Funny

C-man came into my bathroom holding his night-night and his Chewbacca Build a Bear.  I told him to leave them outside and come in to go to the bathroom.  As he is in the bathroom B comes to the door with Chewbacca wrapped in the night-night holding him like a baby.  She tells C-man, "I've got your baby. I will babysit him." C-man was a little confused, B said "I will just watch him so you can have some time a-lone." with emphasis on alone.  Where does she come up with this??
Later L-man came up to me with the night-night wrapped around Chewbacca and said, "C-man wanted me to give him a diaper."  Also, C-man calls Chewbacca "mine Wookie".

Repurposing with a Purpose

Hi, my name is A and I use things as many times as I can. 

{Hello, A} 

When it comes to reusing something around the house, I will as long as possible.  I hold onto fabric scraps – which have come in handy. I hold onto paper scraps (only of real useable size). I keep whatever buttons I can from shirts/shorts that are ready to move on (so I do throw away some things!). I have made slipcovers for ugly pillows that we received for our wedding.  I use shoe boxes to store items (some other than the shoes that originally came with them).  But the kitchen is where I want to share what I reuse and have found very helpful.

Ice cream buckets, you know the ones – large and plastic. 

*Store small paper plates (dessert plates – that are leftovers from parties)

*Store all my cookie cutters

*Three that store all the kids treats (halloween candy, candy from birthday parties, easter, christmas…basically any time they get candy, it goes in their “treat bucket”)

Because they are plastic, it is easy to take a permanent marker and write the contents/name on it.

Potato/Macaroni Salad Containers, again – plastic

*Snacks – I have labeled a few for pretzels, animal crackers, goldfish, whatever is in it.  This way I don’t have several bags/boxes that get destroyed or left open in the pantry.

Milk boxes from Costco

*They are handy for storing small bags of snacks (will explain more later)

*Conveniently great for holding papers (8x11 fit perfectly)

*When I did preschool, I used several to hold different craft items/file folder games, you name it, I put it in there.

I cut off the top flaps, and wa-la, you’ve got a useable box.

Mason jars – or any cool glass jar

* I have labeled three – knives, spoons, and forks.  I have my big boxes of theses up and out of the way, but I keep a few handy in these jars (actually, the knife one is empty, they don’t fit with the lids on). These are great for parties, I can just pull out the jar, unscrew the lid, and there they are.  I was lucky to have some with old metal miracle whip lids, so I spray painted them silver, you could still do this with the lid/band type too.

* Any glass jar that I buy is held on to. With pinterest, there are so many great ways to use them for decorations, or storage. 

One other thing I reuse, but didn’t put in the picture.  Lay’s Stax containers.  We buy these to take on road trips (fits better than bags of potato chips).  I save them, wash them, and then they come again on our next trip.  This time I put knives, forks, and spoons for meals in them (we tend to do a lot of bbq on our small portable bbq rather than eating out – coincidentally, this is also why I have a few potato salad containers sitting around.)

Now about the snacks…

I buy those little snack bags from the grocery store ( a friend a told me about this) and fill them with snacks! Revolutionary!! I put in about a serving size of crackers, pretzels, marshmallows (my kids love  ‘em),  whatever snacks we happen to have around.  Then I put them in the Costco milk box happily labeled “Yummy snacks”and put it in the pantry. The kids then grab the snacks to put in their lunch in place of a treat or chips. Or we use them when we are on a little outing to the zoo, the park, soccer/baseball games, etc.  Here is the reuseable part – I save the snack bags.  Yes, I know that can sound weird, like I am one of our grandmothers who held onto everything (which I do have a few of those!), but I do.  I do wash and dry them before they are used again.  They get a few uses out of them (if they make it back home).  All of these things help our family to save a little money.  I don’t always need to go shopping at the container store to get fancy boxes or containers to hold items.  I would much rather use what I have got first.

Newest Addition

This month we added the newest member to our family.  Our little baby boy, C.  With this pregnancy I had lots of back and nerve pain, and generally couldn’t wait to have him in our arms.  I chose to be induced on his due date…mostly due to the fact I couldn’t stand being pregnant anymore and partly because school was going to be starting soon for the two oldest kids.  Here is a break down of the day:

*6:30 am: call in, L&D  too busy call back at 7:30 am

*7:20 am: L&D calls saying they are ready for us.

*8:00 am: Drop kids off at grandparents, B is clinging and sad that we are leaving, makes me cry.

*8:20 am: Checked in, getting all the paperwork and everything ready.

*8:45 am: Nurse tries 2 times unsuccessfully to start IV, has charge nurse come do it…meanwhile I have oxygen and still head towards passing out.

*9:00 am: Dr. gives the thumbs up to start Pitocin.

*12:30 pm: Little progress, but Dr. breaks water.

*2:00 pm: Much more progress, call in Dr.

Lets just skip to the end.  He was born about 1 1/2 hour later, with a beautiful full head of long dark hair and perfect.

He was over 8lbs., and 21 inches. As for me, I met my goal of no epidural and was soooo grateful to be done! I had different nurses over the time in the hospital, when someone asked if this was my first, I would reply, “No, this is number 4.”  But each time I was asked and gave my answer it was really setting in…I have 4 kids! Wow!! Love each of them and wouldn’t change a single thing.

The grandparents brought the other kids in to see their new brother.

B did great, she was excited to see him, K just wanted to sit and hold him the entire time she was there and every time she visited.

The kids spent some of the time with us at the hospital but mostly at their grandparents house…so thankful for all of their help! C is the perfect addition to our family and we are absolutely in love!!

If You Give a Pregnant Woman Raspberries

If you give a pregnant woman raspberries, she’ll ask for some sugar and pectin to go with it. 

When you give her the sugar and pectin, she’ll want to make raspberry jam.

When she’s finished, she’ll start to clean the mess.

Then she’ll see her hot pads are sticky with jam. 

She’ll then want to wash those hot pads, towels and washcloths she used.

On the way to the laundry room, she’ll decide to wash all the hot pads in the house. 

She’ll also add in her apron, including all other aprons she has on hand.

Then she’ll add the kitchen rug, too.

When she has a full load of laundry, she’ll want to sweep up the floor.

Then she’ll remember she needs to clean the sink, table and counters before she can sweep the floor.

She’ll get out another washcloth and clean the sink, table and counters. 

You’ll then hand her a broom and when she is done sweeping, she’ll want to mop the floor.

She’ll ask for a mop and some soapy water.

When you go to the laundry room to get the mop and bucket, she’ll remember the ironing that needs to be done.

She’ll finally start the washer, mop the floor and do the ironing.

When this is all done, her stomach will grumble.  She’ll realize how hungry she is.

So she’ll ask for a piece of toast.

And chances are, if you give her some toast, she’ll want some raspberry jam to go with it.

**Patterned after the “If You Give…” children’s book series by Laura Numeroff.**

Easter

Before Easter came around this year, I was looking at the $5 movie bin at Wal-mart.  I came across a few movies that I thought our family might enjoy.  First, Anastasia – the one that came out in the movie theatres about 1997. Second, The Land Before Time – the original one.  I usually come across The Land Before Time 45, one of the many sequels they have out on the market.  Third, Horton Hears a Who – again the one that came out a few years back. Last but not least – Robin Hood, Prince of Theives, you know the one, the Kevin Costner/Christian Slater one. Yeah, that one.  When I saw that and Land Before Time, I knew I had to act fast.  I wasn’t looking to buy any movies, but once I saw these, there was no turning back.  There I was with four movies that would be perfect for the kids (and the hubby) for Easter.  The kids have not seen Anastasia or The Land Before Time, and it was about time they be exposed to some other great movies. 

Before I go on about our Easter, I have to put in this funny little story about watching Robin Hood.  So, the hubby and I had the kids down in bed and decided to watch the movie.  I put it in the blu-ray player (mind you, it is a regular dvd).  We begin watching it, but about half way through the movie, it jumps back to the main menu.  We were both baffled, thinking something was wrong with the dvd.  Then I remembered that the dvd looked two sided, thought it was one of those widescreen/full screen, but didn’t pay much attention. We flipped the dvd over and poof * we were back were the movie left off.  I guess this dvd was either one they found sitting in a warehouse since 1992 or what we get for paying only $5.  Either way, it was a great find!

For Easter this year, we didn’t go on the Easter camp, we stayed close to home.  To start the kids week off from school, I had an ultrasound scheduled for baby number 4.  F, K, L came along, while B stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.  Baby looks very healthy and kept it’s left hand up by it’s face the entire time, moving around plenty.  We were excited (especially L) to find out that we are having a baby boy!  Feels like a perfect way to end our family. 2 girls, 2 boys. 

Friday, F took off work and we spent it as a family.  We drove up to the Kimball Arts Center and enjoyed the Lego exhibit they had. It was amazing to see all the works of art made entirely of Legos.  After that we went to the Tanger Outlets and did a little shopping, well I did and the kids played on the playground with F. 

Saturday, we went up to the zoo.  We love the zoo – so much we have an annual pass and have done so since K was little.  We never get bored of the animals and the zoo has made some amazing transformations since we first bought a pass and even more since I was little.  That night, we dyed Easter eggs.  K and L were pretty creative with theirs.  L made a dragon, K made a frog and a chick hatching.  B was able to get into it a bit more than previous years. 

Sunday, New Easter clothes.  I bought sweaters for the girls and a new shirt for L, and I made matching skirts for the girls. I love being able to get them to match for one day each year.  It will be ending before I know it though!  We went to church and later we visited F’s parents. We ate dinner at my parent’s house and had our annual Easter egg hunt. My mom hides the eggs all over the backyard.  The kids hunt for the eggs.  When they are all found, we divide them among the kids (each egg has a name on it).  The kids always have a blast. 

Among all the eggs and treats, we do teach our children about the importance of Easter which is not only the atonement by our Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane, but the Resurrection of Him.  I am grateful for Jesus Christ and his willingness to do all the Father asked of Him.  He leads the way back to our Father in Heaven, made it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins, and live together for eternity.  I am thankful for my membership in this Church and the covenants I have entered into and for F being a worthy priesthood holder and blessing our family because of it.

B’s Birthday

Well, B is 2!  And she definitely has the personality of it.  She wants to do everything herself, wants to get into everything and where she comes up with somethings, we’ll never know.  Just the other night, the kids wanted some ice cream for dessert.  We had it out to soften.  I was with the three kids upstairs.  After a few minutes, K & L asked if it was time for dessert. I told them to ask Dad. They quickly ran downstairs & asked.  It was time.  Here is what transpired between F a& B at this point because B was in my room playing.

F: “B?” (note all words in a sing-song fashion)

B: “What?”

F: “Time for ice cream”

B: “I kno-w”  We had a good laugh about that, & I will mention she did run down to get her ice cream. 

Another funny little story…B has had to sit in “timeout” only a few times.  We put her on the bottom stair by our living room.  She sits for a minute, we talk, she says sorry and that’s it.  Well, on this particular day, she was asking for something, and I said no.  She kept asking, I kept saying no.  She got upset and was crying.  B walked over to the stairs sat down crying, and ended up curling herself up on the stair crying.  After a few minutes, she sat up composed her emotions and said, “I sorry.”  She apparently put herself in “timeout” to calm down.  Maybe we’ll rename it “calm down” area for her. She dances like nobody’s watching when everyone really is.  She is stingy about giving kisses or freely handing them out to everyone – twice.  She’ll sing songs, play her own compositions on the piano, get into every little tiny toy her sister has, play with swords with her brother, loves seeing her cousin “Pizza” each week, looks forward to seeing grandparents, wearing her boots (snow or cowgirl – any chance she can get), stomping in the snow, making silly faces, has to have a baby with her at almost all times, reading books, playing in the toy kitchen & cooking in the real kitchen at dinner time, is beginning to say prayers (with our help), takes great naps, & is constantly amazing us with things she learns and/or comes up with.  Along with that, she has been the roughest little sleeper at night, is transitioning off of the binky (thank goodness!), & is as loud as can be (especially when she is crying – more like screaming so loud, my ear drums shake in fright). We love her to pieces!! I have tried to compile a list of words in her vocabulary, this is the best I could come up with over the last few days.  It grows longer each day, so I stopped here.

u Amen u Asleep u Awake u Baby u Banana u Bath u Bear u Bib u Bird u Boat u Boo u Book u Boots u Bowl u Box u Breakfast u Bus u Bye-bye u Car u Cat/Meow u ‘Cause u Cereal u Cheek u Cheers u Cheese u Chin u Close u Coat u Cold u Color u Come here u Cook u Cow/Moo u Cut u Dad u Dance u Diaper u Ding-dong u Dinner u Dinosaur u Dog/Ruff u Don’t know u Door u Duck/Quack u Eat u Elbow (belbow) u Eyes u Face (mace) u Fall Down u Feet u Fingers u Fish u Flower u Frog u Garage u Garbage u Good u Grandma u Guys u Hair u Hands u Hat u Hello u Hi u Horse/Neigh u Hot u Hot Dog u I know u I love you u Jacket u Jesus u Juice u Keys u Kiss u Legs u Lights u Lion u Lunch u Mama u Mickey/Minnie u Milk u Mimi (binky) u Monsters u Moose u More u Mouth u Night-night (blanket) u No u Nose u Off/On u Open/Closed u Ouchies u Pajamas u Pancake u Pants u Papa u Phone u Piano u Pig u Pillow u Plate u Play u Please u Prayers u Push u Scared u School u Shirt u Shoes u Shower u Snack u Snow u Socks u Spoon u Spot u Stop u Stuck u Teeth u Toes u Treat u Two u Uh-huh u Warm u Wash u Water u Yes u Yucky u

For her birthday, we celebrated the day before.   That morning, our family with Grandpa Ericksen went to the zoo – thankfully beautiful weather, must mention we did bring a thermos of hot chocolate which helped in the early February weather.  That night we had grandparents and Aunt Bee over for presents and cake & ice cream.  B figured out the opening present idea at Christmas and obviously remembered, she opened her presents like nobody’s business.  We had a a great day celebrating our littlest lady. Happy Birthday, B! We love you!!

Schoolhouse Rock

Well, this year in school K has been learning various Schoolhouse Rock songs.  In April, the 3rd grade will perform their Third Grade Rocks program filled with the songs they have been learning.  K has been on the computer watching the cartoons and singing along.  So, I asked her teacher for a list of the songs and we put them on a cd for her to listen to.  Right now as I write, she has her music blasting and she is singing along....with L as a willing participant/audience.  I almost have the songs memorized as well. So much so, that as I watched the news the other night, they were discussing the legislature and bills, cue my singing "I'm just a Bill, yes, I'm only a bill, and I'm sitting here on capital hill..."  They are funny songs, but they are helping her to learn grammar and science, and she loves singing along.  Also, I had to make the cd because she has been listening to her Christmas choir cd up until this new cd.  I needed a change of music from Amy Grant and Mele Kalikimaka (don't get me wrong, I love Christmas music...at Christmas).  I wonder what the next cd craze for her will be, and it also makes me wonder what my own mom went through having to listen to mine and my siblings music. Also, while writing, K and L came down saying they had made up actions to a song and want to perform the song for us, so adieu.