Looked out the window...and what did I see????

Not blossoms popping on the trees, sad to say. But instead the song came to mind, oh the weather outside is frightful - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow in March????

I am so done with this weather. I am ready for sun and warmth.

So Big!!

Here is another post about Emmett! I will be getting to the other kids soon, but Emmett is finally getting to the fun stage where he does cute and funny things. Here are some random shots of Emmett being Emmett!

Emmett has finally figured out that he is big enough to go up the playland at McDonald's. He was over at the levels yelling for me to come help. I told him to figure it out. Not thinking that he would figure it out, but sure enough he did. Each level Emmett accomplished he would smile and laugh. It was the cutest thing. Then he made it to the top!

How big is Emmett - So Big!!!!

McDonalds will never be the same. Or maybe it will be better where I can just sit like the mom's who bring a book to read while their children play. Uh probably not, it has never been that way with any of my children.

Emmett likes to climb up on our kitchen table. When we make any motion to get him down, he darts from side to side. Well this time around, he darted right off the side of the table and hit the chair on his way to the floor. OUCH!!!! He sliced his ear open and scrubbed his arm. He probably needed stitches, but dad didn't think so, "Oh he'll be fine".

One of Emmett's therapists and I have been working on his sensory issues. Emmett is sensitive to quite a few things that don't have anything to do with the touch, they are internal. So to help him deal with his anxiety of sensory, we pack a special bag for Emmett that is especially helpful when we go to church. Here is Emmett sporting his very own back pack! It is packed with a sensory brush (for his legs and arms), a red bag with a zipper, a few other things. I have the bag loaded to weigh about 3 pounds which also helps because it puts pressure on his shoulders which then releases the tension in other parts of his body. Emmett loves to wear his back pack!

Over track break we took a weekend trip to Utah. The kids always watch a movie(s) and play games. With all the noise, mom & dad insist headphones be worn. This time Emmett asked to wear headphones, and amazingly he kept them on!! He didn't keep them on for the whole movie, but hey 7 min of headphones and watching a movie is huge with Emmett!!! Baby steps lead to leaps and bounds.

Emmett's character is really starting to shine. Music has always calmed Emmett and helped him to focus. Now music makes Emmett want to get up and shake his groove thing! Whenever there is music on - tv, video games, radio, whatever, Emmett's hip starts moving back and forth and his head starts nodding. It is the cutest thing! Here a couple different times Scott was able to capture video of Emmett dancing. He doesn't like to be filmed or has his picture taken. 

Harassment

Ok so my last post was mid March and here we are on the 3rd day of May. So.......

Well I keep getting harassed by friends and family that it's been awhile since I've posted. It's not that we haven't been doing things. I've just been a little overwhelmed with my life and haven't had the time to blog all of our happenings.

So to put your mind at ease, here is a simple post to say that I am still here, and I am in the process of updating clear back to March through to now. So continue to be patient (or get off my back) :O) and some new posts will be here soon.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Today is green day! The kids were so excited to wear green! For breakfast I thought it would be fun to make green pancakes and green milk.

I tried to make shamrocks and pot of gold pancakes, but it didn't work out as well as I hoped.

At first, the kids thought it was going to be cool to have a green breakfast until everything was placed on the table. Then I started to hear a lot of, "Ooh gross! I am not drinking that." Everybody ate it and loved it!

For an afternoon treat, we had shamrock and pot of gold brownies. Yummy!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

You're not getting old...

...but if you're expecting a gift you are getting stupid.

Some might not think this is funny on your 40th Birthday or for any birthday, but this card came with love and thoughtfulness from my dear sweet husband and children. After I read the card, Scott was so happy that he found this card and that he found it at the dollar store - no less!! haha It's the thought that counts, each child wrote their name and Scott traced Emmett's hand for me. Truly priceless..

So here I am turning 40 - it is bitter sweet. This is the first "milestone" birthday that I have had a hard time dealing with. I was excited to turn 21 (couldn't wait to go on a mission), thrilled to turn 25 (was getting married and on my way to adulthood), ecstatic to turn 30 (finally out of my 20's and people would see me as an adult, a mom, and a wife), 35 whatever (just half way through my 30's too consumed with my children to care), and now 40 denial (how can I be this old already).

I remember when I was a teenager in young women's and we would talk about Sis So-n-So and how old she was-like 40! And now that's me. I am the old sister that the young woman talk about. You know it is coming, but when you get there, it's hard to believe, because I don't feel like I am 40. Well that's not true, some days I feel like I am 40 or even 80! haha

Turn it, embrace it, love yourself and move on!!! Today I am 40!!!!

Let the festivities begin....

I started my birthday weekend off with Friday night dinner with Deidra and our favorite girls night place Chili's. It was a great evening just catching up, laughing, crying, eating, and then a little shopping. Thanks Friend for a Fabulous Forty Dinner!!!

Saturday the fun continues...
Saturday morning went for a little lady pampering with Krista and Hollie. We had a pedicure and a manicure.

Then after our pampering we had Mexican food for lunch - mmm my favorite!!!

Krista thought it would be fun to tell our waiter that it was my birthday. So he brought me the sombrero and a an ice cream sundae. A little disappointed no song or maracas. Here is my cheesy birthday pose! Thanks Krista and Hollie for a fun and relaxing morning!!!!

After my morning with the girls, had a relaxing afternoon at home, then dinner with the family. I thought it would be fun to take the kids to a restaurant where they cook in front of you (like a Benihana). We're going to splurge a little tonight - after all it's my 40th birthday!!

Here we all are getting ready for the cooking to begin!!!

Before the chef starts to cook, he light the grill on fire with a big flame. The kids thought it was cool (after the fire was put out) lol. Emmett wasn't having any of it, he wanted out of there as soon as the fire was out. He kept saying "all done", "all done".

When the chef began cooking, he would throw food out to us. Scott and I didn't get the camera out quick enough to capture Garhett catching in his mouth the first shrimp. It was simply amazing. The chef said, "Ready" and at the same time tossed the shrimp, Garhett turned his head and caught it in his mouth!!! It was awesome, wish we would have captured it on film.

The food was delicious! Teriyaki Chicken, Teriyaki Steak, Tempura Vegetables - so yummy. Our kids were great with the chop sticks. Each one of them used the sticks instead of a fork. Can't say that I joined them. I love the fork and was just fine using it!!!!

Even Emmett took a "stab" at it!!!!

We had a great time at dinner tonight! I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way then with my family whom I adore!!!

I had a fabulous weekend so far, tomorrow is the big day. I don't know if I am ready for it, but it's coming anyway!

I woke with birthday wishes from Scott and the kids. My parents called (the are currently in Texas) and sang "Happy Birthday". They have called and sang for years I remember being in college and they would call on my birthday and sing to me. My parents call Scott, the kids, my siblings (all family members) on the day of their birthday. It's so special.

I wore a cute new outfit to church today. I didn't take a picture of it, but it's a brown/white polkadot skirt with a green button top. So cute!!! At church, the Primary kids all sang to me, it was so nice. After church, Scott let me take a nap while he and the kids made dinner and my birthday cake. My birthday dinner was steak, shrimp, potatoes, and salad. So good - thanks sweetie!!! We ended the evening with birthday cake that Scott and the kids made.

I had a great birthday - it started on Friday through Saturday and ended on Sunday! So I am 40, embracing it, accepting it, loving it, and moving on! After all 40 is the new 30, right?!!! Thanks to my friends and family for making my day so special.

Facial expressions

I came across the cutest fry pan the other day. I know how can a fry pan be cute, but it is. The pan has faces. I thought it would be great for pancakes.  For Sunday breakfast we had pancake faces. The kids loved it. My first batch not so good, but the more I use it the better I get. Look how fun! I just love it (Scott's rolling his eyes right now, thinks it was wasted money).

Blue & Gold

Well tonight was the annual Blue & Gold dinner for cub scouts. Every year they boys are to work with their fathers to create a cake for dessert. This year's theme was the 100th birthday of BSA. Unfortunately Scott is traveling (usually every year at this time), so Garhett was stuck with me to work with on his cake. He definitely wasn't excited about that. Lucky for Garhett my parents were passing through town before heading on their next trip. So Grandpa was nice enough to step into dad's position and help Garhett with the cake. Here is the step by step process Grandpa and Garhett took in making his cake.

Step 1: The ingredients for the cake (chasing Emmett so no pictures)

Step 2: Mixing the cake (getting Emmett out of the oven, so again no pictures)

Step 3: Pouring the cake into the pans

Step 4: Putting the cake into the oven to bake (well actually taking it out after it was cooked)

Step 5: Cooling the cake

Step 6: creating the 100 out of the cake: I am so proud of Garhett for cutting the #1 out of the loaf pan free hand. He did an awesome job. The center of the zeros were made by turning a glass upside down and pushing it through the cakes. 

Step 7: Frosting the cakes

Step 8: Presenting his 100 cake at Blue & Gold - Great job Garhett!!!!

Tonight during the award ceremony, Garhett earned 8 badges. He's been working very hard over the past few months. Garhett was awarded the following awards:

• Artist
• Music academic pin
• Reading & Writing pin
• Readyman
• Scholar
• Snowman
• Swimming sport pin

The best of all awards, I can't believe that scouting has finally given into the times....he was awarded the

• Video game academic pin

We are so proud of you Garhett, you are always working so hard at scouts and enjoying it at the same time. Keep up the great work! We love you.