Grandma and kiddies

I didn't realize that I looked so blah sunk into this recliner. I was only a day and a half from delivering so what can you expect?

Grandma Tobi came into town in the hopes that I would deliver while she was there. I generally deliver at 37 weeks so we were hoping that that is what would happen this time. As luck would have it, she was able to be there for the delivery of little Jordan.

Crayons

There was a little boy who had cancer, the kind you don't survive, and he loved race cars. We decided to make some crayon race cars to send to him to help make him happy. The kids loved making the crayons and  then using the ones that weren't sent out. (The little boy ended up dying the day before Memorial Day, hence the reason that I'm talking about him in past tense.) We got a thank you letter from his family and the kids loved it! He loved their cars but refused to use them because they were his "special race cars".

The kids had so much fun making them that for Alexis' birthday at school we made race cars and flowers as the treat she gave out.

Talent Show

For the talent show at the Elementary School each class had their own talent show and they then voted to send two acts to the big school talent show. This little girl had a book on CD that talked about painting everywhere. She acted it out and was so cute doing it!

This little guy was super flexible and folded himself up in a couple of different moves. He was one of the winning acts.

He played a piano piece and did great!

She read a story to the class, she did a great job of making it fun!

Alexis and her friend Jordyn did hula hooping to a hula hooping song. They also won the classroom part of the competition and got to move onto the big school talent show. They had fun jumps and spins and different speeds when they were practicing but they got on stage and got scared. They stayed on stage and hula hooped even though they didn't want to so I was very proud! When I told Alexis that maybe next year she wouldn't be so scared and could do the things she'd planned she responded with: "There won't be a next time!" More like her mother than her father apparently!

Biggest Loser

On the Biggest Loser they had some Zumba dancing. We've never done such a thing but the kids were excited to give it a try. While it wasn't perfect, it sure was cute! They had so much fun they requested that we rewind it a few times so they could do it again.

Trampoline Heaven

March 23rd

 March 24th (9 days before baby Jordan)

Because I was very large and couldn't get out to the yard and up and down the hill the back yard to help the kids get on and off the trampoline, John built stairs! The kids LOVE them and now they can get up and down whenever they want to. I've caught Jocelyn out there a number of times by herself enjoying having the entire trampoline to herself.

Drew took John's picture as he was jumping out of the swing. John was so good to go and play with the kids while I was busy sitting on my buttocks cooking Jordan.

Funny kid sayings

This post is from 03/07/2010. I'm not sure how it never got posted but it didn't so I'm adding it to show the kids that they were crazy nuts at one time!

The kids were having so much fun drinking their bath water and then spitting it at each other.

Does it count as a bath if they are spitting on each other in the process?

The other day John was helping Drew in the bathroom (#2) and when they were all done John said: "Look it's a chocolate candy bar." I'm waiting for the repercussions to manifest! I'm glad they are having fun together, even if I might pay the price later.

We've told Drew that we don't play with ourselves, especially in front of other people. In the bathtub he was playing with his personal toy and John told him not too, we don't do that in front of people. And Drew in true Drew fashion responds with: "Then nobody look at me!" 

Madison has finally figured out that she can crawl out of her bed and move around freely. The other night she snuck out bed and was peering at John and I through the door jam crack. When we told her to go to bed, she acted like we couldn't see her and she held really still just staring at us until John walked around and picked her up. 

While we were in Spanish Fork, we noticed Aunt Judy cleaning her car so we stopped to say hi. While we were talking, I guess Alexis was getting tired of us talking because she piped up with: "Mom, we did not come to talk and I'm done. We need to leave now." 

Kids' recap of March

We assumed that Madison was taking pictures since she's the only one not in the picture here that could take this picture.

Then we found this picture. I'm not sure who is behind the camera any more. Maybe they figured out the timer function, which I don't even know how to use. There's always Jocelyn but I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't have turned out like this if she was behind the camera. If Jocelyn was behind the camera the kids would all be screaming and running too as they don't want the camera to get broken!

This was my seat. I sat for nearly ten weeks because every single time I would get up to do things I would start laboring really hard. Yes, the couch is now nicely fitted to my behind! Because I was down for so long the kids took over the camera and documented the month of March for us!

Breakfast. First - loving the hair! Second - loving the eyes and smile too! Third - loving the size of her cereal "bowl". This happens to be the biggest tupperware in this set.

This is Madison before she realizes that she's getting her picture taken.

This is Madison after noticing that she's on camera. She always pulls the half-closed eye bit when it's time for  pictures.

Madison realizing that Drew isn't going to quit taking her picture anytime soon!

Because I was on my butt for so long my sweet mother-in-law came and stayed with us for a month! Yes, she survived - barely! She cleaned the entire time she was here. Windows, bathrooms, kitchen, living room, etc. I'm sure she needed a month long nap after she left us! We appreciated her help immensely!

Grandma helped the kids get their scriptures in order and to start highlighting them after telling them great stories! The kids LOVED doing this.

This is a common sight in our house - Jocelyn screaming because she can't have something that she wants!

I can only guess that Drew was trying to see what his mean face looked like. It looks like an amazing Klingon nose to me!

A close up of his eye. I think it's gorgeous, but I am biased!

Madison loves to wear dresses, every single day! Her Snow White costume is one of her absolute favorites and you can tell just by looking at it. Sometimes she'll wear two or three dresses at the same time because she can't decide which one is the best for the day.

Alexis got to go to her friend Abby's birthday party and it was a Masquerade theme. She loved bring home this mask and a plastic champagne cup.

We had to get a new dishwasher because ours died. We knew that it's death was impending, but we were hoping that it would last a little longer than it did. In the first year of owning this house we've had to get a fridge, replace the water heater, dishwasher, roof, two toilets, fix the garage door springs, replaced two faucets and a shower head and replaced the sink faucet. We had hoped that we'd be able to stretch all of these over a three to five year period, not all in one year!

We also added a light to the front room, there wasn't one! It works wonderfully and only took about ten hours of labor to accomplish!

These are crayon cars. There is a little guy who is dying of a brain tumor and he loves his matchbox cars. We thought it would be fun for the kids to make some crayon cars with some pictures and send them to him. The little guy won't use them because they are his special cars and he has them lined up. As long as he likes them and it made him happy he can do whatever he pleases with them.