My kind of roses

Miss "C" brought this home from church for mothers day, Hershey kisses masquerading as roses.  Such a cute idea and really delicious too.

Another little treat from church today, more chocolate, yum.

 

 I'm happy to be the mother to these "nestlings" of mine.

   

Happy May Day

The "husbird" made me delicious whole wheat waffles for breakfast this morning.  It's our anniversary today and it happens to be the busiest day of the week, but that's okay because we'll go out to dinner this weekend.

 I think we've finally hit that elusive milestone of built in babysitters.  I seriously thought it would never happen, not having to hire a babysitter.  It's bitter sweet.  A little bitter knowing the "nestlings" are growing up so fast.  Mostly sweet because the "husbird" and I have gone out three weekends in a row, which sadly never happened, until now. Yay!

A Non-Valentines

We ate soup from a can for dinner.  It was actually delicious with some tortilla chips.  You should try it.

 

We went to the dollar store after dinner to kill some time while we waited for "T's" court of honor for scouts to start.  Surprisingly it was quite fun, especially the party isle.  Miss "A" and the "husbird" had fun trying on party hats.  It's a very rare event when the entire family, minus "T", goes into a store all together. Luckily everyone was well behaved, for the most part, and amazingly we got out of there without spending a cent. 

We went back to the church to see "T" get some much earned merit badges. 

That pretty much sums up our love day, not much celebrating going on, but a lot of love just the same.

Happy New Year

Sadly, for the first time since we got married we didn't send out Christmas cards. It was just one more thing that had to go this year to make the holidays less stressful. 

Here's a picture from the family camp we attended in the summer. Because of the lighting baby "G" looks like he doesn't have any hair.  He does, little blond locks.


The problem with not sending out Christmas cards is every card I got in the mail I felt guilty.  Oh the guilt, it will get me every time.  Hopefully I can get my act together this year and mail out cards:) I have twelve months.  Ha ha. Happy 2013!

Half Well Half Ill

Our Christmas day was relaxing and enjoyable.  How was yours? 

 After opening gifts and eating breakfast we spent a couple of hours rearranging the boy's room.  We took down the crib that baby "G" never sleeps in. Sniff. Then we set up a desk that "T" got for Christmas in its place.  He's so happy to have a place to work on his homework that's just for him.
Unfortunately, by Christmas night the "husbird" started feeling sick and then by the next morning baby "G" was sick and as the days proceeded everyone got sick except "T."  

The "husbird" had to have a chest x-ray because the doctor thought he might have pneumonia, turns out it was just a bad case of bronchitis with a cough that won't go away.
When I got sick I didn't leave the house for three straight days, which in a way was a welcome relief from all the previous days of running around.  Sickness definitely forces you to slow down whether you want to or not. So, half of our holiday was spent happy and healthy and the other half has been spent being miserably sick.  At least we weren't sick the whole time. 
I didn't do a lot of decorating this year in order to simplify, but I thought you might enjoy these pictures from around the nest.

A White Christmas

It seems that no matter how hard I try to simplify the Holiday Season/Christmas (which I tried this year), it is still way to crazy-busy.  I guess if I had started shopping in July when I first thought about Christmas then it would have been less chaotic.  Part of the problem is that normal everyday life is really busy and so when you add in extra activities and shopping to do, it makes things insanely busy.  Amid the insanity there were moments I don't want to forget. Like...
the girls dancing to "Pine Cones & Holly Berries" and "Santa Baby" at their yearly Christmas show.
Little "D's" preschool made a huge piñata santa head from scratch.
I got to hold one side of the rope as each kid hit it, waiting for Christmas prizes to spill to the ground.  In a way I wonder what the preschool teachers are thinking, I mean the kids are hitting santa.  SANTA. Ha Ha.

One night when I went to tuck in "C" I found this.  She was sound asleep in her santa hat that she got at a Christmas party and her doll was tucked in beside her.  I wished I could keep her small forever.
No December would be complete without a visit to see Santa. Baby "G's" face is priceless. He wasn't quite sure what to think, except that he would do just about anything for a candy cane.
And last...our traditional balloon launch with letters to Santa on Christmas Eve.  I tried my hardest to have everything done so I wouldn't have to go anywhere, but alas I needed to get one more thing to complete the stockings and get a few groceries.  Well, wouldn't you know it, while I'm out it starts snowing, hard, and the wind was blowing and so I couldn't see anything.  I still needed to get balloons, but I didn't want to go far so I stopped at little caesars since it was close by.  I'm sure Santa won't mind;)

Now I need to get busy wrapping presents to make Christmas wishes come true! 

Silly Billy

Our elf on the shelf, Billy, has been having fun swinging from the chandelier one day to flying on the boys airplane the next.I can't believe how excited the "nestlings" are each morning to find out where Billy has landed for the day, especially "C" and "D."

It's like a mini Christmas everyday!

Kitten Ornaments

As soon as we put up our Christmas tree the kittens started climbing up it and around in it.

It became apparent very quickly that we wouldn't be able decorate our tree this year, because the ornaments would just be falling off left and right, disturbed by little paws.

Moco &Coco must think the tree is a new playground we got them to explore and play in.

I have to say, they make pretty cute ornaments:)

Pilgrim/Indian Feast

 Here's my little Indian Chief.  Isn't he cute in his macaroni necklace and water colored hat that he made?!

I finally got smart, by kid four, and signed up to help for all the holiday celebrations this year.

It's a challenge to leave baby "G", but it is so fun being with 

little "D" and sharing in his excitement.

He wanted me to wear a hat, so I crammed my head into his pilgrim hat.  As you can see it didn't quite fit.

  I'm thankful to be this pilgrim's mommy.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Diez

Let me tell you a little about this now ten year old girl of mine.  When she gets home from school she starts on her homework and when she is done she does her piano practicing, and then she goes to her room and reads.  I don't have to tell her to do these things.  She just does them on her own and asks me if she needs help. 
She faithfully reads the scriptures every night and finished reading the entire Book of Mormon & New Testament this year.  She is funny, helpful, and responsible.  She is a great big sister and especially cute and loving with her baby brother.  She'll be an incredible mom someday.

 She is a delight to have in our family and we are so blessed to have her as our daughter.  Happy "10th" birthday Miss "A!"

Halloween 2012

We enjoyed one of the warmest Halloween nights I can remember. It made the night so enjoyable.  This year we had a teddy bear, peter pan(costume compliments of tia ana), wonder woman, an Asian princess, and a last minute(i don’t care what I am)vampire. 
Usually the “husbird” takes the “nestlings” trick or treating while I pass out candy, but this year my friend Kimberly came over and we took our kids around our neighborhood together while the "husbird" passed out candy.  It was nice to have some adult conversation while the kids collected candy:)

Selective Decorating, Halloween Style

Since I’ve had kids I've learned, the hard way, to be very selective about what I decorate with.  For years I’ve had to put glass and breakables above little, reaching hands.  I don't decorate with as many breakables as I used to, because well,  they broke:(     

Here’s what I came up with for this years Halloween Holiday.

The spooky tree has glass votives so I put it up high where the black crow can fend off incoming objects:) 

It can be hard to find just the right thing that won’t break easily, but I’m up for the challenge because...

these Trick or Treaters are worth it!

Mom Day

Mother's day was um how should I say, interesting.

This picture pretty much sums it up.

The "nestlings" did not get along most of the day and one particular "nestling" was disobedient as usual. Why must I ask twenty times before compliance? Really.
Is it too much to ask for obedience one day in the year? Sigh.

Of course I got some cute cards from the "nestlings"
and
the "husbird" made dinner with some help. He tried to make the day special for me and surprised me with a double fudge cupcake from sweet tooth fairy. Yum.

My favorite mom quote of all time from here.
This is a good reminder when I'm feeling overwhelmed by my mothering duties, which is often lately. I hope you all had a lovely mother's day!

Easter Sunday

Today was Beautiful because I...Watched this.

Listened to this.

And Made and Ate this and this.

It was a wonderful day celebrating the Saviour!

Gifts to Love

I thought I'd share some of our favorite gifts from this years Christmas.
I got the "husbird" this journal. It's a cute little thing.
It asks one question each day for five years. Love it!

After I saw this video of Kiki and Coco in Paris I wanted to get my girls a similar doll, so I looked and looked on Etsy,
but the the most inexpensive dolls I could find were around sixty for one doll:(
When I got the Pottery Barn catalog in the mail I was so excited when I saw these
adorable dolls.
On black Friday PB Kids had all their dolls 20% off.
I had an additional 10% off coupon.
Sweet!

Aren't they darling?
My girls love them and I told them I'd make a little video of them with their dolls sometime.

Mister "T" got these blocks that are all uniform in size.
You can build all kinds of cool things with them.
I got them at Lake Shore Learning.

Miss "A" has been busy making jewelry with this Shrink Art Jewelry Kit from Klutz.

The whole family has had fun watching the little cars go around this track and making different tracks, even though it's little "D's" gift.
Any little or big boy would love to have an iplay build a road.

Since I didn't get this posted before the holidays I hope it will help for next year
or an upcoming birthday:)

Christmas Day

Santa found our "nest," Did he find yours?

Crunch Time

The "nestlings" last day of school for this year is today.

I'm taking baby "G" to get his nine month pictures professionally taken and

then I'm off to the grocery store to get all the ingredients for our
holiday meals and treats,
then I pick up the "nestlings" and go home to clean and clean and clean,
until I can't feel my hands or legs, because my house has become a dumping ground this month while we ran to one party or activity to another.
We had breakfast with Santa.
Miss "C" was a clown and glow stick dancer in the 1st grade Nutcracker, and
both the girls were ballerinas in the Christmas dance recital.
("A's" the one with glasses)
The in-laws are coming to spend Christmas with us and they arrive tonight.
We're going to enjoy having them here for Christmas.
I'm going to show my mother-in-law the wonderful world of Pinterest and Google Reader.
It's going to be fun and also wonderful to celebrate the gift of our Saviour.

Nutcracker Hospital

These nutcrackers payed a visit to the doctor today, me being the doctor. I prescribed some E6000 glue to hold them together.

They're feeling much better now,
until the "nestlings" get a hold of them again.