The problem...

The problem with making THREE Easter dresses is that by the time you finish one you want to move on to another project. 

Aubrey's Art

This is apparently a picture of me (Amie) and Aubrey who has turned into a pony.  Don't you just love the way my eye's sparkle?
P.S. Grandma, Aubrey would like a call from you about this picture.  Her request not mine.

Where did this hair come from...

Just found hair all over the family room floor!  When I was inspecting everyone's hair to find out who's it was. (pretty much ruled out Julia, Benjamin, and Zachary.  Not blond and way too long for the boys.) Found out it was Aubrey's.  Asked her why she cut her hair.
"But Mom I didn't do it Benjamin did."
"Why did you let him? "
"I don't know... he's bigger than me?"
"So was he sitting on you?"
"No."
"Was he holding you down?"
"No."
Not sure that was the best defense.

Randomness...

 

What pray tell do these two things have in common?

They are two of my FAV things!

Since I do not have a Costco membership.  My friend Leah picked them up for me yesterday!  What a true friend!  Thanks again, Leah!

Isn't he charming? 

Love the shoes. Love the glasses.
And who couldn't love that smile?

The simple joys in life...

Isn't it great when turning on and off a light can make you laugh out loud? And also your almost 5 year old sister...

If only mom could stand at the light switch all day!

Laundry...

This is how I feel most days.  Well, with the exception of when my mother is here.  Anyone else feel this way?

Slinky gone bad...

Not really sure what happened here but... it was not pretty!

 

It looks like Benjamin was an assistant with the wreckage.

 

 We were able to recover the slinky and the hair.  All is well!

Who bit you?!?

The other night we were out very late grocery shopping with all the kids.  When all of the sudden Julia starts screaming hysterically!  

"What happened?" I asked her.  

She mumbles something that ended in BIT. (You other parents know the kind of talk where you only get one word of the whole sentence.)  

I said Benjamin BIT you?  (He was the one closest) 

She quickly replied, "NO, I BIT Julia!"

"You bit yourself?" 

"YES". 

Our little mother Aubrey jumped right in. "It's okay, Julia. I bit myself and it got better."

Julia, "It's not getting better"

Aubrey, "It will.  You might have to wait until tomorrow."

By this time I was laughing so hard. 

And maybe this is only the kind of story that is funny after a long day with the kids and then you decide to take them all grocery shopping because you have spent valuable time clipping coupons and it is the last day of the sale and THEN you have some kind of brake down and think they were so good let's go to "Old McDonalds".

Sorry there were no pictures.  She did not want to "recreate" the incident.  I don't blame her.

How do they crack your belly open to get the baby out?

This was the question that Aubrey asked me when we were cleaning dinner up last night.  I told her in a brief description how babies come out. And that is how Benjamin came.  Then I told her how sometimes mommies have to have a little cut for the baby to come out.  And that is how Claire and her were born. She of course wanted to see my cut.  So I showed her.  Now she claims that she is only going to have one baby.  I guess that the cutting thing did not appeal to her.  Well guess what it didn't me either!


PS  Just to confirm any questions.  No we are not having another baby.  I do not know where she came up with this subject!  But it was not from us.

SANTA!

We meet some friends at the mall yesterday.  I told the kids that we were going to see Santa.  So we all got ready and left in a hurry so that we could be back for school.  So I pull up to the mall and tell them we are here and we needed to hurry so that we could see our friends and Santa and get back before the bus left the girls.  Claire took one look around and declared that we were not at the North Pole so there was no way Santa would be here.  Then refused to get out of the car.  Of course I did not let here miss this moment to etch in history. (that and I did not want to be arrested for leaving her in the car)

 

Claire would not be in the picture unless I was.  Thank you for including me Claire.  I felt so loved by the time this history event was over.

What do you do when...

...your daughter drops the sacrament tray and the bread goes everywhere?

 

Jen don't look...

I just made this dress for my friend Jen's daughter.

I just could not help but post it before I send it to her.

  

 I made the girls Christmas dress from this same pattern.  I will post those soon.

Jen, if you are reading this, sorry to ruin the surprise.

Benjamin is thankful for...

FAMILY!

Do you notice that Grandma made the family portrait,
but Julia and Zachary did not?  
(she has always been his favorite)

Claire was quick to point out that Zachary would fit between Benjamin and Aubrey.  Julia would fit next to Grandma.

I am just grateful that he was thankful for family and not something like video games or candy.
I am blessed!

We spent a weekend in the mountains of Breckenridge!

Let the adventure began!

  View from our Condo, not bad!

  Out hiking.

 Claire's courageous climb next to the old mine.

Amie and Aubrey checking out the waterfall.

I've said it before... this is God's Country!

I need to find a new hiding spot.

So, my Mom got a FurReal cat for Aubrey (don't tell her) for Christmas.  The cat is probably going to be the closest thing my kids get to a pet for a long time. Anyways, it make real cat sounds and moves like a cat. It is really "real" looking. It is hiding in my sewing room closet.

It is wrapped in two or three layers of plastic. Indiscernible to the naked eye.  But when it comes to light this cat can tell the difference.  When you turn the lights off it will meow.  I have known this for a while now.  But it is only today that the kids have heard it.

Benjamin has been playing his playstation in my sewing room.  Tonight I went in and without thinking told him, "you do not need the light on". And then it happened.  "MEOW".

Benjamin, "what was that?".

Me, "what I did not hear anything".

Benjamin, "something went in my ear and I heard a meow.  I think there is a cat in here".

Me, "let's turn the light on and see".

Benjamin, "oh, there is no cat".

Then he proceeds to turn the light off and play his game.

Cat, "MEOW"

Benjamin, "there was that sound in my ear that told my thinking brain that there is a cat in the closet."

(and yes he said it just like that)

Me, "well tell me if you see it".

Benjamin, "I will because it will poop in here".

(I do want to thank him for his concern)

So, I thought it was over.  Oh no, it was not.  While I was relaying the story to my friend on the phone. I over hear Benjamin telling the girls, "come here.  There is a cat in Mommy's sewing room."

Great now everyone in involved!

I must go and intervene.  I go upstairs to find them flashing the lights on and off to try and persuade the cat out of it's hiding spot.  To no avail the cat, of course, did not come out. So I quickly usher everyone back to bed.  

As Julia goes into her room she looks back at me and says very quietly, "Shhh, kitty sleeping."

(so so cute)

Now, I am off to find a new sleeping spot for kitty. Before morning comes.

Pumpkin Pan

Just went to Wal-Mart.

Found the best deal on 75% clearance

Only $3.25!

I think it will work for more than just Halloween.

If you can not tell I am very excited about this find.

Can't Leave 'em Alone

So, while I was doing some cleaning. Yeah, yeah I know it is hard to believe that I was cleaning, but I digress.  Claire decided to wear - play - DESTROY- my glasses.  I don't know they aren't so bad.

What do you think? 

While I was trying to bend them back the glasses snapped! Thanks, Claire. You may be getting a new pair of glasses for Christmas.

Is somebody in there?

So the other day I could hear Zachary crying, but it took a while to find him.  He would start and stop off and on.  And the other kids were not any help.  They said they had not seen him.  Well they lied.  They had built him a house and knew they would be in trouble.  Here are some pic of the house they built for him.

Where are the windows?  Could someone possible be in there?

HELP ME !

Zachary if you survive your siblings it will be a true miracle!    

First Haircut!

 Aunt Hanna was recently in town and gave Zach his first haircut!

Here is the mop head! 

Not to sure about all this.

 

Dad seems pretty calm about it.

You did not tell me I could have a SUCKER!

And MILK?

I think it Hanna did a great job.

Now he looks more like a little boy

 instead of my baby.

(And NO this does not mean that we are going have another baby.)

(Just trying to divert any questioning.)

Let it SNOW!

It snowed yesterday!

Julia thought it was tasty!  (good thing it was not yellow)

Let the snowballs fights begin!

Benjamin wanted to get me when I answered the door...

too bad I am smarter than that!

We finished the fun with pretzels and hot chocolate!  

What a cool mom these kids have!

Pumpkin Picking Pleasures!

Everyone had a great time picking out their pumpkin, going through the mazes, petting the animals and climbing the haystacks.  Its official now... fall is here.

Trip to Naples Florida

At the Hotel

Last Month, Amie and I went for an all paid three day trip to Naples Florida.  It was really a great vacation.  We took long walks on the beach, and spent a day (full day... we opened the park and closed the park) at Busch Gardens,  and ate until our heart was content... then ate a little more.

 Where's the beef?!

Right before our first roller coaster ride... one of 12 rides on this roller coaster alone!!

Photo of a photo... good times at 4.5 Gs.

 

Another shot of our hotel lobby.

Pancakes anyone?

This morning I let the kids make pancakes.
(with supervision)

Four-grain pancakes!  Yum!

Claire thought that the counter was the better helping spot.

Aubrey wanted to help with Claire.

Dig in!

I think that everyone had a great breakfast!

Why do we have tongues?

Aubrey: "Why do we have tongues?"

Claire: "To lick ice cream cones, duh!"

Laundry and Thoughts...

As I am still up doing the hundredth load of laundry... I am lost in thought.  How can we all get along?  What makes us think and say mean things to each other?  I know that confrontation is in this world, but why does it have to be among family and friends?  Nothing earth shattering has happened to me.  I just wish that there were a little more love.  Me included.  So do me a favor (and I am going to do this too) next time you chance to meet a frown, turn it upside down.  Do your part to make this world a better place.  I know we all can do it.  Now on to the next load...

Sweet Slumber!

This is what I found yesterday after dropping Benjamin and the girls off for school.  They both stayed asleep until it was time to pick them up also!

I was able to make my neighbor dinner and make a baby gift for her.

Also talk to my friend Leah for almost 2 hours on the phone.

Nothing like multitasking and nothing like a great afternoon!

P.S. I did not leave them in the stroller the whole afternoon.  Thanks, Mom, for your concern.