Birthday Fun

We recently celebrated Jr. Jr.'s birthday.  He had been anxiously awaiting it since he got to pick out some presents he wanted but couldn't play with them until his birthday.
In the morning, he took the presents out of a bag.  Everyday leading up to this he had been mentioning what presents they were and that he would get to play with them on his birthday.
It was really entertaining to hear the little gasp he gave when pulling one of them out of the bag.  As if he was surprised and pleased by what he had received.  This kid has a good future in making people happy by his reaction when they give him presents.

He got to pick out his birthday dinner.  He chose cheerios and cornflakes.  The older kids were happy with his choice.

He also got to pick out his ice cream (chocolate) and frosting for his cake (vanilla).  He requested cupcakes which just made things easier.

He did take a break when Grampa and Grampa (whom I refer to as Grandma and Grandpa) called to wish him Happy Birthday.  He had plenty to tell them about waiting for his presents and getting to open them and the color of his cake and ice cream.  Sometimes he doesn't have much to say on the phone but this time he talked a lot.  And Grandma said she could even understand 90% of what he was saying.  Way to go, Jr. Jr.

He had a great time playing with his presents and enjoying his birthday.  Simple and wonderful at the same time.

As if you couldn't guess, he picked out a set of cars/trucks for one of his presents.  The other was a monster truck.

Not Too Bad

Saturday.  The one chance for us to sleep in.  And what do the kids do?  Wake up at about the same time I would normally wake them up on weekdays.  Sigh.
On the bright side, they played contentedly together while I rested and read a book in bed.
I came out to find they had laid out blankets on the floor and were all set to watch a movie.  

I let them know they would not be watching a movie because we had to eat breakfast and go to Super Saturday, but they could earn the movie for when we got back if they were well behaved at my activity.
They were mostly well behaved.  The older kids helped one sister paint some boards to be used for a craft and later they helped a friend put together some books for Primary kids to get on their birthdays.
They still got to watch the movie but had to wait a while after we got home because there were not the best moments also.
Like I said, though- mostly well behaved.  They are good kids.

You Can Do This

You know those mornings?  Yeah, you know them.
Well, this morning after sleeping in later than I would have liked (and after everyone getting to bed later than I would have liked last night), the older kids were eating apples while I was cutting up carrots for their lunches.  Or I was trying to motivate myself to cut up carrots for their lunches.
The kids could hear me saying to myself, "I can do this."
Nichole decided to help out and start a cheer.  "You can do this.  You can do this.  You can do this."  

They had fun and I appreciated it.  I really do have great kids.

And these pictures are especially for you, Jeremy.

More Bonding Time

Jr. Jr. is really enjoying his bonding time with Mommy lately.  Today we managed to build an unending train track.  It's always great when we can get all the pieces to make one big track without having to worry about backing the train up or running into barriers at the end of the track.

Changing the subject- One thing I wish I had taken a picture of today was of the leaves falling off the trees.  We had enough of a wind today that leaves were just showering us as we went to pick up the kids from school and on the way home.  It was gorgeous but I didn't have the camera with me.  I did get to explain to the kids this is why the season is called "Fall."

Pumpkin

Three years ago, Nichole went on a school field trip to a local farm (it also happened to be Hat Day at school).  She got to do things like pet animals, go on a wagon ride, and walk through a corn maze.  She even got to pick out a pumpkin to take home.

Today, she went to the same farm for a school field trip.  This time neither Jeremy nor I were able to chaperone like we usually do.  She was okay with it since she got to be in the same group as her best school friend, that group chaperoned by her friend's mother.
She got to do a lot of the same activities as before, including picking out another pumpkin.  When she slowly walked out of school, I could see her carrying her pumpkin.  It was not the tiniest pumpkin.  I offered to carry it home for her and Jr. carried it up the stairs once we got home. 

Jr. Jr. also wanted a turn carrying it.

He's a ham.
I love my family.

Bonding Time

Jr. Jr. remembered the muffins from yesterday.  While the kids were at school, he requested muffins again.  This time, instead of from a package, we made them from scratch.  Jr. Jr. did a great job.

And afterward, we were able to sit down together and have some nice bonding time while eating strawberry muffins.

And some silliness, as well.

It was good bonding time.

We Got Some Things Done

After sleeping in this morning, I got up to see one child in her own bed,

one child on the couch,

and one child in my bed. 

I slept on the side next to the clock.  Yeah, that's how much room I had this morning.

Since we all slept in, we didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but hey, I made muffins... from a package.

The kids did help out with cleaning.  

Nichole cleaned most of her room herself, cheerfully, then helped me sort through books.

Turns out we have multiples of several Berenstain Bear books.

I told you, Mom, that we had more than one of these books.

Oops.  We missed one.

So, now we've got a pile of books to take to D.I., including some Berenstain Bear books.

We got some things done.  Now it's on to the rest of the week.

Fall Break

Here we are again.  Fall Break from school.  We had plans for this break but they didn't all work out.  First, after school let out at the beginning of Fall Break, we were going to go to a fire department open house in Orem with demonstrations and popcorn and cotton candy.  Unfortunately, I was too whiny and didn't want to deal with the parking and walking the distance to the fire station.  The rest of the family gave in to me and we grabbed some cotton candy from the store on the way home and ate it and popcorn while watching DisneyNature's African Cats.  It was a cool video.

The first full day of Break, Jeremy and I were going to take the kids to Big Springs to see the Fall colors since the weather didn't cooperate when we were going to do it soon after the official start of Fall.  Well, the weather didn't cooperate this time, either.  It was a rainy day.  Instead of going to Big Springs, we drove in the rain to Thanksgiving Point.  We hadn't been to Farm Country yet (and they have some indoor parts), so we decided to check it out.  They have Halloween themed activities going on there right now.  Great for little kids.  

 

Jr. with Frankenstein's brains and Boo Bowling (he got a strike).

 

Crafts and story time with Millie the Witch.

Face Painting

And when there was a break in the rain, we got to see some of the animals outside. 

The kids got to go on a pony ride and we all got to go on a wagon ride.

That evening, we went to a friend's house so she could teach me how to cook Indian food.  It was great.  The kids got to play with friends, I got to take notes and pictures, and Jeremy got to enjoy it all.

The food was so yummy.  And now I know how to make it!

The next day, the kids were content with watching movies all day as I built a large sculpture for a balloon gig.  Jeremy helped.  He's my hero.

 
It's been a good break.