Dioramas

 This is Annabelle's diorama from Kindergarten.  When she learned that she would get to make another one now in 2nd grade she was very excited to get out the clay and make another one.  This time her report is on panda bears.  She made the bear and the background all on her own.  I helped with the 3D trees, but that's it.  Awesome, huh?

  

Callie decided that she wanted to make a clay animal as well and then she also wanted a "habitat" like Annabelle.  I had fun making the sheep and Callie helped make all the little balls.  Her and Annie made the diorama and then found some other animals Annie made with clay a couple years ago.  Callie loves playing with this and is so proud of it.

 

Bloom

Annabelle has had a cold for a week now.  I knew Callie would catch it.  Sunday evening I noticed Callie acting a little funny and I knew it would be soon.  Every Sunday I set a few goals for the week.  One for me, one for my family and one for my job or others.  Three goals are much more manageable then a huge list.  And then when I do get more things done I feel great.  Anyway, on Sunday I was thinking about my goals and knew just what I needed.  Usually when Callie gets cold it throws everything off.  She is REALLY fussy and coughs all night and I don't get my "free time" while she is at preschool.  It makes me frustrated and angry and I am not the nicest mommy.  So my goal on Sunday was to be very nice once she got sick.  To love and cuddle her more and not stress about my schedule being changed.  Sure enough Callie woke up Monday morning and has been coughing every since.  Having that goal in the back of my head has really helped me be a better mom.  I am talking sweeter and cuddling her more.  On Tuesday afternoon I was SO tired that I laid down to take a nap and Callie joined me.  She didn't cough for the whole hour and a half that we napped.  Occasionally I felt a little poke and the boys asked me a question.  Lucky them I said yes to everything they said.  Eventually they left me a note saying they went to the neighbors.  This is how Annabelle found us when she got home.  I am happy to report that Callie got antibiotics for an ear infection Monday night and has been getting better ever since.  She still has the cough, but not as bad.  She is happier and back to singing all the Frozen songs over and over again.  I really loved my goal this week and I hope that I can remember it every time I have a sick kiddo.

Turbo Stadium

 Just a normal Saturday at our house.  I made cinnamon rolls for brunch (pumpkin ones-delish!) while Nate was at scouts, the other kids played and cleaned and Greg made a new home for Turbo with his dad.  Ryan's dresser has been falling a part for a couple years and Turbo really didn't like his glass tank.  So, we got Ry a new dresser and Greg turned the old one into a much bigger home for our tortoise.  He surprisingly doesn't walk all around it like I thought he would, yet, but hopefully he will get used to the extra space soon.  It is quite impressive and I am always impressed with Greg's talents.

Date Night

 Greg and I had a fun date the other night at color me mine.  I painted a new birthday plate and Greg did a sugar jar.  I love how creative he is.  I am so predictable.  Tomorrow we will get them from the kiln and I can't wait to see how they turned out.

 

Lunch Dates

Last school year I took each of the kids out to lunch a few times.  They love being checked out and I love spending one on one time with them.  This year, no excuse, but it just hasn't happened.  The kids have mentioned it a couple times but I finally decided that in order for it to happen it needed to be one my calendar.  So that is what I did.  Last week I took each big kid out to lunch all by themselves.  Not even Callie came with us (Thanks to all her friends that helped with this!).  We had great discussions and they all enjoyed the food.  I definitely need to try to get one more lunch date in with each of them before the end of the school year.  It takes time and effort to be a good mom, but it is so worth it!

Tea Party Time

 How can you say no when three girls and a little pig want to have a tea party?

Crazy, Goofy Kids

 

I'm not sure why my kids always make goofy faces, but they do, and I love them!

A Great Babysitter

Nathan babysits for us every weekend now.  It is wonderful.  We get to go out, we don't have to find a sitter, and the kids love him!  One time this last month he made a Valentine chain with the kids, all on his own.  I have no idea how he even came up with the idea.  When I remember to tell him, he even does the dishes.  We are loving the cheaper dates and watching Nathan grow and mature. 

Court of Honor

 Nathan has been a boy scout for almost a year and due to a mess-up at the last court of honor he got a TON of awards this time.  7 merit badges and 4 ranks!  I am definitely not in the know with boy scouts like I was with cubs, but we will figure it out together and hopefully have lots of fun adventures on the way.

No Raisins

One Saturday afternoon Greg decided he wanted to make cookies.  His favorite, oatmeal raisin.  I was relaxing with a book in the living room when he invited 4 little girls to help him.  I chuckled to myself thinking, "good luck."  And then the questions started.  "What mixer do I use?"  "Where do you keep this?"  I wasn't angry, just humored as I got up and helped him get things for the cookies.  In the picture Annabelle is blocking the closet so Greg can't get the raisins.  We got them and in the end she loved the cookies, as did everyone.  I love when Greg cooks!

Bedtime

 Bedtime is a crazy time of night.  You'd think that after almost 12 years Greg and I would have it all figured out. But we don't.  Especially when everyone is laughing and having fun together.  Why stop?

Girl Scout Cookie Selling Time

This little Brownie is on fire!  She has sold close to 300 boxes of cookies.  I NEVER sold that much.  She has called people, gone door to door and definitely been out of her comfort zone.  While she is super shy with adults, she is crazy at home and I am so proud of her efforts.  I have so many memories of selling cookies as a kid and if we lived in a warmer climate where we could do more door to door sells, she would sell SO many more.  She has another week and half if you want to buy any.

updates

 So I haven't been updating this much.  I don't think I take as many pictures, especially when nothing big is happening.  Here are some random pictures that either I or one of the kids have taken. 
Ryan is a fabulous big brother and is always helping his sisters be happy.

 Greg has taught the kids that a frozen burrito takes great with ketchup and sour cream, YUCK!

 Goofing around.

For Family Home Evening snack we had a scoop of ice cream (this is very common for a snack) and the girls were obviously enjoying their last few drops.  And then my goofy Ryan went and took it to the next level with the bunny ears.  Another day Callie was doing bunny ears on Ryan while he was reading scriptures.  I couldn't help laughing when I realized what she was doing.  Not very reverent mom!

Spices and Bread

The other day I helped a friend make bread like I learned many years ago from Pantry Secrets.  We had lots of fun and when we needed some spices to make bread sticks I was a little surprised when she opened her spice cabinet and there were only a handful of spice there.  It made me really stop and think about the amount of spices I own and use.  I had to count.  I stopped at 50, but still had some in the pantry.  I thought maybe I was as crazy as I had thought with all my cooking and trying new things.  I put it out on Facebook and got more response than ever.  Turns out I am not crazy, or at least not alone in the crazy amount of spices I own.  

 This is a picture of something I made with this very versatile bread recipe.  I make whole wheat bread now from Everyday Food Storage but I still love to use the Pantry Secrets recipe for pizza, breadsticks and yummy treats like this cream cheese almond braid.

Back to the Grind

 Well, the kids went back to school.  Greg went back to the office and Callie and I are back to our normal quiet routine around the house.  We finally went grocery shopping and she anxiously awaits when her siblings come home.  The first day was rough, she really missed not having anyone but mom to play with.

I taught preschool this week.  We did the letter "L" and we had lots of fun with it.  We also talked about weather and the kids loved reading "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" and then making whip cream clouds for part of our snack.

 

 

Turbo The Tortoise

 Deciding to get Ryan a pet was a big deal.  We have had a beta fish before but that is it.  This guy is pretty cool.  He loves to walk around and hates his glass tank.  Greg will be making him a new bigger place this weekend.  He eats lettuce, tomatoes, endive and a few fruits.  In the summer time Ryan will take him outside lots.  He definitely can move so Ry will have to keep track of him really well.  I love seeing how happy Ryan is with this gift.  I don't love turtle pee or poop on my floor, but I do really like our new family friend.