Our family likes to get dressed up for lunch :)

Silly and cute

Lily has been into changing her own clothes lately. In fact after she goes to bed at night she often comes out with several different PJ outfits. The other night she was working on what she called her "collections." She stuffed all her clothes from her closet and drawers into different bags and backpacks. She also put on this outfit and then fell asleep in it. She had on a back pack and a sweater too, but we took those off before we went to bed.

The big boys often watch tv in the guest room while the little ones watch their shows in the living room. The morning of these pictures I couldn't find Will. So as I went looking I found him in the guest room with the door shut, watching a show just like Jack and Hank! :)

a great babysitter

Yesterday Darin and I had to go to Fresno in the afternoon for an appointment. So we got two babysitters to come and watch the kids for us so that they didn't have to make the trip. Both were amazing and did a wonderful job, but Amanda asked me last night if it would be okay if she came back the next day and played with the kids in the snow again. Of course I didn't refuse and she came back, as she had promised Hank, and she played for 45 minutes with Lily, Will, and Jack. It was so nice of her and a really fun time for the kids. Lily doesn't get to go out in the snow very much because, well, I am old and grouchy and the novelty of dressing a 3 and almost 2 year old for snow play wore off on Jack and Hank.... Anyway...what a great, fun babysitter. She was a real blessing today. :)

Monday Morning

This morning we have already had a tea party, played in the toilet (well at least Will did) and had some ballet and wrestling...it has been a full morning. :)

Will is getting to be such a big boy. Yesterday I stubbed my toe and said "OW!" Will said, "Okay Momma?" It was awesome!

I am still babysitting every Friday while my friend teaches art in the school. Last year Lily and Kai fought like crazy. This year they get a long really well. Kale and Will have been quite territorial and often fight, but are also getting a long much better lately. It is fun to see the kids with their buddies. Lily and Kai spend most of their time dressing up like princesses or dressing in Lily's pjs. Kai and Kale spend their time playing with the toy the other one wants.

Hank

Winter afternoon

It has been raining...Normally I love the rain, but when it is pouring rain on to p of 2-3 inches of solid ice, it is not nice. So we have been inside a little more than usual. Jack and Hank have been occupying themselves by playing video games and computer games, Will has been playing with cars or his "guys." Lily has been giving ballet recitals. Usually all of these things are going on in the same room. It is sort of like living in the circus. Lily's newest recital she has been working on is called "The Summer Beef." Darin and I both tried to clarify what it was called and each time she carefully pronouced it as the "Summer Beef" Who knows?

Ballet class

This was Lily's second ballet class this year. Of course she is totally in to it and can't get enough. I can't seem to find the time to take some pictures of her. Of course this probably has to do with the fact that I am the teacher and there are 8 more girls her age or younger in the class. I definitely have my hands full. Thankfully I have a wonderful helper! :)

Brothers.

Day off

Darin took the long weekend off to spend with us at home. It was really nice just to be at home with no where to go and nothing to do. We played a lot of video games, read some, took a walk or two, messed around with the internet and basically did a whole lot of nothing. It was perfect!

Valentine's Day Pillows

I made new pillows for the kids. This time it was Valentine's Day fabric. My goal is to do one a month, but I figure I can skip a few then come back for them later. I also want to do first day of school and birthday ones too. Someday...

Funny story, Jack was with me when I went to get this fabric. He was very excited until he saw all the Valentine's fabrics. He was immediately angry that they were all pink and from that point on he was ready to be done shopping at JoAnns and didn't care which fabric I picked. :) So his is the heart candy one with the orange border...I am still not sure how pleased he was with this new pillowcase.

Monkey

Today really wanted to dress up in Lily's princess dresses. So instead of allowing him to dress like Jasmine...we decided to let him dress up like the monkey from Aladdin?

Marshmellow

Lily : I want a marshmellow!
Mom: What? We don't have any marshmellows.
Lily: Yes! Will has a marshmellow!
Mom: What? (looks at Will) That's not a marshmellow, it's a peice of toilet paper
dipped in toilet water!

Lies

I have been a part of a Bible study on humility for the last couple months. I have learned a lot, mostly that I am not very. Anyway the book we are going through is Humility True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney. Last night as I was reading a quote from Martin Lloyd Jones really stood out to me, "Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?" I do spend more time listening to lies I come up with in my own head and heart that speaking truth into myself...

Our little Buddy.

So Will has a thing for syrup...and sweets. In order to get him to eat his eggs tonight, I had to put some syrup on them. Jack says, "Wow, he's just like Buddy!" He is sort of elfish. Here we are making Will's "cheese!" face for the camera!

Between 3 and 5

So this cute little face reveals very little about this post. I am actually writing about the hours of the day that I hate the most. Will wakes up around 3 or 3:30 everyday and is just a beast. I wouldn't know that a kid could wake up happy if I hadn't had several others who did. Man, he is awful. He cries, screams, throws himself around and generally clings to me as I try to function with the other 3 kids in this house. Forcing a 3rd grader to do a PE book report or a 1st grader to do a math worksheet takes on a whole new meaning when there is a 22 month old monster clinging to my leg. Lily also does nothing to help with this awful time. By this time she is cranky and tired, also. She refuses to nap, rest, or otherwise occupy herself during this time too. This is the time of day she decides painting, coloring with markers and many books, or dancing ballet in full costume with an attentive audience (me) is THE ONLY thing that will make her happy. It really is enough to drive a person crazy. I find that each day my stomach starts to knot around 2:45...I know it's coming...

So I guess that's why I put them all to bed at 6:15 tonight...I just couldn't do it anymore. :)

Loss of control

This is what was going on after lunch today... Will spilled his drink down his shirt and Lily disrobed after lunch for some reason known only to her. I didn't have the energy to redress them at the time. They did end up in clothes and taking naps sometime after these photos were taken. :)