I haven't done random lately

I have never really decorated for Valentines Day, but last week I thought it might be fun to make a couple of things. So I made these canvases for the stairwell and Hailey and I made the tissue paper heart banner. (thanks for that idea, Erin) I can now say I have decorated for Valentines.

 Hailey has been telling me some really funny stuff lately. But this morning while we were eating breakfast, she told me that she had bunions on her feet. But she saw on TV that there was medicine for it so I didn't need to worry. 

Yesterday while we were getting ready for church, the older boys were teasing Brendan about having a girlfriend. They do this quite often because will usually explain how much he dislikes girls. But he caught us all off guard when he responded that he had a girlfriend, but they weren't going out anymore. Maybe he has changed his tune and becoming a ladies man.

There are a couple of things Emery is doing right now that I just love.

She puts her hands up like this whenever you ask her where something is. 

She always blows kisses to the kids as we leave their rooms at night after saying goodnight.

She loves to shake her head "no" all day. Especially when I get her out of her crib and ask her to leave her binky's in the bed. Or if I am trying to get her in the bed in the first place.



My Favorites On Friday

My kids have been talking and asking a lot about when they were babies. One night when they were talking about Emery's cute little baby belly, Brendan asked what he looked like when he was a baby. I showed him a few pictures, but this one just cracks me up. He had Emery beat with his baby belly. It makes me just want to grab him and eat him. He was deliciously squishy as a baby.  



I wish this were a joke

So... remember this. Well apparently the third time wasn't the charm. A few weeks ago I thought Emery's scar was looking a little off, but thought maybe it was just the healing process. I soon realized that was not the case. Over the last week it was obvious that there was another collection of fluid in her nose. And while it is small now it will most likely continue to grow.

I am just sick about it. I took her to the surgeon on Monday. He has never had a case like hers. (That didn't reassure me.)  He is ordering another MRI to make sure, again, that there is not a inter cranial connection somewhere that hasn't shown up before. So now we wait again and know that she is going to have another surgery to remove another cyst. Poor girl. (And poor us too). It's just no fun for anyone.  

In the past year

I have seen this idea out there a couple of times in blog land and loved it. A record of things that have happened over the last year that capture your family at that time.

One of the highlights was our vacation to Knott's Berry Farm. Our first time as a family to an amusement park and the kids still talk about it.

We started Friday night, pizza night. All my kids look forward to it (except Carter, who is not a huge fan of pizza, I am still trying to understand that).

We have discovered the beauty of Netflix and have all enjoyed it immensely.

Brendan has become a great reader, but an even pickier eater. ( I think he looks forward to pizza night the most because it's the only night he eats dinner)

Carter is obsessed with Beyblades.

Kayden survived his first semester of middle school. He has learned many things along the way, but it's been good for him.

I am still the Primary President- I still even like it.

Corey still teaches Sunday school and works for the same accounting firm.

Hailey still likes brown horses and talks a mile a minute. Corey thinks that if she stopped for just 2 minutes she would probably gain a couple pounds; she really never stops.

Emery changed from my little baby to a full blown running around, mess making, not so little baby. We still love every minute of it.

Emery also loves, loves her Daddy. It is the only word she says right now.

Breakfast has become such a pain at our house this year. Only 2 of my kids like cereal. I hate it. I am a lover of cold cereal and just can't imagine how this happened.

I just finished reading the Mortal Instruments series, I really liked it. Also finished Hunger Games this year too. But have been stuck on the 4th Fablehaven book since last year.

My older boys read the Percy Jackson series and have been working on the Chronicles of Narnia. I have been reading the Tale of Desperaux to Brendan.

I spray painted for the first time this year, took a photography class, and had a yard sale. The latter, I will never do again. I am not good a bartering.

Played Uno for the first time with the kids - not sure how we missed that for so long.

Have made many trips to Circle K for icees and to Target to looks at toys. That's like heaven for the kids.

Have watched "Toy Story 3" numerous times. It still makes me a little sad every time. Maybe because I see my own kids getting bigger and moving on.

Watched my oldest participate in his last Primary Program and pass the Sacrament. (an good example of my kids getting bigger and moving on)

I am sure there are so many more things, but it will be fun to do this in another years time to see what things change and be able to see what we did the year before.

My Favorites on Friday

Just a cute one of the my dad and the kids. My parents visited before ( and after) Christmas and Hailey had my dad read "the Grinch" just a few times while they were here.



A life changing event

Well, for Brendan anyway. As he put it, "I finally, FINALLY, lost a tooth.

We were eating dinner on Saturday and all of the sudden he was just holding his tooth. We had no idea that it was even loose, he didn't even know.

My Favorites on Friday

"Are you going to eat that?"

Anything left on the table is fair game to Emery. Even if the person wasn't done eating and Emery already had her fill. Sorry, Hailey.

This calls for a celebration

Kayden had a good birthday last week. My kids could hardly wait for Corey to get home though so he could open his presents. He got some good stuff. A new DS game, new book, some more Magnetix, and most important, more nerf darts. (you can never, ever have too many of those)!!

  He had a lot of help opening his presents. Brendan was right next to him the whole time and Emery kept making off with his stuff.

He requested chicken rolls for dinner and then we ended the night with doughnuts.

 And because he turned to big 12, the weekend was special for him too. He was ordained as a Deacon on Sunday, so lots of family came to celebrate that with him. Grandpas, Grandmas, an Uncle, and cousins all came.

My parents and brother along with his two cute little kiddos stayed the weekend and my kids were in heaven. Anytime grandparents come it's exciting, but my parents came over the holidays too, they couldn't believe they were seeing them twice in three weeks. And we don't get to see my brother and his kids too often so it was even better.

Emery learned how to work Grandma's new Kindle and may have even purchased a book or two with her fast little fingers.

Another highlight of the weekend...

 My brother brought "Just Dance 2" for the wii. My kids were busting some serious moves and having a great time.

 Once again, another weekend that went by too quickly. We had a great time and always are sad when everyone has to leave. 

********

P.S.

Kayden might be wishing he had not celebrated the big 12 because he has already been asked to speak in Sacrament meeting next Sunday- I was just glad that phone call was not for me tonight!!!

My Favorites on Friday

Just because I love getting something done.

Remember this?

I am happy to say that this was finally put together, thanks to Corey and Carter, and has now found a nice spot in the toy room.

All the kid's books in one spot so everyone can see all their options and it freed up some much needed space in their bedrooms.



I am much too young to feel this old

Over the Holidays, Emery hit the 18 month mark and started nursery. (She is still ignoring my pleas to stay little.) But she is just so much fun and is getting such personality. She makes us laugh everyday. She just got a couple of new teeth making her total a whopping 6. She still doesn't talk though. She uses the same sound for everything and just expects us to know what she is talking about. She runs everywhere and busy, busy. She climbs and gets into everything. She keeps definetly keeps us on our toes.

 Emery is not the only one ignoring me. Tommorow Kayden will celebrate the big 12!!! I know that can't be right. How is he that old already? I am not sure I am ready for this.