FHE: Reverence

What do they say, 21 days and you made a habit? Well we are on four weeks but only four Family Home Evenings. Does this count as the habit making? We started by singing, "Reverently Quietly" (I dare you to watch this video without laughing, Andie was getting so mad at Mom and Dad for cracking up).

We then attempted to show the kids how we use our different body parts: Ears, Eyes, Arms, Feet, Etc. at church or school when we need to be quiet. We grabbed Mr. Potato head and slowly grabbed piece by piece explaining what we do. Eyes should be closed during prayers, Feet shouldn't be running or stomping, Arms should be folded, Ears should be listening, Etc. The kids were ALL OVER THE PLACE the entire lesson and totally not being very reverent, and as parents we felt like complete failures.

We ended by singing, "I am a Child of God". We decided we weren't going to have a treat because the kids sure didn't show they deserved it. Andie and Jake were both pretty upset about it so we asked them what they learned. To our AMAZEMENT, they told us exactly what we had been teaching them, WHAT! So we went to Culver's and picked up some ice cream to eat at home. Even if you feel like a failure just know maybe your message really is getting across to those small little minds.

FHE: Being Christlike

We are on a roll! Family home evening  was on being Christlike (being kind). We started by singing "If the Savior Stood Beside Me".

We asked the kids what it meant to be like Jesus? We got the answers such as being good. Okay well good but what else? We explained they can't fight because that isn't what Jesus would do, etc. We showed a video because the kids love watching videos about the lesson and it makes it so easy for the parents too.

We then did an experiment that I have been wanting to try since I first heard about it. We got some iodine, bleach and water. Jesus was in one vase with just being pure bleach. We as people were in another vase being pure water. Satan was in the third vase being 80% water and 20% Iodine. We explained to the kids what each vase meant. We then told the kids if we fight that is something bad so we poured some of Satan into the us vase. If we steal something from the store that is something bad so we poured more of Satan into the us vase. Etc. Then we explained if we repent Jesus can help us become like him, pure again. I think I was as amazed as the kids were to see it go back white considering we never experimented before hand. This was such a good visual for the kids and they were mind blown.

We ended by singing "A Child's Prayer" and then went and found some white brownies that were hidden in the house somewhere (on the top of the fridge) for the treat. I am loving this Family Home Evening thing and the kids look forward to it each week. Success!

Jake 2 Years 5 Months

Jake Oliver you have grown so much this past month and your vocabulary has blown me away. You all of the sudden act like your such a big boy and it is freaking your mother out, I am not ready for you to grow up on me. I love you my boy! Jake Oliver at 2 years 5 months...

1. Jake got his own iPad. Yes call us crazy but Andie got her own iPad that was given to us when she was so little we decided it was about time for Jake to get his own since the fighting over Andie's was getting a bit out of hand. Jake is LOVING his new red iPad that he can play games on or what McQueen whenever he wants too.

2. Jake wants to work at Disneyland. Jake has been wanting to get out of the house as often as possible so he decided one day he was going to go to work (mom and dad get to leave the house to go to work so why can't he?). "Bye Mom, I go work at Disneyland" way to melt a Disney loving Mothers heart boy. So cute!

3. Jake is very opinionated. Since this past month Jakes vocabulary has blown me out of this world then he has become very opinionated, after all he can talk and tell us what he really wants. Even when it comes to what type of cheese he wants (sliced or string cheese) don't mess up he will be angry and tell you exactly how it is, and no he doesn't like to have the same cheese twice. Jake is such an amazing little boy, how did I get so lucky to be his mother?

4. Jake is wearing size 3T clothes. How is my little boy getting so big? Jake was growing out of all his clothes. Belly shirts and capris for all of his pants were getting a little extreme so we made a shopping spree and got Jake a whole new wardrobe all in 3T sizing.

5. Jake had some problems with his toes (look away). Jake has been complaining about his big toes hurting him and we didn't notice much. I then went to go cut his nails and the bottom of the nail is peeling off, HOW? So I obviously turned to the web and found out he was going to basically die (that is what the internet health questions have come to, cancer). I freaked out and decided I would take him to the doctor to get some correct answers. The day I made the appointment Jake tripped and his whole nail peeled up (OUCH!). I felt like the worst mother. We placed a bandaid on it and made it to his doctors appointment that afternoon. The doctor basically stated it all started by having to small of shoes (yes he did have small shoes for a REALLY long time and I didn't even notice, a while ago, but I replaced those and didn't think his feet would be ruined because of it). Well Jake also smashed his toes somehow and so therefore the toenails would need to fall off and new ones would grow back in. The doctor told us that on one foot the nail was already completely dead (the one he tripped on and it all lifted up) so that one was to be removed as soon as it became less red looking. Now his toes are doing much better and I check his shoes quite often to see if he needs bigger sizes, in fact let me go check right now. I am glad Jake will have all brand new toenails in just a bit and how my boy has been such a champ through this whole event.

6. Jake loves Uncle Tyson. I didn't realize how much Jake missed his Uncle Tyson until he got back from a month long vacation this past month and Jake was overjoyed with so much excitement he didn't even know what to do with his little body, it was adorable! Tyson is the best little buddy!

7. Jake still loves McQueen. Jake actually calls McQueen the correct name now not just Bugow, it's so cute! Jake sleeps with his little bath toy McQueen and it is the cutest thing ever but also makes me think that maybe I should spend some money and get him an actual stuffed Lightning McQueen.

Jake Oliver you are growing so quickly and have surprised your mother with all you know this past month. Your talking has exploded and it is so fun to have so many conversations with you, your jokes are amazing and the answers make me overjoyed. I love you so much my baby boy and can't ever imagine life without you. I love you!

FHE : Creation of the World

Our second week of Family Home Evening was a success. We started by singing, "For the Beauty of the Earth".

We then talked about how God created the world. We went over each of the days with how long it took him to make the earth. Andie was pretty fascinated and very intently listening. Jake is still young and walked around quite a bit while Brooklyn was stuck in her Bumbo, sorry baby girl. We also watched a video of the creation days.

We did an activity by coloring these awesome wheels that fully explain the days each event of creation took place. Andie had so much fun switching roles and teaching us all about the creation with her wheel.

We ended by singing, "If I listen with my Heart" because you can't deny your children the opportunity to sing some of their favorite songs.

Of course we really couldn't end without a treat. We had told Andie we could go get ice cream cones from McDonalds while they played on the playground. Best family home evening treat ever!

Brooklyn 9 Months

Brooklyn my baby girl you are nine months old, can you believe it? It's really getting to the point where I need to focus on planning your first birthday already, WHAT! You are such a joy to have as our baby girl! Brooklyn at 9 months old...

1. Brooklyn loves food (must be related to her mother). Brooklyn is enjoying all the foods we are giving her and nine months is my guideline to give her anything and everything (not milk and honey of course). Brooklyn has loved trying lots of different fruits, LOVES CHEESEBALLS and the yogurt bites and anything else she can sneak from her brother and sister. Brooklyn is also the only one out of her siblings that has enjoyed baby food or rice cereal.

2. Brooklyn moves all over the place. Brooklyn may not be crawling yet but this doesn't stop our little girl from getting into everything so whomever tells you otherwise has never had a late crawler before (like all my kids). Brooklyn rolls places and is really starting to scoot/army crawl very well.

3. Brooklyn sleeps thru the night. Brooklyn is sleeping through the night but occasionally will wake for a bottle at midnight. For the most part Brooklyn will sleep 8pm-9:30am and it is so nice. Brooklyn then will take one nap mid day usually around noon. Brooklyn is such an amazing sleeper!

4. Brooklyn has amazing small motor skills. Brooklyn can so daintily pick up the most smallest thing perfectly it's actually very entertaining. Brooklyn is so good with her hands it's purely amazing. I understand most babies can pick up the smallest of things but watching her is so different then other babies her age that I have seen. I love my Brooklyn.

5. Brooklyn loves toys. Brooklyn plays with toys so well and has her favorites like her Tsum Tsums but any toys she loves. She will pick up a toy and just know exactly what to do with it and not even have to explore with it, she must be watching her siblings very intently.

6. Brooklyn is growing so quickly. Brooklyn is in size 3 diapers and size 3-9 month clothes haha. Okay Brooklyn is probably actually in 12 month clothes but we have been horrible with packing away smaller clothes and getting out bigger ones so we just smash her in whatever we can, it's sad. Brooklyn still eats about 6oz of formula every 4 hours. At her 9 month appointment Brooklyn weighed 20lbs (75%) and 28 inches (70%) with a giant head but we don't keep track of head sizes very closely.

Brooklyn Riley you are growing up so quickly and each month are learning so much from your parents and siblings. You truly keep our family so happy with you right in the middle of it. We can't imagine life without you, our princess. I love you Brooklyn!

Andie 4 Years 2 Months

Andie is another month older and its so crazy how time keeps flying by so quickly. I try to remember back when it was just Andie at home and we thought she would first never arrive, pregnancy lasted forever. Then she was here and learning to crawl and walk was taking forever, but now time is just flying by so quickly and Andie will be starting preschool just next month. Andie stop growing my princess I am not ready for you to be a teenager. Andie at 4 years 2 months old...

1. Andie got a sparkler burn from the fireworks. I always am so scared of getting burnt by sparklers and Andie got a pretty decent burn that worried me so badly. Andie still wanted to do sparklers everyday since, at least she has no fear.

2. Andie is loving Elena of Avalor. Ever since the first commercial came on TV, Andie was in love and couldn't wait to see the new princess. She started to want all Elena toys and we had a party with the mattress in the loving room to watch the first episode when it came on TV.

3. Andie loves painting. Andie is so creative and has such a love for crafts/art. Painting has become a bit of an obsession lately and she has to paint something daily.

4. Andie loves the princess story (Disney store). Andie has been loving having Daddy home a bit more now that Moms hours have changed so I am off earlier. Dad takes the kids to go and do fun things all the time so the princess store has been a popular stopping place. Andie is in heaven! (Andie's eye was stabbed by a toy from Jake)

5. Andie got her preschool acceptance letter. We have been waiting for a year for this timeframe in life. Last year Andie was accepted into preschool but with a new baby coming into the family and potty training I felt like it was to much all at once. This year Andie is so ready to just start school!

6. Andie is our little outfit model, she loves clothes! This month for the Mom and Dad date we just wanted to do something beneficial with her starting school. We had Andie try on all of her clothes and this may sound miserable to most kids (cough cough Jake) but to Andie this is her little world of modeling heaven. Even if the shirts are to short, pants way to tight it doesn't matter Andie will dance and model that outfit for all to see. The bonus of doing this is that we now of clothes that fit her for school to start.

7. Andie still says the darnedest things. I don't document the funny things Andie says nearly enough but when I do document them it's a gooder.

Andie : Daddy roll over and hit my head.

Dad : What?

Andie : It won't break my head, I promise. Just with your fluffy tummy you will hit me and it will be soft, like jelly.

Pretending to go to work in Minnie Mouse car with moms shoes. She rode around the house and   

         then came back to where mom and dad were standing. 

Andie: I'm all done work.

Mom: Were you a doctor helping patients (Andie wants to be a doctor when she grows up).

Andie: No I was a Laurel (she loves moms receptionist job, she never calls me my first name).

Andie Noelle you are growing up so quickly and will continue to grow in leaps and bounds as you start school this next month. You will love the school experience as you learn new things from your teachers, make lots of friends with your outgoing personality and contagious smile and I can't forget you can model all our outfits for all of those around you ;) I love you my princess!