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!

Relationship Issues

This is Ethan and his friend Addison. We are watching her for a bit this afternoon.
I was cleaning when I heard Addison singing, "Here comes the bride, here comes the bride." I looked around the corner in time to see her mount the top step on my porch, where Ethan was and announce, "You may now kiss the bride. You may now kiss the bride. You may now kiss the bride!" And what had Ethan's undivided attention? An immense cucumber, stolen from my fridge, which he was holding like a cob of corn, and systematically biting out chunks and spitting them on the ground. I rolled my eyes and made a mental note that there was a new mess requiring my attention. A few minutes later, they came in where I was. I recognized Ethan in puppy mode, as he was on all fours and barking. Meanwhile, Addison is still following, singing, "dum, dum, de dum, dum, dum, de dum". I realized there was great truth in this! Oh! Sister(s)! (a favorite from Pride and Prejudice) While we are busy trying to have a relationship with a man we have identified as worthy of us, he is eating a cucumber and playing puppy! Keep this in mind and it will help you understand that crazy male/female gap. Or at least recognize it!

Founder's Day 2009

Founder's Day festivities started in the afternoon, as the kids are all home early on Fridays! They made a chalk mural over my driveway and front sidewalk of Spongebob's home. When Nathan was able to join us, we went to the local swimming pool for some water play.:)

This is everyone ready for dinner. Chummy-jos (named by Leslie) with Cheetos, grape soda, and some pineapple (of course.)

Our original party plan was for outside, but the weather wasn't cooperative, so we played at the table. This is fingerpainting. We had a great time with it. It is always fun to get in touch with your inner child! The bowl on Caleb's head is supposed to be a Chum Bucket. After the finger painting, we sculpted sea creatures from play dough.

This is the part where we "Party 'til we're Purple"! Everyone fashioned their own Goofy Goober sundae. I love bein' purple!