Memorial Day weekend

In the past over Memorial day, we usually go to visit Corey's family. They get together and go camping, but it turns out that everybody had a lot going on this year and weren't going to be out camping that much. Instead they would be running here and there to various things, and since it has been kind of cold, we decided to stay home for the weekend.

We didn't do anything excited, but we were able to relax and enjoy each other. On Saturday we went to the movies. Emery is not the greatest to take to movies yet, so we do it in shifts. Corey took the older boys in the morning, I put Emery down for a nap just as they were getting home, and then Brendan, Hailey and I left to see Kung Fu Panda 2. We loved it, but I will admit that some of us got a little emotional through it.

On Monday night, even though this is becoming a regular weekend thing, we roasted hot dogs, ate watermelon, and smores while enjoying the great weather. 

My Favorites on Friday

Leading the Pledge of Allegiance

Brendan was picked from his class to do this. He was so excited, he had been telling me for a week to make sure I didn't forget to come and watch. He walked up there and took over like he had done it a million times. He didn't miss a beat. 

Weekend report and some answers

This past weekend was pretty quiet. I love those weekends and it seems like we haven't had one in awhile. Brendan, Hailey, Emery, and I did attend an amazing carnival themed birthday party. I really wished I would have taken my camera. The decorations were amazing and it was lots of fun. Brendan and Hailey were most excited about the face painting.

Hailey requested a unicorn

Brendan asked for an armadillo. (really, every kid asks for that, right?) The face painter did say that was her first time painting one, I have a hard time believing that.

 When we got home, Corey and the boys had the fire pit ready for smores. Who can resist those? And we really hadn't had enough treats at the birthday party.

 There is usually a little game of Horse

 and bike riding

 
Yesterday I was also released as Primary President for our ward. I was in for 2 1/2+ years (and 1 year as secretary before that). I knew I was getting ready to be released, but it was certainly hard to leave it behind. Primary has become my Sunday home and I felt like all those kids were mine. I will admit I have been a bit of a mess that last two weeks, I could hardly think about Primary and not get teary eyed, but and I guess I couldn't stay forever. I am really going to miss it and hope I can resist the urge to back into the primary room.

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I had a couple of people ask how to make the pinwheel banner from the last post. The instructions came from this fun blog.

  They are really easy and fun to make.

And about the canvas wall grouping- I would have loved to have all the pictures printed on canvas, but that was a little pricey. So I just picked up canvases at Michaels and Hobby Lobby and modge podged the pictures on to them. It was pretty simple and I really liked the way they turned out. That way I can also swap pictures fairly inexpensively too.

My Favorites on Friday

My new favorite decoration

Just a little thing for the toy room because once in awhile I feel the need to make something

I have SO much scrapbook paper laying around that I never use anymore- this is a perfect way to use some of it and still enjoy it.

I have also been working on this for quite awhile and finally got it done and hung up. Well, I hung it around Easter time (obviously since the garland was on the railing), but was slow to put up pictures. I couldn't decide for a long time if I really liked it, but it has grown on me.

Perfect for the stairs. Everything else that has been hung there has been knocked down and broken. I think these canvases will be child proof.

Make-up Monday

Since there were such issues with blogger last week, I was unable to do my Favorites on Friday so I had to do a make-up Monday. 

During spring break I took the kids to the Leid Children's Discovery Museum. It was actually the only outing we managed with Emery's surgery and then her getting sick with infection. My older kids had been there before, but it was a first for Hailey and Emery. They loved it. Carter's favorite thing is the hurricane wind tube. He couldn't wait to get in and take everybody in with him. Emery begged to get in. I thought she would beg to get out, but she loved it. Hailey obviously loved it too.   And even though the picture quality is bad ( that corner had terrible light) it still cracks me up. 

Now back to Mother's day

Mother's day was great this year, Corey and the kids always make sure it is. 

The celebrations started early when Corey brought this home on Friday.

On Saturday afternoon, I had a baptism, but while I was away Corey put the kids to work making cards and pictures for me while he did this

I think this might have been the best present ever. I am not sure how he is going to ever top it. He vacuumed all the baseboards, door frames, everything. Chocolate cake and cleaning, he really could have stopped there. 

Sunday, I of course, slept in and then was served waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. And then came all the fun things the kids had made for me. I love the things they make. They had made cards and drawn pictures.  Brendan was so excited for the mug he had made and wrapped up at school. I made foam flowers for all the primary kids to take to their mothers, Hailey used all the leftovers to make me flowers that she presented me with every ten minutes- all day. I had quite a bouquet by the end of the day. But I really do love it .

Another one of the best gifts I received was this

the kids playing together without fighting.

( I have to add this- they were playing restaurant. Carter had given each of the kids some of his change to pay for their orders. Hailey asked him if anything was free. He said no, just refills. So she ordered a refill hamburger. Too funny, that made my morning)

We ended the day with dinner, that I didn't have to cook ( I never do on Sundays anymore, Corey has taken over, love that also) and then he made homemade ice cream. And it was good.

Good enough to even ditch the binkys for.

I am so grateful for this little family of mine. They really spoiled me this year.

I hear it's your birthday

to my mom today,

Here are some things we think she should do to celebrate today...

Start the day with a cold one of these...

(just make sure it's yours not someones else's)

... make sure someone sings "Happy Birthday" to you...

 ...enjoy some fine dining...

 ...topped off with cake, of course...

 ...and end the day with a nice bubble bath.

 We hope you have a great day.

My Favorites on Friday

My favorite job

How grateful I am to be a mother

Nothing is harder, but nothing is more rewarding

How grateful I am to have great mothers and grandmothers in my life too.

Happy Mother's day

to all mothers

Two weeks later

Two weeks after surgery and Emery is finally back to her normal self

 This was a much harder recovery for her. Not only did she get sick with an infection, but her nose was just so sore and bled forever, well it still bleeds a little even now. So far things look good though. There is still some swelling and Corey and I notice that her nose is slightly different than before, we were expecting that, but only time will tell. For now I am just happy to have her smiling again.

Last week...

...we finished up another season of this

(I think Brendan was thrilled about that; he was always so into the game)

My parents came to visit for the weekend and brought all their toys

Emery loved using the Ipod touch and Brendan mastered the Kindle. I think things are a little backwards here though, I thought it was supposed to be the kids with all the fancy gadgets, but my parents put me to shame here.

 We attended the annual school carnival and made Grandpa and Grandma come with us

 Brendan wanted to do Karaoke; Hailey wanted to sing with him. That was fine, but he insisted on singing a Beatles song that, of course, he had never even heard, but he just liked the name of. Well, he read off the screen fairly well, but Hailey doesn't read so it was an interesting number to say the least. 

This was Emery's favorite thing of the whole night

On Saturday we attended a 51's game with Corey's office. We again made Grandpa and Grandma come with us. We started the night with a pregame carnival. We hadn't had enough carnival time the night before.

 All the kids cared about was getting to ride the slide and winning a stuffed animal. We stayed just long enough to accomplish that before we headed to eat and watch the players warm up. We had a good view of the game.

 Emery spent the evening eating food that was and wasn't hers and claiming everyone else's drinks as her own.

Last time we went to a game, my kids loved having the mascot come and meet them, however they picked just the wrong time to run off to the concessions and missed him. Emery was the only one still around and she only liked the "doggie" from a distance. Thank goodness Stephanie was willing to pose with him so I could document that he came. Sorry kids.

It was another fun and busy weekend. Lots going on and my parents were good sports about all of it. We love having them visit and are always sad to see them go.