Random Weekly Fun

I got out some shaving cream for Will, I thought he'd love playing in it- like Amy does. Will didn't enjoy it as much as Amy does. He liked it, but as soon as his hands got covered, he'd wash them off. And then play again, and wash them of again. He did that about 3 times and then he was done. The pan was still there when Amy got home- she said, "Ooooohhhhh! Can I play with this!?" 

I had him help me stir something one day (now I can't remember what it was). He liked it. He then started saying, "I turn it?" He was good little helper- I'm going to train him young to be a chef. :)

He was very excited about a bean enchilada for lunch. He LOVES beans. He asks for them all the time. It's gotten to the point that we just open a can, scoop some into a bowl and let him go at it. And he does! He really just loves beans.

This week at school everyday had a different dress-up theme. One day was "twin" day- where you were supposed to dress like someone else. Well, Amy thought twin day meant that you dress up like someone who is a twin. There happens to be a set of twins in Kindergarten, one of them in her class. So she wanted to dress up like Maylea. She said this is how Maylea and Natalie wear their hair. And anytime we called her name she'd say, "I'm Maylea!" Lee eventually talked her out of the bow. She's so funny!

Amy also had her first field trip this week. The class went to Lucky Ladd Farms- which is where we went last week as a family. I didn't go because I wasn't able to go- but Linda (Dallin's mom) went and was really nice and took some pictures of Amy. 

Amy was very excited about riding on the bus for the first time. She said, "Mom, can I sit by whoever I want AND talk to anyone I want??" 

They got to pick out small pumpkins. She loved her's because it was so "soft and smooth."

Linda.... trying to get our kids together. Just kidding, she said they did this on their own. I actually laugh at the guy in the background. He's this super nice parent who is at everything. It's just kind of an inside joke with Linda and I.

Amy's class being goofy. (Amy is in the middle row- in between the girl with the jean jacket on and the girl with red sleeves)

Playing with the boys... always! She's not really a "girly" girl. She'd rather be digging in the dirt.

6 Months!

Tyler turned 6 months this past weekend!

He had his 6 month check-up today... he's 18 3/4 lbs and 26 inches long. He was in the 60-something percentile in his weight, length and head measurements. He's starting to sit up on his own and still continues to get up a little on his knees. I feed him solids once or twice a day- he loves them! He's getting a little feisty and when something doesn't go his way he starts this ear piercing scream. It's kind of funny. You can tell he just wants to GO. He also drools over Will's sippy cup. It's so funny trying to watch him get it. He smiles easily and if he keeps it up- he'll have everyone he meets eating out of his hand.

He's a good baby and we just love him to pieces!

Amy has certain "jobs" that she can do to earn some money. One that she loves to do is watch Tyler for 10 minutes (I'm nearby, of course). Tonight she wanted to read him and Will a book. It was so cute watching her read to them, and them have her undivided attention. I think she read them 3 or 4 books- it was great!

I've had these tissue pom-poms on our kitchen light for months. They were for a party I threw and I just never climbed up to take them down. Anyhow, I finally did- and Amy thought they were just like regular pom-poms. The kids had fun playing with them.

Time Out for Women

I forgot to post Amy's haircut last week.... last Sunday she asked if I would cut her hair. She said she was the "only one in the family with short hair." There are also some other girls in her classes at school and church with short hair. Anyhow- I was all for it- her hair always bugs me because it's hard to keep "nice" looking.

So I got out the scissors and cut a bunch of it off.

Almost a pen length!

It looks so cute now! I just love her short hair. She does too, she walks around swinging it. She's so cute about it.

This weekend I was able to head to GA for a quick 24 hours and go to "Time Out for Women."  Time Out is a 2 day conference hosted by Deseret book (A church publishing company). It's just for women and they have several great speakers and musical guests. It's fabulous. I took 3 of my friends from here, we picked up Mom (and stayed at their house) and had a merry weekend.

Imagine my surprise when I ran into friends from our Petal Ward!!
(Sis. Atterbury, Sis. Floyd, Sheila Brandon, Melba Tisdale, Donna Hill)

The most fabulous group.
(Stacey Gilday, Talana Knox, Linda Reece)

Stacey was all into Jericho Road (an LDS musical group)

Short Linda joking that she couldn't see over the crowd.

On Mom's porch...

The 5 of us had a great weekend. Chats in the car, lots of laughter, a late night talking, a picnic lunch, and more and more laughter. It was so much fun to have my friends meet and spend time with my fabulous mom (I think they understand me a little more) and it was great for Mom to meet and get to know some of my great friends. It was a wonderful weekend! Thanks Mom for hosting us!

(oh- and Tyler did come too. He was a great baby! You hardly heard a peep out of him the entire time. Except in the car- he didn't seem to car for the drive to or from GA. Usually he's so good but he screamed his head off for a LOT of the drive both ways. We were all glad when he'd finally fall asleep)

Family Fun Day!

Lee is on Fall Break so we decided to take advantage and have a family day. Unfortunately, Amy and Lee's breaks aren't the same! There wasn't a day that Lee could cancel class during Amy's break, so we decided to keep her home from school one day, during his.

We had heard of Lucky Ladd Farms and it sounded like a fun thing for the kids. Indeed it was! I think after this post I will have fulfilled my picture quota for the week!

We started a bit rough and Will wasn't being very cooperative getting into the car. There was some drama about his shoes and not wanting to get in his seat belt.

He was swinging his arms back and forth, hence the blur

But we pressed on. He returned to 'normal' shortly after we started driving. Ah, kids- nothing is ever easy, is it?

Lucky Ladd farms isn't very far. Once we got there.... the fun began!

We got to see how tall they are... I'm sure this will be fun in future years- seeing how much they've grown!

And the start of the animals...

I think the main thrill was petting and feeding as many animals as they could.

Then we tried out the corn maze. Eventually we got through. The last picture is Lee and Will coming out of the maze. Lee looks a little exhausted! (he was- trying to keep up with Will)

I tried to get a picture of the kids with pumpkins. Will had a philosophy this trip- never look at the camera, and if you see a camera, stick your tongue out. This is the only picture, the entire day, that I got of his eyes, and his tongue in his mouth. Tyler was also tired and hungry.

After that attempt, Lee suggested the kids might be hungry. I hadn't realized it was lunchtime. So we went back to the van and ate the picnic I had packed.

That totally revived everyone. After we ate, we went back in to enjoy some more fun.

 The kids loved playing in the corn bin.

They bounced on these balls...

Went down some big slides.... 

Had fun on tire swings...

Rode some pedal cars ( I took Tyler around, Lee took Amy and then I pushed Will)

Went on a "hay" ride (with no hay)...

Amy wanted her and Will to be watermelon seeds...

And they picked out their pumpkins....

It was such a fun day! It was way warmer than we thought it would be. We were getting hot and I was very glad everyone wore t-shirts! Will and Tyler fell asleep on the way home. What a great way to enjoy the day with our sweet little family!

My Favorite Things Party

I hosted the most fun party last night! It was themed, "My Favorite Things." I got the idea online from this website and knew it had to be done. My friend Linda died laughing at me when she saw that I had pinned the idea on Pinterest and then an hour later it was scheduled, evites were sent, etc.

The idea is a take on Oprah's Favorite Things.... everyone picked an item that was one of their favorites and brought 5 of that item to the party. The item couldn't cost more than than $6 a piece. So 5 items at $6 a piece- they couldn't spend more than $30 total, of course they could spend less. At the party, everyone drew 5 names and those people took home their 'thing.' So everyone goes home with 5 different things that were other people's favorites. 

This idea was certainly a winner as everyone wanted to come... we ended up with 22 people!! In my living room! I was more impressed that we got everyone in! 

(That's goofball Linda is making the goofy face.)

I didn't get many pictures because it was so busy and fun. Everyone stood up and told about their item and then "revealed" the 5 people who got their thing. It was SO FUN seeing what everyone brought. 

Aside from the gifts, Linda was the entertainment for the evening. Her excitement about all the gifts (even ones she didn't get) was hilarious. At one point she literally bolted from her chair, screamed a huge cheer and was clapping her hands and jumping at the Dairy Queen gift card- even though she didn't get it. Oh Linda.... she's so funny! Her enthusiasm is always so catching (yes, this is the gal that wrote me my "poem"). This was when she got the Pride and Prejudice DVD. You can tell her excitement from the expression on her face. 

At the end, I took a picture of all the things.... 

There were: a dairy queen gift card, nutella, popcorn seasoning, wrapping paper, nail polish strips, creme brulee mix (with an actual creme brulee to eat), glass containers, chapstick (twice, different kinds), grasshopper cookies, homemade ginger snaps (very good!) with a certain kind of molasses, homemade salad dressing, a bell, Pride and Prejudice movie, a Pride and Prejudice box (Pride and Prejudice is a favorite around this circle), cookie cutters, a candle holder, candles, uncooked tortillas along with wonton wrappers, a fancy pen and paper, gum and a mini Sprite can. 

Everyone was so creative! My "thing" was wrapping paper. I chose it because I really dislike bags and love to wrap. Plus, there are so many fun kinds of paper! And the "things" I got were: the creme brulee, chapstick and grasshopper cookies, glass containers, hazelnut spread and ranch seasoning, and Pride and Prejudice movie. I totally scored! 

It was such a fun night and the perfect theme. I kept it easy too- I only made a cake. Everyone ended up bringing food and there was a TON of it! So it was the simplest party! And one that was one of the most fun ones I've been to/hosted! 

On my Pinterest, Ashley said that she had hosted this before and it was a lot of fun. I told Anna about it, and she quickly scheduled her own. So Lauren.... Mom.... it's up to you guys to complete the circle.  :) 

The kids and Lee hung out in our room while the party was going on. Amy and Will were really good, even eventually falling asleep (Amy before Will). Tyler was a little fussy and it took him a long time to go to sleep. But he finally fell asleep in my arms around 10 and I was able to put him down. 

It was a busy Saturday as that morning we had a Bishopric breakfast as our Bishop's house. (Lee a clerk for the ward).  Will wanted to wear this hat, he looked so cute. 

Then that afternoon, a friends from Amy's class had a party. It was an "art" party, at the girls' house. It was so fun. I was so glad another parent had a party at their house. It seems to be the trend now to spend a fortune and go to a bounce house, chuck e cheese or something like that. Which is fine, but I want to host parties at my house- so I was glad to see that I'm not the only one. Amy drew a card for her, and I took a picture of the girl she drew. I love that she drew her eye blinking and her one leg kicked out.

All in all- it was a great Saturday around here! I'm still exhausted today... I have "girls night hangover." The final 3 left at 1am- which is early for us! But I guess the busy day just wore me out. :)