Today When...

Raphael was in Preschool, this is what we did...

Took lots of pictures!!! Who doesn't love a smile like that?

We also ran lots of errands and one of them was going to Costco. At the check out line, Jack coo'd and laughed out loud to the check out lady, and she just about melted... and so did a few customers. Jack was the center of attention!

Finally

Today Raphael started Preschool. Finally! He's been waiting patiently for a long time, which is very hard for a four-year-old to do. The Preschool is just a swap I've arranged with three other parents from Church. We each take a week to teach in our own homes. We designed a pretty fun curriculum and made a schedule for the whole year. My teaching week is next week. I'm really excited!

He's trying his best to pose for the picture

Looking happy

Starting to lose patience with so many pictures now

Mom, enough now! :-)

Just a Thought

Over this past few weeks I keep going back to something President Monson said, "Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." If all humanity (myself included) heeded to this counsel, how much sweeter our world could be...
Please read the whole talk. It's very inspiring! :-) It's called "Finding Joy in the Journey" and it's found in the Nov/2008 Ensign (from Oct 2008  Conference).

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-26,00.html

Jack's New Trick

Today I decided to do better in giving Jack tummy time. Right after I put him in his stomach, Jack rolled over. I cheered happily.

ME: Yay!! You rolled over! Good boy!

Michael comes in quickly in the room.

MICHAEL: What happened mom? Why are you so happy?

ME: Jack just rolled over!!!

Michael looked confused and thoughful.

MICHAEL: Wait a minute, isn't that a trick that DOGS do?

Lest We Forget Concert 2010

This past Friday and Saturday was the "Lest We Forget" Concert in our stake. This concert commemorates the events of 9/11/2001 and honors people that bring safety to the U.S. (military, police officers, fire fighters, etc). Julianna and Raphael got to sing in the choir. They rehearsed for about 5 weeks every Saturday (I'm so glad it's over!). It was hard work rehearsing in Church and at home until they learned the two songs, but look how cute they were and how cute they sang! They loved singing and I was so proud of them! This video is of the dress rehearsal on Friday.

Performance Day on Saturday

Pop Tarts

I know this post might seem silly, but this blog is really my journal (a non-intimate details journal), and I am going to print my posts and archive them so my children can read them in the future. One thing I want them to remember is our new family tradition. It all started about three months ago when I was having a hard time getting my kids out of bed to go to Church. I looked in the pantry and found a box of Pop Tarts (I hardly ever bought Pop Tarts up until this point, but saw an interesting flavor and decided to try it for fun). I told my kids that if they got dressed fast and peacefully, that they would have Pop Tarts for breakfast. The result was amazing! We've been doing this every Sunday ever since, and I tell them that if they "pop out of bed, they get Pop Tarts." Smart, huh? I can't believe I came up with the idea myself... Ok, I know it's so cheesy...

So today I found a new flavor for us which is "S'mores" at Walmart. I had to try them to see if they were good. :-) I actually don't love them as much as I love the Strawberry ones... they are good though.

Here is Jack Again

Here is Jack at 3 1/2 Months

Here is Jack Grabbing Toys Now

Here is Jack Modeling Huggies Jeans Diapers

Here is One of the Reasons Why Mom Feels So Blessed Every Day

Cats Are Like Children

     She misses me. I've been careful to give all my kids equal attention, but have not been so good with my little Bayla. All day long she follows me around, meows, sometimes even bites me to get my attention. Every evening she lays by my side while I hold Jack, sometimes she even stands up and puts her paws on the chair so she can see the baby.
     She loves Jack though. She actually looked at him closer for the first time two weeks ago. I wish I had the camera close by. She climbed on the bed, and carefully got close to him. She smelled Jack and then she licked his arm. Jack seemed to like her too.
     I like rocking Jack on my rocking chair after I put the older ones to bed. Bayla learned that, and yesterday she was waiting on my rocking chair to see if I would rock her instead. I had to smile. :-) After I rocked Jack and put him in his crib, I rocked Bayla. She loved it!

My New (or Almost New) Toy

Who said money can't buy happiness? I have to disagree... :-)
My wonderful husband decided to spend our tax-return money on me. I can't help but feel like a little kid again on Christmas day. Everyday when I wake up, I look at it and feel Ahhhhhh, this is what heaven must feel like. :-)

I have to thank my dear husband for having the patience while I spent hours and hours researching pianos, even driving to Clear Lake early on a Saturday morning so we could see this babe. For watching all four kids while I played many pianos, and paying interest when I showed him differences in sound even though he had no clue what I was talking about. :-)

Today it was tuned and sounds amazing! My piano technician told me it was an excellent buy and that I paid way less than it's worth. I'm so happy!!

Give Away

Dear friends, would anyone like a Purex Free and Clear Hypoallergenic Laundry detergent 100 fl oz (for regular machines) free of charge? I bought this, used it 2 times and realized it's NOT for HE machines (mine is HE)... Grrrrrrrr I hate when I don't read labels. :-)