Spring Break....Day 1....Legoland

In January Neil mentioned he had a conference in San Diego. It happened to be the week of our spring break. We packed up and headed to the warmth....but got lots of rain and wind. We still had a great time! Our first day there we went to Legoland.

Camden is wearing his "chicks dig pink" shirt. His cousin wore this same shirt to legoland 2 1/2 years ago when we went with him to legoland!

Our 5th kids (aka Sam our neighbor) came with us. It was a little overcast that day. That meant fewer people at the park. I was told there were 3000 people there that day, in the summer there are 8500! The lines were short and everyone got in all the rides they wanted!


On the way in there is a Lego family!

We had our picture taken with them and used the dad as our substitute dad for the day!

While we were there we met the dark side:

Took a nap on a park bench with a stranger:

Saw where the three little pigs were hanging their drawers out to dry:

Went on an African Safari where we saw Zebras:

Saw dinosaur eggs:

We even rode on a camel:


Our friends the Werners were also in San Diego and we had a great day with them! We took a ton of pictures....maybe I need to just make a slide show out of them....but overall we had a great day with no whining!

Give up?

This morning Camden asked me this question, "Mom, when you were a kid did you ever have to give up on a dream that you had?" Wow! I asked if he had been discussing this at school and he told me that he hadn't, he just was thinking about his dreams. He dreams of winning the pinewood derby tonight! We ended up having a great discussion about how some dreams we can work at and others are full of luck. If he dreams of being a doctor there are things he can do to make it happen, but winning a contest is full of luck! What a smart kid!

My life is the movie Toy Story!

Addison has learned to write her name. One Sunday during sacrament meeting she was practicing her A and I showed her the rest. Since then she has been writing it like crazy. The problem? She signs her name on EVERYTHING! Yesterday I found it written on her arm (crazy thing about that....it was on her right arm and she is right handed!) This morning I found it on the computer screen! Yes the computer screen. She told me she was sorry and that she wrote it for me. I told her she was going to do a chore because she did something naughty. She asked if she had to clean a carpet square (that is what the boys have to do when they do something wrong. One area of carpet has to be cleaned!) As I started to type about her signing I found she has written her name on a check I got for my birthday. So now I live the movie Toy story...where the kid signs all his/her favorite things! Good thing she is so cute!

Mom my tooth is loose!

Easton and Addison are always telling me they have a loose tooth. So one Sunday when Eastons friend had lost a tooth I wasn't surprised to hear that Easton's was loose too! Then the next day I came home to this...



One week later he had lost the other front tooth...I just need to get a picture of that! I guess I better listen when he tells me his tooth is loose!

Sitting around eating bon bons?

Nope. About a month ago I took almost everything out of the office/sewing room/ black hole! It took me almost 3 weeks to get everything back in the way I wanted it.

We had two base kitchen cabinets in the garage waiting to be used. I had Neil put them together and then we went to home depot and got the counter top. The drawer face came off of the one cabinet...but Neil just needs to put it back on....just didn't do it before I snapped a picture. I moved all my thread from different catch all locations and put it on the one rack that I got at Joann's. After I had it all organized by color I found that Addison had fun rearranging it all! What a big helper! In the front of the picture you can see my new cricut I got for Christmas!

Because the counter top is on top of kitchen cabinets the desk is a little high. I looked for chairs with backs and they were expensive. One day at Ace Hardware I was buying fabric...what a shock...and saw this chair for $20! It is very comfortable! Under the desk are some drawers to organize projects. Neil is going to drill a hole in the counter top for my sewing machine cord as soon as I decide where I want it. I want to sew a little more before I decide for sure!

Inside the closet I have organized like crazy. I went to the dollar store and got shoe boxes (great idea Val). This shelf has boxes of projects I need to finish. I decided not to buy another project until one of the boxes is empty. I have 9 boxes of projects...so I am trying to be better at finishing some!

At Walmart I got these drawers. I have one for each kid. Now when they bring home a school project I want to keep or if I have pictures I need to put in their scrapbook I put it right into their drawer!

Turn your head sideways to get the full effect. On the bottom right is my serger and other sewing machine. It needs to be serviced...then I can have both up and running and switch between two machines instead of switching thread! The shelf above that is sewing notions. I grouped everything into different boxes. Hair bow supplies, ric rac, stamps. The shelf above has sewing projects and more crafting supplies. The next shelf is more unfinished projects. And the top shelf is jewelry making supplies and batting! To the left of the shelves are the kids drawers. Under that are the four drawers full of fabric. Each drawer has a different type of fabric: cotton, minkie, flannel and interfacing/batting! The tall stack of drawers on the left hold all the other misc. supplies I have. Ribbon, glue, paint, scissors etc. I love that everything is labeled! The top shelf? Well just pretend it isn't there....I ran out of steam. I need to finish a few projects and most of that shelf will be empty! So there you have it...the beloved sewing room...which is no longer the black hole of the house!

Stomp?

For some reason Addison calls stamp "Stomp". She loves to stomp and one day looked like this.

She was persistant and covered all exposed areas...including the TOP and Bottom of her feet! And yes this is what her hair looks like before I do it for the day!

Camden plays basketball

Camden is playing basketball...with Easton (only I just noticed that the only picture of Easton is blurry...so I need to take more pictures this week) Somehow Neil ended up as the coach...again! The boys on the team listen to him MOST of the time! Camden is having a great time and I love watching him improve.

Another installment!

It is time for another installment of "Where will Addison fall asleep" This time she has chosen.....






the back of the couch. Minutes after this she rolled off onto the couch...and bad mother that I am I giggled a little!


I also need to add that most of the time she does this at 2 in the afternoon....not at midnight cause I don't put her down. NO....she just needs a little cat nap!

More of Awesome Easton!

Easton is at that age where is says so many awesome things. Yesterday while we were driving in the car he started to sing, which is very common for him. His song went a little like this:

"Don't you wish your girlfriend was Hot like me? Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me"

AWESOME!


I guess the kids have seen the chipmunks a couple of times because this morning while in the tub Addie sang:

"boom a chicka wow wow, chicka wow wow"

AWESOME!

I wanna Pop, Pop, Pop, I wanna Shasta!

Brooke needs a little help. She is collecting soda cans for habitat for humanity. She is hoping to collect about 500 cans. The cans will be turned in for cash for habitat. If you drink any pop....even a can or two...please give us a call...Brooke will come and pick up your cans! Thanks for your help...service to pass off for her young women's program!

Thinking of Megan

My thoughts today are with my friend Megan. We went to high school together and through facebook we reconnected. This morning her sweet baby Ella Pearl passed away. She was a tiny little thing born with trisomy 18. They didn't think she would live long enough to leave the hospital, but this little fighter lived for over 100 days. We are praying for Megan and her family.

Lonely....I'm so Lonely

Totally have that song stuck in my head! Thoughts recently:
1.I am sick of the rain! An entire week of it is making my kids stir crazy
2. I am organizing my office and I want it done now....I moved most everything out and it is piled in my bedroom. I just haven't had time to finish...maybe on Saturday.
3. I have a million projects I want to make. I am afraid that when Addison goes to first grade that I will spend all my time and money sewing. Quilting, clothes, baby items, felt food....the possibilities seem limitless (until I look at my sewing room/office!)
4. My kids are so darn cute and say the funniest things...today Addison was doing situps with Brooke!
5. I love listening to the playlist on www.vintagefern.blogspot.com Most playlists I mute...this one I turn on while I am working in the junkroom (you know the office/sewing room/junkroom) My favorite song on it right now is "Fly Away" by Ingrid Michaelson. The first line is "I will live my life as a lobstermans wife" I love it!
6. I love that brooke is old enough to babysit....running to the store for a gallon of milk is a lot easier now.
7. I ordered the cutest fabric today....I am giddy to think that it will be coming to my door soon.


Random thoughts...now I am off to tackle another portion of the office...one day and shelf at a time right?

A Pink Castle!

The pitter patter of little feet, the smell of a freshly bathed baby, the chin quiver a baby makes while sleeping. These were parts of being a mom I knew I would enjoy. Conversations like today I didn't expect. I hear Easton and Addison arguing....actually Addison was yelling!


The part I understood went something like this:

Addison: NO a Pink Castle
Easton: No the Temple
Addison (slightly louder): NO a PINK CASTLE!
Easton: No the temple

A door slams and Addison stomps upstairs. "mom, Easton is not my brother. He said I had to marry Tyson in the Temple, I want to marry him in a new pink castle"

I remind her that she can't marry Tyson for a very long time. We probably shouldn't worry about the pink castle right now! These two make me laugh everyday!

New Favorite quote!

Last night Easton came up to me holding his tennis shoes and said "mom, these shoes are sooo last year"!

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam!

My last baby is finished with nursery and is now a sunbeam:( Addison was excited to go to the big girl class but will miss going to nursery with her buddy Andrew! She spent a lot of time in nursery watching out for Andrew. Most of the time when I asked her what she did in nursery she would answer "Kara (or another kid) pushed down my Andrew" Yesterday she walked right into primary without a problem. She did however tell everyone that her name was "Maddie" and not Addie! What a girl!

Addie without her butterfly wings and Andrew as Yoda at the ward Halloween party!

She really did turn 12....I just didn't get around to blogging

My baby turned 12. The age didn't really bother me, although I do feel old. I had a harder time thinking about her going to young women's. Our time with her at home is flying by. I only have 6 years before she heads off to college! Back to the party...

There was A TON of giggling going on....maybe due to sugar overload?!

That darn whipping cream ran out!

Games were played!

A plate full of whipping cream with m&m's in it...try to get them out with only your mouth! This induced more giggling!




This fabulous cake was from Lin's.

Now a note about Brooke....Brooke is such a wonderful girl. She takes school very seriously. We went to her choir concert and I saw the honor roll list. I asked if she was on it and she told me no. She was right...she was on the high honor roll because she had all A's...not even an A-! Brooke enjoys trying new things. This year she tried running with me (hated it), played soccer (would have had more fun if her team had won 1 game), took piano lessons (sad the teacher isn't teaching anymore...so we need to find a new one) took a volleyball class (none of her friends were interested so she decided to do it alone, she made a really great friend and fell in love with volleyball), went repelling (was very nervous but tried it anyways and had a great time), started a new school (loves switching classes and doesn't enjoy p.e.), babysat, babysat, babysat(she loves it...her biggest complaint is that the kids have to go to bed so she get bored. She loves to entertain them when she is there, she isn't big on just turning on a movie for them) Started young women's (she loves going and I don't think she misses primary one bit) Sewing (she made her friends Christmas gifts this year...she is getting better all the time, maybe I will teach her clothing this year!) Braces (she got her braces off and didn't break one bracket the entire time she had them on. She wears her retainer without complaint and has never lost it) We love having Brooke as part of our family. She is such a big help with her brothers and sister. She has a great testimony and is very kind. She worries about hurting others feelings and is extremely honest. We love this girl.

The rest of Christmas morning

We had a great morning...the kids got so many fun things and enjoyed spending time with their cousins. Their cousin Egan (14 1/2) got an "Earthquake" for Christmas. There is a great ice cream parlor in Reno, Swensons. The "earthquake" is an 8 scoop and 8 topping sundae. If you can finish it in an hour you get your name on the wall of fame. Egan finished it in only 45 minutes! It was fun for us all the watch. He shivered the entire time. The lady working there did mention that most people do it in the summer time!

Christmas morning

Presents from Santa unwrapped...the gifts behind them will be unwrapped later in the day.

Santa gave both boys a mp3 player!

Addie loves little people. Santa gave her a new tree house.

At 4:30 in the morning we hear this sweet little voice say "Easton, turn on the light" She got all the kids up to go see if Santa had come to Grandmas. Brooke, the sweet girl, kept telling the kids to be quiet or they would wake up mom and dad. Finally at 5 I gave in and let them open their presents. Addie did take a VERY long nap that afternoon!

This picture is terribly blurry but I love how it captures Addisons imagination. Grandma gave Addison American Girl Bitty Baby Twins. She promptly named them "Linda" and "Johnny" She loves to read to them and push them in their stroller. Often we have been told to "shh" because Linda and Johnny are sleeping!

Opening one gift before going to Grandmas

Some of the gifts were so big we didn't want to haul them to Grandmas...then haul them home. So a few days before we left the kids got to open a present.
Camdens gift wasn't big....
but a DS sure makes an eight hour drive seem a lot shorter!
Easton was in need of a bigger bike....poor kid was sick that day so he didn't get to ride it until we got home from Grandma's house!
Addie loves her Pink Kitchen. She told Santa she wanted one after seeing it in the Target ad.
This is what Addie would look like if I didn't put her hair up every day. I LOVE rubber bands for hair!
Somehow we didn't get a picture of Brooke with her new ipod...another gift that makes travel a lot easier!

Lazy Bones!

Man have I been lazy with my blog this school year. We have been crazy busy at our house. With 4 kids in school, 3 with homework, 3 sports at the same time, me working at Addies preschool 3 days a week, church and life! This holiday season I tried to slow things down a little. Instead of making plates full of goodies I only made caramel sauce (heaven in a jar). I did a first for me and said "no" when asked to sing at the ward Christmas party (it was a week away). I instead helped my friends make quilts for another friend. I have a friend with breast cancer. She wanted to make a quilt for each of her 5 children for their first born children. The week after Thanksgiving I gathered fabric from my quilting friends. Two quilters were generous enough to offer to quilt them for free! We got together twice a week and worked on these quiltes. I spent a lot of time sewing. I put the binding on most of them. It took a lot of time. It was SOOOO worth every minute. It was the best thing I have ever done in the month on December. We went over to her house yesterday and gave her all the finished quilts. We helped her wrap them and put them under the tree. We were all reminded how precious our families are, how important our health is to us and what great friends we have. So my excuse for not blogging? I was busy creating memories for a family going through a difficult time!

Korea?

Last night after the big kids went to bed I had a chat with Addison. I love to ask her questions and see what her answers are. I love the way her mind thinks. A few of the awesome things she said last night included:

me: what is grandmas job?
A: Ummmm (tapping finger on chin) I don't know
me: what is grandpas job?
A: oh, he is on a mission

and another one:

A: I want Andrew and Auri to come over and play....well the point is you see

(what 3 year old says "well the point is"


We have a favorite missionary....he is in Korea...and his last day is Friday. I was talking to her about Duncan and he comes home next week.
Me: Duncan comes home next week, he is in Korea
A: EWW...poops and Diarrhea....Duncan has rhea?
me: (after trying really hard not to laugh) no Korea, not diarrhea, Korea....like China it is far away (Duncan's dad works in China)
A: Oh China...Phil goes to China
Me: what does Phil do in China
A: he feeds people...bones....big bones and little bones (what?)
then noticing her dad is sitting across the couch laughing
A: Dads joking me

Oh the funny things this girl says!