Spring Break

For spring break I took the kids down to St. George to visit my fabulous sister-in-law Michele. I figured I could handle a four hour drive and four day trip with four boys and no hubby. I had threatened my boys that I would call Michele and tell her I was too tired to do this trip and turn around and go home if they weren't helpful and were fighting. We didn't have any problems! Ethan was a HUGE help. He sat in the front the entire way. He was super funny. When we had 119 miles left he began telling me every mile that we were a mile closer. I think he only missed about 5 miles from 119-0. He was really excited.
As soon as we walked in the door my kids asked to go swimming. So we changed our clothes and went swimming. It was a little breezy but the boys had fun.

The next day we went to this fantastic park. We stayed there for two hours. They have lots of fun things that aren't found at typical parks. I think this was Ethan's favorite thing. He never seemed dizzy when getting off. I don't know how he could spin around so many times.

Ryan would sit up at the top of this thing and yell, "I'm on top of the world!"


Andrew loves stepping down curbs and I think he did this the majority of the time we were there.

We took the kids to the St. George Temple visitor center. It was so fun to be there with them. This has been one of my most favorite temples for a long time. On Thursday morning I got up early and went and did initiatory. It was such a sweet experience to be in that temple. I kept thinking of the conference talk by L. Tom Perry in October 2009 I feel like these older temple are so sacred and being there was one of my highlights of my trip.

This is the best picture we can get with four squirmy boys.

On Saturday we went to the kite festival. It was so fun. So the last few pictures are from that. We let each kid have 3 tickets. Michele bought them all kites before we came down. They loved trying to fly them minus the help from the wind.

Of course I can't go to something like this and not get cotton candy.

Ryan went on this little ride and loved it.

WE had so much fun in St. George. Thank You so much Michele and Dan.

random pictures

I love it when my kids do this. I think all of them have. They find some random little toy with wheels and then sit on it like a bike or something. This is a car for a rescue hero. Andrew rides around on it all the time. Here is Jake before his tumbling performance. Jake took tumbling and Ethan did Karate after school this time around. They both loved their programs. It was fun going to the end of year show. They did great. Unfortunately my camera was charged all the way so this is the only picture I got. I think my father-in-law has other pictures or video on his phone.

BYU Banquet

First off I got a new camera Yeah! I still haven't figured everything out so I am slowly catching up on my blog.

My Dad and his brothers started a scholarship foundation at BYU. They have put money into an account for the past several years and now the interest of that account pays for a scholarship at BYU. They did it to honor their parents. I got to go to the banquet where they gave away the first scholarship. It was so fun to be there.
Here is my uncle David presenting the plaque that is going to be hung in one of the buildings (I can't remember which one since I was never a student there)

Here is all the family that was able to attend.

Ben, Kelsey, David, Liz, Grandpa, Grandma, Emily, Me, Sadie and Kasey

Oh and I got to sit at the table with the recipient of the scholarship. It will go every year to one person who is majoring in scouting. (Did you even know that was a major?) I think they chose scouting because there are 6 boys in my dad's family all who earned their eagle scout award. My dad had 3 daughters and 1 boy and scouting was a big deal in our family. All my uncles love scouting.

Jake is 6!

Jake had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. On the 24th of March he turned 6! Unfortunately my camera was broken but luckily we got a few pictures on Mark's iPhone. Jake has been talking about and planning his birthday for weeks. He was so excited. We let him open one present in the morning before everyone left. He opened a shadow puppet theatre kit from my parents. He played with that during the morning. We went to story time at the library. And Jake was super excited to be playing games on the computer in the morning before school.

After school he had tumbling. We then went to Chuck E. Cheese's. (We let our kids either do something fun with the family and get a present from Mom and Dad or they can have a party with their friends) Jake almost always chooses family as long as we can invite grandparents, aunts and uncles to the party. We got home around 7:00. Soon everyone got to our house. Jake could barely wait to open his presents. We sang to him and as soon as we were done he just tore open every present much like a tornado.

The cake is a blue storm trooper. Jake lately got into Star wars.

Here he is blowing out candles.

And after opening all the presents. Thanks to everyone who came. And to Michele for mailing Jake his present he loved it. And Katie for making the cutest penguin suckers.

Jake had a really fun day.

Book Review

Recollections of Past Days The Autobiography of

Patience Loader Rozsa Archer

My overall feelings...I loved this book. Here's a really brief over view. This is the life story of Patience. She was a convert in the early days of the church while living in England. She and her family came to New York and then were assigned to be a part of the Martin Handcart Company. She writes about her life in a very frank manner. Never does she seem to complain about hardships. After reading this book, my personal opinion is that being part of the Martin Handcart Company wasn't her biggest challenge. I felt by the end of reading it that Patience and I were friends. I will admit that parts of this book made me cry. Even when retelling it to Mark I started crying again. (What can I say, I tend to be a little emotional).

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I think it really helps you appreciate everything in life.

Happy Reading!

Park

We have had some sunny days (the past two) and I am hoping it keeps up. For those of you who don't have boys here's something you might not know:) they have a LOT of energy. So whenever it is remotely decent outside I have them go outside. Well yesterday it was warm enough that I could actually sit outside with them. So we went to a park. Twice.

I took Jake, Ryan and Andrew for a lunch picnic before I took Jake to school. We went to a park right by the school. I am beginning to really love this park. It is huge and has a lot of stuff for big kids and little ones. Perfect for our fam. So while at this park Ryan (my friendliest kid) was playing with some kids, they looked about his size. All of the sudden they started calling him a baby, then they said that he couldn't be their friend anymore. I watched him as his entire countenance dropped. It was heartbreaking. Then he came running to me in tears. I felt so bad for him. I called Jake over and explained what happened. I then asked Jake to introduce Ryan to his new friend and keep him around. Jake did exactly that. I was so grateful for little brothers who are such buddies. Thank you Jake for being so kind.

Park #2 was much more pleasant. Funny thing about Andrew. There is a huge sand (mostly rock sand) volley ball place at the park. Andrew played in the sand the whole time. When it was time to go I told Andrew. He started walking away from me and wouldn't even look back. ha ha. Then when I caught up to him, he had a little cup thing that he had filled with sand. When I picked him up I realized that he had filled his big pocket on his hoody with sand. He is 100% boy. What a silly little guy. He has learned to go down the little slides all by himself and LOVES them.

a little run down

Well I know I have been a little neglectful of the blog lately. I have been quite successful on keeping my house in order. I recently reorganized my laundry room and I am LOVING it. I am so happy when I do my laundry, I can't say I am more motivated to get started but once I am started its a great day. Thank you for the inspiration Emily.

We had a fun valentines. Well Hemingway Valentine's (we celebrate on the 15) Yes we love the day after sales. And we really over indulge. Mark got me 5 dozen roses, one from each boy. And I got him 4 boxes of chocolates. How can you go wrong when everything is 50-75% off :) We had dinner with a table cloth (that means nice in this house) and then a special v-day dessert. And then we ended by watching my favorite show Chuck.

Unfortunately my camera is broken :( So this will have to become a pictureless blog for a while.
So here are a few of the funny moments in life lately.

I took Jake to get his valentines at Walmart on Saturday. On the way there we pass the Texas Roadhouse. Jake informs me that some outside is smoking. Here is our conversation after the observation.

Jake: why do people smoke?
Me: they probably don't know that Heavenly Father has asked us not to.
Jake: I saw smoke coming out of their mouth, if its coming out of their mouth how do their lungs get all black?
Me: some of the smoke goes inside too.
Jake: What do cigarettes even look like? And where to people buy them.
Me: mostly white and they come in a box and you can buy them at Walmart.
Jake: will you show them to me?
Me: sure
Jake: (as we are walking into Walmart)for my birthday I am going to wish that they don't make cigarettes.

As we are checking out at register 19 I am pointing out the boxes of cigarettes and he is telling me I can't see where are they mom, I am turning red. (who in their right mind takes their 5 yr. old to the store and points out cigarettes) I finally ask the cashier if she will point to a box of cigarettes. She does with out questioning me. What a nice gal.

While Jake and Ethan are both at school Andrew take a nap. I try to do something with Ryan but most days I am so tired and I end up letting him watch a movie while I sleep next to him.
Not yesterday. We played Duck Duck Goose. Ryan's choice of course Funny to play that game with only two people. I actually was surprised every time he goosed me since I got ducked so many times I never knew when it was going to come. My favorite part of the game was when it was my turn to be it. Ryan sat on the floor, pointing to himself and talking in a soft voice kept saying "pick me pick me" Did I have any other choice? SO funny. Love that kid.

oh and I am looking for some sort of dang cute ST Patty's day craft to make and put in my crates. If anyone has any brilliant ideas please let me know. I am trying to keep it under $10. Thanks :)