spring break day 1 - polka dot party

On Monday afternoon Megan's friends came over to celebrate Megan turning three! Ryan and Katie were so excited to be home to be part of the fun. The kids played with balloons and hoola hoops, played plah-doh, blew bubbles, played musical spots, played ring a round the rosie, opened presents and ate cupcakes -- with a half hour left I sent them outside to jump on the trampoline while I swept up a million cupcake crumbs!

opening presents

a thank you hug for Austin for fun new dress up stuff

Megan and her little friend Erika.

playing with balloons

Erika, Megan and Brantley

eating cupcakes

Megan tells us all the time "I'm going to marry Austin and he's going to marry me and we're going to be a happy family!" ...except when she's in a mad mood and then she says "I'm not marrying Austin!" What Austin says or does has nothing to do with it... she's just moody!

Megan and I were both worn out after the party but only one of us got a nap!

really three

When Megan woke up on Sunday morning I said, "Megan, it's your birthday!" She looked at me and said "Right now???" After we explained that the presents would be a little bit later she said, "Mom, I'm starving. I need a pupcake!" (Pupcake is Strawberry shortcake's dog's name so all of my girls have gotten that confused!) She has been counting down to this birthday for a long time... we even made a birthday chain in her bedroom so she would know exactly how many more days. If anyone asked when her birthday was she'd answer with '6 April!'


After conference Megan opened her presents. She got dishes, a toaster and a dishwasher for her kitchen, a cradle for her baby and a cute metal cart for her groceries. She was also spoiled from her grandma's and grandpa's. You could tell she loved everything by the high pitched squeal which lasted most of the afternoon. All the kids loved Megan's new presents. I've never seen kids so excited to do the dishes!


Later in the day when she and I were alone she said, "Mom, I'm really three!" Happy day kido... you are really three!

our favorite things...

about this conference weekend

- sleeping in and being lazy all morning... (we start at noon!)
- waffle breakfast on Saturday
- getting lots of organizing done
- being part of the solemn assembly and standing to sustain our new prophet
- the kids being so excited about working on their general conference packets
- hearing from our new apostle, Elder Christofferson
- seeing our friends Adam and Marilee on TV at the press conference!
- so many great great talks
- feeling the spirit and feeling rejuvinated and recharged!
- getting to know President Monson a little bit better
- chatting with family
- not having to wake up and get everyone ready for 9:00 church!!!
- delicious quiche for Sunday brunch
- my first time making yummy cinnamon rolls (they turned out good!)
- one of my new favorite quotes: "when we delight in serving the Lord, the Lord will delight in blessing us" - Susan W. Tanner
- crying during Elder Ballard's talk on motherhood -- especially when Katie gave me a hug right after it was over.
- spending two straight days of quality time with Chris and kids
- celebrating Megan's 3rd birthday (pictures to come...)

field day

Katie and Ryan had field day on Friday. The whole school walked across the street and through the field to the High School track field. The high school band and spirit team were there with loud music and cheers for the kids and high school students coordinated all the games at each station.

Every grade had different color shirts and made class banners. It was well planned and all my kids had a lot of fun.
Ryan and his buddy Steven getting the giggles on the 3 legged race... they did great the whole way and back only to fall right before the finish line... but they still won!
This pizza box game was a hit. The first person had to carry one box, the second person two boxes etc. The last couple people were pretty funny to watch.
Katie trying to sit on and pop a balloon... but she just kept bouncing off. Her friend and teacher finally had to give her a hand.
And what field day would be complete without a parachute?
Katie thought the best best part about field day was showing off her sisters. All of Katie's friends call Emily and Megan 'Katie 1' and 'Katie 2'.
I carried Luke around on my back but when I did put him down Megan occupied his attention, patted him on the head, gave him tight hugs and squished his cheeks. What a helpful girl.


The one thing I didn't get a picture of was when Megan wandered over to the main table, pushed the button on the microphone and said, "HI!" through the speakers all over the field. That's my little rascal.

four months old

Luke - 4 months old

Weight: 15 pounds 14 ounces - 75th percentile

Length: 25.5 inches - 75th percentile

Head circumference 16.6 inches - 50th percentile

I love this age... when you just have to say his name and he breaks into a huge grin, or when he's so excited he can't help but stick his tongue out. He's also started giggling in the last month, loves grabbing his toys, drools lots, pulls his soother out and has started to suck his thumb.

Chris and I were just talking about how spoiled Lukey is. He has an exersaucer in our room, a swing in the family room, a portable swing which stays in my master bathroom, a mat and hanging toys in the family room, a jolly jumper upstairs in the bonus room, his bumbo which goes everywhere and one daddy who loves to hold him, not to mention four siblings who like to carry him around and make him happy. It's no wonder this baby boy hasn't learned to roll over... he's never on the floor! Tummy time... what's that? The problem is, what can you see while you're lying on the floor? and this little Mr. likes to see what's going on... so up he goes. He has figured out how to get his way too... (see bottom picture) and has the whole family wrapped around his finger. Don't grow up too fast little man.

He is actually playing in his exersaucer now. Ok, he can only twirl these loud little rollers but he concentrates really hard and does it over and over. So fun!

And he loves to laugh when Dad or Mom tickle him!

on the way home

When we lived in Washington we often drove home from church through Steilacoom and stopped at our favorite little park. The one with the wooden swing, white platform, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound. Every Easter we stopped so I could take pictures of the kids running around in their Easter dresses, sitting on the big fence, Ryan always climbing a tree... Now that we live in Georgia we had to find a new park for the same purpose. We did, and this one is on our way home from church too.

exploring

It was a great Saturday. After the kids found their Easter baskets we stayed outside for a long time. Chris and I got chairs and sat and talked and watched the kids ride their bikes and trace each other with chalk on the driveway. Luke sat in his bumbo and watched all the action. The girls even decorated all around his chair with swirls and sunshine rays. When the kids left the side and headed for the trampoline Chris and I stayed and enjoyed the sun. After a late lunch and my trip with Katie to the ballet we still had lots of daylight, 76 degree weather and no plans... let's go exploring.

It's one of my favorite things to do. Look on the map for somewhere we've never been, pile in the van with water bottles and snacks and go exploring. It doesn't matter if we find anything great, or if we get lost or if we never go back... it's just exporing. Seeing the countryside around our city, talking while we drive, watching for animals, stopping to take pictures. Today we wondered if we could find a great place by a lake... somewhere where the kids could throw rocks in the water.... we wandered around Lake Oliver and Lake Harding and found a park by the water. No rocks... so the kids threw pinecones. We also saw an armadillo! (This is our first time seeing a live one!) A successful trip.

mother daughter afternoon

Saturday afternoon Katie and I went to the Les Sylphides. A ballet put on by the upper level classes where Katie and Emily take ballet.

The ballet was held in the Springer Opera House downtown Columbus. It was built in 1871 and was known as the finest theatre house between Washington and New Orleans. Now it is Georgia's Official State Theatre. It really was beautiful. Since the ticket price was the same for every seat Katie and I reserved box seats on the left side, second level closest to the stage. We thought we were so special and fancy to have our own little box with two comfy chairs. After the first intermission though, we moved over to the balcony for another view.

After the performance Katie and I wandered around the beautiful building. Katie couldn't help sitting on all the fancy old couches. Even our drive was fun -- we got to talk about growing up, ear piercing, college... Every time we finished a conversation Katie would say, "What should we talk about now, Mom?" What a sweetie.
We had a great time and loved being able to spend the afternoon all by ourselves... although Katie did mention that "next time we should bring Emily too because she would love it just like me."

"this is so much fun"

...that's what Megan kept shouting this morning during all the easter basket fun.

After breakfast this morning the kids got dressed and ready to search the backyard near and far for their easter baskets. Emily helped Megan find hers in plain sight in the middle of the backyard... (Megan was too busy spotting easter eggs to even look). Katie helped Emily find hers under the slide. Ryan helped Katie find hers down the hill at the back of the yard... and finally Ryan found his around the side of the house behind the bushes. With baskets in hand they could finally search for hidden plastic easter eggs containing pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.

Megan had enough patience to look for three eggs and then ran off to the trampoline to start eating candy. Who cares about nickels and dimes when you can eat chocolate! Emily and Megan both got more food for their kitchen and a movie.

After Katie found seven eggs she started pointing them out for Emily. "I already have seven Emily, you get that one!" It was cute. Katie got a DS game and some books. She ran in to get her DS and started playing immediately.

Ryan was happy to get Ash and Starly in his basket to add to his Pokemon figurine collection. Then he started counting up coins to see if he now had enough to purchase Pokemon Snap -- the latest thing he and his 'club of adoring sisters and fellow Pokemon followers' have been saving up for. (We just finished a week of jobs for a family night ice cream treat and this crazy kid asked for his ice cream in cold hard cash instead!)

Oh, and what do we have here? An easter streaker? Yep, Megan is potty training and actually doing quite well (much to the suprise of her parents). All of a sudden there she was without pants and underwear running to the back door singing -- yes, singing -- "I need to go potty!" Just enough time to catch a quick picture before she dashed in the house. Good job Megan... I guess we just need to work on outside nudity.

recipe exchange

Southwestern White Chili

2 Tbsp. Zesty Italian Dressing
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small onion, chopped
2 cans (15 oz. each) white beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (4 oz.) green chilies, undrained
1 tsp. ground cumin (I didn't have cumin and used about a half tsp. ground red pepper)
1-1/2 cups Mexican style Shredded Four Cheese
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Heat dressing in large saucepan on medium-high head. Add chicken and onions: cook 7 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Stir in beans, broth, chilies and cumin (or red pepper) Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 10 minutes stiring occasionally.

Serve topped with the cheese and cilantro. Makes 6 servings (one cup each) I double it for my family if I want leftovers.

I found this recipe on-line and have made it twice already. Chris and I love it! Give it a try and then post one of your favorite recipes. I'm in the mood to try something new!

excited for easter

Who else bought these cute bunny ears at Target's dollar spot? I found them there a month ago and after letting Emily and Megan wear them around the store for an hour, I bought them and hid them away for a morning just like today. Our Easter bunny comes on Saturday. Just two more days!!!

silly st. patrick's day

Green clothes, pinching, leprechauns, gold chocolates, green dinner... it's a silly holiday and PERFECT for my silly kidos. They were so excited for St. Patrick's Day. I guess it's my fault... I told them weeks ago we were going to have a green dinner again this year and the whole thing exploded from there. Katie pleaded with me to volunteer in her class with a St. Patrick's Day activity. So Emily, Megan, Luke and I showed up at 12:30 in green attire with Bingo boards, green m&m's and shamrock cookies. Katie's friends always love to see Emily and Megan. They call them 'Katie-2' and 'Katie-3' and it makes Katie blush. The activity was a hit and Katie was so happy we were there. It was really fun being up in front of a class again... (especially 2nd grade)... and it made me miss teaching.

Our St. Patrick's Day dinner was lime jello, green Kool-Aid, peas, dill pickles, green peppers, and mashed potatoes dyed green! Then shamrock cookies and mint chocolate chip ice cream. The kids were pretty hyper for dinner and continued the silliness for pictures before gift giving. Presents for St. Patrick's Day, you ask? Well, my silly kids had rummaged through their closets to regift the perfect present for their siblings and then had drawn pictures and letters for us. Silly holiday. Silly kids. Too funny.

family home evening on the cement

My good friend Jamie and her cute sidewalk chalk post got me thinking... 'hey I have sidewalk chalk.' Then today my girls spent the afternoon with friends and had so much fun chalking on their driveway that Megan didn't want to come home. So after dinner I found my chalk, took the kids outside on the driveway, and had them each draw part of the Plan of Salvation huge on the cement. It was a hit. We drew, decorated, labeled and reviewed. And somehow even Picachu made it into the plan. Our big diagram then turned into a hopscotch board as the kids jumped from premortal life to earth and then to the celestial kingdom. Fun family home evening, like always. ** obviously our 'blizzard' passed right on through. We're back to 69 degrees and beautiful.



We got Luke a bumbo chair last week and have already used it a ton! What a great little invention that is.

just for fun

This kido is such a sweetheart. I just can't get enough of those super sized cheeks and all his cute expressions! - Luke 3 1/2 months

snow in georgia

Yep, believe it or not that is snow. Look very carfully on the slide and see that white stuff... snow. Chris and I woke up Saturday morning to four kids jumping up and down pointing outside to the flurries of snow falling in the backyard. Pretty darn exciting. The kids couldn't wait to go outside and play and instead of say "there's nothing to play in" I just smiled and helped them zip up their coats. If this is all we are going to get while living in Georgia... they'd better enjoy it. By the time they got out there the flurries had stopped, the sun was peeking through and water was dripping off the roof. The temperature was 36 degrees but very windy so they didn't last long. Just long enough for Katie to say "It feels like we live in Antarctica"... and for Ryan and Katie to throw a mini snowball or two. An hour later there was no trace of snow anywhere... but we had it and I have pictures to prove it... snow in Georgia.

jerry seinfeld

On Friday night Chris and I went to see Jerry Seinfeld. We have been fans for years now, ever since Adam and Marilee showed us his 'I'm telling you for the Last Time' stand up DVD and we passed it on to our family and friends. We've been quoting Jerry lines for years... and now we have a few more to add to our list. It was fun to see him live. We had great seats and enjoyed all his funny actions, perfect timing and classic jerry-isms up close and personal. It was also the first time we've left Luke. We've been prepping him with a bottle of formula just for this night, and he did great. I think we'll have to plan some more Luke-free dates!

love this kid

It was September when I posted that Ryan had finished the whole Harry Potter series. Well, he's done it again. After a two month break he decided he needed to start again... and for the past three months he has, once again, read all seven books and been in Harry Potter heaven. Ryan is absolutely enthralled with the wizarding world -- what 9 year old isn't? -- and is always saying he wishes that wizards were real and that he could attend Hogwarts himself. He casts spells on his sisters and tells them which spells to cast back. He reads non-stop and brings his book with him wherever he goes... on the bus, in the store, to restaurants, in the van and of course reads for two to three hours a night on his bed... usually falling asleep with the book across his chest or his face. He even told us of a time when he was playing tag at recess with his book so that he could read every time he was frozen. What a character. My favorite was when he came home from school, opened the door and said, 'Hermoine will be here in a minute'. I smiled and said, "Wow, I'm so excited to meet Hermoine." Then he looked and me and said, "oh... I mean Katie". Yep, this muggle is a wizard wanna-be. Thank you JK Rowlings for creating a world that turns little boys into avid readers.