Slice of Life

I always love finding random pictures and videos on my phone from the kids.  

It's just another manic Monday, guys!  This one started EXTRA early this morning, when Alex came in around 1 AM burning up with a fever, and then the fun continued an hour or two later when Isaac burst through our bedroom doors in a state of half-awake/semi-conscious fussiness which required me to go and lay down with him for an hour or so until he finally settled down and went back to sleep.

Needless to say, it's been a looooong day.  But at least it ended on a sweet note with Isaac being super cute while having a blast playing in his room after his requested bubble bath at the end of the day.  What will REALLY be sweet, however, is if he stays asleep all night long.  Hahaha.  Fingers crossed that everyone is feeling better in the morning.  {Especially since Ethan came home from school today complaining that his head hurt and then ended up going to bed extra early.}

 This kid is a "numbers" boy through and through.  He loves counting things over and over again.  Also -- sidenote -- these Goobi, Jr magnetic toys that he got for Christmas are REALLY fun.  Hahaha.  I think I play with them more than he does.  ;)

Bless his precious little heart.  He needs a hair cut so badly.  And it would be great if he'd let me dress him in HIS clothes and not Alex's.  Hahahahaha.

McCocoa Night

It's funny how some of the simplest things can make kids so happy.  All week long, Alex has been talking about wanting to go to "McCocoa Night" at the school.  It took a bit of convincing that  he would have to get his chores done this evening if he wanted to go, but in the end, he scrambled to get the family room cleaned up in time, and Jane joined in the action as well -- getting her chores done so that she could go as well.  After eating a quick dinner and reading Book of Mormon, Scott was off with the Tweedles and Sophie who decided to tagalong.  From the looks of the pictures sent my way, it looked like they had the best night ever.  Three cheers for simple pleasures!

 {Wearing pajamas was half the fun!}

 Crafts were done...

 Stories were listened to...

 Mad Libs were created...

 Puzzles were put together...

 Bean bags were tossed...

 And treats were devoured.

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, Wednesday

Guys.  I have nothing to blog about.  Nothing of major interest to anyone else, at least.  I haven't left the house at all today, I've essentially stayed in my pajamas from morning until night, and as the day draws to a close, I find myself asking does this represent an incredibly successful day?  Or a rather UNsuccessful one instead?  Hahaha.  The jury is still out on that one.  

The jury is ALSO still out on which child was the most insane this evening.  The only one completely out of the running was our ever-surprising surprise, Grace.  Everyone else was in varying states of emotional (and at times SUPER tearful) meltdowns all evening long.  I know that there's been a ton of sickness going around, so I'm REALLY hoping that these emotions are just the result of over-tiredness and not impending illness.  I'm just going to have to keep my fingers crossed...

This is Isaac saying "PLEASE let everyone be normal tomorrow!"

Hats Off

Today was a momentous day for Jane!  At the end of every quarter at school, the teachers nominate a few students in each class for a "Hats Off" award.  And for the first time EVER, Jane received one this afternoon!  Her award is for "Enthusiasm" and her exact quote upon walking through the door was "I don't even know WHERE this came from!!!"  Hahaha.  Followed quickly with, "I mean, I was HOPING for one, but I wasn't EXPECTING one!"  {All exclaimed with CLASSIC Jane, entertaining facial expressions.}  She said she was waiting with her fingers crossed and when they called her name she could hardly believe it.

I love what her teacher had to say:  "Jane demonstrates enthusiasm on a daily basis.  She comes to school with a huge smile on her face.  When she is faced with her least favorite tasks, she always maintains her smile and her positive attitude.  I know that when Jane is working with a partner, her enthusiasm spreads, and she can help make any activity fun.  Her positive attitude is refreshing and helps make our classroom a fun place to learn.  Keep up the great work!!"  Way to go Jane!!!

And speaking of another daughter of mine who makes any activity more fun, I'd like to give a HATS OFF of my own to GRACE, for participating in her very first Young Women's basketball game at the church on Saturday.  Hahahahaha.  She most certainly did NOT want to be there, but some friendly peer pressure from a fellow beehive helped to get her out there and on the court.  "Don't expect me to touch the ball," she groused on the drive to the church, but once she was there and forced to play, she did indeed touch the ball as it was passed to her on a few different occasions.  AND -- by the end -- she was actually running around out there enjoying herself and trying to cause some serious annoyance to the other team.  (Annoying people is her favorite.  Hahaha.)  Even though they lost, I'm hoping she had enough fun to still want to play another day.  ;)

Oh Grace.

Flashback Friday -- A Photoshoot with Jane

For tonight's post, we're taking it WAY back.  To the land before time, when it was still a pleasant and delightful temperature outside.  Hahaha.  Seriously, though.  I snagged Jane on the VERY last warm-enough day before the weather turned freezing before Thanksgiving and had her pose for her Baptism Dress Pictures.  You know -- only a few months late.  😳  As always, Jane was a crack-up from start to finish of this lovely little photoshoot.  Get ready for an onslaught of images interspersed with 8 Interesting Facts about Jane...

1.) She likes Squishies.

2.). She's got those supermodel poses down.  Hahaha.

 (I love this picture of her so much, and she hates it.  Boo!)

3.) She LOVES her new scriptures that she got for her baptism gift.  (Again -- SEVERAL months late.)

4.)  When she wakes up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep, she likes to turn on the lamp and read now instead of waking me up.  So, progress?  Hahaha.

5.)  She says she's really fast at reading.

 (I love this one, too.)

6.)  She also says she's going to be a comedienne when she grows up.  So, that's interesting.

7.)  It's almost her half-birthday. (That would be February 28th -- MY birthday).

8.)  We're still best friends.  😉

 Hahahaha.

Extra Bonus -- 9.)  She's not a nail-biter.

 

Love my little Janie boo!  😍