Camille's Band Concert

This morning we were able to attend Camille's spring concert. The hat is for a piece they played called Hoe Down. She was a bit embarassed as she was the only one to remember her hat, so the teacher pointed her out. She is also the only trumpet, so we could hear her. Good job, Sweetie!

Memorial Day

It was obvious Memorial Day morning that my kids expected a holiday. Nathan had a full schedule painting for money (which we always need), so it was up to me to come through. We all packed the sunscreen, the picnic, extra diapers and seven children into the suburban and headed for Temple Square. When we arrived, excited to get going, we discovered Ethan didn't have any shoes. Ugh! We decided to just see how far we could get, but knew that it might affect our plans.

This is everyone, fresh for our adventure. The kids have been watching old episodes of Gilligan's Island lately, and Jacob bought the white hat for his "little buddy".

We ran into some sister missionaries. Ethan was entertaining them showing them all the ways he could wear his hat. They even told him he looked like Gilligan, which made him happy. Then they asked me if we were going to the children's exhibit at the Church History Museum. I replied that we had originally planned to, but Gilligan forgot his shoes. One sweet sister said, "Just tell them the pioneers came without shoes too!" So with that in mind, we did visit the museum and had a nice time. I sat Seth in front of the table with the blocks that the kids can use pretending to build a temple. He only stayed a minute, then returned to the "hospital" section, took a reflex hammer out of the little doctor kit, and returned to the blocks, hammering each one into place. He knows you can't build without a hammer!

As we were running down, and our parking time was running out, we headed back to the car. Waiting on the street corner for a light, I started to tell the children what to expect next. "Okay kids, now here's the plan..." and a gentleman crossing the street toward us exclaimed, "The plan is, not to lose any of these kids!" Yes, kind sir, that is the ultimate plan. I want all of them always!!!

Leslie's Birthday

Leslie turned 13 yesterday. This is her "watermelon" cake. She designed it herself.
Teenage world, watch out! Leslie sporting her birthday shorts, bangles and sunglasses (with sparkly hairclip, but not actually visible in the photo, so just believe me.)
We love you, Leslie!

Cinderella

My kids have been watching Cinderella, and now they are playing Cinderella. The funny thing here is that Ethan volunteered to be the stepmother. :) Also, in our version, Cinderella gets fed up with all the attention, hollers at everyone and stomps off. All the subjects of the kingdom then wander the basement (castle) and call out, "Cinderella! Cinderella!...."

Leslie's Art Show

We spent last night at the Jr. High art show. Leslie had two items on exhibit from her art class this year. The first is her rendition of her shoe. She doesn't love this, but it really is a great shoe.

Next we come to the exciting part, Leslie's still life took 2nd place! Way to go, you good Leslie, you!

Look Mom, No Training Wheels!

Ethan came to the house, yelling with excitement this afternoon. "Mom, I can ride my bike without the training wheels!" This was something he just decided to try to master on his own. We are excited to see him go!

Wa-hoo! Red letter day! (He is so fast! Just tears around.)

So I can plant beans....

This is my latest labor of love. We have really missed having a vegetable garden since we moved to the city. So, for the last several days, I have been painstakingly disassembling what was a very expensive, quite nice flower bed. It has been sad to take out the plants and even cut down a tree. There are still a couple of bushes left. We are going to try to move them. I moved several other plants too. What I am hoping for after all of this is that I can plant enough beans to bottle, enough tomatoes to satisfy my mania for them and enough other veggies to make us feel like little farmers. I hope hope hope it will thrive. I am not the best gardener. Too many irons in the fire to be the best at anything really. But, the idea of beans and tomatoes keeps me going.

This is my bouquet from Seth today. He brought it in, with his standard,"Fwowers for you, mom!" This has been going on all spring. As soon as a tulip would begin to bud and color, he would pick the head off and proudly present it to me. We always put them in a little bowl on the cupboard. I have to admit though, this is the first child to bring me just the stems :). Love you, Seth!

Too Many Hippies

Driving down the road with Camille in the seat next to me, she looks my way and says, "There are just too many hippies in the world!" I have to laugh, but then I consider, what does she think a hippie is? I didn't spy any peace signs, long hair, rainbows. I wrack my brain for times where she may have encountered hippies. Maybe when Kip, with his groovy head wrap says "Peace out." on Napoleon Dynamite. Maybe her mother.

I have to admit, I had a hippie year not all that long ago. It changed my outlook forever. I home-schooled my kids, learned a lot about essential oils, and got a bad case of disestablishmentarianism which hasn't entirely gone away. I did not take to tie-dye in a big way, not one peace sign involved, but there you have it. So, I still treat my ailments with oils, and I still wish that things were simple enough that homeschooling could be the greatest answer for us, but, you know, there are too many hippies in the world!

Answered Prayers

My avon lady left the perfume on my doorstep late last night. :) Thanks, Ethan.

My Mother's Day Gifts

A list of the goodies from my cute kids:

primary cards, from Camille, Ethan, and Caleb
a hand-made, gorgeous card from Leslie
a treat, a blue ribbon, silk roses, forget me not seeds and a picture frame from Camille
a bracelet, a love note, a butterfly card and a lovely stickered box from Miriam
a cool, hand stamped leather book mark from Caleb
pumpkin seeds from Ethan with lots of hugs and a zoober on my cheek
hugs and smiles from Seth (who also got freckles in the sunshine this week-super cute!)
Jacob sat by me in Sacrament meeting, and helped with Ethan! Also brought the two little boys home afterward and told me I am a great mom. :)
The children also know that their daddy ordered perfume for me, but it hasn't been delivered yet, so last night, Ethan prayed that it would come soon!

My children, I wouldn't be a mom without you. I love you with my whole soul! Thank you.

Today's Update

So, I was going to show you this photo. It isn't lawn leprosy. I once had a neighbor, whose lawn was the view from my front main window. I remember one year she had trouble with the fertilizer spreader and ended up with stripes. I used to grin at that pattern. But, my helpful teenager decided to fertilize our lawn this spring. The fertilizer spreaders both were trashed over the winter. So he thought he would just scatter some with his hand. I haven't decided what the pattern reminds me of, but I thought it might make cheap entertainment for you.

A bit nuts this morning. My neighbor is taking a well-deserved break, so her kids came over really early this morning. (Can you say 11 kids in my house to get up and going this morning! I've always liked the number 11. It went just fine.)

Anyway, Ethan and his buddy are somewhat obsessed by a snake that the neighbors found. I HATE HATE snakes! Ugh.


Seth (Captain Awesome) has put a slice of bologna on the floor, carefully placed a toy orbital sander on top of it and turned on the noise. I love it. "See what I made?" he asks. Right now he and the neighbor's baby are sharing a sippy cup back and forth. Yuck. Probably explains why I have been wiping the same nasty from both their noses today!


I usually LIVE for Fridays. They are Date Night. When I get out of the cage for an airing. But, alas, my usual date is spoken for tonight. Daddy Daughter party with Camille. I have needs people!!! Oh well. So does Camille. But, the bright side, is that Gilligan's Island is here from netflix and I should get a chance to watch some of it with my kids.

Gotta go. I've discovered cucumber chunks on my floor. Another bite and spit job. Not sure what the savagery toward cucumbers is, but I'm a little tired of it. "I buy these to eat, People!"

Captain Awesome

He is fast! He had a half-block start when I bolted out the door behind. He was following bigger brothers and sisters toward the busy road. I haven't run that fast in awhile, so I was huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf by the time I caught up. Hard to be mad though, as you are following this diapered munchkin home, and keep reading on his back, "I can't help being Awesome!"

I'll Huff and I'll Puff

Miriam was able to celebrate her birthday at Grandma and Grandpa's house with a bunch of fun cousins! I loved this photo, "Watch out candles!"

Happy birthday, sweetheart, you are such a cheery presence in our family!

Miriam's Birthday

She is seven! We will have to post pictures later, since we are celebrating this evening at Grandma's house. Nothing better for your birthday than an old fashioned over the river and through the woods!