SCHOOOOOOL's OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!

We've been having blast having our graduated kindergartner HOME!!!! Its been a great so far--school has been out for almost a week and I could REALLY get used to this no school stuff!! The girls have been in heaven having their "Ringleader" home all day and I have been on a serious vacation from SCHEDULES!!! I can actually do whatever I want??? How can I describe? Paradise? More pictures of graduation to come.

A Conversation I'm Glad I Overheard.....


4-year old: ...We just keep get older and older...huh!?

5-year old: Yeah, we are going to keep having birthdays and keep getting older and older and growing bigger and bigger until we are moms. Then we stop growing bigger.....we just get fatter





Same day...Different topic...Out of NOwhere...

4 Years says: Hey Mom! Do you know who my FAVORITE "Conference Guy" is??

Me: ummm...Conference Guy? I'm not sure if I can guess....President Monson??

4 Years: no. keep guessing.

Me: Yikes. President Uchtdorf??

4 Years: NO You are getting closer!!!!!

Me: [laughing] OK President Eyring?

4 Years: YES!!!!

My Grandma--96 Years

These pictures are so tiny, but I love them. I admire my grandmother so much and have been thinking of her since Mother's day is almost here, and she just had her 96th birthday.

I'm so amazed at the life she has led and how she's watched America change over the decades. It boggles my mind that she had 4 children, 13 grandchildren, I don't even know how many great grandchildren (my guess is around 52?) and at least 10 great GREAT grandchildren. Isn't that a marvel?

Happy 4th Birthday!! (this is an attempt at making Dad's "monkey face")

Bright an early on the big day the birthday girl was please to pose in front of this poster-sized pony for "pin the tail on the pony." Our resident artist (Daddy) drew it free hand while looking at one of the several pony coloring books we have.

They couldn't wait to play the game with their cousins later at the party

Before even breakfast they got started on the serious job of coloring this giant poster. Working together feverishly they completed the poster in 35 minutes!



B-day Girl wanted pony cupcakes with cherries on top. We couldn't find cherries this time of year so raspberries did the trick....Whoa, they were good. What doesn't improve with raspberries?

Partying Cousins

Pinning the tail in action.

Thanks, Big 4-year-old for being so much fun! You make our home a happier place to live. No kidding! We never quite know what you may say, or what face you may pull. I'm so thankful for your comedic talents. You make me remember that life is fun, not a chore. (though it would be nice if you'd do a chore every once in a while...its hard when you are so good at having fun) We love you!! Happy Birthday

Church Announces New Temples in Canada, Colorado and Idaho

Church Announces New Temples in Canada, Colorado and Idaho This was the most exciting part of conference for me! My mouth literally dropped open when they announced Meridian as a location for a TEMPLE!! Maybe its just pregnancy hormones but I cried at the announcement that will bless so many saints in ID.

Love this Lady...

This is my favorite sister in the whole world!!!! Seriously (or Serrrrsly) I don't even know what I'd do without her. Its hard to imagine life without my sis. Even when we didn't live close I depended on her so much for advice. But now that we live 10 minutes away??? I'm just in heaven. If we both didn't have so many responsibilities with our precious kiddos, we'd probably be hanging out every minute--to everything there is a season, right? I just love ya so much, Ky. Thanks for never tiring of my endless questions on what's best, what to do, where to go, how the heck, and everything else. I just admire you so much.

1.5 Years! half-way through her second year she surprises us everyday. Her favorite past time is creating high places to climb to. I guess we don't have enough tables and chairs around here so she makes her own mountains simply by adding this stool to anything tall....then climb...and strike fear into the hearts of mothers everywhere.

When she is not climbing, she will inevitably be playing with a baby. "BeBeS!" are her favorite toys and people in the whole world (next to dad)

Most commonly she is heard saying:

"Cheee" (cheese)

"Wa-war!" (water)

"Nawwwwwoooooo, Mama!" (no, mom)

"Di-Der!" (Sister)

and my favorite: "Dooo-doo-do-do-dooooo!" (when she sees pictures of roosters)

Favorite foods:

PEARS. she can pound a whole costco pear alone.

Milk

Spaghetti

We love you Mi-Mi! We also know that the most beautiful things come to those who wait...one day your hair will be stunning. Until then, I'll kiss your baldness every chance I get!

Getting to Know My Middle The last 5 months I've been so lucky to get "special" time with this special girl. Everyday, after lunch, Oldest goes to school, Youngest goes to sleep and me and Middle get some one on one time. I'm really getting to know who she is out of her sis's shadow for the first time and its so fun.

Here are some fun things I've learned recently from her own words:

• "Mom, when I was really little...I had SO many pets!...I want so many pets. ..Mom, can we just have two pets?? Please?? Just a dog and a unicorn??"

• "Mom, sometimes I just want a baby brother SO bad!"

• "I don't want to eat ANYTHING in our house!! Don't tell me to eat anything in this fridge unless its strawberries...that's ALL!"

• "Mom, you're the Boss."

• "Mom, was I there when you got married?
• Me- "No, you weren't born yet."
• "WHAT? Awwwww, I wanted to see your married dress!!"

• "Mom. Sometimes I want to just be a mom already and have my own born babies."

Affectionately Called "The Boo Caboose" (by her big sisters) This is a proud display of a banana slice up top. If you detect a "smart" look on her face, you'd be right. She is my first child that enjoys rubbing foods all over the top of her head--ESPECIALLY foods she detests. Who knew that massaging foods into a bald scalp was an expression of resentment?

On a positive note, she has become very skilled at folding arms and bowing her head for prayers. It melts our hearts and she is equally proud of herself. We love our Caboose.

Happy 33rd.........We love you a bushel and a peck and an onion ring stack! The theme for his birthday party was "homemade" ...homemade burgers, onion rings, pie and ice cream. Kyla's house smelled like a regular 50's diner!

Razzleberry (compliments of Grandma!)

And my sweet niece celebrated 11 years!!!! Whoo hoo! look at that blaze.

Christmas 2010

Showing off one of her favorite presents...new chap stick. I love this easy-to-please age!

playing in the snow...and token "train pic" (we should produce a calendar with all the train photography we have).

No one can ever get enough of Uncle Corey

Earlier in the month the girls got to ride on a train in the city's light parade. Super fun.

Thankful for Thanksgiving still bald, still cute

Poppy having quality time with Little People

This is almost all the grandchildren.

Of course a trip anywhere wouldn't be complete without:

Party GIRL...#1

This photoshoot had an abrupt ending.

She meticulously took this cake apart and ate the whole thing. Our first child to actually eat a birthday cake and not play with it (like the 1st), or cry about it (like the 2nd).

Something's Missing... After school convo:

Me: I like your school work! But something is missing :)

Her: Uh-huh! A marshmellow fell off...so I ate it!

Me: Oh! I bet other kids were eating their marshmellows too, huh?

Her: Nope! Just me. ;)

Me: Was it tasty with all that Elmer's glue on the back?

Her: YEP!

(reminded me of this video I recently watched on LDS.org)

My Kindergartner Donned in school approved uniform and tinkerbell backpack she was so ready to roll. She was jazzed.

When you bring a baby home from the hospital you never think the first day of kindergarten will ever come. Or at least you think you have a small eternity to prepare for it. My "small eternity" was not enough apparently. I not only bawled my eyes out the night before, but several times in the first few weeks. I love my girl.