"Everything is Awesome"

February Recap

It's funny how moving some furniture around can make a room fresh and new.  Noah's room used to be the playroom, so it hasn't ever really felt like it belongs to him.  Someday we will repaint and make it special just for him.  But for now, moving his bed is my cheap fix.

 John was so sweet to come and help us decorate for New Beginnings.  I love dressing up the gym to make our young women feel special.

The most amazing thing about El Paso are the people you meet.  Ethan is learning this at a really young age.  Cohen and David are his best buds right now.  And it helps that I get to hang out with their mommas while he is on his play date.   

I'm on a smoothie health kick.  Berry Spinach with Chia Seeds....MmmmMmmmMmmm. 

"Skinny and Lean in 2014"

Friday Nights are the best.  Popcorn and M & M's, a Redbox, no homework and I don't have to make school lunches!

Luke and Ashley were both honored as STAR Student of the month.  Makes a momma proud to walk down the halls at school and see your kids faces smiling back at you.

Noah's Valentines Day box turned out awesome.  Captain Jack Sparrow is steering the ship.  "Me Hearties" I love working on school projects that I know they are going to be proud of.

We took the kids out of school early before Valentines Day to head to Arizona for Katelyns baptism.  Got about an hour out of town and the van broke down.  We were on the side of the highway for hours until Justin, our knight in shining armor, came to rescue us.  The tow truck finally got there and we headed back home.  Then we chucked our luggage into the truck and tried our AZ trip for the second time.  This time we made it.  It was fun driving with all the kids close by.  Little bit of a tight squeeze, but fun.

They love destroying grandmas house.  She has the best toys.

We got to attend the Gilbert temple open house.  So beautiful.  Can't wait to be inside a temple with all those kids for real someday.

Luke is obsessed with photo bombing. 

Aunt Ashley sends her love to us.  Snapdragons were her favorite flowers and they cover the grounds of the temple. 

"See ya later Ashley" 

Luke was so excited to see the Lego Movie.  In fact when the van broke down, he was mostly worried about not getting to see the movie more so than missing the trip.  Silly boy.

Since the kids missed their Valentine parties at school we had them decorate Valentines for each other.  

Stud muffin. He got new sun glasses for his sensitive eyes.

 "The sun is getting me"  

Ben and Ruth had a birthday party for Gavin while we were there. 

Eric's fish tank never gets old.

We had a fun adult V-Day party.  Here we are trying to eat apples hung from a string.  No hands allowed.  Team work was key.

Cup stacking challenge.  Luke helped show us how an expert does it.

 

Ashley lost her first tooth.  Not only did she lose it, but she lost it.  It popped out while she was opening her water bottle out on the playground and it was lost for good.  Good thing the tooth fairy compensated her for it.  

 I didn't get a picture of my beautiful niece Katelyn on her baptism day.   But I am oh so proud of her.  Such a sweet girl.  Mark my words, she is going to be a special force for good in this world. 

Shoppin' with my E.  It's great having him to myself all day.  He makes for an excellent grocery shopping partner.

John surprised me with a Blondie from Applebees late one night.  He let Ashley sneak out of bed to have some. Nose kiss.

Noah got his Bobcat.  He loves being in scouts now too.  On the way to church on his first Tuesday night he said, "I didn't know you could be excited and scared at the same time!"

 This picture has a story behind it.  We were sitting in the drive thru at Little Caesars.  Luke pulled out my phone and started taking pictures.  He took this one and then started adding filters to it and made it black and white.  He showed me the picture and said "Look mom, it's Pepsi in the 80's"  I had an epiphany at that moment that the 80's to him, are like the 50's to me.  The 80's aren't that long ago but the 50's are. Guess I'm getting old because in Luke's eyes, the 80's are a long time ago.

Baptism and Birthdays

Happy New Year! 

For me, the problem with blogging is procrastination, laziness and trying to make it perfect.  But all that is going to change this year.  I have set up a simple goal of posting once a month this year.  Recapping all my favorite little memories of the month.  Looking back on all my posts, I'm sad about all the things that didn't get recorded this past year.  Cross your fingers I stay on top of this new year resolution. Keeping it simple.  

Why is it that organizing one thing can set you on fire to continue cleaning.  I love to organize.  Check out my newly labeled pantry. Here's to 2014, a year of Flying.

Luke made banana bread muffins all by himself.  I tend to do too much for my kids and not give them an opportunity to learn, but this time was different.  I can tell you, and my mom who was on Face Time can attest, he followed the recipe and cracked the eggs and measured the flour and "dumped" the oil and mashed the bananas and made a crumb topping and even put them in the oven all by himself.  He had such a feeling of accomplishment and I was one proud mama!   

John's parents came in town.  We had a busy week of just regular school stuff, scouts, homework, and ice cream eating.  We really didn't have time to do any "fun" stuff.  Except we did manage to make it to see the legendary comedian Bill Cosby preform at the Abraham Chavez Theater.  It was a fun week.

Mom got herself a smart phone.  She has been wanting one since the last time she was here.  Check out that "big" screen. 

My birthday boys.  (10 and 8 years old)
 Football themed party due to Luke's current obsession.  He has developed a sincere devotion to the game. We added Mega Bloks "Halo Guys" to the cake.  Noah could play with those things all day.

Baptism Day January 18, 2014
Noah has such a sweet desire to do good.  He is always emptying the dishwasher without being asked.  He loves to help out.  He plays so well with Ashley all the time.  He has a very creative mind.  Noah is the type of kid that can look at the clouds and find a whole new realm of imagination.  He is a very, very inspiring soul to be around. We found out earlier this school year his is struggling with Dyslexia.  He is doing so much better with extra classes to help him.  He should be able to graduate from the course in 4 to 5 years.  (Dang, where was that when I was a kid, hopefully he will get the help that he needs so he won't be terrified to read in public like his mama.) 

"Noah's Ark" tie from Grandma and Grandpa Larson

His oatmeal and toast sandwich creation.  Haha

Luke never takes naps, but for some reason he did the other day.  He woke up at bedtime.  We got to spend that whole night together, just the two of us.  He helped me check everything off my bedtime routine list, except take the trash out, because that is usually his job and he told me I had to do it.

We got to doggie sit for Keith and Joy.  We found a new home for our Penny back in November.  We had her for a whole year.  Try as we might, it didn't work out for us. She was defiantly a learning experience for me.  Dogs are a lot of work, especially when they are as crazy as Penny. I will forever wonder how she turned out to be.  

Bella was such a fun pup to have around for the weekend.  Ashley and Noah were obsessed with holding her.

Ashely and I went out for some girl time while the boys stayed home and hung out.  We went to Arby's for dinner and then headed to Ross to do some shopping and when I say "some" I mean it was payday with holiday pay on it. We really enjoyed ourselves.  Ashley found herself some Sketchers twinkle toes.  She has worn them everyday since and we both got some new dresses for church.  By the end she was all tuckered out. When we came out of the store she said, "I knew it, the sun has gone down!" 

Till next month...

P.S. To sum up Ethans month, "Lukey. . . . Homework, Nono. . . . Homework, Ashee. . . . Homework, Efin. . . . ipad" haha
That kid makes me smile everyday.