Funny Things

So, I don't have time to post regular events in my house, but the funny things my kids say, well I just have to make time. The other day I got a "night off" for following my health goals. I don't go anywhere, I usually just hibernate in my room while Brad puts the kids to bed and makes sure the house gets cleaned. The other night it was time for my night off. After family scriptures and prayer Brad told the kids "Okay, say goodnight to your mom. She gets the night off." Ashlyn responded, "You mean she has a date with the bathtub!" Oh, how my kids know me so well.

We're In Trouble!!

Ashlyn's primary teacher passed on this quote that Ashlyn said yesterday.....
"God made hair bows and pretty girl dresses so we could attract the boys." giggle, giggle, giggle.
I think I am in BIG trouble!!! She is only six.

Quick update

So, I am about ready to give up blogging. It is just one more thing on my to do list that doesn't get done and the guilt just eats at me...oh well. Anyway, here is just a quick update of what is happening around here.

Benjamin: He had his month check up....one month ago!! He weighed in at 12 lbs 11 oz (9 percentile) and was 23.5 inches (32 percentile). He pukes tons, although when I drink Kiefer milk it seems to help. He still loves to be held and entertained. He does not nap well, but sleeps awesome at night (the best was two nights ago when he slept from 7:30pm until 6:30am). But don't worry, the next night he slept from 8-12:30 and then woke up again at 5:30. So, nothing consistent but for the most part he doesn't wake up until the 5 oclock hour. That is good because naps are nonexistent around here. He is still a very cute and happy kid. He is growing way too fast.
Poor Benjamin was dragged around in this little stroller all night when we had a girls night (he was the only boy). Last one he will ever want to attend!!
Becca: She is a handful. Especially with all of her playmates at school. She loves to watch Care Bears and Veggie Tales on Netflix. I have finally gotten her some other craft activities to keep her busy while Ash is gone. She loves to throw tantrums and in the next breath say something absolutely adorable. It is a dang good thing we have those happy moments. She loves Benjamin to death and wants to hold him all of the time. Too bad sometimes she gives too much love and ruins a good thing (like him actually being happy on his own for a moment or two). The other day she decided she didn't like how long her hair was (barely to her shoulders thanks to last years hair cut from Ash) so she cut her hair. I had to go get it fixed once again from a sweet lady in my ward. She now has Dora hair which she thinks is great since that is what she is going to be for Halloween.
This is pre-hair cut photo. It is now pretty hard to pull the bangs back since they were cut short. One day they will grow out!!

Ashlyn: She is my sweet Kindergartner that really loves any minute. She is sad to be in the same class as all of her friends in our ward, but she is making new friends. This really is a talent of hers. She is starting to learn to read pretty well. It is fun to see the progress she has made in this first month of school. She loves to dress herself and it is usually pretty stylish and cute. She is also starting piano and doing pretty well, when we remember to practice. She is a HUGE help with Benjamin. She loves to change his diaper and play house with him.
My beautiful Ashlyn. She really is growing up so quickly. Do you guys like her cute headband? My sister in law has started making and selling them. I LOVE THEM!!!

Makayla: She is another smarty pants. She is the top reader in her class, which is nice to not have to worry about that. She just started Activity Days and loves it. She had her first Daddy Daughter night and Brad had to go to an over night Scout training. So, she got to go with her Papa who was in town from California. Her biggest news is she is getting baptized on Saturday. She couldn't be more excited for that.

One day I will get caught up and post all of her gorgeous baptism photos. I did her and my nephew McKay at the same time (he is exactly 2 weeks older than her). They looked like a little bride and groom. It was adorable!!!
Ryan: There is a reason he was sent to me first. He really is such a big helper, most of the time. Come on, he is only 9 and is still a kid (I have to remind myself of that sometimes). He is doing extremely well in school. He was chosen to help tutor some younger kids in school even though his class isn't doing it yet (another teacher needed a 3 kids to help his class). He is currently in a play for Lehi City Arts Council that he will do in November. He scored a solo!! Whoo hoo....except he won't sing it for me!! He is also super busy practicing the song "Follow the Prophet". He will be accompanying the entire primary for the Primary program. He knows the song really well, we are just practicing what he does if he makes a mistake and has to keep going.
Ryan earned his Bear in Cub Scouts this month. We always try to work really hard over the summer so that once schools hits and I am busy with school we don't have to worry about it too much. He and I are still enjoying scouts together as I am one of his Den leaders.

Brad and I are trying to stay sane with all life has given to us. Nothing big and exciting, just life.Brad is looking for a new job, so if you hear of anything in the Marketing realm, please let us know. (He isn't out of work, just looking to further his career). I am doing my best to balance everything, I fall short daily, but I go to bed, even after the worst of days and say to myself "Tomorrow is a new day and will be better". Most of the time it is. I do worry when at 10am I am thinking those thoughts to myself, but, don't we all have days like that? Life is good, just busy. I keep thinking it will get better, but who am I kidding? The older my kids get the busier it will be, especially in the afternoons. At least I have been blessed with the most amazing kids and the best husband in the world.

PS If anyone is looking to sell or just lend out an exersaucer for babies I am in the market. Sadly enough I have never had one for any of my children. I think it would be a great thing to help entertain Benjamin so I don't have to hold him so much. He is getting better, but we need lots of things to entertain him with these days.

The First Day of.......

Welcome to the first days of many things for all of my kids. On August 25th it was the first day of school for Ryan and Makayla. Makayla was lucky enough to get Mr Rindlisbacher (he calls himself Mr Rindy) for 2nd grade. Ryan LOVED him when he had him in 2nd grade and we were all thrilled that Makayla got him. In fact, I have decided to be one of the two room mothers for him this year. I thought it would be nice for me to be a room mom for each of my kids once (or at least assistant room mom). I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I think this will be a great class for it. So, I guess I also made the list of firsts as this is my first room mom experience. Makayla also had a first....her first cavity filled. It actually was 4 cavities. Man, we now know she has teeth to really watch. We have stepped up the brushing and flossing in hopes of preventing more!! Makayla is my first child to have a cavity. Not too bad. She did really really well. Her poor lip is swollen. I think she bit it when it was numb. But bless her heart, she hasn't complained once.
Ryan with his two best friends. They had arranged to wear matching shirts...which says "Smooth like butta!!"

Ryan got Mrs Rivera. He actually had gotten a different teacher and I fought to get him changed. I usually don't like to rock the boat at all but really felt it was best in this case. This teacher will work him hard and help him learn how to really be responsible and organized. He is excited because this is his first time being in class with one of his friends (his best friend Ben...they had better behave!!)

Ryan ready for 4th grade

On August 25th Becca had her first day of dance. She was quite excited to go, but didn't want to stay. Finally with 15 minutes left she got into it. This last week didn't go too much better. They are looking to get a teachers aid, which would be great. All Becca needs is someone to literally hold her hand for a few minutes and walk her through what they are doing and then she is okay. Becca is excited to be there with Libby.

On September 1st Ashlyn had her first day of Kindergarten. Boy was she excited. She didn't understand that she goes 1 hour and 15 min after Ryan and Makayla goes to school. It was the longest hour ever!! She LOVED her first day. I can already, after two days, see her blossoming out of her timid shell.

This week was my first week teaching piano since having Benjamin. It actually went really well. I am not teaching quite as much so it is much more enjoyable. We are still getting into the swing of things, but we will get it!
The last first has to be one of the biggest ones of all. Benjamin watched his very first football game. And I am proud to say, it was a UTAH game!! He LOVED it. Of course, who wouldn't? All you BYU fans....don't answer that!!



We have had a very busy two weeks. It will be nice when life settles down more (hmmm.....that will never happen, will it.)

Kids say the darndest things

I really should have been recording all of the funny things my kids have been saying the past few weeks. Here are a couple of cute and funny things.

Becca to Nana: You need to go home. (said while I was stuck in the hospital-she was having a hard time with mom being gone)

Becca to Nana again once I was home: You can go home now.

Becca to Nana the day Nana was leaving: You stay. Don't go home.

Becca and Ash have been curious about nursing. Ash asked how I was going to feed the baby. So, one of the first times I was feeding him once i was home Ash came in and watched. She said "Oh, that's just like a sheep." Baa baa....I really feel more like a cow, but we are on the same page!!

When I was pregnant and asked Becca where the baby was she would always point to my huge chest and say "baby". So, one day I was feeding Benjamin and she was watching for a minute. She got a concerned look on her face and said "Mom, why is Benjamin biting the baby?"

Ashlyn's Preschool graduation

This year we did a neighborhood preschool for Ashlyn and her friends. It ended up being 7 kids in our ward, 6 girls and 1 boy. The moms would teach every 7 weeks for 2 days that week. At the beginning of the year we got together and decided on the order, what would be taught when, field trips, etc. It worked out so well. Big props to the other moms that took it very seriously and did an amazing job. I feel like Ashlyn got a quality education for free. Plus, she was with all of her friends in the ward. It was a really fun thing. It went well when it was my week to teach. The kids were extremely well behaved, which is amazing when you have 7 four year olds for 2 hours. They all learned so much. I was nervous doing it knowing I would be pregnant and knowing how sick I get. But, I only had to cancel once the entire year and that was because Ashlyn had a fever, not because of me. I am so proud of my sweet Ashlyn. She loves to learn and is so excited for kindergarten. I can't believe she is that old!!!

Megan, Brooke, Emily, Bryant, Kylee, Ashlyn, Gwyn

Cute hats that Kylee's mom made.

Ashlyn and her best friend Brooke. These two love each other like sisters!! They like to call themselves twins.

The kids didn't quite understand the concept of throwing the hats.

Easter Preschool

I had preschool the week of Easter. We had a fun Easter party making Rice Krispie bird nests and having an Easter egg hunt indoor due to bad weather.

Darling Hair

Ashlyn wanted short hair like Chloe, her cousin. Angie Larson cut her hair. Ashlyn was so excited to get it cut. It looks adorable on her and is so much easier to do!!

Random Notes

I had two observations today about two of my daughters. The first is Makayla. I am currently working on a photo book for her that spans the middle of 2007 through New Years this year. What I noticed about her is I hardly have any pictures of her where she isn't smiling. That may seem silly, but think about it. Many kids aren't smiling all the time. Makayla always cracks me up. She can be really upset about something, I pull out the camera to take a picture and she smiles. But, what I really noticed the most about this little girl is how many pictures I have of her laughing. She has such a contagious laugh. Even looking at these pictures of her laughing makes me want to laugh. I really enjoy having her in my home. She truly is a blessing to all of us!!!

Next random thought. There is not much else in the world that makes me happy and warms my heart than seeing my children help each other. I have seen it much this week as in the past week all 4 of my kids have been sick at different times (and I have been sick the entire time so I haven't been able to be as useful as usual). When Ashlyn was sick the other day Ryan was my helper, even though he should have been in bed (hmm.....now, that sounds suspicious!!). Well, today my helper is Ashlyn. Makayla woke up with a stomach ache. Ashlyn has rushed to her aid before I even could. She even learned how to make toast so she could get Makayla something to eat!!! It is wonderful to know that my kids really do love and care for each other. I really do have incredible kids!!!!

Christmas Morning

We had such a great time Christmas morning. In both of our families, growing up, Brad and I always had to wait at the top of the stairs. Well, our kids will remember waiting at the bottom of the stairs. The kids loved their Santa presents. We loved being able to open presents at our own speed. We really took our time. It was great. The thing I loved most was seeing my kids more excited for each other and the most excited to see their siblings reactions to what they bought them.

Ryan was the most surprised by his Santa gift. We told him that we had told Santa no way no the Nintendo DS. It was just to throw him off. He was thrilled!!!

Ashlyn loves Barbies of all sorts. She loved her new nurse barbie with twins.

This pile of goods is what the family and kids got as group gifts.

This is Brad and I's stash. We spent most of the money on Brad's new blu-ray player (okay, let's be honest, it is just as much for me as well)

Kids Christmas Picture