Life as a Boy...

Parker has reaching quite a wonderful age. He understands right and wrong, he know how to do things with limited explanation. He ponders things about the world, family and himself. Here is something he said to me today that I found very interesting in him understanding himself. We had a friend over that I was watching and they all were having a wonderful time on the trampoline, then the swings, then the slide and just plane old running about boy stuff. While Parker was on the swings he says to me "Mom, I noticed when other kids are around I want to show off how tough and strong I am, why is that?" My response "Parker, I guess thats just part of being a BOY". I thought that was so funny I had to share it.

I LOVE MY BOYS! I enjoy them more and more the older they get.

Cinco De Mayo Adventures

The 5th of may was an adventuresome day. I had a blast in the morning making some homemade baby food with my friend Tara. It is soooo yummy we had a hard time not eating it ourselves. Here is Calvin with a big spoonful. He loves it, store bought baby food he wasn't digging very much. He LOVES this food.

Shortly after Mason stepped on some glass and sliced in between his toes. He was a trooper he cried shortly after it happened. We went to the urgent care, they were great. They handled him really well. They never said the word SHOT. He didn't get upset until after the numbing shot. He then cried the whole time they put the stitch in. I think it was more from delayed realization that he got shots, but he was VERY brave. When he got home he had a lot of fun retailing the story to his brothers. His version was MUCH more gruesome and gory. Whats the fun of telling a story if it doesn't get a reaction, right? (sorry if the picture grosses you out, but he wanted me to post it)

Change

Since life is all about change and we are going through some changes in our family. I thought I should change up the look of my blog. What do you think? I think the girl looks like me (kinda) thats why I picked it, also if anyone knows me it GREEN (actually #1 reason I picked it). Hope you enjoy reading and leave a comment please, I love them.

A few changes I have been doing myself (in no particular order). I have been trying really listen to my children, complaints and ramblings. I have realized I really need to connect with each one in their ways. Be it playing a computer game WITH them. Or sitting on the couch and hearing a long drawn out story from a dream they had. Or giving them extra hugs and telling them how great they are. I have been doing it and am loving the response from my little guys. I don't understand boys and why they do what they do, which is funny seeing how I have five of them. So I figured I need to just delve into their world. It has been great, but my gun noise making abilities STILL haven't improved (LOL).

I have also been trying remember my morning prayers. I have alway been good and night just not so great in the morning. I am what you would call "NOT" a morning person. Mornings I barely can remember who is who and where they need to go (as a side note, I jokingly call myself sleeping beauty, because MY prince Philip has to kiss me awake, though that doesn't always work, LOL). So this has been fairly hard but I have been doing good. I had to write in soap on my bathroom mirror "morning prayer" so I would remember but it has worked. I feel better because of it and makes listening to my kids that much easier.

I have also been trying to cook more. I mean I have always "cooked" or rather warmed something up that was food and we ate it. I have been trying to MAKE dinner not just feed my family. This has been hard since I don't really know how. I am learning most of it from this website. She is great because she has pictures for each step (I am a very visual learner) of what she makes, AND it is SIMPLE ingredients. She lives on a ranch and cook for ranchers. Having a bunch of boys, meat and potatoes are perfect for my house. I just ease up on the butter, which she uses a lot of. I am enjoying it and so is my family. Some of my new favorites meals to make that get a lot of attention are Pot roast, Sloppy Joes, Chicken strips and Cinnamon Toast (the right way).

I have also been able to serve in the primary presidency as the 1st councilor. At first I was dreading it. But now I have learned the blessing of serving these kids. I get to teach such innocent and powerful young spirits. I have been able to overcome some major fears in a very non-threatening environment. I have felt spiritual inspiration while giving sharing times and they have been, to me, mind blowing. I am not great with words and sometimes the things that have come out of my mouth have been straight from heavenly father through me. I have found a love for these kids that I wasn't expecting. One major lesson I have learned, NEVER wear pointed toe heels in primary, your feet will kill you after two hours.

Heres to life, to bettering ourselves and its changes good and bad!

Pinewood Derby

Parker got to do his first Pinewood Derby this week. He was so excited to make his car, and I am proud to announce he did MOST of the work HIMSELF. He wanted a cool Super Mario car so he came up with the idea of a Bullet Bill. His car didn't place anything (which is OK, but he was a little disappointed) but he did win an award for "Toughest Car" that made his day. He was lucky also to have sharing day at school the next day so he got to bring it to show his class.

Here he is with his good buddy Kaden.

There is his cool bullet bill Pinewood Derby.

His car is the middle black blurr. It actually beat another car this round after we put some graphite on the wheels.

With having fun little tinkering boys I thought these guys NEED to dismantle some type of electronic device. Luckily my brother-in-law had an old non-working mac computer. Phil took the back off and let the boys go to town with screw drivers. Simon was content to hold the flash light. Calvin was so intrigued by the whole thing, it was very cute. I guess he has had this at work for a while and when Mason would go with him to work he would do this there also.

This had them entertained a good 45 min.

I just love seeing all their little heads hard at work, and little Calvin staring at me, he is so cute!

What fun these brothers have together.

Book signing

My good friend Tara told me about this blog The Pioneer Woman. She has great cooking tutorials and photos and other things. I have really enjoyed reading her blog. Well, she came out with a cook book and did a mini book tour here in Portland and Seattle. Since I have never been to a book signing I thought it would be fun to go, so Tara and I went.

This is her after she arrived during the Q/A part of the book signing.

(sorry it's blurry, I had to hold my camera in the air to get this shot and I couldn't tell it was focused)

Having never been to a book signing we didn't know what to expect, so after two hours and two grumpy babies and two tired mommies we decided to just get a quick photo (to say "yes we were there"). I know, I know how lame are we, but whatever! we went and we will know what to expect next time.

Me (w/Calvin) and Tara (w/Bennet), Bree in the background.

If I haven't ever mentioned it before these two babies are only 11 hours apart in age. So fun!

Blessed Parker

I have said it before and I will say it again, I am so thankful for my oldest child Parker. He is such a good help. He looks like a little mini Phil sitting here with Calvin. We were at the soccer games for 3 hours (an hour for each game and one in between). Parker spent half of the time playing WITH Simon on the playground and the other half playing with Calvin on the side lines. I am so lucky to have him as my helper, Thank you Parker you will make a wonderful dad someday.

Mason Soccer

Watching 4 and 5 year olds play soccer is so entertaining. The first half of the game is spent getting the kids to get the ball to the right goal. Mason is one of 3 boys on his team but he doesn't seem to care. He loves it.

Right after this was taken he made the first goal. GO MASON!