No More Mullet!

Well, we decided it was time to get rid of Samuel's mullet hairdo. I love his curly hair in the back, but he was starting to look like a redneck. He did NOT like having his haircut at all. Screamed and cried until dad just stood and held him while she finished.

 Whew! All done....and my baby looks like a little boy now! :-(

Halloween

I am slow posting pictures- I know. These are from Halloween. This year Logan was a soldier (again- it's his favorite...), Claire was an 80's girl, and Sam was a cow. Sam cried every time I put his costume on him. He wasn't quite sure what to think about it. He did enjoy digging out the seeds from the pumpkins.

 This year I took the kids and a couple of their friends over to Jordan Landing to trick or treat for about an hour. I have lived here seven years and have never taken them over there. It wasn't too bad. The weather couldn't have been any better. Didn't even need to wear a jacket. It was perfect! The day after Halloween was rainy and cold.

 While the kids were out trick or treating in the neighborhood, Sam and I stayed home and ate chili and handed out candy to the billions of trick or treaters that we get.

 Here are the "kids" pumpkin carvings.... They picked and/or drew the designs and I got to cut them out. Oh what fun on my most favorite holiday.....

Nathan's Priest Ordination

Nathan was ordained as a Priest last Sunday. I am so proud of him. Spence gave him a wonderful blessing. Didn't get any pictures of the two of them together because Spence got called out to do some transports. We had dinner at our house afterwards with my dad and Spence's mom.

Nater and Sadie Hawkins

My Nathan is going to be 16 in a week! I can't even believe it. I can't be that old can I?? Last week a girl named Katelyn called me to see if she could come over and decorate his room and ask him to Sadie Hawkins which is on November 12th. I said sure! So I told Nathan he better get his room cleaned and that he has to come to volleyball with me. He smiled and said I was kind of obvious. Sorry- I am new at this stuff! When we returned his room was filled with balloons and streamers and Katelyn had left a Cinderella type poem asking him to the dance. She left two slippers- one with a "yes" on it and one with a "no" on it. He was to return the one with his answer on it.

After about 4 days I found out that it wasn't the Katelyn that I thought that had asked him to the dance. His best friend is Katelyn Gilley so I assumed it was her. I guess he has met another Katelyn at school!

We made a plan as to how we would return the slipper. I (um- I mean he) wrote a poem and we cut the bottom of a pumpkin out and slid the slipper inside of it and replaced bottom of pumpkin. We attached cardboard wheels and the mice from cinderella to make a carriage, then left it on her porch. I think it turned out pretty good....

Here's the poem we attached:

Once upon a time there was a prince named Nathan,

Who met a cute girl at charm school one day.

Together they shared many laughs and had fun-

But as the clock struck midnight the girl hurried away.

The prince wanted to see the mystery girl some more,

But without knowing her name was with dismay.

The clue left behind was the slipper she wore-

So to search the kingdom the prince went on his way.

After trying the slipper on many hopeful girls' feet,

Prince Nathan was filled with much sorrow.

When alas- his heart leapt and skipped a beat-

He saw his mystery princess down the hollow!

Princess Katelyn then did ask him to the Sadie's ball,

And Prince Nathan was not afraid to joke a little.

So in response to her delightful call-

Placed her slipper in the pumpkin middle!

If the Princess wants to know the Prince's reply,

She must open and search through the seeds.

Prince Nathan can sometimes be a little sly-

But likes it when the girl takes the lead!

Here's our carriage.....

I just don't know if I am ready for my son to start dating.....

Nathan is in the West Jordan Take Ten choir this year. It's an all boys choir. He has loved it and loves his teacher Mr. DeHaan. It is his favorite class. They had their first concert last week. Here is Nathan in his tuxedo. I can't believe they have to dress up so nice for choir! Things have sure changed since I was in school.... The concert was great. Can't wait for their Christmas performance.

I love you Nater and am so proud of the fine young man you have become. :-)

First Day of School 2011-12

NATHAN

Nathan is a SOPHOMORE (!!) this year at West Jordan High. I can't believe I am old enough to have a son in high school. I know I don't look it. :-) He decided to attend this school and not the one that his junior high feeds into. He has already made lots of friends. His FAVORITE class is CHOIR. He is in the "all boys" choir. He really loves his teacher Mr. DeHaan. He is also taking seminary, pre-calculus, AP Psychology, Honors History, drivers ed and language arts.

Nathan has his learners permit drivers license and so far seems to be doing a good job driving. (At least with me.) I have learned to calm down a bit when he is driving the car. I cannot believe he will be 16 next month and will be dating and be blessing the Sacrament. He is such a good kid- although still has his "teenage moments." :-)

LOGAN

Logan started 4th grade at Westland Elementary and was so excited this year to have a male teacher. He has a lot of friends in his class from last year. He is excited to be in the "upper grades" in elementary now- although that means a bit more homework and more required reading time. Logan does NOT like to read. I keep checking out different books at the library to find something that interests him- but so far no luck. Hopefully he will learn to enjoy it and not think of it as a chore.

On the 5th morning of school, Logan was bragging to Claire about how Mr. Sagers lets them do ANYTHING in their class. They don't have to follow all the school rules. (We were talking about dress code at the time because Claire insisted on wearing a tank top to school.) Logan said kids wear them in his class and don't get in trouble. That afternoon when I picked the kids up from school, we were waiting for Logan for 15 minutes. He came out, got in car and slammed door shut and said it was the worse day ever. Mr. Sagers made him and some friends MISS their recess, AND they had to stay AFTER SCHOOL for 15 minutes for talking in class. I laughed and said "I thought you could do anything in your class Logan!" He said everyone just kept talking to him and MAKING him talk. I just chuckled....

CLAIRE

Claire started 2nd grade also at Westland Elementary. She is still one of the tallest in her grade. She likes her teacher, Mrs. Glazier. She kind of had a rough first week because she doesn't like one of the kids that she sits by in her group. He isn't quite "socially" as mature as she is and acts out some in class and has even cried a few times. She was suddenly getting stomach aches and complaining that she hates school. I turned it into a teaching moment and told her that all through life we will be around people that irritate us or that we just don't care for that much, but we have to learn to tolerate them and get along with them. I told her she should just try and take the opportunity to help this other student out if he seems to be getting frustrated or doesn't understand something. I told her she needs to make an effort and change her attitude towards him. She has come home on several occasions and told me of different things she did to help him out. I am so glad she is happier now.

Claire is still very social and has lots of friends. She thinks she is older than just 7 at times. After spending the day shopping with two of her cousins who are 12, she came home and told me that she needs a BRA. She was digging through my drawer to find one that would fit her. (She probably could have found one!) I told her she wasn't quite ready for that yet...Hope I survive this one!

I have enjoyed my days home with SAMUEL. He definitely keeps me busy- but is my little buddy. He LOVES his blankie and bottle and his favorite time of day is naptime when he gets to cuddle with me. He gets so excited when I am fixing his bottle. He runs to go get his blanket. He is so damn cute.....and spoiled. Of course he is still sleeping in my bed. Oh well- he's the last one so I will just try and enjoy it. :-)

Some Day....

Ah sweet blog....some day I will make a new post. Unfortunately today isn't the day. Husband and baby out on the front porch so think I will go join them and enjoy the perfect evening. :-)

10

Can you believe Samuel is walking already?? Wow- where did the time go? He just turned 10 months old on April 1st and was walking about a week before that...and he still doesn't have any teeth. Things about Samuel right now:

- still spitting...i just love picking baby food out of my hair and off my face.

- making messes with anything he can. Loves throwing everything out of the drawers and cupboards.

- still sleeping with mom and dad most of the night. (ugh!)

- still getting ear infections. He's had 4 so far this year. Thinking tubes in ears are next...

- tries to make it to the top of the stairs by the time someone gets him.

- throws himself back and arches his back when he wants his way. Also has this fake little cry that is hilarious. Can't believe how quickly they learn those things.

- loves licorice....and diet pepsi....especially for breakfast. :-)

The Power of an M&M

My kids have been AWFUL lately to one another. The fighting and name calling has seemed never ending. Seems from the moment they get in the car to go to school and the second they get back in the car when I pick them up there is constant bickering. It has had my stomach in knots and creates so much tension in the home. I found I was constantly screaming and hollering at them to knock it off.

I guess it takes me being fed up with something to have a family night. I am not the best about doing regular FHE. (I know- maybe if I had regular FHE then I would be having these problems...) So I found the perfect lesson on kindness to present to the kiddos Monday night. I put each of their pictures on a jar and put some M&M's in a jar with a smiley face to represent the nice words/acts and put buttons in a jar with frowny face to represent all the naughty stuff. We role played some of the words that the kids love to say to one another like "You're an Idiot!", or "You're retarded.", or "I hate you and wish you weren't part of this family." The list could go on and on. I told them if I heard those words then I would put a button in their jar. If I heard kind words or saw acts of kindness then I would put an M&M in their jar. After one week they could get the candy from their jar. I also told them if there was any physical fighting then I would dump out all the candy from their jar and they had to start over. I ended the lesson with this wonderful little article by Jeffrey Holland.

Well let me just tell you- so far it is nothing but kindness in our home! Claire will do anything for that M&M. She counts how many she has and panicks if I even threaten of putting a button in her jar. Tells me she will do chores to rid of the button. If it looks like an argument may be coming I simply say "Button button, who's going to get the button?" :-)

I hope to make this last as long as I can....

Saturday, March 12, 2011.....Well, it was good the few days it lasted. Claire says (as she got entire jar of candy dumped out...) "I'm not playing that STUPID jar game anymore."

WARNING

DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS!

Samuel got into the pantry and dumped out the entire bag of pretzel sticks. Guess he made his own version of the game "Pick Up Sticks" for mom.



I forgot to shut the door to the dog food, and this is what I found about an hour later....



Luckily he hasn't started eating the dog food yet. The kids always ask what I do all day long while they are at school. I pretty much chase Samuel around! This day he went through two outfits- as well as me. I made the mistake of carrying him around when he had poopy diaper. Didn't know it had leaked out- so it was all over my shirt. (Gross- I know!) I had also been spit up on during the day too. I feel like all I do is follow Sam around and pick up after him. (No different than any of the other kids!) He loves to pull everything out of the drawers and pantry. Seems his second round of antibiotics are working because he has all of his energy back!

I Didn't Do It Mom!

I don't think my plant is going to survive Samuel. :-) Sam discovered how fun it is to rip the leaves off of the plant and tear them in little pieces. He also discovered there is dirt in the pot and how fun it is to play in it and throw it all over the floor. He is so funny. I will see him crawling towards the plant and sit and say "No no Samuel." He just stops, turns, and looks at me and smiles and then continues on to the plant. He knows exactly what he's doing. LOL

I can't believe he is already 8 months old! He has been crawling for about 5 weeks now. In the past 3 weeks he has become so mobile. Seems like it happened overnight. He is into everything! He walks around the coffee table, loves it when I have the dishwasher down, and has found the dog food that I had to move out of the kitchen. He crawled up all the stairs a few days ago so now I have to watch him around them. He's my little spoiled buddy. He has the biggest smile and brings so much joy to our family. He especially loves his big brother Nathan. It's so cute to see him want Nathan to hold him.

Samuel has been sick- he has both ears and eyes infected. He HATES taking his medicine. It takes an army to hold him down and make him swallow it. His worse enemy is a Kleenex. I will be glad when he starts feeling better.