Oliver-January in Review

This little guy was stealing hearts and taking names this January...

• Got to meet a lot of his cousins, aunts and uncles while in Utah at Grandma Mona's
• Went to a his very first 'second Christmas' at Grandma Julie's
• Started Grinning and Giggling on purpose
• Gives sucking face kisses
• Sleeps like an angel in his swing
• No more colic!!!

Things he loves right now;

• His mom
• The rest of his family too...especially his big brother who is always by his side
• Nursing
• Dancing
• Laughing
• The shower

Things that make him just plain mad;

• Putting him down
• Trying to feed him anything but mama's milk
• Getting out of the shower
• Getting dressed
• Being ignored

Porter-January in Review

This little guy had a fun January, and gave his mom and dad some more gray hairs.

• In Utah for New Years with Grandma Mona
• Went to Portland for 'second Christmas' with Grandma Julie
• Got a new fridge and play food for his kitchen
• Got his first Build-a-Bear that he named 'Bear Bear'
• Painted his mom and dads room and laundry with finger nail polish
• Colored on every surface of the house.
• Spilled many boxes of cereal and crackers
• Spilled even more cups of juice, soda, milk and other like liquids.

His favorite things right now;

• His baby brother
• Playing Kitchen
• Watching Diego and Dora, the Goofy Movie and Lilo & Stitch
• Saying naughty things like; "Beat it Doofus!"
• Making Messes
• Torturing his older brother
• Saying the word NO
• Staying up late
• Eating just about anything-as long as it's on his terms

Some things he's not a fan of right now;

• Behaving
• Eating at meal times
• Not getting his way
• Going to bed

Topher-January in Review

Topher had a fun January:

• In Utah at Grandma Mona's for New Years
• A trip to Portland for a 'second Christmas' at Grandma Julie's
• Got his alphabet crown in Pre-School (he knows all of his ABC's and the sounds they make)
• Starting to read simple words

His favorite things right now are;

• Playing his DS-Mario Party is his favorite
• Playing the Wii
• Staring at the TV, no matter what is on
• Going to school
• Eating Peanut Butter & Honey Sandwiches
• Being crazy and loud
• Talking back to his mom
• Giving hugs and kisses

His least favorite things right now are;

• Not being able to be attached to some sort of screen
• Cleaning his room
• Listening to his mom without having a 45 minute discussion of why he needs to listen to his mom
• Being quiet

Bekah January in Review

January was a great month for Bekah!

• In Utah for New Years celebrations with Grandma Mona and family
• Turned 7 on the 12th!
• Got a big doll house and lots of fun presents
• Had a great birthday party with all of her friends and lots of 'Tangled' stuff
• Took a weekend trip to Portland to see Grandma Julie and got a whole 'second Christmas!'
• Started Second Grade
• Still doing great in Piano and really loving it
• Still loving Ballet and Tap

There were sad times too...she had a hard time when her beloved Guinea Pig Emily escaped.

Her favorite things right now are;

• Reading EVERYTHING! Her favorites right now are American Girls & the Roald Dahl books she got for Christmas
• Playing Farm Frenzy on her DS
• Playing Jumpstart and Webkinz on the computer
• Eating Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
• Making cards for everyone
• Playing the piano for family nights
• Taking pictures

Things she does not like;

• Watching Diego or Dora over and over again with her brothers
• Writing long papers for school

Bekah Birthday Photo Shoot

Over a month late...but hey she's still "this many" right?We went to feed the horses today and while we were there, I finally got off my keester and took a few photos of this little angel. So blessed to have her as my sweet daughter! :)

Life as I know it

I thought I would have all of this free time on my hands once I was done with school.

Not so much.

This sweet little baby that has me wrapped around his finger is kind of a spoiled little pill. He needs me to constantly hold him or at the very least be in arms reach these past couple of weeks. When I put him down in bed he cries like he is in immense pain and it doesn't stop until I pick him up...then it's all squeals and smiles.

So that's been fun!

I am a little bit grateful for this though...he is my last after all, and being 'forced' to hold and snuggle him all day and night...well it's not all bad!

The dishes, laundry, crafting and to do list may be ever growing, but at least I know I am getting my daily dose of baby slobber kisses. :)

My other child problem this week is with this little angel...with whom I rarely have a problem. She is usually peaches and cream with extra sugar on top.

These last 2 weeks though, she is giving me all sorts of grief with her school work.

I love that I get to home school her and with her doing online work, it has made it easier to spend time with all of my kids and still be able to help her when she needs it.

She is super smart and can fly through her lessons, but she just wants to skip right to the tests and quizzes and just not do any of the assignments, unless she needs to hand them in.

Well I want her to do the assignments so that she gets writing practice, and math practice and such, and we have been butting heads constantly over it.

Her piano teacher also wants her to say her letter notes out loud while she plays, and she just doesn't want to.

The grief that I am getting from this sweet one is making me CRAZY!

Yesterday she cried for half an hour saying she didn't know what 4 + 1 was-because she didn't want to do the speed math sheet I gave her.

I wanted to throw her through a window...of course that low one we talked about. :)

It's amazing how kids that drive me so absolutely nuts-completely have my heart isn't it?

Book Review: Max Lucado One Hand, Two Hands

One Hand, Two Hands by Max Lucado, Illustrated by Gaby Hansen.

I received this book from Book Sneeze. This is a children's book with a message. It follows this adorable little girl throughout her day in a charming rhyme about all the things that her hands do from petting her puppy to praying at night. It is appropriate for any age child, but I would say that ages 2-8 are probably going to like it best.

The illustrations are so sweet they make your teeth hurt! I could decorate my daughter’s room in them and probably would if my kids didn't love the story so much! My boys love the sing-song style of the story and the page that is talking about fingers and says; "Pick flowers, they smell sweet. Squish cheese, they smell stinky. Ooey. Pooey. Right down to your pinky."

The message is sweet and clear. It teaches kids that their hands can help, be kind and love. It teaches that the Lord can use their hands for many purposes.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a sweet and short bedtime story for their kids, or just a good book to snuggle up with your baby with. It is short enough that it doesn't get annoying reading it too many times in a row when your 2 year old asks you to again and again.

Sweet & Seven

My eeny tiny little baby girl, my first born, that little bundle that I took home from the hospital with such awe and wonder, with no idea what to expect...

...well she turned 7 today-and whatever I expected, I never expected such a wonderful little daughter, angel and friend.

My friend gave me this amazing doll house because her kids got a new, bigger and better model for Christmas and I was so excited to see Bekah's face when she saw it in the middle of her room when she woke up. I was not disappointed! :)
I stuffed it to the brim with clothes, dolls, squinkies and other little odds and ends, so that when she went to look inside she was even more surprised. I plan on furnishing it little by little with some cute wooden furniture, but for now all the kids are having a ball with it, with all the little toys they have.

We have more birthday celebrating to do this week-for today we just played and ate junk food all day. Her kind of day! :)

This one

Do you ever want to throw one of your kids out a window?

Of course, a bottom story one with a one foot drop and padding to catch him...of course I meant that...

Well I have that thought several times a day with this one... Well, sure he's cute and funny in that picture with his sisters tutu on, chewing on a binky and snuggling a bear-but that was a good moment...let me enlighten you...

This kid says NO constantly.

This kid only listens to his dad...who isn't here most of the day.

Much like a dog with only one master.

This kid writes on everything no matter how high up I keep writing utensils...he finds them.

This kid screams like a banshee when things don't go his way...which is constantly.

This kid has no patience.

Zip.

Nada.

None.

This kid picks fight with his overly sensitive brother...just to make him cry.

This kid dumps out everything...just for kicks.

This kid stays up until past midnight...no matter what we do.

This kid mauls his baby brother...

All.

the.

time...

Well sure, this picture doesn't really show that. They both seem happy. Okay, okay, his baby brother doesn't always mind the mauling...but sometimes he does, and then I have a crying baby who was only moments before smiling and giggling.

He takes things at the store he wants...and throws them in the cart.

If you put them back, or say no-just get ready to be embarrassed...to no end.

I'm talking things thrown off the shelves at alarming rates, screaming at the top of his lungs, grabbing it anyway and running towards the doors.

Put him in the cart and buckle him down you say?

Fat chance.

He can undo those seat belts in a nano second and will stand up in the cart-and fall out if you don't catch him and let him down.

No discipline.

Zip.

Nada.

None.

Not that we don't try...constantly. Well sure, he looks all sweet and innocent here. This doesn't really show how he is the other 95% of the day though.

This kid wrote the book on the terrible twos.

You do believe me...right?

Okay so during the other 5% of the day...

This kid gives the best cuddles.

This kid has the cutest dimples.

This kid says the funniest things.

This kid has fantastic manners when things do go his way...and his thank you's are so cute, you want to please him as much as possible.

No matter how naughty he is, you can't help but love him..you just have no control.

Zip.

Nada.

None.

I guess it's that other 5% of the day, when he is being sweet, funny, cute and a perfect little angel is why I don't throw him out the window huh?

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Early Christmas Present Opening

We opened our Christmas presents a few days early since we are leaving to Utah early on Friday and we wanted a chance to let the kids play with their toys before we left. Santa is going to fill their stockings in Utah, so this is just half of the loot! :)