Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Birthdays, Pageants and Chickens Coops

Trey had his 6th birthday - 5 of his buddies and his brother hit the fun park


Daddy daughter activity - Super Hero Theme - made up super hero names like Super Lady Bug Girl and Mighty Pancake Flipper Man

At the Park

Striking a pose

We have chicks of all sizes

Daddy's Super Assistant

Building a Chicken Coop twice the size

Sporting her darling shorter hair, Samantha participated in the town pageant

Several girls waiting to go on stage

Some of Samantha's fans

On stage

Current royalty posing with Samantha

MC Daddy and our darling girl! 

Monday, April 29, 2013

Little Update

Hi I just wanted to say hi and post a couple pix of what we've been up to this past month. Most of these are pictures from Spring Break and Easter in Montana

My mom and Tally

Celebrating my nieces 8th birthday

I helped coordinate the RS birthday dinner in our ward.  The Theme: We Must Cherish One Another


Matchers

This is a classic picture.  Getting ready to leave for Montana.  The Suburban fully packed with bikes tied to the top.  This is what childhood memories are all about

The project!  Tom, his dad and my brother and nephew hauled out several tons of metal and stuff.  They were amazing working men!

dying eggs

Trey working on riding a 2 wheeler

Welcome Home. The entrance to the homestead

The kids and Tom Played a pick up game of b-ball at the playground

Egg hunting

Baseball game in the yard

Hungry Horse Dam. Me with Seth, Tally, Alex my nephew and my Bro Dan

Huckleberry Shakes


Grama's 29th birthday!

Back home in Utah - Baby Animal Day





Sadie at the park in MT.  Now that I,m getting these pictures up finally I have a whole new month of pictures to post. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Stuff

Hi!  I just want to type whatever comes to mind.  Right now all 5 kids are asleep.  That is nice because today it seemed no one took a nap, not even me.  But the one I'm really referring to is Tally, my almost 9 month old. She did not sleep much today so I feel behind in my house work.  I've also decided it's time to potty train our 3 year old.  This is day #2 and we are about 50/50.  Half the time she does #1 and #2 on the toilet and half the time she doesn't.  It's coming along and I feel very optimistic.  I checked out 3 dvds from the library today to keep the motivation going for Sadie.  Potty Power!  I t was like 52 degrees today.  That means lots of outside time.  Our hens layed a couple more eggs.  Finally!  And I walked out to the bee hive and noticed 3 honey bees taking flight from the hive.  I was so happy.  These are sure signs of Spring.  I love all the seasons and happily take them as they come.   When I was feeding Tally last night I started to open a thing of baby food and Sadie asked me if it was Baby sauce.  Is that baby sauce?  She is so cleaver and cute!~So I celebrated my birthday last Friday with like 20 of my closest family and friends throughout the day.  I'm telling you, I have such thoughtful family and friends.  I always feel so loved. Tom, without question, makes my day so lovely.  My birthday even started the night before when my dad and one of my sisters took us out to...Chuckarama. You guessed it. It was great and I sure have missed that place.  We haven't been there for some time.  I honestly go there for the salad bar, it's the best.  I am so proud of our children.  They are developing their talents and it's wonderful to see.  Samantha is loving the piano and doing a Superior job.  She played for three judges a couple weeks ago and earned "Superior" for her score.  Seth and Trey are top in their classes at school.   Seth has just rejoined Trey in taking martial arts.  I love the training they are getting and see them gaining strength is all aspects.  Love these kids.  The hour just flew by.  Have a good night.

Friday, March 8, 2013

The Thankful Life


A little bird told me what I am getting for my birthday....this blog in book form, sent to my house for all to browse! Which means you have to come to my house to see it and you all are invited. I'm so excited!!  This blog has so much of our life recorded in it - almost 200 pages. I'm really amazed that I've been posting to this blog since 2008.  I still remember having my friend Katie come over to show me how to set up a blog.  And look it at it now.  Full, vibrant and lovely.  So many wonderful memories.  I feel a little pressure to post, post, post before this blog goes to print.  So here is the latest and greatest....


Our piano trio. Samantha is becoming brilliant on the piano.  Tom and Samantha play a jazzy heart and soul duet on the piano.  Tally fills in where necessary.

Western night at school.  I took the boys the next night.  It was so fun!

My 8 monther

The boys helping our cheerleader in training

Jingle skirts.  I bought these skirts to Zumba in. It's so fun

Puzzle races.  One of our favorite activities

Science Fair 2013

Dry ice bubbles - Seth's project, Cornstarch slime - Samantha's and Water balloon weighing -Trey's


Yee Haw

happy love day



Seth as Abraham Lincoln for a school performance

Strutting her stuff at Tom's b-ball game

Packed in like sardines

Samantha and Ellie

Tom's trip to San Diego


Seth last game with Jr Jazz

Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Incentive

This picture is out of Tom's hotel window last year
My Honey is in San Diego til Friday.  He has an annual conference there.  So I'm single-moming it for a few days. 
   I was kind of lax yesterday when the kids got home from school.  They played outside until almost 6 pm.  When dinner was ready I sent the neighbor kids home and we ate.  Then I knew the hard part was about to begin.  Tom is really good at helping the kids with homework, but he wasn't home.  So getting the house picked up and homework done was going to be tricky.  
    I decided I was going to declare an incentive.  I told the kids that in 70 minutes if they had (I wrote this list on the white board so they could keep track by checking things off): cleaned their rooms, cleaned the living room, did their after dinner chore of clearing the table/dishwasher, homework worksheet, spelling, reading and got their PJs on THEN we would have a Easter egg hunt with malt ball eggs.  I reminded them only once that it was up to them.  I would not keep reminding them about what to do. By the time the timer rang each child had checked off each item.  So the night was a success. Homework was done, the house straightened up and I didn't spend an hour yelling and nagging the kids.
  While I hid the eggs in the living room I could hear the kids in the boys room laughing all together.  When I went in to get them I told them that one of the best things for a mom to hear is all of her children playing and laughing together.  It makes my heart so happy!