Date Charm Bracelets

I found this idea in Family Fun back in the Fall and LOVED it. I then found these fun monogram bracelets in Michaels dollar section during Christmas and knew they would be perfect for this idea on Valentine's Day. Anyway here is the "idea", every time you go on a date you give your child a charm that represents that date so they have a memento. We try hard to do one on one dates with the kids. Sometimes they are expensive dates and sometimes they are right here at home. I just love spending that one on one time with each of them because they really open up and talk about EVERYTHING. Plus, I know that my time with them is fleeting. At any rate, I love this idea because they can remember the places we go and things we do together by the charms.

After school today the girls were ecstatic at their bracelets and the boys were wondering why they just got a key chain. I then told them that I would give them charm tokens to hang on their key chains and everything was all better. I think they just thought that they were not going on dates and getting jipped. Anyway the best place to find a plethora of charms is http://www.charmingldsgifts.com/. They have everything from movie tickets, ice cream cones, mixing bowls, to you name it. I just bought a big variety of charms after thinking of some of the activities we enjoy doing.

So let the charm dating begin!!!

You've Got Mail

For Valentine's each of the kids have their own mailbox that can be filled with treats, prizes, messages, or pictures. They get sooo excited when their flag is up because "in our house" that means mail of some sort has been delivered. I love how excited they are as they make things to go into each others mailboxes. I do believe that the givers are as excited as the receivers and vis versa. Here is a sweet note that Kaylee had made for me. I smile each time I read, "I love you like roses, but you smell better"

This morning I put date charm bracelets in the girls' boxes. I will post them tonight.

The Weekend

Stephen and I went to a 10:00pm of this

Gave some of these lessons to the kiddos

Went to seven, yes I did say SEVEN of these games on Saturday. (That's what happens when the four older are in basketball and then three of them are playing indoor soccer as well.)

Then played a little of this with friends on Saturday night.

And ALL of this makes me REALLY tired

Valentine's Dresses

A friend of mine snuck me into a photography class with her this week. The teacher had an amazing picture packet that explained so many things that perplex me in photography. Anyway, one of the challenges was to take pictures using different aperature settings. So one morning after I had gotten the little girls ready I proceeded to use them as my models. They participated fairly well for 30 shots and then fatigue set in for me and them!!! I did learn that I don't want to use the auto setting on my camera. The photos I took by manually setting my camera had such a vast difference in color and lighting.

I love this one of Jerrica because she is always sticking her tongue out.

And this is what it looks like if you have taken one too many pictures -

Indoor Soccer Arena ALL to Ourselves

Kaylee has indoor soccer practice at Soc N Roll in Monument on Wednesday nights. Last week I noticed that no one shows up until 5:00. So this week Kaylee and I went up early and played in this huge soccer field all by ourselves. We practiced power kicks on the goals, ran, laughed, listened to our echoes, and giggled until we about pee'd our pants. As 5 o'clock approached and still no one was there I asked Kaylee where everyone was at. She said, "I hope they don't come. I'm having fun playing with just you mom." My heart thought the same, but my body sure was getting tired from keeping up with a little 7 year old giggle box. As it turns out there was an accident on I-25 and everyone was really late. I loved that Kaylee time in there all by ourselves!!!

The Tenderfoot

Jacob recieved his Tenderfoot last night. His leaders are Brother Armstrong and Brother Ketchie. They have been incredible in helping him get things passed off. After all these awards and two boys in scouts I have learned to wear "special" clothes for these award nights. I have been pinned a few times and it has taken a very long time trying to stick the pin in some of my shirts. Notice how I have a convenient string on my shirt for him to pin the pin on. Jacob sure gets nervous in front of groups and tries to be so silly and funny!

Rebecca's Got Her Teeth

Rebecca was the first one in her Kindergarten class to lose her front teeth. This was surprising to me because she was the youngest in the class. Tonight I was playing with my camera and she wanted me to take pictures of her. I think she looks so different with those big teeth that have dropped down. My little babies are getting big!!!!

Despereaux and Decorating

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner we had to go see a love story. I had read the book to the kids about a year ago, and then Nathan and Kaylee just finished it on their own. I enjoyed reading it out loud because of Kate Dicamillo's style. She would write, "Now reader, do you really think a mouse could love a princess?" or "Reader, do you know the meaning of that last word? You better go find a dictionary and look it up..." I just felt like she was right there telling us the story. At any rate, we really enjoyed the book. However, as usual the movie was a little different, but the animation was darling.

Now for decorating! I think I put all my Valentine decorations out the middle of January. I just love holidays though. Anyway, just wanted to share a few. I love saving art projects from the kids that go with the holidays. They make fun decorations and bring back memories for the kids. I put this heart rabbit that Kaylee made up on a ledge. She was all excited that I still had it and was displaying it. I will probably be putting it up when I'm 80 thinking of my sweet Kaylee.

Then another favorite thing that I like to do with holidays is put up photos that go along with the holiday. Here is one of Nathan in first grade with his valentine box that he took to school that year. I love his toothless smile and excitement of his monster box with valentines coming out the mouth.
More pictures with the sweetheart box magnets on the fridge. Some of them I "have" to put in the boxes to remind me that they really "are" sweethearts.

Then last but not least is the picture of Stephen and I. I love this picutre of us and smile as the kids tell me "you look like your in love mom". Anyway, just a few fun decorations. I just love the holidays. The kids have loved their mailboxes this year. I will have to share them in another post.

Heart Attacks

I LOVE Valentine's Day and I'm sooo excited at all of the fun things we have planned for the month. Today when all of the kids went to school I put little heart attacks on each of their doors. I started off putting the hearts down at their eye level so that they could easily read the messages. Then as I was doing the third door, Jerrica came around the corner jibbering at me with a handful of hearts. She sure keeps me busy by making me constantly redo things!!!

Family's in Town - Blessing of Thomas

My parents came to town for Thomas' blessing. We ran from one game to the other on Saturday. We had a total of 5 games to go to. Kaylee was the all star of the weekend. She had an incredible basketball game with eight points and a lot of hustle. Needless to say, we opted for dinner and a movie instead of a Nuggets game for the evening.
We ate at Red Robin for dinner. This made three times in one week to have eaten there. I went on two different girls nights earlier in ther week. Of course I was able to handle a THIRD bacon guacamole burger for the week. I love their onion ring sauce to dip my fries in, my hips love it too.

We then went to "Taken" with Liam Neeson. It was about a daughter that is kidnapped and a dad on a mission to find her. There was enough action to keep me awake, even after a long day. I just enjoyed snuggling up to my Stever and bugging him with questions about the movie.

Then Sunday was the blessing in the evening. Thomas was so cute!!! We had fun visiting and enjoying everyone. The food was delicious. Kristy and Ryan had made a huge Mexican buffet.

And there you have the highlights of the week!!!

Winner at Pinewood Derby

Nathan got first place in the bear division and then second in the overall competition. Not to shabby considering there were 20 cars that he was competing against. He was WAYYY excited. I loved how he said, "My favorite part that probably helped my car win was the fire that I painted on it" I think Stephen might feel a little different after the time spent sanding and graphiting the wheels.

I always love going to these derbies because the fathers get soo into the cars and racing. Anyway, good job Stephen and Nathan!!!

Girls and Hair

I remember when we found out that Jerrica was a girl. Stephen instantly thought, "another wedding to pay for" and I thought "another head of hair to do each day". It really takes such a chunk of time to get all four girls ready for the day, and I'm anal about making sure it gets done.

Anyway, as I was putting the hair box away today, I thought that I should document this because it's not going to last too much longer. The girls will get older and not need my hair service any longer. I LOVE the one on one time I get with each girl as I do their hair. They talk, laugh and giggle as I pull their hair into their fancy up do. I love kissing each one on the cheek after I have finished their hair and telling them how beautiful they look.

I get a kick out of the girls doing MY hair because they too, kiss me on the check and tell me how beautiful I look with my twenty pigtails all over my head. They tell me to look at the window or something just as I tell them, so that they will turn their head. Monkey see, Monkey do!!!

I love our hair box above, that color obsessive Aunt Kristy gave us to keep all of the hair bobbers sorted. We just snap off the color we need and are ready to go. Thanks again Kris! I'm also glad that Alesha taught me how to curl with the flat iron. That is SOOO much faster and actually holds the entire day!

Then I love making bows, headbands, and ribbons with my sisters. They are a fun accessory for my girls. Especially my girls that HAVE to be "fancy". I'm excited for the new idea that I'm doing with my sisters. We are taking a few shots of our girls with their hair done and going to make little laminated cards on a ring out of them to hang on the hair box. Then the girls can look through them for different hair styles. It will just be fun for them to see all their cousins and themselves. OK now I really do sound anal about hair! And looking at mine right now, you wouldn't think I was that obsessed with hair!!!

Ryan is HOME

Kristy's husband is FINALLY home. Here is a picture of the kids greeting their daddy. He left right before little Thomas was born. How exciting to finally see his first son!!! Ryan was gone for almost eight months. I'm just so happy for my sister to have her honey home.

Ryan had been in Afganistan flying Black Hawk helicopters for the Army. Now who are my kids going to pray for in the prayers?!?!

Weather in Colorado

The first of this week was gorgeous. Perfect weather for hiking (too bad the kids were in school). The temperature was high 60's/ low 70's, then by the end of the week we are FREEZING again. Anyway, I did take the girls to the duck park this week.
There were sooo many ducks that I thought the girls would be scared. I was wrong. They would feed them for a while and then smile at each other and chase them into the water. Then the ducks would gradually climb out and the entire process would start over again. The girls were so cute talking to the ducks.

Jerrica learned not to hold her bread too low. She was so upset that a duck tried to get her bread. Little did she know Sydney and Ashley would soon be trying to get her bread to feed the ducks.

This is my favorite picture of her holding her bread tighter with a tear on her cheek.

Then of course a couple days later here comes the snow. It just seems like you never know what kind of weather Colorado will be having!!!!!

Notes

Today I volunteered at the girls' school. I always try and leave a post it note on their desks when I leave. Anyway, today Rebecca came running back in the classroom from recess and caught me in the act. She squinted her little eyes and got such a wide little grin as she read my note. She said, "I just love you so much mamma". Of course I was elated and thought what a simple little thing as a post it note, can bring such love and joy to another. Anyway, it got me thinking of notes and how much I love writing and receiving them.
Stephen had given me this note last Christmas. I had seen an Oprah show where she was talking about how special a framed note can be for the recipient. I commented on it to Stephen and of course a light went on in his head as he thought, "that's something FREE I can give her and she wants it!!!" It was a win win for both of us that year because I did LOVE it. It's so Stephen too, because he misspelled a word and just corrected over it. Anyway, I love having it in my room to remind me that "I make his life beautiful".

My other special note that I have framed is from Rebecca. Last year she was in half day Kindergarten and always wanted a project or something to do in the afternoon. Well, one day when I was BUSY with my project she started hounding me for something to do. She was just starting to write so that phonetically you could understand it. So I told her to go and make a list of her favorite toys or favorite games. A little while later she came down with a list, but told me that she decided to make a list of all the things she liked about me. Of course I cried as I sounded out each one. I loved her spelling and list so much that I have had it by my nightstand since that day. She always comments on how I framed it and have kept it. I LOVE it and will always treasure her sweet comments to me. Below is her list to me:

Anyway, I just love notes. I love writing them to people and I love receiving them. I do save a lot of them too. A friend from basketball told me that her sister just had a book made of all the love notes and cards her husband had given her over the years. She scanned them in and then had Shutterfly do the rest. That is something that I MUST do. I wish that I would have saved more of Stephen's notes. I guess he will just have to start writing more to me!!!!

Fun Technology

Just a quick review of the week. Stephen and I went to the musical, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". It was quite humorous. Thanks Angie for the tickets!!!

Then Wednesday we did a PJ'S night with the YW. PJ'S stands for Prayer, Journal, and Scriptures. They came in their PJ's and had a breakfast as the speakers spoke about each area. It was a nice evening. I was excited today as different girls told me that they had started writing in their journals again and reading their scriptures.

Now for the fun technology. Stephen had gotten me a new camera for Christmas and I FINALLY got it this week. I was so excited. Of course Stephen had it shipped by row boat all around the world twice since it was WAYY cheaper that way. But hey I'm not going to complain since I have it in my hands now. I loved my old camera, but had a hard time with sports pictures. Now to learn about the camera. Help me Becki!!!

My last fun technology find was the "torpedo". Target had all their toys on clearance last week. So I stocked up for birthday parties. Well, this torpedo was sitting on the bottom shelf for $22. Yes I did say$22. I couldn't believe it. It is usually around $150. I've always thought that one of these would be fun to watch movies outside during the summer. I remember showing movies using a film projector on the outside of people's houses on my mission. Anyway, I was way excited at the price.

Born With Talents and Traits

Jerrica LOVES pens and pencils. I know, I know... she's going to poke her eye out or get lead poisoning. She is just so obsessed with holding and having them AND drawing. She draws on books, tables, walls, and herself. She shrieks and throws major fits when we take them away. I don't remember any of my other kids having such a love for pencils and writing. She literally has been obsessed with them since she was able to grasp and hold them. Anyway, I had to document this obsession with Jerrica's writing. I started thinking of what the other kids liked at this age and was amazed at how their love is still literally "their love".

Jacob loved books. I have tons of pictures of him reading. He would sit in his room forever just pulling out books and looking at them. Well, he still LOVES books. I'm amazed at how quickly he can devour them. He always has a book to take with him in the van. In fact, he's upstairs in his room reading right now.

Then there is our Nathan. He was always obsessed with balls. We remember how he would go over to a wall as a toddler and roll or throw the ball at the wall for hours. He would always tote a ball under his arm. I don't know how many MILLION times we have told him not to play ball in the house, yet I can hear him up in his room right now throwing a nerf ball at his wall. He is such an incredible athlete though.

I know we are born with inherit talents and interests. I think it's so interesting how it is displayed right from the start. I'm sure our little Jerrica is going to be an amazing artist or author someday. I just wish she wouldn't use my walls and books to practice on.

Nathan's Patriots Day

Nathan's fourth grade class has been studying the American Revolution. Today they had their culminating "real life" day. That is one thing that I love about The Classical Academy is how they go ALL out on these days. They had these three men from The Sons of the Revolution come and talk to the class. They had so many interesting facts, props, and stories. I think they were as excited to be there as the class was to have them.

The next room was writing the Declaration of Independance with plumes and ink. Let's just say they didn't get too much written . Then they had a Clara Barton room where a woman was dressed up and talked about her. Clara Barton had lost three husbands and numerous children. She told of how George Washington approached her to make the flag and had initially wanted a square flag. She pointed out that a rectangular one would wave better. She also had requested to make 5 point stars instead of 6 point stars because that would use less fabric and could be made using only 1 cut. The kids then learned the one cut star method. Anyway, the last station of the day was a colonial lunch of stew and biscuits.

I forgot to mention the play at the first part of the morning. Nathan was John Hancock. He was very excited to get this part. All the kids were dressed up for the time period. Some parents rent costumes, but can I just say that I'm grateful for the ARC. We found a men's suit jacket for $3.99 that we cut short in the front and then made tails in the back of it. All in all it was a very educational day for Nathan and fun for me to spend the day with him!!!