Spring

Spring is in the air and in my step.  These past few weeks have got me up and moving and excited for a change in weather.  I remember last spring and all of the field trips, outdoor excursions and family fun.  I love spring time, Easter is on it's way, general conference is just around the corner, spring cleaning is calling out to us and the outdoors are inviting us to play.  So, spring up and enjoy the season of spring!

S cience Fair
MY LB has had more spring in his step than I.  He has been helping the kiddos with so many projects, some just for fun.  This years Science Fair was all about dad helping out.  Tin can communication and rocket science, both right down his alley.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the actual night of the Science Fair so you will have to take my word on it being "great".  My kiddos never cease to amaze me with their social skills and ease at speaking to an audience.  We are loving our homeschool group!

P inewood Derby
Spencer has to be one of the friendliest, kindest and most polite boys that I know.  He came home from scouts the other night and let me know he finally has best friends.  There are only three boys in his den right now and they are all dynamite kiddos.  We are loving the ward and the friendships that are blooming.

A bit about the car, The Speed Fin was a fast car but that is not all, it was also a warrior car.  The tires had a slight wobble that sent it off the track more than once.  However, it only crashed into and sent another car off the track one awesome time.  I think they have been playing to many video games.

R ios, Tres Rios Nature Festival
Everyone should attend this event!  It is so much fun and gives children the opportunity to experience outdoor activities that they might not have the chance to do otherwise.  Fishing, archery, canoeing and many nature exhibits that offer learning and fun.

So much fun!

I  llness, Chicken Pox
Yes, our two sweet little girls had the POX!  I was taking Kendal to the bathroom and I noticed she had five or six bumps on her legs.  I said, "Did you get bug bites?"  She let me know that she has some and Maggie has some on her back, it must have been more than one bug.  Curious, I went and picked up Maggie's shirt and her back was covered in Chicken Pox.  Maggie didn't even know they were there.  BIG BUMMER!

N ight out on the town
MY LB and I have had some great times at the expense of his work place lately.  This weekend we were invited to two special dinner events.  The first was an award ceremony that admittedly was extremely boring and really challenged my ADHD, which I didn't know I had until that night.  The second night was an amazing, black tie event with a silent auction, very artsy.  It was very nice and we even got to get in some romantic dancing.  It was a wonderful night!

This silent statue guy was really challenging my behavior.  It's really hard to be good when you want to throw something at someone.

G arbage, recycle fashion show
We spent the week before Tres Rios Nature Festival designing some extremely trashy outfits.  The boys did their costumes almost completely on their own, I was so impressed.  They designed them and when I told them impossible they made it happen.  Maggie and I worked on hers together and got in some great girl time.  Luke Air Force Base puts on the Recycle Fashion Show and it is really fun, plus the prizes are great.  All of my kiddos placed and had a great time!  Maggie got first for her age group YEAH!

They actually make their way up on a stage and show their costumes to a pretty good sized crowd.  Matthew always eats this up and does a few crazy moves that makes the audience clap.  Maggie just wants to get it over with and Spencer could careless what anybody thinks, they either like it or they don't.  I am so proud of their willingness to exploit themselves to such trashy behavior.  Love them!!!

Potty Mouth

My kids informed me that I posted two posts in row with baddy words in them. They are worried that it will become a habit for me. So I must apologize to my blog viewers for using the words....

B#@*$

and

Sexy

Oh great now I did it again, that makes three posts in a row with baddy words. Crap! Stink, I did it again. OH what the hell have an awesome day!

Pinterested?

So all my blog friends you lit my fire and I finally gave in and checked out Pinterest. I knew going into it that it was going to be a time sucker so silly little me set "rules". Yes, I have a set of Pinterest rules, feel free to use them or change them to make them work for you. Tee-Hee!

Rule #1: Only look until the page ends (still a lot of looking)
Rule #2: I must get at least one idea that I plan to carry out and actually do every time I look.
Rule #3: I am only aloud to have three ideas waiting to be done at a time. If I have more than three I can't look again until I get one or two or three done.

I have been a very good rule follower and I will now share with you some of my Pinterest masterpieces.

Sexy Curls

All Thanks To A Sock

 Simply amazing. All I did was cut the toe of one on MY LB's socks, roll it up like a donut, put my hair in a pony tail, spritz the pony tail with water to get it damp, roll up the pony tail in the sock, pin it and go to sleep. Next morning much to my surprise I "really" had curls. Crazy right?

More Sexy Hair

Crazy up do (I will never tell how many bobby pins I used)

Watch out, right?

You just do this and then that and more of this and VIOLA.

I also got a bit crafty....

Stuffed Owls

Now My monkey is no longer lonely.

He just has to wait and play at night now.

Yeah, I made my own pattern from looking at some pictures. Used my sewing machine and a glue gun.

Picture Collage

I have been wanting to put up pictures of my kiddos from when they were young little bucks. This offered me the perfect opportunity and it is so fantastically cute.

I promise next time I will do better to post links, I just forgot to save them and now I don't feel like finding them. Sorry! I will just tell you the hardest part of this project is picture placement (there is definitely some math involved).

There you have it! I am following the rules, getting fun things done, trying new things with my hair and laughing a lot. Thanks to all of my friends that go me "pinterested".

The three things I have on my plans.... An owl purse, another up do and a some photo shoot pictures to take of my little cowgirls.

Son Of A B#@$&

MY LB is a real.....

SON OF A BAKER

Spencer called his dad this one day when deciding which one of us he wanted to help him make bread. He said, " I think I choose dad because he is a son of a baker." I laughed and could not deny this simple truth. The words stuck! It is true MY LB's mom worked in a bakery and is very talented in the category of baking. She was very good at teaching MY LB what she knew and he picks things up quick like.

GET TO THE POINT

Here is the point I am trying to make.....

Isn't it beautiful? It also tasted so yummy!

Spencer and his dad baked and decorated this amazing cake together for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. Spencer received the award for the most Western Looking Cake. MY LB wins the award for being the most AWESOME DAD, and a true SON OF A BAKER!

Kudos to the amazingly talented women in our ward. Spencer's Cub Scout leader is so fantastic. I subbed and helped her out a few times and I had the best time. She is also very crafty which was evident at the Blue and Gold.

Spencer earned his bear! Right on DUDE!

And that mustache I have been growing out (waxing hurts) has finally paid off.

Good Day Y'ALL

RAIN-aissance Festival

Yes, it rained on us at the Renaissance Festival.  We were wenched, I mean drenched!  The first couple of hours were soggy and cold.  I meant to grab an umbrella, didn't happen.  The boys endured and sucked it up, the girls complained and cuddled up with mom and dad.  I am so thankful MY LB was with me otherwise I would have gone home.  Going home would have been a shame because the sun came out and despite the rain we had a wonderful time.

My favorite part was the food; turkey legs, royal baked potatoes, onion rings, candy coated pecans, funnel cake and chocolate covered strawberries.  Yes, weight watchers and I have parted ways.  Very sad, I think some day we will reunite our love for one another.  But for now I am enjoying the reuniting with calories.

The kiddos love the shows!  Acrobats, juggling, music, jokes, fire, whips, falconry and so many other fun things that we don't see much of.  They also love looking at the shops and getting ideas for creating when we get home.  Already on the list is one axe for Spencer, a painted shield for Matthew, and fairy outfits for the girls.  MY LB and I love crafting and creating with the kids, especially when it is doing something that we love.  MY LB loves to wood work and the boys have shared this hobby with him multiple times. 

Over all it was a fun family day and a long drive so we were able to finish our CD book.  We finished a series that we all loved and are so sad to be done.  It is funny how we have made connections with the characters and feel like we are loosing friends.  It ended to all of our satisfactions!

Here are some highlights.....

Some Stuff

I am feeling like a bulk post, one that sums up all I have to say. That is how my life is right now, how much can I get done at one time? What two things can I combine into one and get both done at the same time? You wouldn't believe the things I can get done while sitting on the toilet.

I can't even crochet without listening to a classic, watching a documentary or listening to conference talk. I desperately want to be a good example to my kiddos of self education and a desire to continue to learn and grow. However finding the time, not impossible, is very tricky.

So I have about 30 minutes before the bed time routine begins and about 4 things I want to blog about.

1. We had a great surprise aunty visit this month and the kids were so excited. They love Kosette and Alison, I don't blame them they are two fun chickies. We had family dinners, a hike, a sleep over, a third wheel on date night and lots of sibling messages. It is always a treat when family visits!

2. Another fantastic trip to the ballet. A love story right before Valentines Day, Sleeping Beauty. It was so wonderful, I loved Kendal's excitement. I also dearly love my growing twelve year old that held his little sister on his lap so she could see, he is great!



3. I have been quite crafty lately regardless of my time crunch. I crocheted two infant hats for Breathing Life Photography, made a valance (that I am in love with) for a good friend, I have been helping another friend decorate her new house, finished my first crochet afghan, taken and edited three photo shoots, I have also been experimenting with bread making (I made my Cuisinart smoke, yikes) and made a couple of stuffed animals with the girls. I missed crafting and creating and knew I had to make it a part of my life again. I took my knowledge of time and how to find more of it and put it to work for me. I am now consistent in my hobby habits and invite the children to participate whenever possible.

Valance for my friend (isn't her house cute)

My first Afghan, so colorful and fluffy

Two infant hats

4. OUTSMARTED 4 to 1, I am realizing that I don't post enough or talk enough about home school. Many of my good friends that I have seen recently have asked about it. Mostly, always in the form of, "Do you still like home schooling?" I want to take this time to let everyone know, YES!

I am in love with home schooling, the more I do it the easier it becomes. My children amaze me with their intellect and desire to self educate. Since we began Thomas Jefferson Education in our home everything has changed, the kids are learning that in order to gain a good education they have to desire it, reach for it and continually grow. They spend most of their days with their noses in non-fiction books. Together we have read, discussed and learned many great things from wonderful classical fiction authors. We have learned to take the characters, experiences and emotions into our lives and live and learn by their experiences. We are also memorizing our states and capitals, presidents and articles of faith, I am proud to say that we are half way there.

My favorite part of our day is devotional, we read and study the Book of Mormon, read stories about virtue and how to become virtuous people, review memorization and pray together. I wouldn't give up this time with my children for anything. I am so thankful for friends and family that care enough to ask how things are going. We are good!

Right now we are completely engrossed in the goings on of Taran the Pig Keeper in the Alexander Lloyd book series, The Chronicles of Prydain. You should check it out.

This story is perfect for my growing boys, they need to know that becoming a man takes overcoming your trials and becoming a better person for it. Taran, is challenged in so many ways and always come out of his challenges stronger, wiser, kinder and of course smarter.

2012 Here We Come!!!

For Christmas this year our household received tickets to Knotts Berry Farm. What a blast! We spent a glorious week in California. It was such a great time together, I love spending family time together without any interruptions. Just me, MY LB and our fabulous four.

MY BFF

Our first stop was a visit with Alice's clan. Alice and I have been friends since sixth grade and have spent many great moments, some of my favorite, together. I love her and I love that our families have remained close after so many years.

Waterfall Hike

Double Date

Two Friends Hanging Out

Off to the BEACH and KNOTTS

Next we were off to our beach side resort. We spent Monday at Knotts Berry Farm. We had such a good time. Once the kids over came their fears they were on a ride-page. I couldn't believe the rides they went on, and LIKED. We recently had watched We Bought A Zoo and in the movie they talked about twenty seconds of courage, the kids used this as their motto for the day. They kept telling each other, "Come on, it only takes twenty seconds of courage". It worked!

I used my twenty seconds of courage to go on the worst ride of my life and came very close to loosing my stomach. WORST RIDE EVER! Love roller coasters, HATE to spin! I was spinning, swinging and getting higher and higher.... I can't talk about it anymore. I had to take a good 30 minutes in the sun sitting completely still before I could continue on our Knotts adventure.

The kids each had their favorite rides and wanted to go on them again and again (which we could without getting off because there were no lines).

The boys favorite ride, 301 feet in the air spinning round and round. It was a pretty cool trip, once was enough for me.

Maggie, LOVED the swings! She stayed on for three rotations one time. I tried the swings right after my ride from HECK and it too was horrible, man I was sick.

Kendal loved the spinning hats and so Jeremiah was doomed to spinning ALL DAY, poor guy. By the end of the night he was all spun out. Did I mention I HATE spinning.

Overall the park was a blast, I liked the rides, we don't know about the food because none of us dared to eat, the entertainment was fun, however my favorite part was this moment I captured as I walked behind my family...

Vacation always brings us closer together. I am grateful for such a loving husband and wonderful children to spend my days vacationing with.

This is how I finished my night, on the kiddie coaster with two of my kiddies. We were screaming, laughing and throwing our arms in the air. A perfect way to end the day!