Boy Colors vs. Girls Colors

Little miss Ellie is in this phase where she categorizes everything as either a girl color or boy color. When I get her a cup, a shirt, or a piece of paper, she wants a girl color, pink, purple, and red usually. She tries to avoid boy colors, blue, green, orange...And if she doesn't know what category to put it in she asks "Mom, is that a girl color or boy color?
Tonight she wanted a bowl of ice cream. I asked if she wanted cookie dough or chocolate. She wanted chocolate and then asked, "Is this a girl color?" I laughed to myself and then said, "Yes, Ellie Chocolate is a girl color"

Happiness comes in unexpected places

Rachel is my veggie eater. She LOVES vegetables! But hates fruit, I can barely get her to eat apples. I was making Sunday dinner, when out of the blue she suggests we make smoothies! What?! Did I really hear her right?
I brought out the fruit and yogurt and the blender went to work....
Rachel helped me do everything. It looked SO good. I crossed my fingers and gave her a taste.
Her eyes got big and she smiled, "Mmmm this is like drinking happiness!"
Not only did this bring a smile to Rachel's face but it brought a smile to mine!
Hooray for smoothies! I can't wait for summer, and all the yummy fruits that will be in season!

Hard work pays off

At the beginning of the school year, Jared , who started 1st grade this year was struggling academically. His teacher said he was below grade level in reading, his work was sloppy, he had a hard time with some math concepts. As a mom hearing this is ALWAYS hard. I knew my little guy was bright, witty, and very intelligent. I didn't understand why it was translating at school. Jared's teacher worked one on one with him. I worked at home with him. It was usually a fight to get him to do his homework or do his reading. He wanted to play outside or with his friends. He would try to do his homework on the bus so he could play as soon as he got home but his homework was barely legible. Unless he wanted to do it, it wasn't going to get done.
This daily battle became very frustrating. One day I had a talk with him about how he always needs to put his best effort into everything he does. All that I ask is that when he does something it is his best. We talked for a while. It was one of those talks where it actually seemed like it was making sense to him in his own head.
Exciting News! Jared just took a unit reading test, there were 60 questions, a lot of short stories, which he had to read on his own and answer all of the questions on his own. He got a 99%, that's right, he only missed one! He also got a 100% on his math test. All if his work is improving, he gets excited about showing me his classwork now.
I can't tell you how happy I am for him. He finally understands that hard work pays off. I am so proud of my little boy. He has worked extremely hard to put his best effort into school. Jared is almost at a 3rd grade reading level now.
Now if he could just apply this principle on his room. =)

To catch a Leprechaun

My best friend Jennifer posted this on facebook. I thought it was adorable. Her little girl did this cute project. She said she was able to get everything at the dollar tree & 99 cent store. So FUN!

This is the one posted on familyfun.com. There are a lot of other fun St. Patrick's Day ideas on that site.

Snip Snip

My girls get a haircut.

I got tired of fighting Ellie every morning over her hair, so I cut it almost to her shoulders. I thought it would help, but it is still a battle trying to get her to let me brush her hair.

Rachel has been wanting bangs for a long time, I fought her because bangs are more maintenance. I gave in. She debated between straight bangs all the way across or side bangs. She finally decided on side bangs...for now. I will have to post better pictures later. I can't believe how dark Rachel's hair is getting. It's the lack of sun! haha.

Troll Hair

Sometimes, I make eating veggies fun by calling them different things, but the kids nicknamed this one last night. Troll Hair...Yum! Hey, whatever it takes to get them to eat it!

A.K.A. Spaghetti Squash

Everything you need to know about Frogs

Rachel has been working on a report about frogs for a few weeks now. Last week she presented it to her class. It was fun learning about frogs while she worked on her project. Rachel would ask me "what do you know about frogs?" I would then list off things like "They start out as tadpoles, they are amphibians, they eat bugs..." She would then reply "Is that ALL you know? Then she would share all the fun facts she has learned about frogs.
It always makes me so happy when my children are excited about the things they are learning and doing in school.

Good Job Rachel!

Birthday Highlights!

Thank you everyone for making my birthday one to remember! My husband and kids made me breakfast in bed to start the day off. The "kids" got me these beautiful red roses. Being that my birthday landed on a Sunday it was actually quiet and relaxing b-day. We went to church (Bill stayed home...he is still recovering from bronchitis and a sinus infection) Came home and had a yummy dinner and dessert.

Some of my favorites. Artichokes, stuffed chicken, crab legs, Bill let me have his last Bergoff root beer. Which is his favorite root beer and incredibly hard to find.

Alison & family brought over these double- decker chocolate cupcakes smothered in caramel. It was just pure deliciousness!

These are a couple of my favorite presents this year. Kyle and Alysa(my brother & his wife) got me some snow pants. Finally! I guess they couldn't stand to watch me get wet and cold every time we headed to play in the snow. hahaI've been wanting a colossal cupcake maker, they are just plain fun...Thank you David & Sonja! (My brother and his wife) I am excited to get some good use out of it!

Till next year....

Surprise Birthday Celebration!!

My dad is one amazing person. For my mom's 50th birthday he got me and all of my sibling to surprise my mom by coming down for her birthday. My dad has been planning this for months. My Aunt Sharon & Uncle Dave were the decoy...they said she was coming down to Disneyland and should meet for my mom's birthday. The week before their birthday my dad got really sick and ended up with Pneumonia. But he was determined to pull this off. We didn't think it was going to happen but he managed.
We all met at the hotel on Friday. It was a long drive, he had 10 people in the "green dragon" which we lovingly nicknamed out green conversion van. We arrived first...then my dad let us know when the arrived at the hotel. The surprise was almost blown when the hotel checked my parents into the same room we were already checked into. Luckily, my mom was moving the car when my dad came to our room.
The BIG SURPRISE...we all headed down to my parents hotel room. We had Rachel & Jared knock on their door while the rest of us hid around the corner. My mom answered the door and was in total shock. I don't exactly remember what she said...the rest of came around the corner. My mom started blubbering (haha) She couldn't believe she had all of her kids and grandkids down for her 50th birthday. It was also my dad's b-day so we spent the next day celebrating at Disneyland. Sunday we went back to my parents house and had a yummy dinner before heading back Monday.
HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Can't wait for Spring

Yesterday afternoon was such a beautiful day. It was a glimpse of the warmer weather that I know is just around the corner. I can't wait for Spring. I can't wait for the snow to melt. I can't wait to bust out the flip flops...well my kids can't wait either.

It was only 46 degrees outside...but that is the warmest it has been here in 5 months. Jared has no shoes. Rachel has no jacket and is wearing flip flops.

You can still see the snow piled up but you can also see the grass!! Whoohoo!!

I don't want to get my hopes up...I do live in Rexburg and I know we will still have cold weather in our forecast, it even snowed this morning...but I am just getting so excited to actually FEEL the SUN and not just see it.

Bad to the Bone

Last night we took our dog Maverick on a walk. He got so dirty we ended up giving him a bath. My sister (who is visiting) had some hair dye. So we decided to have some fun. In this picture he is still sopping wet but it is the best picture we got because he wouldn't hold still.
Don't worry it washes out. Mwaahahaha!!

Birthday Extravaganza!

TO.....

My brother Kyle, turned 22 on Feb. 19th!

My mom and dad, who share the same birthday Feb. 28th!

My brother David, who turns 24 on March 6th

My brother Colin who shares a birthday with me on March 7th!



Yep, that's right my family celebrates 6 out of the 7 birthdays within 2 weeks of each other!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!

Told you so...

I totally biffed it in the church parking lot today. I knew as I posted about slipping and falling it would come back to haunt me. I was walking to the car and slipped on some ice right next to the car, I was so embarrassed and I think my kids were embarrassed for me. I just got up and laughed it off. My poor hand and knee didn't think it was very funny. There goes my no slipping and falling streak.

Snow Day....

Nothing like a fun day playing in the snow...

The gang

We went down the sled, Rachel is upset because I put my feet down and she got blasted with snow in the face.David & SonjaKyle and AlysaRachel pulling Jared & Ellie. Aww...

Grandma's Funeral

I am glad I was able to attend my grandmother's funeral service. Remembering what an amazing mother, wife, and especially grandmother brought memories and the love she had for each one of flooding back. I am so thankful that we will be separated for just a short while before I can see her again. I just can't get over how beautiful she was. If I become a fraction of the woman she was I will be lucky.

After the funeral services we headed out as a family and had a great time visiting with each other.
We had some GREAT Italian food. Yum! My Aunt Sharon, Uncle Dave, David, Sonja, Colin, & Me. Sorry Dad, mom cut you out. My mom was taking the picture, and Ellie was probably standing next to her.Colin & David...

Playing card games...people can get pretty competitive!