Proud

Bella came home with this certificate a few weeks ago. Attached to it was a coupon for a free kid's meal at Chick-fil-a. She told me that she received it because she got a 100% on her phonogram

test. I was proud of her and excited to take her to Chick-fil-a to redeem her certificate.

It was only a few days later that I realized the full story behind her receiving this award...

At their school, my kids have to do testing every month. The testing is the same every month and their progress is tracked throughout the year with hopes that there will be great improvement from the beginning of the year to the end. In kindergarten, monthly testing doesn't begin until the second semester because they have so much to learn at the beginning of the year. They are tested on all of the fundamental math concepts that they have learned in class and phonograms. Phonograms are letters and combinations of letters that make up words in the English language. The kids memorize them by what sounds they make. Some phonograms have six different sounds, so it gets pretty intense. There are 70 total phonograms.

Anyway, in January the kindergardners had their first round of monthly testing. Bella got 100% on the math portion of the test AND on the phonogram portion! I only realized why this was such a big deal when her teacher stopped me at the school one day...

She told me that no other child in kindergarten has EVER gotten 100% on phonograms during the first month of testing!! I was amazed! Bella really did accomplish something great! She deserved a free meal at Chick-fil-a! :) (So did I, right? I taught her everything she knows! :) jk

It is such a great feeling as a parent to be so proud of your kids!

Way to go Bella!!!

My Best Friend

Today, Spencer was at a friend's house and I asked Sophie what she wanted for lunch. I gave her choices such as... a cheese crisp, pbj sandwich, or taquitos. All of these are things she likes to eat from home. She answered "I want Taco Bell mommy"! So, we went to Taco Bell. I pulled into the drive thru and she said "I want go inside" So we went around and went inside.

While she was sitting across the table from me eating her taco she said "You best my friends"!
I think what she meant was... "You're my best friend"!!!! Cutest thing ever!!!!!! I think I actually teared up a little...

Happy Valentine's Day

My kids wanted to make valentines this year instead of buying them.

So, we used the computer and came up with these...

(My kids chose them and designed them all, I was just the mouse mover)

There was a "Milky Way" attached to Spencer's...

Bella had Hershey's Kisses and Hugs glued on hers...

Eathan taped on Extra gum...

This card went solo... Chansey's too cool to pass out candy! :)

I feel like I should have made one for Sophie... she was totally left out of the fun!

Oh well, maybe next year.

So, from our family to yours...

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Supply and Demand

I thought that this would be a funny way of descibing how I feel lately...
Obviously, there is only one of me, but I feel like there needs to be a few more in order for my home to be a little more sane!! There is so much to do... Food to prepare, dishes, laundry, errands, grocery shopping, answering non-stop questions, field trips, school projects, homework (well maybe not right now :), love to give, affection to show, boo-boos to heal, squabbles to mediate, dressing, bathing, and then we still have to fit in fun time!!! Why can't there be more hours in a day?

Does anyone remember Senior Year Economics Class in High School? I know we probably all had an incurable case of "Senior-itis" when we were required to take this class, but think back with me if you will... Do you remember how we learned 'The Law of Supply and Demand'? That when demand goes up, prices go up? Well, if that was the case in my house, I'd would be worth a TON!! I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel like I am in really high demand lately... So much so, that there really isn't enough of me to go around. Hence, my silly collage of myself... If there was several of me, things would run much more smoothly.

Even though my kids do plenty of chores and they are pretty responsible, I find myself doing so much for them. They rely on me for so many things all day every day. Does every mom feel this way? Or do I need to cut the 'apron strings'?

I had a conversation with some girlfriends recently that made me wonder... We were talking about our morning routines and how I am not a morning person, but I manage fine because I don't have a choice. A typical school morning at our house goes something like this... I lay my kid's clothes out, I fix their hair, I make them breakfast, and I make their lunches. Then I drive them to school (or carpool does). I was definately in the minority in this group! I came to realize that most of my friends don't do all of these things. Their kids take care of themselves for the most part and they don't have such a huge role to play in their kids' morning routines. I think that's awesome, but I wondered... "Am I crazy?" I am interested to know what other moms think...

I guess in my mind I have had to answer my own questions by realizing how much I love being a mom. It's all I have ever wanted to do. We only had two kids for quite a while before Bella was born and I remember people always asked us if we were having more kids. I knew I wanted more, but wondered if I could be the involved mother that I wanted to be with 3, 4, or 5 kids. Well, I guess I can... and I am! Even though it's exhausting, I love it!! I love that my kids need me... I have a feeling that one day they will no longer rely on me so much and I will be sad about that. I have eternity to know them as grown-ups, but only a short time to know them as children. So, I want to make the most of that time and be the best mom I can be!

Even though it would be nice if there were more of me to go around, I am happy just where I'm at. (A maid or a personal chef wouldn't hurt though :) It's too bad that as mothers we don't get a monetary return on our investment. My 'supply and demand' theory would really pay off here! Hahaha!

But, the real payoff is better... Seeing my children learn and grow and love me and each other. Watching them be good kids and care for others... That's the best return I could ask for!

Happy

I've been trying to think of a way to recap the last year and a half. As a family, we've been through a lot. There have been exciting times and boring times, stressful times and relaxing times, hard times and easy times ... I think you get it. :) I would like to make a list of all the things we've done (just for fun) and post it, but that takes too much brain power for a midnight post. So, I thought of a way to recap everything in a word... HAPPY! I am so proud to report that through it all, thick and thin, I've been so happy!! Life is so great! When I think of what's really important, it is very easy for me to be happy. The unfair, confusing, and mundane aspects of life seem to quickly fall by the wayside and I am uplifted by all of the wonderful things that I have. Even though life gets hectic and I lose my cool every once in a while, it's really easy to come back to happy when there are so many good things around me. Here are some pictures that I found that show me being happy. I rarely post pictures of myself, so this is a little out of my comfort zone... I'm 100% sure that I am the LEAST photogenic person that I have ever met

Easter '10

Disneyland Oct. '10 Who isn't happy at D-land on "It's a Small World"? My friend snapped this picture when she lovingly photographed our family at an impromptu 'Christmas Card' photoshoot. Todd's been making me laugh for the last 12 1/2 years... it's impossible not to be happy when you live with this guy! Here is a brief list of things that make me happy every day... 5 Kids that wake up happy every morning 5 kids that love to snuggle 1 husband that might be the hardest worker I know A Clean Kitchen (or entire house when possible) Studying the Scriptures and other Doctrine Teaching (institute, primary, or regular ol' mom-teaching :) Watching my children learn things Family Dinner Together every night Tucking my kids in bed

The list could go on and on... there are millions of things in my life that I have to be thankful for, but these are my favorites. These are the things that keep me going day in and day out.

If life is treating you unfairly and it's hard to be happy, make your own list. Start simple, write down things that make you happy that actually happen regularly. Leave out things like romantic walks on the beach, breakfast in bed, and shopping with no budget. Focus on the things that you do and have everyday that are wonderful. If we spend time thinking of all of the things that we wish we had, we lose sight of what's right in front of us. If we focus on the things that we "didn't get done" we forget about all of the wonderful things that the Lord blesses us with the strength to do everyday. There were times in my life when this list would've looked very different. That's ok... there's a time and a season for everything! There are always positive things to find even in the most crazy times!!!

I am thankful that I am able to find so much joy in motherhood. There is nothing else that I would rather do...

Life isn't perfect, but it sure is awesome!!

Is Anyone There?!

Wow! It's been too long... Life over the last year and a half has afforded me no time to blog. In a way I am sad about it because all of the things that have happened have been 'undocumented'. Blogging is my best method of 'journaling' and I haven't been doing it, so I tend to feel like a failiure. As soon as I start to feel that way though, I come back to reality... I realize that the things I have been doing are WAY more important... and then I'm ok with it. I'm over it!! I have pictures and memories (which I need to write down) and I don't have to feel bad anymore!! That being said... I LOVE to blog... I LOVE to write... I LOVE to share, so I want to blog. I am just going to pretend like I didn't skip a year and a half and start again. No hard feelings! :) So, if you're out there... reading this, let me know! It's interesting to find out if anybody is still paying attention to my stale blog. Also, if you are paying attention, I hope you are pleased with what you see from here on out...

More Old Posts...

I have got to change the way I am keeping my blog!! I'm having major issues...

1. I am still trying to catch up from all of the stuff I didn't post for the last year.
2. I am trying to post things in chronological order.
3. I am waiting to post current events until all the old stuff is done.

NONSENSE!!! I am wasting time... I am just going to post things in random order. I want to document all of our life's major/fun happenings and I don't care what order they're in anymore!! So, happy reading... I hope to be caught up soon and then stay that way... wish me luck!!!