Day 3

I have a lot to be grateful for. However this is a forced post because it's been a real bad two days and currently all children are crying in their beds. I'm on the computer avoiding them. So at this moment I am very grateful for......hmm this is going to be harder than I thought. Let me give it a few minutes.

Got it! I am grateful for good music.

This morning Jane told me that her school teacher asked her what church she belonged to. I asked her what her answer was and she said, "I just sang her the song, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints".

I know that good music can make me feel happy, excited, free, peace and so many other emotions. So today I am grateful for music.

The children are now quiet.

I am also grateful for this little computer time.

And I'm grateful this day is almost over.

Day 2

Today I am grateful that my husband has a job. He is starting to travel a bit. The travel is working out fine and the kids and I stay busy so there isn't a lot of time to notice that he is gone. The kids mention it most at dinner and bedtime. On most days I would say that he enjoys his job. The greatest thing is that he has one and so at this time we can afford for me to stay home, pay for a house and cars, food and necessities and for that I am very, very grateful.

Give Thanks

Okay, lets see if I can do a month of "Thankfuls".

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot to be grateful for but the challenge will come in the actual blogging. ha.

Here goes.

Today I am grateful for my neighborhood. I am surrounded by good families and friends. Last night this neighborhood was a mad house. I loved it. I didn't get a single picture of my children in their Halloween costumes but this place was buzzing with activity. Many families travel to our neighborhood to trick or treat. I am happy to live in a place where parents will bring their children and everyone can walk around and feel safe. I would be happy to give out candy all night long to these children. It felt good to see so many happy faces.

Ode To Great Aunt Anne

Aunt Anne is Grandpa Ivan's sister.

Aunt Anne is one stylish lady.

I didn't know that her fabulous hairstyles have all been wigs.

(I've been in the family 12 years and this was news to me).

So when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa this summer and Aunt Anne would take her wig off. One of my children would pick it up and put it on. Well the other day the girls received a package from their sweet Aunt Anne.

It may be one of the coolest packages ever!

Yep, you know it!

A box full of Aunt Anne's wigs.

We are talking about 9 wigs in assorted colors and styles.

This is heaven in the dress up world.

(and I only included all of these shots because janie's face made me smile in everyone)

Family Fun

Family Home Evening brings out the best or worst in me. I don't know about the rest of you but there never seems to be an in between. Last week was a good one. (well for me anyway) We made carmel apples and the kids were in heaven. I layed in bed that night explaining to my husband that if I were that patient all of the time I think that the whole family would always be happy. Jane and Charlie

Maggie, Jane & Charlie
preparing the apples

success with the popsicle stick

It was a good night

Beach 2011

Sadly, we were only able to make it to the beach one time this summer. We went in September and the weather and company were perfect. Simply, we love the beach. Love it. Charlie, Jane & Maggie
Charlie, Christopher, Ainsley, Ben

Mike and Charlie

Charlie, Jane & Mags

on the couch that mom made

One stop at Planet Pizza with the Yanz family.

We couldn't resist the sign.

nickelodeon day of play

We went downtown to DC and celebrated with Nickelodeon for their "get active"

Day of Play.

They had set up in front of the White House and you could join in many different sports and activities. We did obstacles, tennis, hockey, soccer, hula hoop, dancing and football. Mike, Maggie, Jane & Charlie

Charlie and Dad
We got to see Big Time Rush!!
It was the highlight of the kids day for sure.
Jane was on top of my shoulders when the band came out and she started yelling, "Kendall! Kendall!" I couldn't stop smiling it was fun to see her so excited.

Patrick, Miss LeighAnne, William
(we ran into our neighbors that we love)

William, Miss LeighAnne, Jane, Maggie and Mike

Janes Quotes

Jane "Mom look at all of these ladies wearing buttoonies" (bikini's)

"I'm going to go pout on my nose"

"What?"

"Mom, it's a polite way of saying I need to go potty."

I didn't bother correcting her because it's funnier when she does it her way. She says it all of the time now. I still laugh when I hear it.

Getting out of the shower my daughter was staring at my beautiful bottom. I knew it was coming and she said, "mom how come your bottom is so big?"
"well, because I ate too many cookies when I was little."
She took my answer and then I could see her processing it. Suddenly panic struck her face as she said "did I eat too many cookies?"

"sewiously?"

In church during the Sacrament Jane grabbed two pieces of bread and popped them into her mouth. When I gave her the look she leaned over and whispered, "but I really wanted to remember Jesus two times".

"My hands are always trying to make me not modest. They keep picking out the clothes and putting them on me."

Charlie's Funnies

Charlie built a fort out of the limbs that his father cut off of our trees. Charlie and Patrick using their sniper rifles on me

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Something you never want to hear your first grader say to you......

"Mom guess what I learned from a 5th grader today in the bathroom?"

It was safe.

Just personal bubble making.

No gadgets necessary.
He is much more willing to wash his hands now.

So through the grapevine we heard the greatest story about our son and one of our sweet babysitters. And it goes a little something like this....
"Sally" the babysitter takes our kids out on a walk. Charlie runs away from her. She can't find him.
Turns out that he returned to the home. Grabbed his Dad's ipad and then ran back like a secret agent and recorded the babysitter looking all over for him. He went from tree to tree and thought that he was hilarious. She finally saw him and got after him and then deleted his recording.
Oh how I wish we still had that recording. "Sally" never mentioned the incident to us. I would have been mortified. But as long as I pretend that this story is about someone else then I think it's hilarious.

And last but not least...

"Boys don't have boobs Jane, we have abs."

Preschool

Today was Maggie's first day of preschool. She has been ready for a while now and she went without any hesitation. She will attend a three hour class twice a week.

This is one of her high school teachers, Taylor.
Maggie and sweet boyfriend Nate


William and Maggie

She calls W her best buddy.
They love to play and fight.

So here are some of Mags current quotes.....

"Are Grandma and Grandpa in my heart? Cause I feel them in there."

When I don't give her what she wants her comeback is always....

"okay then you're not invited to my cheerleading party."
(i'm not sure that she knows what a cheerleader is)


Some of our friends decided to crepe paper our house. In the morning Maggie looked out the window and with her potty mouth said, "Holy moley. Holy cwap. Holy moley cwap."


"I know vat. I already knew vat. I know everyfing."