one more

because my kids are cracking me up today!

Last night Sam was in trouble for getting out a bunch of Grandpa's games (checkers, trionimos, backgammon, rummikub, etc) and spreading them all over the basement while I was upstairs cooking. He was band from playing with them ever again. This morning, I got out of bed and walked past Sam's room where he was sitting on the floor shoving a big bag of Rummikub tiles in his backpack. "Sam, what are you doing?" I asked him. he looked up at me with his big, brown eyes, an impish smile on his face and said "I love you." I asked him if he was taking them to show and tell and he said " I want to show them my two thousand dollars!" I love this boy!

On the way home from school, I had to stop by Aaron's work to get a key to the house. He was telling Emerson that we were going inside Daddy's work. I told him we weren't going inside and he said, "Cease, Mommy! We are going inside!"

Today, Olivia had a field trip, so she was at school while Sam was. It was just Emerson and me. The car was in desperate need of a vaccuum. I left Emmers in hewr seat until I needed to clean it out and then she climbed all over the car while she was free. I put the car seats back in the car, hung the vaccuum tube back up and went around to put her in her seat. The door was locked. She locked me out. I looked in at her....she had the BIGGEST naughty elf smile on her face. I pointed to the lock and she came over and opened it for me (my 20 month old). As I was strapping her in I was smiling telling her that was naughty..."Funny!" ,she said!

I love the days my kids make me laugh!

Before I get on to the Vacation posts...

Yesterday was Aaron's birthday! I just wanted him to know that I really do love him....and sometimes even like him! He's a great guy and great dad....I love you, Aaron!

I attempted making a Vanilla Bean Cheesecake for him. My first cheesecake from scratch. I might try a different recipe next time.

Aaron and the kids gearing up for present time!

Easter Weekend

We headed to Utah for Easter this year! After a split second decision, we packed up and headed out late Thursday afternoon. The kids were SO excited to see their cousins! Sam quickly got over his "fear" of driving through the mountains (fear because the last few trips through he has had a tendency to make it a technicolor trip)...He was saying, "I'm not gonna "trow" up, Olivia is." Thankfully, none of that happened...this trip. We played around Friday and then colored Easter Eggs with all of the cousins (35 grandkids plus a few extras!).

Olivia with her empty canvas

Aaron had SAm waiting and waiting for his eggs to "be ready". He was actually VERY patient.

Which ended up more colorful, the egg or my baby?

She may be new at this, but Emerson caught on quickly!

Sam had his priorities: first: Sixlets, second: suckers, third: eggs

Olivia and Lauren showing off their baskets.

Emerson has mixed feelings for McKinley...on one hand, she loves her...on the other, she's terrified of McKinley loving her too much!

Our Easter morning breakfast consisted of some VERY loverly Grandam Sycamore toast with cinnamon sugar on top.

Sam mostly played with his Easter Basket...then threw up, then played some more, then threw up some more.

Olivia started off her morning puking. Then more, then more, then more. So, we did the only logical thing. Packed up our car and headed for California! But, that's another post (or 10) for another day!

Oh, whusst

She was being quiet. TOO quiet. I wondered if she had gone upstairs. I walked into the living room towards the stairs and, there she was! Olivia's library book in one hand, a pack of ball point pens in the other. She dropped them immediately and said, "Oh, whust!" Translation: Oh, whoops! Ain't nothing "whust" about drawing in a library book! She is SO adorable! Too cute to get a spankin'....so, I walked in the other room to blog aboutit.

Orange Rolls...mmmmmm

Have I ever told you that my sweetie can cook? Well, he can. Delicious food. I am a very lucky girl! One of the family's favorite things he makes is Orange Rolls. They are heavenly. I should clarify: Heavenly when made sans raisins, of the devil when made with them. Katie, Aaron's older sister, wanted a tutorial on how to make them when her family was out here for the wedding. What a fine excuse to make them! Sorry, no professional baking pics, no recipe.

Katie and Kyle taking mental notes on technique.

Special twisty motion to put them together.

No, no, no...not yet, they must bake first.


mmmmmm...tasty!

Wanna bite? Too bad...Julie doesn't share food!!! (think Friends)

The girls weren't very interested in Orange Roll Tutorials, so they played with the pretty wedding things.

Esther's Weddin'

Aaron's sister, Esther married Brandon on married February 19. We had a great time at the wedding and reception. Here's a few favorite pictures...

The happy couple

Watching the festivities

Way to go, Esther!

The lovely bride

Our little family
HOT SHOES! I'm the foot on the right of the bride'sSam and one* of his ladies

The exhaustion sets in

*Yes, ONE of his ladies. He has his own harem.

Valentine's Breakfast

So, I'm really far behind. No excuses, really. I just thought that since I gave my sister a hard time about no updates....I should update!

Valentine's. Aaron and I prefer hanging out with the kids over a night alone, so we took them to The Original Pancake House for breakfast on Vday. We did, however, forget our children's aversions to eating food faces...

The blog thing is being weird and showing text instead of pictures in the composing part, so...Emerson....she's a ham. Sam, really liked the looks of his pancakes man, and ate his nose, mouth, and eyes...but not much else. Liv, ornery as ever refusing to say cheese, contemplating how to get out of eating the pancake man.