Utah Lake

Last week we ventured down to the marina for a picnic the city was putting on. It was chilly out, but we bundled up and brought blankets and our sack lunches and were ready to brave the wind. Oh man- what a wind! We were right by the lake and we could barely breathe! We had our backs to the wind, but it kept taking our breath away! Our lunch sack was fighting to get away and our bread dried out almost instantly. Needless to say, the picnic ended pretty quickly. I let the boys walk on the dock for a minute and then we headed for home.



I thought the clouds looked so cool in these pictures. They were so menacing and moving so fast- you could see the storm coming. I love that there's blue sky popping through too.



I don't know if you can tell the strength of the wind from this picture- but I was scared it would blow the boys in the water! It started snowing like crazy on the 10 minute drive home......and later it was sunny again (but still freezing!) We'll have to go back when it's warmer. We don't go enough even though it's pretty close!

Purse Tag

I got Purse Tagged- so I emptied out my purse and took pictures. Then I thought I wouldn't- because who really wants to see the stuff in my purse?? I was checking out the picture and had to laugh at all of the toys in there- so I changed my mind and decided to post!

My $17.99 Target special. I get lots of compliments on this fun white purse. I'm always surprised because it's just my sensible purse, with lots of pockets- so it works for me. (It even has a cell phone pocket!) What rules about white after Labor Day??? :)


Clockwise from top center- my awesome Hobo wallet from Adam- it fits everything!
Garbage
Kid Snacks- Fruit leathers, fruit snacks and yogurt raisins
That little orange thing is a tape measure- I looove having it in my purse- it comes in so handy!
A Pen
Toys! Not light, fluffy toys- big, heavy cars, airplanes and trucks! Every so often my purse gets so heavy and this is the reason every time!
The necessities- chapstick, hand sanitizer, tampons, lip gloss, band-aids, tylenol
Coupons and Gift cards.

And there you have my exciting purse contents.

Soccer

We decided to sign Elliott up for soccer this year because he ALWAYS wants us to kick a ball with him, or throw him a baseball or a frisbee. He also has a lot of energy and always wants us to watch him do his tricks. So we thought what could be better than him playing soccer while we watch and make it a family event?

So he had his first soccer game yesterday. It was so funny to watch! All these little boys (and a few girls) were chasing the ball around the field in a big glob. We had the first practice during the week and Elliott was really excited. On Friday night when I was getting him in bed I told him to get some rest so he could play well in his soccer game in the morning. He said, "Oh mommy- I don't want to play soccer anymore. There are big boys that will knock me over." I told him they were all his same size and age, and they wouldn't knock him down. But he seemed pretty nervous.

In the morning, I let him lounge and watch cartoons and we played at the park, but he still kept telling me he didn't want to play. He didn't want to get his soccer shorts, shin guards and soccer socks on- until we got one side on and I told him he looked like a transformer. He loves transformers and that's his team name, so he felt really cool walking around like a robot after that.

When we got to the field, the coach had the boys in a line kicking the ball into the net, so Elliott joined in. Then the game started and Elliott was a little clueless, but he did great! All he knows about soccer is to "get it in the net" so he went for the wrong goal a few times, and maybe kicked it away from his own teammates, and zoned out looking anywhere but the game he was in, but he is getting the hang of it. It wasn't until after the game that I thought how funny it was that I just put him in a field and said, "Go play soccer!" and he had no idea what he was doing! I guess you have to learn somehow!

That's Elliott on the left with his hoodie on. Don't let the sunny weather fool you- it was freezing and windy!


The "Transformers" in their huddle. Elliott is one of the youngest (and smallest) on the team, and one of the few that hasn't played on a team before, so I was really proud of him for being so brave.


Although you can't tell from this picture, he was so happy after the game. He felt really special getting a capri sun, granola bar and oranges that a teammate's mom brought. He didn't want to take his soccer clothes off when he came home.


Ollie watched for the first five minutes and then found this little patch of dirt to keep him busy. Huge fields of grass and he finds the dirt- of course!

Tagged

Elliott took this pic the other night. Since I have no others, this is what I'm posting. Pretty funny.

How To Play This Game of Tag:
Post these rules on you blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Here it is....

JOYS :
1-Adam- He's so funny, smart, interesting, likes good music.......and handsome! ;)
2-Making my boys laugh, especially when it's mid-cry. I love that!
3-Elliott and Ollie's funny sayings, their cuddles and their smiles. They are the sweetest boys!!

FEARS:
1-Death- even though it shouldn't be scary.
2-Scary dreams and scary shows- I always think of them for a long time after.
3-Falling down the stairs. I know- weird.

GOALS:
1-Teach and play with my boys more.
2-To enjoy the little things more.
3-Become a better person, mother and friend.

OBSESSIONS:
1- Paper. I love scrapbooking paper sooo much! I wish I could wear it or something!
2-Jeans. I love them! Adam always knows what to get me for birthdays!
3- Toppings on food. I love loading up on them. Baked potatoes- load me up. Ice Cream Sundays- pile them high. Dips for chips, bread, fruit etc. Cookies- if it doesn't have chocolate chips, it isn't worth it for me to eat it. I'm not sure if that falls under toppings, or chocolate- which I loooove too! Yum! (I know- not very healthy of me!)

RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME:
1- I grew up with 11 kids in my family and I'm second to youngest, although I try to act like the oldest. Heh Heh.
2-I love taking naps. Always have, always will.
3- My Mom's whole family lives in Finland, which is how she discovered my name. I've been there a few times, and am aching to go back soon.
4- One more- I cry at everything, movies, books, news stories, commercials, suppernanny.........it's pretty ridiculous.

People I'm tagging: Misty, Linds V, Telisse, Tagen and anyone else who wants to do it- this is kind of a fun one!

Elliott

Here are a few funny things Elliott has said the last few days:

"A meteor, a bone and a hammer are strong. They can break things."

Me- "Who made you so sweet?"
E- "Myself!"

I was telling the boys we might not be able to go see the free bird show at the marina that our city is holding today because it's rainy and windy out. I was saying maybe we should do something else that's really fun. Elliott said, "Yeah! Maybe we can play checkers!?"

As we drove to the zoo last week, Elliott was looking at the mountains. He said, "that's funny that there are houses on the mountain! How do they eat their dinner- it would just slide off the table!"

"When we die, do our bones keep growing?"

"If we went to the moon- we could kind of fly because there is no gravity."

Backyard Playground

So I've been dreaming all winter long about getting a swing set for our backyard. Since last year when I saw this at Costco, I've been trying to talk Adam into it. He finally agreed it would be fun for the boys and we were able to build it last weekend! I shouldn't say "we" because all I did was put the swings together. It took Adam and my brother in law Brian (and a little help from my Dad and the neighbor kids) from 9 AM until 9 PM on Saturday just for the house part. Then on Monday Adam did the rest with some help from his friend Jason. What a job! The boys have had so much fun already! I think even after the novelty of the thing wears off, the kids can go out there and make up new ways to play.








"Look Mommy! No Hands!" (Why is it so cool to do everything with no hands.......I remember doing it when I was little too!)

Cousins

Elliott, Elli, Benny and Ollie

I wanted to post this cute picture. We were making strawberry shakes last weekend and all the kids wanted to see the "whirlpool" inside the blender. They were all leaning in just enough so everyone could see. Just a cute picture of cousins!

Meetings and Thank You Cookies

Today I had a meeting at 8 AM for church. Then I taught the lesson in Young Womens (fun lesson on extended families by the way!) Then tonight I had another meeting for Girls' Camp. Busy Sunday......and next week looks like more of the same. (Actually camp is six weeks away, so we are super busy until then!) So I came home from my meeting tonight and Adam and the boys weren't here because they went to see Grammy and Grandpa. The house was all dark and I was feeling rather glum without my boys here to greet me, so I went to let our kitty outside and there was a plate of cookies (chocolate pudding cookies!!) on my porch! Included was a nice little card with notes from my next door neighbor girls, Ashley and Nicole. Seriously- they are the best! It really made my day. You just go and go and go and sometimes think- am I doing anything good, right, necessary or important? Little things like these cookies and note help me remember that people are benefitting from all of these meetings! That girls are learning and growing and succeeding in their lives, sometimes with a little help from a thought from our little lessons and activities.

So my challenge for everyone reading this blog entry is this- tell someone in your life " thank you" this week. Email a friend and let them know how they have influenced you. Take some cookies to your awesome next door neighbor or to your kid's teacher. I guarantee it will make their day! Love you all by the way! ;)

Bowling

Here are more pictures from our fun Spring Break.


Little Ollie. His little bowling shoes were super cute. Every time his ball would hit the pins (which it did every bowl because of the bumpers and roller thing) he would say, "Alright! Woo!" It was so cute. Lots of high fives that night.


Elliott was a trooper and bowled through 2 whole games. In the car on the way home he was asking when we could go again.


Ollie's socks were so funny! I let him play outside for a bit with only his socks on, and he fell asleep right before we were supposed to go bowling, so I just put him in the car. We didn't realize his socks were so trashed!

Trip to the Zoo

Since it's Spring Break- my sister Linds and I decided to have a fun week with our kids. It was supposed to be nice weather on Monday, so we decided on something outside- the Hogle Zoo. We had lots of fun, although we weren't ready for it to be THAT warm, and we got a little bit burned- except for Elliott- his skin turns straight to tan! I keep laughing as I remember pushing our double jogger stroller up the hill so we could let the kids play at the playground at the end and Ollie was screaming so loud that people would turn around to look with horrified faces and move out of the way so fast! It's pretty funny to think about. You know that point where they are just done? Nothing can make them happy, except for a nice nap? Yep- that's what happened. Fun stuff. It was pretty packed- but it didn't really bother us until we waited in line forever for the 2 minute train ride! Oh well- we had already bought the tickets and the kids were looking forward to it and loved it- all except for Ollie who fell asleep right when we got in line, all through the train ride and when I put him in the stroller. He woke up about 10 minutes later, just in time to go home! I think I got some new muscles from holding 31 pounds of dead weight for that long. He never fell asleep on the way home, so I just put him to bed early. Nice. It was really nice to be outside and feel the warm sunshine for once (I think it got to almost 80 degrees), and now today it's snowing again! :(

This is in the "ghost of the bayou" exhibit with a white alligator. It was so cool to see! (no pic though!)



These giraffes were so cute- just cuddling right next to each other- I loved it!


On the train ride:Benny, Linds, Addie, Elli and Elliott.


Elliott and Benny looking at the waterfall, just relaxing after a long, hot day.

Dinosaur Museum

The day finally came to go on Elliott's preschool fieldtrip to the dino museum (we have been counting down for a long time!) It was a lot of fun, and since my sis in law Amy and her daughter Kenzie were in town from Indiana, we had them come with us. My other sis in law, Christie came with us too. Elliott was so excited that before we even got out of the car he was asking for the camera. He got out and took the picture below.


COUSINS: Baby Kenzie (we can't give up the "baby" part even though she's 2 1/2!), Elliott, and Ollie in front of the Supersaurus......really- that's what it's called.



Playing in the wet sand with little dinos. They were in complete heaven and would have stayed all day. What could be better for little boys than sand, water and dinos? Maybe some cars and candy- but that's it.



Elliott and Aunt Christie in front of the T-rex, his favorite.



The giant shark mouth. The boys stared at the rows of teeth for a while in amazement.


The boys playing in the dry sand. Elliott kept uncovering more bones and was so into it. So fun.

Ollie just picked up the sand and watched it fall. After we got home and after his nap he kept telling me his foot had an owie. I finally took off his sock to look at his toes and he had so much sand between them! It wasn't the little nice dirt/sand either- it was like little tiny coarse rocks! I guess I didn't brush his feet as well as I thought!

We had a fun day and will go back for sure! It was fun to hang out with Ames, Kenzie and Christie too. We wish we could see Amy and her family more!

Hootenanny Pancakes

I know you are all thinking, "What is that? Some kid's art project?" Nope- it's just one of my favorite breakfast foods my Mom made when I was a kid. I am such a cold cereal girl that I usually only make them on special days for my family, like Christmas, birthdays. and this pic is from Easter. My boys and I love them with yogurt or jam on top (thanks Mom) and Adam likes them with syrup or jam. While Adam was on his mission, I stayed with his little sisters while his parents went out of town. I thought I would make them my special Hootenannies, which was the first time I tried to make them away from home with no recipe. So I put in 1 egg and 6 CUPS of flour- instead of 6 eggs and 1 cup of flour!!! They turned out like bricks, but still tasted suprisingly yummy! We could only eat a little bit before we were way too full- they were just so heavy! I don't think I'll ever live that one down, but I have definitely made a lot more food mistakes since then. They are so yummy and easy and different- so I thought I'd share the recipe with you all:

Hootenanny Pancakes
1/2 c butter
1 c. milk
6 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. flour

Melt butter in a 9X13 inch pan in 425 degree oven. While it melts, mix milk, eggs and salt in blender. Gradually add flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat very well. Pour mixture in pan of melted butter and bake for 25 minutes. Cut and serve with favorite pancake topping. Serves 6.

P.S. I usually use a little less butter and if your butter is salted, then you just need a pinch of salt instead.

General Conference

General Conference was so great this weekend! It seems like the older I get, the more excited I get to listen to our prophet and other leaders. President Monson is so funny- he just seems so down to earth- I love it! I just love the way I feel when I'm listening to the speakers and after it's all over- it's like I want to go serve and do all the right things and be humble- it's such a cool experience. I know we all hear what we need to and what pertains to our lives out of conference, so for me I felt like I want to enjoy my kids and be there for them while they are young, because they grow up fast. Also to not stress the little things with kids. M. Russell Ballard said, "Treasure the doing more, and the getting it done a little less." Also, I hope to be a little better in all of my little goals and relationships. I really look up to all of the speakers and started thinking what they did in their lives to be such good people, and I think they just gave it their all. They served and did callings without being grumpy (me!) and did all the things they were supposed to. I love these positive feelings of just wanting to be better and at the same time being happy with the people we are- that's what I love about our church! It gives us direction, goals, hope and I love the happiness it brings to me and my family!

Spare Change

Ollie loves coins and will pick them up and carry them around all day if he finds them. He also asks for them when we are driving in the car because he knows the change drawer is there, "Mommy, two, three moneys!" So today I was out spreading mulch in the flowerbeds and I was letting him water it all down and he got soaked! This always happens in the summer and I usually just let him dry off, but it was pretty windy and cold outside, so I brought him in to change. I took off all his wet clothes and put dry ones on and went to throw the wet ones in the laundry basket and I heard a little "jingle" in one of his socks. So I looked inside and there were two dimes, a quarter and a penny........in his sock! I'm not sure how long they had been in there, or how he even thought to put them in his sock- but I thought it was so funny!

Sick!

So this isn't a very fun blog entry- but it's what is going on with us lately. We've had the flu all week at our house. We've had a lot of sleepless nights and laying on the couch all day. I think it's really true that once you're sick, you appreciate your health a lot more! So I'm very thankful for my health that I have most of the time.....even though right now I have a yucky cold, my kids have colds, are getting over the flu and Elliott has an ear infection. It's actually the first time he's been diagnosed with an ear infection in his life! I think I'm either an unobservant Mom or he's been really lucky. Most of the time when I take the kids to the doctor I feel a little silly because it's just a cold or something little or untreatable. But this time some neighbor girls suggested Elliott's symptoms were like when their kids had ear infections, so I took him in. Thanks for the advice! Wouldn't you like to see exactly where your kids picked their sicknesses up from? I always wonder that, just so you can avoid it (or clean it) the next time.