Friday

A week ago it was threatening snow. Friday is was almost 70. And now it's cold again. This place has the weirdest weather EVER! But any way, it was nice on Friday, so we took the kids to the park. Here's a few pics of that. It did get chilly though the later it got. (hence Lily in her coat) ;)

The boys running down Mount Trashmore "hill".

Lily


Swinging. Tongue always out! ??

Ethan hiding.

Tongue again.

"Snow Day!"

At 5:53 a.m our phone rings and it's the "school district" saying that school is canceled today because of the "impending snow storm". I'm thinking to myself "are you kidding?" It's predicted to snow a couple of inches, not 10 feet! Get this, even Darren's work was canceled! I find it so hilarious that virtually the whole town shuts down if snow is even possible. So a 3 day weekend for Ethan turns into a 4 day weekend. Of course he's thrilled, but now the kids can't pry their little noses off the windows in hopes to see snow. I told them not to get their hopes up. I've just never lived in a place where snow sent people into a panic. I was born and raised in Utah where we had many feet of snow all winter. If schools closed there for snow, we'd miss half the school year! Not a bad idea! :) Any way, if it does snow, and I say "if" strongly, we'll of course get pictures of it. But I won't be surprised if it doesn't.

Giving the 3 Amigo's a Survey

My friend Briana did this on her blog. It was so cute so I had to do it as well. It's amazing what you "learn" about your own kids. Things you thought you knew, maybe you didn't! I wrote their answers down verbatim as it came from their mouths. Pretty funny! I recommend anyone that has a child/children, to give him/her/them a "survey" once in a while. It's fun for you and them, and you learn some funny stuff about your kiddo's!

ETHAN'S SURVEY (age 7)

1. What's your name? "E.T.H.A.N." (yes, he spelled it to me)

2. How old are you? "um 6, I mean 7!"

3. What's your favorite color? "Red" (all this time I thought it was blue! go figure)

4. What's your favorite book? "My shark book"

5. What's your favorite song? "I love to see the temple"

6. What's your favorite movie? "Do I have to do this mom?" "Um....oh! I like Jaws!"

7. What's your favorite t.v. show? "Channel 29" (Nick Jr.)

8. Who is your best friend? "Ryan" (from Texas) sniff sniff

9. What's your favorite thing to do at school? "Math"

10. What's your favorite smell? "after dad mows the lawn" (mmmm me too!)

11. What's your favorite candy? "Sour patch kids"

12. What's your favorite sound? "What is this for mom? Why do you keep writing everything I say down? Ok! My favorite sound is when Ashton laughs."

13. What's your favorite instrument? "Violin" (His uncles would be so proud, he doesn't even play! He never mentioned liking the violin!)

14. What's your favorite game? "Battlefield" (One of dad's computer games)

15. What's your favorite food? "Crab" (That's my boy!) ;)

16. What's your favorite drink? "Dr. Pepper" (Darren's fault not mine!)

17. What's your favorite animal? "dog, oh I really like sharks too! Oh, and lizards, snakes and frogs too! Oh, I really like dolphins and whales"

18. What's your favorite thing to do? "Play the wizard game on the computer."

19. Where's your favorite place to go? "The park, if it has swings!"

20. What's your favorite toy? "My army men"

21. How old is Dad? "30"

22. How old is Mom? "29"

23. What makes you happy? "When my family plays hide and go seek"

24. What do you want to be when you grow up? "A Police Man. Can I go now mom?"

ASHTON'S SURVEY (age 4)
1. What's your name? "Um.... Ashton"
2. How old are you? "Um... 4" (as he holds up 4 fingers)
3. What's your favorite color? "Um.... Red"
4. What's your favorite book? "The book Dad is reading us" (20,000 Leagues under the sea)
5. What's your favorite song? "Goodnight song"
6. What's your favorite movie? "Polar Express"
7. What's your favorite t.v. show? "Sponge Bob"
8. Who is your best friend? "Ethan" (awwww so cute)
9. What's your favorite thing to do at school? "Mom, I don't go to school yet! When I'm 5 remember?"
10. What's your favorite smell? "pizza"
11. What's your favorite candy? "I want the.....I don't know.....um... chocolate! Mom do we have any chocolate?"
12. What's your favorite sound? "Um, I want to wrestle with Ethan now"
13. What's your favorite instrument? "What's an instrument?"
14. What's your favorite game? "Zelda"
15. What's your favorite food? "cheesebooger" ;)
16. What's your favorite drink? "um.... water"
17. What's your favorite animal? "elephant"
18. What's your favorite thing to do? "Um.....clean up" (could have fooled me!) ha ha ha! ;)
19. Where's your favorite place to go? "Chuck-E-Cheese. Mom can we go there?" (This one surprised me. We haven't been there since we lived in Texas. I think it's been over a couple years. I guess he really loved it when we went! I better find one here for him!)
20. What's your favorite toy? "Um....guys" (g.i. joes)
21. How old is Dad? "Um.. I don't' know mom!" ( I tell him 30 and he says.. "no! that's too old!")
22. How old is Mom? "um.. 4?" (No, mommy is 29! "mom you're being silly!")
23. What makes you happy? "Mom, are we done? I want to go play with Ethan!!!"
24. What do you want to be when you grow up? "Mom, I don't know. Can I go now?"

LILY'S SURVEY (age 2)
1. What's your name? "Um... Lily name"
2. How old are you? "because Lily name. I two!"
3. What's your favorite color? "green"
4. What's your favorite book? "color"
5. What's your favorite song? "temple"
6. What's your favorite movie? "Can I watch flushed away mom?"
7. What's your favorite t.v. show? "Mickey Mouse. Mom I want to watch flushed away!"
8. Who is your best friend? "12 green. It's not green!" (don't ask????)
9. What's your favorite thing to do at school? "I go with Ethan mom?"
10. What's your favorite smell? "pizza" (I think she heard Ashton)
11. What's your favorite candy? "favorite m&m's"
12. What's your favorite sound? "um, can I have m&m's?"
13. What's your favorite instrument? "um. what mommy?"
14. What's your favorite game? "hide and seek. Let's play mom!"
15. What's your favorite food? "m&m's. um....dinner"
16. What's your favorite drink? "water"
17. What's your favorite animal? "elephant"
18. What's your favorite thing to do? "giraffe"
19. Where's your favorite place to go? "um donkey"
20. What's your favorite toy? "um. puppy" (I sense she is on a kick of naming animals at this point!)
21. How old is Dad? "um...3"
22. How old is Mom? "um..3"
23. What makes you happy? "just make me happy mom. Green"
24. What do you want to be when you grow up? "a baby!"

Advice from the "expert"

Ashton was my hardest kid to potty train. It's funny now because he thinks he's the potty expert and tells Lily what to do. He tries to guide her through the process. After thinking I was crazy for having so many kids pretty close together, I'm starting to see the benefits. They all start teaching each other and tired mom gets a break! I'll just sit back and let the older kids teach the younger ones now. My job is done! Well probably not, but still it's nice to have back-ups who think they "know everything!" ;)




Like the blue toilet and sink? Pretty fashionable I must say!



Don't ask..... Ethan and Lily are a boy and girl clone of each other. Ashton usually does everything Ethan does, but not this. Ashton thought this was the dumbest thing his brother has done yet. He didn't want anything to do with Q-Tips stuck in all the holes in his head. Lily thought it was quite entertaining.

Girls Rule!

After raising two sons through the process of potty training, I now have the privilege of having a daughter. Can I just say girls are the coolest people ever???? Being pregnant, tired, and not really in the potty training mood, I really haven't tried with Lily yet. She knows all about the toilet and what everyone does on it, but I haven't made the "push" yet. Just haven't wanted to.

I was going to wait till the baby was born and Lily got all her "jealous tendencies" out, and then start. But she has decided to potty train herself. That's right, with Zero mom influence at all. Yes she still is wearing diapers, but she will take off her pants and diaper, go get a step stool, put it at the toilet, and position herself on the seat and go pee. Imagine how shocked I was one day when walking down the hall, as I pass the bathroom to see my 2 year old balancing on the toilet and peeing! She is so cool! She even wipes herself! I'll have to get her one of those soft seats that sit on top of the toilet so she can be more comfy for when she decides to do the #2 business, but I'm just proud as punch with my girl. She is so cool, smart, creative, and all kinds of great stuff.

I love my boys and I have a 3rd on the way, but girls by far ROCK!

Case Dismissed!

This was an email forward I got and I thought it was pretty funny. Had to share. Sorry if any of my readers are atheist, I don't think I know any atheists, but if so, it's still funny!
I've had nothing to post about for a while. Life is just ho-hum and going along as normal. Hope everyone is doing well!

Florida Court Sets Atheist Holy Day
In Florida, an atheist created a case against the Easter and Passover holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before the judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed."

The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and Others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. Yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays!"

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant." The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."

The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is "April Fools Day." Psalm 14:1 states 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court dismissed."

Hide and go seek!

Our dog Yoda is obsessed with the game hide and go seek. This clip doesn't even give justice to the way he acts and how he tries to find Darren when he hides. Whenever he hears the kids start to count and say "ready or not here I come!" he goes crazy! Especially if Darren is playing. Pretty funny! Enjoy!

Christmas

Christmas Eve we spent at the Batty's house. We had a yummy dinner and then the kids put on the nativity for us. It was cute, but they soon had all their clothes shed off cause they were "so hot!" You can tell Lily is less than thrilled to be Mary, but it was still cute.

Santa brought Lily a new kitchen which she loves

Presents!

Lily's baby that brushes her teeth, and goes "pee pee in the potty!" without the "real" mess. Thank goodness!

Ashton loves jets, so santa brought him an aircraft carrier and lots of jets to go on it! ;)

I cooked Christmas dinner. And yes I was barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen cooking, but I was so thankful when the guys did the clean up!

Santa brought the family the Wii this year. We've had fun playing with it. Here's uncle Derek playing.

Dad and the boys playing, sorry Ashton is in his underwear.

Overall it was a good quiet christmas at home. I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday as well!

Straight No Chaser

Is a men's a-cappella group. They are really good! My brother posted about them on his blog. Check out this link and watch other videos if you have time, be patient and let the video load, then push play, they'll bring a smile to your face!

More Christmas Pictures

When my kids are dressed and ready for church I can't resist taking pictures of them.

I knew this was the last time they'd be dressed up before Christmas, so I took a few more shots of them!

Here is my cute girl Lily

3 munchkins

Ashton, with his yellow bruise on his right cheek. (he ran into the back of the couch a few days ago.

Ethan, eyes a little puffy. He just fell down the stairs moments earlier!

My favorite little girl

My favorite 3 kids on the planet

Lily crashed on the couch after church

While on the phone with my brother, I kept getting the "feeling" to check on Lily. I didn't listen the first few times, then went to see and she had Darren's tabsco sauce from the fridge and was shaking it all over the kitchen floor. This is only the first half of the floor, imagine this mess doubled. But the floor could always use a good mopping, just not what I wanted to do on Sunday evening! ;)

Happy Birthday Darren!

Well, the hubby hit the big 30 today! I'll be following him shortly in the summer. I can't believe that it's been almost 11 years since we first met as teenagers and shortly after eloped and got married. Time flies! I still love him just as much, if not more. He is my rock and my everything. He is the best hubby and father. And he has given me 3 almost 4 of the best kiddo's around.


We cooked him breakfast in bed this morning. (His favorite, is a fried egg, yolk still runny, on toasted bread with mayo, bacon, and tomato, weird huh? It's pretty good). Then we gave him his presents. He got new cologne (Tim Mcgraw, smells sooooo good), and a paint ball gun, and his favorite candy which is airheads.


Ethan made him this sign and taped it to the wall.



Here he is admiring his chocolate cake!



Blow them out!



Fork?? Who needs one?

Happy Birthday Darren! We love you!

Ward Party and Odd's and Ends

Here are some shots from our ward Christmas Party last night. Overall the kids had fun. Lily enjoyed herself till it came time to sit on Santa's lap.



Me and Debi. We were being a little too silly last night. Maybe we
were turkey drunk. We took pictures and my classic long tongue
came out. I'm not including my shot of my tongue cause I have
the longest tongue ever, if you want to see it, go to Debi's page,
thankfully my tongue isn't sticking out as long on her blog.
Kate! Where were you? ;)



Ethan on Santa

Ashton on Santa

Poor Lily


Here is Ethan's school party. I actually made it to one of his

party's this year. It's hard making it when you have 3 other

kiddo's and pregnant. this is the tree he made.

Eating a yummy donut

Boy gift exchange

Ethan's homemade Santa beard

Gingerbread house

I am known at times for being a perfectionist when it comes to certain things. When you have children, you learn that this can be harmful and sometimes hurtful to children to always have to have things just so. Last year, my mom was visiting for Christmas and we bought the gingerbread house kit at the store. The kids were excited to do it, but of course I think it needs to be done "just so", so I'm like a control freak, making the kids take turns and telling them where to place the candy on the house. Now that I can look back, I think that is absolutely ridiculous and stupid of me to be so controlling on something so silly. This is their childhood memories, not mine, and I don't want them to remember such a controlled atmosphere to something as silly as decorating a gingerbread house. My sister in-law Jen did a similar post recently with their gingerbread house and she let the kids completely do it from start to finish and the pics were hilarious but great, and it really helped me see that things don't have to be perfect. So this year, I was determined to do it again, and not say a peep! They did ask me to slather on the icing, so I did, but I let them put candy wherever they wanted. The house actually looked pretty good, the experience was night and day from last year, they had fun and enjoyed themselves. On a sad note, you can already see the perfectionism coming through in my oldest, it was hard for him to relax and let it go as is, he wanted it to be perfect and that is my fault. You'll see he did the "path to the house". So my new year resolution will be one thing this year:

"To chill the freak out!" No more perfect anything. Does it really matter? Okay, so this post turned into a novel and a preaching sermon on how I've been a "born again" non perfectionist, but it really does make a difference in every experience you have with your children. I'm sure most of you are not like me, but I still had to post about it! ;) Have a good weekend all!

Thanks again Jen! Seriously! You inspire me! ;)

Check out Jen's Post on the similar topic click here

(hope you don't mind Jen!)

You are going to laugh so hard at her kids creations! It's awesome!

Yummy!

I am not one for making holiday treats that are pre-packaged, but this one really is yummy and quick so I thought I'd share!

Maple-Cinnamon-Pecan Pull-Aparts

1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon maple flavor or vanilla
1 can (17.5 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Supreme refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 8x4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix all ingredients except cinnamon rolls with icing.
2.Separate dough into 5 rolls; set icing aside. Cut each roll into quarters; add to pecan mixture, tossing gently to coat. Spoon roll mixture into pan.
3.Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Turn upside down onto serving plate or platter. Spread with icing. Serve warm.

Conner Elves

We cracked up turning ourselves into elves. Enjoy the two clips to the right, they are both different! Pretty funny! Turn up your volume! ;)
~You'll have to turn off my music at the bottom of the page~

Wiping Santa?

A couple years ago Grandpa Steve got our family the "mooning santa". Of course my kids think it's hilarious and love it. I walked in on Lily using wipeys and wiping his behind. I had to grab the camera for that one.

Geee, where's Lily? Good hiding spot!

Cheesy Girl. See how she is playing with G.I Joes? I guess that's what having 2 brothers does to a little girl, but she also loves girly stuff too. So maybe the upcoming baby boy will be really well rounded????