New Do

SURPRISE!!!

 Here's my new haircut.  Kinda crazy, I know.  I didn't realize it would be this light.  Oh, well.  Hair grows.

My kids think I look pretty funny.  Grateful for honest kids who tell things how it really is.  The important thing is I am still me inside and looks don't really matter.  It's who you are that counts.

 I think I kinda look like my Mom.

Grant looks out the window as the kids go off to school.

Jaden waiting for his carpool ride to school.  He is all handsome for class pictures.



James eating his lunch.



Happy 6th Birthday, Jaden!

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY!

Jaden's 6th Birthday.  A lot of fun presents and a yummy lollipop.

His brothers are sure excited for Jaden's birthday and especially his presents.

Each birthday I try to make special.  I let the birthday child pick a birthday cereal.  They get to choose what they want to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I put a "Happy Birthday" banner over their door and balloons in their room.  I decorate the upstairs with banners and balloons.  This year I bought a themed table cloth for the table, a cup that goes with the theme, and themed paper plates we will use for dinner.  And, of course, cake and ice cream.  One year they get a friend birthday party and the next year we do a family one.  This year I've done a friend one because we will be moving away from their friends.

I love my little Jaden so much.  Both Daddy and I are so glad to have Jaden here.  2 years ago he almost drowned in a swimming pool.  Thanks to Daddy, he was saved and is still alive today to celebrate his 6th birthday.

Jaden is such a smart, happy little boy.  He loves to read and is almost through "The Magic Treehouse" series of books.  He is so good with numbers and is learning multiplication in kindergarten!  Jaden is so imaginative and can play by himself and prefers to a lot of the time.  He LOVES to jump on the trampoline.

Happy Birthday, Jaden.  You are loved by us all!

Jaden's Fruit Loop Cake

Lots of Pictures, Lots of Fun

 

So many pictures and so much fun.  We had a nice sunny day, yesterday, so the kids were able to play outside.  HJ enjoyed getting his reading done so he can earn his Pizza Hut Book-it.

 

We went to ijump last night, thanks to Aunt Jeni and Uncle Kory who paid our way to celebrate all the birthdays we have around this time.  We had way too much fun and were pretty tired afterward.  But a cherry dipped cone from Article Circle was a thrilling treat.  And the kids actually asked if they could go to bed when they got home.

Noah doing a backflip.



HJ falling into the foam pit.




James and all of us loved playing Dodgeball.




Aunt Jeni had fun throwing Grant into the little kids foam pit.



Joyanne loved attacking anyone she could with the balls in Dodgeball, but for some reason it seemed like she was always attacking me, her mom.

Jaden got so hot and sweaty from all his running and jumping around.

Today I went with a friend, Channin, to the mall.  The kids enjoyed climbing around in the play place.  Grant liked the mirror.

Grant and James are rockin' with the new sunglasses they got.

Zachary is Grant's age and Channin's son.  He also had fun in the play place.  What a cutie with his hat.

Memorable Kitchen Table

I realize lately I have taken a lot of pictures of us at the table.  The Kitchen table is the place where a lot of us hang out.  We eat there, color in coloring books, and play games.  We draw and do all kinds of activities at the kitchen table. 

Today Jaden, James, and Grant were able to play with a friend, Olivia.  They had fun playing all together.

Grant sure loves his sippy cup and drinks it all throughout the day.  He is my fun, little buddy who recently has learned to give sweet, slobbery kisses before he goes to sleep.

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

On Sundays, growing up, my dad almost always made Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.  I loved those Sundays.  Now Daddy-O gets to eat with my parents a lot of Sundays and that is what he gets.  I made Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup for lunch.  The kids love it and then topped off our meal with grape Licorice.  Yummy!!!

Sacrament meeting today with the 6 little rascals by myself was extremely hard.  I barely made it, with a good cry afterward to shed the frustration.  Grant is usually difficult on his own and I can handle the little 18-month-old craziness all by himself, but my other kids were challenging as well.  Good friends are such a comfort though and I have so many in this ward.  Thanks Brittany Nunez for talking and sitting with me and cheering me up.  The cookies tonight were delicious.  Thank you Bri Tustian and Aliena Corgatelli for your tender words of compassion and caring.  Thank you Karin Hancock for coming tonight for dinner and visiting with me.  And a big THANK YOU to Lori Mecham for taking Grant in nursery and letting me have 2 hours of restorative, spiritual enlightment for the rest of church.  I am grateful Grant will go to nursery.

PJ and Electronic Game Day

The kids have been asking me to be able to stay in their pajamas all day and get to play all the electronic games they want.  We usually do this on holidays and birthdays.  Since they have been such great helpers, I decided today would be that day.  Instead of spending all day playing electronics, though, they also enjoyed playing with Legos.

Joyanne couldn't get enough of electronics.  She loves to play her ipod, the ipad, the computer, and occasionally the Wii.

I attended a funeral this morning for Ross Moser.  He was a funny, jolly man.  I'm glad he gets to be with his wife who died just 2 months ago.

I was able to get all the shopping done for 2 weeks.  I'm so grateful Joyanne is such a great sitter.

Soon I get to go once again to have a night out with my sister-in-law, Amber.  Fun times!

Here's an older picture of Amber.

Belated Birthday Party!

We had a belated birthday party for Noah.  There was oh so many 9-year-old boys, which made for a very crazy house.  I put some "In Tune" oil from DoTerra on me before hand and I actually was quite relaxed through all the bedlam. 

Noah picked the activities for the party.  First we played a balloon game where they had to hold to balloons in their hands and bounce them without letting them touch the ground.  Pretty Tricky!  Then they played hide and seek.  There were some pretty clever hiders, like climbing to the top shelves of the closets and hiding.  Pin the tail on the donkey was next with them being spun in another room and they had to find their way to the donkey poster.  Noah did well, but his youngest and smallest friend, Hyrum, actually won.  Noah opened presents, had icecream cake and then they went outside to play football.  What a party!

Well, on to another weekend without Daddy-O.  James has asked the last 2 mornings, "Is Daddy home?"  We are so glad Daddy is enjoying his training and doing well.

Noah and HJ - the brothers who are only 16 months apart.

Little Grant was having fun when I'd put a little cup on his head.  I love how little children are so entertained with simple toys.