I could not figure out, for the life of me, what he wanted. I showed him pretty much every toy that was his favorite, promised him that I'd find it in the morning, and was almost ready to scream when it dawned on me...he usually is sleeping with someone.  So, I asked him if he wanted someone to sleep with him.  He stopped his desperate cries enough to answer yes.  Since Randy was out of town, I had him come in and lay with me.  It made me laugh to realize that he called Brennon sleeping with him a "prisoner."  I wonder if, when they are laying together at night, they talk about how this place is a prison.  How they are my slaves.  I'm sure they do:)  Prisoners:)

Fortune Cookies

I have never given much stock to the "prophesy" that comes from the fortune cookie.  I always read them, but I never think about them as the Gospel truth.  I usually even roll my eyes at the "wisdom" of them.  Today is my friend Jamie's birthday.  We were able to sneak away for an hour and a half to talk about whatever we wanted, without the interjections from either of our kids.  It was nice, especially since we got to go to a "grownup" restaurant- PF Chang.  Awesome!  We had been talking about how right before we left, Randy and I were going over our finances.  We haven't been very good about watching our money since we moved here.  If we want it, we get it, and that's that.  Things are going fine, but we both know we need to reign in our wants/spending from here on out or we won't have anything to show after all of Randy's hard work.  We're not a tit-for-tat couple, but we both know we need to do better.  So, when my fortune cookie spewed forth this,

"Your financial situation will soon be improving.  Use your money wisely."

I thought, "Hey, maybe those Chinese seers really know what they're talking about!"

Daddy-Daughter Dance

This was taken at Keilie's Activity Day Girls Daddy-Daughter Dance.  It makes my heart melt seeing how she looks up at her dad.  He really is her first love!

Cheer

Towards the end of eighth grade a friend told me that "with a personality like mine I should try out for the Cheer Squad."  I had never thought about it before, but decided to give it a try.  If someone thinks I can do it, maybe I can.  So, in comes this little girl with no cheer, dance, or gymnastic experience, somewhat poor coordination, low self esteem, who can get excited without feeling embarrassed.  I bet they were thinking I'd chicken out first cheer.  Nope!  I worked my little tail off and made the team.  I was super excited from then on out.  I did it!  I may have had to work harder than the others to perfect the dance routines and NEVER learned to do a back-handspring, but I'd made it!  It was the best dare I've ever taken.  It changed my life in so many ways. 

Fastforward to today... Caden started Little League this year.  He's tried a few different sports, all of which he's only done one season for one reason or another.  We didn't have high hopes for him when he told us he wanted to start Baseball this late in his life.  Most of the kids that try out for that kind of thing have been pitching and hitting since their parents shoved it down their throats at three.  Then, at 11, Caden decides he wants a go at it.  Fine with me, I don't have babies anymore that make it hard to leave the house, this will be fun.  It was pretty clear right off the bat (had to use that phrase) that Caden was not going to be the number one player.  It doesn't make it any easier that they ALWAYS have practice on Monday night.  He misses one practice every single week.  However, from the first practice to last night's game, the team has made so many improvements.  None more so that Caden.  He is really getting into the swing of things (there's another one.  Couldn't help myself.)  Anywhooo... last night he got up to the plate, ready to hit that all-American grand slam.  I was pretty much biting my nails, but not because I don't do that anymore, remember.  I wanted my son to hit that ball more than anything else I'd wanted that week.  Second pitch and he clips the ball.  Next pitch, gone!  I was up and out of those stands, screaming like a banshee, yelling for my son to "Run, Caden, Run!!!"  I was so proud that my son had made it on base!!  After the fanfare died down, after the team had yelled "GO CADEN!!" I sat down feeling pride in my heart for my boy!  Randy leans over and whispers, "I wonder who's kid that is?"  We had a giggle and continued to watch the game.  It's stayed with me, though.  I don't feel embarrassed that I was the only mother that actually lifted her bottom off of the stands.  I don't care that he didn't make it past first base with the next kids striking out.  I don't care that I probably looked like a maniac screaming my guts out at a Little League game.  My kids will NEVER wonder if their mom is proud!  My kids will always know that I am in their corner cheering them on, secretly wishing I could bring along those 9th grade pon-pons.  I will always be that mom, the one that screams like a banshee over the smallest of accomplishments.  My kids are LOVED by a mom that loves to cheer! 

Chore Charts

In an effort to find the chores that my kids enjoy doing to eliminate the complaining each night, I asked them their preference at FHE last night.  Our lesson was titled "Sharing household responsibilites."  Randy had the kids help me fold the 7+ laundry baskets of clean clothes that had accumulated from our sickness.  I should have folded them the second then came out of the dryer, but always found myself quickly changing out the loads to get back to other cleaning matters.  Thus, accumulation of a mountain of laundry!  Side note...he asked all of the kids if they'd like to do that alone, because I don't want/like to either.  That made me feel so good that he realizes that just because I chose and can be a stay-at-home mom doesn't mean I LOVE doing laundry.  Anyway, back to my story.  So, we're asking the kids the chores that they enjoy doing.  Vacuuming (had to smile at this one.  It's my favorite, too!) Mowing the lawn, Set the table, Clear the table, on and on.  Then it's Tyson's turn to say what he likes to do.  "1. Get a motorcycle for my birthday.  2.  Go down a roller coaster.  3.  Get a gun for his birthday."  So you see, he didn't quite get the meaning of our lesson.  And...you see I was not lying about my previous birthday wish post!  Gotta love what comes out of the mouth of babes:)

B-Bop & B-Boy

My cousin Brennon lives close to Seattle.  So, when we moved up here, I new we were going to get together as often as we could.  It just so happened, that Brennon, Leah, and Isa could come for my Brennon's birthday.  So naturally we had to party with Chuck E!

 Brennon got Brennon a Star Wars toy.  It might be his favorite simply because it came from Brennon!

 Brennon became in instant favorite with all of my kids.  They ask all the time when we're going to see him again.  The offer is open for us to come up and stay with them after Caden finishes baseball.  I can't wait to be with them again.  It's nice to have family close again.  Even if that close is 3 1/2 hours!  It's closer than the 9 1/2 to Utah!!!

I love my two Brennon's!

Whishin'

Since Shelby's birthday in January, Tyson has been obsessed with birthdays.  If he's mad he tells you that you're not invited to his birthday party.  It's pretty funny. As of right now, Randy and I are not invited.  He's even commented that Jonathan is the only one that is.  Jonathan currently lives in Wyoming, so I guess Tyson is the only one that is going to his party.  The one thing that is truly getting on my nerves, though, is asking for things.  Every day, at least 100 times a day, he says, "For my birthday, can I have..."  Everything!  All.The.Time!  It's to the point that I don't even really listen, just say yes.  I've even gone as far as saying that come October, he can have anything he wants, as long as he stops asking right now.  I would give him the moon if it meant him not asking for anything until his birthday month.  Thursday I took Ty to JoAnn's while Brennon and Shelby were at tumbling.  While in line, a little boy in front of us asked his mom, "Mom, can I have this for my birthday?"  In an exasperated tone, she said, "You know what?  I'll give you anything you want if you'll just stop asking!!!"  And that was when I realized that I was not alone.  My situation is not unique.  There are other 3 year old little boys that ask for fabric for their birthday.  And bobbins.  And thread:)  I can relate to that mom!  We may have even been friends in heaven.

Sleep Walking

I always make the rounds to check on the kids before going to bed.  First door is Shelby and Keilie, second door is Brennon and Tyson...

We found Caden with the boys last night.  His room is directly next to ours, so he's usually the last I check on.  He must have sleep walked into their room.  Cute!

Austen's Blanket

Last night I stayed up until 1:00am (I guess that would be this morning) finishing my sister Ashlee's little girl's blanket.

I sure hope Austen likes it:)

Now onto McKaylee's!  I'd love to finish all three of the girls' blankets before I head down to Dallas on the 3rd of May- going to see WICKED with Ash for my birthday present this year.  I figure if I can spend at least 2 hours a day on them, I could do it.  I won't kill myself trying to get them done, but I'd sure love to give them to them as a surprise when I get there!

Kids Bowl Free

Jamie told me about this awesome promotion going on across the country that we signed up to do together this summer.  If you would like to bowl 2 games for FREE each day during the summer, check out www.kidsbowlfree.com.  I was able to enroll each of my kids to bowl 2 FREE games each day this summer season.  They also offer a promotion where 4 adults bowl for just $24.00.  So, this means that my whole family (7 people) can bowl 2 games EACH DAY this summer season for just $12.00!!  Check it out and see if it's available in your area.  It was super easy.  Just click on the state where you live, click on the city where you live, and sign up.  It's that easy.  So, if you want a FREE activity to do with your kids this summer, check out www.kidsbowlfree.com!!!!!

Naptime

Naptime today.  I love these two.  Look at Brennon holding Steph's hand.

Midnight Escapades

This morning, Randy woke to the light on in the hallway at 3:00AM.  This is the cutie that he found.  Look at that seriously adorable backpack!  What a cutie!!!!

Shut the fridge!!!

Back story: It's no secret that the kids getting into the fridge is the arch nemesis to my cleaning efforts.  This is why we padlock our fridge at night!  There have been countless 5lb. bags of shredded cheese- finely shredded- spilled all over my floors.  My kids just want to eat all.the.time!  It's a nightmare.

Now... It's no secret that one of my parents thinks that I'm too lax in the spanking department with my kids.  More times than not, I get told that I should have started spanking them sooner.  Um... I do spank, just not for every little thing.  I, at one point, found my kids flinching if I raised my hand for any reason and realized that I would nudge/slap/harass for almost everything that made me irritated.  I realized that that was just not the way I wanted my kids to grow up.  They do get spanked for big things- like whipping their sister in the face with a bungee cord yesterday (Tyson)- but not for everything they do.  However, I have learned this parent's "Mad Voice."  I can get stern and angry with the best of them.  They know that if I say something in said tone, they better do it or that hard-earned spanking is coming, and it's not going to be pretty!

The other day, while working on the computer while Randy was working in the office, the kids were supposed to be finishing their show and then coming up to make their beds.  Then...the fridge alarm.  Anger, and if I'm being honest- fear, shoots through me like a hot knife through butter.  So, I scream downstairs from my workplace, "Shut the fridge!" in the most seriously mean, vengeful, angered voice possible.  Door shuts, kids scramble to their couches.  Done!  Then from the office comes the most sweet, syrupy, loving, high-pitched "mothers" voice of my dear husband, "Kids, would you please shut the fridge?"  I realized I probably could have said it a bit nicer and started laughing HYSTERICALLY!!!  Punk!  We laughed, and laughed, and laughed.  I couldn't help it.  I did feel like such a beast, I had yelled with the meanest witch voice imaginable:)

This morning, while we were looking through the fridge for breakfast, that alarm went off again.  As if on cue, all the kids- in a whispered, angry voice- said, "Shut the fridge!"  And I had to laugh again:)

Adventure

Yesterday Shelby decided that she was going on an adventure.  I'm not sure how the start of the story happened, I've been pretty sick the last few days (wanted to die, sick!) but I sure know how the middle and end went.  Randy came into our room and asked if Shelby really would walk to school.  I was quite confused by his question and answered that I didn't really know.  He started to call out her name a few times before Keilie answered that she'd gone outside.  At that moment, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that, yes, Shelby would walk to school.  I screamed for him to go.  You see, she would have had to walk on a very busy main artery into Richland, over a bridge that goes over I-182, cross a four lane road, and walk 1.3 miles to school.  Randy jumped in the car and started for the school.  I was praying the whole time that she never made it out of our loop.  I couldn't take the suspense any longer, so I called to see if he'd found her.  He had... .7 miles away from our home.  She had crossed the four lane street at our stop sign- the busiest part with the least visibility- and started on her way.  Randy said she was practically skipping, she was so happy to be walking.  I made sure to give her an "educational" (may have been in a stern/panicked voice) talking to!!  She truly didn't know that it wasn't safe to walk to school!  She is so fearless.  She always asks to ride the bus alone, always wants to walk around the block, always wants to go out on her own for an adventure.  This one took us completely by surprise.  Looks like we might need our talking alarm back.  We had no idea she'd even left the house!  How grateful I am that she's safe.  Man, that girl, she gives me heart palpitations!!!  When I could barely lift my head from the pillow even!

JollyPops!

I love the magazine Family Fun!  It is so much fun to look through each month looking for fun activities to do with my kids.  I love their kid-friendly recipes also.  This is just one of the many projects we've tried from them.  JollyPops.

We took Jolly Ranchers and laid them out.  Caden's is the Grape, Apple, Blue Raspberry.  Keilie's is the Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Apple.  The other kids didn't take as much time or effort choosing the perfect flavors:)  We lined a pan with Tin Foil and then improvised with Wax Paper when Parchment wasn't available. (Next time I'll definitely use Parchment.  They ended up sticking too much to the wax and leaving a thin layer on the back of each of them.  I didn't know there was much of a difference!) We heated the oven to 275 and "baked" them for about 9.5 minutes.  As soon as I took them from the oven, I immediately placed the sucker stick in each, rolling them to make them completely coated with the melted candies.  They're that easy.  The kids were super excited.  How fun are these simple little cuties?!

Healthy Heart

When Brennon went in for his 5 year old Well Child Checkup and Kindergarten boosters, Dr. B. found a heart murmur that worried him.  He said it sounded like a high pitch twang that was louder when he was laying down (which we actually found out was a good sign.)  He sent us to a specialist to check it out.  Today we had the appointment.

 After 20 minutes waiting in the lobby, they took us back and hooked him up to an ECG for 10 seconds.  He giggled while she placed all of the stickers and then got to take them all off by himself.  She was cute to say that he had to find all of them that she'd hidden.  She was super fun with him.  He looked at her with his adoring face and eyes.  I love that little boy!!!

I wasn't surprised in the least when he placed them back on the sheet in perfect order.  The funny thing is that he hadn't seen the sheet in the first place.  He just likes order and symmetry.  Like his mom!  We waited in the room for another hour.  The Dr. was super nice, checked him over thoroughly and found him to have an "normal" heart murmur.  Because of the muscles around his heart being almost a net like fiber, he said sometimes when the blood goes through, it's almost like pulling a bow across the violin strings.  His is just louder than some.  He has a good heart.  Both literally and figuratively.  Yesterday while we were driving with my mom, Brennon piped up from the back seat, "Grandma.  You're pretty!"  Such a sweet, complimentary, good boy!!!  Glad to know he's still as healthy as ever!

Family Picture 2013

Family Pictures in front of the Columbia River, WA Temple

Easter 2013