Birthdays and Other Family Fun

Here are some fun family pictures from this summer with my family that I have stolen from my dad's computer :)

End of July my brother-in law had his birthday, so we celebrated at my parents house with yummy mexican food and a ding dong for the cake! It is always fun to get the kids together and allow some fun cousin time.  They all love to hide under the trees in my parents backyard and pretend they are in "tree houses", jump on the trampoline-- Eli kept saying "I jump" over and over while he would bend his knees--, play by the rose bushes, fighting over who gets to play in the play car, and of course throwing rocks in the pool {not Grandpa's favorite game}.   

 Eli, Me, and my sister Lori

 My aunt and uncle also came to town in July with my cousin, Caylene and her little family.  Maddie was in heaven with Brynn and Tori.  She loved having some more girls around that were "cousins". Over one of my work stretches my mom took Maddie for the day to her house and she got to hang out with Brynn and Tori for the day.  Some of the fun things they did were go to the new temple site in Gilbert (see above pic), visit the duck pond, and of course SWIM.  We hope that they come back next year and visit!!!

 Maddie, Bryn, and Tori at the park walking to the duck pond

Apparently this duck was "sick" in some way and didn't run away with the all the other ducks.  Maddie and Bryn were very concerned about this duck :)

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Just last week we went over to my parents again for another birthday party....this time for Grandpa!! I was told he is turning 30 years old {again}.  It was a busy day/evening with school, gymnastics, party, and homework but we were so glad we got a chance to visit.  Some of my kids favorite things to do inside Grandma's house include: hiding under the chair in the front room, looking at the fish tank and trying to see if the little frog will swim around, watch old movies {such as "Annie" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie"}, help Grandma cook, play with the dinosaur hand puppet, ride on the inch worm, running circles in the family room, and looking for treats in the pantry.  I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents that are kind and loving to my rambunctious children!

Robby playing on the couch

Eli loves to pull my dad's old footstool over to the Fooseball table and "play" the game.  It is hilarous to see him pick up the footstool and walk around with it because it is almost as big as him!

Two of the boys in my life

My little lady posing {as usual} in her gymnastics leotard...I picked her up straight from gymnastics and brought her over.

The two sisters

One of the funnest parts about this little guy is how snuggly he is.  He LOVES to give kisses and hugs to anyone he knows...what a sweet boy!  I hope this part of him never ever changes. Please?

Kindergarten and Preschool

With mixed emotions I sent my oldest off to kindergarten for the very first time. 

She's so mature, and yet so naiive. 

She's so smart, and yet has so much to learn.

She's so independant, but still needs her hugs & lovin' time.

She's so brave, and yet likes momma to be the brave one with crickets, spiders, etc.

She's so clever and yet so cheeky.

She's so fashionable, but sometimes just a bit too much :)

She's so funny, but sometimes too silly.

She's so bratty, and yet so sweet.

She's such a great helper {when she wants to be}

But all in all, she's my little girl and I will always want her as mine!

She was absolutely fearless when it came to school.  When I dropped her off on the first day she went right into class with a neighbor friend, sat down and began to color without a backward glance my way.  At that moment, I wanted to run into the room, pick her up and take her back home for another year.  I wasn't ready for this, I wasn't ready for the mix of emotions inside as I watched her face this new phase of life.  Instead I walked over to her and asked her "Won't you miss me?"  And with a confused look on her face she answered "no".  I then whispered into her ear "did you know I will miss you sooo much".  With that she replied "okay."  And with a kiss and a hug she went right back to coloring. As I walked out of the room I heard her say "see ya." 

Then the second day of school she argued with me the whole way over as to why she wasn't allowed to walk "all by herself" to school.  She pointed out various other kids that were going to school without a parent.  Once we reached the school she began to push me away saying she could make it on her own.  I followed her, sadly wanting to whisper a few more words of wisdom and love but she was ANGRY that I continued to follow her. I have never felt so old in my life, then when she was actually embarassed that I wouldn't leave.  She furrowed her eyebrows and kept shooing me away.  After making her give me another hug and kiss I gave up and wandered back to the stroller where Robby was patiently waiting.  Good thing he was ready to offer up hugs and lovin' to his sad momma. 

When she came home from school the first day she excitedly told me that she has "Braden" in her kindergarten class and that he held hands with her....oh no, I can SOOO wait for her to hit the teenage years of life.  Like pretty much forever.......

Miss M: my sassafrass super stylin' little girl

On Tuesday, after dropping Miss M off at school, then it was on to preschool for Robby.  He had his bag packed and was ready to go learn!  I loved that he wanted me to do his hair "spiky".  He was excited to meet all his new friends and was especially happy that he could go play at a friends house afterwards.  When I picked him up I asked what he learned about and he proudly yelled "alligators" (for the letter A).  He then proceeded to show me his super cooled alligator with "big teeth" and showed me how an alligatory snaps his teeth (with his hands).  I just know he is going to love learning and going to school!!  {and I must say I am loving having a few minutes with just my little E at home as well}

and of course this post couldn't be complete without including a picture of Eli from last week with a yummy Circle K slurpee.  We have all loved enjoying their 79cent drinks....maybe a little too much!

Camping Trip

We had a great time camping up north the end of July.  I have to admit that this was actually our first camp out we have taken as a whole family since before we had children.  I love the outdoors, just not the dirt, lack of showers/baths, and zero privacy from kids.  But.....I have to admit it was an experience and actually turned pretty fun.  We went up and stayed one night, before heading back home which was a perfect amount of time for me!

The kids enjoyed roaming the general camp vicinity, constanly bugging our camping neighbors, getting nasty dirty, the fish hatchery, playing in the creek, and eating lots of junk food!

Our camp set up with soda and chips {of course}

We had to check out the fish hatchery and it took a fair amount of begging/persuading to finally get the kids to leave this place so we could pack up camp and head home

 My dirty children much in need of a bath

-before leaving camp we basically hand bathed each of the kids and changed them into new clothes-

Oh how we luv our little boy, who is growing quickly before our eyes!

new beginnings

Miss M goes to KINDERGARTEN tommorow...YIKES!

I have thought about that day for the past five years and cannot believe it is actually happening.

I feel excited, sad, nervous, old, but most of all happy for her to take this big new step in life.

{She is also super excited and has yet to fall asleep tonight :)}

Our Summer

So I have to admit...this summer has been a total loss as far as my blogging adventure.  The more I fall behind, the less I want to blog, and so on and so forth.  But I will continue to move forward and once again try not to let being behind bog me down.

We have had a fun, busy, happy/fighting, relaxing, family bonding, HOT summer so far. 

Swim lessons. check
Summer Harkins Movie fun. check
Sweltering HOT Phoenix Zoo. check
Staycation at The Legacy with grandparents. check
Gymnastics tricks being performed ALL over the house. double check
Lots of Swimming!!! check
Otter Pops on a daily basis. check
Momma working like crazy. check
Creating fun family memories.....check!

And then of course we had a QUICK up and back trip to Colorado with our good friends the Potters so that Jesse & Scott could compete in a 12 hour outdoorsman extreme race.  Man that was seriously craziness right there.  I have to admit that Jesse looked like he was ready to die when he finished....but he is already talking about doing another one :)

As for me, I am running once again several times a week and may even run a half-marathon this fall.  That is a big FAT maybe.  All in all we have loved our summer time and cannot believe that Miss Maddie starts kindergarten in less than two weeks.  We will miss all the lazy days of swimming, gymnastics, otter pops, and of course fun movies. 

Growing Up

I have to admit that I love my little boy's scruffy hair.  Yes it makes them looks semi-homeless, but for some reason I am a sucker for the "messy do" on these two little gent's.  And EVERY time their hair gets like this I fight Jesse tooth and nail on cutting their hair.  This may be due to the fact that the first time Daddy buzzed Robby he looked like a cancer patient.  So now every time he talks about pulling out the hair clippers I have flash backs to that haircut. For Robby it is inevitable that every 3-4 months those darn hair clippers get pulled out of the closet, he takes him outside, wraps him in a good old fashioned garbage bag and goes to town. But for Eli this was a new thing.  Up until now, I was the only one who had touched Eli's hair.  I have LOVED his mass of curls at the back of his head.  Yes, he looked like a little punk skater with longish hair. Yes, I know that it was possible to put multiple ponytail in his hair.  Yes, I know he had more hair than many girls his age.  But to me it was all about holding onto the precious baby years.  I knew that the moment I gave in and let Jesse cut his hair that this would all change.  He would no longer look like my little baby.  That was why we compromised that I could have Eli's hair to myself until June, and then Jesse could buzz the babies hair.  When I agreed to this it felt like an eternity away.  But the day was inevitable and before I knew it, it was here. I gave Jesse puppy eyes, I begged and pleaded, but there was no changing his mind.  And even though I did shed a few tears, I have to admit that he does look like one handsome toddler now.  {although I secretly CANNOT wait until his hair grows as wild, crazy, out of control just like before....}

so silly

This year I have been extremely busy and somehow along the way neglected to keep up on all the photos in my phone and on the camera.  Then when my camera began to malfunction, I gave up entirely.  Luckily my sweet husband was able to fix my camera and I have now been pulling all my pictures off the camera and phone, gradually beginning to organize them on my computer.  There are so many fun, cute, silly pictures that I forgot I had taken.  There are also an assortment of pictures from different places I have taken the kids this Spring.  All in all it has made blogging the last little while overwhelming to say the least.  I have always considered blogging as my journal/scrapbook/baby books and it gnaws on me that I have not stayed up to date with it. 

The other day I was talking with my friend at work and she suggested starting fresh and continuing forward rather than getting bogged down by how behind I have been.  So although I will attempt to post some of the past occurrences, for the most part I am going to just move on and attempt to keep up to date on the current events going on around our house. 

Until I can get to those, however, I have a couple fun photos I found that truly capture life around our house :)

The first picture is of my little Maddie with a balloon stuffed under her dress at the in-laws house.  She was hilarious walking around announcing that she had a baby in her belly.  The balloon kept falling/popping out with any little movement she made and then she would laugh like crazy and say "oops the baby came out"

The second picture makes me smile because it was taken back in January when Robby was refusing to grow up.  He would steal a pacifier from Eli every time I turned around and climb into the high chair, exersaucer, bouncer, and any other baby object he could find {such as the baby tub}. Then he would announce with a big grin on his face "I a baby".  What a few months can change.  Although he is still obsessed with sleeping with a pacifier, he now proudly reminds us daily "I a big boy" whenever we try to baby him in any way whatsoever.

The third picture is the most recent and was taken on one of my work nights by Daddy.  He tends to allow mischief and playing to occur at bedtime, including hours of playtime in Maddie's room.  One night he went upstairs to check on the kids and he found them both dead asleep on Miss Maddie's bed.  It is the sweetest picture, but it still doesn't mean I allow this in any way, shape, or form. :)

Family

I just have one thought today....

I am so thankful for my family. 

I am thankful for the fact that my parents taught me about the Gospel, read books to me, allowed me to flourish and participate in my own activities when I was a child, ingrained in us the importance of education; parents that stuck with me and loved me through my snotty teenage years and now continue to support me and teach me about being a better parent, wife, and sister.

I am thankful to have a beautiful and energetic sister. I am so thankful for the cute cousins that she has provided for my kids...they sure love their Kater-Bug and Baby Zacky :)

I am so thankful for my "little" brother. He is such a smarty pants and works so hard at school.  He is such a great role model with working hard and persevering through school & I hope to be able to instill some of this in each of my children.  Robby reminds me so much of Ben with his personality.  Both of them have an engineering mind set and love to figure out how things work.  They both can be show-offs as well :)

As I grow older and my little family has expanded, I have become more and more thankful for my family.  I am grateful that I am able to share my life with them eternally.  I am grateful for the love they show me unconditionally.  And I am grateful for their love and kindness the offer to my kids.

{And I love how we can be goofy together!}

I am also thankful for my family: my kids and my husband.  My kids are truly the highlight of my day.  As much as they drive me crazy at times, they make everything I go through bearable.  On my long, never ending stretches of nights that I go through on a weekly basis, I look forward to the precious moments when I can spend a few moments with each of my children.  Such as :doing Maddie's hair, picking out outfits for each of the kids, snuggling with my Eli as I pull him straight out of bed, cooking breakfast, having Robby and Maddie run and meet me at the door with hugs & kisses, dropping Miss M off at preschool, and then of course kissing my Hubby at the doorway as he leaves for work.

 

Sure love them!

Yummy Memorial Day BBQ Dinner Today!

Bacon Wrapped Teriyaki Chicken Skewers




1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

About 8 oz. lean bacon, NOT thick-sliced (thick bacon is too hard to work with in this recipe)

1 large can pineapple chunks (you won't use all of them)

Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste and Glaze

Kebab skewers



-Cut bacon slab into thirds.

-Drain the pineapple

-Cut chicken into bite sized pieces

-Wrap bacon around chicken pieces and alternate between bacon wrapped chicken and pineapple on a kebab.



When all chicken pieces have been sufficiently staked, pour Teriyaki sauce over everything, reserving about 1/4 c., and marinate in refrigerator for at least 4 hours, no longer than about 8.



Preheat grill**; when about 350-400 degrees, place skewers on grill and baste with reserved Teriyaki sauce. Cook about 7 minutes and flip skewers. Baste again and cook another 7 minutes. You really have to watch the grill because the grease from the bacon will cause the fire to grow larger. Then your bacon will burn. I found it best to leave my grill lid open the whole time.



Lime Cilantro Rice with Pineapple



Lime-Cilantro Rice with Pineapple



Like I said, you really can just make this to taste, but here’s the basics.



1 cup dry white rice, cooked in 2 C water.

2 T real butter

Juice from 1 large lime, or two smaller ones (taste as you go, I add a lot!)

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained. (You may want 2 small cans)

½ - ¾ C chopped fresh cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste



Cook rice. As soon as it’s done, toss in the butter and stir to melt. Add lime juice, pineapple, and cilantro. Stir to combine, and then add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

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 :(