poor jack

Still no complaints, but I had to take Jack into the Dr to get some steroids today for his poison ivy.  He keeps saying, "Is it poison?!"  Still won't deter him from going camping again.  It was well worth it in his eyes...his poor eyes...

Margot just came in here and said her leg is hurting, but if she watches a movie with me, it will feel better...
This stems from the other night when she woke up screaming at 1 with ligit growing pains and nothing would soothe her until I thought maybe a short show would distract her enough to help her stop crying and screaming so she (and I) could go back to sleep.  Guess that was a bad idea in the long run..."Start as you mean to go on" - Tracey Hogg (baby whisperer)

camping

Scott took Jack camping to Mount Yonah with a couple of other families from church on Friday night.  They had a great time.  Jack carried a backpack and did a pretty tough hike with no complaints grabbing onto poison ivy the whole way up!  They did some rock climbing and rappelling at the top.  Jack was so excited, he was doing a countdown the entire week before. 

Arts in the Park

Saturday, we drove over to Suwanee to see one of our favorite children's singers, Billy Jonas.  We had a great time, and it was a beautiful day.  Here are some pictures.

 Jack and Jack!

 Margot playing bubbles with Ariel

 Katya and Jack - look at her cute hair!  That was her idea!

Oh yeah!  Mommy and Daddy got to play with Billy Jonas!

Katya and Jack got to go on stage, too! It was awesome, and Jack was so hilarious up there!  Always a ham:)

Wednesday, May 15

Field Day!!

and Jack's medal is actually from a previous Field Day; he just wears it every day, all the time.

The end is in sight...

Jack's 1st Grade Collage

Katya's first science fair!

Happy Mother's Day

I had a great Mother's Day today.  Scott surprised me with breakfast in bed when he got home from work.  We had a relaxing morning.  I took advantage of a Mother's Day coupon Katya gave me and let her watch she kids for an hour this morning while I laid in bed, took a shower, etc.  Church was really good today.  Three mothers spoke.  I really enjoyed their messages.  The primary and youth sang for the mothers for special music.  We had visiting teaching conference 3rd hour.  It was really nice.  They had a beautiful spread for us.  I accompanied a women's trio, and they did a great job.  We then headed over to Grammy and Papa's.  Beth and the girls were there, too.  We had a blast!  Rachel and Jessica played with my kids the whole time.  They played dress up with Grammy's old scarves and Papa's clothes!  We had a very yummy dinner and had time to visit.  So sorry Scott couldn't be with us today, but he is working 5 days straight!  Yuk!

Cinco de Mayo

Ok.  I know we're 6 days behind, but our ward celebrated Cinco de Mayo tonight.  (We had stake conference last weekend.)  The kids had lots of fun with friends, especially with the piñatas!  Here are a few pics of tonight. 

Tonight I have all the kids in bed with me for my Mother's Day "treat".  This is how it began.

Margot:  Mommy, I am going to sleep with you tonight for Mother's Day.

Mommy:  For Mother's Day, I don't want ANY kids to sleep with me.

Margot:  But Mommy, you miss me!

Katya and Jack:  Me too!

So here we are.  I told them they could fall asleep with me, but then I was going to put everyone in their own beds.  No one is asleep yet.  There is just a lot of talking and fidgeting, and Jack is trying to read over my shoulder.  Katya keeps getting mad at everyone because she is ready to sleep.  Jack told her to "Pull yourself together, man!"

We are having some work done on our house and look what we found under the fascia!

Oh yeah, and Jack brought a baby snake into the house today.  He found it in the back yard.  I should've taken a picture.  Maybe I'll just get him to bring it in again at the next piano lesson.



And here's a delicious recipe for Chocolate Lasagne that Teri gave me.  She made this dessert for Tyler's birthday last weekend.  I CANNOT believe he is old enough to drive!



Here's a cute picture of our kids together last summer.  Tyler is on the left.

Salon de la Margot

Mommy:  (2 hours after event...)  Margot!  Did you cut your hair?  Why did you do that?

Margot:  Well Jack hit me all over and I was mad at him!

Mommy:  So you cut your hair because you were mad at Jack?!


Well, it actually looks alright.  Just looks like she gave herself some bangs.  First child to do this.  Can't say I'm surprised.



We had a busy but fun night.  The kids played in their piano recital.  Thanks to Beth, Rachel, Jessica, Grammy, and Papa for traveling over to see them.  We had fun visiting, and the kids were so excited to see you! 

Then we went into town and had a fun (although a little wet) time watching Wreck It Ralph outside at the Hancock Park.  The Hilchie kids went with us, which made it even more fun.

stake conference - wow!

I always love stake conference because we get a chance to hear from our amazingly inspiring stake president, Pres. Wood.  I went tonight thinking that very thing, and then was actually a little disappointed that a 70 was speaking instead!  Can you believe that? Pretty ridiculous, right?!  That just shows you how much I love our stake president, and how very, very silly I am. 

Elder Bowen was so different from Pres Wood in his speaking style, but very similar in his spirituality. (Of Course!)  He had such amazing personal examples and quoted general authorities, Preach My Gospel, and scriptures left and right.  He asked lots of questions that really made you think.  There was a question/answer period which I remember happening about 8 years ago in VA when another general authority spoke.  It was a very powerful session (and he even called on Pres Wood to answer one of the questions!:)) 

I did not realize until he mentioned it at the very end of the session that he spoke at last October's General Conference on Saturday morning about losing his son when he was very young after his son aspirated a toy.  Here's the talk.  It was amazing and was actually during a funeral that I was missing of a friend's 4-year-old daughter that had been killed the week before in a car accident.  The talk that he gave was so perfect for the situation, I will never forget it.

And of course, a few pictures of the kids:

Oh yes!  It's a snake!  Of course, the kids were thrilled to have a snake living under our garage.  Don't worry Grandma!  I looked it up.  It's just a garter snake.

 I know you cannot tell what this is, but it is so cute, I had to include it.  Jack takes a break between each of his lessons.  He usually chooses to go outside to play for 10-15 min.  Lately he has been taking his favorite two stuffed toys (Huge Woody and Huge Spiderman) and showing them all the creatures under the landscaping rocks in our front yard.  He even does their surprised voices when they see an ant or roly poly.  It's so cute, I don't even get that frustrated that all our landscaping rocks are moved out of their places. :)

 Katya and friends at our truly fabulous Mother/Daughter activity for Activity Day Girls in celebration of Mother's Day.  The girls helped plan the activity and did a great job with ideas!  Thanks to amazing leaders, they all came through.  Of course, their leaders are school teachers!  We started with field day style games that involved 2 mother-daughter teams: egg toss, water in a bowl on top of your head relay (have no idea what that is called!) and 3-legged race.  Then we had pizza and a campfire with s'mores.  This was all outside at one of the leaders' houses.  Such fun!  I'm so glad I can have such fun with Katya.  She is a very special girl!

We had friends Mason and Mia over this morning to play.  We melted lots of old crayons and made fun new shapes and colors with them.  I'll have to take a picture of the final project and post.  Then they played dress up, cars, and games.  Fun time!

Thirteen years later...

Well, almost 13 years ago, I graduated with a Master's in Piano Pedagogy.  I finally started using it today!  I am teaching 2 of the Mulberry kids, a family in our ward, and good friends of ours.  I had a good time and am looking forward to continuing.  I also have another little girl who is going to start after school is out.

About time, huh, Dad?

Oh yeah!  I forgot to mention that my semester is officially OVER!  I'm so glad this time because that research paper was a real drag!  It feels like such a weight has been lifted, and I am now a free woman.  I have been organizing all the cabinets and shelves and desks in our house.  The floor is a disaster zone, but little by little it is looking good.  Scott is being very patient with me.  It is certainly much too big a job to do in one day, although I'm sure my mom would be able to do it.  It's kind of like growing your hair out and you're in the annoying in between stage.  That's where we were this morning, but now it's getting almost long enough to put up in that pony tail!  But I just found out that summer semester starts in 2 weeks!  BOOOOOOOO!!!!  At least I'm only taking one class.

Sunday, oops I mean Rainday...

Funny saying of the day:

Mommy:  Margot have you finished putting up your clothes?

Margot:  Well, I need someone to help me.  And that is you.  Not Jack.  I chose you because I love you, Mommy.

Mommy:  LOL!



Props for Jack:  Jack's Sunday school teacher stopped me today and said, "Jack is so good in class.  I wish all the other kids were more like Jack.  If I just had him, it would be a breeze!"  SO PROUD!  That is music to a mother's ears!



Tonight after I thought he was asleep, Jack came into my room, frantic.  "Mommy!  I have to show you something."

"Can I please read the Star Wars Japanese book?!"  He is so funny about Japanese writing and people and language.  I remember last year at the pumpkin patch, we saw an Asian man there, and he was nice enough to speak to Jack in another language for a minute.  Jack thought that was the greatest!  But he's always telling Katie, "Would you please speak English?!"

And this is what he looked like on the trampoline the other day!  He certainly keeps us laughing!

Katya is loving the books on tape (actually books on ipod) I downloaded for her.  Saturday, she listened to the entire Black Beauty book!  Of course, she still reads normally, too.  She is currently reading The Little Princess, one of the books I got her at the thrift store.  I am currently reading The Minpins outloud to her at night.  Good book by Roald Dahl!  More spiritual than political/social like his others.