End of Year Singing Programs

 K Cat is such fun kid to have around.  She has decided to wear swimsuits everyday all day.  She has two that fit her best right now.  So, we are currently alternating between her light blue one (as shown in above picture) and her new dark blue one (as shown in below picture).  Notice in the above pictures instead of putting warm clothes on, she will wear a jacket over her swimsuit.  Cute girl!  K Cat has such a bubbly personality.  She is constantly saying or doing things that make me laugh and smile.  The other day she was playing out on our deck when I saw her folding something up and sticking it up the side of her swimming suit.  Later on she was telling me about a dirty old map she found outside -- then she pulled it out of the side of her swimming suit.  What looks like to the rest of the world as an old piece of dirty garbage is a valuable treasure map in the hands of my 3 year old.  She now keeps it tucked safely in my purse.  She is holding her "dirty map" in the picture below.  I am not certain what peaked her interest in treasure maps lately but, I am guessing it has to do with the new fascination my girls have with "Indiana Jones".  They have the Lego game on the wii that they go nuts over.  Last night after many, many days of begging we let the girls watch "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom".  The girls were on cloud nine during the 30-45 minutes the show was playing.  Fortunately they were oblivious to all the scenes that were being skipped.  I had to laugh when the movie ended and Little Z said.  "That movie was really short!" -- yes, the edited version at our home was very short with many important details skipped but, I am hoping they won't feel too deprived and our little movie night will have satisfied their curiosity for the time being :)  

 Lou Who had a special end of year program at school this week.  Although she was nervous about her performance earlier that day, she did a great job with the dancing -- as usual!  I can't wait to have her out of school for the summer (one more week to go).  She has recently become very interested in learning her letters and writing them out. I have high hopes this summer to grab hold of that interest and hit it hard this summer so she will be ready and prepared for kindergarten this fall -- we shall see, I also have high hopes for a wild summer vacation out west with grandparents and family!  Maybe I can find a way to accomplish both!  This is a fun age to have my Lou Who in our family.  I enjoy taking her outdoors and introducing her to new adventures.  One of our favorite things to do together lately is head over to the bike trail and have her ride her bike while I push the stroller next to her.  She loves that I have to run to keep up with her and I love that part about the activity too.  I also love that when she crashes (which she does often) She will get back on and start racing me again. -- this girl is fearless I tell you!  She is looking forward to all the active and exciting activities the outdoors will have to offer her this summer and I am excited to sit back and watch the joy on her face as she is doing what she loves -- living a high adventure, fearless life!

 Little Z also had a singing performance this week.  Don't be fooled, in the picture below she looks like she is waving at us -- she isn't.  She kept waving out to the other side of the auditorium in hopes that she would some how see us wave back at her.  It was fun to watch her.  She did a great job and is loving first grade.  She has so many interests it is hard for me not to put her in all sorts of extra activities.  She told me she loves art, music, and dance the most.  She is a girl that loves to learn.  She will come straight home from school, get out her homework and get to work on it.  Dave recently taught her how to add large numbers together.  Since then she has filled up pages and pages of paper adding number after number together to see how big she can make the number.  She will stay up for hours at night reading books to Lou Who.  They were going to bed so late that I finally  had to tell her she was only allowed to read three books a night.  Although she is learning and developing new talents she is still my same little fashionista that she has been since day one!  She loves picking out her clothes, wearing sparkly bows, finding the perfect shoes to match, and accessorizing with some jewelry.  I love that she adores fashion so much because it takes me back to her days of preschool when she refused to wear anything but dresses all day and all night (for 2 years straight).  She is all girl and proud of it!  The other day she was telling me how girls were special because they get to wear make-up, pierce their ears, wear dresses and jewelry and have babies! -- She then let me know that boys were special too because they got to hold the priesthood! 

 Sweet Pea is my little peanut! Last time we were at the doctor she was only in the 2% on the growth chart (meaning only 2% of babies in the U.S. her age are smaller than she is).  The first thing people say when I tell them she is almost one is this - "She is so little!".  She is tiny but, so very smart.  Sweet Pea loves being apart of her sisters group.  She is continually finding ways to squeeze herself into their play space.  She is guaranteed to have a big smile on her face when anyone of her sisters talks to her, plays with her, or carries her around.  She now knows how to wave good-bye, clap, say "mama", give tight bear hugs and sweet kisses.  She crawls to the door as fast as she can when she hears the garage open because she knows that means her dad is about to walk in.  The other day she was sitting by the back deck watching her sisters play outside while I was cleaning up.  Each time I walked by her she would hold something (a leaf) up in her hand and show it to me with a smile as I walked by.  It was cute to see her smile, so each time I walked by I would acknowledge her leaf.  A few minutes into this game I noticed she had ripped the leaf apart and the one side of the leaf didn't look like a leaf at all... instead it looked the the head of a bug! Ugh!  After I took a closer look it was the head of a bug -- and in the other hand she had a body of a large flying beetle. Ugh!... that she had squished to smithereens.  I quickly grabbed it out of her hand (with a tissue), tossed it in the garbage and washed Sweet Pea's hand off.  She was upset and cried as I took away her special treasure. 

As for Dave and I... we are doing good!  Extremely busy but, good.  I am proud of Dave for making it through his first year of residency.  And I am proud of myself for making it through Dave's first year of residency :) From what I hear it only gets better from here!  He is really learning a lot and working hard to be successful after residency.  I am proud of him!!!  He has begun to look for job opportunities for his career to begin at the end of residency.  Honestly, this has been a little harder than I had expected.  I have gotten so used to moving every few years that I am having a hard time narrowing down where I would like to raise our family.  I can see good and bad to each area I look. I want to go where I will be able to raise a righteous, happy family with the most success and I am really having a hard time knowing where that perfect fit is for our family... or even if there is such thing as a perfect fit for our family.  We have been praying often and know the Lord will guide us in this decision.  Meanwhile we are both working hard in all the many obligations that are required of us each day and both doing what we love... Dave is at the hospital looking at people's stinky, infected feet all day and I am home playing and snuggling with my four little babies all day -- Yea, I think my day sounds more fun than Dave's too! 

We had a Birthday! Shout Hurray

 Happy Birthday to us!!!  Lou Who and I celebrated our birthday this week.  Honestly the day started out a bit rocky.  Lou Who woke up with the barfs and spent most the morning laying around playing on the Ipod and watching movies.  I was bummed at the way our birthday started off but, Lou Who viewed those lazy activities as a perfect way to start the day.

Dave took the day off to be my personal slave for the day!!! -- best birthday gift EVER!  Most of my days are spent running this errand, cleaning up that mess, helping a little someone with this and that, and squeezing my scripture study and workout in here -- it was glorious to spend the afternoon with Dave, sleep in (until 7 a.m.), exercise when I felt like it, stay home with my little ladies (except Little Z she was at school and greatly missed) baking bread and cleaning the house.  All while Dave was out running errands (grocery shopping) for me.  I couldn't have asked for a better gift.  I love the rare days in my schedule where I get to spend the entire day at home just being a mom doing motherly things around my home.  It was great and all thanks to my amazing husband!

Finally, late afternoon Lou Who was feeling better and Little Z was home from school.  As soon as she walked in the door we opened gifts.

Lou Who received lots and lots of Lego's.  They are my girls new favorite toy.  These ones are adorable.  They are called "Lego's and friends".  They are a mix between regular Lego's and Polly pockets.  Super cute!

After that it was off to dance for a crazy evening of switching clothes, balancing class times, remembering all the shoes, and squeezing in a dinner for everyone.  My girls tried scones for the first time ever.  Little Z LOVED them!  At dance the girls were able to bring home their darling costumes for the big recital coming up.

After dance was over we came home and ate cake.  Although the day started off as a bit of a downer, I think it ended as a success.  Oh, and as a funny side note.  K Cat woke up in the middle of the night crying.  she was saying that her bum was hurting.  Her specific line was "My bum is not tired!" -- Dave and I later realized that meant she needed to go to the bathroom.  After going potty she was able to go back to bed happy.  I would say this little experience makes it official that this sweet girl is potty trained!!!  WooHoo!  Three down and one to go!

Lou Who's five year old self is fearless, determined and nurturing!  She will climb a tree as high as her mama will let her, prefers sitting on the table instead of in her chair, and walks her way across the hand rail out to the car each day at preschool (even though it is against the rules).  Her preschool teacher tells me she is extremely confident at school.  I adore watching her school programs.  She really shines as she sings and dances for me with a bright smile on her face.  Not long ago she let me know that when she grew up she would like to be a missionary for our church.  Honestly, I think she would be an excellent little missionary.  She is not a follower, a great little companion, does not get easily persuaded by others, and tries hard to be a good kid.  She is a loyal sister to her 3 sisters.  Lou Who loves to take care of Sweet P for me.  She enjoys climbing in and out of her crib with her after naps and carrying her around the house for me.  Lou Who loves to snuggle on my lap, hold my hand, and sit on the counter helping me prepare meals.  She is a sweetheart to have in the family.  I am blessed to be her mother.  By being this little ones mother for the past five years I have learned (and am continuing to learn) sooo much about myself and have come to better understand the unshakable love Heavenly Father has for each of us as his children -- which includes me and my little lady -- I am grateful Heavenly Father sent Lou Who to our family.  I can see that I have needed her in this life just as much as she needs me.  She has taught me to be an all around better person in ways I never could have imagined.  We love you so so so much Lou Who!  Thank you for being who you are each and everyday!

Mother's Day Homework

This made me smile!  Hope you enjoy it too.  This was a homework assignment for Little Z this week.  The assignment says... "this weekend you will celebrate Mother's Day.  This is a time to thank the person in your family that helps you the way a mother would.  Write a letter to this person to thank them for all the things they do for you." --  So, Little Z drew a picture and at the bottom wrote "Dear Dad, You help like Mom.  I will help you.  I love you.  Love Little Z -- Isn't  being a mom great!!!

Goodbye Snow! Hello Sun!

 After months and months of winter the warm weather is finally here...

 and we are soaking up every minute of it!!!

K Cat turned 3!

 My little K Cat recently turned 3!  Her birthday fell on a Saturday this year but, her older sisters were up bright and early to be the first to wish her a happy birthday.  They both treated her like a special princess -- and she loved every minute of their attention.  After breakfast we opened gifts.

 I be you are wondering what is in that giant gift...

Ta da!  Although it had been warm weather all week, on her birthday the weather suddenly hit a cold streak.  So, we put towels down and let her play with her new toy inside on our very, very slippery tile floor.

 She was in Heaven!  I can't even tell you how many time I have walked into my bathroom to find her standing on the toilet playing in the sink... this was the perfect gift for her!

 Sweet pea of course enjoyed getting in on the action too!

 So much that Sweet Pea didn't even mind the birthday girl getting her hair all wet while she played by her!

 It was cute to see how appreciative K Cat was of everything on her birthday.  She kept telling me that she loved her birthday and was having a great day!  That is the best thing a mama can hear in my opinion :)

after playing all afternoon she helped me make her personal request of pink cupcakes. -- and p.s. in case you were wondering what that giant spot is under her nose.  We were out running a couple days earlier on the bike trial.  Lou Who was riding her bike (she went two miles on her own) while I pushed the stroller along side, after a while K Cat wanted to run along side too.  It ended with a skinned forehead, scab on the nose and mouth area, and scrapped hands and knees.  Poor kid!

 She couldn't wait to taste one... and was delighted when I finally let her have a lick!!!

After dinner we brought the older two girls over to a babysitter for our date night group -- K Cat shared the remaining cupcakes with the kids in the date night group and headed off for a night on the town "date" with Dave and I (grocery shopping).  She felt special to be out with us.  She cried when she realized we were on our way back to get the girls and the date night was over.  It was a perfect day!  I can't imagine the day going any better!

K Cat's 3 year old self is a joy to have around.  She has a mischievous sweetness about her.  She often gives kisses during prayers, when she should be in her bed, or to a sleeping little sister because she knows those are times she should be doing something else (sitting reverently, sleeping in her bed, or "not waking up Sweet pea") but, she also knows that I LOVE her kisses!  When I tell her she needs to be doing something else she says in her innocent voice "I was just trying to give you a kiss!", She admires her older sisters to the core.  Often times I will tell her sisters to stop doing something dangerous only to find K Cat 30 seconds later show up from out of no where to do the same thing and then obey me with a smile -- knowing she is quickly becoming one of the big girls.  She continues in her passion for dancing and singing (her nursery leader said she loves to sing the songs in nursery).  She will stay up at night as late as her little eyes will allow her to -- often times that is well into one or even two in the morning.  I am convinced it is because of the one on one time she gets during those late night hours with her mama and even more often with her Dada.  She loves her clothes and reminds me a bit of Little Z at this age -- they both had to change their outfit many, many, many times a day... oh, and she prefers dresses and skirts over pants.  She is quick to give her family members nice compliments about everything from our haircut (once she told me my new haircut looked like Goyle from Harry Potter but, now she says I look like Hermine -- with super short hair), clothes, sharing our toys kindly, doing a nice job riding our bike, or the way we toss a Frisbee.  She is truly a sweetheart!  We love having her as a part of this family.  

Spring Break Part 2

 It's official!  My brain has reached maximum memory capacity!!!  In the past couple of weeks I have sent both girls to school (twice with both) without their homework due that day, shown up with all four of my girls for a dental appointment that they were not scheduled to be at for another month, told the new lds missionaries in our ward that I have five kids (no I am not pregnant), currently owe $2.50 at the library due to overdue movies I forgot about, lost a library book somewhere in our house (don't even want to know how much that fine is going to cost me), and not realizing my two year old didn't have shoes on until we were already in the parking lot of the grocery store to start shopping (we went in anyway!).  -- and I am expected to retake the written exam of the driving test this weekend  --new state, new license :(  -- I really am a little nervous my mind might not be able to comprehend the questions correctly! 

Anyway, all that being said, the girls and I were pretty excited to be given a whole six days off of school for Spring Break!  It was nice to take it easy throughout the week, the girls were able to sleep in, play the wii, have a few late night movie nights, go with me on a few weekly errands (grocery store, library), and just enjoy spending time with one another!

I sure enjoy my girls being such good friends with each other.  I hope this tight friendship lasts forever!!!

Dave took Little Z on a date to a Cleavland Cavilers game!  They both had a blast.  I think this evening sold Dave on the idea that we have got to move somewhere with a fun sports team that we can buy some season tickets to!  Little Z said there was a guy with creepy eyes sitting close to them (a Guinness book of world records fella), their team won, Her favorite parts were the dancers and watching some girl named Lisa get proposed to during the half time show... and they even remembered to bring home some cotton candy for K Cat and Lou Who. -- who felt pretty special that they were thought of!

Dave said the seats were full by the time the game started.  It looks like they must have arrived with plenty of time to spare.

Easter Weekend

 Spring Break was last week and is started out with a bang!  The first day of Spring Break our family drove to Columbus.  That is where our closest LDS temple is located.  Dave and I decided to do a tag team between the two of us for temple sessions.  I took the Friday night session and Dave went to the Saturday morning.  It was so nice to be able to go to the temple.  I love the peace and comfort that is felt inside the walls of the Lord's Holy Temple.  When I got back to the hotel on Friday night each of our little ladies were anxious to bust out their swimming suits and get down to the pool!  We swam and swam until the pool became over crowded with Ohio State College students in some club "designated drinkers" or maybe it was "drinking without driving" -- I don't know for sure.  I asked them twice and still didn't quite understand what they were saying... whoever they were, Dave and I were convinced they were not to keen on the random cannon balls and splashing my little ladies so graciously continued to provide for the group.  About 9 p.m. we finally talked each of our little ones into heading up to the hotel room for a rinse in the tub and some entertaining cartoons! 

 the next morning I packed bags while Dave attended his turn at the Temple.  Of course, my monkey Lou Who found a risky spot to sit while watching cartoons (and every once in a while stood up to touch the ceiling).  Aside from a little someone finding a pen and writing on a pillow case, bed sheet and the lamp shade before I caught her, the night stay at the hotel was a success.

 Before leaving Columbus we took the girls over to walk around the temple.  It reminds me of a mini-bountiful temple.  It is really small compared to most the other temples I have been too.

 Sweet Pea loved playing with these big white flowers.  We made it home from our weekend trip with barely enough time to get ourselves a quick dinner and run the girls over to our neighbor's house while Dave and I went on our weekly date night.  After our Date we brought the girls home and there on our kitchen table were all of the girls (and Dave's) Easter baskets with a note from the Easter Bunny explaining that he brought all their baskets by a day early so our family will be able to focus on the true meaning of Easter during their Sunday Easter.  That Easter bunny is one smart guy.

 Lou Who with her basket

 K Cat holding up her prized Reese's egg.  Aside from me, it is a crowd favorite in our home!  I must have eaten one to many during my pregnancy with Sweet Pea because it is one of those foods that I just haven't been able to stomach since.

 Little Z with her basket

 Sweet Pea with her bowl.  By the time the Easter Bunny found out there was another basket needing to be bought for this lady all the matching baskets of her sisters were gone... better luck next year little one!

 Sweet Pea's first Easter! As a special gift to her mama she was kind enough to keep this bonnet on her head during the full three hours of church!

Me and my ladies on Easter morning.  As a special Easter surprise Dave didn't have any early morning meetings which meant we got to drive the hour to and from church together!  The sacrament meeting program was given by the Bishopric, so we got to hear Dave speak.  One thing I have really enjoyed about Dave being in the Bishopric this past year is that I get to hear him bear his testimony from the pulpit so often.  He has such a natural talent on the stand.  I am inspired by his humility and confidence he holds as he testifies of Christ to me, my girls, and the rest of the congregation.  After church we got together with a few of our friends and the ward missionaries for a delicious Easter feast.  It was a good day!

The details on the rest of our Spring Break Vacations coming soon...