My Simple Joys

"Mom, I think that's a teenage widow", Brookie said. She was right it sure was a black widow. I suppose there are teenage widows. They aren't all adults!

Kaden continues to love rocket ships, aka airplanes. Tanner made him a rocket ship out of a large box and decorated it with a name and details. When I asked why he made him one, he said, "Mom, he loves rocket ships and he's never been on a real one." Tanner is so thoughtful! The whole family reaps his thoughtful rewards!

Apparently Brookie thought that the sac a calf is born in, are eggs. While driving one of our normal routes through the dairy's she said, "Are the cows having their eggs?" I tried my best not to laugh and so I could clarify a bit.

Kaden was on toilet duty. I heard him saying a prayer for his baby. Yes while he was on the pot!
Once again some clarification....that it's more respectful to Heavenly Father not to pray in the bathroom.

Baby Colby isn't looking so baby lately. Now that he's older, he's getting more particular about who holds him and when. Brothers and Sister are not happy about this one bit. They try bribing Colby with anything and everything to get his attention. It's so rewarding to see how loving my angels are to one another.

Brooklyn's hearing is just fine but, often she doesn't understand what has been said. I was talking to Sean on the phone. After I hung up she said, "Do you need to use the crud card?" I suppose the credit card can purchase crud.

Tanner had been studying the United States map. At night in bed he said, "I want to see the whole world in an airplane". I hope someday he gets to.

Kadster is starting to understand what a best friend is. Randomly he will say that Daddy or Colby is his bestest friend ever. And most recently we were driving he said, "Jesus is my bestest friend Mommy! Kaden knows me well. He always finishes by saying, "Did I melt your heart Mommy?"

Brookie got in trouble for being mean to Tanner. (keep in mind this only happens maybe twice a year.) Poor Brookie has enough conscience for our whole family. So she ran in her room crying, threw herself on the bed. I came to talk to her, she cried, "I don't think I'll ever love my heart again." I talked to her about faith and she said, "I don't have faith." So by the time Brookie calmed down, Tanner felt so bad for her self guilt that he gave her one of his stuffed animals.

Tanner has been eating us out of our house! One of the reasons he's been eating more is because he runs on average 5 miles a week just at school. He's a part of the 100 mile club. Year to date he's ran 50 miles just at school. We are SUPER proud of his accomplishment. We can't wait for him to run the next 50!

I tell the kids I go to the gym so my tummy will get smaller. Often when I return Brooklyn will check my tummy to see if it's gotten smaller. I only wish my tummy was gone! Kaden greeted me by saying, "I missed you at the gym. I'm happy you're home Mom." I love when I'm missed!

Colbster is Mr. Curious. He's been getting into all the cupboards and he speed crawls when he sees us coming to interrupt. His favorite activity of each day is when we chase him up the stairs.

I was considering having Brooklyn try a Hip-Hop dance class. I was trying to explain what kind of dancing it was. She looked very concerned. Then she said, "I might crack my head from to much hopping."

Kaden still needs to nap about twice a week. It's hard to get him to consistently nap with my crazy carpool schedule. So when I was frustrated I told him, "You need to nap!" and he said, "Why, because you don't want to be Mommy". Of course I felt bad but I need a break occasionally from my cranky kiddos. So I tried to explain that if he wants me to be nice Mommy, he needs to nap sometimes.

Shug Jr.

This Shug Jr. turned 11 months!

Tanner is Shug Sr. When he was a baby he was even more chunky that Colb's. Shug came from calling him "Sugar".

The Shug's have a special bond. Tanner continues to be amazingly devoted to his baby bro. Brookie and Kade had the inherited cheeks but weren't quite as chunky everywhere else.

Colb's also had his first hair cut. If you can even call it that. Here's his before picture.
He had a few extra long hairs on top and behind his ears.

Here's the new Shug Jr. I know you can't tell but, Dad and I needed to trim those 3 inch long hairs.


Our sweet Shug has such a peaceful, loving spirit! He's very social and soaks up the overwhelming amounts of love he's showered with every waking moment.
We love you Colby!
xoxoxoxoxo

Here's the evidence.

My Favorites....

My top priority is teaching my sweeties to follow God's plan, choose the right, and to love one another as Jesus would. My heart melts as I see them adore, care and serve each other and Dad.

I was reflecting how having my kids read this blog post now and in the future will teach them more about some of my aka Mom's favorite things. Oh aside from my exceptionally adorable favorite Hubby, favorite Tanner, favorite Brooklyn, favorite Kaden and favorite Colby.

My favorite color has always been Blue.

Red would be the runner up.

My favorite food has been Mexican as far back as I can remember. My Mom used to get us Del Taco burritos after a day at the beach. Then the Miguel's addiction started sometime in the pre-teen years. My top three Mexican food restaurants are Chipotle, Cafe Rio and of course Miguels's. Dad has said that you kids might think you are Mexican because we eat it at home and out to eat at least twice a week.

Can't forget my favorite desserts...I LOVE dessert! I often go out to eat with Dad and purposely save room for dessert and leave my food for leftovers. Claim Jumper desserts would be my ultimate favorite dessert place, second would be BJ's Pizza pazookies.

Cookies are yummy, I'll eat nearly any kind. Oatmeal chocolate chip with walnuts, Oatmeal- chocolate chip-coconut-and toffee, Peanut Butter (Grandma Hundley's cookies with the criss cross tops!) Brownies with nuts are great. Ice cream- Rocky Road like my hubby, Pecan Pralines, CC cookie dough and Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bars from the ice cream man. I've liked those for over 30 yrs.

My favorite restaurant dessert is chocolate chip calzone from Claim Jumper.

My favorite song is by far my wedding song, "You say it best when you say nothing at all", by Allison Krauss. Dad and I danced to it on our first date.

Favorite Non-Church Music- love-love-love Sarah McClachlan and Norah Jones voice. Any mushy love song that has a happy ending. Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley are my favorite country singers.

The rest of these songs have significant meaning to me:

Enrique Iglesies- Hero
Mana- Vivir Sin Aire
Carrie Underwood- I’ll stand by you
Brad Paisley- Then
Great Day to be Alive Travis Tritt
Norah Jones- Come away with me
Kenny Chesney- Don’t blink
Sara  Evans- I Could Not Ask for More
Tim McGraw- It’s Your Love
Phil Vasser- Just Another Day in Paradise
Diamond Rio- One More Day
Brad Paisley- We danced
 

My Favorite Church songs are:

A Child's Prayer (The song I sing to Tanner since he was a baby)

I Feel My Saviors Love (The song I sing to Brooklyn since she was a baby)

I Love to see the Temple and I am a Child of God (The songs I sing to Kaden since he was a baby)

I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (The song I sing to Colby )

When I Am Baptized "Rainbow Song".

Have I done any Good in the World Today (One of my Dad's favorite songs)
I know that My Redeemer Lives
Teach me to Walk in the Light
Families Can be Together Forever

I have always liked to dance so, I love music with lots of bass.

I thoroughly love giving and receiving kisses. I cherish every hug, snuggle, squeeze, wink and smile and
 I love hearing my angels sweet voices say, "I Love You Mama! "

Of course I have many many more favorites left to share, until next time.

Extra Treats

I'm so glad when Daddy comes home.

Daddy continues to be about as exciting as a trip to Disneyland!

Tanner displays Christ-like attributes with his sweet Colby. He's always guiding him and watching over him. Every time I see Tanner with Colb's, he's loving, selfless and kind, more than I've ever seen a brother act before! Needless to say, It melts my heart!

Who wouldn't want to squeeze these?

Trouble-Trouble

Any question who rules the roost around here?

My McVinci's

Tan is one of my talented DeVinci's in the house. Believe it or not I don't take pictures of every piece of art!

More beautiful master pieces

From my princess of course.

Kaden designed this all by himself. He's following the artistic suit!

Tanner made some naughty choices over and over one day. I had about had it! Then I found this please forgive me sign. My heart did soften...

If the kids had it their way, they'd make what they call a "kitty cat house" with the couch cushions every day. While they were off school I let them transform our living room for a few hours. They are so creative.

Of course they had to include Colb's, so they made this dungeon just for him.

What a lucky duck!

It's Awesome!!!

Tan and I finally made it on a mountain date. The last time we hiked our special mountain was when I first found out I was prego with Colby and I wasn't sick yet. Knowing how sick I would be in just a few days, I hired a babysitter.

This time we played a little uno.

Tan thought it was super cool to be above the clouds.

And here's my Tan, happy as can be, gleaming ear to ear!

After our adventure, Tan picked out treats for everyone!

I also had the honors of treating My Lyncess on a date, on the same day.

One of her date requests was that I put some make-up on her. First I put some,"Eye-scara" on her and a little eye shadow, blush and lip gloss. She was ready to go!

We played at the park...

We ate at Chipotle, and bought a cute ballerina necklace that was on sale!

When we got home, she thought we should end our date with a home made ice cream sundae cone.

How could I turn down this face! I can just imagine her 10 yrs older....watch out!

It was a full memorable day with my Tan and Lyn.

Sean and I have seen the positive impact that our routine dates have had on our sweet children. It's awesome!

Back in the Day

Back in the day, I wore florescent everything, and I used to wear these exact band pins too.

The kids had 80's dress up day at school. If you haven't noticed, all the 80's clothes are coming back! I found these shirts at Target. Brookie will get lots of use out of hers, Tanner on the other hand can wear it to bed. We aren't going to encourage him to wear it. It was only 5 bucks. Notice Tanner's rolled sleeve?

Tan's pants weren't quite narrow enough but, it didn't keep me from rolling his pants too!

Boy, I was reminiscing while I put Brookie's hair in the side ponytail.

Tan was such a trooper to let me style his hair. This was an attempt at a George Michael hair do.