Rylan's birthday

Time has been going by while I forget lots of things.  I didn't forget Rylan's birthday with cake, presents and dinner but I did forget to set up a yearly Dr checkup, and schedule a friend to come over and play.  Rylan's birthday came and went.  The funny thing is Rylan didn't so much as care.

I decided that since Rylan was sneaking food he needed to be brushing his teeth more.  He loves his electric toothbrush and all the kids want one now.

This little bubble gum machine was empty by the next day.  The funny thing about Rylan is when he has a lot of something he likes to share.  He was great at sharing.

Rylan chose to go to Training Table for his birthday dinner.  He was all smiles.

This is the cake Rylan picked out.  Why did I try so hard to make fancy cakes before?  The kids have their own ideas and I love them.  Rylan decorated it with me.  He was so proud of it

If you have boys these are funny books.  Aunt Michelle found these books about a dog, Walter who farts.  What could be better than that?  Thanks aunt Michelle.  The boys get them out all the time.

Great grandma Fredrickson made this awesome afagan.  Rylan has loved it since the day he got it.  He sleeps with it every night.  Thanks grandma!

Rylan is full of surprises and energy.  He loves everything with construction and trucks.  He may not admit it but his brother is his favorite friend.  That is, when they aren't fighting over something.  They are constantly building forts, digging holes for bikes to go in, and getting filthy.  Rylan has grown a lot this year.  He is almost as big as Kaden.  He has loved everything about school except for homework.  He loves his teacher and there has been no problems in that area.  Rylan has had a problem taking food without asking and after trying a few things I think we nailed it with a sticker chart.  It has promising rewards every couple of days and Rylan has been doing wonderful.  After earning some money for his good works Rylan lost it at the park.  He wasn't too devistated about it which saddened me.   I guess he knows he can earn more.

Here are some things I love about Rylan

6  He cleans up other people's things really well

5  He loves to do secret service

4  Rylan shares really well

3  He loves to help others

2  Rylan is very aware of other people's feelings and wants them to feel better.

1 My favorite is when he wants to read scriptures and sing songs together.

Happy Birthday Rylan!

May & June

It has been a while since I posted and wanted to update you on the photos I have taken taken with my phone.  I still don't know how to put video from my phone on so I will keep trying. 

Here's Rylan entertaining himself and the little boys.  He has been off of school for testing this week and I forget how much energy he has.  They played with this snake until it had no more life left.  At one point I saw Rylan laying right next to the slimy thing.  After running errands we came home to find it lifeless.  Rylan couldn't resist playing with it still until Mike insisted he through it away. 

Rylan got nominated for leader of the week because his teacher said he was proactive in his work.  He was very excited although when I got a note saying parents were invited Rylan didn't want me to come.  Alright with me, one less thing to do.  So when the day came Rylan changed his mind.  I had to rearrange everything so that we could go.  I'm glad I could go, he was so happy. 

I am so happy to have my herbs this year.  My wonderful husband bought me all of these and another pot full.  Now my goal  is not to kill any of them. 

Elsie had a luau for activities day.  She was so excited words can't even describe it.  6:30 was a long time to wait.  She made these skirts herself for the party out of crate paper.  We walked all the way to the church with them.  There was no one else with such awesome skirts.

 For Memorial day we went to the cemetary to see grandma and grandpa Wertz's graves.  It turned out to be a beautiful day.  We went over to grandma Wilcox's house for brunch.  She makes the yummiest food. 

The kids decided to get the little pool out on a cold day in May.  That didn't stop them from getting wet.

Here is my mother's day present from Elsie.  She had been saving the Reeses for a month I think.  She made her very own abc book at school for me.

Here the boys are working on a craft project grandma O'Dell got them.  They had so much fun doing it especially since it was just for them.

What we have been doing

The kids are going on their second week of no school and are loving the nice weather.  After chores they are usually outside playing.  We even schedule play dates with their friends.  There were 8 kids here one morning and it went suprisingly well.  In the past I have let one child have a friend over and with the boys it was torture because the other kids played with the friend.  So this time we were able to have all 3 friends over at the same time.  It went really well.  Now for the little boys to have their friends over.

We are lucky to have a skate park close by and when the children's cousin Ethan came out a year ago they were introduced to it.  We finally made it there a few times.  This was the first time all the kids had something to do there.  Kaden was so excited yet scared of the jumps.  But he was also the first to try them.  By the time we left all the big kids were trying new things.  I was so grateful we didn't have any casualties, even without the helmets they forgot to bring. 

Before Elsie went off track she was awarded for learning her multiplication tables.  They had a ceremony for all the kids.  They also did a little program for everyone.  Elsie was so excited to do this.  She was even more excited when Dad showed up with us to see her.

We finally got to see and play with uncle Brent.  He came over to visit one afternoon and played with the kids.  He sure got them thinking.  He even helped Elsie build a catapult for school which I didn't get a picture of.  The kids loved all the playtime.  Thanks Brent and don't be a stranger.

Easter Sunday: Part 2

In Mike's family they use to have to find their easter baskets around the house.  Last year we did a treasure hunt and this year they were hidden. Elsie and Kaden didn't like it.  They thought there weren't any baskets.  They didn't even try to find theirs until the other ones found their baskets.  They were hidden in the pantry, oven, the bathroom closet, behind the tv, and in a cupboard. 

Camden has a fascination with farm animals and after searching all over for real life figures, I found them at the dollar store.  I was so happy and so was he.  His favorite is the "he he" or horse, and the "moo" or cow. 

After everything was said and done Elsie did tell me thank you for everything.  She got some church music, games, a hair clip and fingernail polish to go with her Easter outfit. 

We weren't able to get a family picture but I did catch one with all the kids before Kaden and Rylan changed clothes. 

  

After church we had lunch and all those kids who behaved well during and after church got popcorn.  Then we did our Testimony egg hunt.  The kids were excited to see who they got.  For the two little ones I filled their eggs up with pictures of Jesus, and things that bring us true happiness.  I did stick some candy in the eggs and everyone was happy. 

I found an idea of color coordinating the eggs for each child and it made things so much easier.  Why didn't I ever think of that?  Camden was very happy to find his "bue" eggs.  With the older ones I could hide the eggs in the trees.  During the week and Sunday morning we watched the videos of Christ and it helped the kids to visual that Easter is real and doesn't involve Easter bunnies.  I love those bible videos on lds.org.  Check them out, there are new ones all the time.

Here is Mike and I on Easter.  I didn't think he would pose like this or should I say, I hoped he didn't do what he did.  I told Elsie, who was taking the picture, if he does it again we have to take more pictures.  Can't help but love this guy forever.

Easter: part one

Our Easter was wonderful.  I had made some new plans and decided that to help keep the meaning of Easter we would do bunny things before Sunday.  Elsie was not okay with it but later learned it wouldn't be too bad.  We hit the Riverton Park for a big Easter run.  It was crazy and all the kids and their parents made their way to find eggs.  Ever since my sister took the kids one time they have wanted to come back every year.  The only thing I like is that they have egg hunts for age groups, so the little ones don't get run over by the big kids.

Spinney, LeDawn, Adam, and Greyson were able to make it to the fun which lasted about 2 minutes. 

Then we headed over to the cousin's house for some pizza and egg dying. It was a beautiful hot day.  Our cousin's house is the best.  And of course the sand was the favorite. 

 Here's Elliot and cousin Eli dying eggs.  We are still eating our eggs.  It is taking a long time since the boys don't like them.

Winter update

Here are a few things we've done this winter.  I am so happy it is warming up but kind of sad to not enjoy the snow anymore.  I have to say I will not miss the cold.

Mike grew his hair out.  He didn't do it on purpose but more out of laziness.  He said this is the longest he has grown it since before his mission.  He looked like a new man the day he cut his hair and shaved. 

Here is our truck getting worked on.  It died on Mike about a month or so ago and after much work he found the problem to be the gas pump.  On a few  not so hot, sunny days he went to work.  Grandpa came to help a few times.  We are so blessed to have family close.

Here is Mike not too excited about doing this.  After he changed the pump he found that the new one was broken too.  So off to the store again and another few days to fix it.  I know Mike didn't enjoy having to fix the truck but it was a great hobby for him and he even got new tools out of it.  I am so grateful for the talents Mike has.  He had some ideas of the problem and even though he didn't know how to change a fuel pump he learned how.   We are very grateful to Arn for letting Mike borrow his truck while ours was not working.

Here are the boys playing in the mud.  Even in cold weather they love shorts.  I couldn't keep them out of the mud if I tried so this year I have tried to embrace it. I now require shoes off at the door, hands washed and stairs vaccuumed every day.  They love this mud stuff but I am happy to see dirt again.

Elsie enjoyed taking pictures in the snow one day.

Here is the latest mishap.  With the weather warming up and days getting longer I have made a goal to go on a walk every evening with the kids.  The first night we tried it this is what happened.  Camden walked around the block all by himself and kept up great.  Outside our front yard he wanted to walk on the cement curb by himself even when Kaden insisted on helping.  Well, after 5 steps he missed and went head first into the curb.  This picture was taken 15 minutes after it happened.  Camden was very distraught about it hurting.

This picture is of Camden's eye the next day.  He was very sad he couldn't open his eye.  Well, maybe a sliver.  He had to lift his head up to see us.  Other than that he was happy as could be until he remembered his eye and then he'd get sad.

Here is Camden's eye now.  He is still sad that it hurts, more so when he looks

 in the mirror.  We are so thankful it didn't break the skin and is healing nicely.

Elliot is 4

Elliot turned 4 the end of January and is so excited and ready for school he says. He asked for a camera, phone, and a wallet with money in it.  He got the later one and asked why he didn't get a camera.  He has been spending his money very carefully, only buying some candy and oreo cookies.  He will know how to spell his whole name by the time he goes to school.  We are already working on learning to read because he wants to.    Elliot is full of so much energy.  He takes after his brothers and can do anything they can.  I love Elliot for so many reasons.

1. He is always willing to help.  He likes to work and play.  He is up at the counter helping me get meals ready.  He loves to cook and eat.  Although he takes forever eating.

2.  He reminds me of the important things.  He always likes to say prayers.  He remembers to bless people and loves the temple.  In primary he is learning about Heavenly Father's plan and prays that he can go back to him.

3.  Elliot always tries his best.  He loves to do a good job and even before he had a chore he wanted to work.  Now he gets his bed made and kitchen floor swept before breakfast. 

4.  The reason I love Elliot the most is that he shows so much love.  Camden can't get enough of Elliot and loves to be with him.  Elliot loves to share smiles and hugs.  He really likes to cuddle and my favorite is he always manages to make me smile when I am sad or mad.  He comes up to me and says "I love you mom" or "mom, you're beautiful".  It always brings a smile.

For Elliot's Birthday he got curious George the monkey, some books, and some money.  He also got a game, puzzle, and moon lap that he said was way too bright for him.  For treats Elliot asked for a root beer float on his special day.  For his family party he wanted a white cake with sprinkles on it.  Elliot wanted it cooked in bread pans.  What more could a mom ask for.  I think Elliot wanted that so he could decorate it all himself.

Here is Elliot singing.  I hope it works.  It took forever to upload.