Boys

Brandon is all boy. He love, love, loves balls (even goes to bed with them in his arms). He loves swords, guns, and cars. And makes great sound effects for them too. He also hits (yes, I know. I'm sorry if he's hit your child. We're working on it.) He loves to get dirty, and he even burps (on purpose) and then looks at me and laughs. Seriously....I did NOT teach him that.

However, he is also SUPER sweet. He loves to cuddle and be rocked. When he is tired or not feeling well, he lays his head on my shoulder and plays with my hair. It totally melts my heart. He gives great kisses and hugs and his eyes can charm the socks off of anyone.

Yesterday he surprised me with another thing though. He set the table for dinner. Yes, you heard me right. He totally did. It was evening time and my brother had asked me to go check on his dog (since he has late class on Thursday nights). I didn't feel like cooking and since I was going to be out, I thought I'd take the kids to get some dinner. So I yelled up to the girls to get their shoes on so we can go get dinner. As soon as Brandon heard that, he ran to the tupperware cupboard, pulled out three plates, and placed them on the table. It was hilarious! I can't believe how big he is getting. I still think of him as my baby. I guess he's growing up on me.

Preschool fun

Since today was my last day of teaching preschool until next March, and since I finally found my camera battery charger, I thought I better get some shots of the kids having fun with our Mother Goose Time Preschool. I forgot to get pictures of the kids doing crafts up at the table because I was too busy helping them all. But here are a few shots of free play before "circle time" started, a shot of the kids working together on a puzzle, and then a video of them dancing to the Mother Goose Time theme song. There are a bunch of hand motions that go along with the song, but these are three year olds. They mostly just dance. It was a fun month, but boy am I tired. Even with all the curriculum given to me and so much of the preparation done, it was still a lot of work and I think I'm now ready for it to be another mom's turn. Till the Spring little kiddos!

Cute little Greyson. He's a fun kid and very smart, but not much of a morning person. Takes him a little while to come join the group. It's cute to see all these kids personalities. They're all so unique.

Leah is in the background "reading" a book to two of the other girls. They were pretty interested in hearing her story. Brandon is trying to show Greyson his sword. Brandon LOVED that Greyson was there. Greyson actually would play and rough house with him and Brandon couldn't get enough of him. The girls, on the other hand, didn't like Brandon too much. He was too rough and it would just upset them. One of my biggest struggles was keeping him away from them.

Here's Leah reading to Aurora and Allyse.

(Leah is in her pajamas because Ashlyn had "wear your pj's to school" today. Leah had to follow suit.)

Putting the puzzle together. I give them credit. They were trying really hard to get it all right, but in the end, I had to help them.

Lombardi Ranch Day

For a Preschool field trip, we met up with another "Mother Goose Time" preschool group at Lombardi Ranch and did the "self guided tour". It was lots of fun. The kids had a blast running around looking at the animals, riding the train, going to the petting zoo, and picking out a special pumpkin of their very own. Afterwards, we ate lunch and talked about where we should go for next month's "transportation" themed month.....Travel Town, of course. Where else?

Rebecca's Baby shower

Last week I had a baby shower at my house for a friend of mine from my "old" ward. This is her third boy, but it was still fun to get together and celebrate Max's birth. It was also lots of fun to have 2 other brand new newborns here as well (it's been a VERY busy baby time up here). But after hearing them all talk about their lack of sleep, all I could think was that I am SO glad I don't have a newborn right now.

Congratulations Rebecca! I still can't believe you had another boy. I was SO wrong. I think I'm gonna stop guessing. He is the cutie tootiest though! Ha....I know you love that phrase.

More conversations

I really do have a journal that I keep for all my kids, but lately, it's been easier to just stick these funny little conversations I have with my kids on my blog (knowing that it will be made into a blurb book at some point in the future anyway). Plus, I think it's good to keep my family up to date with their nieces/cousins/grand-daughters, etc... personalities.

So here's Ashlyn's latest.

I pack Ashlyn's lunch everyday for her to take with her to school. She likes to tell me that almost no one else brings their lunch. They all buy. But Ashlyn doesn't want to buy her lunch. She just likes to tell me that. Anyway, one day she was telling me how some kids get cookies with their school bought lunch and that she never has a treat in her lunch bag. So here I am thinking she wants a treat in her lunch. I had some leftover hershey kisses from a baby shower I did last week, so yesterday I put one in her lunch. She comes home from school and I notice her hershey kiss is still in her lunch bag. So I ask her why she didn't eat it. She simply replies, "oh, you aren't allowed to have candy at school". Then she walked over to me, took it out of my hand, and ate it.

(I think the school meant you aren't allowed to have candy in CLASS, but I didn't correct her. Maybe that was mean of me. Oh well. And lest you think I do not allow my children to have treats, that is not the case at all. So don't worry for them my family. They are not deprived.)

Interesting

I just had to document this little conversation I had with Leah this morning. Mostly because it is in such stark contrast to the conversation between Ashlyn and Leah that I posted a few weeks ago. Do you think I have my work cut out for me with this little cutie? I think so!

This happened this morning as I was doing Leah's hair in the bathroom.

Me: Leah did you brush your teeth yet?

Leah: Yes.

Me: Did Daddy help you?

Leah: Yes.

Me: Paul, Did you help Leah brush her teeth?

Paul: No, I didn't.

Me: Leah, did you just lie to me?

Leah: Yes, I did.

Me: Why did you lie to me?

Leah: I like to lie.

Me: WHAT??? Why?

Leah: Because then I get what I want. And I don't want you to brush my teeth again.

Me: *sigh*

The conversation went on about how you don't really get what you want when you lie and yada yada yada...but you get the point.

New hobby

I have always thought making jewelry looked like a lot of fun, but I never knew where to get started. My mother in law came out to visit us when Paul got called to the Bishopric and had this really pretty bracelet on. I commented on how much I liked it and she told me she made it. Immediately I knew she had to teach me. So when we were out in Nauvoo a couple of weeks ago, we headed over to Hobby Lobby (the midwest's version of Michael's) where I hit the jackpot. All of their jewelry making beads and accessories were on sale. Most at 50% off. Needless to say, I stocked up and then went back to their house and got to work. I made these few items while I was there. Since coming home, I have made nothing. But I will. Time is a little harder to come by when Grammy and PopPop aren't around. But I'm excited to have a bunch of stuff and to get better at this little craft.

Quote

This is my new favorite quote. I think I will put it on my bathroom mirror.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008): “Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. … Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried” (“Words of the Living Prophet,” Liahona, May 1998, 26–27; “Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, July 1997, 73)

Distracted

Brandon was intently playing on this digger toy until he heard something off in the distance that caught his attention.

Kathy's Pumpkin Patch

This was by far the most fun I have ever had at a pumpkin patch. I mean REALLY....a CORN "sand" box. What is more festive than that? This place was AWESOME. And the best part about it was that most kids were still in school, so my kids pretty much had free reign of the place. What a fun day!!! I seriously love visiting Iowa/Illinois at this time of year. The weather was beautiful (okay it rained the last couple of days, but we went shopping anyway) and there was SO much to do outdoors.

Playing in the corn. Oh, how I LOVE his eyes.

I came home with my pants full of corn, but it was fun!

PVC pipe slide. Leah couldn't get enough of this thing, but here's a shot of Paul and Brandon on it.

A REAL LIFE potato sack for Ashlyn to race in. She was in heaven. No more pillow sack racing for her. She wants the REAL deal.

Playing store. I'll take one sack of flour, a dozen eggs, a jar of honey and some candy sticks, I tell her. Okay, Ashlyn says, that will be $2.00. Wow, I scored. What a DEAL!

Water races. Ashlyn was really getting into this.

Aunt Alicia came out to visit too. It was so fun to have her, but I think we wore her out.

Me and my cute hubby.

Ooh and thanks to my mother-in-law, I have a new fun hobby. I will post pictures of my first "creation" later. Fun fun!!!