Prayer Time!

A few days ago, Jonny was saying the bedtime prayer for our family and he got stuck (he tried to close it up after "thank you for the food.") "thank you for President Hinckley" I prompted. He burst out laughing. "NOT President Hinckley! President Monson!" I was surprised that my 2 year old caught my mistake.

A Manicure

Sunday, the kids were trimming their nails and Jimmy offered to paint Amelia's fingernails. I thought that was very sweet, so I set them up at the table and gave them plenty of paper towels, etc and let him have at it. He did a great job painting her fingernails and toes. He was so meticulous. He concentrated so hard, bending close so he did not miss a spot. When I checked over his handiwork, I noticed a couple of blobs of paint. Upon closer inspection, I realized he had very carefully painted over some warts!

Jimmy

Here's Jimmy school picture that I forgot to mail out. He doesn't have that adorable gap in his teeth anymore... but he's still cute. If you want a wallet size copy, just leave a comment and I'll put it in the mail.
Here's Jimmy doing Jump Rope for Heart. He sure had a great time at that event and appreciated the your support.

Name Change

Amelia has now officially requested to be called Amy. This request came shortly before her birthday last week. She writes it on all of her papers and introduces herself to others as "Amy" so I think she means it. "I like how it sounds" and "it reminds me of a beak" are some of the reasons she has given to support the switch.

that reminds me of a funny- Yesterday, I dropped her off at preschool and she was reluctant to go. She always has been reluctant to go when this teacher is in charge. Yesterday, she finally confided in me: Mom, she talks to us like we're little kids.

Sweet Serenade

A few nights ago, Jimmy sneaked out of bed to sing me a song. It was a cute little song all about reading, called "Reading." He learned it at school.
"Reading is fun-damental..." he sang soulfully. While he sang out his heart about reading books and things kids like to do (follow fashion trends, ride bikes, watch tv) Jonny sneaked up behind him and joined in: "I can read my ukelele, I can read my ukelele, I can read my ukelele.." he crowed. He sang on key and it really was quite lovely to hear the boys harmonizing together. Maybe you had to be there...
I tried to get a reprise the next morning, but neither one was up to it.

Relax!

A couple of months ago, I asked Amelia what she wanted for her birthday. She told me she wanted "one of those chairs that shake." She saw one (a massage chair) on the tv and thought it was funny. Friday, I happened to see a massage chair on display at our Costco and was reminded of her birthday wish. So I got her out of the shopping cart, put her in the chair and turned it on. I wish I could have captured the expression on her face. BIG eyes, huge grin. She sank into the chair and said "I could sit here all day!" Then it was Jonny's turn. He squealed with delight and kept turning around to see who was poking him. "Hey you,"he laughed "Hey you chair!" As if it there was a person he couldn't see. Of course, I sat in the chair too... it was great, but my reactions were not quite as dramatic. So maybe next time you're at Costco with a little one that you love, put him or her in the massage chair and see what they do... it's priceless!

And now it's been ten years

Yesterday marked ten years from when I returned home from my mission in Brazil. Surprisingly to me, I didn't think much about it, good or bad. It's the same as if it had been eight years, or twelve. It was a defining period in my life, but I've had so many more wonderful experiences, and more trying ones, that I don't feel defined by it anymore.

Yesterday also marked the arrival of our new friend:


Shake, shake, shake your Roomba! The kids love it. Simon was a little nervous at first, but today he was watching it intently. The other kids love to watch and chase it. It also gives us a bargaining chip toward clean rooms: "okay kids, are your rooms 'Roomba Ready'?" What a great little robot! Thanks to Leslie and Jake for the suggestion (and for sharing a coupon to get Roomba for cheaper)!

Sliding with Simon

Yesterday was a glorious spring day. The blossoms were out and the weather was warm enough to spend the afternoon playing on the lawn. Simon liked sliding! I put him on the top and he would wiggle and kick until he started to slide down. At that point I would catch him and help him safely to the bottom. Toward the end, he enjoyed it and started to walk his hands forward down the slide.
Also, there is a picture of him after his morning shower. I noticed that his eyes were the same beautiful blue as the towel. Didn't the camera catch that nicely?!

Spring Break at First Landing State Park

Here's is our backwards Spring Break. I call it backwards because the pictures ended up in almost the exact opposite order that I wanted them. Enjoy!
This is the play area at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach. The kids loved running around/climbing here. If you ever go to Mt Trashmore, bring your kite. From what I hear, there's always a breeze.
This is a historic light house that is on some army base. Jimmy and Amelia were the only kids tall enough to enter. So here they are, about to enter.

Here's what it looks inside a light house. The view from the top was fabulous. We could see the ocean and it was beautiful blue. As soon as we got to the top, the kids were ready to run back down the stairs. Hence no picture of the fabulous view.
On the board walk of Virginia Beach, they have this cool sculpture that is a school of fish. The kids loved running among the fish. Here is Jonny explaining to Gary that this one is his favorite.

We stayed in a lovely little cabin at First Landing State Park and the kids LOVED running in one door and out the other. Jonny paused for a picture.
Amelia loves pinecones. She was in seventh heaven at the cabin. She collected enough pinecones to line the pathway from the van to the cabin.
Jimmy found a ping pong ball under the deck and spent quite a bit of time bouncing it around on the screen porch.
At Mount Trashmore, there was a lake and Gary tried to teach us to skip rocks. I say tried because none of us actually learned.
The kids played together for hours climbing in and out of these cupboards. They called them animal cages. Jimmy was a gerbil, Amelia was a kitty and Jonny was a puppy. The cupboards were also excellent for hide and seek.

We hiked the Cypress Swamp Trail. Jimmy said it was stinky, but my sense of smell is so bad I have no idea if it was stinky or not. We check out a back pack of supplies from the ranger station. It had all kinds of things inside to make the hike interesting. The kids loved playing with this electronic bird song identifier. For awhile I thought "Gee it's wonderful to be out in nature and hear all of these birds" then I realized it was the bird machine.

Here's a picture to prove Simon was on the trip too!
Say CHEESE! I hope you enjoyed the trip!

Easter Cheer

Easter Sunday was a quiet affair at our house, due to a surprise visit by the Easter Bunny on Saturday. (Silly bunny, he must have forgotten to check his calendar.)
The children sang in sacrament meeting (Jesus Once was a Little Child), and Jimmy sang very sweetly. He has done this several times before and is a seasoned pro. This was only Amelia's second time and she was determined to be angry about it. She put on her frowniest face and marched up to the front of the chapel. As the children sang, she did the signs they had been taught and slowly began to enjoy herself. Then she would realize that she was enjoying herself and (since she was determined to be angry)put on her frown again. Then the music would get to her and she'd start to smile and enjoy herself. Then she would remember she was mad and frown again. It really was quite funny to watch! When it was over, she leaned her elbows on the rail, leaned her head on her hands and sighed. She just stayed there, looking very put out for a full minute. I think someone had to tell her to sit down, but I'm not too sure. What a drama queen!

Phun with the Phone (Photo catch up)

Here are some fun photos that took and meant to share, but never did. They were taken with the camera in my cell phone, so they are kind of fuzzy. Some were taken by Jonny so they are even fuzzier. Maybe they will give you warm fuzzies!

This picture was taken one night when everyone was lying around being cute. Jimmy was doing karate chops, Jonny was admiring his double sided crochet hook, Gary and Amelia were admiring Simon. I just thought I'd document the "domestic bliss."

Jonny really wanted to take a picture of me. So here I am feeding Simon some baby food.

Third times the charm! (or maybe it was the 6th, but who was counting:)

Amelia put this headband on Simon and I thought it was a cute photo op.

Then she put it on herself. Still cute!

Then Jonny put it on. I think they would make a lovely flower garden.

Jonny couldn't resist the chance to be a baby with Simon. (and request a photo) They sure look like brothers!

Here's Jimmy in his favorite outfit- camoflauge pants and shirt. I had to explain because I'll bet you can't see him on the "lovey couch." (that's what one of the kids nicknamed the loveseat)

Jump Rope for Heart

Jimmy thanks all who sponsored him in the Red Cross Jump Rope for Heart event held at his school. He drew a cute picture of himself jumping rope and I'll put it up as soon as I get the scanner working. He did lots of jumping and bouncing around and even won a prize- it's a stick that launches a spinning glowing thing! Who wouldn't be thrilled to have one of those! It looks like a UFO if you launch it in your room after lights out!

Our Ugly Cake

All right, since I encouraged everyone to make ugly cakes, here's the one that I made. Jonny and Amelia chose the colors, inside and out. Too bad you can't see the inside. It was orange and pink and green and yellow and blue. Violent shades of each. I meant to spend the cake time telling the kids cute stories and showing them pictures of relatives near, far, and/or dead, but things didn't turn out that way. We just talked about plagarism. I don't know how it came up. It just did. Then we had to explain what that meant, which led to a discussion of who really made up "to tie my shoe, to say P-U" which lead into a discussion of things that are stinky and then... well you get the idea.

Jimmy's Birthday

Happy Birthday to you (one week late)
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear Jimmy!
Happy Birthday to you!

(the post is a week late, not the party)
After a bout with the flu that knocked Jimmy out for a week, I was doubtful that he would be well for his birthday. But he was! His friends came over for an army themed party and had a great time. Jimmy insisted that they play "Don't eat Pete!" which is not an army themed game, but is well loved nonetheless. In fact, one of the party guests went home and taught her family to play that night. (http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/2007/06/dont-eat-pete.html)

Rabbit Ears

Here are our cute little spring bunnies! I accidently deleted the picture where everyone is smiling, but the kids are cute no matter what!
(you get an extra of Jonny because he loves having his picture taken right now!)
Oh yes! In the group shot, Jonny is wearing the shamrock hat that Amelia made in her Ladybugs playschool. It's adorable no matter who is wearing it!

Song Writers

Do all kids make up crazy songs, or is it just mine? Jonny's latest one line wonder "Hey I like your bottom!" cracks me up, but I hope he doesn't sing it at church!
I guess it makes sense that he notices bottoms because that's about his eye level!

A Catchy Tune

Here's the chorus of a song I sing to the kids sometimes:

"Talk talk talk don't fight or shout,
talk talk talk 'til it's all worked out"

Here's Jonny's version, (complete with a stomping dance sequence, if you can imagine!)
"Punch...
to work it out!"

Family Night Funnies

Last week, after a lovely family night, we were sitting around the table enjoying milk and cookies for a treat. Jonny, just so you know is a recovering milk- a- holic. He loves milk and used to drink so much of it that he had no room for solid food. So when he turned 2, I cut him down to 3 cups per day (down from a 60oz per day. I just filled him up every time he asked and when I figured out how much he was drinking I was astounded!)
Now that the background is out of the way, you can appreciate the story a little better.
Amelia was dipping her cookies in the milk and dropped one. The cup was quite tall and the cookie was at the bottom. "uh oh! How do I get the cookie out?" she cried.
"you could use a spoon," someone suggested.
"or some tongs!" Jimmy said, making tongs gestures with his fingers.
Only half hearing what Jimmy said, Gary exclaimed "If your tongue is that long..."
While we enjoyed a good laugh, Jonny enjoyed seconds on milk.
When it was time to go put jammies on, Jonny leaped from the table exclaiming "THAT WAS GOOD MILK!" his cookies were left untouched.

What not to do...

About 6 months ago, a friend gifted us 3 eggplant from her garden. I love eggplant parmigiana, so I was excited to receive them and prepare this lovely dish for my family. In an effort to get the kids involved and willing to try new foods, I had them look at pictures and recipes online to choose one that they would like. I prepared the eggplant according to the recipe they chose and served it for dinner that night. They wouldn't touch it. I knew that if they would just try it, they would like it. After all, it's so yummy! So I got the brilliant idea of having a "Yucky Face Contest" where each member of the family would try a bite and make the worst faces they could while they chewed and swallowed. Because, of course they would LOVE it if only they would try it. The kids were eager participants. They chewed and chewed and chewed and made the worst faces I have ever seen. I almost threw up. REALLY. It was that bad. Now I can't think about eggplant parmigiana without getting queasy.

New Age Fundraising

Jimmy's doing a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser at school and he is so excited about it. He saw the "prize" sheet and can't wait to fundraise $1000 to get them ALL.
So I am including a link to his personal fundraising webpage. Please donate, if you feel so inclined!