I looked out the window...

...and what did I see?

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.

FINALLY!!

We're just a little bit excited around here!

Just a little.

Welcome Spring.

Please stay.

Please!

thoughts

*It has been a long time. We were gone for 10 days over Spring break. We had General Conference and Easter. I was crazy busy before and am still crazy busy after. But my thoughts and the glimpses into my children's lives must be documented, so here they are in all their glory.

*Speaking of being gone. My kids thought it was so cool to say that they weren't going to be at church for the whole month. I don't know what is so cool about that, but they enjoyed saying it. The reality was that we didn't attend our ward for one month, due to General and Stake Conference and 2 Sundays attending church in California where we were vacationing. But that isn't as cool as to say as we're not going to church for one whole month. All I have to say is that it was so good to go to church this week in our home ward. That's just what it is...home. And I had missed them. The church is true everywhere, but I sure missed my ward family.

*As Brandon and Trevor were driving to his early morning soccer game on the Saturday before Easter they witnessed something that I would have really liked to see. They drove by a retirement home where they saw eggs strewn all over the lawn and the eager residents all lined up ready for the big hunt. They chuckled as they saw the line of wheelchairs and walkers and cute old people all wearing bunny hats. They were in a hurry but told me they really wanted to linger and watch when the "GO" was given and all of the wheelchairs, walkers and canes set out to claim their eggs. They wondered what was in the eggs. They wondered if there would be any scuffles. They wondered and they smiled, as did I when they told me the story. Someday that will be Trevor and I. And I will be rearing to go. I'm sure at that age I will still do anything for chocolate, even if it means tripping someone with my walker so I can get to that egg!

*Is there ever a dull moment at the local Wal-mart? I mean I have barely recovered from the jalapeno fire. A couple of weeks ago I was shopping away when the overhead speaker came on and announced that there was a lost dog in the pet department and would the owner please return to pick it up. Apparently there was no owner because they had several follow up announcements still referring to this lost dog wandering around Wal-mart. I tried to ignore the fact that there was an animal roaming the same aisles that I was shopping in. Had he licked anything? Or worse...you know... in any of the aisles? I finished my shop and as I was headed out to my car, I passed 2 police officers who had in their possession the culprit. I overheard part of their conversation as I walked by. Something about the dog and dehydration and several bowls of water. Did he just wander in? Why was he dehydrated? What would happen to him? I wanted to stop and chat, but that would just be awkward. I hope Rover is OK and I can't wait to see what awaits me next week at Wal-mart.

*Bryson's teacher got married over Spring Break. It was the cutest thing ever when he came home with the invitation. It was addressed soley to him. It said "Mr." on the front of the invite and his shy smile when he showed it to me indicated how pleased he was to receive it. He was so sad to miss the reception that he had been invited to, but the Pinewood Derby trumped the reception that night. We did send a little gift after the break. It was 3 jars of Knotts Berry Jam with a little note from Bryson that said "I hope your marriage is 'jam' packed with good things!" The whole thing was just sweet. And now he is getting used to calling his teacher by a new name and that cute invitation to a little 4th grade Mr. is in his memory box, so we can both enjoy it for a long time.

*My boys have a new game. It is called "Say Hi to your Real Dad." They think it is so funny to find a weird looking person who is walking on the street or driving by and saying, "Hey, Tyler, say hi to your real dad!" This game reached it's height in California where they had a whole new level of real dads to choose from as we drove through downtown L.A. and other areas. They found some real winners and they laughed and laughed as they pointed each one out and attached them to different siblings. I don't know how I feel about this game, since every real dad needs a real partner. Enough said.

*Brandon won $20 from the orthodontist just before we left on our trip. He correctly guessed how many gold coins were in the jar. He was thrilled with his win. It wasn't quite the DS his brother won, but it was still pretty good to earn some spending money for the trip. I'm glad they do these little contests at our orthodontist. And I'm glad my kids have won some of them. I guess your chances increase quite a bit when you have 4 kids who are patients and who are there very frequently. Yep, the odds are in our favor.

*Ashlyn was in the room when I was getting ready one morning. She was being pretty chatty. We were in my closet and she pointed to something and said, "Whats that?" I said, "It's a bra." She gasped, covered her mouth and whispered, "Mom! That's potty talk!" Now, I am not sure who told her it was potty talk, I guess I could see why they might think that, which leads me to believe it was probably one of the boys. And I don't know why Ashlyn and any one of her brothers would be having a conversation about bras. I told her it wasn't actually potty talk and left it at that. And I'll be listening to see if that potty word springs up in any conversations around here.

*Kara had a big party here the other night. At any given time there were about 30-40 kids in our basement. My little kids love when all of the big kids come over and I will let them go downstairs every once in a while to check things out. The highlights of this party, for them, were when Tyler and his friend snuck down a bowl of wasabi peas and put them on the snack table. They cracked up when anyone ate one (they are so nasty by the way!) and they saw the look of pure disgust on their faces. Also, another highlight was when Ashlyn put on the big shaggy dog costume and went downstairs on all fours. It actually looks like a real dog and it kind of freaked some of the kids out until they realized it was just a 4 year old crashing the party. Good times for my little ones, good times.

*Big brothers are great. The other day Ashlyn was playing on my exercise mat. She was jumping around and holding my hand weights. Tyler walked by and thought it would be funny to see what would happen if he pulled out the mat from under her. The resulting goose egg on her forehead from plunging face first into those hand weights wasn't funny. Not funny at all.

*Speaking of big brothers, Alyssa'a dance teacher is having her first baby. I guess she told her class that she wanted a boy first and then a girl because the boy would be the big brother and protect his sister and that every girl should have a big brother. Alyssa came home a little confused. Big brothers to her aren't always nice and protective. She feels she needs to set the teacher straight and tell her it would be better to have a girl first. I told her to give her brothers time and that hopefully their protective and nice instincts will come out before high school. Hopefully.

*Ashlyn calls Trevor da da. Occasionally she will say daddy, and sometimes dad, but mostly it is da da and I love it. I hope she calls him da da for a long time, because she is always going to be me and her da da's baby.

*The one drawback to checking out 40 books from the library is that when you forget for the first time ever to put the due date in your planner then you end up with a $25 overdue fine. I am not happy about it and it has never happened before. I told Trevor about it and he just smiled and said that the Libraries are struggling financially, and to just consider it a donation. Leave it to him to always find the bright side of the situation, especially when it comes to libraries.

*It is CORE testing at the elementary school this week. I love this week. Why? Because they send home a note telling the parents and children that it is very important to get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast each day so they can perform well on the tests. I don't pay much attention to the healthy breakfast part, but you can bet I read out loud the going to bed early part. Last night they were all in bed by 8:30. It was heaven. I'm going to milk this one for all it's worth, baby!

*Kara is downstairs right now putting a Jedi-braid in a boy's hair. I had no idea she had this talent and I had no idea why he wanted it done. So I asked. It turns out tomorrow is May the fourth. There will apparently be a Star Wars feel at the school tomorrow. Jedi braids and light sabers will be present. Still don't get it? Neither did I, until this cute boy said "May the fourth be with you!"

Until next week, May the fourth be a good one!

don't worry

Brandon has lost the last 2 months of his life.

He has lost those months to worry.

What could a boy of 12 be so worried about that it keeps him up at night, has had him in tears, and has consumed his thoughts?

7th grade shots, that's what!

Really, he's that worried about shots at 12?

Really!

We have tried to talk him through it. We have tried to remind him of all the things he has done that hurt worse than shots. We have prayed. None of it really worked. So we resorted to the new little treasures we found on our stroll down Olvera Street in California during Spring Break.

We resorted to the worry dolls.

Legend has it that in Guatemala, children will tell one worry to each doll when they go to bed at night and then place the dolls under their pillow. In the morning the dolls have taken their worries away.

Brandon put all 5 dolls under his pillow even though he didn't have 5 different worries.

He had a worry so big it needed all 5 dolls.

His shots were scheduled the next day.

All right, a good ending to this story would be that his worries were gone the next morning, but that is not how this story goes. He continued to worry all day at school and when we were at his appointment I had brief flashbacks to his kindergarten shots where it took 5 nurses and me to hold him down. He didn't need anyone to hold him down this time (I mean, come on, he's 12!) but he was sweating bullets.

And then it was over.

He looked at me and said, "that was it?"

Yes Brandon, that was it, just like we told you. All of that worrying for nothing.

And those precious worry dolls? Well, they are nestled back in their box awaiting the next big worry that will come along in one of my children's lives. Let's hope they take their responsibility a little more seriously next time, or else I'm demanding a $1 refund and sending them on the next plane back to Guatemala!

appreciation

It feels like I have been a room mom a million times.

I really don't mind it, because basically I just do the same thing over and over again. Like this box for teacher appreciation week. I think I have used this idea and poem at least 5 times. (I must give credit to Krista, the poet.) It always seems to be a hit. The kids love seeing their teacher "lift" the box each day. The teacher receives a gift every day of the week. And the excitement in my "secret helpers" eyes as I send him/her off each day with the present to carefully sneak under the box without the teacher seeing is priceless.

Some years I have sent home notes to the parents telling them my plan and I will get donations and then I just hit Walmart and buy all of the gifts at once, and then send them with my child each day. This year the teacher said all she wanted was treats for her treasure box, so I just bought different cheap toys and snacks to put under the box. The box in the picture above was for a teacher who was also having a baby (hence the baby wrapping paper). So that year I gave her all baby related items. This year the box was a little smaller and wrapped in bright polka dot paper, perfect for a kindergarten teacher.

And I'm sure this box will be used again the next time around.

Because there always seems to be a next time for this old room mom.

Easter SUNDAY

This is the day we really celebrate.

There are no eggs, there is no bunny, there is no candy.

This year, the kid's gifts from mom and dad to help them think about Jesus were church-music CD's and small pictures of Christ praying (to put by their beds to help remind them to pray always). The music idea came to me as I was reading the new church handbook in preparation for a Stake meeting earlier in the week. There is a whole section on music in the home. It states in the handbook how hymns should be a part of every home. How they should be used in worship, while working, while traveling and as lullabies. We have church music, but we needed some updates and some more hymns. (By the way, it also states in the church handbook that parents are strongly encouraged to have their children take music lessons so that they can use their talents to serve in the church! I had no idea, but you bet I read it to my kids. And I will read it every time they complain about practicing the piano!)

After Stake Conference we listened to our new music as we headed down to the cemetery to continue our Easter celebration.

Trevor talked about the true meaning of Easter, about the atonement and we read the Living Christ.

He bore his testimony about the resurrection and the knowledge he had that he would see is dad again, and that our children would someday meet their grandpa.

I think they have testimonies of that too.

We have great kids. We have the true church.

We have a Savior.

And because of that we had a great Easter.

Easter "fun" day

Saturday was a crazy day at our house, what else is new. But we did manage to squeeze in a few Easter "fun" day activities.

Before the coloring of the eggs.


During the coloring of the eggs.

After the coloring of the eggs.

More after.

And a little more.

This is definitely a favorite Easter activity at our house.


Because we had 3 early morning soccer games and a 4 hour AP Chemistry study group going on, our Easter egg hunt was delayed until about 1 pm in the afternoon on Saturday. My little ones were dying with all of those eggs just sitting around the whole house. They really tried hard not to peek, bless their little hearts. They were so patient.

Before the big hunt.

During the big hunt.

The traditional sorting of the big hunt.

After the big hunt.

After the kids sorted and bagged their candy we (Trevor and I) then had 2 stake conference meetings to attend. (Yes, Stake Conference on Easter weekend!) But, we were uplifted and felt the spirit and what more could you ask for on Easter funday!
A little egg dying, a little egg hunting and a little inspiration.

That's what it was.

And it was great!

country bunny

I am not a huge fan of the Easter Bunny.

Not at all really.

But, I love this book.

It was a favorite in my youth.

A childhood memory of mine.

I read it to my kids the other day.

I still totally love it.

Easter Bunny and all!

prom

After a fabulous day date up the canyon, Kara, for the first time ever, had ample time to beautify herself for the big dance.

We have never experienced so much "extra time" before a dance so we had a lengthy photo shoot.

Not only did we have time for a photo shoot, Kara actually had spare time to tickle the ivory's as she waited. It helped to set a romantic mood for the big moment when the doorbell rang.

The awkward corsage/boutonniere exchange, that wasn't so awkward because they are such good friends.

The handsome couple.

(Pay no attention to the differing skin tones, we are well aware!)

I have a little joke with Kara. I pair her up with all of her boy "friends" and decide what their kids/life would be like if they got married.

If Kara and Carter got married their kids' brains would be so big they would be almost alienish.

(I'm serious, can you say practically perfect ACT score for this guy, and Kara's wasn't so bad either.)

Kara was so excited go to the prom this year. She had put so much time and energy into planning it and missed going last year by 2 weeks (darn Spring birthday!), Carter was a true gentleman, a great date and she was surrounded by some of her closest friends! What more could a girl want?

The gang.

A fabulous group of amazing teenagers. Happy, modest and beautiful inside and out!

Especially our girl!

ash

Somebody had a birthday.

Somebody turned the adorable age of 4.

Somebody requested spaghetti with white sauce, broccoli, bread and pineapple rings for her birthday dinner.

Somebody ate every last bite.

Somebody was giddy with excitement all day long looking at her pile of presents.

Somebody had only one thing on her list- a zu zu pet.

Somebody got just what she wanted.

And somebody hasn't played with it since

(I think she was convinced by another zu zu pet owner in the family that she needed one, when really she could have cared less.)

Somebody looked at me every time she opened a present and whispered

"who's this from?"

Somebody would then enthusiastically hug that person and give a sincere thank you with all her 4 year old heart.

Somebody really scored this year.

Somebody had a smile to prove it.

Somebody is the youngest of 7 and had to wait until way past bedtime to eat her cake so that the whole family could be there.

Somebody didn't mind.

This somebody is so loved and so adored and so easy and so sweet.

Ashlyn Elizabeth is somebody special that's for sure.

Happy Birthday to our big 4 year old who will forever be our baby!

We love you Ashie.

P.S. If you write the word somebody enough it doesn't even look or sound like a word anymore! Just sayin.

the height of fashion

For Family Home Evening we got out our 72 hour kits. We re-familiarized ourselves with the kits, updated a few things (like putting undies into Ashlyn's pack and finally throwing away all those diapers. Yea!), and went over what everything was for and how it was used. But, that wasn't enough. My kids wanted more. So my children put on the first ever "what I will be wearing in an emergency" fashion show. I was laughing so hard I could hardly take pictures. I especially enjoyed Tyler's Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt, Ashlyn's red socks and Kara's "if anyone at school sees me in these I would die" pants!

Ethan is praying?

What for, we don't know.

Maybe it's that no one will connect him with the woman running around in the skin tight stretchy pants, who, would not be caught dead in this here fashion show, and was content to just be the photographer. Yep, I'm guessing that's it!

our weekend

This weekend we gathered our family to listen to a prophet speak. In my opinion there is nothing better than Conference weekend.

Here is a glimpse into how we enjoyed it this Spring.

We built forts (while Kara dutifully took notes.)

We invited Bilbo, aka Turd, to join us.

He wandered around, listening and feeling the spirit, I 'm sure.

This is the family room, where it is obvious we had spent 8 hours together in. This is the wall of the 12 Apostles. This year we put them up in the order that they spoke and then put a sticky note on each one summarizing their inspired counsel.

This is the note that Kara added.

This weekend we listened to the voice of Jesus.

This weekend we were together, we were inspired, we were uplifted and we felt the spirit.

Twice a year isn't enough for me!

thoughts

Last Sunday Ethan came to me saying his ear hurt. Of course it was a Sunday. I gave him some Motrin and after about 5 minutes he said he felt great. He came home from school the next day again complaining that his ear hurt. Within minutes of his Motrin dose he said it was better and off he ran to play. On Tuesday I asked him about his ear and he just said it felt "weird" Even though he wasn't complaining anymore I decided to take him in. Sure enough he had a bad ear infection. My point to this whole story is that I think Ethan has a pretty high pain thresh hold. Some of my other kids would be up all night crying and tossing and turning and rightly so. I have had an ear infection before and it was horrible. But Ethan never really cried, he just felt "weird." Well, his"weird" ear required a $45 antibiotic and I didn't even have a Target pharmacy coupon this week. Dang it.

* I bought $400 worth of bathing suits this week from Costco. I just so happened to be at Costco on the first day of their bathing suit display. You know that one that is only there for 1 week. They are very cute and modest bathing suits for a pretty decent price. They are there every year and I have learned a few things. Last year when we bought one for Kara, she took it home, tried it on and needed a different size bottom. By the next morning when I went to exchange it, they were all sold out of the size we needed and they weren't getting any more. So, this year when I walked by I grabbed every one that I might possible like. My total was $396! I went home tried them all on and picked a winner. The rest are still sitting on a chair in my room to be returned. I should return them soon, I mean, I could probably use that $350 dollars. But Trevor is so happy that I finally bought a bathing suit (he has been begging me to get a new one for years) that he didn't even flinch when I told him how much I spent. Anything to get me in a suit I guess. You might say it isn't my favorite thing in the world.

*Tyler pulled off a 4.0 again this term. The kid really amazes me. I hardly see him doing homework. And he doesn't really stress about it. He never asks me for help with projects or reports or anything. A lot of it is because he is a smart kid. But also, he remembers what he reads AND he really listens in class. Sometimes I think kids goof off or talk or just don't pay attention in class and they miss a lot of valuable information. He listens and really pays attention and it pays off. I am proud of him and am really grateful actually that I don't have to help him much, one less thing to worry about. Thanks Tyler.

*Okay, Hobby Lobby is now open right down the street. I am in heaven. I love that store. I still haven't had time to slowly browse each and every aisle. But that is my goal and one day when I have an extra 2 hours or so, I am so going to do it. One of my favorite things about it is the sign on the door that says "closed on Sundays so our employees can be with their families and worship." Yea. And my neighbor told me that their background music is hymns. I hadn't noticed, but next time I go in I am going to totally listen and be spiritually fed while I spend all of my husbands money on home decor!

*Last week was full (what else is new) We had 5 practices, 3 games, 1 surprise birthday party, one non-surprise birthday party, scouts, temple trip, ortho appointments, piano lessons, library time, Presidency meetings, dinner dates, doctors appointments and a million other errands. It must be Spring. I don't know if I am ready.

*Because I have been so busy my blogging is suffering. I still just haven't figured out when is the best time for me to do it. I am so very behind on some really big events such as my Tyler's eagle project and eagle court, Kara's Junior Prom, my trip to Oregon, our trip to Puerta Vallarta (which seems like a million years ago), Ashlyn's birthday, and our family motto which should have been done way back in January. I need to find a good time. A time when it is quiet and I can think. In our home right now that doesn't really exist unless I get up at like 6 in the morning. And that's not going to happen, so all I can do is just try my best. And maybe, just maybe I will get to that New Years family motto by May. Maybe.

*Speaking of blogging. I really wish I knew how to take good pictures. I just don't. I look at other blogs and their photos are so creative and great and I wish mine were like that. But they're not. Photography is not one of my talents. Maybe I will take a class. Ya, right!

*Ethan said to me the other day, "Mom, next week is going to be the best week of my life!" I asked him why, to which he replied, "because I have my first soccer game, I get to go to California for spring break AND I get to go to the dentist!" Wow! We must have one good dentist if he ranks right up there with soccer and vacations. It's amazing what a little bag with stickers and sticky hands will do for a 6 year old!

*Yesterday, it was a beautiful spring day. So much so, that we had the front door wide open for a while. It let the fresh air in and it also let in 2 birds. The kids were crazy excited scared whatever. Trevor was using brooms, nets, buckets, anything. Nothing really worked. We finally just had to wait until it got dark, turn off all the lights and open the door and one of them finally flew out the door towards the porch light. The other one was in the girls room. They were frantic. The poor little bird was exhausted, after all the broom dodging and finally just sat there on the floor. Trevor put a trashcan over it, slide a book underneath and delivered it gently and safely outside. And all is now well and quiet in our home again, OK it's not quiet, but at least there are not 2 birds flying around banging against the windows!

*Last week I went to the General Auxillary training meeting up at the Tablernacle with the Primary General Presidency. It was amazing. The spirit was so strong and I learned so much. I left uplifted, edified and a better person. The church is true and I feel blessed to be a member of it.

Until next week.