Mom & Dad Take a Break

This is what happens when mom&dad take a break Sunday afternoon. They even did a pretty good job of cleaning up after themselves.

Weekend!!

Anna's dress rehearsal.

SNOW DAY!!!

Yay snow day!! We didn't even realize school had been cancelled until the Hansen's showed up with all of their kids. What a wonderful surprise. Alyssa was a little sick, but so were Kale and Skye (spelling Jay). As kids do everyone seemed to have just as much fun regardless. When the Hansens went home. We watched a movie, played in the snow, painted pictures an made forts in Joshua's old room. What a great day!
BTW. This is Joshua's 2nd night in the new room. He has done great with the switch, in fact the kids needed to clean ip the fort mess in the nursery. When Alyssa said let's go clean your room. He absolutely insisted they go downstairs. He was furious that she would suggest his room was still upstairs. Amazing how much these kids get. I love it!!!
Tonight Alyssa went to our ward daddy daughter night, Anna had a showstoppers rehearsal, and Peter Joshua and I went to Walmart to get lightbulbs. That's all for today!
Here are some snow day pictures.

Moving Joshua

Are we really getting rid of the nursery? I'm not saying we are definitely not having anymore kids but we are definatley getting rid of the nursery. I figure if we have another baby they will be just fine in a ports crib in whatever room seems good at the time. Oh so strange. So now the plans begin. Step 1 move Joshua into peters room. Done. Step 2 sell or get rid of our nursery stuff. Somehow it doesn't seem like we've had it long enough, so hopefully someone else can get some use out of it. Step 3 decide how to organize the rest of the house. Piano in the office? Office in the nursery? More seating couches etc... Possible wall TV in the living room? All possibilities. All in good time. It was easier when we first moved in bought the basic furniture and decorations to make it feel like a model home for a young couple with a baby on the way. Now with 6 people in the house we need to think about functionality and comfort. And in 8 more years who knows what we'll be thinking about. But as the home maker, I'm trying to make our home the best it can be. I'm truly greatful for a beautiful home in a neighborhood that can't be beat!

And this is how Ryan got Alyssa to practice tonight. Choir got cancelled. Yay snow!

Also the picture of the bedding which really is so beautiful to part with. ... The curtains that I so carefully crafted With sheets. I get so sentimental. But not enough to keep it all. I kept Alyssa's quilt cause I made that. That's enough.

Play group today. We had fun at Charlottes house. My boys love playing there. She has two girls the same ages as our boys and they get along great. Again. Yay for good neighbors and friends.

Why did Yesterday's post not post?

Yesterday I tried two times to post.  typed the whole thing added my pictures.  But it's not on here. don't know where it went.  Anyway.  it was a good day.  We took down Christmas, played some games, and partied with the Hansen's for Rachel's birthday.  It always feels fresh and nice to take down Christmas, and the Hansen's know how to throw a sweet party.

Today, I cleaned the bathrooms really well, and straightened the girls room.  Feels good.  It seems that for the past 6 months cleaning and organizing my house has been on the back burner.  So along with other loftier goals like, doing my personal progress, building better relationships, bringing people to the temple, reading more with my boys, those kinds of things, I really want to get my house back in order.  There really is a certain joy that comes when you are able to just work hard and see a clean newly organized space.  My problem always lies in that I want to do it ALL right now which is totally unrealistic time wise and money wise.  My brain can't stop thinking of all the marvelous things we need to and could do to better our already lovely home.  One thing at a time.  Here is a picture of the changes in our bedroom.  Isn't it so cheery?  We still need to move pictures and mirrors etc.  I'd like a new lamp and the night stands are a little mix and match for now but I love it.  Bright and happy.  Anyway, untill tommorrow.

  The kids had messed up the bed at this point, but wanted to show the ottoman chest.  I'm excited about this because our closet is rather small so it has lots of space for all my bags.  Church bags etc...

On another note I ran sprints this morning and I loved it.  I haven't done that for a few months and quite honestly I was afraid I would just die.  But it felt really good.  Came home took a bath and had tiny fingers pushing under the bathroom door when I got out.  I love that...... usually, why don't they bother Ryan?  I guess Moms are just the best for certain things..... like breakfast.

Grocery Shopping

When I can get all of my major grocery shopping done in one day I feel it is a great accomplishment.  That is what I did today.  I started with my Wal-mart portion happening at 6:30am, after the gym,  Sams club at 11 am ,and it took me until dinner and help from Ryan and the kids to get it all put away.  But it is done, along with a straighter pantry and fridge Yay.  The boys played with Sky and Kale and the girls did their homework and practicing right after school no complaints.  Family night and now bed.  Good day.... Christmas decorations still up and Christmas music still playing in the car.  

New Goals 2013

Wanting to post more often.  Here we go.

This week we had sick boys and a Recovering Mom. We celebrated New Years with the Wilsons. Christmas is still up.  My Eye Surgery is scheduled for January 31st (Merry Christmas from Ryan).  I went to my fist YW activity and meetings. Sent the girls back to school.  Attended baptisms for our neighbors and friends. Watched Ryan play basketball.  Attended the temple.  Took Anna to get her showstoppers pictures. Took Alyssa to Piano.  Tried to arrange play dates.  Ran Alyssa to and from her playdate.  Went to 9:00 church.  Sheesh and I wonder why I haven't been blogging.  no busier than others maybe I need some tips on how bloggers keep it going with everything else that happens in life.  Happy New Year.  I'm excited for 2013!  2012 was unforgettable.  We learned and grew so much.

Happy Birthday Anna

We had Anna’s 6^th birthday party of Friday- I think it turned out great.  Thanks to Janay and Robyn for being extra adult hands helping with the 22 kids that were at our house.  Anna got an incredible costume for her birthday, so she wore it all day (she was so proud).  We watched part of the movie while we waited for everyone to show up.  Then we gave everyone super hero masks and went downstairs to do some super hero feats.  Lifting 50 pounds (like Mr. incredible), skating on paper plates (like frozone), rocking the baby- or kids in a big blanket (like Syndrome), or racing like dash.  Then we opened presents, ate cake and ice cream and everyone went home short and sweet I think Anna loved it that’s the most important part of a birthday party right?

We love Anna.  It's no surprise she wanted an "Incredibles" party.  I can see that she connects with the Dash character as she wants to be the very best at everything.  She has such energy and drive I know she will accomplish great things. 

This was on our front door.  I just used the extra invitations for additional decorations.  I just cut off the informational parts.

These little dangling decorations were my favorite.

Peters First Lost Tooth!

Yes, Peter is only 4 so he should not have lost his tooth.  So sad, He was playing on the end of the girls bed, after we had put them all down for the  night.  As he puts it he was showing them how to walk on the end.  which they all do.  Well not anymore Peter fell, we don't know where the tooth is, an although you prob don't need or want to see these picutres here they are, because for some reason to me it is a little sad.  He had such cute teeth.  I know it was going to come out sooner or later I just hope he's not going to end up with some black gums or something because he damaged the nerves. --I have a note into Dr. Nathan and hopefully it's just a matter of waiting the few years for a new tooth to appear.

Peter was upset about it.  He cried surprisingly little.  But as we were giving him some medicine and getting him cleaned up I was explaining what I was doing and he said and then what?  I think he was wondering if we were going to have to take him to the dentist tonight.  He asked a couple times.  So he seemed calm, but you could tell he was a little worried.  Oh these things happen I suppose. Poor Peter.

My Favorite Days!!

My birthday and Mothers day are two of my favorite days and this year has been no different.   For Mothers day we had a fabulous time going to the Tab Choir broadcast for the first time.  We may make this an annual event.  The weather was lovely and we had a ball playing together.

Alyssa's Piano Recital

Alyssa had her first piano recital last week.  Here she is sitting at the grand piano.  She did a great job.  We were so proud of her.  Thank you to our great family that came to support her.  Sarah came with her kids, Jon came in the middle of soccer games with all of his kids, and Mom & Dad came all the way down.  It meant really a lot to have you all there.

I was sewing the other day, mending our curtains once again, and Peter came and hung out beside me fiddling with the notions in my sewing box.  He created this.  It's a super simple creation right, just put some pins into a button.  But I loved that he says, "Mom it's like the jelly fish on Nemo"!...   Don't Moms get the biggest kick out of their kids littlest things.  I loved it it made me laugh that he had made that connection.  Oh the things that are in their brains.

Another Great Brain project is in the works at our house.  Alyssa wanted to do her project on fortune cookies.  So we made some.  They turned out pretty good.  We used maple extract instead of Almond, so they didn't taste just like them, but pretty close.  However, they take a long time to make, and I would recommend only doing it for an educational purpose, other than that just go buy a large bag from the grocery store and save yourself some time. Fortune cookies, in my opinion, are not good enough for the effort.