been a LONG time... (photos for 8 March - 9 April)

...and I have no real excuses as to why I haven't updated that often,  so I won't make any up. :)

We had school conferences, which went well.  Both A and J are doing great.  We heard things, like, "model student"  "behaves the best in the class" "pleasure to have" "very helpful", I could go on and ON, but I think you get the point. ;)  LOL!!  Academically they are both on track and excelling in certain areas, and then we need to work on an area or two for both of them.  But nothing to worry about at all.

J has started piano lessons, which he takes while the girls have dance.  So then he doesn't have to wait with me the ENTIRE time they have dance.  He loves piano lessons.  We don't know yet if it is because of the lessons themselves or because it gets him out of some of the dance time. :)

Baseball season has started, so Mike is coaching J's team.  dd-A opted not to play this year, and we didn't make her.  She wants to swim instead.  So it is time to get her signed up for swimming again, well, past time, but .....  um... I will do that this week.

S is doing great.  She loves to be my side kick, and I think is still hesitant about starting school next year, but is slowly warming up to the idea.  She and D are best of buds.  One morning D and I were snuggling when S woke up and walked out to where we were.  He immediately slid out of my lap and walked over to S saying "ug, ug"  and put is arms around her for a hug!  so so cute.  S helps me in any way she can when we are home during the day.  However, when NORMAL chores are being done, she all of a sudden becomes SO tired or starving that she can't function.  We have to work on that.  LOL!

D is STILL too cute for words.  He speaks more and more every day.  He will imitate anything we say, and I do mean almost anything.  He is losing more and more of his BABY look and becoming such a toddler.  He is spunky, determined and FULL of attitude.  Again, I wonder where they get their 'tude from.  Their Daddy, of course!  He is still  HUGE danger to himself.  He loves to climb and jump, and he frightens me often.  He is very tough though, he rarely cries when he gets a "conk" as he puts it, but when he does w know he is hurt.  He tries to do EVERYTHING his siblings do, and we have many tears as a result of him NOT being able to.  Sad sad days. :)  He answers NO to everything, and the only way we can figure out what he really wants is to ask him to say "please", which he now says instead of signing.  If he want it he really DOES want it he says, "pees" and if he really does not want it he still says no.  He loved Easter and his basket of candy, and we let him go crazy eating it for a bit, which he LOVED.  (pictures to come)

I have started going to the Y.  I do the spinning class 3 times a week. (which I am missing right now-long weekend and I think my littlest two, who are still sleeping at 10:15, needed a little more sleep)  I am trying to get into better shape.  I haven't really lost any weight, but I have toned up.  I guess it might be time to change some eating habits. hehe heheeee.  That might help with the weight loss.

Mike is busy with work, YM's, and coaching.  He is looking forward to some great fishing soon, and doing all sorts of things with hunting.  I am glad that he feels like he has the time to get back into a few of the things that help him relax and enjoy life.  He needs it, and he deserves it.

I still am doing my photo a day thing.  so---here is a whole months worth.  The Easter weekend pictures will come another day.  ENJOY!!

99/365 09 apr

baseball season has begun.

98/365 08 apr

Bright and early, first sippy of the morning. 

100% necessary for a happy boy.

97/365 07 apr

D--just growing up toooooooo fast. 

He, of course, wants to do everything his older siblings do, EVERYTHING. 

And it causes regular tears because he just can't. 

This day, he just bawled for a good few minutes, 

and I couldn't figure out what he wanted. 

The older kids were at the table doing their homework. 

As soon as we got him a notebook and pencil, he was happy as can be!!

96/365 06 apr

J and his black eye, received by sisters knee. 

I think I have some better pictures of it, 

when it is more purple and green. I'll have to post those too.

95/365 05 apr

A outside playing in the beautiful sunny days.

94/365 04 apr

Playing outside popping bubbles between General Conference sessions.
D actually was testing out his Daddy, 

waiting to see if he'd get caught doing something 

Daddy just told him not to do. Little Stinker!

93/365 03 apr

My nephew B. Snuggling with his bear. his MOST prized possession.

92/365 02 apr

D posing. Yes, he has totally learned to pose and do a very cute cheesy grin. :)

91/365 01 apr

I actually really did take a picture this day, 

but honestly, I can't post it. hahaha! Not obscene, just horrible.

90/365 31 mar

A and her cousin, B... walking together at the zoo! 

Good times!

89/365 30 mar

D playing basketball at his cousin's house.

88/365 29 mar

J, I rarely get a normal shot of him because 

he is always pulling some sort of silly face. 

YAY!!!

87/365 28 mar

Wishing, hoping, that he could join the other kids outside. 

Sorry little Dude, the backyard isn't quite ready for you.

86/365 27 mar

S very carefully drawing on her whiteboard.

85/365 26 mar

D crying. but he is just still so cute!

84/365 25 mar

D crying. but he is just still so cute! 

I can't remember what exactly he was crying about, 

but I am sure it had to do with trying to feed himself,

 and I wouldn't let him because he had a white shirt on.

83/365 24 mar

J and D just being DANG cute together.

82/365 23 mar

Forgot to take one earlier,
so I snapped a shot of our keyboard that I hope to be replacing with a piano soon. :)

81/365 22 mar

Daddy and A snuggling!

80/365 21 mar

J with his very cool pinewood derby car.
After weeks of preparing the boy with,
"it's just for fun"...
"it doesn't matter who wins"...
"what a great experience to build a car with Daddy"...
they took first place. :)

79/365 20 mar

S veggin' out watching TV

78/365 19 mar

J veggin' out watching TV.

77/365 18 mar

D being SO happy his Mamma hadn't done the dishes, 

so he got one of his all time favorite bottles to drink from instead of a sippy cup.

76/365 17 mar

St. Patrick's Day green hat!

75/365 16 mar

totally missed march 16th. oops!

74/365 15 mar

making sugar cookies with our buddies from church! 

YAY!!! super good times!

73/365 14 mar

J working on his pine wood derby car. 

Sanding, sanding, and more sanding.

72/365 13 mar

A self photo. On the way to the Lion King, broadway musical. 

Which was amazing.

71/365 12 mar

A and D just sitting at the table together.

70/365 11 mar

This day we wnet on a walk to the park. 

I posted a ton of these in the previous post. 

But here is one that I love, again. 

The sweet little stinker wouldn't cooperate with me and my camera. 

So I just took this one of her pouting. hahaha

69/365 10 mar

forgot this day.
SO I snapped this right before I went to bed. 

Here is the corner of my work space. LOL!

68/365 9 mar

D. hahaha!! Oh my gosh--he is so messy in this one. 

This is from his "I always have a bruise on my forehead" phase. 

So we have the two bruises, one on each side of his forehead, 

and I think it's chocolate, from a donut, all over his cheek and nose. 

This is dedicated to D's cousin, B..., because whenever he sees 

a picture of D (in which he is regularly messy) he says, "dirty".

67/365 8 mar

S reluctantly turning so I could snap a photo.

let the sun shine...

We had a beautiful sunny day!  So beautiful that I had to take the kids outside.  We all got ready and decided on our plan.  We were going to walk to Daddy's work and then play at the park by his work and then walk home.  Of course, I brought my camera to torture the little ones on our walk.  I made them stop every so often so I could snap some shots.  I played with them in photoshop and made them look a little saturated and antiqued.  Just having some fun.

We learned something, or relearned something.  Just because the sun is shining doesn't mean that it is warm.   It was quite cold.  However, our walk was fun.  D completely enjoyed the wind in his hair and all the new things outside.  I just LOVE SPRING!!  I am so looking forward to spending time outside with him and letting him explore the world.  He is such a rascal.  I anticipate LOTS of bumps and bruises as we sped time outside, and I let him roam a bit.   

J kept himself busy climbing side hills and trying to exert his independence a bit.  dd-A nearly was in tears when I let J climb a hill by himself and meet us on the other side because she thought he wouldn't survive the experience.  Pleading with me she said, "Mom, he's only 8 yrs old.  If I had a son that was only 8, I wouldn't let him climb that hill by himself, it's too dangerous."  Funny little girl.  hahaha!  After the hill, J and A decided to run/walk on the side walk ahead of me to the end of each block and then wait for the rest of us to arrive before crossing the street.  It provided a great little photo. :)  I love it!  When they love each other they REALLY love each other. 

Then I made them pose by this old van.  I have a few other shots, but I this one is my favorite.  I have a few cute ones of them separately.  

Same shot, just desaturated and antique-ie. :)

My sweet little S was in her own little world: picking flowers and rocks, and refusing to get in almost any picture I took. LOL!!   I was able to snap a few random shots of her being super cute and exploring the neighbors' yard.  Here she is peeking in one of their little houses they have mounted up on a post.  

So since she refused to play nice with Mommy and her camera, I absolutely forced her to stand up by the stadium as we passed it.  She wouldn't look up at me or smile, but I still thought this was priceless. :)

Our walk down took a long time.  A very long time.  Thanks to me and my camera, but we stopped at Mike's work and the kids all had potty breaks.  I was scolded for taking them out in the cold (even though the sun was shining).  ;)  Then we went out and played at the park.  It was a short play time because the longer they played to colder I got. 

D had a blast, free from his stroller he was anxious to climb and get anywhere high.  And I DO mean HIGH.  Here he is climbing the stairs to the HIGHEST slide at the playground.  The stinker.  I ran up and grabbed him before he did any damage up there. 

And then here he is just being cute and enjoying the sunshine.

The walk home was as quick as could be.  S was tired and sat in the basket under the stroller, so over half the way I pushed D and S.  That was a workout.  hee hee!!  And and of you who have ever visited us, you know that is no EASY walk up the HILL to our house from Mike's work.  WOW.  Let's just say that I wasn't cold at all by the time I got home. hahaa!  

SO...I am so ready for spring and for the SUN! Not hot sun, but the cool sun that we enjoy so much here.  I wouldn't even mind the sun mixed with rain. 

photos: 1 March - 7 March

Just some pics of the week...

66/365  7 mar 

My very silly, happy baby. 

He was throwing a fit just seconds before this. 

Lying on the floor, then he rolled over 

and saw me trying to get a pick of his fit 

and he started grinning and laughing.

65/365  6 mar (photo 2)

The girls have been "inviting" Daddy home for lunch this week, 

and I snapped a few shots.

65/365  6 mar (photo 1)

64/365  5 mar

D snuggling on Daddy's belly while Dad was talking 

on his cell, lying on the couch. 

TOO cute, I tell ya!

63/365  4 mar

A's lovely case of pink eye. Our worst case thus far this month. 

We are now on week four of pink eye in our house.

And this was before it got to it's worst.

62/365  3 mar

J making an after school snack.

61/365  2 mar

D--just happy as can be!

60/365  1 mar

A photo of my screen with the kit that filled my week this week. :)

photos 15 Feb - 28 Feb (2 weeks worth)

Seriously, not too much to say about the last three weeks. We haven't really done anything. I had pink eye, then S, and then dd-A. dd-A actually still has it. She can't keep her hand off her eye. We are going to patch it this next week if it isn't gone my tomorrow. She has missed a whole week of school because it is viral, not bacterial, so the drops don't make in not contagious. SO it had been contagious the whole time. What that means is minimal outings and lots of hand sanitizer.

I have taken my photos though. so here they are...

59/365  28 feb

My two boys snuggling.

58/365  27 feb

This is what happens at our house 

if you mess with Dad while he is in the bath. 

And by messing with, I mean 

dumping a glass of clod water on him.

57/365  26 feb

the little (or not so little) flower headbands I made.

56/365  25 feb (photo 2)

I made these darling little flowered head bands. 

They wanted to pose for me. 

56/365  25 feb (photo 1)

I made these darling little flowered head bands. 

They wanted to pose for me. (Don't mind the pink eye.)

55/365  24 feb

I actually missed today, so I just stuck an old picture in here. 

I like it...my deck.

54/365  23 feb

Wii fit and pilates, weight training and some sort of aerobic exercise... 

my new routine. (not all of them every day) 

I am hoping to get into some sort of shape 

in the first half of the year, so far I am doing alright, 

not good, but better than before, 

so that is a step in the right direction.

53/365  22 feb

Itching for spring to come so I bought a bunch of tulips. 

I was just playing with my camera settings again. :)

52/365   21 feb

The Salt lake City Temple. 

My most favorite picture in our home. 

I served a mission for my church at the vistors' center there, 

Mike and I were married there, 

and it is just one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth.

51/365  20 feb

playing with my camera outside. 

trying desperately to take pictures off auto mode.

50/365  19 feb

D playing with ponies. 

Seriously, you can't blame the boy...

pet shops and pony's are his sister's favorite play things...

and that is who he mostly plays with. 

No worries though, when J is around 

it is all guns, sabers, balls, army men, and pirates.

AND I really don't care--I just thought he was cute. :)

49/365  18 feb

just veggin' out watching TV

48/365  17 feb

"Hey Mom, look what I found. MMMM!"

I love how his ENTIRE arm is in the bag to get a chip

47/365  16 feb

Reading. Just a good moment.

46/365  15 feb

partners in crime...

left alone to their own desires, 

these two little ones found 

a lone bag of chocolates and went to town. 

Don't they look so caught!

Photos for Feb 8th - 14th

Here are some of my photos I took two weeks ago.  I am still waiting to get some photos from Misty that I took using her camera, because my battery was dead, for this past week. :)

45.365  14 feb

My darling boys!

They are just too cute for words!

Love them!

44.365   13 feb

Party at the Clegg's. :)

43.365   12 feb

Happy B-day, Mike!

A little self timer action, not bad.

I love J's cheesy grin. :)

and D's messy little noggin!

42.365  11 feb

My sassy S!

Ready for dance. :)

So precious!

41.365  10 feb

Laundry!

Nuff said!

40.365  09 feb

This is my sweet A!!

In timeout!

Pouting!

LOL!

39.365  08 feb

J has started his first comic book.  He wants to type it.

It is going to take an awfully long time to write it with his

one finger typing style. :)

Birthday, Friends, Family, and Fun! (then a lil pink eye)

BIRTHDAY + FUN

We have been having lots of fun.  A few weeks ago we celebrated Mike's 35th birthday.  Mike's family has a tradition, and every birthday I curse it. LOL!!  For their birthdays, Mike's mom would cook their favorite meal, no matter how much time or energy it takes.  It really is a great idea!  The kids always felt EXTRA special.  I have also benefited with this tradition and enjoyed choosing part of a meal (I share a bday with my bro in law, Rob, and he graciously shares choosing his meal with me).  I have always chosen to have cauliflower and cheese sauce.  I LOVE it and it REALLY is great!  Sure! Unless one's husbands favorite meal is a full fledged Thanksgiving dinner.  The only person in my family that I have continued on this tradition for is Mike.  He insists!!!  And I am pretty sure my kids don't know yet that they are missing out. ;)  So sure enough, we (and when I say we, I really me I) cooked a HUGE Thanksgiving dinner for his birthday.  It was really yummy and we had a great time.  The kids and I made coupons for him for his bday.  His got coupons included: 1000 kisses, 1 alarm clock (the kids come in a wake us up in the morning and they call themselves our alarm clocks--THANKS kids--LOL), 1000 snuggles, 100 hugs, 1 business trip, etc.  It was a good day!

FRIENDS + FUN

That was Thursday...the next day I spent the ENTIRE day cleaning the downstairs and getting it ready for a young men's activity.  Mike had the older young men from our ward come over to have a Halo night. (x-box game--for those of you who don't know.)  It was a fun night, full of cookies, pizza, soda, chips, and video games.  I think you could say that it was nearly perfect for a bunch of teenage boys (and a few grown men as well).

FAMILY + FUN

Misty, Phil and Ty came over.  They got here that night and Phil got to enjoy the video game night as well.  They spent the whole long weekend with us, and I was so grateful for Misty's help as the weekend progressed.

more FRIENDS + FUN

The following morning we also had a special youth leadership breakfast/BYC type meeting at our house.  Yes, Mike planned one NIGHT activity and then one MORNING meeting one day after the next.  So after spending the Friday preparing the downstairs for the activity, I got to spend early Saturday morning preparing the upstairs for breakfast and a meeting.  This is where Misty was SO SO helpful.  I really think I only finished everything I needed to because she was here helping.

Misty, Mike and then one of the YM, Luis, who was here early to help get us get ready, cooked.  The spread was fabulous, and I really should have taken a picture, but my battery was dead.  (Which reminds me--I need to get an extra battery for my Canon).  We had eggs, pancakes, bacon, fruit and fruit dip, and then a heart shaped bunt cake (it was Valentine's Day, after all).  The youth felt super spoiled, which was the whole point.  So it was worth every minute.  And the meeting was a success.  The planned the combined activities for the entire year.  

FUN

Mike and I did nothing for each other for Valentine's Day.  I have never really been a huge fan of the holiday (commercialized, you should show love all the time, etc, blah, blah, you've heard it all before).  We hadn't talked about doing nothing for each other before; I could've been in big trouble.  So, I was happy when the morning events unfolded.  I went in and kissed Mike and woke him up he asked me, "What did you get me for Valentine's Day."  I responded, "Nothing."  He asked, "Really?"  and I said, "Yep, nothing, really."  And then he kissed me again, and said, "Good."  I was grateful we were on the same page this year.  There is no doubt I love him dearly and appreciate his daily sacrifices and efforts he puts forth for our family,  and likewise that he loves me is completely devoted to me and our children.  It's all good. :)

and more FAMILY + FUN

Sunday we took off to church.  We left and expected that Misty and Phil would be gone when we got home.  Bummer (well, I was actually happy) that they had a flat tire. :)  And HAD to stay the entire weekend.  Sunday afternoon Misty announced, "I HATE your dishes!"  I think between Saturday and Sunday morning we had done 6 loads of dishes.   That was a little extreme because of the breakfast the previous day.  I do hate dishes and laundry, because they are NEVER ending!!

Mike made his famous cheesecake.  We had to negotiate the deal, though.  Misty wanted to learn how to do it, but Mike really wanted chocolate chip cookies instead.  So they made the cheesecake, and then Monday I made the cookies.

Chris, Vanessa, and Bobby joined us that evening.  We waited for them to arrive for dinner and yet another load of dishes. LOL!  We had a fabulously yummy roast, and then enjoyed the cheesecake.  MMMMM!!!!  (Thank you, Misty, for convincing Mike to teach you.) 

We spent a lazy Monday together.  It was great.  I think nearly everyone slept in.  Mike came home EARLY from work to spend time with everyone.  And I mean EARLY!!  11:30 ish. WOW!!  He arrived just in time for the first batch of chocolate chip cookies to come out of the oven.  Perfect timing, Babe. :)

The baby boys, D, Ty, and Bobby are all within three months of each other.  With Ty being the oldest and D the youngest.  It was so fun to have them interact and play together.  We are SO thankful for family and little cousins around us here that our children get to grow up with.  We miss so many of our family members who live all over the US.  They kept us entertained watching each of them doing their own cute things.  AND THEY ARE SOOOOO CUTE!!!

Everyone left Monday night, and we resumed our regularly scheduled program the following week with school, scouts, and homework, and a fun little extra--PINK EYE!!

PINK EYE + no fun!

I go to help out in both J and dd-A's classes on Tuesdays.  I really enjoy it.  It is good to see them at school and to know their teachers well.  It helps me to be more involved and to know how they are doing at school and to have better communication with their teachers.  Well, this last Tuesday I am pretty sure that I caught pink eye while I was there.  By Tuesday night my right eye was red and itchy.  By Wednesday morning it was a bit goopy and very red.  I saw my doctor and got drops, but they aren't helping get rid of it.  So my doctor says it is the viral type--so it just has to run it's course.  UGH!!!  dd-S caught it Friday.  And it looks like my sweet D has it tonight.  UGH!!!!  double UGH!! 

REALLY IMPORTANT NEWS!!!

Last Wednesday J received his Wolf in Cub Scouts.  YAY!!!!!

And that has been our lives these last two weeks.  Pictures to come soon! :)  Thanks for reading my very long post! :)

 

Yes, i survived last week

It was a crazy busy week.  Mike was asked to go to Colorado to help with the transition of a few new nursing homes that his company purchased.  So i was flying solo most of the week.

Here is what happened:

*Mike left to go out of town for 6 day. (Never too much fun for me--I kinda like having my hubby around)

*Drove for 2 hours to visit Grandma and Grandpa D and Misty, Phil and Ty.

*Shopped at Target.  (oh how I wish I had more store options locally!  I love Target!) 

*Spent too much money at Target. ;)

*Grandpa D watched the girls while Misty and I went to Costco to prepare for the Super Bowl.

*Phil and J had a little boy time and played Lego Star Wars.

*Went to Misty's soccer game and saw her block a goal, get knocked on her keester, and play soccer, and I took a few photos of her.

*Ate a BLTA  (mmmmm) at Red Robin and had people gawking at my adorable and well behave kids. :) (Seriously, gawking, it frightened me a bit how much this one lady kept staring at them and commenting to me about them.   She even reached out and "pet" D's head a few times.)

*Was shocked by the "formal attire" that mothers and fathers allow their teenage daughters to go out into public wearing these days.  (Apparently there was a high school dance that night and one place of choice for dinner was Red Robin.)  So many LITTLE dresses being worn.  DD-A cracked me up commenting about how they weren't modest.

*J got a little sick; the beginnings of a nasty cold that some of us are still battling.

*Church with Dad and Pat.  Always fun to go home and see old family friends.

*Ty and D actually get along well and play together "fairly" nicely.

*Sitting on the couch I hear Phil, who has just walked around the love seat, say, "Ty, get up!"  Then I, realizing that I hadn't seen D for a minute or so ask, "Hey, where's D?"  Phil responds, rather matter of factly, "Under Ty."  hahaha!!  Phil then descirbed his findings...D lying on his back holding on to a ball held over his head with Ty laying on top of him.  We assume that Ty tackled D in attempts to get the ball.  LOL!!  And we didn't hear anything.  they were quiet as can be.  hahaha!

*Ran into a high school friend of mine at church.  We chatted and I introduce my kids.  dd-A FREAKED out later when she heard me talking on the phone to Mike and tell him that I ran into an old boyfrind of mine.  ddA, "WHAT...EWWWWW...that guy we met was your old BOYFRIEND!  AAAAAAAACK!!!!"  I proceeded to explain that there were many years of Mom and Dad's life that we did not know each other and I had other boyfriends and Dad had other girlfriends.   That grossed her out. LOL!!  I guess it it good that she can only see us with each other.  hahaa!!

*Missed Mike terribly while we watched a bit of the Super Bowl, at Pizza, and visited with 

family.  I just don't care much about it when Mike isn't around.  Or even when he is around for that matter. LOL!

*Decided after a later visit with Grandma and Grandpa D that originally intended that we wouldn't leave until the morning and the kids would miss the first part of school.

*Kids begged to miss the WHOLE day of school and stay at Misty's house longer to play at the park.

*The next morning, I decided that I agreed with the kids and that an afternoon at the park with Misty and Ty sound WAY more fun than driving 2 hours back so they could got to the afternoon of school.

*Fun, lazy day at Misty's: reading books, playing at the park, playing with Ty, watching TV, and just relaxing.

*Drove home.

*Realized that I forgot to start the dishwasher before I left, so now I had OLD, STINKY dishes festering in the dishwasher for three days.  YUCK!!

*School and sickness then ensued.  Coughs, sore throats, runny noses, and near croupy voices.  All is well though.  No croup, still runny noses, and  few coughs.  It is never fun to be sick, or have sick kids.  It it worse when everyone is a little sick all at the same time.  And even worse when Mike is gone.  No one was sick enough to stay home from school.  Just the yucky cold.

*Cub scouts--eight 8-9 year old boys all enclosed together in one room.  NUFF SAID!

*Catching up on the cleaning for the week.  Yea, that didn;t completely happen.

*Mike came home.

Then we had a lazy weekend together.  Ahhhhh!!!  It is nice to have him home.  And the kids missed him terribly.