BFF's

Thanks to the Blogsphere I have been able to connect with my relatives!
It has been AMAZING!
This past week, my cousin Laura, from 6 lalas, came to visit!
It was our first time to meet, and yet it flowed like we had been BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!

I can't say it was much of a vacation for her...she left her 4 boys at home...and entertained my 5 and my sister's 3!
She found ways to bond with each one individually....VERY SPECIAL!
Brooke my oldest, came home from school, the day that Laura left and said, "Mom, I couldn't help but cry on the bus, I am going to Miss Aunt Laura!

Annika, was tough, she tried and tried!
Eventually they became buds!

We couldn't pass up an opportunity to take pictures of the three of us!
It's been too many years of NOT knowing each other...
We plan to make up for lost time!

Then it was one last race to the car and we had to say "Good Bye"....can't wait to meet the rest of the family!

Fitness Challeng!

I am so sorry, that I am so late at making this post!
I have had a SUPER DUPER exciting week!
My sister moved here with her 3 kids...HIP HIP HOORAY!
and my cousin came to visit...YIPPEE!!!
(more on that later....we had a Blast!)

As for last week...I was doing great, until these two came to town!
So Friday...Saturday....and Sunday were a BUST!
I got 20 points for the week!

Good thing my Mon -Thurs. were strong!

Why do I act like I am on vacation...just because someone else is????
Oh Well, we had fun!

I hope all of you ROCKED this week!
I got one report in and WOW...she is on fire!

Can't wait to here how you did last week!

Drive "in" movies!

We have had so much fun pulling this night together!
One of our really close friends are moving!
Back when it was freezing we decided to do a Family Drive In Movies together!
Well, both of our schedules have been busy...and so it has not happened until now!
Which I have to say, has been perfect!
The kids and I have had so much fun slowly preparing for this fun night!

First we collected BIG boxes!
So they could each have a car to sit in!

Then one sunny nice day, about a month ago!
We painted our boxes!

Everyone had one to work on!

Even Annika painted herself a car!

Then the kids put together the items they needed for a concession stand!
This was even a project that they all worked on together!

I love how they priced the items with workout activities or math problems!

Quite the Concession Stand!

That was as much fun as the actual movie...as they each had to do the activity in order to receive the treat or drink!

There's all the cars!

The Phillips Family's were quite creative....
They were complete with
head lights, tires, windshields, and bugs on the windshield, steering wheels, gear shifts, and even license plates with their nick names on them!

These cars were quite cozy...blankets and pillows!
This was a BLAST...we will be doing a repeat someday...for sure!

Y...

Y is for Yell!

I have found that if I allow Luke to create his own letters...then he remembers them perfectly!
Of course, we made a double headed yelling monster! =)

We have been learning to read...slowly...EXCITING!
So our last letters are coming along slowly!
I want to finish them....complete our letter wall....and them turn them into a book...that we can put away... and later pull out and see all that Luke was at his preschool age!

Each letter has been designed by him!

Typically we do not get excited when Brady is sad!
But today...the kids got all pumped up...because he was "yelling"!
Great Example Brady!

I thought this would be a perfect time to go over feeling!
Explain different emotions...and different volumes!
Luke has 1 volume...he is always talking in EXCLAMATION POINTS!
Which is good...because he is EXCITED about everything!
But I have a hard time helping him lower his voice when needed...church...sleeping baby!

I copied the pieces of a tot book from 1+1=1...(she has lots of different ones)
And the kids put different emotions on the people, and explained how and why they were feeling this way!

It has really helped him understand different ways to express himself!

The Golden Ticket!

This weekend was Gymnastics State Meet!
At the time that I paid my dues, I ask if it was going to be on Saturday or Sunday!
The coach informed me, that there was no way for me to know...until after I pay!
I let her know that we would forfeit if it came back on Sunday!

Well, when I got the schedule, My oldest daughter was on Saturday night, and the other one was on Sunday morning!

It would have been easier had they both been on Sunday!

How am I going to tell Chelsea that Brooke can go to State, but she can't?

She's only 6...so I don't feel like she is old enough to make her own decision!
I feel as a mother, that if we teach our children while they are young, to stand up for their convictions, even when it is difficult....then when tough decisions come later in life...they are prepared!

So I did just that and told Chelsea that she would NOT be able to do her state gymnastics meet! Which also means she won't be able to go to Nationals.
(You must do State to do Nationals!)

She cried, which broke my heart.
So I asked her, "Honey what do you think you should do?"
She thought about it for a minute...."I shouldn't do it!"

I am so PROUD of her!

So Friday night I wanted to make a special "Good Luck" gift for the girls!

I found some fancy Wonka bars...
and used some gold paper that I had at the house!

I made them each a Gold ticket!

Wrote a special message on the back!

Carefully opened the bar...so that I would be able to reseal it without them noticing it was ever opened!

Then I slipped the Golden Tickets into the bars!

I get so excited...so first thing in the morning I gave it to them!
They loved it!

They were both so excited!
They have talked about their "special" chocolate bars ever since!

One more thing about Chelsea!
She watched Brooke, and cheered her on, and NEVER mentioned it again!

She is so much tougher than me...I would have been bringing it up for months...to make sure I got the appropriate affirmation!

Ruby Tuesday!

The tulips are here....
in every color...and shade....
In honor of Ruby Tuesday...here are some RED ones!

Check out other Ruby Tuesdays here!

What's working?

Here we are again...Monday!
While doing this Fitness Challenge, I have a Love/Hate relationship with Monday's!
Hate: I have to face how I did the previous week!
Love: I get to start a fresh one, and make of it what I want it to be!

This week I got 30 points!
WHOO HOOO!
That is a winner for me!

What's working for me?
I started to text Mark, my husband, everything I eat!
(I'm not sure he wants all those texts, but I need him to get them)
It has been holding me accountable, plus helping me realize what I put in my mouth.
As a stay at home mom, I am finding that I am munching all day!
calories! calories! calories!
So this texting....is HELPING!

What is working for you?

Sky Watch Friday!

We have had such beautiful weather...and clear skies!

This was taken while just laying in the grass, enjoying the breeze, and watching the jets cruise by!

Other sky watch photos are here!

Yoga Giveaway!

Winner is......

#15

Working Together!

I hope you enjoy this yoga video, as much as I have!

Master Award!

I love awards on the blogsphere!
Thank you to Midwestern gone Idahoan!
These always make my day!

This award is a little challenging....I am suppose to state 6 things I am a master at!

1. Master at 10 minute quick hubby head rub!
2. Master at Knowing where everything is...and yet not organizing any of it!
3. Master at enjoying each of my kids for their individual uniqueness!
4. Master of the date night a week!
5. Master of Fixing New Dinners!
6. Master of Cleaning all day ... and the next day....and the next day.......

Pass this award onto 6 blogger!
1. Goals for the week!
2. The Despains
3. Little Bit of Kooky
4. Superheroes and Princesses
5. Loving life
6. Inspiration Surrounds

Love These!

I absolutely LOVE our giant dice!
We use them for everything...and the kids love them too!

I originally got them to use in my preschool...which we do...and they are AWESOME!
This is a race car game...Luke can throw the dice and see which car wins!

I just can't believe how many other reasons we use the Giant Dice!

- We use it with our "Mommy Store"! On the weekends, when we do our major "get the whole house clean!" The girls get to roll one dice with each room, and who ever helped with that room can split the "mommy dollars"!

They love it ... and they are always excited to pitch in and help!

- My other favorite way to use the dice is our version of "jump ball"! If there comes a situation in the home where we can't agree....or we need a mediator...we will turn to the dice!
Each person will roll and highest wins.
End of problem.
Everyone is happy.
They know that next time the dice may roll in their favor...and it is fun!

(Of course these are in simple situation...sometimes MOM just has to make the decision...No dice involved)

Daddy Daughter Dance

The city we live in has a community Daddy Daughter Dance!
I love it!
My girls look forward to it all year!

What a great opportunity for a Dad and Daughter to bond!

This year they had a Blast!
They all came home just beaming!

I love to hear all of their stories!
But my favorite this year was....
After the dance, they went out for ice cream and just talked about random topics! One topic was about our house, that we are outgrowing!
And Dad mentioned that what we really needed was a guest house and then have someone who could cook, clean, and do laundry!
Brooke was telling me the story, and she said,
"Don't worry mom, I told Dad, NO WAY! Mom loves to Cook, Clean, and Do Laundry!"

I just had to laugh inside!
I guess, I can pat myself on the back....
I don't know how...but my kids think I love that stuff!
It's a mystery...but I'm glad....since the majority of my life is exactly that!

Daughters need their Dads and Dads need their Daughters!

I remember my Dad doing specials with us!
I loved it!
Often ours was just at home, in a room, sitting and spending one on one time...talking about what life was doing!
I looked forward to this special time!

Fitness Challenge Reporting!

Okay all you Fitness Challenge Moms!
Let's report how we did!
It helps to report...then you feel more accountable!

I have to say .... THANKS YOU!
To all of you who are doing this with me....It is the BEST thing ever for me!
I have to say I feel rather bad...I did not do as well as I wish I would.
I mean....the leader should Rock...but NO....not this one!

I got 25 points!
Wow!
I'm slipping!

But if excuses counted...I would have the best!
So it is worth stating, even though it only matters at the end of the week how many points are there! =)

But Mark, my husband, typically travels!
He has been home!
It's WONDERFUL!
Absolutely Wonderful....But
Here it is the excuse...
He gets home from work late and I eat with him....I try not to...but I did!
This week I am going to sit with him and just talk, not eat.
Why do I think that I need to eat twice????

I hope you all did great!
I know I forgot to have my daughters draw a winner for the Yoga video....but I am going to do it tonight!

Celebrating the Boy!

A couple of months ago, my cousin, Laura, did a "celebrating the boy" post!
(Of course at her house, everyday is "celebrate the boy!")

For me...I have 2 girls, and then Luke, my first boy! From day one, I have LOVED every bit of having a boy! It changes a mothers life...my whole world opened!
I understood my husband better!
It has been so much FUN!!!

There are so many differences...that it makes life fuller!
I just wanted to share a play date that Luke had recently...and the differences!
God truly made us different....and PERFECT!

First off these two boys were on the go from the moment they got together. I never heard, "mom what should we do now?"
They could create their own adventures!

They wanted to swim...in our old, beat up swimming pool...but it was COLD!
I told them not today!
That did not stop them from enjoying their imaginative swim!
They wrestled with that BIG swimming pool until it had tipped over!

And then they swam...water free...but swimming none the less!
Down the slide...on their bellies...laughing all the way!

Yes! There are a few holes!
And for little boys...their feet love holes!
I pulled their feet out at least a dozen times!

They decided they wanted to have a picnic!
Now you know, having girls, that I am an expert at pulling together a "tea party!"
So I offered to make them food for their picnic...
NO WAY!
They wanted to hunt themselves!

They even created their own light source!

Let me tell you...their imagination is amazing!
They tasted and ate all their food...grass!

and rocks!

Then they roamed in the yard...playing pirates and scooby doo!
I don't mean for 2 or 3 minutes...more like an hour!

And then it was time to say "Good Bye!" to our friend!
I loved it so much and can't wait to have more BOY fun around here!

But like Luke's dad....if you can't get something done...then you better do it yourself!
He's very determined!

He could not get swimming out of his head!
He asked for a glass of water...I figured he was thirsty after all that hard play and good food!
Then he wanted another glass...and another.
I decided to follow him...he was filling the swimming pool up....one glass at a time!

Then they went swimming in about 1 inch of water ...or less!
Remember it is COLD!!!

After swimming..he said, "Next time I am going to use HOT water!"

Good Idea!