Happy Birthday Grant!

Happy 5th Birthday to my nephew Grant! We can't believe you're 5! You're growing up so fast.

We hope you have a super happy day! (I need some new pics Nessa!)

Vet-a-Visit

After our Primary activity, we headed to MSU for Vet-a-Visit. Once a year, the veterinary college puts on a free display of animals to pet, watch, and to learn more about. There were dog shows, dogs to pet that help in different areas such as seeing eye dogs, etc. Then there were farm animals that the kids could pet and learn more about. We got to pet rabbits, donkeys, llamas, sheep, a horse, a cow. We could listen to a sheep's heart with a stethascope, we could milk a cow, and something a bit more disturbing...

Do you notice anything weird about the cow?

At first I thought this was a fake cow. Then it moved its head and mooed. If you look, there is a hole in the cow. I guess a cow has 4 stomachs. In order for farmers/ranchers to know what their cows are eating they make an incision in one of the stomachs, stitch it to the outer hyde and put this rubber tubing over the incision. I forget what the name for it is. The farmer can then stick his hand in the stomach and find out what the cow has been eating by taking it out and looking at it. So the vet college displayed a cow that had this done and anyone could put an arm length glove on and stick their hand in the stomach. YUCK! I thought that this could not be good for the cow. I know there's a glove on and all, but not everybody is careful and nice to animals. Poor cow. And DISGUSTING! I watched as this kid put his hand in and when he pulled the glove out it was all wet and drippy and lumpy green (obviously hay). I was willing to do it, but the line was way too long and we were running out of time to look at other things. Shucks! All I could think of was GROSS! and poor cow!

Primary Activity Day

I was able to have our first Primary Activity Day with the help of my counselors. It was a success. I wish more of the kids had shown up, but we had fun with the few that did. We focussed on Love for others. We had fun activities like pictionary and other role playing showing love for our neighbors and for the Savior, and then we made secret service coupons for love for our family, and of course we have to love ourselves, so we decorated and mostly ate some yummy cookies. To top it off, we had an egg hunt. We knew it was after Easter, but we didn't think the kids would mind. With the load of candy they got to take home, I don't think they minded one bit.

Decorating the yummy cookies.

We had to be creative in hiding the 300 eggs since there was snow outside. I think my favorite spot was in between the creases of the retractable wall partition.

Elliott had a blast finding the eggs.

With 300 eggs all having candy inside, the 6 kids that participated got to take home A LOT of candy! I'm sure the parents just loved us. As for my boys, they are sharing with mom and dad :) We're not complaining.

Meet Our New Addition

Oh, did I scare you? No, Roswell hasn't come yet.


We got a great deal on a piano! There was an old elementary school that shut down and was bought out by a pre-school who didn't want a lot of the things that were left. So they advertised on Craigs list for 2 FREE pianos. A friend of ours saw the listing and knew that we had an eye out for a good deal on one, so we split the U-Haul cost and got both pianos at the same time. What an awesome deal! There are a few little adjustments to be made, but overall it's in great condition. It's not badly out of tune either, just a little flat. Not that I play exceptionally well, I'm still a beginner, but it will encourage me to practice more and get better. We want all our kids to eventually know how to play too, so it's a great thing to have. We are so excited for our new addition and are grateful that our friends were keeping their eyes out for us too.

Is Spring Coming?

Today I took the boys to the library for storytime. The theme was Spring --as it snows again outside. :( We had a teaser of warmer weather (in the 40's) and even little buds starting on the trees, then WHAM! More rain and snow. We're itching to get a garden started, so we've started some in pots indoors. I'm even more eager for the warmth that can bring my boys outside to play! I'm tired of being inside everyday.

Anyways, back to my story. We got to read books on Spring. The fun thing about our reading lady is that she always has a corresponding craft for the kids to do. Today the kids had fun making flowers. Dono of course had to have his favorite color - pink- in his flower. He's convinced that when Spring really does come that we will be planting a lot of pink flowers outside. Pink is definitely not my favorite color, I never thought I would have this dilemma until I had a girl. We'll work it out.

The boys and their flowers.

A New Tag (for me)

Ten Years Ago.....
I was in my first year of college and worked to earn some moolah for school. I was kinda boring 10 years ago. I think I had my first real boyfriend this year too.

5 Things on my To Do List Today....
1. Clean my house.
2. Take the kids to the library.
3. Make a menu for the week and go grocery shopping.
4. Prepare the house for our new piano.
5. Go to sleep.

5 Snacks I Enjoy...
1. Lately, lots of fruit.
2. Little Debbie Swiss Rolls (yummy).
3. CHOCOLATE!
4. popcorn
5. jello

What I Would Do If I Were Suddenly A Billionaire...
1. Pay off our house (the only debt we have)
2. Fix anything that needs to be fixed.
3. Put money in a separate account for traveling/missions.
4. Save the rest and live off of the interest.

Places I've Lived...
1. Mesa, AZ
2. Flagstaff, AZ
3. Lansing, MI
4. DeWitt, MI

Job's I've Had...
1. Movie Theater Slave (free movies though)
2. Teaching Tools
3. 1st Grade Teacher
4. Mom/Home Attendant

5 Things You Don't Know About Me...
1. My hair went down to my knees until my first haircut in college.
2. I played viola in the pit orchestra for the musical Oklahoma.
3. I don't like having long nails and can't stand nail polish on my fingers (toes are ok).
4. My biggest pet peeve (sp?) is watching "musicians" in tv/movies that are fake playing--for instance Pa Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie. Love the show, but I can't watch him play.
5. I love to learn the forgotten crafts. I can sew, crochet, knit, quilt, and make rag rugs.

Happy Birthday Princess Zoe!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our niece Zoe! Isn't she cute? She looks just like Vanessa did at this age, and already a mischief maker. Her mother's daughter. And we love her for being so cute. Have a great day Zoe! (Sorry I used the same pic, Nessa. It's the most recent one I have.)

A Sleepy Situation

My little boy is getting too big. Elliott slept on his big boy bed for the first time last night! We took the trundle from under Donovan's bed, rolled it to a new location, raised it up, and voila! He loves it! And actually sleeps very well in it.

We figured that Donovan got his twin bed at 18 months, it was about time Elliott got one too. Besides, in T - 3 months a new resident will be inhabiting the crib.

Along with this great achievement for Elliott comes a milestone for Donovan as well (although much to the disappointment of Mommy). Donovan is now no longer taking naps. :( Mommy cherishes her alone/quiet time. Or at least I did. I was hoping that Dono would be one of those lovely children that continues to nap until they head off to kindergarten. No such luck. I finally gave in and decided that it wasn't worth my sanity to storm up and down 2 flights of stairs (my retreat is usually in the basement) 20 times during nap time to yell and spank(unfortunately that is one of my bad weaknesses) for the boys to go to sleep. As you can imagine, with Dono's unwillingness to go to sleep he had to have a friend to talk and sing with, so Elliott his roomate became his accomplice. As much fun as they were having, it was making mommy very cranky when it would take them 3 or more hours to fall asleep. AAARRRRrgggggghhh!!!

Which brings me to today. Elliott fell asleep in his new bed in less than 15 min. And Donovan is happily reading, coloring, and whatever "quiet" activity he would like to participate in. Eventually this will become our mommy and Dono preschool time. I guess I can handle this. I just won't get my cleaning/leisure things done as easily.

Dono is very happy with his no-nap time.

Happy Birthday Amy!

Happy Birthday to Dan's sister Amy! We hope Florida and St. Patty's Day are treating you marvelously today! We love you and hope you have a great (and green) day!

Quick Descent

Elliott loves going down the stairs! Everytime he does his "super fast" it makes me laugh. He's gotten really good at it. You just have to make sure you get out of the way, quickly.

My Baby Bump

My sister has been asking me to post a picture of my bump. So here it is. I'm 24 weeks now, which is starting the 6th month. I think I'm huge (stomach-wise) compaired to the last two pregnancies. I'm amazed that I still have yet to gain any weight (from my pregnancy start weight - though I'm slowly getting out of the negatives since I've been able to keep food down for the last month). Obviously this boy is getting what he needs to grow!

Fun at Daddy's Work

We took Daddy some lunch today and the boys had such fun spinning around in Daddy's chair.