Our Primary went around and gave all the senior primary kids sheets with all the apostles and first presidency on it and told the kids that for every person they take notes on they can select a topping to add onto their ice cream sundae that would happen afterward.  The Junior kids could come with their older sibs (mine lucked out and got to come because I went to help out and Kaila got one of those sheets anyway and took great notes without even knowing about the ice cream toppings.

It was lots of fun and worked out well. Kevin came and picked up Kaila early for her soccer practice (about 10 minutes after we got there) and then I took the other kids after the activity.

General Conference Time!

I made the Yummy B&B French Toast that Suzi and Kristi brought back from the B&B that they stayed at at the beach in Long View many, many years ago.  It was so yummy.  The kids all ate and ate until it was gone and still wanted to more.  I think anything fried is a hit and this certainly was!  It was a great way to start off Conference Weekend.  Glenn sat and watched LOTS of conference.  He even told me he watched without playing while I went up to shower and get ready.  So proud of him.

The kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's for the second part of Conference while Kevin and I were at our first Timber's Game of the season.  We missed a couple being on Sunday and while Kevin was in CA.  We were so excited to finally be able to come and watch them. Sadly the refs didn't count a goal we made so the game ended in a tie.  It was frustrating and as Kevin says, "I'm tired of refs determining the outcome of the games in the MLS."  I agree.

After the game I went to the store and got Jamie a present for the birthday party we were having at my parents later.  Then picked up the kids and we all went to Nana and Pa's house for the celebration.  We sadly missed the beginning since Sher and Mary had to leave for a gymnastics meet so we didn't see them and got some cold pizza to eat but thankfully there was food and a microwave. :-)  I was really bummed that Kaila didn't get to see Mary though because she's been dying to see her.

Bag from Nana :-)

We got her a black scratch pad with stencils and a color purse that Kaila LOVES

Jamie wanted cookies for her dessert.  Glenn LOVED them.

I enjoyed visiting with my brothers and the cousins loved playing together.  They all watched FROZEN together too.  Jamie got it for her birthday.  I stayed upstairs and took a little nap instead since we had already seen it a few times that week. I took Kevin over to the Stake Center for Priesthood Session to enjoy with his dad and the Woolners.  They went out afterward (tradition).  I'm so glad he gets that special time with them.  I still miss Kristi not being here and getting our traditional Thai food as the girls when the boys leave.  October we will have to start the tradition again when they are back from Mexico.

Being Calm

As I have reflected on conference this week I have really been trying hard this week to be calmer with the kids and to keep a gentle voice when dealing with them.  This week has been especially trying with Kevin shooting the whole week and not home for the whole day.  I haven't been able to tag team as much as I would like.  Some days weren't great (actually pretty disappointing as one kid or another would have a melt down and I just couldn't deal with it for the long term).  Thankfully today was a much better day!  So glad I'm making progressed.  I tried to talk the kids in a quiet voice and to keep calm while saying, "I'm so sad too....I wish you'd made a better choice...it's really hard when we make sad choices."  Oh the joy of teaching children.  I'm so glad that there were just a few moments that I couldn't deal with it any longer.  So glad it wasn't much and that I remained calm almost all day!  Life is much nicer and I feel more realized through the day, a welcome relief from the frustrated mom I can become.

Earlier this week I had another calm moment when Addie was being stubborn and wouldn't put on underwear or a pull-up   She wanted to sit and read books with Glenn and I on the couch but I had told her she needed to put something on her bum to sit on the couch. She was refusing but kept trying to get up.  I tickled her to keep her down and it was pleasant way to help her learn to listen and to go put something on. After reading a book to Glenn she finally gave in and put on some undies (her sisters that were big and baggy on her but she was covered).

What a week

This weekend we watched conference (church) on tv.  For Saturday's conference the kids helped me create a fun craft: egg carton wreath.  The kids LOVED painting all the egg cartons different colors.  After it dried all day I put it together after they were in bed.  It was a fun family project and kept them nice and quiet so we could listen to the speakers.  

Sunday we had the traditional breakfast at DH's parents house Sunday morning with everyone. I LOVE that tradition. The kids loved all the attention and playing with cousins. I showed everyone my pics of Paris too that night on the TV which was fun.

Listening to the Words of the Apostles

A little nap time too for some ;-)

Someone's getting taller than Grandma

 

Beautiful Spring Flowers

The kids have been really good lately which has been wonderful. The past two days I have told DH that it was a REALLY good day (not that we did unique things but that the kids were good and we played together and laughed). DH's started the training with the kids on Rugby and they have "tackle" time with passing the ball too. It's cute. I've pulled play dough out for the kids more to play with (I hate cleaning that stuff up) and they have loved it along with a lot of dance sessions and just plain silliness.

SP's had some rough nights waking up 3 times to eat. I'm going to put a stop to that soon and kind of started last night. She finally ate really well for me before bed (prior to that the last few nights she wasn't really eating and then waking up around 1 and she was probably hungry since she hadn't eaten since 5 or so. She ate great though and still woke up at 1 so I turned on all the fans to block her crying since DH had to be up at 4am to head to the airport and let her cry. I didn't hear her until DD came in at 3am and said SP was fussing. I had turned off one of the fans too but maybe I didn't hear her OR she had just started crying. Either way it was now 3am (a MUCH better time to eat) so I fed her and she ate a TON and then slept all the way until 9:30am! She went 14 hours with one feeding at 3. It was wonderful. LM woke up a little after 8 and DD at 8:30 so it was a great start to being a single parent for the next 6 days. 

Preschool went great today.  We worked on some spring chicks which is always fun.  I LOVE Spring time.

DH's in Ohio (Cleavland) to shoot some footage on the US Open for Wrestling. The kids miss him already but I kept them busy today running errands after preschool, lunch, and naps. We were at the library when it closed even and as I was putting the kids in the car DD said she wanted to go somewhere else. I told her we were finished and going home for dinner. She wanted to go out to eat somewhere. I asked where and she said McD's which I was planning on for tomorrow for them to run around but decided tonight they could run. They LOVED it too! 

Come Listen To A Prophet's Voice

This year we hosted DH's side of the family for General Conference. We had the traditional breakfast with everyone pitching in to help out. We had a feast (I forgot to take a picture) with waffles, french toast, pull-a-parts, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, eggs, fruit, juice, milk, and water. It was VERY yummy. I always wish my tummy was a lot bigger every time so I can enjoy it all. For lunch we decided to do something easy and picked up pizzas the night before to cook. It was perfect and eveyone seemed to enjoy being together and being able to hear from our wonderful church leaders. Thankfully the kids did great and the house survived for the most part having so many people in it.

After Conference the kids asked to watch "the boy who ran away from school" movie. It's the movie about President Hinckley. They LOVE it.

The boys enjoyed a game of Risk during Conference and after too.

Happy Easter!

We had fun today. We all gathered at DH's parent's house for Conference (church) and then we dyed Easter eggs watched more Conference and then ate dinner, played a game/talked, and ate dessert (sang Happy birthday to DH's brother). It was fun and the kids did great. They both took their naps and ate dinner too! I was thrilled.

I made the Mandarin Orange cake with a filling and decoration while DH made the chocolate cake all from scratch. Everyone loved them which was great!

Sadly my back went out on me and I'm in tons of pain. I'm going to see the chiro tomorrow at 10:30 and I pray he can help me. I hate not being able to take Advil for the pain. I need to get better for preschool on Tuesday and to start packing boxes too. I have a friend dropping some boxes off for me tomorrow and I really wanted to get started so we were closer to being ready when we do actually find a place to live.

Happy Easter!

Today the Easter Bunny came. The kids loved all their stuff they got. DD LOVES her fairy/princess stuff the most. After looking through the baskets and getting breakfast we sat down and watch the morning session of General Conference. I'm so glad we were able to feel of the spirit and get some guidance. Since right after conference ended we got a surprising phone call today that the owners of the house are going to be selling so now we are looking for a new place to live. I just LOVE packing, moving, and unpacking while pregnant. At least it would appear that way since we moved twice while I was PG with LM and now again this time. Really I HATE it. We found two great homes online today but nothings open since it's the holiday weekend so we have to wait till Monday. I hope one of them works out since they are so close. It's just crappy timing with the baby coming, DH not having work right now (trying to come up with first and last months rent unexpectedly), and everything else that comes with moving.

General Conference and Dying Easter Eggs

April 6, 2009

Sorry I've been MIA the past few days. Friday night we got to go on a double date with friends. Grandma watched DD (she actually had her over to play all afternoon!). There was a girl seating behind us that had twin 8 month-olds. She said her two boys together didn't even equal the weight of one of our boys. It was kind of funny! We had conference weekend for church and had sessions (2 hours) twice a day on Saturday and Sunday. We had lovely weather too so I was able to go out and get a couple hours of weeding done on Saturday and went to dinner with my mom with the kids while DH was at his meeting that night.

DD and LM had a laughing competition one night (4-4-09). Sadly I couldn't find the video camera and LM stopped once I tried the video on the phone. It was so cute. LM was laughing so hard and already has a great personality!

Sunday we spent at his parents house with his sibling's who live around here. We ate a yummy breakfast (tradition) and then dyed Easter Eggs and went for a walk too. DD LOVED dying the eggs and figured it out really quickly and didn't want my help at all. After dying eggs she played with her cousin's dog, Ruby, and one the swing set with her cousins as they tried getting her to say all the animal sounds. She fell coming down the brick path and had blood coming out from her gum line above her front two teeth. Thankfully her teeth weren't knocked loose. Poor girl. She now has small scrapes on her face too from her fall.

General Conference Sunday: Fun listening to the prophet, visiting with family, listening to music, dying Easter eggs, playing, and lots of eating!

We were blessed with lots of nice weather for the day too!

LM loved playing with Grandpa!

DD LOVES the little horse that's at Grandma and Grandpa's!

From this morning:
This is MY pop tart. . .don't even think about asking for a bite.

Today my friend, her sister (and friend), and I with our kids went to the zoo. It was actually 80 today! We had lots of fun though it was a TON of walking since they are doing construction and we have to back track a lot to get to other parts of the zoo. Our zoo is getting a lion this summer so they are getting his area all ready. DD loved it even more this time than she had at Halloween or Christmas. She did great too and even took a little nap in the stroller. LM had a hard time sleeping in the stroller. I used my friend's stroller and it doesn't lean back as far as mine does. I finally got him laying down sideways on the seat but then his leg was falling out and so I turned him and propped up my bag and sweater for him but once he slide down in the basket! It was scary when I looked in since I heard him crying and he wasn't in the seat and I saw his little head poking out of the basket. Poor Boy!

Funny poop story for the day (other than changing DD twice in the car). While at lunch my friend's sister said that I had mustard on me. I was very confused. I said, "what?" How did I get mustard on me since I hate mustard and had a PB and J sandwich??? Then her friend noticed it was on the baby and the blanket and said it was seeping through. He had the worst blow out! It was everywhere and even on me!!! It was nasty. I think I used 10-15 wipes and then washed everything out in the bathroom. No wonder the poor boy wouldn't take a nap in the morning.

The top left picture is of LM pushing on the back of DD's seat (already acting the part of the little brother. . .LOL) The middle left picture is of his nasty blowout and the rest are after being changed.

All the big kids playing on the playground while I nursed LM.

DD loved being at the zoo. She loved see all the animals and talking to them.

My silly girl. . .easily entertained some times.


Cute little baby elephant

After the zoo. My friend and I braved it and went out to eat on the way home. We did well with 4 kids 4 and under with just the two of us. We ate a Thai food restaurant and it was so yummy after a long day. The kids all ate really well too. We even took them out for ice cream afterward.

Father/Son Time!

Look who's 11 weeks-old!

I'm doing well now as a mother of 2. The kids are doing fine and I'm just trying to enjoy my time with them more and haven't been on the computer as much. I got tired of telling DD just a minute and instead am just not getting on the computer or for only a little bit here and there. I think DD is loving it. I am too and we have been having lots of fun during the day together. I think she's needed the extra attention since LM needs so much too with all his feedings. He's getting so big! It's crazy. I feel like he's becoming a toddler (though I know that's a major exaggeration) but DD was so little and he seems to be where she was at at 4-5 months and he's only 2.5.

DH still doesn't have a job. We are still looking at other job positions. The police job that they said they might have something opening sooner than later fell through today and he is still on hold with them. We just found out through a friend that the position he's been testing for currently the entire department will be gone soon due to cuts. It's a cruddy time to be looking for work.

We got DD some new toys since she seemed to be bored with everything she has. I've been wanting to get her a ball popper since she was 6 months but never wanted to spend the money. After seeing her love the ball blower at OMSI I figured it would still be worth the money so I had DH pick it up for her. He also found her a little guitar to play with since she LOVES playing with the big one.

Jam session with Daddy!

Tomorrow I'm taking LM off the new AR (acid Reflux) medicine . I don't think it's working for him and it could be because he spits half of it out. He HATES that stuff. He wrinkles his nose up and everything while taking it. It has helped him to take his vitamin better which he hated too. I tried it for 7 days like his doctor recommended but he had two projectile spit-ups today so I'm finished with that one. We are going back to the other medicine and just upping his dose to 4ml instead of the 3 he was taking before (he's such a big kid that he gets moved up and I don't think we ever moved DD up on her dosage!)