Spring Adventures

During Spring Break, which was several weeks ago, the kids and I went on an "adventure" along the Provo River Trail. The kids thought it was really cool and we saw several snakes, ducks and turtles. We heard a lot of frogs although they were better at hiding. Walking along the trail reminded me of all the adventures that Brian and I had growing up and made me feel sorry that the world has gotten in such a state that my kids won't be able to have those adventures. It's just too scary to let them go wandering around on their own nowadays. I guess I will have to find my inner adventurer so I can with them cause I just can't imagine childhood without this kind of stuff.

 

 

 

I love this picture of Eden. She looks like a little model.

 

 

In this picture Noah is trying to get up a small hill but it's covered with little rocks and loose dirt.

I was surprised at how jumpy Noah was. Every little sound and bug made him jump. He needs a little more nature in his life, I think. Noah was usually the first to point out the snakes (by screaming of course), but forget about him trying to catch one. I tried to catch one to show him not to be afraid of them, they were just garden snakes, but it was too fast for me and he still didn't want to get too close.

 

 

As we walked along I pointed out all the places that Brian and I likely would've attempted a fort to Noah. He likes hearing all those stories.

We all agreed that this place would be a regular for our summer adventures.

 

Yesterday daddy took the day off and we went to the zoo after Hope got out of school. Sadly, Noah was not here this weekend, but we got a pass for the zoo so he'll get to experience it plenty.

 

 

Isn't this picture awesome?

 

 

These little ladies are quite spoiled. We never have an outing, no matter how small or location, in which there isn't begging, bargaining, tears, tantrums, and Miss Chevious running around like a wild child. In those moments I realize that my children are just like those children that I witnessed before parenthood and said, "My kids will NOT be that spoiled." I fear we have done them a great in justice by spoiling them so. They don't really know how to appreciate the many many MANY blessings they have. I need to do something about this. I'm just not sure what yet.

 

 

 

 

 

From the second Hope heard we were going to the zoo she started begging for a stuffed animal. She has SO many stuffed animals already. Last year Grandma Bosley bought her a stuffed animal snake form the zoo and she insisted that Rattle, the name of the aforementioned snake, needed a baby.

The begging, bargaining, tantrums and tears followed us around all day. We threatened her, asked nicely, reasoned with her....but in the end gave in. This is the problem with the spoiled behavior. We give in.

Oh, did I mention that Eden named her snake after our new backyard neighbor? 

Say What?

Hope making up a song: I am a little child for Jesus. Oh, I love Jesus. I love Jesus. Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me. Why does He have a beard? Who knows, go ask your daddy.

Hope making up another song: Jesus is the nicest guy ever. Jesus is the nicest guy ever. 'Make some music', he yelled!

Eden is upset with me for some reason I can't remember and Hope says: She's thinks your mean. I am just warning you. Are you grateful I warned you?

Zoe just came home from getting spayed and is not feeling well.
Hope says: C'mon Zoe. Aren't you happy? *sings* If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!

Say What?

Hope: Does Heavenly Father get tired?
Me: No.
Hope: Does His son?
Me: Jesus? No.
Hope: Does He like to stay up like His dad?

*Another nighty night talk with Hope*
Hope: How does the Holy Ghost make you feel?
Mom: Sometimes he gives you a warm fuzzy feeling, sometimes he warns you about danger, sometimes he puts thoughts into your head.
Hope: I'm getting sweaty.
Mom: Take the blanket off.
Hope: No. I think it's the Holy Ghost. Why does the Holy Ghost make you feel warm?

Hope: Eden, you are crazy.
Mom: That's not a very nice thing to say.
Hope: I know.

Eden: Can I have a treat?
Mom: Too many treats will make you sick.
Eden: I wanna TREAT!!!
Noah: Eden, did you hear about the kid who ate too much candy? He fell off his porch.

*I have been trying to get Noah to expand his group of friends, but Noah doesn't seem to want to*
Mom: Do you have anything in common with "so-and-so"? (Name omitted to protect the innocent.)
Noah: The only thing we have in common is maps...and we're both human.

Mom: Eden, keep your hands to yourself.
Hope: Keep your face to yourself too.

By Hope.

Eden with a snare drum, Hope singing into a microphone and Noah playing the drums...with his foot???? Love her. 

Easter 2013

Just like Santa Claus, we don't do the Easter Bunny here. The only time I am really bothered by the lack of belief in magical beings in our household is when I see how excited Hope gets about the stories from her friends about the Easter bunny or Santa Claus or a leprechaun. I am impressed that even though I have straight out told her that there is no Easter Bunny and that the real "Santa Claus" died a very long time ago she still believes. (I've never told her that leprechauns do not exist because quite frankly I still think they might. Shhh, don't tell Ben!)
 

 Even though we don't do the Easter bunny, we still do the other fun elements of the holiday.
 

Saturday we had a neighborhood Easter egg hunt and that began the weekend's sugar fest. I had to talk Noah into participating and he still didn't want to carry a basket so he just put his share in with Eden's.

 

 

Sorry for the blur - they were moving fast!

 

 

Eden is going through a phase where she talks like a pirate out of the side of her mouth like shown above. Here she is telling a sister from our ward that she "wants candy now."

 

 

Eden and Hope with Hope's friend Aubrey and her little sister Brooke.

 

 

On Easter morning the kids stood outside the computer room waiting for the okay to be let in.

 

 

You can see they are very excited, and daddy doesn't disappoint. He always goes overboard with the presents.

 

 

We tried to combine spring shopping with Easter so in addition to Easter baskets, the kids also got some new outfits.

 

 

Then it was time to hunt eggs! Ben wanted to fill what seemed like a thousand eggs the night before. The kids got so much candy it feels like Halloween around here. However, it did prolong the actual Easter egg hunt, which was fun.

 

 

At first Eden would pick one up and open it, then throw it on the porch after getting the prize out. Daddy became her egg-hunting assistant.

 

 

Look at my beautiful girl. She is growing up way too fast. Luckily, just when I feel like she's getting too big, she throws the most unbelievable crazy tantrum to remind me that she is still my baby...and very spoiled.

 

 

Noah spotted all the eggs on the playhouse and would roll a couple down the slide to his baby sister. What a good big brother. :) Also, check out the pink bat in the tree in the background. Daddy got creative and used the bat to put an egg up there.

 

 

 

Look at all those eggs!

Now look at what seems to be tiny grave sites in our backyard. Last year Ben dug these tiny little gardens. He did it while our fence was still down, so I'm sure we freaked out more than one neighbor with what looked like our own personal graveyard.

 

 

Noah's basket was so full that he kept dropping eggs, so he transferred them all to a box so he could get more.

 

 

And finally Eden's bucket was full. Tricky daddy filled several of the eggs with silly notes and Eden ended up with all of them. She was quite disappointed to find empty candy wrappers and paper in a few of her eggs.

 

 

This Easter I wanted to make sure that the children understood why we celebrate this day and that it is because of Christ and not a gigantic bunny littering people's yard with eggs. So, I showed them a video about the resurrection that may or may not have been age appropriate. Ben doesn't think it was, but it definitely could have been worse, and I got it from lds.org, so all in all, I think I am okay with it. It did make the children a little sad, but they quickly got over it and continued eating their candy. Later, during one of the talks in sacrament meeting Hope told me that the lady was talking about the same thing that happened in the video we watched. She has had a lot of questions about Jesus lately and I think it was helpful for her to see Him in the form of a person and make the connection that He died for her so she could live again.

OR...

soon she will start having some major issues resulting from watching the video. Only time will tell. Moving on. Happy Easter!

Say What?

Eden: Look, I'm a bunny! Ribbit, Ribbit
Dad: Rabbits don't say 'Ribbit'.
Eden: Rabbit, Rabbit.

Hope: Mmmm. My hands smell good. I want to eat them.

Hope: I am sadder than sad.

Hope looks in the mirror and says: Hello handsome girl.

Dad to Eden: I'm gonna hang you up by your toes.
Eden: Are you really?
Dad: Don't you believe me?
Eden: No.

Hope: I want to go look at the pregnant people.

Eden to Hope: You are my best friend ever.

Noah helping Eden ride his skate board.

Eden Turns 3!

 

On the fifth, we celebrated Eden's third birthday. Ben described her entrance to this world as," a watermelon size bullet" and my friends, that is exactly what it felt like. Remembering that day is still a little overwhelming.

 

Daddy took the day off from work and we spent a lot of time at the store looking at toys. Daddy was frustrated with our lack of birthday fun, but Eden loved it. She played with all the toys and when we left she said, "I have FUN!"

She opened her presents and we sang Happy Birthday and ate birthday cupcakes. She really only ate the frosting though.

 

 

For the next several days she would say it's her birthday. She also sang Happy Birthday to herself.

 

What Eden likes:

frosting (as noted above)

teasing her older sister

playing outside, specifically swinging

snuggling on mommy's bed

My Little Ponies

bathtime

pre-school

nursery

story time

playing with her siblings

helping with laundry

snuggling with Muffin and Zoe

the bookstore (Barnes & Noble)

the library

going for walks

washing her hands all by herself
using the remote to open and close the garage door
asking LOTS of questions
when daddy comes home
making messes
doing stuff she knows you don't want her to do

 

Say What?

Eden: Mom, look! My bum is freaking out.

Hope: Can we get another dog?
Mom: I don't think so.
Hope to mommy: I wish a puppy could come out of your tummy.

Eden: I'm HUNGRY!
Dad: What do you want?
Eden: Chi...Ch....I can't seem to remember.

Mom: Are you feeling better today?
Hope: Yes. But my head hurts. I think it's cause my hair is so long.

Dad is leaving for work one morning and says: Bye. I love you.
Eden: I love you! Come again soon!
Dad: Okay, I will.
Eden: Be careful of the ice!

Dad: Why don't you go poop in the potty?
Eden: It just comes out.
Mom: Well when you feel it start to come out you need to say, 'Oh, I need to go potty.' and then hold it till you get on the potty and then you can let it come out.
Eden: THAT'S A GREAT IDEA MOM!!!