Harry Potter

I am not "with it" in lots of areas. Books and movies are both in that category. I'm not a reader, so never read Twilight or Hunger Games. (Although, I was forced to go see Hunger Games movie.)

BUT, I can now say that I know what Quidditch, Gryffindor, and Muggles are! My oldest, Koby has recently been interested in Harry Potter. He has friends and a cousin who talk about it a lot. He had only seen parts of a few of the movies. So, we decided to read the books together. It's been so great to lay on his bed with him and read most nights. He always begs for one more chapter. And, most of the time I cave. We have now completed the first two books and movies. I will continue to enjoy this bonding time with my son for as long as it lasts.

Will work for football cards

Spencer wanted to buy more football cards....college football cards. I guess they are special? He knew they were $3.18 so decided he would go to work to earn some money (lucky for me he didn't ask to just use the money he already has in his piggy bank). He was so cute about it, even making this to-do list for himself...

Chores to do

...weeds

...laundry

...clean basement

...vacuum

...keep room clean

...be nice to clay

...mow lawn

He worked really hard for that $3 and I got a weed-free front yard!

Beautiful Life

I am in an incredibly busy time of life. I'm not complaining. But, because of this, some things suffer. Blogging is one of them. But, blogging is also sometimes the only "journaling" I do. If I tried to catch up on all that I've missed, I would just overwhelm myself. So, a few random ramblings...

First to mention, my baby turned 2! I still threaten to change her name to Ivy like I wanted. It's hard to name a baby in a hormonal, drugged state. She is hilarious, sweet and fun. I had three boys and was just fine having another one. I didn't realize how much I needed a girl. Plus, it has really been the coolest thing to watch my husband with her. It's been like watching him have a first baby all over again. Although, sometimes I think I'm jealous of her:) She is independent. I always say that if I died or passed out, she would be just fine until B got home from work. She can do most things for herself. It is messy when she tries to change her own diaper, though.

My first baby is 9 1/2. The next is 8 . They are big boys. I literally jump sometimes when they walk by or walk in the room because I think there is an adult male stranger in my house! They are stinky and in that funny teeth stage. But, we love them and love that they are still young enough to be with us almost all the time. We put them to bed every night, tucking them in, reading, etc. Our new house allows all of us to sleep on the same level and I will have it that way as long as possible.

I must mention something about my soon-to-be-kindergartner. He is a joy. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him immediately. I am not exaggerating. I will be sad to send him to school, but he will love it. He is our translator for the baby when we can't understand her. He has a finger full of warts (what a boy!) that his sister calls bubbles. He has lots of friends, but prefers to play at home with them (mamma's boy...I'm ok with it).

Recently I've been around several women who complain about their husband (not any close friends, just happened to be around these women). I can't think of one thing about my husband to complain about. I am lucky!

Life is Good!

Groundhog Day

This morning I stirred when B left me with a kiss. The house was still dark and quiet (like every morning)

Not long after, I woke up with a headache:(

I forced myself downstairs anyway to make waffles for my kids for breakfast.

I also made two pb and creamy honey sandwiches cut into puzzle pieces for lunches (the usual).

We practiced spelling as the kids ate (it was a rough week for spelling words).

Then I played catch with a football with my two littlest (the girl does NOT understand how to catch. At all. Folding your arms does not work) while the boys unloaded the dishwasher.

Once dressed, prayers said and teeth brushed, my big boys did their reading back in bed. Instead of sitting on top of vents blowing warm air like they normally do)

This morning I did not go to the gym. And I'm ok with that (because of the headache, and I didn't feel like making the little ones get up and ready and out the door quickly). Once in a while we just need a down day, you know?

I carpooled my big boys and their bffs (our great neighbors) to school in my pjs with no makeup or hair done (like most of the mom's I saw).

I chatted with my other great neighbor on my driveway just after I caught her bringing my garbage can back up to the house (I'm lucky, I know).

This morning was really just another "groundhog day" morning (besides not going to the gym) as I like to call it....the same old day over and over again. But, I'm ok that. It's a good morning to re-live over and over. With my favorite people:)

Plus,a funny picture from the other night when Camryn was doing my hair...a girl child is fun!

Again, sorry for the poor quality of phone pictures.

PS - This year my blog focus is more for me and my family, so if you don't care about my groundhog morning, sorry. Kind of.

Not the look I'm going for...

Most things in my closet are quite a few years old. I have been trying to update my wardrobe a little at a time, but am having a hard time. Am I being one of those people, you know...stuck in a certain era? Because I am finding that I don't want to buy what is popular now. I'm sorry if I don't want to look like this girl I found on Gap's website today...

Really? Is anyone with me on this? If I had this outfit on I would not feel confident. I would feel frumpy. Blah. Don't get me wrong, my neighbors will tell you that I dress comfy all the time. But, that's when I am home scrubbing toilets and floors, or on my way to or from the gym. And, the glasses....why don't girls care about looking pretty and feminine?

Anyway, no wonder I am having a hard time replacing my old clothes. At least they show off my curves and make me look like a woman. Even if it does date me a little.

Paint projects

We've lived in this house for six months now. We got settled quickly, enjoyed the end of summer, started a new school year and got through the holidays....now, it's time to get serious about some projects. I am feeling so accomplished lately, so I just had to share!

Before we moved I was prepping my kitchen table and chairs for a makeover. I wanted to do it right rather than just good ol' spray paint since it's a nice, solid wood set (just a lighter wood that doesn't match anything anymore). I finished my table and benches pretty quickly, but the four chairs have been haunting me ever since. This week was the week, I put off other responsibilities around the house and painted. I am in LoVe with the end result...My camera and the pics aren't great, but it's a white top with gray glaze and soft blue legs and chairs.

Lucky for me, when I moved in the whole main level was painted a color that I already love. It matches all my furniture and decor perfectly. The three kids bedrooms upstairs all needed painting though. A few weeks ago, we had a super busy Saturday suddenly open up. We were spontaneous, we put on our painting clothes and went to work. My pictures aren't great, but it's something. And, we still haven't really decorated yet. Maybe I'll post more pics once we finish decorating. Maybe.

This was the color of one of the bedrooms...it literally matched the blue painter's tape almost perfectly!

Again, hard to really see, but it's a perfect soft gray. I love it. It's inspired me to do a beach/surf room for the two younger ones. I think it's hard to decorate a room shared by a boy and girl.

For the baseball fan...we actually just used the paint that was left here from the basement. I love it. Khaki and a great brick red covers soft yellow (which wasn't too bad, but didn't work for what we were doing).We even have this room mostly decorated.

Sadly, I had to paint over my favorite super pale pink room. It was supposed to be my girl room. But, turns out, my girl needs to share a room. Otherwise there is LOTS of crying, which leads to throwing up, etc, etc. So, a great neutral creates a clean slate for the future BYU football room...

By the way, here's a small glimpse at what happens when mom and dad are busy painting...Rolos and oranges, anyone? I'll spare you the rest of the messes.

Pizza pie preschool

Today we had a field trip for part of our preschool. It was so fun for the kids to see behind the scenes at the pizza restaurant and to make their own pizzas!
I'm enjoying my preschool days with Clay. And getting sad to send him off to kindergarten next year.