these clowns....

 Our kids enjoyed the Pleasant Grove City Library's entertainment this morning, a Magic Show. After the magic show Emma wanted to check out one of the magic books. 

While I was making dinner, the kids were doing all sorts of stuff like Emma putting a diaper on Thomas. What in the world?! He kept it on for about an hour or so. Silly kids.

 In the Magic Show, the magician did some juggling. The kids painted their skin with side walk chalk

to be like clowns and did some pretend juggling. :) And Thomas still wearing a diaper outside of his shorts. What a clown.

 Face paint with chalk.

 And here they are trying to juggle with these items. 

There is never a dull moment in this household I tell ya. :)

Aaaarrrggh Mateys...

 Emma and Thomas have had a fun story time theme at the library this week, "PIRATES!" 

Yesterday the kids were begging to do a treasure hunt in our yard after making their parrots from the library. But things were a little crazy with a torn up kitchen due to remodeling, so it didn't happen yesterday.  Today was low key so we made it happen. :)

 I made a quick treasure map for them to follow.

Ready to begin the treasure hunt!

 They hop to their first destination...the chicken coop.

 running to the pear tree...

 After a few more destinations, they made it to X marks the spot. :)

 Ooooohhh treasures like bead necklaces, sparkly rings, big gold chuckee cheese coin, and a note saying, "Aaaarrg, you get a popsicle!" hahahahha.

 Cutest little pirates!

Strawberry Days 2013

  Keeping traditions alive around here! :)

We walked in the Strawberry Days parade yesterday. It started out a little rough with all the wind and balloons flying away into the heavens with some sad tears from a little girl. We tied the balloons to the kids bikes and they kept blowing in the kids faces (like in picture of Thomas below, HA!)  and then Emma's popped off by another biker. Thoughts going through my head, "oh no, parade hasn't even started yet..that's just greeeat!" 

I told her she can choose to be upset and let it rain on her parade (no pun intended--actually I didn't really tell her that, I just thought of that one just now) or have a good time. She chose to have a good time. And it was. 

 Thomas biking next to his good friend, Gavin. They're both pretty new at this whole riding in parade thing on bikes. They were such champs. They were concentrating on everything around them.

 Thomas got so confident and riding like a pro. He was ahead of our family most of the time. He'd make his rounds to keep up with us :)

 See, she was happy.

 Daddy and Joseph. :)

STRAWBERRY DAYS RODEO

Even though we were exhausted, we made it to the opening night of the rodeo.
SO glad we went. We went and checked out the awesome cattle first. The kids were stoked, can't you tell? 

 (Thomas even looks like he's doing the sprinkler dance. There was fun music playing)

 

Daddy's favorite picture of kids standing by General Lee. He thinks this is truly American right there. :)

 Still dancing

 Family picture taken just before we froze our noses off and Thomas started getting grumpy because he was cold. The kind family in front of us offered their blanket to us. Yup, so weren't prepared for that cold of weather. Hello end of June weather, how are ya?

 Joseph wasn't a fan. Who would be sitting in an enclosed space hearing ALL of this commotion going on on the outside? He endured it for a couple hours and then it was home we went.

 Cheering on the horses and cowboys, these two.

Good times!

I spy with my little eye....

photo taken May 19, 2013

Emma and Thomas have been so funny in their games recently. A couple of the many (which I can't remember all the names of) were "Run, jump, and get the money" and "Chase the bum."

Rules of each game..

Run, jump, and get the money= You run, jump, then grab all the paper yellow coins(made previously)that have been taped to the wall and stick them to your arm and then run, jump, and then fall to the ground and die. Serious game.

Chase the bum= you do just that; chase the bum. It was usually Thomas with his pants half down and Emma chasing him and the both of them laughing hysterically. We had to finally call it quits to that game.

 This was a picture we captured when we went to check on them at night and not only was Thomas sleeping with Emma in her bed but there was another surprise. I had to rub my eyes for a minute to see if I was really seeing this. Wondering if they started playing "chase the bum"in their sleep.

The End.

thoughts of this Mom...

May 17, 2013- On a date with Emma and Joseph at one of Emma's favorite restaurants, "Olive Garden". She loves their Zuppa Toscana.

Emma

Lately I have been trying to really hold on to these special moments with all my children, especially my Little Emma as she is growing SO fast before my eyes. 

I feel her independence increasing. It's a good thing.

Little, yes I want her to stay little FOREVER. I love seeing her imagination run wild, hosting tea parties with her dolls, still calling herself Queen or Princess 'so and so' (depending on the day), ALL her questions on a daily basis, caring for whatever toy is her favorite that day (unicorn, baby doll, moonlight cat, monkey and so on)...but mostly her innocence. 

I love her innocence.

This little gal enters the Kindergarten world in the fall. 

She is SO ready academically and socially. She has been ready since last fall but I'm grateful I had another year with her. 

I won't lie, I feel anxiety when I think about her starting Kindergarten. I know I shouldn't but do.  

I don't want her innocence taken away.

I don't want her to face those upcoming challenges; they will come. But there will also come beautiful experiences as well. 

I have to keep telling myself, "they have to learn and grow..they have to learn and grow."

I go to bed at night thinking about my children and evaluating my day with them. Some days I feel guilt like I could have done better and some days I'm a little more content, still some guilt, and feel completely exhausted. :) 

I have to remind myself that I need to settle down. I need to have those simple and quiet moments with them.

I feel like these moments will drift just a little bit after Emma starts Kindergarten. Will they? I don't know.

 Emma will only be 5 years old once, Thomas will only be 3 years old once, and Joseph will only be this little for another day, he just keeps getting bigger daily.

I just pray that my children will have confidence in who they are and that Derek and I have helped them recognize that and will continue to help them feel that in themselves. I hope.

These have been on my mind the last week or so about Emma. Some of it may not make sense but my mind is racing. :) 

She is growing up SO fast and will be entering kindergarten in a couple months. I know she's ready, but am I? :) 

Joe Joe boy is 7 months....

Joseph turned seven months old on May 23rd. SEVEN MONTHS OLD? He is growing so fast. He is probably about 15 pounds now, but we won't know until his nine month appointment in July.

 He giggles more and more. I think he's getting the belly laugh that Thomas has.

 He is so interested in everything and wants to see everything with those great big eyes. 

His eyes are my favorite. They have so much expression and his spirit shines through them.

 He loves being on his back. Although, as of yesterday he is rolling to his side a lot more while laying down and sleeping. He has been able to roll over from his belly to his back since about six months.

I love when he sticks his feet up in the air and grabs his little feet. 

I love his shining smile he gives as soon as we enter the room. He gets SO excited and grins and kicks his little feet like he's pedaling in a bike race. 

He thinks his brother and sister are the best creatures on this earth.

He is the BEST travel baby. We experienced a long drive for our trip to California. He was SUCH a champ. Best baby traveler EVER.

I thank Heavenly Father every day for blessing us with this little boy. He truly is a miracle baby.

 Trying to help him get strong enough to sit up. We're still working on it. :) He'll get there soon.

This is our night pretty much every night. Congregating in Emma and Thomas' room for getting ready for bed, family prayer and lots of giggles (and cries) from tired children. 

Joseph is so patient. :)