OATS, FLOUR, & RICE...OH MY!!!

Saturday the kids were cooking up some fun ..... so they thought. In the storage room we found four little white ghosts, a plume of white dust and a snow covered floor ready for skiing. Oh the fun they must of had!!! Just think about it .... the pouring of white fluffy flour from one bucket to another, mixing and matching white and brown rice, adding a dash of oats, and stirring. The imaginary meals they must of cooked up in their new white chef's kitchen. And then after a hard day's work... recreating in their white snow field by throwing snow balls at each other (I wonder who won) and cross country skiing through 4 inches of fresh powder between buckets of flour and bottled water as if they were passing through trees in a forest. Well that's what I would do... I wonder what they were thinking, I asked but they didn't give me a straight answer, "just I don't know."

Kids have such wonderful imaginations don't they...too bad us adults have grown up and have gotten too old to play such games and think of such fun. Oh the joys of childhood, no worries, right...oh until it's time to get back to reality, clean up and do jobs to pay back their $100 adventure to replace the two bucket of rice (rice is really expensive now), 2 buckets of flour and oats.

I didn't get mug shots of my kids because I hurried them off to the bath....

Chores for all

I think it was more fun than work to wash the windows...they really enjoyed spraying the Windex and washing it off.

The baseboards however were a lot of work, Cameron hated that job.

Oh, I think I learned my lesson too....Lock the Storage Door!!!!

In the moment I didn't want to take pictures but I'm glad I did. It's good we can laugh at it now(sigh).

Another Photo Shoot

I've been waiting all summer for Jason to be able to sit so I could take pictures by this cool blue truck...I want to blow up a huge picture and put it on canvas for their bedroom. I'll try to edit a few more and post them shortly.

"Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments.{or if I could enter here-the basket-head mother syndrome} She said: “The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less”(Loud and Clear [2004], 10–11).

Cameron's First Day of School

Cameron is our handsome 4 year old who loves to be the life of the party and make everyone laugh.

I hope he makes his new teacher Miss Julene more happy than frustrated. The great thing about preschool is that there is no pressure just lots of fun...reading....music....laughter....art....playing in the backyard....watching plants grow....learning to be nice.....learning to play well with eachother and no fighting....eating healthy snacks....field trips....friends!1st day of school....handsome as ever...I love the red hair...how did we get so lucky to have a red head?

"Can't be late hurry...hurry...hurry...." This will probably what we say every Tues and Thurs at 8:30 a.m.

Bye boys....
Dad is the lucky one to take Cameron to school ....I'm sad, I think I'll miss my little punkin' boy.
(I know it's only preschool, I don't know how I'll do when he goes to kindergarten.)

Aunt Tammie, left, is the helper this year...Miss Julene, in the middle, is Cameron's teacher ...and Aunt Carrie, on the right, was last years tutor. This year she gets off to be a mommy to sweet baby David.

Hello Friends

Catching Some ZZZZZZ's

This is what I found when I went went looking for my baby. Jason was too quiet, he had just been crying and I was hoping he would fall asleep. His sweet dad rescued him from his bassinet which imprisoned him to a dreadful sleep that would not happen. Big arms, a sweet smell, a kind reassuring and very understanding voice put my sweet little baby to sleep. I'm sure it didn't take long before the big guy was asleep too. The boys must have worn him out after jumping on him like a bouncy trampoline, hiding under the blankets with him, and being just plain silly. Dads are great for entertaining the kiddies ...a great break for mom to be able to sit and read a bit (or blog). Oh how I love my sweet honey...he's the best dad ever, not to mention the best husband/friend. Moments like these tug at your heart ....how could I have been so lucky to have the greatest guy in the world for my best friend?!

Jason's Blessing

OK, I know this post is way overdue. Jason was blessed July13th...and I'm just getting to this...it's sad. I think life should get a little less crazy soon (its a wish), and hopefully I'll be able catch up and post all of our summer fun.

Jason has been such a blessing and a wonderful addition to our family. I love this little guy! I don't think I've been able to enjoy him as much as I should with taking care of the other boys and keeping them out of trouble. When I do get a chance I try to just sit and hold him...think about...our past.... his future.....his strong spirit....challenges that will come....hugs & kisses....owees that will need kisses...tears that will need wiping....laughter to be heard....bugs to be found...water fights....discovery of new things.....and the list goes on. There will be fun times and tough times but it's all worth it. I love this quote....

"There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.

There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be "full-time moms," at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else. " Elder M Russell Ballard

Jason's blessing was so beautiful.... The spirits that are coming to us in these latter days are so precious and so strong. They are special children with special purposes.

Sweet Jason

Happy Baby

Proud parents

Not too many cousins get the chance to be blessed in the same ward on the same day. Jason and David are going to be great friends.

Proud grandparents


Cameron loves his little Jason

Sweet boys!!!

LET'S MAKE ICE CREAM

We decided that because it had been so hot lately, that making ice cream would be a great outside project. This also was to get the kids outside and give them something to do. It was so fun and very easy to do.

"Yummy ice cream cones...can we have another one ...pleeeeeeeeease!"

All you need is :

1 TBS sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 tsp vanilla
put in a pint-size ziploc bag (I used two bags so that the salt and ice wouldn't leak into the icecream)

In a gallon-size ziploc bag:
Ice cubes
6 TBS rock salt
Add the small bag with ingredients

stir or shake for about 5-10 minutes.
It's incredible and tastes pretty good. The kids really liked making their very own ice cream that they could put in ice cream cones. (Beware it gets pretty cold on your hands)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Yes it's true...I'm one year older (31), WOW, I know. I'm pretty sure that I'm only 24, but Darin reassures me that yes I'm 31. I'm not sure if that's because I'm loosing my memory because of age or if my brains are withering away because of children. In either case Darin keeps track for me...what a great guy.

Darin surprised me with an awesome lens for my camera...one I've been wanting for a really long time! Is he the greatest or what.

The boys made these posters with finger paints.
They put their handprints on them and they say Happy Birthday.
I love my little boys...they are so sweet.

Look at those cheeks...I hope my wish comes true.

I had a really great day, Darin invited his family and mine over for a fabulous BBQ. What a party! Thanks Darin for a wonderful day, you are the best!