Wednesday, May 11, 2011

It's a WHAT?!?!?!

This funny little bath time toy.....


+



....this cheeky little girl......


=




..... a hicky on the small of her back the size of a silver dollar. I'm not sure if she had a little help from her big brother in getting there or not. She usually likes to stick it on her tummy.

Never a dull moment.






And this little gem simply because I can't get enough of him.

Monday, May 9, 2011

I was looking out the kitchen window today, admiring the green-ness of the trees when I spotted something that made my heart very happy.....



.... a couple of lilac bushes. Had no idea they were there. And I can't begin to tell you just how happy it makes me to have them.

Double Dose

Every now and again it just so happens that my birthday falls on Mother's Day and this year it happened again!
Throughout the week I kept trying to decide what I'd like to do for my birthday. Initially I was thinking I'd love to have Trent take me out to dinner on Saturday but as Saturday got closer I was thinking that I'd like to have the kids with me to celebrate too.
Saturday morning I had a training meeting to attend (which was awesome!) so Trent stayed home with Ethan and Kiari and I took Enoch with me. Once home we spent the afternoon just hanging out. A friend of mine was having a birthday party for her husband whose birthday had been on the 5th. We haven't seen these friends since we first moved into our house so I wanted to make sure we stopped by. I made up some brownies to take with and the kids and I took a short walk while they cooled. We had a good time at the party, there were even a handful of kids for Ethan and Kiari to run around with. We left just after 8 and made our way to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream.
As we loaded up to head home Trent set up the GPS. I told him that I knew exactly how to get us home and that the GPS was taking us the wrong way but he wanted to follow it instead and I quietly waited for my soon to come "I told you so" moment. As I watched the GPS getting us closer to our "destination" I looked up and saw a Blockbuster video store. I turned and looked at Trent who had a smirky smile on his face then he said, "this isn't home! weird." as he pulls into the parking lot, "I better go in and ask for directions." he reaches for my wallet. Me: "my card's in my pocket." Him: "which pocket." but you have to imagine this exchange taking place with Trent having this particular smile on his face that he gets when he thinks he being particularly cute and clever. I relented and handed over the debit card.
I knew he was inside picking out a game and then I looked up and saw a poster for the newest Harry Potter movie so I dashed in hoping he hadn't checked out yet. He was there at the counter. I said, "are you done yet?" almost, why? "I want Harry Potter!" and he simply tapped the dvd on the counter. I just smiled and slipped back out to the car.
Kiari was asleep before we even left Blockbuster. Enoch was out shortly after we got home and Ethan stayed up and watched part of the movie with us. But for 3/4 of the movie it was almost like we were on an actual date!! It had been a really great day.

On the way home Saturday Trent had asked if I'd like him to make dinner for my birthday/Mother's Day but I already had in my head what I was wanting for dinner so I told him, "no, I want the crock pot to make it." So Sunday morning I threw everything in the crock pot, pulled out the rolls to rise, and got to work on my Singing Time lesson.
The Primary kids did a great job singing in Sacrament Meeting and we had a great time during singing time.
When we got home the roast in the crock pot smelled heavenly and the rolls had risen perfectly. Dinner was delish.
My visiting teaching companion came by with a little Mother's Day treat for me and then I slipped out with her to deliver some to the sisters that we visit. When I got home I was really wanting to make a carrot cake but I was so full up on dinner that I decided it would be a better idea to not.
It was fun to call all my mom and mother in laws throughout the day to wish them a happy Mother's Day and have the chance to visit with each of them for a bit.
A great conference call with Trent's family.
The kids in bed at a decent time.
The best part of the day was not feeling the need to clean up every little mess or area of disarray when I happened upon it. On a normal day I would have felt guilty walking by it but yesterday was different. And it was beautiful.
Just before bedtime however, I was happy to put my kitchen back together.
Some of the day's perfect little moments were:
coming back from delivering visiting teaching goodies, hearing Kiari downstairs say, "mommy's home!" then come of the stairs, see me, give a little giggle, and come running over to give me a hug.
listening to Trent and Ethan play together downstairs while I finished in the kitchen.
the sweet way that Trent wished me a Happy Mother's Day and then Happy Birthday.
Enoch's big beautiful eyes after church, happy to see me after having gotten to be with daddy throughout the day's meetings.
the absolutely beautiful weather outside.
spending those extra minutes putting my kids to bed, holding, rocking, and even just watching them sleep. Melting inside with gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for blessing me with the opportunity to be a Mother.
29 and a mother for going on 5 years.
It was a simple and beautifully laid back day.











Friday, May 6, 2011

Pirates, Dandelions, and Baby Wipes! Oh My!

Ethan got himself dressed and ready today without my having to ask him. Once dressed he let me know he wanted to be a pirate and could I please draw him a pirate mustache. So I dug out the long lasting tube of Halloween makeup and he was one happy kid when I was finished.


Trent has given the kids a great job for the summer: a penny for every dandelion they pick. :o)


Thus it has begun.


Today's count: Ethan 32, Kiari 13.


It absolutely beautiful outside today! Ethan wanted all of us to go for a walk and he wanted to be the leader. When we said it was time to get shoes on for a walk Kiari said she didn't want to go.... until I asked her if she'd like to pick a "baby" and push it in one of the strollers. No hesitation there. And yes indeed, that there is Rainbow Brite. Push her hand and she even has 10 different sayings for you.


And they're off!


Our little procession.


This little boy absolutely LOVES to be outside. Loves it.


When Trent got home Ethan was quick to tell him that they had started picking dandelions today. Trent asked if we had written down how many they'd picked and when he saw the numbers he saw it as a good opportunity to teach Ethan a little bit about tithing and why it's important.
The reasons why I love this man just continue to add up.


There's evidently something about this box of wipes because Enoch seems drawn to it. And of course when he reaches for it, it will turn over and flip which means he ends of chasing it around a bit. Tonight he moved it and himself around in a bit of a circle. Pretty dang cute kid if you ask me.


Thursday, May 5, 2011

My Little Man

I know... what's with the tie, right?
The kids stumbled onto an episode of The Backyardigans in which there's Agent Secret the Super Spy, the Lady in Pink, and other spy related characters. Agent Secret wears a suit and a tie. So there you go.

(and no, I don't do his hair like that. you can thank the double coulics he's got in front. time for yet another haircut.)



I had a moment with Ethan tonight. I thought I heard Enoch fussing upstairs so I went up to check. The bathroom light was on so I slowly peeked in and there was Ethan, swaying a bit, eyes pretty much closed, up for a potty break. All I could do was smile. Without a word I helped him wash and dry his hands. He turned and reached up. I picked him up, turned off the light, and made my way to the rocking chair. Within seconds he was asleep again, but I took a few minutes to just sit and rock my baby.
It's the little things. :o)

The Many Faces Of.....

My Baby Girl.











We Love You Kiki.

Drama and All.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

We played pirates today.








Ethan and I were talking about opposites earlier today.

Me: What's the opposite of hot?
E: Cold.
Me: What's the opposite of dark?
E: Light.
Me: What's the opposite of night?
E: Dragon.

I love him.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

It's the Little Things

Before this wonderful little cubby unit I loved that the kids had their own space but now I REALLY love that the kids have their own space. Before all the toys were a mess in the wicker toy box to the right and where you see said toy box was a huuuuuge pile of stuffed animals. Now organization is the name of the game with a large bin (tucked away in the closet to the left) holding all of the stuffed animals, larger toys in the toy box, and all of the smaller toys neatly stowed in cubby drawers. And hooray for our first ever bookshelf for the kids' plethora of books. This space makes me happy.

This face makes me happy.

As does this face.

And of course Ethan's face but he was asleep before I could get a picture of him. Preschool days always wear him out.




His toe was poking out all day! I'm not surprised, this pair of pj's has made its way through 3 kids!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Munchkins






Kiari had been sitting by Enoch and when I came back she had retreated to the corner. When I asked her what was wrong she said, "Enoch's grabbing my dress and I don't like it!"