1/13/17

The New Year is upon us and I feel my babies growing up so fast in front of my eyes! I have been awful at journaling their progress this past year.
So I just have to start with where we are at and try to catch up.

Rowdy 9, Joined battle of the books competition and his team won the chance today to go to represent their school. He plowed through all 10 books, as soon as the list came out and still has an uncanny memory of all the stuff that happened in them. They even beat the teacher team...or it was close! Proud of his hard work. He also wakes up early and gets all his chores, scripture and laundry done so he can go to an early morning running club and later enjoy his screen time. What a competitive hard working boy. at the end of last year his running club coach offered to buy the whole running club slushes if any one of them could beat her. Rowdy ran his little heart out for the 5k (no really later he admitted to almost barfing at the end) he beat her and ran it in about 24 minutes. I started behind him thinking he'd tucker out, but with his coach on his heels, he never let up! Its been cool to watch him play soccer as well with his newly earned stamina. He is a goal scoring beast. He brings his soccer ball to school every day so they can play. Also in choir, and an all star big brother most of the time ;) He definitely has times he doesn't listen, and feels like he always has to be the winner or best or most talked about.
Rowdy is a huge help to Cody and I, and so fun to watch grow. So proud of the guy he is becoming

Ezra 7, started this year off with a polar plunge! Last Sunday his dad offered 10 dollars to jump in Nan's pool covered in ice, and he and Miles took the plunge. He confessed to me he'd do it again for free. It was very entertaining.... and cold!! He has been doing awesome at controlling his temper. and he is Ollie's hero. Ollie talks about him all day when he is gone. He has been so smiley lately and always with a joke or funny quote from a movie. and always making a new friend at the park...young or old. He still loves to build legos but has taken a liking to a ninjago game, for which he got in a little trouble for sneaking the I pad into the bathroom and locking the door, 3 nights in a row. (took me a minute to figure out what was going on) but after we had a good talk and as usual after we had a good talk I could tell he really felt bad and we had a sweet repenting experience. Love that boy's heart. I can tell sneaky satan is trying to get him off course before he gets baptized later this year.
Ezra is also doing piano, and has a crazy good music memory. He surprised us by busting out a song at Danny Ehlers mission farewell open house in front of everyone without his music. He also is so good at riding Dad's little dirt bike. We trust him too because (as with most things) he takes his time. he is loving soccer more after this last season, and is taking a loss at soccer and basketball less personal, although he still needs to work at it with board games and other random competitions  ;) He is still our snuggler, but I definitely have to do a little more begging. He is also our super polite kid, always remembering to say thank you. He loves to read and draw as well. We love having Ezra in our home.

Elliot, super star kindergartener, Is thriving this year. She started Kindergarten and said "oh, it's time to read" and started reading. She loves to read and write notes and draw pictures. Lots of times after school she is making a craft or present with her paper tools. She is so generous to share things, just don't ever let her see you selling things on craigslist or bringing them to the thrift store. She recently tried to hide a cushion to a chair we were trying to sell and threw a big fit when the lady was there about us selling the chair. It was sad funny. but she is a gem to have around. She loves adventuring with Cody and I. Usually its a toss up if the boys want to go run an errand with Cody or I but Elliot is always excited to go... usually because she has discovered money and likes the vending machines, but  she doesn't let that stop her from being great company. She is super sweet to Ollie and will often take time to play just with him when the boys are at Malakai's house. or Heidi comes over after school. She is such a love, and super smart...sometimes too smart, knowing when she can get away with not doing chores or eating her dinner, or getting brothers in trouble, and she has a crazy good memory when people have offended her :) She is such a fun girl. she has her own fun style, and is very athletic. She did awesome in soccer last season and wanted to try basketball this year. we found a few leauges where the kids can all play on the same fields or practice the same night which is awesome! Elliot also likes to cook, loves animals and stuffed animals, and got to be saints helper this year passing out candy canes and going to build a bear to make her own toys!

Ollie is 2 and so much fun. He talks and talks and talks. he is super smart and his feet are almost as big as Elliot's! yesterday at Chloe & Zoe's soccer game we saw a hawk, and he has been liking a cartoon where the guy turn into a bird (Moana) and I said "look Ollie! its Maui!" he said "no Mom! Maui is eagle" . he also told me to sit on his lap and then laughed and said "Big Bootie!" He is a super ham. He loves to make people laugh. (he really is Ezra's twin!He loves dinosaurs

5/2/2016

Elliot making cards for people

Ollie feeding his baby Dino a fake bottle, which after its done later roars with delight

Ollie loves to spray kids w the hose, well anything with the hose but especially kids

Ezra finally caught the frog in our backyard. He's fat because he eats all the Junebugs

Ollie chipped 3 teeth a few days ago thank goodness they aren't gray

Elliot loves to cook scrambled eggs after she collects them from the chickens

Ollie loves trains so we went on a mini train the other day, when the boys were off of school

I don't have many pics of Rowdy he loves playing w his friends after school. They are usually here at our house but I don't want to interrupt for a picture ;) he loves Pokemon trading cards and it's fun to see the kids trading them and making deals for the little characters. He also just finished a big donut fundraiser for his scout camp stuff

 Rowdy's Sunday School teacher, Sister Flannigan gave him a special key because he sacrificed a treat one day, and he wore it to bed and all the next day at school. They sure love each other. 

3rd grade Living museum Crazy horse

Nan & Pops were getting a sceptic tank installed the only thing better than land is land with rocks on it! We love going to hike around their land & camped there too & watched cows. They live 40 minutes away.

 

Conference Weekend + Camp

This weekend was amazing! We just finished watching conference, at Nan's house with cousins. The am was at home with a conference packet & an after conference store to purchase prizes with their being good tokens. I am so excited to "Ponderize" a scripture...80% ponder 20% memorize. Well, actually the kids and I started tonight Helaman 5:12. Conference is always so inspiring and exciting, but this one was a little sad too, since Packer, Perry and Scott had passed away. Anyway the plan always just seems so real and easy in conference. We got to sustain Elder Rasbland, Steveson, and Renlund. I am excited to be better and dig in deeper. I am so grateful for the changes I've seen and felt in myself this past year. Especially as a mom. I am so so so grateful for the Atonement.

Here is Ollie, helping as usual. Here with strawberry syrup

 

 Saturday Cody's friend hooked us up with Angel's tickets. Which was cool because I had been wanting to take the kids, but then super cool because we had a rough end of the week with Rowdy and Elliot super sick. It was so sad to see them uncomfortable, and then Ezra had been feeling sad about feeling lonely at school, and Ollie was teething. He had three teeth coming in this week. My heart was hurting. Anyway it was so nice to have a fun family outing. Plus the game was really exciting too! yay! double yaay!

 Last weekend Elliot didn't have a game and the weather is finally getting nice, so I took the kids camping. Cody ended up having to work so it took a little bit of faith, but I am so glad we did. It was so nice to have the kids outside! Summers can be a little brutal hot especially at the end. They tromped around found tons of spiders. IT was just one night which usually is a bummer to pack and unpack for but I din't even mind. IT was liek we were supossed to be there and make some memories.

 Rowdy was a huge help! He was our activities director, wihtout me even asking him to be. He got the kids exploring and helping. I could not have done it without him. He is growing up so fast :(

What a stud though

 We love sand! This is camping at Lake Ray Roberts

 In the morning we explored some trails. the kids on their scooters and Ollie on my bike. He looooves his bike rides. he pats me on the back sometimes, and other times pulls my shirt out, but most of the time just checkin stuff out. so the only bummer about camping, besides Cody not beig there, was there was a burn ban. So that was lame becuase I only raw hotdogs, so we had to go out. but we ended up reading stories in the tent and that was prety fun too. and Ollie just kept walking around body slamming peole trying to rest. It was pretty fun

 

I did a little sewing this week, while trying to get Rowdy's badges on his cub scout uniform, I re purposed my old skirt for an Elliot dress. I love this picture of her. She is the cutest little tomboy.

I keep feeling that these times are fragile and precious.

September

September 2015!!
Yikes!! I am so used to my phone, which isn't a great blogger, all of the sudden it feels like walking into the computer room is so far away. So lots of pics on my hard drive and instagram posterity, in case you are missing this past year. So things have been really really good. Rowdy got baptized this past month. We are trying to read the scriptures together. Cody has been working in town, Ollie is becoming more independent. Elliot is being nicer to everyone, Ezra is also coming into his own, and being more happy. I have been trying to be a more patient mom. We have been getting used to our schedule. I just keep thinking I need to write this down. Because it truly is a happy Time. Heavenly father is definitely blessing us. But I also think we are trying harder.... To recognize & snatch the happiness, To keep the sabbath day more holy, be more grateful, read the scriptures, have dinner together, do Family Home evening. I can definitely feel a difference in our home. I can feel a difference in me. Thank goodness too. I am so much happier with the person I am becoming than I was at eh beginning of the year. Things were a little harder then, but maybe that why I feel a burning need to document this happy time. It really is a time of peace and prosperity. and I don't think it will always be this way, I want to remember. So much about life is so fragile. Thank goodness God make us resilient and adaptable. We can be tough cookies. even though sometimes its uncomfortable.

Man! My babies are growing up so fast.

Ollie is the cutest little guy already. Cruisin right into toddler hood. He imitates EVERYTHING! We have to be very careful. and we are fairly sure he threw away out dvd remote. We always have to check the trash before we put stuff into it. He mostly throws away dirty diapers but also shoes and other items laying around. He loves to have all the doors closed on everything. He is picking up words here & there but it is still super exciting to hear him try and say something! HE loves walking around with our phones. The best is when we call him to make the phone ring. He does his awesome surprise face and then starts laughing. HE is our constant entertainment at meals. We love watching him try to run. Rowdy, Ezra and Elliot are all so darling to him. HE is starting to really love them. You can tell because he goes after them to give them kisses and hugs, which he does not freely give away.  He is a pretty patient kid. He is a joy Can't imagine life without him.

  

under the bridge painting a mural w Mom. He would throw rocks in the creek all day

Elliot started preschool 2 weeks ago and is pretty stoked about it. She goes to the little baptist preschool for 2 days each week. All her buddies have moved on to kinder, so we are  on the scout for new daytime buddies. She is playing soccer too! She is on the dragonflies. She has become a best bud and helper. She also has started drawing beautifully, and not even whining when its laundry time. She is a good chicken mom. Takes care of them everyday. She stuck a ball in her shirt and innocently said look mom I have boobs, and balls! She just keeps getting better. She asked about states yesterday and wanted to know which ones touched Texas, and asked if Old Mexico also touched. Will work for candy. I fall in love with her more and more everyday. What a doll.

above painting chicken toenails. below seaweed in Santa Monica CA

above=jet pack plus gear plus fruit snack marshmallow sandwich Rowdy made her

 We went to Oklahoma to visit Dad & drop off skin medicine for him. and maybe do a little exploring. 

Elliot flexing her muscles

 Ever the adventurer

 

A girl and her Papa. 

Papa always asks her to flutter her eyelids, and also spoils her w sweets

Ezra is so fun. He has started loving to quote movie lines and is pretty good at imitating voices. Our favorite and Goofy and Mr. Cat man. Still totally into legos, although not so much mixels. But he could be fine playing with them almost all day. He loves to help change dirty diapers. He can be loud and fun with a contagious laugh, or grumpy with a gathered brow and no sunshine. He pays attention to detail, and always gives warm hugs. He has a tender heart. Cant believe hes already in first grade!

 sweet brothers. They ride their bikes to school everyday

 Santa Monica, CA...the waves were crazy

 Elliot got a hold of them....they loved it

 great at making crazy face

 first trip to dentist. No cavities!

 

Rowdy. Is such a go getter. We got him an alarm clock this year. He is up dressed and reading his scriptures by the time I am coming out. I think he's a morning person. He is also very goal oriented though. The kids have to read scriptures do a chore and their laundry before screen time. So he likes to get his stuff done early so he can have his screen time. School had been causing a little bit of a disconnect, so I'm very grateful for the weekends. and I am grateful scouts has started for him, and the faith in God, so he is getting other good people in his life throughout the week besides boring ole Mom. He is my activities director, and occasional babysitter. He is a great leader, and many times watching out for his younger siblings. He was baptised in September, and it was a really cool experience for all of us. I love him so much and am so proud of him!

 CA hike w Mom

 CA beach, not feeling so good

 Hike to Rowdy Rock with Yaya

Rowdy and I had to photoshop all the mosquito bites out of this picture for his baptism invite because he slept on the trampoline the night before and got eaten alive!

Holy Moly what great kids. 

 and I love their Dad