New Pink Scooter

This is Liv and her new pink scooter.  My mom got this for Liv for her birthday and she just LOVES it.  She is so proud to go scooting down the road.

and one of the boys and their new trick....Cole riding on the pegs of Ethan's bike

St. George Weekend

We were lucky enough this weekend to spend some time in St. George with our favorite friends, the Pattersons (thanks for sharing your house with us).  

The kids also had their first sleepover.  As you can tell in the picture, Liv was having a blast.  She wouldn't sleep and got to stay up late with the grown-ups.  By the time we were all ready to go to bed she was still going strong. 

We also went to the St. George Temple, which I have never been to before.

(Ethan and Rylee have always been such great friends.  We are working on an arranged marriage with these two)

Ramblings of a 5 year-old

Ethan is on track break from school right now.  He has been loving it.  Riding bikes all day long and sleeping in-he thinks it is perfect.  Yesterday he said, "I love school track break.  When do I get track break from church?"  I had to laugh as I explained to him you never get track break from church, and you actually never even graduate.  He wasn't so amused!!

Shawn has been working nights this month.  When Shawn isn't home for dinner I have little desire to make any (because really the kids don't care).  So the kids and I have been managing on cereal, pancakes, hot dogs, etc.  It is really pretty nasty when I think about it.  Last night I decided to make an actual real dinner.  

Ethan:  What is this?

Mom: It's dinner?

Ethan:  No it's not.  Where's my dinner?  I want a bowl of cereal.

Mom:  Yes, this IS dinner now eat it!

It seems like all my hard work after all wasn't even worth it, or maybe I just need to make dinner more often, regardless if my husband is home or not.

Liv and the scooter

While the boys have been busy riding their bikes, Liv has been working on mastering the scooter.  She is actually getting pretty good and can even ride Ethan's razor scooter.  Her birthday is coming up in April and I think a new pink bike or scooter is on her list.

(notice the backward handle bars)

Brief Moments

Last night all the kids were asleep in bed and Shawn was working so it was nice and quiet.  But then I heard some noises coming from the boys bedroom.  Upon investigating I found Ethan sitting in the dark playing his Leapster.  At first I wanted to get mad and tell him to put the game away and go to bed, but he was so cute sitting there by himself.  I just couldn't resist, so I went over and climbed in bed with him and we just talked.  Just me and him, no one else, no brother or sister to contend with, or anything to distract me...I was all his.  He talked and talked, and we laughed.  He asked me when he could get a cell phone, and wanted to know if he could get a motorcycle when he turned 8.  He told me about the kid at school that called him a loser.  We talked about his upcoming birthday.  After all this talking he insisted that he wasn't tired, so we got up and went to play a round of Candy Land.  That might sound dumb to play a game with just two people, but Ethan is a pretty sore loser, so two people is just right for him.  It was well after 10 before Ethan went to bed and those that know me know that I am a stickler for bedtime.  But last night Ethan and I had a moment that I am so grateful for. Here is a quote that I like, "Life gives us brief moments with one another.... but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a lifetime."   Last night was one of those memories!

ramblings and stuff...

Not much to blog about lately.  We are here and alive and everyone is feeling better and almost off meds (Liv has one more day).  The fevers are gone, the coughing and snot dripping from their face is few and far between.   It's feeling like spring, almost summer here and its nice.  Shawn has been traveling like crazy lately-which he hates.  He is spending lots of time in the airports and he gets bored.  When he gets bored he spends money.  After each trip he comes home with a new present for me, which I love, but our budget can't support this habit for long.  We are about half way through with interviews and can't wait until they are over at the end of April. Last weekend Shawn was invited to attend a conference in Savannah, Georgia for a couple of days.  My mom and grandma came down to Las Vegas to keep me and the kids company.  We still have candy and treats bursting out of every cupboard (if you know my mom and grandma you know that they are never is short supply of treats).  Lately we have been spoiled with company, my dad and grandpa came two weeks ago and my mom and grandma came last week.  We LOVE it!  They spoil us rotten and we really appreciate it.  My grandma would rub Liv's feet with all her creams and rubs every night before bed.  Now that grandma is gone Liv comes to me to rub her feet before bed.  Sorry Lulu, but you should be rubbing my feet instead. Ethan has one more week of school and then he is off track for a couple weeks.  We are planning a trip to Disney Land with Shawn's parents.  We have never been as a family and I am so excited.  Ethan continues to ride his bike everyday trying new tricks.  His latest trick is trying to ride with no hands.  He thinks he is an extreme biker when he rides over rocks and takes his feet off the peddles and rides on the pegs on the back.  Coley continues to drive me nuts and make me smile at the same time.  Still going to preschool and getting so big.  My hives have come back a little, so I doubled up on the medicine again and it seems to be working so far.  Other than that not too much happening.

Bubbles

{Don't you love Liv's new Diva sunglasses??}

This is what we have been up to lately...

I had a scary moment a few nights ago when I went into Ethan's room to check on him.  It was around 2 o'clock and he had been coughing pretty hard all night.  The first thing I noticed was blood all over his pillow.  I immediately panicked and grabbed my cell phone to call Shawn who was working at the hospital to tell him Ethan was coughing up blood.  When I turned on the light in the bedroom I realized that the blood was coming from his nose.  I was SO relieved that Ethan just had a bloody nose.  Two out of my three kids are on antibiotics, and the other one is just crabby.  So needless to say, we have been taking things easy around here lately.  

Tournament of the Kings

Last night my dad and grandpa took us to see the Tournament of the Kings at the Excalibur Hotel.  It was so amazing!  It had jousting, sword fights, fire, acrobatics, dancing, horses, evil men, and dinner complete Medievil style with cornish hens that we ate with our hands.  The kids got a kick out of the big Rootbeer mugs full of pepsi.  Ethan, Cole, and Liv all sat still the whole show with their eyes glued to the arena.  At the beginning Merlin the Wizard walked around and talked with people.  The kids were scared to death of him and hid under the table.  He came over and tried to talk with them, but they wouldn't budge. After the show the kids were chicken to get their picture taken with the actors so I went first.  Here is me with the Prince (soon to be King once his father was killed) and one of the dancing maiden's. 

Here is a picture of Shawn and I, which is a rare occasion.  But I figured since my dad was their he could take one for us.  It has been so nice this week to have help with the kids.  Thanks Dad and Grandpa!!  Below is a picture of my cute Grandpa and Liv, and some of us with more cast members.  The kids were scared of them, but I wasn't going to miss my chance of a picture with a knight and muscle man :)

First Swim of the Season

The weather was so nice today, and with company in town, we just couldn't resist our first swim of the season.  We found a nice heated pool at the hotel my dad and grandpa are staying at.  The kids had a great time.  

Saturday Picnic

Happy Valentines Day

Nothing better than some homemade goodies on Valentines Day!!

4th Picture Tag

I was tagged by my friend, Gretchen.  I am supposed to go to the 4th folder and post the 4th picture.  Recently I backed-up and cleared my hard drive of all pictures (I had WAAAY too many).  I actually only have four picture folders so far on my hard drive since the computer spring cleaning, so this picture is recent.  Just a few days ago I snapped this of Liv.  She isn't really looking at the camera, but I think it makes her look calm and peaceful-which she totally is not!