I'm low on enthusiasm for school. This week is teacher appreciation week and the lady heading it up is asking us to do these creative things. I am really low on desire to do anything creative. It's almost over!
A few days ago after asking the kids to get their responsibilities done, Brad explains to me that he is too sick to do his responsibilities done, but not too sick to run around.
That same day Brad decided to ride his scooter with his eyes closed. He crashed into our fence and got a gash on his head. He came in with blood dripping from his head.
We took family pictures today. I sure do love what cute, good looking kids I have! Eric too! Can't wait to share them!
We are visiting both sets of grandparents this weekend. Lots of family and lots of fun!
A few days later......What a fun visit we had over spring break with so much family! We loved having a pirate party with the Pikes and exploring caves with the Pearsons. We are so happy to have such fabulous grandmas and grandpas for our kids.
We enjoyed Carson's pinewood derby tonight.
We had an enjoyable, low key Easter. We enjoyed conference weekend! We have some traditions we always do. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast one day and bunny buns for breakfast the other day. We almost never buy chips, but we do for conference weekend and make 7 layer dip and have some other dips. We think of quiz questions about conference as we watch and then try to stump each other with them after all the sessions are over. We ask the kids to watch at least one whole session and to also listen to the prophet when he speaks. I think my favorite talk was Elder Hollands and the one by one of the 70 about hearing the music of the gospel. I love conference weekend!
We've had sick kids this week. Not much fun. Amelia had her first fever. William missed three days school. I was really glad it wasn't worse and we didn't need to take anyone to the dr.
Carson and William are enjoying playing ball. Carson hit a home run.
Odd bit of info: Abbey is very picky about how comfortable her clothes are and will wait until the last minute to change her clothes in the morning because they are not as comfortable as her pajamas. On the other hand, Liza often sleeps in the jeans claiming they are comfortable.
Whenever I've heard the phrase about children bringing their parents joy, I've always thought about young children and how cute they are and that brings parents joy. I never imagined that might include teenagers, but I was wrong. I love my older kids' sense of humor and they make me laugh on a regular basis. I did not anticipate that joy at all.
The other day we saw a man walking that was missing a leg. He had one of those sophisticated mechanical legs that looks like a machine rather than one made to look like person's leg. Abbey responded by saying "That guy has a fake leg. That is so cool. Somday I'm going to have a fake leg." We all had a good laugh over it. Sorry Abbey, but I hope that dream never comes true.
I'm not sure all the reasons why, but I am really enjoying this phase of my life. Don't get me wrong, it's hard. It's a lot of work and I'm still just as frustrasted when my kids do wrong things than I ever have been, and my kids are still doing as many things wrong as they ever have been before, but I feel like I'm enjoying my kids more than I ever have before. Is it because Eric is serving as Bishop and the Lord is blessing our family so much because of it? Is it because my girls are older and can help me more than they ever have before? Is it because Eric and I are aren't making so many dumb mistakes in raising our kids now that we are older and more experienced? Is it because Amelia has brought so much joy into our home? I don't know, but I feel so blessed. I think it may be a combination of all of these. I feel closer to Eric, since he's been called as Bishop, than I ever have before. That's a blessing the stake president specifically mentioned when Eric was set apart as Bishop. We are so blessed.
Amelia cut two teeth this last week. She just wanted to be held most of the time. I didn't mind.
We call Amelia "Millie" sometimes as a nick name. She hates taking a bath! It's hard to understand why. All my babies have loved baths. Not her. Wow! You should hear her howl in protest. She doesn't like showers either.
Eric's book wasn't accepted by Deseret Book. So he published it on Amazon. I still need to read it.
We will have three times as much garden this year, thanks to Eric. He is so ambitious. He has been watching a series where three families have to live like pioneers for 4 months. It inspires him.
The other day, William made Bradley cry. So I assigned William a chore. William promptly asks Brad, who is still upset, to help him with his punishment chore. Brad says ok and they head off together to go do the chore. A scripture or two came to mind.
"Except ye..... become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
And "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of theHoly Spirit, and putteth off the naturalman and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
-Amber
On Saturday, Abbey made barbecue chicken pizza for dinner. While making the dough, she turned on the mixer and water flew out of the bowl, splashing everywhere. Bradley saw the whole fiasco. He laughed, and promptly ran down the hall to William. "William," Abbey overheard him say, "Abbey does NOT know how to cook!" In my humble opinion, I do know how to cook. :) Anyway, the pizza and bread turned out great!
-Abbey
Grandma Linda and Grandpa Steve surprised the kids with a visit this last weekend. Everyone soaked up all the fun with bowling, going out for ice cream, hide and go seek, more games, going out for pizza, babysitting, movie night, and lots of visiting! Grandpa Steve does a great impersination of Donald Duck. They left this morning and Bradley has been trying to talk like Donald Duck all day. They sure do love grandma and grandpa.
The boys start teeball and baseball this week. It should be fun.