by the way.....

"Momma, I think I have paint on my willy"

 This is what happens at our humble abode when you leave Daddy in charge of kids while the Momma is busy painting the master bedroom.  I could have seriously killed him; just kidding {maybe not}

So what did I do after the shock wore off {slightly}, I pulled out the camera phone and snapped a few pictures before spending the next HOUR bathing them over and over again trying to "rake" the paint out of Miss M's hair.

Goodbye Miss Tanya

We are so proud of our little graduate!

On Monday evening we were able to attend Maddie's graduation ceremony from "Leap into Learning" preschool with Miss Tanya.  Miss M was so proud of herself and especially LOVED all the treats we ate afterwards :)

We (I) will miss the four hour break on Monday mornings when Maddie was gone to preschool and then playgroup

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We will miss all the fun songs that Maddie has learned at class

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Maddie will miss all her fun friends she has grown up with at school

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I will miss seeing and interacting with Tanya during the week while dropping off & picking up Maddie

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We will miss bike rides to and from school.....

but Maddie is super excited to start Miss Rosie's summer phonics program on Tuesday and to meet more friends!  We are also excited for all the swimming days this summer and for Summer Movie Fun at Harkins Theaters!  Hooray for summer time; bring it on! 

{and I am beyond ecstatic about no overtime shifts for June and July for me!!!!}

(Once again quite obvious that I had been awake for more than 24 hours)

YEAH FOR MADDIE!!

a {NEW} look on life

We just recently attended a baptism this past Saturday and it was such a spiritual experience. Even with our kids going semi-crazy during the program it was so neat to look at the young man and see his glowing countenance. He looked so at peace with his decision and couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. I am always amazed at the happiness that the Gospel brings someone. It is that literal "change of heart" that we read about in the Book of Mormon. Seeing this gave me a renewed urgency to also continue to do all I can to also experience a change of heart each and every day. Even though my time is sparse, I still have the power to take the time out in my day to reflect upon my own actions and keep that renewed sense of urgency alive to change and be a better person.



I want you all to know that I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I know that Christ did live and continues to live today. I know that he died for my sins so that as imperfect as I am, I can continue to repent and wipe my slate clean. I know that the plan of salvation offeres a way for us to all return home to our Heavenly Father and be a family FOREVER! I know that the book of Mormon is a true book and that we can draw closer to our Heavenly Father by studying and following the teachings that are contained within it's pages. I know that Joseph Smith DID restore the true Gospel to this earth, I know that he translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, I know that he was a true prophet just like Prophet Thomas S Monson is also. And even though the last few years have been REALLY hard, I know that I have been pressed & molded {and continue to be}, even by a refiners fire, so that I will be fit to someday enter the Lord's presence. I have learned that the love that Jesse & I share, and the commitment we have to each other CANNOT be broken. I have learned that we can draw close to one another and be one even through the hardest circumstance we have had to face thus far in our existence. And I know that the Lord is with each and every one of us...even in our lowest and darkest moments. I have felt the crushing force of disappointment and discouragement many times over the last few years, and at these moments when I have felt like I can no longer press forward and when I'm ready to completely give up, I have felt a strong reassurance that my Heavenly Father loves me and is watching over me. I have felt a spirit of peace wrap me up like a blanket, and the words "peace be unto you" have entered my mind and my heart over & over. I know there is truth in the words spoken that "these things shall be but a small moment". And I know that I would have never known I could have grown this way, if I had not gone through these challenges.






So because of that, I feel peace in my trials. Often times another phrase runs through my head: "there is a time and season for all things". Obviously this is the time and season for me to work hard for my family, it is my turn to support my little family financially, and that it is time for me to be strong and STOP complaining about things that I have no control over. I have faith that if we work hard together, that the Lord WILL bless us. Maybe not in same time-frame that I think it should be, but I know that we will not be forsaken.






Just the other day my big sister forwarded me a Mother's Day e-mail with some fabulous quotes by one of the most inspirational woman that has lived in these modern days {in my opinion}.  Here are my favorite ones:




#1: Be Kind.  Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

#2: There are some years in our lives that we would not want to live again.  But even these years will pass away, and the lessons learned will be a future blessing.

#3: Try a little harder to be a little better.

#4: The trick is to enjoy life.  Don't wish away your days, waiting for better one's ahead.

{All of these come from one smart lady: Marjorie Pay Hinckley}

Old "Kid" Quotes

Just clearing out my side-bar and not wanting to lose these cute quotes/phrases that my kids have told me over the years {strictly for my journaling purpose)~

Maddie Phrases
#1:
Daddy: "Maddie, Orcs (Lord of the Rings) come and get little girls at night when it's dark outside. Come hide with me so the Orcs don't get you."


Mommy: "Don't listen to him; he's telling you stories. Daddy is just trying to scare you."

Maddie: "Daddy is telling books again." (10/08)


#2:
Mommy: "Are you a fish?"

Maddie: "No, I a Maddie"

Mommy: "Maddie you're silly"

Maddie: "No, I not silly. I a Maddie"

Mommy: "What does Mommy have in her belly?"

Maddie: "A Sister" {Summer 2008: before we found out that Eli was a BOY}

#3:
"I want a pooper lollerpop please!!" (purple otter pop)


#4:
You're so happy" repeated over and over whenever she does something that makes me upset. It is so funny that I cannot help but start laughing the more she says this


#5:
Mommy, let's go on the alligator" (elevator)


#6:
5-25-08 "I can't wear my white shoes. I have an owie on my foot. The white shoes hurt my owie. The brown shoes feel so soft and nice on my feet with no owies." --her explanation on Sunday for why she need to wear her brown shoes with her black dress rather than the white shoes that I was attempting to convince her to wear. It was too funny that she could communicate her thoughts that well that I figured she deserved to wear those brown shoes


#7:
"Ice cream is tasty, nummy, soo good."


#8:
"Candy, candy, candy!" --she says this every time she goes potty, regardless of the fact that we have quit rewarding her with candy EVERY time she goes on the potty.


#9:
"I no want to go night-night. I not tired." --We go through this conversation twice a day, at nap and bed time



#10:
"Mommy, I need a towel. I all icky, yucky, soo gross."-- this is said at every meal when her hands get dirty


#11:
Maddie stayed a few nights at my parents while Jesse and I went to Rocky Point. One night she woke up sobbing around 3am, when asked what the matter was...she said that Robby took something from her. FYI: he wasn't even staying at my parents house; he was staying with my in-laws. Apparently for a 3 year old, this is equal to any other scary nightmare :)



#12:
Maddie has begun to show an interest in marriage. The other day she was going through the list of people that were married/going to get married. She told me that Grandma was married to Grandpa, Nona to Papa, mommy is married to daddy because he's a "prince." She then told me she was going to marry Robby because "he's my best friend and a prince." After that she got a really concerned look on her face and wondered out loud who Eli would marry. Ding ding ding; the light bulb came on and she proudly announced "I know! He will marry Jo Jo" (their aunt that is 23 years older than him). I figured that now is not the time to dash her hopes that we REALLY DO NOT marry family members.


#13:
Maddie has lately been saying the word "idiot" to people when she is upset. I couldn't figure out where she would have learned it from until last night when we were watching 101 Dalmations and she showed me that Cruella Da Ville does indeed say that word over and over. And to think I thought Disney movies were so great. I then had to explain to Maddie that Cruella was being very mean when she said that word to people and that she shouldn't have said that




Robby Phrases
#1:
Robby copies everything that Maddie says these days, so now when I ask him to do anything he says "why," but then doesn't wait for the answer before he goes over and follows my instructions. I am pretty sure he doesn't understand what he is saying....please don't ever learn Mr R :)


#2:
Robby's favorite phrase I hear on a daily basis is "but Mom."



#3:
Whenever Robby gets in trouble he furrows his brow, crosses his arms across his chest and loudly protests "You're not my best friend".  Then he gets even more upset when we laugh at this reply. {April 2010}


#4:
Robby totally HEARTS camping.  He talks about it non-stop and has to be his favorite thing in the world.  Whenever I ask him if we should go camping as a family he rolls his eyes and says "Mom, girls are not allowed to camping...only boys."

sick and wrong

FYI.... I feel so cheated by my camera.  Every time I get a new pretty one I think that this will be the one that lasts.  And it works beautifully for the next 6months to a max of 1 year, but inevitably one day it just quits working.  Case in point:  I got a fun new GREEN canon camera for Christmas, great megapixels, slender, slick, easy to use.  I have loved the pictures it has given me.  Now this week it won't turn on. PERIOD.  I am still looking for that "darn" receipt and hoping {dare I say praying} that something can be done for me at Walmart.

So for now all I have is a pity party for one and a few random photos stored in my phone that I will have to figure out how to download.  Boo hoo for me :(

Internet Surfing

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/search/label/improving%20your%20blog%20tips
I found this ADORABLE family rules board on a blog that I regularly blog-stalk. Maybe this summer it will be a project to work on as well :)

Family Rules Board

My friend Bryn has made a few of these recently for her boys and I have been oh so jealous of this. Maybe someday I will learn how to sew and make a few of these jems for my two little boys......at least I can wish right??
Super Sweet Car Caddy

Super Yummy looking dinner that may make it onto our table the next few weeks:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

I have always been OBSESSED with smoothies and lately we have been making them multiple times a week. This one looks delicious and is on the agenda for today!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

 

my sweet little E

All of my children are literally growing up right before my eyes, but none so fast as my baby. How can this little guy already be almost sixteen months old. I am not ready for him to grow up and talk to me, get into mischief with the other two, have an opinion of his own, no longer want my cuddles, dress himself, and all the other things that happen with age.

The one good thing is that he is completely content to remain my little baby for the most part. He loves to snuggle and cuddle, he loves to be babied and loves to be held. he also has the most loveable little cheeks that I want to kiss and pinch nearly all the time. he patiently tolerates this as well. good kid :)

he has learned a few words so far which i do not want to forget:

mama

dada

bu-bye--along with a wave of the hand

hi

thank you

he understand soo much now and acutally follows directions part of the time. here are some fun facts about my little Eli:

he loves to throw things away in the garbage, i have had to pull out shoes, toys, toilet paper rolls, and even our home phone from the trash can.

he loves balls and loves to shoot hoops with our basketball hoop.

he loves to laugh and has the cutest full belly laughter that lights up our house.

he is such a softie and is impossible to be angry with.

he cries like crazy when he gets scared, or doesn't get his way.....which means he almost always gets his way :)

he loves playing with his siblings and doing big kid things (thus him attempting to ride Robby's trike in the pictures below)

he is a fantastic eater and some of his favorite food items include scrambled eggs, hot chocolate, PB and J sandwiches, juice, spaghetti, noodles of any kind, apple slices, pizza, buttermilk pancakes, bread, and of course ice cream.

he cries every single day at swim lessons. he only has 2-3 weeks of this torture left and then he will be an official ISR trained baby :) which is by the way the BEST program ever

oh and it totally broke my heart that he was so sad to have a babysitter to himself tonight when we took the bigger kids to "How to Train a Dragon" at the movie theater.

He will be a mess at some point when I am released from Nursery and he has to go on his own :)

I sure love my little E!

luv Momma

One in diapers

So this post is LONG overdue....but it is official I have only one child in diapers! Halle-freakin-luah! I potty-trained Robby in January and he has been doing so well.

I love that he loves being a big boy. He reminds me of this daily and gets so excited when he goes number 2. Although it makes me kind of sad. Since when was he allowed to get older...I am pretty sure I didn't authorize this. It's a good thing he still allows me to hold and baby him now and then {such as at the movie theater today when he was scared}

Here are some things I don't want to forget about my mini-Jesse:

he loves buzz lightyear, cars and trains....still

he reminds me daily that "I'm a good boy"

he loves chocolate milk and cereal every morning for breakfast.

he loves his pacifier---with a clip at nightime, along with his blankie.

he loves to take things apart and see how they work.

he can manipulate his way out of anywhere. when we attempted to lock him in his room with the doorknob turned around, it took him only a few days before he figured out how to open the door with the plug of his small fan.

he loves swim lessons with Miss Darla and particularly enjoys splashing her.

he loves to tease his sister. to the point that she is on the ground sobbing in her dramatic way.

he also loves to ride his new green bike and begs to ride it every day. all day long.

he loves to play with the neighbor kids. specifically Tyler and Matthew, because they have "the coolest toys" per Mr R.

he loves his new $0.40 squirt gun compliments of Fry's and thinks he is the coolest thing with it tucked safely in his underwear while playing outside.

he also loves Teenage Ninja Turtles and runs around yelling "Turtle Power" or "Boy Power" while playing.

he is in love with diggers, cranes, and any kind of construction vehicle. he loves when we drive by construction sites and will yell out all the different trucks that we see. he particulary likes the cranes. he also loves to play with his dump trucks in the backyard in all its dusty, dirty glory.

and although I was ready to give this child away to the zoo, he is really outgrowing some of his mean behaviorisms and actually likes to play with other kids now. imagine that :)

oh and i also love him more than life itself :)

Maddie and the Curls

This spring we have discovered how to curl hair with a flat iron. I honestly don't know what took us so long, but I have to admit that my little girl looks darn cute in ringlets.

She asks me pretty much every day if I will do her hair like this and then will patiently sit for the 5-10 minutes it takes to curl all her hair.

And then of course that is quickly followed by her asking me to get my camera and take her picture.

She is only slightly full of herself :)
it amazes me every day that she is going to be five this year. and that she will be going to school this year. and that she can somehow outwit us most every day.

some fun things about maddie include:

she is the number one drama queen in our family. hands down.

she loves her bike and would ride it from morning to night if we allowed her and has actually gotten pretty darn good on it.

she loves to love on mr E and pretty much gives him anything he wants.
{which is actually a standard thing at our house with the baby}

she is very giving with BOTH brothers. whenever she gets treats at school or gymnastics she always makes sure to reserve some for her brothers.

she loves her friends and is always trying to smuggle another playdate out of me.

she is OBSESSED with our neighbor girl, Abby. the sun rises and sets with this friend and Maddie already knows that Abby doesn't get home from school until after 4pm. Miss M will sit on the couch by the door and watch for her to come home so they can play.

she loves to sing. {obviously didn't get that from me} she especially loves to sing her primary songs and i enjoy having her serenade me in the car.

she is very crafty and spends most time indoors writing her letters, coloring pictures, or working on projects.

she is incredibly exicted to start at the "BIG" Cortina Tigers school in the fall and loves to play school with Robby.

she requires detailed explanations for why a certain rule is in place. if it makes sense to her logically she is VERY good about following it. otherwise you can plan on her not obeying.

she loves gymnastics and does cartwheels all over our house.

she is my big helper and loves to clean, organize and cook with me.

oh.....and I love her to pieces :)

Cooking Lessons

What's the first thing you do to celebrate being off of work for TEN DAYS?

Make cookies with the kids of course...and they were very happy to oblige! :)
Of course we had to whip out our aprons because every good cook where's one of these.
The kids were surprisingly well behaved and even patiently took turns adding ingredients and stirring for me (a miracle).
Their favorite part?
Licking the beaters clean. hands down.
My favorite part?
Sneaking pinches of cookie dough :)

I had such a good time cooking with my darlings that I may have to do this again. soon!

and what does the little man do during our cooking lessons?

walk around with the princess ride on toy of course...with a big smile on his face :)

Easter 2010

Doesn't it seem like the holidays just get more and more fun as your kids grow older?! For us that is certainly true. My bigger two kids were SOOO excited for the Easter Bunny to come and thoroughly enjoyed the pre-Easter egg hunts they were able to participate in. They went on a total of three this year: my in-laws ward Easter breakfast/egg hunt, my parents neighborhood egg hunt and our fun cul-de-sac egg hunt in the green belt behind our houses. We also got a very yummy package in the mail from Uncle Adam and some fun toys from Nona as well. The highlight of the whole holiday for our kids was the new bikes that the Easter Bunny dropped at our house.

My kids have been in heaven this week and beg everyday to go out and ride bikes together in our cul-de-sac. I am so proud of Maddie and Robby for being so brave on their BIG 18 in wheel bikes. They have taken many hard crashes and always pop up saying "I'm okay" and climb right back on. As for Eli....all he really cared about was snuggling with Momma and stealing ring pops from his siblings. I was a little disappointed that we didn't have church on Easter this year, so to make up for it we dressed up anyways and wore our Easter dresses/outfits over to the grandparents houses. I have to say that I think my kids look incredibly cute/handsome (not at all biased :)(a little blurry...but I LOVE the look of excitement on her face just after discovering the hiding spot of her Easter basket)
Eli showcasing one of the ringpops he borrowed from his sister while she was busy enjoying her new bike

Maddie and her official "big girl bike"

Robby checking out his new "big boy bike". FYI: yes that is a Tinkerbell backpack he attached to his bike. I think it might be time to go buy him one of his own that is slightly more manly :)

Princess Maddie at Four Years Old (and yes she does LOVE to have her picture taken now)

Robby at Three Years Old

(he always has a train, car, or weapon in hand)

Eli at One Years Old

Maddie absolutely loved these fake chicks that my in-laws had at their house on Easter

Here is our attempt at a family picture

I knew I was tired after sleeping only two hours in a 28 hour period, but I didn't realize how BAD I looked until I downloaded these pictures onto my computer. I loved how directly that Eli was staring at the camera, fought the urge to burn this picture of myself, and instead sucked it up and took one for the team. I am however, very grateful that I had Easter Night off work, even though I had to work the night before.

My Sweet Maddie

I am so far behind in the blogging world. I probably have 7-8 posts that at some point may make their way onto this record of our life. But in the meantime I wanted to write down a little something I NEVER want to forget about my sweet, loving little girl.

Yesterday we were loading up the car to run some errands. Maddie and Robby were already buckled in the car. As I loaded Eli up he began to cry like crazy. The day before we spend A LOT of time in the car and he was FED UP of being buckled in and restrained. Of course Robby then announces that he "needs to go potty" so I took him back in the house while Eli screamed bloody murder.

When I came back outside a few minutes later I stumbled on quite possibly the sweetest thing I have seen Maddie do. She was stroking Eli's face and singing to him, while he layed his head on her arm. When I mentioned how nice she was to calm her brother down, she sweetly replied "I love my Eli."

Oh how I wish I could capture that moment forever.

I hope that she never forgets this. And I know that it will live in my heart. always.

Guess who is officially 3?

......my rough and tumbling little man, that's who!

He had his three year old doctor checkup on his actual birthday, as well as Eli having a "nurses visit" for shots. Eli was MISERABLE to put it mildly; he screamed so hard he almost threw up by the time they finished the fourth shot. My poor little baby does NOT handle pain well :( Robby, on the other hand, was so grown up about it. He didn't cry at all through three shots and just said "Owie, my arms hurts mommy" after the first one and then sat still while he got two more. His toughness constantly amazes me. Here is Robby's latest and greatest stats:
Height: 40in (above 100th percentile)

Weight: 37lb (90% percentile)
*****pretty much same as always: BIG BIG boy

some fun little facts about our Rubba Dubba's:



1. Maddie and Grandma S call me "Rob" or "Robbs" most of the time, and I seem to like that just fine. Daddy calls me "Rubba Dubba's" or "Bubba" as well. Nona even likes to call me "Bobby", but my sister always corrects her.



2. I LOVE ice cream and am always scheming of ways to get into it. Once I make it out of the freezer with the carton, I like to hide either under the kitchen table or upstairs under the computer and eat it. My favorite kind of ice cream is Rocky Road and Cookies and Creme.



3. I am as tough as they come and Mommy sometimes even calls me a bully. I am bigger than all the other kids in Nursery and Mommy has to stand guard over the other kids to keep them safe from me. She keeps telling me I need to be nicer and softer with other kids, but I have so much more fun playing rough.



4. I am a tease and love to laugh and play tickle wars with daddy and sister. I also love being chased, particularly by Aunt Esther. If I like you, you will immediately know because I will tell you to "chase me."



5. My favorite things I say are "I love it", "To infinity and beyond", "I didn't do it", "give me a big squeeze....no mommy a big, big one", "I have a class" (every time we drop Maddie off at preschool and gymnastics), especially primary songs from Maddie. She teaches them to me


6. I love getting into the pantry and fridge. I enjoy eating butter, cream cheese, and hot cocoa powder particularly. Mommy just doesn't understand why I think these things are so good!


7. I love to play outside on my bike. There is a house across that has a fountain and I jump on my bike and pedal as fast as I can to that house and then enjoy throwing rocks into the water. Mommy tells me no, but it is just way too fun to stop doing.


9. My favorite food items are Chicken Penne Pasta, "brown" soda, popcorn, "eggies", Mickey Mouse pancakes, carrots, apples, McDonald fries, hot chocolate, Swedish fish candy,


8. My favorite color is blue; I am sure it's a coincidence that this is also Maddie's favorite color. I always ask for my Buzz Lightyear "blue" plate at every meal.

9. I still have an obsession with trains--this is why all of my individual pictures were taken in front of the train last fall. I have also recently discovered that I really like Buzz Lightyear and Cars

10. I also love my new fishing pole from Daddy for my birthday. I talk constantly about going camping with it and I like to throw the line over the upstairs railing to "fish". I cannot wait to go on a fishing/camping trip with my dad.



15.