Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to School We Go

Sent 3 of my 4 kids back to school this morning.  Well, technically Isaac went back yesterday.

Jared is in 8th, Isaac in 7th and Amelia is in 4th.  Clara starts her second year of preschool after Labor Day.

Take a trip down memory lane with our other back to school pictures.

Lunch with the Kids

A couple Saturday's ago, I decided to take the kids to lunch.  Nathan was working and I needed to get out of the house.  I wanted to do something out of the ordinary, so I took them to +Buffalo Wild Wings.

This is about how the entire lunch looked from my perspective:

So many TV monitors for them to watch.

The only child who paid attention to me, was this one:

So we took some selfies...

 At least all of the kids were quiet and entertained.  :)

Pumpkin Carving for FHE

Last night the kids carved pumpkins into jack-o-laterns for family home evening.  

I was interested to see how Clara would do with cleaning out the pumpkin since she has serious issues with getting her hands sticky and slimy.  She was pretty careful about how she put her hand inside the pumpkin, but seemed to enjoy the whole experience.

Nathan helped Clara carve her pumpkin.

I tried to convince Clara to put her cleaned out pumpkin on her head like a hat, but she refused.  Isaac complied.

Amelia took to longest to clean out her pumpkin and draw the face and cut it out.  She wanted it just right!

I loved that the boys could finally do this type of project with minimal help and guidance from Nathan and I.

Here are the finished masterpieces.

Clara's jack-o-latern.  We've dubbed it "Mike Wazowski".

Amelia's "angry jack-o-lantern".

Jared's "mean guy"

And Isaac's almost finished jack-o-lantern.  His will have pumpkin guts coming out of it's mouth on Halloween night.

Here are a couple of video clips of Clara telling me she is going to use her pumpkin as a pot to make potions to turn into a vampire and witch - complete with evil laugh.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Three Things Thursday

1. A picture Jared drew from a Ratchet & Clank game cover.

2. Some pictures of a few of the kids playing a game prior to Family Home Evening.

3. I was reading the next chapter in the Joseph Fielding Smith manual, I came across this gem.  Something I really need to remember and put into practice... especially at home.

First Weekend in February

After a bit of a rough start to our Saturday, we got chores completed.

I taught Jared and Isaac a little bit of piano and then listened to them practice.

Then we decided to head down to the gas station to get treats.  The kids all brought their money and bought their own.  I love to see what they pick to buy with their own money.  Apparently they all like sour gummy things, except Clara who opted for Swedish Fish (nasty!!)

I just got a drink.

Nathan worked all day Saturday and didn't get home until late, so unfortunately there aren't any pictures of him.

Once he was home and the kids were in bed, we got caught up +Downton Abbey - PBS Masterpiece Classic via Amazon Instant Video.  He always says he doesn't like those types of shows, but he always get sucked into them with me. :)

After church on Sunday, we headed over to Nathan's parent's house for our monthly family dinner.  Since it was also the Superbowl, dinner was little more casual than usual, but yummy nonetheless.

The game was boring and Jared and Isaac were bummed out that the Broncos didn't win.

I was there for the food, so I was happy!

Clara got bored also and spent her time taking pictures with my phone.  I ended up with these gems.

Christmas Eve Celebrations

 Nathan and I have started a few Christmas Eve Traditions of our own.  First, we go to lunch at a restaurant - this year we went to +Olive Garden.

Then we were off to see "Frozen" at the movie theater.

Later that evening, we went to Shane and Roni's house to eat food, hang out, and open pajamas.

 

AFS Christmas Party 2013

This past Saturday we went to Hollywood Connection for Grandma's annual work Christmas party.  I took the kids by myself because Nathan needed to get some things done.

We met up with Grandma and a bunch of the cousins and rode rides.  Clara spent some time hanging out with Uncle Eric.

The kids also got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  Clara flatly refused to sit on his lap but did yell at him what she wanted for Christmas.  I couldn't even get her to stand by him so I could take a picture.

After riding rides and watching a magic show, we watched Disney's Frozen.  It was a really cute movie with a great message and the kids really seemed to enjoy it.

There was Crying Over the Spilled Milk

See that white stuff?  That is a whole gallon of milk spilled on my newly purchased groceries and and freshly mopped kitchen floor.

Clara was trying to help me put away the groceries.  She picked up a gallon milk and was trying to bring it over to the fridge when she dropped it, blowing out the side of the carton.  I quickly ran over and grabbed the still gushing gallon, but it was too late.

When it first happened, I felt myself boiling, I could feel myself about to explode.  I looked at Clara who had retreated to bury her head in the couch.  I took a deep breath and grabbed my camera and snapped the above picture.  

Even though I lovingly reassured my baby that I knew it was an accident and that I wasn't mad at her, she cried.

I asked Amelia to run and get our stack of beach towels.  Isaac and Amelia helped me to pick up the wet groceries and sacks and set them on the towels.  Normally I keep the sacks to recycle for our garbages, but not this day!

I wish that I could say that I remained calm during the whole clean-up process, but unfortunately I didn't. There was a little bit of yelling when Isaac picked up one particularly soggy sack and walked across the kitchen floor - milk dripping the entire way.  There were also some exasperated and cross words when Amelia only brought 1 towel to clean up the mess.

I am not hoping for more spilled milk (there is still a foggy residue left on my kitchen floor even after mopping 3 times), but I am hoping that if there is a next time, I will handle my emotions better for the clean up.  I am hoping that I can speak more clearly about what I need so that my other kids, (the ones who had nothing to do with the mess, but are willingly trying to help clean it up) aren't getting chewed out for not following directions precisely.  

And really, there isn't any use in crying over spilled milk.  There isn't any good done by yelling at the kids who are trying to help.  It just took a little time and effort to clean up the mess.  It was an accident and I have good kids who wanted to help make the situation better.  I need to remember that a little more next time.

Not So Cavity Free...

We made our semi-annual visit to the dentist yesterday and I almost forgot to take a picture!  Can you believe the horror!  It has sort of become a tradition for me to post a post-dental visit picture to the blog.

Unfortunately, Mr Isaac had a cavity, so he was ostracized from our "cavity-free" picture this time.  Better luck brushing next time bud!

Here is the cavity-free crew, a little blurry, showing off their teeth.

Super proud of Clara for actually letting the hygienist clean her teeth this time!

Halloween 2013

Jared as an old man.

Isaac as a zombie.

Amelia as Dracula's wife.

Clara as a little devil.

With the exception of Clara, I let the kids pick their costumes this year.  I also told them that they needed to get together/make them.  I think they did a great job.  I did help with the makeup.

School Pictures 2013-2014

Jared - 6th grade - 12 years old

Isaac - 5th grade - 10 years old

Amelia - 2nd grade - almost 8 years old

Clara - 3 years old

If you are interested in comparing them to last year, click here.