Zack's Project

Zack had an animal report due last week on any animal of his choice. He loves lizards and decided to do his project on Bearded Dragons. It is hard for me not to get involved in these types of projects, but I did my best to stay clear. He did all the research, (but since he loves reptiles so much...he already knew a ton of stuff) and collected all the items to decorate his box. The only thing I did was go to Macey's and buy the plastic reptile. When he came home I asked him how his presentation went and he said, "Mom my project was the best in the class!" (I love it when they think their work is the best!)

Things that don't mix....

You know the old saying of things that don't mix like oil and water, orange juice and toothpaste, fire and ice? Well I have one more to add to the list.....Jace and church. Let me elaborate for a few moments. In January we were at stake conference at the Alpine Tabernacle in AF. We just happened to be sitting in the front section off to the left, just in the back row. So there was an isle right behind us and then the rest of the congregation. Well after about 1 1/2 hours Jace had reached his limit. As he is climbing over, under and around the bench, I decided to just let him find something in the isle to occupy himself. (Big mistake) Well he did, he had snuck his wolverine guy in his pocket from the diaper bag. He launched that thing way up in the air and it landed about 3 rows back. Luckily no one got hurt, and the wolverine guy was quickly returned by a young boy. Then just a few weeks ago I had Sharing Time for Primary. Jace is now a 3 year old and sits in the front row with his Sunbeam class. As I am talking during Sharing Time (standing right in front of Jace) he reaches forward and lifts up my skirt. I'm sure my face was beet red. But after a few minutes and not realizing where I am standing HE DOES IT AGAIN! I can't reprimand him right there. So one of the other teachers comes and pulls him to the side and explains why we can't lift up mom's skirt EVER! Needless to say we had a great talk on the way home. (Half the time in Primary I just sit in the back of the room and roll my eyes at what this kid will do during singing or sharing time. His poor teacher!)

But honestly, I love that kid to death. He makes me laugh everyday, and I love spending one on one time with him. We have been in a mom and tot class at the rec center this year, and it has been so nice to have Hannah watched after in the nursery and Jace and I get to sing together, read stories, make treats and crafts, play games, and just have fun!

Every morning when he wakes up....he can't be happy until he has given me a good morning hug and kiss. (Morning breath and all!) I joke with Nate that I am like Jace's morning coffee....he is a grump until he's had a little sugar from his mamma!

Karen Allred in our ward mentioned that her son Derek (almost 19 and about to go on a mission), loves to watch Jace during Sacrament Meeting, since he is quite entertaining. This Sunday I think I may walk right into the Chapel and hand Jace over to Derek and see how entertaining he is for him now...hehehe!

Love you Jace!

Rachel Sleeping and Wishing

So she'll probably hate me in years to come for posting this. But the other night, when I went to check on Rachel one last time before I went off to bed I found her like this and I just had to giggle. I know she has no hope of being well endowed....since she is related to ME....but I guess she'll do whatever she can! When I showed her these pictures, she told me that, 'She was just cold'. Too funny!

Life's Lessons

The older my kids get, the more I see that they are learning everyday lessons. A few weeks ago, Brady and Zack walked in from school, and Brady announced, "Zack and I got called down to the principals office today." A little surprised, I asked why and Brady quickly told me, with Zack hovering in the background. Well as it turns out, at the bus stop that morning (which is just in front of our house), there was a problem with throwing snowballs. It is a rule that no snowballs can be thrown at the school, which extends to the bus stops, before school and after school. Well Zack and a little neighbor boy started throwing snow at each other. But as older and more boys got to the bus stop, they all joined in and there was one little boy who started crying and getting alot of snow thrown at him. Two moms were there, which are good friends of mine, and called the school later to say that there was a problem. Well, about 9 boys got called down to the office and each one got a lecture on NOT throwing snowballs. Mrs. Tibbetts, the vice-principal, asked Brady if he would stay in with Zack, so that he wouldn't be scared, during his lecture. In talking with my friend later, she told me exactly what happened and how it all started. (Brady claimed innocence the whole time which I believe.) But Zack learned a great lesson that day. He usually is one of the younger boys that can get picked on. (I'm sure he was greatful at the time that he wasn't getting bombarded with snowballs.) In the end, Zack felt very bad for starting the snowball fight, and not helping out the little first grader, who was picked on. This is a picture of him writing a note of apology....tears and all! (And if you know my Zack....he is quite emotional, like me.)

Secret Candy Stash!

So I wonder how many of you have a secret candy stash? Well I do! I usually have a bag of some sort of candy in my closet. I LOVE to have chocolate, but any sort of candy is okay. It is a major de-stressor for me. If I feel like I am about ready to hit the fan, I go in my room, LOCK THE DOOR and BITE REALLY HARD on something sweet. So my last bag was Cinnamon Bears. (If you get the really soft one's from Macey's...they are SO GOOD.) Well this afternoon, I walk in and found one lonely, half-eaten cinnamon bear on top of the EMPTY BAG! Seriously I thought my kids were a little sharper. (If you are going to sneak mom's treats.....don't leave any evidence...and don't eat the last piece of candy, but if you do...eat it all gone!) Sheesh! I never keep track of what is there or not. About a month ago I found an empty bag of chocolate chips in the top of the freezer. I didn't even know that there was an opened bag, if whoever was sneaking the chocolate chips would have just thrown away the bag, I would have been none the wiser. Oh well I guess they'll get their fix any way they can....just like their mom!

P.S. Nate never knows where I hide the treats....he is always stumbling upon them and saying, "How long have we had this?"

St. Patty's Day

So I had great intentions of getting up early and making my kids the all green breakfast this morning, but Hannah was up from midnight until 2 am (we watched a cool jungle movie on PBS). So when Nate came home from ball, he woke us all up at 8. Alas, we were scrambling to get ready for school. So I decided that my kids would get a St. Patty's Day dinner, complete with green milk and green pudding. All the kids wanted to wear green, except for Brady. So when he came home I asked him how it was not wearing green. He said, "It started to hurt after everyone pinched me a million times. Next year I am definately going to wear green." Glad he learned his lesson!

Basketball Nate!

This year Nate was on two different basketball teams, one team was for our ward, and the second was a PG Rec team that included 3 of Nate's Brothers-in-Law. Sadly enough, I was only able to attend 1 game. Because I am a lazy wife, and I didn't want to drag 5 kids to any of the games. (Besides, most of the games seemed to be after our kids went to bed, or were needing to get to bed.) I felt bad, because I love to watch Nate play. He even had a season high of 27 points in one game. Towards the end of the season, Nate got burned out, not physically, but because he was tired of all the drama and fights that occurred. If you know Nate, basketball is his favorite sport to play, but he really only plays for fun. He tries to get along with not only his teammates, but the opposing team too. (And we all know how church ball can be sometimes...) But I had to chuckle at him when he was complaining towards the end of having to stay in the tournaments and play more and more games with onry players. After they won a second tournament game, in church ball, he had a conflict with the two teams playing at the same time. I asked him how many points he scored, and he meekly said, "Only 20...so it was a good game, I just want to be done." Well buddy your not helping the situation when you score 20 points. We are sure proud of him and can't wait to see him playing in years to come!

Brady's Basketball

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• This was Brady's 5th year of playing Jr. Jazz. (In Saratoga Springs they start JJ in Kindergarten.) So Brady has had a lot of practice playing hoops. As his mom, and watching all of the sports that he plays in, basketball is probably the sport that he performs the best in. (Even though, it isn't his favorite....Soccer is at the top of his list.) But it is the most enjoyable for Nate and I to watch. This year they had a Basketball Skills Challenge at the PG Rec Center on February 17th. His coach took the team there, where all the boys showed off their b-ball skills. Brady won 3rd place on the basketball skills challenge...way to go Brady!



• 1st Picture: Brady shooting....I don't think he actually made this shot.
• 2nd Picture: Brady is off to the far left in a white jersey...this shot was nothin' but net!
• 3rd Picture: Brady with his 3rd place ribbon from the B-ball skills challenge.

Little Hannah

This is why I love being a stay-at-home mom...or just a mom in general. (I have a ton of pictures that I have wanted to add to our blog, but havn't found the time. So this will be quick.) I was looking on-line for a salmon recipe and Hannah came up and laid her head on my lap. She just wanted me to hold her, and she didn't fuss and was asleep within a few minutes. What a sweetie she is...very patient with all the craziness of our family.