Side tracked

Okay yesterday I got completely side tracked from my to do list getting the laundry done. I was upstairs in Ella and Cole's room putting away clothes when I noticed a picture frame I had been meaning to put on their wall. So one thing lead to another and before I knew it I was knee deep in a project that I had been putting off for months, decorating their room. It took a lot longer than I expected, after all when you are faced with the task of putting elephants and sailboats together in one room, one can only hope for the best. There are still a few things that need to be repainted to match, but I am afraid this is how it will remain for the time being. I am not a crafty person or a decorator, but the main thing is that Ella loves it, and most of all it is done.

Ella's side of the room

Ella's favorite part of the room "the elephant family picture" A.K.A my only craft project of the year.

This is Curtis the Curtain holder. Ella thought that the curtain holdbacks made a great place to stand and ripped one of them out of the wall. So in the interim. Curt does the job.

Cole's side of the room. I had him get in his crib and reach as high as he could and then put the shelf up about 3 inches from that. If you look closely you will see the little guy hanging out in his crib.

Motivation

Last night after the birthday party one of the girls left her bowl of cake half eaten on the table. Somehow, Cole noticed it and for the first time, he climbed up onto the chair and sat up at the table. I turned around and there he was sitting at the table eating cake. I guess a bowl of cake was enough to motivate a new skill. Unfortunately, this new found trick is causing all of us a few headaches. He keeps getting into his sisters' craft time stuff, and Mom worries about him falling.

Reese and Riley's 5th Birthday

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A dream come true

For years Cord has talked about, how if he had a boy he would give him a buzz cut the beginning of every summer. Well, last night Cord gave Cole his first buzz, much to mom's dismay. I thought Cole needed a haircut, but I was a little taken back when I saw how short it was. The good thing is Cole is so cute it doesn't matter. The girls refer to him now as the "Bald Eagle". Which of course, Riley reminds us often that the Bald Eagle brings good luck, so Cole is now our own good luck charm.

Cole and his new buzz cut.

Kinley dressed Cole this morning so that he would match her. She is such a great big sister.

Oh where, oh where has Ella gone???

We had a very busy morning running back and forth to gymnastics. After lunch the girls had a great time playing outside in the yard for over two hours, but then it started to rain. The kids all came inside. Ella had gotten a little wet so she decided to put on her elephant costume, which is way too small. Before I knew it the house was quiet as the kids were all relaxing watching PBS kids. The only menace was Cole who loves to pull the pillows out from under his sisters' heads while they are on the floor watching TV. I went into the family room to save the girls from Cole, when I realized that Ella was nowhere to be seen. I figured she was upstairs in her room decorating it with her elephants (her favorite past time). So I went upstairs to see what she was up to, and this is what I saw.

Two little feet poking out from underneath Ella's bed.

Ella (complete with her elephant hat) had crawled under her bed and fallen asleep.

My little Elephant in her cave.

A trip to the dentist

June 10, 2009

Today three of the girls had their semi-annual dentist appointment. Usually, they schedule all of the girls at once, so it is quick(less than 45 min.) and painless to take all of the kids. Somehow today there was a scheduling error, and the girls were scheduled one after another. We were there for over two hours. Which of course was right during Cole's nap time. He is not a happy camper when he misses his sleep. The kids did pretty well considering. I am not sure I can say the same for MOM, I was ready to runaway...I will definitely be getting a sitter for the trip next week to get Kinley's spacers taken out (:

Kinley in the chair.

Riley in the chair.

Reese in the chair.

Cole in the waiting room.

The kids in the waiting room.

Ella the "Exercise Girl"

The other night out of nowhere Ella came running in the room in her pj's with a headband around her head saying she was an exercise girl, just like the Care bears. I really don't know where this little girl came from, but she is quite the character.

Father's and Son's campout

June 5, 2009


After years of going to the Father's and Son's campout by myself, I was thrilled to be able to take Cole. He is only 17 months old, but I wasn't sitting by myself for another year. We got to the campsite and Cole was stunned. He had never been anywhere without girls everywhere he looked.

We quickly got the tent set up and changed Cole into pajamas.


After the campfire, we got ready for bed. Cole just wanted to play, but I was exhausted. I zipped the tent shut and turned the portacrib on its side. This allowed Cole to move around, but kept him from standing up and jumping on me.

He slept really well. At least I think so, because I slept really well. We had a fast breakfast in the morning of pancakes and hashbrowns, and got loaded in the truck again. What a great time.

The Publishing Party

June 3,2009

This whole year at school, Kinley's class has been writing and illustrating stories and having them published. At the end of the year they write a final story and bound as an actually book. The last week of school they have a party where family comes to class and they read them all of their stories from the year. After the story time your get go and have a picnic with them at the playground.

Kinley wrote a lot of funny stories this year. Her final story was all about our trip to UT and ID. It was cute to see what details were the most important for her to write about.

Kinley and all of her books she wrote.

Cole and Mommy listening to the stories.

The story she wrote about mom going to her cousin McKell's wedding last fall.

Kinley reading a story to Tate.

Kinley reading us her stories.

Gymnastics

Today I signed up all of the girls for gymnastics classes. Kinley and Tate get to do two sessions. Reese, Riley, and Ella will do one session in July. On one hand I think I am crazy to have all 5 of them doing classes, but on the other hand at least I only have to take them to three different classes. The benefit of having kids close in age. They were so excited to be "gymnastic girls" they all ran around the house in their leotards for hours.

Breakfast time

Breakfast usually occurs in shifts at our house. First, it is Kinley and Tate as they eat a quick breakfast before they catch the bus. The second wave is whenever the other girls get out of bed. One never know when that will be, but rest assured the second wave is usually the craziest and messiest.

This morning was no exception.


Reese kept telling me she was too tired to eat. So she found a creative solution for eating in comfort. She used the garbage can as a footstool...

Relaxing Reese

The past few days Cole has been standing up in his highchair, so last night we tried him in a booster seat for dinner. Well, this morning he decided he was too big for the highchair and he wanted to sit at the island with his sisters. He is a big boy.

Riley just being herself in the morning.

Cole and Ella my other dangerous duo.

Hope for Sweet Emma Carnival

Saturday, June 30, 2009

Today was The Hope for Sweet Emma Bennefit It was a carnival event that was planned to help out one of the girls at Kinley's school. She was diagnosed this past fall with an inoperable brain tumor. Cord and I had volunteered to help out with the silent auction. So between our shifts we thought we would take the kids to the event and let them enjoy the games, treats, and bouncy houses.

It was held at the county fair grounds here in town. I was expecting to see a few hundred people at the carnival, but I clearly underestimated the amazing strength of a small community. There were literally thousands of people there to support this family.

It was a beautiful day and the kids had a great time. It was a great opportunity to teach the kids about reaching out to others in need.

Riley striking a pose.

Riley,Ella, and Reese. Reese picked out her own shoes (woolly winter boots) and got in the car before I saw. Imagine my surprise when we got to the carnival and she got out of the car with her winter boots on...

Ella, Reese, and Tate.

Cole enjoying his sucker.

Cord and his girls

All grade track and field day

May 29, 2009

All of the kids from grade 1-4 have a huge track and field day. It is an all day activity. The kids walk to the other elementary school that has a track and spend all day there competing in different events. The big event that Kinley was excited for was the relay race. All of the first grade classes race against each other, and each kid gets a turn to run around the course. Kinley loves to run and was so excited to have us come for this event. She did awesome, she kept her class in first place as she ran her little heart out.


Kinley sitting with her class waiting for the race.

Kinley waiting for the baton.

She's off...

Kinley coming up the hill for the hand off.

Kinley catching her breath after the race.



After all of the events were over they invited all of the families to come down to the track and walk a lap with one of the 1st grade students Emma and her family. (Emma has an inoperable brain tumor and the whole community has come together to support her and her family. See next blog for more info and link). It was a sobering moment that of course brought me to tears as this little family walked aroiund the track leading hundreds of kids and parents to show their support for sweet Emma. Emma was a doll and would run out ahead of the pack. It was a beautiful moment.

Kindergarten track and field day

May 28, 2009

Tate had track and field for the kindergarten classes. It was a fun day filled with a lot of different events from hurdling to the sock toss. Tate has been looking forward to this day all year after watching Kinley last year. Here are some pictures of our star athlete.

Tate doing awesome at the tug of war.

Tate the long jumper.

Tate getting ready for the race.

Tate vs. the hurdles.

Tate finishing the race with her cheerleaders cheering her on.

The cutest cheer squad.

The sock toss.

Reese and Riley being monkeys.

Ella climbing on the play ground.

Cole is all boy. He headed straight for the dirt when I got him out of the stroller.