treats

I have 4, sometimes wild and naughty and tiring, but mostly AMAZING kids. They are good and thoughtful and fun to be around. I love being their mom. Sometimes I will surprise them with a treat and they will go on and on about it for days. This day, getting frosties, was one of those days. Did you know that I'm the "best momma in the whole world, and even all the way into outer space"?! Well, I am.

Skype

Oh Skype, how I love you. The camera on our computer stopped working a while ago, so we stopped Skyping our families. Calling on the phone and emailing is nice, but seeing their faces is even better. I got an iPad with my Christmas money (thanks!) and have been loving it! I had to set up a new Skype name though, FYI, in case you were trying me on my old account.  Also, it's a lot easier to take screen shots, so I can capture and remember moments like this, forever. You're welcome mom!

lazy mom

Some nights, when the house is a wreck, and the kids are extra exhausting, I make breakfast for dinner, because that's a lot easier than anything else. Plus it tames the wild beasts to get "fancy pancakes". I also make rocket ships, airplanes, lady bugs, caterpillars, valentines, and monsters - per request.

These are made by putting pancake mix into squeeze bottles. It's waaaay easier than it looks.

lost pup

We stopped to get the mail on the way home from Matix's school, and a puppy ran into the road. I picked it up and the kids loved on him while I ran around and knocked on all the close by houses. No one knew where the pup belonged, so we brought him home for a bit. I saw a neighbor down the street come home later on and asked her, and she knew where he lived, but they weren't home yet. So we left a note on the door and kept our puppy, who Matix named "Sandy", because he liked to dig in the sandbox. Matix especially, was in heaven.

We just did our regular things, and when bath time came, Sandy wanted in on the action, much to Solace's surprise, and then delight.

The family came home at 10:30pm, and we were all already asleep. They came over and I stumbled outside with the pup. We haven't seen him since, and the family was VERY grateful to have Sandy back. His real name is Scrappy, so not too far off. Matix was bummed the next morning when he woke up, he was SURE that the family had MOVED and we could keep Sandy.

Matix at school

Matix is a busy boy, all the time. He is never the kid to ask, "I'm bored, what can I do?" He always has a plan and is 5 steps ahead. He writes us little notes and draws us pictures all the time, even while he's at school, when they get free time.  This one is for Paul, adorable.

 When we go to pick him up, I park the car and walk up (per Matix's request), which means that sometimes we play on the play ground. The weather lately has been VERY strange. 40's in the morning, then 70's in the afternoon. So poor Matix always has a winter coat (that he refuses to put in his backpack) on at the end of the day when we all walk up in t-shirts.  Sully is always happy to find a ball that someone has forgotten. Such a dollie.

Matix showing off a new creation that he made that day, and Lullaby is his shadow. She ALWAYS tells him how much she missed him that day, especially on preschool days when we don't go see him for lunch.

Hawken, as busy as can be, must do all the kindergarten things that the big kids are doing, "So that I'm ready for when I start kindergarten, then I'll already know what I'm supposed to do at recess!"

mess maker

Solace is the biggest trouble maker. I got dressed in the closet 10 feet away from this bathroom, and for the few minutes I was gone, Solace found some DARK lipstick, stuck his fingers in it and wiped them all over his shirt and neck. For some reason, I tried to wear white that day too, go figure. 

new church classes!

Because Lullaby turned three last year, she got to move up to the SUNBEAMS class at church for the first week in January. What?! How is she big enough to be out of nursery?! She was equal parts excited and nervous about it. Turns out, she loves it and left class smiling and loving her new teachers.  Hooray! Here she was on the way to church, my big sunbeam girl!

She picked her outfit and asked for sparkles on her eyes (because she's big now, you know) and put on her own lip gloss. What a doll.  The big boys have moved up another class with the beginning of the year too, but I didn't get a picture of them that Sunday. It's less of a big move. Matix, even though he's only 6, moved to the SENIOR primary, because of the way our ward is. There aren't as many big kids, so they have to pull from what is usually junior primary. He is very proud to be with the "real big kids". Hawken's new teacher is his new crush, he brought her flowers last week, which was his own idea, of course. I steered him away from the roses, 2 dozen red roses seemed a bit much...

rain rain go away!

We have had LOTS of rain lately, and I'm not complaining, because I know if it were colder here that rain would be snow. No thank you. So on the days there isn't any rain, and it's dried out enough to play, we do! Our neighborhood playground is the perfect place to meet up with friends. Solace insists on walking all by himself, everywhere. 

Into the Woods!

We have been seriously laking in the daddy department lately. Last week, Paul saw the kids Monday night for a few minutes, and then not again until Thursday night, again for only a few minutes. It's rough when he leaves before we get up and gets home after they are fast asleep. They have no idea that he was ever even there. So daddy days (his half days off) are our favorite days and we spend lots of time together as a family. We took the kids to see Into the Woods, the new Disney musical movie. There were some scary parts, but everyone, including the adults, loved it. We spent up our gift card from my dad (thanks!) and made a night of it. We got treats and popcorn and sang some of the songs on our way home. They were very catchy. :)

Next month Paul has a week of vacation. His first time off since August and we cannot wait!! If he wasn't as fun as he is, we wouldn't care. This is really all his fault, huh... :)

New Years!

I took the kids to the Children's Museum on New Year's Eve (day) to celebrate at noon. It was a great alternative to letting them stay up all night, or anything like that. The kids made noise makers and watched the brass band parade and watched the pre-show of Brazilian Capoiera and played, of course. It was way fun. Happy New Year!

Later on I took the kids to a friend's house to watch the London fireworks, which come on at 6pm here (perfect!). But they were more interested in playing, so I watched the fireworks with my friends and then took the kids home and put them to bed. Paul was working the whole time, of course. 

preschool FUN

Preschool has been especially fun this week. These kiddies are so sweet. I love when they come to play and learn. And the question I'm getting a lot lately is, "Are you going to do this again next year?"... and the answer is, I don't know yet.  I did it this year for Hawken. It was his last year before kindergarten, and he needed the structure. We couldn't afford to send him to preschool, although that's what I wanted to do. But hey, I am a certified teacher, and I have taught preschool for several years in the public schools already... So I guess I am it. I thought, since I would be doing it for him already, I might as well try to get some other kiddies too. It turned out really well, even with a few kids (who had signed up), deciding to stay home instead. The boys that stayed in my preschool are pretty much the best little boys ever. I know I am a spoiled teacher.  But would I do this again, even though Lullaby isn't going to kindergarten the following year? She has that late September birthday, so there will be a year gap between her and Hawken. She has come a long way, but I don't know if she is as needing as Hawken was, in the preschool department. There are a few people with kiddies the right age, who have asked when they can sign their kids up... I'm just thinking out loud. What to do, what to do... While I'm deciding, check out some of our fun happenings this last week. Click here to go to the preschool blog and see more. 

boys with dolls

I love that my boys play with dolls. They dress them up, make families, talk in silly voices and PLAY. They love to imagine and create and have fun, and I hope that they always do what they love to do, instead of what society tells them to do. Already he will tell me, "This is a girl toy", or "These are boy colors", which makes me crazy. He'll still let Lullaby love the color green, and he will still play with dolls. Yep, this is a boy, with long hair, who loves to wrestle, and build with Legos, and race cars, and ride bikes, AND plays with dolls. And I love him.

This particular day of playing, he was telling me how pretty this little dollie is, then he said, "Her name is Holly, like my Auntie Holly. She's so pretty, huh?". Sweet thing.

good byes

And just like that, our week with Grandpa was over. It was sad to see him go. We had LOTS of fun with him while he was here. Even my friends were thankful that he was here. Visits to the airport and to the hospital were only made possible because I had someone at home to watch the kids. I think I went grocery shopping alone one night too. It was lovely. I kind of forget how quickly I can go when I'm alone. Anyway, we sure LOVE Grandpa Chuck and we were all so grateful for him to be here with us.

Also, my dad drove here from Wisconsin with his hybrid Camry, and let me just say, if you're in the market for a good, cost effective car, consider it. He drove here and back for less than a one-way plane ticket. Amazing. And all the more reason to come back again!

exploring

Staying out of the house while Paul sleeps is a daily occurrence during night shift MONTH. It's a lot harder to do than you would think. One day, we did some exploring.

Everywhere we went that had any sort of Christmas decoration was exciting for the kids. It was a looong wait for Christmas to come this year.

fun.

Solace invented this new game with Grandpa. Stand on the cooler and jump/plop down next to Grandpa, and then laugh. Repeat. That's how you play. :) Lullaby liked the game a bit too.

 The big boys got lots of Grandpa snuggles in too, while watching movies. I love that even when they can't see their grandparents a lot, they still have strong relationships with each other.