March happenings...

So much randomness in this post, but here it goes!


I love my $7 Easter wreath I created after poking around for cheap products on sale at Michaels (go make one! The wreath was $4 on sale, the felt egg $1 and ribbon $2---you have your choice of colors: pink, green or purple)


I read somewhere last year (on someones blog?) that these glow sticks were safe for supervised bathtub use, but forgot that until I stumbled upon them in the $1 bins at Target. Baths are now fun again with glow sticks and the lights on dim!


We loved us some beach time with Aunt Kiki



...where Aunt Kiki taught Leda (finally) that Hermit crabs are NOT scary.




We enjoyed lunch in Laguna Beach with cousins from Utah

>

We took a trip to the Church of the Angels in Pasadena with the family to film a family-type documentary about my Dad and his life as an organist.



My Dad has been their organist for 36 years.



I enjoyed learning to make these cute flower clips with the Young Women for Leda (or me) to wear. Thanks Elizabeth!


We had a fun trip to Disneyland with my cute folks


...where I discovered that all three of my children are now tall enough to ride my favorite ride: Soarin' over California!



I love stumbling upon creations from my children. Here is a train track made out of books. Starts at the bottom of the stairs...



goes up the hallway...


and into their bedrooms. My house was this way for 3 days.


I LOVE our latest $100 craigslist find: My upright chest freezer! I have really loved this and have thoroughly enjoyed my trips to Costco to fill it.


Lunch with Daddy is always fun!


I love it when little Lucy is all tuckered out after her morning walk


Chase enjoyed some late night snuggles with Daddy and Lucy after waking up with a coughing fit. Man alive, Chase is sure becoming Aaron's "mini-me!"


I can officially declare that our Chase is potty-trained. Finally. And I just love that he insists on wearing his underwear backwards even though he knows it's supposed to go the other way. This kid, I tell you. Stubborn doesn't even begin to describe him!


Couldn't resist posting his cute little backwards backside...



And last, but not least. My friend Mikelle did an Easter shoot with my kiddos (note, my fun header) and her bunny Mr. Wilson. We had a ball and I'm happy to have these fun spring pictures that capture my kids in their element of fun and crazy. Check them out HERE if you'd like to see 'em.

Talking to Carter

Tonight, Spencer wanted to call his cousin Carter in Utah to tell him goodnight.



These two are five months apart in age and have always been close, despite living in different states. After a few minutes of talking (or boy one-word answers and grunts) Spencer started just giggling and giggling.



After they hung up we asked, "Spencer, what was so funny?"

"Oh, Carter played me 'Mary had a little lamb' on the piano and then he farted into the phone!"

Awesome.

Ahh, boys. Gotta love 'em!

Prayers

UPDATE: Carter was released from the hospital today. They have determined that he had a severe bacterial infection as all the other tests for worse things came up negative. He's still hurting a bit, but not dehydrated anymore and is most definitely on the up and up. Thanks everyone (who posted and called me or Carrie) for your care and concern!

********

My sweet little 6 year old nephew Carter is in the hospital in Utah. He's been sick and is severely dehydrated and although blood tests have determined it isn't mono or even worse, leukemia...they still aren't quite sure what's wrong.

Breaks my heart.



I know a lot of you know my sister, so if you happen to glance at this post and feel so inclined, I know prayers would be appreciated!

I also just found out that I have a dear family friend battling a very serious illness. Man alive, when it rains it pours! I feel as though I've been punched in the stomach and all these things even aren't happening to me directly, just to people I love and care about. I am grateful that we have the power of prayer and am currently calling on its powers for everyone involved.

Health is not something to ever take for granted, as I know many of you know & have experienced first hand. Sigh.

The one good thing about having a dog...

...is that I'm realizing that my hardest child, really isn't that hard at all.


Currently, my inner voice is screaming at me: "what in the world were you thinking getting a dog?!"

and then I see captured images like these...







...where I'm reminded exactly why I did this. So I'll push forward, aiming for the end result where my children have fond memories of growing up with a family dog.

And just so we're clear: it's not all bad. She's not barking nearly as much, had only a handful of accidents, has slept through the night in her crate since day one and I don't feel tied down to the house as much as I did the first three days.

But the best perk of all? There have been more family walks, more laughter and more togetherness this week than ever before.

I love my family...yes, even this little mut I call Luc'.

Meet Lucy

Yep, we got a dog. Yep, I think I've lost my mind a little bit.

Aaron has wanted a dog forever, and after a year of talking to me about it, he finally broke me down.

But how can you resist this 10 week old Yorkie cuteness?



We hired a dog trainer, and we're going at this full force...so hopefully sooner than later we'll have a mild mannered, fun addition to our family. Right now she's a lot of work mixed in with a lot of joy. Jack (our cat) tolerates her, the kids love her, but the one who is the most smitten as of late is the alpha-male in this family (aka: Aaron).

More pictures to come. When I can figure out how to get Lucy and my kids to sit still. Ya, wishful thinking, I know.

Leprechaun

Tonight while doing First Grade homework with Spencer, I noticed one of his challenge spelling words this week was

"L E P R E C H A U N".



I said, "Whoa! That's a really hard word!"

Spencer: "Ya, my teacher can spell it without even looking, she just writes it on the board real fast like this!" (hands waving in the air)

"Hmm, I don't even think that I know how to spell the word Leprechaun!"

"Well ya Mom, that's why you're not the teacher and you're just the Mom."

(at this moment Aaron busts up laughing at the sink. Thanks, babe)



I guess I did set myself up for that one! But I had news for him: This Mom is one heck of a teacher (insert pat on the back), even if I didn't know how to spell the word leprechaun :)

Pajama day

Today is Pajama day at school.

Spencer gets to wear his PJs, bring his pillow, blanket and 3 favorite books to school. He was SO excited. He remembered this from last year and couldn't wait.

I know it doesn't look like he's excited...but trust me, this is his excited face. This young man is a man of few words (and expressions) already. Silly kid!



He had to color the cover of his favorite Dr.Seuss book to tape to a box of cereal to donate to a Food drive. He didn't do too bad of a job, eh? He was quite proud of his Cat in the Hat.


I love this age---so many fun activities and so much cuteness!

Workout video

I had to quit the gym a few months ago (to save money) so workout videos and treadmill in the garage it's been. (Or not. Depends on the day, if I'm being honest)





This was the conversation I had with Leda and Chase this morning:

Chase: "Mom, this show is a little bit naughty!"

Me (mid butt kick): "Why is it naughty Chase?"

Chase: "Because they just said the word BUTT!"

Leda: "Ya, and they said the word DUMB too!"

(trying to contain laughter) "When did they say the word dumb?"

both Leda and Chase together, "Dumbbells! They said Dumbbells! That isn't a nice word."

And then Leda proceeded to point out which workout girl was modest and which one wasn't...all based on whether you could see their belly button or not.

Hilarious. Having little kids is such a kick!