Kids Say

Today seemed like an appropriate day to update this (plus it's been over a month and my phone has already erased some).

Annie to me, "Do you remember things sometimes?"  Me, "Yes."  Annie, "I didn't know that!"

Alex had a bloody nose one day and he was showing me how some dried blood was on his bedsheets, "I had a blow out!"

Alex, "Wicket (the dog) is in mischief!"  Me, "No he's not."  Alex, "Yes he is.  He put his foot on my chair!"

Alex had a dream one night that some dinosaurs ate his favorite blankie.  In the dark I reassured him that we'd find it or get him a new one.  The next day he suddenly remembered it, "The dinosaur ate my blankie!  We have to get a new one!"  His dream was so real that he stressed about it for the next few nights until Jim finally explained to him that all the dinosaurs were dead and that Heavenly Father would keep them away.  So now when Alex goes to bed he reassures himself by telling us, "Dinosaurs dead!  Heavenly Father keep the dinosaurs dead."

Logan while we were looking at the elephant at the circus, "You know, elephants can be a little stinky."

Logan in an accusatory tone, "Mom!  I'm six going on seven!" 

Annie, "Is it important that you have a double chin?"

Alex watched me use some body spray one morning before church.  When I sprayed some on my arms he asked, "Your arms all better now?"

Alex has been putting the phrase 'really bad' on the end of everything he wants to emphasize.  It's hilarious because he usually uses it wrong.  He'll say things like, "I'm big really bad!"  "I reach really bad (except meaning really well)!"

Alex's description of the air conditioning, "It's cold on the heat!"

Jim and I were having a discussion about athletics, and I made the comment that sprinting can give me an asthma attack.  Logan immediately perked up and asked, "How do you play asthma tag?"

The kids were given suckers at the bank one day.  Then while we were driving I thanked them for being good and asked them to continue being good.  Logan's response, "We are.  In fact, we're sharing our suckers!"

Annie, "I am not a forgetting girl.  I'm not."

Me, "Alex, stay inside."  Alex, "Why?  It's snowing remember????"

Logan, "SNOW!!  White flakes are flickering down from the sky!!"  This said on April 19th...

Alex in the middle of a regular day at home, "It's time to go!"  Me, "Where?"  Alex, "To the new library!"

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely mothers I know, and especially to my own dear mother and mother-in-law.  I love you Mom and Audrey!  I wrote a couple of posts to my parents and my in-laws a few months back, and I think this is a great time to share them again.  You can read those posts here and here. 

 

My children have been wishing me a happy day for a week now.  Last Sunday they made me cards and were so excited that they couldn't wait to give them to me.  :)  Then on Monday Logan picked me this lovely weed bouquet (dandelions and creeping charlie) and presented it to me telling me it was for Mother's Day.  Hee hee. 

Last night the kids were planning to be extra obedient today as my gift, and they have been!  They also went to bed quietly last night allowing me to get the baby to bed easier than usual (that was per my request).  Church was great today.  The baby was content at all the right times, and the men substituted in Primary allowing all of the women serving there to attend Relief Society.  I rather enjoyed the chance to attend Relief Society.  Today Jim has been extra helpful with the kids and he's making us dinner of my choosing.  It's in the oven now and smells wonderful!  I'm looking forward to a nice meal and then cuddling with my family for a movie this evening. 

Circus

I've been talking about wanting to take the kids to a circus for years, so when Jim saw some buy one get one coupons for a circus last week we decided to do it.  It was a really fun outing.  We arrived early for the 'pre-show party' only to find out that it was just a way for them to double their money.  They had pony rides, elephant rides, camel rides, face painting, snake photos, and a bounce house.  All were outrageously priced!  The kids were disappointed that we wouldn't pay for any of that, but we explained that they were pretty lucky that we'd paid for the circus in the first place!  They still had fun looking at the animals.  We also had the best seats in the house since we were early: center, front row!

Most of the acts were pretty cool.  These tigers were huge!  That animal trainer was crazy to be in there with seven tigers!

Alex kept growling at the tigers.  He was super enthralled about everything.

The elephant was my favorite act.  Watching an enormous animal walk on a barrel and balance on her front legs amazed me.

There were also some pretty impressive (though scantily clad) acrobats, two clown acts which were pretty funny, motorcyclists inside a cage (scary!!), dancing, and this Chinese guy balancing pottery on his head (interesting and impressive).  The kids loved all of it, though Annie had to point out every time someone was dressed immodestly (I could have done without that as well).  I'm glad she's so conscientious.  Abby either slept or nursed through the whole thing, so she made it easy on us as well.  I'm glad we had the chance to do this!

Alex

This kid is something else!  He is hilarious and exasperating at the same time.  Some of his ideas during the past few weeks have included: peeing down the laundry chute, peeing in the dining room just for fun, making a mess with a gallon of milk over the carpet, stripping down naked in the backyard, using a window screen as a bridge (amazingly he didn't break it!), digging up our yard with a real shovel, and making a mess of anything his siblings try to clean up.

 

After he stripped naked in the backyard, he dressed himself and went back outside.  I didn't see him before he went out, but this is how he looked.

He was playing dress up with Annie one day.

And he gave me some peace that same day.  I have been extremely grateful that he has been enjoying our read aloud time lately; I guess it was pretty relaxing this day.

Garden Time

For FHE on Monday we planted our garden.  Sorry for the blurry pictures; I've been taking most of my pictures with my phone lately because it's much more convenient.  :(

 

The kids were eager to help break up the soil.

Jim turned the soil and I planted.  We'd started several plants inside weeks previous so I transferred those.  As of today, it looks like about half have died.  :(  It's a good thing I planted extra seeds too!  Here's hoping they grow.

Family Day

Last Saturday we decided to have a fun day out which is something we haven't done in a very long time.  Life has been so busy lately!  We went to a chalk art festival about 20 minutes away.  Unfortunately, we didn't have the foresight to realize that the chalk creations would be 'in process' the morning we went, but it was still fun to get out.  We attempted to go back that evening to see the finished creations, but arrived right as a major downpour started.  I'm guessing they were washed away.

 

Anyway, we did enjoy watching this juggler, and the weather was quite comfortable.

The kids thought the juggler was awesome.

Baby Snuggles

Jim is famous for taking naps with our babies; these kids are lucky to get so much Daddy cuddle time.

I needed to set Abby down briefly one day, so Logan laid down next to her to keep her happy.  Much to my surprise he put her to sleep! 

Happy May Day

Another sure sign that I'm no longer pregnant: I do fun extra things with the kids.  Happy May Day today!  Now to solve the problem of delivering treats without a vehicle (our van is in the shop)...

Spring Outing

Not only is it feeling like spring (most days anyway) but it's finally starting to look like spring!  Admittedly the trees here are still largely bare, but some are showing new growth.  I think we can finally plant the garden!  Yay!

Yesterday we had our first shorts day and took a walk down to the river.  I'm gradually working up to outings with four kids here.  :)  It was a good little walk.

The kids had fun throwing pebbles into the water.  They even attracted four geese with the little splashes!  The term 'silly goose' now has logical meaning for me. 

Abby slept through the whole thing.

We were all fairly warm, but not miserable, once we arrived home.  Popsicles were in order.

Family of Six

Abby went to church for the first time on Sunday.  Here she is all dressed up.  I absolutely love having a real live baby doll to dress up right now.  :)

We also took our first family picture.  Considering we snapped it very quickly via remote as we were running out the door, I'm pretty happy with it.

Big Brother

I caught Alex pretending to be like me the other day and I thought it was super cute.  Here he has his baby swaddled with the nursing pillow and he's rocking her.  He's been much more gentle than I anticipated with Abby so far.  I'm glad he has more of a nurturing instinct than I thought!