Work for You

I decided I needed to take some pictures of my kids by myself. Oh what a nice camera and nice photo editing software could have done but my Canon Point and Shoot and Photoshop Elements has to do. My girlfriend Amy edited one for me so I could see what it could do and it looks so much better but I dare you to figure out which one with the load if pics I put on here.. I can not figure out how to decide which picture or 2 to put on the wall of each kid. So help me by chosing your favorite picture or 2 of each and leave it in the comments.

Rory

A

B

C

D

E

F

G


Simeon
A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Josh
A

B

C

D

Levi
A

B

C

D

E

My Beautiful Children!

This is for those of you who read my blog who are not on Facebook. I really don't think that is very many but I also love this blog for the photo/video/info journal aspect. Another girlfriend named Jenny has an energetic mother who is a fabulous photographer and I had her take some shots for our front wall. That poor wall is so outdated. We have lost some hair and teeth along the way (including Simeon's long hair- remember that??) and added a baby brother. A family shot from January will go up and these too. My next post will be more pics that I need help choosing between to put on the wall but these are for sure.

Mickey Mouse March

My lovely children were in the talent show again and here is their rehearsal. Yes- that is JT playing the piano. I think the kids new this was kind of a "babyish" song to sing but it was a song Josh had picked from his piano book to practice for the show and then we added some lovely back up singers.

Shed a tear and then feel blessed

Another Boy is joining us. Rory won't paint sister toes or share pink and girly clothes. But boys are really SO much fun! Now we have 4 and we are done.

Less Paper Towels

My Jenny Girl (yikes- I know lots of Jenn, Jenny, Jennifers- which one could it be??) asked how I am using less paper towels. I had to figure out when I was using them the most and it was 1)cleaning 2)food prep 3)food serving. Those things just seemed much easier with paper towels but was it really that much easier? I decided to try out not using them and see if it made too much more work.

I grabbed my huge stack of microfiber towels that were generally only being used for car washing and started cleaning with them. Can I tell you- they scrub much better than paper towels! I use 1 or more in the kitchen a day and then toss them in the wash at the end of the day. We were using a lot of paper towels on cleaning day. Now I have the kids trained use 1 for each chore that they do. I love to see this: because then I know I have the family converted.

We always grabbed a paper towel to make a sandwich and whatever meal prepping we did through out the day and then threw them away after each use. Cutting boards were only used to cut on and they never stayed out. Now I take one out in the morning and it stays out all day or until it is dirty. Typically the food we are prepping only leaves crumbs that can be brushed off into the sink.

Lastly, when the kids at the counter they usually ate off a paper towel. Now they eat off a plate which is easy to just stick in the dishwasher. If you look at the next post's 1st picture you will see this in use.

These ideas are not even close to being a original. I think I was just stuck in a habit that I didn't want to change. Now I don't even think twice about it and we consume soooooo much less paper towels. I will add that the I only use them for uncooked meat and milk types of cleanups. Those are just too gross to have on a towel. Simeon actually grabbed one the other day when he had a bloody nose :)

4 Kids at Play

It is so fun to see the 4 kids eating and playing together but something is missing. Can you tell what it is?? Look very carefully.
(I love how the chalk keeps on going and going)


(Levi loves being at the table and the kids are great about making sure his paci stays in his mouth so he does not choke on Legos- but that is not what you are looking for)
You didn't see it? If you have not heard already

Baby #5 is coming in Sept!

When I can look past my tiredness I am so excited :) Part of the excitement I must admit is knowing that I am done. No more morning sickness, last time having huge fluctuations in my size, and there is a light at the end of tunnel of all things baby so I can enjoy it a little more. This baby was planned on in case you were wondering and the kids are so happy but sad this is the last one. We are anxious to know what the gender is so we can plan and be rid of all the things we have been holding onto for coming children. I am sure you can guess what they are all crossing their fingers for.

Is this what Lego playing sounds like at your house? They play for hours!

More on Living Greener

Remember this post about Living Greener. Well, I have done it! I use 90% less paper towels, no more plastic water bottles, and I now use. . .
I live my life reading all about cloth diaper this and cloth diaper that and it almost made me think that here is where I would tell my conversion story and then I remembered that you guys are not reading this to hear my whole story. You can thank me from boring you with all the details but I will say a few things.

How many times have you stood staring at diapers at the store cursing that you have to spend more money on the thing that will cover your baby's bum for such a short time all the time wondering when your kid would be potty trained so the stincking diapers could stop? Many many times for me.

When I tried cloth diapering with Rory I had just bought a few diapers and washed them all the time. She pooped literally 5 times a day so is was over fast. This time around I bought most of the things from the get go that would help me be successful and I love it. Having the right diapers makes a big difference. See how pretty! (I even have a couple missing- they are dirty :)
"Modern" cloth diapers having amazing features like velcro and snaps. You can also get "one size" diapers that adjust to fit babies from birth to potty training.The right wipes, pail, wet bags, detergent has made all the difference. This contraption has been awesome too!



I will never look back! This just feels natural to me and I have made the investment. Does this use more water? A little bit more. Is it worth it as far as the environment goes? Absolutely. Is it easier on the pocket book? In the long run absolutely- not upfront. Does it open a whole new obsession? Oh yeah!! I would be more worried about the time and water that our mini dishwasher is using cleaning dishes for 5. Don't get me started.

Happy Valentines!

I have not been into writing much lately. I feel like a dork when I write:) I am more about pictures. We made some yummy Valentines for classmates and teachers. We tried putting sprinkles on the bottom, then chocolate, then brownies but it did not go well. Classmates ended up getting one plain brownie with a note I bought off Etsy to look like them then printed out.

Teachers received a plate of brownies, choco covered brownies and just choco hearts. After I bought the Etsy printable I saw some cute ideas I want to use for next year that is even easier, cheaper, and almost cuter than these. Good Fun!

Look Who's Reading Now!

I really was not sure if Simeon would read before Kindergarten like Josh and Rory. He is our more normal kid and we love that. We love that he loves to play with toys instead of figuring out the workings of a neuron. He could have gone to school this year because of the wack California start date but we held him back because he needed more time. We do a preschool co op with 4 other friends and it was magical how he started to read so quick. He can sound out most words and he likes to do it too. Such a proud Mama Moment!!

Family Pics

We waited to take our family pics until we got to Boise this year. If you did not get one and you do not live within 10 min of me, give me your address. If you live close and you really do want one- I can hand you one:) There was some definite Photoshop Elementing going on.

Pop!

We had a Christmas Eve we will never forget!

Which is Which?

Okay everybody- All these pics were taken on Christmas morning with the 3 boys. 1 kids was repeated. Who is Who??

A

B

C

D

Ward Christamas Party

Our Christmas Vacation

Much to my bitter chagrin I can not post the video from our ward christmas party which really saddens me and has been the main hold up in my blogging. I want to stay in order see and how can I skip the video from the ward christmas party??

Anyway, my girlfriend posted her Christmas pics a few weeks ago and said she was the last one to post it. Not true Audra! I have you beat!

We decided to drive straight through to Idaho in one day and I let me tell you- it went perfectly. No crying or whining and we got to Rexburg in 14 hours. Not bad with 4 kids eh?? The drive home was much worse with bad weather, traffic and a baby who had had enough.

We stopped in Rexburg overnight to see Roger's brother's college graduation in the morning. Good Job Chad!


We stayed the night at my sister Charlotte's house and were able to see 2 other sister's that I NEVER see- Miriam and Caitlin.
We then took off for Boise/Pine and spent nearly 2 weeks relaxing and playing. I think the pics can tell the rest





I have to explain here that Josh drove the snow mobile all by himself a few times and only hit 1 tree:)

Simmy's Birthday Party

I usually don't post birthday parties that I have thrown because I always worry that someone that read's my blog will feel like their kids should have been invited but was not. I give my kids a limit on guest and they choose who they want to invite. I often try to persuade them to invite a certain kid and they just don't for whatever reason. Hopefully no one will be offended :)

Simeon had a "Mario and Sonic at the Olympic at the Olympic Games" Party. The boys first colored their goody bags that I had printed a Mario and Sonic on. We then went on to the games. I got most of my ideas from here. We had a Yoshi Egg Toss Event, a Trampoline Event, a Fireball Throwing at a Goomba Event, a Spinning Event and a Pin the Nose on Mario Event. You should be able to click on the pic to enlarge.


I emptied eggs and put confetti in it and markered them up for the Egg Toss. I made beanbags out of fire fabric and Roger painted a goomba on a foam core board. The prize for the spinning contest those noise maker sirens. The kids wore mustaches for the Mario Event. That was too cute!! The cupcake topper was Mario and Sonic pics that I Shrinkey Dinked.

The kids had soo much fun! I threw the party together in 2 days and you could tell with details like decorating but it so worked. I had the cupcakes all nice and neat in a cupcake carrier but they did not hold up to Simeon throwing the container around. Such is life!!

Good Fun!!