My life Fast Forward

I was down loading pictures on the computer the other day and seeing all those pictures flash by through the days and months it reminds me of how I feel lately. January start of a new year, then February where did you go only 28 days....March we were off and running (literally) and flying (literally) at some points....April blew in and out just as fast, now we are knee deep in May.  Almost half a year in a blink of an eye.  I feel like my life is in fast forward mode and I can't find the pause button the remote is no where to be found. Time is surely flying. Here is the last few months fast forward style.

February

February is a busy month for us starting with the fourth we have a birthday every 12 days.  After we celebrated Brinleys Birthday we took off just Cory and I to the coast for some much needed one on one time. Just a relaxing weekend with the sounds of the ocean outside our room.  The last night we were there they moved us to front ocean view, it was awesome.  On the way there we reached 100,000 miles on our Honda, we bought it new almost 11 years ago. To think of all the places that car has taken us, even three car seats in the back for three years before we finally out grew it with our fourth child.

We celebrated presidents day, love kindergartners you never know who they will come home as!

We celebrated Valentines and started a new tradition of heart attacking the kitchen with hearts full of love messages for each person in our family. 

We celebrated Cory's Birthday by going out to dinner with his mom, Teppanyaki style, you know when they cook in front of you at a Japanese restaurant.  Kids love all that flipping and fire that goes along with it.  Then 12 days later to end the month February 28 was Aubreys birthday.  We started a new tradition of taking the kids out to a restaurant with just us.  It was so much fun.  I interviewed her about her year, her favorites, and also future goals.  We celebrated her birthday as a family on her actual birthday. The kids helped put together a scavenger hunt to find her new bike.  She loved it!!

March

So March we were literally started out running.  Well everyone with the exception of me.  A blossom trail run in Sanger. Cory signed all the kids up to run their individual races, and then he ran his 10k.  I take that back Kendal didn't run either because she says she gets enough running every day at school.  Her teacher is big into running they run 2 miles everyday!!!! Crazy for fifth grade.

I love this picture above, look at those different faces, I wish I knew how to make a bubble over the picture.  Number 249 scratching his head thinking, how far do I have to run again?  Number 1096 thinking I've trained my whole life for this!  Aubrey number 1185, my child looking off to the side.  Then number 1121 on the far left looks like she just woke up and is sleep walking.  So funny!!!

Then there is these wee ones who all look very concerned and mine who actually is crying! But the mom is just too much and she is about to run a 10k!! I guess she isn't fully awake until she gets her 10k in!!!

Braden got first in his age division, and Brinley was all smiles when she got her ribbon!!Cory finishing, he didn't think we would stick around to watch him finish.  We took two cars because I had a baby shower to get to.  So he was surprised to see us at the finish line!

FLYING!!!!!

In March Braden got to go flying up in a little plane.  It was with his scout troup.  It was early in the morning and I don't remember what I had that day but I wasnt there to witness it, Cory took him.  I just got text message updates. Cory said it was frigid weather and windy.  I was glad I wasn't there I don't do well with the cold!  Then I get a text saying the pilot is really short.  I'm thinking no big deal, then later when I see the pictures I realize he is barely if at all taller than these 8 year old boys.  Braden had fun and bragging rights about being in a plane.  His sisters envious!!

Happiest Place on Earth

In March we also visited the happiest place on earth.  Although I love Disneyland I do think the happiest place on earth has fewer people and shorter lines.  We wanted to surprise the kids.  That is hard when you have very perceptive children.  We had been talking about going at the beginning of the year because we did Give a day Get a day, where we worked together with the kids on our community trail and got a day pass.  Side story on that...in January Cory and I, Kendal and Braden worked the Clovis bike trails as our service.  So as we are working weeding and such I overhear a lady asking another lady, "hey what is the price of a disney ticket?, Aren't they like 80 bucks or somethin"  to which the other lady replies, "um yes I think so", then she says, "I just keep telling myself it is worth all this work for 80 buck."  Just thought it was funny because after we were done Braden says to us, "that was really fun, even if we didn't get disney tickets it would still be fun!"  What a difference an attitude makes!!!  Anyway back to perceptive kids and surprises.  So when we were getting ready for the trip, we took the car in to be serviced and she asks, um are we going to disneyland.  She continues to ask this at different time during the week.  When we were looking for new shoes for her, and buying snacks, we tried to play it off but she was on to us.  Kendal knew so it was no surprise to her.  I think we did get Braden pretty good, and Brinley although she didn't really realize how excited she should have been for such an adventure.  So after church we ate lunch and then told the kids we were going for a drive to see the blossoms on the blossom trail.  Not too far down the road Aubrey notices the stuff in the trunk, again we try to play it off and finally we tell them where we are going.  But we didnt tell them our good friends were also going to be there with us.Getting a little Goofy!All eleven kids we had in the group, they were SO GOOD!!

Hey don't you know the rules of the road miss? No texting and driving....or riding...I don't know ask your CHP husband!

One of my favorite parts of our trip was when I took Brinley into Mickeys house.  Right before we went into his house we saw Pluto and she warmed up to him, then she asks me as we are walking away.  "Is that just a person dressed up in a costume?" I'm thinking aw man the magic already gone for her she is only just barely 3.  Then as we are waiting to meet Mickey, she says to me,"I want to see the REAL Mickey, not the one in a costume!!!" She didn't seem to mind once we saw him though.

The most fun kid I would say had to of been Aubrey she was up for anything and was so pleased she was tall enough to ride almost anything.  She went on tower of terror, and all the roller coasters.  I wish I had some of the photos they took of her during the rides.  Most of the time she had both hands high above her head and the biggest grin on her face.  Dare Devil for sure!!!

Other happenings in March

We started baseball season for Braden.  Braden also had his first Pine wood Derby with the scouts.  Cory and Braden had some help from a more experienced scouter to craft the car.  Braden drew the design, Cory cut it out.  Braden sanded and painted it.  I was worried it being our first one and all, I just didn't want to come in last.  To my surprise he won First place! He was so excited!!! I however in my hurried state that evening didn't bring my camera, and I have yet to recieve the ones someone took for me.  But I will post them when I do.

April

April started out great with General Conference and Easter being on the same weekend!  A great way to end our spring break.  I love conference it always leaves me feeling refreshed and uplifted.  With more motivation to try a little harder, to be a little better.  (To borrow a line from President Hinckley) But this conference seemed even better than ever.  So much emphasis on the home, and mothers....so many great quotable quotes!!! After each session I found myself saying, this is the last speaker, really two hours had gone by so quickly.  I didn't want it to end.  We had Chad and Barbara stay with us that weekend, on Saturday we colored eggs.  On Sunday we were going to do an easter egg hunt but it started raining so we did that a few days later.  Corys family came over for dinner and we tried our our new BBQ.  All 10 of the Pope cousins were there, Sean and Kristen were on their way to Tahoe.  We lined up the kids tallest to shortest.  Another picture I need.  The ages to 11 Logan,10 Kendal,9 Keegan,8 Braden, 7 Teagan, 7 Trinity, 6 Aubrey, 5 Kyden, 3 Grayson, 3 Brinley  ....quite the line up.      Brinleys view of Conference!!!Chad sleeping through conference!!Brinley snoozing too!!

FHE and baseball

Last night as we were eating dinner Aubrey announces her plan for family night. "For family night I think we go to the park and have fun as a family, because that is what family night is all about having fun!" I remind her that while this is true, the main reason for family night is to learn about the Gospel as a family. Then Braden chimes in and reminds us, "yeah we haven't had family night in awhile. I say "I know it has been hard because your baseball games have been on Mondays, we need to be better".

(Oh I wish I had a video of the inflection of her voice and mannerisms. Writing it down will not do it justice.) But then matter of factly and not in a mean way, Aubrey says to Braden, "Yeah Braden do you want to quit baseball........... because I want to learn about Jesus!"

How can it be....my baby is THREE!!!

February 4......We had been talking about Brinleys upcoming birthday for weeks. Even the day before her birthday I was telling her no your not 3 yet. I was holding on to two as long as possible. It was so cute when she first woke up in the morning on her birthday still bleary eyed with a weak morning voiced asked me, "am I still two?" ...."NO your three now!" She had the biggest grin on her face and I had a tear in the corner of my eye. She picked out princess decorations, and lots of balloons. She wanted a real apple for her 2nd birthday last year, and this year she wanted an ipod. Quite the upgrade...but I assured her there would be no ipod. She was very excited about all her gifts, and has been riding her scooter around the house since it rained for several days after her birthday. Oh how I love this girl, she brings us so much joy, and laughter. Just a few days ago while picking up Aubrey from school I wanted her to stay in the car because it was raining...she wanted to walk in the rain, she said "I want to walk in the rain and I can stick my tongue out because I am very thirsty". I came home a few weeks ago the kids had been playing the wii, and in that game you make characters of yourself. My kids made hers very chubby. So when I came home she announced to me "mom I'm very chubby". I had to tell the other kids to stop calling her that. I love you Brinley so happy you are a part of our family!!!

I took Brinley to the party store to pick out some decorations for her birthday, when I was getting her out of the van I noticed she buckled the bag up. Must protect this precious cargo :)

We had lots of pink balloons that added a nice pink glow around the kitchen. We also have lots of hearts that we made for FHE, they each have love messages for everyone in our family.

I'm three!!!! Mastering holding three fingers like this is harder than it looks.

up for the challenge

A few weeks ago I was getting the kids ready for school. I was working on Aubrey's hair and somehow all of them congregated into my bathroom. Aubrey looks up at me, staring at me for a moment before she posed her question...."mommy can still take care of all four of us?" "UM yes"I repond back...hesistantly, "Why do you ask?" Her reponse..."Well it just looks like it is really hard for you". .....and I thought I made it look so EASY!!

Then later I was asking Kendal to remind me what exactly Aubrey said so I could write it down and she adds in a few more details from her perspective...."Well she was just looking at you with no make up, hair not done...looking exhausted....!!!" New Goal....wake up before kids, get dressed, make up on so I will looked refreshed and up for the challenge. (lets get real that is not going to happen!)

The funny papers!

I really should have a comic strip, this child gives me plenty of material...move over Family Circle!

Aubrey's comic relief for the past two weeks

Mom I have a new way of turning off my light. I jump high in the air off my bed, yell "yaba, daba doo" and then hit the light.

While going through some old clothes I had her try on a turtleneck. She got all huffy and told me "mom I don't know why you are having me try this on you know I DONT like Artichokes they CHOKE me!!!"

Kendal was telling me how much her friend likes to babysit because she gets to watch tv really late at night. One time she watched a show till 11pm. A few minutes later Aubrey chimes in that the next time she sees Kendals friend she wants to feel her forehead. I thought this was strange and asked her why. She said "to see if her brain is all mushy from all the tv she has been watching".

I was talking with Aubrey while we were driving and asking her if she was going to write Santa a letter. She said, "I don't know why we have to write him a letter. Wouldn't it be easier just to sit on his lap and just tell him what we want."

Aubrey asks me one day when she gets home from school if fat is a bad word. I say no, but sometimes it isn't a very nice word. She says, "well it is a good thing Santa isn't going to be at our Christmas program because we call him BIG and FAT!!"

While cleaning up after the kids lunch I cleared their plates. I guess Aubrey wasn't done and wondered where her chicken went. I look in the trash and it is sitting on top. I am looking at it debating whether or not to get it out and give it back to her when she tells me. "Its ok I'll eat it, I've eaten things out of the trash before."

All things come out in the wash!!!

Aw Laundry day! Well actually everyday is laundry day around here. Today it reminded me of a saying that goes something like,...everything comes out in the wash, .......here is what came out today. I can hardly wait till tommorow!

Little treasures found under Aubrey's bed while collecting laundry. Notice the broken keyboard, ornaments, crayones, little pink drink umbrellas from a party I went to and threw away, WIRE cutters (I was using in my decorating, then couldn't find them), shorts that I vowed were now off limits since it is WINTER, and her sisters blanket. Note, I just cleaned under her bed two days ago!!! Good thing I don't let this go for months on end, who knows what I would find.

Lovely socks!! What is the world does this boy have inside of his shoes. Or maybe his shoes have humugous holes in them as well. I never see him running around in just socks. Mystery! Bright side, one less pair to wash, fold, and put away. These puppies are headed straight to the trash!

How did that precious baby doll "Haley" that never leaves Brinleys side get in the middle of Bradens laundry basket? Hiding it from his sister? No, he wouldn't, would he? My guess...Aubrey once again, probably trying to frame her brother.

What in the world is that plastic stuff and what is that a hundred dollar bill? At closer examination I find that is a MEAT wrapper off of our hamburger meat we had in our dinner last night. Someone put it in our front window!!! Did some investigating....found that it was Aubrey (big surprise) She said she was trying to attract people to come to our house. I ask her....by putting a meat wrapper in the window? Her response, "well yes, AND A HUNDRED dollar bill!!!!"

This is a front window at our house, now everyone can see how much we pay for our meat!