Dancing in the Rain

Lately we've had a series of cloud bursts that have dumped a lot of rain. Last Sunday, the kids ran out and played in it. I love that they did this. I hope that never changes.

-Megan

My Mother's Day Cards

Mothers day is probably my favorite day of the year and not because it is day where I get recognized but because it is a day that reminds me that I truly am blessed to have the privileage of raising my beautiful family. And because I get really awesome handmade goodies from my kids.  

This years cards included a questionaire filled out by each of the kids. With out further ado, here are the results.

My mom is:

Tate: 36 years old

Hudson: 35 years old

Harper: 35 years old

My moms favorite color is

Tate:  Purple

Hudson:  Purple

Harper: Purple

My moms favorite food is

Tate:  ? hot breakfast?

Hudson:  Nootals

Harper:  Waffles

My mom always says:

Tate:  You're always right Tate, or don't go in your room. Reece is asleep

Hudson:  I Love

Harper:  I love you

My mom cooks the best:

Tate:  Food ever

Hudson:  Food

Harper:  Mac & Cheese

My mom's job is:

Tate:  part time photographer

Hudson:  to kiss me

Harper:  Working on the computer

My mom laughs when:

Tate:  I make a joke

Hudson:  I do something

Harper:  Zoe leans backward

My mom & I like to:

Tate:  Cuddle

Hudson: be funny and hug each other

Harper:  make crafts & fairies in our garden

My mom really loves:

Tate:  Our family (and hot breakfast)

Hudson:  Me and my family

Harper:  my family

I love my mom because:

Tate:  She is nice

Hudson:  She is my only mom.

Harper: she gives me kisses 

Epic Train Tracks

As posted before, these boys have built some epic train tracks. With the new Toy room, these builders are less inhibited than ever.

Everyone has a role to play;

-Tate builds the tracks

-Gideon tests out the tracks

-Reece chases the trains (and wrecks the track).

-Tommy

Tire Swing

Oh tire swing. Of all my back yard recreational creations, this is one of my best. When the kids start swinging on this thing, summer has officially begun.

-Tommy

To my beautiful babies

Tate, Hudson, Harper, Gideon and Reece

Even though today is a day to celebrate mothers, to me it's a day to celebrate you.  For I would not be a mother if it weren't for you five beautiful human beings.

Being a mommy was something that I looked forward to when I was little.  I couldn't wait to carry around and love on my own little tiny creatures.  And here I am now with five healthy, wonderful, creative, compassionate, strong willed, smart, funny and just down right awesome children.  You light up my life EVERY SINGLE DAY. You challenge every notion I ever held of what motherhood would look like and yet I love you much deeper then I ever thought possible.  You are my greatest accomplishment.  A dream come true.

No one can ever prepare you for the highs and lows of motherhood.  No one can every explain what it feels like when I see a one of you excel at something you were struggling with.  The light that sparkles from your eyes when you finally get it, lights up my whole world.  Words can never describe how your giggle & secrets make me feel on top of the world. The beautiful perfect everyday moments I get to share with you make my soul fly.  But then no one can ever prepare you for the mental assault that I would face every day.  The constant struggle between patience and anger.  How you children, I love so much, challenge me to the core EVERY SINGLE DAY. Sometimes I want to hide.  Somedays I want to be selfish and eat a treat all by myself.    Somedays I hide in the closet just so that I can have a treat all to myself.  Somedays are hard and I can't keep it together.  I hope that you will forgive me for those days.  I hope that you will forgive me for the times I couldn't keep it together and lost my patience or was rude to you.

I hope dear children that you will always know how incredibly deep my love runs for you.  I am so proud of the children you are and the choices that you make.  Watching you grow into the little people that God intended you to be is both thrilling and overwhelming at the same time.  I question my parenting ability every day.  I worry, and cry, and pray that I am not completely screwing you up.  I am trying to be the best mommy to you that I can possibly be.  But I fail and I get up and try again every day.  I pray to be more calm, to understand your needs better and to use my short time with you wisely.  I screw up a lot and I hope that you will forgive me for that.  I am trying to teach you to be the best yous that you can be: to love others and to serve your fellowman.  At the same time I am still trying to figure out how to be the best me that I can be.  We are learning together.  

Thank you so much for making me a mommy for trusting me and loving me even though I fall short all the time.  Thank you for making me laugh so hard.  Thank you for teaching me to be selfless and patient and kind.  Thank you for teaching me what service really means.  But most of all thank you for just being you.  You are all perfect to me and I love you.

Love Mom.

Gideon is Funny

Each of our kids has a very unique personality (of course). Gideon is our most popular to date. He's quite gregarious and social. He does a lot of funny things;

Peeing standing up is the funniest thing ever to him. He thinks it is such a novelty and will laugh the entire time he is doing it.

Sometimes if you say something he doesn't like he'll immediately start hitting you repeatedly while saying, BAMMER, BAMMER, BAMMER. It's not hard. I think it more for effect. I believe the "bammer" term is a combination of hammer and bam.

Also in the realm of explosive anger (these kids come from a long line of short fuses), if offended, Gideon will quickly make a supreme anger face for about 4 seconds then go back to what we was doing.

Sometimes I say phrases, "We need to say the prayer" or "has anyone said the prayer?" Regardless of what were doing, Gideon will immediately commence praying, "Heavenly Father, Thanks you for this day." He usually trails off after that (but he'll finish it off if you feed him the lines).

Gideon initiates most conversations with "Guess What" (i.e. Guess what mom. I love you).

He's a closet techie (literally). Gideon has a little bit of a screen problem. He likes watching shows and will sometimes quietly sneak away with our tablet. It's usually into a closet.

-Tommy

Go RSL!!!

I got tickets to a Real Salt Lake game from my work. We had a really good time and the seats were awesome (front row, down by the goalie box). We didn't show up until half time and we almost didn't go at all. It's funny because my brothers are huge RSL fans and would have been upset if we'd let the tickets go to waste. 

-Tommy

Poop Stars

After 9 months, we were done with having two boys in diapers, so we (we, meaning Megan) took spring break to potty train Gideon. Got some Thomas the train underwear, of course, and went to it. 

After a couple days, #1 was going well but we were not making progress with #2 (literally). He certainly tried (I thought he was going to give himself a hernia) in the moment, but nothing was happening.

It wasn't until we introduced stars (little stickers he got to put on a piece of paper) that things seemed to click for Gideon. The stars quickly got renamed, "poop stars". So, each day Gideon excitedly tells me he got another poop star and totals them up.

Hey. Whatever it takes.

Uncle Matt

Something that Uncle's seem to be really good at is wrestling.  And Uncle Matt is the king of wrestling.

Personal Space

Harper and Hudson were sitting next to each other at the dining room table coloring.

Harper, obviously echoing something she's heard from her parents, says, "I'm feeling kind of lonely, can I get into your personal space?"

Reece at 9 months

18 lbs 1 oz 15%
28.1 in length 40%
18.25 in head 75%

Is crawling.
has one tooth coming in.
Loves his mama so much and trys to always be touching her in some way
Loves his siblings and they love him
Eats a ton and wants whatever we are eating

Birthday Bliss

Thanks to his siblings' daily pumping him up, Gideon was building in excitement for this Birthday. He already knew that he shared March birthdays with Uncle Murray and Aunt Bonnie, but I'm not entirely sure he fully understood the concept.

First, on his Birthday, all the older siblings came in the door from school and said, "Happy Birthday Gideon!" to which he replied, "Happy Birthday Guys!" Then today, neighbor was talking about his Birthday, saying, "Gideon, did you get presents?". Gideon answered "thanks".

On his birthday, while opening his present he kept saying, "it's mine, it's mine, it's mine," (he is obviously the 4th of five children).  But, when his present was all opened and out of the package to play with he said (to his siblings) "c'mon guys, lets share my fun toy."

Dentist Mommy

Harper announced at dinner tonight that she is going to be a dentist mommy when she grows up.  Her kids will ride in the car with her and then read books in the lobby while she fixes peoples teeth.

OId School Gaming

I came home Saturday afternoon to this scene; Megan junked out on one of her fortes; Tetris. Apparently Daven, our nephew who was over at the house, inquired about a Nintendo NES. Megan not only told him about it, she dug up her old one and hooked it up. 

She setup Contra for Tate and Daven. They wasted all 30 lives on the first level. Pathetic. They either couldn't get used to a 2 button controller or eventually lost interest in the antiquated games.

Surprise Puppet Show

The older kids were quiet in their room last Sunday working on some craft project and then emerged with these puppets and performed a surprise puppet, complete with a stage and backgrounds.

I'm always impressed when the kids take initiative and do something creative like this.

Bye Bye old man winter

I'm not gonna lie, I'm glad to see this winter ebbing away. It was a long, heavy winter. BUT, the kids did have a good time. 

Harper and Gideon Sledding at the Eaglewood Golf Course. Harper would have stayed out all day. She is our most resilient to the cold.

Harper and Gideon playing in the backyard, trying to make snow angels (or something).

 Tate building a snow fort in the front yard (with backup singers).

Tubing at Soldier Hollow. This is an annual tradition but it was super crummy; The snow was so warm, we had to push ourselves down the hill several times during the run. You can see the look of disappointment on Tate's face. :(

The Hipster

 I secretly hope that one of my kids grows up to be a little hipster or whatever they will be calling it at that time.  My Nephew Nathan has the best style and I just love seeing the outfits he comes up with.  He is the one that got me thinking how sahweet it would be to have a kid like that.  For now Gideon has not choice and I just dress him how I choose.  Tate is really good to go along with whatever I put him in as well.  I hope that NEVER changes.

Try to look past all the crap on his shirt.  He is seriously the messy kid I have ever raised.

C'mon dad

Apparently Tommy's idea of being with Reece is either sleeping or surfing. (or I just happen to only take pictures of these moments)

Future Harper

While forcing my husband to go shoe shopping for date night, we came across this picture.  Tommy is convinced this is what Harper is going to look like when she is older.

Cutest little cowboy ever

Back that Thing up

Poor Reece. He's kind of starting to crawl but only knows how to go backwards. Here he's wedged himself under the couch.

Staycation

Megan left for a girls night out with a strict instruction to keep the house clean. With a house full of kids, there was only one way I could comply; staycation. Went down to a local hotel and swam, watched a movie, had breakfast, and swam some more. Kids loved it. Tate agonized about it but ended up opting to stay over at the Whites so he could game his brains out with his cousins (his loss).

The best part is, I let the girls pack the bag with their stuff (they like doing that). After swimming, I started changing Gideon and realized I'd left his Diapers (I'd only brought swim diapers - oops). Hudson immediately answered, Oh, I brought those. Then, I also remember I'd not brought Gideons binky (he sleeps with it at night). Harper replied, I packed that. Wow. I was so impressed.

It turns out Hudson grabbed Reeces diapers instead of Gideons, so Gideon had to have bikini coverage during our stay. It all worked out.

Harper the Hoarder

Harper's love language is most definitely gifts.  You give something to Harper and you may as well just told her that she won the lottery.  With that being said, it also causes a problem, because she likes to save EVERYTHING.  I finally got to the point that I gave her a large bin to keep her treasures in, once the bin is full she has to get rid of something.  The girl has rocks from places that she has visited, jewelry that both of her grandmas have given her, notes from her preschool teacher, pictures her brother has drawn, the packaging material from toys she has received and everything in between.  It is an endearing trait of Harpers, but tonight I had to put my foot down when she grabbed the top of the pineapple I was cutting for dinner and said oh this a pretty flower, I am going to keep this.

-Megan

"Well, My Husband"

Harpers teacher grabbed me after church today to tell me all about Harper in class today.  Apparently all of her answers today involved her husband.  Such as:  "when my husband gives me blessings it will be because he has the priesthood" and "when my husband is the president he will make good choices", and my personal favorite "when my husband, the prophet".  Apparently Harper has no problem setting the bar quite high.

-Megan

Valentines Boxes

It was the night before valentines day and the kids wanted valentines boxes. Decided to choose easy. Talked Hudson into using Tates dragon box from last year and persuaded Tate to use the head of his old creeper (minecraft) costume. Easy peezy.

-Tommy

Best Mom Ever

One thing Megan is really good at is creating little traditions that are extremely memorable for the kids. One thing she does leading up to Valentines Day is put a little note on their door each morning telling each child one thing she likes about them.

The boys' door

The girls' door

The kids love it. They get up for school and sometimes say, oh yeah, I forgot to check the door and will go back and read their door valentines.

-Tommy

Hudson the Helper

 Hudson is by far our best helper. She has always been our best cleaner-upper, but she even helps out without being asked. Reece has been sick this week and whenever she hears him fussing, she picks him up and comforts him. She is so sweet.

-Megan

She's not a piece of meat

Hey. My eyes are up here buddy.

sweet, strange Harper

The last few years I have worn a badge on my pants to get access to work. I had an extra one laying around and Harper, our collector, asked for it.

Few days later I saw her walking around the house with this construct. She said it was so she could remember me.