an exciting day

He is growing up too fast!! Lost his first tooth today after being hit in the mouth with a ball (a foam ball), then turning the corner and running into the wall. He immediately put it under his pillow for the toothfairy to find. Then he had to bring it out and show everyone. (including our wonderful neighbor) So he ended up losing it outside. He was so concerned that he wouldn't get his money. Emmalee suggested writing a note so the toothfairy would know what happened to it. That makes me happy because I can treasure his sweet note instead of his bloody tooth.

Easter dinner

So I like to make a big deal for my Easter dinner. I think it is because (a) it's the only holiday dinner that I make and (b) it's the only thing I do for my family for Easter. We have a neighborhood egg hunt on Sat. and grandma makes them an Easter basket. So that leaves a yummy feast for me to prepare followed by an Easter lesson given by whoever wants to. So we sat down to this feast on Sunday:

and here's a snippet of our Easter conversation:

"open the gate. . ..(you know, open the hands). . .who do you hate. . . . .that is your date!"
"open my mouth. . . ..growl!!"
 "open my nose. . . ..a-choo!"
"open the diaper. . . ." and that is when we ended it.

have you seen this?

Also can be found here. I just think this is hilarious. There are now 3 more episodes but I still think this one is the best.

Picky Addi

This little girl is SUCH a defiant kid!! She is very specific about what she wears. She only likes dresses and skirts. And she won't wear just any dress or skirt. Only the ones that she likes, which limits her wardrobe to 3 (clean) outfits.  So Addi and I went shopping. I started pulling out some dresses and skirts, showed them to her for her approval, which just didn't happen. Fine. So I let her pick out her own clothes (she was already going at it anyway) and I did the approval based on price. She picked out a skirt, shirt, shoes, & a dress.

Come Sunday morning: She puts on her new skirt and shirt (pictured above). Great! Addi was dressed, matched, and happy. I come home from my meetings to grab the kids for church and Addi is wearing a play dress (a dirty play dress, mind you). 

"Addi??? What happened to your beautiful new outfit??"

"I want to wear a dress because Emmalee is." 

"But that dress is dirty. You have worn it 3 times already this week. Can't you put the skirt on that you had on earlier??"

"No. I want to wear a dress like Emmalee." 

"Seriously?? Addi, will you please go put on your new beautiful skirt that I bought just for you to wear???" 

"No I want to wear this dress."

"But your new skirt!" 

" I don't like it anymore."

"You don't like it anymore?? But you picked it out and you loved it."

"It's not cute. I don't want it."

"But you love it!! And it has a matching shirt! And I CAN'T return it because you ripped off all the TAGS!!"

By this time, it would have been easier to have Emmalee change BUT I was not going to let this little stink go. Yes, I sat her down (after I caught her), took off her dirty dress, and put the skirt and shirt on the screaming 3 year old. "oh Addi, you know what? You should wear your pretty purple sandals today."  

(between the tears) "my sandals??" 

"Yes Addi your sandals. And you know what?? If you are going to wear sandals you got to paint your toe nails." 

instantly the crying stops and in a high excited voice: "You'll paint my toe nails?? Oh mom!! Your the BEST MOM EVER!!"

sweet baby addi

memories

Have you ever played "make a wish on a pine needle"?? Favorite game of my kids. All you need is a pair of pine needles. Each person grabs a side, makes a wish, and pulls them apart. Whoever gets the most of the top part, gets the wish.

  Blake and I played it for an hour. I wanted to remember this moment, of being together, the sun shining on us, and making wishes. I'm so glad I got a picture of this memory. And i LOVE how dirty my little boys fingers are. cause that's Blake.

 And he is also silly.

I also love these pictures of Em. She is genuinely a happy girl. and I love those freckles that are starting to appear.

very little emmalee

Finished Laundry room

my laundry room is finally decorated and finished to my liking. love how it all turned out!

made some curtains

waiting for Jerek to build my pedestals but decided a shelf would be way easier to wait for

love having a counter for all my craft making/sewing projects

familiar?

hey fam! does this van look familiar to anyone!??!?! it's been driving around my neighborhood!

random pictures found on my camera

soccer star

addi's photography skills

ok, getting better

our summer kittys

a few fun wedding pictures

check out those heels!! my sister-in-laws shoes

happy to be standing next to those cookies!

don't know what happened to this pict: but look at those yummy custom made heart cookies for the luncheon!

my cute nephew

bffs

love you!

all the stanger grandkids

my model

Besides playing with dolls and dress ups while the others are at school, I can usually talk Addi into doing a few modeling shots for me. Love how these ones turned out.

oh my

so busy. but a really good busy. we are over illnesses and school projects. (yah!) we had a wedding, valentine's, campout, temple day, family time, school activities, and home projects. and then, you know, the daily activities of life. I've been working on my living room project and have gotten most of that done. I don't think it matters what it is, it just feels good to get something done that you have been working on. (big sigh of relief) I was telling the kids how excited I was that the living room was almost decorated and how easy it was to make my pillows, etc. (They love being my listening ear. . . .) anyway, Emmalee said, "just have it done by summer mom" in her not-really-caring-just-want-my-mom-back voice. 
Here's some pictures to share:

Caught!

winter blues

I know, we are all feeling it. . and it is only the beginning of February! And of course, this is the WORST month. We have gotten sick the last 3 years in February. I'm crossing my fingers that the strep in January and the stomach bug last weekend can count. Because I'm done. With being sick. And the cold, crappy weather.

The kids wanted to go outside and play so I sent them out, tired of the craziness. And I had a quiet house for 20 minutes.

Watching the neighbor wondering why he was laughing so. . .

warming up

And yes, I dared to actually plan a fun activity in February. A romantic, weekend getaway. . ..

in Cascade, a day of skiing at Brundage in McCall, fireworks over Lake Payette, & a nice hot springs soak after the day was through. Ah, sounds so nice. BUT what we actually had was a "relaxing in a nice hotel room because my husband was so sick he could not leave the bed and watched cable tv and old time movies eating soda crackers and drinking gatorade" day.

Well, at least the kids got to do their fun activities with the grandparents, right?!?

Oh no! Not only did Emmalee get sick, but she shared her sickness with both grandparents.


Let's just say:
I hate February.

Oh, she's good....

Emmalee LOVES to ski! She has been skiing since she was little, thanks to grandparents who went to Bogus often. She took ski lessons the end of last year and then again this year. I finally was able to go with her a couple times this month and was so impressed by how well she skied! I'm so happy because my girl has found something she loves and is good at it! :)

2011

The first time I went with her this year, we were sitting on the lift and I told her how impressed I was that she had gotten so good. She said, "I know! I amaze myself!" We continued skiing and I gave her a few tips her teacher had suggested to me. I kept asking her if she was getting cold, if she needed a break, etc. (You know us moms.) She turned to me and said, "Mom, don't worry about me. You just worry about yourself."

2010

2009

2008: Blake's 1st time

2007

2006

2005: Em's 1st time