Scrub scrub scrub

When I was a little girl I spray painted a rock orange... it looked AWESOME!!! But my Mom did not think it did! So, she told me I had to clean that rock. She sent me outside with a scrub brush and a bucket of soapy water. I tried, I really did. I scrubbed for 5 minutes or so before I figured that rock was NOT going to get clean. So, I headed back into the garage and got another spray can and sprayed that rock white. It was clean then, right?
I remember my Mom was NOT too happy, though I cannot remember what happened next.... It is probably best... (Joking Mom!)
This event has been used in our family often as an example of covering our sins instead of truly repenting... a great analogy! I often think of it in another way with my kids though. I look at them and the silly/naughty things they sometimes do. It is amazing the ways their little brains work. To them, all they see is how beautiful the bathroom would look with 3 bottles of nailpolish spread everywhere... they can't imagine Mom won't like it! Or the work involved cleaning it up! They think it is a GREAT idea to make things themselves, not noticing the mess left in their wake. Thet have no idea - their little minds are going so fast that their bodies can hardly keep up!
There are so many times in my own life where I just did not think about the consequenses for my actions. I know that scrubbing that rock should have taught me... but I think spray painting white over it taught me too. It taught me that I am lazy... just kidding! It taught me that kids really don't think! I honestly thought my Mom wouldn't notice! She still has that rock in her yard as a reminder... it reminds me each time I see it to slow down.. to think about what I am doing and where I want to go in my life! It of course also reminds me not to cover up the bad things, but to scrub them out of my life! But as a Mom with 4 small children, the lesson I need to remember most it to let them be kids! Let them scrape their knees and get into trouble sometimes - it really does teach them to follow what I say the next time! Nothing dangerous, of course, but I really feel it is important for them to be little - and to get into the situations that will help them learn and grow - and prepare them for the futures they have ahead of them! I know they are destined for greatness, I see it in their eyes. I worry that I am not a strong enough person to help them learn all they need to - or to let them go when it is time. We will cross that bridge when the time comes, but for now we will just enjoy being little!

Summer Days...

Today 6-15 My cute kids rode their bikes to the park (from Aunt Becky's house) played for an hour, and then headed back! 3 miles all together. When we got home they ate Otter Pops and lunch at their new picnic table. It was so fun! We had a great day!!!

Notice that playhouse behind the kids? That is going to be sooooooooo much fun! Seriously - we are all so excited!

Girls Camp

I had the awesome opportunity to go to Girls Camp this year! My Mom, Derek, and Bethi watched the kids 2 days, and then Jonathan took over Friday and Saturday! Thanks again all!
So... I need to document this - because it was very eventful... We got there Friday around 9:30 a.m. and got all of our stuff set up... then waited for everyone else and the opening ceremony stuff! It was fun and then dinner was awesome (Navajo Tacos) thanks to my Sis in Laws Mom in Law (hee hee) - Julie Stapley! After the program that night I was super tired and went to go get ready for bed when we heard the air horn 3 times (meaning emergency) so we got our shoes back on and headed down to the flagpole... of course on the way there we saw the problem (a wildfire). After talking to the girls I was over (3rd years - squad A) and a lot of other girls in our ward I ran and got Karen's bucket she had brought her stuff to camp in and dumped out her stuff. I got to head over to the fire, fill up buckets - toss a couple of the fire and then just fill up more buckets (it is really hard to throw water with one hand....). The smoke was really thick - but being there I was grateful to see that it wasn't as big as it looked! Plus we were very blessed in that our Camp Directors Hubby is a Firefighter and our bishop was there and that is what he works on for APS! They had us safe and sound in no time! The girls were harder to settle down, even though we told them a lot that it really wasn't as big as it looked (when I took them the next day to see it they were like, "oh, it really isn't that big!").
The next morning I woke at 4 (had gone to sleep about 12:00) and couldn't sleep... We "got up" around 6:00 but I wanted my squad to get more sleep so I waited to wake them till right before Flag ceremony at 7:00. After that we made breakfast burritos, then on to all our certifications.... Lunch... then a scripture study journaling time (after which I took a long nap!). Dinner and then a program. I had started feeling sick around noon and got a nasty migraine so I had a tough time falling asleep - around 2 a.m. i thought I should really have taken a sleeping pill.... oh well.
So... Friday morning we got up and made breakfast then we headed out on a hike. It was really a beautiful section of the Arizona Trail! We ate lunch and then headed back... sort of. We hit a different section of trail and were headed toward Happy Jack... everyone thought that someone else knew where we were going! Oh well... we just turned back around and hit the right trail and got back just fine! That night was the yummiest fried chicken dinner and the Bishoprics were all there along with the Stake Presidency! Guess what happened then... We got a crazy rain/snow storm! FUN! It was so cold! After the program we all went to our individual wards for the best part - testimony meeting! It rained off and on on us the whole time (till 11:00 p.m.) but it was so precious and amazing to hear those sweet girls and there amazing testimonies! I am so grateful to have been there! I truly love those girls, the leaders, and our Bishopric so much! What a wonderful opportunity!
The next day we all took down and came home - mixed in with lots of songs, hugs, and laughter! It was a great opportunity. I feel bad for being SOOOOO worried about it! I didn't always have the best experiences as a youth with my girls camps... but it really is better as a leader (though I STILL got the Thursday night migraine that I always got as a Youth)! Thank goodness for the awesome programs for Youth in our church!!!

Sweet!

I had a very sweet oppurtunity to sing in an alumni memorial choir for my high school choir conductors wife. It was so beautiful and so net to get to be a part of!

Pics are kinda dark... can you see me - far left 3rd row down on the end....

Note to self - add more pics when scrapbooking;)

Happy Birthday!!

Here is sweet little Elise! She turns one today! How did that happen?
On Monday we had a little party for her, it was very sweet! She was so excited!
Isn't she cute here at dinner?
Here is Elise - bring on the cake!

She was so excited! So was Hannah - notice her all ready to blow out the candle?

First taste...

She likes it!

People that were here...

Little messy!

Presents....

Daddy forgot her was in charge of pictures... so there are no more pictures.. until this one of the picnic table from Grandma and Grandpa! All the kids were so excited! FUN!!!!

Elise really loves this shape sorter we had gotten her at Disneyland! So did all the other kids, in fact!

Happy happy birthday sweet little angel! We are so very glad that you are a part of our family! We can hardly believe that we are lucky enough to have you!

Yep - you are ONE!!!!

Here she goes again!

Here is Emma making a chocolate cobbler... I think I need to teach her how to make more healthy foods! She is REALLY good at it though, and loves to do it! YAY!

Growing pains??

Hannah is going through a growth spurt right now so if I get her to stay still for more that 5 seconds she is OUT!!! Oh my goodness is it sweet!

These really are the times that make motherhood worth it!

*Please excuse my chubbiness... I am working on it....STILL.....

Where did it go?

A few weeks ago Elise got her ring finger on her left hand smashed under a door... and it ***her fingernail*** fell off! What a big thing for such a little girl!


She actually got her ears peirced a few weeks ago - I figured that as the 3rd girl she would never get to do anything FIRST so we did that so she could have something... but I guess she is trying to prove me wrong! She is the first kid to lose a fingernail! Way to go Elise;)
Sorry to everyone who thought Elises FINGER had fallen off! I guess I should write more clearly;) LOL!

Great Toe!

My girls love to get their nails painted! Here is a picture of me and Emma - aren't we cute?

Here is Mommy, Emma, and Hannah....

I don't know why, but I really love this picture!

Thank Goodness

My awesome friend Jen gave this shirt to Emma when she came to town last week!!! Emma was seriously so excited! She had just told a friend that she wished she had a John Deere Shirt!
I still REALLY want to get Russ a shirt I found that says, "Will trade sister for tractor" Funnny!
Also... we headed out really early Sat morning and headed to good 'ol Joseph City where we dropped off the kids at my cousin Kerri Lyn's house and her oldest daughter Kourtney watched them while we went to the temple!!!! It was really great! We had such a precious special time in our session and then Jonathan was able to be baptised and confirmed for his Grandpa Yapp. It was a very precious experience!
On Monday we planted our garden and Jonathan got foundation ready for a playhouse. We also had a BBQ with my parents and younger brother, his wife and son! FUN! Then we watched Avatar projected onto our wall (a sheet)! It was soooo good! LOVED it!
We did a lot more than that but there is abrief overview of a very wonderful weekend with our little family! Thank goodness for family!!!!!
Also, my dear, sweet Grandpa had a shunt put in his brain on Friday morning and things were looking not good for a while, but hopefully with our continued prayers he will keep getting better and better! We all love that man so much!!!!

Future Chef?

One of Emmas goals for the summer is to cook one of the meals each day... and she decided to get a jump start on that last Friday when there was no school!
Here she is - making peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips ALL BY HERSELF! I was so proud of her, though to be honest I didn't think they would turn out.... but they did, they were REALLY good!

Way to go big girl!!!

Pretty soon I will be out if a job!

Heart breaker

Do you know what seriously breaks my heart????
Having to wake her up to pick up kids from school.... she s just sooooo sweet and cuddly when she is asleep! ;)

Preschool Graduate!

Russell had his preschool program and graduation last Tuesday! We were so proud of him! It is hars to believe he will be headed to Kindergarden in just a couple of months!
Here he is singing songs wth his friends!
Most of the class...

Emma wanted to help with pictures.... and she did a great job, though she kind of got Russell AFTER he got his certificate.... ;)

Soooo happy! What a big boy!

The greatest preschool teachers on the planet! I am amazed at what they did for the children in such a short amount of time!

Miss Tanya, Miss Anna, Miss Jodie, Mrs. Brown.

The teachers, Russell and Alexis! They became very good friends... and according to her Dad Russell is all she talks about! Cute!

Russell is VERY sad that preschool is over. He cried and acted up for days... he really misses his teachers and his friends!

We are so proud of you Russy Bubs!!!

Little Red's Mom

I am so sorry to start off this post this way... but it HAS to be said - My camera STINKS!!!! WE left this particular night and I was in tears. I tried soooo hard to get a good picture of my sweet daughter in the play she worked so hard to do. I have been looking at different cameras and think I want to get a Nikkon D40... but it is pretty far down on the list of needs (unless we win the lottery - which we don't play). But, at the same time - we are missing getting to document these super special things because of a no good camera....it really makes me sad!
Emma practiced sooo hard to be Little Red Riding Hoods Mom in her play. (It was the 2 multiage classes!) Here she is sweet girl (I greatly apologise for these terrible pictures... I tried).

Also - it was pretty funny - Hannah ran up on the stage in the middle of Emmas play. She was trying to get her to come down and told her Mommy needed her! I was pretty mortified as I had to go get her.... I tell you what - that kid is FAST!

Here is Emma saying who she was when she was in the chorus for another play (The Three Little Pigs).

Here is the whole crew! They did SUCH a great job!

Can you tell this girl is so happy and proud of herself? We are too! She really is such a wonderful help and tries so hard to do what she knows is right! Way to go Emma Gale!

Random posting is so much fun!

This little guy continues to melt my heart... here he is with a coloring - I thought he did such a great job!

I love this girl so much and am so proud of the good helper and sweet girl she is becoming.

This one LOVES bugs! Especially ladybugs, though she has been known to bring ants and stinkbugs into the house as well!

"Momma, he LOVES me!"

Love that cheesy face!

I am so grateful for these precious children (plus the one who is not in this post)!

Here I am with the first sunburn of the year. I got 5 new freckles on my forehead from this one;) Also, 3 blisters on my lips... but the kids had fun at the park and got their sunscreen!

Here is the fire that was by our house. It was 550 acres and crazy to watch at night with the glowing red hill!