That Period of Time between Christmas and School Starting Again

The month started out with myself feeling wiped out, and recovering from illness.  Some of the illness rubbed off on the family.  (Our first illness, but NOT the last of the this winter.)  One morning we couldn't find Bennett.   

We found him in Lily's bed.

Sound asleep. 

Cuddled up with her big white polar bear she got for Christmas. He loves that bear, and has been trying to steal it ever since Christmas.  

Glad he found a nice, comfy place to rest.

No snow as of yet, but still a bit of gloom.

I find this gloom quite pretty.

 I had told the kids many times over Christmas break that I would take them to OMSI.  Suddenly it was January, and school was about to start back up.  Life of course was busy, but I found a day that we could go.  Trying to get everyone ready was just ridiculous.  Am I the only one that this happens to?  I say, "Kids!  Let's go do something FUN!"  The kids respond in an excited manner.  I hurry up and get myself ready.  I get the little boys ready.  I make and pack a lunch.  I am ready to go.  Everyone else is still in their jammies doing the exact same thing they were doing when I first announced we were leaving.  Grrr...

On this particular day, while I was going crazy trying to get people to respond to me, Theo smacked his head and ended up with a good ole' bump and bruise on his forehead.  We postponed the trip for an hour or two.  Poor baby.

He was very happy when we got there.  He did not hold still long enough for pictures...

 ...until Harrison grabbed him.

Without a doubt, his favorite spot has got to be the water tables.

Max, and a blurry but Happy Theo!

I adore his little body.  Playing with the big boys.  Harrison and Theo.

Trying to catch some water balls.

The older kids were off at the Sherlock Holmes exhibit.  It was AWESOME!  I went through it quickly because I had the little boys.  Even Harrison and Bennett enjoyed it.  Sadly photography was not allowed in the exhibit.  If it comes to a museum near you, I highly recommend it!  If it comes back we are going to make it a date night event!  (no kids allowed next time)

We always have a big party on New Years Eve, but this year that got postponed because of all the illness going on in our home.  We celebrated New Years Eve about 5 days late.  We invited several couples over to eat Chinese food with us, and play games.  Only two couples could come in the end.  It was perfect.  Fun, but low key, which is really what I needed.  Sadly I was busy having too much fun because I took NO pictures!  

I do have a picture of this mishap however.  Our friend Kevin put their 2 year old in our bed to sleep along with a sippie cup that was NOT spill proof.  It was just water, but they left about 1 AM with a soaked little girl, and left us with a soaked bed.  Good thing Jason got me a brand new hair blow drier for Christmas.  Jason had fallen asleep downstairs on the couch.  I got it all dry before dragging him up to bed. 

 One of my favorite parts of this week was finally catching up with season 4 of Downton Abbey online.  If you're still in the middle of it, keep watching!  The last episode of season 4 is one of my most favorites ever!

 On Sunday (the day before school started back up!) I was home sick with sick kids.  A friend saw these two cute, sweet brothers crossing the gym after church.  She posted it on facebook.  This shot totally warmed my heart, and for a few seconds I thought that maybe I didn't want these sweet babies to go back to school.  I very quickly snapped out of it, and remembered how much they love school, and I would just be mean to make them stay home with me!  HAHA!

Harrison and Bennett

Driving Home From Church

Sunday's are quite crazy around here.  I wish they weren't, but they just are.  

After three hours of church, Harrison usually strips off his clothes on the way home.  We have scolded, begged and pleaded with him to not do this.  It leaves a huge mess, and even ruins his clothes.  He has ripped many buttons of his white church shirts.  Grrrrrr.....

One afternoon Theo found these goggles, begged to have them on, and wore them all the way home!

In the Autumn we love to drive home from church a different route just so we can 

drive down this lane lined with these gorgeous trees!

It is not uncommon for Theo to crash before we are even out of the church parking lot. 

Church tends to wear us all out.

For sure our favorite activity after we get home is to cuddle and hang out together.

"Group Selfie" - we've been taking a lot of these lately.

"I Look Like a Lady"

Many months ago our computer started to die, a slow and painful death.  And since we were down to one computer already it made things like keeping up on my blog harder and harder to do.  To make a long story short - we bought a new computer finally!  Now I can continue blogging and do some catch up as well.  I print my blog into books for the kids to look at, and so the catch up part is not as irrelevant as it may seem.  

Before I start to catch up  I need to share some current stuff and things before I forget!  

Taken a few weeks ago on the school bus on our way to the Kindergarten Field Trip at the zoo.

Yesterday I was running errands as quickly as I could with the 3 youngest boys, in the heat, on a Saturday afternoon.  Getting 3 kids in and out of carseats is not fun.  Often when I have the 3 youngest like that Harrison steps up, and acts as the oldest child.  It is awesome!  That is how he was yesterday.  He was so helpful!

Every time we got to a new store he would have Bennett and Theo unbuckled for me before I was even back there to get them.  Whenever we were leaving a place he would get Bennett buckled in, then himself while I buckled in Theo. 

One of our stops was the grocery store.  It is a place where the purchaser bags their own groceries.  I paid and went down to the end of the belt, and found that Harrison had already bagged our stuff!  He did a good job of it too!  Then, he insisted on carrying out the bags to the van so we wouldn't need to bring the cart.  As he was walking out with 3 grocery bags in his hands he said, "Hey, I look like a lady!"  I laughed and asked what on earth he meant by that!  When we got out to the van I had to ask him again, so I could hear it this time.  

"Harrison, what did you mean when you said, 'I look like a lady?'" 

He answered, "Oh you know... I always see old ladies carrying bags around like that."  

Alrighty then.  

Glimpses into September 2012

I love September.  It's a lot like New Year's for me.  I feel renewed, and like I want to try harder and do better.  I'm always just so relieved to make it through another Summer.  

This year we had a jam packed September.

Glenn received a rank advancement for Boy Scouts. 

We ate lots of yummy Apple Crisp.

Me and most of my cute boys eating apple crisp.

Max reading to Harry and Bennett.

This was staged for a video used in a Relief Society Lesson.  I actually really like it.  

I am reading a story from The Friend magazine to the kids. 

One day I was up in my bedroom and heard a loud BOOM!  I came running down the stairs, and saw Jason out on the deck surveying the damage.  Our glass table top had shattered when the umbrella was lifted by the wind and crashed down.

I am sad to not have a table out on the deck anymore.

Glenn and Jason went on a scout camp trip on the Oregon Coast.  They went crabbing and had tons of fun!

While they were camping, the younger kids had a primary activity at the temple.  They had a special tour around the grounds and the new visitors center.  They learned a lot about the symbolism in the building of the temple.  It was a really fun activity.

Lily was almost 12, and really not excited about going to a primary activity.  I made her go.  Mostly because I needed her help!  She got in the shower as we were supposed to be getting the van!  I was MAD!  Luckily I had the time wrong.  It was a half hour later than I thought.  I never told her that.  I wanted her to keep on thinking that she was making us late.  

She came out to the car with a towel on her head, and she did her makeup on the way there.  I was silently laughing at her the whole time.  This made her really mad.  Oh well.  I'm an annoying mom, just like my mom was.  I was mostly just enjoying the moment, and feeling kind of sad that she is growing up into a teenager.  I had to take a picture to help me remember this forever.

By the time we arrived at the temple Lily was back to her happy self.  The peaceful spirit there is not just inside, but all around it too.  I love going there.  My children really loved doing this.

Max and Harrison loved doing the tour of the grounds.

The new visitors center is awesome!  The kids loved it, especially the interactive games.  If you live in the Portland area you should go!  You don't have to be a member of our church.  It is a really neat and educational thing to do with your family.

 

 This was Bennett's favorite part.  He kept saying, "Jesus!"  He was so excited to find Jesus there.  It was so sweet!

I knew that the activity was going to be getting done right about lunch time.  I also knew that my kids would be starving and want me to buy them fast food.  I thought ahead (very unusual for me) and packed a picnic.  One of the sister missionaries told me where to find a park about 1 mile away.  It was GORGEOUS!  One of the best parks we've ever been to.  We can't wait to play there next Summer!

The whole play area was covered in this water proof tarp thing.  It was perfectly designed for Oregon weather.

We ate lunch, and they played for close to two hours!

We got home right before Jason and Glenn did from camping.

One day I really needed help with Theo, who was upset and crying.  Max wanted to take him for a walk.  Harrison and Bennett were excited to go too.  They walked around our culdesac several times.  

When they got home Theo was sound asleep.   Bennett and Harrison tried to lift him out to take him to bed.

Earlier, before the walk, I had Theo in the other room while I was trying to make dinner.  He was fussing.  At one point I realized that he was quiet.  I came in to check on him and found Bennett playing with him, and entertaining him really well.  At first I kinda freaked out because he had Theo's face covered up with the burp cloth.  Then, Bennett yanked it off and Theo squealed.  It was adorable!  Bennett even got some laughs out of him. 

My house always becomes more clean in September once the kids go back to school.  I still have to stop sometimes and ignore the mountain of laundry that needs to be folded so I can snuggle with Theo.

Costco has their Christmas stuff already???  Well, Bennett was thrilled!  He had a blast with this Rudolph.

Bennett, still refusing to take naps after the crazy, fast paced, loud Summer.  Occasionally he falls asleep in the van.  It's so sweet, and when it happens I drive around a little longer so I can enjoy the peace.

After Labor Day I realized that Lily needed some new black shoes for church.  She picked out her first heels.  I don't know how I feel about this.  She is growing up too fast.

Harrison and Bennett LOVE all the quiet playtime they have without all the older kids bugging them.

One of their favorite toys is this Arctic set that Max got for Christmas when he was 3.

Theo turned 5 months old!

This is what happens when I am holding Theo in one arm, and making PB&J with with other arm.  He got a handful of PB.  I have to say that I rather enjoyed sucking that PB off of his fat little hand.

I was really excited to have my next Gourmet Club dinner to go to.  Check out the link HERE

to get all the details from it.  It was a beautiful night.  The theme was "A Night in the South."  We were asked to dress like Southern Belle's.  It was an awesome night!

Theo had a well child check and got shots. 

 Bennett LOVES sneaking off to Lily's room.  Mostly she is very nice to him.  On this day he disappeared down the stairs to her room.  He came back 30 minutes later looking like this.  Maybe Lily was trying to teach him a lesson, but instead she just made him want to hang out with her even more!

 Theo usually smiles constantly at Bennett, but not in this get up! 

Lately Bennett has been wearing any fun hat he can find.  I usually don't notice it, or have time to take a picture til he's sitting still and eating.

And then, other times he just prefers to sit back and chill in Theo's rocker.

Theo loves watching all the kids and craziness around him.  Greta Phair has started to notice, and like him too.  She loves to give kisses.

And one more thing for September.  I helped the other girls in my Gourmet club make the dinner for our church dinner.  It was a special dinner for all the women in 7 congregations.  They expected about 200 women to come eat dinner before a special broadcast from Salt Lake City to all the women in our church world wide.  For all the details on this dinner that we put on, check it out HERE.