The Dark Side

Yesterday I was at the DI looking for a hat for a sock monkey I am making (I know---weird thing to be looking for, but I can't find one anywhere else) and all of a sudden this kid comes up behind me in full Darth Vader ensemble breathing like Darth does. He even had a light saber attached to his pants. At first I thought to myself, who's kid is that and why would they let him go to the store with all his toys on? Open mouth---insert foot. It was MY kid. Alex, the never ending actor had found all of this stuff in the toy isle, put it on, and he wasn't leaving the store without it. I of coarse immediately made him take it off until we got home to scrub-scrub-scrub it, then he raced outside to ride up and down the street. I can't imagine how he could see out of the thing well enough to ride his bike, but he did. He was thinking he was awesome, and believe me---he was. You wouldn't believe the little boys that come out of the woodwork when Darth Vader is riding his bike up and down the street!

P.S. These are some of the funny things he says---(he said all of these words in one day by the way, and I couldn't help writing them down.)

"Woof!" - wolf
"Pone-tine" - pine cone
"Saw-chis" - sausage
"Hide in the Sink" - hide and seek

Dallin wanted me to add that he can't say exclamation mark. It comes out
"Ex-a-mation mark. He knows he says it wrong and he continues trying to get it right, it's funny to hear him try though.

A Sunday walk...

We went for a walk Sunday afternoon until Dallin's feet hurt, or so he said. The weather was perfect and it was nice to get out and spend some family time. Kristi came with us and she got the brunt end of all of Dallin's new found knowledge. He talked her ear off the whole way. His most exciting news is that he knows his ABC's and how to count to a hundred by 10's even though his teacher sometimes forgets the song. We walked to the school and let Cloey get some exercise and then up and around the temple twice. Zeke enjoyed his very first ice-cream cone without any help from Mom or Dad. He was loving that he was up in the big chairs with the boys!

Stinky feet and a soft heart

Last night at dinner Alex randomly announces in his best loud voice, "This house smells like stinky feet!" You can imagine my dismay after all the deep cleaning I have been doing the past few days. Dustin and I looked at each other wondering where that came from and Dallin calmly said, "He learned that on 'Holes'." Whew! Alex's new favorite movie is Holes. It sounds like he is in the memorizing stage right now. He usually does that before he moves onto the next one. Because we are all sick of watching 'Holes', the movie Alex suggested for Friday night family time, we rented 'Marley and Me'. Cute show. At the end though I looked over and poor Dalllin was just sobbing. Poor little guy. I asked him if he was o.k. and he was clearly embarrassed that the show and this cute dog had affected him like that. I asked him if he wanted to get a dog like Marley and he said "No-they die in the end." Ohh---sad. He must have inherited my high water table. I boob over everything---poor kid. I hope he stays soft-hearted like that though. I wouldn't want him any other way.

P.S. Zeke is now scooting on his belly everywhere. A few more months and he'll be walking and then what will we do? He's a monster when it comes to touching things!

Time flies!

Funny how they change from the beginning of the school year to the end. He just looks smarter! He's done awesome this year. We are SO proud!

Is it still spring?

I know that Spring in St. George is considered officially over now that were in the low 90's but this week I caught the "cleaning bug" again and it's a good thing I did. I started with my car---I've wanted overhaul that forever. It's clean inside and out, top to bottom and I feel much better. You would not believe the tiny cracks and crevices kids can find to put stuff. Weird stuff like mini transformers and stuff that when I asked them what it was they said, "Well---I was planning on taking that to show-n-tell and I put it in there so I wouldn't forget later on." Nice! At least I know they can think ahead. LOL! Then I moved on to cleaning my carpets, mopping my floors and finished off with deep cleaning my couch upholstery and bathrooms. Whew---there is just something serene about waking up to a clean house isn't there? Derrick finally said today, "What are you doing mom?" I said "Spring Cleaning." He said, "Well when is Spring over, I am sick of watching you 'CLING!'"

Busy, Warm Weekend...

This weekend was busy, busy, busy. Saturday started off with a bang at the soccer field. We are still undefeated---and we played the other undefeated team. Go Dallin! Then we had team pictures (took forever---the kids were hot and complaining---I couldn't blame them---I was hot too!), then it was off to Red Robin for lunch to celebrate our victory. After that Dustin dropped me off at the high school to watch Emmarie dance while he and the boys came home for a well deserved nap. It was fun hanging out in girl land for a while at the dance competition. A whole new world when you have all boys. Tutus and make-up and giggles. Emmarie did great. When I got back the boys were rested and raring to go. We zipped to Wal-Mart for a few things and on the way this was the conversation:

Dallin: "There is too a planet bigger than Earth!"
Alex: No there is not!
Dallin: "Dad where does Heavenly Father live?"
Dad & Mom in unison: "Heaven!"
Dallin: "See HEAVEN is bigger than Earth!"
Alex: "Henally Fauter lives in Heaven and it's bigger than earth?"
Dallin: "Yes!--Told ya!"
Alex: "Oh." (The "Oh" was said with no emotion like he couldn't have cared less.)

This was the conversation on the way home:

Mom: "Are you guys hungry? Do you want a hamburger or something?"
Alex: "I want fries and nuggets!"
Derrick: "I want a Han-ga-ber without the yucky stuff!"
Dallin: "I want a hamburger with potatoes and salad on it!"
(It took us a while to figure out what potatoes and salad meant, but we finally arrived at tomatoes and lettuce and all was well.)

P.S. I'm having a much better day today---my laundry is folded and my screen door window is clean---among other things. :)

A very BAD, no good DAY!

Today started off last night when I just couldn't stand the dryer and it's loud ticking any more! I yelled at Dustin to fix it...again, and after four hours he went to bed grumpy. Needless to say we got a new dryer today. That was about the only positive thing that happened to me today---now I can do more laundry---Hooray! :p Zeke is still trying to get those two front teeth in and is very cranky. Whining constantly. Julie had to work the lunch hour so I was out a babysitter and it didn't help that it was cold and raining. I decided it would be pressing my luck to take all the kids to the play ground with Zeke as cranky as he was so I called in sick. I barley squeaked Dallin there on time and almost forgot it was picture day (we had to change his clothes at the last min.) and then he had to stand in the rain for a few minuets until his teacher would let him in. I watched helplessly from the car in my pajamas (which by the way I still have on from last night---it is now 8:20 p.m. the next night). I got home and had a back and forth yelling session with Derrick for about an hour an a half. He wanted candy---I wouldn't give in because he didn't eat his breakfast (ya---the bowl of cereal he threw across the counter) or his lunch. When I finally said "No" for the last time he went over and whacked Zeke across the head with a water stick. THAT'S IT!!! I lost it. He went to bed, I called Dustin (bawling of coarse), he came home, restored order, went back to work, I sat there. Not one of my better days. More recent events today have included but are not limited to: Derrick jumping in the tub with Dallin fully clothed (in his fresh P.J.'s of coarse), Zeke pitching a fit and sneezing baby-food peaches all over me, Dallin getting car sick on the way to get the new dryer and several ladies in our ward stopping by to pick up vinyl orders and seeing me at my worst in my P.J.'s! My only goal today was to fold and put away some laundry and wash my screen door window. Those will still be my goals for tomorrow. Try, try again!

We are a Nice, Normal family...

You can say that all you want, but if normal means NO screaming, laughing, running, crying, eating, laundry on the floor, spilling, slobber, paper airplanes, Nerf darts, string cheese, fruit snacks, napping, more slobber, dressing up, Disney movies, family night, riding bikes, homework, cheerios, nap time, play time, friends, family, trips to "Spoon Me (frozen yogert---yummy!), yard work, helping neighbors, soccer, softball, school, errands, trying new things, driving kids around, reading books, sliding down the stairs, babies, naps on Sunday afternoons, changing diapers, more laughing, stress, work, church, talking, more eating, more talking, being HAPPY...we're not Normal! :P

Easter Weekend

We had a great Easter weekend up north at Grandma and Grandpa Herb's house! Grandma always makes things so much fun for the kids---they woke up to a Easter egg hunt that would knock your socks off (Alex was over the moon to see candy everywhere---in shoes, on door frames, all over the floor!) They are still talking about how they are big enough to dye and crack an egg---"Grandma said so!" We went to Chin-Wa, our favorite Chinese hangout and then took the kids to the Living Planet Aquarium. They loved it! Thanks everyone for the memories!

Goal!!!

I am officially a PROUD soccer mom! Dallin did great last night at his game and even scored one of the goals. So far we are undefeated! I love this picture of him---he is so full of life and we are so proud of all he can do!Caught ya!!! Meanwhile on the other side of the soccer game I got this shot of Derrick. After he gave me a complex about my nose problems I caught him picking his that very afternoon at the game. Do you think he could fit any more of his finger up there? LOL! He's going to hate that I have this when he gets older---oh well---it's one of the perks of being a mom! :P

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

We went to the mall today to get Zeke's pictures taken and the Easter bunny was there so we took advantage of there being no lines and got a few cute pictures. Dallin told me when we were leaving that he knew it wasn't the real Easter bunny, but he was sure the message of what kind of candy he wanted would get delivered. Too funny!

In other news Derrick told me I had a booger today---humiliating! To make matters worse when I asked him where it was he looked closer and told me I had hair up my nose! Then walked away. I would be devastated but I was laughing so hard I forgot to be mad. I did go look in the mirror and made sure there was no boogers...or hairs for that matter!

A perfect spring day...

Julie came over for a while and played with the boys. She's always great to bring fun things to do and yummy treats to eat! They love her! Thanks "Jewels"!



Yesterday was the perfect spring day---even a touch on the warm side. I promised Alex and Derrick we would go to the park with a friend after I finished at the playground. We picked up Thomas and headed to the park with some lunch. Here are a few of my favorites! You can't beat pictures of kids at the park---they look so happy and healthy!

What a nice weekend!

Conference weekend was wonderful! We had a nice laid-back weekend with no plans. I really enjoyed all the talks and messages. I'm so glad they have it twice a year--it's such a shot in the arm!Zeke was happy in the walker as long as we were sitting there watching conference. He had the "Bob the Builder" hat on for most of the time too! It was totally funny---it kept sliding down the front of his head making it hard for him to see---he didn't seem to mind though. We got a kick out of him looking way up to be able to see us. He was all smiles and giggles about it.The boys hung out in their P.J.'S most of the day and colored and made paper airplanes. They happened to all be sitting together so I took a picture---Alex learned to cross his eyes this week apparently because every shot I got he's got them crossed and I didn't catch that on my little camera screen. He's full or surprises that one. When I asked him about it he just laughed and said "Got ya Mom!"

Note to self:
Alex came up all dressed up as a tool man (hence the "Bob the Builder" tool hat that Zeke was playing with) while I was folding laundry---ya, where else would I be but in the bedroom folding laundry? Anyway, when I asked him what he was today he said, "A TLooL Man!" I laughed and tried to get him to say T-O-O-L man but he couldn't do it and he new it was wrong. He went on for about five minuets trying to get it to come out right---no luck. I guess we'll stick with "T-L-O-O-L-S" it's cuter anyway!Dallin came in a little later (I was STILL folding laundry!!!! Seriously I'm gonna conquer that laundry mountain sooner or later!) wearing a box that we had gotten at Costco earlier in the day. He said he was Spong Bob Square pants. I was feeling obnoxious and said, "So does that make me Spong Bob Square Pants' mom?" He said, "Ya mom, and her name is Cookie so sign that on all your papers this week." and he walked away. So I guess this week I am "Cookie" if anyone needs me. LOL! Where do they come up with this stuff?

Conference Weekend...

Last week in Relief Society we had a great lesson on preparing our kids and families for conference. The teacher had some great ideas to help get everyone excited and involved in the conference experience. They ranged from Bingo games to snacks to dinner ideas. My favorite was the little song of first presidency and apostle names to the tune of "The 10 Little Indians". We've been working on it all week and I thought I was the only one that was getting it but I was pleasantly surprised today when out of the blue Alex opened right up and started singing..."Monson - Eyring - Uchtdorf - Paker - Perry - Nielson - Oaks and Ballard...etc! Dallin chimed in with him and between the two of them they made it to the end by themselves! Maybe they can hear me after all! Sometimes I wonder if things go in one ear and out the other. It's been fun learning all of them (even for me---I hate to admit I didn't know them all before this week) and I look forward to really putting faces with names this weekend.
What a blessing it is to have a prophet on the earth at this time! I hope everyone has the chance to really enjoy listening to him speak this weekend.