New Things

Where did January and February go? At my house it seems like these months got lost in: tissue that wiped all the snotty noses of kids with colds, late nights soothing tummy aches, baby tylenol bottles to dull teeth-cutting pain, fieldtrips for school, putting together a ward talent show, hectic sports/piano/cubscouts schedules, canning food at the home storage center, cleaning, cooking, helping with homework/book reports/speeches and more cleaning. We fit some new things in too, and even managed to get some of life on camera...

I've Got A New Bugg
Speaking of viruses and bugs...I've got one - a different kind of bugg. This little gadget is helping me shed those extra baby pounds (times 5 babies)! I love this thing! It measures your calorie burn in a day so that you know just how many (or little- if you're like me and don't love or have time to exercise) calories to burn and how many calories you can eat and still lose weight. I think I might actually be addicted to something good for me! I'm posting about it here, so that if I ever get back to where I was, I can look back at my enthusiasm about the bodybugg and rekindle some motivation.

Newest Mural

I got to pull out my dusty paints and help liven up this cute nursery. No, it's not mine...no purple and flowers in any room at my house! My sister's friend had the idea of adding a full sized tree to the corner of her baby's room.

I sketched it roughly until we had the scale and general idea right, tested some paint colors until we found just the one, and...up it grew!

She now plans on hanging small frames with pictures from the branches. I can't wait to see it all complete.

A close up of the hightlights and shading that add those perfect finishing touches. It was fun to be an artist for a day.

He's Mobile!

It seems strange that a face this cute could be the cause of so much distruction. Lukers is now officially speed-crawling and in to EVERYTHING! Nothing is safe anymore. But I love this stage when babies are so curious and full of life. If only I could keep up with him.

He Sang!

Bo actally joined his class on stage for his preschool Valentine's Party and sang! Well, moved his mouth anyways, but hey, we'll take it! For a kid who is the celebrity at home, he sure doesn't want to be in front of a crowd. He's still the cutest Valentine there is.

Bo helped me make chocolate lollipops for his classmates and heart-shaped sandwiches filled with strawberry jam and cream cheese for preschool snack. Sometimes creative-craftiness is lost on little boys, and I'm no Martha (or Ashley Rawe) but we try. It brought smiles anyways - at least to my face.

The Final Buzzer Blows on Another Sports Season

Caden's life is sports - he eats, drinks and breaths it - all types and forms. But after this first season of getting to play real city-league basketball, I think he has found a favorite. He tore up the court this season and had a blast. One of the highlights to cap off a great season was getting to play a scrimage during the half-time of the high school game. Our little Lightning Bolts got to line up with the varsity players at the start of the game.

Caden was in 7th heaven playing in front of crowded gym. They announced his name over the speaker (Bart's fantasy that he has lived for since we first found out we were having a boy and in fact the way that we chose all our boy names - by how they would sound over a loud speaker at a sporting event) as he put on his point-guard show that included behind-the-back dribbling. I thought Bart and I would have to buy new shirts since our buttons were bursting so badly! We had to tone down our pride a bit when he came back to sit with us - his head doesn't need to get any bigger! The cutest part of it for me was how excited Tyler was for his older bro. Lots of fun. Then home to bed for an early morning Sat game.

The next weekend (after baseball tryouts were over - whew! On to the next sport!) was the end-of-the-season basketball party. Caden had 2 wonderful coaches (the kind that put all other coaches to shame) who truly loved the boys and shared great memories and words of praise for each boy. The players recieved a framed collage of pictures from the season and a dvd slide show. Little brother Lukers just liked the pizza bones!

Caden watches the slide show of the season complete with Rocky music. He looks like he is in serious reflection - I think just a bit tired from a long day.

Training-time?
Coley has been independently showing interest in the toilet lately- telling me (usually at the most inconvenient times) when he wants to go, and complaining often of a yucky diaper. So, this reluctant mom is wondering...is it training time?

Reluctance is an understatement. There are not many things I like worse than potty-training. So if there are any pros out there who would like to adopt this 2-yr old and return him in a few weeks "trained", I'm all in. Actually, I'm very proud of my little guy and I'm getting geared up to help him be diaper free...just AFTER our spring break trip to Florida (we only take one thing on at a time in this household)! Keep your fingers crossed for me that perhaps after all the pain and suffering I endured potty-training older brothers, these youngest ones will be a breeze!

A Hawaiian New Year

We spent our New Year enjoying a little aloha this year. Papa and Grammy took us and our 5 boys to their place in Hawaii to enjoy some sun and FUN! There was a little bit of everything in this trip: swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, bodyboarding, water-sliding, sunset-watching, napping, reading, whale-watching, kite-flying, sunbathing, airport-hustling, airplain ride-enduring, and a little bit of relaxing! The pictures say it all.

(Cole catches a ride and finds a way to rest his tired airport legs)

(The "big boys" enjoy a kayak ride with dad in "A" bay)

(a quick family picture (minus Luke who was napping) before taking the 3 oldest to the Kona Village Luau.)

(aboard the catamaran for our whale-watching tour. The camera girl (wonder who that was?) didn't do so hot catching the humpback whales on film, but they were amazing to see up close. Poor Cade and Ty got seasick and were happy when the boat ride ended though.

(windy afternoons at the beach mean kite-flying time!)

(Sunset from Grammy and Papa's lanai)

(The pool totem)

Luke

Cole

Bo

Tyler

Caden

A huge MAHALO grammy and papa for a truly wonderful vacation!

Scenes of the Season

Selecting a Christmas Tree:

Black Friday shopping - nope. Our day-after-Thanksgiving tradition took us once again to our favorite local Lee Farms for the hunt for this year's Christmas tree. Since we'd be leaving right after Christmas we wanted to have it up for as long as possible to enjoy the sight and smell. Of course we also did the tradition picture in front of some random tree (from the looks of the photo, it seems this is the only one in the lot!). But after looking and searching and the boys becoming more interested in the stray cat the started following us, we settled on one - as imperfect as it was, we still loved it.

Gingerbread house night with all the family:

We gathered up at Grammy and Papas to decorate homemade gingerbread and create one-of-a-kind houses. The creativity this year included Papa's house becoming a church, Andrew's dance floor for the elves, and Santa fitting down a chimney. The night is always full of laughter and a fun memory-maker year after year.

(grammy's homemade gingerbread plus tons of festive holiday candy, and...)

(helpful little hands (kindof :), equals...)

(This year's creative masterpieces! One to keep and one to share.)

A Visit to Santa:

We were able to coordinate everyone's family schedule and go see Santa all together this year! It was a rainy, wet afternoon, but thanks to Bridgeport Village's enclosed gazebo, the wait was dry, warm and even fun! The kids shared their Christmas wishes with Santa, ate their north pole candy cane and topped it off with piping hot cocoa from Tutto Benne. Us moms know that this a short-term tradidtion as the kids grow older, but for now, we soak it in and enjoy the magic of children at Christmas-time. (All 12 grandkids (missing one who didn't want his picture taken) waiting for their turn to see Santa.)(Santa came out to greet the kids - he told them stories about the north pole and answered a BUNCH of eager kids' questions.)

Family Humanitarian Project:

With Papa and Grammy's help and endless generosity, we were able to spend an evening together during the holiday season experiencing the true meaning of Christmas. Grammy purchased supplies and we put together heigene kits and school kits. Our kids helped pack the kits into boxes to be shipped to Salt Lake City to the LDS Humanitarian office where they can be sent on to cities or countries of the world in need. (Bo helps mom put toothbrushes in a heigene kit)(Getting 12 grandkids to perform an orderly assembly line was a lost cause, but we managed and had a lot of fun doing it)

Cole-y turns 2!

Cole has a history (a short one, since he is only 2) of feeling under-the-weather on his birthday. But my family all got together and helped him celebrate anyways (along with grammy and cousin Drew who share the birthday week). We managed to get a few smiles out of our big 2 year old.

He loves animals and books - so this dog book was a hit and has been battered and beaten-up already with heavy use.

If you know Cole - you'll know he has a thing for headbands. He got a new one to add the his collection. It was worn for the remainder of the party.

Happy Birthday Cole! We love you.