Soccer girl

Molly had her first ever soccer game on Sat and to say she was excited would be an understatement. She was thrilled!!!! and had so much fun. She seemed to grasp the point of the game pretty quickly and did a great job of running and kicking. Surprisingly she didn't get board or distracted like I thought she might. But a few times she did get frustrated by the blob of children that surrounded the ball at all times. She would throw her hands up and say "Mom, I'm trying to kick the ball, but there are too many kids in the way." She did see some action when she had her turn as goalie and stopped the other team from scoring 3 times. She was very proud. I think she really enjoyed doing something that was just for her and had nothing to do with her brothers. It should be a fun season.

Look whose walking

Mitch has been "walking" (taking random steps) for a few weeks now. I have tried so many times to capture it, but usually when I get the camera out he just crawls over and tries to grab at it. He is starting to get more adventurous /confident with his steps and is getting better each day. It is very exciting for the other kids and they have been helping him "practice" a lot lately. Molly especially loves to take his Binky away from him and hold it way out of his reach while saying "come get it!" Let's just say he doesn't like that very much. I'm excited for Mitch to walk because it will make this summer and playing outside SOOO much easier for me. But I'm sad that my baby has grown up so fast. Seriously I can't believe that he is going to be one next week.

long time no see

Just short of two years, since I last saw my oldest brother, his gorgeous wife, and darling little girls. And it had been about 2 1/2 yrs. since I had last seen my youngest brother. So me and the three wee ones got on a plane for a much needed family reunion. I was kinda terrified to fly solo with all the kiddies, but it wasn't a complete nightmare and we made it there and back with no major drama. So I call that a success.

First we hit up Las Vegas and got to spend a few days at my brothers house and the kids had a blast playing together with their long lost cousins. The greatest thing was that everyone got along so amazingly and it was nothing but smiles the whole time. I think Molly and her cousin Bella could be twins they are so much alike. And Ethan & Joce were inseparable.

Then it was off to St. George, UT to meet up with the rest of my family at a Gleave Family reunion. My Gleave side of the family has a reunion every other year but this is the first one I have been to since Ethan was a baby. It was so much fun to see most of my cousins and get to see all of their little ones running around with mine. The highlight, of course, was the swimming. But my kids especially loved playing with Grandpa and their uncles. Despite a strong campaign from all my brothers, Grandpa still holds the spot as favorite.

On Sat my cousin Jenna got married in the St. George temple. She look absolutely gorgeous and everything was beautiful. Molly loved having a white dress on just like the Bride and told everyone that it was her temple dress.

Then it was back to Las Vegas for Easter, and all the fun that comes with that!

Then on to California to play at Grandma and Grandpa's house for a few days. The kids had so much fun just playing together, playing with grandpa, jumping on the trampoline, running through the sprinklers, chasing lizards, and most of all feeding the tortoises. I think Ethan wanted to crawl in the hole and live with the tortoises and never come home. He has been asking everyday since we got back home if he can move to CA so he can get a pet tortoise. "Because Mom, it NEVER snows in California!!!" (I think that statement alone says so much about the kind of winter we are just now emerging from.)

It was a lot of traveling but it was worth it. Now I just hope it's not another 2 years until we get to see everyone again.

April Fools

A few months ago we got a book about April fools from the library and the kids thought it was so funny. So of course I had to play a few jokes on them today. This morning I turned the kids cereal milk blue. One kid thought it was pretty funny and the other completely broke down into hysterics and cried for a good 15 min about it. Can you guess who that was?

Then at dinner I gave Ethan and Molly a cup of "Apple Juice," (it was actually Jello) and set a pitcher of it on the table. It was hilarious watching the kids try to drink their juice through a straw, Molly was so confused. After a few tries Ethan said "I think this juice turned into Jello!" Ha ha you got me. We all laughed about it, then Scott picked up the pitcher and tried to pour some "juice" into his own glass! Oh I couldn't have planned it better. It was so funny!!! I mean I figured it would be easy to prank the kiddos, but to have Scott fall for it too, was just too perfect! I so wish I could've captured it on video, but that probably would've given me away. I got the idea for the Jello drink here. They have tons of food pranks that would be fun to try. Maybe next year.

This little prankster is always trying to take his clothes off. If I don't get him all buttoned up this is what he does. He also thinks it's so funny to crawl away from me during EVERY diaper change.

and he plays this joke on me every day, April fools or not. It's called take everything out of the cupboard.

Ethan has been trying to "trick" me (unsuccessfully) all day, but I don't think he quite gets it yet. Maybe he just needs to spend some quality time with his uncle Brad?

Where are the Flowers?

It's Spring right? I want to see flowers in my yard, but all I see out my window is SNOW! I'm growing very impatient. So I made this frame.

a FAIRY wonderful day

Happy birthday to our Molly-girl!!!

She has been waiting for this day with anticipation and excitement since Christmas was over, and it didn't disappoint. She had such a fun birthday and was definitely one happy little fairy. We had a party with her little friends and they were all so cute. The girls all got fairy wings and skirts and did lots of dancing. They decorated wands, played fairy games (musical flowers, sleepy fairies, & fairy freeze tag), and of course had cupcakes and presents. Now we have dolls and pink everywhere, several new choking hazards, and she has already started to plan next years big day. We love you Molly.

I didn't know that I bought trick candles for her cake and it was pretty funny watching her try to blow them out. Actually I think it is kind-of a good idea because it gave me time to get lots of pictures.

I got the idea for the fairy party here. And the wings & skirts were so inexpensive, yet surprisingly really nice. All in all it was a fairy good day!

Bath-time intruder

Mitch loves baths! I mean what baby doesn't? So he was a little jealous tonight when his sister got one and he didn't. I put Molly in her special oatmeal bath (cause that's how we roll around here, 3 yr old spa treatments!) right after dinner and went back to the kitchen. I knew Mitch was in the bathroom but figured there was no way he could get into the tub. A few min later I hear a big splash, but no worries cause there is no way that Mitch could climb into the tub? Seconds later I hear Molly call out "Mitchy is in the bath with me!"

Yep! He climbed into the tub! Seriously, nothing is safe around here.

Just to show the height of our tub, and why I mistakenly thought he couldn't climb in.

Just in time

I've been working on this wreath for a few weeks now and I'm happy to say that I finished it just in time for the first snow fall of spring. Yep! It's going to snow tomorrow! Aaaahh!!! Enough already. Well at least it is spring inside my house, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be outside enjoying the SUNSHINE very, very soon!

Oh, and if anyone is wondering where the pastel felt came from, (cause if you've ever looked in the store for some you will know that there is no such thing!)

I got half of the colors from my amazingly organized mother who just happened to have a plethora of felt that she so willingly and lovingly sent my way!!! Thanks mom:) and the rest I dyed myself with food coloring. found here. I used acrylic felt from Joann's instead of wool felt and I didn't get as good of results. But I like the outcome, and it makes me happy to look at even if it's snowing outside.

Be Specific

The kids found some boxes today and were pretending they were "houses." Trying to make it even more fun I gave Molly some markers and said "Why don't you go and decorate your house." (pointing to her BOX) Then I went back to making them lunch. Molly called excitedly through the window for me to come look at how pretty she had made "her house" look. I came outside to find this!!

Lesson learned... Be very specific when telling your 3 year old that they can color their house. Thankfully the markers were washable and came right off, but not without many, many tears of a sad little girl after realizing her mistake. I'm sure it didn't help that I was laughing at her out of cuteness while she bawled.

more cheerios please

Mitch has been really fun lately. He is clapping and waving and getting closer to walking everyday! Yikes!! He is a really good eater, and by that I mean he loves to eat!! Usually he acts like he can't shove his cheerios in his mouth fast enough. And when the food runs out he bangs his tiny fists on his tray until there is more. He is such a happy fun kid who can always make me smile.

This is the only way I can ever get anything done.

And this is what it usually looks like when I'm making dinner.

He is a crawling disaster. Good thing he's so cute!

On a side note I had a wonderful 29th b-day this week. I got a shiny new saw and have way too many projects in mind I don't know where to start!?!?!!

I thought my mom would like this picture :)