FHE and baseball

Last night as we were eating dinner Aubrey announces her plan for family night. "For family night I think we go to the park and have fun as a family, because that is what family night is all about having fun!" I remind her that while this is true, the main reason for family night is to learn about the Gospel as a family. Then Braden chimes in and reminds us, "yeah we haven't had family night in awhile. I say "I know it has been hard because your baseball games have been on Mondays, we need to be better".

(Oh I wish I had a video of the inflection of her voice and mannerisms. Writing it down will not do it justice.) But then matter of factly and not in a mean way, Aubrey says to Braden, "Yeah Braden do you want to quit baseball........... because I want to learn about Jesus!"

How can it be....my baby is THREE!!!

February 4......We had been talking about Brinleys upcoming birthday for weeks. Even the day before her birthday I was telling her no your not 3 yet. I was holding on to two as long as possible. It was so cute when she first woke up in the morning on her birthday still bleary eyed with a weak morning voiced asked me, "am I still two?" ...."NO your three now!" She had the biggest grin on her face and I had a tear in the corner of my eye. She picked out princess decorations, and lots of balloons. She wanted a real apple for her 2nd birthday last year, and this year she wanted an ipod. Quite the upgrade...but I assured her there would be no ipod. She was very excited about all her gifts, and has been riding her scooter around the house since it rained for several days after her birthday. Oh how I love this girl, she brings us so much joy, and laughter. Just a few days ago while picking up Aubrey from school I wanted her to stay in the car because it was raining...she wanted to walk in the rain, she said "I want to walk in the rain and I can stick my tongue out because I am very thirsty". I came home a few weeks ago the kids had been playing the wii, and in that game you make characters of yourself. My kids made hers very chubby. So when I came home she announced to me "mom I'm very chubby". I had to tell the other kids to stop calling her that. I love you Brinley so happy you are a part of our family!!!

I took Brinley to the party store to pick out some decorations for her birthday, when I was getting her out of the van I noticed she buckled the bag up. Must protect this precious cargo :)

We had lots of pink balloons that added a nice pink glow around the kitchen. We also have lots of hearts that we made for FHE, they each have love messages for everyone in our family.

I'm three!!!! Mastering holding three fingers like this is harder than it looks.

up for the challenge

A few weeks ago I was getting the kids ready for school. I was working on Aubrey's hair and somehow all of them congregated into my bathroom. Aubrey looks up at me, staring at me for a moment before she posed her question...."mommy can still take care of all four of us?" "UM yes"I repond back...hesistantly, "Why do you ask?" Her reponse..."Well it just looks like it is really hard for you". .....and I thought I made it look so EASY!!

Then later I was asking Kendal to remind me what exactly Aubrey said so I could write it down and she adds in a few more details from her perspective...."Well she was just looking at you with no make up, hair not done...looking exhausted....!!!" New Goal....wake up before kids, get dressed, make up on so I will looked refreshed and up for the challenge. (lets get real that is not going to happen!)

The funny papers!

I really should have a comic strip, this child gives me plenty of material...move over Family Circle!

Aubrey's comic relief for the past two weeks

Mom I have a new way of turning off my light. I jump high in the air off my bed, yell "yaba, daba doo" and then hit the light.

While going through some old clothes I had her try on a turtleneck. She got all huffy and told me "mom I don't know why you are having me try this on you know I DONT like Artichokes they CHOKE me!!!"

Kendal was telling me how much her friend likes to babysit because she gets to watch tv really late at night. One time she watched a show till 11pm. A few minutes later Aubrey chimes in that the next time she sees Kendals friend she wants to feel her forehead. I thought this was strange and asked her why. She said "to see if her brain is all mushy from all the tv she has been watching".

I was talking with Aubrey while we were driving and asking her if she was going to write Santa a letter. She said, "I don't know why we have to write him a letter. Wouldn't it be easier just to sit on his lap and just tell him what we want."

Aubrey asks me one day when she gets home from school if fat is a bad word. I say no, but sometimes it isn't a very nice word. She says, "well it is a good thing Santa isn't going to be at our Christmas program because we call him BIG and FAT!!"

While cleaning up after the kids lunch I cleared their plates. I guess Aubrey wasn't done and wondered where her chicken went. I look in the trash and it is sitting on top. I am looking at it debating whether or not to get it out and give it back to her when she tells me. "Its ok I'll eat it, I've eaten things out of the trash before."

All things come out in the wash!!!

Aw Laundry day! Well actually everyday is laundry day around here. Today it reminded me of a saying that goes something like,...everything comes out in the wash, .......here is what came out today. I can hardly wait till tommorow!

Little treasures found under Aubrey's bed while collecting laundry. Notice the broken keyboard, ornaments, crayones, little pink drink umbrellas from a party I went to and threw away, WIRE cutters (I was using in my decorating, then couldn't find them), shorts that I vowed were now off limits since it is WINTER, and her sisters blanket. Note, I just cleaned under her bed two days ago!!! Good thing I don't let this go for months on end, who knows what I would find.

Lovely socks!! What is the world does this boy have inside of his shoes. Or maybe his shoes have humugous holes in them as well. I never see him running around in just socks. Mystery! Bright side, one less pair to wash, fold, and put away. These puppies are headed straight to the trash!

How did that precious baby doll "Haley" that never leaves Brinleys side get in the middle of Bradens laundry basket? Hiding it from his sister? No, he wouldn't, would he? My guess...Aubrey once again, probably trying to frame her brother.

What in the world is that plastic stuff and what is that a hundred dollar bill? At closer examination I find that is a MEAT wrapper off of our hamburger meat we had in our dinner last night. Someone put it in our front window!!! Did some investigating....found that it was Aubrey (big surprise) She said she was trying to attract people to come to our house. I ask her....by putting a meat wrapper in the window? Her response, "well yes, AND A HUNDRED dollar bill!!!!"

This is a front window at our house, now everyone can see how much we pay for our meat!

Happiness and JOY!!

Love this QUOTE!!!!

"Some of the happiest people I know have none of the things the world insists are necessary for satisfaction and joy." Joseph B. Worthlin

November Already!!!

Bus ride to field trip, always a hightlight with the kids.

Who is going to win out, tinkerbell with attitude, or the wicked witch! My vote is on Tink!

She has the tinkerbell attitude down pat!

All the gang......ready for candy!

Time flys when your having fun, and when your not! But we have had a lot of fun this month!Can't believe it is already November. Here is some how we have been spending our time. Kendal got bobcat of the month, Braden got sparthanian award, mommy got away with friends for our annual girls weekend away..saw Wicked in San Fran, pumkin patch field trip with Aubrey, and of course Halloween. In between we have had soccer, soccer and more soccer, with three players it sure keeps us busy!!!!! We also enjoyed watching Kendal play volleyball! Here is to another great month.

Where did I put that pixie dust??

I bought Brinley a tinkerbell costume for Halloween while Aubrey was in kindergarten. Aubrey was jealous and on the way home started telling Brinley that the wings wont work, she wont be able to really fly. I hear Brinley's sad little voice behind me as I drive. "Mommy, I don't even, even know how to fly. . . . . .Can you teach me how mommy?" So sad! I said you can fly you just have to use your imagination. Later that night she said something similar to Cory. He swept her off her feet and in no time she was flying!!!!!

definition of service

Aubrey was helping me make dinner for a family whose mom was on bedrest several weeks ago. As we were making it she asked me, "mom do you HAVE to make them dinner?" My reponse "no I don't HAVE to, but I volunteered to", she looked at me. I then asked her "do you know what volunteered means?" Her reponse "YES!!! It means you are HAPPY to do it".
Love it!! Best definition of service and the way in which we all should serve. Willingly, happily, .....SERVE!!

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho its off to School they Go!!!

First Day of School!! Kendal 5th, Braden 3rd, and Aubrey Kindergarten!!

When I look at this picture I can't help but think......
Off they go into the lone and dreary world!

Now it is just me, and my little shadow!

Feathered Friends, Sunday Visitor

While making dinner a few Sundays ago, Kendal noticed a bird outside. "Mom you have to come see this bird laying down on our patio!" I'm thinking really, I've seen many birds what is so special about this one. "Seriously come and see, it is just laying down" Now I am thinking oh great I have a dead bird on the patio. By this time all the kids are curious and staring out the window at this big pigeon. We noticed it looked hurt as is limped around on one leg, and his back was missing a patch of feathers. I go back to making dinner, but the kids were enthralled with our new feathered friend, and very concerned about his welfare. For hours they questioned and talked about him. All through dinner, I started writing things down because they were cracking me up. Mostly Aubrey and Brinley.

Brinley He wants his mommy. Where is his bed? He needs to go back to the park. He looks sad. When he goes to the doctor he will cry, he will cry for his mommy.

Aubrey Will we have to take care of it forever? Do you think he can spend the night? Can we feed him...what does he eat? I bet a cat got it, his life is harder than ours because of the cats. Can we take him to the animal doctor? Can we text daddy? (he is at church) What is going to happen to him?

At this point I tell her well he is either going to get better or die. (sounds a little harsh as I type it) So her response is...."oh then he can meet LOPS, in heaven" Our bunny that died a few years ago.

I started feeling bad for the bird so I found some bread crumbs for him. The bird gobbled those up like nobodys business. Then I was thinking the bird must be thirsty after all that bread so we filled up a pie tin with water. This went on for quite awhile...at one point the bird actually came inside. Then Brinley was terrified and no longer wanted anything to do with the bird. That night the kids all prayed for the bird that he might get better and not die. That night I prayed that their prayer would be anwered. But the bird was not looking good and I really didn't expect him to make it through the night. Cory took one look at him and said, yeah it will probably be dead in the morning. OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH!!!! In the morning I woke up early to check on it, because if he did die I wanted to get rid of the bird and lie to my kids and say, well he must have got better and flew away......but he was still there.

The next day I actually bought some bird seed for the bird and Braden made a bird feeder out of a goldfish box, he even put a plastic penguin in there to keep him company.

Then our feathered friend becomes a problem because he is making a mess, poop, and feathers, bird seed etc.....and I saw it fly a few times so I'm thinking it needs to be on his merry little way. Problem is Aubrey named the bird, first it was Kelsey....then Kendal told her it was a boy because it had a ring around its neck.....so it was Dyson. Aubrey was in love with this bird! She wants to keep it forever!!!! Long story short after a few days of cutting off the food supply, taking away the handmade bird feeder, and several times Cory chasing it away with the shovel, the bird has never been seen again. Much to Aubreys dismay, the other day she was begging me to buy her a stuffed bird so that she could remember DYSON. Maybe it is time for a pet.....maybe NOT!!!

Funnies from Aubrey

While making lunch for my brood (aka) my kids...

the orders are rolling in...I want water, I'll take juice, just milk for me.

I want the red cup, I'm blue, blue, blue..and on and on.

They are getting impatient with me and I comment "hey I'm only one person I can only do one thing at a time"

To which Aubrey replies "well HELLO, you do have two arms you know!!!"



My Reponse which took a few moments to collect myself, "yes I know but they are attached to my ONE body"....."I'm not elasta-girl!"

My Motto "IT could have been WORSE!!" really??

Three weeks ago, Saturday morning I woke up to Braden who had got sick in the night. Too tired to wake up he threw up on his bed. So Cory and I go into the tag team effort, clean up throw up crew. Cory does the bed I attend to the few spots on the carpet. Luckily very little got on the floor. As I clean I repeat my motto in my head. "It could have been worse, it could have been a lot worse!" I use this coping mechanism a lot. Later on in the day I was taking inventory of the pantry for a grocery list and saw some pistachio pudding that we have had for quite some time so I decide to make it. My kids have never had it, and I remember liking it when I was little. I think to myself, oh this will be fun to make a treat for my kids. Aubrey helps me whip it up. I stick it in the fridge to set. A little while later I get it out and have some kids test it. Nobody likes it. YUCK, eww, whatever!! So I put it back in the fridge, however it slips through my hands lands on my kitchen floor. It was everywhere, the fridge, the floor, the walls, on the cupboards, down the hall toward the family room, baseboards. I look down at the bowl with still a substantial amount of pudding still left in the bowl. "Well it could have been worse" the whole bowl could have spilt out. This took me quite awhile to clean up. What a mess! After I am done cleaning that mess Aubrey runs in to use the bathroom and has an accident, I guess she was holding it too long. She is FIVE ! I can't remember the last time she had an accident. Cory volunteers to clean it up, but no she wants me to do it. FINE, I am in mess clean up mode anyway. Throw up, pudding, urine....I'm there!
That evening I had to take Kendal to her play performance, Cory was at the baseball game, so I had the other three kids with me. We went to Target to get a few things, then headed to jamba juice. Got our smoothies and are headed to the van. Braden was helping me carry the four little ones for the kids, they make it safely to the front of the van. I was carrying mine as I was finishing buckling Brinley she reaches for my smoothie and the whole bottom of the cup falls off. (very weird, faulty cup!! ) I say "OH crap" (not proud of it ) Brinley's response as she looks at me, "Well I'm just a baby". The smoothie is everywhere not one drop left in my cup. It is all down my pants, inside the van, on the side of the van, in the street! This time I have to really use my imagination to think, well it could have been worse. At this point I'm thinking, are you kidding me I just cleaned up a huge mess an hour ago. So I go into Jamba tell them I got a faulty cup. At least I get a new smoothie. They give me lots of napkins to clean up.I did as best I could while some impatient car was waiting for the parking space I was standing in cleaning up the mess. I look at the driver, seriously do you see the mess I am cleaning here. See the jamba all down my pants. There is another spot over there. After that I drive to pick up Kendal and home to continue the clean up process. The kids are playing outside enjoying their jambas as I clean up the van. So to sum it up, morning to night......throw up, pudding, urine, jamba!

SUNDAY....day of rest!!!!! Go to church come home and start to make dinner while Cory is still at church for his calling. Brinley decides she wants to wear panties, I deliberate, and think the worst that could happen is urine on the wood floor no big deal. I want to encourage her in her desire to wear panties. So I keep checking with her every few minutes or so to see if she needs to go while I am making dinner with Aubrey. Aubrey want to use the can opener so I was helping her with that. It got a little too quiet so I go to check on Brinley and I recognize that face right away. The look of Who ME, NO I didn't just poop. Yep she did, not only did she but it was the nice softy kind, ok it was diarrhea. Deep breath no big deal, at least it is all contained in there, none got on the carpet or floor. IT Could Have Been Worse!!! So I proceed clean up in the laundry room sink. While I was rinsing out panties I hear a blood curdling scream from the kitchen. Aubrey screaming, comes into the laundry room her finger is squirting blood everywhere. She is waving it around blood splatters everywhere. I am in the middle of serious sewage (for lack of a better word). I yell for back up, KENDAL!!!!! Remember Cory is still at church, Lucky him. When I finish with the panty mess, I go into the bathroom to try to calm Aubrey down and get ready to take her to get her finger sewn back on from the look of all the blood everywhere. I could not believe how much blood came out of that little finger. It was everywhere. In the laundry room, drops all down the hall leading to the kitchen, and the bathroom. There was blood all over, the shower, the toilet, sink, door.....one bloody mess. It took her awhile to finally let me see the cut. Luckily it did not need stitches, it wasn't even very deep. It could have been worse!!! Got everything cleaned up, dinner done, table set....Cory comes home. Oh the fun he missed. Aubrey vows to never ever, ever, use a can opener again. Or even eat anything that comes from a can. I reflect back on the last not even 48 hour tally of messes cleaned up. Throw up, pudding, urine, jamba juice, diarrhea, blood!!!!! Yes all the bodily fluids are accounted for......and it could have been worse.

PS......noticed pistachio pudding on the ceiling today, and a few blood drops that I had missed!

The face of Summer!

I got smore on my cheeks, down to my toes, marshmallows!!!!!!

Smore Happy Dance!

Too Funny!

Shopping a few weeks ago with Aubrey she found a rug that she was pleading with me to buy. "Please, Please...please can we buy it?, I love it, pleeeaase!" I am thinking no way, and why does she want this so bad. So I ask her "What would you do with it?" Her reply...."well whenever I want to pet a cow, it would be right there." Needless to say I didn't buy it. So whenever we want to pet a cow we have to look elsewhere.

Farewell to Clovis 2nd

I've been wanting to blog this for awhile but it is hard to find the words.

Nine years ago we moved from our little apartment to our first house. We didn't have much a few boxes and a one year old. Looking back life seems so much simpler. (Now we are a family of 6 with A LOT more boxes!!!) We moved into the Clovis 2nd ward. We knew very few people and I remember feeling very young. I told Cory one day after church that I felt like we didn't fit in very well because there weren't any young couples in the ward. He told me not to worry that soon we would be middle age and would fit right in, and then we would probably move. (not helpful) I also remember for a few years going up to what I thought were new couples in the ward and being so excited only to my disappointment when the usual response was, "oh no we are just here visiting our parents".

In time SLOWLY younger families moved in. Over the last nine years however it wasn't the move in of similar families that made me really come to love our ward, but service. Service that I was able to do, and the service of others to me and my family. I have come to know that it is through service that we begin to understand and love people. That we don't have to be in the same station of life, have similar backgrounds or common interests. The one commonality that we do have is the love of our Savior, and each of us working diligently to increase our testimonies. Through the nine years I had many opportunities to serve and teach. Three things I have come to realize to a greater extent happen as you serve. 1) you come to love those you serve, 2) you come to love those you serve with, 3)you see the love that our Father in Heaven and the Savior have for all his children. I can reflect back on both happy and sad occasions that there were people to lift me up, and also celebrate with me. The 2nd ward truly became my family.

A Quote I love from Elder Wirthlin sums it up perfectly. . .
"The Church is not a place where perfect people gather together to say perfect things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide encouragement, support and service to each other as we progress on in our journey to return to our Heavenly Father." ( The Virtue of Kindness, May 2005)

So Thank you all!!! I have learned much from you, and will miss being together with you on a weekly basis. However we didn't move out of the country, state, or city. Just a few miles! We are even still in the same building. Yet now there are other people to serve, and come to love. In time I know I will.

**ON a Funny note (if you are still with me in this long post)

Aubrey (my five year old) is having a hard time adjusting to her "new church" as she calls it, even though it is the same church. I try to explain that Heavenly Father needs helpers where ever people live and since we moved we need to go at a different time. Her response "what is the PROBLEM just wake up early and go to church".(you really have to hear her say it, but it is with a lot of attitude) If you know her you will get it.

PS don't take me off your blog I like to see what everyone is up to

A whole Decade old!!

May 24, 2009 Kendal Brooke turned 10, what a milestone, a whole decade old. I have been a mother a whole decade! Her birthday was on Sunday so it was pretty low key. Just our family, grandma, grandpa, and Baubles!

When I think of Kendal I think back to when she was 9 months old, one of her first words was, "WOW". She would say it over and over, this little baby "wow, wow, wow". She has and continues to wow us with the things she accomplishes and the person she has become. Most recently she has taught herself the piano, she plays hymns and primary songs that I taught my fourth year piano students. She has never had a B on a report card. She is very involved at school and was one of 2 fourth graders to earn the block W award. Happy Birthday Kendal, we all love you and are so grateful you are in our family.




A self portrait, what an actress




Recieving her block W award!

Happy Birthday!

Make a Wish!

Well loved blankie!!

Brinley has had this blanket since she was born, it is her very favorite!! It was given to her by a good friend of mine. Well has been looking pretty gross for awhile so for about 6 months or longer I have been on the look out for a similar one. I was so excited to find the exact one at Target. I could hardly believe the difference in color. Pink and White vs. Gray and Very faded pink. She was excited at first but will have nothing to do with the beautiful clean new blanket. She just cries for "the udder one blankie", I even tried to give it to her when she was going to bed with the lights down low but it did not fool her. Oh well maybe I will put it in her 72 hour emergency kit.


close up of the old and new (you can not tell how gross the old one is here!)

Oh and special thanks to Gill for getting my last two girls blankies that they just can't live without!!

Bradens Baptism

On May 30th Braden was Baptized! A little earlier than planned because my parents were in town and had to leave back to Utah for the funeral of my cousin. We had a nice baptism with just our family and a few of our close friends. After the baptism our family came over and had a nice lunch and visited. I took a few photos in the morning of Braden, after about the 3rd one he looked at me impatiently. "Thats enough" he said. I told him, hey this is your special day and we are going to be taking lots more pictures of you. We are so proud of you Braden for the choice you made, the person you are becoming, and how your testimony is growing each day. We love you!