It's pretty had to be keeping up on your blog when your sweet awesome husband takes you to a Kelly Clarkson concert! ON Tuesdsay we headed down to San Jose to watch kelly perform live for the third time in my life.....am i a groupie at that point??? Or am I just a loser? :) She was amazing and I love her and Than loves her too. We were jumping and singing and making fun of other kelly lover people (there was the strangest assortment of people there....really). And the coolest part was that for one of her songs she sang almost right in front of us! We had side tickets but she came so close to us and I'm pretty sure we made eye contact! Woohoo!!!!
And I can't blog when I have preschool. Preschool sucks all of my free time away. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching our little preschool co-op, but these are my hours to go shopping, clean etc and when I don't have those and I have to plan a little bit and clean up, my whole day is gone. This week was really fun though. We have six little three year olds and they are growing so much! At the beginning of they year, hardly any of them could write anything or use scissors at all, but now they are all close to writing their name and used scissors really well today. It was a small little victory. We learned all about worms today and went and dug for some in our yard. It's really fun even if I don't have any time left.
And I can't blog when I'm getting ready for Camry's kitty cat birthday party! We made cat ears and we need to make some mice for our mouse hunt and little balls of yarn to play with. She's so excited. I can't wait until Tuesday! And I made some brownies to take into her class tomorrow. I thought it was strange that I could still bring in a home baked food. Doesn't that seem wierd???? But I asked and they said I could.
And I can't blog when we got our new couches! We got them yesterday and I'm obsessed with them. I just keep walking in the room so I can look at them. I tried to get a good picture but I need to switch my lenses so I can fit it all in the frame so you can see how cute they are.
And I can't blog when I have my little Book of Mormon discussion group. Tonight I met with a few friends at dinner and we have a reading schedule and got together to discuss that and just life in general. It was so fun and relaxing and good to just talk about uplifting things. And good food doesn't hurt either.
And I can't blog because I have to help Pacen with his piano practicing. He started lessons a few weeks ago and is doing awesome. He is actually practicing on his own and it's been much easier now that he's older.
He was so cute because his teacher ramped him all up about the fact that he was learning a Beethoven song and all week he's been like, "Mom, do you want to hear me play Beethoven?" or "Hey Camry, can you tell what this song is from??" (Little Einstiens is the answer for that!)
And I can't blog when I need to snuggle with Than on the couch and he's already watching a show without me as I type! What the heck.
I am in love with Sunday. I love that we are all home, with the exception of Than when he has meetings, and that we are all just there to stay all day just hanging out with each other. It's the best. We have 9 o'clock church which gives me a run for my money getting everyone out the door and there is usually a little *ahem* yelling on my part to get all these darn kids in the car and me scrambling to get Gentry a bottle and snacks and all my sunbeam lesson stuff but at church, I always love that we are there and you are filled with the Spirit and our row is filled completely to the brim with stinkin' toys that Claira sneaks in even though I say that they can bring one small thing. Whenever we have baby #5 we will have to move into a center row because we are quickly filling up our little side row. Our kids are usually very well behaved in church and we don't have too many problems. Gentry is too loud sometimes so I took her out with me and she begs for the nursery room so she can play with toys. She is officially in nursery after General Conference even though she's been going for a few months now since we have wonderful nursery leaders who took her so Than and I could teach our lessons.
After church yesterday, Pacen and Camry got a little bored and crazy and came out like this.
Seriously it's a little scary. :) They were very proud of themselves.
I took this a few sundays ago. Gentry will sit on anyone's lap who is on the computer. The Friend website is a favorite Sunday activity around here.
We play a lot of games. It's usually disney apples to apples but I did get Pacen and Cam to play the not as fun learning verson of war and they loved it.
Claria has to change her clothes a few times and sometimes just decides to walk around with nothing on. Actually most nights she will take off her pj's because she's so hot. I don't understand that at all because I'm always cold! She is a writer just like Camry. She will doodle in her little notebooks all day making "letters". And she's in her own little world making stories. I wish I could see all the things going on in her head.
And I CANNOT keep Gentry from getting on the table!!! The really bad part is that she can climb up on the chairs now without any help so here is where I found her while I was getting everyone out of the bath. And I get her out of the bath first and I hadn't even combed her crazy hair yet!
Yes, on the table eating the bowl of mashed potatoes that I hadn't put away yet. I can't blame her....i love to eat spoonfuls of potatoes well after dinner has been over but serisously you are going to hurt yourself! You are a baby and you belong on the floor.
Than and I have been working hard on Family Home Evening this year. It's come from the pressure of "oh-my-gosh-pacen-is-getting-baptized-this-year-have-we-done-enough-to-teach-him?!?!" We have been very faithful FHE-ers and it really makes me happy and the kids really love it too. Tonight Than wanted to do a lesson on a testimony and what it means to have a testimony and be able to share it with others and I loved it. At the end, all the kids shared their small testimonies and they really were so sweet and really you could feel the Holy Ghost in our hearts and see the light of Christ in their eyes. We talked about how a testimony is anything that is truth and Claira shared that she knows that she loves her bed and her stuffed animals and her toys along with Jesus. And then Gentry got in Than's lap like the other kids did and spoke a bunch of gentry gibberish and everyone just busted up laughing and then we clapped for her and she did it again, and then we clapped and she did it again and so on. And then when we stopped clapping she started clapping for herself. She was pretty proud.
Than took Camry and Claira to see the Disney musical of Beauty and the Beast in San Jose a few weekends ago. They got to get a happy meal from McDonalds which is a REALLY big deal in the family because we hate mcdonalds. And it was the perfect toy....My little pony. It couldn't have been planned better.
The girls came home with some treasures that Daddy bought for him to remember their fun day trip with Dad. Claira was so excited to show me her sparkles and even told me to put it right on our entry way table to have a "special place". Just look those adoring eyes at her new favorite thing.
Just a second later I turned to take Camry's picture with her treasure and I hear a CRASH!!!!!!!!!
TRAGEDY!!!! It was pretty much the saddest thing ever. Really just a sad, sad girl that lost her beautiful, sparkly snow globe.
I almost didn't take this picture because I thought it was like expoiting her sadness or something but I'm kind of glad I did now just because it really is a genuine sad face. I'm pretty sure that the easter bunny is going to put a new one in her Easter Basket.
And this is Camry with her little Beauty and the Beast charm bracelet. Both she and Claira LOVED the musical and shhhhhh....Than is taking Camry to Mary Poppins for her birthday! Than is convinced that Camry should take some singing or theatre lessons/classes. We'll see. I'm pretty sure that Camry can do (and be successful at) anything she really wants to do.
Tonight I was sitting in Pacen while he was reading before he went to sleep and he was showing me his favorite Calvin and Hobbes strips. He starts a story....."The other day Reese's brother was rhyming words with truck and he accidentally said the F-word..............What does that even mean anyway???" That is why I love my Pacen so much. My sweet little sheltered innocent boy that won't stay like that very much longer unfortnuately. It's things like that that just make my day happy.
The other day when Erin was here we ordered some hamburgers, fries, onion rings and milkshakes from the Habit which was so super yummy and I had eaten a ton and as I was dipping my last onion ring in some ranch (I think you are getting fatter just reading this!) I go, "Man, I'm so full!" And Camry says in a very matter of fact way, "Then why are you still eating?" Touche, Camry. Touche.
Kids are just funny. Gentry is talking more and more these days. It's still very difficult to understand but I know what she's talking about and she understands so much more so I can ask her if she wants something and she can respond with a calm little smile and grunt noise rather than throwing herself down on the floor. But lets be honest, she still does that at least twice a day. I'm trying to think of what she said today that was so cute. Oh, it was dog. We were walking penny and then another dog barked and very clearly she just says, "Dog!" and it was so cute because it was so clear and that doesn't happen very much around here. :)
What's been going on over here.....Pacen had a baseball game last night that was very sad. He struck out three times and was pretty upset about it. IT was his first time ever striking out and I think it got the best of him because then he was nervous the rest of the game. So we practiced after the game and he has practice tomorrow and I'm sure he'll be fine but it was funny because I was driving home and I was just sort of bummed and I realized it was because he had been so sad when he struck out and that made me sad. And when I got home Than said something along the same lines about being bummed about his game. Parents are too funny to get wrapped up in their kid's life like that, but that is what we do. It was also funny because a bunch of us got locked in the parking lot after the game and one of the parents busted the lock off the gate so we could get out. I'm just glad I wasn't there alone or I would have been toast!
This weekend was fun. It started off with a Primary Talent show on Friday night. Pacen wanted to jump rope and he did awesome! All the kids started counting while he was jumping and he got to 78....very impressive. He was proud of himself. Camry took some of her artwork to display. Claira 'danced' with the other sunbeams. She said afterward that that rapunzel song was too scary to dance to. She was super cute standing on the stage though!
While we were displaying our talents, Than's connecting flight in LA was canceled so he was scrambling to figure out what was the best way to get home while his car had to stay at SFO. We were heading out to Oroville to celebrate Becky's birthday and see Sam and Hillary so he ended up flying to Sacramento and we picked him up on the way to oroville. Of course his baggage didn't make it to sac but luckily he thought ahead and had me pack some so we made it safely to the ville and his bag made it sometime that evening. We had a great day with the hancock's....gave becky an awesome present that she has to find all over her house. We made her work for it. :) Took sam and hillary's engagement photos, met hillary's parents, bbq'd, played games, ate cake and then headed back to the WC. Since it was our Ward Conference Than had to be back for meetings so it was a quick trip.
Sunday was awesome. Church was good. My little sunbeam class is coming along. We had a 17 year old investigator over for dinner with the missionaries and it was really fun to teach with them. At one point he joked, "I'm getting sucked in!" You can just see him really contemplating the state of his life and thinking....what do I really want to do?? What happens if I continue the road I'm on?? It was great to be a teeny tiny part of that lesson.
And lets see....the week before that erin was here and it was crazy fun. The kids didn't know that she and Rick were coming. Erin's flight came in at 10:30 pm so we picked her up and came home and chatted until 2:00 in the AM...then had to SPRING FORWARD (worst day ever!)...and then get up and go to church. When everyone was up we told them to do downstairs for a surprise and that was fun. It took them a minute to get it but then they were excited.
Erin always comes with many fun little gifts. The kids got a kick out of them. "See 'cause get it...it's really chocolate covered peanuts!!!! AHAHAHAHAH!!!!"
These were for Than and I. I'm excited to use the space noodles.
Monday I let the kids stay home from school and they just played and played and played. And played. When Erin wasn't playing basektball.......
...she was playing dress up.....
...or jumping on the tramp.....
...or building forts.....
...or curling hair......
....or making me yummy chips and salsa.....
...basically she just said "yes" to anything the kids wanted to do. Oh! And we did a puzzle and that was so fun. I haven't done a puzzle in years. I see why Jana wants to do a birthday puzzle every year.
Erin and Gentry bonded. Gentry was pretty quick to see that whatever Erin does is fun and she wanted in on it. At one point, Erin was holding her and I went to hold her and she started crying and gripping onto Erin's arms. WHAT!?!?!?!? Erin is pretty awesome.
Best story of the weekend was when Erin bet the kid that whoever lost at War had to jump in the pool and Erin lost and she really jumped in the pool!!!!! It was so awesome.
Here's the video that Rick took if you want to see it. It's pretty funny.
The kids wanted to show off, too, but neither of them actually got their hair wet!
One of the fun activities was playing on Rick's phone. They could not get enough of their crazy looking faces.
Rick made a little animated picture for Camry. She loves it.
And like I said before, they helped us with the kids during Pacen's game. After the game we hit skippolini's pizza and it was amazing! I love that pizza.
Oh man! We had fun. I wish they could stay for longer but I'm afraid if they did I would never get a chance to recover! I've said it before, but it's true....everyone needs an Aunt Erin.
6/20/10 Pacen and Benji were fighting over something and I asked Benji why he was upset and he said it was because Pacen was pretending to kill one of his animals so I tell Pacen to stop doing that and he says, "But, mom, Nephi gets to! "
5/19/10 Camry saw one of my mother's day cards lying on the ground and she said, "Mom, your mother-tine's card!"
5/3/10 Tonight I did a FHE on the word of wisdom. I asked the kids if they knew what the W of W was. Camry says, "Oh, I know a song about the word of wisdom." Oh yeah, how does it go? She says....and it just kills me...so funny.."It's the mommy and daddy song that I like. There's a word of wisdom, let it be." Even Camry loves Paul.
1/13/10 Camry just told Pacen that she got to watch american idol with me last night after she threw up. Pacen bursts into hysterical tears screaming, "I wish I throwed up! I want to watch american idol! I wish I throwed up!"
1/10/10 Pacen spotted a halfway full cup of soda that Camry left on the table. He said, "Mom, I should probably drink the rest of Camry's soda....so we don't waste it." Yes, always aware of being wasteful. How generous of you, Pacen. :)
1/11/10 Camry while we were driving said, "Mom, I'm starving for one of those chickens with the bones in it!"
11/6/09 Pacen says, "Mom, do you watch me at school on TV?" No, I say. Thinking pause..."Then how do you know if I don't have an accident?"
10/30/09 Camry said, "Mom, lesterday I had a dream about Grandma. And guess what....she's not sick anymore!" oh, melt my heart.
9/22/09 I was moaning to Pacen about not wanting to do the dishes and he said, "Just let Dad do them." What a smart boy.
9/13/09 Pacen said, "Mom, the raiders got a touchdown and a feel good." I think it's field goal, pacen!
8/09 After getting shots in both of his legs, Pacen said, "I have to walk like C-3PO because of my shots."
8/09 Camry saw a picture of the Moma Lisa in a book and said, "Hey mom, that girl is on Little Einsteins!"
6/2/09 Camry hands me the Book of Mormon and asks, "Will you read this to me mom?" And seriously I had to read to her almost 3 pages before she was satisfied. If only that desire could last forever!
5/19/09 While making cookies, Camry licked the measuring cup used for shortening and said, "Mmmm, delicious!"
4/9/09 Pacen got a new T-Rex shirt that he has worn for the past 3 days. Today he fell and got soaking wet so I said he had to wear a different shirt. He said, "I don't want another shirt. I only want new awesome shirts!"
2/17/09 Pacen has been sneaking candy lately. Today he had something in his hand that I knew he was hiding. I said, "What's that?" He says, "Nothing." I say, "Is it candy?" He says, "No, it's boogers." SICK & WRONG!
2/9/09 Camry ran into her room for bed before giving me a hug and a kiss. I said, "Cam, come back and give me my hug and kiss!" She said, "Why don't you just come in here and get it!?!?"
2/2/09 Camry said, "Mom, Claira's head is wet." I say, "Why Camry? Did you lick it?" "Yes," she says. I say, "Camry, why do you lick Claira's head?" "Because it is so yuuuummmyyy!" Weird child.
1/14/09 Me: Pacen--me versus you in Mariocart right now! Pacen: But you're not any good. Me: What?!?!? Pacen: You don't drive on the road. Touche.
11/23/08 During church, Camry said that she didn't see Jesus anywhere. I told her that the Holy Ghost comes to church to help her learn. She looks around and said, "But I don't see the Holy Ghost anywhere." Those FHE's are really sinking in! :)
11/24/08 Pacen had a little 'Thanksgiving Feast' at his preschool today. I asked him what he did. He said, "We had a feast and we learned about the feast guys." Umm...do you mean pilgrims??? Just checking.
When we were at my mom's house, Erin was making little houses out of playing cards and Camry came out of nowhere blowing them all over and said, "I'm the big bad wolf!"
11/18/08 During Pacen's prayers he said, "Please bless that the cougars will win and beat those utes."
Than and I were talking in the car and I could hear Camry saying, "Mom...mom...mom...mom." And then I hear Pacen say, "Talk louder, Camry!"
I asked Camry if she made a mess of Pacen's room and she says, "No, Benji and Packer did." Riiiiiight.
Pacen wasn't listening and I was telling him that he needed to obey, and I hear Camry chime in, "Just like Jesus Christ says."
10/10/08 Camry's buddy, Adam, came to play but when his mom left he had a major breakdown and was crying. Camry leans over and whispers to me, "Mom, tell Adam that we have Bat-Man fruit snacks." Apparently, Bat-Man fruit snacks make everything all better.
10/08/08 We were talking about mommy's and daddy's. I told them Grandma was my mommy, and Pacen asks who my daddy was. I show them a picture of my dad and tell them that he got sick and died when I was little. Camry says in the sweetest little voice, "Oh, mom, Belle's daddy got sick, too. Like on Belle and the Beast." I was actually pretty impressed with the connection.
10/7/08 Than: Camry, what did you do today? Cam: We didn't go to playgroup. They always remind us of what they didn't do during the day.
10/8/08 Pacen: Mom, why don't we name Claira, Belle, like from Beauty and the Beast. Mom: We already gave her a name. Pacen: But I like Belle. I think I'm going to call her Belle.
10/4/08 Camry asks, "Mom, can I have the chocolate hot dog doughnut?"
8/20/08 While Pacen & Cam were in the bath, Pacen told Camry, "Cam, you be Michael Phelps!" We LOVE the Olympics!
8/20/08 Today when Camry woke up the first words that came moaning out of her mouth were, "I want cookies and ovaltine." A girl trained up right!
8/11/08 I told Pacen that we were going to the airport to pick up Jana. He said, "The airport like where Daddy lives?" He's really not gone thaaaat much. :)
8/1/08 Camry threw a piece of sandwich meat on the floor and I told her that she needed to pick it up. She says, "How 'bout Pacen do it?" She's full of them lately. :)
I told Camry that if she went potty in the toilet that I'd give her some ice cream. She looks at me and said thinking, "And...what else?"
At grandma's house, Erin took Pacen outside but since it was hot, she only had her skinny tank top on. Pacen looks at her and asks, "Erin, why you not have any clothes on?" We're used to modesty around here, erin! :)
7/17/08 Camry told Pacen, "Pandy so cute." Pacen said, "He's not cute. He's just a dog."
On our trip to Oroville, I was talking to Packer and I said, "Sorry Charlie." And Camry said, "Mom, it's not sorry Charlie, it's sorry Packer." I stand corrected.
6/10/08 From Pacen. "Mom, don't say that I can't have anymore cookies tonight. That makes me sad."
5/29/08 From Pacen. "I like 'Begas'...it has lots of stuff...lots of food...a lot of rooms....elevators...games...."
5/23/08 At the zoo, I told Pacen to tell the zebra's goodbye. He says, "Bye Zebra. You have a really big head."
5/19/08 While driving to the lake I pointed out a man riding his bike. Pacen asked, "What you think his name is?" I said, "I don't know." He says, "I think it's Joe." Okay. It's Joe.
4/25/08 Pacen was pulling up his pajama pants and he pulled them up really high over his stomach and stuck his tummy out and said, "I'm going to be pregnant like you. (Thinking pause) I'm going to go do the dishes." And then waddles down the hallway to the kitchen. First off, I am far from waddling at this point, and also, I definitely don't wear my pants all the way over my big stomach. He has a mind of his own.
4/20/08 Pacen says while touching my stomach, "Mommy your tummy is getting big. It's getting big like a balloon."
4/6/08 The new lyrics to BINGO from Pacen. "B-Y-U Naggio, B-Y-U Naggio. B-Y Naggio-o!"
4/5/08 Pacen just sneezed and Camry said, "You okay, buddy?"
3/20/08 I was making bread and Pacen wanted to help. He brought his chair over and said, "Hey, I know, Let's make pie!" A kid after my own heart.
3/19/08 Camry & Pacen love the show Super Why, and the little boy on it has freckles. Camry said, "Look, he colored his cheek!"
3/18/08 Typical Camry-talk these days: Whatcha doing, huh? Where we going, HUH? (really emphasize the HUH?) What's up, dude? Pacen will show her something and she'll say, "Oh, that's beautiful." "Come here, sweetheart." Or talking to Pacen, "Be careful, bud." She is very sweet these days.
2/10/08 The other day we were driving to Jana's house and you can see the temple from our house and the kids get excited when they see it. Camry says, "Look the Temple!!!" And then Pacen said, "Mom, it's beautiful. I wanna go in there!"
1/19/08 Camry loves to be naked and run around with her daiper off. Today she asked, "Can I play naked girl?" And then as she ran off she said, "Naked girl to the rescue!"
1/02/08 While talking about what we miss about home while being on vacation, Pacen says, "I miss Jana. I miss Benji. I miss Packer. I miss touching his ears..." Yes, he has a fascination with ears.
12/18/07 While listening to the radio in the car Pacen says, "I don't want the Santa Claus is coming to Town one, I was Santa Claus is bringing Pacen's white BYU helmet!"
12/17/07 We were eating Ramen for lunch and all of a sudden Pacen is crying, holding his eye and saying, "That noodle got me!"
12/16/07 Than coughs and Camry says, "You okay, Daddy? You okay, Mama? You okay, Pacen?" She has to make sure everyone is okay!
12/14/07 I ask Camry, "Are you a pretty girl?" She says, "No, Jana a pretty girl." Jana has her brainwashed!
12/2/07 Today in church Camry said two loud and embarassing things. In Sacrament Meeting Cam shouts while touching Than's nose, "Daddy boogers!" And then in RS while a woman was bearing her testimony said, "She's crying, Mom!" Thanks, Cam.
11/30/07 From Pacen while touching Than's not shaved face. "Dad, you have ants on your face!"
11/15/07 "I a naked boy!" From Camry
After the BYU vs. TCU football game, Pacen looked up at Than as they were walking to the car and said, "That was awesome, Dad!"
11/9/07 After we helped Camry with her prayers, Than said, "Good job, Camry!" She looked at him, held up her hand, and said, "High five, daddy!" And then went around the room saying, "High five, mommy! High five, Pacen!" She's very excited about her prayers.
11/7/07 When Than and Pacen came home from the BYU game Pacen said, "The cougars won the bad guys!"
Any time that I tell Pacen no and use a "mom voice" Camry says, "Mama, no mean a Pacen," in a very stern Camry voice.
10/30/07 As I'm driving Pacen says, "Hurry up, Mom! The sun is beating us!"
10/29/07 Than says, "Camry, do you have monster hair?" Camry says, "No, Kathy monster hair!"
Typical Camry-talk. "Pacen funny. Daddy funny. Mommy funny. Jana funny. Benji funny. Cracker funny. Mickey funny. Donald funny. Rella funny." Or it could be, "Pumpkins scary. Football scary. Jana scary. Benji scary. Cracker scary." You get the picture. We call this her roll call.
10/29/07 At church I asked Pacen if he would sing the song with me and he said, "No, Mama." So I asked him why. He says, "Because the songs are scary."
"Adam....hit.....Camry." Adam is constantly hitting Camry...according to Camry.
While doing our scripture reading, Than asked Pacen, "What can we do to make Heavenly Father happy?" Pacen says in his serious scripture voice while nodding his head, "Yyyeeessss." Then Than repeats, "No, WHAT can we do to make Heavenly Father happy?" Pacen says, "Nnnoooooo." Not exactly grasping the concept, but trying! :)
While I was making my bed today, Pacen asks, "Whatcha doing, Mom?" I say, "Making my bed." He says, "You're doing a lot today. Good job, Mom!"
