Love the WEEKENDS!

FRIDAY January 29th: It was Dr. Seuss's b-day and at Colton's school that means they get to wear their pj's all day, bring their stuffed animals (he brought his duck he got in the hospital for his first kidney surgery), blankets and READ lots..with teachers switching rooms reading their favorite books to the students. I was grateful Colton chose pj's w/ a top and a bottom (as he favors big t-shirts)! He also wore 'his' slippers (above), and was quite disappointed when I made him go to school in sneakers, only to switch into his slippers. They are actually MY slippers I got on my mission. A cute, older sister would make them for all the sister missionaries that served in Rio Linda (Do you still have your pair sister Bond?, Sis. Socwell--didn't you get a pair too?) aah, I LOVE it, seeing them put to good use and passed down. He LOVES them, I don't know why, but he does. Dan left for seminary at 6:05 am and then worked until 6:30pm, then he went straight to a live broadcast seminary training and did not get home until 8pm. We did not get him for very long that day!
So I did what all good moms would do and we had a movie/pizza night eating in the Living Room (which is a big no-no)! I did this cause I was solo, did not want the newly mopped floors dirty, and the boys had cleaned the bathrooms well. Our movie was Garfield. SUPER CUTE! Dan came home at the end of it all!
Dan and I then settled down for our own movie: Believe in ME! It is an EXCELLENT movie and comes thumbs up recommended by me (NOT just because I play basketball, and am partial to it!)
SATURDAY MARCH 1st: The boys woke up begging me to change the calendars (they are obsessed with them, counting down to holidays, b-days etc.) Sterling had a friends transformer b-day party to go to. They had a jump house, pinata, cake, ice cream, the works. While he was at a birthday party I was at a stake Relief Society birthday celebration. Our stake goes ALL OUT for these events. They had transformed the church ,once again, to look like the days of the scriptures. It was a bit different then at x-mas-they had pillars, and candles, fruit and grapes, palm trees...you get my drift. Then they had a full on production/musical of the ten virgins and a complete meal. I missed the morning of classes BUT thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon production and lunch. It was AMAZING! it is so amazing to me how music brings in the spirit so quickly and strongly. Some of my girlfriends performed in it and I was so touched by their hidden talents. It kind of made me proud to see them up there!
The rest of the day we stayed busy trying to keep our high maintenance Dacie pacified. Oreos worked for a bit! Dan also took the boys down to the river to fish for a little bit..no bites!

Saturday eve always brings about bath night--and what an EVENT that always ends up being! I decided to get real cute and roll all of Dacie's hair in sponge curlers, and the next morning...we had ONE winner left. I had to wet down her hair b/c of the crazy half curl, too curly, no curly look! Not doing that again until more hair grows in-
I stayed up until 11pm that evening getting music time ready for Sunday. I NOW have so much compassion for primary music leaders, after being in this calling. It is like doing a sharing time every week, adapting for the nursery all the way up to 12 year olds!!! Some times it is ALOT of work in regards to preparation. I was printing off the new song, laminating, making a game, etc.


SUNDAY March 2nd:Ryland announced in nursery today that Dan and I were getting married. When I came into nursery to do the music the leaders were laughing telling me what he had said, I simply told them, "After four kids we thought it was about time to get married." (REALLY we were married October 21, 2000 in the Washington DC temple) We all had a good LAUGH about that one. Ryland also announced to all of his classmates and I, that he cannot wait until Christ comes again. I love that kid.
It was Ryland's first day off of grounding(for over a month)-from ALL forms of coloring, after taking a permanent marker to our car! He promptly drew all over Coltons pants-AAHHHHH!!!!!

Dacie took 4 STEPS ToDay! Walking is around the corner! She might be right on track with her bros. @14 months!
We ended the evening with some games of red light/green light, telephone, and Simon says!

Monday March 3rd- I started my new goal and woke up when Dan was leaving for seminary to exercise on my beloved elliptical, before the kids woke up (sleep has been a long time coming, so I have been selfish with it, even a half hour). The morning went flawlessly! We also ran some errands while Sterling was at preschool-we got an automatic car wash (and Dacie freaked out!). We also got some markers for FHE tonight-we are giving the boys their routines and charts!

I busted out the Irish music for st. patty's today, as well, and did about 2 minutes of irish and 15 of clogging(with the shoes and all)and I AM SO OUT OF SHAPE! besides the fact you lose your talent when you don't use it!

I did receive some heart-breaking news today, my freshman year (in room) roommate (pictured above with her two children and hubby) has been in ICU for two weeks, she was just taken off of life support and is not very responsive-however, her prognosis is promising. It is not very clear what happened to her. My heart had been tender already, lately, for my other good friend who passed away this time last year. Life is fragile. They are pure women, great young mommies, and dear friends! It hurts inside.

We LOVE long weekends--ha ha that is what this turned into. On to a new week!

Another SUPER Saturday!!!

I always try to get as many chores as I can done on Fridays..and I always wonder why I put such pressure on myself when I have Dan home the next day. IT's because I like to play and relax when he is around rather than work all the time. This last Saturday 2/16 we were able to play bit!Our Elders Quorum had an activity at the state park right down the street--Dead Horse Ranch State Park. They have four stocked ponds there as well as camping. Dan's dad had just sent us a fishing lisc. the day before! Soooo We had FUN fishing with daddy!
Colton was at a b-day party earlier that day, and we had to go get him in the middle of the activity...so he is catching up on his fishing in this picture!
We did NOT catch these fish, our friends did...but the boys had fun playing with them and then watching them "clean" them (Sterling cried a little when they cut em').
Dacie posing at the pond!
Some of our closest freinds are in the Elders Quorum, so it was a FUN day with friends and their kids!
We also had a nice bar-b-q to top off the long afternoon of it!
That evening Dan and I were going on our weekly date and taking Sterling with us (as the kids get to go on one date by themselves per month) it was Sterling's month! We had a babysitter all lined up, BUT Dacies diarreah (sp) had gotten much worse. She had such a raw bummy that you had to pin her down to change her and listen to some serious screaming.It was so sad. I did not want to traumatize a babysitter or Dacie. I am glad I did-she ended up having four dirty diapers and got it all over the carpet. I sent Dan on the date with Sterling and they went and painted ceramics at the local store in town.
When they came back home we ended the evening doing one of our most favorite things to do as a family....DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION!!! It was a great SUPER Saturday for us!

Hi- Ho, Hi-Ho It's off to woRk we Go!!!

I have a good friend who has the capability of helping her children sit through all of church with their arms folded and not a peep, putting away all of their clothes (even hanging them on hangers), AND doing many household chores I felt were above my boys age capacity. Her children run about the ages of mine. She taught me a lesson that if you take the time to teach your children these things it pays off in the long run. I took her advice to heart over Christmas break.
I decided that my boys were going to learn how to clean. That they were going to learn to work. Their mission companions and wives would thank me for it later. It is hard to take that plunge as I like to be in control of some things, and particularly like cleaning done my way. However, as some of you may know I have a clean bathroom fettish. I LOVE clean bathrooms. However, when I do them (even though I only have 2) it takes me forever because I start cleaning grooves, etc. Since this is a fettish of mine and I cannot seem to stay on top of the bathrooms enough for my liking, or clean enough to keep away the sickness that runs rampant in our home. I decided to delegate some of the responisbilities. I taught Colton how to clean the toilets over Chrismtas break and then I added Sterling with sinks and mirrors these last two weeks (Ryalnd can't be left out so I have him clean the cupboards).
Now it takes close supervision and I try not to 'cut down' their job too much, as to discourage them in their efforts. BUT, I have already felt some of the good results for this diligence. The bathrooms get cleaned ALLOT more then they used too, so they are cleaner. I feel like my children are a little bit better about toothpaste and water splashing since they see the results of it.I apprecaite knowing that although I serve my children they contribute to our family, there are days I feel very overhwlemed of running a household, laundry meals, outside, taxi, etc. etc. and this has relieved some of that pressure-I am so thankful they are doing something productive.I am thankful for their excitement to help out, besides the dishwasher,trashes and setting the table they already do! Who says boys aren't clean?! ha ha