REDEMPTION IS MINE!

Remember when I made that not-so-awesome Jello flag attempt? Well, I officially redeemed myself yesterday for a July 4th par-tay............the only bummer is my whipped cream spout thing broke right before, so I couldn't add it, but seriously, check out those AWESOME layers!!...oh and the fun cupcakes in the back too!

The secret? Well, don't tell anyone, but you actually just follow the recipe, and do exactly what it says. Tricky huh. ;)

My darn camera battery ran out as we were walking out the door to the best 4th of July party. We did, however snap a picture of us before we left (new header) but we couldn't do it outside because it was DOWN-POURING!!! Brooks was wise enough NOT to suggest us staying home, because he knew that wasn't an option for me. It ended up being PERFECT. The rain cooled everything down, so when it stopped and the most incredible rainbow (the prettiest I think I've ever seen!) came out, it sure made for a loverly evening.

Aleeya was of course scared of the fireworks (seriously, she is NOT my child) and plugged her ears the whole time. Iris liked them but wouldn't look at them.....but kept asking for more when they stopped, and Royce was mesmerized. We didn't even have to put him to sleep in the port-a-crib in the back of the Yeti (our 15 passenger van) as we had planned!

The whole weekend though (starting Friday), I'm pretty sure I made EVERY red/white/blue treat that I found on random websites as I BLARED the Patriotic CD I had (on "repeat all" 24/7). The 2 pictures are just a few of the things we made. Man, have I EVER mentioned before I LOVE INDEPENDENCE DAY?!?!?!?

(I didn't finish the book "1776" in time yesterday though like I had planned.....maybe too much cooking?.....anyway, hopefully this week sometime.)

He MAY be a doctor....

On Tuesday the city trucks are coming around and collecting all the stuff we want to dump. This year we have an ENORMOUSLY large pile (as in an oven, countertops, 2 couches, chest of drawers, microwave, picnic table, etc.) and since our swingset is pretty much broken (and we'll be selling our house next spring) we decided to dismantle it and put it by the side of the road.

Camden and Emerson did what they could on the thing (notice the slide had fallen off about a month ago..........safe huh)

Then after the boys had gotten the ladders/climbing wall off and loosened some of the screws I went out to find Brooks like this:

He may be a doctor, but sometimes I don't think he's very smart. The guy is standing ON a leaning platform and unscrewing parts of WHAT HE'S STANDING ON!!!!!

(Disclaimer: no hot husbands were harmed in the dismantling of this swingset)

And here's something I was NOT to thrilled about finding when I walked in Royce's room.....

Seriously? The kid will turn 7 months tomorrow. He is soooooo ready to just go and catch up with his siblings (ok, ok, so he's almost catching Iris and weight, but that's not too hard.....)

New counter tops baby

This week we're getting new countertops and a new sink. Here it is after the countertops/sink were ripped out (okay, if you can't remember the old ones they were white with gray streaks through it and a LOT of stains.....like I mean any berry you EVER put on it would leave a mark)

Our friend Greg actually used to do this for his job so he came over to help out......okay, okay, he DID them, because as you can see, Brooks wasn't much help.

(I don't have a finished picture yet of the kitchen and I don't think a picture would do it justice, but it's a gray/speckled/granite look even though it's laminate. I love love love it. Here's the old laminate next to the new stuff. See, it doesn't do it justice.)

I'm such a hypocrite. I constantly tell my kids NOT to draw on walls, floors, etc., but I just couldn't resist doing SOMETHING!!!! (I'm starting to understand the "high" they get by drawing on something they shouldn't)

Seriously, how old am I again?

The box the sink came in has come in REALLY handy by keeping Royce contained........

and, it serves well as a bed too! If you're into that whole cramped/on-wood-floors kind of beds, that is.

The work on the countertops got HALFWAY done as of Saturday night at 11:00 pm. Greg is coming back over tonight to finish them. So for almost 3 days now I've done the dishes in the bathtub.........

and can I just say, very very VERY few things gross me out (well, I can only think of plungers at the moment), but I will say that washing dishes in the bathtub, NEXT to the toilet and all the smells that go along with that really grossed me out. Like really.

Then I read this and my perspective changed a little (and you must read it all, it's pretty powerful):

I will always be grateful to a woman in Kenya, Africa, who taught me about willingness to work to obtain water. I met her at a celebration following the installation of a well in her community. With gratitude she told me that the new well would cut her daily nine-mile (14 km) trip to get water to a one-mile (1.6 km) trip. She was overjoyed at the opportunities that would now be hers.

I couldn’t help but think how I would feel if I had to walk a mile to get water. I was impressed that she put everything—from housework to gardening—aside while she made her journey to fetch water. She knew she couldn’t complete the other tasks without that water. I thought about how heavy her burden was. Carrying water takes strength and endurance. Yet, for the sake of her family, she was willing to walk nine miles every day to get it.

I wonder if we who get clean water from taps in our homes sometimes expect to come unto Christ with the same ease as turning a knob to get a glass of water. Or are we willing to put aside other tasks, even important ones, to seek to know Jesus Christ and His Father?

(by Matthew Heaps, written in the Ensign, July 2011)

Besides the obvious, I-should-be-grateful-I-HAVE-water idea in the article, I was more touched by the thought of making a greater effort to strengthen my relationship with my Father who created me. And that w/o the "Living Water" (Jesus Christ) we CAN'T complete all our other tasks around the home like we should.

Now to finish off this post with my "Doctor in Training" during his nap.

(He looks so cute in his little scrubs.........he gets that from his Dad, I'm sure)

We're 2 for 3 now

We're crab-sitting and it's entertaining the kids A LOT

And the fact that we still have 2 out of the 3, now that's pretty good, right?

(I'm sure we'll find the little one soon Rachel, they can be quite sneaky though)

Royce likes crawling after them too.

And apparently likes seafood

UNLIKE HIS MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Father's Day

I saw on Facebook many people posting pictures of their dad. It, of course, made me think of my dad, who I love more then I can express.

I went a diggin' for pictures w/ me and my dad and thanks to 2 computer viruses the ONLY one I have on my WHOLE hard drive is one from 10 years ago. Seriously? That's gotta change. Next time he comes out, you can BET I will get plenty!

Anyway, Happy Father's Day to someone who always made me feel spoiled, loved and genuinely watched out for.

(me and my sister w/ my dad @ Pickleville Playhouse)

When I found that picture w/ Dad and us 2 girls though, I couldn't HELP but make Brooks take a picture on Father's Day w/ his two BEE-U-tiful girls.

Isn't that the best picture ever?!?!? I love it.

And Happy Father's Day to the man in whom has showed me how much work, love, teamwork and humor really DOES go into being a Father!!!!

(it's funny how you never knew how much work/time/love goes into being a parent until you become one.....and then how do you REALLY show your gratitude for everything your parents did for you then?!?!!?)

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE.....

That Brooks' parents come and:

-take the kids swimming (MANY times!)

-golfing

-to a hotel overnight

- to dance class

-multiple wrestle matches

-babysit them all day while I go to the temple

-take us all out to pizza

and I ONLY had my camera on hand when we went to Bounce-U?!?!?!?! ARG! I can't believe it.

Oh well. Enjoy the pics anyway.

(my cute boys)

Look at that awesome Grandma goin' down that slide!

R.A. throwing hard basketballs at the kids and laughing the whole time.

(Such handsome smiles on these boys)

Oh, and Iris is NOT an inflatable type of person! Surprised? Such a little panzy......we love her....

but a panzy nonetheless.

The Royster liked it though.

And since the kids decided to break the rules and take off their socks, it gave Royce PLENTY of things to go crawling after. Yes, you read it right, this boy is crawling! (and from room-to-room too! Ick.)

Got it. Check out that dimple!

And here we are all piled in and ready to go eat some pizza! Gotta love all the seating in the Yeti!

It probably goes w/o being said that I love my in-laws...........but I think I'll say it anyway!

This rocks

There no explanation needed on this picture, because this one of Iris just plain ROCKS!

Now THAT is why we all love her. She's this teeny little thing (22 pounds) w/ this huge belly, topped off with a little attitude. Oh, and a little hiney cheek thrown in for good measure.

There's nobody like our little Iris.

Dos

I can't believe Iris is two.....my little petite princess.

Since she absolutely LOVES bouncy balls I decided to make a bouncy ball pinata.

And she wanted to paint it (you know, those colorful bouncy balls are the best!)

She got a little stroller for her birthday, which ended up being used more for J.J. then her babies.

Here is the finished "bouncy ball"........even though it looks suspiciously like the shape of a balloon with a giant indent in it (don't ask)........to her, it was a bouncy ball.

Notice her left hand. She's holding J.J. in it. The poor little rat's last picture ever.

J.J. died yesterday and I was/am actually more sad about it then I thought. I kind of liked him, but more so, I feel horrible about WHY I think he died. Bronson and the boys actually cleaned out his cage once a week and put new bedding in, fed him and obviously bathed him. But when I went into the garage after finding J.J. I found his water bottle on the dryer..... meaning, it wasn't in his cage. So I'm pretty sure he had gone w/o water for 5-ish days (can't quite remember the exact day they cleaned out his cage). I think the poor thing died of dehydration and it makes me so sad because it was something that could've been prevented. Running away, I could've handled, but this makes me sick to think about it.

Oh well, on that happy note, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE IRISITA!

Firsts and Lasts

Here is Royce's FIRST good cry while sitting up......

you know when they cry because they're sitting up and they can't get back down? That one.

The girls' FIRST little dance class that "Ms. Emily" does here with some little ones in the ward.

(They loved it. WHY haven't I been going the rest of the year?!?!?)

And I HAD to add this picture, because doesn't Iris just look like the sweetest little angel in this one?

J.J.'s FIRST bath with the boys. (In my defense I did NOT know they snuck him in the bath when they got in......poor J.J. he was probably dying in that hot water....and here I am taking pictures. Sheesh)

And it IS true, rats are VERY good swimmers. Infact, the kids give J.J. a "bath" outside in the wading pool at LEAST daily.

I am the proud owner of the CLEANEST rat. Wow, now THAT'S something to brag about.

The LAST days of preschool w/ Emerson are over!

Here is a picture of the preschool kids we all took turns teaching. (my boy is the one pulling the sexy swimsuit look)

And LASTly, I must share this page Emerson came home w/ from his week of preschool that they talked about Transportation.

The teacher told them to draw a picture of their FAVORITE way to get from here to there (airplane, car, truck, boat, helicopter, train,etc.) And here is what he drew........

Can you tell what it is?

It's a police car. Great. Just great. I can see his teenage years flash before my eyes already!

But seriously, when your dad LEAVES you at Bounce-U and the cops spoil you and give you suckers, I would want to ride in their car again too!

Then when Camden saw it, he said, "Hey, I've been in a policia's car too!"

(Remember the security car in Florida?..........)

Apparently, it's the new popular way to travel around here.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

I got a free Jell-o flag mold earlier in the month of May (I probably don't need to say what a flag/July 4th fanatic I am, do I?) I can't TELL you how excited I was.....and even MORE excited to try this recipe out. Check out THIS beauty!!!!

Oh wait, that's the picture on the RECIPE card. Silly me.

Here's how mine turned out........

(don't you just love the blueberries falling off the flag!?) Just in case you're wondering you can't pour HOT Jell-o on top of the other layers, because it melts them, and they mix, and make purple. And when the recipe says to put the pan in hot water for a FEW seconds......that doesn't mean a minute.......because once again, the Jell-o melts and runs everywhere. Good thing I had another hour and a half before I served it huh. That leaves me JUUUUUUUUUUUST enough time to throw it in the freezer.

Which, as it turns out, is ALSO not a good idea.