Cute kids, Parties and the Not-so-windy City

Weeks of September 19th - October 9th

Maycie's love of drawing prompted us to sign her up for an art class where she's learning drawing techniques. She loves it and we like knowing we're helping develop talents.

It's raining, it's pouring.

When I went to pick up the girls from the bus stop to save them from the down pour, they requested to walk home in the rain. They then spent the next hour using the rain and gutters as their personal splash pad.

Addilyn was so excited to start her first day of Faith in God Girls.

She thinks she's already a Young Women - and in a way I guess she is.

Isaac turned 5 months on Sept. 18th and cut his 2nd tooth on the same day.

Isaac loves to kick his left leg to bounce himself in his bouncer. Even on stationary surfaces he'll get that leg going to try to bounce.

Family Home Evening with the Southwicks and Worths.

After my friend, Cami Southwick, died her husband and kids made plans to move back to Utah to be near family. We did a farewell Family Home Evening with them. The kids loved playing "Button, button, who's got the button." We'll miss having such a great friends around.

I had great intentions of taking pictures of our General Conference weekend activities. Some of our traditions are playing Conference Bingo and doing puzzles while listening to the talks. As an after thought I took a picture of the puzzle we completed. I love Conference weekend.

Baby, oh baby. It's boy number 5.

My dear friend Kristin is expecting her 5th boy. Though the hope was for a girl, we couldn't let this baby come without a celebration.

A girls night in with fondue and friends.

Here's Kristin with the diaper cake I made her. It's so like her to coordinate with the cake.

Happy Birthday to me.

I hosted a playgroup, potluck style, with my former ward and my new ward to celebrate my birthday. Everyone brought food and enjoyed themselves at "Macdonald Park" (that's what we're calling our awesomely fun, huge backyard).

Sandy and Kristin got me some great fall trends to spice up my wardrobe and Maycie made a birthday crown (which is why I look like I have dog ears in the picture).

As his birthday gift to me Rob granted me his blessing (which is key) and the funds to work on a project I was itching to do. The photo below was my inspiration. The cost of that one ottoman - $1000.

Thanks to Ikea for the square coffee table (above) and some fabric remnants I had on hand, I completed both ottomans for about $150 total.

Here's the finished product.

A quick trip to Chicago.

My sister has made the trip with her children to visit us numerous times. Since my niece, Whitney, was getting baptized we decided it was time for us to step up and return the favor.

Rob couldn't get away from work so the kids (3 of them being sick) and I piled into the car early Thursday morning and made the 13 hour trip to Chicago. Some people thought I was crazy to make the trip with 4 young kids by myself, but amazing (probably thanks to priesthood blessings and prayers) all went well. The children were happy and pleasant, including the baby and except for a wrong turn (thanks to Alex crying about having to go to the bathroom) which got me lost in downtown Louisville, Kentucky during rush hour the trip went nearly perfect. Alex however, did not make it to a bathroom. There was no place for me to turn off in traffic so I gave him the option of peeing in a bottle or peeing in his pants. Despite Rob coaching him on the phone to pee in the bottle, Alex choose the latter. Oh well.

The drive was gorgeous with all the fall colors and beautiful country farms. I will definitely do it again - if the Shurtliffs will have us.

The weather in Chicago couldn't have been milder. An uncharacteristic mid 70's prompted us to take a trip to the ice cream shop.

Liesl and I got a night away from the kids, thanks to her husband Scott, and had dinner at La Madia in downtown Chicago. That pizza fondue was sooo good.

Whitney's baptism was lovely, though Addilyn had brief moment of jealousy about Whitney's gorgeous dress that Liesl made.

Isaac and Topher. City kids!

You don't drive in the City unless you ablsolutely have to. That's the great thing about Hyde Park where Liesl lives. You walk everywhere. School, grocery store, pharmacy, library - everywhere. It took my kids a bit to get used to but they soon took it in stride.

For our last day there we took a walk/bike ride/skate to the beach - Lake Michigan beach, that is.

Addilyn really improved her roller skating, thanks to trying to keep up with Whitney.

There she goes!

Indian Summer and Flag Football

September 5th - 17th

Alex starts preschool at Playwise Preschool Academy.

Though we loved our previous preschool at Assurance United Methodist Church, this distance was much further due to our move. The new preschool takes me about 5 minutes round trip and I'm all about simplifying where I can.

The kids were enjoying a beautiful Indian Summer day.

Brothers.

My suspicious were confirmed this week when Isaac's unusual fussiness was rewarded by his first tooth. Bottom left. One down and only nineteen to go.

Isaac is such a joy. His good nature, sweet temperament is just what I needed this go around. Though, I've forgotten how much work babies are. They're back breakers. Literally.

Stow-away!

Tiger is usually kept outside. Occasionally he sneaks in and pretends to live the high life.

The moment I've been waiting for since my Bubba was born over 4 years ago.

From the very beginning we imagined this deep voiced, broad shouldered little boy to be a football player. Our joy was enhanced when he showed a natural athletic ability at an early age. Finally we get to put that talent in a setting.

This week Alex started flag football. He looked so cute in his little jersey (which he didn't take off all weekend) running around with the other 4 and 5 years olds looking like deer caught in the head lights while the coaches shouted out things like "offence", "defence", "fumble", and "mouth-guard". Actually I was quite impressed with the organization and instruction. The things those 3 coaches got 30 little boys to do amazed me.

Rob was a pro at being a sideline dad. He had to hold me back and coach me into staying on the sidelines myself. I kept wanting to jump in and correct Alex or help direct him any time he looked confused. Rob wisely informed me that Alex needed to rely on his coaches for instruction. If jumped in every time, then he would look to me to direct him. I tried to control myself. I really don't want my son learning football from me.

Practicing the correct football grip.

Living in Chaos and Back to School

Weeks of August 22nd - September 2nd.

Moving is like childbirth. When you are in the heat of it you swear you will never do it again, but as time passes you quickly forget the pain.

This was definitely the most painful move yet. The stuff kept appearing and just when we thought we were done we discovered more to be done.

The first night in the new house Alex succumbed to the exhaustion before making it to his bed. And, yes, I did a little editing.

From the moment we gave Alex his Nintendo DS for his birthday we have regretted it. It seemed to consume his every thought. If he wasn't playing on it, he was whining about not being able to play on it. The only thing that Alex likes as well as playing video games is Legos - Star Wars Legos, that is. During a moment of of desperation for a new legos set I suggested he purchase a new lego set with his DS. He thought that was a grand idea and we quickly headed to the store before he changed his mind. He choose a pretty elaborate Star Wars Lego spaceship (they are not cheap) and handed his DS over to the cashier for payment. It has been well worth it. He only asked about his DS once since. I now have my little boy back and I am all the wiser. Never again will any sort of video game disgrace our home.

Here Addilyn is relieving me of the duty and taking a turn building the ship with Alex.

In truth, I've found my new career of choice. I LOVE building lego sets. There is something very therapeutic in it. If my budget would allow I would gladly build a new set every day.

Here's the finished product. It had moving parts that opened to reveal the inside of the ship. Very detailed and elaborate and I enjoyed bonding with my little guy. I have to focus on the bonding experience because the next day the ship had a tragedy and was destroyed. Oh well. I guess that's the great things about legos. You can rebuild and re-bond.

Maycie's favorite thing to do is color and crafts.

Along with crafts, her new favorite joy is hauling around her baby brother. She is so sweet and helpful with him. Nap time seems to be too long for her and she tried to patiently wait for him to wake to resume her game of playing mom.

Now you know why she can't resist him

First Day of School

2nd grade with Mrs. Brown

Due to Kindergarten staggered start Maycie's first day of school was the following day.

Kindergarten with Mrs. Fite (and mom forgot to bring the camera to school).

Back to School Feast 2011

"Love one another and serve one another"

This year as I prayed for what we should focus on for our Back to School Feast I kept thinking that the focus should really be on our family but with lessons applicable to school as well. The scripture I chose was Mosiah 4:15. "But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another and to serve one another."

Rob and I discussed that walking in truth and soberness meant that we seek for things that are correct and right and we try to live our life with a clear head and humble heart. We talked about the places and people we can serve and love and how those actions need to start at home and swell to the people and places around us. The children seemed to understand and the spirit was there.

Schultuetes.

A German tradition of giving paper cones filled with goodies and school supplies to children on their first day of school.

The children each received a charm with the theme on it.

The menu:

Filet minon

Garlic mashed potatoes with parsley garnish

Sauteed asparagus with sea salt

Whole wheat baguette

Fresh pineapple, mango and strawberry with a sprig of mint

Blood orange sparkling juice

Chocolate buttermilk cake tier with ganache frosting ala mode.

Complete with unpacked boxes in the background.

Success!