Celebrating Family

It was now or maybe never.  My dad had one sister and she was amazing. She had 6 kids but we never really had a chance to get to know them because of distance and age distance.  When I found out my aunt passed away I had to go.  I knew my cousins would all be in town and it might be my last chance to get to meet them and get to know them.  I jumped in the car and drove 17 hours with only a overnight stop in Utah.  My cousins welcomed me and my brothers with open arms.  They were able to drive out too much to my happiness.  We were able to celebrate my Aunt.

 We were also able to see where my grandparent's ashes were laid to rest.

I almost left before having a picture taken of us!  I really wish my sisters were there but I am so thankful for this picture.  New doors were opened.  

Have I ever mentioned my interest in family history? I was able to look at my Aunt's things and pictures and saw this picture of my dad's sister who passed away when she was 3.  I never even knew there was a picture of her.  My brother took this picture so we would have a copy.

Next I get to figure out who this is. . .Good Fun!

Valentine's 2012

Quirky eh?

Jt said his classmates want candy- not pencils so he didn't do one.

One of just a few Snow Storms

and it only lasted a few hours. . .

Seriously

There is seriously not much to post about these days nor have there been pictures taken.  In the last month we:

• have had our fair share of colds and stomach bugs
• have been pulling Michael down from things 500+ times a day
• have been skiing a few times (we being Roger, Jt, Rory and Simeon)
• have had a- dare I say- kind of lame winter.  Snow that lasts for a week then melts into a glorious spring would be divine.  I almost want to erase this line
• have been on a 29 hour date for Valentine's with a friend's group date, projects, and a road trip to the nearest operable Temple
• have been working out 6+ a week except when we have been sick
• have been dreaming and reading and planning and preparing for this year's garden
• have had 2 extra boys after school since last October- poor Rory!  They are a lot of work too
• have done very little crafting
• have been nicely bored

See why I have not posted?? :)

How the heck are all 5 kids sitting on one side of table so splendidly (despite the horrible pic)

Roger made us a bench!  I had some yellow chevron love.

I had some more yellow love in the deep dark recesses of our stairs and basement.  We have lived in our home one whole year now (!!!) and Roger's mom and I finally painted that ugly space.

Whoa! right?  Crazy yellow I know. It took me a year to try to figure out a paint color and when we got our hands on some free paint we added some of our own- a lot of different our owns.  Then I went to Home Depot and they added more color to fix the color we damaged and then I still had to add a couple gallons of white paint and this is what we have.  Sorry- after all that- I love it.

I even stood on a really tall ladder despite my distaste for heights.

Did you notice a bit of the other change in the pic above? Our original desk looked like this:

Then Roger built me this:

Then I hit The Container Store when I went to Cali last summer and got deck out with some of these:

Since I am showing you around I should show you what I finished yesterday- the window seat cushion!

Not quite sure how I feel about it.  It wasn't what I had in mind but the kids love the fabric and I had it (remember the owls?).  It was really tricky to sew with too.

This is what I was thinking for the top:

 I was never going to use black in here but I found a cute black box.  


Did you notice the weird fabric laying out 2 pics above.

 I am toying with it to see if I like the fabric for another fabric box.  

 Things are movin along

Christmas Morning

This gal of mine wanted a dog.  I didn't want a dog.  I convinced her of bunnies.  Roger was harder to convince.  She has been desperate for months.  DESPERATE!  Some friends are moving away and they didn't want to take their rabbits.  I was expecting a bigger reaction for sure but she is happy to have rabbits.

Christmas Song

Our kids rock. We did this song in church on Christmas Day and they rocked. This song is not easy for a little girl that doesn't know how to read music and is matched up with her loud mom! Jt played his part on the organ and he nailed it. They are so awesome. I like to tell people that this is why I made them. :)




Ps- I may look prego but I am NOT!

Christmas Eve Tradition

We have a couple Christmas Eve Traditions that Roger and I started back when we 1st were married 12 years go.  After the tradition of going out for Chinese Food that Roger's family has been doing for forever, we make 2 ornaments.  1 is that we all write down on our own sheet of paper something we want to give to Jesus (think overcoming a bad habit or starting a good habit) then we wrap it up in a little box and put it on the tree.  The other ornament is our family picture that we decorate and hang up.  The kiddos single handedly decorated the tree this year and then I scooted all the pics to one side to show off our pics :)

Choir and Band Performance and Holiday Concert

My 3 older kids all participated in concerts this holiday season. Jt was in all 3 (band, choir, and class), Rory did Choir and Simmy did his class music.

 Simmy's teacher was kind enough to help with babies for a bit of it.  Love Her!

Not only was JT in all 3, he had the unique opportunity to play 4 instruments in the class program.  He was amazing.

If you would like to pretend like you were there, you can watch these poorly shot videos that have a finger smudge on the lens.  :)

Family Pictures

This fantatic step sista of mine came in town for her husbands side of the family Thanksgiving but I stole her to take these awesome family pictures. Muchas Gracias!!

More Reunion

Grandma and Grandpa did some fun projects during the reunion.  Grandpa made this cool playhouse/museum/gingerbread house and grandma painted it with the kids.

Grandma made this moseics with the kiddles too.  Didn't they turn out GREAT!!

Phases

If I have learned anything having 5 kids its that kids have their own personality and that a lot of things going on is just a phase.  Thankfully and Sadly.


I am thankful that Levi is entering a new phase.  He is FINALLY becoming reasonable.  If he asks for a treat I can tell him to wait until after dinner without freaking out.  If I put him in bed he will stay in it.  If I ask him to clean up before doing something he will. Just today he has used the bathroom on his own (he is potty training himself), he cleaned up toys and emptied the dishwasher silverware.  He is still a lot of noisy work but I have been longing for this reason with him phase to begin.  When they figure out if-then statements real disciplining begins.

Michael is a crack up.  I know I mentioned this before but seriously, this kid falls asleep everywhere everyday.  He has even been eating at dinner with his eyes closed then gets out of the highchair and is awake for a couple more hours.  The part that cracks me up is not only that he falls asleep eating but he keeps eating for another 10min. 

 

 

 

 

Just this week he has entered a new phase.  I really don't have to keep a major eye on him if a bathroom door is open which is nice because too many peeps leave the door open. But- he is now climbing.  Major Major Major bummer.  He is climbing onto the computer desk.  He is climbing on the table. He is climbing on the counter.  Nothing is safe.  I HATE THIS PHASE!  But- I know it is just a phase.

 

He is also becoming more vocal and one of his favorite things to say is "Hi-JT"  He was doing it over and over before I grabbed the camera and he decided he was done with his bath.  Too cute!

  

Simmy's Day

Oh Simmy Jimmy!  I love that you are 7 now.  I loved being 7 and it has been my favorite # ever since.  I know telling you you were the best baby, the best cuddler, and all the bests you have been has made you cocky but they really are true.  You are really amazing. Perfect? Nope.  Human? Maybe.  You light up the world with your silly laugh, sharing heart and charming smile.  175 words per minute? Seriously?  What 1st grader does that?  

Having birthdays so close has really come in handy.  1st Disneyland Passes for free and now we were able to go to Wahoos- just me and you and play play play.  I had a blast with you.

I love you buddy- you and all of your boyness of not wanting to ever change your clothes or brush your teeth or comb your unruly hair.

You are destined for greatness in one way or another.