Jumpin' Jacks and Jills

The kids were out on track break for 2 weeks but due to Clark's play rehearsals we had to stick around home. We did get invited for Sunday dinner at my sister's so we headed up there for dinner, Monday shopping and playing, and last minute fun on Tuesday morning before heading home for dance and basketball that evening. Steph and I had fun at home decor stores and all of us had fun at Jumpin' Jacks, building forts, and watching movies.

St. George has become quite the fun little getaway when we need a change of scenery. Plus, the extra bonus of a sister, bro-in-law, and cute little cousins. Thanks, Steph and Jim, for inviting us up!

Under the Big Top

Jake's preschool held a circus last week that was so much fun. There were lions jumping through rings of fire, elephants all walking on the tight rope, acrobats, and weight lifters. There were even some arcade games such as a fish pond, face painting, tattoo parlor, ring toss, grab the duck, and cotton candy. Clark and Kate were on track break so they even got to visit the circus and help with the games. It was such a fun afternoon under the big top.

The ferocious lion jumping through a ring of fire.

Jake and Siobahn--Cute lions!

Tightrope-walking elephant

What a weight lifter! He can lift 1000 lbs. with one hand!

Acrobatics and Juggling with Kalleigh

Just being a circus performer. What a cutie!

Grandma's Barber Shop

Unfortunately for me, I did not inherit a "haircutting" gene. I tried to cut Clark's hair several years ago when he was about 2 or 3 and I just butchered the whole thing so I've never tried again. I can trim with scissors but I can't use the electric clippers.

Fortunately for me, however, Joe did get that gene from his mom. He does an excellent job on our boys and even does a great job on his own. (Although during his latest haircut, he got a little too excited and shaved the whole thing off, using baldness as an excuse) So since my boys were looking a little scruffy, I asked my mother-in-law to cut their hair.

Clark enjoys getting a haircut because he likes to style it and make it spikey. Those little prickly hairs always tickle his neck though and he really starts to wiggle at the end.

Jake likes getting his hair cut too, until the clippers turn on. Then his tears also turn on, and the wailing, crying, wiggling, and screaming. He even hunches over as far as he can so his shoulders will cover his head. I thought he only acted like that for Joe but it was not to be. As soon as Grandma turned on the clippers, Jake's hysteria turned on as well. She has a lot more patience than my husband so there was a lot more smiling and giggling and a lot less yelling during this haircut.

Don't they look handsome? Maybe I can get their yearly pictures done now. Thanks, Grandma!!

Botanical Cactus Gardens

Over Valentine's weekend, Grandma and Grandpa Stuart came to visit. We rode bikes, played outside, went out to eat, took walks, ate ice cream, played games, watched movies, and went to the Botanical Cactus Gardens. There is a chocolate factory there as well but being Saturday, the factory workers weren't there so we didn't get to see them in action. However, we still got a free sample of yummy chocolate. It was fun and the kids loved posing for pictures all around the cactus plants.

Basketball

Clark has been playing another season of basketball. He is really enjoying it. It is his favorite sport and he loves every minute of it. We are so proud of his efforts and enthusiasm during the practices and games. He even made a few free throws! Great job this season, Clark!

Playing With Fire and Running Wild

"Out in the country, past the city limit signs, there's a . . . "
little paradise we like to call Logandale.

Last Saturday we "city folk" spent the day with our "country" friends. The kids played outside for over 8 hours, coming inside only for bathroom breaks, drinks, and a quick bite of dinner before heading back out for even more croquet, hide and seek, roller blading, crawling and running around on the pirate ship, tag, and spinning endlessly on the tire swing. The dads weren't around so the moms got to sit around and chat, being completely lazy and relaxed while the kids ran wild all over the yard. It was wonderful.

When it got dark we lit a campfire and made s'mores. The kids loved starting sticks and marshmallows on fire and watching the sparks fly when another log was thrown in. Because I had so much fun chatting about anything and everything, I forgot to take pics of the kids running and playing but I did manage a few around the campfire. It was a great day and the kids were exhausted, falling asleep while they were halfway into their pajamas. (I should have gotten pictures of that too!) This city girl definitely loves playing in the "country".

Ready for the Day

I haven't been sleeping very well lately so I have been staying up late and waking up early. This morning I laid down on the couch for a few minutes with Carlee to watch Super Why after taking the kids to school. Jake was upstairs playing on the computer and I must have dozed off. A few minutes later, I felt some tapping on my face and a little voice said, "Mom, I'm ready for the day!"

Well, she can feed herself cereal, frozen waffles, and yogurt, take her pajamas off, and put on makeup but apparently can't get dressed. We'll have to work on that one.

Switcharoo

Every night before I go to bed, I check on my kids one more time by re-tucking them in and kissing them good night. Imagine my surprise when I walked into Katelyn's room and found nobody there. So I moved onto Carlee's room . . .

She was there and sound asleep so I went to check on the boys . . .

No boys but one little girl sleeping in a boy's bed.

I continued walking down the hallway and found one little boy in the lovesac in the playroom but the oldest one was still missing . . .

Here he is in the guest bed.

Sometimes I wonder why they even have bedrooms. Half of the time they are sleeping with each other or all together crammed into one twin bed. I see legs on faces, elbows in ears, fingers in armpits and mouths wide open and drooling. What crazy topsy-turvy children! How can they sleep like that? I think it would be better if we turned our loft into a big community bedroom with all beds mushed together. Maybe they would finally stay in bed and I could have a craft room, storage room . . .

A Rough Week

So I was listening to the radio the other day when a song came on that I've heard at least a dozen times but I actually listened to the words this time. It is "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins. I added it to my playlist because I really needed to realize this week that I am going to miss my children being little. It has been a rough week for them and I think the reality of change has sunk in . . .

Clark has actually been really obedient and has stepped in to help me quite a bit, however, he still suffers from the elation and excitement he receives by teasing his brother and sisters. Teasing Carlee gives him extra joy. He pretends to be a monster and growls and chases her while she runs away screaming and crying. I tell her there are no monsters so she tells him to "leave me alone, Clarkie!" and proceeds to hit him. While he is laughing at her hitting him, I am trying to tell her that we don't hit. He also tortures her by carrying her around and away from everyone, putting her in a room, and shutting the door. I wonder if I should do that to him . . . if only he weren't so darn heavy!

Katelyn has what we call "Brattitude". She actually agreed that working on this would be her New Year's resolution. This happens about every 2-3 days. She will be a great helper--always willing to help me out with little things around the house, with Carlee, or just playing nicely, and then the Brattitude Monster takes over and she talks back, turns up her nose, stomps her foot and gives mean looks all the while saying, "I can't, Mom, I'm busy" or "Do it yourself". Looks like that monster needs to be chased away by Carlee. Maybe I'll allow hitting on that one, if only I could see it.

Jacob has a problem with staring at me and not comprehending anything that I say. As I'm telling him to do something or get his work done, he is completely thinking about something else. Everything is in one ear and out the other with him. The other day, I was rattling off a list of 3 things he needed to get done before school. Right in the middle of my sentence, he said, "Mom, do you know that all snowflakes are different and none of them are the same?" I said, "Yes, I did know that. Did you know that I was talking to you?" He nodded but didn't know what I said. Then he stuck his thumb in his mouth and walked away. Another new phrase that he has said twice is the dreaded one, "I hate you!" He has said that to me once and to Katelyn the other day. They were fighting in the car on the way to the store--kicking, screaming, crying, hitting, etc. when those mean words came out of his mouth. I was at my wit's end so I told Jake that if he hated his family then we would find him a new one while we were at the store. I was pointing out different moms and asking him which one he liked. He was crying and saying that he didn't want a new family but I said that if he hated us then he shouldn't be with us and he should live with one he loved. He could even pick what family he wanted! I was pointing out different characteristics of each mom, dad, brother and sister and Clark and Katelyn were giggling. He finally apologized to Katelyn and to me and said that he would love our family and be nicer. So, the moral of this story is . . . when you're at your wit's end, you've lectured, threatened, bribed, and punished until you're blue in the face, you go to your creative side and do whatever works!

Carlee is back to clinging on to me all day long. She follows me, wants me to hold her, has to be carried up and down the stairs, and can not be away from me. If I leave for one second to do dishes or put in a batch of laundry, she runs screaming and crying after me. Too bad that she is too big and heavy for a baby sling. That would be the best solution instead of putting myself in time-out for 5 minutes while she bangs on the door. She is also into everything and doing things herself. She has a huge sweet tooth and I have to pick the lesser of the two evil junk foods. She is into saying, "one mo' time" and "jus' wheel quick, Mom!" I am definitely learning patience with this one and I have to pick my battles with her. One such battle is her choice of clothing. She has to pick out her outfits and this is usually an argument. Do you know how difficult it is to argue with a 2-year-old? We always end up with a compromise but every day she insists on wearing these high-heeled Minnie Mouse shoes she got for Christmas. When I try to get her to wear normal shoes, she throws a fit so I give in and we shop and run errands in bright yellow high heels. I have to admit they do look darling on her and she gets a million smiles and compliments although I end up carrying her because she can barely walk in them. What we women do for fashion and beauty!

Now that I have complained about the fighting, bickering, and naughty talk of my children this past week, I do have to say that they are good kids. They always step up when I am stressed and they usually listen when we have "family council" (code for Mom is going to lecture). We have great days more often than not but it seems our few bad ones are pretty BAD so they tend to get the focus. I love my four munchkins dearly and nothing brings me greater joy. I love being a mom and it's what I've always wanted to be. I am so grateful that I can stay home with them and be there for every question about snowflakes, see the smirks and dimples when something is funny, hear their apologies for messing up, cuddle with them to read stories when the hustle and bustle of the daily routine is done, kiss them good night as they sleep peacefully, hear the words, "I love you" constantly, catch their flying kisses when they head off to school, and watch them saunter around in high heels flipping their hair and talking on their "i-flone". I know that I will miss these days and that they are growing up too fast. They are my greatest gift and I love them so much even through a rough week.

Happy New Year 2009!

New Year's weekend was a lot of fun because my family came down to spend it with us. Kyle, Jenn, Mom, and Dad were planning on coming in the first place and at the last minute Steph and Jim decided to come as well. We missed Cath, Jay and Geoff.

They all arrived on New Year's Eve and the night was spent playing games, having Wii competitions (Guitar Hero and Dancing with the Stars), eating fondue, talking, laughing, and having a great time. Our fondue dinner was delicious with 2 different types of cheese dips for veggies and bread, 3 different types of sauces and meats, and a chocolate fountain for fruits and treats. Katelyn loved the chocolate fountain so much she even asked Grandma if we could buy it from her. (I guess we know what to get her for her birthday) Half of the family fell asleep before midnight (Mom, Dad, Tyler, Madi, Jake, and Carlee) and the better half stayed awake (Kris, Jim, Steph, Kyle, Jenn, Clark, and Katelyn) to actually ring in the new year. We made our new year's resolution toasts over sparkling cider, pulled poppers, blew horns quietly and then crashed for the night.

Dad and Jenn were partners in Dancing with the Stars.

Dad really got his groove on!

Mom and Jim were partners. Mom was laughing so much she kept pausing the game accidentally and Jim was trying to keep his frustrations with her at bay.

Kyle and Katelyn were partners, Jake and Steph were partners, and Clark and I were partners. Ty, Madi, and Carlee just enjoyed dancing around the room and trying to copy the moves. The champions were . . . obviously, Clark and Mom!!! Where's our mirror-ball trophy?

On New Year's Day we woke up late, had a late breakfast and then went to the outlets. No trip to Vegas would be complete if the sisters and Grandma didn't do a little shopping at the outlets. The brothers, Grandpa, and children were good sports and we got some good deals. Then we headed home to play more board games and the other renewed tradition of Neon Leon.

Friday we went to the Lied Children's Discovery Museum and a discovery it was. The kids had a great time and it was so fun. They had a bank, post office, grocery store, hospital, puppet theater, performing arts theater, karaoke, a construction site and bubble tanks on the first floor. On the second floor, there was a wind tunnel, wheelchair basketball, virtual soccer on a holopod, chair pulls, and other scientific discoveries.

Clark tried his hand at basketball wearing hoops goggles. While looking through those glasses, the hoop was deformed and you had to make the shot.

Carlee tried her hand as well with Uncle Kyle's help

Katelyn sang a little Hannah Montana for the crowd in the karaoke room. Way to go, superstar!

Jake loved going up and down the slides. What a poser!

The kids used all their muscles and strength to pull themselves up the ropes on these chairs. Clark's wincing and grunting helped him the most. Carlee got a little help from Grandpa.

This was my favorite. It is called the Torture Chamber, I mean, Wind Tunnel. I put all four of my kids in there and the wind gets up to 78 mph. As you can see, Carlee definitely didn't like this and everyone was laughing at her while she was crying and screaming. The best part is that I couldn't hear her or any of them at all. Definitely on this year's Christmas Wish List.

Just kidding.

Here is Jake climbing on the gopher holes. Obviously you're supposed to go under and pop up in the holes like Steph and Madi but being Jake, he'll climb on top and bang on them.

I don't know who had more fun at the bubble tanks, the kids or Kyle and Jenn.

Katelyn put on several puppet shows.

And Carlee was the perfect forewoman at the construction site. She gave the workers plenty of lunch breaks by pulling the whistle.

It was a fun day and ended well at Cold Stone Ice Cream, our favorite. Yummy!

Saturday we had a breakfast buffet at the Aliante Station Casino and the kids loved piling their plates up with all the choices they could wish for. Then everyone packed up and headed home. I started taking down the Christmas decorations and 2009 has officially begun. Thanks for a wonderful weekend, fun family!