New church artist prodigy

This is a picture of Jesus that Tate drew last night he he he....Gotta love it!

I guess it's all how you look at it...

When I first looked at this picture I laughed inside thinking...hhhmmm I'm a crappy photographer. The moment I was trying to catch is among some chaos! The critical side of me thinks of this: Crew has no shirt on, Avery's hair isn't done and her zipper is open, I hate the fact that bouncers and swings and baby toys take up every inch of my family room, I'm ticked that I can't get those stains off the coffee table, why did my kids use the suction cup pencil sharpener on it anyway...grrr, why are the freaking pillows on the floor yet again?

But then I take a closer look!

She cares enough to lay down next to him, he giggles and smiles because she's there.

Messes, stains, and no clothes don't bother them a bit. They are too engrossed by bright colors funny pictures and each others words.

Sure, every moment isn't perfect around here... Avery climbs all around Crew. This shot so fortunately catches her rear right in his face.

And yes, he'll get her back by tugging on her hair.

But all in all, the fact is they have each other, and they're happy with the simplicity of life...and that is the very thing that ultimately makes me happy!

So many times I find myself having to step back and learn from my kids. I'm thankful a loving Heavenly Father trusted me with them, they make me better and help me zone in on the things that really matter in life.

Happy St. Patty's!

Oh yes, my kids were back at it again this year. They were bound and determined to catch a Leprechaun! I really thought they weren't that "into" it this year so I decided to not mention it (thinking it would pass.) Well don't do this people because then at 9:00 at night when you're tucking them in they do remember and then freak out and have to make one...yep that's how we role around here. last year their trap didn't work because the Leprechaun could jump really high and jumped back out once he fell in, so this year they made it taller and put duck tape (sticky side up) on the bottom so that the Leprechaun couldn't jump back out!

They set the bait and were squealing with excitement!

Apparently Leprechauns go for Gold and Golden puffs!

Well, at 4:00 a.m. the kids ran up the stairs to check the trap (yes they seriously woke up to check it) they thought I was a major party pooper for not jumping up and down when I saw that the trap had been tipped. And for sending them back to bed. Apparently that sneaky Leprechaun did get stuck to the bottom of the trap, and after eating the golden puffs and thinking it over he was smart enough to jump against the side until it tipped over. But he did leave a treat and a note for the kids because they were so clever. The Leprechaun did pull a few tricks on us like leaving green water in the toilets, but I'll spare you and will not post a picture of that, I wouldn't want to change anyone's assumption that I keep my toilets beautiful and sparkling at all times!

Here was our attempt at putting a clover in Breck's hair for school, um it was an attempt we'll just leave it at that. In some cases it's the effort that counts ha ha.

We had a "mostly Green" dinner. The potatoes, Jello, and green beans worked out well but I couldn't quite figure out how to make the steak or apples green. But hey it was better than the kids not eating the Green pea soup I had considered...oh well.

We topped off our meal with some ELF....I mean LEPRECHAUN cookies!

I caught a darling moment when Tate was making Crew laugh really hard today, it melted my heart watching their smiling faces laugh and bond. I feel VERY LUCKY to be blessed with these little moments in my life. And I hope that I don't ever forget them!

Growing

My oldest and my youngest...

I love these two, I love that Brecken is old enough to really keep him entertained and take him when I need her to. My only fear is not the age but the size...if they both keep growing (or not growing) at the rate they are, there is no way that Breck is going to be able to tote this kid around...and there goes my helper. One of these days I'm going to say "here Breck take him really quick." hand him to her and he's going to smoosh her to the floor. If Crew looks really huge in this picture it's because HE IS! He is absolutely a giant. He's only 4 1/2 months old in this picture. For their sake in life I'm really glad she's a girl and he's a boy!

Gotta love that 8 year old set of teeth ha ha ha! Someday you'll laugh too Breck.

Discovery

Crew's newest discovery is his feet! Honestly It is a bit of a shocker that he didn't notice them earlier since they're HUMONGOUS. Well maybe he noticed them but just realized how much fun they are. He's got a hold of his feet constantly and it's adorable. When he's on the ground, in the swing, getting his diaper changed...they are always his entertainment. Who needs toys?!

This is what I see when I look into the family room from the kitchen when he is watching his baby Mozart...not much else than his hands and feet. I love it, I can't help but smile every time.

Crew absolutely loves his swing. I even feel guilty sometimes so I take him out of it just for my sake, not because he's wanting to get out. He's such a good baby!

Sisters

I can't believe how big my girls are getting. They are both such sweethearts, okay yes they're girls so ya of course they come with an allotment of SPICE too but they are good little buddies and such big helpers!

It's sometimes weird to me that they are blonde (I just always thought I'd have dark haired kids, but I didn't realize how much stronger Bubba's genes are than mine) Winter time is the darkest they get but those ends are still blonde blonde!

Jr. Jazz Basketball 2011

We wrapped up the last game of Jr. Jazz on Saturday. The kids LOVED playing this year. It was Tate's first year playing and Brecken's 2nd year. Tate made a basket in his very first game! And was making a few shots every game by the end of the season. He is very athletic and would count down the days each week until he had practice or a game. Brecken was a total firecracker... she was so much more aggressive this year, she was all over the court and always looking for the steal and the shot. It was SO much fun watching them!

This is a picture of a very typical senerio...you can't really see her but that's Brecken holding the ball. She is going for the shot despite the fact that she is the smallest one in the group of 3 opponents surrounding her. ATTA GIRL!

Um, I think we'll have to work on her boxing out skills!

Tate is a good little ball handler and really confident for a first grader. He wasn't afraid to throw up a shot and really had good coordination to get it up to that huge hoop.

Crew Dawg

Crew has many many names around this house. Crewser, Crewser Dewser, Crew Man, Crew Bop, Boysa Boysa, Big Boy, Squishy, Lovers. And the list goes on and on between the 5 of us. But I definitely would say his one nickname trumps the rest in these two pictures...

Crew Dawg...

he looks a little gangsta with his hat backwards! And loves all the attention