Summer Fun Day 5

Lego Day
My boys are obsessed with Legos. Seriously. They love building with their Legos, playing Lego games on the computer, watching Lego movies, drawing Lego pictures, coloring Lego printables, and anything else that uses Legos or is related to Legos. No joke. So I only thought it fair that we have a Lego day.
We started out building and playing with Legos all morning. Then, I printed some coloring pages from online. To do this go to Lego.com and then “products”. Each product line has their own website, click here to see an index. Clicking on the picture of one of the product takes you to that product website. Coloring pages are usually under the “Funzone” or “Download” tabs. Then, just download and print.


Some of the websites also had printable stickers. They are basically just pictures that you can print on sticker paper and cut out. We printed them on plain paper and used them to make dioramas. Most of the kids just glued them flat onto a background. I was pretty impressed when I saw Seth’s 3-D version.


I also saw these Lego puzzles on Pinterest…

Source: icanteachmychild.com via Marissa on Pinterest

...and decided to make our own with some clipart cutouts. I just taped over a picture using clear packing tape on two blocks and then used an Exacto knife to cut apart the blocks. The kids had fun putting them all together.



Later, I saw these and wished I had more time to make some like them…

Source: ilovechesterrific.com via Marissa on Pinterest

Then, the boys wanted to make a movie. We took about 70 pictures, each time moving the Legos a slight bit and writing our dialogue on a dry erase frame. The plan was to take a bunch of these pictures and when put together in quick succession it would look like they were moving, playing out the story. However, after all our work ,we realized we didn’t have any video editing software on our computer.  We did have a slideshow DVD maker. So we did that, adding some fun music. Unfortunately, I can’t upload the video here because it’s only on the DVD. So here’s just a few snapshots from the video….



To be continued…
The actually video is pretty cool. So if you’re ever at our house, ask Seth to see his Lego video and he will be more than super excited to show you!

Summer Fun Day 2

Pajama Party Day!

The kids playing Battleship.
This day was simple, stay in your PJ’s all day and lounge around. Think slumber party with out the overnight part. Something about being allowed to stay in your PJ’s all day makes everything more fun. We pulled out the sleeping bags, watched our favorite cartoons, played board games, had a Wii Sports tournament, and ate pancakes and bacon for lunch. The kids loved it.

Ryan and Seth boxing on the Wii.
While this day was really fun, I think if we were to do it over, I would do this right at the beginning of summer when the kids are really excited about getting to do nothing or as a final hurrah before school starts in the fall.

This picture cracks me up. The kids were playing with cars and the car tracks while Aubrey watched Curious George. I’m not sure why but she put one of the tracks in her mouth. I was very tempted to start a car at her nose and see if it would go down the track. Instead, I took a picture.  :)

Ha! Take that birds!

Finally! I beat them. I got to one of my tomatoes before they did. Ha! Ha! Ha! (Insert wicked cackle here).  It’s only about the size of a quarter, but I got it and they didn’t. Ha!
My one and only tomato plant has tons of green tomatoes on it. I have faithful watered and checked for ripe tomatoes every single day.

Only to go out the very next morning, and find that the birds (which we have like an entire flock living in our yard) have done this…

I’ve heard that they peck tomatoes to get the water. So, I set up a makeshift birdbath nearby. Yup, didn’t help. So, after diligent watch I finally harvested my first tomato. I might let it sit in the windowsill to finish ripening. If, I can keep one step ahead of the birds, we might even have enough tomatoes to make a salad!
Speaking of tomatoes, I came in the kitchen to find Aubrey stand at the fridge with the door open. (Please disregard my full 30 yr. old fridge.)

At first I thought she was just standing there, trying to decide what she was going to grab like she sometimes does. Then, I called her name.

Turns out, she was stuffing her face full of grape tomatoes. (See the juicy red chin!) She had eaten nearly the entire container of them.  Maybe Aubrey is pecking at my tomato plant.  :)

Puppies in the Living Room

So, I think our kids miss having a dog (FYI: Cocoa ran away about 2 months ago)…

Aubrey started it all. She was hiding under the coffee table this morning. She crawled out and said, “I dog!”  Then, she started panting and crawling around.
I played along saying, “come here puppy,” and “good girl,” when she came to me. She even let me pat and scratch her head.
The boys were getting a kick out of watching her and Josh suggested that I record it. She stopped when I pulled out the camera, so Seth got down and joined in to coax her. Hence, the video…

Aubrey Dog

When she was all done, she stood up and said, “I me!” I guess she was telling me that she was herself again. Pretty cute and funny for a 19-month old. We can already tell she is going to be a hoot when she gets older.  :P
P.S. This is the first time I’ve uploaded video. Did it work?

Bubbles and Colored Milk

Almost 2 years ago, I was complaining to Aaron about how hard my day was at home with the kids. All about how so and so did this and it took me FOREVER to do that because so and so was whining and so on. (In my defense, I was transitioning back from being a working mom to a stay-at-home mom.) Very seriously, he looked at me and said, "All you do is complain. Do you even LIKE being at home with our kids?" My snap reaction was "Of course! I love our kids." But it got me thinking. 

I do love my children and love being at home with them.  I also know that it is best for them that I am at home, but somewhere along the way all thar joy and love was missing and I felt negative by the end of everyday. Among many realizations I had that day, one of them was that I was being negative. All day long, I would say no. "No you can't do that. Stop that right now. Leave him alone. Not right now, maybe later." Plus, I was looking at my day from the view of all the things I wasn't doing or couldn't get done because of caring for my children. So, I first made myself look at all of the positives of my day, including but most especially all of the moments I was spending with my kids. I also promised myself that I would say "yes" at least once a day. "Yes, you can eat that with your fingers. Sure, I'll read you that book right now (instead of wash dishes).  Let's have a picnic in the front yard." Gradually, the days got better, and while we still have tough days and tantrums, everyone seems to be more positive. (Well, minus the brotherly "love" fights. I don't think those will go away anytime soon.) If I feel like I'm having a bad day, I try to think of something the kids might enjoy, like a story and cuddle session, a picnic at the park, or a dance party, and it usually makes our day better. So today's "yes" was colored milk and bubbles...

One day, I thought it would be fun to add food coloring to our plain milk. Now, whenever the neighbor kids come over to play I hear, "Can we have colored milk?" (Yeah, I'm the cool mom.) :) So day it was turquoise colored milk with straws. They started to blow bubbles in their milk and my gut reaction was to stop them But instead, I set the ground rules of "no spilling or overflowing," and then let them have fun. They loved it and I feel so much better...

(Plus, won't this be fun for them to remember when they are older?)

Cheese Puffs

(photo found here)

Today was one of those days where I just really didn't want to get out of bed. It didn't help that my eye is hurting again, so the shades were closed to dim the light, which in turn made the day even more dreary. It seemed that everyone was feeling it. Everyone was irritable and whiny. So when we ran out of diapers at  five o'clock in the afternoon, I put on my sunglasses and loaded everyone into the car. We first stopped at Hobby Lobby (my happy place) and then went over to the grocery store. Knowing how everyone felt, I promised that if they were good and all went well they could each pick a small bag of chips. I know. I'm a bad mom, bribing my children with junk food, but like I said it was one of those days. All went well and we even got to sample some pork tamales (which I gave in and bought a package). I kept good on my promise and allowed each kid to pick a small 3 for $1.00 bag of chips. Funny enough, all three children picked Cheetos, the puffy kind. Aubrey of course wanted me to open hers immediately and the boys never before moved so quickly through the check out line and into the car. Funny how bribes work like that. I myself prefer the crunchy version, but no matter which you eat you always, ALWAYS end up with orange fingertips. Half way home, I look behind me to three children blissfully happy and cheesy-faced. Oh, I wish I could have captured that picture for you. Nothing like Cheetos to make your day better. I had Seth pass me a few and joined in the bliss. I chuckled. The taste made me think of my grandmother. Why you ask? Let me share a little story...

Growing up nearly every (or maybe every other) summer, our family of 7 would load up in our minivan and drive cross country to visit our paternal grandparents in Utah. I have many fond memories of those road trips and visits but let me share one particular memory...cheese balls. My grandparents loved their puffy cheese balls. They always had a large canister of them in their pantry. However, we weren't allowed to eat them unless Grandma or Grandpa shared. We would smell them and come running, ready to beg and plead for them to share. I have memories of Grandma or Grandpa falling asleep while eating the cheese balls and trying to sneak one without them waking. One of our last visits before Grandma died (and after Grandpa had passed away), Grandma had fallen asleep eating cheese balls while we were packing up to go home. She woke up to hug us and wish us well. Then, like always, she stood on the porch and waved as we drove away. You could just barely see her cheesy fingers and as we all waved in return, she smiled. My dad (the funny man) commented, "Oh, Grandma's been eating cheese balls!" We turned once more to see Grandma smiling with cheese puffs stuck to her teeth. We busted up laughing and my parents tried to keep a straight face until we turned the corner. That is one of the last memories I have of my grandma before she died. It has been a sweet recollection and inside joke in our family for some time now.

I smiled the rest of the way home from the store as I thought of those memories and cheese puffs. Someday, I'll share this story with my kids and how their cheesy faces reminded me of a grandmother they never met. It was a day made better, all because of cheese puffs.

Happy Mother's Day!

I love Mother's day. Not only because my incredible husband likes to make breakfast in bed and take care of other "motherly" responsibilities for me, but because my two normally wild and crazy little boys like to be extra sweet on Mother's day. Seth made me an incredibly cute thumbprint coaster at school. Josh drew me a picture of the two of us together. When I asked why my hair was standing straight-up he said "We are swimming and your hair is all wiggly in the water," as he waves his arms in the air, imitating my "hair." So cute!

After church, my boys presented me with two worksheets of "All About Mom," which they apparently did during Primary. Whoever had this idea, I thank you. It was hilarious reading these. So funny that I want to share their responses with you. Before I told the boys what my real favorites were, Aaron also took the "test."

All About Mom
1. How do I show Mom I love her?
Josh: Play games with her
Seth: By kissing her
Aaron: Tell her how pretty she is, that I love her, and kiss her

2. My favorite thing to do with my mom is:
J: play games
S: play games
A: date night, going to the temple, and sharing books

3. Her favorite color is:
J: Green and black
S: Purple
A: Purple
*Everyone's right--purple, green, and hot pink/fuschia

4. Her favorite food is:
J: waffles
S: pizza
A: baked potato, and Chick-fi-la
*Aaron's right on this one. I love potatoes in any form and Chick-fi-la nuggets and sandwiches.

5. If she had extra time, she likes to:
J: play games
S: sleep
A: sleep, scrapbook, craft, read
*All of the above

6. When Mom grows up she wants to be a:
J: Doctor
S: Supermodel
A: Teacher
*When my kids are older, I'd love to go back to teaching again.

7. Mom's favorite book is:
J: Superhero
S: Cooking
A: Harry Potter
*I have lots of favorites including the Harry Potter series, but Seth hit it on the nose. 90% of the books I check out from the library are cookbooks and I usually read them cover to cover!

8. Mom laughs when:
J. I tickle her on the leg
S: I'm silly
A: Our kids say funny things
*All of the above

9. Mom is ____ years old.
J: 18
S: 28 (He wrote the 2 backwards and the teacher thought he wrote 58!)
A: 27*

10. What Mom loves the most is:
J: video games
S: me
A: fun time with family & girls' night out
*What I love the most is my family!

I love it! These were so much fun to read. Apparently, I love to play games and sleep! Also, I am so flattered that Josh thinks I'm only 18 and that Seth thinks I could be a supermodel. It's great to have your kids tell you that you're young and beautiful. It probably won't last forever, but I can bask in the glow for now. :)

To all you mothers, including my own, Happy Mother's Day!  Thank you for all you do. Your quiet daily acts of service and love for your family make the world a better place now and in the future. No one can take your place. Thank you!

Veggies Please!

I have to share this story, because I think it is just what every mother wants to hear from their child...

We were watching "The Biggest Loser" on TV last night, while "snacking" on Halloween candy. The cast was in Washington D.C and they were visiting the White House.  The show toured Michelle Obama's organic vegetable garden (which I admire) and theWhite House kitchen. The contestants created this humongus salad entirely from the First Lady's homegrown vegetables. Trainer Bob Harper raved about how great the veggies were and how great it was that the Obamas are leading the nation in eating healthy. After this segment, Seth turned to me and said, "Mom, we should eat more vegetables and less candy!" Shocked, I replied, "Yes, we should eat more vegetables." Keep in mind that we eat some kind of vegetable at almost every lunch and dinner. :) Half-jokingly, I said, "So I guess that means we should throw away all of our Halloween candy." Seth thought about it a second and then suggested, "No, but we could put it all away until next Halloween." I agreed, meanwhile Aaron frantically shook his head no behind Seth. So, the outcome of this story? We set aside about half of the candy for Christmas stockings and Seth only asked me once for a piece of candy instead of the normal 15 today. I guess you could say that's a step in the right direction... :)

Nurture the Rising Generation

Three of my blessings

I was reading the Visiting Teaching message for October, this morning. It was about teaching and caring for the rising generation. Two quotes stood out to me and inspired me this morning.

The first is from President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008):“Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. … Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried” (“Words of the Living Prophet,” Liahona, May 1998, 26–27; “Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, July 1997, 73).

I know that I'm not a perfect mom and that I have weaknesses (like my temper). I sometimes need to be reminded that my children are also children of our Heavenly Father. He loves them just like I do. I love the last part of this quote, "you have not failed as long as you have tried." As long as I'm trying to be better, I haven't failed as a parent. So then, how can I better nurture my children and guide them in righteous ways?

Hence, the second quote by Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president:“To nurture means to cultivate, care for, and make grow. … Nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work. Helping growth occur through nurturing is truly a powerful and influential role bestowed on women” (“Mothers Who Know,” Liahona and Ensign, Nov. 2007, 76, 77).

The part that stood out to me was "nurturing requires organization, patience, love, and work." These are all things I need to improve on, especially organization. This is a lesson I'm slowly starting to learn (as my husband can testify). I think I'm okay on the "love" part of nurturing. I love my children more than life itself. They are my life. I just need to learn to express my love a little more frequently, like in how I discipline. Of course, how could you not love a face like this?