Anniversary Eve

We walked to church today cause the van is making bad sounds and I don't want to drive it anymore. The air was cool on the way there, but I just figured that would help me not break a sweat in my Sunday clothes. These were all the little people that were ready in time to walk, with time to spare.

The teenagers, as usual, were running late. Church was great, I subbed in the nursery. After church the kids took me into the Primary room so I could see the cute drawing that Natalie did.

Those are cute little people, Natalie! You're becoming quite the artist! That is really good for a 4 year old! Natalie was also excited to show us the snowman she made.

We started to walk home, but it was blowing crazy cold wind and the kids were freezing, luckily a neighbor offered to take them and I ran home with Daniel and Owen in the stroller. There's a storm blowing in! Time to hunker down for the night, it's nice that we have a holiday tomorrow. Tonight Corey and a few of the older kids got out Go For It - it's a family favorite.

I got this game in 6th grade for my birthday from Shannan Jackson. I didn't take it with me when on my mission or to college, nor did I take it or pack it away after we were married or through our various international moves... so I can only guess that it stayed at my parents house and they passed it on sometime in the past 5 years as they decluttered. The kids love it, it's been a fun game for them to play together. It was a special treat tonight for them to have Corey join in.

The game can get pretty intense.

While they played, I got some strawberry short cake ready for Sunday dessert, with a non-dairy vegan option for Hyrum and myself. I had a few thoughts of doing a fancy dinner or party for our anniversary (tomorrow) but the plans were mostly in my head and kinda vague. So we didn't do anything big tonight except for a strawberry shortcake dessert.

The little kids sat down and helped themselves to it without waiting for the older kids to finish their game.

We don't have anything planned tomorrow, and with the storm coming in maybe we won't get out at all. We need to get 4 wheel drive one of these years. I thought it would be fun to go up to the Blue Boar Inn for breakfast or lunch, we went there for our 1st anniversary. But the van is not working, the Fiesta is worthless in the snow, and Corey's car has been given to a friend to use for a while, so, we most likely don't have a way to get up there. It might just be a simple day at home. We'll see. We need Corey's business' ship to come in, we're struggling, he's spent, and I'm tired of it too. Just keep taking one day at a time.

Minion Earrings

Today Mel spent the day being crafty. She made some Minion earrings at my sister Beka's suggestion, so Beka can try and sell them at her "Paint My Game" booth at SaltCON in a few weeks. Into the oven they go -

Cooling off in the glass baking dish.

And the finished product! (Well, after she put them in little plastic baggies.)

Very good job Melodie, you have a talent for making little things. I think Mel should make a little business someday called Mel's Miniatures. In junior high she won the Reflections contest for making a 3D sculpture out of sculpy clay of family figures placed on a small block of wood, the family was gardening. It has since been broken, I didn't blog it so I can't find the picture of it here, I'm pretty sure we took one though. I shall have to find it. Anyway, it's fun to see the kids get in the creativity zone. Also, today, I took a picture again of these two cute boys watching tv, with Daniel snoozing on his big brother again.

Cute boys.

It's the Weekend

Yay, it's Friday! We made it through another week. Here's a picture of Owen and Daniel watching PBS kids this afternoon. Daniel decided to get in a nap while they were there chillin in the chair. Owen with his arm affectionately around him. Such cute little guys.

Owen is a brave big brother, watching out for little D.

When the older kids got home, they decided to unwind too by watching a little tv. They joined the little boys. They're warming up for date night (movie night)

 

Owen, you look like you're nice and relaxed.

We've had a bit of a bug going around. Kids are taking turns staying home from school. Today is my parent's anniversary and they wanted to take all their kids out to eat to celebrate. Corey didn't make it though - he stayed home sick. I kinda felt bad leaving him with all the kids, but I guess I didn't feel bad enough to stay. I got to take the kid car, and that has a working stereo! I ran to Costco before dinner, so I was running late. I left the kids with the van to unload it. The van's radio and tape/cd player has been broken for several months. Annoying, but not Valley Forge. So I was happy to take the Fiesta and listen to some tunes. ...even though it took me forever to get my phone hooked up.  Once it was though, I was blasting The Greatest Showman. I picked up Neil at the Trax station on my way. I like my family.

We had a nice visit. My mom had painted a little wedding couple figure to look like them at their wedding - we teased my dad about his red suit. Something fun about Chuck a Rama this night - guess who was there! It's a piano guy!

I wasn't brave enough to ask Mr. Nelson for his picture, but my little brother, who had already broken the ice and gotten a picture, he went and asked him for me as they were on their way out. We love the piano guys. It was fun to be able to text my kids and show them!

Wride Train

I've been looking through pictures and videos on Corey's phone and found this cute video from a Tuesday night in January... Just another night for Corey as he tries to get some work done, sitting in the front room on his laptop as the chaos literally makes circles around him. Daniel cracked me up

He's just the little caboose to this family, trying to catch up (aka in the trains first pass by) or atleast figure out what is going on (as he turned the opposite direction on the second lap).

You're a cute caboose Daniel, we'll make sure the Wride train never leaves without you!

Valentine's Day

I'm usually pretty low key about Valentine's Day, but this has been my most low-key hands-off Valentine's Day yet. Like I usually buy them candy, but I didn't even do that this year!  ...although I did instruct Corey to pick up some treats from the store on his way home from work. So I, personally, literally didn't do anything. They were on their own, and they did a great job. Abi enlisted Wesley's help with her valentine's "box" - a Lego volcano - 

He is such a nice brother - he stayed up until 1 a.m helping her make it! That was very nice of you Wesley. You're a better man than I. Abi led the little girls in making their valentine cards. I didn't help but I did suggest what they could do - with a stapler and white cardstock they made little pouches that they were able to put a few treats inside. Lily with her bag of valentine's - one for the boys... 

and another zip lock bag for the girls. Sophi told me that she needed a valentine box. I hadn't seen any papers about that or gotten any email from her teacher telling us to make anything, so I told her I was pretty sure she didn't need to bring anything from home except her valentines. Didn't she make something in class? No, hmm. So since she was worried about it, I got out an old valentine pouch that Mel made years ago. Here, will this work?

She accepted it. Until she was about to walk out the door. Then she said "Nevermind, I don't need it" and she just took a grocery sack. Turns out they made pouches today and she came home with her pouch full of love notes. Yay, another Valentine's Day done and out of the way and I didn't have to do anything school-wise, that's a win in my book. Corey came home with pink tulips for his little girls and a red rose for me. On Sunday, the little girls made Valentine folders for themselves. They all pretty much looked like this - here is Natalie proudly displaying hers -

I helped and made some for the boys.

And then wrote Valentine notes to their siblings that they put in their folders. Today I wrote each of them a valentine note too. In the EJC conference call this morning, Holly told us to think of 3 words that describe us. I chose Tough, Humble, and Leader. I liked the exercise, so I wrote valentine's to each of the kids and in my note I wrote three words that I felt described them. Here are my notes, for posterity's sake (I didn't do one for Owen or Daniel)

It was a LOVELY day! <3 p="">

Steak Night

We have a new way of enjoying "steak night!" around here, and tonight was it. Although, my kids know that "steak" can't mean what it used to mean if their health conscious mother is the chef. And they would be right in their assumption. They came to dinner (a sit down dinner! yay, my second one this week!) where they were surprised to find a platter of cauliflowers "steaks" at the table. I thought it was pretty funny. "Hey kids! It's steak night!" Ethan rolled his eyes at me, "that is NOT funny, mom..." Hyrum, my healthy partner in crime, thought it was a little funny.

This is a Purple Carrot recipe. The only thing I was missing tonight was the kalamata olives, so I used capers instead. Kalamata olives are a new item on my radar that I'd never noticed before. So I was surprised and pleased on my most recent trip to Costco to find they are sold in bulk, cool!

Sunday Pictures

Here are a few snapshots from our Sabbath day - first off, the kitchen sink that greeted me at when I woke up at 8 am:

I washed dishes and cleaned the kitchen as I listened to this 1993 General Conference talk by Elder Joe J. Christensen. I played it for myself several times, hoping to make it all sink in, esp this quote by President Kimball:

I like what President Spencer W. Kimball has said on this topic: “The idle generation! Hours each day and nothing to do. … We want you parents to create work for your children. … ‘What can we do?’ they ask. Do the shopping, work in the hospital, help the neighbors and the church custodian, wash dishes, vacuum the floors, make the beds, get the meals, learn to sew. Read good books, … clean the house, press your clothes, rake the leaves, shovel the snow, peddle papers." Then he concludes: “Lawmakers in their overeagerness to protect the child have legislated until the pendulum has swung to the other extreme. But no law prohibits most work [here] suggested …, and parents can make work” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, pp. 360–61). 

In addition, help your children learn self-discipline by such activities as learning to play a musical instrument or other demanding skill. I am reminded of the story of the salesman who came to a house one hot summer day. Through the screen door he could see a young boy practicing his scales on the piano. His baseball glove and hat were by the side of the piano bench. He said, “Say, boy, is your mother home?” To which the boy replied, “What do you think?” Thank heavens for conscientious parents!

I need to be a more conscientious parent... Hyrum and Ethan were walking around being "bored" yesterday, I need to put them to work. Yeah, going to work again to make some forward progress in our family, cause it doesn't seem right for me to be doing a pile of dishes like this everyday by myself.

Our ward block time is at 11 now instead of 9, which means class starts when these two little boys are ready for their naps. Daniel woke up during the transition from the sacrament hall to the nursery. Owen was fighting to keep sleeping. My friend said they looked cute and took this picture for me so I could see how cute we all were.

Sacrament meeting was so good - the speakers shared thoughts on adversity and what our trials teach us, I shall try to put it on my spiritual blog soon. After church, we drove home and pulled into the garage, where we got a kick out of Daniel chillin on Lily's lap -

No, he is not in his carseat, and isn't secured at all. I'm a bit nonchalant when it comes to the seat belt law and I usually don't make them wear their seatbelts on the drive over to or home from the church, I just tell them to pile in. I love the look on Owen's face too.

He could definitely be a male model, although he might need to lose the pacifier. At home, Lily helped make rolls for dinner.

She wants to be a chef someday!

And last of all - THIS began today!!!!!

That is Joseph beginning to fill out his paper work to serve a mission!! I don't know how he is old enough for a mission, especially since I'm only 29. ;)

Contortionist

Well, we have another contortionist in the family. Mel was our original family flexibility performer, but her reach has gotten a little rusty with age. So Abi has stepped in to fill the role of the person who's flexibility leaves us all in awe. While also making us feel a little squeamish. Check out this girl - Abi can touch her noes with her toes!!! And not from bringing her foot up in front of her to her face, oh no, this girl brings her feet back over her head and to her nose!!!

That ain't nothin' Abi! Ethan showing off his skills -

Hyrum - "Watch this, I can put my toes to my noes too! That's easy!"

...followed by them shrieking in pain!

Here's a video of the moment. Pretty funny

Glimpses

Thought I'd just post a few peeks and glimpses into this past week. Owen taking a nap on Tuesday Feb 6th.

A cute thing about this photo - he's still wearing his white shirt and vest from Sunday. He has refused to take it off, and he's kept it relatively clean, so I've yielded to him. Tuesday I also made a healthy after school snack - go me.

Later Tuesday night, Owen was playing so cutely with these Fisher Price Little People toys,

He likes the bus and the princesses. It's a princess preschool on a field trip!

It was 7:20 at night. I decided to see what other people were doing. Daniel - sucking his bottle with his other hand in it's favorite place

aka scratching his patootie. Melodie practicing her flute, good job Mel.

Hyrum still on the couch for his after school crash napping session. About time to wake him up.

So there are a few pictures of a typical night. Last night, Wednesday, Ethan took more than a handful of pictures so he could post something on instagram. He went with this photo - two buddies eatin' chips on the stairs. 

Today Corey went to work at the Salt Mine. It's a place that his sister told him about, and now he wishes he had known about it before. He feels that now his office problem is solved. I took Ethan to his sax lesson with Ray tonight. I didn't take any kids, and I just slept in the car, It was nice. Tonight I went in the girls room to find Lily and Sophi deep in a game of creative play with their Beanie Boos.

It's nice when they play together, even if it does usually leave mess behind.

And last thing from tonight, Owen still in his Sunday clothes! We were laughing about that. Silly boy. He was playing fight with his older siblings, he's a cute little person.