Spring Break

We had such a fun spring break this last week we didn't want it to end! The kids were pretty sad to go back to school today, but we at least have summer break to look forward to!

On Tuesday we were able to go to the YMCA. We went with some of Jake's family and everyone had a good time. Elaina and Travis both passed the swimming test that allowed them to go on the diving boards. Elaina went on the high dive, but Travis made it half way up the ladder and changed his mind. Maybe next time! Makenna and John both were a little hesitant at first but in the end had fun. Suzanna must of went down the little slide about a hundred times with a big smile every time! It made me want to get a membership!

On Thursday and Friday we were to lucky to play with some of our cousins. They came to our house and we went to their house. The kids all played together really good and had lots of fun!

Makenna and her cousin were playing so well upstairs in the girls room. Makenna said that he was her husband. Very cute!

Some times I wonder what we would do without our rock pile! The kids can play out there for ever. They love to organize the rocks - they were making chairs, a kitchen area, a garden spot, and a table. They had a great time!

On Saturday we went out to my Grandma and Grandpa's house to clean up the yard. I love it when the kids don't consider work, work. They just have fun and don't complain - they all helped out in their own way and were so good.

Elaina helped rake and shovel the bark and then went out to the barn and feed and brushed the horses.

Travis helped with the bark and cleaning up and of course playing in the fire!

Suzanna was our official water girl! She also posed in pictures for me, she was so helpful!

Makenna helped run after John and then played in the van with Suzanna and her cousin while they watched a movie!

When John wasn't running he was jogging! How is it that kids never run out of energy?!? He was in heaven with the horses and the dog. After a while we had to have him help Jake because he was wearing me out!!!

John was running all around growling like an animal and making the girls giggle. He is always pretending!

Some of the other highlights of our week were: John's birthday parties, we got to go shopping with Grandma and Grandpa in the mall at the Disney store (John led the way and wore us all out!!!), Jake and I went to the temple, we made our garden boxes and filled them (now to the planting!), and just enjoyed Jake home a little more than usual! What a fun week, wish it wasn't over!

John is 2 years old!!!

Yesterday was John's 2nd birthday! Wow, have the last 2 years gone by so fast! It really does feel like he was just born and yet it feels like he has been apart of our family forever. He truly is a joy and each day brings a smile to every one's face!

On Sunday we had some of Jake's family over to celebrate with cake and ice cream (not everyone was able to come but we still had 21 people come!!!) Everyone had fun playing and talking and John seemed to like the attention. We are so lucky to have family close and lots of them to play with.

Here are some of the things that John likes right now:

1. He loves his little plastic tiger. He plays, sleeps, eats, and takes a bath with it. He loves to growl like a tiger and really likes checking out the tigers teeth.

2. He loves to pretend to be an animal. The other day I was throwing a little ball up the stairs, letting it roll down, John would watch it come down and then, without hands, pick it up with his teeth and then crawl over to me just like a dog. He loves to stick out his tongue and lick the kids, which gets everyone giggling.

3. John loves to be silly and chase the kids around the house.

4. John likes to make faces (faces that look like he is confused, angry, sad, happy, surprised and big cheesy faces)

5. John likes to run wild whenever he can. At the grocery store, the park, the kids elementary school. When his feet touch the ground he starts running!!!

6. John really is good at pretending and entertaining himself. Lately he likes to get 2 barbie cars and put his animals in each one and then make them crash into each other.

7. John really doesn't like to take a nap, so for the last couple of months I have been rocking him to sleep. He loves to look at his blanket that Grammy make him (he like to talk about what each thing on the blanket says, like car, horse, duck, train, etc...) and then wrap up in it and let me sing to him and rock him. It really is one of my favorite things each day.

8. John loves when his daddy comes home or just talking about him. He gets so excited to see him and play with him.

Travis is loving having a little brother around to play with. They have a lot of fun together!

John has the funniest ideas and does the silliest things. I just love the way he eats teddy grahams, first the arms, then the legs, then the ears and then sets the body aside! I wish I could understand what he says half the time because he is always talking!

Yesterday John thought it was really cool that the Trix would stick to his hand. But then he figured out that if you push a little harder to pick them up they would crunch and make a big mess! Boys are soooo predictable!!!

Some of the words John is saying at 2: Dad!!! (always with much excitement), "it's stuck", "oh no!", what, "here I come", kids, Travis, Suzanna, night night, "ready set go", please, and of course lots of animal sounds!

Silly kids!

John has been lying on the stairs lately and pretending to sleep. He makes snoring sounds and everything! Well, this morning while we were getting the kids ready for school he was on the bottom step and on his tummy snoring. Elaina thought we should have each kid in order lay on a step for a picture, so here it is. I love how each one is laying different in their own unique way that shows a little of their personality. Very cute!

Yesterday John, once again, was soooo enjoying his applesauce that he had to lick his bowl clean. He can always get the kids laughing, which he just loves!

Makenna says the funniest things! I was trying to clean her up after lunch and she kept twirling around. She told me "I'm BUSY, Mom. I'm BUSY!" (instead of DIZZY!) That is definitely true, the busy part anyway!

Spring is here!!! Right!?!

This month is going by very fast! Relief Society has been keeping me busy but I really love it! We just had our VT conference on Sunday and the RS birthday celebration is this week. The weather has been pretty windy lately but at least nice enough to go out and play. We are definitely ready for Spring break and some warm weather!

A couple of Saturdays ago Jake was working late and we wanted something fun to do so we went to Cabela's. I'm pretty sure John could have stayed there all day! He was so amazed at every animal and probably ran a couple of miles while he was there!

They started building a house in the lot right behind us 2 weeks ago. John loves the tractors and watching the guys out there everyday (even weekends!). It will be nice to have a little less dirt to blow around but it has been nice to have open space and no one too close by. We did find out that the big field to the east of us will not be developed for a couple more years! Yay! The kids love the big rock pile that is right next to our proberty line and the dirt to dig in! Oh, to be a kid again!

On Saturday we had a nice day outside at the park and playing around the house. Elaina and Travis (and even Jake and I!!!) enjoyed ride on the motorcycle. We put up some cones for an obstacle cource that make it interesting! I'd have to say that Jake won for the craziest driver and biggest show off! The girls love to pretend and play together! Travis and Jake played some basketball, too. Travis is getting really good and he loves to play with his dad!

John and Makenna are such fun in the mornings when the other kids are at school. John seems to be always making a mess! The other day I found him cleaning up the floor after breakfast. What a helper!

The kids love to attack their dad! Yesterday they talked him into walking up the stairs with a little help from them. He only had 4 of them on him because Makenna was to afriad she was going to fall off.

Travis and John were so cute playing together yesterday. They were both pretending to be different animals trying to get eachother.

I have been running up and down the stairs at nights lately for some exercise (wow, does it get my heart pumping!). This morning I thought I would work my legs and so John and Makenna helped while we played airplane and went up and down and up and down while we practiced counting (all at the same time!!! we are sooooo good at multi-tasking!).

For family night last week we had a lesson on being obedient. I felt like we needed a little reminder on obeying the first time asked. We talked about how Heavenly Father wants us to obey and he wants us to obey our parents. We did "I have BEAN obedient", where we painted rocks (they are really big BEANS! and like pray rocks can remind the kids to obey and keep the commandments), and then we started a bean jar for being obedient (a bean for being good and when the jar is full the kids will get a reward). We even had donuts because the shape can remind us "O" is for obey. Anyway the kids have liked earning beans and are disappointed when they don't earn one because they didn't obey. Today Makenna was really good at the store and so in the car on the way home she asked if she could have a bean. I told her when we get home she could have one (I thought she just wanted one put in the jar to add to the others), when we got home she reminded me and so I put one in for her but she said she wanted to eat one. She was sad to find out that you can't eat them like candy. I felt so bad so I gave her a sucker!