Teeth Brushing

Last month we went to the dentist and found out that we have to go back to the dentist about 14 more times for Grant so we have been pushing, pushing and pushing for him to brush his teeth better.

This morning while reading scriptures, Grant was looking at the scripture readers and leaned over to Bart and whispered, "Dad, did Jesus brush his teeth?"

I was reading at the time and got the giggles. Sooooo - what do you think? Did Jesus brush his teeth?

2011 Snapshot

So I am a little behind on blogging but I am going to make more of an effort. I am about a month and a half behind on things and can't seem to get caught up. I still haven't done a post about our vacation in August. Hopefully one day. There are just a lot of pictures and we did so much that it overwhelms me just to think about how to do a post about it. I will soon though (hopefully).

Anyway, I figured I should at least stay up to date as much as possible, so I will do our 2011 snapshot.

I have to start by saying that one of my favorite quotes from President Hinckley is, "Life is to be Enjoyed, not just Endured." So here are some things that I enjoy (and some that I don't).



Jackie stands on a step stool to eat. She doesn't want a bar stool or a chair. (That is good because we are in the market for some new chairs anyway.)

Luke would stay outside wandering in the backyard or a week if I would let him. (Aspen kisses / attacks and all)

Grant loves to read the scripture stories (I love that he loves them).

Jackie is always singing songs. (Not always the right words, but does that really matter?) Follow the Prophet and Gunny Bag are her favorites.

McKinley's hair is finally long enough to do pigtails since she cut her hair 2 days before Christmas.

I would rather read a book than watch a movie most days. I just need to stay awake longer or maybe I need to read at lunch rather than when the kids are in bed.

Grant loves that he is able to read more. (I love that I taught him how and I love to see hem get the words right and be able to read new words on his own.

I still haven't finished mending Barts work pants that have been waiting for a good 7-8 months for me to get to them.

McKinley likes to "surprise" mom and dad by setting the table for breakfast every morning. We have to pretent to not notice until we sit down, then be way surprised when we see what she has done.

The last 2 weeks I have not seen Jackie in anything other than McKinley's BYU cheerleader dress (aka. Jackie's Cougar dress - she also has to wear it with a pink t-shirt with horses on it. We wash it when she is sleeping or in the tub.) If we go anywhere I force her to wear pants under it.

Most days when she is not wearing the cougar dress, Jackie can be found wearing a skirt - SHE HATES PANTS. She will occasionally wear shorts "short pants".

Luke feeds Aspen everyday - twice a day. He cries if you do it without him - which rarely happend because he comes running when he hears us pouring her food into the cup to take it outside.

Bart has been doing a lot of reading as well, but is about to do nothing but watch basketball for the next few weeks (NCAA tournament).

McKinley loves ballet and is doing well in it.

I STILL yell too much, but I am working on it.

Bart is still in Young Mens.

I am the secretary in Primary. (I still don't know how I lasted 71/2 years in this ward without having a primary calling.

Grant asks about 5, 382 questions a week.

I have cried when I couldn't answer a few of his questions. (Satan's B-Day - It was a really long week and about 33, 682 questions OKAY!!!)

McKinley loves let Luke wrestle her to the ground - which Luke also loves.

Jackie quotes movies like they are going out of style.

Grant, McKinley and Jackie play really well with each other most of the time.

The kids love to play board games and card games. We even play imaginary go fish quite frequently. :)

The kids like to play "Evil Dr. Luke" or "Luke Monster". (They all run screaming while Luke chases them everywhere growling and "tickling" the air.)

When we say our prayers soeone usually prays for another to sit still or stop eating the food during the prayer. Apparently we need to work on closing your eyes during the prayer.

Luke still waves with his hand way above his head - it looks like he is really happy that you are coming - - - or going for that matter.

Well, I better stop for now.

P.S. Sorry for the lack of pictures, I have about 3 memory cards that need to be downloaded to my computer.

Laughter Adds Length to Your Life

Today we went to dinner at the Grill with Bart's family to celebrate aunt Jeana almost becoming the "champion" in her volleyball tournament. We were magically able to squeeze Grandma, Grandpa, uncle Ryan, aunt Jeana, uncle Wayne, baby Kaelyn, and all of us into a corner booth. Ryan was not allowed to sit on the bench and Jackie and Luke were sitting in high chairs next to him blocking the rest of us in.

Jackie was being a great big sister and wanted to help me feed Luke her french fries. While I was handing a french fry to him, she started to stick one in his mouth, he opened up wide to eat it and she pulled it back (DENIED). Apparently she forgot to put some ketchup on it so she dunked and plunged. Luke shaked and bobbed and the fry was inserted into his nose. Right then the waitress came by and asked if we were all doing okay. Grandpa busted out and said, "We're fine, but he's got a bloody nose". The horrified waitress sprinted off to the rescue and came back with a stack of about 20 napkins. Sadly, none of us could gain enough composure to tell her it was just ketchup.

Husbands and Mailmen

Today was my turn to teach Joyschool which is always fun just to have friends over. This year our group consists of 3 boys and 2 girls. While I was getting things set up for our snack, the kids were having free play. Needless to say we have a segregated joyschool at times. All the boys were all in the boys room and the girls in the girls room.

I could tell the girls were playing house because I could hear them playing with the dishes and talking about babies. Then all three girls (Jackie included) knocked on the boys door and McKinley said, "Hi, we need a husband and a mailman." :)

Eating Habits of a Two Year Old

Just a thought - How can a two year old think that every breakfast, lunch and dinner that is put in front of her is yucky and proceed to spit it out - - - yet dog food is considered yummy and is completely refused to be spit out no matter how much coaxing is involved???

No actual picture of the event, just of the culprit.

Squishy Puffy Cheeks

Is it wrong for me to not want my kiddos to grow up? I really think that someday I am going to miss them falling asleep in the car, and me having to carry them into the house and being able to kiss their squishy puffy cheeks as they lay there sound asleep!!

Do teenagers have squishy puffy cheeks??

Hips

I just figured out why Heavenly Father blessed me with such Big Hips. I just finished mowing my entire back lawn with one hand, while balancing Luke on one of my hips. I then used the other hip to engage the clutch on our self propelled mower.

You may ask why on earth I didn't just leave Luke in the house . . . well it started out that way until I looked over at the back door to see him watching me through tear filled eyes and a red, sweaty face that had been crying for some time. :(

He apparently crawled past the door and saw that mom was outside without him, and just felt extremely neglected.

Now if only I could figure out why I have been endowed with these flabby arms. ;)