Wednesday, May 6, 2009

A little update via photos (that is all I am good for these days I think)

and maybe a little typing...

a little about Mike and me--
Mike has been gone for a while. First, he went to Lake Powell with his brothers for their annual fishing trip and boy bonding, uh, I mean MANLY bonding. ;) They had a great time. I hear it was windy and the fishing was hard. But the boys had fun, as usual. Mike stayed a few extra days in UT with his parents and had some business there. Then he popped home for just a few days. Just in time to take the group of teenagers from our church to a weekend get away (Youth Conference) with a dance, service project, and some good feasting on the word of Christ. Then he was home for Sunday and then left again for some business. I NEVER sleep well with him gone. So I am a bit loony with sleep deprivation. I am thankful Mike is home, and that we don't have any months like this in the near future. Two and a half weeks is long enough! And I am SO looking forward to our vacation.

A little about J
We were supposed to have our first few baseball games, but they were all rained out. (Go figure!) J was VERY excited for his games, so he has been a little disappointed this week. I, on the other hand, was NOT too disappointed. With Mike out of town and the other coaches schedule, it looked like I was going to have to "play" coach. Well, we all know baseball is NOT my most favorite sport. I tolerate it because Mike LOVES it and J loves it, too. SO I don't think I would make a very good baseball coach, however, I can hold my own in the dugout.

J also had his first big field trip. They went to the Pacific Science Center and that was SO far away for me. I actually called my big sister, Dawn, in near tears right after he left, feeling nervous and paranoid. I am such an overprotective mom. LOL!! We had to get up super early to get him ready, and while he was eating his oatmeal I re-gave him the "stranger" talk, and the "stay with a buddy always" talk, and the "what to do if you get lost" talk. He was funny and kept telling me, "I know, Mom!" "I KNOW!"

He had a blast and returned home safely and in one piece. He even brought me a treat. A SUPER HUGE (and I DO mean super huge) jaw breaker on a stick. I am so lucky.

A blurb about my darling A
My darling A is back in swim lessons, J is too, but A loves it so much. It is sort of one of her things! She is a total little fish, and she tries so hard to do everything perfectly as her teacher tells her. She hopes I never stop the lessons. LOL!!

dd-A has also been working on her Young Authors' book. She wrote this book all by herself. I am so proud of her. She told the story of us moving into our new house, and how it was CRAZY. Crazy insane, since my little D was born 6-7 weeks early that very same week. She remembered some sweet details, and her pictures are adorable! And, like I said before, she wrote it all by her self. She is such talented and smart little girl. I am so lucky to have her as mine. :) heee heee!

Swimming with D and S
I have been taking D and S swimming while the older two are in lessons. WHAT the heck have I been thinking. It is near torture to keep both of them safe in the pool. hahaaa! They love it though. In fact, D threw such huge temper tantrum yesterday as we were leaving, luckily he's my fourth kiddo, so I chuckled instead of getting stressed out. But he was a little naughty turkey for a good thirty minutes afterward, giving me 'tude and being all sorts of sassy. He kept giving me dirty looks and saying, "No, mamma!" in a very grumpy tone. The cutest thing... in between all his grumpiness, he kept trying not to grin. What a stinker! haha!

My sassy little S
S is growing up so fast. She is in that hard stage of wanting to grow up , but still wanting to be a baby at the same time. I am working hard to teach her a little more independence. She has been so doted on by all of us, that she tends to depend on others to do things for her which she should be able to do for herself, like get her own cereal out, pick up her own toys, clean up her color crayon messes, put her dishes in the sink, etc. She is REALLY great at doing extra things, like, rinsing of the dishes (she even has her very own special "scrubber"), getting all the "small" garbage cans emptied out (she gathers all all the trash from our 3 bathroom), organizing the books on the book shelf, but the every day things, not so much! We have been working on it, and I think this week she is getting much better.

OH and HUGE news for her...she has MOSTLY stopped sucking her thumb. I took the three older ones to the dentist last week (which they all did great), and the dentist told S that if she didn't stop sucking her thumb by our next visit, he would have to put some contraption in her mouth so she couldn't do it any more. So we have a dumb dumb rewards system going. She really doesn't suck her thumb during the day, but she still does at night. Next week, we are putting socks on her hands at night, so hopefully that will help.

hmmm.. so much for just a LITTLE typing...

And my too cute for words D
And my sweet little D, he is just so so cute. He charms me every second of every day. He wants me to hold him a ton. He LOVES Elmo, and really loves to read books! He is picking up more and more words. And he totally missed his Daddy while he was gone. Nearly every morning, one of the first things out of his mouth was, "Daddy??" And when Mike was loading his truck up to leave for the second time this month, D sat in the door way and kept saying, "No, bye bye, Daddy!" heart breaking! and so so cute! He loves music and boogies in the car in his car seat to the beat and bounces around the floor at home. One thing I love that he does...when he catches you watching him dance he gets embarrassed a little and stops quickly, drops his head, and gives you this super cute look, we call "shy eyes". I have to always smooch his cheeks when he does that, cuz I just can't stand how cute he is!! He also has discovered the joy of writing and coloring, now if we can get him to keep his writing to paper (and not my walls--which he has done this week) I will be one happy camper.

And one of D's new favorite things to do is Jump from the ottoman to our couch. Mostly it is alright because we keep it fairly close to the couch-like a few inches, so it is safe. But one night, it had been rolled out while we were kneeling for family prayers. He attempted a jump that was a good two feet long. Needless to say, he was unsuccessful. He smacked his eye and screamed. I scooped him up and loved on him. Then, the second he gathered himself, he hopped back on the ottoman and wanted to jump again! Funny boy! He still has a nice black eye, and you can see it in at least one of his pictures.

I feel truly blessed.

and little ol' me
Oh and me--I am really trying to get in better shape. I feel like it is super important for my health and happiness. I had been spinning at the YMCA 3 days a week for month and a half, but then D got sick and I didn't want to put him in the child center there, so I stopped going. SO I have started the intense fitness program, P90X. I am in my second week of doing it. it is HARD and totally kicks my butt. I am in a bit of pain (or some days a lot of pain) EVERY day right now. I got it while Mike was gone, and he, reluctantly, has been doing it with me. It is a good thing. I like having him push me and it keeps me from giving up. my pride can be good for something I guess. :)

Photos (Project 365 = a photo a day for a year)
Here are a handful of pictures from the last few weeks... I missed a few days (two, I think), I have been a bit scatter brained and tired, but I also captured a few great shots! ( I still have more Easter pictures and also some spring playing outside pictures--but another day.) for now...ENJOY!

oh-and they are chronologically upside down. :)

113.365 23 apr
Charming his mamma with a big smile...
and a black eye!!

112/365 22 apr
Peek-a-boo!!
And that is all!

111/365 21 apr
My kiddos, right before prayers, because I forgot to take a picture this day until then.
They weren't very picture friendly this night. :)

110/365 20 apr
D examining something very carefully.

109-3/365 19 apr
The sunshine has come (and subsequently left again),
but the kiddos couldn't resist this warm 59 degree day.
They decided they needed to "sun bathe themselves".
They set up their beach chairs, took out lotion, and books to read.
Within a few minutes they came inside asking to wear
some of my sunglasses because it was too bright. So they each
grabbed a pair and went outside. They stayed out for nearly an hour,
and they all got along the whole time. WOW!
Here is S wearing the pink tinted ones that she requested I buy for myself last year.
(I think she has worn them more than I have) :)

109-2/365 19 apr
Here is A, sporting my large shades and a smile. :)

109-1/365 19 apr
and J with my big black shades.
Reading Black Beauty and "taking a bath in the sun".

108/365 18 apr
J posing

107/365 17 apr
D--just love this little guy!

106-3/365 16 apr
S had a little extra dance show this day.
So we got all dressed up with fancy hair and some of my makeup
(bribery with the makeup was the only way she let me do her hair- LOL).
Isn't she precious.

This is such a little S expression. I wish I had her lashes. (thanks, Daddy!)

I kept laughing while I was taking these pictures
because she kept fiddling with the straps and top of the costume.
I asked her why she couldn't hold still, and she told me she was
trying to be modest. LOL!

106-2/365 16 apr
I couldn't pick just one of these that was my favorite--
so I had to post a few more. I love her expression and her neatly placed hands.

106-1/365 16 apr
and this one. I just love it!

105/365 15 apr
Rib a dub dub. D playing in the tub.

104/365 14 apr
This was an incredibly perfect moment.
J set up the T-ball T and took D over there and said,
"Let me show you how to do it," and then smacked the ball off the T,
then gave the bat to my little D and let him try.
It was just so perfect to watch J teach his little brother.

102/365 12 apr
D discovered how to climb into his grocery cart.
He was very proud of his new independence.
However, he was NOT independent enough to get himself out.

101-4/365 11 apr
D got to participate in the Easter egg coloring this year.
Last year he just sat in his bouncy seat while the rest of us colored eggs.
This year he colored with crayons, cracked a few eggs,
ate a little purple (non toxic) paint, and even dyed one or two.
He loved it!

101-3/365 11 apr
S proudly showing off her nicely dyed and all stickered up Easter egg.
She was the most free with her decorations:
a little paint, a little glitter, lots of crayons, and a lot of stickers.

101-2/365 11 apr
dd-A coloring Easter eggs. She was so worried about
everything turning out perfect that I could hardly
get her to relax enough for a smile.
Thank fully Daddy came to the rescue by saying some nice
little potty words, not naughty words,
just the ones that are rude and that make kids
(and boys, and grown men) giggle.

101-1/365 11 apr
J coloring Easter eggs. He had it down to a science.
Experimenting with different colors, mixing, two toned eggs,
and rubber bands to block out some colors.

and Yes, he has a nice shiner.
He and A were NOT going to sleep when they were supposed to,
and they had a little accident.
Oops--and a black eye was the result of a knee in the face.
Next time, maybe they'll go to sleep instead.

100/365 10 apr
D, eating his Cheerios. Such a cutie.
I love the lip pucker needed to keep in his HUGE bite,
and the little bit of milk dribble on his chin. :)


Monday, April 13, 2009

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.